Halls of the Nephilim

Issue #10 had me engrossed the entire time. Ali's treachery is revealed and Cecily has to deal with her by committing the most grievous of vampiric sins. There is some fantastic action and gore. Calder and Fairfax's use of thaumaturgy is horrific and many members of the Mortician's Army are slaughtered. When the dust settles Cecily is made Prince of the city. 

The Anarch's regroup. While trying to flee the city they are nearly killed by hunters. If not for the timely arrival of some werewolves, they'd have been dusted.

The game material featured is four new thin-blood alchemy creations. 

I realize that I didn't go into as much detail with this one. It's not that it was a bad issue, quite the contrary, it was a fantastic one. I just knew I'd not be able to give it's due if I broke it down scene by scene. Winter's Teeth was a fantastic series. I am excited to found out that there is a three issue follow-up series. 

You can grab the Winter's Teeth finale here. 

The action just keeps ramping up. The Mortician's Army attacks the Camarilla towers. Many kindred are killed. Fairfax releases Erin Runningbear. Calder seems to be gravely wounded. Cecily wakes up and takes out many hunters, while search for the others. She finds Calder, who admits that he killed Prince Samantha, but that it was out of love not malice. Cecily says she understands and she gives him blood to heal. It's revealed that while she called the hunters to the tower, Ali has no love for them and just wants power. 

Cecily learns of Irma's death and realizes that Elana would be the person to silence her. She goes to Elena's home for retribution, only to find she's dead. Carfax, Calder, Ali, and the rest of the court are there. After a confrontation, Cecily and Ali are tasked to avenge Elana's death. Cecily gets Ali to reveal the truth as she heads to a mortuary. She plans on laying a trap for the Mortician's Army, but Ali turns on her. In The Anarch's Tale Part 8, the hunter ghouled by Priscilla recounts the origins of the Mortician's Army. We see the night he was attacked and how his wife was killed. The issues ends with the ghoul be killed by the reverend Priscilla took her to see. Priscilla is saddened by the ghoul's death, as she promised to protect her. 

Surprisingly, Cecily only appears in the very beginning. The Winter's Teeth segment of the issue focuses on Ali, Calder, and a Cull. There is a tradition in the Camarilla in which mortals that have been exposed to vampire society are killed. In order to appease a high ranking member of his Clan, Calder orders one. The mortals are medical professionals, ex-lovers, a few potential hunters, and Cecily's sister's nurse, Irma. Ali negotiates for Irma's releases, but in the end is forced to kill her to safe the life of the child of suspected hunter. She is then told she must kill the child anyway and show proof. She appears to do so, though we never see it happen and she tosses the boy's ear to Calder. The elder, Carfax arrives in the Twin Cities and notes his friend, Elana is never late. In the final panel we see Elana captured and the revelation that the boy not only is alive, but also the hunter!

In The Anarch's Tale Part 7 we find out that Colleen is having a great time. She is working at a dinner called Red's Brewing. Here she learns about Thin-Blood Alchemy, a new power in the 5th edition of the game. She tests a new formula and while it initially appears to do nothing, it's later revealed to have temporarily stopped time (or at least appeared so). We also see that someone is secretly monitory her and the restaurant. The game stats connect back to the anarchs and we get game stats for Colleens sire, the Gangrel Mitch Pendergrass. 

This was definitely a bombshell issue. I didn't expect anything that happened (other than assuming that Ali didn't actually kill the boy). While it's possible this happened because she has a kind heart, the child is shown to have a bloody hammer, the symbol of the Mortician's Army and it's quite possible she knew who he was. I can't wait to find out.

Snag issue #7 here.

The second arc of Winter's Teeth seems to be focusing on the true nature of Ali. Cecily reveals some of her history to see if there are any tells. She also agrees to lend Ali to an extremely nervous Calder. She confronts Erin Runninbear before leaving and Erin reveals that she knows the only reason she hasn't been given the final death is because of Cecily. She also reveals that she will have her revenge. She goes to a club that's frequented by hunters and is attacked (though not by the person she expected). The hunter doesn't recognize Ali from a picture Cecily shows her, but does recognize what she's holding in it. She then tells Cecily the story of the Mortician's Army, before being killed. Cecily does some soul searching and starts to miss Ali, before she discovers the hammer Ali's been hiding and feels the sting of betrayal. The Anarch's Tale Part 6 focuses on Mitch, who's in the woods hunting. He reminisces about the time that he and his pack (which included Cecily at the time), were unstoppable Sabbat hunters. His journey down memory lane ends when he encounters a werewolf!   

Another of the Twin Cities' inner circle is discussed. This time we learn about the Malkavian known as Mother Joe.

I honestly feel bad for Cecily. Sure she's done some bad things, but as far as vampires go, she seems like a good person. Her struggle with learning about Ali is kind of heartbreaking, especially when she finds the hammer at the end. I don't have much to say about the Anarch part of the issue. It was cool, but not groundbreaking. It was cool to see a werewolf though!

You can get your own copy of the issue here.

