Winter

clears throat story time, take a seat by your fire and listen to this tale called “Merry Cainemas”.

Twas the night before Cainemas and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring not even the house.

The ghouls were all hung by the chimney with care, in hope that caines thirst would Pass first to their care.

The childer were nustled all safe in their beds. While visions of diablerie danced in their heads.

And sires in their coffins and I in my cap, And enemies settled for a long torpor nap.

When out on the rack there arose such a clatter. I sprang up from the bed to see what was the matter. To the window celerity took me in a flash Peeked out from the shutters and my expensive sash.

The moon folk raged over the new fallen snow. Meeting gargoyle, vozhd and schlakta below. When what to my auspex 9 eyes should Appear, But a flesh crafted sleigh and 13 clan premiers.

With a blood crazed driver, the dead not the quick. I knew in a moment it must be no trick. More rapid than us the antes they came. And Caine whistled and shouted and called them by name.

Now [ventrue], now [brujah], now [saulot] and [tzimisce].

On [lasombra], on [gangrel], on [malkavian] and [toreador].

On [ravnos], on [nosfetaru], on [cappadocious] and [haqim].

Now [set] that’s them all and listen to my call,

Search your brood pick your favorite and then kill them all!

Kindred sprang from their beds and took to the skies! Where they met their clan founder who swatted the flies. So up to the house top founders they flew. Where the flesh crafted sleigh consumed the house too.

And then in a moment off came the roof, The persecution had come leaving me burden of proof. As I looked at my aura and was turning around, Down the chimney Caine came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, From the gangrel he’d slain, covered in blood, ash, and soot. A bundle of heads he had slung on his back, And he whipped out his hand and gave me a smack. His eyes how they twinkled, his smile so merry! The blood off my face dropped down like a cherry. He said that I hadn’t a place to go, As he flung me and mine straight into the snow.

He chuckled as he plucked my fangs from my teeth. Kindred ash now circling his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a full bloated belly, That shook when he laughed as he slapped me like jelly.

The slap sent me flying straight into my shelf, And I got to my feet and composed myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of my head. Told me I was three seconds from dead.

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work, Killing all who diablerized like bloody clockwork. He gave me his mark to show all who he chose, Then up from the carnage he nodded and rose.

He sprang to his sleigh to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew having struck us like missiles. But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,

“Merry Cainemas to all, and to all a good night!”