CO,fiC~p,t raoA :,el!:1gn::}~ rtn Aehllll, Phi!

jpp Boulle, Bill Rridgc£ Dean 13lilmh:nUi Ken Clif~ ,Conradi Hubbanl, ,M'uke

1L - e I CtlTi~ Mei Ii)OU 1. Em.: n'ke I, PI R Edurd Thomas, ik

~"!:'''''''mnev~ 'reph~"El Wit:ckl Stewart Wieck and Fu'I[:(tef~ck l!e~k

S eeend- ,tage 'Co,J1lcle_ t an I~ L:igOi Justin Addllt Bill

Bridgei, ',: En CUf(~! Chris Me Doneugh and Frederick YIi! ~k Th~nl~ ,tage Coocep~:&Itd ID~ ~ign::; JU5[ill.Achilli., 'SiUt Brid , , Ken Cliffe. CDllJrnd Hill bard, Chrl McDoi'loU 'hi' Mike Tmn.ey; Aaron Voss and Fred'~r.kk Ye ~k

- 'i' io,n.] Co,lilceph:ml and De i:gn A~si' , , I.l! e;, C"", rlBow n, ~ John Chambers and Marn:h,.e\\' Mc.F~lIrlilll.d

- VafnlOin:: Req1.!Ue:m i~ illfiJ!.ired '~, 'Vam~i Th~ MMglLl:e:md'e

'Va.[IJlpj'!l:\e~ ,e " ' asqu ,-Lfade was created hi' Ma'r-k Rein· Hasen

Wfjt~~n. b- ~ ArD M~.m1leUt Dean Shomshak I:tncl C. A. Suhl!!Qm n , ,,' arId. of' " ,1m - ~ created b¥' M~ r ' '&ein· Hagen

WOIr.:Id o,f ~r'klIDle81~ co-created by Sn~\\~n Wieck

Addi" ,.. JV rial; JWllin Ach "IH C"_;jd &l~ John ChallL'n ~, Manht1j,\; McFm-lru-rd~.. m111 R..oaik, ,MBltmh ~ Rourke and Gn.-g Swire 'lev-elope : J u- dn Adl:iUi

. I velnpmentd . s~r' tancei BilllSridgcs, and Ken Cliffe diw,[ ~ carl Bowen.

A:rt D,ill!". _ for: Pau'lime Bcnn~v

'ayo1JJlt &. . ,,~~ea~~ti!llg: P:;JJL]I~ne f:k.llney

lo:tt..""Tio-r A[1t: .. ' muel .' 'ray •• Darren. &cler, Tim B_,~ ds~ ocr Brom, Ave!)' Butterworth, P~IU[ime IknneYh Sh:M1I2' Coppag,e~ ,M rko Djurdjlevk: fred Hooper. TF3v~" lngra n, A lex Malee'll, Ken MCf,cr JR, M. rk A, N .. ~·' n, ,. ichael PhU I ippi, cff Rebner. J S 'R~~ICh1 M:iIlttias. ':'nygg.~ Rich TI101l1ln$1' j'oFihuc; Gabriel

LrnhTooJ~, An·~v Tmb'bold., .ons n Vren1Jl I Cal hy Willkim CQNer'Design: ffirltt rrnil1hcilJ.'f

Fir.s~ .. ·anl'11J Sec.ond~Sta,~e P'bll"ltesteri Chu:mJLin Addktgton' At n Alexander; Deml n AnderSo:ll1~ am Anderson: JO' ils~ J ('J hnson Ai"J.{ln-as.'5C!n; D.n .. id BCl',gk\1 lst, Krn.ig Blncb\.'e:~Jt: u~ , arn~ l.u :e Boswell, Ca.._~ ndea Br~,keu· Ry~n Bf3ndns:~ nm,d Bvsl1tJ.ml' JBC~l Ch.ism; [ames Corner; Chris Co\'I:J]:li T(I],gI 1!loi~~ C fey ll-':tll'i; J. E!lumillger; Gflb Ferriere: Ke\l an ForbL~. D{'iug~ s A. FOf$}'th~j'C1!me8 Gooon.~, Fr d Gus.'i; ]~smine' ·M:lrrae Or~bble; Brent H:Jllsrea:ll~ Aaron [~annDn: Roberr ] Lom.lb('r~;

onrad (-:h;~bbud; Julian lubbard, Charles Kt:Be' ; Steve KenwO'i Bishop lewi:s~ T~fje' Lok ~iTIghohD;, Chad McG1'8 (h; Marta Mro; ·K risrer M- ~1ichl; AI tJerf MO~"1i~r ; Robin Ngi fj NI i - te Nudd: Corey Oven lal,e; M:lnhe~1 . etosa: Chri Renfro i MarrLai Renmarki Srcven SMrp~; Makohn :'hepp-aroj Ke3nlle~

'h.icd:er~ ~ my , Dc.an'hfJliO -htlk- Jeff· ~gen; J ' tin· lillilih.; Ted

lU'itlCnOnj Belen E. Tav~.or. Pl,.D."h josepb. TlIJTn~ri ]::J.!I'eU Ull1derwood,; Ra.chcd ,LBun:nieJ' W~nteI,; Jim Zubkavkh '

Til hd..' t:age iUllcl IJ!J"· olilse 'Pl:J'"'HH::ers;: J UHi n A chill i; Char'ie'S Bailey~ Andrew Bm:,e:s:; Ph~iip'pc Boulle; Carl Bowen; SUI BTid e ; Ch~. Brown, Dea.n BIJ m.tuHQ; Brad By _ .0\1' ich; R3phael 'CaSid~~ John Chambers; M i'ke Ch..'JirL£V; Ken, C~i,' e;

isa Eidson; Bri~n fj~ ~; Paul Gre-gorr'; Cnn1:(nJ [ubbard; Terrence ]aJme-.$; Beck l' jol[en;st'eni Kati,e McCas'kin~ Chris MC'Donolilll~·; M('1tt 'ML]be:r~r; Ben. Mornk~ eCado Ml-Lrr~~1; Rebecca Seh, CUr Mi,ke Tinney; A,~'rr m VOSli; A rum '" . ; Fn:~[·ic k Ydk i Di ;;J:LTlC :lamej ski,

;/d-"Q4--r

Th mb'to the Vl:'iiol1H1nes who blake boundaries and mdclinoo roli:pb~'mr: w~rh [he: previous mcar.narion of I[lm~iire: M~rk R in·[ h1_gen. St~(· teck, reven C" Bro-~ Tom Dowd, Andrew a~eenberi:, J~nV'dJ er Hanshom, Rooorr. :~-h"fJchl' Lisa Stevens, J ,·11 11m TOOk nd he: 1JI~_f! , ecntribueors 'I; ,fh ' se mimes were never menrioned but who nOfl~ilie1e&1il knOl!.1i.r who diLif..:'! are, W~ roukin't h::JJve done it wirhour rl\- rrail you M ~ be- re us.

- pecisl 'cl1rJlL1h tn ynu i wherh 'Ii jl'OU ]'~ j oini IiIg u lin a ter

'~] years. of rhrllls and ohms :l:r j'ust sho\vin~ up ·(01' th~ if5~ Em me, Game on I

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btrp:llwww.white.wol .. com;~I~.game.whi[C.!rvolf.md !'EC.' ~irmL"$LfI '~ tor)l tte'il jj PRINTE[) ]' ·C.~ ADA..

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.Dead; gour MaJ"el,ill. ,lJeait, my lards antJ"gEu"1.tlemen" Dead. Ri{iht Reoerends an:illfV:r:onp' R€iJeftn;ds Q(eUetl/ ()rilai~, De'tJ4, me'.t2 ana ~POmt?n, oc)'m with ,H6(l'umly cfJ'm:PQS's,fO)1. in gQur hearts: And il;yi.n{J' thus around us ,elJ.try d4!l,

_- Chiit',~es Dickens, Bleak House

V~nbph,~ blcod-dri n ling creatures of dte nigb;t. Honors born of dal"'n~, whose :sole purpose ~ Iii. ]'ire _-, Uin:~[rel acn.ia][j1 ~ i~ 'Eo ~W!k~ t'heit u~.'i,hn'ly ~hh'St Ol~ rhe' hk~(ld of the H'ling" W,~d,Iout do:ubt~ vamptres af'€ monsters,

'MQ:n~iI;eliS" rdwugh" need 'oot, b~l~lay$ he l!r~th ~n~illg, unfeel~:I]g !rG..Tro:~~n"t.pty ,Qf'r,etu.'lo'f.$B:, or ~v~n Cdmpas.')i{}Il! or e rlle'E" human twit'S" Indeed, V(iHfiOph-'e$ r;;an exceed their deathless curse ~ ehemselves h:floo~nh'l!g sntiherees or even heroes.

Then :8!g"ain! S-0l111e 1!.fflrlllpiIe5 tntly rem nn,n, H1G'11:S.t,e[$,,,

Th is is ehe purpose of Va[8i[pi(\~:: The Re,gjuiem. 'Wh"air 'You lwLd 1 n YfHJ!f 'hands is a Modem Gutth~c Storyte[Un,g game, '31 ro1~:~ayt~1,g ga'mc dl:iiiE ~J ~o,~ '100, to. ~mi~d chronicles rhat ~'X .. plore nwl'~ lit'!' through t'he fD:tewphm of v~m'pirism. In Va'I~]" 'Pil'~\ you "'play the monster," ~I1Ld wharr yo~, do. as thar monster both rml~ les. (or ;;lin '~nW:fe'$dng :SWIll and miglrt even te~ch vou a litt'ie'':JbO'l!n yo~~r own values and. those o.f vcmr fellows.

;f~~tr~

The serrlng of Vam:pir,e borrows ,greatly from got'hUG llrerarure, not [h~' smallest ameunr of w:~lic.h, comes rmf['l, the "set d:['@$$in~;' .of dH~ JTlJOV'em"en,t" K~'Y 00 'th.e ~,~ teHBIy gOtbic tr1id i~, t tOlt :rlITe thre ideas of b~J~baJ'is:mt oo,rnLpt~on and. medteva 1 ~m.~' , ~gery. This World Df Darkness can 'be said ro be ou r (}Wlll seen ~h:fOUgh the look ultUg gl~ eh;trk]y"

Whh, regard to barbarlam, the world of the vampires is 'I ukoB: our o.Wlb" but 'I.i~~i[h ;,l s,ug!,b,i'f.c~tliiE '~i'pt!J:l;.n, in 'v~,ol~ncif." and d,eca.y. T~le streets are Il%O[~ brutal t with the desperate eyes of tbe nnfol'[;u'[l;(t[e ever W,@j(jcbiul for someone more pri vi~.eged 6:,am w hom th,~y ean steal oom;en:h,i:riIg ('0 make their own ble,~k b vas more cotl1!fon~ab:re. (1an,~, are mere ~ct~v~ a;nd violent: va:gr:an["S are bolder 0;' Idley ob"~i\da;te themselves even more, Even those with "l.ra$!L resources are :ril.l.rr~'e" fe:gjJrflJJ!~, ot those whe '",I!lOU M harm them - or more. jealous of those who rlva l thei Ii' own weahh or power. The,u~ aC~UO~'l$ can turn n.c:rc.e w~.th dle :5~~ ugl:QJe~t PI:\OVOC:lt[i'oll.

COn'up~iDn goes h~t'"d hi. b~uJ:d ltd.rh the ;k1!e~l, of b"'Fbarisl)il.

The "iNorld. is m.sty a.11d bn_u:h;h~ and anyone who can get shead had bes[ :E~V:8Ja ,b.i'~ins~ If of die opponunity. Tl1Is ffi a ~\fo:rld, oJ und\ullgent del!gy! ~V;i1r~,dQ~~~ bu,~i:l:1eMI'r1i,en'~ cOWls loo'king fo:r a

pt=ly(dI and gE'~Stel:.s who lrave no other opt tom than crime, EV"~n those who don lC ,(I rr: into ~udl. neat j,ooni,c a[dl,~type-&. f'ae:e ,cor~pt:ion of thelr nwn~ ~UJ,¢'h ~$ an unwed mother whO' Ands hm;.$Blf addicted 00 drugs and sells her child :fo$" a f,~w' grams of ('~'ar,,'k~ 01" an otherwise honest jlCHJ.TrttLlisrt who finds, out d,b.a[ hi's b:roth~[ has become ':f~ bloedeh it's!ty croaeure of da.1!ikness: aod ITL'1US't ke~p the secret fur k~rwih ~P~~l sske,

Medi.ev~l, i rrna:gery '~d~rns all of the visual elements oJ the s~:t:(il"li,[;~ and i:E C~IiI~ even lMcOO ever iniJ:.O otb:¢[ aspect-" .. BUJm,ldung;s S08i. ~iH~DJ\1'~fljiM.~.rd, supported by n)~~.n;g buttresses, gild~d w'he:r!I, the archtteets ean ~f{Qrrd It ,:1l1d $ruchJ~{~ b~l g:;t,ltl'()yk~ thsr scare a,w-:-<l1Y evil s.pirlts [hat arc all roo real, Street'S, have rnn~n into disrepair. 'Eva) ciries fhem:5li~vcs are like medieval bastions, isolated rrolu thf: oli.u~tkJe world, xellopllnh~c and cur' 0«. Anechroulsms abound, lrom al1L~ ique decorarlons in otherlivuse 'Ultl':'~m.oderri lm,Hdtng.s to, fO:~QtJt-en cii1taoomoo benearh b~J1k v~u~ rs :100 sub\vay tlu,'tineb~, HorleSVtO~~o()d'ne5-S casrles migl,lJ;; exist ill rhe Wor[J of Darkness W"~J~T;r: neue st8lt1.d 'un the r~~l worl(l. M(l5.5 and vines din:g' e"',I'el)"wb,ere. Torches 31'1d C~Jndle5 lijght h~lllilil~~' rJl:lIAl. ::nU~erQ:l')lII,lS. W~lhs bear bre:ttch,'(;,",}~ cracks or orher signs ,of dis:r,ep:)'~[. A'r$ ~nQrien&i ~1tll;.'C~Ll~~e. livodks of ,ar~" A sensa of dread and. fe_~~I'U' looms visib.~y art [he' r~.ce of e.ve:uy :p~(Zrby.

Is. Uil: 00 strange, then, to bel ieve that such a 'WI!)['[ci hosts the D~uru.L®dl as went

~~.:' ~: ..

f iJ#J. •.... ..... .... ,'~p.

ltl,,~ I" -. I' • - r~

Most vampires believe rh~l: their kind dtdn't jJlltSr. PDP' into eaisrence one ll'~ght t41' SC:51 re ::I, C mlleri~1g mortal populace. Most of rhe K indeed, 81.8 vampires call them selves, b elieve, '-i;~ :~east ~,YientphorLc~~ly if ~10't t[1t:en~ny~ ~:~mt vampires h~v'e existed fo~ as 'long: as f:~ley have had men upon whom eo prey~ ani~ tlt~t rhey have followed morral c ivilizat uans: since humankind fj rst formed them, Others bdi,t\l'~ II~ ~ vampi,ric ,gen~;s;~s '!l,Ot un i ate dtSlt of AdD~i'L in the.:' BibEe! and th~ t tll!e Kincl~ed hav{~ been chooell by whatever po'¥ver makeS' l'h.e .decision, ~o hr[ dl,em $ta'~:1k rh e o'ighx. Sl;iU oih.ers b~h~~.7}il'e that V;!I_'LUpllieS '~re pa:rt of dle natu:m[ but hidden order 0.1 d:il.'e 'niorl,dl atoocJ~it~.g V~i'm'])i[ii,c ();F'ig~n~ toO 'p3~~Hl be~,ie.:J~ and

ancient nly~]~oi.o~ies. Many vampires don't C~l[~ at all, be ~iev Eng the mystery to be as demonsrrabl y unknowable as ~hc' question ofm,on:~I. hf 's orlgln, \Vhiu:ever the esse, wl1)jle\i'~r [he rrurh, it is known. that v~UU1p ~'re5 ha v~ p:D:'C'iled u~(In the world slnce ancient times, Kindred society's edmit(cUy' (~lHblle memory marks {he undead aJJ active during t'h~ he~.~hE of the ROome ~ if not before, Even rhosc unre ~ liable stories suggest rhot Kindred acdv~ty might have exisred further ha,<:;k -Ll1 'rime.

~~ ~ J8~r--;ff,

The Kind red i ~he unique vampires of Vam[:;ire;: The Re ... q:I) .. ~e··m" 'have certa in differences from the vampires you have encountered throuahou r llterature and popu lar au Inu.-e. This game assumes rhat n1.~·~ stories involve a group of \I'~t[l[l:~t~S - :11 coterie of Kindred. - as opposed to the more soli '[i3lry $j;alken; of senuna I ficuon, From the Dracula o.f Br.U1'l Stoker s M\!'tl eo Lord Rurhvenof lobn P'o'hd01'[~$ 'The Vampyrei!~ the lIfi-JeM1JJOC often depicted as [one (i,gure.s.. 0(1. the other hand, the vampires beneath rhe hearre des Vampvres in Anne Rkl~ts Va~nph"e Chw,m:id!!s funcnoned as a group, as d ~d The Wff 80Jl.~ and [he IlI.O'l1L1_ad.~.c fienits of ,Ne.t!r D~U'k

N one of those visions of vampires reallv serves the purpose of VampiIre: The Requiem, however, Those' grOllp.~ of V:1m .. pires arc lnheren - h. ;;una.gonbtic 'in their SID~ les, . while the SOli~,8(r~~ \-m:rtIl!)i'rres {lQiiI.'[ reany accommodate the ~,r',r.)up f,}pnamk of SrmytdULlg games. As sUlch! for the sake of the game we've aO:iJ1pt{'ti rheculreeal notions of the vampire [0 one illOrCSUL,i[od to a tr-oupe of piaylers, W,l'v(:: added mHO OW1 mytholog~,r.;;s and ~ocrnl structures [a. (he 111b:.- the better to' '~ugh,~ughL rhe highs aed lows of U'Le undead condluon, Our -,. . )0;1:111' - vampires h~ve the selfis'hlfless of i:~l!'" solitary predator, but a lso th~ 00;cial urges of creatures who f.ear [he malaise of be Lng left ttl their own C:Oiifl.pa.lily for etern uty. TIl~ re U It ~$ a consptraeorlal blend of horror and .~~~~n'e a rrul y gothic mixtur of madness, corrupt ion, sensuality. rnli strusr and. violence, all et ~~·ns.r a backdrop of lb ... ~.d moodiness,

Each K~nd.red i.8 a member or a clan, A clan is a group 'Of vsmplres who .,In ~lw:re 'l:O'n:mlqm Cha'L'!l1cte1.cist[cs·" Popu i..-J,r K~n .. dir,e(j ])l,f~hology ~JggeS'1;$ d~a~ all 'v:an:q?i.'tCs .i_tire assiLilmoo to have de· c.ended from on" ,common Kindred, the found·er f"lf [h<:at di!lu ~h.Ot!l.gh no onG kn,Cf~trs who tho e roll .. mdt':]:s rrrLglu be. 'X'hen a vampire Embr.i3Jces (l D.e'IN K ul"l!dr,eJ]. rhe progeny i..s of [he S8fllile Clilll a~the proJ~'en,it{)t, Cerrnin ". sob~dan~] 'Cif v~.m,~ phie-~ 31$-0 exili:r~ k:itl0PitVn SJS '11.000 I ines; but~, V:i;l:mpilfc C;·lil never cl]~mge her dan.

,;j?~~m

Covenan ts are Hk .. e d.a.m in d~ i ~he} ::lre dis dnctions Of v~mp L'rres. Tl1e d i ffere'nc'e 'be ~ ween dan and covenan t ~ ho\!<'ev [I is thar one choos"s :his covencUl't, I d~llli!i.~ 'f~Hn~' i.l~r! CO~;tnfln!f i;!1 polidcal.. phi,loslophit.:lI. (H· even. quas:i~reI.igious. mem.h·el"s'hip. ]ndced, som,e vampires. chooo@' [0 b long 'co no covenant .£. t att. :acknowle-dgil1l.g no- author,.. m.t-r higher than themsel \ ·es.

~ ~J;t ;r.:d?

Where does V'am.ph::t::"s [llydlOlogy Idiverge '(rom :popular be- ~v.~ I.~~f? Wh.ere do the cencehs riJ'!.g true? The (O'Il(fwing statements outline real-world ]egend~ of the undead, cla:rtfyin.g theUr tHJ,th 'Or alsi )' in the \VOl'ki qf Darkness.

Vautpires rfiust sustain themselves 0:0. tlli~ Mood ot the ~liviilliLg: Fact. For the Ki.n&red ~ die- aCE ~')'f f(':{':Gih"l!,g: becomes hIghly. SC['LSllaL The vessel feels ecstatic when lt happens, and he feeding vampire undergoes ':1 h.E~~K~Y rush as well .. Cenaln vamplres sustain them.r undeath by drinking the blood o.f animals, but 'rnrel1f ,foE, lang, as clrher their ~~ltes or the needs oftheir cursed bodies force them tc ~:iI. ek hurtul-ml bleed,

'1."'m·· 1'\' .. .,.." .. .....,. ." j'. - ..... - 'I ;:L \ 1,-'1";1... ""I'll _!J 'f,"'c;· A· lth ~

v a ':t---~;~'" 0' ~'.iI.";" ~!1L1 mc,)cl' la.. ;. f!i"l¥ .... ~ h . u. .' c... '~;' -".;," ~ __ Qugo

vampires do not appc ar to agel' and some sutvi \r~ for ceorur ie s , the Ki nd·ft!~d iU$€ the word "undead" rather [.'h}lJl1. "immortal, ~!. \' smptrism is a curse. not able -.-, i'I1!~r, Ir does can'f wi [h. U Ii: grea.[ power, but the state of b. Lillg ;:1 vampl re a lso brings with it numerous detrrments, nor the least of wblclli include du~ 1.1.1 te rn ~l i'wel. fag . of the Beast an' 'feed'~ng (.)0 hll'HM'1'[) blood,

A vampire's p:rcy becomes, a 'V~n1.p'he: M ydl. You do not ru:~ce~sari~J become a vampire if vou 're t i tren err killed b')1' a : amp lre. It takes a conscious ~Gt ofwjll knownas the Em' brace, eo create (;'I rl!C~t\' vampi re. Indeed ~ 8J vampire le~lV_e,~ ltrrl e to flil.a·rlk. her passing if she is carefu I. A,n a vampire m,UISt do ro hide the woun ~ left by her feeding is ro lick it whe 1, she's done"

'Vampires have ,ev.ery manner of.' superaarural power:i<' such as turning bun a.l1.ia:larus~ fl yil1g and widd Ulg th e ,nrength of a doaen mene Facr. While these powers are nor ;tmti5t un i versal, vampires ha V~ uniq ue ab i I ities 'kno\, .. n as Dm sci ... p.~·ines." which can grant :ul1.dividu:)l undead capabilities such as these and more.

Varnpfres c~rtL have sex: Fact. \Vhiie the act of f.e:~dil~.g· replaces ~y! I -ph ysi.callugcs ~ vamp ires can st. I ~ indu Igc in sex. and e 'en take pleasure from, it. Curiou;;IYl however ~ rhe emotional aspect of sex vanishes after the Embrace. A "am .. pire ·m· gh I: enj 0',,/ the ph ~i'ca1. , ~l'!J's'':l:r LOll of sex, bur no mor-e than. she en,j;f.l,Y.s a pan:i.C'l,lhH+~~ savory smell or the touch or' Cl [l,fXJJI lOU.$. fa.bric.

A wooden stak,,, d,es1rol~:~s vampires: ~Ayth" V~rillpires arer.'I'rr d~troyt~d iJ.mpon being staked, they~re' h,eIJ ~]) srasi£. A · .... "' ..... ""'~:......itW!"'-'body s[o~\lly' withers (J[ld U LHilS ~.l'!J.\V<ltd 'I.vhHe ~l'~ppe.d i~Zl~l!.!-"I" srate, de..siccl!lting and be(.'()[lIi.~·ng ever more. oorpc.'~mke,

V~nlIJl'pir~s don 't show up Uk.G no:rmal peol~]e on ~Jr 1.11 mi.r r(),rS·;· FaCE ,. Vampi res. sh.o·w up ·w·~ tIl ·1t'~l,H~ir fe3J"r_i'i~'.r;'_i:!<:~~:' Ob$Cjjf{~J in photographic. media {h1.cl,ud·Efig \}i, 'eo ro(;ltal[e,~:!~ and ·in. m,itTo.'rs •. They C~ln te'EnI?o'farily ,COll1ll1te·rnCf . :fect~ bUll: the ~[def:; .. ule' b .a sort of ocdm:'ioH. The ~,",,~~~. n.ot true for vo,ice rec.Q(drungs; va m:pil'~s;~ voices, are c ;;l![l'~)UFt~ norma Ily 011. tI.".r.05e.

SunUgh t biu [".liS va-m(lire's:; Fact. ,As pan of I[he l.r 'iJanlp[['~:5 r~o Ul at ~he. touch of Itb.e SUl1 ~ ~~LS vi t~ I ]'a '!]S ~.ng thei r lutcl~ad fiesh. Vampi r,~s [yp kall y $pen(~ ·the .,ciIia,,1iti [ight hours hi !the cold, slcc· of undeath.; and only the :g,U'~~

.... '.::r

"'~~~"~f;~l~ tv,ffjlrt of the da;y;ls forced slum ~ .!c:

:. e~: . II

~~~~S!'~!ll;n;iitg 'wail'" Eeii~1s vampires: M·ytll. Such more if-an o'~~ ·wives.~ tales, cultural bl::II~itIi~i.:::o-;::: OLiDl8fffi!f1.iBJI*" B'"t'~"''''I",,::,;r;.£I,$ Qtietroi~.~Moodlmes b~f K:lndr-ecl

h,niili""';;;-, .. ",,,,. ' repu~,sed, ~~ c t'OM'e,s 'and! other hQEy S'VR1"'"

p~ _. :":. . ~._ r. _ _

,11l;f4l~;t~~¥tli~pn'~ :aln~[, Wh~~:e SUJc:nr':~S nOil; ,generoUy rhe case,

~\e~deM~~itioril~di:Ul?S do ~Jf~ct il;h'~~Kindr'~~ with miraculous

a;S,1)eCtiSi;6f d"ieir ~ltl'., :. . .;;:r.

l ,.~ ..

~~=~ph;i~S!j' souls J~re ;3:S, J~ad, as lth~~r bodies, ,a!f~er d],ey be~~ UtHte~1:'~.l:: My(b-iand fu~c. \1¥hae a vampire lnight bd,i.e:vle. ~:~b"rt be fed~' au e!ru~:tl{iini ~lmt he scruall t' feels is the echo of ~til\It:;;=:uriorra& ,emoJf'~,O:I::J8 di~t t'h,f!~embil~o.ts, of hts soul apply to his current _ exeeru,e[ILoe e , jha~,.;~:~ a V:9i.i,lilPi[~ who i;@elfi. ~rtigry might ~ndeed be a:lWV' at d1e' su bject of his :i re 'I' but ehe resonance or ~he eraorion HC it ua 11 y comes £r'om, some situation the vampire dealt wi.:h i~ hf~" This condition ][e~~IUt,s in ITt,my ,sttange situations, A ~mpi[e \'!Jl~o has never experienced 'a given emodon bdOl~beoomhlg Kindred nrrLigh.r. be cmorlonall y OOOfLU;;~(t w'hi [e a Vt.ll,hpLrk artist might create a work of ia@re! t~un is awkw"'a[(Uy·cle''VOi,d of 'a!l:ty [rue' emotional iDfoigh~"

'[ ., r '" I' - - _..] _..] II~ II Va m'liiI I res have beell ~;)art of t"l>f",m)le.'I~; stO'r\.frel,1 imp trndi.tio:N

n rome senses, ¥amp~re s ITtLouu correspm1usro, Key eul21].lflnn; t" ~ F~ I: O§

of the ::;t:uhlg~ The wodd :~" gdm and 'iJ["OI.Jd in.g.-~ w[th, s11ad.o\VS, for 'hl~!L1dredL:,;l ,of ~re;,l!rn, Vat~iiiph''e olw iQ~~~l y OO110'!TlH itsdf with

h'idl't.~g ugly £e:crers :a.M, t,erruble ~ll.rear.,<j. ])~:ay dil,is up a~ fl.lU~h as, d"lle go~h.~c trn.dl,~ [o.n and a, :~m,H~ g)Jr modern s.ettir~:1 ,~O cenain

you wish - ma'k~ the gar.ne a {eUlu of ooL1ndl@,;~, ang:S1: uf you . 8N~n::e-s are l.Dore. inlllJ1entisl [han. oIhe,rs. The f{Add i:rional ]0" Choose. On the o~heir lrandi. secrets and espiol~age arr,e ,parr!!: of . spi'rotiom~~ 3ectiOrliS~ he[ow~ ~[uc~~iUde tides [hat don It neoessaJf." i th,~ ,&eu~'P.lg~ so ~ consph~)tor~~'~ :mood ~s aJ~o v,ery approptliJte. . i1 y reat!J;Hre v~ln,!I.:phes bn[ that 'fJJrie th~ro_.(],tk(llUy O:~ d:m n1~lticaUy

Opti:maUy~, :il blend of [he twO serves tlle gBtme best, A, ceru'[un, .siJ.~[m'ble for C(J.'11s~.del'~'C~ Of".

arn01Jl1r of-woe r,~'ardiiJ)g thB Kio!hred condit~on highlights the

gnme~s pe1Lwnal hOfrQ[' and] god~.k 'root~t ·,l;,!hHe X'~~f:'m,es ~1nd . secrets give the worM a degree 0:( c:~eep~n.g '1,1tQrrQ'r above the . pa',ronallev€L~ ])2\Fea'~'~ng ~h,e true d,epth oOfut~ iYl,:1~,~g[iJiI.nce~ b[t by' b:U[i :tuum, luke, :a da't:kenin,g sky 'blankerr.ing th.'~ world in n(gh:t.

WhUe ~,cb SOO[)' you ~O!Lt 1fQ~r tronpe tells will. have ~ts own unique theme and mood, V~~npbe itself has a cerr .. ~il:i, theme and mood built into it, While you can certsinlv play agjJ~,nst ~frH3 Or" push ['hf'; C)v~r.fl:rc'llI ing themes ~bnd 'moods into the background, ~he~r are present nevertheless.

%r~~" ...

. ' ..

. . _'

Mtmy Kindred deflne ~hei:1L ex lsrence as an 1LlJI,13i:l.~W~rah~~

, ... LJ I ~I flo '0 I' ~. B r l' !~ T'11 ' • ...1 _11_

a;;'lU ,~: t''!. ,!J)oeHS~ = am, testa . ease ~ oecome. iUS toea maxes

m(n:~~[ay t'he; ,CC;UC;i theme of Vamph--e. Whi'l!t '~dll ~,:v::ii!np'Ll,e do 11GW that shes become a vampire ~ WUl sl~>c exult In tnt': Be;aises , passions ~ W[~ ~ she fight to retain her ties to what .she 'knew ln h,r;[ morrsl ]]f€:'r Is her unllfe a lief 'played out fa]sely under the pretense th~lt s'he l1:~'V(;;'[ becsme !:ll vampire ~ ]s- her unl~fe a hell ~ ish, maraud rhrm'ugh, d'J~ clark side or evil 'wile;) indulged. ~ M'ost KindredJ's unli ves faU, somew hem in between .. That's the Crux of the :rid,~mei however, How mm::h leeway does a vampire al- 1.00w her Beast in or.d}~r. to acln,Q'~",'ledge it and ret keep it from overwhelming 'her ~

'"=t {\ QJ..'lp,~~

This book is, 'broker:!, up into r'jjuJl.'i.,erOu5 dbJJ!pt¢rs~ each C(JII;'.~ eJLing a certain set oJ topics that relate ro the 'LnJ0t1:ru~~tion as ~t will be used oiVer. the' course of d),e gtalne and in, yOiUt' chroutcle,

This InJtrod,uii;;tion, ex lsrs ItO gi ve you SJ, quick bit of exposure ro d},e; 1Ijl;i'01' ld or V3JmiP,lr.e~$ Kindred, as w~·n as a few ideas an what (~U~ ~me is. designed [.0 do"

Ch~{,leT. One concerns itself l;\'id1 a grem:ly in-depth Iook

" at Kindred $QC~ty as Wen:tJlf1 the world in which the Kindred l .. d.de" 1.[ e·~HJ'i.hleS eVeIytb'ing from eovenants and OOSIt'O'Il11S to dom~in politics and hO~l:{ secrets of the Danse Macabre, the never-ending .stfil~gg[,e between Kindred fO'U' supren'lEIJcy"

Aspects of character ar-e the focus of Chapter' Two~ from details regard Ll\g ere a rion of an alremare .P€l'SOJ.1L8J to the c.l1:'a'u~" acrerisrlcs of the clsns Ito [he mechanics of the Kihd'~d'~ lIJ)l,' ho~.'Y' p01,~,1'e'rS themselves,

The game's sV-~jj@;ms, and di~ritO·Ui.'li_.g ccnccms make U[i Ch.ii!Jpf~~r Th:r.>e~, These mechanics bvven.l ~rJ!l[ ,or the aspects of chance t'h:tl~ occur dt~rrng the course of a ~tor~~, '~la-r~d.1 ullg '~\I'~ erydli,ng from characters threatened by frensies -5p',-nmed b~f the Beast to ~ufkrhl(g 'p'b:y~iJ~~J damage to '~()~ing: one's Mor(lll~' i.ty and sr,l!n~.ty! ~Qd even more.

Ad vice is offered to the Storyteller in Cha,pt£.f' Four" This includes e\l1r;rything from, suggestions on. how [0 handle the ~eEtin~ to CQ us ide rnl tions when structuring a chronicle. The chapter i'nd,!J;LdJes a 'vflri,en;y 'of pre-made antagonists TOJ." use in stones as well.

Ap_pen.dix. One comprises bloodlines and new Discipl ines, One of .ehe features of Vam,p'][r,e~ The Requle'IiL1. i;l '[;1, CllStt'om,U;i;sble: lineage :s,ys:tem, 'b)' whi,ch ch;::l!:r:aicrel'~ can create their own unique broods and :mflrl~,1 ies of '(,~mpi['es~ as well a~ the unique powers to. which ib~¥' by d~im. Titi5, ch~p.ter lneludes IlJ few of the blccdlines that are :SJ[r,ead.y assumed La he ,apart of [h.e setting, as ,v'eH as svstems by lNhiih ~i~ayern and Storyt,dlcl':) C~ll,l, gener~te '[H~'W' Or.t'1!5.

fmall.y~ a s~~m[J;~e setting makes IUJ[) Awendix Two, This c'ha['iter includes a. host of plot threads, secrets - oh, and some common 'know'liedge i' too ~ _, regarding the domain of N~1 Ode~U1Sj a s.tl'Ollg'ho.ld for the covenane known as l'ih,c l~l'1c,ea Saocru m.

, Sl·"· Z"'" .'

," :,", - .," ,

. ., ., Ii I

~~ .• ,.'~~.;l!:;~"~1II

.;;;1"'. .. . ... o/~~ ,;(V

'T/~.<I' V("n~In.i,,,,, c· 'l':r""'ru'''''~':>"" by A,' 'i"i.rL·;;;' R' " .... ' '0: -""'", _t: ......... ''''J''.-m ,t:' ........ "' .... t..

. I.,", !o'I_ .' 'f"'~"" '."1, . .,... ,VlI.v.Ll .- 'oL I .., . u!;;;""" . ,~ ~,';." QI L:LI1iJIo. IU, ,ia.,..dvLI,~

iJ:llo.s:t popuhttentd,e.,'-;. itl tb.e v~~,fI1p~:re'ge[r)]'-e'i thes<e boo'ks'~l'e prob~ rubly' mom w!d.elY·i',~ad man [heBt'sef.nin~ll 'fO':!C~rlrn~ej(B. The fiT3tt

lhu~~~i!rJes ill the se[.[,e.~ :im€ t:he' most 5Il,u[r~Jble (or VaJifm,:pjre~ ~s later '~ll&; in the series grow more 0pLC in. SC8i[~ and more in", 'V{l~vecl ~:'i!it'h the: stranger frb\:,~ of the supernannal world,

Thr4:'lda 'by Bram Sooter. This us' the One that -5ul!{ted it al], ~l{:;j\\'i:ng on real-world histmy and Eastern ELLl:'Opt"i'JJi."i. h)f.!C to mab dIe vampire :(1 coneemporarv monster,

()IThe V~ITIpyre,J~ 'by John, iPo'~~dorL Th~t> sho,a M'Cny ~:rg;L~a'bly 'trrrjmr~kM dle first modem usage iI.lf the v,ampire as a sentient ~~'eilt~re ~;as previous mcarnations O:IT"V81np:ires were I lttle more 'I, thmt bIQoo-dr]nking corpses) .. Posstbl y homoemtle, this story'; eame out of 4j1, _g[Q1Jp of fri~r.uds, rhar ~'o,d'Ud~ Lord Byron (upon 1Whoxn the V~Ulnpyre, Lord Ruthven, is modeled), P,eIK:'"V SheUey :tJlld 'MilI~v Shelle'Y~ who made ~10 :stn~n 'CO]:l;tr~b~Jtiol1$ 00 the ;gYl'Lb:~c and romantic 'nlove:nn.,e~,'u:s themselves ..

'!~trm1.~Ua'~ by Sheridan LcF-.:lI1U, ,A \wonderfu.1. example of tbe idea Qf vampires bicii'ng anil;C'r.lg thetr p'rey~ Camulla (01' Millar,ca~ or; .. ) 'IT!l,oved, in ~I,'td OI.;L[ of dle ~i~ af'he[ pF"e% '(;O~,"(IJ~' jng back and reinv!2.ntlng herself as their memories l~h: her d~pledadon!il beh lnd, "Carmtlla" has, sexual overtones in. the :S:Rl]1~ :t'I':I;;:IDll(:':[ as :Po'~,~dtJtif$ ~~Thi;:;' V~l\1pyru/~ [litt'he:[ ~3biM,i,';ih .. ing [he, vamptre as, a sensual metephor,

AclJditio(f1al Insplrations

fm ailtd Laa~h~ng r-n Las V~~ by Hunter S. Thompson, r~~I?n$f)l?,~ting :~lrnd f ;~~, 'bv lrvine WebhJ The Bcmfo~fe of ~he V(mi-fl'es byTo:rn Wolfe~ Tk U~lbm·ied by Charles Palliser, The GreOlt GC!~b:y and T~ B~-~u~if,d {mJ, Da~J"m~,d by F. Scott fl~ge[;~d.

,NMf~rafu;i' etrher the original E 'N~ Murnau version fearurln~ Max Schreck or the \V~nl~T Herzog version fealln:ilrlg Klaus Kinsk l, For \V,eird" unsetrling V::3lmp,hr€$ with their own strangeness and derangements, YDU can It beat the tale of COyH1JI! Od.ock.

Shadote oJ the Va:m.pi;r,e' starring] ohn Malkovi.ch and WHlem Defoe'. Spea'k~ng of weirdness, this movie depicts the fllm~l~g !Of rhe OoF.igi'rtJal N'Mfetaw~ ,c~Slt:il"~g 1'F1.ar.iJy elements of ['~le prodocrion 'unto. question. W8JS iI;"h¢ mov ie cursed ~ Di,(] t'~llC supernatura ~ really plague the clLew? \V:as Sehreck ma{:!y ~1

va:rntp~'re himse ~n .

The Lo~~ Boys: sranun,g Kiemr SLHher[andj Corey Haim :8Jl1rl Carey Feldm!:lIl, \Vh:ile 'ut occHsiona]],y lapses, ·~nil:O l8Jmpoon and UU,OP'I' thi5 ~~ ~ horror mQvi~ at her:Ut'~ 'e~ped~ny hr], 're~H![d m its rt',e~,nnerll: (!If ~he wam:pi'te~. I I: al-roO$'L $ingl~.- handed,lv t'.seiLblishes th,e: niil,Qdern v=a'mpure: ,81$ ~ hip:" cool ,81ua CO~I't1te~'CJ)jhural k.QH~ !TtI!;.J"dl like the rebe~'~s ~nd a!nt~heToe-s 'Or dlt'i rO:ffiI1a.n'[~,(; '~noveme[u:.

Neal' Dll,,,,k s~aJdng La:n,ee 1,euuikSlen and BUI P~lIxtan. 'W~nlt '00 be sc~:red 00 hdl by "~mph·e.s who don't h(lve ~·my 'moral ~fX;OuntiLbi,1 it~, ,for thtl;( ~ccton$? Set; !thiS rnoV"~e"

The' I~M~~ .s~'j:rdog, Dd~.er[ue Denel!J:ve 'tJind :l,)av ~d Bowie. :,:"":'!lj:jjjiji2!o\ l~il'I.i1bging rhe vampire .. as-sexual .. metaphor notion '[0 rhe 'l~j(:j'~ImI~

thi . c t'L· .. 1 . . ....

screen, IUS ~.S one 0': ne 'I110®t sensua vamptre movies ever

uilade. F ~ also t~pe'n5 l(Ill'uth a cameo perfon1liliLnCe 'by &Ub;f~U~j' fur those \~ho Uke a hi[ .of musical eouneereulture With th@'Lr ,fiIm.

The Tam C'[,lliJ5~,~[:S!dJ Pitt fihn adaptation of Anne Rice's 111;~ervfJC~JV <t~th. die VamJ~~lr.e. deserves mentlon, ~_,S does, Francis FOrd. Coppola's DTd.CIlt~d] bur bath worts are mennoned in [h.e :fl.c[~on sectlon,

Ad.diti~n:a[ Inspir-ati(iintl Dange:rolu L~ai~ons ~ Ht.a&e Runner ~ M ul1wUal1'ld Drive;, The Mthld •. uria1t C,a1ij.Jidati!~ T,~e Sixt'l~ Sel'ue I C·J'.oul~icl"", Casabla,ncaj Amadeu8

Ir gets touch ~'i h,e;r.e: So :t'nany bands that are popu lar 11[

""1'1)' 0" '!J"':I," mo 'W' ent \1'''''''' :·~l 'W"Lt~10''" ii"' "., trace "",1)10' ·,,"'r- ~r ",.tlt'~l· their

,(~~ .~' ~~ _ o;.,.","~. • I o;.,.~,m,.- _ ";~LiLlliIliL , .. [,., '-'I." "" ~,,,,,""_'''''' 0 r , .~, "-,,, ,oJl,1 "_', .. 11., ..... II.

:popu.hrrity pe~:ks. ,As ,suclt~ w'e? II ] ust touch O[rJ, a few 'roJ,l,.~i:' cal genres and discuss rhc~:r .app'Hc'fiJbility, '~j:5.!ri ng a few 'key pe.li'f(~tnl e'l"S, and bO ~np{)~er'$ .,

C't!SS«cnl~' A:t1y ,~ld~t' W:hiO has ;,pem: enter a crentury ~!mto:ng: [he undesd probahly has a grea:r.er- knowledge of elassica 1. mill" sical than [)O[YU lar 'LllIlJS'iC" 'W[tll its. :~l1truc.,;1Jte arrangernents of instruments and careful composlrjon, dasskt][ []TULLSi.c is (~e arche[)'p3~. sound ofbod), refineraenrend conspiracy :lpanni:ng centurles As yoou might expect! requlems are excellent examples o:rr these tl~pes oJ music, as ''i.\I',~U. Reeemmended com", i posers tnclude Beethoven, Bach, Dvorak sud M:,m;art

Prmk; Punk's oltg,~nal sound 1'OSe out of a. desire Ito rebel . : ~l_g~hl~t the status quo and 'be seen and heaed do:il'l(g. it. Wbile~ punk 'hatSn,lt ag\ecl particularle gr.aa~rUJUy, i,!L has ar ~ea~'r :~tai~,lled,

. '~~~ ·b·'II"· losi 11 he l f 'L .

tts llOOit1:.y pop sensunuues, osmg onL.Y rne I.mn:y 0. SUC[i, ac-

Cie~~h~]'Uty. ,P\JJnk b~nds not· tc mi'S5 ind~J:&e the Sex, 1,~n-i!lroU:i.~~~I~ the' Damned, the Misfits and Black Fblge

Go~'h ~ lt doesn It get any 11l10:J:'e varnpiric, Lyrks about bars, blood ~nd v~l:I;np'i1:'es ~i[t w mth 'F-el1gio'l~31' pagan or even blas- 1m. phemous overtones, 011 PLH up fti~T~.hfl$1; ~I bombastiC ''I.\l'~)U of c(O'I~" sound that's h~'if\fy an percussion and discordant guitars. Key goth bands ~'even cl10ugh many of'~llem deny id mdude the Sit.;E'C[$ of M,itfICY:t This ,Mo[ttal CO'L ~, Ffi i:~:h, ~lnd. d)_,e ,M:USfd~ Switihhlil.de SYfILlphOllY al1d Ekru'ha.us,

A ·d-d-· ;, ~ I ; '.

n!. _ ltHJIU1J[ns.pIr~rIIJ:on,s

HeYI who ~:re~ Vile ItO tell you 'vvh~t" rtf!;ll,lsk. to [istel1 rlfl~~:' dou bt you ila v~ yt)lU'· O'i,'lfD!l, m~~$i.c~1 '~~3tes Bind your ,(JW : ~l~~~t? fClii using a ,ce!ta~,n :s:cmg 00 l.1Lighljg~H YOiJlr 'Vafirlpi:r;c ,,1""'t;:"~-11"·'T"1.~ ...... e!lI,c.e<,;. Y(':IIU Ij:eedfil~ evet'!! c()tilfi,~.te yOll'~elf to' ~~v:nl'mpure : ... ,IX .... ". A oertaun Johnny C'"1sh or Publ,k E]lC'~ny son,g might oenaiH story ilJ\L' ch'L'{m,kle, :&irr bette''!; than CO(llcre·De 13 i .

. ~The B'lo.r:xUetl!:un.g," ever (:Ol~'k~.,

Embrac-e" the hrsll S~~(i ifr{l'n'l exis 'nee as a mortal, in to rl t.: g'Othic world o:f dii.'t! rJ:n~iftned,

Wh~t is the" CU! - What causes v rnpires ro rise " ' m beR yond their natural life, IrO consum ehe b ood ~f netr e rs R ''l.vh]lc morral feUo,ysl Even the most er.iJltUt~ (1, I['he' v:;JJIl"I'IJi'ric nee do not kn ' . Origin stories [race, ., mp iru In back to the [3 i -Ie~ ro [agan \\r~ys an vIti [chen)' h 0 d1C! infamous V~ d Dracul, 00 rhe Dev i I himself and to any num] .~'t .of orh ~r sou Kf!,S. Every culture i~'l the world has vampires i 111 i - m\~·r 'rho]ogy. and I-ked" among irs, pul e as w~lI, 7'hc Kinlr-cd co 'ition'~ is <c n utter my ~C'ry~ 1 ~d, ' n uniknown numh' members but no shortage of \'!lOLl,1 ' -be pm.plwts and phll.oro--· phers \l.ridil their own dogmas, rheon ~ an I he resles as [0 the meaning cr g n,u of amnarion,

lf ,.,thin~ [$ certain, ut' th~1[ the Embrace is nnt $(]me km~ Qf'bles~d r[mmol't:aliry. ExicSrcnc~ as a nrnpirre is s cur-se, and qu tte posslbl y curse I, 3nde.cl dovn by a d l i mself 'Wh ~ic " ·eun . one of [ht: undead oencain]y h ", rid,,, nrages - Di m,p~.~nes (the :m,stical, and eldritch powers of the, DamtlcJ). d. arh'lesme&'Ci" the potenris to trsnseend mortal bounlhri - the . l"a'i/i,! . acks easil ou.[\¥e~gll memo The price of un th is steep, as focllsh romantic~ i nf3u,r w!;.J hy th myth, of the V"dmpi.re occ;asm{ltl3'~'~y ~eam. One is 'at/ever apart fronl me \~m~,~ mto which he '\\i':1S born" uncousejou ly sillInned by it. lndeed, be can O1fil~ pn;~'t~ll1d ~o 'be a rt of it. and [even tlnal "or nl), ~ shan: whu~t:, as the vsmpirlc stare force. him ro p.rey ID~"!J fh~'[ 1jrVQT'~ LIt is hissLJ tenance no\\(~ rather than hi c.om,1Jmnv. Never ag;:t'un shall a vam ire see the ~]ght' Q~ the. sum without feding lit burn him, ". ever a.gail1 w~n he know rhe vital pleasures of life. The RiL'£]uieriL\ is ~ fl!rncoo OOlt'L'aClbM that rtl'By HooraUy ~3iSt forever, N 0 wonder then rhar so [TIm), of th Ki:lfidred 110 n thems lves to '~' with h 'r perry s:d . ~u ,an fJ 3lfi~, TU1 if cnd'~ess, war~ the Danse Ma-caOl"C'l ~:dgh[ b~ thl: ~)n ly W[]y Do esc(!!pe their damnadon, an.d even tht:n, i~ is, orlll,! a dffitfi.u:" l"ion and nol!. ITiU· redel;r tion-

Evil fJilins mot;/f. their puuish rneni, - SOlphod~ Aniigwze'

Wry d'l.oue;h the,! might, the Kindred are nor m1d never can be I [00 I~~ a parr e mon~ii society. Regardless of 'r[h~i'r. fe~li'ngs~ their wishes or their iruc;'11tion~1 vampltes are a[~rays separate from those arou nd rhem, They (Ire wolves am id the he p. and rhe iT' lI'erv nature prevenes them I.L. 'J11 ever for ,e'ttlng or igncmng' -h~lt fact, N«) marter how much one of the Kin, ' lied m.i,_g11[ love ~ morral and ,'-i h eo .' ay ~.Id') h~' • [he Blo d Icall c n tilnd y. The Beast threatens a f1ien~y , h(Ht all to '. ' .. een reSiJ h.s ~ 11 the violenr death of rhese he Id d~iI]", The KUa.lw deed tnab n u'r)l' to sirand beneath theme of rhe sun s@para e rh m irrevocabl ff In the r iil tel P arrion of the culm I"@' rh . socie.ty and the life: that surrounds eh rn. TIley .[If, provinclal crea tures who th'~nk. almost solel ~~ on a loca l level, bt."Cause the .reater purl io 1 of the world is well bevon _ [h ir reach,

Mior a Is cr i[J te eornmun i m:i . ! :i Inlr1 r despire themselves, They portion off natlons, cete'br-at~lng C'lll[ tures t~1at have evol ved. over centuties l' tf nee mlllerm ',3. The'lj • re aru [ a psrr 0

some tthi.ng gre:uer th::Jill - b In lv e'\-', n tf \ Y fa m I ~ or

choose' nor - co ackn "'\i'I,ed~e if ..

Tile K tndred I hO'1Ibevef, are bound fo[ the 1lTL08[ [pan: [0 the d' ies eh I: [he 'In i,;, ~ th Ii virng - have' created, ~ [1:'I.d each 0 those ci ies is s i ~En(:.t en .separat dornalr .. The KirHJ -~l have no nations, no ,Q1iilernrn:::11ing gtJ\"'crrnmentl the local. ruler iSI the only ruler, Alrhough. a vampire rets tns a S."USC of Wen ti'r:y or rnemori . fIT 1lIl her mortal 'I~fe., she d .' nor hdon . She is no longer a p~1' of \ ];U'IJU:'V~ e' ear be ,"I/wmtJ:'!l 1/ hich she idcnrifir:d, Rad~erj {Bl'Y '~oyalry or ~n!:!;~ of belongi~'1I,g me ha ts Uml' d to local circl : e~~t~· (0 'rh~ Prince, membership in ,I covenant or dart T11e e are h ~ ,m,Jy connecur ns [he "bnd]'e-d can rru lv rnsinta ~n. the ani Y ClJ lrure of wh ich they are' rrul y a pare I ~nd it i upon them that the enti rely of th!!'Lf odety is bunt.

:~[ egins '!;viE:h d~ h - 'torrid rUiSh ,b]t':!Od. illin 60111 th~ 1:bro~)'[ Oli \\i]t"ti t of the v ict~m. A'r: rllte riglh r mOl.'nffil'lL, !the v:ilmph'c il:~us ne[' (HVP kiln (I no places a 'few drops of p.reCii(:iU5, ViifDC' on dle lips ... 'the vic mm. 11'\C da.k magh: wrks itlS b~C:l·r hemou 'miracle' [hen. The' ve~1 dt ... .:nd 'Vet'h,e doesn"r. [ Wh i Ie h ~s m,al-u n'IJ[ pvnces~e cec;:sc; his. s i1Te S Vh:ae hl'rlJl£es h,i m with ttl~e: force Ithfll t smrt3 i'n~ hinl 'beyond d.~3J:h, Th uS 'lSi he

'lZ Ie ~"'-<'e .

[c n 'cudo~, ~f not ,'uri.ng, rhal: file m.os~ c 'mm, n n~me rr urui amort the K'indn:·d is tlJ mu ·.iiL~[ reli lienee, f'hc ~~ r qui,em" The '\lI;il'om utse 1 " 111111:a:n.s a ma~ or. :rrruJ:§,mc al COli1l~ iti¢'11 for the dead. I m:l some c...~~eSl a n.~U'~c m is it d"i"~e. In 0, herr cat!

soc iety of the dam'['3,ed

jJr is a ,h:ii'i.l1'r h:u,emJ€C] (o,'r, ehe d~acl\S repose, In, snll orhers, i ~ ~s a gesture Gf respect.

Wo sl~r~:mise~ ,then ~ that' ~he word has taken on itt. own meanin~am:oo:g)dle Kmdred, Tile '~1'Qrd has CG.lTlnQO;lttQI.1S, Qf its own I' SQgges:t~ng that dle Kindred must have adopted It in ~ more !.mhghren'kl (i§ sopbiancaced rime. Tonight I' however, an but the fL1W~ cloistered Kindred knCKVS 'rrha.t the ,:~-o[(l 'OC8JCi ~,ts Ol.Vfl ~GL8i~i~,e<~ memU1g- The Requiem is, the, Kmdred's unllfe, the gmnid-;, doomed 'liV~ ~tz tbrougb 'which eV{!irY' one of the i1' tj'r:ld (M:Ml(~ e~1~ry night, urged, on by m~:l'taphor[,cal :HrnillS, ,of

iI!IM ,,,,iI,,.. t~l""r' reorese O"i;'i;" Ii"R;r.. h ldden no ,.-:'"""'...." "'l~""" j)'1 "LO ~~ msni I'''U~

1I1L'M .... U~ J. .'l:lIt ........ Il:"L'!..-.:< U,,,- ".~l...., . "'.11, r ~'''''''''La II. IL<:!.'I. 03'" I,IJI,..:.~ , I:lI " ,~

I~~ ~ultd in~i;~~ thern,

~~~?

. ;V'~l ,ltI f ~

The reasons fur Bmbraclng are many and varied ~ and ever.v K i'l;1d~ed who .e'xlsts in the '\~vo:~]d itGioigi1l.t probsbl y has a host (JHrf~Q\\'n fo!" why sh~;~?d. Embrace a child,e'. fl'[~t and foremost is l(;m~ha:ti.e&;, as beronlUl"Lg Kmdred imposes :~ stare ,of isolaeion ir~r I:lj)a0l" vamp ires seek [0 eombae, Of course, it'h~ Embraee eresres another K ~ndred - who U~ then himself allen and 'USO~ l~rerl, ~otltLnui'rdg I!:h~ desperate, doomed cyd.¢, Some Kindred BilrLbrf);r:::,e, ro '~~oo:[Ve a 1i.Iil.{,;n~tHP:;; ro[,eofS'J' 'Only to 'fi'~1!d, dtf;llt the bmJbh.~ renders filar childe unable t-o 'rea,c'h I!:h~ ~pe~x of'llIer i~i~ing abillries, Other Kindred Embrace Ol~t ofa sense of dUEy or to prevenrdlsaseer, such ~_8 'when, 8JcdJ.e:lltaUyk.tllin,g 8i,·V~~ ~l and the:o "saving" her with the curse of undearh .~ whose e~&tt:n:cc 'W ~H then, possilbl,y doom .Qf'~l,e:r moreals an, dowl). th.e read, The trend is inevitable but irrevers lble, D@,$pl.l~ its inrtemiQnsj rhe Embrace never causes al1y[h'~n,g bu t damnation,

41S ir brings tI~1b.er vampire (.11'£,0 the world. ,

\~b8itever the reason, no vampire is Embraced. lleckkcssh" or 'I.\'idlD.tl:1(: some d~gt,~~ of thought 0]1 rhe pan of the VciiJ'J.1l?ire making: ,~1 'new' childc Creating a Kil.'ldr.ed requires art act o:f iIll11ne:t1Ge ~~mi and even R vamplt'e who says S1M3 created a chtlde

4[' t ~~ • l' iL • ...iI '-I

) yn OeCIDlI;;!Se certs tn V n ~~e~ ner own reasons,

'~2J':' ~:"l

// ':: ·c·."""' '81'......... -, ~'.."

,{/.ft..(t::: : ~,..._ .... ' . " .•. : _ 11.~

IJ an lndividoal \~amp~res existence is rhe R!l::q'Uluem ~ the \vay she interacts with her fellow Kindred is, [he Danse :Mac.a'brel rhirou,gh ~\'hld,l ~oy ~:l.'~lm'ber of iIldi'';,{kl'!U~l Req;U[e'lUS, 'P~ay:~ 00[11 ~icrl '(Ie-solve '8Jnd end,

To Jll.a.llY Kirtdr.~! dlLe DanSie Macaiblle 'h,as negative com:1LO~ ralr~om. Rehn:iOl·H~ll~pS be ~\\reen K i. rtd [00 (lIe fo'rced,~ at best~ ;as vanll]ur~s am s@~m~ng~y d~ign~~ to '00 s.Ql~t~ry plr,edato[S", The :Cmbmce do-eiln~ir oOlnp[,etely deny the urges f.he ind~v~.d~~al kl1e,,~' as a morrai" 'ho'l;vw,er" IrI:ev iu,b[ Y QV'er the: couu;e ,of lnndleath, 8Jn btu:: Idle 'most wi,[hdl'awn yearn for c-orrr~c.t among d)me ",h,o In~.ght be able toO lu,tdJeT:stE,nd d'teln Is: '~t SIC) lmllaruc~ r:al !no 3e€'R feUmv.r.;h up amJOlng o~he.t;) wh.o h;~v€' expe[ien(:e,d the same pa ins anJ. sar,rows ~:nt1 ucred upon them (and i.nflict'fid b~ ~hem) ciu-ougiloU'1t the' RequiellIL?

Indt'ted,~ -r.he l'iJQtio:rr., h~5 '[I.f.rJde!,:..i:ab~ie rusks. AhholJ!gh tile EL1nbrace dOe5J."Ilt su.ip the Man fronb, the irtcli,vi,diJ;;::U~,~ 111: I~,ave$ its c:)wn rYl.:ilirk! t'hBlt qf ,the Be~st ~ th,e U1',ges and wiles .of the facet of ~om)nity in5klc ,aU Kindred 'rhat requiTes, hlood to ~UT~ vive (mddo~[l~'t ,care, who it h.UfE'S to numn dla!L pl Wh~n KLnd.r,ed com'!! in, oontacti they in'Ll;ate:~y fear or see each otthef

;a~ a dwUeng.e. Indeed, all Kindred vie for Hm ired ati~d se!cr,-ec% and 'olt'htat KUiL'i.~dr,ed thm;e~lJ~'t:ll,l badl, In ';JJ wadd 'wh Kindred '[L1IJJst skulk and kill to Sm'VD,\!\eJ how e [rus[:\X!\ortb,y ~~ ru:ty other vampirei

TIM~ Reqlll:uetll \~~·eig'h$,()n, it'hlS Ki(l;dn~d wu~" Wheo-ane blOWS, he will never trl!i~y die, he h;3!5: no sense of 1ilr.g,ti~H:y" OVi&t the OOlII!SE: ofrrorever,~ wh:.lt ctI1o, sustai n a "¥,mttpi1:e,ls, i:ru:eresit~ or evert ~_ a K,~rtdr®d of ~ 'hurl~d:red V'ears~ unlife~']-o the interests 0'£ fight,~ ing ofifd.1ieit' o.WI:1 rimeless malaise, the: Kindred plot ~md scheme .

. ag~i[l!.H each other, Once they've exhausted all of the WU~ that kgit.lnHw~ly bro~,ght joy or ~nte[e,}t to' rhe:]r unlives, LCn.il:ny 'tum to ereacherv in hopes of provoking a]lY response aJr an .~.~lt!~ from th.ejr j~deJ e'ltlftOt[o,ns.

This last, then, ~s [he true' Danse M'ac~hre ~ the "dance of -~~~ death'" orcbesnated '~y vampires iI:"C elevate ehemsel yes above dl"d~' peers sociall y~ p{,I;[~ticiHy or even phys,~c:any. It ill: til. dan- ~>:dIII. gerOlJJF;. dance, puncuiared 'by vampiric o-~ps~, 5chet!1ing elders, amblrlcus neonates and 1'lJ.'Se;~ that can rake decades] centuries 'or even lniU,euohl to come to fruittart. The Kindred pol. teft'IJriany have fD'l"~Ver eo eonCOCE !l.'h~ur master plans and hatch th~i[ vendettas - they have no need to !Il:LSh, [10f 'Llllany vampires, te.V'enge- is best. when l~ft togrow cold, prompting another [urn, in the Dense MaCfi bre in response, Thus the cyd'r! continues lndefinitei:y,

The Danse Macabre is at once a saving g~ace and a reslgnation 'EO dsmuadon, for lr distracts rhe Kindred fr10ttli Lhle~c[ nihi.~J:$,ti:(: ~ introspective Requlems, hut Ol'll y by cansing conflict than: j eopsrdtses those very I~~~'r.MTl,tS.

A clan is Co V'~J1L1p'iric lineage. The Kindred acknowledge ft ve clans, and all K indred belong to one clan or another, llj!l~ most \v~,(l.ely aooep:r,ed :r'heory 'regard~ng ,d'~~j;.~ 'ms rhar d1Ley are like mfUfl'il i lies" of vampires Members of dam all tnherit cerrain mystlca] commonalirles, Jro:tbl acumen '';,!'uth certain Dis- , ' cup:~in,cs to' tLrtld.i:riQllDl ~lJo':rtoOoming.) fDr their particular type. One 'Of the htil.iIlgs of the "~faml~iet:t rheorv is that :rI,Ol1C of . dan p1i'ogenirof$ are ,te'hably kD'tJown.~ and on'l}' a f'e"~ are ,g\.,ess~d ' ,at wuh 8iny degree of confideuce. Ce~t~'inlv~ the dans came fr-om s()lLne~~iher,e ~ but where? In a mocl~rn ,conte::\.~l' OJ.'i,1~' !:wo K~ndr,~d are kno\tfI1 ro h:iln~'e; ,~'to clall, and [hey haven't r~~,iab~,)! deli)O]:l}$li.r~u:ed ~hilJ ilieY\l'e been a,b]e 00 Embr SiC e (llV1er the OOl.use of tb.le[[' ReqlJ]i1ei.fLs, These v.~Lln[)~ re.s,~ the ., ..... ,!;,' ..... , "~"I; ... DrIu(:lJ bl. :i-md 'rrhe RQman ce:;nt~!dGn. Longilnm ~iL"e ".,;:0"""",' ",t'];j"ti::':1~ for the ;~;::reatiOl1i of cel1tain 'cOV~nanE$~ nol~ d8jn:J;~ 'btil[ ::tJ!; ~'fl~1' they he on a patlli. towa:ro, clan cr.,~atiOi:l 'rh@~,ns~~.ve:s·~ d'le (}tigJn of cJ~rns does~ 't lie wtth celta.k~ pJo.genitor V~o[tI_j;!!;If""_f;;'tt 'pifes~ fl'om what. source do cbnf~ o-rn,gj 1.1-aJl:e? If lOi"lgi[l1J.'iJS~~~; .:

DrJclIla :hft'y.e no diln~ who~s to;my. ~~hSJt m:h.c~~ ffiOr~ sGc.re~,I'il:jir:

Kin.dred l):~:V'~n~'tt: ~tso s~l,ff,e[ed t}.Le c.unle in the sa-me 'V'o:l~~~:' :

Tonighii,J- the :in'~l~ence; IQf d~,c clans is feh: ~~,m(}£t e T1,'t,e f-uv'e chans h~ve a pr~ence~ ~b_]OUg}iO[ut tlie We:5iUenl' or so it is bd:[ev'Ii,::d., TIle Kindred defLnh::dv cSJme (0 tll>e i'i._",I' !c-=.:o;.g.

..

·World ~[0I1g W~,dl the ea.'rly coiQtl~$tS", ~,ugg'C.$tung rh-ar t~j~~~

V'am.pires flr.c E.ll.it'Ope~1J1, ill1l, or~gil'iI,~ or ;rI,l'8!t th,ey g.rew Cut d:v! i 12[l,dOl)$ dlat 'lTust pop[L[atei~ d1Le wo:rlkl and fOnO'W'OO!iIilii1.~ movem'cnts of ~non:al, ~len" Om] ht$l'O'f~~. and sp~rse ,teitmGl~: i.ndicatc that Sc;)I"!!le v~litTIpi'[kp'r~el1c,e ~ usted a' "'~~~~~~~'"

~~.qsill'ifii:"",~i;;=';;"~: ~[or~[lj?i\1l)enGa!!be~Q'oo~tt.s CQ.],Onl2ath:mj but whether . en- sO]]i!:a_J:Y, unique 'bel '~~mf!ll?i['e" ~tt: aU - C~:U)~~H~ be in(()[rl!iL~'I:[,on 6~'il the Far: East is fleeting", . ~mbe:r~dhtfffi.t:i fi y~ clans ~~ lk.i1~W[l to be acti \1\2: there, as

~~.J r: I[]

,ey_~~tf,.1(f-ru'c81l:~UJd.l ,~mfoHh:-a;and. much of the :M,~dd~e

'. ~r: $,tH[;,iiJ;tle is :~~wn aoom: hO'w-;·~nd:igen.olLS culture shapes ... t;;i;jj~~~;~~d~ I,"I,~.(~~ d;an.~~dn all '~1~e8e reaions, and anvone

~.~ .I:':'~' ... .'~... ... p .. ,.. 9 l' I·

~tte~~~~i~ 8tucl~,.d\-e ph,norrten~~ is, pliobably' wise ro :t~ke

'00 p'~~uppo¢it~oru~:~lI!'icl1 b illfu· -

.Ab]oodltOeis li~-e a da=n, but its characterlstics are not ~Q

o .. •

- ... ~l .. ltIDight h,bip '~ojh'ijok of:u blocdline as:a ~~ub .. clan,"

=,',.......""'",~ .. an vf-~[npil',cs a~~ ~C:~crs of blecdlines. E~TCh. bloodline te, s ~ par.mt;-t1an h@h 'Wbl~h, it 'c]ls~·in.ct'liy di VIe rges i yet clanns descent, Kjf[~d['ed scfib:la~~ba'Ve no reliable estimates of h'CH'W' [inL3J[l'¥" b[ooil-Lnes exist in the world 't)j)\ll'ight~ becaase blood-

~ I ines can arise at aJ[t'~{ time and few of them WOl! ~d stand up to 'be oCoun~ed . even '~f ;S:pITii.'e -for.[ifit,tl, roster 0'£ rhem \'i,f.~le made,

£;~~ desirable, Sexual I"'~O<N"''''''' . ate the ranks of

The' DaJt;v,Sl, are ~,_""'_i<'ii'_:-"_''''',i' 'predators, ~d. sens,,'[. " ">:.." ""''', .," I these sllcQwi;oseducel's-

.. ,..,.

A ':'::'170 i il 0

, mong ·.r..lnCl[C{U ,'''''''' ... I!I: ...... ''')L;LQ.....:~~J ,L:~""L;t~._""

l'ng one of the oldest 5~~geSts a P~rs,]~m l~}~~~~~~~~<"o:>" .. - . .. gest that they couic ~~~~~~:~

dley itflke- their nan]].l~,e~.~ ~. ·~J.II~'rr~~-:--:=:. lngs :suggest thar the

progcnlror of the .h . as. AesOOi.:1J Daeva,

but v~m:pi:ru,c sc , . :~n.d:uv,udu;al was ~1oI0>'

itl]ally undead 'or rhe -chaw comparisons (,0 the

Persian demon -of lust and ." .... ':ii'l ... ",

The name i~Da.ev;~':Jt .' ,eCHtH1LiOT!lly t.l'!;c,epred 'D!;igh"t

Pl'J-:LfU: ,of Ktndred ~'l.OCI.,~t"'A,. understood ro parallel the

ascension of Rome, Certainl incarnation of !t.h~ D.9J~va

exiseed before then, hut . 'llaJd their awn, soclery

or were merely l!J rabble of hJs~,,:C ' revenants is unknown

~ Afrer the rise -o( Rome, the Qa~v:a had become an Inexrricable parr ofKindrt:d society. :~$cl 'il~u\1p·]Iic h[.sroT)' shcn\.'$, dtElit they were very active in the ~_'81[ilLfIi~ the filrs~ known social contract of d'!lJe undead,

are suspecred of be. . . 0, Their moniker

y;}«y4

The IOan,g[i,:::~ :8J['e pdma~l~J' ~~!tfm . savage. Th¢,"V' embody

rll'("~ In t~ ths of ." , . to animals or otherw i.8C

E~~I.<' changing fornt f ' , '

~9j~I~'1:}~I'J.,,,? '~;lJl1"2~"€:'L clan is an old one i ,-Tiiliitf'&'I'-"",',.".",,-, ,;~.liO ex ist dJ~t .'

r~.odL \(n1l.i'~e:

can connect the liliU!f'ky pre- lil1[I!i.Th~1ili~nl~'~ legends. m[ )(lll)~~:. r-l

with the .....

G,eogr.ap:h.[c8JU 'Y~, .:

1;-- . night E-::JJ s rem .. L-!U-l~"",IA"-'. , . nascent Camar '. and:

'ety., ru. Rome's be .' ~ move

< • Cam~}[m~, ~1J(1!J thus the G4I.n,~td. '

at is ~6;o' d~!~~a[i~;'n.· contact 'With the flT~''k-':-'''''' into- that soci-

50.1' tOO d~d the . orians also theorise strm]g

Gangrel roots in what is modern Scandinavia Since ,tthose e~rly ]1~g'h'~s or suctety:~ the Gangre] have chosen the (nltlYHl]g 'borders; ~,fdoro11~:nJ) r~r the'iF Q\lj,~~, te:rri~'Gdi~. As such, GangF,~.'I,

t: • k' 0, 11 _..,'I

are orren seen as pioneers, e :~.ng out an existence w~te:re oe-

mains win later form, or as scavengers, dfngung de.s\pemtd.y to rerrlrorlea and refusing ro '~dellrl once domains have fallen,

The' Mekhet are qukk:, ... r."-"/" ... "".-.:;, ..... ·..,"'·T~ and wise- Legends [of. vam ..

plres hic]ling in sh . secrerlv an vicfims), and even

leSJrEii.ung secrets no " .. :0 1I~"i'''<.''L ... -."''''-'''--'~ is supposed t'0 know

probsbly ,

that abur or Anclent

The 11~ as to "da1)~ orl-

.0 o. ~IS f-ll .. -

gm, as [[ ts an ' '. orne 0- me most

venerable elders . . i:n'~Y' heal' , . t't.'iat might he described

as E~~)'ttm.l~ '~th[ile :3J few have .. I' ical Heilenic oomp:~eXi(ms.i \!!,iihid\ isrt!(', surprising, (',olYJ.:[d!edng Greece's p:m~il'[tity tD fgyptThe OO],l.1Uc.1J"ce between the lEg"l[J<tian.s and Greeks, rule] later the Ro~ns]. corresponds with the [legendary travels of mem .. bers a~ rIds claa, as well as their fort'n:atlve- role in the nascent Camarilla, Since that time, the :Me-kb.et have traveled wherever shadows have ,tSJUe:n, wherever secrets hliY hiddlen; and wherever K lndred call ~pon others to give them counsel,

The N osferatc are s~~~~~~ . 'teni-f'fin:g. The ir Ye1:Y

presence In'1il'erVI';$ , ~~:Nl1e.~~ fQl,d

sosneh or meb~,~l,,() ."', .... rnR''''' ... -.i'''.

, ~8, spotty at v cld Kin-

~ -

. NII:)Sfe;r.nr!ll.

r.lni:'~~~I:i1i~~~ clsn,

Le,I'O..·' "' •.• :; .. ,''''''

Europe.: "~>-&.'!I~@i'~'

Fraoce. E;]!jr~''ik~€l~lii?lffiTleWWi'~1:n61~11:Sffi:

s !A~ _w= 811 L' H

No.s;L.ennu a~ C·r"-i5;'i~~""· '" Il_Ov;ffiJK.~,a", " ,utll.'

g;:n~YI Romarua, I sam,€: lndtcation or

presence in, north ~~~~i!~ Gangrel, N osteraru rend eo ehher seek out , .. re Or' after most Gf Kh]~'

dred culture bothers with them, nlike the Gangrel, thmtghj•

fulcl Nf;I~fEirrox~ a~ap~' relan vdy quickJy co the presence ofothel' t~fj~J?ire.s~ ,~,ely~ng on their monstrous narure ec make a place for theur in the'~odety. of the D';'UJJ1ued.

Dircad,es a[ld centuries ~!;,t()\1 'when cities were smaller and tech:rrol®gy.: fur ~e-S8 advanced, the Kindred could ilffo[i('1 to [enl~i!il1, ~limfY predarors, mov ~rlg alone t'bro\lgh the massed rru;'!!'ks' or l:uJiJI:Lailll.'ill. TQn~gh:L~ rhe w'Otld bas changed. Both m,Qrtal and R'i'L"IiJlred populations are substantially ~:rurgeu. than ~ln~{One COl],'k1 htBve dre~;m.ed even '(] :felitv Score years ago. Kindred, ,pBrtin]larll)" ~1"f@; oaes with no polltkaJ cloUJt and minimal '[nfl~ence in dmt: mO{Ui[ world, need allies 111. 'wa~i;s d'rLei'lt ,(11d,ers i1,ever ,did at th.eir a_g,e; Combined with the lingering desire (Dr companion .. ~np lefi Q\;;r.;;I h'wn their !ooltci~ da)j5~ thJ!il need tnspires modern l(lindred co g.wlner in small social groups called coteries,

'The coterie, which non:r.ui~~.y C011Sists of any~vh,e1"e. from. three ~~ sj~ Ki.r!ldred ~ w"ltt'h, a few unuLSI!J,(J!l groups growlng as large as ,1], d_il~i~ has ~x usred ·ncs ,H'1 ideaJ fOi[ hm1dlredls of years. In H.ge5 past, coteries [ended IX) assemble for Ju spDCif~.,c put.pO$e~ ,$~'uch $I), ~he fj;l,ki.ng of an h:nrJorrtrJ!t1t Toad and the' construction of fll la;~r" or perhaps defending a domain a~~'n.s;t. outside HtJre..,,~ £ron, The nedou of SI. coterie [hat assembles and remains rogerher :for lO[!Jg~tenn gn:al~ ~ or e\l\e~l mOJ'·e 5tJ'(J:L'ltgdy for social plllirpbS-~, ,~r;ns aU~n ~nd ::IJ.njfteanl 'ro 11'l081; ,el'~~I;$ tonight .. Theit"'[')ood:tions in. S'od,et~r ~:re ~ ~:n::ady SCCU.f€:t dl'rti[[ haveti!5 \1!leU ~l idden '&tlmriJ enemies ~nd l~n8["fi'pecthl,g Jdnc aHke. They dism:i:ss th~ fortn~njon ,of Goreries· as vO~itb:fu1 'fool ishn~i '0[' even

. .

,mfSe lli'l tthe behaviO'fl" .of anima'k

for those K~1,dred nut con~id.e:red. 'eldel's~ howevel':j, cotel'l'es flf~iC jU$1t" COrr:\,lti'o'n ~e:LTlst. Sorne :modern cote'lries do :~~~ti!ble (:or a ptaniculHr goal1 ~s dl.ey. di,d inye-an;. pas~. ] [ mighr be :~I!IJ.

oblecuve thsc members wish to achieve, or dley mi,gt1:t be ;i1,';$€;rrlbled ee d');e behest of. a Kindred leader; faction, their si ~~~"'_ or by an"? others 'I. ... l'~,d~, the ,~"tt'hority to de!r~l!nd 30[11(';; service . the' group members. In most cases, coteries fire purel y social a:)1~S;~!fU'~f.S·~ VI! utb no purpose other than the ],olng,~tenl1 beneflt and fll'll tual protection of the'iF mem be($~.ii:p. ThJ!Y provide ali les and support dilfiit yQ'ung Kinc~ood haven !l' yet managed to f~nd :\1. r1l'y w here else. At the v~ry lease, such commenlry 'POOl vid~s someone to \'v.-atCh O!(u;/s. 'bm;ck I' to ~rtd. in rhe hunt and to . ~." .... '"'»O>O« corroborate any accounts [hat might have eo he; gi ven ro el .. ders 0[' anrhorines -_~ advantagea not be 1J't1d,eU~8Iti mated. ~n the wodd oJ the :Da'~Iii:D1t~t

That said, coteries aren't 'h~l1ppy bands of fdends, ro]1'iddng ~.hrough a dbm''tli.n. The misrrnst e:ndetnic to am Kindred doestl,' end with the forrn.~ci..rJili. of a g'[o~;J;p. CA)~1"~es, ~r~ $1I;~b]'@ct ro tbe same internal squabbl Ullg~ dOIl1'M'e~dea'hng a~lrJ~ C)f1 occasion, outright b~r:.tay.lll as ~ny other Kindred insruuuon, ~'pedaHy O\vi'f.l!g w' tb.e f~lC[ 'rh~it most coteries are cmlTIo~jo:~:itan ','Vi'rrl~ regard lEO members' Odg~l~SL In fact, ~hm.'o.,s[ {~V'~:ry 'ooteric;:' ever formed ~$ temporarv, even if it lasts decades, it cYi3ntl;,ulJlly f~lK~5 apart, The more th'L1'C that passes, the more opportunhies for advancement 'by 'betraYill (0.1' at Iessr abandonment) come up, and cV\entusiUy some member ~5 alrncst cerratn ITti' succumb I . temptation. Even, on the off chance rhar :['!Jobodv [,~~.v~s, or turns against the group} Kindred tend eo ,g,r.ciw 'uncu~a5i~,I~g~,o/ paranoldas they :a.ge, Consldering the sort ofsodety in which

~. ~ H !~ ~. ". ~ I~l W·' I -

t~le'y gU)W up, trus react LO]l tsn r unreasenaeie, w. laJl[ it

. n'!te~J1SJ' however is that bevond do certain age, most vampires I' aren't willing to trust rhelr former coterie .. mates, even if no- ~f.o~=-a

'body has, engaged in <any direct treachery. Those coteries that d,~[ll~t tear apart due to diJ3honesty or ambltion inevitabl.y sep 'I"('~te cur of mjstru.st ,that someone wm unn traitor

Exceptions exist, of course. Some elders stlll operate in, cr at ~,(';;~l~t mainrain contact lV'~ t"h ~ their former coteries, i ( onl y eo mairstai n ~,or.tg;st~H~di I\g' networks of conracts, aUj,es. . and rhe like. These long-~lasti,ng gliOUpS are rare." though, :For rhe most part, elders eonnnue to mistrust the notion of COl teries ~ even those w ho, in t'heil:r youthi wete members of one - and ~ by ex n;er:Jsiott! they often mistrust those :nedg.~ ~..,h~~~

Hifigs 'I;.vb,o fUrLrn, IJM~m, 1'0 fa'ct~ thO!!:Mgh few Mm~'t uti, f!Jl::ll[]-Y elders mar the spread (:rr rbe cnrede :P1,\~~10lfJJelnO:~l~ concerned that ~ t 'l:v:ln prov lde :fU,I:IJl¢ rivals with $1, base of 'po'wei[ dl,ey

t:i'~~m$e'~.v@ C31"I!OOr: exploir, .

The :society of (he Datffiled is a ~,riiyst~dott) and alien ~h~tlg.

ter all" Kindred namre ,_ th,e bl(l1~re [i(1r"Jl10rn,. dismJ~t nmsL£y, dlat vrunpite.') .often hold roward one fU;lO,therr-l to say

irl!g of their constant squabbles over hunting fel'f,Urory - .~.'rJ 1..,!!JiI,i1~~·t.; ~~em, '1:0 SLlFt ,t:hm; they ~,..\ere mrendedJ 'to 'be' lone ~'.I! "'.,',~;""I!.

S()llfLe be'heve d~.:j);r Kit~dred $CICLetv e.xi.5~s no~v (J_3 it h~l.3:f.or .. u""~~~~~ sand.s of yeal"S·. legend. has bi( dlali: vampix,e_s once 'ftulcd 00 ~lIJr~d th~t i.hcir fe'~Ld1ii,t dO,t1!l~'i ns h~v.e simp], p~, dawn 'liLlDltI21l'!iBl rhc ct':nttiiries. Of COilt'E-e." ~10 V2!mrire' 'WilO '\,v:)rkg the Eb nightl, or at le~t [lone 'ImmllruJ, c.an truly :recaU rll~ det~il~. .. .,"'" o:r .......... :t''':17 so I,ong pa~t. '111ie !nemo['~es of those Kindred who :a\V.~1'Y rILe decades grcr~v iLU.'i,{.ett"3il'll<" cllreOD'tL<S i,

.

~or;n~. ' . . '~(lliI~;~iJJJJ.o~g the neonates, 'believe that

if :S6c.~J~~~~~~n~H~ [ecel".'~:dev,d~pmem:j at least in historit:enlIi·ti:r~:y· il\~.~tain ~t on~).n the modem era, when

. 'u~aij~~ij\e kine h;a~ ·t't·i;"~be~,e difficl'hl~ thanks to 'rapid ()~~R:m~~~P'l)J' :~u'Ja.~~h~~ ~1u'toLoj~~al aJ!vmceu1Len~j has Klnd.~ . .:ri;gp~~~~ froLf]f~~mru;~¥.~ld he$1lL1e complete, ,Onl,~ now, t~y ~llllhl\,1ijas thel irfeed fmfa separ.~~ $ode;ty developed.

. -_. .. . ""!': ~-

TIl" pri:m~ry PIl1.~ of~Rjndr.ed S0d,et~, Ki,n,dred ph ~'It).~o~ .- he[ie:~!e~'is. '~~ublt[.bn. '~'imd:re~, gad~ti_,t~r 1'!i,OI; l1;ie[~'~y in .d;.ilI!Ji,1,II:5H·,·.id .l p~li.lnit}1 -, ~'but .:s0Fiany~ under a local gOV~!rI1,mi8!tl~

..... ' .. '~ .... "', .... ,en?~gh -oEll~e~, ~e~g;n.'ule the need, [Q ponce their

.,., .. ,L:C,. ... un \V}.6'f'.m ,':1"'e V>.'"..;;::::ft ..... d o'-k.'! dw e U II in ,~R~."", crowded 'C! i""'..,..;,< -H· ... h ¥'Ii" "'tL'''':,~ i. .r.....u~~~~..... :t . ..;:., ,_ 'IU y", L[,~r,;,; ..:... _ ''II!.' ..... ;;.1. ' h,~r,::.'J' h h,

'00 oven a;€(tJlori:lty, -fiothffig would prevent rlM~ ind iserere or foolish ho~'iL): '~Vag~.I,lg war wtdl [one a 1,1 0 ther OpcO~,}i'~ re~~,i:J,g indis.crhltli:~a~~y' or- otherwise '~hr'Cfl!rei;l~ ng @a\ch Qcthets. vitolu,ty. A, figu.rre :knawn. as; the Prince [or whoever represenes the :~(]cal government] is an ~[il'forGer ~ firsn:: and 'fo~most.

