Once it had been discovered what their new immortality had cost them, the new Tremere sought to recreate the powers that they had known in life. The result was the magical Discipline they called Thaumaturgy. However, Tremere was not satisfied. He was well aware that the fledgling vampires were still in great danger, and he wanted to strengthen their place in the vampire hierarchy. After long research and seeking, he learned how the other clans had gained their permanency - by way of an ancient founder. He discovered the location of the sleeping Salubri founder, Saulot, and decided that the peaceful vampire would make the best target for his designs. He tracked Saulot to his resting-place and diablerized him. All accounts say that Saulot died peacefully and without resistance, although the Tremere were terrified by the sight of his third eye opening and gazing on them.

The resulting war has continued now for nearly two centuries. The Tzimisce and Gangrel - the strongest clans in Hungary - have led the battle against the upstarts, but have been unable to defeat them. The Tremere have called upon the aid of the Order of Hermes, a circle of mortal magicians of which they are still a part, and have both their sorceries and mortal armies to protect them.

Over this period, the power of the Tremere has expanded. Now around half of the mages once loyal to Tremere have been Embraced, a few of them remaining in contact with their fellows in the Order of Hermes. Other mages have been Embraced, too, and brought into the clan. Perhaps most importantly, the Tremere have recently created new foot soldiers - the monstrous Gargoyles.

The Tremere's main strongholds are great fortresses in the mountains of Transylvania and Hungary, although they have fortified chantries (magical "guild houses") throughout Europe. Recently they have achieved a major victory against the older Cainites of Hungary, slaughtering several noble families upon whom the Tzimisce depended and thereby cementing their power within the country.

Their old links with the Order of Hermes bolster their power, as they can sometimes embroil these magicians in their plots. They also retain several of their mortal contacts and have the resources to employ many mortal messengers and spies.

Clan Tremere has the tightest organization of all clans. The war for survival demands nothing but absolute precision, and consequently neonates are often put under the Blood Oath. The founder now sleeps for years on end and shows little of his old fire when he wakes. The leadership of the clan thus passed to the deeply divided Council of Seven, the seven mages who were first transformed into vampires with Tremere himself. Recently, the Council divided the known world between themselves to avoid fractious arguments.

The unofficial leader of the Council is Goratrix, the loyal but scheming man who in life masterminded Tremere's plot to gain immortality. The Council has recently sent him to oversee the House's business in western Europe. The defensive, humane Etrius remains in the clan's stronghold of Ceoris in Hungary, coordinating the defense of their holdings and attempting to make peace with the Tzimisce and Gangrel. Meerlinda moderates disputes among the Council and governs the British Isles. The remaining members are still establishing their authority and do not contact their disciples with any frequency. Neonate Tremere under their authority might not even know the Councilors' names, answering instead to their chosen lieutenants.

The Council of Seven are in regular magical contact, but all seven only meet together each seven years to discuss important matters. Their next meeting is scheduled for 1199.

The Tremere are researching as much occult lore as possible, as they have always done, the better to survive the current war and earn a place among the other clans. To this end, they attempt communications with those Cainites which do not appear immediately hostile (which are few). They also pursue the legends of the Lupines, but not so aggressively.

Some members know a ritual that allows them to communicate with their sires along great distances. This, plus their access to several mortal messengers, allows the clan to collect information and coordinate its plans far better than any other clan.

Finally, the Tremere are encouraging the spread of their freakish creations, the Gargoyles. These brutish vampires were developed from Gangrel and Tzimisce "materials" but are know able to sire their own progeny.

The bulk of the clan's elders are preoccupied with the battle against the Tzimisce and Gangrel. These older clans have recently launched a counterattack against the Hungarian Tremere, unleashing neonates, ghouls and mortal pawns in a final bid to curb the Usurpers' expansions. The violence has not been obvious to the mortals - just a few assassinations, brigands' raids and nobles' feuds - but Cainite casualties have been high. Vampires who had previously managed to remain neutral are being forced to choose sides or else flee from Hungary. However, the Tremere have been able to repel the worst of these attacks, particularly with the aid of the Gargoyles.

The Tremere are now making bids to extend their powers beyond their isolated chantries and settle in the towns and cities. Many younger members have been ordered to make havens or establish small chantries in western Europe's cities, where their Tzimisce and Gangrel enemies are weak.

The Tremere are also concerned with their reputation in the Order of Hermes. The Order has so far been unaware that the Tremere's leaders have become vampires. As the Seven have sought to increase their influence, however, they have Embraced an increasing number of mages, and the Order is coming to realize what creatures lurk in their ranks. The Tremere fear that they must soon either split from the Order or make a bid to control it. 

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