By Arthur-Trevor D.M. Lasher (4 July 1995)
Refer to the Path of Thorns description for more background material.
"The Daggers"
It was the early years of the Roman Empire, during the reign of Octavian, called Augustus, when the beginnings of the subsect which would call itself the Sicariot began.
Judea was in turmoil, having recently lost autonomy to the Roman satraps and increasingly rebellious against what the natives perceived as a decadent and evil civilisation. While most simply plodded about the best they could, hoping that their god would deliver them, others took action.
The Zealots were a faction of such individuals. They were dedicated to overthrowing the Roman occupation in Judea. Most, however, were limited to acts of petty banditry. A few though, were to become the scourges of the land.
They called themselves "Sicarii", referring to their trademark daggers which they so loved to plunge into the hearts of their occupiers. For a while, it seemed as if Judea would undergo a general revolt as the Sicarii grew strong within the Zealots and the Zealots gained favour with the Judeans.
That all changed, almost in a fortnight.
The Fifth Generation Abaddonite, Halikh, appeared before the Sicarii one night while they were discussing the meaning of a new prophet in the land and what his relevance was to their mission. Halikh listened at first, hidden from their eyes. He listened to their stories about a man named Yeshua, a Nazarene. But when one of the Sicarii, Judas, sought to persuade his companions of Yeshua's message, Halikh rose from his perch.
Abaddonite legend then tells of how Halikh prophesied for them, telling them of what would come of Yeshuah, of how he failed to fulfill the mandate the Sicarii sought, of how, instead, he would spawn a faith which would reach out to the lands beyond, reducing Judea to irrelevancy as the star of Rome continued to rise.
Judas is said to have been crushed by the revelation, and soon departed to meet his fate behind the chamber doors of the Sanhedrin where a deal had already been offered...
The others, however, were intrigued and frightened by what the Kindred had told them. A world without faith, a world of darkness and death, a world were men fought and died over nuances. This was not the world the Messiah was supposed to have brought. Halikh could only agree. And so, he made them an offer.
"Come with me, my sons. Let me take to in my arms and bestow upon you the gift of my kind. I will take you away from all of this suffering your land will soon succumb to, and allow you a chance at a higher purpose," he said.
After some discussion, they agreed, almost to the man.
The Sicariot, once feared throughout Judea, suddenly disappeared from the land shortly before a certain Nazarene was executed for treason by the occupying authorities. They were now Abaddonites and the core of the future faction of the Sabbat which would carry their name: Sicarii. The Daggers.
With this thought, came the fruits of Union. The Regent, as the years went by, became increasingly convinced that the Hand was working under their own agenda, one parallel to but not completely of the Sabbat's. What was needed was a counterweight to them, one powerful enough to both give the Hand a warning and to act as the Regent's own personal army of covert operators.
Coincidentally, two elders, one a Nephilim Templar and the other an Abaddonite Patriarch, were thinking along the same lines. The Abaddonites were becoming ever wary of the encroachment of their lands by the Camarilla and the activities of the Inconnu. Other Sicarii Clans had similar worries. The Nephilim, aware that his ruler was searching for an alternative to the Hand, offered membership into the Sabbat for the entire Sicarii sect. Incredulous, the Abaddonite left to consult with his authorities. He was astounded to find that the spiritual head of the Path of Thorns, the Antipater, was waiting for the Patriarch and had already approved the Union.
And so it was that the Sicariot became the right hand of the Regent of the Sabbat. The marriage has been one of convenience, to be sure, but it has benefited both groups. The Regent now feels safer from the Hand (but is now beginning to fear the Sicarii) and the Sicarii are safe from the heretical hordes beyond the confines of the Sabbat (but are now contemplating turning on one particular Clan for its dealings with Infernal Powers.).
Abaddonites: The largest and, until recently, the most powerful of the Clans. They are almost uniformally theologians and priests and form the backbone of the sect's faith, the Path of Thorns. Of late, they've been receeding into the background, allegedly because they have access to knowledge which informs them of dire matters to come.
Azazelians: The officers of the Sicariot. Azis, as they are frequently called, are also the subsect's teachers and it is with them that many a Sicarii or regular Sabbat member come to learn the arts of war.
Baelites: The footsoldiers of the Sicariot and quite possibly the most brutal of Clans outside of the Baali (with whom they are often confused). Their task is quite simple: break things and kill people.
Belialians: The second-largest and now the most powerful of the Clans. Belialians are known for their manipulative skills and are constantly known for their arcane plots and conspiracies.
Mashithites: Everything sensual in a vampire is epitomised in the Mashithites, a Bloodline descended from the Daughters of Cocophony and now the chief infiltrators of the subsect. They are the newest recruits to the Sicariot.
Nephilim: Legend ascribes the creation of the Nephilim to a coupling between Lilith and an unnamed mortal (some say it was Caine, himself). Whatever their origin, this strange and enigmatic Bloodline is among the oldest of Kindred this world has ever seen. They are the smallest of the Sicariot's members but are one of the sect's founding fathers.
--The Abaddonites have withdrawn from many leadership positions because they sense the Regent is about ready to purge them.
--The Regent is about ready to outlaw the Path of Thorns, placing it in the same catagory as the Path of Evil Revelations and siccing the Inquisition after those who continue to practise it...effectively dissolving the Sicariot.
--The current Antipater, Baphomet IV, is in torpor and is being manipulated by the College of Cardinals through a secret, alternative Unholy See in Avignon.
--The Black Hand is prepared to move on the Sicarii at a moment's notice and is lobbying the Regent to be allowed to do so.
--The Nephilim are actually a creation of the Tzimisce.
--The Mashithites are too close to the Tzimisce for comfort and many are becoming uncomfortable with their manner.
--The Sicariot works secretly for the Inconuu.
--The Abaddonites know when Gehenna will come and that is why they've all head for the hills.