Ber:ond ~Thhisl Kindeed clairn tlnu t'he:ir k~nd cle,fl:ve 'wgeihe1'" I sociaUy (or~~1OO:ns [fir more personal and in:grairled tl'lion the o~ed

to protect ilie;~~h,tes '&oin each other, Kindred society gt;:ffit$ 'irs members ~TIet'l:t1jng, D:'tey could never have: ~:I,'['(!J-,Ol1g mon~Jls:: ;fI! sense of Li@j nngLl1g~ of COlmTIUI1ity; Vatn.pires might despise the g-oc:ateF portion of their feU01;1i.!"$, ;and the~r Prince Or governor _. and a ,gr~,:lt m3l1).~ dc. -- bee tb.is, is neverrheless 'th,eir oottrmunityi '[heir dty. \!(Ib,~€:· mortals rutDl [o.ftiiroj-,[y~ th,~ I(~ndfed have clans. Whem rnoreals fOll]) nations and) culllU1.es:,. the K~r!lJ:hed, have ooV'~ en ants. These social OO;n.zytruClfS anew the Kindred. to feel as dlougli t'hey\,e, a P.a:llt of rolueibilJ,Q', '00' counter the extreme isob.[~Qn that d:tey 'WQ~uld otherwise ~S"uff.er :fOR (ilJ[ etemity.

The Kindred are sull outsiders, proponents of [his cd[ealul-ed sta:t!e~, 'but ClJt least '~hei.r domaJm:;. and clans' and coverUi["IJt$ <3J~~ lo·w ,them to be ol!ltside['s tog}ether:.

Mm1y eLdersj, of OOU1~~e~ ,oo.nsidel' .such cheoric~.s. ~, hC'~p of meaJy m,QIU ~hedl ,revision~;s[~ .se'~f .. ind!Ulgen:t effh;l'vl.a. s~wtdl by id~,e childer with 1110 ~nO'W[ed;g"e of iE'he wa.y d;1l:e c~voj]"id works, ,As tl~~ cannot lJ]~~)v~d~ ,aJ~1.y eviden.ce fLit rheii[" 00nSetV~lE'~ve ~jsodet", has :8l1 warys e':..::is~d thl~Sji ~,11IinBd.es~ hO'V.1e'V'~t." e kle[}\ aren't: likely ~o $Ulenc~ th~ sodaJl [h£o:dst~, ~n.y [im~ :soon. And thus the DarlJse M:~ca'bre- contLn.lll.G$ on. eme 11.10ffi fmn:~"

•• +

'T'HE COVENl~NTS

A @'V1er~ant f'~. a so'd,all iU nit of v.aJmpirns. lEach ~s, an ~rtffildi a ~ glr(~IUlp ,comp~isiJfil!Qll<jr! dired 'wUth :s;iimill,al Ii" phii'~ oso phi eS',r ~dea 11:s.... po I iii ~a I a i m:s. ,g fl d e\t~ n r~Hgkl'US !I1ot!i'!O·ns" V:all'irilp~r,eI£ (an u~,l1Jallly belong t(~, o'n ~y on is! C;OI/'ei'nla nt at a t tr.riH~'l ~s mern be,n".S; arrl~ $omewnalt ~xdusiona ry ,abo~,t ,theilr pr~ril'i::li p~ es.1, but Kii[nd red $ome't~ me!; ~,e,a,v'e one coven aJi1t to[ joi fa !3l11othe'n'", eV'ade f1!Q·Uee· of ml~rw! bersh ilP ii'n m ulldple C{)i\fen~ nUl' or ,a;d:ively ,concoct l,a Ise i'de ntitji,es: 'w~th which t(), 'sp'y on other (UIiJ'€lil1iants,. $O·Tirl e· 'varnpi res ole,longl toO no c,ov~nar!r:t at: ,a II, Whi ~e a 1.1 'of these ,group5 fe(ei~ gilleat:e.r 'trwtment ~I$~her€ ihl this bo~)k..r it h,e~ps to f.ann i~ h;mi:ze you rile If with some 'D,r the~ r Iba 5;Ut rflot:i1ons.

Th e (arth ~ain$ seek to recendl ~ Ku ndred sod &y

wiith modern g. n vemm· 4....+~1 ~t· 'r~ - iMI'-- r,~~. :!Io ... A ,~",i'" ~ll

_ . __ .. ,.;. .. _ ' __ . _ ~1:H • .;!l ;;J _ !l.h.~lL I,;,;!, 'l'.l!~ IU ~v .... .a

:)Y5ibem\j:, tri! a ny' nu ~ I:M~r 'I)'V cities .a .. cross the wCl·rl d, the Calrthii an €,xpef'i mnl~'nt. ls in some 'sta'ge of ~ts ine.xor,j3 bl eo 'cyd€'~ ru nn ~f'I 9 from naJiv.~' ~d e!:a Ili:s,m to "the !leva I utlon eats its ch i I'd rr€'IfI.,,'?

The Ciifid e of the [Cr"QllI e 'V\i;n~r.at~~ a v.a r~~ of fema ~@ 'Ti 9 IJj res as a I'll ama Ig,a mated create r Ott Vi:ilmp~resj' the Mlot!her !l)f ~IIII Mlor}ster:~. Reg:arded as pa 9 ans by sam a of ttl a more (10 ns-ervait.iive:

Killlcked factiens, the! CircJe relies more on holistlcs a nd ~ede'li'rIpti on 'than 'CH1 the' pe:nitiF;nc,e: and 'gui It of atlhJer i'alE:ologliGil!1 [)(J'iJ,e'11131r"'lJts:. Its membefS: iIIr-e ;5.orOiEH'@irs, and blood wirt(he~ .

Th @ ~nvi(tLl~ lis trN~l a rlstocraey of th e til ~ght f';h~·ofeuda I and corru pt from witlnlilfll it: is noneth e I ess a ;pow\e rfu I 'CiOv[e rtJ.t~Ulit that d 1i~'W~, stren 9th from trrad ition u Th e I nvlctus d ~~ ms to tra O~ its ~OO1tS, b,SH:k as h~ If as a n de 1111: Fl::o'liTi e:, if not before.

lhe lLaJri![ce.a S;Slnct'lJm 1010 ks to, BTblli'ca.~ hisb)ry for its, spi lFiitll'll ouelook. The cove'lila nt seeks to ~ ilIf~uenoe! K,j rildirea sodety with th e st r i ctures of lor~g,i OU$~ who was bN~ ~~'~\,i'Ed to be a pro·ge niter tum ed into one of the 1C)'a mn ed bV th e b lood of Ch r'i'$'t. 'Th~ covenant pracncss aJ mag le thalt draM Oill ele ments from lSi bllka ~ tii mes~ wlh~f! G:o d's wirl ~r,as man ufest..,

The 10 rdo D racu I ls a neo&'Vi(torman faction In ot un i i ke OJ secret :s;o,dety, lit com mands Irwystka I kn~1 edlg,e and Ir'i'tu els th aJt a ~~ Cit~~ mem ben, to transcend the i r varnpi rii e state, The covenalnt (~ai i1fIs. d.~~o~~~t 'f'n)1fIf:l the hlstorlca I V~ ad Tep es _, DrOJQLU~a h ~m$eilf.

KJrildir~ who be~(~rI,g to n G! ;t'O'V,Blfila nt at ,a,111 areknown by m,any rl~m eSr but eJlllli,Q'O[g the mest l.mii\i'e:r~~! ~re ntne llInangnecP' or ~th~ 1mboll.H'lla"lI Th~y' haPlle no forma II str!Jctu reI ,a'od m~uilY j!!Jit wa nt to h.~:ndle the Req !LIii'em On 'the'~r awn me nms~ Hiltner t~.af!1 tho'$,e of c,ov,~nant> or cthe r instltlUltfol'ilS.

'.)! •

t--.'-- .....

.&Z. Jj~ J{f-:;t-

SO 11LOW m~n¥ Ki~,d red a!,e there? l~ -rhe1,lve; got ~ $od~t:VJ they 'LUllS! c:-dS'rr; in pretty subsmnJ::i~l] numbersl, yt:t th.ey\re rn;an~ ~ged to 'k"ee:p th,eirnsel V\till; mOl',C' or he;ss; hi.cll.de;[l 'frQm ,the' i"IIUllOf~ iry of dle InOI[~lta~~s :~['o~md IEhelTI"

TIle tmtlh i.$~ 'KlJ~dred :i!'!IJi.lfI1tbers. Wiry fr.om city to ell}, In moot iiilTI:a]] ,citic's:~ 'th,e' 'ptropo:r~i{)tl of 'lJ;uooe:li.d ro '~1iO:ru:als rne:l'lds '~O be 'reJar.Lv.:dy lO'\1i: Olli.~ vampire per 1. OO~OOO 'or vnore rnOirta'ls '!is not U[IlOOIL1mon. h1 I~rge ,C'[tk.$~ tli'!£ '~XuC) i~ !!.~mill]Uy :ne~r¢[ Orte ~u:n~ pi:r.'C' per 50~OOO lillo:r.1[~ls. In ronlt~ ,c'i~i~,,~ rhAlt $~c;;'1rrt ro dlr:~w 'tit)!!;

. Kindred, lio~ wh~t-eve[ r~~$:on - ,dd<es s~ch as N',ew YOJk~ lOut." dan" New Orl~~l'~lS and Chica~o = ~he :[~[ttio can be ~llbst'.dJl~· '~:ilU)' h~,gl'~e[. M,os!: r~ittce':il don't iJfutlclll,tllr'iy 'k/eep mlick As long ~s 'rrl1e pO:P:I!:~L!;~tioitl dJ'.)~1lt _gl"O"w Sll) high that people, ta!k:e' fl;l,')'ti(e of ~.h.e predators ~m(')~,\g dletn~ rum.llbe:rs do:n:'\t llifnter-

If (lorte were to ,tt~ik·.~, ~J war khwide av'erage i the r.atk~ is 'Pm'b~ ;ii;'b~V ;:1IJ[,C1und th,~ 0't:1,e4o ... 5 O,~OOO m;irrl- [t 'fl~lctuates SO rlWIr~ olJghloy' f-r(j,:rn domain to dOniLa~n tbat One S'llOU ~d, never ~lJSSt1 me ~ba't:. ~it!ly gU'Ve[ll popu'kniOI:t corr.esponds to that rug1.1re.

.;f~~#~

Perhaps dle .. ~il1g1e .ID'~3.te~t reason ''!!:;;~rnpire sodetv has developedas It bas ls the Kindred's u[lbffi'::lk~M,c ~,~c: t.q the dty; The undead HIe bound to the cities of the 'Hue a~ tighd~r ::'5 dley are to the Blood itself, For rhem, tthlZ' dty is :rcally a Cl,g:e'~ gilde~~ though it 'F],lLght b~~ ~uad tbe Kind:~d. GO~!'~J ItO ~,nQ~G

ab:ani~o<I1 i~' titan. they could become vegetarians. Ce:n~l~'f"ly! it might bll:i possi b'~e 'f.or a particular] y h:~Hdy o:r ~if:im

It would be fcollsh, of: OOillIS\'.\ to ~!ijgge,.S'~ that Kindred never :: de;s,p-eI1;lt¢ vampire to e'ke Out an existence outside an urban ,.,..,.~,,~ tfiiJilPel" [( they d id not, [hey ccm1dJ never 'have spread 3S hu- 'r center- ,A f!J.lstUc to'Y\,l1 of :; 00 people out in, the middle of £~_

lJl~nii:~~ has", and they would 5till 'be restricted to select ~1'~l.S, of nowhere might prov lae enough Vit~e' to ;~mpPQT"!; a particu-:

dle Old World. ~p:~il:e all [he' reasons 'tlJoir WJ' reasons [hatt larly careful Kindred $0[' a short time. In a populat ion. ot that ~~

Il • ~. 1'1 I ped u" 'I-~ _j' .;. k ' I sire, however, &0 me one would eventuallv discQ,;V'er. h is dep-

nave mlt'.emu.~' S ta - ,.t\.U'lICjt.;.;1 societv as It s known i[;on~'Ol s UJ, _..iI. 'IL, he l 'I-] 'II 1:11 f . .Ii;

J • "'Q redattons w~[en, ~e m.ev~t@:lu~y ~QSes. contra, Jno '_ren"~es,, ,.r-iir

u~Si~d 'ES somenmes 11,ecess~uv (or simply the best of a. list of

best t tJlC Vampl1L~ has a :rr.,ugh[enedj mlgry population of mor-

had optlons). :~rs not th.at Kil1d:red ,don'~ tn~,ve'iJ' 'iit's th'8Jt ~'he:y .~-

d 'J ~ 'I'~ tals on his hands, all of whom move on Of look for the cul ..

- tlIU '( ~~Vie!, ,ca~t:,l,a ,uy, ' . - I~' I~' A' - - 'L.,_ 'II 'L.._ -- - I _j ~- I. - I~' "_j

pnr wrtn snorguns, ·r worsr, (nil:: C,ua[){Jif~iJr,e C taraoe mar !I.'lW,C'S,

W~]21:t is itt rhen, about cities ~ha.t holds dl,e, Kindred as - ~. 'cr v: · .:I ~ _j t 1.0 ~d1 . . .;)1 tne ,r....,[~(lreG rrom !'illi€' won. s awareness is comprorrusea, ali

tbor~'h their feet WeIe nalled to the flood Why 0<*.5, each ci.ity least on a loca I level,

c1 -' fl ID "- 'I li l 'f b - 't

ex sr as us own le, om ~ wirn I,r[ e 1 " ~ny congress uerween 'U ' Some few vampires mke rhe idea or escape a SI:€P fll:trriler

Sn.dJ ~,!h) t'l!emg:~lbod' I· "~, . U c ~ _j. . I M

anc ::JJltrr~l'Iipt to survi 'il1@ in me ~-'!,~lm,u;St. I~ib"iU,Hfig on nrurna s, ',_, l~lnV'

give g,t up -:;ufter a n;"&~lt8,ve'ly ~;]-~~Ht time, tI1oUg'h" Not o:r.'hr dO' ...,."IWLlM they face :) relative pauc'h.y of avai table: blood ~ IGnd[ed eventlUaUy reach the point at 'whk~'b; an imals are no lon:g-er sustain~ng. WhYI scavenge and scrounge in the )'lud when they can . Sllllply ,swy nearer the table and fe~t?

] ddi ,....... 1 '11'f~ l" . 1 d l {; 11" .,

n a - lUM to rne 01 ncu nes mvo ve In, 'ueocul'~1ig~ existmg

outside a city invariabl y leaves a Kindred subject to the other. hasards and (hm,(:~Llt'~fl$ inherent ro r~vet

dl7t7 ~~~ ?r&'

,Perb,ups rhe most o'bV' ~OiU:S, -reaso:n, :fOt the K tndred !N) gather in clties, and to remaln there, is the simple :fa,cit rhat rh~~e$ \;'fb.erc' rhe people are. U ltimatel Yl no matter what son of r--d'igio'U$, cultural or mvst leal (~ce the Kindied wish to ptM: on it I' blood is all rhat matters- It's at the cere of everyrhlug they do- While, h unting is, never a Sure

th ing ~ a K ~n,dired can he relati vel y certa in that r with areasana ble c:legree of c ate and effc,'rt~ she can -f:i.nd, so Q ~~ w hom to feed 'un ,1] dty without iii ttniJct[ng tOQ ,"

arrenrion, C tries h8J"r,~ slums, cl ubs ~ drug dens, hosp j, I·

and, I't KIi: comes down co' it], dark a'I~,~ys" Even ,,,,hen'Kin.- .... dred can find P€O'P:~'~ elsewh.€'re,t rhey {.1.qm,'it ai,w~ys present

0:;. V.'L~ ~,.-~,,,,, ..... ,'ii"Ii"i ..... -r-·'·'I-n ~ '"'v £~ ... , fbl::.ci-l· n.p' ,a . aID ~,o;:; U,It'II:'~" 'I.U ,.,t·i I,-,,:I. [t ..... ,' eo"

The bonds o.f.' d.tlttil.~ bloodline Of' covenant ~lbo prov ude ample ties to make common ·eaL1S(; between vampi res, Ki l<kcd WhD dwell amoag a [~Ig,e population of, or in a region dominated 'by, .. heir clanruates and covenant members have an undeniable soclal and rlo'l i;rr uc:a[ ~Ith~a1]:mge over those who db not. ThesJ! soc· a bonds are~ <!iJhnost by de'fDl1'~don found ~'Lltirdy wi.th.in dtie~. L.eH",l'ing [hem aU bc:hin ~ might s-eelTI 1 ~ke fIJ lib~ eratu:tlrl l1otion to Y.OU11g Kind['edi as th.ey.- ':VOUJi.d:~~~ hav,e to wG!rry ::Ji - 0 m t uI~e£ti~lg ·~he·it'· brethrenj. angering e1deTs! lHlm:..~ng on the· wIung ground ()r ~pefik ung [0 the wr.ong p't!r~'()«, 1"00 tuany Klin(t[l~J h~)Ve fClt.ltld.~ howrcv,et, that the 'nnherent di.ffic~h;ies of ~m[v]v ing a,;vay f~om p.-upubdon cerU:ers ate gf,eate}r th~n) expected, and '(hey 113ve ['L·O as.si$~lnCe 011 w'~lic'h to c, It

. _ .: cJ:cJd~.,.,/~~-

....._ __ ~ _::... I. ,_

'T~~;paI~~:':~~f:,t;h~)::inJ~ .[s:that they pa& ess both the

"~"c',,""'"1 . '[lan~f ::.m the predar0r and~the' social ·~e.a[uings 01- hu-

fDS" th~J:-~g~i~he( in grou~j thQ~'h thc~.-r cempetirive and ~!:@t!~f.'~:S$j.~lr.f·t g.. o'iren :rend:exs ~u~ij IDiJtherb):_g dangerous, 0[' l~~~ luTnQQ_mfol'nb,-le',. Tl1~ cmnp~: e a.g:a inst one another-e-

p'!o~ti~: .athemlng~. ~aCks,L~himg ~ yet they :fi nd dlelTn~dves ll;~i~'bL~;tO runc~DOl1."m ol;'~iI.ef.rulv~.rci_rim,ent8, Even ~f. ~he K~n.r' ~trecl.·,~ould ·ea_sny ackll.![tc b~50d outsfae the urban t~ra.\\';~~ few

\\\'ou~~'be win nng t£);Lr;;~vc qi'fTe-s. behind, for 'both Kmdred .8Jl1d •

m~al-OCi~ty s~PJfOrts rl ~nl,

, ' ·-"~li.e K indred ~hU1n~l()iU ®$ rhelr power and strength nor .from

, 0""'1,1111. innare ab.Hitt u~ibut from the influence th,ey w' e ld

'in tllL£ mortal 'VQr·~d~~·No mHu~I how old or powerful a vampure is, someone ls a t'lllaI'I~ older and srronser, \Vhy risk ones own poit.@n~i.aHy eternal exisrence.jniserahle as lr might be ae rimes, whel:1 one can nl~n'~['il]'~am pa wns :unw taking those 'risks lnsreadl &lIc is. '1 he- Kindred without sorne influence, or .fJ~ least a fe~i!,~conto(,[$.~ , iIlhethe:r in governmenr, business, orga'n iz~:d ,cri.f1\iJ;,e or in some other potentia By useful element of km.ne sod~tjj" And fOfl' themost patti' rhose connections are (Ill ~~ithi.n: !hcrdty. because th{lt~. ·l.~'heFC the people are-

A fGnclt'd without his contacts i$~ eo a large exrent, helplr;;!s$, He ocrta inl'Y has his innare [JO'!;'-~[S - the srrength '!)nd abilities. inherent 'ill the Blood and h LS undead nature - bur y so do h [8 enemies, and h.c no longer 'has any he'~p on. which to- cHIL

Even Kindred sccietv serees as something of a '. afel:Y net, as long as everyone i nvol vcd is w ill ing to follow the ru les, For [he most part, an y gi ven vampire ~s. unUkdy co attack another open ly 'with in the city .. ,A U h:u[' ehc mosr desperate KiOdir,eil think twice before 'bh.tandy violattng the Tradinons or their. 'k'ind or the loc~] hn;!I fQ[( fe~r of reprisal from the Prince and other author lti,e,~. A.,"\'~i Y from the reach of the: Pnnce, however, all he s are ff. For [he Kindred, an}rt-h'h1~t beyor1. Irhe dry I U1ml DU is '~aw 1~s5 rerritory, ~ac.k:ing £lin}" supreme ~ul[l':Lori.ry 'Eo whom grievance can ·b .. bitOlJ,iig"hL As most wise Kindred sray inside their cage, ith-,{~ who do not have no undead ~'~Um'~s on ·wh.om. Ito c~]l1~ j uSt: ~s ['he'y h~vc few 0' no 'Lu.ort(i!] ·D~,wns.

). l

Ii(

....

PLAY] ···~G··· TUE.·· 'D- ;1'\' s.'~ M dlCJ\- Hmi'

!L.n . ,n . Eo~. fl: __ ,li1ioil.:.

i1h e n ~d to bu rid up both mo,r-tal inf~u.e·noe' a fJld I!<Jndr,ed alHes jis a vicious (yd~· tnat cOl'llstalildy ifeeds ii n'l!o :iu.el,f, Yo IJng_ un attached Kindt'\ed whtO .(il Ire. new' to the IReq uie I'iI1 quickly ti I1ld that they need. some degr,e,e of I~ver.a,ge in order t-o mak.~ a !il ~,oo f,or tn€mse,lv.es in the world of the D1amnedl. Maybe ,a fh~d'glirlg vampire h.as ;:il,dd·entally a nge'red ani oth er ill e'on ate.; SQm eon€: he lid'S; a 9 rLJlage 8lg,~ i'ns,t t"! ~r s.i·n;'l ~h'e needs, to conviru:e. aJrlI eldeorto a~l:ow he'rto feed in his territory .. or maybe sh e :5lj mplly runs ·a,cr()'ss· somoone who d i:d ikes her cO'Vienant.. dlaliil. b1.0 Crdl'ine or h1,ai'r color. She fiHH~d~ ,alllij,es ,amon 9 th eo ,oth er iocal' K; ndr,e dj! 0 r a1: I·east :somethii 1119 to offer or' with wh i ch ·to tlh re.~te n her rivaJl" The 9 r'eat~~t asset mo$1: Ki Iild r,ed truly hQive to offe r one' a l10ther is ,a (CJaS'S· to the'k ties and

(OWl nectlo n $ i'n mo rta I sod ety. (erta i iii iy, some ~articU!larly skn I!e d Kindre~ p rO\r!iide ethe r services, . and a Prine..€! can ()'1ffier tI9'rd'tolry or other special privUeges[ but Influence !i\ithe OJlrlrency with which most K lndred ba rter, Q rl@ elder with I,~\r.r~·ra.ge at the ocal a lrpc rt m~g ht Eilgree to smuglgll e $~)IITi'~HJhi n 9 for anotherl. mf the other wi 1'1 use h~s, own contaets to make 'S;YlFe that th e' PO;iljICe. don't breaJk up the f~r$t's dr,ug 'tnrffid:.ing operatlcn, Without $o,m~ rnessure of i nf uenoa i n 1m c rta I sodrty:. most Kindred have [liUlle to trade"

:50 the YOUIli 9 varnlpi re d Esc,overs· th at she must develop mortal .allli'~s: and eoreacts j'f she wfshies to cultivate Kindlred alllj'.a'S~ Ths mere Kindred ,allilies she has., howeve r~ th e more etrentio n Sene d riiil.ws. TtH~' Ie n emies of her alii ~e.$. become her enem ies, Otfu~ r K~ ndred who m ~g.ht h aJrli ~eft. her a ~ol'ile $udd·enlly. :5:ee' h~!r Irnslllilg in plOwer and dedd,e to cut he r off a:t the II< t:l'ee s before sh ~ becomes dafillgl@r,ou$" Suddeflly~ her all ires aren't :sJJffident, She' fiJ eeds more connect i 0 ns, nn o're' i !fifl u entlsl sponsors, For that; she needs to deveh:rp more conteets .19 nd influence j n kl rile society.

[),espite th el' 81mka ble~-SQ.1IJnd'i ng n i¥l m 12' they' have chcsen for themselves, ·t.ltle ~ K"ndn=d~' dlorf"t partroular~ys.ee themselves as familly l!rd,~s$'tl1l'f;Ylfe force-d to do $.0. The bonds O'T frlsndshlp ,are ,!!II ~ but nonexistent arnonq vamp-ires) ~ndl those relatlonships that do form alga'jn:s:tt all odds ra.re:~y su rvive as. !I ~)Iilg as· those who elnter rnto them. Klndrad who attempt to ramal n aloof who try to, avoid enta I1g Iii ng ttl ernsalves ii n m orta I Oil" Kind Fed aHai rs, usual Ily find that sodety won't perm it them to sit the game out,

And so it goes", it! n1 €'Iildiless loop 'enslJrin 9 that few Kindred ever manage to, haJuli themselves out of the qu~gmi reo that i:$ the modern dity~

~~'eH

On,e of. the mOB[ j·B1.gu..adned. re-.arons to fe!Tl;~~,n ~,~1, 'cit ies is londiness., Kindr~d are liLO I.onger mOl'WlI, bUJ the, ·rrnl.i.SE'[lOCJ.iJ is l'elat'~'ild'Y J¢'cc-nt for rno:u. N'ot even the eldeJii[ can fully slmke the. '~~'LSt 'Hngering traces of what t'h~~1 us~d. ro he. Precbwrs 'rend. rO'~,~ard . o~~tu -eb". ffiltI,T(C, blJ;l,t :people are gre,gaIioli1s ~'n !l"h,~ cxtreu1l;e~ (In·d dlte Ki·nd.rt..-dis i,\I~Ltli.ng .sense· of COILlIJnlunj't')r~ of belonging helP.5 £.~e [he!'L1l ro their rem~inf[ 'g l-:~u·~nanJ.ry.

t ( .•

IJ ••

.,

Vampires (gLtili~l Y' fe~[ lonel Y' SiS often or as ~asily ,as mortals d\o, (if not mor-e' so], and some 'who remain ~PGln from the rna~ too I~ng di:.'1cove:r rb~y C9iH no longer I.:.l.elrld in when 'th~"I atDempt to return

