New Orleans has a rich and vibrant history - filled with tragedy and magic. It can hardly be surprising then that so many vampires and other supernatural creatures are drawn to it. There is no date to confirm the first appearance of anyone from the Garou Nation, but it's likely they were present with the Native Americans who built mounds and earthworks in their communities in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys.
The first vampire arrived with the French explorers in the 1690s, laying claim very early on to the beautiful landscape, building huts and small encampments until enough resources were gathered to establish the city in 1719. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville was not a vampire, but it was eluded that he was the property of one, a Lasombra by the name of Faisal Gamal.
It wasn't until after the Seven Year War when New Orleans was taken over by the Spanish, that the city became a Sabbat stronghold. For twenty five years the rivalling Sect held it as its own, creating waves upon waves of shovelheads to secure it.
The Great Fire of 1788, which destroyed the majority of the blossoming city, was the first Camarilla attempt to take claim of the domain. What had been discovered, was that New Orleans was settled on powerful leylines, ones that the Tremere clan very much wanted to control.
With the Sabbat's territory burned to the ground and the young vampires who inhabited destroyed, a Ventrue Prince was named and the organization of New Orleans under Camarilla rule began. It was rebuilt in bricks and many of the buildings that still stand today are from this time period.
While firmly in the Camarilla's grasp, the Sabbat never stopped their attempts to reclaim the city as their own. Fires and fights broke out often, but they were quickly diffused. Many rivals loomed in the catacombs beneath the city, planning their next attack.
The Ventrue Prince was responsible for the sugar cane boom in the last two decades of the 18th Century, which helped the city prosper. No surprise that the Toreadors were in charge to establish the art districts while the Tremere studied the magical properties in the land. The lesser clans - Brujah and Gangrel were left to patrol and ensure the safety of all over kindred within the domain.
It remained as such for several decades. A peace that was only ever briefly interrupted by the poorly planned attacks by the rival Sect. The city was often visited by Independents - Giovanni and Followers of Set in particular because they were drawn to the debauchery and supernatural elements of the domain.
Revolution and wars that followed were that of mortal politics, though there were certainly some internal conflict that set the Kindred population against each other. Some clans were prospering under Ventrue rule while others were firmly pressed under its thumb. In 1845, there was an uprising. The Brujah, Gangrel and Nosferatu banded together to overthrow the current Prince, allowing Remy Beaucage of the Brujah clan to take over.
He ruled for thirty-eight years with Jaqueline DeLancre, a Toreador painter, as his Seneschal. It's uncertain as to the reason why, but many claim there was a betrayal of trust between the Prince and the head of the Nosferatu clan, Xavier, who aided him in his quest for power. It was this breach that lead to the assassination of Prince Beaucage and the exile of all Nosferatu from the city.
For the many years that followed, there was a constant exchange of power. One clan would rise, only to have another pull them down. A perpetual bickering amongst children which lead to the Sabbat incursion in the 1920s. The prohibition wars helped mask a lot of the activity, but several important vampires were killed amongst the fight for the domain.
After a century of failed attempts to reclaim what was once theirs, the Sabbat were once again in control. The rivalling Sect, lead by a cunning Lasombra known to most as The Butcher, took advantage of the in-fighting and lack of trust amongst the Camarilla clans and those who did not flee, were savagely destroyed.
More young members were inducted forcibly into the Sect, shovelled and buried alive to awaken anew in the Sabbat's unloving embrace. They were used as fodder, walls of flesh and bone for when the Camarilla came to steal away what didn't belong to them. For years, there were mild attempts to overtake New Orleans, but none were really successful.
How the city became what it is today, was due to a series of very unfortunate events in the 1970s. While Kindred activity swarmed in the streets, there were several collections of Garou and Fera, and Sorcerers that populated New Orleans and the surrounding marsh and swamp lands. What's important to note is that many newly made Sabbat are ever properly educated. Only those who show promise to be more than sacrificial lambs in the slaughter are given any real training. And it was these, the underlings and youth of the Sabbat that caused their inevitable downfall.
Several kinfolk, shapechangers and magic wielders were fed from, many killed in the process. And while there are always dangers when being near any number of vampires, the collective supernatural community had had enough. The Sabbat were unapologetic to the mistakes made and that only enraged the beasts and sorcerers.
Together, they attacked. Their numbers were few, but the combined power of Gaia and the magical elements were enough to make the battle bloody and gruesome. Many died and others fled. The city abandoned. No one dared to enter its domain afterwards, concerned that another faction of the supernatural would come and stop them.
And so, it became hallowed ground. A shrine to those who had fallen.
It has been twenty years, and only now is it starting to be repopulated. A large group of vampires from Miami have travelled, lead by Chase DeSalle - a former Primogen and Sheriff, now Prince - to rebuild on behalf of the Camarilla.
