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

The Invictus, alone among covenants, considers itself to be an actual entity, worthy of admiration.
The Carthians tend to eschew oaths of fealty, and the Lancea Sanctum and Circle
of the Crone swear oaths to higher powers such as a god or spirit, fi rst and foremost, with
obedience to the covenant second. The Invictus not only demands oaths of loyalty to local
covenant leaders, but considers them paramount above all other allegiances.
It’s probably this practice that creates the illusion that so many Princes are Invictus. Because
Invictus leaders often make such a point of their covenant affi liation, more so than those of
other covenants, the First Estate is associated with the position.
Mortals Are Power
While all the covenants understand the need for the Masquerade, the Invictus focuses
most heavily on not merely infi ltrating but manipulating and infl uencing mortal society. In
the covenant’s quest for political dominance, it wastes no opportunity — and six billion kine
represent quite an opportunity. Most elder Kindred of all covenants wield some amount of
infl uence in local affairs or among businessmen, but when one pictures the vampire sitting
at the heart of a web of corporate, political, criminal and social connections — a rare but
extant stereotype — one probably pictures a member of the Invictus.
Rituals and Observances
The Invictus has few covenant-wide observances. As a whole, the First Estate is concerned
more with traditions of general behavior than with specifi c activities. Still, certain social customs
and mores have survived to the modern era, though they have become such a standard
part of the Invictus Requiem that many Kindred no longer recognize them as such.
Oaths of Fealty
Due to its largely feudal structure, nearly every layer of interaction within the Invictus has
a corresponding oath of fealty or loyalty. Followers swear oaths to leaders, childer to sires,
thralls to regnants. And this, of course, doesn’t even count the oaths that Invictus-aligned
city offi cials often demand from all their subjects, Invictus or otherwise. Rare indeed is the
Invictus Kindred who does not labor under at least three or four oaths.
Recitation of Lineage
Despite its claims that leaders are made, not born, the Invictus puts substantial social
stock in its members’ parentage. The farther back a member can recite her blood, the more
respect she is offered. Descent from a particularly notable Kindred confers great status in the
covenant. Descent from a notorious ancestor, or an inability to recite a vast portion of one’s
lineage, is grounds for scorn. Being able to claim membership in some of the more respected
bloodlines (such as the so-called Mithraic Ventrue) is very nearly the equivalent of royalty, and
the Invictus maintains a healthy regard for any bloodline or family capable of distinguishing
itself from the parent clan by word or deed.
Formality of Presentation
Most Invictus Princes hold very formal courts and rule very structured domains. Whether a
domain is ruled like a corporate boardroom, an old South plantation or a literal feudal court,
it almost certainly has formalities and procedures that must be observed. Invictus Kindred,
on average, make use of more of the local titles described previously in this chapter than
members of other covenants do, precisely because of their preoccupation with position and
formality. Many Invictus Princes have a Seneschal announce arriving guests by name, title (if
any) and lineage (if known). They insist on specifi c forms of address and possibly even styles
of wardrobe from those who attend their courts. They might even insist on a certain degree
of refi nement when it comes to social interaction at court (vulgar jokes and coarse language
could be forbidden). Mouthing off to a Prince, a Regent or any other elder is grounds for
severe chastisement, and more than one rebellious neonate has found himself subjected
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chapter one: society of the damned