Mind's Eye Theatre - Vampire The Requiem.pdf - RoseRed

the circle of the crone
As might be expected, Acolytes are none too popular with the fervent Lancea Sanctum,
which takes great offense at the Circle’s “corruption” of its dearly held ideals. Some truly
hard-line Kindred, especially those in power in conservative domains, go so far as to outlaw
the practice and spread of what they call “demon worship,” and they lay heavy penalties
down upon those caught in violation of the decree. Most of the time, however, even the most
stalwart Prince or Archbishop satisfi es himself with making sure that those around him are
free of any Acolyte heresy, thus cutting off any potential threat at the source.
MEMBERS
The Circle of the Crone boasts a diverse collection of Kindred among its adherents. Members
of every clan and those of any age are drawn to the Circle’s particular ethos, and the covenant is
certainly stronger because of it. If the covenant is weak in any one demographic, it is likely in the
number of Ventrue who share in its beliefs. The Ventrue are childer of tradition, and among the
more conservative members of the clan, tradition suggests that core Acolyte ideology is foolishness
at best and heresy at worst. Conversely, the Gangrel (who are known for their disregard of both
mortality and Kindred convention) are perhaps the perfect fi t for the covenant’s mindset. Many
Acolytes do indeed hail from the ranks of the Savages, who can fi nd a symbolic resonance between
their nature and those of the many gods and spirits in the Circle’s pantheon.
Given the radical nature of their philosophies, Acolytes are understandably preoccupied
with the continued growth of their membership. In recent years, many have begun to actively
seek converts, particularly from among the downtrodden and dispossessed of Kindred society.
This search often leads to the door of unaligned Kindred, many of whom are somewhat more
tolerant of Acolytes than they are of the Lancea Sanctum or Invictus. And there are others
who view the Acolytes’ ideology as compatible with their own political outlook. As a result,
the Circle’s missionary efforts have been rewarded, and the number of former independents
who have become members grows with each passing night. After all, if vampires are real,
who’s to say that the blood gods and deities of the Old Ways aren’t?
PHILOSOPHY
At the core of Acolytes’ belief sits the Crone, a sort of vampiric mentor and lover of
mythological “monsters” during various stages of history and among innumerable cultures.
Obviously, reverence for the Crone is the source of the Circle’s name, and she’s either an
amalgamation of spirits or gods from whom vampires originated, or a literal fi gure not too
vastly different from the Lancea Sanctum’s own progenitor. Acolytes revere the image and
teachings of various mother-goddesses, who were cast out of the company of fellow gods for
seeking to better herself by consuming the blood of those whom the gods had made in their
image. Through trial and pain, the Crone managed to uncover the secrets of creation and to
survive the harsh wasteland that was life outside the gods’ own paradise. All on her own, the
Crone is said to have created form, shape and beauty out of the barren nothingness that lay
beyond the ken of men and gods, and her Circle seeks to emulate her experience so that it
too might achieve her wisdom and power.
Branching out from this core precept are two underlying themes.
Creation is Power
Vampires of this covenant are perhaps the most honest with themselves about what they
consider the truth of the Kindred condition. They recognize that the Requiem tears them from
the natural world and suspends them in a state of eternal stasis, forever unable to create life.
For those who let the truth of this realization destroy them, existence becomes an unending
spiral of manipulation toward destruction, with resources being allocated merely to fuel the
perpetuation of the cycle. Creation, then, becomes both the source of true power and the only
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