Lessons & Lore

[Zyraen]

LESSONS FROM THE MENTORS

The following are "taught" by your respective Sires/Mentors. Where variances apply, they have been indicated. Throughout the game, remember to keep OOC (out of character) knowledge separate from IC (in character) knowledge. Hence your characters will NOT know of the variances. Being a newly made vampire, this topic is also ALL you know, hence also OOC knowledge about topics will not be allowed in game.

Note that all Characters are one step Blood Bound to their Sire, which means there is a very reasonable amount of good will. Even if your Char does not know them in life, by default they feel comfortable like a regularly met old friend that has always been known. Positive feelings like gratitude are magnified, and even if your Char might throw a self loathing fit or wreck some chairs, he will not attack the Sire.

Although this is necessarily written as a "Lecture", the lessons are given in various ways. It may be in conversation, between practical demonstrations, or of course - as a lecture. They may not of course use the exact words below, but the meaning should be as clear - or as metaphorical/obscure - as below.

All the sections have been numbered and labelled as for most part, and certainly after each section, your characters will have questions, clarifications or may even doubt/challenge the views given.

Those who have completed their background may PM me such questions, referencing the paragraphs, provided they are not already answered somewhere else in this topic/lecture. Attempts to steer it with OOC Knowledge will not generally be well received, but RP related questions will generally be taken well.

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1. INTRO

1a. You are a new being, reborn into the eternal night that is the demesne of us Kindred. Once you were an ephemeral son of Seth, but now you are of the immortal line of Caine.

1b. I am your Sire, the author of your rebirth, and you are my Childe. Together we are bound by the bonds of blood, truer than any among mortal men.

1c. I shall guide and aid you, as you shall learn and take your place in Kindred society. Where even the memory of mortals have been lost in the mists of time, our legacy shall endure.

1d. But before we can master the night together, you must first master yourself.

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2. OF BLOOD & BEAST

2a. Blood is strength. Even as you master your blood, by giving it you may master others.

2b. With but three sips on three nights, the drinker's soul is bound to the giver. Choose wisely who you shall master.

2c. Blood is weakness. Drink not of the blood of other Kindred save your Sire, lest your soul be lost or you be mastered by the poison within.

2d. For even the soul is bare before the blessed sight of Kindred. The poisoned soul must be destroyed, so guard your soul well.

2e. Blood is life. Feed the hunger, lest the hunger consume all you know.

2f. Yet while we must feed, we need not kill. We take no more than what the cattle can bear, that the herd may not be thinned.
(to Ventrue)
...not be thinned, for our palates are refined.

2g. For as we are exalted above others, so too we bear a greater burden. Within all of us lurks the Beast born of Caine's sin, that threatens to turn us into a demon that exists only to kill, to feed and to destroy.

2h. For God cursed Caine that he might know remorse, and so too we must remember our own. To lose sight of our Humanity is to become the Beast, and thus we shall be hunted like a Beast.

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3. THE FIRST TRADITION - MASQUERADE

3a. "You shall not reveal your true nature to those not of the Blood. Doing such shall renounce your claim to the Blood."

3b. Leave behind your past life. You have life eternal in pursuit of finer, more permanent things, and a truly lasting family.

3c. Beware daylight, sun and fire. Any one among them can consume you utterly.

3d. Hence, forever the light of day is lost to you, as are those who walk there. To us, the children of Abel are but cattle, yet if they know you, beware lest they drag you into the sun while you slumber.

3e. Likewise, your resting place in the day should be known to none save you and I, and those whose souls have been bound to our service.

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4. THE OTHER TRADITIONS

4a. Honor another's domain. When you come to a foreign city, present yourself to the ruler. Without acceptance, you are nothing.

4b. The ruler of a domain is the Eldest in the city. All must accord him respect, and none may challenge him while in his domain.

4c. One may only Sire another with permission of the Eldest. If you create another without permission, you shall both be slain.

