Caine

In Vampire: the Masquerade, Caine is the father of all Vampires. He is, in fact, the Biblical Cain, although the final 'E' is always added when referring to the Vampire.

Caine's History
The bulk of Caine's history is covered in the Book of Nod and an alternate telling, the Ericyes Fragments.

Nod
After killing his brother Abel, Caine was punished by God to wander in the lands of Nod, east of Eden. While wandering there, Caine encountered Lilith, his father Adam's first wife. From Lilith he learned the basics of the Disciplines. Caine was then visited by four Angels, agents of God who offered him the chance to repent for Abel's murder. Caine rejected each angel in turn, only to be cursed by God for each rejection: weakness to fire, vulnerability to sunlight, thirst for blood and constant betrayal.

Enoch
Caine abandons Lilith and continues to wander for some unspecified period of time. Until he comes to the city Enoch founded by descendants of his brother Seth (all Kine are descended from Seth). Caine seduces the city's king, Enoch (Second Generation), converting him into his first childe.

For centuries, Caine rules Enoch as its king and god, demanding worship and sacrifice from its population. He embraces others at this time, creating the Second Generation of vampires. His childer in turn embrace others, the Antediluvians. Eventually Enoch grows in power and wickedness until God strikes the city down, sending the Great Flood to wipe out all living creatures on earth.

Post Enoch
Caine disappears from the narrative after Enoch. Apocryphally, he appeared in the Second City and cursed his descendants with the characteristic weaknesses of each clan, however he has never appeared in a verifiable form.

Gehenna
Noddist mythology claims that Caine will return at the end of time to judge his descendants, the Antediluvians and all vampires descended from them. This will be the end of Gehenna and the vampiric race in all likelihood. The Sabbat's epithet, The Sword Of Caine refers to their belief that they will aid Caine in striking down the Antediluvians when Gehenna comes.

Alternative Interpretations
The Camarilla denies the existence of Caine, and modern Kindred are generally skeptical of Noddist mythology. The Gangrel scholar Beckett is particularly know for interpreting Caine mythology as a conflict between farmer and hunter tribes.

Appearance And Abilities
Caine's capacities are outside the ability of the Storyteller system to model, it is reasonable to assume that he has completely mastered all Disciplines and may possess the ability to create new Disciplines on the fly. Basically, whatever Caine wants to do, Caine can do.

Almost anything else about Caine's attributes follows the Biblical description: if Caine is harmed, the damage is returned sevenfold. In addition, Caine is marked with a sign of God's displeasure.

Canon Appearances
Caine figures in one scenario in Gehenna, where he is explicitly targeted and drawn out by Lilith for vengeance. In that scenario the Biblical curse does apply, and Lilith prepares a victim to strike the killing blow on Caine and then get squashed by the ineffable thumb of God. Caine is mentioned in passing in two other scenarios and presumed dead in the remaining one.

Caine also appears in the Gehenna Novel, in a general positive interpretation under an assumed name. This Caine travels with Beckett while witnessing the end of vampiric civilization.

Interpretations
Common interpretations of Caine are:
 * Dark Father: Emphasizing the eschatological aspects of Noddism. This Caine is a dark god who wreaks havoc and judgement on his descendants.


 * Fisher King: The standard 'regretful Caine'. The Fisher King interpretation feels remorse for his actions and now seeks a way out.

Appears In

 * Gehenna. The "Fair is Foul" scenario covers Lilith and Caine.
 * Gehenna: The Final Night. Caine is a cameo character in this novel.
 * The Book Of Nod. Ostensibly penned by Caine.
 * Ericyes Fragments. An alternative telling of the Book of Nod.