Post by Magic Rob on Aug 27, 2014 16:11:24 GMT -8
www.emeraldcitychronicles.com/#!the-traditions/ceus
Traditions are, really, what the game is all about. Vampires have certain privileges and requirements to be allowed to exist within a place. These are called the Traditions. While most every sect as some version of these, the Camarilla has the most clearly defined.
It is important to note that these traditions were birthed out of antiquity from common practice at the time. Notably absent from the traditions are Elysium and Boons; two elements of vampiric society so old, it didn't even seem like a thing for the founders to mention in their codification of the legal system.
Generally speaking, these Traditions have changed very little from how EC recognized them in the past to how the world will be enforcing them in the future. Enforcement of the Masquerade, creating childer and holding the Accounting have never really been improper (to our collective mind).
Domain and Hospitality are really the only two Traditions that are clearly laws for vampires that EC had some issue with in the past. So, let's go over that now.
Domain is arguably the most important feature of the Camarilla. It means that while you own a piece of land, you are the absolute sovereign of that land.
"Thy domain is thine own concern.
All others owe thee respect while in it.
None may challenge thy word while in thy domain."
Note that it doesn't say 'Except for a Justicar' or 'Unless there's an Archon present'. The Prince is the absolute authority within his lands. It is this very law that the entirety of the rest of the Camarilla laws are formed. The rest of the traditions reference 'elder' and 'one who ruleth', this is generally accepted to be the Prince of the area.
Now, when he gives Domain to a member of his court or other loyal subject, THEY don't become sovereign there. That would be silly... That land is still absolutely the Prince's; he's just handed management of it to someone else. Like the knights of old being given a fiefdom; they still owe taxes, troops, etc to their King, and that King can take that land back pretty much whenever they want.
There are some entities powerful enough to hold Domain in their own right outside of the Camarilla, but they are rare and generally of the Independent clans. They're their own problem...
Quite literally, every law within the Camarilla is overseen by the guy that rules that land. If there isn't a Prince, it largely doesn't exist in the Camarilla.
That brings us to Hospitality.
"Honor one another’s domain.
When thou comest to a foreign city, thou shall present thyself to the one who ruleth there.
Without the word of acceptance, thou art nothing."
While this references domain, it is superseded by the reference to foreign city. What that means is that even vampires of potent generation and status are nothing in a city they have not been granted Hospitality within. Basically: Your status only exists if the prince of the area chooses to recognize it.
Now, a wise ruler will note someone's standing and understand that it likely came from somewhere. A potent sire, or long history of service within the Camarilla. These sorts of people tend to have friends and debts that make them formidable foes. It is generally considered to be poor form for one of sufficient standing to be denied Hospitality; but it is a frequent compromise to put a limit on said Hospitality. Like, as a for instance, for a day, month or year. Travel has made vampires somewhat avant garde with presenting themselves if it isn't their intention to stay a place. Some Princes are more forgiving with this sort of behavior than others.
The Traditions are sometimes sticky and unforgiving. If you every find a situation where your character might have some insight into how a Tradition might function or affect them, they can always ask an ST for a lore check, assuming they've been trained in the Lore: Camarilla.
Traditions are, really, what the game is all about. Vampires have certain privileges and requirements to be allowed to exist within a place. These are called the Traditions. While most every sect as some version of these, the Camarilla has the most clearly defined.
It is important to note that these traditions were birthed out of antiquity from common practice at the time. Notably absent from the traditions are Elysium and Boons; two elements of vampiric society so old, it didn't even seem like a thing for the founders to mention in their codification of the legal system.
Generally speaking, these Traditions have changed very little from how EC recognized them in the past to how the world will be enforcing them in the future. Enforcement of the Masquerade, creating childer and holding the Accounting have never really been improper (to our collective mind).
Domain and Hospitality are really the only two Traditions that are clearly laws for vampires that EC had some issue with in the past. So, let's go over that now.
Domain is arguably the most important feature of the Camarilla. It means that while you own a piece of land, you are the absolute sovereign of that land.
"Thy domain is thine own concern.
All others owe thee respect while in it.
None may challenge thy word while in thy domain."
Note that it doesn't say 'Except for a Justicar' or 'Unless there's an Archon present'. The Prince is the absolute authority within his lands. It is this very law that the entirety of the rest of the Camarilla laws are formed. The rest of the traditions reference 'elder' and 'one who ruleth', this is generally accepted to be the Prince of the area.
Now, when he gives Domain to a member of his court or other loyal subject, THEY don't become sovereign there. That would be silly... That land is still absolutely the Prince's; he's just handed management of it to someone else. Like the knights of old being given a fiefdom; they still owe taxes, troops, etc to their King, and that King can take that land back pretty much whenever they want.
There are some entities powerful enough to hold Domain in their own right outside of the Camarilla, but they are rare and generally of the Independent clans. They're their own problem...
Quite literally, every law within the Camarilla is overseen by the guy that rules that land. If there isn't a Prince, it largely doesn't exist in the Camarilla.
That brings us to Hospitality.
"Honor one another’s domain.
When thou comest to a foreign city, thou shall present thyself to the one who ruleth there.
Without the word of acceptance, thou art nothing."
While this references domain, it is superseded by the reference to foreign city. What that means is that even vampires of potent generation and status are nothing in a city they have not been granted Hospitality within. Basically: Your status only exists if the prince of the area chooses to recognize it.
Now, a wise ruler will note someone's standing and understand that it likely came from somewhere. A potent sire, or long history of service within the Camarilla. These sorts of people tend to have friends and debts that make them formidable foes. It is generally considered to be poor form for one of sufficient standing to be denied Hospitality; but it is a frequent compromise to put a limit on said Hospitality. Like, as a for instance, for a day, month or year. Travel has made vampires somewhat avant garde with presenting themselves if it isn't their intention to stay a place. Some Princes are more forgiving with this sort of behavior than others.
The Traditions are sometimes sticky and unforgiving. If you every find a situation where your character might have some insight into how a Tradition might function or affect them, they can always ask an ST for a lore check, assuming they've been trained in the Lore: Camarilla.