4d. Those you create are your Children. You shall command them in all things, and their sins shall be yours to bear.

4e. You are forbidden to destroy another of your kind. The right of destruction belongs only to your Elder. Only the Eldest among you may call the Blood Hunt.

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5. REMINDERS / CAUTIONS

5a. You are mine, just as your sins are mine. I have high hopes for you, so prove that the immortality first given in good faith was of sound judgment.

5b. I shall provide you guidance from afar, and you shall act on them to your best efforts with urgency. If I need to contact you, I will write (show handwriting and seal), sent by either (show 2 servants), to (address).

5c. After you have read my letter, immediately return it to my servant. Watch and ensure that it is properly destroyed.

5d. Where I require information, keep my messenger waiting while you write a reply. Seal it and return your reply to him.

5e. If you need me, you can personally deliver your written request and reasons to (address). Do not leave unless either (same 2 servants) have seen you and taken your letter from your hand.

5f. Avoid writing anything that indicates our true nature unless absolutely necessary, and if so, write as one telling a dream or a story told by someone else, and asking for the meaning. Do not share the details given from me to you with any others, not even other Kindred.

5g. Using Disciplines on other Kindred when interacting with them socially is very rude, and if detected, can make an unrelenting enemy. Only use it when absolutely necessary and when certain of not being known.

5h. If for any reason you have to overpower another Kindred, do so then stake him through the heart with sharpened wood. While it remains there, he can be safely transported, but do not destroy him lest you breach the tradition of Destruction.

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6. THE CHURCH

6a. The truly holy are the chosen of God, although not many exist. Avoid them for the very presence of their true faith can destroy you.

6b. Holy water and holy vestments that are blessed by those of true faith are anathema to us. Do not willfully touch sacred things, since that which will burn is not known.

6c. Beware the inquisitors in red and white who they watch within and without the church. If you see any, do not lightly use your disciplines or approach them, unless violence erupts.

[Zyraen]

Post Session 1.2
Research by Renato on gathered Books
Research +8 plus crit 20 on roll
- following Information is only available after leaving the Bracceschi guesthouse, the next time the coterie gathers

Back in the appointed haven your sire has set aside for you, you have some time to peruse in detail the books that you have found in the basement of Veldaran's razed suite, and in greater detail. The subject matter seems to draw you in, and you take in the detail with a great amount of enthusiasm.

The main book about the monster (which you browsed through quickly in the basement) is in a language you do not know, but it resembles latin in some way, and something seems to guide you as you peruse the text and illustrations. Recurring words that seem to defy the language the book is in allows you to identify the names that some of these creatures are called. At some point during your study, Solomon is next to you, though you did not notice him enter. He gives some guidance about the language that he identifies as Greek, and helps you pick up the language as he browses over your shoulder, occasionally picking another book that he flips through.

The common name for the beast is Szlachta, with the less common word Vohzd seeming to identify a greater and more rare subtype that were the epitome of the monstrosities. After the brief lesson in Greek from Solomon, you identify the common moniker warghoul. You learn that these hideous creatures are created from "fleshcrafting" humans and other hapless creatures under the merciless hands of whoever or whatever wrote the book. Other more detailed references includes a detailed appendix and glossary of what organs and body parts to be replaced, what can be expended, what can be augmented, what works well together, and what has what sort of effects on the mind so as to drive the beasts. You feel your sanity twisting as you read about unspeakable replacements to all parts of the anatomy, both of humans and also other creatures. One thing you are sure of - these are unnatural abominations created deliberately by other monsters, quite different from their creations, and every such monster created entails unspeakable suffering to at least two or three others.

By cross referencing some of the other texts, thankfully a fair number in latin, you also learn the creators of these beasts call themselves the Tzimisce, also known as the Shapers. They are beings with close affinity to the land and the earth, requiring it to find true rest until they truly settle down. They are said to have long and esteemed history, with lineages and names dating back to thousands of years in the areas of the Carpathians. There are also passages about the hated Tremere, or the Usurpers, that are said to have commited the unspeakable to gain the power of the elder Shapers, and that they must be destroyed at all costs. Although the text itself mentions next to nothing about their nature, you realize the Tzimisce are a vampire clan, and the Tremere are another.