$oll1,e yO!).l'ng: KiIilJlr¢d ha v'r.) Fc;;C:C(rl:~'~y ottemp[~d to survlve in rhe wiM as, coteries, f.a:tb.er than as ~l1divlclu~b" D::ring 00 goes ~ '~o,l':i~ l;¥~y 'tOw~ro ~.neviob:ng the lonel lness of such lsolation, bur. l!rHm,v of these coteries run into difficulties Anding enmngh ~lJstenl1nKe upon 'which to (c:;c;:d" It's h;JnJ enough for. a lon,1t Kmdred ro feed herself on, animals and (he occasional hitchhiker, 'FfiiW a gWiU[ll' the t~l' is extremel y ,ch@Ueuging iu the lQn~nrn.

~~~j~

One of the moot ancient and. hOl1.ol',ed sunr[ving Kindred ~1$I:omruf'.;t and. ,O'ne 'wh-rn;e ~Jl1iI,P'[):Ft~!LIC~ l]l~ny modern neonates dmsdcaUy underesdmaee, is that of EIysu,I!J'Lu" In essence, :3 l)~i'[1iCif n:my declare $pect(~"c: locr'J!tkHl[,; Gflb,!s city to 00 El ySl[,lf1.!i.j places free of violence, safe for all Kindred. Mos[: Off[{'.ltd Kintlrea business rnkes p'bu:e in ,1~J''P:~um. Th~ FiL'i.nce'S court "Us most frequentlv held. in one such local kHli and meet 'yo tung: '!,i';iI!lJi]pir.es who need 'to .f:ipteak ,;vi,di. a leade1t or ekle[ ,come to ~1~'$"uufII:'IJ eo seek t'heflf.l out, Pollrics and. intrigue are as OOLTI;~ mon helle as rats on the street ourslde, wlth debate and negot:i;a.tian heard as ftfeq'L~f:ntly as (:8.'$'1.1111, gossip" :M:3ny elders spend mt1'~,e n:lghrts here, and wh He; neonates ~re welcome (m~t of t1~ ti~,n~) ~ they are expected [0 remember their place,

MD~i!: areas of Ely~;imn are {'..UhUiC~l[ 01 artistic- centers, condn:rtuv.e re iiu,e~let:tu~l pursuits and the sense of calm rcflectlon tha[ most Princes hope to maintain, Such places include eVel'j'thitlg fmm. !theallte~ and opera houses to museums ~l1d/ ~aller[e8 to tlJrtlVel\'],il}.-f halls, and :~fbmrie.s;, As more Princes ~e m ilJ.'CICepit the 'Waty.~ and convenlences of' ~he Hijl];deril world, arlld~s ymmg, Kindred ascend ~Il) positions otpower, the 11LUm~ ker of ~:lI;~ht,d;ub:) ~nd rt"~t~ur{ln[s dod~l!K.J ,El VS~l,l,'fn. grows es w,e][. ]n .an)! case, wherever an 1Ely;sinm, is) attendees are exl~e-ttt:d 'to dress ~Ild comport ,themseh.re.5 apl):rnprt~1:td,y~ f(~r. 'th~ $'@k~ lor (h~ &!N.J"(~q~, if noe $'~mph~ oOiJ:rr~sy.

W'1l.Lle l'efreshnrrte:tl,r's au~' Qftien 'pro\! ~ded m: E]Y$i !l,Utm~ e.spel<" ,¢~!lIlUy cl~:u[ilig t:oun or. other. fot.rnal, ,gs,therl'Elgs! sl!:~ch 'us not al .. W8IYS the case. It '[8 C0113idered 'bad nfl8!Onel] W show IU[p' to Ei}'lS<l:!I,ilffi IliLlilgry~ M nar anI V ,dloes d,Q~ng so lead t.'O shOrE rr,ern .. periS ruld pm:elltt tal "tiohu ~ons of the Ln'l,~~s of nOl1v]oIen,ce. but 'm(lS!t Pri[l;;:e,.~ disco!).l~ge m: even fQrbid hunting '~v:iit+~:ijn, se~',~ £ml blodG oF8 ysimn. Af:tcr aJ[l~ these LOC:~;1[ lons are. centers of Kin-dred a.ct~vuty. If h~'uttio:g 'w~r'0 p~rl,niu~d in t'hG: :n;::guonl ir !P£l0'UM, o[11~ b~ a m:3J[ter of time before: t:he l1Jumber or st[';~mge ~~IIT'!am('es ~lil.li):d d~~ttths ~nr:a(:.~'cd ~!\Jt~nriLo;n. Kl.ndr,itd: who brIng' guests to EJys:in.u"D1L ~ be tthey b[ooo shlves~ m(Jirt~J, retaJn,er.'h new' childeT~ 'v:'a,mphes fr'om outs~d~ t'h}e cky 'Of ~vl$n, ioc~~l Kin,~ , ,~racl ~iho S~illply \\>'B:r'e blot spE:cUk:all 'P i:n'V ~.'ted W' a. gi''iJlen ~'!reu't ~ !3J,~ ~'pQnsiMe for tb.eit guests~ beha'viof" al'ld th.ey can be p.unis"hM ~~ie~dy for vio:~a:t[o'ru comnli,tt:[.cd by c"omrKU1icm.$,

A 1li_J son (!i{ phys.Lcal or ~llysti.'C~l'~ cnnn-o:n:rr'::lt.ion, is, snktly fomDdd~il w i,thin ]2I,y'Slum (though slOdal conA kt' has ri:£m, to roth ~tt ~rt {omit and QlJlt1'i;ght W(l,r} , Vioboors of d~ i5, lillIe ('rr'e itL~'" tmb:l.y b"fl,lt$b,e(~ o[ ,ex.ocl.ltedi [jos t::hMn· . \VhBl1 'DenJiI,j}efS tlar,e,

bevond words, the Prlnce, Sheriff 01' Mas:t,er 'Clf EJlysiJJ:~m :~rr~ght ~~ ask those invplved to' leave ~l'~A, CO;Q'~ off d~~vh~[(';un hopes . , Fti:::adirlg off ,8.11 ~l:iP&ooion that would result in \l',~Dlence. snd ~Iii= punishment. E['V,si'~lm 'us stl'ktly neutral ground I' ·~m~" K~ndred _ -, ::,< .... " ....... are ~poc~, to :~,eav.e their eonfltcrs - or, ,8Jt least any pl.b.ys.i .. · , C!3l[ ,cmnunuaJtton of rhem - outside. That 5aid~ elders are eXI perts ~t ~10M lng grudg~s" and while 8J neonate 111iogiht get ~l'\%ly with mcmthin_g' off to an elder while mside, he'd better have :~lia.ble rranspertattenhome and. l,e~[Tb, to sleep wi:tl'iL one ~ye

. open" M~ny K~nd~ed c.o(lltlh';ts ~hat have evenruall y e:ItUpted ~~~ in 'v io~ence began witt'h, a singte rmsspoken word in I'he corri- .."VI"""""'" dors of E~yshJm,

Any di$cu:),&ion o:f Ki~,ldred, £1.1rf.et~r tsnd security (!tom, ze:dIDUs enemies must eveiUtiaUy [Urn [0 the concept ,af the haven -, ' at once a vampire's restlng place, personal doms in and "p:r~~' vare 'inner sanearm A haven is [he place {perhaps [he @-n~,? ': p~;a!Oe} where a vampire can, rei ~ably f'hid shelter from il;he' 511.11,1, whl I,e she sleeps ~h~ day av..ray, Due to ehe Ktmldl'ed1s lnhospi .. t;;1,Me' rebltio[lIshtp '~dih the ~~1I.i!n.1 dIe 5e~.'e,~tiO'n ~lld admi:n:ij$tral !mil rton of one's haven can of.t~n be (or qu kk~y become) oneot the most imporranc (lJ5peC[8 of a voung va_mp:i[-e~~ unlife"

The' vast maJod.ty. of ne{);l1~:tes dn not 'be,gin d1e~:r l!l'[~'hves with an, established haven of. their OWfL ,/A.s a rule, mortals do n(Jot, ke)e:~ the UF clom ~C:i.le50 in a condition we ~ I, S'.I:i ted, to :~l ~1'!.mpu.T~,\l needs, SO the Embrace often forces an lmmediate dl~mg,e of en virons upon a tlew~'Y creaesd fl,tilg;lh1g. Mon~ of .. , ten than nor, a Kindred's sire provides his l'H~W' progeny with a haveD1 ~ even ur onlY' 'telnpO!flrl'i-y. Once a '[l_,Wnj],'Ite' h~s, gr.O'liV!,l, .. accuseomed to ehe '11L.a'~~$ of'hi_s, n~w existence, he may rhen -, often with h~s sire's ~s~ist:::l!~lCe - procure a haven ofht~ .own somewhere in [he domain. Once in a \"'iih:me, the neonate '~,e~'hr returns to his; f'Q:rrne(~ mortal [\!;,':~iden~e wl'~h the in~:el1t of renovating, and indood~ some 'LYpes !Df homes need surprls- . ing1y little work in or-der to 'become functional havens, M{)~t of d'],e time, [hough" the she advises :aJ~:att1:;t $Jj,ch a move, as itt invites questions from one's fou.me:r' [~Je and generally compllC~lIre.:s a young v~nip'ut,~~ ex.isre;ri.'G~ unnece-SS:1!Jr.i'~y,

,) .

• • •

A Sn~]ts :HOSf[IAlITI'

A. nr~r:! gle." U ~offid,a ~ 'tr.ad it itHl h a'~ a r~$el'1! (),V'e r

·<~.""''''f!.''

tlm@ conc@rni Ii 9 h,~'nten~~, a nrd it is ,ori ~ ,th Qt n .

;t;:aJus,ed no ~!)m.a III im,e.asY tJ"e' 0'1 iii II wi III between s~ '. ,g i'ld dlii Id~~ over ,tlh ~ ()~ ntJu ri'€~." 'TIII~' traditi~1n is s,e.e Iil most (rfi@n .almOr'l 9 tH'N~ Ve,ntrlU'@ d,a n, ~rtl d many bel i e'i/e' t~ Clt t he (M:;tom'~; origii ns ~a nJ be t.ra,c@d b_g,c k to a 1'1! .g O( iie!"'llt lEast'ern E ~ r,~ plea 0 mortal: (;ol1lvel'iitiolli. R'eg,~rdre$s, some Kilr'MJreci TtO III!'JW ;;Ii t:r'adii~~on 'th ~t say~ a :~,lire is ~e:~pofil:5,~bl!.E; ~ii;i.'i~F.~;' for rH)IU SI tirg h~ s; pro.ge lily 1U'1iIti' I , li U]ch ,t~ m~' as th. proteg eo ~~, releGi:;ed inrto the wOorl1 d" Afier all ~ they' ,g rgll".! ~j 'Once ;;;I' n~Ofil at,e has ;;;II hav,e'~ o1f h i~, Q'WIF'I,r he te,ch n i'ca'lly h~s; his Qwn ,per$lO n (J I d Qm~i n. cal!"! d many old~f,Cl5h~ol'lle,d Siin;~~~, dQ n'Ot be'H~~le - that: .... .,._.,""' ..

di~.Id'€!r ;~ne ,ent~tlled to t:he rights orf do mrilai"fi! unt;il,<~(:~~ :5t!lch ti rilii e as they a Fe r,eliea~H~'d" iherefo,r-er th,e wa:itirf1 9 peri od fo,r re()e i"iJIIII1 9 .a ~ h,13'VEm of orne

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:_q ~ ~_'II.r: ._ -~ .~~~. ,

mWI'iI:~,{an;':~iD'" m:llJldi II00B\;'e!'if than a In senate

",-1"':: ._ l':~''1 ~ I ;; ..... : -~!.~ ;; '" , '

" ;~>'ii~:~'~,q:,i~:'~~ ~n~ ~ ~~g i$~;: f:11 S s II re J,~ se n se of

'[Dnveift~&1r;:JMir6y ~~Uer 'neonat'ei, alre q U !Jck t,o ~o~.n1~~tit~,~Wr~, fact lIh;~~ ~"e, ,I'ri9 behol Ch2'1Tl to o Ilii;ts 's;ijr~",fJQr~l~r\Q~,ctTOln ''from :11'ile bane'$ of ene's ~~lt~n~~" a$.~w~11 a~ for iI)~rrS, lPolI'itici:3l~ statlen :i~r"!:~a~lpi rle ~~~di ety~ .p:U!ts O'~"@~S ~W1ti re un I uf~ in

~I~Jj(l~":sl(eA5( h Qit[[ds, a Iild, that's ]~st how marny '!)I res ':. UkeJlt.;.ThafilkJiJl~YI tN~, traditto,n ijs ptacticed less ,::,' J~I~:d r~~~ fr,~~q~u-erlJfLly.@J$ tim~, marches on, and ;tpnligilt1t., few' 'siire·s\~f)!.dd'·le'vel1 want thei r

.. ji'e,dlgL~llg (hi.ld[er d~ning under the sarna woof w,ith ,t~ em. fl6r: ye:a:fS ~,on e iild.

.-r-,.. _ :: -: "'

A. haverr uself i$~ vetf 'P~tS.OIJi~l. ~ff~)'ut', a iv~en rhe sh~et

amount o{ti.m,e a Kindred musr spend 'v'l thin - at ]e~lSSlt 12 hours a d-a~,~' for ~l~ ;ell:,el"i'j,~lY ~ a have'~, c3J."JJ, b ecome rhe onl "f thi[:t:g' its owne:~ w'm, see in ~ny re,(ll seo~ as his ![)!~_'ln. One: does not h~ve: to be' aesrhet L,{:,-aUy 0 bsessed to 'a[)pFedate a Ley~:~ of personalieacion in dle ] lfHllCl' and. ev-en the most' Spartan 'V~~f~lpire e.ve.tj.t!i,1,~lliy de'i/t~~,of,iS so,'~tte sense of ind.i: .. 'ifid~l91l $cy[~ (or 8,[ least e:fftdency) in, the design, decorarton and ]:ayou"~;'O-f his haven,

Techn:too;Hy speaking, a haven is nothing more [mn a 'V~nllJl;ril"/S home. A [ least, thai's all it has to he [0 fit the dd1nit.~o:n. A~ ~tld,l~ there e:xi~t j IllSt :~1$ fl1~JD'iI:y d:iffet~I1't, k Hncls of havens as morral domtelles, or even more, co.n5'~der1.ng th~' options at a vampire's disposal, The aversge mortal cau'e stand liv ~ng under extreme ,.,.rea:t"her or pr.'f!ssure (;C)nd,i ti ons, hut such constderar ions mean ve'uy ll tde to the undead, Some K~nd:red. "e$ped~lny ~he Gsngrel :Uld. same Nosf~[:a:nu) enj o}' the sol lrude offeTed by lnhosplrable slJlTQu.ndh1.$~~ and [hey elecr ro make havens, in areas deep underground atop "~izzy~ng hei,ght$ or even Il;~~'lde:nv:;tljer, O!l':~,ers opt lEO blend in as much '8!S they ca n, prefeuing the w:trrm co:mfon~, of modern :~'l,iJi~l socierv (.0 t"h,~ cold comforts of the: grave, Daeva ;and Ventrue in particular are 'k Q'O''''~' for their F'aIi .. , fied tastes in havens (3JJ.d all associated tr.8Jpphl,gS ~ j ~_nd &omc;: 'w~ll" ito .. do K~,nd:r'e~. m:;'l.i,fu:f1i'un kw !$Jl hom~s lJJnd pen IE'" h.'ow:;e S~ ites tl1att '&'Qt~lJj 'ma'ke dle wealth i'est ~,nurta.l greer!' W ~ Eh. e n.vy"

Secur:ity~ of coy[Se~ iSl of panlmOUlI'iI,1): c.oncem~ :.1i:nd KU[ldroo posses:.~ed. of ,an ~~ d,~gree of rnaJI.!er.ial resolU"ces rusttaUy. s.~a[oe no expense ill Huiki:[lg 5l1..me' 'th8lt a haNeIl is, ,~v.eU 'pfotec:tted :fronr1 borh m(!l ~un ::!I1I],d rOO[)l daytime ~ntru$Joll. Such s:ecllr~y might come in 'tlt'e fuTltil Qfh~grH\.ech :~~~;ann$l a, b8l1:rJ,'k, of c~mer~Sl 'Pt~' SlHl~"",~i]sici'ile 'fI~' j",:~a'tes and diie like, 01' it <:tl,U C'OHIi'I}e me[-.eh,

~ :t'" .

f~;(,;m.l ]Qc~le:. A, tmven bu[ieci d~ep uf1Jdil:lrgro~tI:u], o[ 'un ~n ok~

vau~t is ,going to. '!be ve:ry ,~eCU[ie by nature a]one'f without :(l!ny fttrther stel~rit~t me(~I!J[es,

GM, '" , __ ,: " ~, ~[ "(\ ;,

d[/,(:'.'--.;J~~ Y' /,f.t.;e ~,~o2J..

Widiiout :a dO~lbt:~ i;so]a;t~,O'm 2H-ud ~he atdtlLrlM and ~pt{act:tces spa:'lrvn,ed bry 'it h~ve: re.s,ulted in. the clI.m:ent for.m~ of V~~~ltpi;d'c ~g'(')!verl.':l:~11,el1tl CIUI~,rure ~:~ld, $oc~e~y, Whil.c hl,ulnalliE:y has ctc1vel ..

" oped etlOfll10US, oountdes~ 'llod.d~~pimning fajdlS:" Irl'ultiln~,-

. ~iom,j cl~hJJres :aJiI,d, ,~vEm 'th,e 'ttnlr~.biI:iv~ beginnings of "vh~.t

. ' m~g'h~ one. Jay .grow Into a wDrld comlrmnit}'l:t the Kindred

have been :~~rt b@'hindl as llJfll,changhl,g: as they sre L't1,1Ld¥~ng. EX(ler~E lons c.e:rtairt[y exist, but for 'the most part, w~,'t)e:[lI it 'OOll'iteS, 'to ,b,iO,t1erO'i'DiI,elJ.t and sociological development, ehe Klndred never left - or at the ve:ry least, 'h~t\!'e returned to - tal[ m'o'E''e pr[I,lli,i:t¥6' [~m~$.

N 0- K~nd[-ecl domain is govemed exactl y ]'uike ~my other, 'bug: the vast ~,l'iJ~,~ ority or them resemble the fsudal nsdons of ages, past, This doesn't mesa that rhe Klndred ~lOI-e modern conVelil'Uence's. otd~~ like ,th,e; case (i~, Shakespearesa l'1'agedy.lr dOC'"iJ, file-au i.':~lat their power srrucrure is ususllv Iueraechlcal and ~,2Il[g,d,y !n.v~,o~;~~re"

Cowl~der rhe details. A given c.~.tY' is isolated by' Kindred s,tandarchi. I [5 a 'l>1":~J~€d ~U1CnJarry with barbarians rovi:[lg about oueslde rhe gates, The population U~l!a[~,,' consists of Kin~ dred of dn~$tn,C(lUy d~ffererlJt ~g.es~ 'intlu.'(:ulQ!S ~l'ld pM\i'e~g', And], :(j~rlli.:illps most importantly, no higher authm'ity exists outside ['h,e dtty. 'Nobody can step in ~ll1Ld. re n the locals thl$y~'[~ domg ir wmng.

Add 'aU dais H1I! and the result is ~ Hgo')1e[[[lmIie!!lel' in, wh~.'ch a~ly()ne strong' enough to tallt~ and. hold power ls, 'b~t de lim It" entitled t-o it. h:1J. most cases, this is a single vampire, w3!n~U1 [Cine of the eldest and most. p,Qwerl"'Jl in the c;utr. The M~n,da.rd term, for the; Kindred who !uJ~'~ ,g;i,v~n clonfi(;a~,I.l is gender-neurra] "Prmce," th.QiUgh fLi'Li3JilY choose slternase titles thse more aCCil.H3J,eh\l' reflect th,eir persona ]ide.~ and ;styles of rule. A :~~V ciries are ruled '~ allied ,groops ,of Kindred, and an even sm~ner number ;:tctu;mU'y attempt W emulare more modern :PQhil:i.'c~l ~I~yles, of g\L)ve~'i,mlg'~ butt these '~t:i~~ are b}l frn '~h,t::i excepnon, '(:I.Ot she m1e'"

By and. large, [he Klrlchlf:.J have no choice but to accept the dictates, and le1ii.dersblp ofa gi ven 'PI tl1ce! no matter h!)''!.v ttyr~11~1~cOj.l. his [,eign is ,or odious his laws are, Aftem- all, what ate. the other optlonsi Petition for help 1 T Q' 'whonrt! No 'h:~ghel' Jilltho:niity el{jM"S" Ov'enb;rol~~ the :D"C;!g~,ililc:i1 Odds: are, no si,ngi,e (~CtiOtl in the ,dt~ has rhe strength to wrest power from the Prince, else lt VI!'Ou~d :!:~fIJV,e happened al:ret:tdy< One might be a.bIe to HtlUy ~e'v"er~[ d iffer'ellt (act uons~ mll~ h]ti~e 'p'n,verfu~, ei,,. clers Of' simp:ty ,~ gre~l~ pc.rt~,'()li of" th€, Kindr~d, po:r.~][ation beh i~ld the g08Jlj, hL1.~ fur thus tactic, t,C! 'wo:r k a g:r-eil1 m(any Kitil'~ dIed wit.hI theh .own ~H:nb i,tUon::; ;'find feat'S rmJst PIl,t[ aside ~:hclr d'ufferen,ces and wot'k 'wg.etlH~1., Thb. si~np]y doe:m,!( h:appell often e:nough ~o provide much 'h'ope. The orill y w~y slu¢h !;:l likely to 0 (;CII.lI is ~f the Prince ~~ so tnJ.!,y hOiri,bl,e and ~busi ve th~lr ll~arly $'V'eJ:1' vampi:rn in rl'l'~ c.i.ty b~H~v~s tha,t she, has something to gain 'b~ OIUS,t ~l\g 'n i'ull. SOID:leti'f(1te:~ a sh'iigle pO'w,~ ettLml ~lde<r dot&ii ~ucceoo un, ~h;eml,((g' b.'~r w~l1 ~:o ~lu'tthority~ orusting a w,ea1k,er Prunce in (h.e pr.oc,ess, btu: doi ng 00 'req uires years ofmLachin~tions", nurneUJuS alli~tr'il~ :;"i:~~ man y d~cades

'. of eJ(peri,ence.

So if no al)pe~] is ~ 'V,ailabl,e ,and ]'evohnion is tln:Hbd y to,

SUCoeMi w~mes Id~'~ Lealv,e the (';it1'; begin aJle'W Wf!:te'WI1eit d.sel The Kinck~d ~H'e ~IkLttel y 03,'I.Va[[e of [~lC hm~rd$ oJ tha[ OOI.Hse .of aetion. POt" (h.e' gr~at nJl'8Jjor~,ty of Killcired'i the on]y Vi.'@JY' to 'SlJr'V ~V'~ ~:s to keep (me:~ he~~~ dm'!PlD.! g:ri1Jb and '~~ifr dl.tl c'Il1H'C(t[ Prince no rFIIJt[r~f :how ~.r'l.l~ful, he is, and hope one n:~gh[: to ac:ciJm,lI]ate encmgh persm1a[ 'power arLd hlfluence to take :step£ a_t thBit il:i'me •

[:I; '~rU;I~'t" h said I' rhough, rhar nor ~1 ~ J(itl,dle::::d PF'Un.ce~, are sadis£~.~~ ~roifl .. nSt1ed rYl'an:r3. Few' Princes nLlc so abso ~lJ,f.'~'~y ~~JE dtt}1' ~ll do ~ve':u¥ thing they mighr want, Other elders most 1 ike ~y flw,eU L n the iif doma i ns, Ce rita i n vam p ~ res (knC)lvn OOU~tiv,e~,v and LflJd'uv'id.u~,II'V as, the Pl"Lmogen} !'Flay -advise tl1L(t [li[itl!cc~ but that doesn't nccessarilv mean Ith~y dutue all hiJ5 goals and desires. P,ew Prl nees are so secure in

t'h erjrr PQsiti(J\tl~ that they C~Ul alford to completel y ignore d1~ w!sltes of thei r dJ~ es' e kler:5. 'This isn't nece$.$:)T i ~y a " ~J.XI t~~ng - 'OJ) glJ,H~HmtCe exists dl:M the ~J.~s'ur-es of other e~dB:'t~ film any better for YOU.ilg Kindred, rhan [11036 of rhe Prii1ce - t.ut the need to m ake occasional C01)C'eSs.'ioHs is ~([U the: anll! cheek on the Prlnce's power, other than the Trrwn.[iofl:.!) "$~e :1). 74}.

'M@lf domains take ehe feudal 1110del, further still. One: w~ the Pri nee has of both '[!lOU ify'ing rhe Q ther elde rs :;I!llid de,~e~ari lig resp onsibi ~ i 'ry is by parcel i Ilg our porti on s oJ his ~i [V and gran ring th e rn [0 orh er Kindred as per::5on~ l fee:cl.~.~.\g grol''ll1ds., Ord'Y a ve ry few PI' ~ glce~ parcel nff: an gn,~:im city. Mosr FoeL1$ only on rhe best areas. downtown, spectflc slums, hospital districts, dub and bar areas, Un maDiI.V cities, an area, of this SeN:! is called [he Kack.' If the Pr ~ nee grants, such, ,8J terr ~ to ry' to an e~ der, that; e lder then, dec ides who i if an Yol1.e i ma y feed there. Th~& .g{a~ rs the Bld@:r $1] bsrann ~II p()w,(&'rl as ]n~m 11 K in r dred re'~¥ 011. Racks, for E:.iilS:y feeding. H they wish to contLll'Ue' J~ Il.m ~Ing ~ itI, d'l:ose (II re a $ ~ dl e'y 'rTIi,USt. o,ffer fa vors Or concesslons (0 the current Iandho Ider. Of course, some ~il1d'ued eho ose to ignore' the f~'H: r chat the terri tory us '01,0 I~J!g,er open. M an V gel; ~,liV~y \V'U rh u t, b ~I ,t a v ~'f'O Ii ire O)!l~gh r poach mug 0 n another's ten itory -can be taken befOl:'e the Pr lnce and D udged as a C[ lmt TI!a[.

:D'EPENnENT Do'1\t1IA1NS

Pr,eci'sielly hOiw much pOWE!!tJ" i ndlvid u a II ,e Ide rs Irn~ve over tho~~ hi! t!h ~rr truritory vades dty by. clrty. ln some dema i ns, they have 'very [I ittle .. , They m i glht o'ff~r to trade 'reedit!lg snd haven If! ghts, for boors or se!f'llices.1- but a l1yttJh Il'1Ig bevQnd that is 'CQ,miidewed $'!tappli n'91 0 n 'the Pri'n('e'!'$ toes.

I n other e rt i es, eh;h: rs r'!U I e' t'fl.e'i r t err i tow r es almost as domalns \l'iJUhiln domains. Here, an elder

- - - - - - . - - - - - I - - - --

niIl~Y' set h i s ow n II ~WS a 111 dI ~ nforce h ~s own dictates, as kmg .[!j~ Hiley do nat blaitanUy contradict thess (lIT the Pri nQ~'H Thls ls pa rtlcu I ~.rl.~l common ln dtles wher,e a riJ Ie Ilder is very nearly as pOllv~rfu I QI$: 'the p'li ncs h i'mls;~ I·f. ln sorns cases, the Pri nee doss n rt ,eV@jn glra nt. te rrito rla i rig.nts to the e~der in q uestio n. Rat h er, she, g,oes 10 him an d ~ays", ,i't II'm claim ~n 91 th I'S; portion of the (.ity for m~l awn, DQ YO'Ui (;9 re to d i s;pute tt? N' Wel'a k Prin ees h~t least ~ n comparlso n til) oth er Iloc~ I @I d ~r$} somet irnes a~cept, such ar'r.angeITiIt"flit-s al~ ~ m~a,!fIS ,- f-v -Hrn- -'-lnflli-oIf

0'_ e!_Q_II.!! g co (Ii..

For m ore i nr1folFfIilJ~tiorl '0 n such situ atlons, see lr5~b~ nfeudatio nlj~ on p. ,3 ;,.

i. -t

·~..&, l' y.-.

Ni.QcOrloMachia~;r.el1"i \vro;~e't. when speaking of the 'i;v~elding :;l~J,d '~tain'~in'ung of polit i,ca~, power, ~~.,. one: ou~ht m be both 'fea-rred, "W\,{-r'~O've(t but as ~rt is dimcU!~ I; tam: rbe t'l;vo to go to .. ID:J:d"L~t':t. it is' much safer '~O be' fe'alred rhan 'iO"lr·~~'c]l '~f one of the t~JO has: tGt be' wanrtiLl1:g;tJ' TbL~ is a tt'll.e:Or)~ by 'which the Kindred, who-are brgei y. 'l~,iJc~lp8lbl~' of lov'i:nlg one another as [Thortats lun~"er.s'~and the term, have ruled for as Im1g as any ;S!lJal,ijviI1_g ,/1-lnrl'pi:re call remember, a:nd pos-s,]bly l1'i.an1 ,cEinto:d~$ more. I[ is fear], aft-el' ~n~ more than ~:n,y ad.1'~l~ fac[oli that holds Kindved societY' oo_getll;er.

In most cases. an 'If social, ()~ poHtk:>a], action the Kindred Another fac[or Sh~lpi'L1g aJ11d '5~ee'[-~ng: Ki~ld!rw :SOcietlll and

take k~ monveeed 'Ib~? fear, The Prince fears loS:il\S: power, so one [.hat, ties back into the notion of rule by .fea~~ i~ tb,e pFoHf ...

she cracks down on [hose 'who rebel agah1~t her ~1I,1·0'~'d,. Elders erat ion of vefbd£tffi$ and feuds amml,g the lUldead. "The Kiil1"'

fear the loss of status, So they ~quabble ,arm.ong themsel ves (.0 dred ha ve developed. rhe ab~lUtl" Ito hold ~1.1d i liL'tlate a guudg,a:

rear down the ~'r enemies while cxalrtng themsel ves in the to an '(lit fonn1 and m08[ o:f them never forget even the mosr

Prince's eves" Neo~lJ~tes '~at' the ~yrm,u.li,eaJ polineal machme, 'W lnuscule ~I igb.r" Part of rhis. is physiologlcal, !\s the K ~ndre"1.

and thJ~}I -'rt:::a,c![ either by becoming part o'~ it or by striking cease to itige! 00 roo do d'tey often cease (10 ,grow men,tilJJy ~Il]d

agalnse it in hopes of. ch~tng~l1g the sysrem before rhe sysrem emctionall "I; Therefot~l' a.' vacftfiphe of 2DOp.roha'b[-y knmlfS :;;,

c@.[ches up with them.. Cove1m1!t1ts ,~S a, who:~e fear mortals greo;!; deal 'E]1tore th:'lll :she did 'wh~n _:.s.r.,e WfiJ8 2(J!, but s,he is UUL'"

and. young Kindred" TI1.e h1\fict!lJs, reurs savvy young KhlLcbed ~tkdy to 'be any more, n-1L8!Wre Or U!l;~[¥ ~nv wiser. Ar~d as [he

w'11o car~ :r~c,ct 1;0 the rflod'enl wo:rld better than ~w'~d. dd~TS f d- K d ~ E 'Ih. d 'I . [, 'I,· k

inajodty 0 m.o. f:'rll! in~' X'~(!I. ~;re _;'m,oQ)(:C _ aIL it 1 .. € pnme Oi' ~m:[e

C~ln! ~I~.d it f~~;FS Sl:3 id. dde1rs who have 'b;ad, aecad~$, Ot e::~feI1 _ ::md therefore re lati.vdy young - few of them ev~r de<"

centlild,~s. to hoard pmlile[ (lnd. ~'ntllJJ.e,nce" TIl.e lanae:a S.anc;~ \1'e:~op dle maturity- dla't wou[d h_~~W'e 00me' C\~[d1L bu~ ~lnodl.er

Hl'ffill fears the 'Chafl(ges and secub~i' nature of dle moder~ ,(Iec;~de or. sO' o.f actual Hving.

world"~ Th'e C'~_nh UaIJ;;~ fe~~f' rth~ elJJJil:l~en.t power sttrucnjn~,. The

f 'I - Lt._ C ~ Pe'.rha'ps rrhE gr,em::e[ PSll't of it~ however; t\omes, b(il,Ck '~O 'fear.

U11bou~:'Ld :fe~n~ 'b~'~ng 'bound by the laws 0, ot l'eIS. T~.e ,I. ItCIL@, "

of th,r,;; Cron~ fc~:rs ~ or ,00 :~t seeuJ]s,t th.e \l'eq~ :D1.t1!lI1;U!['C of ~b.e Kindu~d [,respond 'w, WiI,~.nor, o:ffel"lls~s by 'h>Glid.~ng gmdge~ ~nd

Kin~J[ed ,cond.i'ii'u,oo,. Th.e O~,O Dmcul fe~l!rs 'rhr:H wh.i.ch it can" ,'lwJrldl1g to b.um:bl¢ or d.e,sfmy the' one' wl:UJ slighted tllenl

~ ~'~ hecause ~he1' :r;1ite ~~~re{I o:r doing orhen!!:ise'" They (eaf '~o~i['ilg'

not q~tandfy Of ullders~and" A 11 of [h,e Da-Llurned fear heing;t. .l 1L oe d 11.. f ... t

cut: off fronT], ,~c,o~ss t,o 'Mooc1, or be:Lng fo:r-ced to '~e~lVe rhei,[ f~K~e ~ ~U'i;~~ t!1!e'[",e.iron~:~ .<;UIJf;l1S an, . pow~r, in f.ne eyes <0, 'iLle'~:r com~

b...o.me cu r ~£S. paU'[,ots! So they lElusr 8'110\\1 ~h~u dley can. g,h:l'e better dt;"'m

,", they' receive. Ti,'l~y ft;or ar~p~',:!!irhl,g weak. b~'fo[\e those who

lr W(l~~ Id not 'be whoUy ~nacclI.ur.;a.te to, s~y d~,flt ~he Ki:rudroo .

'~ 'I, '~ 'b ID l ~.. lL l' '~ t. d- "~li.ght them)], thus '~ryvi.fin,g fu!~he'r a:~d e\!'er ... esc~hltit1,g s{;om

~1p'::LO \lj,1O:u LL(le r r.~~lIce .'nuSt.si f!!IP y mOJJ:\e, ~b.ers(!J[ h.te: nnos[ :~e~re 'f ,n

~ hit.. ~ '~ f 1 1 ~~ :and political, att:1ck, Certt~ in ]y~ th;;;: infuff1.OlilS Ki'nldu:d C3r,padry

Inore if. a.n SlLle 111Jl!st ~ tne m,o.'1[· porw@!u O![' ,tt 1If:: IUest 'COn~

:ror rag~ eruters ~n'to ill: as wdlj hln: fear 'US'I uhhU3,telYl d),~ .srfroj,l~ l1eciI:'ed 01 the eide.5!t. "h,ms~ iLhfln~ is, why tl"iLe :~\jor~ty('lPt~noes

~r,e far [(l1or-~ cle~~mt:ic th~n~ ~eTh~p$'i' thei'r sit[t(lt~(m~ t'eq,uire', Tl'JJe}f l::nmv [hat it is orilhr th~i'[ sul;jeC'[S~ fca'f ~hat ll:eeps ['b.,em ~.l.l [ille. So:nrte Kindred. '~ir~ 1,Oy.~i~ to theh" Prlu,ce due to SOll£t-e perso[l;(}l ~tt~dl.n1.'e~1t~ ,I 'tOWe1l.1erl or p,erhHps ~n Ie1)(l'lIm~nt (0:1:' P~Slt f~lVOfS. As ~['fvays~ [he rm;~ cxoepdon clO€'s ex us.:.

-'~()lfWl ~~I{)!~rJ'he domain is divided into

._ -.I.i ... II_

~~!~\LJ~~~!~~~a;:ltg~l o:l;:whtdi is m,e~1rphorkan.y ruled by

'['l:c:'1i~v;~iJ~;wi,liwltajlPo\~e[~~Vlet'tho..'!;£ who w,oll.lll,d hunt

dweJl 'hdl:U;;· ~rt~~orv. TIl~t p(Ywle~1 how~v€'rj still '!LIh uma!rdy wh,o~iriight~Fr~c:hdra,w his gran-d or offer

to ,. dose :rnl,US dd:~8' a wi~~]?'rhiLc,e p'~a(;a}t,~ those who

W{~1.iI:ka o~lj~l1-r.n;s.e b~~:is enenaes, wIii1e at the $~me' time glfJiniL~' i~:~ i;ij~(l~v~n~;ov.@r 't~~em for.~ .. nne 'Use.

..... . '-'

In. ~flle 'C;;[tie8~ tIie 'p[Qd~s 'c01'l:fg:h~tes (urd1.er stil L Those

whg~~;ni:ro:fu,t) givef"j#)zl~il:('.!I'~ mi,gb;!l: s!;;l.bdi,vid~ ~:t :flr~tllLer~ grant-

~ ... ~:~"t""'M~iI"i ..... ~",,~ .. or the~~Qwn '~,~~dn ng;s ~)D fu vored childer or allies, so wp!~ks a,nly it] tH~ largesr cH'r:ies" of course ~ and. not vs in '~h:b8e" \VIh.~n itJ.ibes~" tbe local rule.often has three ~"",:."""-,,_,,,. ... en nlo'~ l~,¥ern~~-~subl~ in ~, ch~'un of aurhorlry [hat even the Uyz:atl[ ~ne~~,ll'Ln(l~a E<.i'rtclred can ~i~,l.d 0onfi(\$illg.

. ...

l(··

A- " .. , ' ,A, -"-., .. 'j~

, NAGHRONE$.M ~CEN,Dt\t~ [

some '!IO U f)g Ki ndred, pa rtkUlII.tJJr'ly th O:S'~ wllH) are not pa rtlcu La rly 'fa I:IrIl i I ua r w ith the fe uda i moti'~~,t are IJJ'tt~rly confou tided b~l the sho(~d rlglly' outd sited n stu f'e 'o-r K i'n d r-ed ')o,cjety. EI-v~ n wh e'fi esta b Im'~h~:d un aJ context th,e'y ca n l!!nd~ rsta nd, it. In,a kes for .a h o'FT~fying juxta posltio ril with th'le' comparat ~ve'lly pro gres;s:iv@ modern world 'frOom wh lch 'til ey Ih a.N,t: b~e,rw drawri!, IKJ nd ned sQGie,ty has varrii 0 us' d lq ues, all of whn eh tend to d i ~g to g@th;€! r eJJi1 d $ifll!j b Qjnyo ne outside til ei If own in(~$tU(HJS ranks" I't has a proli'ferat~oill of" ~Ietty

- II f- .~,: b ackstab L.lill'li"fi .::lI nd overblown

9 r UI!U 9 ~ s ~ . ~.... ~ ,'!OIl ILl ~ !!Oil _ _ _ _ _ _ _

's;~ ua blb~ e:s OV!lH' mi ne Ii' 'O'U Ev,en i rn ~g i ned ~:IH 9 hts, Andj Ilike: mallY fitJl'tti;olll.alli:z@d pepulations, V'tH·tripi'~e $Odety' is, ruled wh:h an iron H$t by one i nd j"v I'd ua I {Olfj, Ii 11 a T'e'W CtIJS€S'I' a cad re) will G' hes managled to beC(Hrne the most pc Pc LIlli a,~t ~a rg-eJy by ma nii P'~ I'at;i ng everyo ne el sa's fe~w of beH n 9 II,eit cut or 'Sl~,el1i -.as diff,e~r@nt.

lNIeed less to $a.y, 'the :~m;je,tY' of the Da nn ned is far from perfect. The fact t!h~t suet! vidous and b!j roark customs rDfiI'9 tnte even ;i'n g'e ner,a I terITi~' 9 CH~S, a IOf!lg way' tow,ard :showin 9 how fHt!"Hy' ,a r1Jd dead I Y rHi a fly IK i n d red pe rsons I a iii d pol iti ca I $,tfu'glg II~$ Cal n be,

g~st mot~.v8JtOl'",

The-st: grudg'es ofteu gre;~~d 'if in,nI;;Le["LC~' rhe 'ilnu i,r'cr.~~ af .$oc'~lelty. Facti.ons i ~,'i. a given cu [~'~ aJl),d even en,t ire' dOlfta'hlj" 'ht1 ve snu,gJikd and ~ng,agcd in c.ol& warS wit'l1 one iiul0iher

P- uriO'~.v ,owe;r. ~~n. i nddental rem:3J'rk or SDlll>e otl,~,c~:nr ~Jl~,n(iT

~ "

transgression by 00 e pflrty 'alga i ns [ another. M~.n}' e lders seek their p@:S~.~ions and office. for no other reason than to wield power agatnsr rival s'

These d~sl?utes oft'e~l 1~1 ve the realnn_ of the personal and. g:rmv to f~,Ii~Fea,chtng proportion " A feuoimllg vampire might caU !apmi elanmates Or fellow covenant members fOI 5l1(JlmH, and wMI.e. not en of them respond, a few usuallv .~G. H."· mighr mvolve aJlU,es. in the cit y power struc ture ~ which eransforms rhe slrogg~e inm a political one, even 'uf polit Leal power was . nor [he i1'lirnal~llIbject of (~i.sagreem'~nt. It's an open. question

as to 'Whelhe[ the conflict between covenants, which • ro concerns and even def~lle,l those gro up'S ~n the modern rughrs, uuly pefWrl as cultural disagreemenrs at a~]i' Of ~f th~~ were :spaw.l'li!cl. fr-,am personal feuds (ham: s-w~fdv gor out of hand,

if). ;fc4" .~.".

. '. .,.: ["_',. ',. I. II

~ ..... , ... .Ji< .... ~

. 1-

The P.]' ~y·iol;&S,de cription ofKhl!·h:cd domains asusuallv feu{m~ esn g!V~ the ~li'i.pression dl~U rhey're all simi lar in con ~ :>r~llfctiol"L. hi truth, ~rhi~,e [he practical result is the same more eft.fn than nor ~ the: specifics ot g'ov~mrn~nt (~i'ffe[ {mllu d~l to (try, Discu~ here aloe Just a few of the near :infi.n.ite possl ... bi1i:ties for goYt:"1"f.Hnental models found. 'across Kmdred "0- maillS. AU the c~esc[ip,'ci'ilr'!lS assume rule by a single :i,ndhtklu~lj ~ a [ttlC. or ~llf: m~)e;~ bur i ule by Primogen or other CQl.jI'li1,cil. 'is :II.~50 J p0S3ibHh),. Plenry of other types of K ~l1d:r·ed govern ment) "'iXi.sl·~ those listed here represent some of the most commoo (~f, in dlt; ease ,of the democracy, rhe most frequenrl y ~mem·rretj and ,fa Hed)., A:~~liLolj;gh the funm vary wHdlY'l me ullilD..ate results =- a dtcrstorship sw'~yed by the poweefu 1 few, W] til litit~ to no recourse aval ~al~)I.~ to rhose beneath - are mlmast L niversa].

R.emfU~Ii'I:lb;..'1t also rhat all these gove rnme 11 ra I. mode Is appl y w Kimlred :ro:cr.etj onl)~, No Prince on the faDe ot [he Earth is so pow~dlJn d1;3l[ he' has rhc mayor, :po~ke chief; and rhe local ,cotl.:gTe5t;n.1,n:i a II dancing to his rune, No ent ile city answers ~~ [he whhn of H 'it<nrnp;~re- Even. were such ~ 'thi.~1g possible, it ''''',(~1ll1;a hn~\'.·[~bl,y lead w Ell M'~~ uerade 'breach ~ rer someone ,\~ouild eveneuall y notice something amiss. Powerful Princes and other Kindred. leaders ~'mkeiy have substantial I ufluence anr.Qt'ig tbe mortal elirt,e, They ate nece.ss~ny contributors to a maYQlj7' C~i11~P~'~~1> Of the}f can le~n. on ,t:crn~i[1 IO'bhy.li .... ts wh,o '~rli turn ~em.l on d1e' C uty OO~I neil. The Kundred. mUS-I: r.em~)'~n hldtden~ and even (he :mo..o;r bruri:,h Pri.nee knows [hat h~s [ouch n'luSt be Hgl:IJt andeed t¥~.l~n applied to the mortals who d.well "'~ l'thirt 1 i dom a ~I,'L,

••••

t(

DltESS1NG THE PARI

Nate that wheml ,one of'the:'S>e descri'p,fii.ons says iii. 4.Jourt: Of ass~mbly ur'esell1lbll,e~" s.omething from urne pa(5,tr it dQ~,n 't m~·a n ttl e' Ki lid red i nv·orrved dress iin cloaks", hose and pow~erEd WigS" 'While some truly, e(centrk or anachronis,tk elders: m:ight ma ~iIlt,"i nr t~e Ilo{~k they preferred bac-k if! the i r mort2i II days (:art I east in p riivarte)IJ' mo.s.t an:mr"t too many yea rs belhi no tll.e modl~rn f ash i'o n. [) I'"@ss:ing :as a n obvious a n~dill'o:n rsm is a 9 r~at waty 1,01 attr,act attenUo.n~. ,and U1H:~ Klindr,edi knli)w alii too we~~ that

attention csn brill 9 their whole Ikijn d Ilo.w. Whether he call So ~ i I1lSle·lf a Pr~nce. ,a 11 Arcr.brshoPI 81 CEO 0 r it Don. tll@, rOIiE!f of a 9 iVle n doma in is fa r me re

II j'kely to We',e:! r Arrna nlli tha n erml ne,

,~ ~4"":)..: .. ~' _(~ if'~~U~ ~

One of the most common societal models, and the one con ... sidcrcd the ~ defaulr" " hen discussing a city. about which de ll':i3i~ls ,t)J[J"~ unknown, is also the one thar most d(llseh~ resembles the medieval kilvtdorn.. A single ruler holds ebsolure power anc make'S ~10 attempt to hide that 'fact. His word is, law, enfore·eel by other elders to whom he has chosen (Ot'~1 '~[1 some cmfii cases, been forced) :,0 grant tides, authority or territor'! . Princes of rhese sorts or domains often hold forma] oOUJns and usuall y d cree various laws li'mi'[lng {he movement of other Ki'llldI~d throngh 'the lr domains, ~]jJ,~:J, thJ!Y demand that all. newcomers present themselves for approval. The e courts often involve ' $l.~hsrnru:ial pOlIiLP; a. Seneschal annrnmees member: or pet U tloners as ihey arrive, titles that WQ'U Id ·n,€;v!);:r.re:e use o'n IIJle streets arc wielded and bestow d, 81''I.· so forrh .. T11ts. sort of .... M~ government i5 found rnosr freq u.end:y. ln J n victus- and 000.0 ' Draeul-dommared citie } but also rorm·. £1 sigt!.sflcaot 't1l1Ll1oil'ity among tho-se domains 'ruled by (he Lances Sanctum and par .. dculal'ly ~yr-;:olrUl Lca! Circle of rhe Crone domains,

~.!f~~r~~~

The result of modern sensi . ilities, this sort of c.i.ty' is run almost J ike C! corporatlou, The P'f.unce si rs in 8J position milch 'like a bD~nd chairman, with other elders i.o power serving as' co- xecuri vss, The ultimate result 18 . argel y rho $.11 me as that of the more obvious r~~u ~i~[ system, but the K ~l''IJ(h',cd i:n,volved like ro appear more etll.iighre~'ed" M(}s - decisions are made by a vote ,of the l'uli.u,g·,e-ldem (unless ehe PdalDe chooses to overru le them] of course], pO]]cies are decided in commie ee, and rhe d~.ers make at least a ahow, if no: an. honest pt'dc.t lee, of . rewarding ~:o?ahy and ~~bi I ~'ty~' [long underlings, Unlike a true corporate . card, presiding vampires l·(u:e1.y have the power to vote their chairman our, and chose be I~o~v them cannot orten look forward W ~l death 0" retlremeut Qpeni'ng up ~ ·Lrrllana,g.e .. rbl position. 130. h d'],~ ]-J."j,vi,cu~~ a1Dfd the CJr{]l ~an.s. Inake £n~~' quent llSe of dlis gO\1c:n'[ru~:n.t~J I model-

TI~e Ch.u:reh ha· . int1uenc.ed ·both. b"ulOt a I, ~rS\(l KI ndred tory mOre tha[l any on:her single' '~[1dty OJ.' orgal.li,~airuon. im ... .,. .... .oJ""

W@:st, and man'? Kindre l mood !thei.r dOfll1l.~~nS On. Ch '

. erntch y ,even 'ton'lght. To untnfonm.r::::ci Ol.tSlideroS~ th.is S;Y""·i' '~.'::: often ~iP'pefirs idenHcal t'o a fe~ d~ ~ s.ysrem w~d'i tlJ!e'!.~~ LIl'!;"U>""_'Il'; The PrBl1Ce -'who usmlHy ·r~1:e.~ ~!n ecclesiastical. tide ~'U'~;~~-'~$·~·· Ard1b~(jp,or C~nr.d:inal-l'll.'Ll("-s a.bsohu:el~f~ ~SS]St.ed by a ~C'!lIWI""c~'" C i ~ of a:dv'lsorn (. ',aJriou~i1y cll~l~d PIiest8~ Bishops .or dlt; I v.iho s~lrve as ~~,Jnrcers and. lruld.owrter.s. The v~St ntBl]o .. ·,.,.,r_.,.", ... Ci·mr<ch~'\fwdeled dmnains tend CO M~riJ.l.{r to'i.~~;iII.:l'd one . ·extremes.. Many of ilie,cn - partucul,3Jrl,y those rhe Lan.oe~ Sanctum. (~ndl :to ~u I~[ e:l'i~teln! the Chde MiiriW.l!~-~; Crone) ~ whQ rl;l~k:c gre(l.ter ~Jse of tb.~;s s}"8tern , .

IJI!Ul~ ..... ....;;·.-.-.. ........ a~ltm~e bY' religiom; doctrine" Tiley

'!f~1~:J1'~:~~lr:~~ alti&'~aviO'rs of those, who dwell

B "~"'ll"Ir':'[ f itWcise who '1,JIf!(lu'ld hold office

d¥~. fai,d-~';il~ley espouse. Ar tb ,. other ':>·~11·.~t':i~""ru' t,c. ¥.:h.1dr-ed5~1ho s~k to ~~s'e the [tappings of

. . beU~fs of odi;er.s fu ./the lr own ends. J n these

o:~~l ~~US~13,1 W?:f.Ound ,!~ dt~es}~eld ~Y the Invlcrus, the . ~tifJ9' Dcirc'tr]~ me Glrd,e of tl)~ Crone or the unal ign,ed - the . ~~er~~~fgid~,; n~.n.ll~ of (.he'g:over~"Wenr. is either deliberatels In~~i:~gl or':meanf to insp.~I'e a. lO}r3I,ty among f~~ithful Kin .. -d.~.~rn~t leagers trt_1;m.s:d ves do not honesrls share ,. In either ·d_i1p!3.'Ol iuer¢liy qu~m~ h~ [he ru le oHeadJers is, otwo a erearer «:<&Il"!"""" , .•.• '; I ~h_an tij 'n1i\()r-e~~' ,ert.lir:feudal dOln~.ul1S~ fo]" dle "criminal"

~J:!i'~~oes not nl~ly d¥~nem,'1,m~ secular ;;.:Illu:I:M)r··ty~ bur the il:'il.d·e of God (or Lgrn_ginus. or·Jh.ef~roTile or whoever}, TI"Le$e. domains USl~~U y hold offic:'ial functions wlth as much pomp as do mon .... archles, bult: such gatherings are ~~S~J.~lnY. devoted to [ieli_glOlls pursuits, ,~n< hiding prayers and h ~ mns o:r rltoals and eeremo .. nles. l"ath'er .than cclebrazlons of the tulers themselves.

.: ~"*" ~~ y-~ of'~

FOlUnd a\mo.st exclusively within Canhij~tn domains, {~hQugh SORu.e of t[~~ unboend have 0:' ed ilt and SO"frit€ Invicrus Kindred have tried j<C) :lppeal' as rhough they. try. ir) are those recent attempts 'rl[;.miradng mOOeID. gm:r'e:n~I!roc:nm.] sytem.s. The :. Kin dlted want [0 take the lessons of mortals to' he::lrt! to eliminate rule by. rhe eldest Q[ mose powe~fi.d l.m.deJ Whl,ch they've a.hvays I wffered~ and. to grant all Kindred an equal say in wbar happerLs

......

to the~:n." or !it ieast an equal oPpoIt!.:ndry to attain pO'fNer~ . 0 date, few' of dle..-;e attempts have 1~5ted~ as those K undxed whc) do obtain PO\\rtt eventually decide the.y don't esre to give it liP when. their brethren tell them they should, Those few dtties that do srlll remain efren r.> semble the worst aspects of mon~~, government. TIlley are mired in rules, 're@.lI(l[icl:l,· nd Tt.OO t81.Je designed to preveor :a:n.y S'ir.tlde vampire from 'W~,{~J£Bng too much power and they 3J¢ pam[,'z;oo by quabbles among vsrlou oftJ~ cials, all ofwhom are convinced that their Owlil. vision for the c:iq." and government ES th.!; ·'I.~1ay to go, Their courts !J;I.;Scu{II'~y resemble eitb.er chaotic public fOi"LJ:m$. or very or-der~y bnd (jiffi~, cu It to obrain) prlvare mee ings with high officials-

WhHe the T:[~l{li~jol s (see p, 7'(4) form the i»_lSfS for an Kindred law, they do nor represent 'the extent of' mar law, Everv Kindred cton)am'[}_ has irs own ruies and regulatioru . Some 'ha'ile Ul.OIe than others, some enforce 'theIn. more severely rhan oth~" ers, and some are .c.lowrr[igh.L bizarre, the resu] S {Jf an eccentric. or insane Prince, They all. have them, though, Some of the most common laws, those found in man y! domains, are llste 1 here.

~.'

. ~

," . ~.~J~:

ll! .••. ~''''''i:r_!''l

lvi.any Pr lnces de'alLalJ'iJci that an.y OC in ~l:ed newcomers ro their citles present th,em&el.v'f!s JOTtitlally at court- This is pan 1.~1 to make sure ~'hat rhe Prince. has ~~ so ~ id grasp on

whos 111 hl;5, t'utf ,~ltany gi yen time, and partl y to nuke sure thn_t fh~ n0~\;\' ~~r:d,~~]i,ll;IIrlitders,'tands who holds power and whar 6tti~ supposed to do while :5 he's there. Of course ~ followl ng th ~~ ct!~('Jnll~n be d'uffi('lU~t:1 since new atfi'V~ Is [a'rely knoW' hD"" to fJ.n~ lih{! Prlnce in order to report, but that, frankl y~ is [he'ir probl:eun. ln domains with this law, Kindred who go fur m)J]"~ t'hll~;;t ~ fJ$'I:v nl\ghts w'i.dlli)U'1t: presenting rhemsel v,~s are ~ rki:~Y m be drn.gged before the Prince upon being caughr, If du: Pfi~~e ~ understand i't~g~ he' l'n ~gbJ: s,j mp[ ¥' issue a warni'og;, J~UtL as I i~eJy, ~,'fH~ ban tshes die off~[ld,er- from the do,~ nmi.n \¥~hb:I!lE' ann,'~' ing sn y time to prepare, w h ~.'d1J is tan(a:mOJI.U'l[ ro a Cleat'll sentence,

~~ SO'm~: ti[lre..<p~ [h~ iP~),\1Je,t';) that be have a parttcular ,~ve:[:~ sion ro ene ~'Iltfctllar clan ~ covenant Of. even famll ial bloodIml1e ~1iIiI have decreed that group a pariah, In these domains, l'l'i:(frei~y ~~ng, Nosf~,[,firt1. or Csrrhian Of w harcver is a 'bream of' rhe dc:n1lli£~n·l~ ~mi:lil contract. A member of sa id group is, fur~cl EO lM~e rhe d:!L}~I' but some f.mly vicious or hate-filled :~rh'n!LeR r;aill b[Qod hunts on ru,g~.t:i ves,

WhUe tl,citr ~nigl"JJt be domtnaeed by a single: covenant, C1J.~ mOSt no tit~ belongs erttireJv to' one faction over the others, It'Iaid, lli,asl: Cdnrr~il1 members of at lease It'h,[tt or four], if 11tO( all

'~,1Pei of the''Ll1SJjO[' covenants, Even mor-e rare, almost to the point ~f, n0tL~x.usttncc'l ~s ~1 cuty wh,er.e D]te ;5Pcc~fuc clan holds ab~~llJ]li:e puwe:r,

:r~f !el;f~i~~

$:QllIJle Pdnce'S, declare certain rvpes of mortals off~ li~n~ rs ro thl! ~i·Ulcl[",~d population, The restricted type can be :;1:n,t,~ rhi.og '8$ i'Lftr~!l)'\wl"f defined as a single fum U'ly C~None shall touch the descendents of Ph ~'~ ip Danforth; fOI he' once saved n.r.y ~·i t"e when l i;,,.r;as m:ou~ ~J{I) 'I' a profession (~LI l~:eed the po ~ lice 00 ~,\OW back ,th~ criminal g~n~,g"S, employed by the unhOiJI-ndlj) ~ or even an entire demographic C',As I ~m a. Carhol,rc1 mel I believe rhae onl y we have seen rhe true w:!IJ,y~ you lSha111'llo"tr" touch :SJ[1 Y' of the faith, that we ulay spread the W;Q[~ to others~'). Of course, the Prince's reasons fur. de¢.lt1$uii:ilic~:ny particular group .off~Hm:uts n'L'ight well '~e '~Il:~ theby selfiSh - I.1fiL~yl)e be :himsdr feeds m1i~,y on ~~l1ilt type~ and flQIl!s:n~t wan)t the -co:lnpet~ti(Jin - hut that doe~,]1~t luake the' ]aw arl'y. le~8 valid", Violators of ~uch '~aw-s are usuaU Y' b3~~i~hed~ bln :50'L~~H~: a~e ~'!(;l~n",

So \1iIho 110klls am the power [11 Kindred. weiery?' 'Whatj, :ro~ ~Hy~ q,t:tLl1.es 8l Pdnce 01" a rn.'embe:lt of the PrhI1Logen o:r ';:JJ, Sher:.. rm A-re Ithey an dle ~ame?' \V~h_.alt: do !they ]"'ean~, do ~

Pre~nred here ,ue the, prhual]! ['an~s and posh Lons found thrmlghout Kindred dOJIlain_s, Not ev,ery' c.tty h~.s O(!.lle of t'hese ,E1ooitiD1.1S - '~n filcL] t'he Si1wUest of COJn~,Thlinid,es illligh'r have on1v. ~wo or thr,e~ of rliiem = 'but they ~Tre COIlTI.'rn,01f.\ enm~gl'1i. thtlit 81~'~ 81rf! wor~h discussmg. N~te d:wt tvhLle' erJ!ch pdairion is listed by h,s 'fri(!GI: oomm,otl C~:d;~:I' a II of '[h~ln ,~t,~ kUOovl,1o by ''ii~:ri.oWls t¢;fj;ns thrO'lilg'holiTIf It+~£ '!i!{orM"

The smgle most tmportant and [l[)iqui,wus 'figure in Kindred polit ksi, (he Pri nee nm,:,mra;aUy rules her c ~ty ''!/V'ulh :nearly absoluee power, Some are weaker rhan orhers, of cou rse, and some ~i[',~: mere f:igureh~~ds ,~or PO\%-'IIl':l'(1u[ Primogen or. O'!rh,er elders. For the most part, however, :aJny given Prl nee holds [hat poslrlon fur. 110 other. [,f:',aJSJ[]JM, than that she was S'E.nyrtlg' enough [.0 take it in some way, She ~,'fIj'ugb"t '~)e; a consummate p'olt~~C'MiI!o. who anained her pOS't by accumularung fa;:;·'o[,5 'fro~n a It the other elders, ~)'nd who ~\QW 'IIU'rn:tI(ges her domain through diplomacv and compromise. A[teI~1<'I.' t~v.e1y~ she mi,ght be a veritable warlord who gamed power by ~,nti 111 ud~dng OJ' '~'dlj sappeatlng" }·H![' rl vals, and now main- , rains power through the simple expedient of s l.aug:hte:tJ.n.,g ~~ an yone who quest ~ons her, Mosc Pril1Ce'SI ij)'U cou rse, fall somew here in the rn iddle. bur near ly all 'boast SOU1L€ a elva [1,'" tage 01' trait t'b,at beeps them on tOR)"

Of course, a Prince [Lr;IXLS~, do more dt~n 'bark orders Sind issue death senreaces, Her Job is not merely to govern", but to regulate. A Kindred doma in, is a bo,~l~ng pot" :fiill, of personal and sectarian cont1ktsi p;etty g;mdg:es, and e.nd'~ess pohtict.lll maneuverlng, ~1~ topped wlrh the innate and Lnesc:3lpaJblie violenee of '3 race oaf predators who 'feed on blood." The Prince's job is to 'keep a lid on that pot - OTj, pe['ha:ps more acn.uately:, to [he the lid On that ~ot., TI1.e reason most Princes cV1entu1:]Uy beccme dicrarorial is dll.~"t they 'ITK~I~'t: k:e~D' so lU~l'W :pO'~~e~i'i.~l ana, ~l£u'~y agi~:':l:oc"(l vampires in lme,

Note rhae tn SO~Jle rare cines, 'nOf~tlfJ.ny those hm:e~,y dorl'IJ'~I' --.""'....-... 11~r.ed by the' tlnai~,ugrted, ~md, th,e C:.:JJdh~,at~5 ~ ld.1'~ Prince m~:'Y arrain power 1:'b.rOUlg]l means other than sheer personal abil'Uty. Such 0 PrirtLce Il'JJ'ught be selccred b~~ local el.d~1iS. The C~['ddHns have even attempted open e i,€;cdo['(Js, M,OSiI; ofren ~ such Princes are eirher overthrown hy mora powerful Kin(bred. 01~ themselves become tyrants to make sure the'v a:~e ~m 11i))1 overthrown,

01l:1ur. Titles,

\Vhi[,e Prince is the most common term by {Bitl Kindred lead ... ers refer to rhemselves as Cirrdk~~Ij. Bi~nop~ Ar-chbishoPi Don, . :Pn:sid'ent (URUltJ;lJy jn the (~Se of rhose rare elect ions mentkm,ed ~a.r Her) ~ S'i.!1.1tan:, Lord,} DLlke or lIr~hate"l,ler. [.:de s~rnkes their fancYl' depending on, th.e nature oJ dlieir governm€l1.L .A. few 8~£if~8tyled ~~Queensl~ e:-d.stt but most Kindred leaders ,:00 I, .... ,~ "'.l~L:~"",1< u~e of the ti'oJe' King.

'Th~ PrUnre~s 'i.ig11t han,d., d.~,I~ .sen~scha] 'us if\espo,ns ibll~f'~:

. mrny of the plgh:t,..rol.ni~t details of E'llBlning SJ gov'el' . \Xlll11e the' Prince concel:ns, 11 hTI~df with canfli'ct; in t' .

,,,,_""~,-=,,:;

· and. m,akil1g c.erlliir~, n:he '~:t~qt~el1ld~ g~5 l.u~,bro'k'Bti,~

escn"3,'1 n~.guk$s s,,~~~ that o~hin~"S, tun ~f,noodlJy in 'cht"; ~, ,rYW:~';-i~; rnent it'$ei,f. He 1$ :rc:s[)ofiSiblc ('Oot kGe,ping trnck or the asS'ets (a~ld [)Otj,sibly those of the Prhnog:en or. other l'ILLLi'£.l ies). H'e makes sdted-u les and tippointL!!.1entS 'and 'IumdI iP·, ,"'';~·'~I~_: m~nl~;f)gL')[~c.~, r~qulrOO sO th3it 'no ,~ld@'1t feeb that 300, ' """"0.:.,..,,,"" ..... .g[ve:n preferer~tia.1 treaU.fLeJ.1i1:. T~,e Se:r~,eschii 1 h.ol.ds $iJJ;lilj, i:g~.:] di:1Jl pawer :in th,f; dOlnain,t :for he often dedde:s.: WMS

~J~¥~

· ~ The [:..~:.etrftJd is, th~. Prin~js moutbplece, \Vl-~en the Pr~ nee makes, a d.ecree;, t'heJ~leTa[d,~ J' ob is eo make sure that all of the

. .r: ....-. r

dtis. Kindred hear of it (ass.uITLing .Lit] meant for all ears - ., ,. }-

'W11en the ~~runc.e convenes an unscheduled court, the Herajd is 'rc5poosi~1c' l'OF alerting those wl,1LO must. attend, The Hf:t'a'~d hands..,cJow$ judgfr.tC'"fiL~'1 represerus t'h,oe Prmce '~n. iYroxy '\vhe:rll, she a:JJnno~r (Of' will not) make a personal appeatance, and otherwise.serves as something cf 9;, "secretary of state." The Herald ~;s ~~tlmed to speak with the. Prlnce's volceat aU times. Some ttea1~herou$ or ambitious Heralds use th is; :fuct 'to d i reel other ].<iti~rr0C] ro the ~r own. liking, making sluggesdo:ru l'bal' O'Lh'eir$ ~S~~'fLe (inQ)rrocdy) car~y ehe ''liveiglu elf th.e Prtnces orders. Some Heralds who were less SU brle than th,ey believed hove been executed for- rhis .... i\eqf thing, ~D H1JOSt wise Heralds remain more or. less honest,

T~l€.'" Herald ~,s a posi do rb that is often 8J bsent in smal l cities. In '!many such :Gti:$e:s ~ the Seneschal (011' less fre .. q uent'~'Y '~11:~ Sheriff) h.tJ;ll(.Ues (h~$~, dur.i~s in addition to

h is O'I!J~ er respons i b u i'~ ti es, .

Other Tides:

1:Ll add i tiou to Herald, rh us posluon is somedmes called M: i n iste r, Ru nner p MOll thpiece, Spokesman or Secre rmIY ~ nor in the demalns where the Seneschal bears that last t ~tle, of course).

,~~Mr

If a sl ngle position can be considered to be ne ar 1 y as, 'Il,]biqul.tous and representadve of Ktnch,ed politics as the Pnnce, it '~5 ['he Frimngei:\. TI1e Pri:mow;:n (sin_gijl ~~lr as W(:ln :~l!f.' plura l) Oltt...cl:aUy ~e<[ve as ~he' P:t'~:I1C¢~$ ad.v,~~rry council on matters of pol:ucy. The pr€"Ci;s~ na,l:Ut'e' of 'rha L. Dound] va.r~,es :frOUl do[nain. m do .. flm;fJJ~,'!.i,. if ,the Ptu:tlCC is booth $UOIII..@:' 3]:lI,d ~p"0d~lny tl!r,~:nli,"LkaJ, ~he :Pri:~oge.n mi¥ht 'be Htde. 'more than a fo.rmaH~Yi a ,con ... c~ave of elders who ~rvle to rl!l.bberstamp 'whatever the Pr.inoe wiih.es to do" En, 'Lf'J:~oot: do:[(~~ij tts~ rtb;ey 5e'f'II'e a~ l [iij_e ;Rdv'lso[S~ al,ld mn.s.t '\\"ise: P:d.n.ce~, ~qr to ~,,·Lk,~ th~lt ~1Jdv ia ,i n:ro ~lC(;Q~m,1; ~~~h '~vh,e~]eV'er 'pos.~,ible! !l,Ot ~.nerel,}f oocause dIe iiJdv iLee In.~gh.t lb~ g'O()d~ 'but to avoid anger~ng an en.d~f': W,oup of ,~ld~rs. S6r{ll~ Pt~:m.og~n ~'~' 'pow~l, ¢i~.oLJgh, {or th~ PritKJe dl,ev rn(h(~1}e we8i'k enough} thflt [hey ,CfJ]l act!J;sJ~~.y m.refru'~e ~he Prince on 'cer ta~1

-> [(l~Uet'.s. A few iP-rhnog,en actlUJaU,y nIle t"he[[ cities", eitllel" dwo~h '::11 'figt~["-ehe(:l.d Prince OJ:' openl y ~.5, 'a go'Ve_fl;1:[n~ 'body ..

l'h.e pIt:dse S[Ie ~~nd nature of the Pdli10g'eIl v~Hies., Sorn.'e ~C.ue 'lnf.onual i Jneet ing in ~hadO:'i;ltty bHC'k IOofl'!!.S 'when [h.e

s ~ IW,~,l!io('lIll requires, tl![,gLl,~,ng ou t \'if harever ~,':iSil"H2l bl' Ul"~g,'i; tb,'e'n'1 t.ogedler. Others elea ve [,0 a ~~chedi.iJ]e and proeedu re-s for sp.~ak:-i'ftJ.g ~ ofren appearing much like ,8i goveming beard, :3 congress, 81n old ... fash loned G reco .. Roman seriate, an eeclesisstlc counci I or. an,'ll other form of organlzatlcn imeglnable Sa ld cou nci is can range from a mere thre e or so vamplres ill small conenunines to '~~I"ge adviSiOl'Y bodles, wh~-ch 'rillO)' (:0I1,S:i.5t of ::l do~en, or more Kindred"

Pm: the most part, the Primogen consist 'Of these [()C~I~, elders who h~"'i1i;.': ~!U:ffici~nt 'PO'WI1;!T to clalm ,U $;£;)I't'. Also 'C01:)l~ l'il]:Ol! are, thQ,~e P ri ~,nog'en w'ho d'e;cid,e ~unot~g themselves whom, 00 admir into their ranks, M.otr,e rarely, a Pri nee lnlg,hr select members orr h.is, advisory council, bur th is oecurs on'~y in cit ies where the Prince is especial L Y' strong Sind th~ Primogen especially weak. Most; Pr imogen eontain a mix ,of members uf W:1J['lOUS. clans ~~nd covenants, though some ~re more homogenous, depending on the domain, T~~~t ~ ~ the Pri rP.ogen hi! a ci ty b:rg\e'~y dam itlri'te:d by C~lthiatts is lLke~.y ro ha ve more earth ian mem bers rhan <:lOY others, and rh.e:

Prlmogen ~11 a ci.ty wh.er,@; rhe Gangrel arc persecuted is unlikely ro have many Gangrel members.

OtherTitles

The c~sir. majori,ty 0'[ these councils (.8Jnd council members) go "by dl.€; title Primogen, hut r:~l,~~~ are sometimes known HS 'Boards, Circles, Senates, Tribunals 0[' s:imp:~y as, adv lsors.

9D1',.....~.c.~

A Priscus (or Prisci in plum ~} is 't:h¢ ~ nformal "head" [)f. a specific clan in a dornain, Th ij_s posit ion is not an .offi cial one in f'~~:e local governmental structure. Rather, 1,( evol ve;s: organ i,ci3Jl~y as a si ugle powerrliJ] Kindred takes ['e's'p(msihii:: i.ty' fD'Le h is clsnmates, TIl is can be a choice 11J;e himself 'L'ocl(lk-e$~ to ~)eek powe;:'r~ or it migbt 'mStl.le [[Om others of his clam. 'coming to him with problems, As ,f111, luforrunl pOt].~:tt~onJ the Pr:isd have JJO ~,~~~t~tI,H;ior~al pnwer or f81nk. Thar satd ,the 1)Q.~~ 60n does COlif'il'~Y a, SUb5 rant U~:~ ~mo[)Jn,t. of status, and ~bec~u~e • .es usually powerful and well .. resp cered Ki.~dr€d lvl~:o a train the pos [don, the Prb1J.C-~ and orher elders ate wise to .OJt least consider rhe if opinions. 'Many Prlsci (lls'O si t on the Prunogen ~ bu t the: ~l#Q borJ'~iI;';$ are not ~ynony .. 'mOIUSj, not an Priscl are Primogen, :a no, not all Pr imcgen are Pr lsc l, Many cirles have no Prisci ~ and llLl,;;'1ny more h,a'ife Pr:li5c:l ['Or SlQIUe c lans and not othel'5.

it4ftJ,

Petha~;)s an,e of d1l,e :s:rrnng:es:r n:f Kirlld:red pQS:i~il.)a];;l' d,b,€' \Vb~p is 3$ :info.rmaJ a posTilion ::IJS rhe PrffilCtus. ShE: ~s :responsibk~' tm Hi,~:sp~:dn,g~ b~r darm.1ate:s [0 p['csent iiJ united face on [na,~m issues and t'O m,ab~ th,e'u.1:' voices h~ard on loc::~1 is$lIJe$~i' 001 1111ake

· s~[e that d1Le other d.ans take them, seriously- She is both a leoo,el' and aJ t~~kmlla$IL:eJ, 3 :figlJreheadJ m1.d ;@J bully- !\~(:UT\y Ki[b~ dred male th,e 'Ll1~st~ke of thinktn.gof the' W'hip as'O:Ul ilS5iiS~tnl~ m db,e Pri:SC,!.J,9. Jll 'P0in.: of :fnctl rhe t,1;~O 'poSiti,Oli;.'j; are u:t'iiflep~il~ den IE,~ ~md l:Jh:,enra,m:@~ al: ocl!dg wl,r]l ,eacl'i. o,'rher.. A Whip SIL1C .. oot':ds only ,3S lon,g as s.h,e 'has s~fnC'Lc:rH" power or lCVierage [0 forc~ her d:sJD,ll,"[lJates to do as ,s.he lvushes. Whips exffit only in tho~e d,fti.,es ~vlth fair'~y '~arg)e pop~tt ~~n8 of a goi ven ,danj, an-cl

ev 1l chen. anL)1 if a ~1anicular member of 'th~l~ clan. feels the 'fI~d ro take ~he po.~'~[~on.

Other ~id~$

\VMjps are o.tten referred to, irLforrw.~ny· sud angrily, as raskmasters t slavers, heHdma~l:er::; and manv other f~.r less polite terms,

¥w~

Unwlm[ in dla[ it is both (In offid~'~I, and IJI tlofftdal fJ(JI$~" lliar);, the:: ~qJ¥ is.] at its ~inlple t level, a member nf the "Ktn-dud, ~li,te,'~ Harpies represent a who's who of Kmdred ,af[~irs. till! edtibrhies and fad-starrets, Other Kindred look to HaI~ pi~s to see w'~ojs in and WhO:Is, our! and. what positlons and opiJnlieo:) are popular thirs season, A we:I,'~,~b10\\;n Hi:UP¥' can

way ~liJlbHe. upiniot), fa~Eer "." lth a bl - ing comment than 80111e PUII't:c.eS; can w~rh a seltd decree.

Harpies who ar.:railll£d their inf1uel1c;;~ and posl don UTIoffi" d~ny~ 'throllgll floEhing more dl;;'111 personal PO\~"eI' and chari,11l'1al ~re .ofren mere re..'iopec[oo than, those who am appointed by Prince or Pr.utlflogeil. - An lInoffici.~,~ Harpy proba~~''!1 calls lMngs as be iEruly sees them, whereas an appointed Harp r is usually b·he. ed (8;ccumte~y' Or !l:101:} to be a shiH or even pro~gall~dis~ ro:~ the Prince.

dkff

A oombil1~ni~)EiI pollee ~nve8tig;flfor~ enforcer and il1qlli.si'tott rhe 3hell'i:f. is responsible fur ,~nf'o['ld I,tg> rhe Prince's laws and dktar~e j for bringing outlaws before the Prince fOI jud.gment :;n ~ - uE rimes - for c~rrY~l'jg out sentences, SOlUe: Sheriffs trul, bel ieve ill die rule of l~,w and believe ... thn.c they serve their ood,t;ry and '6"Uow Kindred 'by keeping the d,llr :3J~ or~e:rly as, posesi'ble., Oth¢f'5, love the posincn for fl~e :powe~' it off~· as they are permitred [0 bull« aJ.1J] push around other ~mmpiires~ 'e'i,l~n [h~ who 'Wlolliid !:lorrnaUy 'be roo dao.1,g€toIl,JS ro tD'IJ:Ch. Some Sheriffs are clever, subtle inv,estig~tors~ while tlfhtl~s are little more than bnl:t.sep; wid1 rank.

adler Tides

\~'hHe Shetiff is rhe most common title, the position is also

~ol'[tedM@S called Reev,e or Constable. '

Quite .... hUIJIYl the Hound is the, rince's (or Pi"aITlogen,:I:s.) muscle. If the ShC'J!iff is a policeman, rhe Hound is an assassin or i, t~ .. breaker, He doesn'e lnvesrigate I, he doesn't question. His job is to PlJ,lrl ~5h, . nvone he's told to punish. ln wm,~ h::t~ M.af.lice~, t'he Hound .and dte Sb~t~H are at odds dlUt!: itO chetr ow{latPp~ng responsib-'hri"es. In odlier dties~ the nvo are com~' btn.,ed into @j single- posi Elan. 'WhHe ,tthe Homid m.igh.t be a-~kedJ 'to carry ow; the offkia 1 alld public: chastisement of a la,~i~ br.eaker, th~lt d1.l[Y 'un.or:e often ((11'1:5 'ro the Sheri' f. Tho(,) HOlJ,lnd is [lOI'!'H~U. en.~p'~oyed 'Wll' n r'il.e Prl.l1ce ~·!ishes I!:o. skip over llQrma~ (and po~,ibl V public) p'roceclllI~.

O~he;r T]d~s

I,ll add~tion to Hound, such ~:n!J, et~forc r i3 often caned, As ..

~'in~ Arc'hJlJ:t1l &:.ou rge or T ernpl:arr.. ---/

~>r',Ur~~'

In ess 'nee a CD m.b ina r ton master of cerernonles groundskeeper, th@ Maseer of E1 ysium is responsible for. main- , ta,mrlling at 'city~ Elyshlm~ ensurlna irs readiness fo1' court or other ' offi.(:i al ftlnc.dmlsl, deantng ')J;L'P itfrerward and lruiking ,sUJOO that word of specific Blysi~fLil .. related events reaches those who must attend. The M~st,@:r of Elysium i:s. also responsible fOI' eoforc-

. ung the eusrom of nonviolence at such garherings, ~nd he of ... n, ten works hand-in- hand '';iii! ith the Sheriff Of Hounds for such purposes, In marr'l cines, the derles of MasLeY' of Elysium fuJi, on rhe Seneschal 'OJ;' Herald, In particularl Y' large dtt ies, more .,."..,~than one Mas:rer of El ysium exi 't~~ perhaps even one fO'1" each ' declared lEI ysium.

d~~

\Vhile the feudal model upon which Kindred society :is based has its roots in, similar historical morral practices, onh' the' most oblivious ll(~ndlred ,;vouJd refuse to acknowledge that giDV~ ernmcntal fe'lldaHsl]l is aU but dead in the, world of mortnl politlcs, Some of' the tea lit les that brought feudalism '~O an end i[1 dle ruortal wo:r]d, pb.gue the K:~ndred tvor~~J. UnUke ~" ... ~~ lTI:;'j.n.y mortal governments, however, tile Kindred have f01..111d a l,.V'aJ)~ to \-\Iork ",,['Ol!;1 n,a, sll'uch problems,

Qu,ite' si nph I' c1ti<.";$ are too Oig1 populaces too brge~ and u~iT\'utiae tOD overwhelming for a single Pr lace to uu 1 y rul€an entlre domain. Only in he ~!l"la[ lesr C01TIJ[nUn iti,es can a solitarv Prince bore to. ]~,y 5·~~ee'IP~~ claim W all 'of ~ domatn, A:'f; ,~l resule, [he process of domain sl:1binfeud~ non oocurs, wh ic 1 ...aIi_ is the bre.~'king down and parceling OUT:, o:f different sub-do- .,",r~~,_ 111il.iIDS.~ each of ~\1h[ch becomes. the responsibilirv .oJ a "sub .. Prince" who an.swers [0 the true P lnce's ~~hil! ra e slLlithority. Such fli,w.u,es Oof authorlry are' known as Regents, 'Jnd th~~:[ sub .. domains are known HS teJ.tlUrla1 domains.

For aU inten [S and. purposes, a Regenr. is a Prince in every .. thiug bu.t name; with a single"t slgl1Ji(lcant dUterenct:. The ",<'.I'lII::~

Regcnf. has, 11.0 praxis in h'us tenuria I domain no: Jaimed "right ro rule." Rather, a Regen ~ aware ed his po" if' on, 1: r the Pi>Ul"C'~ herself who can unmake a Regent juSt as easllv >,."'''''''''''"''''' as she made hiul. Appolnrmenr to a Rt'lgel1C}r is ahnost ~'~~ 'way.1; accompanjed by a fOIm~ll oeeh of subservience ~ particular Ill' among the Vcnnu.e and in d.olTL():i:ns wtrh a powerful presence or rhe more traditional covenants such as rhe In'viC'r:~~s or Lancea S~JJnC'Lum. Even among :mo~ si vel cla 1.5 and covenant'S Regencies, do not come 'I and the wise Prince ensures 'IO'~~a hy throagh some vC)\'i!! ~11lJ.,;:';;Ii:!' 'tracr or other _ efiJ'ri,ed agi.',eem,e It.

:How UlilH::h pOlwer a Regent has over a tenuria'~ ,

. depe'l"rId5 on the power of t'he dtys PI' ~nce and "/1,\,,,), · ... i~i"~I~ Pdnce assigns the dOl11ai,l1 ,~1ffL the first I hcl!,;!'. One. benefits of the Reg~n(.y is dlC::': ~ib:ility 'to ~t Olle sown as long as they a Iso enforce the Prince~s. die r~ues.,. Of c .

.some Princes spcdfica'~ hil resn ri.'c'r the acdom; 'Of the:iu

genes (such a~j ~you nla} not. des,ignate ~[1 are:,l El"l i:u . ~~On I'~ the' 'tr~~e fI"illce tinay gnlut ,the rR,g]u: co EmJ}ra but the t~,tle' iltseU come· "W ith near autonom"l un ... ~~!':'EIf.i:;~~ PriL1.c~ spe.c ifi.es odlerwi se.

~¥ijef~~,~: Some are rhernsel ves k~1Nl i [,r:;:id· '~, :i t{f~{~r.[ad[1 domains in w l'1iidl ~1o.:J!.&~J'.'t"I"J.,t>..U'~'I;:;;S f~~iii.' tifatus~ influence or expertise, ;B'<'Mj,!io'''lf'\i~''!''~~:.R,., ..... ' pdlWi~. eX~f~]!['~S of 'C~,HiI~,i,d~U~ tor d:i1is

_ dq~£ not ~.c-~:s~al'l~y beger the other,

he,ir~t~~![,-n,ii:s, :SJ:r'~!3!J.pr,8Jis6~·~ndl~1e or even neonates who tll~~rpkeep" and ~~'~rHeIDttl,'\~@' of certain rc~ .uJ,~!~~~~~'~~ ~,,-IIJL~~~l.cs ( \vi'iiidl.err a~;'i:e'!.!J~:m:t·~pD[ru'r~iry~ trial or puni:.:;n.':w-..lIe ... ,tf ~~'me ~~g~lits ~t~ irnpq1~*-ln[ n~u[',es among thdr :'

!Ui;'~.U::!J~,L~, d1f oover.an,ls, g_~·~H.lted tenurial domains to reflect

._ .. ~.,""""!:'I",,,I,.I ... "'much :a:s. ~ Cb,iul'ch bishop or arch bi~h.o:p :nifi,jgll~ , heen ,~[~rn,r:ecl~oluru@[ terd,~o['y 'un mortal 'llis.tOlry, l)e~, '!""';1iIi~,"."" Pri,i,l-~~!s '~vho;l1a"i/,e~1,~~ been sent to their :Finfl! 1. ~ad.'\s on a ne'~rPrince~. ,da~~ of praxis ofteof[ocl themselves made [teg-ein't5! eutheir l"(~{f:rove their krya[t)p [0 1t1.1L,e new re,gim~ Or so 'ihe IJ,'~W Prl eee can keep an eye on them; Granted, rhese last :[nst8lnces are rare.

A gr'~~~nriJ:any KIndred tend to confuse rhe ooneepts of" tenuwIJl d(:!~TI1l,h1S ~'flcl fe~di~lg groOUlndg ($00 p, tH}. Indeed,

I. [he rwo fII~,~af[~n inrerrw U ned l' dlOIL1g!1J, one doesn't necessaray ,e:L100rL~p:~8~ the other. A, temu lal dOmtf~n is si [fIj'F~'~?' an area r.J,iie-d by ~sp~c:if[,c Rcgei.l~ ~ ~]lside ::3J, larger region, For lnstanee, a particull 'rb; powerftDi elder l'f!ligl'il e d2L~,m ~~ ~p~cifi,c neJ"gh", borhood, and [he P:~.iIloe of the city '[night: legitim lze the dder~s claim. The Prince l!.i!ight do so beCa'!;L$e he W<:\l'il'S; the etder in his de'bt~ ,O[ ir n~,!ght sim~ly be that the Prince doesn't 'have '[he power to challenge the ,e'M¢l'... ln other circum .. stances, rhe Prince of ~ small ci,ty fln.i,ghr retain, power even, ~h:er her erstwhile domain ~s annexed by 4~' larger city 'and there by 'uJt"U1;de tenydal.

Alrernari vel 1ft the Prince mighr J~:ranil: a favored servant or ~ny !!:len'w:h:i[ [~ghu ove~'~ &l\i_j'H ~~Jtea. The.Prlnce wins.all \'j,r,@j,YS. He makes rhe smooth running and customs eruoJ}cemen.t of a part of his domain someone else's responsibllirr, be g~:liIn a favored ally eJ.iJQl~1 power to make 'her grarc:ful, and ll,e 'has the abn~.ry to str.ip that power a'way 'at 11 single 'word ~f rhe underH I~,g proves tl"~~'cherou~, ;[)[ ,0f'henvise dangerous,

A~ other elmes, rhe Prince doesn't really ~l1te:ad to' gIant th,e Regent quIte .so ·[l)'ijJ~.b pOll\ler~ bu r on ty ~~f@e-dln~ ~i.gh:[S~; [0

a g~vcn rfnT.~ mry .. Shr,e!\'it-d K~ndr,ed are abl~ to tran;s:rmm feed~ ing rigllts in't-o rr.ue :powe-r 'by ~'~ad i:ng pe;rll]~%k)n to feed f()[ favol'$ Qf eVe'Jfl funhe'r' ~u'bi'nf~l!Idati,on. (Afte.r aU, [h,e Regent has ev'e1i'Y power of ~l Puince in he~ tem;nial doun.iti'fi.) Wh~ Prj nces ~~k~ adval,lutg'e of tlu~; o~tun[lY rro l~:t othc'r,'S :lhoul~ del the l',e$p'o(~ls:ub:ihty f6r riIJnnhl,g ponioll;s of ~h~ ,r;it~r. less )~,~""t'" ~1l1d 1;nO're fe,~l{~Ll,I, PrInces 2lt.re'l!!ftl_Yil' m C~llrttaU the dJe.v,e lop... I 'rllcnt of ~Il s-u,clli. domains. Mosi[ of these wDuld-be tyl~lJ!t~ ~["¢ '. ousted, frOtl!ll power 'JIvl1.en ~heKind'IT"€d ben~~u':h, ~hen'iL grrow skk :fIJnd dn;d of the l~i;ck, O'f OPpo]tt~ni,[y.

H,an.d iJi. hand w~th, the evolution of ternU'ial clonrn.ains "caJ'n:l~ the. adVel"H of less HtngJb]e: [1o'tlOns oJ dOflti.~lit:i. .. Whereas a Prince ~.td,gh!l; o;n;c,e h.Hv~ g,r~nrH~ed ~.rti. 'c rh,n.u . .c; ghe lito ~)r pre~:}t ig,i CHJ.S oe:l,g11,bo[hoodJ to a Re;genr.~, ®(!il'ille : p[:L]l,C~S now' :grant (h.)m.in km ov'cr sphere's of ~'I.lt1-lJ..1e noe

under rhe auspices of domain, both their own and ten urial, .A Prtnce who acknowledges Q;f1I e of 'Il~,:s ~ubjie(J;$j, $\!!il~y among the. ~Iln:hc .. rit~,e'~ might g[~.IU ~~:~:3!\',iif eeforcemenr" as a I[C m .. u lal domain . .1\, Kindred who owns slgni fica_'[lLt propertr, '(!J'Lnong na,ti ~n.g ports m ighit he ~llJ~.nil:ed lights to 'Idle docks," borh 'as ~t geD,gti1llphical, region and in. reference EO sh lpplng comt1.l,el'ce •

These sorts of domains ate just as va lid. as ally other ten[lj[ ... :LOll i domain, bUJf. are harder [0 be lva-ry or. After sll, w hen one $~eps iueo a region known to be the tert'iilt-eir,y of another K ~11- dred, he knows !:1,@ crosses a pl'bys:~cal" rsugfble line ot dernarcanon. On rhe other hand, how :fa:r does a grant of an unconvenrtcnal domain, go? U the health-care lnfrasuucture of ~l cit'll is one K ~nd~ed] renurial domain, does t:hat indui~e bospi eals (.sttrelY}l' independent [)!ract~rt~(]ne["S (m~ybe}, and even d:n!~ stores (I ikdy nOE} ~ UrlJh~ss the Prince spedncaHy outlmes rhe extent of the Regents domain ~ 'which makes for awk~1iJjrdly '\vordy tides and occaslonallv incensea the Khl~ dred 'WhO~8, ostenslblv be ~[1.g' honored 'with the grant ~ boundaries remai n vague.

Unconveruional dmn~i ns are.a dotlble~edged sword. The Regent a,rgu~bly has to' be more vigilant in h~8 teuures dimensions than a Kindred granted domain over a phy.sical regton. Arret" a It how esn a Kindred granted t'enm~io 1 doooaill over "the pollee" he sure that somewhere in that 0[g;;u1~~'~ dO\rli'I' S(mL'LI':~'O!'l!e~s not :i::mswer-[ng to another one of t11ie D~lrl!'i1,!'tW'~ Farther, ~f other Kindred, recognize (he i[,ei!;.i:'~llre roo broadlj, the esteem can work agaiust the E~e,ge:r~t, as, rhcse excluded from (he domain can U£Se the Itegt'"1lc;y as an ,ex~:mple of a sCLangJeh.o:h.i over a partlculsr aspect ,of ~I nlife and lT4iil~y atb,eil:$ against the Regent, A Regent of Fine Arts wo~,~[dJ li'keh~ face' .signi.'n('flJllt opposinou, as wou ld a Regeru of r:h~an(.'t;i. Tbts isn't to S'3iy such things don't hapiPen~ bUll: i!:"Hdb,er that those posldons are either embattled Or held. 'b~, IK indted ,'~~ith sueh enormous personal power that ~hey Can, mai:r"i!t~Ti~~ brosd renU[,l8Jl, domains.

7~~ .A,~" .,~{j~i/Ott.*;~ ~ .... ~t'e.

Oeeasional ~y, [r'Oubl~' arises between the Prl nee and his Regen~8~ a:t1d mOle (reqllJently Det\Veell Rege!ll'~ '~hen)s~l ~~$. A r(ll'e feW' 'Re"!~)etu:5 t1J["~ SQ' 'po·~c;!.rful f~ha:~ [hey can pass '~aws n.n opposi~i,{)i~, m rh~ Ptiti.ce';S: d.ocrees .or at least' retu\Se to 'enforce the Prin.'cc"s deCre€8>. [iIDn,ulins oceas~(]naUy. o'Verlap~ f"l.S w-e:n~ espedfllny' wllell ml,CO(Llv~'\tion(l![ dO]1ilajm (.OtiJ'ii,e ~fit,() confl~,CI; wij.th g'e(]gmph~c.").~, ones. For ~nsranc~'J,~f':8. crime oc:.cUJS in a

Rege[1t's neigllborhood; is [hat 'hel' issne ()[ does lit falllmd~[ the' 3lHspkrM of the Regent of La~V' EnfUlrCen],(H],r?

In ~:nany {iii .:11eStt; c~S:~s, th~ on'~y d,~~r winne.v us r.h.e Pdru::ej as ~'h~ re$()'LUCei (hat. dva'~ Regera.ts devote (-0 foili Ilg ea£h oth.er '. m.ll:e l'heh~ a[ltcnti.on. fmm him .. [ndeed~ 'Lf tb.ings turn ugiy rw~lcl one of th.e· Rf;ge~~ts, ,ends .,I£) ~T1eetIDg Firl~,1 Dea~hl d,M-lJt [,eaves

" 1 I - - • oj - i T/,'· ~ .. .J d' 'I, d

:81 p;t)t"@.n.na, ... ,l::!()s.:unon open lor ~nor ler. f';;.,luure :5: reW~J', •

.' -

,As ]J.llgll~ '00 e')\pe('..l~i oontli,c,t OV'el' ten~u"ial dom~i rlI~ '[$ 100m'

n"til.oH- h' :rare 1 Y' e~cabte-s be-'fOOO the OOIJ.I\d~[i!L'.s: of grudgt5; and 'v,~ncl~u:,"':ts~ 'bJJ;u:: 5J!;!;ch :fcu:d.~ Carll, be hitter and [ong .. 1.i ved~ as with ,~n y ~Ttl.'lreraC!!~Orli, bet\veen Kindred", il1d.eed1 80me c:lties hIllve 'been p:~unged into ,re['~ table ch!'.il wm; (lV'e'r dO'~t'iI~i_n dis'HI~e:S,J

.....

hn moot ~avv'f Princes know to step in and reevaluate the ir Regeiu'S betore d1in~.1hecome M dire,

" . . cC~ ,c:r;p" Jj?fJ

\Vhi!,e ·Fil~rly. of the K~ndred's act lOJ1~ seem to be pclirlcallv

.oriented, thaes eerrain ~,y not the fuH extent of their interac~iom, wi rh each other. Indeed, rhe bulk of Kindred Jnreraclion!) OOUlt" in soclal venues, but as is rho case ·~vith such relatiomhips" the ourccmes are not so rigi.cUy defined. The rGn.. ,I,

dred power structure iJ3, fonualLK"'& The Kindred soclal MTUJc,.. "

("lIT:; has m~111y more facers tth;at can't l'1ifHisiH:y he exphl!h\ed :1,1\

~ single book,

Ki.nA:rred Requ tetn~ are CLJrkH,IS llhi..'J.$' - (is no~d before. vfnn~)'ures are sollrarv predators, yet iEh.ey crave the social coota~t that keeps the if de;!) thless lonel lness at hT~- Eve[y Kun .. .dred ha5 some reason or another to ~rtil:'~nd social {Ullct[Oru;" fur rhe Dscvs, rhe se:nsll,aHIrY o.f such. contact is fUfStt and foremOSt. 11l1e Ventrue enjQY opportunities to d·uspby eheir grandeur and muni fic.ence. Tbc Gangrcl GCU'i1,il"~'~y ,~ojoy C1Jtdng loose under the tight clrcumstances, A:nd even the Mekhee and Nosfef~ru need to 'I!m~[g~ fmn~ the sru~d(p,'!j,'S ;~md fOl(get lh@t rhey're monsters, if onlv for a short time,

The follo\vh1.g: are just a few examples of the many 't\rays in wthli,dl KU~1(h,ed gather and meee '\'viilio~lt the forrn~Jiti{~ of. domairt politics hnposing themse ~"i!'es, Of course, ''ovillfd:t h~p,", penes 'un these venues can cerrainlv 8tteCir polleles (and only the mose l1aU\r,e Kindred chink such rhrngs happen onh; nlm~:y )'1' bt~tt alle;;i~t those pol kics area 't the order of rbe nigh~ 'in every e:~,n~'h~tfLge hen:.\\reen Kindr.en.

Nll~'hdi:fe~ The DfllrEilIl,Cd. 8ire no strangers ~(J ~he d8JIj,~ clubs, b~g;~ lounges, 'pool halls and numerous ·odTter. places where m:o:rrab :g)D to ,en,po}" themselves, :For mm;1j;: k}ndred I' vi:s,ilting such places serves two purposes. It allows them. EO sed: pr~y uihQ nre OQriI1(Olrt'd.'bk, 111 their ow~ element, and it all 0 \\''8 that lijinged.,.-:for contact with someone other :r'llaJi1 ehemselves,

Q~drtlJ,!t[,al Eveuts: To be sure, (t[lY time en art gaUcry shows arrri: ~xh ~bi't! ~n opera or ballee '~!3 s tll.,g,(';':d 'I' ~ mnsenm hosts '::. cerItrrrrQ:fI1V, or ~Uli,y other ~¥fY:ai:1t thai: represents the uniqueness of idt~ hUID8In condition rakes place, the Kindred are there, drinkhAg 111 it$ '.-n~grtilio~n{.~ a;rnd 'Hl~lkil1g dlJ!h' own known. These l1eedn~t even be h'igh,.-{lOClcty ~~'ffa:~[\~'l as arr ~h0W$ C~ 'rake place ~n srrThuVr u£hg arrisrs' bohenuaa gallenes, and not evef}f 'PlaY' is a ~rood.,~~y production,

Pantes'; W~,]Bt better "iVf.UY to forger rl'l,e; pain of Damnation ~h1jn m (;e~,e'bra~f! .s<nnethll1g - anything _, else From lavish !m(:re~ hosted 'un grsnd hotel ballrooms Q[ :pruv<'I:rc mansions

tf.i 'L" .. m;:~,tc!!);ISe parties, underground raves and counterculnrral festl~,aI8~ a parry can be a g,Tand~,();.~e HffuiT or a '~(:& I~ 'oc-e'l,!,el. SOme: Ki["tcir-ed even throw their own parries of va.ry:L1),g..~ile$; widl rociali:re_s. Iwsrirtlg nigh- V~cwrinn engagemenrs, lowlifes · rotl£ilng' ~le 'rabh~e and ,eV1erYEhh1.g' 'in bcrwc;c[rJ,,, Anton,g parties h~t:edJ b$ the Kindred, sometimes mortals are i:nv,~t€d and S[)]jfl~(imes not, depending on rhe scale ~]]d 'R)lU:POSC:;',.

l¢]ig&Pu C~~tnon,,:~ In nights I,or;~g past, churches fOif~ned th.tl ~ent~t ofcommumues, 'Whih= thesefauhless urnes make t'haJt less eornmon, it is still true that a common u'r:y that prays ro~eth~~ ;sItars, 'together- In those domains (hat host strong

S!P)l~~~1! , ... ;,.,..,,';;;0:;.", ~~;~fn01Jlg Gov¢natus and indi .. ~Iia~{)~fu- I' :~rm r:l1~ basis of: reladonehlps ;]nd ~illT'I:1t:e[;rtcn!On~~:!ltll%a1:;,,('i~J:11:,~ sse: d.u::ii' -~l,e'ri.c:3J] foundation, Thee

-""""~ ~ " ;chtklei ;f~~ el{~:i[lple, or ~lt~ rorL'nal adep-

.~"'j;~~l~"j,lJ"iiI"It~rnJh_C:;J ]nro{~ .. re'~ ~giB.us covenan [ can SCI'Vle to R.:;il%t,~~,jJ"K:'l·i.i:tdrH~'t:I lOr ~fi\a'r.tJ.y sriife.s [~~her. Indeed, some rel ~,~

g iOfIJS-~~~n les '~~vo]V'e ~()lrt(Jli{w~,\.eth~]- as saerificc$ ~ or ~.~~~ ~~lUep.I~, ;sudt ~ ''I.!i'Ilth~b'kH:x~ dlill rs Or groups that blend

rOOr~.~~·hdfk:~ndt'€?Edogrn~-; .;-

i:lalon:~,; , ~lon$ ~r_~ l'sl!,1:o11,~ iWb~U~ctij~ 12lffi:ti.tsl whe'l:e invited ~lllllD'!roo _g-a~b:e~ to d lscuss ~;p~,Et~,culai idea. In SOBle cases, the .,"""", ........ '. , [0 '4e- disC'llSStd m~hf be' a new ph~'I('}sopbY'I' rJ()i~nt of

~r~.=:=

~~.'!.J!llLl"!;;; , or etMrghlg~hew ilJr~o["'i' O~J~,e[ ~a]on8 reinterpret clas-

:; ~'kaJl or eN$lc ancie~i '~d~J~i Salcns Calli 'be fOlrnm,all high-eocl ..

, - . _. __ r.

ety )ff~li,[S, 9~~tl eo d.\~j[ hfsm~ical. namesakes, debates, ICinl,y rhe

$HitaUe,st. $~ ~~l!,~ay nom political gFi'tlH~ril]gs, or even, informal t,@!n:~~ wh$[~{i, Kindred 'wiim a pet passion puts it forth to whom~ eV12::r will liSten" Salons 'Listla'Uy 'bdng great PJI-e3dge to their hosts - wbJitll. [h,er come off well, rhar hi.

Blysiu,nl~- Not even' ~theuin.g: ,nfE.1)ls:lum is a political affair convened ~ a Prince wieh matters of poHcy to discuss, Some: ~H'e l"Yi.l~re:~~'::sodal~ venues' where Kindred can meet 'and not ha\~e to w~r.ry abour the. ,',. unpleasantness d'i;:iH occastonallv Oat! rs a~ their kind, Mas!!: sues of EI,ysulutU ~n a ~i,'i,T(;n ci lY ~r~' Of Jell, ho [he Ki~nfhed enl Yl' of couese] at any time after dark, Ilmxi.mi~'ing, the numbee of places 'l/16nere KiIldred C~li eongregate ih1 '["'e'~~\'t uve: $QJJery.

2Z2J~~1

T~tmugl'JJout thei r :~,ong h ustory~ the K i[1;dred, have 'engaged. , i n sn endless 15,tftl:gg1e: - the coldest of Ot1lW wars, fo~~;hit in tlllt shadows of mortal socletv, Thls i ntemeclne conflict is known as [lite Danse MacJb[-e" and ut :nig'tuJy threatens to rear the entire race: of the Damned ~l,part'"

11 ' f·~· 'K' - jl 1,'· 1!..~,. h- 'l ~ _.. d

lIS :s€Cire[ wat a: tne -U1'lufC(u S us' eor . me loegn:rrnng 'on .

I dlC end for Itlloe undead. As, a race, dl,ey ate destined 00' blood and vtoLe:alGel y~t rrhcIr StllV.Lval d.epencis on peaGe benveen rhcul" Tb~1' ,8lre COllSl!J.'m.OO ll'Lghd Y by the possihility d~:~t: :d\-e ~~at' 'Will oue n.ighl' cO'nsmne ~herfIJ, and '~h~y t~)U~ c-e~1i6-,el~,]y 'un ~e~lr of h8tvil:1g to forever struggle a~li'~~srt their QW[1 kln-.l Th~ ,eontlk[ is ~rl1aPS the, greaJtesl:i sa~ddest p~nadA:lN" of d'.l,·~ l.G,m.,~ droo "!;vodd~ and as sudl, i:t ~s ;it fundefrt1Venral ~l.spect of unH f-e ~.nnO[1g the D81mn~d.

Perh~ps ~,[or~,i;c'~lU~f~ Cht':i,s[,U2Ltl8t'y sig~la1cd. rrh~ dawn (tif [he. < Danse M,acab:u.~. rn·ctkmaltsm, spread l~ike wildfh'e truou,gh ~h~ , mortals oJ 'Elmope and the l:';loly land! ~Eld tfC)f' the lUI':$[ ~inlle~ p;)r$inel rippl.'M of ~lisson~l'nl,ce emet~f!;{l fl'O:fi.l Ronte. h,e~~.f. Erli~ergimg -from) tl:H~ \loi:albc of the ,ev~nii.:s of the CfL1dfbd'ol1~ the ~'C~l Hd~r' of L()ngh.1Lus~~·1 as me-wheTs o.f thilrt 'COVel1~'Ult iO~'~$t On can~~~ t:he e~fl b~'st [ecC!l"d~d vatniP;~r~s~ were :b.ard Iy oonmr:']]ii: [0 : ;$i:[ }~JlJddlcd Il~, d),eU'f ~£iJ[1d I"e[h: ehambeirsl spenldng: prayers, t() a fariJ.ler whose very action.s had d~Jnned, th~m~ W'~) ~le \J,;''()r.d~:~:~y iUld tho"l.lgh.l[lf.ssly a_c(.'ep~jl'!lg ,evc;ln'thi ng diJ.'€~ir S,l'ur,~s b,~(l r~ttglu db£;m. N Ol tb,~ lW),rld w~s changi.]l;g~ and whh, it changed the

nndead, Some vampires '~'i~en,ed Chri~e~ resurrecrion to ebe mockery of their own, and 'Im~n'~' fell t() b,ud:.er,ung ~bOU'E the nature ofh~ ~Ji'vin[ty, Indeed, some blasphemous Kin.d red even £L1.gge';6 ted dt~t Chrisr was either rome 'kind of vampl re Or Longlnas, hhID.seltl And" '[ti:lItLJn1,~'~Y~ these tJ;lid oth~t social tis .. sures Oll'ly fu!!:'d1.c;;r elll:trend).,~J elders ,~m.'l:rJ sires,

D~'~id'jjlg the Dark Ages, whm' had long been seen as ~~ heretical movement grew' to become the' o,rde1[' ,or dt~ n:~~h:tt, lvIla.:t''lJY

. believed 'rh~tt God had forsaken '[he world entirel r', and they [,eft their ancient tradirions bell ind, in favor of '(hIS: ·!f.v~,'li.nF];$ of. appetite and p<en,y egotism .. H"ostti'li I;~ ei$ between K ~nd['ed reached an a 11 .. r hne 'bigh as sires suugg[ed to :keep chllder in line amid an endless sea of d:iLl'km;l~ :)~ld five .. Several religious orders emerged a,U10(l1.g the Kindred, each possessed of a, d~:ffet~ ent sbnt 0El. the nature of the D~lmned and their place hll, Oodis world ,Many vampires latched onto the fringes -ot the Church aIld its scions, !iUld ,tb.e Dmmined were some ef'the most ~c~jve' suppo,rlters Inr the early [0 mid .. Crusades. Indeed, Goo Himself became the foil that v~~:np~:res 'would use upon one ~:l10th~[~ each more ddr.l.y than the lase, '~n the name' of either 1_)0000l;.fer or :~Il,ghteol!ls:ness. A'nd. ,'!Uh~r!I their :~m,fip:iou~ 'E@m~r..ulty was uncovere,d ~ Mote: bloodshed, [0 Hdghf" the WW11gtl.,

All rhe! f bluster carne to a head. during: the bln'rlil1g tlmes ~f the ~,'I!ol.y In.ql'~iMt~on. ValIl.1pirLc in:f~.ghting haid grownso grcm:t the Kc'ndtE::d\ alt'oganoe so compleee, rhat t.he" drew 'the artendon of the mortal wof'~d. Ah·holl.tg;h the ,~ff0C~ was rhe w·~d~ .. $pre.~d violation Qf the fir.s,t Trndi,r~of4 the greater C.;1i~1\se 'was

the growing v ~o'~~,t:ion of the B'k'.iOd:~ borne prohibition lag,:!IJ[LilS,t kil1.s~~VLl1,g :;.md a decrease in the overall level of respect ilT1d love for God, (O'~. :C!Jnyd:ting resembling Hhu),

After the fh-t"!s oJ ~b,e Inq~u~ si:rrcm died down, [he Kirudred looked around ["0 flnd that their numbers had dw ~ndle.d ~ t'~le'ur fort!l:unet h~id cnn:nb~,'ed ro the ground, their' sodet"j! had sharrered and new hJ.ct~ons tose almost l1.]ghdy. When dl@Y looked L1PD:r!J. what their conn let hsd wroeght, rhev neither l,e;,l]T],'ed fmm what they S;?Ii'!i\f l1JC}l" endeavored to trace the disaster's ori~:ll back (0 its root. Instead, the: Kind red all sec'IT'e.dy bbnned! one acorhee fi)t r11£ dowit1f~U of' ehe system", aJI.'Ld th.e species as aJ ':vllO:i~ ulJ:rned. i:u.lw,:!Drd, W1tere: th.ere ll'~d (JrlCJ;: been Overt nU)~;re_;;j, ~lli]d. perioo ~c. sal,v'()s 'unto the. dOf!l1La[n.s and :affah~ of other K'indred) dle-re \li,lere now hidden ,SdlUfI)e!S, :.lila 'p~den[ plarns [hal: t-(}OIl:. yearn; ~o 1..:u:ttoM" The Damfl,ed ~till 'ltMlVW ~gU1n~1;r oQ'e ~nocl-le'r~ and they ~[in ,e['JJ,~ ~n the Dan~e Ma£a'bre:~ 'bm: nolW tlhey sstyored lit [ROlej Iearn.tng the :a[[ 'to a careflUU:Y

'piayed ,~mre. The Killdoc.,o, were a patient br,eed ~ 'when 0;11;!~~ mer~tor is U't1death~ p;i[!.tience i~ the fiI'$iI; [.;;-Ss;Qtrb, ono® musa: I,earn - and i[hey lem:necE how to put that pJtience tD u~e.

./

"~~Tl)~ oomh"lg of :r'b.e Indtl~td81i ,Agr:,' saw a l],~()l1i'y p~"[~ck)'x'ical

iHchooomy e:mer-ge '~n the wo~'~cI of the Kundr,ed, C:iti,e:s e'X" pa11ded at ;asnon'omnk~J r~t!es! ~l'f':l,d wkh, l~ad1. technological ~dv~]'ncenHmf, c.a:m~ UtOJ€' oppor.tlmities 'for iniluenoe i,n, the mon~l, worli. By th,e s:a;me token; h(n~~ever~ the lo(a~izll~'io~~, of porwer and muo,ey m~d~e~.ch :nmv ['¢$Olllrae that much m.arre pdted 'a~.non,g: the undead. 'Territory tn dtLes be{'..~me a selio~~ is:su,e, a~d EO] d1i.e "Hrs:t il:i'm.e, po'~ ~tiC:3J grolilr}S em·erged ~5 rfla,~Qrr (ac~Il)(l.~ 'in Kindred ~od~ty. The l[i,I'lil¢S c~l.I.eA :forr ~o:fltle major

·::: :::

adapraeions in [he W;)}"S [he undead did [hi ngs, hUT as is enderulc 00' a selfish and pr~dJwry species) V'elV few K~ nd red f;OO~ klp the mantle of ['f%pOinsibi.l~IY w~.th the 'irli~:rmt of mak;1 ng sure rhar everyone adapted together,

Even with th.e e:-tp an'S i.O(Ll. of the morralworld, the Kindred cent ililJUe<1 to p~,a~' their local. games of lovs. and hare, point andeounrerpolnr, The: nature of vamplric existence no Lunger ~1lD'w·ed f.cJr extensivel y planned movements of II.mlt~~ or -force.~, eeross mulri .. national battle maps, Vampires were no longer geTLel'~~i~s: gove'm ing legions of ell llder a nd blood rhra lls, 'r.eady to 's:?i!il off to battle at ~. Ilt:H'li!m.ertlt's, notice as :3. rew' h:i'.ld been in earlier' times, They were buruanold j aeksls, territorial scaven .. ge~'s. wi.rh nott'h.um.1g but t~.l,ei[ tood and ~.8ln,& .A.nd. at th.€: end. af dl~ nigllt['] each vampire \V'aJS .S! prisoner of that land, whether 'he (aIled it h()~lne or not. And when f<l!ced '~vi th !ti1;a,t realiza~io:n~ 'many vasnpires rried to make trhen18€:'hr<0h the wardens of their prison homes, each bucking fO'I siLiip.ei'lori.ty over the other inn.nate.-';,. On'~y wl'Lel."l. one was ['he, '1;",r:~l.'rcl,er~. cou'M he he ~II,ITie of ~.'I;),jtw the prison would operate from. night eo n ight.

This notion in part leu lar, the concept of con rrel.fs cen ~ '~ral. to rhe Danse Maca bre as it is known. tonjght, Through the passing of yeats upon yeats, man" Kindred feel. the reins Gf control slip ever :50 slowly from their clutching talcns, Despl.[,e; rhe u r temporal pO'live(~ '[h~y must si [ bYI ~i flI,'dbl.e ro build or create or evol ve as thev once did, 'w~l;itdling while ~h!2: world moves on around the m, So tbey seek to amass ~.s much mortal power and inlt1:tlence :(]S possible in the Il.r,}p~, of fteling "lic~~ri(},!);I,sl y through ·~h . .c·u·r CQn·i'H~Cti(,rDl£. h) rrflodtrn realuj, The~~ vamly Sle~'k a. gh.u of material power

hoping somehow to make up fQr the spi ri tual a nd creaei we impotence: of th.ei:r ex istence.

'Io make matters worse, other Kindred are often the on~.y ,;N",,~ barometer by whieh an cue-of ... toueh vampire can messure hls own surrogate .s.uocess. lf his brothels nn.d. sisters of tth~ 'l1I'ight do not "f8!re ,,·err well, then l.ogkill}\ he (must be erul.y successfl~l. The en.Nr€; syst€:l.'r.t :reed1~ on irs own i nog~,c II.Jnti.I.~ ar a certain point, onl y the S.tL'[lJggJe fQ~' dominance remains, Some

" Kindt·eel even see ~h:is iffi"ltist,en,c€ foil' wh:a~ if. is }ID:'IId. claim that ~t .;~u:~ Is [he only way that their accursed kind can progress with. ?nr~ . pl1::~lQt:; t.ht"Qu.gh the ~1g(:]5. After .~l~t d'bJ:iY reason ~ (liD1iy w'h£Tl one has control over everyth'ung does one not need ttl, tesort ·W diablerie or kinslavtng, The Danse Macabre, rh{!,y dare claim, i~ ~~rriIJ~J~y ~}~,e ~~~[ V:~~tiQll 'of the K indr-0d F~,c;¢! Needless tn ~~,y~ many vampires would disagree vdlerutend.y~ 'om' it does go to sb.q:'i'V the' de.gt''ee to wh idl tb;~ undead try to. 'I1J~ LO(l;1~~ 1 i'z¢ l .. vh~t thev have become,

•

.. . 2%.Y,. $F ~~ ..

Some modern neonates are Hl ~.1['ised. to learn just no'w lude -;:1~~ Is known for sure among [~b.oeir ·~dirld. Like maifJ/y' others before them, they make the mistake of assumjng that creatures 'who ~.J~~~ eJ{i~t forever ~\)Il!$t ~,n ke'wli S~ remember oo';fel'ller. The sh ock is even :gr.e~'3 ter for those Enrtl.b[:oc~~ ~n. the ~:iJ,$~ rhree decades, Glue to the P['{!V;J) leuce and a 'V~ ilabiHty of tufcrmacion 'in. the ·\lro{)rkl.. Upon bei·I.'l,g· informed of _jIIJH hOi\,\!' old the Kindr'~~ trul yare i manv grow eage't" = g~dd'v" even ~ to find reanv old vampires and P~(J~: rhei f bratns about people, pi aces and events of ages past,

: :t:~~~~: -~:~~~~ ~ - .:-

. . ii:o .If:8l{ij:'l1Lowe;ver~ that 'hi~[ary is :SJn.

~1!~~~~~~~~[~~~~~~~1~ -~.~~dred. Even. if 3J single (for'

,;;~ . ;~)illc'ef:~caMy retain al that it saw,

~~~~m.~·rIU· ~lnd a] [ Bfiar it: .@rperieucedove·[21peri.od. • L ...... "" ...... ~...... v¢ry phy ~bplog~bf the Ki ndred form for-

. dS'r ~n~ deta.n~(l recall., .A vampire s b! cod ~n' 'cl"~Me: 1·' nc.--:_the [on:gbr he '~~HYS awake and active in ~~:r~'ftti'Jl.tal- ~Aio!['·id:~·and tIte'more: 'p~tcnt !l vampire's blood, tIte 'm,~re' Jifl'h::u.li- "t. ~ foi-h:il'n. [o.:iemain at ease with the wo . ~i[lou.no, him JPotert~: B.·lood.· i~ 'de nand lng, indeed" I r

._ .1 II -=-_

~ . ...,.,,,.-,~:~' . t fai··the Vlt~e ofo dl.er Kind red - an u rg~ po ten .. ,

]eadilig to d~~ tenLll.ily SU'!'~(ul act of diablerle. F'aUin,g m3.'i~. ~ it 'caU~j OL;~t fof.~ slee ~i so char (he 'blood at le .. rs I' has a

. . ro d~~:fi ove ~ ri me:~nd re turn the vampire ro a sem ..

blance of ~1:~. more cbmpijs.ed ~~lf" To make matters worse

< certain Vamp-l'rLc acuviries can cause a Kindred's blood [0 ooncen[ra~~' prernarurelv thus l·ead~ng tc further mental d isrcrtion ~ frustrarien and (II:ng.uuh"

This (a~t alone would call inro question any elder vampire's ;ablJulrY Ito- remember specific dew[~s of centuries past, but th~ Blood is neirher the o l~.y nor [he greatest con' tributor N{ the e~ern.ai! inconstancy of h isitory where the' K lndred ~(e COI1~n1J~G. Wh,en an elder una Ily does sue .. cumb '['o.dte call for rest, she enters a state known as torper, a com.atose· sleep d.,n·ing ·'I;vhich. her vampiric essence thins out. While: in torpor, the Kindred does 'OJ)t 'rti!eed L(} feed. 'to keep her unnatural fOHUI in its. static state. Sh.e merely sleeps, reju.verHl'[~:ng her body while her bloc 1 return . to more manageab le levels,

The d i ffHCU'~ LV comes in rhe quali ty and nature of torporunduced sleep, Being in torpor is akin to IYLll~,g prostrate 'rhrolll_gh .a decades-long w(!lir"g dl"e~·IiI),. Vi:S,i.m.l$]. memories 'and images of events past (and p o.s$~.b'~y even future) plague ['he blood -addled mind of rhc torpid K ladred, and tbat's

, just a ndk~ torpor .experiencc, For some, torpor is a pro .. tracted nigJu mare] fi<3.Ughit w i'th homfic vi' D tations .of. pas!:: atrocities and. fallures. hl.1l:::1g~ ne all the llil.,o~t :~,tiitens.e qual i ~ ~"i.r;s cl.~~ powef.fu·~ drl]g hi .. h~ com'bineu wi l:h I[he lucid. d.is~ .plac ment of the delepesiI: 51e\!e[p! and the result is \~1hat ev~ ,ery passing hour of torpoll' 'us Hke. N O'W.r. try to [mBl.gine ~I!lC h ~ Ilfitenta[ :stat';;:) snetchi.ng on for 50 years;. l:"low ~ bo~~ u. 1 00 ,ealt. ?' T]\,e results can ·be· harsh ..

". or even due s:trongest mortal mind ·celllId lNithsmnd stLch i[:Hsychic dur,e.$.i) fm more tllum ~l few days.~ ~.'et -ah;)ne y~r.s.u W~lk ~ ing, ftm]l such fj st~ lie would [eave the aV'to'Uige motul psycho, ]ogu.cHlly scaned, if nor enr:i.re1v c~nu:onic. And f,e • the Kin~ dIed. m1!.1IS:t 'f,!ndlJ;lw this pun t$hm~nt r·eguJarliy md H!pe~lI:ed Iy in (nrder [0 SlIt vi ve the passage of centu1'ie5. b !l ~'JJD'!f \¥01tllder, 'cilt[l] d18[ iheur concept of thne fUl.d [he ~eqll,eficc of events is· a :liule b[[ (or in ,SDfl"l'e c~S'e. ·more ih:aI'1 a little bit) distorted r IndJe€a, some are :simply too weak to 'beat [be brunt of the 'me Tt~'~ onslauglu: Qrrepeart~d tOtp0liS. T~\eir minds evmtu~U y $h~uer £I'om the srrainf· [,ea\' ~ng then] 'incapable of rising of theiI' C:Wi!1.1 vol i·don. [t is whispered that hm:'lldreds if 'nDt thOtL~ ~~ds. c,t sucl'll Kindred lie bene.ath ·the E~rdl.·'s surfu.cei. tltJ.el-r sanity snippe.~. -[rom the'iF 1I,.i11dead liI:linds Uke huks f[-om corn. Some believe that t'hese i,o.sane Kindr.,~. 1j,lJ,~in tiS-I! one night

and he :~ hk.e unto an arrnv ~~i nst the Damned so derry from which. they were dn yen.

Wise Kindr·ed wle steps ro make sure that their precio 15 tho:J.t~)hX$ and memories s[ay fresh, and more '~mpOrrr!bl)dYl fl.x~d . M,~~ny use j ournals and other mundane means ·of recording events and dare .. I while others rcso tt to more drnst;ic and of~ ten m Y-:Sl:ical means. 'One group in particu lar~ a fucfion. known as, the Agonlstes, hCIJ~ taken it upon ixself to catalog some of the knowledge that ha~ been lost to Kindred over time and in torpor, 'vrril~ stmuleaneouslv looklng for '~"~ays to ~'[f["u~,li,nrn:re ·r.h..:- '7I;'Qr,s.t O'j the great sleep's effects .: C;} ftU~ the scholars of. the Agcnlstes have made lttrle head'l.vriLY in the latter oblecttve, hut they have Iir ade such ad .. an-res in the former as to be ' in demand" around the world, Indeed, man "i elder Ktndred, in expeerarion of hm.pet:i.d~.llg- rorpor, summon one of the Agonis.'t'0s to oversee his. transl tion, ~1S well as to assisr in vartous orher record .. keeping tasks. The group ta kes [he "conf ... d~IlI[i.8di[yij of patrons' activ hies and memories very seriously, and there have been few accusations of ilnr[Opr~ety [.0 dare.

6Z ?f:;t '7 1#O?M

it is, therefore, 'both un and agai.ns:r Kindred n~t~~re to plor, scheme and u lrimaeel lj" 'bring to 1'1J.][[l the unlives of rheir own kin" ] L is borh fare and personal d).oke'. Even. those who seek: to brtng about a 'better 'l.!oFld fOF rhei·t· kind (or at: least a, MJb, set of their lki.nd) merely ftittller the mistaken bel i.efs and ide ... als l"ha~ lewd to g;. .aeer K~.ndred c~hl!l:nit.)r. Some bel ~e. e it is :s.iInply the \:\r;;l,1 0-( things: God's will, i nherent pinmal evil 01" ~he most natural aspect of an unnatural species,

Others see the ~rary' [he Danse Macabre is going and legitlmarel y fear 'fo rhe (uture.. In recent years, more evidence emerges abour the vampi res of old. ~ the long~foIgonerL eldr:rs who might have been the original progenitors of rhe modern . lsns, Ei~ef.s o£ advanced age are 'fc~u;-oo grtady, and rngl"lJdy' ~"V and the most common position to take is one of \\fi~iJI.l~ rb ink~ng" Pretend i (s. not a uhr·eat~ and it w·m go away.

JIIl<S~. rhe same, 'puppets and sinners contin.uc to bdng news· to the sC~lt:tered dOll1.ail:l"; of. tll!e Kindred- S~c)Iies o. ~IJ.'m.h. r bta'l1."Ln ng tirro,e yet tQ conte, \i\<h.en a [',e:ckanjng shaH wIlllpon die '!i'ia'rw~.ud Damned. Somle beUeve th~lt v~Lr.iOU$. h.f1r'bi ~]gers of ;Q:IDte gTe-at accoln.uin.g wil1 rise·r. that the.: prophede:s. in V~'JJri~ OllS Kindred. holy 0[' ettuh' t xts· win ;conll,e ITl.l1C, th~t longinu5. 0'1" the Crone wi] uake i~n ~lCCOljlnt~ n.g of the s ins of thdr 'iines, that Draculta wil~ return. l:,Q .flnd his oov,enatn in ,d~ S~1n~y and ~r.j.'~ct a (:.1,].11 ung O'IJ' 'Ehat on[')" the pl~rest of me pure ,,,,iU remain ~~ fe frotn \lrftate'ver form thi' p'[)'rtem:ous jills[ice talte;s. ~1any

lstill study ohe old. "ways a'hm. texts, 8e:·al'·chi~g for ~igns and ornJC'!;1l5 -of w~llen [his da'~k u::ume migh.t (lini \'Ie .. T~lley he'l L~ e in the ~VQrds

. 'Of proI.he~ 3lld· 'ldnru:n ~unong rhe Kindred~ and 'God h Ip dlose' wlu.') have rors8Jke:n thenl. Others he l~eve th~ ~tO~ic:s ·co be ]'U:'i<'t~.1~:l1g but nUli1LOr ~. arnodle:r polit:ucai ·p~.ClIy hatched frmn anfi.ong ~he.- d astempf:Ted munds of t'h,e ~1oung and fo.olharo.}'. OtherS 'bdieve ['hall rome concord" nee fl!lTIong all. th,e m'Y[u~'ld t~lcs" 001" dl.e cl1rl.nic. natUlU!. 3.Rd fonn~rt of EIH~ sror[e;s rhem~ seh~es.., ind kates, the ['Ieturn of ~I blood ~ ~ne or covel1l.an~ knov.lu ~.$. t_he. M,ni rai. - one bdieved long dead. yet :5ti I ~ ,:;;pokcn of .;:vem:y night ~n hllslled ·'iNhispeu.

Wha~ is 8Jgrced upon, BJt least by those' who have stopped to paiV streution, is thar the Danse Macabre ~ headed inro yec another era, Ad ... mll"cementts S(;':l1;:l1 in ttLi':' last 30 ye;ji'IT.s alone have' allowed Ki1'ildn~d~\I'etSLJ$" Kindred cont],k'E to blossom into ntv,c~~'bdQ]'e~seen. arenas. ''(o1Jn,g !I!IJ1G $@/VVY vampires use the Inremet as often :8;5 they use my other tool .of 'mtu, upu'~~:ti.c~J. and deceit ~ and w,~th the advenr .of fLbet' OP[LCS'I' digtral net'_'rcrr~ ~~~ snd a has[ of otlv~[ i~['!J,'ll£fi~ ions, the pesslbiliues are e:FltU'ltSS. Never, before has mere. been so much potent lal in the filn .or ~·;;~trl' and despite the quiet: .I~'l,gg,h1g: of what remains of " diL~ v8Jffi[Ari,c consclence, it" all sounds prett¥ good to tbe a V'@iI"age, vampire.

,A.nd .9D!I' d~:ader contil"lU€' to plot and seheme 3gfjin.st" rhetr sires, end sires. eont lnne (0 plot and scheme ;[],ga'i11St thei r ehllder and their rivals TI"!;e cevenauts continue to plot ~gait'tc$~ ·&.'afh other, and, the lm~li,gru~d conrinue ro buck tb .. c audWI,Lty !)~ rhem fIJI L Tile Carthian experi menr shows no sign, of ~LQw' ~ down ~J',ound dIe' world, io'r gond or for ill, auld, besude' Kt' ~'~t rhe C~rde o£ the Crone remains, vigilafill and secretive. l1re 8~~e ls set iior dle next act ~n the, Danse M,Hcab:u; I :and ~n the [)la,yerKhave' raken rhe~r places .. There usn~t: a doubt ill :l'h,eir minds, ~hfJJ( they are r,ead.y f'Ol' the p]f\Y that ~wait;S",

Af~r f!JU~ I[hqJ've plaved these roles before-

Z~~~7~

Wh~J~ possessed af many curious properties, the Blood of ~heKbldired reacts im special 'wa,~ W that of other vampires, D~rnils as to ~'Why this happens are unknown, No blood ... spectmJiK( m vampirlc hematclogsr has studied the' phenomena ~)(~,emi'~el 'if ,enough~ and no my5tUi[~ L1l1de:rstand the nature of dl$ CU!lr;Se~ so wJ$U. C'.£rr3inly, rhough, these suuarlons occur mr,en el1otu,gh and widely enough to 'be known 10 all K~ndr0d.

'l?aim:p:ires unsti'Llcti-ve'ly know other KiDJJn;:d upon Sigl:rtt'l as ~he ~ea:st seems 'to 'c~n to (l'r~:ler Beasts ill [(,S v:Lcuni~y" Hackles Fi~l '~ng.s ,dj~~ld ~n.n a sense .of fesr or 'teui,wl'[8Jlity overm"ts a 1Klndred upon meeting 8!noihe'1T' varnpi reo f.Qr she h rst rime. The urge is 'pri~na~ and I)~$[ua'~ - me K~ndJred with, more pareOJi~ blood sees cl1 .. e tnrerlcper as a rhrear to his ~lupel'i(Jirity.J' WLhn le ~he v)lupi:re, with less potent blood inst lnctl vel y reds ~1 desire (I;) flee 'tilts greater predator. Both Kindred potendally :rtdt (reray fJJt rhe overwhelm ~ng ~Il.n:ge of ~ nstinct, ~h.e aggres,r, &~¥'e \f:lunpirefee.ltng rhe urge to attack the- lesser W a, sert his dDHitur.nm!C€:il and rhe ''!st'l,bo:~-di.n~ir,e;' vampire ~eeU]rlg a l)ressing \l!r,ge to flee- Ki.lI1dr-ed of ·eqm'illy poitent h~ood borh feel :r'he ,f~uoo 't.fJI 4"Jtrock. each orher and settle the matter of primacv once end fOT :(lIL True" such compulskms ah:t~ O'E),Gf! two K~l1" dre{trlre frurfl;il~ar ''irvi'th each 0~he:r~ bur t'he li.ll~ ~a], experience C~i1 b~ I[etd~ Lng - or perversely tlrd.11 ing.

27.e cl~7~J:i'

The bleod of ~hc Kindred is both savory' and sweet, scintil ... lat ~~ tn))! eastes {lo'"irh its he'(ld"V~ :fo'rhtdden flavors, Those who con~(I!~rte' the \~'ttUt of [he Kindred, especially older Kindred, ~htd ~baJt they long to taste it again, \Vh'Lie the Dsmned WD.~ld ijel,l'eT itoop so [011,\' as to $~I,gg~St th';,lit them r blood is addieelve,

i:: _

of tl~e. KlnJi~dls iiI regard {OJ' tta~tin.g me blood of

,.., .... -~""'I1" ..... ,.;.,1i' vanl!l~iii~'es, is t _.e V~jclUl,tim, sometimes Ibl0'!i\'I1. ,,1.';; ~he ~"""R':~--_;ll~ load bond. Those ':Ki nd ed who consume the blood of an-

other singl~ \farnp~Ti!1!i chlee runes become subiected to a unique sta~ of emotional, conrrol, This Vlncuium creates a pO\'L"c;:rful but ~ntifk lal love for the vampire. from whom three draughes a~ raken"

A rhra n . ls an y being current I,y under the influence of a Vi,n,cuh.JJlll,: The vsmplre to whom a rhrsl is 'b.ound is call d the regnar~·t or domttor, [1]. social slruarlons, the rerm thrall 15 appUe~'to bound Killdred~ as mosr undead think of bou ld mnvt-tals solely as ghou I$~ mortals who have tasted rhe Vi t~~_ -of the. Kindred (see· p, 80). This is 11 ct ~ however, an entire Iy accura te delineat iO[1 .. I t is pass u~M~ to :!.bJIi.V,(~ a rn(H~ta I 't'h fa U w 11,0 !S nor a ghoul !" as morta [:;3 w10.0 have r.asr. -d Vitae do not auromatlcallv become ghou'ts. Those

, who do rera i n rh ~ powers and tra its, of the ghoul m"IJy so '~ong as K lndred VI r~)j~ rem aJ.~ 11.'5 m n their system, but the power Oof the Vinculurn far outlasn any such lim~ts- Ru .. mot has i t cha tthe Vine .~ um can SIU b vert d\, 'iIV ill of even the \\P~ ldest supernatural entl ties .• bur ~ lrtle hard data has come forrh to verify this,

Thralls are not complete slaves ottheir masters, but they corn . dose. They eonstanrl jf feel the 8l.r t ~fi:c.i3·~~ove, ~(fec:,~ don and ]O'ya~.ry imposed by rhe bond, even. i.f they s lmul .. taneouslv hate dl.'e:iv domitors for del"ne,r)inhll_g or enslav in.8" rhem, AtnQUg, those who are ~ eak-willed, naive, mentallv . unstable or. even wi ~ I ~ ng, rhe blood bond creates a '6::<:'[ im.g of singular devotion, .Mos.rr' \rm.![lc.!Jlum~~ l'e$u'~'Il: :ijl rhis eondiIrion" as most rhealls sub] . cited to them etrher k:n(}"\~~ w'hat the} 're g,ening into Or have. aome turgid notion of their eelationship with their domuwl"5~to~be'. Ghouls who see ~heir u-w;sters as darl~: .SJilg(~Js." K ~nd.re I Uov.(!~ ~z:pressing [heh: > ci.e:vo(i,on to e~~ch 'Other throng II. :tul:.]~ual blood bO'nds eve:n way,,.'ard ~~bl.ood doUsH \'Il ho read i ly' gl ve of [he'~'r own blood to.' pl'e(its-e their 1,;1.ndead :pa~rol'i.S. """ A'~I of d'les't :n :i.e:!ffit uni .. · "[iaUy elue'!'" irun V[nc .. dUn1s wHUnglV {or ~u: least: 1,',vm,th(Jut i1.",esenunent 8fr~f\~~r,< {dl). 'Other~ alH!dt 0 entbusiaJsti.c] as wir:h. un bound K tndr,ed brough:r 'ro h.'ee~~ under a Prince thl'olJ:tgh it'l~,e Vi ncuhml~ 01l 1i:]'l]cllllem: en j'lder forced ito bond th,em ~ seJv.es itO th~m i[ .!:pill"C::s· "f~)r ·the Lt' own good" ii' h rm I:y is <l hh,s ~ phe'rtilous lm. e,t. for :it is u'n.natu.r~'1 ~)'nd the c.on.eie'llCC Oift.(~n Tebel,s a_g·ain:.}t [t .. ThrfLlls ~u'e normal.Ly incapabl~, o()f'bl~.~(lntbl disobeyi!t1.g or ''i.,~or'k.ing ~~';dn8t their rei1nanrsl but SOUl~ ~re sufftden.dy i$E'I''Oog wiUed to sabotage thelf masters in mor ' ' subde ways.

