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

the lancea sanctum
going to act as though they do! And who knows, maybe when they’ve been forced to behave
like Sanctifi ed for long enough, they’ll see the wisdom in such an unlifestyle.
Rituals and Observances
Few organizations, be they Kindred or kine, can match the Lancea Sanctum for sheer quantity
of rituals. As the primary religious faction among the undead, the Sanctifi ed have a rite,
an observance or a tradition for many aspects of the Requiem. It would be impossible, even in
many times the space available, to describe them all. Presented here, then, is a small selection
of some of the more important or common rites and traditions. It’s important to note that
while these practices are observed wherever the Sanctifi ed can be found, they often differ in
detail from domain to domain or even from coterie to coterie. Like all religious ceremonies,
they are defi ned as much by their performers as by their intended meaning. Note that the use
of the term “Priest” in these descriptions represents a formal position, not the more general
concept that all Sanctifi ed should “serve as priests” to their brethren.
Theban Sorcery
To hear the Sanctifi ed tell it, its members are capable of no less than miracles themselves.
In truth, the Lancea Sanctum does possess a potent form of spiritual magic, though whether
it performs literal miracles is up for debate. At some point after the covenant formed — purportedly
in the third century AD — some of its members followed a Roman army into Thebes
(“Thebias” according to fragments of a journal supposedly recovered from the march). There,
a legion of Christian soldiers was drawn from the local ranks. When members of the covenant
accompanied the Theban legion on its march to Gaul, one of their number brought with her
the secrets of this magic, which she claimed to have learned from an angel on the journey.
To this night, the covenant studies and practices this sorcery, which it uses to demonstrate
its power, “prove” its chosen nature and punish transgressors against its dictates.
Creation Rite
The induction of a new childe to the Requiem is a powerful event for the Sanctifi ed. On
one hand, it symbolizes the continued growth of their covenant and the birth of another
disciple of the faith. On the other, it is a violation of the very Traditions that the Lancea
Sanctum has sworn to uphold. The Creation Rite, then, is a combined celebration of the
new childe and an act of penance for his sire. It must be conducted as soon as reasonably possible
after the childe is Embraced, ideally at the very time of that Embrace. A Priest or other
high-ranking member of the Lancea Sanctum conducts the rite, which involves substantial
prayers and recited litanies. The childe is then anointed and blessed with a burning brand.
The brand does not touch the fl esh of the childe. Rather, the Priest waves it over her not
unlike the Catholic christening. The sire, however, is exposed to the brand, which is placed
directly against his chest. Contact lasts only a moment, but crying out or lapsing into a fear
frenzy from the fl ames is a mark of shame. Only when this rite has been completed is the
childe considered “truly” Sanctifi ed, and a childe whose sire holds up well is accorded more
respect than one who does not.
Multiple variations on this rite exist, as few Lancea Sanctum domains and coteries operate
in exactly the same fashion. Some Creation Rites involve the sire exposing herself to the rising
sun or to night-long sessions of fl agellation with barbed whips. One particularly dangerous
variation involves the childe (after being blessed) staking his own sire and then setting one
of her extremities alight. The purpose is for the childe to let his sire burn just long enough
to leave a wound, yet not so long as to risk Final Death. If the childe performs well, the sire
is lauded for her choice. If the childe does not perform well, the sire usually isn’t concerned
with anything else said on the topic.
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