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God is transformed into something wholly abstract and<br />
becomes the Universal Spirit or Prime Mover. Damnation<br />
is a form of karmic justice that is not caused by God<br />
in a direct sense, but is more the necessary consequence<br />
of the cosmic Law of Retribution.<br />
While these are the most widespread beliefs, numerous<br />
less common views are also held, from the esoteric<br />
and numerological to the more freakish and even sinister.<br />
Officially, the covenant takes no position, except to<br />
point to the Rites of the Dragon and the words of their<br />
founder recorded therein. Knowing the true origin of<br />
the Kindred may be interesting, but the practical nature<br />
of the Ordo Dracul also makes it less than essential to<br />
the Great Work. So long as the Dragons can transcend<br />
their condition, the matter is just as valuable as an eternal,<br />
driving mystery as it might be if answered.<br />
✪✹★✽✰✵✮<br />
From the moment of the Embrace, every Kindred becomes<br />
plagued with an unceasing desire for blood that<br />
grows only more difficult to satisfy with age. The weak<br />
blood of a dog or ox may quench this hunger at first, but<br />
soon only the lifeblood stolen from the kine becomes<br />
palatable. With the passage of years, even this becomes<br />
unsuitable and only the rich Vitae of other vampires is<br />
able to quell the all-consuming craving — but only for a<br />
time. With each sunset and with every significant exertion,<br />
the demands of the addiction call out for satiation<br />
once again. Only the most disciplined Kindred can resist<br />
submitting to this terrible thirst for more than a brief<br />
time; however, in the end, all eventually give in, no<br />
matter how strong-willed.<br />
Dracula theorized that this craving for blood was indicative<br />
of the incomplete state of undeath. A complete being<br />
would not suffer in this piteous fashion. Such a being might<br />
take blood if it so desired — to enhance its capabilities or<br />
for the sheer joy of the sensation — but it would not need<br />
to do so to survive. However, the Kindred are subordinate<br />
to their blood-thirst, so they must be missing some essential<br />
component required to be complete.<br />
Those Dragons who pursue the Coil of Blood focus<br />
their attention on this imperfection. They seek to replace<br />
the need for blood with something else, filling the<br />
gnawing void with something that is far less demanding<br />
than blood — practically and psychologically. Some<br />
Dragons experiment with narcotics, powerful medicines<br />
and all manner of potions and elixirs of their own manufacture.<br />
Others see that path as a circular one that will<br />
only replace one addiction with another. Instead, they<br />
take a more holistic view and seek to use intellectual<br />
pursuits, meditation and even self-hypnosis to quell their<br />
bloodlust. A few turn to even more esoteric solutions,<br />
hopeful that their incompleteness can be resolved by<br />
enacting a restorative ritual or concluding a complex<br />
procedure. Whatever the modus operandi, success will<br />
make the Dragon complete, removing her dependence<br />
unlife in the ordo dracul<br />
37<br />
chapter two<br />
6
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