SO(lTI,e "'!,ery rare coteries attempt (0 overcome the inevitable growth of 'm isrrusr bet'w~el1. mern bers by engaging ill a web of Vtnc U huns, Reciprocal bonds '~;iO'U ldn J1: work to hold a coterie [cg'eche[~ rather, it would engender 'loyalty t.etvI,1eeTb 'pairs" Instead, rhesc C:QtW;'iri'~5 el\,;i:T(Ige: in a practice thae some Kindred youth ha e r,~. eher crudely dubbed ;:I "circle jerk.' That is, one neooate bonds herself to another, who bonds. himself to a 'Lhi,[c~l who 'bonds bhlllself to a fourth ~ who ~n

'. turn bonds herself back to rhe fi rs ' Tl· e amount of trust req uil"ed to enter into such an arrangemenr is incalcu I able, and ehe results are h~,e'l._rltab~y pa inf!';i,~, for those involved ~ ~5 they must spend il'i.uC h of the h- time watching the 0 bject of '[heir affections fawn OVGr someone: Is-e. lv1~my coteries that attempt this process eventually teal' themselves apart out. of obsession and p~tty l~~'ious.y. Those few that rnsnege [0 make ~t 'work are lndee 1 remarkabh eohesi ve,

~~~

If [he claru represent fmni'~y and perhaps culture !:MDOo!1g the Kindred ~ and ci ries ::If.e their lomalns r. then the various covenan ts represent the closest va mpi ric equ i'!j,J:8liG~I!l:r tit) :L"IIa~ tions, pol ltical '~8lni'es and even rel igions. The covenanrs form a cornerstone of undead socierv and - as fat ~1!S 'E5 r ()S,~ si Me to d~~'~rr.nine ,g~ven. rhe Kindred's rarher haz~f v iew (')f their own hiSl:ory ~ are ancient tradlrlons l:hac have be "11 part of (be vampinc '\q,fo:rl_~ for hundreds of years. The ICOV~' enants r11at <3J[',e (suppose .. l 'If} oldest hold a .1ITl1.0fe respected "pedigree" [hili) others, 'buit none is tru 1 y modern, Even those ym.i1lg vamp it-e~ vi.<lI.Q ibelieve tha!!: K indred societe as it ex ists tonu{ilu: IS ~ n;;h1.tivdy recent development a bnm.t th;nt t'he' covenant's almost cermiJlt!'Y predate the lndusr rial Revolu ~ tion [[1 some fOrmYl 0[' another,

The covenancs serve 3~, nations}. for they provide ehe Kindred" trh 0 sen -(> 0: commurutv that they can 'find 11(Hlfhe're else. Kindred are' Embwcec~ inro ~ clan, wirh 1.1..0 .~)I or rherr own, like- ll'iu n y mortals even If rhey fed a loya-I,e.}' to ~heiT blood and the'mr 'frllilni~y, the)' oteen diffe'r w~ rh one another '~n [l'iei'it opin ~ons. ("lucl beliefs, They are, for the 100$[ part, trepped i lit their. 'hurne ~]Qm~~ hu; and their lcQya:h:y ~O\V0J['.l d~,e loca i regimc is u:maTly plDI'ch:,1$ed with fear aD.ld enforced j~ ambutm,Qn. COVenmYI; allegiance, however, is sornerhlng over \\i lich ]( un~ dre 1 have peT, onal control. Thev are drawn w,~td factions

I that espouse doctrines h] which they C~L111, believ.'" (or ;at le3, t 'Eo ·\vhn.'ch -rh·ey d(m,~t obJect) .. llcre, more rhan, anyw 1;e!!:.e d'Ehey a.f.~ 1 ik~ ~y to ~llCQUn~er oth.er Kindr,ed "'!tho sh~re ~t lea..)t

smfIJe of th,~:i[ '~dea~ and nbJecti ves- '

The OOvCmlnts -::ierve a~ ~)I ii i-c;:aJ parde.s, f.or dl'. y prov ide am.bE.LioLl,,~ K~l"td[ed 'with bli:Dn'lt ~[n SUpp·OfL MoOS!: Icove11~ntS se . k as till~C:h in11.uen(.~ 'ill tb,e ·~oc.:3J~. Kindred 'prnJ,rer ~.trl,H::t~J[t ~s possible! eit11e:r ("0 3idvancc dwit own, go:) ~s ,Or to simp~'r ·pre .. vent d~l~ls from g.aJl1'ing p01ver. For ch.e ·mO$t p~~n~ politicaUy flcrive' Kiudred would r-mJlerh:ave a fdlm'vccvenant 'l'inelllbe.E' ill power '[han ;)ny other 1'[ VR~ (thm.ll,g11 'man.1f would c.en{J.i[Lllj' nuhet h .. okl th'· [pC)i1i/ll"ler 'themselv~s.!, wh.{':n at aU pOMihle). A, v~mpire With fn~ny ·eLleJ a]lles workirlJg~ toO aM h~s asce:flJ~hmce has an und€:ni!;~bh~ '~dv~mtage over ri: .:u~s wirh. I.e~ ~Lip~rt,.

ox:

... 9..'- ....

Perhaps most s,ti['angelv~ the. covenants even serve ,81S a religious '~ody for some members. 'WhUe some of the covenanrs - the Lances Saner LII,m 31td 'the Circle of. the Crone specificall y = are overtl y rdigkn.~"s in d\e'UF makeup ~ all, of the f.8J,c:tion.s bav'e $tirong~.y heM beliefs and attuudes rhat ~t~iO, r,~~~c'h the level of dogma, Whil,e SOIW~ y01Hlg' Kindred Rit from ideology to 'ldf$olog:y~, either i n search of a, place to belong OIl rry~ ng to figure out their own. atrltudes, 'n1I(my n rher vampires cling so cornp ]etely to the docrri nes ijt th~ir chosen covenants th~)'t, they are UJIlablc to compte .. hend ,1I~Y other viewpoints, Whul~ only So f-e'w covenants dec lare cmtt[igll t that "theh' c~N'ay is mandated ihy Longinus, Gnd or some other higher pOl/ve[ ~ most oJ rhem claim zes I .. o:~ ~t-.[w certain Iy seem [0 set that "!!~l~:P"

Fnnh~T disting:ui.sh ~n,g them from ('..'[HUS·i, covenants have a Jf.ilIU~,d, membership. A. KDndted~s dan never changes, but a K~ndred~$ covenane may, Certa~nlY:I' it is, duffi,tJU'~ir eo t(~[Swe;8r ~ll~~ covenant 9J]dJ join a new one, bur do~ng so ~s not i,IIllPOS"" slble. All expected 'tack of ~TUS[, ofren accompanies SUJd,l beha""io[~ blU~ O'n'~y rhe most severe members of either t'he, renonneed or rhe new covenant stoop ~o levdjng (~~t:iS~~ bstand .. ~redj d9J~:t1I]s of treaeherv 3i,g,~rLllst a convert, In. :rtlaElY C:3J3eSj ,3· Ki[wihOO1: philosoplues si H~lj;ly 'ch~ng~, oV~'[ the course of the. 'R;eqi[iem. Mosr covenaar members wmi.l~, raeher lose a dllet tar;(pe 'whose h,e~[tt' doesn't rru ~¥ belong 00 the cause ;any knl.@:€T fh~n h~iN~e her lack offa:~;tb. undermine the rest, 'Gn~:nt,ed] rhose wh~ re[jiJ:idi8Jte a U eoveaants 1,Ism)~my lose ~igl'l.:~fuca'fiE esteem in the tfyes of eIHwbti~e peen;~ but sometimes 8J Kindred [ust gl1""'''',s,., = ,! away:.

~lcb being: th-e C~.3e", ~ t b; with rnJ:SM eyebrows that the Dawutoo, a~:I("ji\\1' ot.hets of du~irr kind to move from one 00"'" ~)!Jilf [0 anorher, Oddly] neonates and 'lHlde!r~~loco~,rtpb£ih€d, ~msdnl1ll:' have the easlest time of ~t~ J5 their lack of rrangihle ~ teste covenant'S, (J;1i:, '~()\V leveL'io occasionall y allow them to esCllI.fe notice. Some KindFed even count rhemsel yes as memMl;S >of muluple covenanrs _ '~l1t only untl 1 they're fOlH1d out ~r~cl fw~ to stop p'la}rl.fIIg all sides against the. middl~. M,ore Mtan7IJp~,is'~.ed Kindred have d ~fficYlty d~:[1Illging sides I' l~sLJal ~ y 'be£aIUIre O[ the ca[iJ:tact~ th.ey've flr1J;a\de OD': socrer ,knowledge d'ilff¥e Q,ocl,.nrmbJ,ted ~ts, a r,fli::~mber of [heir o:r·j ~i~'JJa.l OOVeni:llnl-

, ~,

Hig'hiy vis,iU,f'; i.1def@'ctl!ol1Z~ ::l1tc: u:maUy the SQur"C,e of 11liUlCb g~ ....

s~~ and ~1fNore d~~;nl once have been the foundation for m, wUll or wen blood,}" ,¥·€.'J:1c]ena" \

1

TIlCH:,'Q'il~[mnt$ ~re not neoes,.s~:r~Iy in -C'O~$UU1,t CQrlifi kt. 'Mos;iEl

citi,ei] ciilin.taun memJber;s of '(IIU of th,e 'nm:aj'o[ gwu.p.s (or ;;,iJt .leMt a I fe\lii'}5 :iI)!1j, Kincl:lIed g:9vernfnenrs operate eft"ectiv1e['y with of, fLMrfj ~t"i.d, a,a,voors room mu]ltipLe w:c.ti,ons" Ute rhr;il ,d.ll1rc'h.~~

~ I·· L ,,·.JI ~ .

'l't:i. ~ges l~8St 0.1' po .~tlca part~es Ul). mOI,.~ero, rnor r-:':Im, gover.,mrten:E1

-rhe roV(:ffltltnts often 'manage to 'CO(!iXi5t~ yet they :r.m:el y ~gree

00 any ~llel'"~t points. .

SdU, th~ ~iE.1lpLe f~cr. rh:u, rhese: c:O""Bn:8ftl[S ,ex ist aX a~n in.ev:i~' ~bly I~a_{b m discoro. 'E\l'en dlCGe'~e,l;\" Kh1:dr-.eci \:\rlllA)·Jor/-r. wait1~ PO'I.vt[' for tftlemse 1 v'es ul1derstrund 'wh'y ~ls 'un, [heir 'bes(; lnter~' es~ to ~1lI ... k:e f:1l1[~ d~3t funo~v covenant Ine:rtlber.s, hold ~s much :ilih.ifhtMiq ~,possi.h~e.. E very f~cdon "W~nt';'; to b@: '~n corlJ[ro'~,t and e~er~ 001J.ell:;1~1 ~ 'ha~ diff~oor.\r views 01), how' the K unclr-oo sh.ould '[tl:l~ {a[1ld even 'behave}, In mO$t dt~es,. tills, CO'liIfhct LS

covert. wJdng the form, of political maneuvering, espiollagei~ S(lOO~~lg'C~ briberyl h~ackmaU and the occasional assassination .• In select domains, rhis ongoing cold ''l.v~rr :&l,'I!H~' up and eov ~ ensnrs eng'dge in open conflict (as open as possible fo:L' the . iKi.nd{ed).. M~l,ch like mortal g~ng w3rfare~ dleseoordhcts ~.t~ ti:m~Uy short - the longer a ''''~:r rage,~~ the ~,'uluJer it becomes - [,0 'Protect' the M~~sq .. rerade - but ,exceedJhli.gLy bloody. s,,_nch COllfHi,c~ u5t~an ¥ do not end so much as. they ~'~1TIplY' f~de 01[111:

. as one or an part les in vel ved gr{Hlil',S, rno erX]:~::llJli,r,cd to con- ~ . tlnue. The sh,;;~kv pe:'~1LC~ that" ~w@;~r.; U) result, as me cmlen;anJtsM"l~ill ~Te· (!)'(:oed through attrition IlD coex ISiC once more, ,gif~:eLl ~;fI!s;t~" on 1. y unri] one.of them regains sufflcient ~~u,en;gdl, to begin the -.=""'="''' process anew

... )i ~.

COVINl\N'fS ARoUND THE GLOBE

The Kino red 'exis,t ev@~whl~rre flu man ity !buil lds ,c'itli~s; ,a od ~xt,~,nd:~, ell ~h.we!). Vamp'i res (.over the globel, and whi~'e their numbers are 'few in OOi"!i"!!p,Qirison to those on whom they f'@il:Or thei r population ~s not, so sma I ~ that 'it cam easi I,y be reg iliirHii1ntted lnto neat ra,ctiiort5,. The (Q\J"@lrl ants describ ad here diiflh~:r s('Jm«"wha.t '= and p~rtet1ti:8iny Siig niiri catlltly _, from domal n to domsl n, 'That ls, d mern ber ef the' Ilnvid!U:~, irl tondon prcba bly' sha r~,~ most Q't th e primary' attirtudes of a, f>E! I iOlM Ilnvictllj'S; ii n Detro it, but th!!y ~ikely d vffer Oil! a 9 ~e~ many of t~e detaii 11$.

IMore LmportantJy. other covena Fits; beyond the :majo.r ones' exist in various n2g~om;; thirQu:glh()~t 'the wo·rld. Ths f81c.tjlo~s d,~sc~'ibed here are the' ~.arg,es1! or iiiJ'H)s;t IPow'~lrfiu I,r at ~ea's,t: i 11 tne W~,t~ 'but Q,thers exist r~ ather cultu res, vn ~rn.alilier eornmu nities and ln Th lrd- WO,f I d n at 1100 [13. Th e !!:Q ~l,elil a nits he r@ replreselilt the rmajorrt,y of K.i'ndredl ,a nd the greater portion of Kij ndred p>owe~ but they Id 0 not a;C'CO'l.iIifl't for the 'e ntir~1y of !~ itner.,

·)t

[0[:'$ important to note rhat, \Vh~ le members of a gli V~11l cov,.. erli~nt [,end Iro agittt on oC~tai.l1L hask pr~ ndple('h ~lDJd o.ftlStl ~~ f.lJl1y with one anot:t.~'eil." against out~i.de r,i,vahl l)len'EY af ren"" sion and el1:~;rl'iw exists bl2'l:.¥veen nl,e~nber.s of '8J single (:lOV' i2;l:1~n~H:H [0 '~(:[~ in, rhose dfles, where 8Jny give['!l COfV~n~)pt d!)'[tlL,~' llf;lteS,t inu:a ... oovena11.t rivalry is actU'8l11 y -rnore- COL'iltm,O:rt th~

::..-.,~

lnl'!~r~OOVe~la [~t rij'ya'~~YH [n:'i,(;hU~ Kil.ldr,ed. cOIT~pe~ W~,t~

eu Hl d~J~ h~,'V'i'CIEIJ..IJS~ CatEh.LallS sfrugg[e wu:h r!1 v~ ~ Ca:rt~~~··; ~nd so f~}t·th. A vamp ire ~s COVeItilntt :QJnegianc~ I:;, a gooai-rr~: (li,('..()ttH.'"of (:Il;yrtahl po[[tric,i:l11 ':a;nd 'phHooo:pldcal beliefs, 1'-.11,1·'''':-: <lli1.yrhi:n;g else :is ques{[onahL,e-

In n ~ghts long past' j ~.~ 1 of va m,p ut~ society lHllrte,cl til' ~~~ on,~' CQIIllTii,O:n h8Jnn eli' ~ a [ least ,{lJS far a~ th.e WeSteHI" was c.oncer.ned. Th ~,5 CH-g~lrtiz:!l!t:io:n:1I, ·\1I.f<ii.S known, . Camad lhll ~ c().n~sr~ond"lng roughly' (0 a b1t'e'[ Sp{1.l"'I!'i$,'h 'rtl'€~Hi. ~ti.g ~~power gro'U li~ 0 r a cabal of ,on-f~ (l~n li a'~ al.'

c"",~:cr~.:f!~:':I.~

s.ors. The Canlta[[ lla ~5 lillght 'Was un..: l'l,aJU.enged _- o!!I'f"ii'~~.":ili1i"':';""_ji

.hnperLaJ R Orn.l'~ IH:~J d S'"'ay~ $0 dId the C3n"\~n-i n~. ~: ~ is, .i:>"v:r~;·"'''

suspected. d13.( tltl~n.~f Killdr'ed customs that survive ro this , .. ery night had their ,QOI[S in Camarilla structure, such ;15 the notion (}'f Princes who govern auron omous dom ~~ i 1)[$, \Vh ik:; proof (jf pre-Roman "am p i r ism is rare or i ncompiece almost all Kind red accept that pre-Roman vampi res rm.!,b~,bly ex isted, They are common ~.y understood to. have been savage, monstrous and eOi'ILI, letelv d is O'I''' an ieed, If anyrhing, rheir "socletv" was probably lutle more than. sea tte red, ~}'ilg'Li1:e doma i us (10pU IHte(J hy' .: singl,@ v:~rmp ire , and any 'broods he chose to' foster. The now .. defunct Camar i lla was the ftrs l successfu [ ~l n~fm p'~ at a true Kin ... , d ed so ' lCty.

As, rhe Rom~n Empire collapsed, however, so did rhe support stractures of rhe C~ manlla cromble, As Kmdred tequire the blood of mortals ro ke~'p them viral, rhcv rely on mortal s{)ciely ~l! ' a foundation, roil: d\ei'[ OWI1. With Europe fragmeneing into isolated, feudal dornsins durri.ng '[he Dark A.t, .. s, Kin .. · dred society had, little ,d,loke bl~t to do the same or fu ~ Ii ene i.rely into the barbarism of old.

The nature of the Klndred themselves hastened the ruin of die C~mJ4~ La as well. E ver sclH:'iming' and jealous, few V3J!iI1'" pires \v:ho rose to prom lnence in [he Ca~l1~ll'il,ht social : 'de!' dill 30 our .of:' a sense of {I'~UuiM~i Of justice. The Kindred then , ~- now craved :rO\\ er and. influence, and such could be ob-

'.:11 . ~" "11 t,

Eal'El,eu II.JY cnppung r tva s access ro rne . same,

lt comes ~S' no surprise, then, to see [that frO!lm, the remains of (he shattered Camarl I b -came several diff~re-lll: facrtons, e'8ich espousing a di.flctel'lJ po[k~' or ph U'looo:phy uplldd by

like-ra lnded elders and ih('l:ri$matic demagogues, 'Wh,er,~ once ~1 single ofg;:uli~zatiQril })a,,I smod, ~ handful of dl srinct eovenanrs I!Hnei[g'~d: from the b leak ness of the era. This developmenr even ~t 't~e .sta~l lard for [a' C:I" ,co'V,emln t [·0 distingIL ish themselves from o'stablished Klndred ~oc~et,'.

Marty of these covensn rs perishe i tlu:n:ugl~. the centuries, d~'[ito')!e,l by opposing fae~Eons absorbed into simila ones, ifOOl:~d our :M heretics. or sl mpl y a:OO:nd.O!l!(;;,d :..13 ~nv:aH(l Vampires cast about £OF covenants with whtch, t'h~'~1 could CD~ig;t"1I themselves In hopes; of aehieving power, but dH~Y r."ITI!~)'iJ.''i,ed eve<r '~l,~(Hy that those faerlons ''l.¥(nitd ilenltrnd too much in fer tiJI m or lim It them too greatl y w ith dngm.a.

As h i~~m{y progressed, two groups of European, Kl udred formed r.). alliance. A. mona. socie ~i s $~ron.,gd, hail d froril1 the t wi 1il ,pU lars of the Church and the stare, these 'CQV·~ enanrs formed their own version of the balance between temporal and 'pious POWe.lI'. The Lances Sancunn I' a dire and evangelical coven ~ll,');t clalmi ng a BibH(;o'a i or igi,ll for vamplres, rose [0 claim a pos'itiQrt of prominence as rhe spilTi~' [u:,d leader of l''he K'i udred " l rs counrerpar r, known as, [beIn v ijctus (a refe renee [0 the gi":Ol(JIp:~. Roman origins), postrioned uself ;t1IS, the vampl ric nobil i [v. In domains 'where rhe :an lance 'I,\13S po",.rer.flJt the J uvictus served as 'pol i 1;1 ca I nL~er of the Kindred, whi]e the Lancea S" nctom made SUIte residents were duly worshtpful of God ~,nd mlndtul of 3, V811Upi.r· \ place in " ~l,e woel .1.

The all tance between rhe Invictus and dl'~ Ul,noe~ Sanetum was an e::(feiCtIV~ model and was ·c~tsny hidden among the

~n of rnonal soct'ety it emolared, The allegience experi ... ~~rCed gI{::~l~ iS~lOCtS:St and ie ,soO'~ spread across E'l[L~Qpe not unU~~ the ~eud:.d, model 'from, which ]~ dre,;v 'It'), ,t:;t!(~CII;~,res,

Not~lI Kindred 5tl:P'l10ned the':t.l!llimlce's~'uprem~CYt-b,O'we'Veu:, 1Vh~~'il)I' old domains ~haii harbored Kindred who observed pret1ubtian and even pre-Roman rites ~nd. Ii!l}!thJ)lo_giC!;:s d~~niL'&d, .. AbllOJ.!.gh ~hey IJ.eWt tontlled ~, unified frm."Lt, given, that their bl;heii end gf:og~phjca'~ locations were rna dL~,uat.e~ ;rm un~~ro..mellt of reb ellion OCC~£iQ~1~ny pre-\teJ;ittw, the sllisnce from taking hold in, numerous pl aces, lM~gic dr:aJ~VfL from the 0](1 '\llaj/$ budd rhe Lancea Sane tu m's dark mlraclesac bay~ and d:u~ pag~MU held their Own in 1\f'l:(lJl1lY cases, These 'f~i:d],'j. .sU1'\fi,vc: 00" Il!iglu as ~ loose (:.00 lirion (J.r fud~,OOS~ 'rarely oeganieed but clen, nirely\pmver['l11~ and. wit1, their own spheres of i nfl ue no: " Uoittd m.il~ by common beltef in a 'fem:~Je' progenitor. or. patron, of the I<J&;e{1if:Kitjd~d~ the covenanr known as the Circle of the. Crone cilir()iY,8.f€d power lhwlJ!gh appeal. [0 less ()rverwhehrrril,l,g rx)~IC[f!_'~ th~"L ~b:e aU~ance\l conqu:!;lIing' tactics,

A:n1J-rh'f2't KinrJroo, covenant evenruallv reared its head i 11 Eastenl :Europe) frnnteci by a.:n. infamous ~t1:d 'po:p~~;f.b[, ~~der. drnl~n frol:n 'the ranks of. the mortal nobiliey. This covenants fuurtdGr cl~~,rned rhae no vampire had Embraced him, but th~l~ he had, been sibrundoned by God. Thus, fu:rsi'l:kell~ 'he became one 'Of the Damned, Teaci~l'ung, a l)hilo.sophy of v,8Jmpir.~,c rtan:9OOndt,'fiC~~ this leader ~l1£1 his t6nOI!;VeTSj, rheOrdo Draeul, UpSt7t rJrre balance of power between the hilv i.crU5 ~lnd tth.f::i lan:cCJl San~t!Jm and tush .. OO 1.1,1 to selze wl'W( it OO~][d in the resultl ('I,g imrnhU~PJ" The idea of cransceudence '~lp:pealecl to many Kin .. d~..oo) iMld. '~hU5 the ideals of r.'he Ordo Dracul t'OOk root and tiprend ,OU!l;tw{Ltd. From the covenant's foundatlon sometime mtr~ng ~'~~ 15th. or 16fh century to the l1~hitS of the- 21st! the Grder contlnues to' gw,w in power and increase in i.nt]umoe-

Tifll£' '~""€s e:xoom~Jly for rhe Kundr.cd~, even it their OI!;Wl1 bodies remain locked in 8E~td.~, To m~IlY v~-lmpiFe5j the 'f'eudal modelllpnJ~, whi~h rhe ~ni;:,u'i(;(, had bl~i]f. 1;\13, power was an acachrQr1:ism l:r1 'd1e ] SEt. Celuwry. As the mortal world r~nLed to the c~l!ISe of new forms of government, ma~y yU1.lr1lg vampires ('I.clapted new :s,ySV!'~~l$ o.~ l)oi'~[ucs to d~e soc.i,ety of rhe Dm1'llll.ed. 11t£~ Ga;rlh:umt~ (lon"t ahva,ys agr'ee 011 what ron of 'politk~ll Sf~rem Is besti but. ~h~y f~d _oo't'rI1~nf'Jn, ~U51 HWtuottfLli,entiith. '~be Gtlt:d~Ei1(~ illCJJ~ 01. g(fVeUiLlan,C~ [0 WhlLci), so many otllfT Km,'

d~ ding uuqlHest~o:nnngll Such phl~J)ijophy ±1Ii1~$ ~ hdl~~c es .. ~ciaUy In. (he New' WOI1d~ W'~lO&e (')'li\~n ;~,fer,e:lgnl[y c'j,~as 'won 'fr-Q1JiL th~ d~~t,cb.c$ of. :fIrbtt)c:r,8Jl'k ~"IJiJdOn~'L Th,e Cardl'lruw be:-lfi.ere (-haJt it ,ctrn be W011t faf the 'iJ'mnpi~k orde[' ;r,IS well

As ~he modern l1]gltts I,mfQ:M,~ :a: :stnnlg,~ $;~1U',C or balance exisrs. liP, the: Old Wor.I.d~ m~n.y domains s:t.m. honor the ru: !.:....,;,,~ of rhe ,8]11 lance, Here and there ~ sHJ:aU pockets 'Of [,e5tStiU'loe ?#.~~ cleave to the W~ly~, of the Circle of rhe DOl1e~ while the Orde DriLCIJ;I'~, $!;:I ~'~ reigns in Eastern Europe In the New Wmhl~ :~'lOW~VIC['l some'thi~ng mnch more -reSlembl in,§; an ei,]~Kj:~ foor .. lH..g exi~r.s" The Carthian cause !'CIJUmcU new followers, espe ci~,~,~,y among the '/OLUlgl, who have never known noble rule .

, and wh.o have no reason to suspect (lir1i,e exists ;j;t,Lj the wor..ld of the K ~l1ched O:.P~lU up' to dil em, TIle Inv iC(Il];S and d'te Lancea Sanctum still '1I.'i(~Jd. powC'r~ but the [ll~'uamce is far more tenu- 0[[\$. '[ndiv[d~'~i3l1 domains oftelll beLo[D_g so~,'~~,y ro a Lancea Sane ... i!:!UIlf'!, Pr.i:nl~)e or '~n lfrl;v~ .. ctus Prince, W ~ th little effort made to prCSCl1VC the c.'U,s:itClIL1lary relationehtp that Sl,U:V:L ves betweenthe 'tWQ in the Okl '\Vo:dd" The Ordo Dracul and Curcle of ~1iI~ rhe ,Crone each h~lli no small support, CQO,~ dl,ough their New \VorIdUnC8Jrl:1SrE:lOnS ,8JrC2 steeped [,e-38 in the t:rod'iit~,orc.s from ' whlch ~hey haft and more' in the 'niI,i:od:s:e[ of v iable (if somewha:r arcane} iJJllt~r.~,fJJd ves to' the undying '~'tavi'sll!'j, of tlTl;e . crumbling :3J]l lance.

I t if; IIJftJd,etr these circumstances that. modern vampires f"itll,d rhemsel ves Embraced, Coveuanrs that have l.ong been allies fragment ~ 'W hile new alllanees form 'i],~,,g;h.r'~,y co op .. pose the ex is~ i'ng powers that he, The Lances Sanctum and ['he 111v ictus are strange bed:fe'~ 1,(iWS ~ except w here the ir differences, have driven them to f~c.f,i'C)i'1al, 'Vat .. Se~'Fn,I:n;gly appus:ed covenan [S; such. as the Clrcle of the Crone '~nd the Carthisns feud over ideo'io,gy - except '!i¥,,:hen ~'~lev bury the hatchet to face nunual oppression, The world of vam .. pires is f.rIJ.L[Y gothic, wirh barbaric anacbronems still in place whe re th,ey' had been centuries it not rnfU llenn La be" fore. ~t the same rune, N~ch(lo:~Og~f and the world's cul .. rural Z~iLg~i$[ manifests in a spirit of rebellion that offe'~ a chance [0 can rhe cld shackles aslde and replace them w~d,'t ~'i.ew ~nd, e'x:c~:ri.ng, ide~ ~s," The w(Jlrlci us. at once 111:ed ieval and modern, and. the: socierv of che Damned emb(]d~,es ~V'.. ' e'qr ~8[J,eCIl of ~:h1lit paradox.

01"Il occas [on~ :tQ. g!fO!!']P ,of h i,5[orhn:as, il.iJnifkat UO!H"m lrld.ed h , Kil,ldr~t Of a.ow,[l'right cons,piratQrs 'makes SOlTI.e e,(f.on at _ ... ""'''''''''"'' reesltabHsb:ing the 'CmTI~;riUa as i I; '\r"~~ 'u'n the n ~ght:S Qlf old. ~t~_ To d~lt,~ these ~fr'Ot~:s, hJl'lli2 b!&en dJoomed to' fail~U',e~ rmc:uU", ung undc[' rb.e weight of wh~ltever hlgh-.m~'li'iJd~d (or lundcr~' handed) [JoB tic~ spa 'ilVl1~cI th~ i.dea. T~l,a'r:;; not tto S3Y rhSJ.t ~mIll"e tutll,Jl're aUeU'ifplt :at[ consoUdatlon wOlLLldn,~[' wo' rh3X i.r ll:aJS 'yell: [Q.

MIEMB t RS

TI\~ Carrhians embody the you:rll,geSiI: ge l~ eration of K unch"ea! even more 8~) than d1e un. aligned. 'The vast najovI.'EY of self-prcclalmed : ,,;:,n;th'i:culS are neonates wi-'h a sme tte:rlng of ~'i.li1r'

• - .• ,. 'III !'~ , , IlL.· ~l f

f:j~r]£c~ Ime: wuo 1I.1:ti!.V'e euner acmeved some measure 0

;~OWCf or sarisfactton from their efforts as I?~It ot the cov ~n~t ~ or who are ',imply too afraid to abandon rhe fac,' ~:~,o~ Hft.er 80 man 11 years and relarions forged {or de" ' .. }r,~}'ed). Once in, a while, rhe rare eld sr ,el'lIle'rges 'with l~, . ~ the Can:h~~lI:'J, Mov,ernent ~ but by and :~arQ'~ ~~iderr~ . "seW . r- 'i'tl~~~ ery idea of it all,

~~~. '~~'I;:~ ;.; ~~~~{j:i~~~~~:~o:me~ to the Carth tan (~mse~ he 'typka.U y

. ~ '... ~ ~. j~ .. ·'h~i361iiiliN&a g',~luine' de ire il;O 5ee some radlcal changes

o.d. 1:, •• _ _ I _.. ..•• • • --..I.. II .II. ~ _ ....

[f [he C~Idliarn have s single enemy ~lno,nt~i:~~Ul~r,:: ~!:j ·;i'l1.lpi,e' ~~'ooH in the secret world of the Damned, As rniglu bc

•• ,. :to· .,. • •

it Is calcification. Chall,bte is viral to all social ~ysn;~~~: ~ri~'~~: ·;::~~e~~t_%I',;·1:'h.Le most numerous (and V'OC~lU dan in the Move-

fore, ""'I.any Ca,rth.ian.fcar [he elders, of heh kund. TIlls:is'ria: ::'i:":;:ll'~n:~~ he' Mikhe-, many ofwhom are drawn by the oppor-

. .. . ! . ... .... .

because rhey think, elders pose ;@J direct !ihre~"It~ but bee.!IJli~~:~~~~Jxu:j~,ty ,the covenant presents. Man ~t consider the covensur ItO

'1' -~~. f n, • h ~ :.~~ :1':": ."ti:~ ':''Il. 1, I '~, I e: , . ~"L K' .

e aers are tne moor sragaant members 0 . rneu race, L e ~~~~;::::::;~~~f!~l.e ,iOS( anc l">e'. E C Hlr1iCe lU'I posinve reianons U'e['~\ een U1~

capable of hearing Dr accepting nsw ideas. For this ],6:~6~·;0~;~·rf~d and kine, and as such, a fe'w ~l1re willing to do, ,iu:tyd~ ~ng to many sue-movemenes of the Carthian cause have some SigKi~~~~;:;'f:na~e sure !:'he Movement thrives and survives, Whi[,e most policies abour whocan and. can't join, i3!S they :6, ",1'11 their. dr~ ~1Hs~ :~:·;':1Y~[f1!le nornllalh shy 4iiway from anyrhing Canhial'll' a narnmigln become the target of some ~ld€TJ~ crusade. ~:: . ': ~:: ;~:~$rftofNosfer.,UJIJ and Daeva can be fouod at Carrhlan gather ..

F'Or ehe most part, the'~l[-e :dght. Most ,~~J~r ''llat1!lpire.s ~ri'v.~~ :~~~rmw - the fonner ml~ ot appreciation for a venue' ~ wilL h I itrle to no inrerest i.n se@ll1g a hunch of neonares , '!J1n~u~tay : "~:' .. ~cihf can mati vaee, snd ,~:he h]ttef' Out ,of a vampiric tr~iJTe to rearrange ~he POW'leI structure that's been j 11 place tor centu:; :i:!:-'invo.l ve rhem_selye,s in the affai rs or orht!I$.

ries, and i~l, so doing . ''Cdr ,e~leI-S of their panenrl Y' ell ld vaeed P H ~ lOS n P H Y

~ pOi1iver·@Jnd influence, Vomp:ll'es are nfls:tYJ predatory creatures ,~vJ~o o.m~,I.y g;r,O\V nastle and mOre pte(.,h],toPl with. age and ~ \"l elders appreciate tlus hlire~st 'I~f-a(:r all7l,ong neonates. A..l:~ a re$ 1l;t,1'LJ rh~ C'anhlan Movemene 'has become the scepegoer of choice for 'Powcrfl!]~, elders, \Vere it nor for rhe presence of WIDe. ,~l"e~t m~.nds w:if,hiI~ the Movement (as well ns a felf/I.' elders of orhe1r covenants), m£ f~c:[ioil.l mEght well collapse un .. dcr rhe wdghr of u~dition, An the same, rhc Move:mn,en.t has

Carrhians are full of ideas, They see brave new . billnes and '~n{]dels for Kindred self-rule [h~Jt they 'bd~e¥b .

were heretofore urrilnag[ned before d'ley an ived ()~. toie scen_,e~ and th,e,}, long ro share those ideas with o[he~ f:··~· especially wuth those whom they be U.'~v,~ keep rhe 'cnve~~~ and its ideas down, F~'jl stop to , onder \vhed1Jer the t!$j·. ;~

~n,g status 'l~~O (l,:..,h,~,t:eve:r a~dl \Iiilerev'e[ it rIQ' nt be) '""M~';: !:::., =;';~;.;.:IIIII;

du red for a 're,ason", Most ~lrre concent , ... _ ..

sake of trying to accomplish somethl ril,g p bleak ,a dte Kindred's

'The foundation of the' Carthian Nlove'Hlern is the notion t.h~l'l;. 'vampires needn't accept i'he status quo tmth.in'king,~)'~ While these Kindred recognise rhae [h."'~i"re being Embraced into a world wl a::h It'S O\J,;',n, secret hi:s.tory and [tad i rions I' du;!y don't fed that tlii'ey have ro accept that history and rhose traditlons si'mp y because someone older '[han them 5~;yS they do- Rather, they believe that every man can, and must: :h:ive

R I J U ~. L. SAN. D 0 B S E H V ANt ·e· OO:!~

Whil~ rhe Carrhians are considerably less rt IJ.wl~s[:nc. ii:.h~R: ., ei ther rhe Lances ~:nGtum. or the Circle of . he Crone, th~~: :~ .. ~~~U have the ir share of sacred practices, More ofren d)~~J : .:. ~ ll~t~ Carthian "r ires" revolve around polit lcs, 'and 'i,lI har s~rr( '.:: :,

as 3. debate: can e'a~ily turn ~nto a :Jju.~a·~ depending on dt~-.~ .. :

K i'!1.d['e;;.l invol . 00.

The Ch~i[l

At jj!:lmQ~·t every Can:h.klu gath.erin.~'~ at some point 'il1 the' even~J,ilS'1 some Kindred (usual Iy rhe Prefect) steps forward ~nd. requests that everyon~ present take part in. £1 long-standrng C[18Wm tthatt Carthians call the Chain, The era ire rite l~!,iIch as ilE is] is over in flJ HTil rrer of m0(11'enItSI SO even the

losn.urblJ lent oJ K.indred usually acquiesce ITO their jnvolveroe·r:,c. TI1.e idea is simple. A.U the Carthlans PE(;$~.l1'''C gather in a irele, and fo'Ho\\?in.g: .;1 few ~nS'pilCa iona] wo]'ds from the Preiectl ("ncb. pa<sse,~ .~~ single artifact that is esteemed by the local

~ voice, 'in death as he dmd in. llfe, and that voice flfLIJJJSt be heard in order ror peace or D ustice to. prevail in. the sy.t;ter.n - any systt~.n.,

This philosophv revol ,""CS around two 'G()r,,1t concepts rhat gh.re the cause it'S ·fite,

Power 'to e re People

The flrsr and most imporeanr tenet of the Carth ian [cause'

is dlaif: allY all odel of go vern ment th~l!r works for mortals is appl k1ib'~e ro K lndred. Democracv in pan Leu ~ ar U~ rhe cor ... nersrone of Carthian thinking because it gives each indtvldual a sa,), in the affairs 8Jnd adminisrr <; rlon: ciftht,; 'p€:Q1;ile;-: ': as a whole:. SQ~,~~l~~), is, ~ P9P~ia:l'. model. tOOL ]iK~f:·~~[b·· ~[~e r.e·ladvelv ~~i1:~U:scale of ~lnpirE su·i.e~~ rnany·~n·'ideE"~~::_' ci~1 i~m, 1ll:olf; f~~si)~I:;e: '('0,[, K.i~dm:,edJ:q J J.QlP_t.Jt11a~'l . .i~ :lJll'ffi:ltt: be :: ::-: :~Ot morta~~. C~fdl i~ll1.~ l.,e·t:est 'the notion (J~ ru ]~. ·~y.':,~·mv i-n,~: ,~ .

IrrI:tlJlldate {p~[c~i~~ 01' orhcrwis }~ and.rhey str.we~J,"O\~Qni' . vince rhose in po\ver tl~~l existing .srructures Sh9UI~. ~"'. ~~i~'. :-

film lned iho[oUg~ll.y! and (hen mod ified or- torn down as ~tW'L'¢;~,: .. - e.~3ry in orde . :- 0 crea,~e tl bereer world fqr ~]'ll K ~l1.dfcd. ~ eecl( ;

~ftSS to say; fe\v ·~alTll.plies.in positions of power are im~~.e_;p~.!:· t1tely ~g.r~c~lble, They under$tlIJLd-~r~IJlpiri~. m::m:ture'~ - ·~rn~.~::.~.

ail. 000 wdt and k now r'hiit~e\I~)n when Qalfn:h ians ~'sm;.c.e~d~'·,,,, ...--. ~ilrn the result ls often little more rhan ~he undead equi\f·:~·O:'t cir·, ;:

a boo! U!~~C!l.1.! and such a1'tifid~ll contrivances are in~:'1~r~~dy:~:': ,

dangerous to Kmdred soc LellY. ' -

Cban.ge Is Necessary

lf~~[c of (he curse of undeath ~.s stagnation ;~l'od s·cas.iS·, t4e.n" :~-. [he K~nd'[ed must b: '~"fjliing IO change and adapr to th~thn,~~~ -'.

if ('hey are 'to ndure. Dismissing new ideas out of h.nnd:~~~.~:r~IY__' . h~~u~€ tr.l'I~Y <. re not what h~LS 1 een done be(m~ is the foily' qf~', . 19norance; and S!l1ch foUy drives the 'Can:hians 'EO, bloo{~* t,~~r.'t-.~ .. -:

If the'~f~ ar so young an ag. 'I can recognise the t!;'uth of v~1-;mtltr~~' ~.~sren·oe ehen '1Nhy ~an.·t rhe elders of. tb,ei_f .~indJ·Or ~ i£:', . tmt dwse elders Imve kmg since forgo::~ent:W_b.,~~~~'~fm~·· -:'. ease, 'the Carrhlam take it upon rhe.nue'hves, 'Lo·ir~fjlm4 'cl;{ej·~.· : ~. hooryfSires. and grandstres [hat no kingdom ~$ fureye~ iiilk~H~l:: ', ..

in tthlilC1 change comes to eveq r.hing in eVl~iY' ~;}'S,:t~ll ·-i ;'.:

\-1l1:'U2!Ehcr i~1; desired. or not, : .; . ",',

P:r.-.eooct

Tile K~ndred. in ch~~e of 'much of the ni,gbt~'m··njgh.!t nJJI:iL'" nLrLg .(lif Ca~thuOOl, operations in iii gil v:e~~ City is known as the PI"ef:ect" '~'rl! '!'110n every case, the Prefect is ~]eC'r:OO (in lj'.v'~~at:ever funli1l, [han: rnk,~,) by a rrro:jority of other 'C~u-th lsns, wur.h d'l~ exceptlon of ~ny ae~h.r~' ,Myrmidoi],~ "",h,Q nadidol1fiiIJUy ~~)s~Djns from i$lL'd'l. votil1g., The Prefect lis at once ttlhf:' spokesperson t'('J,t tbe Mor~:lei"JJt in :h'ls domain, 'tile "chair" 3f1cl organizer ofC'aritll:U8n events, and dte: O:M 'l:'esponsib'le for ul~.kiAlg sure th,,1Jt no ~in.gl.e

emphasis on guulr and penance according to rhe J ude 0 -Chr istia n model ~ th,e; C[[d~, of the Crone SC'It'S itself as outside thar framework.

-:~ -~.- ·~enli~eF:$ o't this covenant _ .. mainmi:rII, that [he pltnw;~v '~es,' . k911 to be le~[~ed from 1j.~:h~:t ..

, ,_ .aev'er o!l:igi n o:f th€ undead r-~ii!lny given Kindred ,es:pouses i~ .th~t a vampirel ~hm.D,gh - aulIlled, to an. eternity of

i:llitti~l'~ is no mote cr less ,8J lie chooses to

.- =

\j<e;t EmiJQwoerment and e-~l" .

l(gb:~nttn~rl'r :u~ both wel 1

.. .

·-·~~;~'~~~l ~h.~rea_,ch of ~(TI¥,

': .~~~~~~~~ rimpi'[€' Or. other ..

" )V~~~ 'w;l.lQ us truthful and ;c;~iecllc~'t~~l :~;1(;HJ~:h 11;,0 atta i n

~ .. 'h!fl!l~· ~'h:ho.Ul_gl1!, the Circle js _

, ' :', .~ -vaulii?itrk phenom

_:-. ~::. e1l.Qt4 it~CKilleplo~.ex,~:e~nds beyond ~:'W, ,'~: ·~/~itik~_ WQJ!W,~. b~ld.~d ~f the K lndred

