Covenants
If a vampire’s clan is akin to her family, her covenant is the social circle within which she operates. In some cases, covenant is a political allegiance; in others, it’s a religious or philosophical one. These covenants all coexist in most Kindred cities, vying for preeminence just as their members struggle for status and recognition within the covenant. Along with the choice of clan, the choice of covenant (or not to join a covenant at all) defines the basic position of a Kindred character.
The Carthian Movement
The Carthian Movement is the most modern of the vampiric covenants, seeking to uproot tradition and create a more egalitarian system for vampiric rule. Carthians are full of ideas, fiery and passionate about their beliefs for Kindred self-rule. Few of them think about why the current status quo has lasted for as long as it has. Instead, they are eager to challenge it, fervent to accomplish something positive in the dark world of the Kindred. The Carthian Movement mostly comprises neonates and they tend to be wary of the elders of their kind. The older a vampire becomes, the more stagnant and callous he becomes to the world around it. The Movement has still had success in some areas, however, and has grown support by being patient and playing the political games that it must. Passion and unity are the weapons of the Carthian Movement.
Benefit: As a shared network of idealists, the Carthians find it much easier to advance their position in mortal society. As a result, it is much cheaper for players of Carthian characters to purchase the Allies, Contacts, Haven, and Herd Merits with experience points.
The Circle of the Crone
The Circle is a secretive and mystic group of Kindred, holding its own belief about vampiric nature and even its own Discipline. The so-called Acolytes believe that vampires make up a natural part of the world and can learn, grow, and find enlightenment instead of wallowing in the guilt-ridden angst of other groups, which focus on penance. Therefore, members of the Circle of the Crone often find themselves dismissed as political outcasts and heretics of vampiric existence, especially by the more religious Kindred. The Circle believes that creation is power. Vampires must face their static condition and overcome it by creating and cultivating whatever they can. Acolytes also cherish testing themselves, believing that only by overcoming their physical, mental and spiritual limitations can they become something more than creatures of the night. This belief can also lead to persecution, as their strange rituals of testing can seem barbaric and even unholy to some Kindred.
Benefit: Members of the Circle of the Crone may learn Cruác. This Discipline is a form of blood sorcery based on pagan rituals and observances
The Invictus
The Invictus is the landed aristocracy of the Damned. An elitist organization at its core, the Invictus teaches that power is everything and those who gain power deserve it most: those with the greatest skill, the greatest ambition, and overall, the greatest claim to leadership. The Invictus appeals far more to elder Kindred than to neonates, and the covenant believes that age and experience are worth far more than anything youth might offer. The so-called First Estate claims to have created most of the common titles and ranks in the modern nights, especially the title of Prince. The Invictus clearly thinks in terms of aristocracy, and like any aristocracy, it suffers in disorder. Therefore, the Invictus strives to maintain order among the Damned and seeks to uphold the laws of the Kindred to the fullest extent. The most frightening aspect of the Invictus is that the covenant might be right: If they don’t hold the power of the Kindred, then who will? Perhaps the long history of Invictus tyranny exists because it’s the only way to rule the Damned.
Benefit: Members of the Invictus benefit from their league of friends and the resources of the group as a whole. This allows players of Invictus characters to purchase the Herd, Mentor, Resources and Retainer Merits for substantially fewer experience points than players of other Kindred do.
The Lancea Sanctum
The Lancea Sanctum is the religious and moral backbone of the Kindred, as well as the covenant of self-appointed priests and inquisitors of the Damned. Universally respected and feared, the covenant constantly seeks to oversee the religious existence of all Kindred, if not to rule them outright. Believing themselves to be the chosen of God, Kindred of the Lancea Sanctum follows The Testament of Longinus, a collection of writings made by the centurion who pierced Christ’s side and was turned into a vampire. The Sanctified believe that his divine transformation gave purpose to the existence of the Damned and a new purpose for the undead.
The Lancea Sanctum seeks to convert those that it can, and uses conversion as an alternative to conflict, not wanting to cut down a potential brother or sister. The Sanctified also accomplish this by offering spiritual guidance wherever possible, offering themselves as priests and advisors to all of the Damned, and a Bishop or Archbishop often closely follows an Invictus Prince.
Benefit: Members of the Lancea Sanctum have access to a special Discipline, Theban Sorcery. Theban Sorcery is a type of blood magic capable of leveling curses of seemingly Biblical origin.
The Ordo Dracul
The Ordo Dracul claims to follow the teachings of Vlad Tepes, Dracula himself. Dracula claimed to have no sire, struck by God with undeath for his abuse of faith. The Dragons, as they are known, comprise one of the youngest major factions of the society of the Damned. Their supposed founder has not been seen in over a century, and his absence further brings the Ordo Dracul into question with some Kindred.
The Order teaches that nothing is permanent, that even vampirism can be overcome. The Dragons have developed a number of supernatural paths that lessen the effects of the Curse, paths they call the Coils of the Dragon. Although there is no evidence of any Kindred fully escaping the Requiem through the Dragons’ rites, the Order’s beliefs still attract Kindred of all types and ages into its ranks. All are welcome, so that their knowledge and experiences of the vampiric condition can be shared. This growing pool of knowledge is one of the Dragons’ goals – the more they know of the Curse, the better they can act against it.
Benefit: Members of the Ordo Dracul may learn the Coils of the Dragon. The Coils of the Dragon are a special set of rites that allow Kindred to overcome some parts of the Curse.
Using meticulous advance planning, these vampires planted their rootstock at the dawn of the 21st century in the mountainous region of Paso Robles, California, where the ocean fog frequently rolls in off the coast providing the perfect cover to their hidden vineyards.