April 2007.

"In the end, we're weaker than they are," says Julian, watching a trio of teenagers across the 7-Eleven parking lot. He drinks blood from his X-Treme Gulp and uses it to gesture to mortals. "I mean, spiritually, we're weaker. We're like victims of scurvy or something - we can't heal."

"The Beast", you say.

"I won't ask what you did under his rule," says Julian. "Or what you did on your own and blamed the Beast. But I know the Beast will eat you if you're not careful. It will eat your soul and live behind your eyes. When that happens to one of us, the Camarilla calls them wights and hunts them down."

"And the Assamites?" you ask.

"I don't know," says Julian. "I never had the nerve to ask."

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