1920–1939 – Prohibition, Syndicate Rise, Madtown Mage Cabal Forms
🜂 1920–1939: The Crimson Deal and the Broken Web
“It was a time of smoke, spirits, and sorcery—where the rules were written in blood, and then rewritten in fire.”
— Sara Greenberg, speaking at the founding of the Madtown Mage Cabal
🥃 1920s – Prohibition & Kindred Consolidation
- Brandy Madison (Malkavian) is officially recognized as Prince of Madison in 1919. She solidifies her rule through alliances with a Primogen council including Victor King (Ventrue), Devin Tridel-Myor (Toreador), Otto Wolfgang (Gangrel), and Adam Vansin, a Russian crime lordWoD History of Madtown ….
- Mai Kanaan, a Follower of Set, challenges the Camarilla’s grip on Madison by waging a criminal war during Prohibition. This ignites a brutal conflict with Vansin’s Brujah allies, spilling into the city’s underworldWoD History of Madtown ….
- The Sabbat, regrouping after the Second Civil War, makes its first major push into rural Dane County, launching nighttime assaults on minor Caerns and targeting Garou-held territoryWoD History of Madtown ….
- Syndicate agents, leveraging the economic chaos of Prohibition, embed themselves into Madison’s growing capitalist elite. They launder money through taverns and municipal projects, attempting to buy their way back into the city after being banished during WWIWoD History of Madtown ….
🜏 1925 – Creation of Madison’s Horizon Realm Begins
- Jay Dee, with guidance from spiritual allies, links ten major Nodes across Madison, giving them to various Traditions (including Hermetics, Verbena, Dreamspeakers, and the Celestial Chorus) to empower a new Horizon Realm meant to reinforce the Third Anchor of the Nameless’ prisonWoD History of Madtown ….
- The Technocracy retaliates, launching another attempted Pogrom in Madison. The Mage Traditions repel the assault, but Technocratic sleeper agents remain in the city, watching and waitingWoD History of Madtown ….
🧨 1929 – The Great Depression & the Sabbat Surge
- As the stock market crashes, the Sabbat launch their strongest assault in Madison’s history, using economic unrest to establish footholds in rural Wisconsin.
- Werewolves redirect their rage from Kindred to the Sabbat, temporarily giving the Camarilla breathing room.
- The Order of Hermes, with the help of Tremere regent Becca Troy, wages magical war against Sabbat packs and Nephandi-backed cultsWoD History of Madtown ….
- Meanwhile, the Verbena and Celestial Chorus fight the Syndicate, disrupting their attempts to entrench in Madison’s spiritual infrastructure. The conflict leaves deep philosophical wounds between TraditionsWoD History of Madtown ….
🏛️ 1930–1939 – Rise of the Madtown Mage Cabal
- In response to growing conflict, Sara Greenberg, now Awakened, and Gwydion Kelly form the Madtown Mage Cabal—a political and magical union of spiritualists, Hermetics, technomancers, and urban occultists to stabilize the Capitol Node and reclaim the Dreaming of MadisonMages of Madtown.
- Notable figures involved:
- Miriam Greenfield (Verbena): Defends Olbrich Gardens as a sacred Wyld site.
- Ann Johnston (Akashic): Trains Umbra-dancers to prepare for the Nameless’ return.
- Lea Nosson Goodwin (Celestial Chorus): Leads moral opposition to Syndicate influence.
- Aadhira Hebbar (Euthanatos): Begins internal purges of Nephandi infiltrators.
- 1931 – Jennie Justo, a Cultist and bootlegger, establishes the Cult Chantry, funding it through speakeasy operationsWoD History of Madtown ….
- 1932 – A peace treaty brokered by Otto Wolfgang (Gangrel) ends the Kindred-Werewolf war. The Arboretum is granted to the Garou; in return, the Kindred agree to remain out of sacred woodsWoD History of Madtown ….
- 1934 – A declaration from three independent Tzimisce—Melak, Kassey, and Balah—claims Baraboo. Their emissaries visit Brandy and Otto to assert independence, signaling a new Sabbat frontier at Madison’s borderWoD History of Madtown ….
- 1935 – The Sons of Ether publish the Anonymous Edition of Paradigma, dismantling racial and gender barriers in Etherite ranks. This catalyzes the rise of the Progressivists faction, influencing reformists in the Madtown Mage CabalWoD History of Madtown ….
Summary Table (1920–1939)
| Year | Key Event |
| 1920 | Followers of Set vs Brujah gang war. Sabbat and Anarchs fail to seize Madison. |
| 1925 | Jay Dee begins Horizon Realm construction; Technocracy defeated again. |
| 1929 | Sabbat assault during Great Depression. Order of Hermes + Tremere counterstrike. |
| 1931 | Jennie Justo establishes the Cultist Chantry through bootlegging. |
| 1932 | Peace between Kindred and Werewolves; Arboretum becomes Garou-held Caern. |
| 1934 | Baraboo claimed by independent Sabbat (Tzimisce faction). |
| 1935 | Paradigma exposes Etherite injustices. Madtown Cabal formally forms. |
| 1939 | Aadhira Hebbar arrives in Madison to study under Kerem Ishild Kay. WWII begins. |
🔮 Prehistoric & Mythic Eras
10–20 Billion BCE – The Big Bang and the Triat Begins
3.5–4 Billion BCE – Emergence of Life and Spirits on Earth
400 Million BCE – Ananasa Diversifies Insects
360 Million BCE – The Spider Spirit is Born
150 Million BCE – Age of Kings and Mokole Civilization
65 Million BCE – Fall of the Drachid Form and Age of Kings
2.5–1.75 Million BCE – Humanity Adopted by Weaver, Creation of Garou
100,000–10,000 BCE – Diaspora, Banestorm, War of Shame
🏺 Ancient History
6000 BCE – Sealing of the Nameless (First Binding)
5000 BCE – Fracture of the First Seal
4000 BCE – Rise of Babylon, Druidic Magick, First Shadow Tensions
3000 BCE – First Breach Attempt, Wounded Anchors
2000 BCE – Nephandi Almost Free the Nameless
1000 BCE – Third Fire Renewal by Croatan
🏛️ Classical to Early Medieval
1 CE – Dream of the Hollow Mask, Sentinel Appears
1000 CE – Silent Confluence and Renewal of the Third Seal
1634–1836 CE – Indigenous Stewardship, Colonial Spiritual War
🏙️ Modern Madison Founded
1836 – Madison Founded atop the Third Anchor
1860s – Civil War, Camp Randall Necromantic Spillover
1890s – Technocratic Assaults, Gahara Pact Forms
🔥 20th Century Events
1900–1915 – Capitol Fire, Fall of the Lords of Madison
1914–1920 – WWI, New Avalon Echo, Sabbat Probes
1920–1939 – Prohibition, Syndicate Rise, Madtown Mage Cabal Forms
1940–1949 – WWII, Truax Field Founded, Nephandi Rituals
1950–1959 – Kindred–Garou War, Cold War Occult Espionage
1960–1969 – Civil Rights Awakening, Hollow One Expansion, Malkavian Prophecy
1970–1979 – Olbrich Alliance, Sabbat Incursion, Eclipse Ritual
1980–1985 – Digital Web War, Capitol Murders, Nameless Awakens
🎭 Current Campaign Start
February 1985 – Opening Night: Madtown by Night Begins