Post by Diocles on Oct 3, 2021 5:22:27 GMT
The Cainites of Constantinople do not, as their brethren in Europe do, follow the Traditions of Caine, instead having over the centuries developed their own set of laws and customs, which they call the Codex of Legacies. There is no Prince in Constantinople, the city instead being jointly ruled by the Trinitarian Families of the Toreador, the Ventrue, and the Tzimisce. Though the members of Trinitarian Families and the members of their Scion Families abide by the Codex, many newcomers in Constantinople scoff at it and instead choose to continue to abide by the Traditions they are used to.
The Codex of Legacies
The Legacy of Trinity: "Of Three" is the rule of Constantinople. Only those Three can voice their concerns and set upon this Codex new laws. It is also the responsibility of the Three to ensure that the concerns of the Scions are heard.
The Legacy of Progeny: Only those of the Trinity are free to sire. Even the scion families must petition the three Quaesitors for permission to sire. Failure to do so results in destruction of the childe and banishment of the sire.
The Legacy of Founding: Only the Three can bequeath domain, just as the First Three founded the city. Cainites are granted domain upon the Embrace, if they are to receive any at all, and are responsible for ensuring that the Codex of Legacies is enforced in their domains.
The Legacy of Shadows: The Three are masters of the night and hence must rule in darkness. They must be revered as divinities, but their true nature should never be revealed. Just as the nature of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost is unknown, so must that of the Trinity.
The Legacy of Ashes: The destruction of a Family member is prohibited unless the Three condone it. Violation of this legacy results in a trial, after which Final Death is inflicted on the offender. Those not of the Families are not so protected from harm.
The Traditions of Caine
Thus spoke Caine, apparently...
The First Tradition: Covenant: "Thy blood makes thee my brood, crafted in my image. My curse thine, my salvation thine. I stand before and above thee as god-regent. I am the way, my Traditions covenant. Renounce me and renounce all hope."
This is, in essence, the "divine" right of vampires, the way they legitimize their rule over mortals.
The Second Tradition: Domain: "As I am master of Nod, thy domain is thine own concern. Thou art its master, and all will respect this or suffer my wrath. All will present themselves when entering, and thou shalt protect them in turn. By right, thou art allowed to hunt within the bounds of thy domain, its blood thine own. Accept its responsibilities, minister thy domain, and pay others the same respect thou expect."
Hospitality is paramount within one's domain, so one is not rude to and does not kill one's guests. This is why Elysiums in Europe are places where no Disciplines can be used, for such gatherings are the Prince's domain. Additionally, as a whole city is a Prince's domain, every new Cainite must officially present himself to the Prince within three nights' time, and at that meeting, the newcomer will be assigned feeding grounds if he has not yet received them.
The Third Tradition: Progeny: "Thou shalt sire another only with the permission and blessing of thine elder. To create is the providence of those closest to me, for they shall be accountable. Break this, and both thee and thy progeny shall be slain."
The Prince of the city is the only one with authority to grant siring permission.
The Fourth Tradition: Accounting: "Those thou create are thine own blood until released from thy charge. Until that moment, their sins, their blood, and their punishments are thine."
How long it takes to be released from a sire' charge is highly variable, but often Princes use the excuse of punishing wayward childer in order to get to the sires.
The Fifth Tradition: Destruction: "Forbidden art thou to spill the blood of thy kind who is elder. This right belongs only to the closest to me and none other. It is forbidden for those of weaker blood to rise against their elders."
The Prince alone holds the right to call Blood Hunt. No other vampire may kill another without the Prince's permission.
The Sixth Tradition: The Silence of Blood: "Never shalt thou reveal thy true nature to those not of the Blood. Doing so shall renounce thy claims to my covenant."
Hunting and ruling are both done most effectively in secret. Cainites do not reveal themselves to mortals, not unless they ghoul or destroy them.
The Codex of Legacies
The Legacy of Trinity: "Of Three" is the rule of Constantinople. Only those Three can voice their concerns and set upon this Codex new laws. It is also the responsibility of the Three to ensure that the concerns of the Scions are heard.
The Legacy of Progeny: Only those of the Trinity are free to sire. Even the scion families must petition the three Quaesitors for permission to sire. Failure to do so results in destruction of the childe and banishment of the sire.
The Legacy of Founding: Only the Three can bequeath domain, just as the First Three founded the city. Cainites are granted domain upon the Embrace, if they are to receive any at all, and are responsible for ensuring that the Codex of Legacies is enforced in their domains.
The Legacy of Shadows: The Three are masters of the night and hence must rule in darkness. They must be revered as divinities, but their true nature should never be revealed. Just as the nature of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost is unknown, so must that of the Trinity.
The Legacy of Ashes: The destruction of a Family member is prohibited unless the Three condone it. Violation of this legacy results in a trial, after which Final Death is inflicted on the offender. Those not of the Families are not so protected from harm.
The Traditions of Caine
Thus spoke Caine, apparently...
The First Tradition: Covenant: "Thy blood makes thee my brood, crafted in my image. My curse thine, my salvation thine. I stand before and above thee as god-regent. I am the way, my Traditions covenant. Renounce me and renounce all hope."
This is, in essence, the "divine" right of vampires, the way they legitimize their rule over mortals.
The Second Tradition: Domain: "As I am master of Nod, thy domain is thine own concern. Thou art its master, and all will respect this or suffer my wrath. All will present themselves when entering, and thou shalt protect them in turn. By right, thou art allowed to hunt within the bounds of thy domain, its blood thine own. Accept its responsibilities, minister thy domain, and pay others the same respect thou expect."
Hospitality is paramount within one's domain, so one is not rude to and does not kill one's guests. This is why Elysiums in Europe are places where no Disciplines can be used, for such gatherings are the Prince's domain. Additionally, as a whole city is a Prince's domain, every new Cainite must officially present himself to the Prince within three nights' time, and at that meeting, the newcomer will be assigned feeding grounds if he has not yet received them.
The Third Tradition: Progeny: "Thou shalt sire another only with the permission and blessing of thine elder. To create is the providence of those closest to me, for they shall be accountable. Break this, and both thee and thy progeny shall be slain."
The Prince of the city is the only one with authority to grant siring permission.
The Fourth Tradition: Accounting: "Those thou create are thine own blood until released from thy charge. Until that moment, their sins, their blood, and their punishments are thine."
How long it takes to be released from a sire' charge is highly variable, but often Princes use the excuse of punishing wayward childer in order to get to the sires.
The Fifth Tradition: Destruction: "Forbidden art thou to spill the blood of thy kind who is elder. This right belongs only to the closest to me and none other. It is forbidden for those of weaker blood to rise against their elders."
The Prince alone holds the right to call Blood Hunt. No other vampire may kill another without the Prince's permission.
The Sixth Tradition: The Silence of Blood: "Never shalt thou reveal thy true nature to those not of the Blood. Doing so shall renounce thy claims to my covenant."
Hunting and ruling are both done most effectively in secret. Cainites do not reveal themselves to mortals, not unless they ghoul or destroy them.