Along the way you pick up details about the Constantinopole, down to the organization of Kindred society there and many names and places of interest, as well as notable clans and individuals. There is mention of the archangel Michael that apparently rules over the city's Kindred (as if such a thing were imaginable), and other individuals known as the Dracon of the Tzimisce and Antonius of the Ventrue. Together the three ruled as the Triumvirate in the city before its fall.

( OOC : If there ever comes a time where the above information becomes relevant, you can ask the GM if you would know, assuming the GM does not volunteer the information )

You also pick up the lineage of Veldaran himself. His lineage reads as follows:
Dracon,
sire of Gesu
sire of Symeon
sire of Myca Vykos
sire of Gratian
sire of Veldaran

[Zyraen]

Research gleaned from manuscripts in the Venetian Cappadocian Mausoleum
Research 7 + nat 18

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In the Beginning

In the beginning, God created Adam, and God created Eve. In turn they had two children, named Caine and Abel. Abel had the favour of God, and Caine in his jealousy murdered Abel. For this, God cursed Caine, and he was struck from God's sight. The mortal records regarding Caine end here, but we know what came after.

Caine was cursed to fear the sun, and thirst ever for the blood of the living. He was the First, but he was alone. In his loneliness he cursed othes to be like unto himself, and three others he so begot, of the Second Generation. They in turn sired their own, thirteen of the Third Generation.

From these thirteen, the Clan Fathers, came all kindred. All kindred descend from them, and if one were to know more of how our kind came to be, then perhaps they alone may know.

Of Caine, he who is at the beginning, will be at the end.

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The Curse of Caine

There are those among us that feel we are exalted, but I disagree.

Within our breast coils a demon born of the sin of Caine. This demon threatens to overwhelm us, reducing us to little more than a demon within the form of a man, that knows nothing more than to hunt, kill, and sleep. This we call the Beast.

This is our neverending torment, that with each sip we take, we become more like what we dread, and with each drink, we become more like the monster we must not be.

Our genteel manners, our fine clothing, our petty schemings and nefarious plots, are but paltry tools to keep at bay the jaws of the beast that draws ever closer with every night of our existence.

The abyss from which there is no return beckons, and we have an eternity to be consumed by it.

Surely, we are lost.

Yet, perhaps there is hope. I have only hearsay, but I can only hope there is truth in what I am about to relate, as originating from no less than one of the Clan Fathers.

Not many outside of his clan mention him, especially with the inexplicable turn of recent events. Regardless, I shall endeavour to pen what I have uncovered of the matter from the notes of one of my fellow clan elders. It is unfortunate that the original author is no longer with us, and I shall endeavour to filter out what is speculation.

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Saulot and the Salubri

Time and again we are told that the Salubri are demon worshippers, but I tell you that is not true. I personally recall nights from the past century, speaking with scholars among the clan of Healers. Alone among our clans, the clan of Healers seems to exist mainly to serve and better others, and not just kine but even kindred. I have witnessed those cured of sickness, disease and madness, under the care of the Healers. We revel in death and study it for our gain, but the Healers delight in life and help for no gain other than because they can. And I wondered if perhaps they alone truly understand what it means to be kindred.

I heard that their clan father, Saulot the Wise, was a seer of prophetic gifts, who focused on prayer, meditation, and other means of keeping the Beast at bay. It was not enough, and he travelled for centuries, eventually returning with teachings from the east, bearing the prophetic Third Eye upon his head, and thereafter magnifying the healing abilities of his clan. More importantly, he spoke of a hitherto unknown path for Kindred to master the Beast - the path of Golconda.