r II ...... '!'.II 'I '" - III _,_..1

, : ': I , ',' 'te rt{)'n~Kun(mren ~$

~~~~ji_W'.''i:j,!;;.'~,~M .... le~t)oofrS!ES"SOlna.c of the I1fi1_00t qt'heIi' 3bn.ilnly in-

ev,e;m.':l ,~-erec'J,~ol.ve:s"

t~l1Je'i~~p.!~ett~,~~~I~~s' ar.~ none too popular with

et,~~j;~l~'hl tskes great off ense ~lt the

~_""u:;..,..,,,,,,..-.. , o~" Some fIul.v hard-

m~~hkfll. touudeI ~lV( thing bu~- ~;~ta.nd, ·rtu~~~4;~~~r'~:~:i~~~;;]~ line , di@~ in power in conservative d(}p

Circle of ~~e C~on'~ claims '~l~~r.e-·n~~~,.~kd~~,r,r1i~~~!~~1 ~fo,1JJ~~J;\~~~l~r~%.:_ .. ~Ul~~\V the practice and .spread ofwll.u:

v~mphe~~ that dl.tev have alwa y:s· bee n :a_ P;8rFi~: ~~f~;,tf~~§,:l~,~ . [~;~l~~~h~,?~~~~rne~~t _~.n~ rhey ~~yJ:lea vy pena1t~es, d~wn ~WTkOO in '~h~ cbr k places where mortals :feaI~ tQJ,tr~~4 3JDCJJ .i: ·!#~TIIilJh2~e_;~~~It( r rii, v~~.t~om·~ of :che decree, Most of d~~ rune,

p :jI •• 'J' - •. r II r-,rJfj...... . :;;.. .

wh.ere guarded suspicion yields '[0 open (e~~~£pheir ~agt~~ . ,~~v'~~¥~ the m01t stalwart Prince Or Archhis.hop ssds-

.at~flLe,5 !i,!]'ilOke :S~ld:iJ, fil ames as the' Rl~ian '\t,dt'Ch 'B~b3 Y:a,g-.a:: j :~ne:d~t17tsd (w~,th· f!,1i!;ai::ing sure that those around him are free d'm horned god Cemurmos, the Thrac u~gl goddess of moorn ~i. J' of ~ny Acnlyre :h€"re:5,y~ dlUS cuttl []g i(iiff ;any potentin] rhrear at

end m~ic Bendis, the animal ~ god P':n.shIilPs.d1 hull sacrl- ~~~: the source, noes; ~[l ~be name of Midlt:aS~ and dlle blccdter incarna- '~~ tlens of ehe MrJu.i.gatl, Members of the Circle of the Crone oc-~asi'(M;l~ny even i ncorporate elements da I:l:r\g' before L-antea S,ll)lCnulYi, ·cl()g,m~ into rheir phtlosophy rhrough ljtith~ the f'ir~t wife of Adam. Acolytes, ~_S members 'Df [he Citcl~ ~re Qf~~t'IJ known, reject vampiric' 110~ ions of peu t" mnq;: (tnrir~I¥, 'I nstead, [hey' wike a. r,llOre organic approach 00 I!mH1fu:~ one that ~[low-s, fr·_H- ~U ereatures ~,even rhe [iv~J'bg~ ~ to continue to le~un~ g['OW and find enlightenmentt ~llel' tim,e. 'Whi.le mud\ of Kindred rradirioa p~.a.oCes

The CJn;'I;e oj the Crone boasts a. dl verse collecrton of Kindred ~1J[n('mg' i rs adherents, Members of everv clan and '~lu,l$~ of ~ny age are drawn to the Ci'[cle's 'p~n icular ethos, and 1" he covenant '~S cert~ inl y stronger because of 'it, [f the covenant ~,; weak in :81ny one de1Jllogr~:ph:ic ~ u.£ us' hkel y hi. the number of Yen ~·n~e who share in its beliefs. The Ven true are' d)mlde[ of tradlrion, ~II1Ld among the [nom conservative members of the clan, tradition S:u,gg,~s ILS thae core Acol y re

'ucl.'eiO og~. '~S, foollshuess at' bese and h,.ere:sy at worst. Conversclv, Id)¢ Ga:n_grel {who are known for their di.sr.e'g:fl~'C; of both morra I I,ry. an l K ;:l"~d red con vention) are perhaps rh C peiJ;f~ct fit for the covenant's mmdsec, MallY Acolvtes do indeed ha i i, trom the ranks. ')f t'i'te Savages J' who can find a svmbo Ilc resonance between their natu roe and rhose of the manv gods, and spirits in the Circle's pantheon.

a .;ven rrhe ["eblti'Vd'~~ radica 1 naoare of their philosoph ~e5'i' Acol yres are '[Itl Jerstt;:rlo tabl)1' preoccupied wlrh the coru;in~ ed growth of their mem bership, ln recent y,ears~ many have e .. .. ~g,lUl:~ ro actlvel f seek conver ts, particu ~'l'IfIy fro,r~1 among the dO\f'I1I!"wdde:n, and d i5PQ~' sed of Kindred sociery, This search _ of~. ;nje~ds to ~th,e door o'f' Iinailigti.ed K tndred, many of whom _~~ somewhat rIfd'ie';tblerrut: af Acolytes rhan d~ey are of the . l:in.c.c91 Sancin:ioc"ri·b"d1i1:victirn·.~And there are others who, vif::lI\! __ .:~~,~;~e?_1~:iie~).(I~I9~;y·~~~~9~'~~~)~:tible with their -OWl .. po:~~:tka'~ ."" -:.ibu.dook.l\g afI~llltl;n\t;Our01e'~lm~sl;;iOllt ry effort'S- have been re~~~!cJM,;:~.~a ~L\e ~i,~~Ii~~c.{f~.nucr independentswho have 'beoonle ll),emtx~~ g;h~§~'~-'1{)1t]l e~cl) passing night. After all, If '_' .. \~aLrlp:i~t'~: a[e-~fi ,~"'I\~ s :'f6, ~';";~'~hai the blood go t· and 'Ie~d,es of the Old ~~~~: {lren~~l ,~. . '~- ,_

C:il'c8Ition is P()Wle!l:"

Vampires of thL covenant are perhal'YS the mosr he test with

".. d'!lCflJ1;.\jel:'Il~ about W hat (~,le.y believe 1:0 ~~ the truth of the Kindr,ed condition, They recognise rher t'he Requiem rears them from the natural world and $u,pen( 5' hem in a state of eternal stasis, forever unable [0 create Iife.For chose who let [h~ tl1lH:h of this reallsation desrrov them, '~x~tf'"nce becomes an unend lng spiral of manipulation reward destruct ion, wh'h ~'$Ources, being allocated n~er'e:~y to fue:~ the perperuadon of (he eye le, Crec:)[iOl'l ~ then ~ becomes both [he SOurce of true power and rhe anl~; '!,-\loa)" 8i static (:Te:iJl£IIJIe CHH otherw lse remain (.I. vibrant part of d\ot ,eal't~My order .. ' 'owe Acolytes ptac ... ' tic .th is i,deQh)~w In small W,ClJYs, tending gardens or br,eedi Ing

anitaals, while others take the 'bro'n,der v~ew" seeking instead ro create rhings of la.;;:ting b~<!l!uty ot' ud~,i ty such as, srt or in,..~~t~()rt. Wb:a,~v;£IT' fortn it takes, all Acolyres stTi ve I!:~) emulate crest Lon in the ~1' own 'way.

Trlbulatton B,dng,s E'I;llig:h~enmenttt

4\colyt~. bel~e've rhat :any creature can overcome It.3 own t~kfIJess and moral wj~:~ngs by CQllrtlnl.il~lUy te~:Eitig i:~$ :p,b,lSi.eel, m:en~a~ aad 6pi['it~~~.1 'hrfIJit'r)JtiM8. Only through. ongoing

1'~e Winnowing

AOO~'1fiteS claim a great miJJrry holy Lf)Lgh~~ adrxpted f[Q~n rhe m:~dlt~logtes: with which th.ey ]nost dosely assoc late, and they tend :to observe theln '~i'iEh gt~Qt sirtcerit1' and respect, 11~,e :i:11OS[ impereant ~'~t to ehe covenant at 1 arge· is an :}11.11~.ual rite krllOl.vn as the Wk.ul0wi!lg. Th~' nigll E. l'Esd.f falls upon a d~ffer,et"rr daxe ,evety y.eaI', and is dependent upon a whole host ,ofv~riablea~ ~ndu&~ng the ahgnu\ent of the S'EarS and ehe phase oftth~mo\1ll. On' the \vholc~ '~hO"I,gh:l' i,~ lmSi1.I.8JUy fsJlb some time 9feiJJIild t'he winter solstice {not dissimilar to the Celtic Yul~ ~

Hlerophanc

In, domases where the Circle (li( the Creme :h:i11S ~11. s:ign~,fi,c~]tH enough presence to W,@iITtllUt it ([hac: IS], in clties with three Or more members) ~ the Jv~sest rake on rhe ecg,u'~V~l.lell,iI;: Ioh~ of h.ig'h priest. Such 1JJ. spiritual le~,de:r 'is called a Hterophant, sud is charged with a luum'bcr of duties rIO, his fellows, TIle Hiemrfumt uS responsible far c~dling meerlngs to order ~~ld (or lcadlng

, .... various rites and rltuals (such as the Ceene's U tU!ltGY}' The covenant's tastes d ictate, or takung into account new h1~

H i,en''Ophant also oversees the ~ndu_c:t'Lon of I~,ew members to formarion er discoveries .. ,lvlo:r-e so than any other ccvenanr ~

rhe 'C:i["d,~~, alta no AcoiY!I'f~ 'i1t~ay be g;r.8!rIJ[Ie.d full S!EaU~ wlrhout (be pn] icies of the Circle· of the' Crone' morph andadspr,

hls leave. !~~U~1J~op'h~nJt~' is also a term of respect, and e",erl, and, d'tl,e responsi bil ~:ry of keeping 'it a U. cogent rests in. the

elders tvho, no longer le'31.d. r~ nHl~~ may continue ro bear tI:H~ hands of (be Hterophant.

t~de as a ~ib<'l~~ge of ,offloejr. or <it sign of enllghrenmenr, The Chorus

A·-; 10 -:,],0" rhe H \~ro~~lan IT'IS respousibil ['["~es is the actual fo['~ T~'! I - I - 'L._ lk'~

~~ .' Le .. ,I. ' U .... c:-.. .. . ,.' ..~ e '.- _or - - be 'C~,lOrLl.,S is. ~'1,'Qt an acruat tit ,.f;!' ~n [ne oov(~narU; oiJ.liI:: ratner

matlon of dogma observed IJY' the covenanr in a" gi veu d~'j." a descriptor for. 9. certain type .of mem ber, The 'ChCWlj$ is the

main, For example, some Hierophu~~r$ eall ex,f!Cn,s~.veJ,:! i[t.pon 'C(}~rective lil'new' converts" ro Acolyte ideol.ogy~ and *1 proba-

thJ~Ceh:ic panrheon in interpreting the Kind_~ed eondhlon, tlouaty member of the' Circle. Few wo:uld~:be converts tire

whlle others invoke "demons" who are actually ·[t,'JJ:I;UI'e· s:P~'';' .. ·:-~~~·~e of gf'asp:~ng ~h~ ofren p:ainfiii, truth of dv: A,coiyles.l it'S 111 certain Ea~[e'n.~. European followlugs, Sttl.~: ~1l'.lhe·]'s .. ~YliO~~~.['~.~o most ller~y members g(~ through a period of "apli1ligh:[ have an outlook '~hac draws he8J.V'i~·y on Judeb:iChr~.~ i'~ ' .. I?~:n.~ih:esl~~.[~~'~ng: which they s.'[o'i.,ply acclimate to existdan mryth} $ljJJbsd.'[iLUillg Lllith fO'1: die~ ~fg'::'l\e:;:~jhde other .cnce it!!, rhe C:ijH:~,~~-ojflih,u~f~rbne" As. a point of order, CO'VI groups see themselves as in.c~nli~fiO~'s.::afrfi~~.N~~tive .Ain~'~~": :. .. ~Jlf1Jlt ~~C:.l'~~~~11~ij~;~!~_~~i·~ never [cveaR€d to the ehocan ~vend,(g() or mn.n tl'QU. Snll ,od~§:.['~~Hi~l1(t~;: ~Ti~ty ont~l~,,: ::': _. ~Al~J/ ab~r[h~. 'ti~ .. ~i~~,~e6~~ j'];;1S.t as much 1]8 gutded for the ,g~Qns into rheir own uniq ue vieW:of tbei::~zj:"b~i!1:. 'J11Lu~boB!y::::--~:~lfr~!t ~~Tk~eJ.f. ilt~ttp.oo~~icihrfl¥; s iJn:~mdl~cOO(~y period ex ~S[S

i • '. ..~.. L-., ••• r;:-"? r. ...- 1"'".. - -- 1.;;.' •• "'Ip- - - .:a.

of dogma ~~hnOJH: ,'I b~?nyt g.li~VS~ axg~~·~\~~Uy ~ir.1!1I ;~~!~~.~ ~_'~'lf"" .as~~~~h~f.~9tllh~:'Ilqllf!:~~~~~~~'tiJu[ii~ .as the covenanr's, fOF om~c&"

cQi'po'[i~'lLi.ilg new .Acol?'~~! ~~[ J7;fsf..~h~1~~l,g· 'w~~ij._ rh .. el~·. ~1~~(l~:~e!s:~r~~~t1~,Y''tl~~der#'J~:l~~js tnJly no UnTI,~li_g back,

-:' , . ;~:;;.! .. ;.IP> pp _: •• :,:; :~~.::::~~r.· ~;!~i:~':; ;T- ~: ')~~., ... _

-... .. .......

-:1~~_ ~; ~:II -::: ;:'1 L I . ~_ ......

_ .. ...... rr r

................. _I

... -=:1 ... _ ..

.. II •••••

• ~ ... II. ..

•• -- ...... __ •• - "I

........ ... - .... ----..... -I r" ••

-~~:~1:";!_f:~~::r I~-:;~~-~ ~

;: .... :':J:- II .... : :II:~ _:: ~

...--=--p..-.-:t-i-i=- --r

Moot di8tll!lrbing of ~~U to yo~nJ,g' Kindr.e.d, be [bey members or pete 'H;i~l members, is ehe nBP_;ging thought th3lt the hlVmC~JlIS

m ught have the rigl1L!r of it, Horrific ,IBiS i,t sounds, rhls notion of keeping all power in the hands of a select few unci yir.lg elders, one must ask the que:sti,ont [f not them~ who? Who else 'wO'U ld have 'both ~he :~now~,f~(l~ a.itt th('j power neGe~rjf CO fLU such , a posldon and ro keep a covenant of inhlf:l'en.t[y. $~lfhl.1i. preda ..

c. " , .., I r- i' [ ".! • _.j . "'1

'tors. runcnonmgs 'I me nvictus oppressrve ana tyfalll1'lCa,

nature has lasted this ~()IlIg, maybe d~ ae,'j because ~t w'QIk~.

chance of i1Iinv' real advancemenr, 'but the luckiest aJ[1cl 'fI.lOS~ capable few do indeed lJ;li:H.l8i,gC to make their mark], to obtain positions o,f power or to even C~HfVe ou tt: their own little fie.f'doros. II: nl:~ght he dl~l,lle-f~gi'(lIg ro advance within [he Ionk~ of dl£ b:1Vi,c[L1.$,~ bu t [.h€: rewards foF doing $0 are great,

The lnvi.ctl]s makes it easiJ' fOL" them. After ~n; ale covenanr wanes as many members as pO€,$ib~e- Not only do more members eq~'~~~ to a '~'!,i'ideir ~F! cof p('rl.1!,?e[~ but even rr.he [l1i1_O$1; f~tIldu;d e:~defS acknO\~r~eldge that iliey need young vampires ro understand ::lIla

F'OI Wl~lt should 'be fa'irl'~1 obvious-seasons, the Invicrus of- t81~c (uUestad\"~'u~tageofr.he modern world. Ofcmurse, as wlrh, an

ten a;ppe~]s 'f.@;I: more to elder Kindt~:.di~'a.~©fn~lw:m. u: ._. :l~~~ut!;J~~ilicm£~~ :~,eaL[y' W(!I11t are servants and vassals, ehe iil,cest~{fU;$ poHtical, arena rha~~~i~~'l~~~~~~!t~~~::,~~ . 0 .-~li~.~~~~~'~\~~~~~A~?~t~~~:utd r~d~s~ ~h:y in~pire, and cOrDitn~rltJ and expenenee axe of fur greater v~lile.~li~n m;rJ.~m~y'fJf~~l 9~t~~:!~~~" ~~~r a km~s rennue and @r:my~ the more m~ght off¢[. Young Kinclr,~'1 01,nnli~~e1!,~¥la~~~ ~il#,;;rh~.'h'~·~'_ '-iiP1i§~~J~i~~~'kb:: ,!l~i~~Jnv:ic~us desir-es to hold all me power. a much better grasp on '[he: d)allg~ ~~~~~u.·n'~~i~fil·~ ~ .~~~B~tf;Qf d~~~~~~~~a~~;t ~J.t;ti'Y~~y seek O'ut other Kindred for broughr ~~'bOt]t. Mi~lill~1 elders face th!?1f: fi~ij:~~~I'~dl. a~~e1t.d"_~l;;fij ~-~. ~l~J~r~~a1J~IP' e~~~~~~:~ the S!tre(lg~h.\ ~ID_d be.~ ts of 'che OOv.~ 00 duu: inspired by open flame, ~tl~4i+t'~~1ttQ~,P~. '~ra g~i?~ril" .: .: ~~1~';Xttttlt!-gl~n~9viSf th~ rnr'l::t¢r subsrandal downsides, ment ~1?edfk~Jl y de$igned to 'keep tlje :~~bi#)1;_e.d .~~~~:nt~i!~ :~ -;; ~ " ·,iN b ~rocecl~reD~~eS~~~ist8. for join ~n~ rhe Invlct U~L A [)TO~ eheir chtlder w~ak is O~){! rhar a!)ijei~, frlrl~1t~'ii~ly;: ~ .':_. .: "';;'~p~c:t~\t~~~~,~Mj£i;itt~s'1;;pften take ~11 ~l"h of loyalty before

That SC1Jid~ a s1Jl}rlrism.~ number of mdn~kj~nd:;e$:en~l1eQl.)ijj¢S'. _~:ilih~f' ii~v®~n~;~;~~r1n~~ Qffi,c:i~~ (a Prmce, P[i~no~:e:flI, Or a

!Iblt' 0' . . ).. ..... L ."L ,r,f N. • I r....... a

be]on__g 00 lh,e [nviCI::!UG.ln Same ilrniGJ~~ thiS is p'i'n:·eJ~~rulii{·:~.f ":f~~se~ <~~tr.dm/I for instance). Of CQlU rse ~ the covenant 'has

rhe:Embm.tt, TmdutLOt1a]IYl chiklcrare,obl~.a~,®d nQ~iI¢th~~si~:·· -fii.eR~BetS~j:~ [he, covenane has lnemvers; ,It. 11 e.,,,"' recruit can interests, rat Least for a time. More than an.y mh.~ ~:l.tJti th~' e':'ip~~;:i~~~~.:eal'efyll y observed forr: years, po~~h~y even de]rw:i,etii(;S 'enforces an ~lSmn.i;sh'~r'iI~ de~~~ of ~(Vil~~l' ~:~~(j~~IJi~ .:.- :.~adr;s~ l)lf6r,~:bther In"'i~lJus. 'In,~mbers ~\1i~i1.'1 de~,.w.l to listen to cf mmy I:nvUCo.1S Kindred remain in the O)Vle:mlllti firn-rD1!]t ~'du~- -~-:: ~:'i['f:tt ~€ aU~w.]~~m, access [1Q ffrl.y sensitive 'unfo['m~do.[l,

and rhen ~us.e d~ey have eidter ,ftJ2n,1;aged n:{\~~¢ 'O'GIt semg' ~an~.- -; ; : .. '-6i~;~lh jit r1ilis the two common threads that run anlon:rr

fDr themselves, or because they know no otl~~_\va~. ~ ~ '.:;- ! . - a~ih~i~j;(h~~l~~).:f:r.U~lt!Jb€ts~ elder ~nd neonate ~Il~ ke~ are bum~

Other neonates join out of sheer a,t'q~~~~l:~ at· ~f~~nfi" ; -N .• ':.: ,. • f ~n the rule of h~w" Those' who oro

dence (or arrogance]. 'Ime, l:rnO~~WL~,~ ~jl'redJ~aJ~~Ju'n~ ery SCTap of 'pcnm~f - snd, 'per.:~allS

"'. . - -, -; . "

more to the pol nt, t~,) be (;o['jst~nd:y on glJ,ial~1 ~g~in~t their 'rilP~iJ~ who do the same - have no place in the courts ~l1d lI!oJ;pDnnc beardrooms of the H'L'St" Estate. Those' wh.C! ~t,~n'~ 'Pre[J~Iecl to opemte 'if.lIl~,il:hun [l\,e unspoken roles, to p'~a'Y the' ~1Fr;l€S of politics and trading of favors, ''IlIrl11 never '()_cq~ ire ,enough allies to succeed (o['! 'perh;@.'~~ even 5~'ur'ii'i'V~},

bur man~~]lB1th~ and 'mtluencitlg Dnor~1 ,~i.e~~ Jill d.w co~erumts . qllle..~t f~' paln:rrit;:~1. c.1mnnl~unoe~ lit wastes no oppo~tulnity - and SPt billion kine represent quire::8Jll opportunity; M;ostelde,r Kitta.red of all oovem~nts wiew' ~me amount of ~nfhlen.ce i[l 10QlJ affairs ox anrlOng lrI.1iSUlileSSrne~l' 'M when one picnues the ViiI~_llp~:re sut;tun_g ~l!t the heaLt of a web of.oollJQrJ,re~ 'polidc~ll cllimr,l~n~1 aad social con ... 11e:crtcru= a :F"fJ!ro bur (':Xtanr sremootj1le ="Clne p[ob;:Q'bly pkeures ~~ member of rhe Invicrus,

Whi'~ aU the covenants understand the need rOr the M~~squer' ide', ~'~ li~1lid:W focuses most he:.avuy an not mereLy [!':iii l,trotf.rll:g'

In some cities where the lnvlcms wIelds ~'I majoriry of rhe power, tl1'[s fOIma'~i.'t:y extends even beyond Elysilnrn, Kinch,ed, In SLJ,Ch do ... mains ~e expected ro keep Ve:t1F close rmck of social '5;~.tu$ tmWEl.g all those 'with, whom, ,they inJ:e~nlC[J' ~u]d 'co act ac-oordin,gly- ln sucb a dry, ffiilil.Jg ro show proper deference ro one of b:ngh.er ,Sita~us ~ res .Ib: lli punishment and sl'ilQ'!,l,"ulg 'too [\1'ud'rl, ~efeirCn.(~ eo one of k"\,,"'C:lt ~ttJ;tu.~ ~b.:s. in .~iJ..i'bsI!JJiI·u:[BJl mocJkeJiY and loss of face. Harpies hold nearly as f"U\uch power ~I,l these cil.'rie5 as rhe Primogen, for they can,gnmt or rescind social stams at ,\rh'~m.,

Ti aes ~,n a D Il U (,S,

Kindred '!.If ho ,dod'!;, 'liully understand d),e. Irf :LCLUS ar€ often surprised to d [~ver ~~:nlt dle covenant actl1aUv has

relati~e.'[y few' offic:i ~I, d'de~ and positions. \Vhat rhese oursiders don't 'l:e8JHre is that the lnvictu doesrt~ feel h needs, 'Illal'!JY [\e\'V tides~ because J.[ considers rhe ·~mIIl.dJr-d offlCll:.S. &~sc[~l:;~~d, p'r,ev~.otlSly to be its own cre:;)dons. Mo.u. officers hold. the ssrne approsjmare rank in the local

Te.) m .. 1rnlbcn;, Q'f n .. he Lancea Sancnun, [h~ self~pro~' ecclesiasrical gukfes [0 the~r. CeU()w undead very 5er[O'll5ly~

(:blJim~ heralds of undead mO~31~t)15 their orig~1,l. de.": M~1:¥ of the [XmUled - the Iancea Sancnnn ,pI£texs

anes cv,eryrhirtg dtey me and e'j,;"!'erythin;g' dley d~' "fn~- the dJc.ller and awe severe r~nn. to ith.,. mo 'e recenr ~IK~n ..

deed, the modern sobrlquer I~SflJn, tifledl," 'by .!.: ~I($;.l" - ~dv~se' Priaces and, other leaders on

wl1l'Ch ~he covenanr is son1etimes known" reHwous :-and moral matters TIley discuss

incenses m~ny elders and tradiuonalisrs of 'm,eo.logical rarnu "it::atto:rn;. of deci Ions, and

the covenant, who pref.e-r W use the Latin pO~llt out how a pltopowd aetion Or an (·dr.

"Iancea Sanctum" when re:ferrntlg: 00' J*-d crime vhJlaites (or fuils to v~o]k:m~}

the collective oo.venan,t. Th~y~are' th~ ,., .' tb,:e Tradtt tons as in rerp'!f ted by

I'£llgiOlUs :'md evenmorai bac'kb~n~¢f~' I :·:t~giiius~lneme[rlibe'~ of [he Lancca

Klndr-ed> yes, bur ~hey' are also ~~~1t.a!p.~:. I ~~lcniu:kie rl"leir. duties funb.er, m. coun-

p0trt'oOO, pneses and iAq[~i.si.t.OI~i rpi~: rnOsc: '1 ' ' ~-. ._. - Sanc"t~,fL,oo, on. t¥ll:}[ it means

mhernsn of an inltuman r:.:a.Gf; d~y;,:e~'t -:_!" ~-:.:: ::::-.' '.' c;:(iuc::ltmg them abour [he

d~.t role of predator. U:ni~~rs.~U.c:}~ct~~fY~:-r~~i~~~nt :~ . fa~e,ande¥ena.::h~lts:jngthem

fe~red, th~ covenent '~~~l~~':~~~l1~\l~n ?,\~~~~F~:~;~: - l1ti~, they fc~t,~ part

drOO.re:veriY'~'i"here not forr ,p<tlru~a~:r:!JI~~;_ ~1:S: th, i:nli.'l'Gtu~. " -0 ensure ihat ,fllil

b~.t te enfuuee ehe dletares, art;!1I~~:~~ti(F:-' ;_ place 1,[1 Goo,~ cre-'lf~ion"

they bcUeve have been hm1iied l:I0~ri -·to· Sinctmf'L.ed d kl~ it1s lUt\likdy d'le'

o'-ngioam Longinus, and by c~J!elii~'l ~~~11.. , ' tn~:.1d lovleid rhe fearsome repuradon

n\@ca.rf!!:l':tjsmof-the Lanc.cta.S81l"lCIrUUl.b '~lun th~· acquhoo,,,Th~S.anttifiecl3JreJetermuned rhat all

ale the "de6Iogk~~ desccn~:lan~ ~. ili~:l~~rE1~n cenro- 'CbeEr brethren S110UI.d. follow lcJ-ll:ginus' ph~losop;hiC5- .

zion w.h.fJ !Us..ed 'his spear (0 prod Christ on the cross, And more sp&.ifn;til'~~'YI that tIlLe)' should aU fb:U~)l,\r ihf.$ -,

.. '\(roL!irdung to the CO\Pf113nt1 dogma, some ofChris~~ I Laccea ,&c;u1tClJumls tnterpreratlou of those laws. The

blood driwd onto the soldier, and this blood gave the :.., ... ~c~uant does nor iller.~~.y advise, lt enforces, Irs members do

turiiUJ) eternal life. lr s lso carr~ed \vuth h:~ however divine '&r:r~[~ ; :il9t i~.trd~r preach they demsnd. Members of [he fu'f:£ioo are ~ oodon, ~m.d fih{H,1g'h Longlnus' act revealed Chri ~t~.$ dL'Vin(ijy~;) - :lO;o~_n foF. their zealou)1' 1''1.0'[ .only because Long"ntlS, himself was did SO ~,fter: an set offu:i~hle$$ne5$ on th'e soldlers pal'(', T~~~fZi!raa'i1r·· ~. ~~ by .Ood~ but because the'Y maintain [hat v:l()~ellii;;,e' and ~eli, Lotlg"ttrtu5 '\'!j,ru cursed to live crernaUy, 'but he could w,aLk~: ~l~JOO~hed are perfectlY' acceptable means ofconversion,

c:J~,1)' a,t,l~ltalm,.sLlbs:is[O~I,yon thesame b[~~rh~t had:p:J!~';id ~ :.:-:tnfe Lancea Sanctum is not'mlndless in irs devction eo Coy .... 1m mldD~llg'" A'I; the crestrou myth blends U'lL'rD OO"'i.:~e-n~ntph;l~~~<_' ~e'l~nt principles, however ,O'r:at le~iSt most of its members are

'l L ' , f' 'Ii" It h .. ....ll t,.... iJ 11 J " ' ,r:,

OOQRn-Yt vampires are a EOI'm. or original sin, rn O~,~1 \.Jo!-:! ,ai~~ : . ~ ii6t. ViIDl("m'llce ~.s' not necessarllv [heir ffi,r.sr resort, lt 'is fur better to

low~ them. 1:0 KX ist, ~md indeed, ev'en charges therFL ''L\1itl~::.~h~ ... ,;~: ,~:~:~ ~~ th ' .. ~C ~'l.' .. 1 _.ii - J c 'J. "

~ ~ r :oon.~Uru:::e Ii) er vampires VI tn, • Wm~lom mu"m :rigY':,;tOOtIIDe8S Oi E[!J), ill'

task o-f.l€pTese.:nting· the' risks of His divine di5pie8.£ure... ~~'. l: ~lnse~Lffi1f.no;-cJ!t do.wn a potential brother cr sister, Nor is the

~~¢'i.'l'~~~io !::s; 00 deplete its Q\~11 numbers ~ III hopeless Or un-

r -r •••• )~-e:~6§~~i~-nil~t. ]n domains where other covenants hold clear

'hi1U!psoneofcl.lesinglemrn~'liIl1cbmenwldnffer.,~1~rWt::Jtl;"· '- 1Ipml~jf.J~~~fh~l~fieea Sanctum is often wUHng '00. work ¥';;'"ith < me U'lfI:"LOO~~ $aflGLLmmtl and the ]nvknJs til; 'Ehat VU~'I~~ero--ti{ih~ ~~. ·-·::~re1tt1::S;rf2iifie4 mem~:s advise the current 'k:',ad(':TI;lttip in. hOlJe.5 IiNltrus WSiI'Lt robe th.e'n.I.~eTSof all Ktndred '~~hHe nleMOOF.Sof~~e :., '()(~th.;_steedHg'; rs decisions and ~linEng their Q\\FJ] srseus, The, Lmleea StlJlCOUlII!l believe thar their COW11lam: a1:r.e~dy does rule tn ~~o ,d'r'Gular.; um.of:Jg the Kll:':l.d:red on the streets, preaching ~h~u(

lij ~~rs, tnat m8!tr~f" The fact that 1,13 members d.:::rtilll, dominaoce .. ~ .. mne-s..~e ,of '(:Ii bener \!i"a~!i dmmming up support for furu:re acth c~~ over ft!wer doola~ru· man ·ih · lnvictus does is of no concern, l1:~ey - ries, TIle Sanctihod are ~S' l?a~iet1!t as a cult of rhe ul:'ldead con i

~forlJ.od3nd'[ep:resentJthepir][1nde;of''I.'I.~huttheundeadlshoold afford to be; violence-is not to be avoL.de(l~ but neither is L( eo be

be. C~.l in the 'ffin~~, ~loal~~ true power is th "ir:s. e:ngag!id ui wmtllou:t: p~J1.1(OSe. Once the :Lancea Sfloc.tlJJ:m has ,&e~

,~fmE! ~mlviotll.Kl repres(::l"~t~ d:i£': '~lobili'ty ~{ll[td 3lI'iMocracy, ther'.L the IT:mll.n~d th~l,t bloodsh,ed as the besr fOl;l1:e [(} an objective~ h.o",,··

&u~[~Jecl an; ,the Pfiest8~ bisllOPSl' 'paladin.s ~nd ihe 'religi, us al,d e\i'er~ God be rn?rcirul ~() a.nyoue wh.o stan,l,.1s :U:1L d,e r~\,a. '

spi~iitual ~i1ifiso1'8" (Mcmbrtr~ of t11e [nv knls occ::.siorlaUy r~@[ to (:If ~OlJ.![$e,J' ~u; frightened as rnany Kindrf{"fl, ~~ ill the' Lru:xea Sanc,~

th~ Lal~(>a Srunctum a&'l the Second Es~~ne~ iI1 extension of 'Ehe-ir tmni they CEl11 talre oofnfort Lll dle notkm thal' mon,als ha, e iE;: even

own fL~phgr~ it~~f a lerv,erston of rhe hismrical ,first ;ruIlcl 5e:C~ worse, Tile, Sanc.dfuecl haJte a r.e.p!Jl~' tion, 'fo[ be~ng vampbes ~1 the

ond e$~tte£) Most of ~:h.e ItO'!!oL;'l1f;;:nd:i, :L1'aemre~ rake 'Ehd,r 'role 1~ itrtle$'E $'l:l1Se e)f the '\ ... ~md, Tirey are norr. the tllind!,e...~~ bIOC1(h:hi~ty

vandals who represent ehe worst of the unbouad, Nor are r:b,e:y die They have w-a,lke& tl~i~~ ~lrth for many morral lifetimes nnd

bJ,o::xlEl.1gefflt"t1huie genem sot the In'iJlctlu$" 5eilding followers to h3,v'e come ro see that [hey - and their ~tce ~ must h.a 'e

m.ei.r deaths on, a 'whim. NQ~ ~!lCtift~, are $0 fr.ighrening~ because some higher purpose. T~1,ey - ~~je'i,\'e d~;l'E God U1US't have had

d'Ll~Y m-.e ,50 nl~ltte[..;[}f~~.c~" even reverent, about then- ~mphic na,o' :OOtne reason for maiking, them what th.ey are, ~:nd than;: Lon,gin,U$ _

ture, Ev~' since rhe covenants (oundj.n~: in the nights rollo-wing philosophy oHern them at h:as~ the fi:if.S1: :fu'w steps on a path

Longinus' curse one of theidundam.enrnl precepts stated mat the ItO\\1a: u ~Inswet , OditC'D'S Join the covenant nor to s~c;;k answ rs,

nue: aTIctitled rnllSt folly rn:~kno-wLOOge [iW! 'he is no IQ[1!g,-e'r :LfiCW" bue (0 provide them for others. R~l~-iOtl$ zeelots otren believe

tal, V~t~PL[e;s ()I')Cupy a higher level. They me pred~E'Q1]J~ tf.€cUng on that t'he. entire lj,'IInrkl 1"iouLd be better off [f e.veIyon~ si mpl y

~ mortals as those same ul1a_die' do UlpO]1 CO:\!.'1!i flfnd sheep, To be tu,md to their own, way of thinking~ and the farultk:s .of the

tm "0 [he teaclili.1.gso'fLooginusand [he purposes ofdleAluiI:ig:hty ! - La "toea S('l_l1C um are no exception. ~1~UlY' eiders join {or rea SQ-r:II:::ri:fi~,~ hasto be 8 predatorand no LOGg,erev,eI'bpre'oo;TLd robe . ':ru9:in 'wi~h} dl_C' Sanctifled not for their o~~n sake, 'b'LH for the ol'ieof.sh,~ kine fr,mn whkhhe. came. The 'Uincea&1l1eEuJln'lra:s [1,0'., - ::.sal:{I:'ofot.he~~~Jhey WO'IlJ,kI make all vampires everywhere un-

partk,l~laf love of crudty (or. at le-ast most of its nienliJ.be~:db·ltod- dersrand ~haJ1.~ they are, ,vhat 'ch,ey ::ihol:l.M 'be and wh'I3J( the~'

IbO'!' do 'their beliefs or :trtl~,,"s, permit rhem sueh 'w~nr~~, ~~' ·im~5~-d~"Jh'e'~ll an be OOrurer. art: then _- and those 'Ii\~bo nluS[

~iu~pl11' rreer d1ei'r. pre'v RS 00 better thant animals, ~~iAI~:~cbkl ;Si~~~.r,~4,~i~ ~ it'he process, well, ~t's ~ji for rhe best of reasons-

, nnhlessness is often f(lf mare di$E!J_[bing cl,Lru;l, any ltmldo'm Gut:T)UllS~. • :... . Or OOun:ie~ i,t'wouM. be fuo'h~h ['0 ~fn.p']Y Ih'::l[ ,81] Sancrifled \llho

of COl1$C IOU s m~~I~,ce·. -:' ;ieelith{{wn~le.fsion of the enrire undea race do so €01r altmi rj,c

- ... - -

~ , ,:', ·~nl;,§Q.n.l\e \\;apt'tb':C:on\r'~&rt"rll~ir brethren only .to~alt dhetf

,,:' ".' f~:::i9:¥:i;n:~Ilti6fl,,, Suwel.y~~~:"M,at l~~~t their superiors rn rhecov .. ~~@~~~t:I~)yll[ eM~~~tUAiiUy;~~'::tu:d,:th@n. An ,the)) musedo i_s, prove the.e~,\ ~i:):wol'iby b5f~ti'V.erhlll1[jUSt a IDW more nonbelievers.

T~:~~J:9i'[~y o@'f. v.q'~~ :'~~pite~, \vho are drawn 'EO the covr i;®~l~ ~~~e :~~~~u~n6t· ~:~ opY'~~~ly: held 'U~, '~:ugi:otls OOIiVLCI ,--' 'tiQ~~-iilllt ~,~':arl,ac¥-of~h~~1f8~ll1econvicti,Q'Els and of any

,orner: s6'Ii~:serise"6tti;i~ruk ·;-'Tht l;ancc.;. Sanctum i more tha~:l _. : __ .;_ :: ~~i4tl.~~li~bd-ve~~t "~~~eif :i~Qs~iMy the Curd~ of dlC Crone ),' .. -allow' .. ·~liriij even: ~,er(ill~~14~ [~em'~ers to accept what ti,ley are, . - - '~Il: a il~oi[€: seddQ.g~rlif_ec~i0l1 fnomerhi:ng so drasricall r

· . ~ ·dlfferell!rhSm md. ,.~lli,e =z: C:a$:ti.ng- about nor anhr 'f.or some· '~~\:~: '~o.: bei(ll"IJ~ hut' for. :101Ue01"U~: who can provide ~i.1!5wers for .. ' .~ry}? '~nd "~HQ.w'~~~ - f w things are as. cornfortlne J$ being

. '''old. that it is acceptable La he a monster, Even if the new cpmf:1i dOCSIl"t believe i~ Fet,~ being told sbar she, has become -~QniL?!rhin;g greQ~€t [;han she was is oom{o.null,g' in an m,li'fe orh ..

· "~*'ll(~e punctuated by new ~md ~ lien urges.

: ' O~V[OU.5[YI t~'tt'$,,-, ;a'r~ g~l~et'..d~tie's, l1.Ot luu'd~~U'ldAa~t I\II~" :Many : ile.()nate$. do ~l1dced join the eovensnr beca~l::;'~ the~ .aJ1r.ead,y hold " ~: ~r~~in reHgious co:nr'Vic~i.o~1S, amI nUlll,y elders seek the Silllfr!e ~ns .. -:-;of '~lol\l~Jng [ihat anraets chllder, I\n(11 of murse, Sanctified of ... _, '*'II'! :~es, join ~]m-pl~! out of ['uubill:i6tl, as advancement ~ ,o±~t'!~fll .?l~ ,e~!ie:u ~mo.ng the Uu1cea &mc~!Jro 'W.::30 in, o~hef (01Jetl9a],{S.

One: That though~ y,o'U ',ar'e ·Damrledi.YO'U~·· Datrrn arlen has JJw:pO.sE,,:tt· is.jbra Willt ~ff Gipar,ttbj~ : 'you are what. yqiJ ,alre,r;a~ dl th~ ~i~;1 Q'fG'od- is !~~1f . the. Damned exis:fte.sh6With~ ~vil~~,6ftlJrbvOg f\r:Qi:i1:.

Hii m. The evu II bsco me lDaIJti1~d;", Giod' fI a~-~~IEe!!X :

those \1\r[),rthy of Hiis· ~Qiv,e.' 'iW;Mls: ,~'Wti. ~~id e, .

'Two: Thai what yO-U1,:o.n.G:@w~re:~fS; r19't ~.a~·~!.:1 nQW ,ar~" As; a mortal r50 ~ sJ:ieep~,· $P ',aireth e Damne41 .. wotve:s, amcDI'lIgl them. 1111,aJt.riol.e [IS, drefiri~ed bY rrst.tlfie. _, wo.,iv,es feed en the~r p;r~Yir' ifJIIlrth"ey.a1f!e no't,du~l to them. Th~ rel e of predator is, n a~Ulrat, even 'if the predato r hlmse~f is not,

Tihree,::Tnatan crdalned hh~f'an:hy exists, As. rnan is. ab,O''r,i'@ beam, :5,'0 are the: Da rn ned above men, o ur n umbers aJn~, f'lE!w-er so thalli: 0 Ll!r p u rposa ls better f:!,fferted,

four: That with 'the pO\i\rer of ~)almnation comes ~~mita-tiol1. 'The Damned hide among '~ho.se who stiili:' enjoy 'God~s love, ITlilk~[ng t~E!jmsel,ves' known onl¥ to e'X,empllify fear; The lJanTlinedl shall make none o.f thei r OWn__. 'w,r such ~s. a j udg,n ent ofseul '~hat is the purv1ew . ,only o·f God-The D.am:ned shall~ suffer yet more should _

they '$Iay a funOV!J. to 'take hi!i soul flrom t;iim. :

F'uv€; 'That o!u r bod ies a re not -0. u r own. Ou r . p.l!! Itpo~e is to S@!I"V'Ei!. a no when we stray f;rorm 't:t-lit ' ~ pu F1Pose'J we a re to be dla$te'i:"u~:d. l1h e' 1.~9ht(tt ,the! :SUJf1l eXiLori:a.tes; the 'nam~;s, of a 'fir,e' pu ~ty, ffe.snly'~ -:- .. evnl" The ta'5.te of all $us:t~nal'rl,e other tlnan ,Vi1aief ..

is as. a~h upon the t'on gu ~'" ' . ,.

,_ ~r' •• : '_ 'ew~ii~m1)~'r8 of tJr.e .. Qvel1alit ~re requi .... tlll, (0 make m(lny '. gjstuf~s,Q'f~9~:mitm~l'l ro toogirltn5I' (0 God and ro he goal~ ~ ~o(die. :f~~tih,n~ T]le;y ,en,gage in. fLl,any Ii~ ~nd ri tLn 111 Is! and : und~[lgQ. [ri~'~$ !P test the~l' fordtude ~:nd. (~l~th. These resliS con~ .- 5ist of e\ref)rtll~ing: from. wn::ure to theo'~ogjcal ie'b:ate. Tr~aJ, arrE:n 't'-1l1'ooe:SS~Fi[ ~ usai (0 detennine wl1~th:er a n::eruir mal' .·JllOrin 'r'he la11Cea San~cn.;uUl~ but ~:hCiS-C who ff1JlJke ,a good sh.m:w~ 'ing earn the Ie"'p-(."CI; orth~j,r. nc.,~ fenows, Those 'who do poorl}i

faoe 'If.nollit'hs if nOIr years of der~sion and mocl"'r)f, ofr,cn, 811ff~ .. (:i-~I,n to. diri,v~ a,new merr:1Lber ti\'I;.'ay.

M b'

em""l(fS

Unlike rh.e Invkrus-; 'whid), appeals InOrC [(} ,d ler varnpi'ues Eh~u:t 1~OUngl O:~·' dle Canhbnsr who tend M~'l.l':'cmd r,h~ rev~r:sc~ ~h.e Lancea-Sm1l"'rmlrl proj~,cfS ~ul,cq.ual appeal to un.dead of al~ a_ge~. Wha~ an, elder lO(lb for in the coven;ult howei,~rr ·s often not d.te :5 ii.m e' '0::; w:h~Jr. il"ll,n;:r,t.~(S a 'neonate-

M'ost ~~ders join, for reHgiio1Js 0'1i" :spidtu.a.1 [e(l.50ns. $orne COEln~ to rhe Sanctified seeking en[ighn;:~rHrU~n[ and unacrsrandin,g:,.

,Philosophy

The l(jir!.Ce'{iSanCWI'ul. bd,i~: ,eg (lljL'~(e:fl'ank]y.t that i~ m(;mll':!€r~ are' the ch~ of God. Sa1"ItC~i1led :tue not inJl.erend'lf superior (() mhelt V;[iftUpires, but e'~~llt thrtm5lelv~~ b~ accepdng the tea.cl~ingS of lc)ng~~~LJ$ "rho'~ellL'aI'tedJ.y, One night al ''V~]npirs will. corn~

[:0 worship God and veoen~t'f:' Longh:I.1Js as the S~mcil;tified do. The At the Same time, however, most S:iU1:ctitled ~1n1' prngtlrlatic~

Lancea &1n(.tUllll1 mainrsins that iii.: is, tlw duty o.f all good and and their leaders know rhat the OOVen311[ '"v~u never succeed '

ttaLi5hlill Sanctified to burr)' that: rl'igh~ a lOlilg, Thus do they 00l1~ it'S div'nel')i appolnted task if they allow themselves to become

~tantly ptoselvtlse, seekm:ng c.tin~~el'[s to their way of thio 'kin g ~ong weak, ~UIlc.tif'Led dle:[~fore Em'brnce ch ilderi thQugh it tlie.s in

'~~'he tunc ~hf~L other COVeThaJ.1,~ mi 'h.t,Q~ve up and move on, the f.;LCC of [he Tradltlons, They prefe-r 00, conv crt other varn- •

LoIl~irn;J$ hLm;~Lf occnpies the position of Dark Prophet, pires where possible; but ,they know thae the covenarc wc)IJ,I,ld

While he is not the "first of the undead" according to seer atrophy without the occasional i1'1t~Jsi,on o~ new blood, Si mi-

beli~fs, he \1>'3£ cerralnly one of the nDi:r [0 be: something other hrly! [he L:an~ Sanctum does. not hesirare [0 kill those who

than a self. .. morlvated monster, little more. than an anima ~, threaten irs obiecd VIes ~ th::)ugh agaln, S,!JIlc~lfied wou ~d ofren

\VI'ii~h Ionglnos arose a code of etlucs, H is acr of pl'-odd'luR' . prefer to convert or ar least circumvent 5Ul~h, cnernles '¥vl),ell~ Ohrisr.'~ irh [he spear is I\JQre important rhan th,e 1l1L;a1.1 or V(lm/ '~ible), M.u~~Clf t'OO~ is pennirted be-GAuse the: covenant could pitt - Longinus' lmpo t fono,~. rharr, act, not :~'lce \;e;r~·::i':·He.:·~·~ ::~'161:'stiiVl\"~~hjtli~~fuse. Sl:nulgdy enough, true believers ,~n~ong is ~ "sin esret, I! representing [he evil that man ,c;oi:pml'[s im,.:- -:t~~ t~T~~~~"&l?!Cn~~ do not clatm that th,e;~ are exempt from me absence of fuitl_),~ and his punishment ts its j !-U:';[ ~p~¥~l,tl:l~~:' ~~!~~n~~~, '~'le'~ break" Rather, '(he~ J.nam ,rrl:ain thalt th~y w

_. .'.', ... , , ',_ " , ,;;, i;-,~I ,-,_:' ~ c: u:~ghr~ t~~k~~~J' .. d spleasure for the: sake of the lar,g 'r eo:mmu ..

TIl~S phllos>ophy leads 00 a srrange ]lchot.omy oDbeb~~:r:Ii'8f. _.: ,~.' , .. ~ .":;'!~ L! ',. .,,' , ~ ", ' 1,t • - ... ' , . ..J s: . ' ,'lip·, "-,, k

" ' _, _ ' • " : ' ' ... ~),tYI inti! .... las, ,Hn_gmUhllmtie nwc:l.S CUliS(.'\i.,.L ~'OrrliiaKIll,g t le mar

rivsls 'the most ex trermst and even b~~JTe O(?IJ:~Ql;:t;l ~ .f~ndtS-,. .. _. - Gil'·' , "ffi;--""- , d I' d - .. ']1 h

The fihi,losophk, '~I orecents a:o~u:,:rnin,a "_ nlember~ ~f ~'h,e l~ce:a '-~~I-l~J . US.I "~_ ~}J~lol,v;':.i:'~, - ,ivLl1e_:~_aLUr;" ji()l~Y ::cept 'W_, atevcr

c' l~ ~r ~f a .0 .. o~::-b -,,:,"'-0 ,_ •. _, J!U (~n,el::t, l:::. unal Y- mI;;i'V;~o,;.'r;;~ UpOn-lI::llem .uDf {~, m~[I' ~ ...

&matul'll - or lr. leesr ~ho$'9 members who t(u,ly ~e!'D~~::Ul. : ,=. :~~L ._.~ , : :~-: S" _ . - _ .: ~ 1l _ ' .',

1. t rh '00 ""- ...... , "'1 "";". '·t'] '_:',li~'.ti,_!";_,,,,,]I, .. ~· K> '·":"'i'''':&:~~~:;_;·: or !.-·:r.i:,n.~.b:tn~drn ':3!l1I.c[ru11J.!wlll,,:not~ nowever, enoose to V lolate

t\'ui1l ,I e\' - ~ II ~ <.1 ['flOSl"ffih lJ.h., ... ,,~~.·''"''''''''''; UILli:ll v 'i::i' '. "ow,,, Ll:L .... ~V·- . ::::"!'':!. ~ . ". -. ., .. . .

" ~.," : " ... ," ,d' hol '11 .. i ' .. ',:< ".~'~~\ -, c - -"r., -.":: -;,.L,","~~~~~~ :::j~;tb~·T~~~~9~,Qf. S;~cr""§y':; a,r:J~a t not: in the sense that ir lers

et.IanE ~,la'j. In"Ula_ge< ro ::LOla u);er [I; to~t!!Jcr In;! ,wr.m .ll till' ue . ._. ,0-: -"I-irt:-: ,. ' . .-~ "L' I': ._. - 0., M-" - b f 'h

- .m' ' - ,. ~ ... - ::: lTlotm ~ lK:m:-m,' ,exa""". y W. ,'Will: 'Vill'l1fl1"lres <:If'il!.., em, ern 0,; 't. e OOV'-

Ct;:l1umC$ Of even ffil u tenma _ '.- -, ,. :1::;- _ .... ~l""", _ .. , .:: t~' I I. . ..

... ,~tla~~;~~~d~t~taGd.a~ ~.~jt~ ~llY (.1 1'1I£.1'S how ",[rot the M3$queT"

" - .,OO@ isJbi~.the!8(rrM,ivar6f·i~~ri~t.e·~ C1tlt1 thus '~he satistacnon of

Tilt: fi'~st and forem&s~ ~ule:'t;f'~~ ~tlt@B $~rl!ct::o:~.o~~~ NeSi Ii - : :~. iliJiJ: ~4(Y~'t~~~.h~~~;- €ff:~lltk,; v:i~[ent membess, having ttl .. ken mar the Thld(tion!' are' 'abSQI~tc-;~i'n:~'~'ll!~~blaw -:~O$,: w:1~he_ . phjt~h"&~k '~~0ll..\"9h~~,pe~t9riq~iiveT rhe kine to heart, conw''!.f~nal'llit seeks (0 encourage a~ ·;iaM~ire. .~Q~ie.'~~ a~~~;:: ;:-)~;WtiP.ill~~wiqt~~.~~~~ ~_~lt~phi~ acts an acceptable means of 'rricl'1y to those P eeep $1 fur ont~ ~~YQJ~lg so ~.~~ tfj_~~~~~§:t;:":::ymaint~~iii~g~cre~y. ~v;e~ant 11~~ldersh,ip frowns on such bra- . &t!1':tCw.m ~lOfIJQr its progenitor ~ncl· bl'!,Q'g'rhff:FBSt of rhe 1.;l:na~,,(r. ~ ;::roIroon.ivior~nd lla.~ been mtiwn' ro chastise or di.spoS~ of Sane .. clesce to understanding him.:-· .' . 'ti:H~:~hl~',~iciw too. m~cl.'IJ. auend@.l- Tbev know! however, that

._ .... .L- •• _ ,!L

Sanctum does 'possess; a potent form of sptr~tll~l'ma~kj tilo'ugh 'w~.1)e:the[ it per.r(Jn!Jl5 I i reral m iracles is up 'rro[ debate. A,r. some point ,flCter the covenant formed ._ purporredlv in the th i. rd. cenu~ry AD - SQ'[:Oe of ~ ts '[)ileITIbe'rn fDIID'\~ecl a, Roman ~'[!my into Thebes (!~h(!l h!a~" :acGoiFdin.g to f~glf.ne[l.ts of a j oumal supposedly recovered frourn the march) - There." a legion of

AU Sancrtified a-re: w()[rrhy of spiritual g.lJi.I(ta:~oe. True be- CI 1...1 .J f: l! '11 '11 11_ W" ll.

1, ·'iI' " •.•. ::u:"i:s tian 00 !lJ.i ers wa~ drawn rrorn me ufl-'Ctlu r.a:nt'G:). .', nen

revers 111 tile ccvenant s C1:XLtse rJl:V~I turn HW-a,y ~ny '!{ruM:PU:€:~ ,

members of ehe covenant accompanled the The 001.1 leglon

of an.y ~l'ffuli~d:.iQ"['b., W:~lO seeks ~'id OF ad 'Ike on religious mat~_ il Gaul f h- ber b 1 'Ih_ 'I!._

rers. In ff3,'c.t~ OOV'eMn.~ i:aw p'rohlbi~ nil.ensibi2iFS from. refus ung on its maJiw l [0 I.' .l ::llh.~ one (11 . t .' e h: numr e!lr 'Toi)[l·gi,lt \ii,ii rn ner

~".:'.!'!::'eJb3.-- any such petition, Obvi.ou:s:1Yt this stricture allows for [e()~: - -: rhe'secrets of this n~wgicl '~vhich she clatmed to have learned

",hi·." .' ","''''''-:n ',""""" ... j"..., ..... , A. .e: ... _,~.:"· .... f.':1·· .. d n~ -:-,;1 ""0" .r~"I'Vl'''''''' ~ t~'I"i'0''Ii'il.'" ._ ·l~'H.n an angel on the journey. 'Io this nigbt, the: ·CQven;Jot

a . C .L[n!!.;..~.lt"l o,:" .. a~ U);JU. n. 0<:Ih....,ulh .. , . ....'ClU. UL "" "'1..;"..)1' 'j"''', i!!._.J;';.1":~M""f'<U .• . . ' ,. .-, - 1 ~ h .J

en,emy hno Iler haven '!,¥id\ O'~ll arms, not mu;~it she $.rop ifi,,- ": ~tu-dies::,a:rt;U -[lr.i!!Ct!~C~5. t :l,~:S ,soyoer¥1 ''''''~lh;, '- ~iI; uses t~ ~!el:fL~n~

the middle of a gun battle to c.ot~lforr. tl. cornp@:~fuc).:(l:~~h9f1~~#!;, . ~~t:~:~:J~~:t!r;:n~~r.~ " pr~ve· s , .L'ES chosen nature, and to PY111Sb

hllg a crisis 'Gif f~ith. \Qhe.:re possible, however, d~~ L-w.Ce:l~O~ ~jll.~ . ~~autst us d ictares,

tum. serves the ,etu:i:re-ry or vampire ,Sf)ci.'cty as :~t~.esP~ ~,o..:flt1¥i~ . ~. )B!reocitbn:1Ute

sors, and i'l[ is. through rbls retlching' o~.t thtIJt '~b:~ :.:si.~~~p' .. g.~i~)~ .' ,.['; Th~m9i1.~~~n or ~l 11et.1;l.I childe [0 the Requiem ~;s. a powerfnl rl]an~~ of l.ts most :~ithful adi:en::~:[8:" '~~~~11.~ co'llv.ersN511'~ [It!~ ~~'el!)i'ro'r tl~~·-~"jjnctifLe_ct._Q~r9!Lle hand, it 5ymbo'~u~e£ the' C{N11 v~~lbJle~" the· co'¥ei1~nf. b~lieve~'rrl1'~iibypYov~~tlg flL;PF;@~t1:~l~.}~ _ .-~~~blr-*~.wth o~*h~·i.'r bor~ci1~"~~3Jld.IllH~· hurd). o.f aaorher disbzing other ·~a:~1ipn;e.~ dt~t ~'Oc~~f~l~~;~~~ ~oct :. . : ). ;': ._:':' .- -a~t5!l~!il!f flier faithi Q4~J~: qth~. iit i~· a violation of the \·{!llil'

~ ........ _...., -~ .. , .. _. ;_. ''''' ';j:: : .. ~ 'I!._:' L~ "."'!:_. ·S":: - h h ~d '-1

Conversion ~ . ~~.' '!-: .:.';:' ~:~!::::'. :.'::~:::: ~·~~~p:ut~tls~·r~fta~:~h.e ,.at~~-a:,;,,_:~nc~um. as s.vr.TI[iL'i toup 01. ne

Those 'who 1.-v~ll 110[ ¥,o[~~').~~'~Jl~.:.~-~~. ~l~~tr '~~\~'f~~ :be . Ct'~1~~~;¥1}litte!~-=tb.'el.~;-:i~ 13J •. :¢~~n~lned celd)md~~l of the new forced] to see. Vi.ole:L"lce i;s;.;'hev.tu.:dle; ·.ttrnt .choice~ . bilt .n the c~"JJ:~[~~eitai~f~an ~~;~ Gf~~~ii!ee:~r11i~. slse .a !t t1ll~15t be' C011d~~cted und.ead.·rt:f~w.;: tocrn:n~pf~hrqJ$~rldi~;nt~:m~·~~~t~f~f$~1~-· , ~~:~·:iq~~.~~iff;:~~ij~r ~9.~bl~[H1b~i·:,E;he. childe IS 'Emnhr~c~d, df'ieci believe they cr;bii.-~o ~6~.i~d~ ;g.t{h·b}~~l·~iij~~r:;~;.'rh'~i[' " . :iCl~~~].yj~ !r~:~.~~·]~!f.l~-8{:~h~~f'Etnhffice .. A Priest Of other own srsndlng, (·he.y llilve~'nt) ~liffl.rQ:.:~~Uar$[l~liU~~~;~~;li:tpd. ',' J}4itli~~~lm ·riti.eTIi~:m t~ L('¢t.e~ S~nc:wrn oonduers rhe

'"' • ~~ .. r _ I ~ ~.. f. .. _._. _._,. l!! ...... _ . .: .... "" •.. , -- ..• . , ,

SUiedy ;1pe~·king.t OO[lvers:i~.fL ~~'~~~~ ~~o~._.·[i8~ ~fup.~~l~~~~Y;_~~~,<.: .-:. #~:~~~p.~;i~:n,~~~~~~~~~~hti;~I! p~yer~ a~;ld l,~t~ni:es rec L~ed v~util.pur.(~ t~n, ~~,sily dai,llUl. to :hav:e 'COiil:iJ:,ti:'tecl., F.1I:t'lG, ~hi.eb.;rtl~~f~Rr -- ,¥: .~~~~P-1'le~r~:( n41~ tb~~!~ ).h~..Fh:!.We is then ~.110H'lted (dethe fhst oppcnuniry. Those '~hd:d6;i1~~:di~c~rn ¥.fffiFt~n-;~v1hi:.- -:~~ljb~ ~~~qi-v}~ ~~(HJ ~~~~fwj't~ a burning brand" The brand fou their chance, E:~. regions ~1~~·~~·.~~tJ~;.'~::9~nRnt }~q;l~~~~~11~j,i: ". . d~~ :n~~~,Qtlcb l:~~;ffi·~!.~pfJ:~~:@ndJe. Rather, the Priest waves

< nance, the Lancea S:~n(;tIJJt[ can enforce its lsws and !l+~t: ~$~: l1t O'ytJ: her not :unlike the Cmtlo[ic cruisreniin,g. The s;irej 'hO'\vl dlnons 'with the: most dtre and hOl:d~fv.~I~g of pell~~h:;es,. Qtl.\~li ·e~-e:~, is ElXp05Bt~ [0 rhe 'bnwiJd, i\~'hich. :US placed. dhecdy ~~~'rhS t vamptres in the territory' might not aC'ttu~~~ty believe :!\~ d~~ -'~)s ~!Gi5i[. Contact lasts only a moment, but crying OU.tOI lapsLH[l~if!a SanGtu~n dees, but by Goo. rhev're ~O~:[1g' to ~p:_~~_~" ". __ li~~ntQ a fearfre_'ll_z~tfrorJ.l the n_llIrnes. is a :mta~k' or shame, O[~'IJ thoUlgh d1ey' OA)1 Arkd 'who knQ'1;Jl~:, n1!aybe Wh.eL\l d1lay'y,(: '~~!tl:~i ._ .~l'l«n this rite haa been. completed is the' chitde· considered forced to behave ]:uke. Sanctified for ~.ong enoogh.1 they11 se¢:\ . j~~~iIJ)r~ &'nct~fied, md ~~ (:hilde w hos;e ;.Site' holds '[Jp well ~~

th~ '~v~~dom in $Udl. an liIn·~~Sly·le. -- :.- . _.~ ~~icc~rdBd 'rnlOte resp€:eB: dl,an Ol'.i.'C w:ho does ilot.

:.. li .~" - .

,Rituals and' IOhservan,tes. ~ .;;~; ~'1l1[( up:~~ v~ri~lt~.Q~;~£, o~ thi:s d~e e~istt as f:;w ~Lan.oea Sanc~ -' . LJlJ~dool(nns a11d cOte-JIles open~t·~ m e'j::ii:cdy the ~~n!H~ f'3sh~

:few oq;aniUl.'r:t.i:)ii1$l bt they K~iI1d'ued or kil:le, can matc~ tt[re: --: : ~n$.$;Qme C[e~~tian Rit~s io\'ol v,~ tbi.'(!: sire eXRliosing hJ:2TSdf to LanocSJ Sa(tlcturt1J. ror &1eer qUflntity of riu.:bB!I('j~ A'S the pll:ijI.l~~'\' :...:ij1c}isun,g SlIm or to nighlAong se'S3ion~· of aagdla~ion w~,tl-t rel~giOU$ faC-Ei.on a~nO:i~g the IIJF'Kit!ladl 'E'he: SancJlifL~d h-ave 4· r, i~~ b~rijed ,;v<it~!pI$. Oi(1"'1~ parLi:cu'~ar['~i d~i\g~i'()U.~ va:~·:la;d.m.'i :inv\Dh~es an OhS~Fv~nlce or. 8J tradition for Ulatli.y aspects, ~.c~h;~ R'e-~ute~'~' --~'~e~I'iU(l~".f(~~r bc-ullg h~~s$~d) stakrng his own sire an.d th,ert I.t \tvo'td.d be Mnpoosiblej ·even in mMy times th~~pq_~a~:Ll~I~~ - {I~.~~:~:m~~ otr~e-t:' extremj.tl,!!S ~ltghc lll,.r~ pUIpose i~ -for rrll~ to de$c[uibe '~hem aU .. Presenred here"" .thrnJ ~s~s~l:f:s~f~~mh:o!~ ~.-;:eb~I~#,~~:\~t h~,,; .si.i:e' ·ibu!rlll. j'!!Js;t long 'Eil'iOIJ.'U.gh ro. I~,av,e iiil wouud! of SOillle of '~hc lTIOre ~nlipC(rr:.:li[1l.t m: commo11. rit-e\~nd !I:'~~ ---; ¥~r haL sri. long as [0 rusk :Fin.al :Dea.rh. If t'he chiMe pe:rtorL'QS In hnport'J!o,t to note d'mt w'h'ul~ the$~ 'pr.aCIL~.,C@S. ~~; 6:li&ifw@d ~- :W-e~i I -tl1.~-~i:ie ~ '~~uod~t f.or h(;;'r cholcl2'. l~ th@· driMe does, not where~er ih,c Sanctified cram be '(oi1JlLd, ~hey ,O'fitml~i:ffeI 'nl r9.e: : .... 'pe['.lb.hb.;~~U~::th.e sire t~:;m~Uy imjij:' conce'El"ted with 1all'lIth.in.g

't1lil! hom db~n~;[n to dOl.n:;l~_tiI, 0[( even :ft,om con~rie to 'OOref~~ 3~i-se said on the: ~()pk.

Like: aU rel:u,gio,l!.ls ~ocmoniesl,dley ~r,e define:~ as· n:Ll.:l.~hby. tJl"L.ei},~.~ : - AnQindng/Blood I6!ith~

perrorm,ers as by '~h;eIT ]ll'ttr~oo 1'[1t.t1njJri.,g'. The $.pec~fuci gi.ven. .

Us~d w~~leneV,e[ ~ S8!n,c[i:fit2J ohi5fJn:~'~s a 'rtew mnk or position;

'~lere: ~r-e ,~h·eref'Qr.e s!WJ,1:daj'ds~ not neces$~way IJni'V-e:I;$~J~ .• Nore the; Anoi'tldn~, whkb. ,must be -CO:r.iLdm::J1ied bY' (l P~'ie-st 01' rec.og~

dlac tIl€: use of d:ii.e: t,er.m. flPruesri in tlie!i~ (~eS(.:r.:tpti'ons repl'e;o

L 'l '1.. ~ 1. II -oizOO OOvc?1iO,anc cdfic:u~!,j invol.v@$ !:u~de f1itore t'hall a rocimd '~lmn",

$G1Jts ·@J,Lunmt1l"l.(_,,""'[doll,.·..,,""ttlle IUQ;re ~._-il';:-'UleI:)~ concept tnn'l: :ai. - ,

!""...... , ~~ ~ a. redcs of (\O'tlnfj~. 're~ses offered by., the sl.!l1'11Jolleru!1tj and_ tb~

s..ij]~ai:fied .sh.oukl'~oot\i'e ~!tS, p~k'-s:rs?~ to their 'bR~'ll]'en- ~J:' ~... l"~

duw~ing of ~m'V (me of seve["~.1 r'e I.i.gi.o~$ s'1fm.hOh Oill rhe

TheDafl 8(mcj~r~ s!J.lpplkfnleS head, The: duav;r~ng is dD·ne i:n blood, and. the :Sil;l~

To :h.'ear the S~m.ct~f!ed te'U vt~ i.t5· nr:temhers ::lre (:'aJ:p~bh;!' plic~mt is fOlbidden. :njCH1.1 w~l}ibjn.g i~ off UJlltli.l. the next nig'~t;;,

of no I,~ss tIlan ~llu·t:8Jd~-s I;he:ro$d.\!'~s, In truILh'l [h~ Lanc.ea (Reoe:_ndy Ano]['!,'ood S~nctuAeddonQr:ft'~u~ndy gnouit:a.mong

eo rein ill! [he enfHret.y df ~he; yo:tnlg' generations would vast[·y curtail their recnrirlng power ,~ ~'Uming they could do it at all - SD they gL'!~. thei~ teeth ~nd make ~v'ery eff'Ortt to dean. up aii:et careless chtlder,

kine,) Thj~ ~tl1i'i(Qtt'lfr is 'llii.h,y man ~r Lancea $1l1il,C'tUl'E1 offl,c;er.s! aH.ii;:i~~h;<i1ficl ~lli!!ar~ r.elt:f,rod ro, ro][~ef[v,e['y~ as d],~.AnDimlt0d.

ihe 'B:i$l10P is the highest "l!l,jIlth,O[uity wbJ~re the ~1]C~l &tl1Glmn 1>.; concerned. Many BHS."h,OpS :hQ~d oeher pr..siti.Qn'.~ ln rhe cili:l~ power structure (SUell ss Regent, Senesehsl or Prumoge:nt even uf th8[ power structure is not Sanctlfled-dominared, as most Princes are wu~ ,eno:tJ,~). ttl, recognlze dle sllb.~t@J1.IL'tia'~ power :5] :Br:s:hop hoids.

B~shopJuties include ~~ll those of a Priest, but he is:abo responsible fo!:' man?,li,gL'('i,g d1t Local, ~.ctrvi[~®$ of t'h~ covenaotas a whole,

A,t;;cb'b~shD'p

'ntles and Duties

GO''I,f',G:Dilj!1:ttU:. He' 'h~$ power to. ill V€"Sr tigate ~1"I!.y.one 0[' iUlyd:dng~ and aJI, wise Kindred (e3r' him. Although he tedl[1~icaUy has only low rank, his aurhoritv while conducrlng

art in vest igan::ion borders on :r3!b~ sol 'Ute, ] n cl des where a separaee Sheriff ex lsrs, these two, are. ofte n at odds. If an lnq ... !5>i tor is not supported by the '~oC:rl'~ Prince! he had ~ better be c are ful bow he hand les re ]~'r.i.o;ns wi rh

other covenants The ' Inquisitor may find .., :h i mself ~ solared in acC-iU S:8J (~O ns or charge s levied :~g8Jinst vampi res.

of' other f\l)l[ow lngs,

Aft 'I.:'i!U,rh [he In vi,C~!USl m~1U~,'Y (}f ~h~ La~s1 Smoc:rurJ.TD.'I~, titles ove::Flap with local (J5Sidons: of au.tthodty. Many do Ilot, hp,¥ever~ and those that ap-

pen "O:l]JniJ"e[~ ofren h~,ve: :) ~llli~'l~ take (:it], ~J:l~i'U1j.

B~~{lp

11tt '~H;g;l(itlS Leader.of she I ~'I.tea&mnlL[]l :lin'::l domam ~ ~aU~d the Bishop", 'The Prirt.£e !lJjI_3y 'wl,f;;': l1-oce city~ but'

The curse of .... ampirism is but an obstacle, a hLHdle be ..

fore ae'!'r~e"lfI[1,g rrue powe~. G'r:'H'L'lit,r;d9 [e~~ a daunting hurdle "~:-',... ... and one rhae most Kindred are m equipped to even see as sunaountsble. 'FQ:r those lIVilth the necessary devotion" tenaci ry and in teUig, nee ~ ehe Ordo Dracul ~ - be Order of the Dragon, can provicit:,!' t'he means, The vampires of the' Ordo Dracul run t'h,e gamut from dbgg~d hUiI,aamentaJ,isbi, '\~lith i'u$~, as much z~:~ ~ as ~lliiy 'f~ narlc Ito coldlv secular theosophtsts .si:~'Opl y seeking

rbe nl.e~ln$ to destroy an e'nel,l'ffY, .. " ...

'The covenant as a 'wb .. ole 'welccil1,~s::-:·· '; .. ""

both. -rnet--.ti1ln,ri€s) for both hav~' m~~~!~ t;eac~~: ..

This. faction ,claims an rD(i1~~{.0ii5:fOhri1er::';";':'1; nd---

Tepes, Dracula hnnisef": ti~1t~~aii~E~:~~;~,~~~~r~iib.e:. r. """

cause he ~tC~l1ow~.ei~~:E1Q~i~;~~qt~~~i'~I:~~~"~~~?g' -: "" :a-C,COlJ!lU of hecofl1mg ~. ,~,p1g1p~'re;~Ga.d t1fOI~JJ Ef~a"tl{·. ""

on him, and in ~td,~'~;'i~(rIjm1bish hi.n~, rq. ;b'~;}J.i~'~ .i~~,: ; God cursed him ~[th 'tlf ,~.d~ath:,: ~Th~'~~~~J:~~lJl ~etd~p'red~ story ofDr~cula's &'~~hll 'is_.t'~'-~;8]r(.1pa·p.u~~.sh~·~_~I~-r~~~~ for h ls abuse of f(lkh ~!I·'rtij)Tr~l Hfe. ·t.~JCi:~o~iag;W~~['~~~:·-

hls,tQr~cal, records, Te,pe~ was appoln't.ed~~l '~ .~,(f~.~ .~~:@~~~': ." .to.rp~;~~ ~~iich51irough an iU~pertQrmedJ o~e:t\'an(.c). Re-

Christianltv," a ,.;;;liarge he rhea used '~s-:i! :lIle~l\~ ;~~~ .. _~, _ _ .~~_~~fi1Je$~ ... -Kb}dred are peUif.ec['l.y will Lng '[0 admit tJ13Jt ~ll~(h

vancinghls own pollrlcsl ~gel:u,l;a& and as ~~L1,eA'"t4~~ ~fp:f :a,t~C:[r • : ; --tn1n~~ &il[itkenw·fi.C"s, if not: mlllennta Some crucial piece of ties. In addil:ion In all his crimes agHin~t Hl[~n~[J.iIf~~:~~~~;~~~ - . '. knOl!Wdga l~uit yet be missing", an ~ ~v~th, rhe world growLng ultirnarelv put hts own desires before his ho~:¥ O"atm::di~ ~;u;t "!::' $fL~H~r 'alLl(hn~'re. inregrared as te:c.h,no:~ogy uncovers 1l!1{}r'~ of itl

that Damned :h'~m. ' ,. _, ,_ : ~'~·.kil'ej}~[e{J€re won' t be long Ln comrng ..

The v,emdty of rh ese $JtEl:tel'n'e'l!1itS remalns unp:l'O'~~l;~?t~~~:~~; -, - ~i,;<th~~:*gard~ the Ordo D[(rlcul, is much InO-I,e oor.n(oft@Jbl.e' not the least obstacle [to which is that ])r.ac!UJ~ hl~£~1~~'~.l~1'~ - -~ wiit\ .EHe.Ii..ode'l'n \l;Qitld rhan the In Vkl1lIS Is, rhovgl~li nor Itearl~' been seen in over a celltllr;f" Legends of Dracula al~l, as~~~~ to ~: ;~::~¢.~~orl'll~n:able &S the Cal" thians are, Techi.itology isn t somehim strange circumstances, By lkJ1.Q'i,~['e<lgeaJbl,e ~.e~1L~;t'S 9'~ ~I"" ' .. J ~lrJ~1i to be' fea.r,ed! but another tool to 'be u ed, and since the ~rnd ocie£yj, he IS slUSpect'e_cl of Si~l[l;g a verv {e\\F childe~ ~~11:. ~~;;;:~~~~\f~[\.arl.t prizes men ta I evolution 1:t.· Illuch as s,p~rinlal pro' Dracula '~~n'"~ Embraced himself wb:~~t clan could h~_[~!lbl;~~ ~: ig~'loin,- eld ers who \'\1 u~.ih to r-ero~,ll t'h~h· srandin~ m~'l;st sh~lk\e be, and what does ~hat m.ak,e lids ged B,~ other accounts, Q~J~~·:.::;~:;(itf:~the inercla of ~1e;;.U":S and learn how to use a te~eph()iI1(:' or a ne~~_8~,~d ,~hilder at al[~ ,or those he hK,i} sired are ~~"¢J)q~~ 1 -~~:~j.'lper" Hidebound na_ditiona]i;.'i;ns .,lJre-rlJ'~ ovenly snubbed b.f~ "failed ~ ~ litdi.':l more rhan hideous horrors doomed [(J. s~~.k~: ~~lelr.~ _: .. '~~ra~t rhev m~"g~i,[ know somerh ing useful, and it Joesn'e pf1)' thirsts in a censtaru state of n mdless rage- t.._.· tq_ ~b~!n 'br~dges}! bu dIe}, do tend rc be ~,.eft alone in th ~r

Inde-ed! ~he Or.gaf] izatiou that b~t;. grown IUp sllIr['3uoging ... - luvel\cS to ex 'e'ruen,ee the R,eqiUJi!em ;;J nd perlorm their research

Dracula's teachings iseasilv ~lS erugmarlc as its fo'u'r!i~ei: ,. ... :i~~solirliide.

<>V:elt VI~W The,'sl2?Lr::h~ar,know:~edge i$~ coml'iIlfmly s[atedgoalo~t'~

" . , Order. but It1;l,e,hber:fltely vasue. Members of the Ordo fJn.cJU l

TI1e Orders l;OOtS ave ;sc.m[leihit~g of a matter 'of d\eoo,~ ~ even are interested in knowledge, t'mc;; I, bl!;!t that has more to do

withbl [h(;: covenant itself. ]t is un.douibted.ly one or the Y0iJ.iJrJgest with the kind of p:e~oni;1lit" the covenant attracrs than wid\

of [he major Kindred ,factiomiS. TIle Dragons, as olley are fe~n~.dlv its actual goals, The Dragon" seek i'lilfornil:armon about the nmh

(or MJtefuU'§) krll(i7wtl" have 'ueoO'rw, of (i!pprenti(.es'hi~~ as ,e3d~r as ofthe 'Pn:UlIh,pi.I tc condulon, ~rl!ld [0 thar end, they ,enjoy iliil~mng

lb,~ 161 h cenrurv, W~t~h me advel1t of the pril:l'rlng press the co. ~ to 0: i her K und{,e;cl about their experiences i heir fe,eii:n18]. upon

enant was bett'e~ able ro d'sse r ninare rhe v,ast a~ioUn.I of :a-rchaic [f)c~i vili,g' the :Embrace~ how the ir bodies IlLa ve dlanged amd

artd ;;uCi)nc::; '~llll!'i~ings dl~t me'tnl:er~ re'I,lJ,J!iIe iii. order w learn and 11:0""" rh:eir ~ttitucle:s to.ward, 1,'fLoral, '11;;1V'e p"-O"grwed, (The

I enorrn rhetr tr:an.~.endem_'3.1 studies. The: covenant ,experi" enced a sudden jump in power and nrrj,~tnber$hn,p during the In lustrisl Revolu ion, shen another in the late l 9th cenE.ury~ then yet another in r~'lt decades. It DS believed

that the CC}Ve'rmil'[ grew to power in Eastern E1J~ " 'rope, '~(S philos.opnics trdJve'l~:llg wicht rhe de" velopmeru of rransportadon ttedlnolo~~ bllr jusr as erodible theories 'pl~ce the group~s oidgi.ris in Vicrrn-~an london and even e.arly New YOrk.

U8Jl.\gre 1. in ()a[~i,cubr inreresr th~ On:,%arl m.1d th,(Jse. S~.V3gE'.~. ch i'~de h\ the 1;~'roiyS of the covenanr, and [halt ehllde does like- .:

\1j.Iho jQi n the covenant quickly become some of their. most 1I,1i,'~;£e~ bu II ou the w~lo:~e'·t the Drilg.QD1I5 In(_'~k. P~)5t clan when con-

~especred members.) The D~igo:mls seek [0 establish 'p~[LenJS Skdedng members, The decision process has more tc do wtth

Ji:\ God,t~ plan, in the curse of undeath and ~n any other facer remperamene and ~ntd.l.octu,al ,81bil,i.ty." \l1h:de not all OIT' even

oJ the Requiem that wm head them t-o the answer dl~Y SI2~'k mosr members of '~he Ordo [)l';~ILCYl are booklsb or sdl!ObrLYi

- hO''i.'Ii to iffatiSC€llld the :~inlli,t5 of varnpirisrn, the vast 'I'IJfl.jorr.itv are U[Cnlte and educarsd at least rnoder-

The Ordo Draculhas a h ierarchicsl structure unique to :i(~~ a[e'~y well,

known in:[ernaUy as the Dra;gOi'l,~ TOO~i~:. T~l!l;' Order in volves The bardest pa ~t about joining the covenant tends to be

numerous rites ~md hlh:iat:i'O!15", the completlon of which.svm- findi~ members, who trust other Kitldn'~"~ I.;"n.ou,gh to be will- "

bQ'llZf,;']: d~e members p&SS~'age frQi1rJ, 0\11£ '~~'C;lrc1e of l,ll y,'w~:ry~~ or . ung to' teach, That in mind, the firsr rask fJJ prospect! ve Dm.gon

lever o{ adll~\IIe!Tlent ro the next. Progression through rhe :~-' :~~has is eo ger a potencial lifR,:n,tor ro notice;;: 'h,~~". In,vestig,~fun~: h~e[;;I,~hy seems 'EO! correspond to masterv of the Coils of '~h~: ~ - :~~ .. .'e Ordo Drat",ll 'whk:h means asking quesrlons of vampires -'

lJrugonl, butt w~jJm:h'~i[ this ~$ true OI 8,imp~y <;1 nor1t''Lrn.~mb¢l~~:, )j,l':ho'~'are experienced enough 00 know somerhmg "i'bout rrh~

miwIHier.standi"1,g' reLryl;;) lns uncertain, This strucrore also, se-rvts- - ~~hanll)l' expe[it't~,eni~~:i~g 'i.v~,d) 'Ehe \'a~,'fi'[JI'rLC fu':mm ~J1[1d '"f-ith lJ1Jlprotect rhe covenants secrets, The Ordo Dmcu~ is loath 't9. ·-:~~-t~e various D~~d[11:i,n,e5i and trytng the limits cfthe Requiem -" le:r arn:~o.llel even low-ranking members, leave the faction. Ul~ ~~'. '~:jf!:~~:~pod. ways [0 goebour ~'~ni:n;g attenrkm, lh'rl ~nttI~ coteh;t~her 0ne's rank in [he covenaru, rh,t'; more she has ~,n.''i,iles,t,et~· .::' .. rle wli'.slles to attempt to fmd E1J, mentor, irs members' ehanees ailldge;COlilIlplirs;hed ill!1.d, d'l;JJ.],;sc., rhe 'more l''!!luJ:tantsbe1YiU (t'ttool: • : -:jrnijm~lfd'mm@ti:~J~y, The Oitdet approves of this, :app:r~glid,l re.tita'liy') b:e' to leave. Still, defections ~['J.d ~undarl(Y~s.,dd: '; :~: ft![lJlll'!J1:tIll[".iet.ol!f-a;s_~'):s:". A &id~ from the obvious ad_V'ant~ of OCQIl'r, and wirh more fr,equtnql' dl~):L1,'-the ql(\~~~ ~\{~:\!~_~: .~~~~ .- b~V~'b;g-~~~I~:1;~~~~~:_whiL~~l':~~ trsde '~deas,!, a ooretie C8J1:l protect

uutsid€[5 beli;eve" . .: _:: r ; ' - ' _. t~~!~~[~eft~~~~'G~~~r~v~mj?i'ffi can~ from, both enemies ~nd

, ~ :_p~~~~Ja],~'~~~i~~~~;!~:s~f~~l ,e~~ors- .. Also, D]dlOUg~ ~:h,e

'\2) oo,e. r :5: d9,er-s n~~~~ m~nru\ ltj, a, bl,t of h,eal.th Y compentson

'Ls uld:r!)~t~l~~op;dJ.tot,t~ri~~:~Ji~~~~·i;ro ~ weeds our 1l~,embe1·.$

- h e» g" - .... ~. -- . ·.:'d • ! t',"<; i.

· : wt g.fi.re, @I~,ay inJ~t:tb.~?~~~~:~}~c.u.t:~l'~!l: !l.CH: lfS awn ::l."tlKe.

Once ,"I, pro~I1<~~5~~~e~W~~:go~, hl1d~: amentor, the appren .. ' tm:,~e~hip [.l~:r~od._'lj'Ji_g~?Il~Ii& period, :rle'V'ief reall y ends. Be ... :cfJ:ltci~:a[LlTL,em~~'t'~.'.~fr:.n£ O,rifp-ri~c1ml 3re meant ~n 1'~~n'mJ, . cO'D~t~ntlY'>~]hfli~~liIiel',s' can '_ t.:eacll_:c.G~s~nd y. The 'Order db:ren1€W~~g~~~don~ b~l',effrl¢.]J€~, of Eh:~ most el:jJ.'bonrr,~ k ind, _ f.!]tl~~~J:~i,:~i~trM.~,~~'~l!e/(.;Jg.'·~ that even' tin elder might still. be

· abre· ~o~I~n~~,al dle'fee'[ of a wiser and mere 'pow'fflfu'~ i,ifl.'e~,1'l~ b~r of tri;~~4et. {~;f~1t1L that (dghttens the adler coven~l1ts' · . 'ftt~£.rl 'rh~:tb:~~~~tiver ad rn it].

--:...I ...._

J ~IS~~~Jt 'per:f~rlms, graduation ceremonies, the Ordo DP:ICl]:~

.~~Ji:~irR~Ql'il;&· b:rudation.s as a coveuenr (th.ough. lndlvldual

. me;1¥~0iS il)1g!lt elecr 'to rest would-be pup-iI$ privately 'befone ' _ fLJUtiP.~t:~4*t.il1g them). Ir becomes, clear wlrhin the firslC few

~ -W~~.k1:' ~f '~~m~[1:g whcthG[, It student :has d::H~ [i;glu. metrle to

. . . , .: ·-:l~i~~ '~b.(;:~Co:ik 'Of the DrJg,{}lll~, wb,ich the Dragons regard as

CNiiUl2n.ce, These: SOHS ot Dragons are d:'H~ cream of the :c:r~~,. .~~~I#.:P?.t '~'e,c~s~ S,l)~P in joining ehe coveneur If the :pl;,l:p~l

MoSt, however, join the covenant to cheat [he ~1L1~;£~~!~f,· '. ,~~~i\.~:r ~eanl ali least tth.e: 'Oas,UC5 of thIs esoteric 'body of cer- , uodeath, pure and SiTl1'pie. The lure of the goc!lup's high ~~L&~',~,' ,'. \~nl~' - aad the reasons for doing so range 'from. simple dmW$ all daruj and even members ofthe Lancea Sanctum Ha:~.:· :t ::~~~p(~u'eUigffilc.e to an llilwmingr~e:iS' W ~urrEnd,e:r their souls ocetl!£ ~fLerVil~fto leave 'Ehe~ir OOVel::Lant~ [h~ oo]nltlitt~:ng u;l:1tltj;~:1 . :~~~~:l[~~~~al ~ItLJdy - the fLl{:J'HOf slmpl 'if 5tO,~ ehe tr.a'inhlg", The .3!bfe ~~asph~ro,¥" to ioln the Ordo Dracul. The reverse :1\$ j~0 -., p~pH l~ight continue [0 practice wh'S( she has :alru~dr' iea:mt.d, mle. tkcas~onall'Y ::l m.ember of rl'll,c 'O[:ch~r d~ddes, [hal[ rl-l:oI3 :kr~'- ~_bufll~ia[lcemenr w~:rhtmt ~:n5trL1lCt l0~1 i~ [lrofo'lnidH:y duffm,cuh:,

'eiOOi"l~es she (lbit';'[v,l':'s :i:;lI<i~"$Uns. ~lgaunst lwHue .or a hi;g:her"~we:r :1

I1I1:t;[l, resoh~~ '!,tJeve\' to ,c~~H upon her ]uJJ.'~'i;"'on knol!;vl~~ .. ~~ili pilJ!Sing th.e rest of Il,cr niglt'ts 1n (,piL~t. peniflllliC'e for hiB[J: clabbii.ng' ~n to,hd"dcn mysteries. TIle OLue.r ~,las even n.otuced thilt cerc~ ttl illspocJrnc, ar'eA$ of :5'rud}' induoe ~hjs ffiSpOn:1e mote dl~n (lith, .. eL'l\ and dle~ t£};;:t$ :6md fDm:u:ui,ae offer :::II, ite'L'iIlptUl.lg tJr~t for ~\llW:Ig DHlgons lo()king to ula_ke noo:nes for theif.Mdve&,

rh~Otdlo Dracld 'oo~s[S m.em~rs frnnl aU d:)ilS. T~';)&; ~O''i'''' ~I:I-ant ha.~~,lJit see~). th;a,t an;y (~J1J.e ",videspn~(lld lineage :~ an,,! paL'rl~td;j!;r advanmge over .:I:rtot'I.ler. Of ,COUrst'I' ~ g[vcn bio~)(J~, 1:i1l:te l~t~g1:H Slw,1;'J,;ln [m~Htbe:1S of the Order ,HI,} one she n~tn~, his

'bH' III ~" •.. ' •. ~ ..... :9~.]>·1 .. H'I ''1'' .. ::

~ _. ~ .. . .. . . .

~ -,.. • L

11v! OIdo Dracut ~s ~ rn'tLCr It ~'eHgiatlS sod'ely as 8J ::itCti!;i[u . one~ '~ut ooly li,l£Of3:~ ~ dl~ 'ii~m~Jiv;i,~ oonnition ~ll'lOOt be ex" p:r~~:ned wr:thQ~.J!l the e,.~ ~s~nce of God. AecOITHng w memJbersi bel[efs~ Dractiia was hi:nI1:Yt'lf' cursed 'bv God'imuch, as. ihe S~mic..

. '

tifL0rJ of ~h,~ Lanoea Sa~,'tctulil'l, dabl'1 dl~t their proge..niw[ 1i\'as-

'Th~ dififerell,Q~~ of course', - 'l§ thHt Dracyl8J becntne 8l vatn.pi:rre :tong after ~n8ny. orh€r vampires had ~h,e;a<ly ,~x i.LSt,OO, in the '~~'Orlld:. Th~ Ord.o Dm'Gu'l dne:m,l't requi L'e the fanaticism of the Lan.c,e8J. Sanctum. 01" the Acohl'(e.$~ b®C~iU,$!:, 'u~~, '~W~t$ do :nOt d~ln{lnd it.

forever, This isn't a bleak, finalustk Iament so much ~I$. a challenge. ~1.\Vhat 'C~l1 'ii,'e t~lJk ~J""'ay -f~'Om this change!" ]j nothing else, e. err change is a reminder that ~hj;mge is possible.

Ch~ng;e M~u~t A;avle ~1 'prll.Uip.~e

Central 1[0 transcend ~I'Ilg the varspirlc conditio ' j 5 (In IJ;Lnr dersra lding of l'" lY it ~5 necessary [0 do so, The Order looks at the Requ le:;]f~l as ,~ challenge more than a curse ~ but its memhers never forger or deny that it is a curse. ln research .. ing and, realising the. COLl gf the :Dr~g'OI.1.l and rhus chang ..

~ - ing rtbem~ives .on a fundarueneal. tnyst.kfllll,evel. the Drag-

maps of ley ]i[l-e5 and nexuses, the lccanons of its, greatest niilYs,.. , neal treasures "if 'I,lot the ttea%I'feS. 'the~l!iiliSe·lves.}~ ~!,ld a rOf,te!r

The ~l'iiO$.t important re'~atiO!Ll$h~p i [1 the covenant i,$ tbac of of' all Dragons in the' area. Most orren ~ rhe Kogaion memo ..

rile fnenw:t and pupil. Ri!;:,es 'and P1lU;C(i~ 1J~I)r gr.e~dy allfil:oo_g rises chis, inform8J~i,OI.l or records II: in riddles, codes and deed

mentors. ~H~ one might keep lessons extremal y informal ~ [ar~g!J,ages to keep it from full i:l1g 'into elle:my hands. The ti de

gLlodler ~l1Ijg'rrE treat her pupils like novldaees ill a 'NI.l.onas.te:ry~ ttself seems to 'he of Thracian origin, meaning "the

fu-g~~ng them 'to- copy manuscripts or perform menial 'tasks fo;r B,n~gID.I,i.fuu::!,leS head," A l'le~i' ICo,gain!]. ~seh~;CtM only vihert an

llllNt of the l'idght ;~lld i.rii$ttuc;t~ng them ~ n ehe w,~y~ of tJJ;i)l1- old one dies, steps down or becomes untrtlls~\¥'OFiI;lrv (and be ..

seendence for only rhe lasr hoU!£ before suo[is.e. ~:ng declared unrrllsrnror.t'hy requires a statement to that ~ffec!i:

The QOV~11ant J5 a w'h_oIe does o~e!~ve a few i,mpDft4ll:rrt ritu- _. from, at lease seven .orher Kogaions) Bein.g declared a Kogalon sls, however, and some- ~,ndi:v~.du~,.~ it,e~,cl'!J,i:!)g 'nFti.ei[llJ.M~ ll!~i"i!:.e 'be" ,-;,ns one of t11~: grestesr honors oJ'th,e covenant, brut if: also effecOOII(1{~ VilJd~pres.cl ~olL1;gh to mention. . !_ - ':~~vel y cuts the vampire off fiom other members of the' Order-

~.":",'rI', ~, :_ t.· .. ' .G,", . )¥ '1" . .- A'''' .. l.!I.:'f. ~,': .. :, '~T '1l',...t..., 1.2 ~-:M " ~~~!Y~H1.e respects the Ko~t,on~ but. SillliL.e she '~S an obvi.o!Js e, Jl ~)l <. '"'<';~ )ll.,V v"~' .it" ~{j':' - ,·t'fijr,~E for enemies -oflth,e covenant, no one wants to associate

~ rnenuoned previously, the mentos-studeru 1',e]a;ltkl1m.ihib : :~:~ . ~~pse'~y with. ["!Jer,:, Kogaions are freq i[Le,~ldy hermits, SOli,ght 'fo:~' 4, the ~ckbo:ne ,of the Older ,of t'h_,e Dragon. Many ,!"]itembe~~: : ... ~:~:·,qjlJ:sllh:ation and advice butvery rf)r-e~y taw 10l~g-term ~ppren~ in sroduce themselves as rhemT menrors' p!(oreges (if t! _m~'~0~ ~_ . ::~. ~i,~m~~~~ KOg11J[Oll$ also tend '~O be :fdgl~t,eningLy power~,[ with is 'l\lf~n respected], and an elder Drngon wid~, nn .. ~~[t~~ihi,l,y; .~: : ~i~,ff.~,K!. ~'~; th~,_~Hs of rhe D[:'(~gon .. " though rome s<imphr beptOIi)wir~g student '~night even reverse ,th,e·'comp'~.'~m,e:n.tt .. I~!iU:~:~~ :;~~~~~:~ t~~ are, .. _._ - ._

ing :h'e:rselfl);{slO,.,'a[1d~sors, master," ~ _. i :._ .. ' ; _. ;. - ... :·--:~iJ(~~~~w.a.i1'! ()lI.~~,eu]a

Not ~U meItDJ~e[$ of the Qydo'Jl)n:'~.ld:j~_~~i~~i.ty~;~i]J:t; .!. :/'~j~~~~~::~~~~f~rhp S~~~,-fi'om, ~he: oueslde, they ap .. broLi,ed in ehe precess of le~rnini~ ~nm~$~~~'1ln~!:c1l1~ji~0~~~: ~. ~~ii·io -~be ;~~~fa~j~~~i\S;~~i"~E~b.·,cowna:l1.ts with.imt [hie Orde ' has gT~t respect fvt those whd j:~.k~i~"v.;·t'i1G -Qthr&r:ia'Jll!resili~t-"' .' :DracuL A 'fuw 'K~~r~' S~~(; that [he Swam, of Dracula rmru-. the Dm,g.ons :oO:[lsider :ilThporraJn~.: i~~~·:... ;]::. _!' "':. ." .. : •. :. bej,-;,t~:)1'6e' ~istfn~:~·~:£rol~p'~~. e-8lcb" Qf wM~h, i:s associaced whh

GmlNlhulS . .--:'::~: .::::.,' --:. ~ -~=. ": .. -:-=:./ '-~~_:. :.:. '.' - - f;.t1m~. h~helr h~~n,~~h ~t~~.f}..~~gr-:)J.1~5 Toog,lle'. Mast'ilarophre5

.It, ...• ,,'I.. :, .,:A;-l:!i:...t;.·~-;-:,-:--~i··~-l ~t~j;;':; ;_:g •.. ~ .,' . ,~,:, o~t'SidetliL~~m~~e~O'~\~e"~_il'~ii."I}®l;i .r rl\~t!laLl'1esar[h~Swotl~"

J"i.1mmW Eiie rever.l~nlt \.)1(1,,,,, utraG.l1h~ :[~:\L.1!u:al\.II,fa1!b ~re_:~~ ll:':. 'I h ..:!I.:.~.: .::-', ,,' [~-~~~ "I:. ' h

.. " 6., .' '-, ",,",', I"':~' :~ .. ',"'-' :=,':: :;'": '::, ',>, .... t~.t9l~[1.,t" r.-e~.liLU~f[~~~_:~;)l'lfl~~UO s~~m ~~O ~j~. corts~(e.rut ''!;~J @l'-@:

S~fiSclb]e kn ]OQk~ (~tier ~he~][OIe~_l~ .. :ea~~.}"Gt!i~al~llt;€~,!' '-l1.,'~ o':",~a .".,'. -,'-;: :,. :"-C~'·'. .• "" 'i,:;.~. , 'c' .'I!._ ,. h S··" . f

Tw.." . "_ , 'U . = " l -". '. ,~;c ,"r." . ..,; '-.; ,'. I~ . ,'" h" ! [qe,.· mer "gro\\(S;.~':~¥ :appil'e~~mle n~m~e[s- t le . WOirn Ch

11£ CQ'l,',€n~n[ ,~l~~:~eV~]a [e~\[)M J,Q'F ~~Q;r,~l"~~~ K,e,eI.'O~, ,'~r. _:1 ri:' .A' "'k' s}· "~':'F""::f :(, ~;,' ,J" :·uf· 'h S -f' [

belng;s out of t~,1L,e.:)Ie:,neX:trseS" F(mtt"; au onil1r'&i.ftl:l,-etlf~91.w.i~~1 ~( ~t .~_ '.~ ~:~::~~~~~: .. :.~~:~~, 0, ~:~ , ~~?'te,(Iles :ru" t e cworn 0: the

b· 'f .' . -1 .- ~- " -. - _. '" , ,;::hf:iiffi r'[ :,:;:'L~ 'L. Dyma lSi~nt~·-:::::.:::· . - - .

eto 'IIIlysw: Went ·~u.t~ ;tJO:P[,0P~I rmHl~1Lrg~Y -w U~];.~ . rne- , . L - ,~r:~:;:::i:-:-~~!:~" - / - .

])r,~~rL>:'; ~,mj,ean ~t~y magical bei(~g w~lQ_.i$'~Ut~ ~Jern.~~\;~ft~· . . TI~~.~~~i:O~'.ihe p.rag"O~

OO'YIenmlt _, the Lances Sa'~ctmn a[1d·"¢itde·&r~~~~:_0~~~ ~.- , C:e11:t~t~iF~:el~~f:(Jp.Jo Dracul 'us _the phu'~oGo[Jhy oftranscen-

in piIT~'iclt1lal') could potentlall y des:t[{)'y tR.;~ sit~ls~~pw.e~~~iicl dellG~> t~tfde:..'1i~ '[i;Q~ rise ~IJQve: tbe lim'itath)[lS, of the CJIJ'~sed

1A:Rak havoc on an enure area, ,I (L fact! vaml?'~r:f(;. ti'(~:@~)~-~ : ~~~np~:r~~n~' ~fI!nlung ~he Co~ts of t'he, Dr~gon ~ Hews a Kin~

end ,perpetuates ffi~,e8 of lU,.,perf.ormed dtes on a pa'lt~(~~~~i~y.. dred' ,~~:f~che~]eLcertain a$pec~ of th,~ Requielifil_. for mst:::u:':u:et pow£irtlill ~he!, 'COUfte,}y of co'ver~s of mm~tallvitoard$, ~~!~~ne -_" ,,:i(:~fiw[:~m~bt be able t'o~low hi.s my~tic~1Jl '[J,ie~ibolism, C.oll~ s'h~Ili::l,1.i$ and :sa,[(itn uc c~,Llw. Second ~ p]iii~es of p'[)'~r ~r~~fP:'~.[Ij~ -'_su'n~Jf~' l~ 'k)lood ithml nornia[ 'w'hen he dises ,eaclt rr~ght- An~ ,::.bi~ jJ',~()ur'Ce-s", ~nd Whei,! d:H~ Orcler prnlSe.'i$i~$ ohe~"' Jl)~~ J.~. '-I'o~fik~peqt of t1~ai!]~cendence' tn~ht aUow a, Kindred [{J! sla.ke: both ~n.tlSset-f~r :itseUand :8][: ~s~et dJeni,ed to dv~ls'l:fW~~~fj!.:- -_. ~~~~bit~:t '~11 ~ml'm~d bl~t, 'no 'ITW.t;OO[ ho~~' pOtffit his, Q~n [,e~~tlJ: to 'lA-us I' thr?; Ordo Dracui knows th~il: [ua~y.·Qf~'~ ~.- J)J~,kFtI:~5 .. 13y defeat~ng these incamation~ of V'4;lJN'l)liIisrlil~ the: ottuel' oov~n8Jnts ,af KLnd'r~d 'w'Otl,kl .de:;[uoy stEch s'u't~ '~~~~~. : .. ~~~er. 'b~l Ue'N~$ :Lt :us on, rhe rtght patb, rm~rd ci~'~rr.rinatit~g Or than let ~he Dragons maJ<e use of the"Ln~ or ~t I,e!l~~ till'~e '::§6~Jpi'])9: v~mput'ism ~nti;~~,y - ''''';ld~ Irhe gO('l'~ of arc~~ntng d'!l,e; rh.em b~rgil,il1 'for ~,OCe$" Thi't-cl~ s~ch m~.t~c~~ S~'Ite'S-~:(~ ~l,,: .. : .' ~1:i~(~~,~1! whatev'el" fOIDl d:mt tale's"

~lal'$ (:hi!ilng~ngl and w hUe [hey normaUy. c'hange oVer ~~])6 . -_: ,:. ;:

. - '",-' ' ..... , ·T_ii.:~e Dr,:ili§:_'_'on. ''is CToRgl!'le

Wtuf,sf of yeSJr.5, or decade:s t som,etimes: ,magic tak,es ~ gt~~~··

~ea;p fm'l.var;d 4)nd th,e 01;der hke's to know' :~.bo:u.t s~~ch erv~pi;~ . ~:A.Jd:rked hne of FfOgn:est.i.'ol':l,~ tI~e oognD'!l,~ "Tol::Jgue mS ,[hie ,~truc.-

as ~qn 8JS p05S'uble,,, Finally~ dle WV'eEtanr :a~~~rr.s d)~~'~$Ollle ~ Jfur,e!',df;toud1 which .ca\l','@n~nt :rn€:mh@;i'"S pr.ogr~., a~ ~h,ey ~,€'a;m

Siles. iUi!! truly '}Y[!l1L'bo[i,c: Q[' s~i:ritual and deserve pr-o~~ctioq ":more ~re'Dl and master greater aspects ot their 00l1diti.otl. ~1ile

f~OOl ddi ietn~r.!lX ,filS w'ell 'as 'tr.can $ilnp:~e d.~t!(lJl.crijo['!J".", ." ' "comprcl)ensio[l of the hie[(:l~rchy by dl00e mnsWe 'th,e covenant

is dOMd~i a~ beSt! it ap:Pealrs th~t ()U 'ro.ero~bero 'fo]low' a ~ingle :pflith of pro,gr'~SSiO!l up Ilmnti'~ ~, cenamn flO~'I':J:~", 3.ft,er which ,the ' 'flf~,enft'b~r ehoos\''''S ~ specu3ky '~O fQ~knv, V~r~.'o~s f1r1¢lnbe{$ of th,e caV'en8Jl:l~ lay da~,m (0 '~liJJtne[fOU$ ti:t~,esf but wb,'t'![her dl,ese aL,e i3:,ctllai ~unction;"; ~L1d r,esp~)nsi.bm[des 01' nt'ere honorincs 'I,las, yet to, be ~'}¢erw.~ned. bY' ,ol[J.tsklers, T.~.e' Dm,gtl,n'$ TO{lgue ~s an oh~ 'I ique C{}.ncepr" [II: i~ Jbtlt'llcr. from 'd':!,e coa~ ,of 'Il.b .. e 'Dragon I' bur knowing ~he Coil, of [h~ Du.a:gun Se!:@..1'iI1S ttn 'b@; ]'~quL.;~t,e for ad .. vancellle:u~t in ,the Dr~3;gm1~s Tongue, In ~,~YlTIa]'b"is tt:erms~ th,t;

'b ' .... ",t.:rtAl'·rrr,r x J.~:'\. A'f... 'j;.. ~'1';., "'\ r lit J....,<~ .,.,.

N'\'_v ~' J'\J\V ~~'~~,l[t\J.\',~~l

(;w~di8rn$ ar,e iJJ5Uany rhos~ Drr~g.b~~ 'iiviitl~, a bei!l:~ ro-w2IJrd ma11ti~l prQ'W€SS ~nd st,t;:a'~t.h. They or,(: wt,~ly pt'€'Pa(e.(~ to end dite'ur I!wultves ,ill pursuit ofd~H::~'r cli.:ities, :~.b.qw,ev,err" Afte1" ~Jl], noc:h .. 111.g irs pe;r~:1J~;ne[~ti' ;[iind dllro,wing ~:nv:;l!y all l..m I ife' over Wln,e~ thufIJ thlU: ~nij,g'~~~ dj:~nge i-rl ~, fllit,e:r:'~ 5.0 ye~'iirS ~$ l~J:st. to 0 H;sh "

EQ~)!i.on

l!!i!'£Il' dw '\;v~th ~l significant OrdeJ pre-sence h~s a 'p['e~emt' llU'I![ Otl~ro~,IlrFl kno'!rvll as a KOg'J.i,Olil,,, He ptC}'I:-e,CD;, '[he c.i,rl~

Dr~n.'8 TonQ((IJ~' seems to ro~~gb[y' equate to IBIl.'k: 'wb[le rhe The mentor accompanies her student 0'11 a hunr, and tn-

'Co'~b of the Drtag;on ~l"~ similar 'to, c~pfibmty or potential, st rucrs her to k~.H 'One mortal ~,rli 'rhc course of fee(~'~'riI\g (nll)'~

Finding the 'W'yr:m's Nests USU:i3JU", a problem, espec ~a'~JY' i.f the smdenr has to ken. wem

Theworld is constantly in nux), on levels tbtlt not 'is .... HE';l"L the '00 her. studies). The mentor rhen instructs her I)() £oII01l""1

Klndred can pereei ve, lnr.ilg ~go~ rhc Ordo Dracul noticed that ,tt'h(; i,rJ;n\.~,I'fIJeroJl.'b'~e chains of even rs that death causes. Wh.(i'

c.enau.n pleccs hold, m~gric 'better tru1f1l otll'll,ers. These areas, vari- does th~ UlO[I'a,1 lea ve beh ind r 'W:ha( does her obituary' sayl

(lus.'~y ealled "nexuses, l~ ~Aholf sites" or "dragon nests" by d~ frr.~:r.. DD es anyone mcurn herl 'WllL() shows up at '1.1Ltr f~]ne:rall

"",-".. ... 'l- _.:iI 'l'li" - i"i" Tl . {;jJ" I Does, a pol lee investi earion ensue l' ,H,C)w much effort do the .

.".I-~,~ ;;;..L1. rures, 'lion 'L .$[3;'1' smne. ,. :ley ~flLlgffiOO as 'i'~,O\:~S m r 112 i5' " -

'Lnys~ica[ enemies of the world 'push them, Likewise, new site's police put into it? Do other vampjres become ~nvQ:~ved.?'

of [JO'Wt"T spt~,ng up ev~ry yeg:r. Th.e Order h~15 determined ~ha~, Rep erred l ¥~ the f 1St Kindroo of the Order '1[0 enact lilis Ies-

'rnn~~l;ny places d'JJar mortals consider haunted or cucsed (or son s[H~ -f.oil(.Wll$, rhf;i e-ffec~"S ~hsJ't rhe murder 'he comrnitted

blessed) are .s[mp:~y the result O'f tl1:bS eI1C:~llTg y bdi1g "washed" 111[1_d on morral socA,e:~~'" •• more rhan 200 year;; later. In. ]eS'S,

'into a new locale. E.V!l;W f~\v y:~~~r,s, then ~ the Dragons Ie-:df:@i,W form:2i l terms, a member of '~'h,e [0 rdo Draeu I. said. to he "fol-

the III tsci,c~1 maps of the wor ld, ploiLt'uug sites and. the du:renl: lowing the dragon's ra ir~ Ul kes care of loose ends, or. plors

!l)f :mysdc power toward them (sometlmes called ~!ley li-r)I:e$ti}. ~O'm~ scheme and. attempts 'to predlcr results for eveqi1' :s.t:a.gc

Tbls practice takesplace over tb .. e course of ,~eelk~and mOi.1J.rl~s~ 'aT rhe plan,,,

n~r,U'Li.1llU Y,. be~inning With ~he week Jm~ced un~, the w.inte:Tr' sol- . . H,o~loidng the M,en tQI;

sw~e! ~ M: .gwf.-:S the map-makers lh.€: 'ftlO·St '~~~ne to w£!~tk, IJL 'Kl ,,- , , ' . .,l b ' '." - ~" . ',' -~. ~ ,- . ....: J -1 - -,! ._£

. " •... "I .. f""", ," ,"f'" " .: 'Il, ,-_., ~ '_,'. - ,. j. • ,~",on~lJiLI[~Ii.1, ut CCnaUl!L111(Jh.t~W"I:r,~ge(l, t b,~ pracnc.e u[

cer tam amount 0'. reverence, LI, not OUQ::ig,n 1 Uru'<:l!i,~ a!,c;conl~',: :.. . . . 001 I . b Jl ":t , I 0 I 'D ]

nies these mapping ~ffun:s" Tb"e m:iis>t~;c~~. C:(Jf;tGg)L'~pbe:T:';'s ~re ~, ,:~)'~,l."fi[Ili,·.: 1. . ~o:nOr.llD~' _ Flirt. S :5upeWJl'\Si aJ'iOtlng: t ne ',: - • ,r( 0 _mct~

Ii-~ ~iI".i(!;d "Wi,~l~ ,,,I .. ,"", 1 ~ 'i'''~;~ T," r",,,,,,,,,, ,._ . ..,_,,;II 'ti" . it ; ....;.t· '11':-,:,' :Ii :"?,. ~'I!i. . h u~~~I·~,X ~S" become CQ,'fUnfLon. place, EV<!lr}, co.v~[);alU _m:nem ~

~~.it!i<'I.'!.''''' - _lOh rne iU .. l~,~'v.g ~· ... :!il:"r,:;"""'LJ' a'b.~.(U ~I!,~~g~~~[ :L~ ye[-I~;l(.rue ..:.16 'wi ._. cl····~··· -~., "'k:' 1 ,.",- ~,., 1" fff -,

existence of:fl nexus is considered' ~n.lefhin.g' .. 9F~j~ ht)npt ~.~~ Ll: _~i~ '~.~~~: : ,to : p~uu :~ Ill, td' ,:'u::,~ Cl!;stCHI\~ aas _ ~l (: [ ~1i:I~H

at1llfo~g [hie Onl~r.[t1s g,~l1.en)ny ra~~~t~J·mai ~n~ ,m%f~t~i .~1~el;~IOC. G:[~I~W~_~~~T~~~~_~C::~~ ~~. 0; C~l[~e It.v.ery:n~~H':~'1 u,e~

artifacts discovered W:-.~\l.qb .~lt .~~4f~g\tio,~,~: ~enl~,I~ p~f[~' ,[J<en(~~ OrL ~h~ ~~:~~m:w .. ~~~~ ~~u~stl.on,. 1. =. sm~e ~e~d~~l.~~ ~. ~IJ~

,of th-otje who find 'the~, '~tf~['~:ebf. Ql,r~ij*llnt ha~jl clial1cc ~o (ho.ob~ a t~.VQlT-e~,:LY~:O( ~~8s~lt an iH'~heologlcC1l.fH~d stolen

,c~m~;qg and e:."I:cam'Url~the;mr.af-~'Qu~~~;. :. fn"}n~ ~'H~II,'~'liSeU~d i~·~~~~~_~,oJhe'D'ih' a delno:n~na:t~on '(Jf li\'~~a:~

F - ll - u, '11'D . J' 1Jl' ,] rhe pupil has ~ean'l.crl· ~'+ ·~h'fJ:! p~t> y'li!~"'f makes d'r!;r! beSt l~r,e~I~)[.

, u OW~!tiL:g ~- - e , . r~g~n is ,'oat ,. . .. . Coie:des. ef Drra:gqt"h .'~1.o .study '1L~ll(Jer dl;e some HleliJ OO!r some-

~. teach ~'ng t~hlfl.i'~[~L'e' d~1t h-aS' lieoo.[:",e po,u I.'il'~ :±li~m_or~ -ti11i"('S c{)U~lhom.~e~ ~n· a '~~,ay to-honer ~beir teacher .. ,. bl,H j~!$r.

tal populactons :i.n.cro~.s:~'! ~oUQ'Virw.g di);,e,~p_n.,~Qn.~:!i' 'TaU is as ofrop ~h~y:~cii~~(]e to decide who carr elicit the fflo.st - ap-

meant to ~.U:USlt r.~i"~'[¢ tha·t [l,a' ·d"f~~og·e· hfIPP'j;'[1~' ln :a' r#."a<;uiJ.]M. 'pred.a;tiof[: m~.l i)e:r.

. . . '~'.>

\'(Ihen Ol1@ hears. ~'J, vampire refer to the -exEsting Kir~- The spread of an Informal unbound sympatll)' would

dred order as the "despised anstocracvolthe undead." ebange all ,thb. M~l1'Y lawless, practically ;[i!J!re[,e-ss. Kin-

the ,sp~~~ke[' is robabl ~ 0,n6 of [he.se free-thinking dred did much to shake up the world of vampire So'

.spi'r'it'l - chose whom me vampire world has c~ew in a very short '[hue. Lines werebhirred.bound

.d]lbbed, somewhat fli:d.s[eadingly as one of the "Iu.n~ aJJ{es (:'(0 sed and. dreadful decisions made, an in [he

a~igllled'! or "unbound,' , -hey,l' are the' rebels, O~J" '~am,t of independence from the e;S.'[ah~ish,e' order,

1~",\i'S ~~nd iconoclasts of vampire S:O(: iety ~ those w~~ "l alia !i.'h~,u: \vaS the part clla.t caused a srir. Aldloulith

freedy (ar:ul ofren tnle lltionany) flout the . ., .. ': passes ror an unaligned "movement' has since

so-called rule o-f the. deters among their settled down ~J bit (OT at least retreated ro

kind, Independent K~ n, 'i[,~d C~U1 also sim- the shadows of the domain .. '~n \!j.'h ich such

ply be apolitical vampires, those who aCI Kindred are found), the damage wrollg'ht

knowledge only their own aUltllor:lty bLJ,[ upon t'h~ UJi,;t.1'JOllnd was done. Tonight] more '

who don t necessarily make a rrand show of than a. f.ew eiders allH~~1g the covenants have

defiance against PrinCt:'!o> and Regents. TI1Jere , t'~llken the actions of particu larl Y' truculent un .. ,

are as many reasons 'ror-en,ounce:\!he ~Hre no- " ~:r~-=!:-:-" aligned, asrepresentattve of IIh~g~t81t" .. or at lease

EnOn. of. (OVe01Jnts as there are Ki:n(l~e~ a~~~ the unbou ~tdl ~ :: lized on th~~fmt~~th thereof in an attempt 'to d~:i:UIiI.p

"tvC'rllthin,g from paper-tiger [·,ebd.Hon;,ro:a~~n~~~ i~I~~-::'ci§ , : " ,,~~~~h;:~~~~ :~:','

gI'eilttieI aud\o:ri,l)f rhan 'the 8e'~f to fre.1e.-: w'i'f~·~ dciwn¥ ~&I~t:.~' ~. ! !..;;, ..... ; ,,' ':.:.":_ .. :....:_:::

. -'-:iII:i:: "~O- • .:!' ~:J"":' ._.~ .... _

:tf,i~ mY,lOtic phllesophles and, even huerest~. .. , ,:~i:::';"F··~' :.:~/'.

T~:l!I;; lUlatngned are fiercely inderende~D.t-, 8Jn~ many jusr 3 the !ft~\rktllS is, plainly attractive to elde $] so

W\1l11 M sooner face the. rlsing sun with a sm it~ rhan sp end L~ unaltgned ex istence a magnet. for rhe YOIJllg and

et'f[ni'EY hi s[Lb~'I':i.iM[on before another creature of the downtrodden among d'll.'e Kindred. Neonates rLfUlk-~ up ,

'oight. \Vhile dle"y do not truly compose a covenant, rhe preponderance of the unboun 'I~ and n, \!l believers

r~ unbound are ofren o'l1-e:Jl"I,ook:e,d lnd ividuall "Y and discover independent 'QU' zes W' i ~ h eve'ry passing 11 igh t.

C,O lSiclcr,ed un a collective t'a1bbl~ with others of their M:aoy would-be unbound renounce their EIlffiliations ,~ol ..

Tni'llldre~ t despi re the fact that: th.e)' ha ve no shared or- lowlng eye-opening or h um ~ liatlng experiences in one-

gat! iz:;n:ion, SdI1:, ,enough ccmraonal hies occur rh at ,they of the coven anrs, So:m,e'r ~rtll,es, -·hJ5 occurs e~nd)' on, wirh ,a .

can be discussed as a phenomenon, even if their S _;)" us f~$ (1' •• ' -'~', irter I:'H~o'Mte' loudly clal ruing independence ('011:' succor and i!:l)[J1~~~ covenant is nonex lsten t. If '(l vampire d lsda ins the'. ':~.: .:~lca.sc. Other t:m mes, the taste for freedom arrracts anclllae

- levaHing govemmemal structure bu [ Joe-Sri It belong to m.y;~ .. -:-~~1hQ tried for decades [0 pi ~~y the vamplrtc poltncal game struerured covenant of her own, the rest of K i udred ~od~ , ·f ~i - U[ were simplv outmaneuveted or d is,gus,t:ed by the ton it ely almost alwa r:s considers 'h,er One of rhe unaligned. . .. , ,':;~:! ~o_ok on -r;:;'h .. em Over !:'i,lne. The independents pro'hably see

•••••••• , ~I ~tl' £·1 hlchi

. . ... ':. ' ':~,.::' more converts t 1J,an any 0' .fu~ 'covenants ~ WU lc - 'L8 ~ef.

Overv 11el.lV . ':", another reason wby these outcasts are Ofte~l held in such,

"lndependene' Ki'li1dr-ed reser t OT otherwise don'e buy, into .:' .: ;Jaw regard 'by dl-t established covenants. the tileofellld;ill. esrsbl lshment that i;s modemKindred SQ~'Ji't~ .'.', .:; :.: Ahhough a grea t m3,[1 y unaligned K lndred are neonetes 111'ey1"e been around as 'long 3 ~ an}' ofrhe covenants U' fof'~o ... :~(ir_1¥C!u"mg ancillae, this is nOI[ [00 say that no elders. renounce other reason rhan by virtue of [he rrtlcrt thae as '~atl!g ,1}$ there is:. , : ~:~,~¢tarian 'iiv:a~s" A number of older Kindred" prirn~H~I'y those a political movement :goi:ng on, someone wil] oppose or t~keL ~~:~1 the Mekher and G~u~,gr.el prize the unbound for their no ~merie_~~t In ir, In nights pa$.t,~Otne poiiticaUy independent __ . fl1':'edcnn;s, and nughr even seek 1;'0 turn the i r i nfluence 'to ..

l'a111~~dr,~ were occasionallv known ~4\il1:3,T'chs'~ m~ '[mul~~][:ki£,t~i' ward uniting local unbound lUld~T ~I common banner :in

a lIef~~,enc~ U)J their disregard for ~rond:ld laws and orders hopes. of forming a nee .. covenant rhar advances their own

4'uoong rhe Kt~ldr.ed, Those vampires cared noth ing for. the agendas, In rl!Jjc~[! [be'Sie few I'L1.aJllipula t iv,~ ~ ~(hm~ ~re n~s-pon""

p~latmadons and decr'~~ of .hJ"avy-handed P.ri,He.est :m'ifJ tf) 'f] si,bl,e '601' ~he b.-os'tH,e auirt~d.es that certain ceUs o'r ind~penr

gNal exoontt "Ij.'~shed nod)~ng '-fii.O~ th'JJ!1 to be [eft ~'~.ol·te" In den'il.[.S harbor toward 'more fQi,r1ifl::J,Ih:ed gro~lp.s of Kind'rod,

those IlUghrs, the ~.~![l",\ligned were cOllSid.ered foolish.~ but ulti.. Th~s ~sn~t tiQ S~ly dla;1!; every' el,der goes :ind,~pende"it in hopes

. atelyha:rmle:ss, as ~ong!'s ea.ch indhridU8l1 m,~Im.b(;jr 'I;,v~r' 5m~u- of'bu~'~d.~.n,g.; pd\i ~Ue ~n"lny. Many dde:rs among rhe IJ;lnbQund

l'l, UQt'h rt.Al1 to jJeop.ard]~~ hJ~l[S-df ;;~nd' 'his kind th['o~.ug,h bi~ are 'Illite content silnply (0 i.gnon~ social str.ic.rLl,r,cs. th,eut t111.ey

]a1; ~~ ~~t~ortS. personally find distasteful In the ,eye~ of many L-Lesr~bU5hoo-i

Agaln, note: rhar rhese aren't formalized codes of belief. amone the [urn bound, EaCll ind)epe'nd,ellt K~ udred is her own. Prince Of" at [east wishes ILO be, These are s~l1i1pL'~~ [he IDI10$[: eommon poines of agreement among a, nom -covenanr 'Of Hlg,

The ,guidk'g ph ilosopluca ~ princjp e behind dIe unaligned ged[y indiv ~clLil~.I, vampires.

mlndser ~s' the Fmld~'m,enrr:a[ concei t 'rrh,atl; ~ljrery vampire - 'V;un_pi:ric Nature Is Sollt~:r~

like ev ry man _ ls free,. R'e.gardl.css of clan or a.~e", no Kill:'

'dred hould be forced [0 bow like some ~o\vl,y serf before . To the tlnr.D~md~ the - win notions of freedol1l1 and indl ..

diu! feet of 0 provluclal undead governor. Not Sll,[Pt:i.Stl,;glY~ ~r~dU1~ljty - as rh .~, pertain to vampiric existence ~ ha:_ e

the unbou ud fin 1 the notion of \"am[ - i ric. ti de ' and q~}tie'S their roots ~'In the sim[ -I,e truth thar "1,,' ampires arc soHrt~I'Y

conitenl"pllibl.c" They recognise no "Prince" w wholy,t: ~b.'ey ct'ea;;ures- The sou of a Kindred Is soli I; Uid_f.3 , 1,[ is shut out

• 'L 11 h 1- c ff _ b . ~ll h "1 f~l.tL:t. he. \\,"OIld [It knew before the Embrace and fore ed U)

snou c S ow sen-ettac U ng 0 e rsance ~H1,'0I 'te.y regt!J[:,~ tne Ii,). ill".. ",_

entire "[lotion, ,of formalized social de'bts as wlii.'oUy unoeGc:!s Slu"v'h~e dl~. Reclu ioem as 'a wolf among th. ' Hock, ,h pping in,

s,ary. E~dl of th: Damned is _ practically 1 y c:t~"fini~ii#nj! an ·al1d.·~:u~ of·t.he h'il~ges of ~:non:~] sociew 'while never rrulv

i,l.1dh~ ldual, removed from the brotherhood of: [u.a11n'Lid. and integ_fa;'~rlg \\'idl it,

rhruse "01['0 ~- olltude for al] eternity, The tHl~l'~i;g~~~d tetld [to -ni,e s~,~,~: applies to he n W world into 'IIvhi.,ch ~1 Kindred

fee 1 that V~HTlP~ re-kind needs, no pl'1on:~ syste-m~:Qf.l~roed, is d#~is~r· llpo-n his En'i.brar(~e. While man'V view vamp i re so-

indenture to make SUH~ tho e each Kindred k~~,P~ 1~:1 '. w.?'rd. ~,e:~ ·.~:-'*:siib,·~,e'\·C1~ resting beneath and within moi tal ~O'

and honors his, promises, As alone as. rllr(':Y 3r¢ :\r~,r!J'fLpi'res c~>e~ i~~u.n;)lj,.Q:n.etl tend to reject rhls view on the whole.

realize that a II they t rul}' h .. ave 'is [h·c ~ r word - ''ii\~ i,rh.out ~he .Tq rhe(n:i the notion o.f a ~ \ ampi re so' let .' '~S a "ham··fuH r

aid of unnatural a,n,d arriflcial h:ierwrc.'h.y ,_ and :~[l-e:V. act ·fO'r9.~~:.~orll:t1r~va:nce.i a deliberate attempt by power .. hungry

accord ingh. Those who don't Sln~ 'we~ded om: nanl["·tlll:~r'-.~l1d ·e.l~~l~ t'o enforce srructure and orde where t'h,"r:e: is none'.

not hy rhe arbitrary will of an el,~.er" .. .: .V~llni?'i,rcs are 'benial~ '!J.i~de~;u] predators. 'Forcing rhem ~o

This role b:)e(;l.f.or.nu.s; ehe :appw;(ihj;~t.e;~(of the iIld_,e:~~... . ~c~.n~~ un4:e~.f3'I)i:i,cll~~~· pretense is a re ipe (or disaster,

dent ideologYt bu' like any sol ud fOU[1d~ti,cin . it· embodli~ i.~1f : - 'P:~h!~ ~y.: re&p'e(;'t~~li .1Lhe nacura 1. R mdred state ~ dla~ of un a number OfE1'Ught,~to~llUW"'b(: practical pr~~cipl~$.. Th~~ "~~e.nd~· ,isolaf~i.:; in'a.~[ile"tlf.l,~ht eq uali tv _ can l,utnnon"1 'be found of tlle 11.mbounJ:i mindser give ind~v[dual Kindre· 'a sense of' . '~l1rion,g (he. Damned,

;

Kundl',"~L ~v~~h. elder power comes res )onsibiHty~ and interpe:n;Qi'la'~ pressure occasi onall y force i nto covenants those elders who would be more sarlsfled if 'r:h;oj" were freed fn)lTI such duties,

self, 'l.l!."h.i.l,e provir ung a necessarv grO'l.uldung: ill '[he' teallrles r[1f lmlife.

Power C' ....... -. ret \i>' . V"'I¥,,:;,r ."" ,,-,,(Tu.r. -<:0

The u[l'3JUgned are no fools (b~r and '~a'~ge)., They tend to see ]lC}.W t€JIiMy power conuprs:~)m0ng. me h vmg. Compound the w@blcffielJ widl, undcarh ~ literal bl,ooi~rh:ut$f and the prospect of an eternity of the same, SInd the result ls dlsaseer w~\iti[]g, to ~~n. The u[');bouud can believe th~lt rhe ·Kjncl[w are the lase creatures who should be in a poslrion ro wield great power OVeJi themselves, let alone over one another, They're called ~the Damned 1\1' for H reason, and the Damned mould not be lead~!liJg, ~h.'e D~~m:ned,. Th:a'1f5 a c~:r~v~:n dl:::l!iI: em,i. n[lJ,iy tnwe] srmigh'E [0 rhe gates of HtiHJ. and dle unbound know hetr:e.f 'rh~l to f~ll into such, CIIlt m ... fCllJljed line. Bettee that each 1jl~:~ p:~H~ concern him.sel·f prr:lmm·ay "WI lth his own p[ogre~ ~'l~llg

In:is OW[l. rosd. _ .:.: .. :.

TII&~ is not w say thi3J.l: independent Kindred eschew [)Q1ver and. ~i1flnence. They are still V~[)ire.}, and many feel th'3Jt ,o:nly ,,1;I;),y '[t~ 'figll'lt fh,e- L~ with :A.re' .. Ev.el"L those 'who do·t1~iI; Cfl!r1I V~='"".,,.*,,"'oJ'~ appr,~date t"h,@, 'b~~:m~fit of ar.n';l(5S~[1tg great amounts of wealth . or S'Way ln various mortal circles. The ~ rnportant distinction is how . at:Jd. in 'wh'a:r: m~.l'l!\ef dteir pO'Vi:er ne,g::;l!Ij:ve~v ,::Jiiect$ tho~ of tt'he~r ktnd. Being aWBJre of one~ S01i'C8Ir.)f nature does; noe mean pre- .' tendill,g that other Kindred don't exist. This v-ery mistta'ke bras, earned more than one l;\"~U ~inJteni!::~oned 'unbound her $ll~'Ut' of .

. rrcuble, The n1t.:l is to learn hm~ ro '~kuiI,Ce rhe acquisiuon of ~cr 'wid'tJ. the !,~girimat,e needs aod desires of i011CiS neighbors, i\~j of OOUl'Se·l, rhe i\(:q~]isa:tiol1. of ''i(,;1.Il]piIe~,qJed~,c power and i:nll~~~(.-c is 100000s~d~red darn~rQut; groUJ1'lJ :~m:l.ong the m:'t:~illi.gn~d~

whi,~~ wh·~; :nnany prefer. to s~kk~ 1..'0 morral sphel:e8 of lnfluence,

Not every QJlIJena(:J.t ~~. as fl.~I'~y strucnned <:15, the rest, "

Indeed, some covenanrs are '~ocai phenomena or simp~,y too StlnaH. to merle the elaborate s~trems thar the ,

19Juger oneshave in place- With &~'~aj~ Brood~ how- ' ever, covenanr law ~ UilllJe.tes&uy becsuse, {TIc ~IS rhou

wilt shall be Ibe whole of the J.~w." . 't'i ... ..

A Ioose confederation of $awru's,l",sl demon-wor- ":(. shlppers and overt m'H~cre'a~,~'~!J' :Be'lia~,is Brood da'ims'~' .: .. ",,".'_.,.

,th~~it [he arr-ugin of the Dan~#~ is. U terall "! from Hell' , ~'i:S'd:f. Vampires are not theJ't·~wJl :U~ltq;ue species, 'Ehey are' "demons" given. mortal fOF!ri:O~.~~iiJ~, '~~bo have fOllJnd passage from. the Pit's 5l'~furous: d~~~'fi~;~ .~~ d)~, surface o( the world. The purpose of the Daml7!~~:· i!:t, .tl~~~. opinion of this covenant, is, 'to 'ind~~,lg\e the dar'k ~~~t·~l~at"dl':e.Beas'[" hnparts,

The Brood H~ tauiy a hen'ush fuc~i,on~:~f;KiR9.~- ,M,e~'(b"be[$ exult in their wickedness, ~nflic.th,g:~~ifiiQ[ldc ·niiselY \vith :r'!tO remorse and eV'CI~, lessdlscretlon, \Wliil~:ReI,I~1~~~~,60(~ is about, 'build ~ngs burn, mortals die under O'lt-ett~~ri:l~ :~~~~·.fi!ruJ shocked. victims covered in b'~ofjd srogg~( dow,frI, srr,teets·:~rore ccllspsing, Tile D~]lru1ed should 'be [he Beast inCan1a"t,e f-~d~~ ~-eOCl1;.

_ l_. ~

Vampires s~ve' none 'buQ: the Devil hlmself ;.:; .. : ': .'

BeBars Brc()d ro~ly $lJ,LrvivBS Ibng ~f'IJ till1.y gJi,veJ.l ~:lOL'iI13/itl; Its b'dliWl[)T is nt'lrit'~~eEta~l!lP .:.~.~~,rontin1Jeil esistenee of th~ " Kindrred~ roth uOC~t li~~:~~)nmrpreta!tlve Hnde~ttlJ.\&.'

. " :tflg$ of thBM~~raClf;J~:r~V.~ii~~e.\su_ffeL its dl toe;U3hhsh

b~,\'"eI)5 or stay ill their. dhu~~ E\1ietl :W PnjlO~ dLrlt~'t [,dn~f .• I. dor~,Y.lI!irlS, agah,\St rll~; 'mni~lhe~af the Brood WOlJld proh. ... hr.i.llg theirol;,,·n_ Rrill'~:~~~ho'E~[ sooner rnther than'tnttl;, 'n~e[row:t'E ~tSjtLdhh~J.1t'W~ckedness te11d ~Q,~nJ, :, tl1i(t!ml.the,a:~~~:of'~"L ... h.W)']:~ :rooru~l~ut:~'KJril

, ties and! or;11er~ip.who db~l '!.JJ(1Ifl~ thr;; d~lrn~~a.-

: . -&fllTItmle:rers dlreatet:ill)6~'iliem~ .. : :. _. ~ .

.. .,.~.: '.~: : _ n ... 1. 'Il.111 .6.: : .:;' 1~~~ J! '_.,~" iTl' . ~~II·~. •.• ~

'. T : ~J._:L\~t:;l:muy re:mau{SUte :~~_m.~I.aJl$ JiJK:!0l.!i ~ tnat;" ~'},~nr~\111d

. ·~~~r:'r.~g~it .. [hillltmg Kitl(~.:~~~ to ;Sitamp ,dteal·c:iu(1i 'th~ sal~.le ;~~~~~d;iarol{),gy survi~~'~9:foaJ&}i90t (;;b~wlbeffi, IkH'al~·~ is ~I~id~i OOph~tkatoo ,~~~~~;~~~nat~.l secrer o~~~Id~~~Jw l£lng; rllil>i;;] Pi-Wc:es 'who i'la\i\!~i~~Q§~~~:(;d~s to theh" I$UJLexiL1be:t:~re of~ 'M~I'!J. surprised to S1tt [he pl~~fum~eLlon return a ,$~e:M.j'~~ l.!il,\'er, 'Th~"grcrUP~d~:fH~crtiC. phi]oOOphv is, '~OO '~]II;3nic1o[ Jh~ (iDlitnan;! to

. ·~mj~,y ha\,e.~'.c~nte~"~jwwherej bu[ if dU'tt's dl.e:·e[~; liow',(bs the

~1~~a~ii~~:F.li~~~yJ(ee~'~llrfaci[)r.g ff~he Gt1v~L1m1rs Luauy 'en~j:ni~~~50 ~~igjJlafit~~@;i!lg~k o.m: and d~sEroyin:g ~t~

-_.. .,..

. _._ ... _. --_. _ .. _ .. . ~ _ ... -- .. ~ .~ .........

One "covenant" among rhe wo'rld of the ~ .. nl,(tea,l h~s 110 name, A~~hou~.iL dll ~5 f~lc:t~o:tl comprises vampires, rhose 'beings seem to bate all Kindred wllo are not parr i(:6ht"~[ lfn':t~t0~(lUS ordeT" ~l'ld l'uitCr~ '21 Uy arrempt to .destroy them on ,sigh)t TIle norlen of rhis ,gI'O'UP as a eovenant m,ijght even he 'm,i~tt,lk~nl as lr is unknown 'wllflther rhe group k; if! true eovenanr, lrs own insular 'tlm'it (I[ just a iPa[ticu.huty t{:a~ous ~uk. '~veI1J;~J [he nru:n~ by which '~lJih~[ Ki~)drtd H:"(:.ug:Lii;~t::~h.:~,§!X~,~ eomes from ooca:5\hJ~l i{'.Q'Jt):~'f1~ p1tV maJt :its vamp'h,es!1ea'V'.el~l\dpd ~ft.e:x i:'.!::rrticUlbl'lv 1~If'ul:'!;o~ O'b·:ri.d~elr'

~ " I' ,

~1.i·Ql'J.h}1 attacks - rhe ·R~~), lJM:~

meral ~'!{ren., "' " , .~ ,

Eli ~U accoun ts. m~~djBr£' of ,::

I'! I' ••

St\'e11 are fe'i;v, sud not e,V'kt',"',/:dw' :

h1lrooro their genocide I pOp'iUlf~.., [~(Ji'IJ, W~\flr d~t~, ~~ck in ttllilml~f$,' : llO\1'everi they make lip in fervor' ':

1h1ld burning hatred of ~h~ Kil'i~~$1~, :

A fe\¥' of' their organisarlon liav,e: "

been capuu;:e:d by other "'tUl\P~~~~~ ~Ili~ tf.illlll d~eir t;CSti~'fI,O:flta 1;& (mOSt ,:

gleaned under p8Jin. of torture Or. "

rhwugh supernat ural nile ans)):': m~ thalf!! ~ f~\f '5hLldder~Qm~ d&, ~iI$ f!l[ise. Members of Seven re~n!l,·d[x do not ~uffe'f the same p~n:gs af possible fron~y upon seei~~ 0tl'let ~mdead fo:r the first time. Th~ 'iZ~m. 'tu}1;,\'ev-!!r, 'r(.tenti,fy o\ther W~'IIfpirns: on sBgh:rj as d~E.Y claim ro be aWe ~ see "the mark of the Betmye[".ILpDn die Kifidttd" EWll, the 81El lfi(: ual understanding of the ~p's I~atn'!;?' 1~ ;) n~JJlr'k.y 't~:nd~~~ lion all 1)e's,t'Vhell asked under SU~ ~!Ulfii1.QOmpl~binn to speak the [Uillth~ ~['!Ie_,"i~ creatures cannot de~ fme what Eh~y are'), 8Ji)dJ probes into tlw~1' 'lfdLnd~ }lie1d only mental hUI ages of d)c Roman numeral "Vll" Or ~ "~hruLi(l.t('e[ fr01n what seems ro be m'l UL9r'kIl!Ul,~'n 211phubt.;t t'hat dte \f;;l Wlptr~ >SiD quest ~on,od cannot propedyewepbin.

Despixe dv~: rtry.$t,er~ es of the~,r ("jirugins and purposes, one, !thing' is certai n~ Members of Seven are fun at LC8J1 ln their dri ve to, des troy other varnpi ['~5" Seven be 1 leves it is rhe lostlegacy o:f 3J k h1i__g 'who was w['Ql1ged centuries err even 'mil ientll iJI ago ~ and th~t i rs purpose ~s ito destroy the Damned. Only by re:nq,ov ing the raint of rhe Kindred from rhe world can thev' achieve thetr "Sabba:th~~~ wh:uch dtey I[Undi&fSm:nd as dle""~bUity Ito reclalm rt110Jt lost

: k.il~do'l'OCl,o DeJt~ i Is d i ffe r, SQ me

