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

the fi rst tradition • the second tradition
receiving the Embrace, a fl edgling vampire’s refl ection begins to fade away. After
rising for the third night in a row as a vampire, the change is complete, resulting in
a sort of blurry occlusion of the Kindred’s image in any refl ective surface or medium.
Therefore, vampires’ features do not appear in photographs or on video (though vocal
recordings are unaffected). Kindred can counteract this aspect of the Curse through an
effort of will (which “solidifi es” their image in any refl ective surface), but the effect
usually lasts only for a brief duration. A vampire’s visage may be fi lmed or recorded
during this time, but in most cases, the image will blur immediately thereafter. The
potency of a Kindred’s blood seems to factor into just how long his image remains on
photographic media, with less robust Vitae indicating a longer duration. Exceptions
do occur every now and then, but Kindred scholars are at a loss to explain why or
under what circumstances they’ll repeat.
DOMAIN
Another long-standing tradition is the right of domain. In nights past, when they were
more spread out than they are now, Kindred staked claims to vast amounts of territory. When
disputes arose, the results were often bloody, as the undead squabbled with one another over
slights both real and perceived. Over time, civility demanded that the notion of domain become
a universally respected aspect of Kindred society. Vampires needed to come to some basic
accord, if for no other reason than to avoid infi ghting and unnecessary destruction of their
fellows. The accord that was reached (informally and over time) was the right of domain.
According to the tradition, a vampire may claim a given area — one that is not already under
the purview of another Kindred — as his personal domain. Within that domain, his word is
law among the undead, and he can expect not to be challenged. If another vampire wishes
to stake a claim to some part or all of the domain, he must either negotiate the terms under
which the owner will cede control or else take the entire domain by force. This situation was
the norm for centuries upon centuries of Kindred existence, and though it, too, often led to
infi ghting and kinslaying, the custom itself was largely respected.
Come the modern era, the old ways have seen a signifi cant pattern shift. As the Kindred huddle
together in increasingly more claustrophobic environs, the concept of domain has split and polarized
into two extremes. Tonight, the Kindred recognize only two defi nitions of domain (as per the
traditional sense). First is the notion of domain in the larger sense — the domain of a Prince, for
example, which generally includes one city or metropolitan area. The Prince is the fi nal arbiter
of all issues arising within this area, including who will and will not receive feeding grounds and
offi cial protection. Within the larger domain, however, exists the smaller “individual” domain,
the modern remnant of the old ways. Each vampire’s personal haven benefi ts, as per custom, from
the protections established by this tradition. Therefore, even though a given Kindred’s haven may
be situated within the larger domain of the Prince, that Kindred might still invoke the customary
protections of tradition. A vampire’s home is his castle — even if that castle sits on the lands of a
powerful elder liege. Only in the most savage domains will a Prince attempt to claim one of his
subjects’ personal havens once those havens have been granted and established.
THE SECOND TRADITION
The Second Tradition is the one that causes perhaps the most debate, confusion and consternation
among the Kindred. According to the wording of the Tradition, no vampire may
create a childe. And yet, look how many Kindred exist! It is, perhaps, the greatest paradox of
the Kindred as a species (at least to those who keep faith with the Traditions).
The Kindred world cannot even agree as to the origins of the Tradition itself. To this very
night, no satisfactory answer has been put forth to the simple question of, “Why?” If what-
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