The re-tellings are vague, and no two scholars even among the Salubri that I had met ever agreed, but it seems Golconda emphasises care of thought and care in deed, in dealing with kindred and kine alike. After conscientiously tending to our own humanity, and regaining it via good deeds - deeds that apparently, might cost us our own eternal existence! - we might perhaps possibly embark on this mystical path.

After commencing the journey, most agree that the bearer must not succumb to the Beast. Care must be taken to maintain this state as long as possible, while carrying on the good deeds. I am uncertain what this might entail, but it seems quite improbable that a kindred might be able to be more humane than humans.

Eventually, one might reach some sort of apex or pinnacle, where one might confront one's Beast, in its final, desperate state, cornered in a part of one's soul. This is where it becomes even more difficult to follow - apparently this is the most dangerous stage, in which one can lose oneself completely, or get through to achieve Golconda.

Golconda being the end goal of it all, apparently one who has achieved Golconda can be freed of the need for blood, or only have to partake of it sparingly, and perhaps even walk out into the sun! This portion I cannot believe, but perhaps it is a way that the scholars spur themselves forward. If it is an endeavour worth going after, perhaps a little more motivation, however romanticised, might not be amiss.

Then again, perhaps that is why Caine was cursed but given great power. After all, he who has great power might perhaps be able to be more humane than kine, yet not perish. He who has sinned has more to grow in repentance, and perhaps that is why God cursed Caine. Not that Caine was cursed for the sake of being cursed, but cursed that he might learn from it. And if we are descended from Caine, then should we not aspire to the same?

I can only speculate, and perhaps after this trouble with the Usurpers have gone by in a century or two, I shall have opportunity once more to study among the Salubri. Maybe by comparing notes, I might see if it is worthwhile to pursue this Golconda for myself.

[Zyraen]

Mokur attributes all learnings and guidance to his sire Saulot, after his return from the East. As much as possible Mokur uses parables and examples to illustrate Golconda, so two persons might hear the same thing but draw different conclusions as to the relationship between themselves and their own Beast.

Occasionally Mokur gives his own opinion, from his own journey, but he clearly states it as so.

The benefits of Golconda are not directly covered in his teachings, but much of seems implied and he does not go out of his way to affirm or deny this. Benefits such as less reliance on blood, no blood required for rising, extended consciousness during daytime, etc are associated with Golconda.

The following is written in modern language as a best effort basis.

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GOLCONDA

Being Kindred is a state of constant struggle between Man and Beast. The Man has died his death, yet endures, by the receipt of the Beast into every facet of his being. The Beast is his inner demon, within himself, that seeks to make real the death of the original Man that inhabited the body, taking him over utterly. The Beast is that which hungers for blood of the living, and uses it to sustain his being. The same Beast that has its flesh unmade in the light of the sun, and flees from fire.

Indeed, virtually all that any Kindred does to survive is warranted by the Beast. The first step to walking the road of Golconda is an awareness of this truth, which is certain when we first awoke to the eternal night.

What then is not the nature of the Beast, which we might possibly consider our own, that of the Man?

There is an ancient saying in the East, which is to know yourself and know your enemy, in order to succeed.

Pursuit of Golconda involves understanding the nature of the Beast, and being able to distinguish an act of the Beast and an act of the Man. To be a Man is not sufficient, but to know yourself as a Man, or more. There are acts for all beings that arise from nature, and these acts are excluded from yourself as a Man. It is for us to build ourselves up as who we are, in order to have a better footing with the Beast within us.

What defines each of us is different, but certain actions are conscious and inherently anathema to the Beast. They are also worthy of the Man, insofar as shaping the Man to be better also. ( examples aplenty ) Such acts of compassion, kindness, mercy, recognition of man, selflessness without violence, are acts clearly apart from the Beast, and care should be taken to internalise such acts that they are part of the Man, that we become more of the Man.