"'i'fle'it!lJjer$ ~elie"e rhae Il"he 'king .. do~n" s'hait emerge from a ffiysttic CULI::8i!~ whlle otllevs be ~ ieve the kirlgII¢Jijr"i:s. metaphorical, and [h,e~v m;,~ di,~' ~l)0$"e!1 workers of God ~~ \\"u'~ I tti {~lnd'V'e the SCOli][g"e of rh,e K n-idred ftorfli [he world. 'W~thou[ a ~I!i)~]b.il:~' Seven is made U,P of V'8!m~ pirc;s,,' It-$ '1.li~"]O b~rB consu me blood JlI~r.<~$·~:,p,t'!Ji)Y orher undead, and the(a'J~e YIJ,~Hure of thei:r f~Ul(ltic~[ rOJ]~~~ 6m temains unknown,

~hartev,e, the cause of :i ts C:8JUS~ ticihatelbr t'h.e Kindred lJ:;~ Sr;:ven 17si1 '~'r :~:ruipi"(f. "];-E: knows th a it rr he ;~ ~~Pt;td.;~c :I,ftr,~e sees no eli fre:rellce' : lkef~elu eli: 'and i rs ~,l?i.lt:ed 'fo~s ~ :50 i"n" Pt'8.c.1jo~'.5 whae amou HIES 1[0 a

Masqu erade as wel], ] 'l: doesn't bli'11i1.ly ~eap mto conflicr ifit feels 'ur ''i,voIJJM 'be doomed - it chooses uts, fights c: 8Jre·:f~!l1 Y SlO that it can gain as manv ~Jdv811 rog,GS as rO$~ sible, Given its. relatively small numbers, 'Overt 'CO,tlf1 itt. \'l,f~,lth groups o'f Kindred is rare I but 110[ 'U nheard o{,. Assasslnat ion~! rnurders ~~nd scealrh tactics are more suited to Id-IL,e covenant's capsb n i,~ 'tt ies i but cons idermg Seven to compris ~ n orh i ng bu [ 1"1 end j.s'h skulkers sorel y underesr] mates its " ~b'u~j~~,es. Too ~.nanv Kindred have mer rheic end ar rhe claws of a coterie of Seven aft,e:r th'lnki.r"g ~'he killers descroved,

II'

..

cxc-ept~,onaU-~~ :Ufflculr. :for some Kind-red to accept, The Kindred relauonsh up with fauth is an odd Olfrl.c. Their existence serves as -s!am,dent proof at least to most of rheru, that some-

\S!JIJ.!,e:i(W.l:Ors· w.l,-\ abilules th~'t .. efy th~ng llliusrt exist 'beyond the realms of S-(.h~~iL1JCe. Most vampires

mot k'~bw them, the Kindred are do believe rbar, yes, some sort uf God or higher power must

~~eiEli[~~~~i~~1mm'ydl~. ~egend '@ind ro[~~re., Most lfrL\OfEals 'w()!!.d;d exist. To ~(trr:ibw.~:e· tK I] j·r:tt an iinn~H:e benevolence and sense of

~~lti_I5J~~_[j,f~t)!e .. su:.~1l i$ed] ~~~n~ to ~e.Mll. dlfltr vampires rhem- order howe ver, as mose re U,g ions, do, is sDmethir:Lg ~I e en ..

~I~~ ~':ib'a'~: , . -- dr Q~l'Jl m)' [~~ and [,egends. That, in fact~ the ri'i.ely. Few vampires UUl'iJ accept what tl1t;ey are I ,or even the

m:.e)t('f~i~rtion,of~flrd:ued ~~'rro:ry' iSf:ltnown onl.}' in. [he blurred verv existence of ~.'Ll_ei·r. race. Call. t~': s 'IL_ .,. the W':)!["L ()Ir a kind ,'l~, .. '

_,.J !i-, d ~ "'f ,1i:-'M t··· "1' , b ..JI i, , ..., ~J. .iiLw. !J,__ ..... '-' iK,1;'

ana :C!l~~rorre;.: O['I'1I1"'g:' rnyt~i; '.' orra :'tWl uanon y ano ,~arge de~tyi one 'whol¥anrs on~,v what's best for- Hi. ere .• arions] M~ny

, ~~t'andSj [s past:far. bed;:eI than rhe Kind.recl do their own.

... Kindred hd~e'l.re ·in. God, in some form or f~shion. Nor so nunlY

seems iUogicalt:~at :fi:~ii glance. The Ki.ndr,~J are, fo:t all of rhem consider HIm. worth W'O! bipping~ howe ere

~;if,if.l!';ii'''fS, and pur~O$~, und~in,g. S~:IT,ely, some of rhern experi- Consider as 'well -he inh.e[!;,ent I~'!,~,~ceptive and. mal.lipul~,~

:;BI[\~:<I! [he~e.histoddl e.v@xs. ftrsr:handl. Morrals m.ust )j'e]y on rive nsrure of [he Ktndre l Rare is rhe vampire who hasn't

writeen records and'~J;(.ha~€l,h)giclll evidence tAJ piece ~Q{"~E:h@"r. made lyi ng and decei _ ~. common, practice. So what :if The

buts. of the p'ast~ but it ,~ho~[d be possible for the Kil'ld['ed to Te~~.ament of l...o.n,ginus :5~lyl$ this is true ~ [htJlf tis not, and that rhe

simply ask someone who was there .. Shouldn't [tl Kindred should 'hehave £hus.~· Ri~es oJ me Dragon says ih,e exact

No. As ~e KJ:ndred age ~ .:bey find they need f4;\T ntJ)~''e po- 0IlPO~i,~. Wh,d's to -S'fly Wl10 actuaUy W[(OOO any 'book that puts

tent blcodto survive, until t'hey (all fhrully fe~d on ty on. other (orth an origin for f'i't1,e Damned 1.' The Kindred ha"i,7¢ I1Jorhing

'\fOmp:ir(!s. 'iIh~s inevirabl ~li dri ves rhe Ki:ndil:;..a lnro torpor, ei- 'but [he word of other K~ndled Ul trace any rumoe or "~'I iting

the'[·vob.rr~li:~ri.ly, 'with the 'nntentio;1'ii ofslurnbering long-enough 'back to a g~,ven, source, Few' Kindred ·~lc.C'~P·L even. the most

for the 'b[,~~d to tJ:l'in]. or invo~.Yomra:~ due [0 s'hup]_e lack of 'minute piece of informa(i:on at face. V~ lue if i was gi ven them

available ~li$tenance., by another il1unplre" Why should WIR~diJ,ing $'0 major as the

..:,: I K' d- ,j d 'iV" Il._ 'Il •• d origins, beliefs and . ven Vtl[P0S:M of their race be ~'JJti.') di.ff~l'''

OlTUlg . .tOF.po-r, t :1~ ,1[1 rea ream. vi nerner It is ue to

some 'illl.y.stfcallink throug'h the Blood rhar connects at th-e ent;'OfCOilL e as \\ itb many things in t \e R~qtmiern, the fi'rra~

undead, orsornerhing iRhereiif.1ii:l rhe vampirie rnll(" all K:il'~" arbiter 'is the Bl.oal i~~clf, W'hLi~ enforces the T[fld~Xi(.ml5i more

d:reJ tend to ex _~'e["iencc similar dreams- That is, t'h~}r experl- '[horough~y and eJHdenti'y than, ~'Oy insri urlon ever could,

ence all they hav~ done and all. they' have seen over and over. ThllS, =',lJre the m'ajadty of Kmdr.,oo d-iv:ii~~CJ ineo dbtinct eamps,

again, The images continue unending, inescapable - and. The Laacea Sanctum c nd lts long-time 'par[[iJcr in the pos ~

ever-changing The Kindred dream of evenrs pasr~ bur never Roman ill[.['~nQelll the rll.VknllS~ bel ieve that T/te re.$~(.!lnem -of

. see them ~xac~'~y as tih.ey were. At rhe end of ~ mere two or .l.mil,g1hus represents the truth, or <3lt. least a. good approximerion

eh lee decades in (0 rpor, a vampire ha~ 'aJ. sl ighrl Y skewed oJ ~t~ and the Sancrfled modif)r d'i.~iir be lavio.i and Tel~ious

1iI~-eil~OtV' of his entire Requiem, Af~~T' cenrories of slumber, an beliefs acror.d·ungly~. (I'll must be sa.idl! hO\vc'lle'r., [hat the InV'K:tus,

elder's 'memory m'ight bear- [~.rrk~ more dum a coiockienral re- 'pay'S the~ beHJ~f$ llp service: Dlt best when th,ey eon e into con-

semblance to hlsrorical [net. 11kt 'w[d~ nilerobe~tS" own iureeesrs, M-os[ or ~h~ time Invictus

This means that for e \.'e[~' R.irtdR.~ who 'W Itnessed an e ent Kindred seem not to care ar all.) The Ordo Drncull'tu iu; m n

f:l rsthan d, there exists a ~Jighdy (or not so ~,]~ghd y) '!Ival:~ped writ, Rite-s of me D:rog{)l~! tbar, \7i.~hU~ 'it doesn't rule Quit rh ~ pes ...

. accounting of d'l~x event. No sin,gRe Kb[1:dred Ct!11 possibly 'ko.O"w s~'bih[~~ of [he· tOOf.!'inU8 theorr~ (;e[t~:unl "l dC>e$tl.'t requ~Ie it 00

.. the e~:l ire nllch of a sp&i{k era or oc:cunenc'e .. Nor Ca.f!. CH.U" male its QI!,~'Irn, po:drion '\i-1]lid". The Circle of []he Crone rnrely

,side iIlvestig~,t~ofi ~1J'e:1i 'piece trDged1L(~l" the 9£.l:l,xa& nm:h fr.om bocl.l(~rs with :formal 'vork's of ~a:~:t].piIic, o:rij,'i(it~ relvh~g h1:5tead

Iruiny diff~F'etl:r ev,cnts~ as ,ead~ 'Kinch-ed. Ii. obso]ute-'ly,certain on oral tf'.&d[tions. ml· ,olde:r thilrll e~l"her dlii!' S~tl1Cti'fE ~~n; or rhe

thj (hi .... ef.s.~O!tl. of everllts is the oorre"'Ct one and ~s highl y un~ Dmgons~, O~ :ters [>eject s\lcn pastula ion on the origBll.$ of dlCii

likel:y ro accept anyone else's ~.S more aCCUrfite" 'kind as utrer]y nle.3lni:ngless~ fiction or [''JIl'opaganda pemioo by

The Kindred m.1.J$~ tlterre(o[',e turn to. mY'thology~ ancient he.. IL1awpuha;riv,@ elders for lhel[, OW[il iIDSc.fui"ab'~£ [,)Ull:>OSes" Ver;y

I.iefs ~nd wuutten. records passed do'wn th:rouglil. the ages and fe'!t~; vRLupures full in~o [he '~;rlidd]e grow1.d. A~. ~. whole·, Kindred

g'C:H"I1e.l'ationo$ ,even ~s -morta.'~ writing'S have heen. Seme 0'£ these tend. to eidfter believe "rrong[" it) one myth 00[' none at alL

'records contain d,eluetlt'$. c.-Q~'fi:rm.i.ng ('lite :rne:I1~CJrie::;; of m~t!.!l:~ •. ,d..-!~ I"', .. :1/ (\ " W /

ieldef~; 8l~ffident com;monalid,es to suggest d-mr- ~Jr [Gas!: so.me - ._. ''I tY~4~ ~ ~ A:)&i~~

of those. ntL,era.oFies, are pr:anidJily a:C:CtlIHte, :'IS wi{.h [the be.gin..· T ),e' fi\i.~h .. i5,POl!~ b,~ K~ndred w'ho dc, find one of 'du~ mafif

I1Jlngs of v~Jn.pi1~(; soci~ty in Rome. O~hers c,om ~ from thnes : rtheoTues 'parricub:1'fly po·ignant. or r.esol1amt is ;sO pr.c\ra!ent that

II and places that nQ 'modern v-amp'il',e 'CCln c]"1I,im 'EO have· wit'~ Lr :1185 s~wned luany of the vampire [a'l.~I$, ad:;no\'\il,~gf ~ ami

r'lle$.:)ed ~ 'r.hO$ 'ITO'miing ·tthe only .;ml'vi ving recurd.. A:s to 'Ii'i!h.ether obeyed even hy th~e who d,011 ~t acce.pt Cl. g~ven ph~.lo${)!1iW~

they should, h believed, weU OQI~~ the lfiOS- shfilnel~'iSlyn~rve dogma tl$ g01)C1. Fpr instflllllCle, the t'h'ree- formal Tradition" b).·

'~ndiv id~a[ wmdd hO[Je that: th,e Kindred mighJIi: ev.er corne 't',(ii wh.id~ almo$1!: an K.iMl',ed society ")p'~ra~~s are 'rnruJ1ci8JteJ. alfUl

··un.~versal accord OIl that score. siPeJled. Oln in (purport'ecUy) Lon.gi.m.ls,i o'll.n words as wel:l as

These. ;;U'lcJent texts ~It,e ,e$~tu~iaU:y fhe bas:.is for v~rious Kin .. , [hose of ['he n(n~"~defoo(:t Camatri.n.: . M:8ny local tnulitioflrS are

. (h·ed 'rdig~0118 or ~t le-~;s.'t creation In ·ths, as lhe Bible! th~ Ko", ali${) ins'pir~(t though less, diltec.dYI' 'by paS:iage-s ,front d,e' Tes.t~~

'ran aJ."Ird others fO'fm the hasis for many hU,l1larL f~ i ths ~~m,ld ~:ffi rnent. (See 'p. 74· for 'more O'n. fue T.racHtions.) The' ~1asque~~

in par~kil!br is, Orterl toured "lIS, fjj prime example of LQingi:m~~'f l,lIWil\ofll:'lJ and fOi:'§i~h[. His followers lruIi,intflJi n d\at of d~,e P,W" ~fJJit'O:r could foresee the need fur the tK ]tld:r@d ~'O hide from WIiO'wlisi even ~l~lk; ',"~h'ell the I i,V:UiLlg did not outnumber the liliudead to 'ne~:rFbll[he exrene tt11CV do now, then s'l!I'I!iy 'hi;; other ~om,mflit!Jdrrilen~' are equall y wise"

On the other hand, [UaJ.W 'regiQn~!l groups ofrhe Circle of the .c'rone draw pr-e<:epts :h:o:m CU lwres and mythologies tthat existed lon_g befme the CnJlcinxi.on~ or entlrel)1 tndependentlv of'[t. Their OWIl d'Loologie~ have devdoped oQ(tlclJrr-em:ly with '~he ~~m~ lin)~, .. ~ttons at' the Kindfmd!. form that mem bers ,of dle; Lances Sane~m experlence. To their r(lind~ even if Longinus dld exlsr, his

-«,., .~ "!'~-m' '....-. 1'" - .... ,;. r""'" 'U:"','t':-~iQ' his :" ..... "n'I';"I~l:""iI"':i'II""!~' ,d' i"'~>n in ''iAi'r'tten

~!~I)II.'~ 'I,.~~!., ~'!J HU L,L'E VI..:J..:I """''- U"Ilb; n ;]> 'V!J\I, ~ u ... ~ ~""'''''l . _v ~ _~ ~~ ~ ..

rNmJ nO'E ,e;n:plai['ijing the ge:n?si$ o( tJl.t,e Kindred.

]J!.i0i?fise, the Ordo Dracul ,doesn't .J~,y dlt::~ L1ilgin'LlS (heery oormilie:li"(:'orroOOr'MeS it, ~f i:t'$'(")\~'T1J creadon m.,¥Ell'l is 'true', If Dracl.1la~ I ennanee to d'Le KmdreJ wO'~d h:Thpl')et1L€d. win:hm][ a sire, 00 could Lon.ghlt~'- ~iLld so-could thatt: ofanYQIl.e before thHli~, whose name

€If dced~ the Klndred themselves dio 110~' refn~fnhe[.

FULthe[ f!.lIudklying l:Orldtoo:~<; proof of origin me the clans \Vlle~lce' did they ~ak'll: dle:ir namesl Who were d1.eirpro,gtnitQn:l Gid ['hey 311 'hail. from rhe same place} O[ did they arise indepen .. dlen.d~ m:~ngH[ig OL1[Y tn the, rdatuvdy rwe~~iC nl~,t"noi)" of a worM thalf ~. far older thsn al)'yone ;~l"lS~'"CtS::1' Clans ol:)V~m.lsly predate the oo~erwnt$,] bur. do d':H~:}f aU, hsll :r1'O'L1l the same .vertlod~'

Th~ questions lU1V'e: 110 answers, of course, j~!SIt like [hOSIl::, ~kir~g the origins of the Kijl1dt~d. rhemsel ves, None of. the 'D]"Hltt{:[' is eminently provable ,_ or. so it 1m3 'been to date. een~iiJ.l'~Y Kffi(itw, w'i.ch '~i[h~ drive or the burning desire eo ~nl1w ~ea<selesd,~ research the orig ins of their kind. Hidden ft:1TIples ~n forgotten lands, dO'I!'ii)~i'l':Js older t.'~~}l'i1 '1,ii.i,Stor~ 2tC .. ' kno'-1Jledgesj, '~~b~ndQt!!.~d havens beneath cities ruined long ~go\' ,~~~ ofil;1he.se and more house relics that have the p()te[ilru~,1 I:() at"IS~'!,\I~r the ulrimate questiou of why ~'h~' Kindced exist, Then a.gaiQ~, they ma,,, sbn:ply ,eog'ender a dif.ferent quesdo[il ,. _. or p:~~p8 ,the, ~Ui!~W~[ \V@S ;ilCV,@;u. meant (~ 'be 'known.

;0 '(\, fJJc--I 11 l(_~~' '®T"'~ 7(. &r[,~~

''T1bt L81nrea SEU.1.CU'Unli of oo'n"Se'~ 'is t]liB mo..;'r dooely ~nd oh~ 'viurIS~,Y. Hl:1ke.d to t'he C[e'iltion StOFy of a nleffii~U1UC fmmder.lvlem~ ber.s C<irl:he C£)\~l'iJalllJt ~YS.tJ~Uy ll1terpret Tile Testtf~1."Cm of !.o.,n.@inu$ ~n h:s m~( literal sensc1 and San.tdfied P[ie$irS Gf~,elJ. carry cop,. ies of p~ages~ if :not the ,entire text its'eif" ,lOr conQucring d,:t~l ~ ak The oo'Vel~al'!.~$ 'w,~rdoJ~~ ottef!l, tp)'Q;te' from, The Tesr.mrnml'.fJf lu~W~~!i1S before (or ~v.en during) 'battle" eM~:lTIcing their re:p!J;L'; lair.iOt'L 1mmnog the otlil.~Y factions 'as fervent!; cha~,npion$.

TIle In",knli5~ in~eqJre~,tiQn of ~:I!<<; urigj.tl, is less rigud but no Less lllnpa:rt®nr lO lh..c:: ro1Jen~n:i.t. 11:1C ddets of the Fil'$!t E~t81te, yre ~I!!,~n~ p~gu from Tf~e T fjimllell~. of Longin1iS' = [ef~rence.5 to r:tile ~ ~Iest'~ accarnnpIBsl"LmetltD, of wm~ da!(i..,'S ,over' ocl~t~l":;:"

1md dbe·lmke _, to justt~fy their po~~tiOJi, 'llill. :~e~it.r~rs of the KJndn~d, oon:mIJ:.miWj~ It is tI..oci-ting 1~&9 [han divine l'igllt !that rh.ey' 'lul.e lh~iiT drn~l'aim, and wLU e'l!,t,entLl9_Uy rule othef5. It is ~urD'~i'kely 'E~~a!E l£t\' 1M:Uev,e in dlliJ Qll10)11 wid), ani,¥, ,de.b~e: of'rrne; {;;dth, but rni~h certainly '!,~\GW the hii.U'm~rt ()'rr tl~B era, from w'hid'!J, mm·e th~11 c8! few eJd~ b~il~ and beUef.' i.n a h:~gheT' power ~,W€TS ["fHlJrtJ1y qu~~ t1oru; [har rol, tlrn:lat'l!.1irnl~ deathl-ess ,exi8tell'OI;! pro'vQ~k~.

T~~B Carthlans (m1iI~, to some degree, b.':i.dependem: Kindri(¥l) o:rt~en, share a somewhat cYllii.Qtl inte.tpt,lf!;n'u:~uon of Ole OdgUl the species. Nanr:tel}\'1 that i'[, ~.s a tool used hy those in powel' to oppress those ',,"vho are not, This isn't to SiI,}" that no' rrnemhe:rs of . rhe covenant believe un a creation tlliVth, Of' tha.: they dD[1Ll~ 00.Ue~r,e in it de v. f:iudy" A gte~,t l'rrmny of them do, They simply 'be- ··~I. lie;ve ~:!h'JJlr [he 'KitKiood can't necessarily expbir~ w'[10 t.he fitst ''if~lrul'" p~r~ ''i.V'~J' or that even :if a sJngle lKll:m:ked proved, the orig.in of the ~~

. species, tc came as, a result of divine interv(j).ttU(m" Longinus 1,¥LOSt likely did nat even ~rihe: ~'l'ti~i book i~if~ and even if he didl , &y.ste:Lm of order th~;u: \~votkoo, at the dawn of civ iHzation are :shnl [A.y i.narppli.cabLe to the modemworld, The,y pom"t ttl 'it9itiOU$ {)I:h~r ~~1Ehoiogies1 p~rtkuhlfuly there uph.ekl hy lOcal Aoo:~y~ and their rnv11. inapplicttb:il,ut'¥ ro the modem stute of the w<):1'ld~ as Proof-ltgl dw;t the Kindred csrmoe aftO'rd. to remain starlc and musr change \

\VI,rh the riffles, desptte their h1ile:_~[1;dy ~ti[)t~hanguog natures,

The en rcle of the Crone, 'n~ru.IaU~~ goes irs own way in all ~ aJbuQn limitl~ )i,'UI'flber of old nlyth.o[ogies, a11d,new H.m!;~Ig®!m.~ ~(lotl!S Cif existing ~nd 'Hew ones. The T~wm1:iiru,.of :LongiJn~j is [[tde' ~oore: than a cerruption of. [he older ways, raueh ;~1iS; the Church adopted pag(J1]. rites and observances unro it'S own body (J( holy day.&. In covenaar members' ~~e.s, [he abuse ;M1d 'impi,~ ous i'fbV()C~1;~l,!)n, of iI!~iha[eve:r rn.'~th they choose 00, invoke is ~ navestv perpetrated UpOIl the Kindred hy blasphemous elders. They cannot ignore the fu:ud'~S or philosophies -af ether Kiodred, ['Or dl,ey have shsped so much 'of Kmdred SO(,iet:y~ bur many con .. sider them the ,~piwme' of {';v,erytll~,~g that's lVl'OUg 'wHh Ki!tL~ Jrecl both past and present, Od:u;[ Kindred believe cha[ vam- I pires have existed since Creation, that t+u;y were part of God ~ - plan f:rmn d~j~ 'begh:i.h:~ng. M,Oi',e shruIiJanisdc 0[' evel'"~ ~1Jec-r()mal"li,~'. ' 'tic vampires often 'believe that the f[[s~ Kindmd W'I2..t'i2 splnts of the dead "lVho,~ due eithsr ro 'h,osd~e sorceries or WIne sort of $p~:ri~l!..I;a.l turmoil, could not deparr their '00d~~, uftte( dtt~th.

For the Ordo Dracul, the qUrMtiQ:I':J. represents borh power and 1'~mir:4tion. ~MafiY of the 'nll}'3lt,edes mastered bY' th€ cov~n~tl~ oerta.inlv have: tth.eir echoes '~~1 dl;e 'ttlVL'f;'~ [ef']ected ~n t11>t varl,(}US ere:'ltto.~ myths", b~H rr.Jh~ g["OU~) as SJ who:~e: ls a bit mm,1; sE:oul:u than m~'n}/ of h~ counterparts. nl'(~ Coils of the Dr,ag 0 iii, ,:'Jfl.d, Q,roer phUooaphy dJon:lit [ely 0[1 pOS:S~gt~, rr0D11 an,y docJlJment~ mu<:h L~ (Hle dl'i.~t r.r;:~t1ires SLlpp':HcaJti,o:L"~ to a pawer h'Rgher ~h~'D\ ~he s~l{ AU I'LlLvdmlogie$ oontaht ~heir sl'1'aJffi of wE~:loml true1, 'lmt in rut er~ of m~,'i'"a(Jes :perfo[',moo by Cf!eatl.u,es ~3 'mYS(er~fius . ~$ the Kundred,t whds to t.:lJhe any ;i:1icc:ount pu_wo:r~¢.dly 'i!Virwtten, 'by any of t'henrn. at 'roC!! 'V;~ilJe'? RHe-s of the' Dragon, can be ,~., ~~~.~, ll[e'Ially or f~uroE~""e[y! a"!]d, ~h.c' r~s~'~h· 'is .stm the S~U"!ile"

Of COlUfSe1, groups fa:r sln-aUel' druu1 the gr~~ c:ovrnall'EQ :Sl~'~. thClJl'i'LSetve-3 ttc.c.ovdil!ig t(l' ~'~,l.'!:: pt'OOe:PlE oh~he lliJrgest of rheh" k ~., ...... -~ ...... J['~~t ~~' ~ll re!'ugi:()fll.S have~ 'Ehe~[' factio11ls and Ctlb,; so 1:00 , ..... ' , """'~iI'h'j, Kindr.tz:d divide Ihe:m.sehres fi]rthoer Milt Some vaD.fIfpir~'J' . ,"",-',u","--."--",,, ;G·l,fCn, ,:i!Ji.'f.Lo:ng the 1 . .;;1Jlcea S~nctuffij ~p~fid ~Ve:FV ~"k:ing I jO[~~~:7'~1i b-cllt1ving ,oo],y ~c mey bel ie.ve' the Te.~m:nD~'~ ool11mm,,],]dd~' Im~ [0, aocept][)_;g it'S ~JUthod~p~\!'-eal oVler that of the ]ocal P.! A.tch'lbu$~h.op~ or. e'\-"en inSi~S[il,1lg that Long~nu.s v,,'fIS, dlo@ fi,nlt · ...... ~1 ... :=:::J.! pire~ histadcal evtcilel'lC;e W the OOllltf'"lLfy. :Many In,vicrus __ pires, fi)r \-'!I;~'!Iom rehgion,1I;l;fOuM Oclle:~Wrire be' a minor conce"[fi best~ (O{l!grc~~ with -rrho-se who sru1J'e the'j'r 'iIlIJ,:fprero~-i" "II ... ..,.~iM":! ,cClnvroki:li.'~ :p:~,~,Hooop:hi'es :as, a nlteans of find~,ng common '~.!!_R.~J.'l~ ,am;Qn.g 'Potend~'~ ~Uies, Some ml,igtm1l£ groups~ ~ften cLe'~'id.I!;~t[$i~r

I ~ .. Ccrerles, ~ti.ol.lSt~·ci.at1Gj ~)[Nen;ili~bts (at: !,e~lSt on a ~oc~l~ level} and ,even r:nt:Ure' dOf!;i~lrn orren 'ally with, 01~ oppose, other such gro~p.$ M~ SO'ld,y an rehgl(.i4Js.(toctli.l"'l.e~ nlesed~'Cfme1:'ts rai~dy erupt inro oPei1·a. .. mflict~ but \\11,en t·h.Ii;!Y do~ they are no Mess f(u~ti.~· ~~l'i'I!nd! no L~ ''i,doEent than lm".~l rd~giDur5 'wars aTIl:lon,g mortals.

It's important to note, at th is point, that mose Kindred m:~~ thd.ogy ~:!l; .rloOt a replacemenr ror r(:lijgion ~ but mth.er an @;J&i~' don- Acol "[e myd,lLol.ogt,es add to Or ada!,)~ fro~n extaru pantheons obs.e:rved by morts 1 eultnres, Those Kindred. who hO(H)[ Lot'Lgil1'1!,:l-$, ~ ~'O object lesson also believe ~n the' God of rhe Abr.ah~nni~ religton, Kindred. are usuall y observant of eheir own {aJt'l:as and philosophies ,8$ wen ~lj Buddhtsr, ,Ol::u;i.sd(Iri" Hindll Or M~,,~~,i !lit bel~efs" ratber than instead of.

One concept [hat a;ppe8J~ OJ1~Y bri€'lily in both Ri~:e-s ill ~'~~ DI'c1gt.m and T1t.e Testa~Jit¢j'I:E oj LcmginHs.;, but more frequently in oihe~t rexrs (indudiil'ii,g d)~' Rokra Veda and Tlt¢ Cyde. of Demeter} is the notion of Golconda ACCiOiuin,g: 'to ~:nych~ Golconda is Wmethi11g of a ¥~nmp'ir;i~ state of enUgilt'ert:Ul1Lelll[" in '~Vllich a Kindred p~rf~cd 'II balances the needs of the &~Slt and his Htmgel' with his can ... sclous mlnd, A Kindred i['[J, GOk:OMtI, does not frel1~V~ does not" ~liLC.C!J[)j1Lb 'to Rorsehreek, and can even access rlbilirri.ai.> rh~l!t are r~orl!rll:l~,I"I av"tihble on I"! to vampires of stLrpaES~llgly potent bleed, Some l~ even ~'lJ.gge.% that ::J vampire 'who :ntwJ~rt;S Golconda can becomemortal oncesgain, "~~e:~pecLfi,c derailshave not and pr,o~b[y CQ~llld 'Il('j(t ever be set down, because GOICOI"Ld.:l~ as a state of being, ~s (Lot only rare, ]rs ml~qHe to those who achieve it. The CNact €iTecc.'i: .of rh~!i higb.c:c st~ie Qf vampirlc existence L~kdy vary from. one vampire to the next,

'Fe1;\" Kindled to,nighr believe in GOk011d~~, CD[l.~iderjn~ it ~U:: wor.sr ,a my.u.u or mi5~umsbltio~,1~ ~nd at beSt an ~nd~cator of how r"digkms K,unJ.red. S:hm~M conauc( thtlril~'h"~" as {)ppos~d to' '(lill ~\c:t!Jil gml!l 'to be ~("JtievecL SdH~ a S(':1~t f'e\~l Kindred S~rive lTI find thL~; 1~,g€l'l(ktry ~rfuo1; ~~ate ofbabl1oe~ seeir~g in. it rhe proln,,, :iise of:rndefL~i)'[~on~ Or ~t l¢~~~ ,e.5(ilpe ·f.roJn ali, ,ere~nity of. need - il state:,ar_being' that ce]t.a~nlyround$ an w\!I,i'ful kli1; like, redempt~ol1.

To thQ~ wh.o see beY'oaJ the pk .... il$a1:liE, .. S®€llfli.ng 'COiJn(i;t:l[~on.s of GoLQj(nd~~" ~ 'h-:ighrel1:ing coI1sidet'artion li.e5, bemeath the SlIr,. (;:u:e. A vampire in this St;;lf.~ doesll~ t1ece;ss~lJ(ul V 'beoo!tf'l.e '~n k:~",I(I' I nd~~d", ~dr1£los)t. the' op~$ite nlight be tnH~. A vam,pir,e wh.o aJdll,e'lt""e~, Ookond~l 'nll:~.ght 'w,eU he OI.le of d1e mO$t fea:l'Some crearnret1 allothe1: IK'indrr@d coukl~ hope w m~~t~ ~s b.ef roll~ is in ~lJ peEfect sroJte of balallce ~~~![I~. r~ w, i.klJirN,piris:m .. Go~con(b

miiglH not be <"3, stare of natural serenirj, but could instead elevatc one '[0 rhe .s~~tlJ:~~ of <11, CO~~,S'I,II~:nrnat'l; predator.. In nature, a wolfand shark are 'both ~n nme w~~h W'~b:;'t t'hey ~:re:I' and a. crea[111m ''IIvith 'H~.o1,e cognltlve sbil ity than 'these kH,i:it1g mac'h:~n~ ~n~~lH 'be mere r.etror than saint.

.. ( ..

PROPHETS AND 'ORACLES

lNlo d r ~t:lu,:ssi on af vampire fnytho,t(') gy "V!J'oulld be comph~te mdtnO'Uft ~ mention of ,;3' pa rtkular gr,ou p

otif IKij no red ocru It' ists, ~ k,f';III'~'~: ~"""d: - .~ r'- : Ii.-."",:*' II;, :

. __ . __ , ,;>I~,;I\i ;;. 111 .... I;;!I!.~ !:'!I! I ~ OP~h~I!.S WIIIO

miig ht be II ittle more than myth, ' -

They ,alFe ca II~d the Mo.Jrai end are :said to !be a b!JoodHn~' unto thems-eiveS:1 ibh,cug hi 'from wnr,dl! dan

the m'i tilt d ,'.' A ' .. ' .. ' - *"'" ' - - - .. ' ' __ '.' 1"',;1-" .

","'I ,I 'QI_ i,_ .• escenc !$ 'OP~'!1 v,.dierIIO'U~ SPElCUI ot!)id on"

(Co m mo'n mytti ollo.g)l ascri bes th eij r ~ i neagle: to ~rth~r th~ lMe~kh et ,or the [)'aev4 but more obscu re leg'end-!j Iii nk them to etb eil" el ;a:ns. or ,even 'to a Kindr,~d 'ff.ami IliaJI gl!"OUP now II,orJlgl flo rgottell,)io

it ls said that 'the M,o i'r"3 r hQlv~ '$iome:hO\lV k;e P't records fro m befor~ th ~ n ug hts c·t Chriist, that they hav)@ 1iound some w.ay to resii"$"t 'th~ dreams of to r;po ran d have rna Ii nta ii n ed th e i' r ell d e rs' m emo ri es or ag~~ p,a:~ t. 1tl! ttil posses; hid d ~111 ~i bra ries of oceu It lore to, arouse the envy of; any Mek&-il!2t or Dr.ago'o, ,A~d sua ng est of all, it is sa iid they hav@,th'e! ,gift of pm phecy ~.nd eraeu ~ii:I!I' 'Vision. They know not mere ~y th ~ past, b ut a lso the'

. 'Pr~enrtt an d futu roe, of every !Kiln dred to w.a,l k the EarUt S!JP posed~y v,a r more common in ag,tlS, Pifil$~, th ~y were deemed mad by ott! er !!lamiPire~ due to the ir v i sl en s a n d pr,o p h eciss, ,a n dI a II eg'e diy' ex.terminated. ~l'iIdeedj f.~ t{'i rid-red .aw.a~e ton i'ght eQirne$tliy' ella im to h~\I"e kn owi;llIglly met ,a nyomi of this my,stelrli O'U:S, blood I lin e, and It7!iH,)S,t v:a m ~ vre$ cons! der them Ion 9 'glolfle CJ<r a myth that never exii~ted· ait alili.

And Y€t some rt::Jnd red rna i'ntanrtl th.trt the IMoira i 'wen:!~ true proph ets, su rehl tney weu ~d haJ\i'e SE:H~lI'i their own end (omiln;g~ and 'sure'ly they would have taken step~.1so hIde t h~ms;~'I'ves.; away., whiSl're no nle coo I d ,ev~r 'TcWJd them .. ""

\lai,ltp,~'ro &Oc:i,ety:" such ~}j. ~t :h;;~ wmdd JlfL'v·e funen. lmdel' its own weigh'[ :~ong ago' w'¢'l"t i I: :no·t for the ties that bind it to~ gedler. Lilc ~ny sod,e~y~ tthc Kindred, WQ:rld Sil.r~vi.v.~ on t~..e rules ,est';;l.bl~hed fi:nd, agreed t~pon bY' its resid'ent~. V~ll!iipire ~~~:8I\llS'f ;}lr.e even mOre essen~i;;Ij[ to the :sodel)p [he.y c.onc~rn

bec~usJJ;; of the' n~tlu"~ ,of that society. The: K indrcd are I.ll~ rIl~.~:ml;liIJt.ive ~d Uen. ~.,.,ll(;.;se mutlWl[ ~mrvt'l!1d depends 0(11 t'heur ~bill'" 'i.t-y '[0 g·tH: along 'w'ell e-ncugh to [f!!t!'(li~'11 .suffi.d.end y hidd.en from Itlle leyes of 'their p:L·ey • .As COliServati ve ,CovenantS a:~e -t.om) ,of say h'lg. ~aw lessneils ~mong rh~ m:ldc:ld i:s [1 e!"haps, the gN~,:atest 1t'b:roB.t fa.cing tlte KiD.d red tonighc

As;.:\i. re:S!;;llt~ the KI'Lidred have :a h0dy of'ilampir·e IfJW'S kIK1"~il i.¥ (he Tmdi'tiol1.!S.. TIl~ r.htee Il'HJ.Sf '~~flpOT~n,1t of th~ b"ws are c~rl· OlL3[Y YI.li\"ersal, given tlla.t no co:~nmon or.lg~'n ~tor'i 'is atte:pted

far (be Kindred. They are irIr1i.W:lutab]e; rules of the Blood, passed down as liquki truth b1i" \v,ay of the curse of llmde~.d1i and are bafdn'~'red inro the very physiO[og)r of e:he ~ a~d. Uporl due El~brac.e:I' eaeh Kindr~d knows each of these bl1,:VS i11t1lt~t'i\r,e~.y,.

Beyond the Trad ltions are he less QffLd3.1 ~ more fallible ensroms tha' arise within Kindred societv over time. After ~'f14~lth .. efil"L.g GBiUU!t,e,:; IJJJPon centuries of at [,ea'<;t nominal adherence, a few of these customs have becom,e unofflelal traditions of their own. Some of these latter .. day law are provincial, in ouriook m unique [0 a particu lar dan or region, while others are observed onlY' w ~.thhl a psrticu b11T' 'C(pic.n:i'l.n:r of Kindred, 1111'-ee of them in :PflI~;C ular are considered nearlv 3S important as the TtTIld~itm.rOns ehemsclves, but \i\'ithout dl.e fundamen ~l COrtJ nection, They merel y S~·l\1'~: ro further gird and bolster societ.y as the Kind[,e,d In.ow it. Each of the l'i'ad itiotls gav,1ti rise: [0 Que such custom, and each is discussed !I~t,tr [he relevant law,

A gre.a~ lUaJn.y of the Kindred r.ake che' Tladirtons ~;o hesrr, Orhers justtify tt'hem beyond "Thars how d,:[r.bgSl have a]wo,:{s, been," wn:i:le,stiU others accept them blindly as part of rhe Kindred condi(fort. Klndred who ha"ore studied such things often sueeest th~t thoo:g'h these pllys[6~GgkaL cond'it'iOl"!.5. ha-ve e:X'itlted fot as longas 'tt\02 KhKhed themselves have, the actual t\foir]ing of me T:rad:it:io:n6 ~ the)' aJ[e uadetstood romghe was one of the efforu of [he now. efunct C·Jm:illIli'~b\. This is the: most lvkieiy accepted theory. Par .. tlc:uhrrly fcrv-en~ members of dle l..rJr.nJ:'e~1 Sanctum, urou'Lu:priMnglYi sometimes claim d~3Jt me a>CQJ.'l.: 1 oodlflcatlon of rhese customs i-$

fT~.·· i' •• , .• i..::l O.J . 1 "to .

pat( () u.nlglnwr mIgm.~ uogm~ .. " .1!,.I;,et ~cnp'rLlra , qr_l.l9su .. relgJotlS

Or phHo.sop.rucal 'wordiJngs 31$0 exist, such as those held by the Il'iI);ffibern of i.hJ:; hoor,y Circle of the Crone and the Ordo Dracul, hm me core idleas or the Trad itions remain un .. changed, True "hertries;",) against the lows ct ~~] Ki:ndlt.~ei 1 were fe'\v and far between in th~ early 'OJighxs. of 'rlle: Damno 1. Det,'Pire' thei[ differe~lce:s hllIlJ ~)~ had lrnanY}·t 1ll.OM: of the Kindred '~~'f,~ in agreement about ~;hat·woo and was not a gocd idea for their kind, ~ed~lny '''r,b.e·n ~ .. .ro\'\'O 'OOdmfS lollci them l't'~las so. Ther mi grlt dI5'a.gr.~ ~ on. dlOOry cr. implcll\entatian~ or ev"'en on b~i(. :pt,ttept"S~ but few argued wiltbJ. the 1fw.fu.dom of such uIJ!Lmlla:t'{}\1.CltLh~e !,aws.

• • •

'~-. - '4;.

'.) .

):,

THE F]RSI TltW1T]QN:: MASOU[ERADE 00 iOOt, reve'Q I your true flIawr'E!' tOr thos.e not ,of tl1e H3~ood.; Doing so·f;orieit5 you youfclaim t'o the B~o>od.

T' H'E" ~"'CO: iN" D I'1) ii, '[)[TIO' "N'" p'~. ~G' 'C'NY'

. .:- I, ~.;:;)lr. .. - : , I ~~ ~ :., ,',_ . !II .' nu ,"'.Er .

5i re.:tiI Iilother <lJt the [peri'l ,of: botlh you rself an d yol,~U' progeny., Vf you create a ch i Id e. the w'e;IQlht ~s your own t-o bea r.

T:HE IHl [lID) TRADIT]ON; l\11'.ARr\N11i 'You are torbi'dden from devouriilflQ the heartsbloo.d of alfll Qt.he r of yo ~ r kind.. [I f you vi 0 I ate th i·s ;;:oml1ii~ndme:nt.r the ffiteas,t (a[lls tb your own B~oQ~:L

Arguably the $'~l1gle 'rooS!: ~mpoDt~lliJt .aspect of Kindredl Wcil ety woddwide is 'the firs!: 'Tra:dtdollL; that of the ~~a~q~eQ1d .. Wilh1J~lt itt the ";$ isrence of vamphes ::unong the CanaiUe:

wou'M. '1.u'uikLy come to Ug'ht~ putting the uol i f~ of ehe entire race in jeopardy Given K~,n.dred feeding habit'S, the world of mortals lWJldd never ~,Lltdefs~a.'nd Of permlt their continued .<",'"C,""",,,,,, presence, Ir wO!l;u~.d be: a pogrom dle likes of whidt bas 'nat heen sine "" the fiery nights of the Span.ish Inquisition ~ when] morral \\ trch-hunrers 'first proved hO·'!."Il un·~t~! and latch. were a match for even the u:nciead,.

Before the dawn of d~ modern era, rhis T raditlon was :s.:~g· nificantl "I' ess enforced, and in some cases, even scoffed at by' .

" the more haughrt [and (00'1 ~sh) among the mld~~._d. V:an.ltpm:tes of old cJl:;Ji\JJd ffeel y 'roam their demesnes, ([(luru:ing [hei'r dsm .. nat ion 'before the remfted mer als who huddled. in ~he dark at [heir feet. 'No phones existed wirh which 'the kh1e could call for help, 1,;,1il',h nobody 00 call e'en if there were, Once upon a l ~mJ.~, the Damned rmly' 'were lords of the n~,gh[.

an: ill: is a cliH~r,~nt time now, (II dUreren'!.I,o'orM. Mortals could not '(lin in 'fear of [he predators cu:nong die!)) foT'~ er, As the UV-'H:[~g world gre'~v 'and a.dv~i1"[ .. xd, til,c world of (he undead shf'illlk. . Tonight, ~t: L~ a sma'H ''i.>v 0 rid , indeed f. fou the Damned - but only h-otn [he outside. Although he planet j.tse~:f is.l~rg- ·[Y un .. changed, the mortals upon i[ aye nnarter, more advanced and . , more rannerous than ever 'before. And nmvl rhe advent of the Internet ~.11.d wireless COlnmllll1u.ea'don has brought each mortal thst much closer [0 rhe rssr, putting the entire '[lvfasque!lld~ a£: risk with 'b!!J~ rhe touch of a burron, The Daniinec:l~ 38 powerful as rhey are, have: never been so exposed or '1l!.,1 ~n~[:aibl,e"

~ ,

G h en this precarior s state of :arffuir~~ breaching dl·· Masquer .. ade is usually viewed as. one .of the '~llJ)s~r gr!evous transgresslons one: of tthe Kindred can commit, D~p'~nd:ung 011 the: Prince, 'more cbmagin,g breaches Ca[1. be v iewed as grounds tor the Htl1iJl Death of the rrsnsgressor, and a number of Princes have amassed no small anrlLount of l1oto!dety fair thch unw3.vern.ng er~for.ce'l'l1ent-of this rule. TIl[s'1 then, 113~ become :SJ source of heated debate 'in Kindred circles, due m [he siUibjecrlve narun of such determil1fltion,$ .. Some Pr.inces are not above YSlng ~he M.c;l.Sql·~ef'.ade i:~. j n[st~:fi.carion fCH: d:tl,e 'iternoval of political 0Pljol1ents~ ~nd th~' who, dWl ;[eas~ ~, Prince l:ru..iS[: be car·e.rul ~lOOut how they a(;~ !.n.' publk 41_11d \~har CUmp7tlny ther k,eep.

'.) .

T'Hf LOST'V']SAGE

DI~'Spite the t~..rrible 'fate ·that·would befalll the Ki t:1dlFiad w'ere' ·th@ir @ixi:)'it:ence to b~ uncov~red. m,e

[M as.,q[lIerade co.nt~flI ue,s t,o h o.ld fal~t Pa rIt of ..... ~~.:.;::;;

n~ason n~5 i nthe fact 'that the Curs@ i"tseH has tthrl.~ Daffii'il,ed ·a m~an$ by which the'y (all better uphold the' MatSq !JelFade (allld~. thtls~. hide thenflse.lV'e$. from mortal :5 (imtiriy). .. U pon r~c~'l\i'i'ng the Embra.rC-ef. a fl,ed'gll~ng v(unp~n:~~s reflect~on begins to' fa' e. ,awa.y; Afte'r ri"sii ng for thie th "rd ilugiht ~ n a row 3$ al . ~~ot:~ vamprre·~ the. dhange iis,eo.mpIOOe.1 !"1;suIIUng i'n ,a :lA), ·11Ii. ~.~ ~;i(=;:-::: of bl urry oc.cllusion of the Killidred IS imaJge in a n.y re'fllecHve su ria,(e, Qr med ·um., Ther,e·fo n:~, vamp i ref T@aitur,E!s do not appe~r n 11 pho,t:ographs olr on vide·o (though vo('aJl recQrdi ngs ,a re tlrlaffect~d). Kii nd red .

(an oo~r;ter<irt this. at5.pe,ct of the (Li rse "tJrro1u'gh an ~ffort ahlViilll (whkJh o.;~soli'diifii,e$J'I. thei'r imaJge iii! anY' .. ~S$~m;?. r'9,f!ed:rive, slUlrf.a,ce}~, but the' effect usually lasts 0 l,or a blriEff' d ur,ation. fA \1'.21 m pilrels, vi'sag,e' I I

...., ... ,:~""',;.._~ Another Jb:ng .. 'S~1odingJt[;ad.hlo1ll is the right of do!t1L'k1Jin. hi. n·tghc:s past~~when th~ ~6re more spread out than ('hey are now! K~ndl~_I st~·k~d.·dain\$ eo vast amounts ·of tenit·ory. \ifh.cn dj~p'lJr,e,s arese, tine resuhs were a,fren bloedv, as the undead squabbled .. ~~tth. one another over 5li,t]'hVj h(Jth l'~~l f~nd pe[~

I cei ved, O\l'¢f nme, civility demaaded thac rhe nonon O'f dom~]i u become a 'ullui,ve:rsally respected aspect of Kindred WC]~ ety. Vamp111es needed Ito come to some basic accord, if fOf no Qd'lLcl" r~sdn than to avoid intL,gn.·['lng and unnecessary desrruc-

. t ~on of th~I~~ fellows, The ~COOl'(~ that W)1!S reached {inwrmally and over tinl'e} was rhe right of dcrnain,

,AoooKr~ to the tradition, a vsmptre 'l!iIlay clann a g~v,en area - one that is not allready under the 'purvue,:v of another Kindred

""" I-~.'" personaldomain W': ""1'(1"'1'11 .. ll,.""i' domaln 11"';'$ ''I."r.''lll"jl ,,~, t,: •• ,.

- ali, "LI,Ij I ~L~'I)-V..L la. UJi...I ,tillll .. l.!. . "I : I. . ...[ hlLL U:J. .. 1.LLI l!i.l!, 11.1;·" _.'t~_.I'.1-\ .. U.lJiJi mj(~f~'f

'amonlg the undead, :8rlld, he can expect not to 'be' chellenged .. If atl,otbter vampire W~s111.es 00 St'3.lle a ,d~lbLlt 00 some J)a'Dt or an of [he d(miil~hll' he muslte'~mer negotiate the rerms under '\vh~,clj, £hc owner ''!!vH.l ced\e connol .0[' else take the entire dom~[r.iL' bY' [Orrce. Thisslruarion \~J$ th.~ norm for centuries 'upon cenruries of Kin' dred exlseence, and dlOugh h:" too, often. led to bilf't,gl1i[h.~: and. ki]b3I.a.ying~ ~he GLjSIDn:l i'i:se'lf \~~ l.:lJr.gd,y respected,

Com~ the modern e[';~j rth,e old '\-~f((% have S€i$tl a sig-n:ifdcanr. pattern Slluft- As the Kindred huckUe tog.ether in inctei;i;:Sing:~.y more' cleusrropboblc environs, the concept of dnIU.aUI1 has ~"pl]( una 'P{)bjf"i~oo in~o, two extremes. -Tonightl the' Kindred recO'gllire oTil.·~y [\vo defYlitions of domain (as pe't the' [md[tLona~, sense), Hrsr, rhere 'us me MtuO~'1 of donwin in the ~fb'fget ~se; the dom8ji:r!L ,of a Prlnce, f(}T example, 'which geoot~U'f inc ~udes one; city Or merropolitan area The Prince is the C[ru:tl i1!d)irer of an 1f;,,~I~ 3dsblg wi.dlun this area, :~ndudu_ng who 'weU and wiU not recei ve feed.u.~ gFo:~nds a'[bd, official p:mrecdort. 'Wtthin. the lalT.rg>er dooudn! h.o~lr·'" ever; ~;<.i5fS the Sflfial,ler' j~indivmd.llal~j dom(li:n, dle n'lod.e'rlJ n~m~ mIn't of m.e old wa:~rs. kh vamp[re~ petron:11d 'bay.~n benefi:Es~ SIS pel' cy~t:om, '6ro~n r&\t P:l'D~~t~()['iL'ii: ,~t~Jbl~.sh8d. by dii is 'Lrndi:t~O'i:"tJ, Th,e[-efoJe~ {~W;n thOl!l_gh a :gi'!.l-e:r\ 'Kifid'red~Si haven l'OJ8iY be si.n:u u ted wit~l'Ll.l the bugt;:ir domain of die' Prin.(e~ d~ar KindJI:oo m[~llJ stat iIl~oke ·t'h@: cusroma~ prot:e:otiD:ns .of'tta.ditron. A 1f::]mpire's lwme .. :~5 'his cosde - ev~, if mat c~n;le ,siits on the ~;BJnds, of,~ ~1O\;verfll[ '. eMer Lie-g.e, OrJ;y ill dlle ill_CSt s~Y~ge dorrW~:iilS w~]] a Fdi.'l!Oe ~~ .. tempt to ch~;~m 'Ol'H.e .of h~$ subjects.i 'per.:;;OI,lO~, '~~a'v~ru:, 'Ofl.ce rh~ h~tVlel"is have 'been ~!lt~d. ruld e.-:,'rolJlikihcd.

~ r- ~"'" t.~~_" ','

k U,€,...,·_-~_: .'. ',. _,,~~,

_" '.~.,." ":. .._!f;.r"'"""~

The Seoond Tradition :i5 t'he one th_l'llt '~:)ruS-~ pe[]~l)S the most d,~hait.e, oon£uf3ion and (lorl!Sternati.o:n, 81J:rlon_g d1e Kin(~red.

According to the WOrdhlg of the Tradlrion, no vampire may create a ehilde, And ye~j look how 'IITI13rIJ'Y Kindred ex ist ~ lt ~Sf. perhaps, the g;rear:estt pararlox of d"JJC' Kindmd as :8 species (,~t least to tbose who 'keep, :~ith. with the T~(:l~:tions) ..

The Kindred world cannot !e\r.r~!~1. ~gn;e as 'ro dle Oit'~g~~"I!.' of d"il~ T radition itself: To this ,m:ry llig~'IiI;t uc S:luisffiui..'Ory answer has been put (,'Ortll to the shnple qi1.t-@_;~tim:1L of~ ~r\Vh~!'~ If whatever ~~re responsible for. d1C creation of the undead was ,00 ad.iann . ant

.. about cl)suring Ole eartlthrl,ack o:f propagatlon ,of the Dam ned i why d ld ~,tf cresee one it$t:'lf and give it the ah~lit~r to pl'.Q]:4-;gate~ Mm.l',' speculate that the fhs~ K1[ldre(~,} 9U~ to fe'rever \\l-alk.~he nig'ht alone, grew 1l(Jnely~ ss aU crearures dOj and th~t he took fnt hln~:df tl mtJt-e! as m~y creatures dol. Some malntaln that it is thls fm;att~ [he world ~s second vampire, "'00 betrayed his or her sb:e:'s; wishes :ffOO created. the {i:r,st a'Cru~t~ brood of the Damned, SO«TI@' consider this, first brood Ito M the true: pr-oge:n'~tm-s of the :rnooe:m, K indred, In most' case-s;" those who bel ~ev,e' in varicus origln stories yie,lld the p:r.linciple that G'Cd (in 'whatever farm) itlltended fi)r the fh[S~ Kirl-Jred ~O' suffer ~t~ ~oHt~~de~ a' Iesson the D'lunn.e:d b:~~ve had to leam through ootL11}'ra'~ and '100.,

Whairever the Thldi,~io,ds, orlglns 4J.'r:e ~ the face [(:ma'ul1ls [hat hs rne~age h~l\& been corrupted in rrh~· time since, Wha~ ,{~ Kifi.dr(.';;J 'liV01.ml~, aBL('!J.Y rhaL ~.I: '~S C\VI'Oi1g (OD" at least oo[b1Lpli.c8Jted) ro pOEPfl'wate: tl'b..e ~.C~ of '~'h~. n'3Jl';l,noo] many take iSSLH.:= wi.th how rh£ Tr~l'dilia[l, is enforced tonight. Many among [he unb:mnd (and a fe.w members of fonli:al, covenants] believe dHl!t the Curse itsel f 'U~ enOl!1,gh to I i'mit the numbers of new undead in 'the \wodd I n,fttlrrully and "'9i:[ho~~c 1100d of polirics 01" hierrar .. d1'}\', Fm d\ei:[:p~.H~ th~ C'Jllr~hi~n$ g42ni2l'an~t t~k~ ehe S!Em1Ce that the issue S.h.C.liiM, 00 one 'tor the ,~nti.V'ety of Kindr,ed $Qci,ety'tD dtib.ate ~1ind decide upon rather dum be ttl1'€: purvlew (J(f an outd~ted Tradition. N:ali:lUmlly~ some in the In vicrus 'believe' in :the right of the "elder" of 'a. domain to decide 'IlJIPO't~ such mattern~ and rhe Sanctified point to ke~1 l'i0ssa6,l't-'S of The TeSf;Oi;neiiU oj Ln~wnus as. proof of (herr claims, TIle OE:d@r ofthe Duagorli sometimes E[nbr.ac~.~ fo[' the sak"l@ at bestowlng its secrets upon all. ~ppt'e:ot~:ce' ~.1:1 onler ro perpetuate its knowledlge .. Of an tthe: K:Ln~ dred, '~nO\vcrs of [he: Ctrcle of the Crone are perhaps the IllLOSt defiant of the Tsadition, and are occasloaallv known to create new eh llder as parr of. their sacr-ed beliefs,;,

•• •

THE SHAKE~N Wn.l

Every timle one of the: Ki ndred pi I aJiU to create a ,h nde~ he ij nroonds to, W~llrhJi lily viol,at)E!' o'ne ,of' t h~ ill !i!de rstood (onn man drme'ots qf the Dam ned. Uk:e the M,a:Si~ u€'r:a,d,ej th is, ed kt j;s :a n aspect o'f th e ~i no r,ed ,c'Oin.O ~tk)n., alfil d it. cann ort be' '!)turn lini3lrily i:'9 norea bY' va.m pi Il'es, The aid: of dl~m[nli I11g another to !.:I1rl d eatth li:5, !til sit fa, 1 non th eo K.i n d red '~Oljj I ~ IneQluilrn ngl the si re to' invest a :~ig n m,ra nt aJrnoy I1t qf' wi n over the (,(]U ["Siel of 'the Erl1l brace.

-+ t-t

~~/~ _,., tI'~4'7

.A $)CLeml. hy~pooduct of rhe: Second Tmd UtiDll1, tIle 'tmd~lioo or iiutd~,~ has Its roots in an,tiqL1,i:tYl' ~v11en :tile Kindrecls munbel%

were fewer and tne S.OcikJJ. ~~tenF:L more r..igi.d. In such rimes, if a V'd_mpi_VoC was gOll1lf-l' to violate Kindred p:1Llyslo],ogy by pmpG\.r.rating the nembers of the Damned" he was ex necred ro make sure that hi:sprogen'y understood. all therules and customs oftt'he Requiem {not d~ leasr of which VV"d8 the &"C01td Tradlnon itsdl} SEri11g pr,;O~r)y is 'merei.y the ~wwl~l of [t."SPOi.lSibi]i[y} granting one \I1UDpire the right to tak~ a con iderable burden upon hiJ OW~iJ. ShO~lk~CTS. Until such time ~I~ the new vampire :i,s, released ftOflit, 'his ~~ioo\ rut ·lage·I' his edecaticn (or miseducation] is me responsibiHc:V of the sire, There ~s no f~vi~ ~~gcjj among [he Damned, [t mkes an i[Ldiv:klual to raise a neonate, ~ud Jn~.y nlist~es the young one makes unrll he reaches the time at which his, she releases ~~m need not be '~JIgiveLl hy WCLt,:[Y fit large, Odierwise what \v(mM. be t1.1I.e point of re;~ea~ing him 111J the f rst place ~ This same rsdonale us often abused by controlling slres as j~8tification for the excessive periods oj mdeneure or serv itude they 'require of tildil:'p·rogeny: "I can keep }'OU StJr~ onl as 'bng i: .I don't release )'0\'1. i;> Needless to say; rome c~:uld.et 'W,.'OL'tlid ramer take their chances ~\"i(h the Pt ince.

From the moment of h~~ I'e'k,fliS-t:l, a chllde's sins are his ()\\-I1 1.'0 en-dure', No m 'L1UW 'be-f~IU the sire as a result of the chllde's .deeds (except in a IQoIJSe[ s(]ci{~l sense). JAs, such the childe no I~nger. benefits kOHl the sire's prorection, at least nor in ~In, o~fldal socletsl capacity I Ie i$ h~s own Kl nd red and must stan I as SUCl':L. Such, however, is also rhe benefit of release. Once a c'h.Lld~ is on hls GW[1, he is no l.o~1,get" beholden to the wh i nil desire or name of 1ms sire, For good. or ill, 'he is now tree,

Oi\"eJ.i. rhe: predarory and deceitful Rllt;J!H"¢ of the Kindred, eh .. third. 'and fil1a~ "commandment" - rbe p~Qbjbm'ttrQn against ~l\e diaibler.ue of other Kindred - is ['h,(: one mose often v lol:ttted 30( warped (0 SeEVe the' ]f:nere~.t.~ of. rhc indix ldual, I~ de~, this single law ha been [he cause of more conttoversv ia and around the halls of po-wet rhan an y other ~ and its unter~ preta - ton and administration are F\VO of the most :fieoce'~y con[<esttJe,~ ~ue..s f-adJ]g the Damned tonight,

~s w!th rhe Second Tradition the phntshw of rhl rradinon is the primary CiMJSe of compla int, as well as, the prlnl.('i.r~r "b~[uncation for use culd abuse. Many believe rhar the original. intent of the law was ttl give shes the right an 1 r~.~pon8i'biHq t() d~troy the chil,der, they had made On \l'io.~ation of rho Second TuaditionJ 'when those chllder ran afoul of those same Tr3di:tions, Destruction, however, does not necessarily ,enil:aJ] t1. e eensumprlon of the destroy d Kindred's sou]. Those who d mo~! the~ r enemies l~uedy often claim to drink rhetr (aHeml foes.' essence "ro be sure" that those enemies never return, tho'ugh thi [ ractice is ar once primitive. and ftllse~ :3.[ least in the ~M't,ext of modern Kindred sodeq~"

Mon~~ de~u:h i .' borh ~ fie - "itable arid necessarv, 'blUr onlv Goo

. . .

ll~\t~ Inay j ,u.dge; (hose He has em.sed. TheH~fQr,t;~ dl{," Kin-

dred oon~i i,on inhEbirs the fin.J uty of dia:bl,erie in. 11 U irs forms .. A.tt~ro,i.rtg EX) some versions of T~ T~stament of LJnginu$Lottgimmf' f;.nal words to rhe collecred 'brood. he left behl nd 'were a '1'np'le b.m, sober~ng w~~n1.il1.g= "Teach your p1l.ogeny to heed 'il~' 'liliOtdl and ten (hem [0 llkewise reach rheir O'1J,>"n •. When my line (~1;1 no h.)nge~' contain the. blood. 'il: pills _. the nigh' the. broo IS of yOUi' broods' can no [angel" heat' rhclr brothers'

~:. :~ 1=-' • l ( t(·

THE LOST HUiV1A'N11:!iS'

As j,N'i:t'h th e fl rst two Til' a d ~t'~Orll$ti th ~ lh i rd T~a,d~l;h)ii1 is. tnoroll,.lg h~y Ih a rdwired irllito the psyche· of aJU K.i'nd r,edl. 1i11 fact most: Ki:nd red Qig ree th at 'the Irtrphibi·tJ,Qf1 aga.i on diebl e\rie 'is, Ollie of the most; ftlllnd:a:mental aspscts of being filamned, d ue to the ne,e~'to,J1 ,€':xaetedl on alill those who vilo[~:te it Ea.ch t.i'me-.BJ va m piire O)fJlS umas the sou I of a nether va rI1tpJre.. h ls moll' aJ~ ity erodes s.~g nlfikan1tly" lh e' {O rrD~~Oi1 of the' self -is. aillJtolilil~ti~ as with col dblood ed mu rder i;t is assu med thet the killer feels 110 ~mmednate remoi's.el!i abo U1t the act. ~If' h!$l' d~d;

he WOl!! I dr! ~ have committe d it.) -

,~ ~~t,u.

A. namral mj{~?!.l'Eh ofth~s (['adit~CiL1 ls rhe cu,o;;to.m of v~nrrqliric respect. Wh.en the race ::1S, ~f~ whols endeavored '[0 b:r~.ulg itse~f up hom $av.a.g'~r; with [he notion ofdmrulh1 {and dle'-ru,ghts gran'ood then~'f~'nrn)j rhe next S~qJ was to il1;gitHn the idea ~ht1r. every ~SPCCt (if dtc ,e:<Jst'€'~re ,of Kindred domains must; be respected. From [his: ,effort a'L100e: the 110[[On th~t a ¥aml?~'re' ,dlDuld ~1.iL'[ b ~mrelf whenever he rravels into dl,~ domain of mother 'V:8JfLll~

· :pbe" After all, one doesn't Ie,.~ny respect the ~r~ldl(i.ofi or do .. m~~in ~f Ot]_,t~; :~lJU(lts 00. another's lend wi,dlO'llt permission. One doesn't have to actively challenge the rI'IJ'htful claim of aoother

" '" l;>

• • _.<l 'I' 'I!._~, i hed . d .

vampue m o~uev' '~(1I 'c_~'n:~s;pe:cr 1LiU[ :i ti~e' ,., omam ~n' .. ~:t.s OWI1~ri'

'O~ course, even th ls :;ce11u:[ngly well-l nrenuoned traditiO'n bas its -CQnuove~.y. 'Modern Prh1C~$ ~ I'i \toke dl'U$ code aJS a. means hy whlch to 'keep track of \'vho is (lind t~ho i~ not·w ithin. dl!e~,r d·eU1e$~l·e8 :{it't ;;'IiU it:infl'~, 'b'q a.,.:;:k.i:ng that: ,each v'l!si,ror or. \vo'[J.~d .. b~ ~:s_[d~nt prnsmt hhnself UpGi~. en!terlng- Ono(;; cll!.e~ visitor doesj tit,e J1Irince ~iiber ~c'knowTedgcs him - In whkh " c~se' h,~ rn;~y rem:ain. '~n the do\tuai.n. (umlel' dIe .Pr~ 1.1JCe~S, 'pr-Gte,c~ doOm} - or :r.~,fuses '[0 acknow[~~ him - '~n '\~hk;h (,'~se~ he' AS expected to d~rt d\e dOI'lrL~~.IJ. ~:r 'Ms: earlic:s:r: rA'lSSi'M·e OOI.lW" nience and ,some t i:rnes, sooner- Ar, a [-es.ult~ itt. :i~ ·thiS I;:ra(h~ion itlt~~~ Its,i$ CCH])e' 00 be· igl10r.,ei~ th~ nm.os'[ 'by young K~.ndredt many

- ~ d- 'I' ... f " , (l~ L-

ot '\"!IIfLOm 0],1 t even. ~nQ'!JIl n_ Lt~ ex~:t:.t:e-nJ:,~.U$u~ ,LV' 1j12:C;.ft!lJ.:.-t'fe

they '\,\i'·eN¢ no'!.': :pmper,~y ~duc:ar.ed ~:f~~r rhctr Emhrace)"

,One of d1,e' n'i1Q~r, (jOfLWllon. rea:KjrllS for these ~'~ohJituons is the .gt'ff¥,· il't',ea tlll~,d: def(nes visitors und would-be 1'eS[cI,~n('$. Kit~cb:ed.

wbo llll.$/t pass throlt~h o;ft'en -feel. flO 'o'bl i~[~on to stop just so they cac p0lLeotBa'H y ptiq: themselves at risk by com~ng before the loca'~. Prince, 'Only those who Intend to remain COlt i1ilTY length of time are required W present thetros~~;vesl and :!Iom~ feel dlat m.tt is· "'P to 'pe.[['$onl3~. 'i~1'f{;tpreJrtltu.o:rl joust wl~u ~ !~lm,g)t'11 [if rime" might involve, Some Princes bave been kuown to spedf)o' ~ dll.~rBJtion On terms of l1ights) ~ so d't"tt t'h.e-r€ ~s (LO COl"l/usion. whe;n rhe Pfiince·t:s. Sc.o-liITge or. Sheriff bdn,gs newcomers fO],l,¥lard ~m .q1l;~r:$[iO:F'b:~ltg" As :11m result, this practice tends. 1'0 Qomp]:~c;jJ_te all reocIy complex social dVllfl'nl~,cs 'while ru[the[ widi![!f~ng d"v: glJlf between elder ~I),d neonate,

Tecbnic~Uy!~his ttadi.riol\ OppHoBS ro only those w:ho hiL13el1CJ [00 hunt wlithm a domaln, If a vampire C(J.\1 ,estab]iSh ~hat he!1 i not be ~1 drain on tbe db~'rul;ill~S resources {by d~"t1I:lon;.tra:t~·~:lg access to ,8: P[uv~u;e blood :supp~.y~ for ·e~amp'~.e)i rhen he could ntg:U!2 th~1t :th,~ 'E~\(H~ion doesn't apply to- him on ally'prnc'tic;d level and that presentation before [he Prince ts merely a social coon~y" ObVilG~~[Y! ·~his. s:in.a~.ti.on does nor arise 'l,1'e:ry p£t'e~'J' 311d

II ',~ - n;_ , 1'_ -'K 'i'l ,~j "- ·Il, .. L ld (. b- ,

WIler) I.r uoes, moor. rnnees aren IE tnru eu 'iN ~[~~ rne l en or ' elIlig

snubbed by the letter of the law. 10' ·~h,ei'n.! it U~ beuer to JUSt .pr-~$fmt on,e~s ,c~se d"lring :rr.3t'~lel" than instead of presentation,

for- 8. ies$ formal ~.i.'ii:mSD"p·n~t~ti.oo. of ~'he tradition of defere-~,~.Ciel see "Presenrarton ~~ on p, 31,

. .(

, ( ...

Ma ny w()ind er abo UJt. the tru ~ in aturs of th~ elY rse, ghJeJo the W;JY th~ ffald rrtkH~l$ .i'nter,act 'iWiitlh it. The 'tr,aditilon~ alr,!; tied so do~ely ·ttl)) the vlllmp~ ric cond ltlon that ,e·ath 'Oirlie aallN.~ Uy ca r:ru El;'S· wuth :it a physlolog:ical expresslon, The fradition o'f' the M asq uerade lis refl ectad in t he, fact 't hat no Kilndn-ed ·~Ippe·an in aWiy reCOtdDng devi'ce GU' r'f.atfil e'Cti'iffl surface IUII1i less he wishes to' be seen that way. lhe SOC)!) n d lrrBdnt~onl the pronilbidcHl agairts-t the p:rall igilt;e creation of va m pi:r~s.i" rna o'h~~sts ~ n the d itfi'cullty w~th Whii(:h 'II$! m pli res c;reatt,e In ew progeny_ ,A consl dera hle i ftvesUture of p ersonal wii I i and en e.rgIY· is r,~:q tI if,ed to ,~v~ n C(~ os.liO'er ·vutQ~.atjj ng the deo'ee.

Perhapo:s, most intelFe~in91~Yjo til~eve-r~ is th~ tJh urd n~sitdcbion., the 1iradl!lJlo~ prr,ohi!O'itin911lJhe dertJrudJlorl of ,a nether lKii nd red with tJhe intJefit ·of oonsu ming' h ~s heartsbbood a nd sou~, Un I ik~ the phy$~o~1 ogy O'T

"b. '" .. t -T' ....:1',;1," h" h " ,.

tne '!dn~. I W-O ranmons, W -K ' dire' IPlreV?ml''!.ii~ lin

tl'f:it!Jtr'El'f the, ~riUe \!'!leiglht a nd m~sag~ of the thir~ manifests Qf1Ily i3rtier- it has b een \!'~ioltlt'ed" Some $USP ed that the proh~ bitk):!') is Ufid to 'th~ diViI nle' or diabo! r ~~ origlin of the' Kirl dred" Obvii,ou:s'Iy<. the €!Iement of persor!al d~oice, rrelma!uo~ TOr' the u ndeilld ,. ,8,y the 'same token .. remClVnl1lg the oriU~ of a. decisJonl to kill ~ if\rom \,I'an"! pi~~s. w!Ould; some- might argll,.le~ defeat the ptll rJH),~e of 'va,m;pirre1; in tlhe' first p~a~e,. H~s.;tQricall a(,[ounts of iJdmp~IieS.r €i/I8lil among the. ~Jn1d red~ d'epiet them as; (LlirBed for the terrib~e and selfish d~ci~iorlS 1ljh~y have made.,

No~ tJhe lfilii rd 'irr,adit iOI1l is. pow'er m~ nifes.,ts; "Jft~[' a vam~:ii re has aln!'ady made- the' cli!'oioo tID' ef1l9lage

'1'1"-' dl."" ~I""'''''''' .,j;~,.,. V". f'i d-r~ .,JI;., , ... ""m"" .lnr t'h".'"' '" -ct' I II no- 'n_ ~ ~ :: 1J~1E.) fEll 11":;1 111 h::;; If\. .1'1 .. · 't::}LJl ~I II ,III~:iI I ~ Ilv' .. ' UI ii,ll· ._ "II Ult--'~· .

(Qrlsum i'og,tne! s;O!J I o,f anothe:r va mplil'lF;'1 o-rp;ls. own :5J€:rt!$~' (,if' mor.a I oonh~.1'I- the :5lrji ritua~ ('OlI'ifilpas:$ that

keep(S !!!II beiln 91 'from foaU ~f]gl too h is B~ast - warve-rs con$~derahly, He is not p8Jined by tJh e experience, and indeed. he' mig ht even rehsih the II'H~wf~~)l~l':ld ""rf!,edom i~' he ~ees: i"n no I anger bein Q1.a$ n~st!i'ailn ed ~~ hls behavior and outlook as he om:-e was" [B,ut th rs i llusion is the na'tt.ln~~ o;f the O.Jirs~" The"\l'a m pilrB [lias m~d'fi!' hii~, choice, and !by fordrilg h ~m to r~g if€t that eh olce, ttl! e h i·gher ~H)W~r responsl bll·eo for vampir'es would encciura:ge the idea that persona I Qh(ii(~' wa$ not the ii:5sl!le~) crux"

To thi:s, if! i'g ht'~ mirllY bE I i,e,ve th at the 'tell Ita I e black stres ks ina dl a blerisrs a u;r a do not corn e 'h~Qrn aJiiY [I ~iiigJer~ng eflfect the. victim's h sa rtsb I ood may' h ave Or! til e killer's sou I,. b ut a~e rath er ,8 :spir~tuai reflaction of the mark 0'1 damn ation. lI)rl,H~ te the Fir.s.t lraiC'~ itien, va if!l"! pi:n;s ca nnot be bran lied ulpGn the forehead or otherwise VI 51 bly m,airked 'for the~1i' <:rTr.THti!. tiJOL!' fft is a faJr more secret and su btle ma rk that exposes th em to th~ur b reth ren 'fot the rnonstrositi ss they tru ~y ,a re.

!:It

;Sometimt£l' W,~l~l,l a Kitldl'ed OUd~rjiV' us constdered too dangerou.s to be allowed rro, survive, ~fld th.e rr~I'Lf:~e·l$ Own agents pl'O,q;: unequal [0 the task of loca!d[lg: and, c~ptLrri;i1g or execut-

. I" -[1- P" '£.-lI ~"

Ll'tlg f_ li! crumna j; t ie rnnce IS roecen to resort ro tne ancient

[i:rn.ched 'trr~~cl ~tiQn of Lextallonis, the law of justice stm:~ng thrill: those: who violare rhe blJw$ 'fr~Ll~1t die~ ~nd ,~U 1<) ~~dred .of ~~ (~O~, nn:l!]U are responsible far c~r.,rv'ung rrh~!r sentence out. 111];$ re$ults in (h~ blood hunt, when an (Of. all: least most] KinJ:l[oo of a tb:n~i\m set om to locate and destroy a ~peCi fk q lI~fty.

OQhr the Prince or other city leaders can formaUy ca II a bloo.1 'h!!Jl1J (though some Prunogen ,0[, Prlscl have [h@: polin ~ f,8~ 8~~e:n;gE[!l. r(~ do so ove1r ti.')J¢ .P[mJ:es. hea(~), Other e'Mers oce:3tStll};lla'Hy B.lLt,errmpc ~o tC~~n a hUt'litl with gre~lil:{:;1" 'or le~er $YC~ cess. The bl,Qod hunt is a po,>verf~~~, poli,t'u,c~~l ro.t}I,~ a~1.d ~ V~:!~l~

'le -~ ,'Lav ' .. '~-l ·w .. ". ,lI,. ,.. . -, ,- J·t,-l v .. - _11- d'

[)1 - ml.~t Ih 'e maltC 'iilug mnuence to Us@: H. ,,[ ,CI.'L,@ ,r...IIJ'l:O!II",e_

~vo.k~ng Le~t;llioni)j has sufficient clollt 01' p~rsonal :powe.tr ~h~t l\oca] v,aillpir€s win le5pond~ Hnd 'he cal,l do so wi thout tit,e PrhllZe: COroil'iig down on hilt1h he m~/r CHU th,e 'hUJ,ut- [f 'lite ~n~t~ l"lle often won~tt· stltV'i,'\ft;:; to tep~:;'H hi::; !.nI],reJ."!th~eI1ce" IWT wm 1D.am'~l of.' tb.ooe- who mll.S\'l,r.er his CallI.

r'aiimg: ro p~l·t~d[)are in a. b'kxxl hl[ifD'ifr.~ paFtuCu~irr~.y on~ c~lHed h~ ~1, PI'~!f!,'Ce~ j;s, not r.NI1::ra'Uy :a cJ~inne:l except un tthil2.; 'mas!:' ex:m~~Jl1e t":~J)I!lJnillmnl!te,~, hut ~ t fr-equently results ~n a loss of lit~ms in tb.e q-~ ofrhe OOllft. ACE~vel,y tlidun.g arnd ~betting a mbjec:t :is a ct.in1Lej h-'OW:e~r, 8.!llJ it can re--.ru[t im~ h~:niS:hment OF C;;2\l';cutlOU.,

The Ma6q;uernde is ~ltHl pfir~lJlIl.OUi1;t ~Jt'~r..il1g' a b:~ood l'H,~11'~I' .oJ roURie. ]l'!I~e-edi the K lndHi~ ~pl'ea(J aU(: across ~he dry i.'~, ,SOflll¢~ " rhin.g nOt tunltke a police dragnetj cOQrd:~nsting rdlei'rr' efforts (.8it ~ le$t wHd~ HI') widl th:e Sh,e[~ff or other re,pre.seT~t8Jt~ve of ('he Prince. The IllU!'i!t~ro converge on :;;t.~pected si~/rttin.gs, and 1Jltng;s,

~ if -f ru1 I h fi -1

' _. [- " ! _''''', :" I .,_~ .".. -.- - 'j . ~ --I " I ~ -, . -. - I~. .. .• '. ,. -. I

ten gt:t qu re mess} u, m".. W 1ml E, e quarry ,1$ HlI:;l Ly HI n i!tJ

gfffiU~~, TIle huitlt w· ran~ly c~~n·ie<.~ Olj[ op'eThlv~ W~,dl K~rldlf'C;:d mdng dawn dle st'Jj"ee~~ le"~"ding barkung ,dogs1 gu:ns liLeld, alnDt. WhHe S()fM Pnnoes prcfuI to r~triev-e the slU'bject inmc[':, j.nQ;~E blood htmrs oontfl:in ,fL p1'f)V'i:5~011 :SW;t~ng d\~t no partid~tLng ~inJ.ued 'WH~, be charged or' 'p'!J,n us·h.ed uf d1e' s~~'bject 'l~s ~bin OIt :in

the case of tru]y dangerous cr:iJni'ubaJs or crul y desperate Ptinc.e.!;h even d u:'lJ)l~li~~e-d. [n thL5 fashion, the Prince skirrs rh,c: issue . [he Third 1'i'adit~.o11 -- a.tt,er ;2IJU ~ h,~ hiI'1I1Sdf is ba[-dly guilty .oif dDahler~,e '~f ;[1 subJect carries :iii:' our.

Ths ]{undted use ~~ll the took, at their di~l. when ea'lr,gflging :lin H Mood hun.t~ ~ndudlnlg" lnfluence in the '!t!lon~l, ';'l.rorld. Police [lm.Igln pUll OlUJt an APB on the ~ubject, he n:L'ight fiLnd hinwdf an "no H}.'~' :~is[S 3[ airpons, and his finan.cial accounts l[l~gh~1r be frozen. [n re-

. cent '[rig'hn~ some Klnilred have b~Jml using tile Am.b:::r Alerr S)"Stem ~,~ coordinated ~tr,rug,e of rndio ~t'Hl0urtcefD:1efiLW 'and elec- _~~ tt·OLllt. rnads~de s[gn~ iJ;)rencled to alere lih~ il-"'u'b~Jic ro a 'kidn:;iipp~l)g or 11'L~iJ11;g chiLd-as a me~ns,(]f~lo'i.!,Jili,g ~,·6J.giti.ve's,~l.pe- A few 'ti:!lU~~I' po~veT.f.l11 (OJ" foo'l~h) Kindred, cv,c.n use ccnnections in 'dbe local :r-e'~~om: eGnlm~111il'Y to ~Ett.aCE al'!Jrch~$p()nSOlt:'(~ vampire-

'hLJl1~~~ 'whrc'h. is an ,e.xC'-e!QCiingly l'Uruclj" move, ~ ~

Ult~ fi';( arel VII' v;[;:'[y f'ew criminals ever escape a blood hunt ml~ scathed ,. TI1ey are d rher tracked down and $I~~ I). OT man~ge roo n,~e t'btl CB,lYj ·'iivhk;1~l. m~ of tell ~ death sentence 'ill and. o:r iese'l:r.

17ecll11.]c~dl'y, a Prince uS not ;5U!ppos~d to call ~ hlood hunt for persona t reasons, only when a tndy heinous lawbreaker is On the loose. Sam€: Princes are better a bou ~ fuH~)'w~ng th.~5 It:jd Irion than others, and. a few of the most d lcrarerial ones r:lJctuany use the hunc 8!S ~l meaos .of ~mU~h~J1J::'dissent"" S~Jlr-e, ut ... t1~ ]11 the face lau rrad i.rDon I' 'but who are rhe K~[ldr'eld g~J,~t(jg "t'O cornplam to? Thar '~liid~, some Prmces have found the calling of an unnecessary blood lum:.t to he the spark rRU'lf. fina] ~y [t~,g~ gel'S revolution among their SIU bjects, so even the mosr tyrann,uc~,1,l K~,ndred !"11,_~ ier doesn 't invoke 'the' Lexealionts li,ghdV.

Vet"ll'<).m'ly; if a :ftug.itiv.e is oons[oo:oo an erleLlf.1Y of a spedH.c covenant, 3 blood. hunt m.~~t exeend to more d:wn once city;. 'FGf - uttSW(!t::.C'~ ~J[ the lnvicms-doru lnant clties tn a specific ~~'N(j mig'hr exebange :inform~l[~Cfn vua e.11If"'~ and l.~ib,o~le in an attempt to run a crimu:ml to ~Ulfid, For th,e most parr, however, a blood 11umJJr ~s stE~ct[y:a local tJ:'Iiirlg~ and 'M h~L11f. !'L~~~l't b~Wi ex:~~rvd~d beyO;l1,d bo;n:dm of a ~i:[)gle dQlnakl h'EUS ever 'Ia~te-d, a.l1Ol'e dum a. ,few ni,g1.1'rs. Muhiple aides sh:npl~1 am.~10r mgjjUil'r~ji.l c:oop~!1ition for longer th8!n, th~r~ e.'S~~da~~.y i5h:1OO ,each lPdlli.ce hgJj1 her O\Vll issues !IO dt2~l WU'~1~ the wishes of her OOVl3i~~f~r. tlm\li.f~ih&lllJiMing ..

~~r~;e_,.~

TIle-se ov.eroll"ch 1l1g CfJllJ'::.erD.JS of the K~ndrecl oond[do:tl13J:ltde,~ dl.e workl of [be DCiHrrned i5, comp]~, even 'in t'he m,in.utia~ .. \Vhetthtr Or nOt ~ul ~~l~e il1.v\i".)lv~ Kindred from one p .. ,''''' ..... ''''''''--

dom~h1, l'(:! tl~c Mx;t i$ nolt the qU:estiOI1., M yriflJ:l ~'.~.'_~_.'.'.""'::'''''''''''I c'e'LllS pol:ienti;l:'LU y faoe €:'V"eFV vampi:re :rtrom the' J[l{HTI,. Le~:6i:~~~~' 'fuses :~t ntght6'H,.

cftff~~t t,t& 13.-&:"., 'm'" ;:;r~

'[es ~ si'n:~,pl~~ fWldHDllenul[ fact that no vmnpir,eJ, hOt'lJfA'iiU'!'fL",* d~t'{';rn1itle~~ of poweli ... ti ·c~n ,ese~pe: The Blood i.:5 alL ,~:~:-:- .... o, :~nc:s. evettthilJ.g" d'L€: Ki~'Ld:red ~n:-ej ',1!I'Ld ~'~.timatdy evel'~fmrr~£~, the.y do, It ~l:ro denl'lCs. m,'aIJV o:r ~hei'[ 'rela[iO:~b$ ·wi.th ~rl.d th,e Kindu~d around [hem,

~~: v,'[, .... ,d- red who .... ,: ..... t"""""i ...... 1l"!o'~V .""''-' IiioJL_',l}.! _1. J.!. " ~L.~ ,1Ili 111:·· ~~II.IL l~t 1V.~I.J.~,t 'lJ'J.LL

;m~lieLlbll(J16(tIEt:ll ~w.~4r'i'_~1i@~lre'~~U5~4'~"'m refer to undead fodd~r as .Y!Y~~l:)~i;lIJ!~ . fh,.,~~'l;;'une:~·_~~Ucks~ by YQl,mg Kilr\dr,ed.

..... ,h''ii:¥Sn:,.f¥il''l:''''', ~.d~d. 'ij~~ght ~fer 'ro deny ix~ vessels ~ll(;:

H\i:±:"""i'jr""",lo .., .... "",~"_ "','. merel Y~i¢ov~~~ dish, 'The act of f~,erJ~n,g'

.' e>;:t~fe[:Y:(ntimB:t,,e,t. p'err~ps the, ~OS[' h.'lfill1are experience el~~~ p'~~Silpant '\\~~l ever '~v,e_ F~~the slUlbject, the. wMpi:ue?s, ~~. b~gs, ~~qu DS~ pleaSrnrel oon~rabLe to or' even greater ~i~11 ;:~fie ~'~~n~_cle-~~f. sex,~.fkl re[eas.~ Some, mortals become _ li.t~~~Y '::Ilddtc:te(], tb~ the e:~)e'l'iel1c.e and - i.f dle:y can ever ' ,' ..... ""',,,.. ... 'to.g:edl~r r!'feo!se'~y '1i'ikl~rt h~pp.elled dU("jiug'h h~2;y Ine:l1Ll0~ and 'Lb.~' tI(lIa;k (Sf tile M ~tSq ~J;er~~de ~ th,eoq eve 11, s;ee~ OIUl'1;.

. '-1:..-

o'Iilto'i"ii'lrio .... "j ... :""· ,Or: dbf:: [i(:lu1!icUJ~,~iI!!l[,indr,ed who &:J, on them, 110 hopes

~~Ii,~:vat repearing'ilt. For ~f.he ~~.~1dl the act of (~E:d ing us the sum total of '~i'h® and wt1ilt tn'fy are, the very purpose for which

they exist, ,'~·1:0r.Ei'j]S' si Inp~,v cannot comprehend the need the Kindred f~:Lt and thus cennor i~l'iL[\glne the M1Jtij3!a(';t~o(l.'\~ relief and [\r;1~3,$6~the Kindred experience in f~JUiLlil1g th!:lit need-

Thus ~ wh~ le soree are able to separate the experience fmm rhe inr]m,v~~yal~, m~n.y Kindr,'~d become ~~LiLo[uon:l,i!y :8irm,d~ .. @jrJ to. their v~els. They return to rhe same speciflc people over

, and CHJe~rr:t gtoW~fi.g ever d .. oser eo them. Someumes, if n:h~ individual ~s ~per'~y coopersrive, thls 'behwvi:or can result in the form~.ttoifi1f a herd, 'bult~ i:rs, also dal1g'Cr01JJS~ as, it increases the ¥'H[JJiJ.:piIe~s risk of exposure. Theile Kindred are often extr!E:::mely protective of their stock} even to the point of challenging: ~1!I:1:'rQn.e else'~ mortal or. V ilmph',e I' whr) il;:1.1I,re~t'e!,1;,<; it'hemL.

A herd 'us a group of vessels, usually hut not a'iw,aiVs mortals, from whom a vampire can 'feed regularly with no (or at least m ~n:i,mal) d ifficLJ ky" A herd l11l:ght be a W cup in the l'i tersl sense: of rhe ", .. rotdl, o"l,n ~s.~mM,y ot b.cks 'who ~,Lt'~'u~:,[ for w':~l~i't .. , ever reason- ] [; might be a religious cult that worsh'~ps [he Kln .. d'r-ed as ;al1 angel, members of a, bondage c:~uh who cO(Liside:r biting and blood drinkio_g ~ ililky~ Or an y other assembly in wh j,c'h [he Kindeed can hide ill p81S:S ,off her oc.~ iviries, 'an th~ otliier hand.j, a v.mnpir.e'~s, ]:lC'r.CJ 'm~ght he scfiirtercd mr.tl},e'l!. abroad~ COll.$lS[ing of ul:.uh:iple ~nconIle,cted but wHiLIng vesse 18 acrOSs th .. ~ d,ry. SO'm.~ h~tds rni:ght nOt il"nfolV'~ iPe:o:pi,~ at (l'H) iQ!S~:a:r.l heh]g cmnposed of muhipl,e: aoces:dlble anbnak Som,e K ~n"" dred 'ev'en, oonsider access it-o .sto:re~; of donated Vit.l:lIe in blood b(lrib or .b.fi)$pit~1i~ 'to' be p~]Jt ,ahheir held in the ]QQGest ;seme.

Not: 3,n Kindred ha_ve ,he[d.s~ bl~t those who do find it m~~dt ,eatSier to hun!!;, fi~\! vanlpur.e.'l havlZt h,eros $0 la'~ rha,r rhey.can affor-d it-O feed. from d"Le~.n aU the timie~ w most 'hun'! 8JllywaYj, but I'es fil!i.w~y,5 good w h,r:n;e d-~ern 'a!'IJ~i I.able to fan back: on '",rhen one is in ~, h.urry 0[" otheiF'i."fmSe unSJ'ble to hu.o!E. ,k w~;L}l Imll~ v~elsj fllan:y Kindred develop' a :r,ecip:r,oc8[ 1)1[[i!lClUlJle:nJi: Ito mem," beTS of th,eir he:~dl due to the: ,el,rtotionca[ pOW'e:t" of the Kiss,

?;l.#IJ' ~'kS! ~,~,~~h-'

4.U ",l(,;,!' ' !;r

K'il~.d:red, ;'M)c,i.e~:r tream d~r,aJn:~ d~:fferendy dep-eT .. d~ng O~ [he do.tll8Jlll- In SOlne dtie8j elders !L~e their thraHs: ~£ l)1'O;:;;:'~est aJld :@J d1raH is crnls[dered to ~k with her lna5ter'~s vcice at 'ODnrt ~md. on Or]1et" mai:rers of i:nm,p<)rr:. [0 o[h~r dbnl~ii)s~ tJ.'Lmlls ate ~n~;,S;~~~,r gem :8Jnd lJa"l;~1n1i '~L1:[ are not penni,rt,ed to wiek~ ?LViI.y of ~he'ur

domitors 8JlJ thad ty. ln SOI[IJC parr~i,cteuhiid'Y' dictatorial domains, Kindred are' not even permitted :1:.0 subject one another to [h.e Vfnculmu 'without the, 'lPx~rt'ce'~, permission {thoug'h secret tf)lfj~

ad ah fl '~)1 -

- p -('~' _'" :. ~"il" . .'- - -- ., ' ,- -, ;, ,. . ,,- _ Iii l P:; __ -.1 ' ,

an: ~. 1HtS'eS 0., ~ .ie; '$y-sml'r.~, ;!jure ."J ~u.~ .. , n an 'if ~'e['iltJ a regtlal.':J,~ 1l.'1;

held responsible :fOT the :ac~JiviJti,es of hi~ rheall and! may be punished ~long with the thrall if the: servant m~81X:ltaves..

ff~~~

Far morn common than Kindred thralls am mort~l ghouls, kine who have been imbued wieh the til.l.ysti,c. power of Kindred Vi t"J.:e. hl ].TlJOI:wb:~ the h'iooo of a vampire spawns not merel y ~'h,e artificial love represenred by th~ V~'I.':i,C~,II~ ~,UDn~ but also s~]b$tanltial, physical strength and stamina, The ghoul does not 'abre as long: as, at least WTJJlJ! Kindred blood remains in her ~y,~i:rtnnl' and old Or ssrong-willed g.hm,I~~ can 'evetli devdo]? oome orher Kindred Dj,5iC~:[)~,~.IJj,¢,;') Ib~f,ond b:rra'J,\1U and 'hatdi.i'l.'~"

'Ollouls am quire' common :Ull some Kindred domains, ,8Jftld ,aJfe GftC"J1 considered essential servants. A, vampire mi~}(' choose ,8. ghoul fOl" a S~~CH1C $kiH or PQij~tiQi'j; the morrsl possesses, or he miglli: select: a mortal sbnpi,y out of some C1bs:c~cd a.«oc~io:n. Kilij,~ dred use ,the:u[' ghouls as messengers, booyglJiTIx~, soldiers, :p,1i1Gxies at court, fronts thro1J.gh which.lh.ey can In/lrenee morral InstltutiQn:s~ b!Ud~~·~~ drwers, menservants, tm}.id, pl~tl_ne~, '~oJ;l drl!ytim~ :Eflcurit'}f - :p<)t"f'(nri~itUy an")1fhing rb.e K~~!dt~ hm:t11se'lf caneor Oli' would, prefer' nor to do himself Given the quanriries of blood ghouls req~]ire to maintaln the:tr 3bLiit'1'e3I, moot vampires have only one or [\:,,-0 such, servants, and onh' :~ll V¢i:JI' taJre' f~'!.lrl' Kindoc:d can 'Fl"ilJUintam more than. ~~ h~U1dlfi.d, ,As, witt\ Kindred tthrnlllsj.,OOlne ghouls. bi[1ter.ly resent d1_e tasks (hey Me forced ro perform, but fe'iA1 bave the winIJ!Ower to protest, '~et '~Io'ne rebel,

R~nIiOrs. s-\~~t th~n ,SOUle '~W ghO~ib do tn;)oftge to ~~pe their bonds, whether rhrough the Finfi~, ,[k~M:h of rheir masters or 'by other .means, These ghouls tff1k:ally become rogues, see'k,i1'lg OLJ1 vampires from whom they can 8lcquire Mood. These ghotl;1s serve adopted Kil:tdred, b:dffl'1 fUi'ld then de~arrt fOl" gr,~n~t pasmres, or physically assault v[U:li1Ipi'u.,e;g, ror their precious Vitae. RogilJt" ghouls are sllftic.tentl'v:rare that [[11LOO~ Kindred never WOIlY ~'hot1t' lh,em =, '[[ilHUY ,ekwtbt they even I(!xrnt - hut 'when they find (1(1 (J5l'on, to tEa,,~d in, ,groups~ they. rat~, 'b-e d~m~tous ro lo:nt': noo~ ,Ela'~es or t.'"Ven eklers who ~'L1!e:n~t~ p~d1',ed to d@JJl w,ud) ,ttb.eln- A han&~ul of ghOl~ls. somethnes fmd tbcetllse[ ve8, subjected 00 a Vln~ (:!J,~hun by ~, s.u~q~~etJ,t ¥amp,[l~t tJUi' 'm_(U1~1' dcnt1t~ eurh~r bOOOliL11 ing rnt~ l'OgiUes on th.e~[' own, .ef[ m~~ring their. end [Lf1I, t~l€: p:rrOCf.:'S) of seeking: 'Hun8.'~tached,~' bkX'ld, 'Eo :5uppon their ghou[ stat~s,

. ~ .. '~

1'1 , ,~".~,

.tr.l~""· ... beu-<ltn4

Th:~ ~.v~r~ge Kb\d,red d{ntt~l~:r!I. h~ l1c;:lt '1]: ~:ingle t 'moliogumolL&S IC!Lli.ity" ,As dt:~<~:5 hav(~ d~;5[rkts and nci'~lbo["b()Od~t. SCI (00 d~

" th~ Kindued divvy U,P thelT aonrnains ~nt:~manex :r.egimls;, Many of d1"ese di'v~s~on$ m:e ene:hdy anificial or pohtica'~ i:n n8itu.rej 'but d\~t m~ke'S, the~JJrt no, less refl![~ ~nd the petty IOId of 8i l~y ['€rrillSor,y g:t'an:E-~d, h~r 'bv 'm~ P.fUnc.~ mig:l'IJ~ punish, l:t'@.;5P~~ OT viola.wrs more stdcdy than ooes the, Pu'ince h~,mzjdf~

The 'Barr.rens arre dl0.~ ~H·€'a::~ (1f~he; .cJt-y !1l:l'rir :mr Or arllen'lise tll'b:sent of human 'habit8rlion - ~nd~ by e:{ten.s;~on, Kh,]dred

ha1itaJt~on;, Thes-e regions indude, irlldU!5triaJ~, wastelands, certflir) abn'ndoned bY±l,di!lgs~ wave¥~:rd~ and the [~'b!. Some rrulv desperate Kindred hunt the B,f]rreO~I' 'hopiml,g tJO encounter .J!I;e occastonal homeless p~r~~, or. :~oor 'mut~SI!:, Ffir th~ l';tM),S:~ patEl' however, ~h~ting the Barrens" is ail. expression that has come ItO mean that Eli Kindred :U$ horr ib 1 ~. down on her luck and. attempts desperate aJl1d '~argely doomed measures.

Some Princes have been known to ,grant the Barrens to other Kindred ss pe\l"S'O:t)8JI, feeding grounds 8S a form of pu bllc chsstlse- '. menr oor \"r'1'Qrlr,gdoing.s that were 'i],1.n.worth,y ofmore ~tUQ[tS punislt- 11Ile.L1,t, More than justa humiliation, this f~a,iN~rd,;J' can lead ro worse problems fDl' the iJ1'l'fOrtu.il8Jrr:e Kindred dO\V11 [:he rood . .As lord of the Barrens, slue is no,'!,\" responsH)le 'ror e"erydl~ng mar goes WlI:'Oil,g" theH~= and as the BaITe:11S attracr only [hose Kindred in desper .. ate surnitsl, th~ng~, go ~\vro~]g wirh remarkable frequency.

The opposite of the: Barrens, the Rack LS that portion. (or th&e porrtons) of a domain most suitable for hunt lng. Ir in,;r eludes bars, '~lij,g;h!Ld"lb$~ b.:igh~,ctufllH~ neighborhoods, CT;flcl hoos~s~ brorhels, honru.,tI::lc~. shelters ._, basica Ily~, ('any place 'm,'here the kine Or¢: distracted Or discomposed, ",'fh£!(,e $tHlnge beh9Jv.iClf can be hidden or ~1;SSed. o~ and where mortals go 1lI1Lss.ing on a (ceq uent basis, Hunt illg rhe Rack is nearly e£fOtL'" less, and any "sccklenrs" are €:8lsity disposed of: Man'}' Kindred. treat the Rack. as flue reseauranr or 'W lne cellar, where thev

"

can g:o ~'f they roel H :~:H~n;iclJJibl "vintage" of Vitae. Sooner ,0[,

later, an sorts of Licks pass rhrough tbe R~ck,

In those doma ins where ['h,e Pr [nee parcels out .feedi:ng grounds, e ~de.f!j, are ill constant comperltion for the right to - the Rack, MOst Princes refuse to grant anyone exclusive rights to t"~,-e JR:ffilck~ prefe:rt"lI\g 00 'i\!U,lke ~ t available to the entire city"

-T'- ...... E'IT'SII

Others keep $LJ.c'h f¢~&ing t:igll'ts :&;n rhemselves, del'El~n;'\di,ti;g

"ivors from any who wO~lli~ hunt there, Stlll, others choose to offe:r portions of the- Rack as territory to favored allies, gr.:mt ... ing them substantial power among lesser Kindred"

Because the R3Ck attracts so malilY Kindred, and, bBCSJUlSle vampires are at their least alert when feeding, many potential M~~~~e'!:ade breaches OCC'IJ Ii there- The "ire~ nature of [he re- . gijon orten covers .~mch vlolatbns 118!tI!.U~~ ~'Y - people expect odd 'be;ha,\1 ior f['o1'1), meth- heads, fur U'riI~~ral'i!t.e: =- bru r: wi:.'jie:

Princes sud Sh~ri:ffi; haw eyes and, ears in '[he Rack :!ail: all times, ~~ These agents wat:dl for any breaches to stop them before Ith.ey occur, or 11l1,Ov[e swm:ft:]y to [cover them up.

f/~~7ftj~~

A~ rewards '~m: service ~ or bribes w d~o$e whose power the Prl.!.1ce wishes, to either exploit Or '!nirr~'b~t,e I' man'Y Prit!l(Jes gL'a!.\~ portions or Eh.eir CU'EY m o[:h.e[' K~nd:red" In rllese terri ..

," , 'I .,' h ~~l' '·'dl. l..:l··)~; _... ,", '" ..J -, .·Il '.- ('"1""·"

eones ~ QJi .)" Ii. ,013 ian [uI0'UIJI,.e;f IS; pli:\rm L r Efl:u lEO nunr, c.-:>' ,~.'~ m::>JJy~

of course, grfJJnt permission to llUl[U to anyone she chooses, but those who poach 'ill her Lenitory ace considered criminals. 'Moot Pr lnces demand that any such lawbreakers he brcmght betfo:re them, but some perm lt a landowner to levy her 'DW'tiI, pl~:nm~h,lnet~ n:. N ee:,dJle$..~ to $!;lY'1 'ii;h ~s i~ rarely ~I good [hitlg for rhe poachers,

". : .. d~p:

G~ ven !the Tmec;:a:tli()liiS ~:ul.ire of rhe Kundred in me scope of

the W6:rrld .Of D~rhl'ess, 'rhe lssue of secudlty is paramount, Whi~e the rm:::it fll'.r.:i!lfi1g:emenr among aU Kindred a(Mr-e~. some of this concern, a great deal more remains, ,"~fter all, no such firml!.i;g:eiL'ii!C1'lI.tl t~jl.C;i,[ or o:rh,e;!('iN:isel, CX;~t5 bErt':'i;"e~l1 :the KUl1dr'~cI and rhc nauiral world around them, Indeed, ,it can '~c said dl~J:: the gFeat~;St threats to the security of the Damned rome '!lOR: from d\t Danse Ma,c(~b:re~ b~~t ff(JfiO the n~~~J]\S.,ofth.e ordiI]Jl!ry~ the l',,!.~ut.i:nc alftd rih€; mundane,

& powerful as they are, the Kindred playa most danger .. ous g1Hl~_.e. It is the ~'~ lot to h~lnt among the kine. to prey' on and leed from. ehe morral world, ''jet they musr also realise rhar th'ey are not ,al,",v,ays as wol yes among a Hock of sheep, 'but are often as j ackals among a pack of 'wild. dogs The ind l .. vi,Jtl~d dog ~"t-l. (us'\il1L~lly)' no match f.or th,!! sc~velr1l"g'il1g J~c'k:1'~. 'bur s'~.'t.ou'~d, t:llf!:. entire pack trtJEt.'I.'l its arrenncns toward dloJ:!: predator in its 1111 ldst. ...

Such is ~h€' case wtirlil. ~h,~' Kh'ld[',ed :nmali;g~ the ktne, If th,e -eye of M:8Jn was (0 turn irs baleful stare upon th . .e monsters :s.kun:ing ,in. the shadows, the (t."SU!h-.tn;g- pogrom 'I,'>f(.iuld very likt:ily wipe' r.he Damned from. the f~ce' of the Ei1Jin]l" Therefore, in this mosr ,~kmgcrQuJ> g~me~ the mosr 'pow'erNJ assets In, Kindred h8ll1dft are ,the oofTi:ple~nentaTy roots. know!). as 'ug:nO"1'~nce :at-itO. b~·hef, These \-,f~apOn$ do mere to keep vampires ~fu than :nn:y combination of 'l,Jnho;~y pOi"~er.o;;; ever c:oll,i~d"

[;1) rhe ';\~orld of the kfne ~ i.g:nOol'an_ce tru ly is bliss, In th.e world O'f the K~ndr,cd ~ i~. ,~s 'PO\\J't.~r. Th,~ 'bid to k,e¢p hl;U[l'~n1it~f

at h~r.:~re' igno:m'tlt of vamp&rc CX[si!CIDiCC 'is kuO\vn as the first T][adition~ the M,asqu.crade. TIl~ K~ndred condldon itself man." (bw dllf)x this nr.uu:S1t be the ~ingle mQ5t imp.9'rt@i~lt gO:~li of the rnce~, lest· dtscove~y shatter Ii:''h . .e e:;;ds~tnce' of m,Q['ml ~und Kul."",'" d'red ~like,. \llh,oeve:r Cl',eiP.i:ted V81up.h',es de~d'y 'intended frtr tIle D8!lnlj.'l¢d '~o. be ~l p8!U': ,of ~he 'I;:vo:dd~ but tha[ entity a~ 90 de{]rly ., int,ended for tI~¢m to. '[¢inain f{)ttv¢[ sep®.nue from '[hos:~ 'Iupon ., WhOlllL d,Zley p:rey. St;t,ch ~s 'rhe' ftl:ft(U,re of the Req~'ui,em. An{:~ SO:I .' e8Jd'L. sc',~m1. of (h~ K~ndred. nne en.~j,e:ayor£ to mak.~ $~Hi.'e diaJ~ 'rn(JIi:t~l ig[l.oun(.~ Ie'1!i1Hil1$,'~ top pl'iodty of '~![lHfe-

Tb.e flup side of ~:h I~~ and the \',1e8lpon thai!: hdp$ the Ki n~' d.rocl 'cnsare eo,nt.Dnucd .ignorai1LC~, :is b~H,e:f afio(] f:~1e .1.'rLa'tu:m ~thereof. Ir,on. i.e ally,t it was· be] i.ef that near]y speU.ed doom. for the '~indred duri[),g the 'I:)ur:Llhlg [bnes of d1i:e inquisition, b In llQ'1i: [Ol1g d'te're~f~er nr.ri ved 'the .Aze (lof Re~wtt ({ll~.d the

subsequent Industrial Revolueion] ~ which. turned, bel i,~f itself into the very tool with whlch the Kindred might re lnfn:rce tb;~ Ma.'£q~~e:r~de. By c!);u~,th""1:dl1l:g bd ielf ~n loglc, science and

l''''''''t:'''''''''' ehe Kindred ~; ·bi·lv, ""1 ili"iii'iA!"'~ ]",,!l,·i'L ...... , ..... k -1- ''''E~'~''' -,'il ........ ' .... ii'r'L~:t :1" - , ..... c._IZ'U'.lllL~!l. ,~~. ,:1.·~.:h.!C- •• :U ~lLl1 .. L. 1 '~'I..I!t""II:'""I;.- ... ,~. I:. ,!L.~!I,I! I!~.I! I ,.~.!I.Ii.ll ~ f1'1~i:JI.1! Ill. a~ ,.!L~

self fronl belief in the supernatural, In. the modern era, rhe 111oJJ:taJ world views the existence of the undead 81l, all un:rh[nlu}b~,1£ nor inn, V:d,IF.I;pires ate thil1!,W> o§ :f<:ll.lCy - big~screen mtcrta.~:n,m,mu O,S' :mlfD,'lIe[ f:a:re ~ air. best, ant] ~'he ram bl Bn~, of frightened children or pathetic '~1lI narlcs, at worst. And why? Bel leE in reason has stolen from themthe capac ~ty' to :fudlOrn even the pmsi b]l~ tv of the existence of the' IJrK~e·a(I,.

Despite these bdU iaat campaigns, however, despite ~n the crnlsi{:~I.':iTa h~e resources devoted. ro 'ITliil;i,I.lrniI"lI,i:ng the M:iI...;;;quer~ ade worldwide, mistakes happen, Even vampires ger slopp)' on occasion, and when they do, the results are nast'V, SOUlt~ t-jJtle5 :les a careless ~e(lh'bg error. A slip o:~ t'h,e mind, wh,ere a vampire fOlr,~B[s 00 lick a wound ]b~i~ made, 'Eli,~r~by b~gi'!'lIfi~'n,g' the chain reaction of curiosity lead ing to investigation leadb1g to action. These occasions, while: cert~dnlY' not' deslreble. are of[€!riI at. least KOiiTilJB!g:eaMe gi ven the ].":eSOU1[ce..':> of IYUlJIl'y K ~ndt~d domains. But sometimes a (;.ail:,e] ess error leaves wit~.1[r:\'i5~<; - IllitOrtm;l, witnesses - alld uml :ah!llogt ,ev-e:ry C~:5e!, ~ t leaves SUClL ''I;''i'i~liI~€;$ wi.[h t.lil,tO of rhe most d~mning banes of rhe

lUi(ldc~d: harred and ~ lntle knoli1,i'lc;:dg~" .

,Arisin,g from "mistakes" such &5 these is the phenomenon known [is wiech-hunrees, \Vhe'rher by accident, Kundr,cd error 0[' si mple morral max le, these ordinarv men and women. take [UP the .struggle '~D beat back the darkness [0 which. their minds have been. exposed. Forwhetever reason, [h,ey~re onto the Kin .. deed and dley mean business.

11- .' di : _..]I 'I s, k '1 ~,;:~ - ~~ f

lese 'l11: .. IV.'LuUa s, o.~ ren . nown SHUP', y as: nunrers, are 0: "

ten. more dsngerous to the undead ihfllil aJl.yttbing else .. Az; 1lr:i.o!fW,b, in ~l mQrttl!~ world, they're under ]10 compunctlon to remain 'h idd~n. rhemselves {(~XC;k:1J[: (rom the eY;~3 of certain ~u!ho[i:t ies ;,,,,110 m:lg,h~ 11tiJ!.' ul.ldet5t'tiJltd ~hei r c~n ing}. 'Unlfk,e, werewol ves or other $U!peF:i1:~.m.l[al creanrres hlJrn_'t~:r.;s need 'be concerned on,ly ""V'utl). ~hc hll;~r.tt~ ®lld that gives them a distinct ai~yant::llg:c in ,,1. 3'h::'!t:~ow conflii,ciI: such as ,th~s" h, itddg,r.uo~,1.~ hunt'ern can InCiV~' b,y day, Sind They aren'e :l1£::8:['ly so restricted tfIJ their ,activity cycles; as are ehe creatures ~hey hunt.

,As, might be expected, the Kindred don't rake roo kindly to fmd_ing themselves Oil] the reverse end of the predaror-prev :sumu'lQ. M,oQst ~Ire' t~ken by ~"i:u:rp,ril9~~, ~t~ they have gro\'!lLf'!! ~C'" cli!sttffiled iJ() 'being d,[,e OIle$ 11:,0 ;f;rr'1Lrrle' mo:rtal prey wi rh, sav,ag.e r-evdad(1l[lS before th,e mOllLu~l1t of COllSUl,TI.1!lI.lari.on" ]ndeoo~ s-O'me V~Urlp[r~ ~iiJ'~' Sii'J taken 'aJbi,cl~, that they never have a cb£mce to r,eCO'l,l'er t[um tb.'~ &hock, - ,~Ill it t:;:1kes1 is O]]iB 'liven .. aim,ed sttrU::e,!. even agah"tst a vam[)'~r'e" Those '~,,;'ho :mrv.ivc their in.[tial 'encOunter with H hunt'er (01' grDup of hun~ers) often d.eoo~nCl intO p~~nk;" 'Unl~ t;he~lve· expet ie:nced sruch ~a ~tWH' rr UOll befo:~~, The fitst '~hc)lI.Igh:r to r:;tc,e' Ul"~to, ;:i. van.ilpure'~ h,e~d i~~ <i!Do dle'')' knO\~ th,e location of m y' l~aven ?jo) Un.'rU l'ht\r~ is a Sf'ltis.fHoCtory an~mfer~ tl];8Jt question c.on[J~lules to m:cupy MiS nil ind ~ ,\vh'li.¢ ~l 'liv~lle ~u),d ~l~:~ee:p.

l'h,e other dan~ rha~ hunters po.se HS th ~11!; they (:alll .alPn.ize, often h~, a d~SD:1Uilbi:n,fi~y s'h.Qrr: ~~mounn: of [UIl1C" A siing~~' 'nlll'Llte:r Gxeated after. (m.e encount.,e:r '~I;I ~.th dle Darn.nod ThI~gbt

lead an entire cell of well-informed, '!tNel'l~equippe{l "il·:!J:mpir~ .. ·bmuer.s after six months, To the Kindrecli mmd, t\ihkh remains searic and patient as the' vears \'~;'e()t" on! d~is, nearly ant-like Level 'of coofJeItfth~'JiI'JJ ~m,~ effi,ci,cncy is. seartl ing,

tk~~aif~~2J~

.. spire the fervenrx "~sh of SOUle to the contrary, rhe Kinr d'md h •. ve more with which to 'be concerned thnn their felIfllI.~~ Damned The \~orld of Darkness might b~ the consum .. mate nesting ground for the K'I ndre:d, bun: In: is 'h3rd'~y a lP[d ... "'~Iitle paradise. The' world conra ins much that would trouble a 'I,II~mpiIe I includ ing" the 1.1 kes of other supernatural crea'[til'e; mortal 'witch. .. hunters and even time itself. lf the World of Darkness is a hom " 0 ibe K intir'ed ~ then, i,E is a home th.ey must share gnldgingiy and cautiously with horrors. both intema~ and external,

.,....0 4:1J .,...."k-, ~ l1. d\ {\ .~ I

fLJ'c.e.c~q J(;;t. i~ ,(I'~ Ji7r

The face of rhe matter is, lUOS t Kind red \ill i d:l more t'h;jl"l a fe~" ye.:ars behind them are a¥'I,'~rr' that '[he undead are not alone in the world. An eq Ula 1 fact is that U10St of rhe n tare only ~S' much as Ilhey absolutel rave to. Vampires aT. dalnneo cteauires, mose of 'whom, have an etentlt.yl~ wQnh, of problems 'Eo. son OU(l on top of the nigh t-to-rugbt ti~U'I.gg~e- of conti nued ex is te nee ", A~ an y rrir:tc~ can attest, m~~hll.~ahl'ing the Mars,! uerade is ~ fll;J!ll,.·d me j ob, and :SJny aCli,t~i'[y that und,iLlly jeopardizes the success oif that endeaver I,s elther a waste of time; far too gre~'t ~ tm5k ro ~ lndred society, or both.

As a res t11 ir] even the most erudite 'Ordo' Dracul scholar !hIO~'RLS better thal'lJ to preoccupv himse If """. rh the affuhs of erhersupematural beings. Sr!"ld.~~~ ~es, where possible, Butpry~llg i~lOO thee acr!. vities of creatures 'Who :!IT'e known for their savager~p is considered un wise 'by all but the mosc fJ'f}\i!,\'l1:lrful of Kindred. Given 'this mindser "011 bo'tl.i. sides ~ ru b se [he Kin .. dred can flg~:rre) I a so!:t' of 'let~lnt,e has been reached over time; ;;J ~fnlJ]OUS lll"tder, t*Hldirt_g ['h:::lI:: amounrs [0 a universal wariness of' [he other superna:rural denlsens of rhe \Vorld of Darkness ~1 and large, [he K u ndred know tha t there are ~ 1'l,grYl sl:Wrjleshlting beasts out there. Tbev've even given rhem a n~~- l~ri.nes. Bl.,lt th.eydol'~t. 'n:..~u.y .. va1l~ [,0 kw:::/~" a whole 1m more d~n ILh,aa;~ becau~ once: '[hey open d.lfll'" dOOI'; the It· "t 't~p is to go l.it.s'ld~,

TIle: 'sam.~ apph~s 11.'0 the \Vo.nder .. nl..~ke s, the OH'es tll1e Scl101- 3JfS (all rn.agcs. \'Vh.at l:Lnle the Kind['>ed ha:ve ;Seen of rhese eLlig:rulat~c bei'L"~~ has scar,eel. thC]u enQugh 'W 'rttog,niZl~ tt:hat d~velron ~ the, better 'part ,of v.dot. No ,one 'k.r.lOWS t;he fun e~~n,L of ~'h.ese bei,m"lg.s~ J?Owers, moti\1'at~oos 01 capabl1iil;l~, and. finding oui: the hat:'1 "_~r is jus'tj we'~t." :n~c1< les<;, Sure! mmaJ;S of mortals caning down ~uninine: ~It 'ftrl'idnight am pirob .. :-.b1y jrust that-, I:mt what if heylre IlIJJt:?' Wh~lt if -'otnc Kindred ~r;ll,ulii y saw one of these nilages :i,gtil.i'[~ ~, mc:riO ber. f his 00 te'iLe' lrike a !),iee,e of l\dndl i.ng? In 'Ehar -Cru1e~ wou!,d '~ v(!,l~pire a,ct!.;L~ a!1,y If,\\a[:llE to pmSLle ~he ll1L8Jtte'r, fur. the r ? lfulages dodt ac'ri ¥e::~y come after the K~nchied ~arllJ tuwt of rhenl prob~b]y don~t:)J' rheLl the Kin>d-red are bound - by COfi1nlo:n &e'.lise! i.f noW ing

lse -- to ~turn ~:he f·arvor. By. 8nd htrge, Kin Ire I know very

li ttle about such crearures, ::md uatil w'Ilil,eth ing gives [hem reason. to worry, they~[\e content to leave '\vell enough akl'ne.

Exceptions extst, of CQU[}..e., E,very now and. then, a, vampire sers, up shop hll the "jfllrong parr of town and irritates exlsrlng occupants, with pre.d ic~:abl}r unpleasant results, Likew ise a werewolf Or mase 'l'fLl.gh[ decide ~Q diip his toe into a dOlnain that a purticolar Kindred has claimed as his Own private sphere of mfluenca ln these cases, conflict is. tikei'y . inevirable, but more ofren rhau not, both sides know better 't~R dum to let a, true blood f.eud ensue, What !IJ SIIJ aU y happens ~s that Once the i rl.~.ir.~,~,1 matter has, been seeded (whetb;er 'b~{ peaceable means Or b")f. someone's demise), the case US dosed .. Those roOSt likely to violate this arrangement are ['he Lupines whose pack mentallty demands restitution on QCCa, -. ""~on ~ lmt even dley tend to stop short of all-out war againsr ' the enrlre race to which the offender b looged.· 'o, the sup.er.naru ral dffil:iz~ns of rhe 'World of DalkllJe s are signmJicandy (and perhaps surprlslngl y). [nOH~ real isttc about the nauire of confl me( than are rhe mortals who surrou nd rhem,

Learned Kindred a [sf) know halt VWim~\"O ves and wi.:ards ere not the onl y creatures lI'r~th. whom [he: undead share rhe nigh.t, Cerrai n Kindred are known fo-r trafficking whl'll the spirirs of the restless dead 'I thOllgh th,ey re~,na:~l1 l.ghr .. lipped about the haws and wherefores of it. These beings, (ghost5~ if they muse be. given a dtle) sljrrely know of the Kindred, but -on~'Y rhe mediums themselves call say 'lJi'i:rb ~Uy~ smet)1 wha.t feeling:s, if any, the defIed have oward the undead. Upon '~e~ming of the existence of rhe restless, some concerned Kindred gl'OW ,>iI~~ obsessed with them" ' 'ag,~r ro hscover just whsr makes one soul pass On to it'S final reward hilt forces anot :her 'to stay hehhld. {Surely no earthl 'if crime deserves such punishment! some Ki~]dmd say.} Alas, rhe curi,osi,~r of such indi viduels is rarel y if ever s::'l:EL.:;H~d.~ as. fe1N necrom .. sneers are la10\J"l1'1 for th~ir. open discourse.

A nd rhen come. rumors, of even 5' r~1!lgel" c )'h:~buta1flrS amid [he Kindred s strang Ian L Sorcerous 'vampires tell of ...,_ .. _ eld ritch he lngs from the hoary hos ot'H .. e:U itself - lemons, 'W lth whom no sane K in J['~J W(R~ ld ever kn.o'iNltrlg;['y inreracr, Ni,(')sn: be I i .. eve snch eales (0 be not'hin.,g, more d1~.'!~ rhe ()r:d~l' orr I:he Dragon's Macabre sen$e of lUJ'~YL()r', ,an ~tt,empt .;::tt,;_ on, the pan of one damned ['ao~ 'co 'mrrify u ts k: tn. by meanS .of ,an. even mOIe &nlftl:'ledroce. If $Oj ['he lro,ny i.s lost on most Kind[,ed~ who would. j'l!.1.S[ as soon prcfer the Drag:Ofls 51' r . I ndking a~'ou[ :i • AU th~' 5:8Jlrne, stoIi.'· s:ud~ace V ... itl"'~"'i-.x"")I~ e;n,oug:!'lL re:gu laid ~l [0 he genel'aU y ~Ji:5cO' . (:enitrt,_g" ::lbo!LIJ

~~es toO wb-onu Ki nd['ed C~Ul go' '~or a~i$l."ance", ~.f dle .' tion [$ si!:ro,r-ug el'lJJough. 'Cffi~:[UffiS who carll'! the prom po\¥er~ p:rf';$rig~ and. an~! tthing dse one' desires"

Al[h.o.ugh :3JU of these . nci.[ies. {;;m.d more} are known ro "',r_'.,'~lr.,"",." p'ET ''''1 j.[ 1$ i.mpOf[anr. to note that the Kin '.r" ' do:n.'r detstood any o:f [herD" V~u:np]l'e5 a.le ~Ji lin ~ lul:ar! self.~~bi~E~~\1·~!U I ft., and 0100' are too pre,oocu[p~C;)~t wlth :their own SCh"'U.i'_~' fenrs ~nd ';JJI?I)~',ehensiol1~ 11:0 even be [Yi..u: ~n a po.s.it ion I,;'~ ',i'm'@.i!~~i t.hey mi,~hn: glean sm~le n:tuc und.erst;;lindi ng of t'he'5e Qther ,,"'T.I'.'~"'"'''' I!l.mes" No~ 111051: undead. ale runte'Itt t,o adlilere m dlei:r o:rd~~~.~~1 m~e: as participants in tht; D'Ul#e. M~,~ br~~ movhlg to . .I"1;f:?gm[n'';( ber sounds of their own, pri,vat,c Requiems.

1I'l'iIIT.:!~.::-,·The se:clii' \vorld~0f the Damned commands irs own entire :su:bcll,lllU1l''eJ ~1Y.ld this :~~'~hc~l~wre includes language. In adrJiti;on (0 (he V~d~:tl.s. PI'Orer IU1irYn,es, and r ides that exist only amung the tllt1d,e.i1A~ a complete Ungual set of VculllpiIel~~'Je(.~fi.c words and phrases.'h.~ ~lti~e-n over time, resulting in a sort ofKlndred Hd ualect." Like aU lan~.agej ith~s dlA:3,lec:.r grc~v and expanded, T~.~Ll,]ti.lJIg i~ the eventual br€,ak.;off of another, more modern

The {6Uowung terms are lled free]y and f equenrlv by borh neonates and those elder Kindred fumiUar with ver.nac;ubr (or who wish to. diszuise their 'Erne age). S01ue qf ~Jlf.' newer '\ .. -ords have come mto clrculadon OI_~Y in the lase few years, 'b~t due '[0 dIe[r uti li.ry 0[' 3t~lle ~ they ~r~ IiI,Of considered vu·ig.ar argot, The: common parlance lexEc(m, includes a proTIU.'I.1.Ci'lr

[ion gu ide (0[" it$ uncommon vocabularv, -

Acolvtes; A common nickname for members of rhe Circle of the Cr'OI'l,~.

Andl]a (all ... SILt .' tih):: Ki ndred toe' cld to be considered neona~;, bue nor yet elders, '~"rl1ooe R·(;;qumem has lasted rough 1 ~J 50 lEO 150 year:s- (The p'~",u~ll term is anclllae ~an • SILL • ae},,)

ancfeare The' rare vampire ,- ho h: s existed fer 0\ er a, millennium.

Avus. (AY' • 'Vusd: A character" ([ ~ndfatht"-rf Of' pat-ron in a 'bloodline from which s'~~e ~!i, not tru Iy descended. (See p. 256-)

'Bt.l['l'\~n$: Portions of the city. unfit even for I:llmfng~ Beasn The- inchoate ~[:ge$ that dri:ve '-' ampires ;away from the J\4c~,11"

Be1Ll1"s BOC1Od: A. I'"d.I.lCOU$, Feckless covenant of vmnpiriCSat3I[l~fS" lM:ooo [11'lmt~ A (;ijt)"!,lfi.de hu.lll!t fOT OJ, particu tar K~.~d~d rlJ.gi~n,ve:J • in which most if no!: ~lU keal Kindred 3'«: expec[€d eo p.1Cticlpate,-

bloc dli'lle~ A, gf.Olllp of vHmp~.r-es that £p~,i.l:s, off from a parent clan 1:0 form a ( lsrlnct lineage of us mil. SOUl(: ': loodlir:Jes do not differ from the p:l'[",ent clan ~n $igil~n,cant W(lys~ \\'h:ile orh_~'. eI:S claim ,chffen::nl[ powers or weaknesses,

Ca'rd.} ian (KAR • three • enn):: A v;:anlpuric idealist, one '. who beb~vcs in reconclll ra.g the Requiem wirh rhe pollncs , . and society of modern mortals.

styl~ of speech .. These '!.VlQ vampire dialects ere referred to. .1S

~~ Id·' l' d ~~ i HAt." 11 'L~, 'II ~

. to. torm anq conunon (.."I{U ,moe. ',' third VOC:fLUU uaf1\ tne

language of the Kmdred "street," is new to 'm,OS[ '~\I,er~~one ami is, considered 'i,I !J.'Ig-.a.'~~ by a U bot rhe most brash of neonates. Bel' ing creatures of stasis- the Kindred loathe unnece sary change, and one can otten rell the a~~ 'if nOE dlC vampirk origin.\l' ofa speaker ·bv th \\!~y in which he uses the te'lrtns of.h,is, k ~fLd.

ihiMe, (CHIlD) : Kindred aofsprmgJ.3; also 'uS€d to n'litl 00 parti<oui(j1rly young neenares, or 'as aminor ~nstilt (allin to ca Uh1g: &)])18>" one a "child" in I¥I,Clml circles), The plural is ch,Ikb ~Ct[llL • ded"

dan: Oo.e of fb .. ,c :f:r.J1.1iHes of KiOt,l~ whose Unea,g. links bad, [0 times beyo.~d Ki:rtJ'(ireJ m ~m.ory.

Circlc' 0'( the Crone: "A., ('..0\ enant of riruallstlc Kin, Ired th~lit re, eres pagan god::;, 'pi'drs, pantheons ~nd.lor pn)~rriro s,

Coils of-d'iJJ~' D[":-a:gon~ A mystic \~' ~!ly une-ar~ing that allows vampi res to ignore cerro in aspects of the ir curse I a!' fitac.ri~:.c:d 'by the Ordo Dnl,.r~ul.

coteriet A group of (! n~ed Kindred.

covenant. A fac~'~Qn of Kindr,e.d who share cerraln pol idc!tIJ'~ and theoloskal 'bel lefs, The covenants exist 'world\~ ide d1wgh derails often (i'i1fl"e f feom domain t,o \' orllla,in,

Cr1li~.c (KRE,W' • ack): The bloody! wiechcrstr-l ike m;)fiul practiced by the 'CLIde' ,of the' Crone,

Daeva {DAY .. vuh) ~ A, dan of vampires known fcr~~ bcifc!§l: emotional. sensual and deslra )le.

D~l1ll]edj thei The 'race of Kindred, vampires.

Danse Ma-calbre= n1esnwc oremlU:ll inflghtingbet"'ll\'eeiI:1. 'liIitdarTIOI1g the. Kindred! of d~i~~u clans, covenaors f)Ul,d ~,~ distmction!.

d:ia.bl.er.ie [dee '. AHBr II leJ.~" 'e}:: Kindred f!lcannibal~sm"; drain lng another vampire of not on ..., his blond bur. 11 is soul.

D-,isdp1in~s:, TI1e reternatural ablliries and edges ~be K i ndred possess, allowin@: [hem to vanish, rum in to bats and perform myriad other ; nhuman fears,

dmllam: A '[~gl()n, ruled (osrcnslblv) by ~1 smngl,c 'Kindred authori r.y. The largest domains correspond to e. itles and oflrl:ill contain sms Her dQ1Uj,EOS within them-

ID'r,ag(niI .. ~':' A common nickname for membees of clle,Ora.o Dracut eMer:: A vampire w ho has SYfvt ved foO'l[ Q. er 150 }"e:ars:;, also a eerm m respect-

E[ys,hn.~l [ell .. c~.sS .. ,ee ,II 1rum): A locarlon used for Kindred gath '[ungs and declared a neutral, "no violence" sancru&f!j 'by [he Prince.

E·m~ra,c.e~' The Ret of tur.nin,g a mortal into a vampire. Fm.aL [)e~~h: A Kindred's real, [me, ultimate dlea,ch; when h,eF ltInlif.e ceases ~!lOd she never again rises as a vampi[",e.

'[llil:im:'l'iit Estare~ A. common nickname fo,l' the Inv ictus. freli'i~y!' A berserk stare i n which the Br.;;~l$l1; takes total conITOI over' 8J vampire. Rage ~ -ftiar and hunger can i 1 hJ'ce frell~'