Issue #4 starts with Cecily and Ali catching up to the two Anarchs that attacked them, taking them out, and getting important information about the truth. The spend most of the issue evading other kindred seeking to Diablerize them. They do so using explosives, a big ass sniper rifle, and the aid of the Nosferatu (who believe Cecily has empathy and compassion). Finally the pair confront Calder, who's holding Cecily's sister hostage. She reveals to Calder that it was Erin Runningbear that had the Prince Killed, not her. They strike a bargain in which Calder calls off the Blood Hunt, doesn't kill Runningbear, and agrees to make Ali his envoy to the Anarch's (making her untouchable). Cecily and Ali have a heart to heart. The story ends with Cecily going to her quiet secluded spot. Looking at Arlen's files, she learns that Ali is the daughter of a hunter. This leads right into The Anarch's Tale Part 5 as she is then joined by King Rat. It's revealed that the two are still close, even though they don't run in the same pack anymore. King lets her know their pack has disbanded. Mitch and Colleen discuss their embrace and part ways. Priscilla and her new ghouled hunter meet up at a religious service. It's show the minister has rattle snakes, which supports my Ministry believe about her. Finally King Rat warns her about Ali and mentions Cecily's sire, which angers her. The issue ends with a solitary and hungry Colleen talking with a new group (who's leader, Desmond, she recognizes). 

Of course we're presented with game bits. Another member of Prince Samantha's court, the Toreador Jim Gerswhin is given stats and discussed. Finally there's a portrait of the court. 

This is the finally of the series first arc. I honestly didn't expect the Blood Hunt to only last an issue and the mystery to get solved so quickly. I'm not disappointed, just didn't see it coming so quickly. The revelation that Ali might not be who she says she is surprised me (though maybe it shouldn't). I'm curious if Colleen is going to be the focus of the continued Anarch's Tales or if it will shift between the group. 

Grab issue #5 here.

Issue 4 sees Cecily and Ali searching for Prince Samantha's killer. The pair begin by interviewing the Prince's inner circle. We are introduced to Mother Joe, Jim Gershwin, Bosch Singh, and Elena Kowalksi. While Cecily believes Ali is being naïve in her interrogation, but she actually plays off the group well and deciphers than none of them have knowledge of the Prince's death. The pair head to the secret haven of the reclusive know-it-all shut-in Arlen Haight. Just as they are about to learn more information, Height is killed by his own Anarch bodyguards.  The story ends with the Tremere Calder calling a Blood Hunt on Cecily and Ali. The Anarch Stories Part 4 picks up with the group at a motel. King Rat shares information with the group about recent events happening in the Twin Cities and informs them their contact, Mr. Hate, has been killed. We see more parts of the story intertwining with Mr. Hate actually being Arlen Haight. Colleen mentions Cecily, which lets us know that she is the other woman in the group that she mentioned when in Part I of the story. The rest of the story focuses on Priscilla as she shares her origin story and blood bonds a still living hunter. The last panel reveals she has as serpent like tongue which leads me to believe she is from the Ministry (rebranded Followers of Set) rather than the Toreador. 

The game content for this issue is stats and background on two members of Prince Samantha's court, the Gangrel Bosche Singh and the Ventrue Elena Kowalksa.

This issue focused on how you can't really trust anyone in VtM. Haight is killed by hire retainers. Cecily scolds Ali for looking weak and says that she would have been dusted if it hadn't been for her acting as guardian. Finally in the Anarch story we learn that Priscilla is hiding her true nature from the group. Overall this is another great issue in the series.

Snag Winter's Teeth #4 here today.

Issue 3 of Winter's Teeth ramps up the intrigue. While investigating the deaths of Ms. Sphinc and her brothers, Ali finds the jump drive the nosferatu were given. The jump drive leads back to Cordell who's being tortured by the hunters. These aren't just ordinary hunters though, they are the Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, ghouls who cannibalize parts of vampires to gain their disciplines. There's a cool fight between Cecily, Ali, and the Wolves. We get to see Celerity, Potence, and Dominate in action. After the fight the pair head to Primegon Calder Wendt's penthouse. Calder, a tremere, has appeared in previous issues and seems to be Cecily's main contact. The story ends with news that Prince Samantha has been killed and an image of her decapitated corpse.

This part of of Winter's Teeth is action packed. The fight with the Wolves in Sheep's Clothing is great. It's also cool to see Ali take a more active role. She's able to crack the jump drive and also save Cecily, who's being dominated by one of the ghouls. We also see some more advancement of Cecily's character. She's acknowledged that she's using Ali to replace the mortal sister that's grown old on her.

The Anarch's Tales Part 3 focuses on King Rat. We learn that King was a short African American kid who grew up in the 60's and enlisted in the marines. He was a tunnel rat because of his size and it was while going through an enemy tunnel that he encounter the nosferatu that sired him. In the present day he uses his abilities to help free his friends, with some help from Coleen who uses her disciplines to affect the hunters' dog.  

Issue #2 continues where issue #1 left off. We are officially introduced to Prince Samantha of the Twin Cities and her council. Cecily lies an introduces Alejandra as her childe. Ali, as Cecily calls her, is different and learns she must take blood directly from human prey. She can't keep animal blood and blood bags down. Cecily leads her on her first hunt, having her target a drug dealer. After feeding and killing the dealer, she also shows Ali that he was the only one that looked after her daughter. This less hurts Ali, but teaches her that good or bad, in the end people are just trying to survive. We catch a flashback to Cecily's embrace and her kneeling before something with glowing red eyes peering out through the darkness. There is a bit of intrigue as Cordell Block, who's girlfriend Cecily killed in the previous issue, is hands over a flash drive with important information about the Prince and her plans to a nosferatu hacker named Sphinc. After he leaves, Sphinc and her compatriots are killed by three individuals using night vision goggles. This leads to Cecily getting a call that vampires have been killed by hunters. 

The World of Darkness is calling to me again. At some point I want to pick up the newly released Werewolf the Apocalypse, Hunter the Reckoning, and Vampire the Masquerade. Of the three, Vampire is probably the first I'll with. In order to get into the proper mindset I've decided to finish reading the Winter's Teeth comic and review the issues. Each issue actually features two different stories that run concurrently.