Alamut

Art by Pat Morrissey

Alamut, also known as Alah Amut (literally "Eagle's Nest"), is the headquarters of the Assamite clan located somewhere in the Middle East.

History

According to legend the Alamut is a mountain fortress whose exact location is a closely guarded secret. The head of the Assamite clan is referred to as the Old Man of the Mountain as he controls Alamut.

Reportedly a Nosferatu spy discovered the location of Alamut sometime during the Anarch Revolt. This discovery was part of the reason the Assamites chose to surrender and submit to the Tremere curse, rather than allow outsiders to attack and invade their home.

Sabbat Conquest (V5 timeline)

At some point over the course of the Gehenna Crusade, the Sabbat descended upon Alamut with their full, newly-concentrated force. The fortress and the entire region surrounding it has been scoured of all life and twisted with the eldritch sorcery of the Black Hand. Nighttime is lengthened around Alamut, such that a single night can stretch across up to forty days without end, and non-Sabbat Kindred are mentally forbidden from approaching.

Supposedly, the site of Alamut itself is largely undamaged; when the Sabbat claimed it for themselves, they shrouded the mountaintop in darkness and cleansed the surrounding area such that not a single drop of blood stained the earth. Shepherd and schismatic scouts alike come back with stories of the fortress being in the clutches of "an Ancient who was Ancient when the children of Caine were young, a killer of killers", and "a witch with three eyes whose vitae enthralls those who partake of it in but a single draught". In these times of flame, many in the middle east consider Alamut to be the heart of the region's Sabbat infestation from which the rest of their corruption spreads.

Geography

The exact number of vampires in residence at Alamut is unknown. Due to the secrecy involved and the large amount of blood needed by its sorcerers, it is likely Alamut has a resident human and ghoul population to keep the Assamites fed. Even with a resident herd, it is unlikely that Alamut could have more than a few dozen Assamites in residence at a time and still remain undiscovered.

Layout

The layout of Alamut is also largely unknown. Only a few details have surfaced.

The Central Vault is a large open area within Alamut, carved out of the living rock of the mountain. Looking up into the vault will reveal the night sky... despite being underground. The vault does not open to the actual outside, but somehow mysteriously allows viewing of the stars. The stars shift through the seasons, mirroring the outside world. Whether the stars are visible even during the day is unknown.

The Black Throne of Haqim allegedly rose out of the ground when Haqim drove his spear into the solid rock. He built Alamut around it. The spear is still embedded in the throne. Several prophecies about Gehenna mention Caine ruling from a Black Throne. It is unknown if this is the same throne.

The Heartsblood of the clan is a great magical well filled with vitae from all the Assamites that have ever visited Alamut. The primary use for the well is to allow sorcerers to use Dur-An-Ki on their clanmates. A ritual allows them to draw a sample of a specific vampire's vitae from the well, which may be used to affect them with sorcery from afar. It is believed Ur-Shulgi used the Heartsblood as a focus for breaking the Tremere curse on the clan.

References

• VTM: Clanbook: Assamite, p. 10
• VTM: Clanbook: Assamite Revised, p. 16-17