~~~i '\,\, hen precision is needed, the term 'is qU:!l~if,oo by e~iJJJS>e (fuge kc[l'ZY, fe~r flenzy OT hunger frenzy) or by a special term tR.tfn:dJl'eck 01' \'l!assa~D,. Unqualified, the term genf:'uaHu lndlcates ·r.age f["e;n~y.,

~.1i1gre·~ (,GANG '. ~~H)~' A. dan of vJtnp[r.~;;;; k.~lInw'n fott being primal, hardy and savage.

g,tli('luJ:~ A mortal fed Knndroo Vitae and possesse lofv,::;I!rious 5~ple'n"at1J~1'~ ,~1Jbi'lit ies, 'though fau. we'aker: than mOS~ vampires,

fUrpv=: A Kindred in a position prominent or e,.;,r ~mahle' GilOtig!l, to raise up or put down other : in vampire soclerv,

ha ~n; A vampires residence; ,,,,rhe-re one tlnds sanctuary frm'ljJ; the ·$.\m"

H.emM.= .A spokesman for the Prlnce.

h~jfcjl:=- A collect ion of 'mJ)H(11s fro[ III whom a v amp i re f:eedts regularlv,

Homm: Apemnal ~.geru:ofrhe lP'rt~laz; ~ln~ '~,eg~breake~~ Clpo. Imvictus (i[IJ '.' VICK I. tllJSS)! 'One of rhe largest of the KiT)d[~-d, covenants, whlch believes in rule ~)V a vamplric "ellec" made up mostlv of elders,

Kindil'{!~= The: modern (and most frequent) leHTI 'b)r w'h.id), \l~l]npi es :refer ro rhemselves and uhe:h' race,

kin~: A teTIIIJ for fL'iLmtSJ[s~ ttlle phrase ~~Kindroo and kine" r.dCI'$ 00 everyone.

OCiss:~ &tll the a(.£ of biting and Oll':i n,g blood from a [l}OI~ tat :;lIS well as rhe pleasure it provides both piut'ldpmlts.

l&tc~ SiliilCltilli. fLAN • ka.y • uh SAN'K .. to run) :: A 00"l,1", (;nmt o{""rumpire..'1 made lip (lof v~unpiric religious zealots who hmlOnhe Romln cenru.ricml LmlgifllllSt 'whom, they have: ·adopted as a frJWl or1\1{I~ror1. salnr" for the act -of ~tiI'k,g Chrises ,h,;rini,~~

tlJJ~ime: A werewolf

M'3n, dl@': The hmn::l)ni~y a, vampire maintsins (or tries [0); the ~rk of monali'[y' rhee djsEtngui:dle5 him from the B~~,[;.

MMqti!l',ade~ The efforrs and svsrem of laws r,equit-cJ by the Tradillon of Secrecy to hide Kindred existence from the mott(JJ wO'ELd.

Mia&te!r ©& Elysium; T~ Ki]ldli~d r~spon;;')~ble fO'1' places o( E~}1SUl!nn'l w·ho also ~]1l~lkes sure: -h;!)Jt everything is prem,lred ~ that nobody ftgh~, and that Vi.FQId gets O!l.lJ[ abou.;r events.

Mekbet (MiK .. e~t): A d:an .of v~'~'J:]pit'es k:tlO~WIri for 'being quit:k~ d.if1flr~er ar~d wi~e.

neonate (r·JiE .• o[ ., uateh A young v~Jll,pin;\ 0ogIIgOO ~n his R.tqUj~lll fOor Less, dum 50 years.

Nesferatu (flOSS .. fur '.' AH '. tee h A vampire dan ..... "'..-~I!.''""'

. Or bei~.lg' s.te<ilJ.thY'I' StltOi"IJ,g and tt"e:rrifving. ,

Or.do Dr,a.eu[ (,OR • dough drah ,. KOOL); A covenane of vampires known fef its 'mystic stud:ie~ ;it~ild desire (0 rranscend the. vampuie cond ition ..

poacher: One who reeds in another Kindred's dmnain \v~th .. out permission.

Primogen (PRIM .' o[~ '.' jen] ~ A_o elder who advises the

Prince of a domain (olso plural], ;'~WBtm

Prince= The ruler of! Or most P{),,>\'Crful K~ndred ln, a domairl!. Priscus (FRISS II kuss): The informal "head" of a spef.lflc. clan wtrhin a domain, The plural i~ PFis:ci (PR]SS .. 'key).

Rack! TI.'!!e 'best parts of the dt~f in which to feed, :includmg nig'htcllU bs and other loud, crowded areas.

T't;:gna.n:t: The Kindred. who holds re:gency over a Ihr.fIiU; the ;tOIf),m;mlr.t. member of a Vinculum, Abo 'domtror .. ~

R,~u.i~m; TI"L;e Kindred ,oondiitio'r.\j, the whol~ miserable, (',u~d song of a 'i,I~jnpur~\ UI'il.·~jJe'~ whether singularly Of me taph 0 r.id'IJU y.

reVlen:f1J1fit; A v£iJiLupire who, has 'ioo,t all ~,' u:n;l~,nity and exises in perperual firen~y.

S.~rncrnfied·; A. OOUJl.IDOt:t, ~~i,t~'kna;m.e for members oftheLancea Sanctum, sing1JJbu- and plural,

Seneschah The Prince's right hand and ·a.~ista'nt. Seven: A dan] -covenant or other group of · ..... amplres that detests the Klndre I race and seeks 'W ~es[my ut~ its O>\lnl members excepted.

Shedff:: The Kindred. responsible fOI[ enmrc;un.g, the Prince's lm\'s and dictates,

s~rc': A vamplric "parent," one who lias; Embraced c chllde: '< aJiDeirll-ativeiy! .:;. vem:b, meaning "to Embrace."

TI\leOO.:n (WilEE •. ben] Smtce.ry:; A mvsrerious fO'L'1lfL of blood magic practiced primarily by members of the Lances Sanctum"

thrall: One "'I',1})O is bound 'co a m.gnant; the enslaver membe! of ([I, Vinculu:m u

turpor: A deatb .. l,tike sleep into wlIJ.ch. Kindred -f~I,I, if dlef are l!l.1j ur.(~(:1 severelv or starved for too long. K1t~,drcd can also o(~h'lj~ enrer torpor wiUimgl:y to esca ?e d1B world :ro:l' a time.

Traditions:, TIle three priif{~'IGtl(J~ ll.Vi.tS. passeddowruhrocgh the ~ and observed irlJ' iolare dt e to the Kindred. con 'l~riODl.

unbound,;. A, vampire who refuses to accept the local tuleot

«-J'&. " ..... .,.,

~l Prince or other governing Kindred bod y. Also .

unaligned Of independent Kindred,

V:entru,e (VeNN • tru.~'): A clan of \'a~.npi.rei.j, being reg-at commandl (ij,g and aristccradc.

vessels Any SOUK€: of blood for. eh Kindred to . usu~]l} but not always used. to refer to a mortal,

Vitae (V1E " b.y): B'lood~ par~icu1arly the blood cl:a . ·.aOO.~I(['~.,:' Vmculum (VlN • cue ., ],um)~; The· ;)rtlfmci~llo.ve :a I. LV s~}awned by feeding flT'oro tile :!lame- 8Jmpirc three ...... "., ...... ··~,tI

Also 'kno\iI,?[); ~eS5 furma'll Y fiS a blood DO\l1(1-

~lh i:p~ One who 'keeps his c.]ilnm(],t~, in ~i:m"lIe in. ord,@r ~~~ th,~i be t[Qken serio'IJRl "'I;

witeh, ... r.nult~eit'; A mor ~.tl who seeb~ our Kindred an'i[~rEf:"·:;'::

strays the:m..,

i~"~;~~iUo:~'ing t'~r~ h;a\~~ooen 'i~~:~ciu.;~~l~,ldon for as long as 'eJdeJs '~(ln '11: rntel.'i.'JJbe~{~~lnd the~ are still. considered he ',"~"'U""'L'_II ~Is·~·e for ~~.e Mea~' they de,5cribe u

~_~~._,~.~tor: p~'[e'!'aJ[)~;,.. nca~Je d1~e~ 1 a p<mch1e1'

A 'h D' '1:<:i " 'u, ~

mil'(ant .' =: ' ,1alLl'ler ~,e::,~ Jt n e act 0.[ consuming another

crs, '~loOli and~QuL~~-:

a~8J.leh! Hi,stori,cany ~ Kindred rebel l;\ll-~o opposed vamplric Lyr~nn'y. SWIll,e snarchs sO'Llgln to. tear dowi:'1. rhe feud a 1 SY.~I 'tents of Kin! . red ~oci,etytn nights past b~lt m(lI)~ merely \It'tshed [0, be left 'to '[hell' own devices, Arg;lJ;Jloh~y the fo,renunneil1i, of the modem unbound.

blood ~tlu The Vi·l1Ct.(!um",

,eailltiff.:: J::r. vampire of unknown clan. Usag'!: .AJ1t ,l to tmder:1 stimd that ,tii5 caitiff is tndy a NOi$feratu of WeJUngronls br.ooo! HfrW CQ.u~a·~' not ~i~ve' g~~e'SseiU

-~~ ..

C3'fUa..U~e: The masses of humanttv, especially the un-

cultured or unsavoty, Typj'ealb ccnnotes ~ refe'renn,ce eo sources oJ suseenan ce.

cauchesnar: A vampire who feeds solely On s eeping victlms. -coek~~OrUln! A loud-moerhed iconoclast ~ or ().r!l'~f wesk vampi[(;; who acts. the big shor,

•

eom.pr,liJdior:= A vampire who works for some other creature,

such as 8J. mage or even, a mortal organisntion will ~ng to up~' hold the Mali-qu¢rade; also lndlca« '. [he reverse (a supematuroily :Rwi1kem,ed creature in the service ot a v~i'mpi're}.

censanguineous» Li:te'1i~ny~ ,I· of rhe same blood ", especially H!~rFding i lneage. Usaeei Tha ~ uan~pi're' i'~ cf)l1s.~n,guinooru with lhe Ve:rHnte P-rince.,

. co-sangulneous: Btt::ing, brothers in tl-~e B:~o.oo,; eharlng the same sire. U:sag~,: Weir,!! r-um.Qlc«l ~o be ,oo .. sangu{fQi\3ou:'!: bu~ fny ,sire. !S aClUGl1ry J\(axu:'leJ~, t!l'ooe(l!S: his ,f:S nor,

cuuctatort A Kindred who a voids k:iU~ ng wh~~leV'er feeding fmlTlJ mortals,

dnugr,; The term for ·~lfna.1IiI rs in antiquity; still widd")f used, br some Gangrel.

:fi,ef:! ,A domairu snll rrh.€ favored term ~1Jm()n,g'ma l}' Venrrue, even numerous ~rOlling ones-

footpad,:, One who feeds from vagrants, derelicts ~nd orher dregs (If SOCi,eq.

fled.gUng:: A neonate; a n~wly crftSJted vanipile uil(1er his sire,J;s prorectiou.

gallant: ,A vampire 'i ho reeds from other vampires {Jut of necessity or perversion.

g:entt'y; The collective group of 'K~,L1dr.ed who prefer to p[ey flit night,d,'l.lbs bars and other ~~["ed .. 1 iglllL dlsrrict" establishments.

Golcoruh~ A fabltxl S~~lte of complete. oneness "J;lith, the vatrtiplrh: cQtlldiLion; (he true comprehenslon ofhoth Be.as[ ~mcl Man \xr.lUrln a vampires ro!J.]'~ wherein balance c~m be found, Rumored to be s~mUar to mOJlal Nirvana, Golconda is Otl~.y 'ilru:)' l'aI-eI,y ad~iel.'{"fI,

Inceptor: The founder of a new Dj~ cipline, a new bloodline or hotl:'!J.. Suc.h feats carrv some measure of [lr-e.:~tig'i";:l among rhe Ki.ndr'E'{i.

Leeehr A morral who drinks vamplre bLoo.d but acknowledges no regnant.

Lextalionise The tradition of the blood hunr,

Un t'la:g:e'i A vam:~~:reis. bloodllne; one's sire and the. line {if sires before hkn"

Oslrls. A vampire W~,10 buikts. ~~ 'D"lfa,mml cult follOW-I'ng around himself, as a mes ns by 'wI, ich he can better fe~d Or influence th~ morts 1 world.

Pspillcm The red~·I,igh;1'[ distrlct; an ~.Ie3. of a ,Gity tha.t is punctuated by bars, \::'Ilb.orel.louses, gamb]ing cru inos and ocher places of debauchery', Also refers to a ci.ty~s prl D']TJ,e hWJldng grounds, wl'rL~!(e morts], di~.11Jpp arances go largehl' 'tJ nnotmcoo.

praxls: The 1'ighr of Princes to gove-rrt~ ones claim eo dorr~.aJum..

C~U1 also refer to a Prinees matter of polic.y or indi vidttaJ edicts.

1"eta:i.1leN Any Ii 1d h 'idua.l. who serves a ''\!' amplr if. master " 'ltV herher l]['L(~~I dtraU or not), The term hails '[rom a time when many vampires kept ]~uge estates wirh endre enrourages of servants.

'R5tschr,ee:k.:, The "Red Fe;:u:~; a fcfl;l'f frefl:l,)I'~ lFlHllI¥ ~ntSd .. gated by the presence of flre.

s:ir,en:: ,A female va~nf!;i:r12: who seduces mortals in order "0 feed from bur not kill them.

Su~,pit',e.:: The rumored momenc of epi'ptwny a varnptre experlences j usr before. anai.m.in,g (0'1" 'railing to :atr.ain) Golconda

Wai:tsaj]i ~: lLlng~I ften;:::~~ dmin.g which a vampire. seek· !DO feed unt~'1 $':lred.

wh.dp: Derogaeory term for ~~ y'OUllg Kind red, or~,gin~iUy lJJ:i& in reference 1r0 one's own P'n)get'lil!~'

'W h:i~: Contemptuous term for a .~ amph'e Wh50 retains inter .. est in, morral. trends-

The' rJJ~l!"'es~ of l;erttn5~ rhos€' rising out' of the grime and crime of the modern- g'Othk streets, '[c(iPCt both dte times. and the attltudes crf ronighes brash neonates.

:~]lereat:: A vampire with 110 permanent haven who sleeps lU a d iH~::t":n:t pi1JJce' eacll day. A ~so r,efer$; to one 'wll.o feeds «dusi,vei.y from the homeless.

b~Jlk~g:: The practice of ~\vitl.ldjta,win( blood. from Mood, hgrlt:s ~nd llO$pit:all'eserve;r,. Such refrUgerated. Mood bas very ~,U()t'I~ LWJE~~ h~t itt provides some small nourishment nonetheless, Bankh~, is 'frowned opon by older Or '(nOtt:- 'rur.n~-d Kindred.

b:]is1t!e'JN A vampire Wlyphoid :Mat'r'~ who contracts a mortal ~j~~~e and spreads lt to the vessels upon whom she feeds,

'b:lood, mom,: A. mO:_I[t~l who fredy gives blood to a vampl re, ~atl1i.ng,a'~'V·~~e satisfacrion from the Ki~ and actively seekiog O!~t v.fL'Lnpb:e:s to gl'vl£ It 'to them,

bldtelif]y~ .A. Kindred who mingles among mortal hi_g~) ~~ e:i,ety ~Ild prefers to f.eed from the rich ~1l1d ('am.o'L~.s.,

eaSatL(Y",.a,~, It vampire who seduces mortals. to feed bur does not M~llhetn" M'ostt prefer to CJ1wSC' the memor.y of their prest;!t~ f~00n~ thei! vessels' minds, if possible.

Ck~lL1ge:; The moment a person ceases. '[0 be morral m1iJ beoom:es a K i,!1Ched.

Cka_ver~ A vampire 1J;\I·'h_D tries, to rnaiural n the illusion of fjJ human faul"IJa,ly lire.

d~'o[,! Sarcasttc !OCT~('I! fw u vessel, typic~lly ~ f!lJJr'taL mt,mer,: D~mgal'(Yi;'y term f01" '~~UlJP~'["~ who pl'ider to feed fmm animals alone.

heads A vampire who fucd~ em drLlg o:t ~lcoh(j:l~~ aced blood, ,.,-*~~I!:';j:

Those with a fondness :riJr'spe:Ci,(-;:c drugs have ~h~:h"preferen(".-oe added '8JS a prefix (e.,g~., crsckhead, porhead, Sllwckheild)"

~,ead!h1Jnrt~r~, A Kli"J.ru'0:] 'wtm hllll"JJ~ and.:~ on othe~' WlIltrplIe). julce: Hu InJ11l blood, often i.l1JD difled by a descripeor, usuii.By One ind:Lc®..tin:g either the origin of the blood or some

chemical within the blood (e.g', "'cr.'fnl'ber.ry juice" indl ........ 0== cates I fl5h [)Jood, wh ile j~l~ppy juice" is morts 1 blood laced wi't'~l sti mulanrs).

jl;lrce,l»l:g .. :, COFb.rern,lp't\!()US, term Cor mortals.

L~,{;k:;. A mQrt~l~., especiall 11 one fforn whom a vamplrefeeds, ]usl~:: One 'who Ee:~~s t'~~;u'[arly from drugged O[ drunk mor-

tals rc ~x.pcd.Gnce the el~phori"l or i ne'briall:ion in the blood,

p@i!ligr.ec:: A. sarcastic term ('Or linoogel tfPi(:;aJ1 Y used 'Do make fl~n of ~lu~iOrher 'VDmFir,e~ Ki,nd!J1ed fa!TI[l y nee ~:O[' the self-ira ~ .~t@~ PDrt}11HCe drawn ~he:L'€£rorn}.

rakes The newest euphermsm f.or ,ge'til try; a haJhi,w~l~ vistror to the .Hack..

ripper: Modern, term, far a revenant, based upon, Ith.~ condition in which such creatures typ uC:3JI.y leave rheir victims.

5~:[ldm.a:i1{ A, cal:~c~e~lla:r",

,shlmm~n:g~~ The pracelce of focrMi:l,g' from derelicts and, other dreg,s of ,ooci,ety.

teases A simn.

tud: i1tlder.n. term [us'ed in. reference to a domain; can a lso refer ito '[he ~r!e:] Hnder one .gang Oo:r: coterie's unflm:,~ncc'"

f) .JA:d&fi','·· /+-~ ... T .+" l)'r": "'A~"<r:""F:: .1.-#(1- ~§I,+'oj".·-+d:kfo'·' l~oj""'~~

()( ~ .' . ~ ;',w,)V ~ cx e« - _. _ _ ~~ ,,,¥¥,~,~ ,{fit- . - .. -W-.trb" . . . .

. . . . . . ..' .' . . . ~. . .

/? ()'4: . 't;_j~, nil JiJ / j)' -I.. . J - - n

[M'O: f:i&m ~r>Y a~d~'?AA~~ a .

' ftM' tGt-:.'~ ~ ~ J!' ~Lt

' ........... 7"· ~"' ,'. '..;.:-. -'::' A~·"· ," . ,:'" , ',,,: ',' ."~.:,,,:.,-,.".

',' .' ~-=:. . . _.1,'.'" . • _ ".', '. _ ~, '_:.. ': ' •.• '" ,' .. ~

. .

t!. 4P'_.n . ,_, f-t-l 1:- . " ~' -, +1-', lW/f/~:#d:r1 '.' 7 iJ~ I ~ ,~ a ~ to ~ UJ4. ~ 1M tf~"~~~"~'p '7'~ tUnC!;

~J,JJA:r'

,,.....-. ~1"hJe. . 'U'

.. '

Metilougi1t$ a legion of foul fiends Enmnmed me and .hmoled in mine ears

~ WHUam Shaliespe,u'e;o l?ichard III Now d~~r you're familiar with the setting of the Kindreds

'Wodd or ~rb'bessj it's time to take a look 011:[ t;h,e tE1i ~tS and ')rstcm:s th'a[ hr-i:ng: \'~J1upires to v ita~, un Hfe-" TIi.j;,'-; c:IV\pte'f deta bIs the $ystetil:fil~ by wl~ id~ you create your' character to participare ill) stories ~nd chronieles . It also htcludes hlfonn.~t ion on rhe five d~:nlsc((on:1 \L,~hich all i ampi r es dlllbn cl!e~feJJt. :FinaH}'; lD.' dlarou,gh t~, e.1i:])biru Discipl lues, [he supemanual powers upon \' hkh ~l~plres can, call to aid them in thelr Requiems.

The character-creation S}rs! em is intended [0 offer a set ,nf rools wi [J, whtch players can craft fj,cti''I, e personas 'rather' han a mechanlcal cieva,ce' that churns out generic, assembl y ... l,i ne stereotypes. Tile d_ velopmenr of a vUJmnl[ back $tor~' and 3 true d.epth of character mbs. precedence over dors on 31 p(3ge, bur I some framework muse be eS'tijblLshed so ,tJhat plaveis' characters can. tnreract in a meanlngful W'3y \ij;'l~h regerc 'to th" game.

Try nor to look s~mply ail: a clmrac.rer~s tra U't.5 in black and white gaughlg how h'~(jlter scores i ~ certatn areas 3'ffo:rd her g:n~ate[ success in the com iug chronicle, Instead, nnflt,e an ,ef~ fon: to understand the character's history and persona, ehe 1 , choose those dots that most accurarelv represent her pen on .. ality and ablllrtes, Storvtellers should work closely with their

L d' 'U 'k"'~ h'

plkllYe.rs r lIrtng cnarucrer c.re~tton; 'I1.'1J ' .. mg :sure [E~at choices

made involving game mechanics h~ve jus.tifl cat [011, and ratio .. nale h , terms of a character's developed nersona

.). ) :~ .t + • ~ :, (.

CHARACfER~'CREA1ION PROCESS USia,tne cha racter-creation rules frcmthe World of' CI,alrkfil ess Ru Ie book, and add t he foil owl ng' tern plate to K~ ndre:d chalr'acte rs d uri ng Step' Flive.

ChQQ$e a ,;;:I en (se@ p. 91)

IF'or beg in n lin 9 Di;sci pi un ss, ,a llocate th ree dots" two oi1' whicn must be' spent on dan Disdp~~nes.

Valm olres cain h aiV1e' ad d iti on a ~ M erlts from a ~ped~~ ·llist {sieN~\ p, 1 nO}.

Morality ~$ now called !Humanity tn Vamp~re

(se'e p, '9.2). "

Rol ~ a d ~e to determi rl@ how much Vitae 'Yo ur character Ihal3 at th~ beg!inning of the s,tory,

I

&y &~d!." ;;P~,~~ Jtf~~T

Concepr t. the stone from w'h ich ~ eU -develo }OO charaeters are sculpt d. Before thoughts. of: game me .. chanics focus a 'players attenrlon on microccsmic detafls of his characters personali tYJ! tt is, i nportant 'to hammer Out a rough- hewn fO[!l'!J" :6f;~'mg the whole before cooceiltn~ti'l"'~_g on ~h.e parts

Concept needs only 1:9 be a general idea ~ renowned so .. cial i re ~ musical 'prod~g.yl' heroic sa ... r1CJr - but It should. be enough to ~ pawn ever more complex md@tls abolJ.~ he c harncter's. motives, errvironrnenr and reiatlonshtps, OF course, a c.oncep'c C~It be far U1LOl'C complex: "~My character 'was a staun" 'h, clef~nder of N ew YOl!k~$ homeless, fig_hrjng for their rights and [etb(Hr~g eo their needs.I Hs Embrace :[[100 the Mekhet clan (rilH:en,ed h lm into 11 ~d L[1g ;;nnong the downrro ,~ den ~ WllO have now come to $ee him, ~S' a predator of the alleys, ~I

As shown 'in that example, some 'pbyer" mlght want to ln .. elude dan and covenant at this t il1J1,rC. [n,fur.m~ti,on l!-ega.:rdill.E dan 'and covenant is, de'mi led in Step Five. Players cr,e~'t~fig prelude characters would forgo the selection of clan find OOIj,~· ~ij,~~1t etlti ['oely, instead arriving at those choices rh rough p~@~.

~, ~: (f~T~,t;/;;

After the more qU<;llirrnti ve aspects of a character ha ,re been solidified, plavers tlJ;JJ;I~~ assign num hers that sup parr their decisions, The first ,tep ill decerm i:l1.ing a characters nu.~ueri' traits is to pri ori £ ise his A ttrlbures, Arrribuees represen; raw~ natural a hi Hty. How strong is the characeer! How SI'"lUlJ'l ~ [iJ)!Ll,~ ag['~e ~ \Vh~tt impression docs he m~lJ~e as he enrers SJ room~ At tributes take these questions and more in to. account, ulJti~ marelv ()t()viciing the fQllJ.nd~ tion 0, 00 which a character R; bullr, Ch~JJr'JC'telf5 have nine' Atrrl . utes, d~ vided into 'three categoriesr Men ra ~ "Intel Ii ence, Wi,ts., Reso ~ve) i Phys,[c(lT (Streogrh, De'xtelf"itY., Sramiri.a) and "'Q(:i~1 t reseuce, Manipu· larion, Composure j"

First you musr, leelde in ''!.~'11:ich 4.~f these categories " our cheraeter excels the moot (p]'"ijmary.}. You then select th,e WOLlJ:l' of Attributes in \~hk':h yOUi'" character is average (s~,conda~). Fmall y~ the renjaln ung category '~5 designated as the charserers we~ kesr area pf r~an::ura'~ n~~lent (rest lary). ls your character a ; cmwny tnteUectual" 01' p . "ibly a brute bck~ng un social g,rMs? YOtH char~ct,eJ." CO'll.cept sh.ould prov ~de i,'b'.lS igl~ r j'tllm where to

~i.gn 'YO'lll'li pdOf~ti,es! but you may decide to' brenk. with. rhar ffiQld ~ $~~y~, by creating a short, sinewy mob enforcer ''Ii "hose il'i:l:en~ily and, rage more than. make up fur his lack of siee,

AJI ,c'hamc[~r.s, begin with one dot in each Arrribute, reflecthllgthe basic capabH~ti,e5 of all human be~n~. The prioridti established i:n, the preceding paragraph derermlne how Ttlrt1ny dots are allocated for each Axtd'bul[e cluster, Five addidonal dots are. added to the 'P,~iffi~lrv group, four. addirlonal dots [0 the secondary group ai,l J three c ors [0 the tertiary group.. For example, the scrawnv intellectual mentioned p'U~ iOlllcsly \voolJ, have fi'V'e dots ll"! his M eneal cattcgory\ four '~n his. SodaJi and three in h is Phys~c'all C3Jre,gory~ while the tactless 'bf.lJ,ll[,e: 'tI.:oukllm'l,i·~ f['"" 'e doas lin h~s Physical categnl)r~ foul: ]['[ his Men.'ra[ and onl y three in his Soci:811 categors

The (jfrh dor in any Attribute costs two dots t,( purchase, So" a piaye'r who wants his character to have a De'x~~er.D.'ry of ,5 netds eo speod fn.v,@ dots, (Hie starts with one free dor, spends It~,~ more zo achieve a score 0'£ 4~ and then spends two more for ttle fihJh dor.)

~ 6Zu: d~,al&

S&ins are' div hied into the same three '~1J bcarezories as, Atmiootes. Mental, Phvstcal and'· cci ~I. Mental, Skills tend to r-ely an kn.owledge of tbe wodd ~ nd are improved through study and '(JrlCrical application. Physkal Ski,Us rel y on tf8lm ning~ hnprovoo mainly iliTOlEgll practice anc repetirlon, final ~y~ Soci~l Skills [ell' h~a-vily 011 inrerpersonai experience and. improve fu'FOOgh '~~~rernC1EiOl1 with other-s 'or t"hrotl.,gh trial and ,error.

like Attributes, Skill groups must be prlorltized Jm-ing char .. acteT. crestien, r~,aJyers should select P'I in19ry~ seccndary and rerti:trry (~il'G.gorii!:S for their Skills. Tile pr1i1nary group receives 1.] dOf,Sl d\e S'€ronci'aJry group gets seven, :81l1d the ['Brtia.'[y group receives four, Note that, unltke Arrnbures, characters do not begi 1 d e game with an ~un:onu"ltic dor in any Skill, as SkiHs Jots'~Fe oblta~ned through dedicarion [0 a fi.eld" not natural tlleL"Iit alone. A.5 befon:'::l t:'h.e fifth, dot in an,v Skin costs two dots to purchase,

~. 7~;· cidecTdLU sG~~~

Wb1~e characters m,igl'rl, have oonslderable tra hl'ing ~n Fireaml$ or eKpetd.~' in Medleine, they excel in cerrs r ~n aspects of rheie '. kills more so rhan in others- For instance, 'O:f.fice'F' Gri~llIe;s tnig'ht have a special pron,dency ~Nith 'Il is pani,(;ula:r-

(tlear.m but nOt w~th ritles~ shotguns or cha~n. ,b!'J.ms. Be fl1igh:r: urtiie:JSr.aJ, d rhe basic. prindpie~ of using thezy~ f~,(eUnnSl bUll: the- Dulk of his, t~ain'ing h~$, ooel1 ~'iFirh. his pm$m~. Repr,eSel1lted illi.g:ame t-e1'Gj, ~uch ~ chawccer :m:ay. 'h-avc: tlaree dot in Fi,re' 4Ifm - ~'ith a S~"t.i~~~ty 'nn 9m:m. amon:Wtlc pistols-

Plia~n ~lloooe three Ski It·· ,·dol ~i:es dUL' Lng ch:uacte'r Crt-, lrion. Ttte.se ~ou[d be very sp'cd:fi,c~ rhollgl1L pol,ay.e1'8 'may cn()IJSe nn:me than one Spe(:.ial,ry ~()r ~n,' gb/en Skill. So,. using [be Ple.V io~n., e";~ltn~)I,e, Officer Grimes m 19ht hav'e . pedah:i"'~ in bodl 9f1)U~l 3ummatli,c pisiI]o[s and, 12,',ga'ug,e' ;ShDt~UI~$.

