#privileged both within society and within the camarilla

[bloodied-serpent]

It’s simple, really (it’s not), he (Prince Arkel) is a hair loose, puts it up when shtf kind of person while he (Sheriff) is a hair tied back, lets it loose when shtf kind of person and I think that’s a beautiful dichotomy for the inner Court of Madrid. (also they’re in love)

[nw-of-dark]

Vampire Clan: Ventrue

The Clan of Kings, Blue Bloods, Patricians, Warlords, Ambitiones, Power Mongers, Monarchs

The Ventrue, a distinguished lineage of vampires, have always taken great pride in their heritage. Members of this clan devote themselves to upholding a reputation for honor, refined conduct, and leadership. They embrace a profound sense of noblesse oblige, sincerely believing that they possess the knowledge of what is best for all. Not only do they consider themselves the oldest vampire clan, but they also perceive their role as guardians of tradition and the rightful rulers of Kindred society.

Throughout their history, the Ventrue have predominantly embraced individuals from the ranks of nobility and privilege. Whether they were kings, merchant princes, knights, or warlords, these individuals strived to live by the principles of chivalry and duty. The Ventrue clan remains staunch supporters of the Camarilla and the Masquerade, viewing both institutions as the most reliable safeguards against the encroaching mortal masses and as a means to protect their own power.

Disciplines: Dominate, Fortitude, Presence

Bane - Rarified Tastes: When a Ventrue drinks blood from any mortal outside their preference, a profound exertion of will is required or the blood taken surges back up as scarlet vomit. Preferences can range greatly on individuals. Ventrue can sense if a mortal possesses the blood they need.

Organization Within a City

Within urban areas, the Ventrue establish a structured institution known as the Board. This council serves as an effective body for addressing Ventrue matters within the city, overseeing the clan's business ventures and political interests within a given domain. The Board is officially led by the Praetor, who presents issues to the rest of the council and presides over their meetings. Below the Praetors are the Aediles, who provide assistance to the council and the Praetor, much like supervisors support managers in a business setting. Serving their purpose, the Questors act as aides to more experienced or elder Ventrue members. Finally, at the bottom of the hierarchy, there are the common Ventrue, lacking a formal title or substantial experience within the clan. They are referred to as Eiren.

Culture

Ventrue culture places a strong emphasis on dignitas, which can be understood as "dignity" or "face" in modern terms. Ventrue leaders are well aware of the negative aspects of power. While they may engage in unsavory activities such as organized crime or corporate dealings, they are expected to maintain their dignity, grace, and honor, especially in public. Attacks on their reputation are taken seriously, including spreading rumors, claiming credit for others' work, or insulting a Ventrue without justification. Such actions can diminish their dignitas and result in severe punishment or discipline.

One defining tradition that sets the Ventrue apart from other clans is their Ethic Succor. Unlike other clans that provide support within their own ranks, the Ventrue adhere to a strict policy of aiding one another without exceptions or excuses when in need. This practice is seen as a key factor in the clan's enduring strength. Respecting other Ventrue involves refraining from encroaching on their territory, avoiding competition in their established holdings, and, most importantly, safeguarding their dignitas. It also means providing assistance to a fellow Ventrue, regardless of the inconvenience it may pose.

Having been shaped by millennia of noble upbringing, class, and culture, the Ventrue highly value gentility. Ventrue etiquette can be quite intricate, especially in Europe where ancient standards persist. Although things may be less formal in the New World, the comparison is still significant. Even in the most casual Old World cities, the atmosphere often appears rigid and excessively polite by modern standards. For the Ventrue, politeness serves important functions beyond traditional customs. It helps mitigate personal conflicts and ensures respect for the social structure. Kindred, by their nature, are prone to emotional outbursts and grudges. Considering the Ventrue's regard for their dignitas, maintaining a sophisticated, polite, and somewhat distant demeanor becomes not just a matter of manners but a matter of survival. The Ventrue, devoted to tradition and meticulous detail, have developed an extensive code of conduct covering various aspects of life, from appropriate attire for Board meetings to gift-giving during death-night celebrations, although they have never officially collected these guidelines in written form.

[ryttu3k]

Legitimately thinking about how a crossover between Vampire the Masquerade and His Dark Materials would work. Both work more or less on a basis of 'Christianity but weirder', so... why not? Here's what I've got so far!

