The Rise, Fall, and Return of Mithras

Any story of London must begin with Mithras, the legendary Ventrue methuselah who claimed London as his domain for
close to two millennia. Mithras came to Britain in the 1st century CE with the invasion force led by general Aulus Plautius
under Emperor Claudius, and quickly established the Roman province of Britannia as his own private domain. Although
over the following centuries Mithras continued to travel widely, he always named Londinium as his home, and he would
suffer no contest over this territory. Other Kindred could dwell in Britain, but only if they accepted his authority.
Mithras established the Blood Laws for his Kindred so each could be put to its own purpose, and cut it off if
subjects long before the Camarilla’s formation, and in fact exposed to his enemies. For more on the Mithraic Mysteries,
many believe these were appropriated by the Camarilla’s see V5: Cults of the Blood Gods.
Founders for their own Traditions centuries later. Mithras
observed the formation of the Camarilla with interest but
did not participate in the Convention of Thorns. In truth he
has always preferred to operate independently of the sect,
although his interests have often aligned with it.
One source of tension between Mithras and the
Camarilla was the continued animosity between Mithras’s
lineage of Ventrue Kindred, and the Toreador lineages of
France and Scotland, who over the years repeatedly
interfered with English politics. When the Ventrue finally
secured the upper hand in the 17th century, they forced the
Toreador to sign the Treaty of Durham. This pact of
mutual non-interference by each clan in the other’s affairs
was secured by an exchange of hostages and remains in
effect to modern nights.
Mithras harbored a hatred for the Tremere too, partly
because he saw them as usurpers who had no right to
claim the lifeblood of their clan founder, but also because
Clan Tremere often allied with the Toreador to meddle in
his affairs. In addition, some believe it is because Mithras
himself was a practitioner of Blood Sorcery, and that he
did not believe the Warlocks deserved to learn the same
secrets. He held a dim view of the Giovanni for similar
reasons, and because of the threat that they continued to
pose to his loyal friend and lover Roger de Camden. For
more information on the Giovanni, see V5: Cults of the
Blood Gods.
As London grew in population and importance, Mithras
found it necessary to appoint subordinates to manage and
police his domain for him. He also ensured the
continuation of the Mithraic cults over the centuries,
building up multiple cells that were unaware of – and
operated independently of – each other to further his own
agendas. At the dawn of the 20th century there were at
least six separate temples active in London, the largest and
most important being the one managed by Thomas (Roger
de Camden in a new body) from a new site at Doughty
House in Richmond, west London.
As the decades passed however, the Kindred population of
London swelled, and the number of Mithras’s enemies
grew. It was only a matter of time before someone would
attempt to overthrow him.
THEMITHRAIC MYSTERIES
The “Cult of Mithras” is, in fact, many cults operating
separately (and hidden) from each other. Each Cult is
overseen by a Pater; some of them were in contact with
others and some operated alone. Mithras designed the cells
7 The Plot Against Mithras
The Ventrue elder Valerius was once a loyal member of a Mithraic Cult based in Greenwich, keen to serve the methuselah
who ruled London and the larger domain of Avalon. When Mithras promoted Valerius to serve as Seneschal of London
during the methuselah’s absence from the city in the 19th century, the latter was grateful for the honor and the opportunity.
However, when Mithras returned to London in 1885 instead of thanking Valerius for his efforts, he poured scorn on them
and stripped him of office. Furthermore, Mithras then awarded the title of Seneschal to Valerius’s childe Anne Bowesley.
Valerius was a pariah thereafter, cast out of the Court and the Mithraic cult. Few were willing to openly side with him, for
risk of incurring the methuselah’s wrath.
For decades afterwards Valerius nursed his grievances, and in the year 1940 he finally saw his chance to take revenge.
Two of his spies stumbled across an intimate scene between Mithras and a Kindred ancilla named Thomas who was seldom
seen at Court. Valerius realized that he could exploit any close relationship between Mithras and another Kindred to his
advantage.
Valerius returned to the Mithraic cult in Greenwich which he used to command, seeking more information about
Thomas, and other discontented members who might become allies. His inquiries resulted in him receiving a message from
Richard de Worde, a Nosferatu elder, initiate of the Mithraic Mysteries, and Mithras’ former spy master until the methuselah
rebuked him for dereliction of duty. Now, de Worde sought revenge for the loss of face and status – and he had identified
Pater Thomas as Roger de Camden. The two made a pact to kidnap Thomas née Camden and to use him as bait in a trap set
for Mithras.
Valerius used his connections with the British Admiralty to access the site of the Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham
Abbey, on the very outskirts of greater London. He recalled that in January of the same year there had been a terrible
accident, an explosion that had killed and injured many mortals, and which had been heard for miles in all directions.
Valerius surmised that such a powerful blast would be enough to eliminate a methuselah as powerful as Mithras, and so laid
a trap, using de Camden as bait.
After staking and restraining de Camden, Valerius sent word to Mithras to come to the Gunpowder Mills to rescue his lover.
Valerius stationed himself at a safe distance, and as soon as the methuselah was spotted, gave the signal for the gunpowder
stores to be lit. The resulting explosion was deafening, powerful enough to wreck entire buildings at the site and blow off
the roof of the nearby church. There was no sign of Mithras or de Camden, and in the following weeks they did not
reappear.
Valerius, ever cautious, waited for months afterwards to be sure that his plan had really succeeded. After half a year, he
decided that enough time had passed, and he went to his progeny, Anne Bowesley, to explain what he had done. He claimed
that he had done it for her, so she could become the Prince of London. As he had hoped, she was quick to embrace the
opportunity, announcing to the Kindred Court of London that she possessed evidence that Mithras had been destroyed by a
recent bomb dropped by the Germans during the Blitz. Valerius himself was once again welcomed at Court, and it was not
long before Queen Anne promoted him to Seneschal.

A Dark Interlude
Unbeknownst to Valerius, Mithras survived the trap that was set for him. He was just in time to free de Camden, who
quickly retreated into the Shadowlands, the realm of the dead. The methuselah was unfortunately unable to escape the blast
himself, but his exceptional powers of Fortitude were enough to prevent his final death. Severely injured, he fled in a frenzy
south into Epping Forest, where he sunk into the earth into torpor.
Later, by interrogating nearby spirits, de Camden learned that the Ventrue had escaped the scene, and had entered lupine
territory, but was uncertain as to his exact location. After the news of Mithras’s demise spread at Court, membership of the
various Mithraic cults in the city quickly dwindled. Since his real identity was known to Valerius and his cronies, de
Camden dared not attend Court alone. With few
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