~ ~~,: ;f~~ ~n~~ ~y~'7

Hert is "i! h,e;re ~',our character sloughs off he'll" mOl'tal, ,coa an 01 mdr ~:om~, ~ Cf>f::atme of the night. The Embro{)!!! d~ff~lge,iJ; ~

character into somet'hiJ1g 110 lOlrJger morral, endowing 'her. sped at abilities and un~Q ue advantages unlmaglned ill her pr~" vlous existence. A_s:ide 'from e'tt'rI:rerr~ a 'new '~~orhl based 'On dan :'§;iI;L_ 3Jn~t covenant, ,$U!peotaru.ta~ changes affect her Aur~b!Jte.s, and allow her access '[0 the powers O'f the Blood"

e~an A character's cl~l'1"'iI, serves as a sort: of extended uunily or th~

. night) bound 'by. :hl'li~ge and responsible for eenain s imilarities among irs membess, Vampires are a'~ways of the same clan ' as the sires thar Embrace them, ~h.ougl1i i.~ 'is possible ro I~lre~; ~'Il!!OI!!!~ stan a Il!~\? b'looJljne that deviates sHglltl'y f[.om other close blood relanons .. Examine (he five: clan d. ,criptt(nlS I resented (roc pp. 1 04 .. 1 13}. and derermme \!'fh~d:) dan (0 which you want '')?oltn character to beloo;g. 'You]'" Srorylt@ll~r may place restrictlons on YOI!.]r choice at tbe s~~:rr-(!, depending on, the FLmi~ tations of her planned chrotrLc'~e. Preludes concerning the Embrace mlghr take thus deeision 01.,][ of your ltands entirely, bRS~ ing it solely. On the Sroryrel.l:er's d.iSCOOfi~l.,

When choosing a c:'[(1]!J! you. might wish to choose a :sped.fic bloodline that dev iarcs s Hghily from the norm, a :subset of your v~llflil.pitu(. :~mil y that holds to different ideals ~~'i,d behas ioral sesndards. Be sure to confer with yoyr Swryoo~,I.~r before makins sud,- a. decision, as C rtain bLoocn-~ne..s o'i.i.g,ht not ' allowed in her cbronicle, o:r mlghr not exi t '~lt al], Alrerna .. ti'\.r,e:ty, IX 'us possible to create, an ent~I"e'[y new blood.UUnf::, provided Y0iJ.LT. Story te 11 er approves.

Coveaam

A, co~'Cn8ln!t is mo-re social d'~11 f~rrruha I,~ concerned 'with a. characters woddvij~~ arnd relsrionshtp to other Kindred rather than [he advantages and 'bonds of the Bleed. Bach of these societies seeks d iffe-rent go~.Is Il!s,~ng (scmerimes d rarnadcallvl diverse met::ho.c:ls", all sure' in. the 'knowledge that d1e'~l" wa 1 ts ~ "right, ij or at least. more right than aU the others, Covenant . not governed by, lan or sire] ~h.ough childer ottlen beein their· Requiems. in the COVetl811ts of their sires, eirher our of famil- , iadty 0 promise of states.

If a covenant is chosen during character crcarion, there is. no reason \\·hy ir: can't be changed. .EI;:) a character comes ['0 more 'uuHy understand her p]~c.e in ehe world, 'While a character's covenanr i.s. not S~ t in stone, those ''I)I;.Ihc) ch:il'nge allegiances are often viewed 'with su~pi,cion and mlght have d'ifficuby gaining trust or Statu.') "' .. i thin th ., new' social hieI~n, .. chy, Y our character's COVlel:'IJant need not 'be .·Iecided 'LI!F"',""",j."' ...... 0-:: i" Il.M:o chal"ac,Ire'b" cre:ui.on ~ tho.ugh your concept should gi'Vf': ' . ~, to ,\'h,~.ch CQv'enants ~lit,e ttl )SI: Olt I,~a$[ comfoltRb]e'. ~Mimt .. , teneI~ l:irta1' d'usaUow I[his choke 'aJt the '. ron: of 13: ch " ..... ·Lll1 ..... I1·""O'.1" intendung cl-taract~:rs to handle dd.s deeisi,Ol\ dU['[l1;g' P '.

j, CoVe'L14ln~t~ gr:~nt cenai,n, OCI'rl.Ct1ts to ttheur membe:r;s. A ..... j !(:I;1;.!l~=:!:,!

,. il'cter m'I,'~ 'h~ve ~n le~lsr a single dot l\?"O'rth of dIe St~1,'t"!~, .' '" in. a c.oven~nt (se~ p . .l 02) ro a~llaH hhnse tf of [1:.& beneflt$."""'~"''''·''''''

enant advarttalges are :l$ foliows.

,. The' G{l~hians:, Member fl the 'CllL1thic.U1.8 Ul1lY '[:lU'l r;Cbtiil the A..IIi,f!.~" C;6~hl('t:s~ Hav'etl al~d ¥]el'd M{~~its, Ht b~11f th~ eX(ler.L,enee:/pottlt COSIIS (r(mfldmg up). TI-u5 ~t brc@jk .-.J ..... ,":"'"McI.~i'"

apply [o~p;Grchases of these Meri.t,~ during d~an-Jcte'F .' .' .

• ' Th"e CiT,de .of dj,e Cro.l e;; Memb ["to> of id'l"e Ci['de ..i1t~i"",",.'Ia.~::i Cr~mc m8.~r- le~nl d'Le D isdpl ine 'Of Cni~)c"

n:;;';~>i111i..hJ~~',~~;;"~N~·.Jtji;hli~ ,~~~e Iuvlcrus 'Lr'J1ay [Ju[d]~ the

~E1E:iI~I,r.)Ii{,'~ : R~a1]le;r Me:dtiS aJt hHLf~he ll,Ortn~1

~fj;~I)Ctj~h~re1~Q:ro@$ll]lOI[:~O.~_. mg !);~Jt}. Th:~t; 'COSt b:(e{l!k does, nor mlJI~~[~' ~ these. ~~n,t~ d~ting cl'la~ct,'er. (;t'eat~atl."

'.' T I , ~n'C:lIuIT!J.t~e:Fn~ifs of me Lancea Sanetu m

, . Disc~pU,me olffheh2E '. ': Sorcery,

... ~... ... . ..

'J\ t'~t,OF.-do Diiicu'h; r..(~n]ber~; of the Ordo Dracul ~,y

l~~.~[l'frl~n~l:s of~~~ Drt}~l" .,;. '

. .:' ·-r

J'll"o['~:d; AU['jJM;I.'~@S ~ ,-

lllf{ .EUlbr,a,oe fo:~s dmsiilc. changes lIiptQ'tll the 'human. budy~ .

, ~[~r~~1g its j~~pects ~ro, tha'~::of a v~}t1npirk ~:;iIIeJ;)b:lrH Whi'~e ~i.U . p~, t:h~~~J1!le ;~~~nero'bil'u~y [0 :fute and th~ need W ~~~;'''''V· nsume lblhod ~ d)i~I'f bodjf".:; a.Japt more subtly 'based on rhe blood or ~qgi,:~ s~:rt:$:.sEaJd:1i~!~m 'has adjusted somewhar dtffec:~ ~nr.'~.y (0 t~l~~igou;s of: the Embrace, "hoeming a dive~~t piII~h of deve:l.opnTiL~ toward 'becoming a ITICiKe jucce&s1ul preda[(}t breed. These ad~taJtion$ are carried through rhe blood of: tbe cl 2111 l' :jI1tedD_g the narural abilitu.e$ of nev~ly Embraced chllder,

E~!jch d;:1ri~ has a pair of favored Areributes, enjoying ~!t 'more: acute d~w'(Op~n€:1llt' of certain [)Janua] :8J~~ of~h~ 'body .. Once a dCIJIl is cll(~en~ cheese one Attribute from. a clan's, fuvo~J pair and a:di(] One dot to it.

Cbu1J. ;~ Fav~I\ed Attr.i'bute'8 (dtO(lSe QnE:i)

Daeva Gangrel M~khet N,OSk:W,tM , V enrrue

Dexter ~ty 0\1' M~rdrILl,lallicn

. -,

Compos:ure Or Starn,i,n,a,

Inn~J~'ig~nce or ~!irs Composure or Strength Presence or Riesel ve

D.i;s(;]pHfi~S

'When vamp ires are Embraced, d:te:ul' sires teacb rhem cet:.tain blood-based :mY8ti,c~ll powers known es Disciplines. Disc up:~'ln~~ 41te those my.stedolJ.$ and often, terliifYing capabillrles that the Kindred can mani(~st '@iit '\v~]l T~:l;dn,g '~hc shape of an anima] I' I1I,Ul].'t~,[,'1,g at superhuman speeds 01\ bend ung a '\I icthilll~1 will ro one's own, sre examples af Dlsclpltnes in use"

Erich, character begins wi th three dots of [) ~sdplinr:,'3j which esn be allocated ;M 'rhe pla'v,er chooses, ,A t, Ieasr two dors must ibe devoted to a (:;'I1.ar.acre:rs dan, Disctplines, however, before' any thought ls gi V'!Zl1, to an out ... of-clan or bloodline Disc u[1:~i;i:'l.'e" (nl~rt ls, you nrwy choose to spend [\VO dors on dan Disciplines and 0 .sb:'bgle doc on ;i'1], out ... of-clan 0[' bloodltne Discipline, brut not ewo dots on out-of-clan or 'blood[iI~)e DisC'~plin'es and on[y Orne' 0'11 a clan D~scup;~'ul1e.J ElIJch clan descr lptlon [h~t ,~ppe~r'i;rs later in tlus chapter lists the Disciplines prac[ked by that Iineage, along W[!ll some of the mere prevalent bloodline variariens,

B'~ .-11 ll)""'t""'n ''1J'

.u.'U' u· "", .. )! ... ,, ,c.,.

A ,dl8irnctcr's Blood Potenc.y represents how much UnJ1tlte~ • mystical pow,e[' :hil.S, concentra~ed, 1;~vi~hil'!l her dead, \'-eims. ('...hal''"' :3lc:tel5 with high BI.ood Potency 'pos.s~w l1t)[n grf:'aIE ma.'iteqr OVE.f their Vitae and n~:l,;i,ch ~ i~.1ter,ent pote:t1tLa[ tI'L tl:lBJt VLtne. CrulJ!~.c~ l:e:rs w~.th 1mV' 'Blood Potenc'Y ale ~~th~[ l.l'Opr8!cticed ()U' th,el1t B:lood ,[8 so ~fOUI1;g or incrr as toO have l.iule conn&lre potential

All v,aJlnpiil:le c..haIaC[em l''tcei ve th.e BRood .Potent "l a.dv~:n,;

: ta(ge ~t on'e dot {Q:r [Tee. 'Blood Potemt.::y c~~n ib€'" ~.'m.:refIJS:oo wh:h Merut,:poil.1.t exp~ndit~u'c at a m:r€' o.f t"~~]''e-.e [0 .one at c.ha meter

crez~ti,m:tl'H Thar is, a player may spend three o:f his chsrac te:es seven M,edt points for Blood Potency 2~ Or spend :$UX of his character's seven Melit points lOot' Blood, Poten,cy ];, Blood Po .. ~€;(Lt\Cy is described Om p, 99"

,my cl~ .. , cktct-~~

A 'beglDn~ng eharacter has ;se'Veal do~~ wm'1Lh of M,C'r:it]l whieh m8!,Y be distrilmtM a!; the' pb'Y'i~T1;, discrerion, These traits should ftt the 'ch~tr~t.rer concept - a D~e'Vf,Ji soclall rn: isn't lU.:dy to have dle Stunt Driver Me:lrit, for e..,·'i:Jnnple~ unless :1.1Ler backgwund mvolves i,[L somehow .. A Storyteller may encourage 0[' disallow certain Merits: ~ 0][' even provide ~.I dot for ft~e' (per .. haps '~e[JlL"eSenthl)g (it poltrlcal contact ("mci.ai, '(0 the chronlcle), The fufttliL dot in ,D!I.'iJY ,Mo£[[L cons rwo dots 00 purehsae.

,~ ,J:rr&~: ~.#l&/~'k, ;f&t~r

RtIJ~.'es regarding advantages tan be found on-pages 90, I 05 of the Wo.dd. of D~doJ:.ne5s 'R, ulebook. 'Wha't fellows CQllCl1!mS itself less with :game nriI,·e~h~:ll''JJ'[CS ~l1d more with the .. importance or Cett~'ufi {l-dvan'r~,ge$ eo ~ra.lmpire chseactcrs.

"rn'l]Jm\l\~t.

V~mpiii."BS lead unlives of constant struggle, flgh t~ng against [he~i" base, predaeory natures to retain conrrol ot the'b' ~ilP~ ping connectlons to humanity. 'Fighting the Beast within them C~U8 [1J(f a measure of self-reliance often '~at;k~'ng' in ordinru:y H]J[lrt~,b,! rIl:iilk:lng h~,F"~ amounts or WHlpo''!!,i\tr. :a great value. Vampires' d-ai:1;g..:i:r,CiUS cmorional sleuarlons can lead to vloleur, mindless t~enzy {p, l7g)1' and they hoM th..em'r be:s'rlaJ~, renden .. des in check through, sheer force of will.

Vampires' experience points can be spent to l~CCHJP ~w 'Wl]lpowe r dO:~\5,. See' '~)., 93 or 230 for more ~ nmfD11[1j~i,o.rJj on

spending experience. .

A pl~~ly~1'" In,ay spend Vh:a~ in. the same tu rn iJi which he spends a pOI nt of Wtnpowerr. For more on, spen(~tng Vi~ae, see PIp. 156 .. 1) 7'.

• )r-t ~.---... • .(. i(.

I WA:s~lT EMoo:A:ClD YEStERDAY

Stt}rtI!,~llle rs may choose to aJlllow p'lay@1f$ .a oort.aJi n nu mbei( of ~)1;p~rh~nc~ points to spend before pll,a)' beg i n$ to represent the portion of the Reqltliem betwee:n the: Embr,alOe alrlld the start of the c:hlFo.n,j'dier"

Ria nk neiOln stes UP"'~ nd-comers

IErta bl i'!)ned Kindred

1M overs and shakers IEllden arila other liirJthpins

'Olf u rIld<ead ~Qc.'j,e'ty -

[0 @l'l:perh~l1t~ points

.3 5 experience points 75 @xpe,ri e~nce, poTMS 1210 experi e nee points 'l8(}.3tlJt ~mce'~tm

t '( .'

'Htl~nity

Aft,e[ the EnlbT~C~~ a v~m,lpire 'begins to lOffi EOuch, ~lfiJth those del'nent:S of I~,~r 1i~aru:re ILha[ ~.na~k,e 'her human. 1l1m

I· , d . / 'I "b- " ,I~.J

qua .ties em Ie olVer I[~m~a.s t.1Le .va-m:~lre . eoomes mOrt J IlDtU

Rnd the "!'vo(rr Id ,e~'iJ)l v'~witthollJ'l 'Il,ei!:'. For t'hi5, '[~l:sonJ rI'liQ' It:el(tl'" c.'ept of ,Mor~ litt" #£ o!Jd ined i I), dle WOEhl] ~f D~ii:'k mUSii Rulebook is I€pta,c~d 'i,~~Lth HHmaniry h~r~"

AB an optional rule, Storytdlers, 1na1f. albw mose players ap~rIDg rhe vampire t~npblte d'lL'[~l1g character creation to trade ,d~ti of Humanity far experience points. This trade-In reflects. some helnouspast bC:hav,uQt d:tc v~r(lpt~re cn~tged UliJ and learned froom {;JiJ~;oeYnting f'Oil; the ad_d~ esperieece points), b~lt wh~ch ~~® scareed her dee.p['y (e'xp:~u:M.1~.ng the loss 'Ln 11.lH'LII£!In.i.'Ly')" P'~ay~ ers may sacrin.ce one diDl: On":lUinl~tn'ut-y fo[, five C!R!pc'r.iellce points,

~~4

Th:I.3 sidebar ;SU'LUnl.ar~Ze.5 the 'Ch~Ulge'S that 'apply to' vampire ~h[,l~J;t'eru. Use it in coniunctlon with, the summary of char~iUf!T creation on p", 34k36 of the World of D~:rkn~ R~e~k.

C11OOr~~ a CJUl to l;,vlil,i,6h. yOIU![ character belongs, There are

fi..re ,dtiifrlS from. which 1[.0 ssleee,

D~eva,. Emot ional, sensual and desirable. t1l![~1: Primal, hmuy ~nd ~;@Jvage:.

. M&\lu:'I: Quick), discreet :and wlse,

'~'Qsferatu: Steal r.hy, srmfilg :lnd mrri'f=y~.rlJg" Ventrue;, Regal, (lommaMing and aristocratic.

Chm.l"3e a covenant in which ymu character claims mern ~ '~rsbi:p, There are flve covenants :from which to select" If

~ ~ 1 ~ ~j ~[ll. _~ j~ ,[.I'

)9011 ~lllli.Ll 'W cnoose no covenant, recora uneoune, 'LU1~

, aUgrl&r~.or ~~~,~:~.depBndi&ne~ a.~, YOIlU characeer sheer,

De Carthians seek ro reconcile K~l~,dred ;sod:ety \;vi,tl1 roode[TI ~1fe.mf!!lent8Jl errucmres aod social sysn;'i";;m..s.,

The e1rd.e of' the Croae venerates a variety of female ,t!~~ ss an amalgamated creator of vampires, the ,~~.other of aU M.()111s<ters"

The mnv,i£;tl1S ~$ t"lle arlstocracv of d11e: night.

T.l~e t~n{:(;!il Sanctulll(l, seeks ro intlLJe~:Lc.e Kijndred society w~th th.e strictores of Longmus, who is bel ieve to h~;v'~ b~el~ I IlUm-ed inro one ,of rbe Damned by the very. blood of Ch'ru3t.

Thre O~'dlo Dracul OOITl'I.1I1illlds rituals and ]nJ~tic~l knowlI ~e d-~XIIt allows the Kindred to transcend their vampiric states.

d C'\ ~I" ~ i? ,~JI':~ i; J/.~''#&I4J

~,oo, yt'lur chCl~te tJ( d:1'~lIl select one C'frhe dru1~ l"'l,lJt"Fro,V.n:rM.

J\tilxih~res ~W giv.e yC11Jr cbaraerer an addit:iuJ."li8!'! dot un :t1f)a~, trait,

W9~~,n Dexterity Or. M'anipuLadon.

Ciarli,g£~l Composure or Stamina

M€ikncf. Intelligence or W'uts

N\osfem~u Vent me

Composure Or Sc[tengch. Presence or Riesel ve

~ .A.r - "j! '-- ~ J'

~.~~.i-;""'~

. .cn~ three dots afD~s.dp'i ~nes,~ at least two dots af w:h.id1L must eeme frmn tl'l!C; clan's favored powers,

dropping dt~'i[ characters' H ll.flrlaoi n::y SCOl,'"eS ro as '~ow as '~ve' (for a I'fi!!li'i\immn of 1 [) esrra experience points).

Virtues; (!J[1Id] Vices

The Vltt!Jl~. ~[ld Vices av~jisbte 00 monsl chr~~:~lCrets. m~ ,th.€' same as these av~flRb)le to vampires, though they marr[f.est in dif~ ferent wary.S .. F-or h~!;;tflfnce, a cimra,(;.te;r wllO,sllffer.5, the V[ce ofW~1:h. '!nigin be. p'l"one W fieEl..lYi 'wbi~e one mdt~lgiD1g 'in Gltlttoll'Y might

A~n.hil!il,~.dj:S.fI1J:: Power O\1'~r animals and even [he' Beast o.L_I'~_

of Kil1d:r-ed.

Au:s<pe.."I: Preternatural senses and percept ion.

C ':.'~ ,e;ri'itv:: Suoe .. L '1I'II;llI:l1Tri seeed,

~ - ~'"'~- f .... "tt"'''!I''' .. ~1~1!''1I~_,.;,1-~ Jr- .

C C] Us of '~b e Dragon *:: Th e' Ordo Dra cu i 's SG'Cfe rs

of trsnscenden ceo "

C:r{l~C~:; Blood magic pracnced by the witches of the ~

Circle of the Crone,

'DmniMte'~: The alliihq to overwhelm the mtnd .. MajestV'~, Tremendous fome. of personalirs • 'N'i:ghtmuare: Man i.pulatin,g fear itself .. Obf:!llLSIC.ate; Hid'Lng aspects of one's self; even one's 'body, PrQte:~.~~ S'hape'c.h~Hlgj[l,g :~u:j,d adjustments of rhe

'\'!l3J miP:~ r. tc form.

Resilience» b~gendary roughness. Theban Sorcerv": Th,,e. 'BibUitiilJ "dark miracles" .of the Lancea Sanerurn,

Vjgor:: The epic strengsh of 'rnarliV men, '* Avaih~bk to covenar .. ;t 'members O'~'iI]y.

~iJ (\ G/) I.IV.t!7~ ,rl?!~

A dl~_fr~Cter~$ B~ood Potency b-egu1S at 1 !, but Me'[~~ points may be spent to increase it.

New vampiric ,M .. erits include Haven i(. ro ... '. I.' · }'I' Herd, "'" M '. ,6 .' '" '.) and Status (. te ... ,6 • '. }

Tralt Attribuee sun

Skill Speeialrv

Clan or BloooHne Dlsclpl ine Other Disbip.l'~ne~

Theban ,Sorcery' or Qoae Ritual

I' '

Meri'n: '

Blood P,btency

Cost

N'e;\1; (iQ[S x .5

N e'\~1 ~IQ~s. x 3

3,

N em' dots x ,5 New clots. x 7 Rlrual level x 2:

New' dot$ x 2 N ew dots x 8.

HlIlna;nJ.ty New dots x :3

'W i.U vowel' 8 experience points

* Includes Coil, of dl~ Dra.g~cm.. See p. :I ,49 for' more inforhl.ation on increasing Coils of ehe Dragon,

1 •

i·

• I I-

._ .. _.:~ ,&~·:t~~~1~ r d?t~

~7~his 'PQint you 51"loU ld tia.ve a chart. c['e:I:. ~'C least in ,3 purdy

'ri"l ,,,,.,,.., h..,'"n : • ~'9u ha~' all, you need to usevour charac-

~~~ ....... a pl~;~ihg pi,e~fl. in yoih· Soo(y.te'~'~er'~,~ chronicle, combln ,"'

I ,A[rrlbu~$ w!id~-:'kill~~nd roUing dice as necessarv

Ro[,eplayingj hm'\\~rcrl ~':~ftot simpl'll'pitdngdice ag~.in.~li.dl~,e@;, 0][ using spiffY' powers ief~ and right. The previous step's, h;:gve created a 'bi\sJc frn;me'wo,~k~ ~ rough sculpture of S! character hsmmered' nut in. the most S'llllpliSiEic ,of terms. Now is the rime to bl',~ik QI,JC the fi ne tools, refirr. h,lg the' crude fugtL[(~ wlrh details and~~u~:[[toe" Examine the dors on yom: character sheet and figure dut ,;vh;y rhev're there" What in your character'shfe mac e him"p'ick l.l:p hls first fire~:rm and, begin training] Hos did he 'Iearn~ ~'O IIDlUd~ about the ways of the' street 01' the merh ... ods of inn~idation~ \Vben. did he pick 11'P his rudimentary m~d,k".:ll. s.~.l!ls? 'How will di~s ~\,ckgr.(und come across ~n the sm,r.y ~ \Vh~ r p~rf$ (wnJt 1~Ot1. know - vel: abour 'your characrer 1 ] US'E [ike working a 'nne sculpture ~ shape and po 1 ~s,ll your ,char,acter's physk;~t psyc.hologica] and 'background de-nils to make him one of a kind, even (1Jtnong [he undead.

[ust \v'hat exactly does lW\i'h·~:g a Presence of 3 mean! Doe.s, yourr characterpossess the. chiseled f€'aUlres of a ['1)J[iiW;a_y model, cao hug ,aJll eyes 00 earn htis. \v'(]y' 3S he eneers 'aJ [-dom? Or does he have the hardened look of (I dockyard worker who- isn"t 00 I be trlfled with. ~ Perhaps he exudes an a ir of Q ld money and

c..onJj.ciencc from 'behind, h~;$ tailored s-uit', and. fine lew~hy \1'/1\[ t features cause others 'to react lID him wi En. such intens.~.ty ~ 'Wh~;t: CQ;~.O'r are his e~les his. 'ha'h':., h U~ skin ~ Does 11,'~ have a dean cut, refined look 0[[ perhaps a nasty scar running ttOl.U

~ his scalp down between h Is eves to his nec'k? I his voice 'h,ii~rsh and ffiSPY.; silky smooth or docs he 8tl~(tel',. rcl Ji wng wholl y on

his looks to carry 11i1I11? .

\'(fhi~,e these fina1 touches, m u,ght seem the least necessarg they are the 11\0$1: Important. Orherwlse, your Vennue wi rh Pres' $nce 3] ,M~J1ni]!uhll:i.oo, 4 ,and COmpOOU[f;; 3 wH I he just. [ike e\rery oth~1t Ventrue '" id] Pres-enoc ?, :~ :anipu.latiofli 4, mod Co]llPO~ sure 1. You ,fi,l'xn.t to avoid such two~--dimen5iot!.o[ d,131'acters ruad stl;'['o;,,re for $olltctthing l~niq)~l~" fi1sdnating: ~md mernon~lb[e.

Fi:n::1U y~ tbe on.Ufc ,of a vampilc is. cen:am,nl'y a pboo fe,t il'o." n Lcs and (ate. You 'v't:: done aU the FilVO'fIt;: 00 fi:u:" {~ho~ in,g t\ l\kh 'tr8:its you want 'yuur cha:ro:cte:r to possess ':. n J dJfmncring' dors o-n 'the Chi~[:acter sheet. As [he 'flwal step of char.~l,ctef ,c'reation~ throw ~~ s.iog[,e die. Thi:" is. how rlilw:.h Vlit~e your v:funpi'r~ he~ a,n her srstenl wlu:n .the chron - c le' 'bcgh1S;

Pe~-orwHit}1' and ch:aI~Cte[ are built on the e-:i~.periences and, a,ecision:s, of th.'e P8!S[ . .h us imp6ssi'ble to get any real sense of a pe:r,son withol~t 'h,avh.lg ~u le:tl!st 50m,e know[,e.dge of die path

she has taken tn{ol..lgh :~uf~. Sirrri'~(l(I,y., i,[ 'is. impossible to have ~1!I.'l y rea] sense of y,o.lUt" character withOt~t fh St undel'snmding where she comes En m ~ \J" hat clements of 'her past have dri ven her headlong into the etV'~11tS of the ehronicle, The 'Prelude helps yc~ ftne...tune rhe pe["'on~)lit}f of 'your character, hammerlng Out less quannranve ith~ngs , uch as mannerisms and speed} patterns. I .is somethfng of a one on-one m~n~-sl;tor)r in which you and the' Storyteller sit down an J rol,ep'iay some of the k(;;!~r events in your character's life Il"etore' the .actua[ "tart

.'

of 'the chronicle,

Y: au roleplay a prelude lin much the same way as a nonfl~'~ game session, only YOiLlJ[' character's entire h~stO'F.-Y i~, condensed into a $ingJe n~gl"lt of decisions, lfs as thougll you pa 'ticip~lt@ ina h ughUght red '~ ... +rLer ..... rhe key momenes are 'played out 'hl.iJ[ the bu Ik ls g~sed over, Rom.antic relation ships, work, fam .. tly; fl·· ends, enemies ~ any and all .of these 'might H@OO to be addressed during '[he course of a prelude, each roun ~hi.g out your character in diffe-uent w;ays artd por.e.n.ti81~y foreshadow ..

ing her existence as a vamplre. ",

More iitl'lponandy~ a 'prei,u.de allows }'lOU to get inside yoW' character's skin, [0 tale her our. for (I test drive, It provides a frame of i[,~f~renceJ letting V(~U decide how she reacts to cerrain ~(Jml'ul~ and ~n. what \\ray5 she employs her capta'l,ili.tles; Pre ludes are often handled. q uick i¥~ '~!id\O!Wit the carefu i planning (1Ind downrime ~ffoITj,ed, during normal q'~me :plsy V:Jhile th,ey are essential to character development, d~,HY simpl'if provide 'backg,O':LIII:KI and needn't dr:!llg on and on..

,.1' d;~~9'~ t 1- g..~~Sk7~~ fM. ~~.~~

You Uh?C't y>our gi~rtfr,j:end: a,f: the restaUJ'ont <wl~.er-e )'OU ,~wd Jour .first date~ ,cn-ld )1'm~fre nmra:r.ng l~te as us~a~- 1.£ seerns as f,h~ugh ~lorJ~illg' has CM~ged, Your hear~ races wi th, nerees 1 blAliL rhfS ~-lj~ )!,OH. ~~a:ve all ~;m~em€n;t f~rlg in jmtr pocK,eot" fo,~' re not sure what iO say, et.i~1. after end~ess: llr:a.crice. }'0U ,u;rorry abOll~ ~ow ),Ol!l. loo.k and (l~in l"'eal:r.;:e jL{St lw w be'auaful.the is - Wat.~i.~~,g 1~mid d.e: end of d~e lhtal to m:k d:lf quesrion ~hcu; has been b~ruing ita the back of you,.- ~nind) you. 'reach .for tlw ~f~11g ••• arm Jrrr.d. rM[: 2f'~ gone - \t!fia,t, .do' ,m~ do.?

The SWrytdle:r spends the prelu e with each plfiJy,er- ~1l a O'mle"'011 ... one setring, 'hC§:l.ping: tha; pl,a,yer focus on his relationsh ip with his character and enfoliClrlg the idea that the preh;de i~~ vel)' persoi .. nl,; rhc chaeacrer's 'past '~S his alone. Ir ~ 'poss~ b l~ fof' '[wo players. to' share parts .of ~~ p1!'t:lucie, but they shoul!. do :so only iJ dl,e'ir ch~lt~cters hav'e s'oroe re]adol1ls·hip that ,exis! b.efcr~ [be Elnbr~£1 Hnd even. hen rthere should be only pa.ni~l[ overiap. h Storyteller] don't be couoentd *lbout ignorlDg the other playcrs 'whH.e;~~c~l foc.us O[~ e~d1i,Ip'rre' lude. 'WhLle you s'holLlld be M'nc~1,J.iv,e 3S possible 0l1(~ dle

" chronkle 'begins in ea.rn.e:s:t~ ~1J litde :'l._r!itici~ti.on can he~p fip.

, elliS, th~ gt'Oup~s nll~ndse'~, /

lt~s, okay to be: forceful. in 'pre-St[ui,ng at pr-d,ude,., c~Ui~g upon ~. player to Rlal.'" ;Sn,ap dedsimls I 43'nd j"!,;~rnp'ung rorwa'[,d throueh . line before ,eVel1,[S can. fu,ll y be 'rewl "cd. You![1e t[)l'inC [0 gt :ax d1.~' moot lmste~ gll.'C h'l,;$(un,cts ~.bout ['he plav,ers c'ha-mcttr. [n~depth ana l\'sis and reacrion tb cen~lin decisions cc.r.n 'bedon"

. ,

on d1;~ pl.: ~;er'~s own tim;~~ 'poss~'b]y as he wah'S for oth,ffi L'O

cmnpiete d:tek prebn-de,'jL U]ll.~s.s\Y.'Ol'L p:~a[) to ;ipend art en it'll

\

\

~&Ylli"L on each characters prelude, you should condense thifilgfS' as rIiIxli?h as possible, ,giv l:ng ;il concentrated dose of w har a d$l[3~'tex~s ~,ife is ~ike. Doir~g so adds Ito the potency and inl;o lll;'lctl ~ the plr:ty,el' has ~ barrage of past ~ mages in the f01lefro:b:lt of h~s mind at the starr of d~e ehronicle - almost as d~o~gh ~b Ijf~ has passed before h is eyes.

C-Jted~:i)i.g ,j\O~U cdl pJwne j j:ou ~ei~' ym-{]" fianoee S ·]1.tl.mber but ~iII'e m} time to tt]!k. The ~u'tm.ge ~nw31. dud<ed dO'lun ml .al~~'y u4Lt1~. ~oo: mID iler ,~aSIj;. Ya~l re' Slfre she~s !'~Ie: one YOii,1 v(:." ~e~l fookin;[]of. J.f you: om"ld ,Ol']!y ~dlk w her" ~k l~er some- ,ques.tlOl1s; ~, ~ [Ory I\l!.im~lJ a!f®ct ~nimotlS, RMlU1 ~n:g ,down dle ~lt'CYUh1,y ,afit;;r ~;i. ~~ see that, :she seems ~o have disappeared - ~f~e ordy Sigt1, of ilfe j~ ;oor O~!fj] pml,thlg' bU'-ltltl1 cc..-naensi'ng &e.icrr,e· your face" Y(Hi ~W.~ [(J lJ'ldl mtt Y01JT ceU pilml£ and caM JOl:i\r fi'.ancrie bdc.k.j (}nl~J' to d'IU.~ tt &:mermng ~o ~he grourt(l w/~~:n j()<M reaJi~,e' .the 'W(ljrta-n b s[tTuiUng r(gl~.t beltind yQU~" ,[-Jow &0 3"Q~.t respond}

Yoo W'9nt the p'~a~'er ro explore borh rhe SCf.~ ~n.g and t~he rules dill'ill,c. rhe prelude, Have :~l ~m tr~r our a few l10US and C'VCt:tl. S\~~P ~ iiw Me:ruti Of' other traits around m:f [h.ey j ustt: cla~,l't seem. to fit the t.haracter. Be "'wn'~ of the player WJ10 uses this opporrunirv ~ CIieiJ.~ iUl f1nv~lner.f.ib~.e character by. r:W(:~bilg his trairs. .A~1.y ch~s made should be: for the bel'l.ef~t o-f the character's 'his,.. oory :md personal l.ry] not' s-o (Bee MUS hfjV~' g!teal'e!t ~uc.:.c~" Y{1lI,;L may ~~ a~ltW' hlm to begin the prelude without having ·:$p~nt fl:rl~ of his Meuut P()~ nts lnsread chcosing ,and fl.1 Hog them in ~I~ dw ~~GlL'/ [JL'O_gr,ess.es" Introduce allies and conracrs \i~s'ut hh~ jo'b w el':!]J1ore where he: gets his rent and .fOod ~.n(inG% and. ('x:p~.ore: die detaU.s of the chflrnM~'rels en v ironmenr It's 'b~rSl: to H'if~)id

direct eombar dm.'iTIlg the prelude, No one wants his character [0 die before the chronicle even 'begins. If ~l':lcro'~u~e'~y necessary, . describe rhe H,gh't and derermine the results wirhour u$in.g' d~,(:e rolls, ~hCTcfoil.',e a"voidi,[lg arlY UJl1f~rttln::rE,e '[l].is'h~I).).

Whi'~€' ij ~ ru igh~: seem Sl1"'J:n~' to roleplay such mundane events in the course of ("!verydHlj' liK~j it builds C1 sense. of comfortable normalcy that can be shattered bY' the Embrace, juxtaposed against the usual tri~l$ and tri'bwl-ati.'ml$ of Ehc- O~l'l'ij1'1~r~il' ehe suddenly hordf~,c ~'~t~i\,ck ~iJ,1d rebiltlt as ~ vampire shou Id j at 43, plt~¥Cf';$ consciousness, t~~ui'ng him [100m his former world and druvit~g home exactl y whCllt his, character loses.

AJ£ you describe [~hi:ngs) allow the plBiyer to iuterI ect his own ".$0 u.dCRS and deta lls .r~g11.t'd ~ng his eharac mr'~ l~:;aJt'kground" Riel member that you'i're rell mng this StoTy together: vi ew the' IP'L:i!I,~!#~~~m as v()~~r partner, Y au can also l£UUW' in deta u'h;; to n .... ' "',.."~"r,::-'.,!~~,"~",,.~

~ .L~r ._

pl~l!Yer't~ emotions- C~Your sister's voice is exultant as . m::- ~~{

you yOU~[-e 3!. bone marrow match for her infant son,") Obv~

'II .~ 1, ' .'!' 1:"

ous~.yj once a cnarscrer eecomes a vampire, mere So no way If.;lir

h lm to- offer h LS bane msrrow or to donate hls blood" 'Vallll!p~

. '=-!

·i.s a ga:m.e of personal horror, and a character t(l!\~:S't e'xp~ri'~Q~

. gre~~t [oQl§ before 'he 'can ttu l Y understand what it's I lke iljo-::~~~t_ : as one of the DiH1H1e(t _--.: ~~: _. J

_ The I\vmnc~.n.~mp'S ')"0'21,. ~)' .the thl'O(U ~~m pU!['i: yo.&~_d?je, £w~ ::! mW your, ,ey~5 _ Et!ery l1iu!Sde m, )lOrtf body screams eo fight, to \~~ '.: :

O:u,t, s(rITllCthin.~ abom her Il!old:s )'0 Ii. back" A 3.~'.ea aJiJd. ·U[~"" ~~bf-o .' : grips :lOM. H'cil' ej1e;:.; seem W 1t-'ei.gh '~~lery .(J;t-moe ar"jon~i .roul. . . she .sntites slig'i~l)' a~d ~ii:nks her teem. into j:on~r :ne,ck. Yom' .w/~tUI'JL (yt.ocnes in yQUi' thrQQ,t and j~01:I,r Nood pounds ~n )"(IHr l1.edfL,Of j-'D~

tidit~~.t.t ti~T~,J," ..

The qu ·:~t.ions that loUo\\;' can he u d to flesh. OU1 a cha:r.l1,cn::rs h~lCk~rootm~ providiitg insight into arees a pl~yer might gk~ss. over ,dUr:i,L~i character crear loa EV~I,l if [here is IilI} nme f.·O[ a guffi,dellltly;.~~rniled prelude, you should ~U'lls\\~er as ruarry ofthcse

I ~U3 you call! ei.ther by writing out a brief back ~tO'i'y and " escnpdon or talking aboll.'r ihese issues w[~'h me StoJ;jll"cHer,. The de·,til. is :in the d "mUs-" as they.' saYt- and these speciflcs help make your

e- character fhr more real once 'the ,s,tory beg~'ns.

'.' Hew (!lId are YUILl?

\:Vl~n we-re you bo.'rJ1l? Ho W o ',d. we're J'VU w,h~n Jl03;C ~LliZre Ejflbr~coo? ,How ~on,g-/l£I!I.!e )"(iiU €xisl[ed as a {.I.(lmp ~r:et ,Hmv old do jCiU. wok to om'e'fsl Are yQU lnQtrr: ,0']1' Iess lOOt2~re dum JOt~ see~'il!'

. ., 'Wh4lit was tUl~q]ue abt'Ji'l.lit your: childlr:IJoocl,t

~ia,~ do. ,014, relm!mber about. )'Ct:Uf ,early )'ean! 'U7hat fm~ j'Oltr basic ~l1()t[tJtu:ions and: at i~udes t 'Vhel'e did )m~ go Wi schooi? 'Wert )m~ a ,good. $utdem? \.~l~lQ. :were .yo.ur cmmttUate jamify '~nembers r Wha,c is yO<~~T' dearest ch.r.kj~~ood ~nel?l.Ory? Di:.d jo~, go ~o high .scMoL CoJlege! Did, 'you have a ,hoT'newu,ln i (rr did )'Our farni!j nlOve of~en r Did yo-u fUil a't4kl)l 11m'll ho.me r Did )'OU. pkl)f $.rons! Did: dny ,of )'aur childhood fl'ieJ'ldships last '~,i!li1,[il mJ:u,bhood?

.. Wh~t kind, of person wier€: you?

We1"e. ;IOM Q, kind .and gttn~re person or an arrogan~ basmrdl '\~e'F'e' you p<JPu~r or a soc.r.tt~ .Qu~ca$t? Did, you have a f~iIl~.ilj r . How ,(J'id jOl.( ea-r:n a ~ii ing! Did you have an, r~,d frie:nm J 0'1" j~'j;~ acq~(.lil'Ut.u\ces? W~:~a~: ,~<,epL )'OU goingjrom, day eo da~? WHt a~'l)~~l.€ l1i~ss.: )10U~

• '\Vh:id 'was, vour 'lint. trll"Hsb w~th the S;tlll'!lcrn~:tu:l,'ftn

" t"

When did )JQ.~,fors~ re-ailt"t )'()l~~['e' being $~ Had )~U @bMl!?d .

'ir,L tJl!E 'f~CC1l,t!~ ~t ~u. bef.(fte ;1OKnf E'mbnlte~ W~'lm did: :rQ:t~. firs~ U!£.e~ .a mutp,ty.c! Were jot,!;, ,afm1d! Di.too~etJ,l·ng,! C1lriOOS? Ang~J'?

• 'Hew did the Emb,r~ce' dlij~nge. ')foOl],?

HotI!.' di.ti your sire catc~ 'jOM! Was f'M Em1mlll:e paia'tfu,~! nrd ,aM· gc,~ pey~"ersc J~lfrutfjfe' P-iJlil itr Did me Hlm.f~"er ~eQ,r at yart?' W'b--€ you. jr!ghumedl' Did it smnehaw fee1 right? A're )!f)fi g.ratef1it~ W ;'mff smre? Do yo-u, ivUtit flJ. km h.e1~ f(n; 'wh{H ,tile did t.o ::H)f.iil

.• 'Who was, 'r'our sire, and how did, she treat you?

\Vjw!t &0 )"Ql!~ kn-o.u\i of JOur si1"a? Was she led':!1tl,mtte, f(y.y~fulab~{~i~"e· cryptic or op.er~.? l~i,) do ,m~ f)u"1'lk ~1te d~os.'f j'(}~? DM )O:~ .even k1110W' JOur sire?' HQt.~' km,g dirl·::f,O\~'.:'i [WI 't'~i~Ji ~'our ~rre!' Did ,d~e reach )lOti alljll,f.ing (u all? rIOt!! l(n!l,g ~!'Q'S :ff !f~'Hil :YOU,)" sire retetlSed )aft,? '\~here md j!'O'Ul, '$ra;'i? "Vhcre drd. you go? Did j'Oil Ul€et ~nJ' oiJ'~er w~n,PJ:r~~' durirTlg dlCit ttntc€,~ Did Jmtr $tre .Embrl1cc an.o.rJ~er~ Do ,)'Olt j:liUlge other ttampir-e5 ,bj1 your OPI1.~i!O'~. of )'our sire'!

.. \llere you pl'e~enred. to KiMr,ed ;society?'

D,ra ri.he Prince wdc'(une )lOU? \Vas he 1e~ulOta.,.u, ~'O &c.cep[ )'O~,?

Did prom~nem Ki'!1dr~ ~t~ed to be' un"I)\l3d or ~'hre.a.~,ctl!ed ,before OCceP~!11g you? Did J'!OlU' ;"iIi."ff: nave.lrerl'j:j,is'sio:f'i. D a~u:u€' y(m;~ Are yO~.4: on ,[J~e ffftl fro'JU Kf~~d1ed cU.rlrlimir:tes! \Vha~ do :;Olt suppo,se ),Oftf don'ta! 1 lS pral!mi~eru: Kindred t~i1'1k about 'yQflt

'.' Hew did y@u mee~. th~ otbe'rs in j ~RU" 'coted,e?

\.Ve.rt )lOu brou;~~~,[: roget.MJ' b)1 dlance lIT design? Are )1!l)U a~ of Oile (.'Ot"enam Qr cia 1!' Are j'(:r~l '~,n fr.e.d rn pur~~e, d~Lrmkitlg m.tl'Md the . .sai'll€ go~l? H,o~~ ~ong hal~'C )'01.1: been ~oJr€dt~., Did you knQ«.' an) .of ,t~"~ or1J.el'S before j'Qit.4r .E·mbracel DD' jO~'£r jir€~ ·coopBrafe 1 or ,are dl~)' r~~O!Is.? .00 an} (if J'OU' ~]I~ ['il1€ S{tn1£ shoe? Whm ho!ds )"Qur ,(,"'O[erl,:e wgedu~r :f:lh.~n the 5Ir~uarforl: is "u, irs wat, [:~

.. Where is you:r ha:ve':rtJ?

lVhere do y()t.!, sl.ee~ d~tring the- ,day? Do ')'OU· hGr~ tl:i'LJI .pernum_l~m; ~:~OH~e ~ or 00 ;'OU mign~;~e fro''m ~}l.a.ce eo pklce,~ Do Y(}U SW)~ ~n or near ~he ",Jace JOl~ '~1hjj&i[£a. 2l1l. )O'U~- 'mo'ftdl ~'ife" Do, )lort Mde ~"l I an aOOrl!ion.w l)~,i'''&!ngl is ),O!1f l~a:t!e.n above or beww grQund?

D{lI jOU hat',;g al1ly01'1C m prm~'Ct )"QU during lhe .day!

• DQ you retain any connections to 'Y'our mortel lifd Ha{.le' ,'Oil .b.ee~l IjlfeS'M1rl~ed dead~ Do JOU Sf~~'U wml:l~, o!rer (ltd f'rJ€1'lds find re~tttl'e5 from. tl.ftl"t"! Do JOlt Pl'e~end W 5lill bl a!i:,ue! Haw j10U abd:ndofted yo~u rnM'lL1l eA~s'''e~ICe e'ttr;ird)l,~

• What. arc '~roU!r. hit'b~tl-1lR] feedi:roJg g;r.oun.d!5!?

Do :;ou frequ£n~t a paniCttkal' p.~.a,ce to [eM! Do you c;i]~~$ider d~i.s r.erri~Of)' ym~,p il1~kme I, or do Qthtrs t.ts'e if!' Do you competi wtrh O~!1tT$' tiO fec.d? '\Y!tat i.s ,'mn' ~ferrud prey?' \llill )lDU ris~, hun .. ger (0 fil1ld r~i's t)·pc of ~)t:ey]' Do :rOlf ~:r).e"t km when )"(nt feed? Do JOIl have. ~ specific herd? Do )'01'" seduce J'OMY pr.ry?' Krdlil:.i.1,p dle.r.Ji} l.nlIJnidar€ or beat tJneln! Do ~heji' com£ '.0 )OM~

.. What motivates YOt ?

AJe. )'(Jil1 bent on '1I~ar:engg! ,Do yo~~ ([ling for )"Our 1l1.onlll ~f'e, or ro a,gail'l ,fook 'u;t.Knl dw S~ln? Do :you JI~a'!'€ a~~],bi.cion,;t wi~nin Ke~,dM ~o"i:e~ ~ Do ym~ :wish to. ,jE'mm-ace ~m~; ,cJ'li,f&er! f\ l~ 'yQU fnuo~t'&'t with j·ntr:w .. c.oVe1".GUiI,f: c,Qnfik~!' If )'ou CGUr,ej ~'Ia,W an): one thl~1Ig in

f:he . ,uorM, what, iio'DUki it bel .

J./.~~~

TI10~ Without mosivstlon are 'IE.b~~y not to have survived rhe Embrace al: all, or 'Eo srrtuggle for survival in ;subsequent til.ight£ Altht)u~h a vaJ.1itI~he.'s, 'l,ralueg. O'f~ell d ~r1er ,g[-ead:~ fJ.OlllTl, t:h(Js~ of :ill hmn~lmj, s:r.e~:mm in,g, from his experie:rll1:e- WiLth dea;:h a.nd rebird.l~ 'he must sri n :haye .sQlflle~hi.n wonh, eXisting for, or 'he wmdd ~fkely ·,yatch th@ n ·'-:H ,su.nriS~~}illd be done with it. 01ve thought to 'W h,~re y01JlL .c'ilarac.'[e:r: ha~ be~n and! wll!ei':~

he's headed, Is rhere some overarching, ultimate goa] or pos .. slbly several . small ones! 'While Vruopire is a .Modem Gothic.. SOOtrytel[ing game, rh ese beings do not Soit around each n ighx ],Q['tu~iUii:l~ their sad ex istence and. w:i~hiMg i 11: would all jn r end- Once YQ'U have an idea or 'l,J,.rhat ~ :~8 rhar yo .. rr character \l'3nts to achieve, you have come one step closer to rna'king Mm a complete, [,,1.!8 Us ric personal uty.;.

~ rrJ'~rJ'4~

Chd:s'topher :~i~,81m;s to _ artie ipate in Di4;u1e:~: Vampire chronicle, Diane tells Chri').oophC' that the chronicle focuses on ~1, struggle between the covenants for supremacy i'I;l Chi, :C.8J,gO, c~.~ch attemptmg to, buck cill.e power snucnue [ent'ioi.J;s,~y emplaced by , ':( ince lvt.:. xwell ~nd his flunkies. She informs hn!iIlJ Ithat· vampires from all the covenenrs are shi.'f!Lung allegi~noes afl:et' [~\e I rince has made a. p,~n·,c'UL:3Jrly unpopular decree, and that each covenant sn,uggl~ to ga'i] the hlfl]U~' ence it nee-ds to clalm praxis. She has designed her chronlcle sl!J¢.h that dIe covenants call mill. fiAvQ,rs and gather rhe s ... ppert -of '.mah.b~!;:-d vampires, ~iI.'\d d)~t Cbristophers character should be either unalign.ed or otherwise "np for grabs~il - possibly 'o~nly dissansfied wlrh the '~eadi£~rshtp ofh us current CC)Ven.a11Jt,

Diane' hacds Chnsropher ~ ocr 1'''1 ,of-the character sheet~ and CblFBsoophcr spends a few m mutes bt~,En~wrm"Ung some ideas 'befo.r{~ wlrning them into ~~ fully formed character ..

~ r!J~~. {io4t~T

C1dstopher's flrsr reponsihUit-y "is to come up with 3, concept {:or hls characeer, He decides ther he wants to pL1fY' So polin .. ,caJlll' at ~L ve j01JrnaHst whc \-\'a5 Embrace J Vi, hl.~'e: :jpnding time in.lne baa. ~lneys ,of Olicag:o, L1)flng to unprove the condttions ofme'dt)\!~ homeless population. ,ChrEstophelr decides C}l3.'t, the BmbTac~ was sudden aind unwelcome, l'ILUS abru.pt loss, of Ufe fOr(:·~ inghim 00, ~lbandon his previous 'ways and become a predator of the street. Preyil'lig upon the honnel~$S:.1 Chl'i8topl~rPs characmr DuJI!TI_.$ his bsck on a tlancee and famil y he knows can never urld~t(ind 'Ms, cursed existence- Chnsropher 'toys 1i~filth. rhe idea Q[ rCh~h1.g Clan Nos:(e:jj'3ru.~ tying til wlth the downtrodden, ~k4lUey theme, but instead settles on Clan M,ekhe[~ dedd .. h"lg w, fOcus Inotc .on his cJu:rJj'aC'ter~ nel,~found. mil] [ft b,id ~ among i[h~ forgo ten deni~e!lS of '~he 8UeeE.~.

No~ wtlnt[ng 'bQi a,~an1C his character afr,er hinflSe](; 'Ohr~sw .. ~rcl:edd£s th~Jt his ch~:U'a,c[er'$ 'runne is Jame;,-) Cesar freelance jQJ!lflu~ist and fO~ln€l poiitki3J~, ~cr:i vist afm [xed ,UL'rhl() d~etlt-

Chr.istopher 111 U~H llm>\' .prio,:rr [tuze and. assign j';;l.m,es I' At .. tribu.~es. 'Bas~ 1 101 his conce.pt]. Chrtistopher d.ed Jes r:ha So~ ;:;:.i.ti Attributes ~1'()tlld be J(lmes~ strong s;uiltl, so he sets [hem. *1!~ primary. Of c.oUD'$e~ C1rni~topher Watl.'LS 'd1.~re to be mean.ing aud tl!liIl:h be 1:11 [na j'.flJ1:11l6 words tllstead of just: fl~sh am] shO\\', sa .~ setS Menrai Attributes a.'5 rh;(! seconda.ry ca.'[ego[),. That l~.a.v~, Physical Arnibltt~ as te:rti~' F1, ~l/hich Chriswph~r ties ~mQ hm £0i.il,cept widl th.c de:ci.sio1!l th1JJt J 81Ule"S, is more like! y ~o ta l'k hi ~.~' om of trouble than anything dse.

Cl:n;isIDapheJ' DOlIV' has five dor:s to :ailocare ~rno;ng Soda.l.

Atn1 . t~tes. He dedde~ iha~ James 113S :i!Ilrt leogagi'f'!lg way with.

words, wile r.h er hes writtng them in ::tn arclcle or ,add[,~~'I;ijl1ia-"":3~ the d[)' COUfiCU'~.. With that in mind, he asslgns 'nvQ O'f hi~· ~g;1 aval able dots eo M.:'1inlpu~at~.'on,- raisin"" the toral to J.. ~ .. ext, h'e feels r.h:u: J ames w!Duki h~lV£ coosiderable grace under pressure, e en in t'h.ie face of '[h!l.'e:l.r~n;:~1g' street tl~u.gs. in the aUey,5O where he W("Ju ~d spend much of his t~ me. He uses t~\fD of his; remalnlng dots. on Composure, r,ai&ing it to a rorel ,of )1. I lis nnal dor would ralse hls Prt:~l'e-:nOf! to Zj m aId ng, him uruernark-

. able ae best and nothing speciji'li! to look alt. Chnsropher feels that th~$ allocation makes sense fur a character who would ,PUlt so. much stock in words i nstead 0.£ looks.

'\1{/ith 'tour dots, 'to <i1S;'i~,gtb to M.en.ml. A.r~ri.bIUJtes~ Chri· toph 'r decides tl~at Wits are mose '~mfJ01ita[]t to J ames, as life on the street would h~v' required' urn to think on hls feet, He· places nWJ of his four dots in W'i ts ror a total or 3 ~ rhen places one dot each in Iarclligence and Resolve 'to bring james up ro ave:rnge in each area,

'FiJitf.lJ~l~ l Chrisropher tnmshis atrention to the Physicalcaregory to flnlsh o,ff 'hi. Attributes. He . ees [ame as slim and. ..,. somewb ~t sc:rawl1Y.t It:lvl,ng: spent most of his :~),i~h ~~ either be .. hind. 31 d~k .0'[ lt v"~ng off :f'~st f'Ooo~so he add: ncthing to

-.,:..~~.

Str.ength., 'Cllr~srophe.1i assigns n:'i.t~~) dots to! [)'e'~~.ir.el·ilt~~~ ·ref1lect·~ ,

h'rlg J ames' tendenc, to 'run rather than tIght, an J places his fi'~~::ll dot in Smm,i na,

d1~ ZZ.u,,~ o.£M

like Artrtbures, SklU8 must also be priorlthed and chosen.

Ch[msto[Jher decides to s:tay with rhe same pri01:ith:arion as h~ U~&~ :for Atltr.ibucesl plsctng Social as. primary, Mental as sec- _ on.d3!rY arlld Physkal as :r,@rtiary. Iames 118S spent .n'i:sli·fe devel .. oping those Sku Hs that rome: most em~D ly 'to hlm and neglectEng those wlth which 'he has Hirtle natural apt i.tl1'de,.

'JiVJ: 'Ik. j 1 d "-.. 'I S1.- "Ill C'I!. 'iL •

\!¥j.r.n ,:..._ ots to assign in SocialSkll $~" n:ri..stopner mes eo

tmaglne what would be most imponane to jame . s while work ... tug in [he sllevs and streets of C1L~ EC~go', Streerwise is an obv lous chou.eel arid Chnstcpher assigns tbree dots, Two dots, each go to Expression IPG:( uasion and SuhrnrfU.b.tte,~ owing to J ame .) mortal experience slubdy ,ply Lng the homeless for informarlon aoollt rh,eir ~.i:ving cOl1.CH.tions~ wri lmg artkl.es bringing he'ir strJIr~es, to the puh.l'[c I ~md argl.ling '!Iv:L[h dty coyne LImen Oml the •. r beh~lf. On.e dot go~ 'to' Socialize, refrec.~nng his ahilhy to esta'bUs.:h cmTIa'raderic ~v~'rh bj many oem me i:S1' and the las~ is· assigned [0 Eflt:p'llthy~ :31S he knows that his \\J'Qrc.h go (41Ir w'lthout :a b~sic. l]ndel'smnding of the h,uman Icondi

looking .~t. t.he lis~ ofM.e'J1tal Skil.lsl. Chmtoph.er dec to s,pelld his :se.ven dQlS. a iven J a:1ll: .esi exp "rie~1Ce :as a ' .. and pulidc.<ill lobb~ ~SL~ he d~CIOses to assi,gn two dots e8J Investigati,on and P'OI][lCS [:0 repr,es.ent polit1.ca:~ <lI'cUllllen. A .... ; ,"",n;I,~-.

'" dot goo,~, Wli!i;<ard Academics ,us Ohr~sW11.:d1e[· d.~C'id~s th~"t I ~,~ '"i"i",,"~~!.~~"'1 . spent '0\."0. yea'fS un. iQlUrnalism school. he'for,e droppIng'""", '01""-,,"= beCOTttle a fn~el{l[loer. Anorhe'[ dot goes to M,e, lcltle ~ 'Ire p"'" V'Ari ,I" " iog' ~1, first,.aidl, a.)l,tI&.e. ]'am.e..s :has fllade g[e.Jt tlse of djjjring~~.,..~ time on the stt.eets,. The final dot g:oe.s to Oce .Illj; .as ti me.:, - fli1.OFc:l ren'll..ote alleys of rhr: c.i'ty [UIJS exposed him 'to faX' S1'rang~f . sighrs than the SJ,verage [X:'1rSULl has seen.

F.irtiany~ Chri.sro.pnl3:! n~~ds; to' assign four dots to the Ph#'~~iT[~ group. Knowing James h~ no :physk(l~ ,proWC?$S 0[" .... ,' .. ,",",~l!'iI'~'!o

· &;f ~~,: cfJ£~U'~, ~

, that CJrrdstQp'her l,la:s assigned [ames' Skill dors, he '" : to Je'd.de ''''Yl:L~]''e· l\l':P la-ce. his. three Sk un special ~ Uf:S. ing over the Sld,l,is he ~l~S chosen, b.~ rrles to 1.nr:Ulg~ne. ""iU", ...... ~. wo~u[d be l h.e·~ralOS[ ,refln.ed and singles ()lU; Sereetwiee,

" tt lcs and .Su bteT(uge. 'f:~{',.U50lflg ,on Street"",[$(: flrst, Chris .. · to'pb.er. d~ide3 rhar] ames \:r.,rO!l;III,dll'aJv,e an added advanrage whe.n d,e~J:t~ widl the hml1el~o;, ratherd'tan the various gal1gSj d~~l~~s or ether crlminal elements uf [he street. james pO'~~ti" cal ~,bil'i Ly would I~,<;~ p'rhua1'i~.y \i'/,ri,d1 the Chicago c ':t~t" eouncil 4)nd goveramenr, rather than on. the stare or foo,"'ro[ level, and hi St~btx.:rruge \!f,f{'mld 'be concerned mostlv 'IIJ,,..~th body i~In.~ gltmge, keep.,lng in hne with 'his '(OCt! S all h ~$ Social Shl is.

Of he \\:~nted to, Chl'!i ,tophe:-i. could h~ ve Ms:[g_ned, NO or ~v(;:,!'lI. th:ree.~9fhiS, characters Speck h:ic ~ to the S<U1lf1.e Skll L S~ly~ "Homeles ~~ Street .0 ~o.gs' and ~rD[1I.ilg Dea Iers" Ito Srreerwise.)

~ ?-M'~ ~~;P~ ?;;,,~-

Christopher decided upon James' dan 'when he d. ve,lQped his chacacrer concept, and Dlan~ has [im [,tOO his options rega.Id:ing covenanr. Rather than rese ,ltfuUy connect~Jn,gJumes to a covenant he'~,,; uill'la,i)py with, Ch1!lstoph.er ci1(JOS'C;_,s (0 m11ke him 1 tore of a dabbler, onl y reeerul y Embraced and not yet

'~'Or.n 'wb,olehe(tIreJ'~y to any ~lcdon. [ames' si re is of a. similar di$posldorli~ one . of the Carthians before she bec~~IFi.'" jaded and adopted a reclusive fll),d m y.steriQl,Is 'Hfe~t.}~[,e in the alleywa ys, Chrisropher hasdecided ['bratJtunes' sire Embraced llim shortty a.ft~[ sJ'IIe lose from.:; lone rorpor, haping to rekLntU~' some of her own passion and to reconnect with ,th~ worl ~ ~ 'bu~ slue q~bkkl'Y lost inrercsrand has otlly asperse r~kJJ('lon5hip ~'i!i:rh htm. Christopher makes J~nll~ a (".,;alltJ~i1m, Q'UE' of his silre;~s legac.y; but knows that '~h~ng:s :rl)iglu change as ChicBo'go pollrics heat up"

The M _ khet's fa VOT~..d Atrr ibtlt,M are Wits m~d lnteU u~'g'iiGel I and Cbrisropher feels that james' personaltry would more namwHy. i.end ittseIf to an in.c:re~~ed, \V~ts} e;Spec:i~,ny 01.1 the ~,troets. 1-1~$ EfnbTace adds 8Jn ,edge [0, hli,$ denu~anori' nlHI1.ife..:lltil'\g pt'i,~ nrt~~i]Y ,in. a ,collection, of llIilbits be s aoquh'-e.d ~ ii.1'cver s'luing 'w]tb l:ns back t,O a door; alw~ys i:ilotLng '~) ,ltOoo:ls 'eX'ic~"

Quistopltll;;[ has duee dots to ~pend on, D~dfJ[ID_,es, which he 'L\Llay ~1:iJ,(1 in ally ~~ary ht:,clt~es~ 'p.rovieJed:at ieost two6:fhjs docs ~ to, Mdiher, ch1iL1 [l.isdp.il~nes, He ded.de,~ ,tb~t j?J.mLl~J sire' mu,ght :

Mn1l, d.le DHsc'iplin(:;of Auspex ro,rurther bol::srer 1118 a1r~ld~, iI.IDpre$-$UVC OOlnnrwoo of his, ~~~" and he assigtlS '['W'O dots thlLl.s. aU"istO~ pher '~n,'r ~r.arMl tu. any ()f dle OU~p~}'f~d.rul D~Arhrh~s be<:~tlS~ James ,h~s had, 'little to I'iQ e..xperie1lce, with ~ml)iffi'S other d:mn his sire', I Lookinga~'rhe Mekh~r'so'[hercbnl Djsdr'~~ne.5;; he'fcds dtatJ'ames \vould be more irnerestcd ill le<Ilfning C...eL"'lity th.~Ul Obfiuscate~ c.ortrrinu~ng: with ~be theme of avoiding dil'("Ct phy,' ical OOnffOJ;na~ d.on~ and (;~igrts hI· last 1!Jisci(line dOlL thlJS"

-~I-- r. "J.." 0:-+(J/~ o .. x. tlH..et._~~,tJ

Ch'ristop'her tnust n K,r spend seven dots on Merits. Look ... tna over rhe llst of srugg,csted. Merits in the World of Dark .. ~iU~Mi Rulebook, he rries Ito fit'td [hos,' rml[ mi,gl1t r ·ileer james' [Jollticallif-e before b~, Embrace Christopher leaves Bloud Pon ... >flc;.y air 1 ~ as james is still I'G~ath'ely ne\\' to the ngors O'f the Requiem. Time spent lobbying the dt~, council ~n,d dealin,g with poli[LG: I acrlvist tlJ t onh' g~ve"', him capablllrles in those areas, but other t~u~'ble tI~ES. Christopher spen b :dm~e dots 00 Coneacts, selecting Ciry HSlH~ Medi a and the Pol lee, all ~rt,OUPs 'with which be ha ~ some '~eal·ng.' in [i:fe. Chrlsre .. pher also purchases the Status Med:t 8J[ one doe, represented hy an old press ~Sl' at~o.\1i.rh'lg him W pl~.y on his connections '~O brain, a 'LUCi'L'l-mi'e l f acceptance ~,t city political functions. Irs not qlJJite as rood as full joumalistic credenrials, but Chris.w~ ~her hinks that ] ames probably hadn 't; "p~:~d his d,u.e~"~ '[,0 dl8Jt deg.r.e(,\ ~~ny\\''ay. Di.i'lne approvea ofthe Q]~,e; .. dot press 'pass snd Christopher moves on"

Thin 'king next ~l;boUf J<1me~l unl,ife after the Embfac.e~ Chris;.. topher chooses ttl ~')IIJ,t two dors in Ha 'If!eO Se.clJ.lr~ty" reflecting the effmts james has T!['Hld.e to conceal hi,l115e'~f and. ,es((1.h~~h, i3J '~'~.ew home: ,l-li(! would much 'l"iI,ther sta_y hidden and ignored by the world than have a large haven Or. an obvious one close to <;1 major population ceo tcr, He d'~:5co.\ ers 9J lO;L1g-neglected~ t~ ndergreund pu blic ;!i)[.:;l"'il ice maintenance room accessed ~~H')u~h an Yl1.J5:'cl manhole, fin8iU~~ he places (11_ s.iogle dot in Herd, teprescntl ng a small, deranged group of beggaes who view hlm ~ 5 a powerful defender of [he aUeys" rather than, the predator ehar he 'is,

L/.:.... ,~ . .,ilJ\ ~-

Oly (J~ .. .YF:~''T.<'~

Once the numerica 1 starl tics h ave been decided til on Chnsropher [llyn determine hi'} characters advamsges, Add· ing ,his Resol ve and. Composure, h . records a \X7'iHpower score of 5 on. his character sheer, l·Us HI;,IIMnrl/[ty soon ' starts at the sranderd -; m and Cht[smpher chooses Chat~,ty as J(1i'l'r!'"H~S~ Virtue (given hls former desire to heJp rhe he['pi1css, as morral hawu diE" hard) and 1. 'ride as hi Vice (he has tendent:~r 'to we hns polirlca 11 '0.' ('![..: ge to ger back at those who cross h lm),

Addilllg his Si~e f~'Lctor of 5 to his Stam~n~~, Chrt uopherdetermines rha James has sewn dots of Health and {h1WtS a dark ve:rtica~, Un' to the i'~gll( of du~ sevent·h 'box on tbe Htalt~l Chart. Com'tJining hLo; Dexte'[lty with 'his, Compo':lH~' he de· tennj,ncs his lni£i~t:i\Fe to be 61 and [1;otes i:'l.is [}e.ren~ of31 as his D,'xt 'rit~r ~$ lowel' th::1L~, h~s '\'Yu'rrs ,3'ft.er lhe :Enl'Lbra'C.e. 8 .. 'n{'IJUy~ '~~e adds. hls ~'trBliL;g(h ~ D~x[erity i- S. to fi~,td his Sped" which he 1record_s 'l3:S 9,;.

acceF~,ed by a decen't: j(mrnal,iS;[f]) come_ge, .After ~::!;''II\O ye~n$ of studly; he had a fa] I ing out with his 'fal'ftLH'~b dropped out of school and 'ran. oiJ to Chk~,go~ where h.e '1~!ear.J:~r d ied or ~;mtr .. vatiOll ~'uv ~ng on dte street for several moochs,

His Hrs( :fr\!:da'tlc~: story de raJHllg' his experiences on (he street 'W~~ p~'ckt;d, up' by ~1 major n,ews:p:arper a['rJd. 5YI1.d,~'c;lIted, across the eounrrs, puttm~: his name on me m~fJ~ and he laoded :3. job w.r[~ttlg articles, givi.mg him {;':ucmgltL money .for ,8, t:lny~ rundown apartment near the eie,;.~a~, train, SeeJ.d'ng ItO intensity the loss J ames felt after his Embrace, Chd~:E,q_},heu de .. cudes rhar james d~v¢~,OfJ'ecl, a t,~l8Jti.ons'h ip 'mdX~l aeother "I:rul.teT at the newspaper and got up the nerve to propose: 'lTI(nTiage~ whlch she accepted, In the weeks before h us iE'fllruffC!t'J' lle had recetved ~ raise, was l)bl,ul'um1g' his we:ddin,~' and had starred 00, ~tdll thn'~g:s 'I,;I'P with h~s parents.

As, ~h,e chronicle srarts, J ames has abandoned his previous l~(e entiT\e!y~ 5truggHng to accept the realktes {)f his new condition. Unable to face the: world, lie hides in fh~ alleys} prey" [Dg upon rhe homeless he had spen.'E his career ttyin.g to defend. lie becomes jaded wtrh the WQ"~-1d and his previous work, realitin:,g thaJt hunger and cold] are h~JlITt[lJ any tthrent when creatures ~'!lho ,~e;d 011 hl.itm~n blood huk un, the (ti!lJrkne~" H!s ha~r if; disheveled, hls clothes are ragged a_:ndl dirty; he spends h~s n~gh:rs srslkmg tiJnw,~ry 'ooggariS~ talked, about in hushed '1Nm&s as though he 'Were 'Irrughttl!Il;;iJ.'[,"e' made fle:;lh. C~ui;$tapliier leaves james' three contacts, his, si re and the state of his fam;o l~r In Dla~,@/s hands eo detail durln,~, t'll~ oeurse of ehe clnonicle.

And thars it, C~llij:n:{:!pher tflkes ~"~ fLn~llook Over his character sheet to make sure everything is e:xaC'th, ~'Jie: WIli'f he wanes i~ and :in.fonns Di~itt('; ,of :h:us drtci$~()Ii$,. james is '~ady '~O be thrust into (he chaotic \\forM of Darkaess, .

After 'the El'ri.brfl.oe~ V~,111Jpt{es, ,g1_;l'in "bl1.k~,IJ._!e 't~fi;i t"$ th~liI; $~P®;~ rate rhem (...'1 .... 1 their "l''''.<'Ir ....... llil.' ve .... _ ·W: i_~ ~l"" ["". 01"1'';r of ... ,1·'1 .. ""' ... ·1 :n,;;;lftiiPA~

L~ ,~ '\.rlhLI. [00 1.1l" ~,lL ,IH.LIP..JI II.Q.. , _.]I. llll!. ~ lLll.U."" ~ -L ,LL"':"'IHL !L ..... t'" 1. .... ,0.:

sent inrernel, 'Ph,y;s:ic~ l changes rhar mark t:h.e' 10$$ of l~:f¢ ~lnd the 8t8Jr~ of (he Requu,e:IDj social conditions ,Sitter. the Embrace also cause Ch':::I~1g!gS m:~l beh~,v[,j')r. r.u"'L,t~ l,ufe:n.yLe, Il~ilrk~ng (tii.O:~·~ external ~d~P.t'~ltion~ to dl.e' '[lught.' ,

Alm~~tt~:~:u!tf~-z

waYSl nor, :aU 'iVi.eM d1'~ same ,~t:i¥te;~~, ,or l')m~{~r" B'lnod 1PO.:et1C1l'

de:termine$ the degL~~e of power the Blood besrows U[('Jl1 ~ vaml?~re;, Having more dors of ]31000, Potency sllows characters le~m, more advanced Disciphrtlf?S ~ud W d~\r,elop tJ~Gi:r traits to sUped7l}lUnilll l~vels. F\.uth'eli vampires with more dots, in this advm.lt~e can hold' more Vitae, within their bodies, as i:1i is more potent and the.t:~£OI'e 'more cencennaced. In iliott~ the hi,gb~ a character's Blood lPot'ency~ the' greater her porenrlal.

All. n.e\vl,y Embrac€d vampires start at Blond POIE-i2itlCY 1] re~rd]es.~ of t'heur sire's ]?otenc,y. \t"ith I lIDwhe'1f'e' to go but Uri. Bleed p(it,enq~ can be purchased dl~u.in,g character crearlon as, a M edt (at rhree MeTit~equi valent points per d,od~ hut ~l[f~er p'~ay begins, it can be increased only by experience, dlablerie _

01;" age, The purchase of ~l(kl~,t~~.omll Blood, Porency at characLSr (;r~[Ucrl. needs to be 'ratn.oDlta,h2le:d befo:~e play l1e,gJ,ns, ~)eT" h~ps the clt[1nc.te~e ~ngc1,ged in diablerie or had :alrea.dy spent 'flmmy ye~fS as a vampire before the srarrof rhe chron [de. Pi~.y,.. e:1J3 'who w2!nt theirehasacters to stsrr witb, more dots of BlQQd :f'[j~!eney must dtOrougl:lly ;@xpbti'D}, WlUH un their charsceers hiS~(lry j ul$.tl:fi~$ the ~dd~,i; ~on~~l dots ~nd h'~v'~ if. ~twtQv~d by the StO][~teUer before 'pby begins.

A'$ BIDod, Potency increases, fe~dJin.g requirements become rnore ~tri:ngeDl:r. 01'1['1' blond, of potency a, certain degr,ee lower ' '~h8!n ~_ -c11l£i1ra_,Ctet'~s can provide sustenance: (see ~he accompanying chart). In facr, soma elders' Mood is so potenr [hat 'rh,ey ctl!n ~t feed on IllO'W1W[s, at am, requidng the Vi rae of other varnpires to nourish them. Only rhose with the fe'Mw\tsr dots ofBLoot] PCit®llqr can feed from animals.

E'''i'e[i;'tnI{l,Uy~ a V:'~u1L1pire'ls, blocd becorces ,$0 potent t}~a~' he is unable ro find regular f'l:'ey m~KI, f-ar~s into 'Eo!part the duration of which, '~& blS®l;,l Qn,'hUH:;Llrreut :mcxJd, Potency ~n1d 1,iU!rroa[1J'~ty (~~e p, 117:5). \~,li[e in torpor, ,3 [hi[1n~n,g of the blood OC(.I!J['S. Torpor also 'CSit'l!le'S, f~~ dltta.lfi'; and a gel"'Ler:l1Iil, d:i£IDrtj,;:).E], of [he Till ind."

A v~1iIlipir.-e'~s Blood Potency tncreases by (me eve:..-y 50 yeruES, In torpor, ~1Im\Ve\1,er:J' i~ decreases by one ;eveay 25 y~_l'S- As Blood PO['t!:ilC1~ is 'r~red on a :~, 0'[0 .. 10 seele, a v~um.pJ.iTi@ will more d~;JI1L Ulely fnU lmo torpor ill about 5C<) Ye:8XS - as blood requlrements grow ever mote refined and hard '[0 fulfm - sooner for· these who ~n~~~ 'm dt~bleI~e. a1i8!~~.cre["S ,vho, dh:1!bleri;e ~e[3[ VaJl1pITe8 in a s1Gtt span of years can remain acrlvc through seven to i1Ule duahlerie's, ib~fore il~e pt).teTiiCY of their blood cause5 'd1em to $~lcQn]ttb to to;L},m:. Such Kindred te1¥.l 'to ha.ve shon but vi<.rlent 'bouts of Rc[iviry beru;€e:n.long petiod~, of torpid idiel1rcss"

l~!b,en, IDJood ,rOt-e[H~¥ decre~ls"es, (tr'n,o~J,g~11. rorpor.~ f'Vcr e;x'!';~~~ (1!mple). i ,(lillY 'tr.aits [hm: e2(,ceed the d,R\'racter~ new ,po;,.' .... -ji'ji;j:i'~

E17FEcrs· ... O'·F B·~ FV"io'D: 1 P~E'1'I.lCY· ..

It!, : .. ,' .:.: I.- L'L.JV.. Vlb.~l"\J ,

,Attrlbu.tefSklIl/lmS'~~plv.ne M~~imum MaJ< Vilae1M,al< Vi'llae peli Turn Valii1~5res lca.n 'wed ilfrom •••

. .. ~ ~ ~~~Im~~mmmm;~l]l"-iJ#ft S;W;:~~~~liIiI

11 '111 Annm,al~ -!f"

Rumors persler ofnuly anciene vampires who have fou id a 'W~y to $~~'v'e o'f:f'torporl seem ingly d~fvtng rhe effec~s ,0'( Blood Potency. Some .. ,·wear r.h . c ~ such a thing is possible through intensi ve study of blood magic \'Vi.'Eh such faitl~ aki:n. to d,,~·

, belief in G91.COl'iida, creariug a, sert of'relug~otis fervor in those; seeking ro ,.(! uain transcendence,

:M:erit$ represent ;ad'!!aI.'tI~';S a character HlilY have due to c'in::;lJ;lmStarnce: and opportum ty. They include mateda'~ pOSSf.:"~ slons (lind. social networks, elements external '(0 the physktm'! changes bl'onght 00. blj' the Embrace. Wh!.!.e the World of Dar'l.Re'.-Ss Rulebeek descrlbes Mel'i£.'S 'in greater det(~H and provides lists of examples, vampires are removed somewhat fi~om, 'morral suet ty and ,often require unique or sped3lliz:ed M rirs.

Wh;":lil: foOl ~0\~'1!ii :irre traits designed so~ely for vampires, allowing plavers to fUI:'ther distinguish rheir characters from ordin~uy morral and. other non human beings, These 'M'erits are available t.I,t, character creation and d~U'i1hg [he course of the chronicle. The flrsr in ranee assumes that ~'Otii vampire ~llar .. acter is ~,he:;~dy EInbr.f!;ced at the begm.tmln:g of p[-a}' or is. Embraced very SOQl1. ~lJft€T,"\'<Jl'd. (Ir's nor possible for a $triedy mor .. ral cJ aracter '[0 have the foUowin,g traits as presented here.)

;r~~ f."-/~ ~u,.~ t' ¥~I;J)

Effect:: A haven is a place where a vamp ire sleeps, procecred from the sun ciuring the deadlv davlighr hours, Legends tell of vampi res in. da:dc twisted citndel;s on hi.gll ElI10U!l1 rain .. peaks, comple re wi.th, la,byr lnrhlne c~u.~on' bs, but the rea ~ i ty is far less grandiose, .11. rruth . a haven can 'be as $~r[lp'~~ as a sewe r cr an abandoned warehouse or a crate 111 a forgotten storage c loser as long as it is und istlJ:rb~cl, 'be tween d.,.wn <;'l.D;r.] dusk,

All bavens are not crer)Jlje:d equal A v.1'ttrd1,Oll~ might :~ave 'pIel'llY of ~I7.ace ai·I.'~ pro::.: hn ~ty to a si_g"nifm,canl[ amount of prey~ hut ,~t :In ight not b.e seclJJ:re: aga inst m"li\vanteid v U$i mit::], • .An ~bal"l,d.'ol1,e-d su.b\"ay car 'in a long,·forgouen tunnel ba . pa,ce and adreqU4l1'te 5~<:ijJri tVl btH l L ffiigh t 'be flO faT -Dull: or ~he way ·~h~'rr. fi[Ldhng prey is diffk:u h, ,Or ":1'r 'rime :and effort lS $PIf'lI1[ finding s:uit:abl'e h~:rV~I'fI~', an.d their value BS roBprcsente:d hy three fa.ctots - I:ocation, ;r;h:e dilnd sec.m:l ty. Ph1fye1[S W.'~H)

choose this Merlt must :iilJSQ choose how 0 allocate rhese three factors 1ilLr'!~el'rl, spend lng points. For in seance f. two points luay be spent on I [aven Locarton, with a thh': spent on

Haven Sec·u·B;i!t~r. .

A good Haven Location makes it GSS,De11 for J vampire to fe ed , sltuared near a meeting place fo[' huge nuoabers of' humans, A. haven with m~l/ny dots in [his category rnisht be dose to several nightclub:) O'i" bars that do ootltside.rable nighttime business, w'b.ile one wirh few dots M'ugh.t ~,UInply 'be ,dOSIB to. 3 bus 01' train station that brings traveler '. on :a regular basisEach (tot ,of Hoven. Location. gJ~m.f:S a ,_ 1. die bonus on hllll't~ [[ltg checks for the d:larnc.~e1L who co :'lltrob 'ut and an'Y' whom she ~l1o'IiV5. in. Havens wirhout ~ny dors in Locarton ate suffi~ (i~ntly secluded M), as to not provide tiLfty bonus.

Havel't Size is important to characters who need a place ro safel if store their possessions sud valuables" A haven. with. [to dots in Haven Size [s ~ ust large enough for its owner and ·gR."I1 haps. a single companion, livid~, mj,nhrllal if a.ny ~toJ.':lge capa.city - ehe aiolJ'em€ndoned crate in the forgorren storage closet, Or a cramped :aparttl1en;t" By spending points to increa e a ,h~~v<en's sise, a p'~.ayer aUoIJ."'·,$ -for accoutrements and personal dfecl[s.large'I havens can be fUlymufLg,fl'()Ul m~.ns~ol~ to mountain hideaw~!.)~, to vast subre raeeen C~lr~ om bs, Note I howe"i.1-er, thar havens of considerable siee are not necessaril y casv to maintain.

.. .A snrta]l apartmen'tol;"'UJrtildBt'gl!mmd chamben '1. ~1 fOOrru.

• ., A ~f.l~'.s:e aparrment or small farn[l,y 'home, 3 .. 4 rooms

• .. .. A warehouse, church 011' large home; 5~8 rooms, Or large enclosure

.. ., '.',. A. abandoned mansion OT" network of sul)'U1';~y

tunnels: eq t~i valent of 9 .. 15 rooms or chambers !Ii ;Ii •• '.. A sprawl i-ng estate or vast netwo-rk of runnels: countless rooms or chambers

Of .. curse, Haven. Locaeton and I Iaven Size do nor pre'vern ·r~.val. vampires from ~ute;[11'Pti'l~g to fiend and steal choice havens nor. do they 'preve:n.r inrrusion 1 y morra ls (police, criminal oI~nn.z'ait!ions, sod al workers), PI,aym~ of chsracters who wish to ensure privacy and sar.er~1i ma}1 choose to.

pend polnrs on 1 Iaven SecU'r.ity~ rhus ma_king it c ;i.' f~,c!U,'~i[ f.or others 00' ~41I,in entrance. H evens whh 'rb(} dots un Haven Securlty C:,:)11. be feund 'by those intent enough to look, and of~ (IBr :1 ~:rdc protection cnce '~hey have been breached, Each dor of Havell Securi tv. subtracts one (He: from eff.ons eo ~ntrude into the h:a ven by anyone ~ clu~l'~ct,c'r de esn'e spedfi(:~ny 'flllo;'i,\' 'il"li, This increased diffi.clJ I.[,~t rnay 'be because the G:11~ trance is. w d iJfiall'~.[' [0 Locate (behind a bookca e'f under a carpet} or si.'!nply d~fficu'lt' to penetrate {helTLind a vaulr door],

" Also, each dot of Haven Security o ffer·s· a + 1. 'bo'I,1US on. lnitiative for those inside against 'mlr'one auerrlpdn,g (0 ~a'i.l'I en.~r~n,tt (good sight lin.~5 t v iq'~o sllFV,eillatl.ce) ,.

Characters \VhOSf;, pL:l'fett; .~pel1d. no points :It a'i 1 on Haven rCil:igh't h~we. rrh.e'~r own sm~Uj luunMe 'h}lVenS~ Oir pedli.'l{f5 the~~! shme. the. hiaJi."el1. of ~ sire Or Pdn.ce;.in arty e''V'er.r.:r, ~hev SiUlpl'll do tHllt ga[liL rhe ulccb,anical be[1·~f~ts of rhose wh~ ha~e' -tfJ}ern; Meu'it [Jolinrs improvl:lilg d.le qruaJ tty O'f t'hei'lr homes.

Eac.h as[Hl;;C[ of [' le '[ bveD. M e:r:ic has 8 I i.mit of 5. In 0 _h·( words]. [:"l~¥en Locail:ion, H,~.v,en Siz,e 'and lia'v,en :S@;cur.lt~'