For time unrecorded, the Assamites have inhabited Alamut, the Eagle's Nest, a powerful, secret fortress somewhere in the mountains of the East. This fortress is inviolate; any infidel vampires found even remotely close to Alamut are quickly killed and diablerized. Assamites value their privacy beyond almost everything; the exception is the safety of the clan.

The spread of Islam has affected the Assamites, to be sure. One group of devotees, following a priest named Ismail, has settled in the mountains around Alamut. The children of Haqim have befriended this group and assist them against their enemies. Currently, the Assamites train the Ismailis in the arts of guile and slaying - the most promising have already earned the name hashashiyyin. If another Crusade comes, the East shall be ready for it.

The Assamites are likely the most strictly hierarchical clan, with the possible exception of the Tremere. They have incorporated many Islamic teachings into their personal code, strengthening the clan overall. Their greatest obstacle at this point is the animosity the Western clans bear for them, but it is nothing the Assamites had not expected.

The Assamites completely dominate large stretches of mountain land in the East, controlling their estates through impenetrable castles commanded by loyal ghouls. Their control of these areas is absolute. No Cainite may enter the lands uninvited, and all of the regions' mortals bow to them. They have leverage over monarchs as far afield as Cyprus, Jerusalem and Cairo, but as they are feared they are also hated. The Assamites have no friends, just reluctant enemies.

They have little influence among Western Cainites, and equally little desire for such. Their interactions with other clans are brief and businesslike.

The Assamites brook no insubordination among their ranks. Fortunately, rebellious or malcontent clan members are as rare as blue rubies. Their hierarchy begins with the fida'i, the apprentices. After seven years of service, worthy fida'i may advance to full clan membership as rafiq. Rafiq are specialists and assassins, serving the clan as best they may.

Above the rafiq sit the silsila, the clan elders. They instruct rafiq and fida'i in Assamite spirituality and judge when an apprentice is ready to become rafiq. One is appointed to the great honor of silsila only by the Master and the du'at. The du'at are the three most senior clan members aside from the Master. They act as advisors on their respective fields of interest: the caliph oversees military operations; the vizier maintains the library and learning of the clan; and the amr watches over all things magical for the Assamites, including research into the Disciplines.

The Assamite hierarchy peaks with the Master of Alamut, also known as the Old Man of the Mountain. His word is law, second only to the teachings of Haqim. Any clan member may challenge the Master for his position, but the Master chooses the terms of the duel (physical, political or magical). Only the strongest and wisest Children of Haqim may rise to this post, and failures are ritually diablerized.

The Assamites recruit neonates purely from their subjects, selecting only the most zealous, pious and physically impressive. Females appear only as Elders, and outsiders are never Embraced. The Assamites do not tolerate infidels in their ranks. They are currently on a moderately aggresive recruiting drive. Their indoctrination process coerces neonates to serve the clan from a mix of loyalty, love, faith, fear and even brainwashing.

The clan follows the dictates of the Blood Road, actively pursuing Cainite blood in an attempt to raise themselves closer to Heaven. As a result, Assamites will offer their murderous services in exchange for vampiric vitae. They practice diablerie without hesitation, scorning the Westerns' edicts. The only line no Assamite will cross is betraying the clan - they never accept assassination contracts against each other and no not practice diablerie on other Assamites. The goals of the Blood Road have deep spiritual meaning for the Assamites, and take precedence over most individual concerns.

The Assamites feel the need to protect their mortal holdings from attack. They believe that another Crusade will come soon, particularly as the Ventrue become more and more infuriated with Assamite activity in Europe. The clan cannot decide how much effort to take from their ultimate goal - the Blood's Road - and spend on neutralizing the Crusade before it happens.

Recently, emissaries from the Followers of Set have arrived in their lands, offering assistance and special goods in exchange for unspecified favors. The Assamite elders have not yet decided what to make of these proposals, or of the Setites themselves.

Some hope that Haqim himself will awake from torpor to reunite the clan, but only a few of the elders know where he lies - if indeed he still survives.

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