The world setting: Assuming this is one of the many, many multiverses in HDM canon, it's a combination of our world and Lyra's world. Our level of technology et cetera, less gaslamp fantasy, but with daemons and a knowledge of Dust, including religion that incorporates Dust within it (like the part about Eve taking the apple and knowing Dust).

Vampires: As per VtM canon, with one aspect notable by omission - they don't have visible daemons. During the Embrace, their daemons die - and at the moment of Embrace, when the Beast emerges, the remaining essence of their daemon is incorporated within it. So not only are they blood-sucking parasites of the night, they have no (visible) daemons!

This, understandably, freaks people out (seeing someone without a daemon is like seeing someone without a head), and a lot of vampires tend to seek out a substitute - relatively easy for someone with Animalism, but others have ghouled animals they keep with them at all times, some Tzimisce sculpt flesh animals, some even carry around realistic stuffed animals ("Oh yeah, mine's a mouse. See, here they are in my pocket. Shh, they're sleeping.")

Origins of vampirism: Similar to VtM, starting with Cain, the first murderer. In this verse, he was punished by the Authority, who cursed his daemon to become the Beast, a savage, primal being whose hunger would haunt Caine and his descendants, cutting him off from the comfort of day and forcing him to feast on the blood of others.

Clans: As per VtM canon, with the added aspect that some vampires select prospective childer based on their daemons. A Nosferatu, for instance, might find someone with a rat daemon to be a good candidate, potential Gangrel might have a wolf or another predator, Toreador often see a beautiful daemon (a peacock, maybe?) as indicative of a beautiful soul that would make a great Toreador, et cetera.

Daemons: Short version, it's complicated. Long version, it's even more complicated. Most people just see daemons as a part of their lives - their souls made external, someone to never be separated from, a companion who knows them better than they know themselves, so incredibly there that the absence of a daemon is seen as extremely abnormal. Amongst the very religious, daemons are viewed as more contentious - many see the settling of their daemons as representative of being affected by Sin, something they must constantly atone for.

Many vampires, when first Embraced, find the loss of their daemons more traumatic than their death and resurrection as a vampire, and many do not consider a fledgling to be a true vampire or a member of the society until they have come to terms with the loss of their daemon. Indeed, accepting the loss of your daemon is a necessity to gain membership to...

The Camarilla: The leading sect amongst vampires. They prioritise maintaining the Masquerade that prevents mortals from learning about vampires, using strict hierarchy and traditions to maintain order. They view vampirism as a privilege, using the language of the church - Dust is Sin, and daemons are representative of Original Sin made manifest. Rather than representing a curse, the Embrace rids them of their daemons and thus Sin, leaving them the only ones worthy to run not just vampiric society, but the entire world. Being chosen for the Embrace is seen as ridding the individual of their sin (whether the unfortunate childe wants it or not - they would see the Embrace along the same lines of intercision). Essentially, they see themselves as what the Church would strive to be.

The Sabbat: An opposing sect. Their views are equal but opposite to the Camarilla's - rather than seeing the loss of their daemons as the loss of Sin, they view it as the loss of inhibition and control. Vampires, without a daemon to hold them back, can now reach their full potential, whatever that form may take. Many amongst the Sabbat view their condition as damnation and a loss of humanity, but one they embrace. If they're thought of as monsters, why not act like it, too?

Other movements: Many vampires have opposing views to both the Camarilla and the Sabbat. An often-held view amongst vampires who value their humanity sees vampirism as damnation (or at least as a negative, without necessarily using religious terminology), the consumption of their daemons by the Beast as a violation, and strive routinely to do and act in a way to make amends for it, to maintain their humanity and to avoid harming others.

The Second Inquisition: The name given to the worldwide effort of multiple groups (ranging from governmental to religious) to uncover and stop vampires and other supernatural beings. Their daemons are usually specifically trained to find other daemons, and thus are often able to identify is someone does not have one. They refer to vampires both as blankbodies (showing up as cold spots on infrared cameras) and singulars (lacking a daemon).

Wraiths: A deeply feared cult of vampires that feed on people's daemons instead of humans themselves. This usually kills the human victim, although sometimes they're rendered empty and mindless, like the aftermath of a wraith attack in HDM.

Golconda: A mythical state where it is believed that the original essence of that individual's daemon is able to gain dominance over the Beast.

Diablerie: As per VtM canon, but with the addition that the act is seen as consuming the remnant essence of the victim’s daemon along with their blood and soul.