There is also the hunt, the feeding and the frenzy that requires attention. Such are the needs of the Beast, which should be tempered, much as one might attempt to train an animal. It is a gradual process, during which the Beast should be kept firmly in check, for an extended period of time. If it were to break its leash, even for a moment, it is advisable to put the process on hold and start again. There is no end to the tempering, until the very pinnacle is achieved, and through it all each one becomes less of the Beast.

Bear in mind that no mortal Man needs to contend with the Beast, nor can a mortal Man hope to do so to any success. One must rise above and beyond the Man that one was, and be more so beyond that. When one can go no further as a Man, and when one can be no further from the Beast, only then one might consider the final step before achieving Golconda. It should be stated clearly that most Kindred will not even reach anywhere near this state, and it can only happen if one has at the very least, set aside all selfish concern for oneself. If in doubt, seek the opinion of others on the Path of Golconda and heed their observations, for they are more likely to have a fair view, or even a critical view, with which we should examine ourselves to be blameless. Pride is the greatest danger at this stage, for the final step is the step from which there is no return.

The final step before achieving Golconda is the Suspire, the act of becoming Man again. I personally liken it to reverse of the Embrace, where the life's blood is returned to one's body, and one may breathe again, without the need for the Beast. I believe the gains will be similar, but to what extent I cannot be sure.

The Suspire requires confrontation of the Beast during the waking hours, in the time of Dreams. One may in the state required for Suspire will it so, over a period of days or months, and it might happen while one slumbers, while fasting as much as able. Alternatively, there is a ritual passed down to me by my sire, and in turn from me to my trusted pupils, that can coax the Suspire with reasonable certainty within 3 nights of slumbering. It leaves the Kindred body, and the state of the Beast, in weakness, but it is also in weakness that the Beast's urges are the strongest. If one for whatever reason, frenzies or torpors or is otherwise unable to enter the Dream state of Suspire, then one is assuredly not ready.

The events of the Suspire will doubtless vary for each and every person, and if genuine, it will be one way or another, the final meeting between Man and Beast. One will either achieve Golconda, or never be able to attain it again. I personally suspect, from what my sire implied, that to fail the Suspire is to wassail.



Added Note: Much of the teachings have to do with Moral issues, being more Humane, how to be Selfless, how to fetter the Beast, how to manage Hunger, various ways to avoid Frenzy etc.

[Zyraen]

THE COUNCIL OF THE ILLUMINATI

As of 1530, in addition to Sir Philip Capet

Abdalkutba - Assamite Sorcerer who has renounced ties to Alamut and Jyhad.

Cretheus - Ventrue childe of Mithras. Though he dresses as a scholar, you have seen him as a centurion among Mithras' company in Thorns. He is the only one who gets along with Solomon, being a Gehenna scholar of sorts also. He was among the earliest of the "pupils" of Mokur, and deems himself the best and most well rounded of the Council.

Danika Ruthven - Tzimisce elder. She might be related in some way to Lambach Ruthven.

Eshmunamash - Brujah elder who once lived in Carthage with Troile. Adana refers to him as her "elder" and has handed her clan authority to him.

Demetrius - old looking Malkavian, Deacon of Ordo Aenigmatic (a cult that might be purely Malkavian).

Drenis - perhaps the last Cappadocian. Wears fair make up to try to hide her deathmask.

Pentweret - Setite. Surprisingly earnest but also unflatteringly blunt.

Rothriel - Salubri warrior, who assumed clan leadership after Mokur relinquished the position to focus on preaching Golconda. He seems viewed as the most junior of them all, but also most openly aware of military concerns. He was initially "invited" to the Council by the Elders after Mokur firmly refused.

Vanth - a soft spoken and reserved Nosferatu. She has a bent over frame with eyes that are utterly black and reflect what she sees, but her body itself seems youthful at time of Embrace. She seems to have no area of expertise but can provide information even when no one asks for.

Zamra Matoub - Lasombra, noble lady from North Africa.


Remarks: Adana resigned within a decade of its formation and left on her Pilgrimage to Rome.