Apr 23, 2018 23:26:38 GMT
Post by Nobody on Apr 23, 2018 23:26:38 GMT
As a vampire traveling is a complicated matter and highly restricted. It is a dance of politics, of submission and challenge. Whenever a law abiding non-rogue thinks of moving into a new territory they begin by first calling ahead and arranging permission to enter a Master's City/territory. This can be as simple as asking to come ahead, or as complicated as making deals to pacify the Master of the City first. The latter is generally used when your power is or could be considered to rival that of the Master or you represent some faction that could rival the Master. Those who do not first negotiate their entry may find a chilly reception by the local Kiss, and possibly be hunted to true death, for their breach of protocol.
This applies to all vampires who may spend time in a given Master's domain, regardless of if they're Master vampires or the odd strong Non-master vampire. It makes sense from an altruistic standpoint, since a Master can hardly protect those individuals they do not know about. It also makes sense from a more personal standpoint, since the Master hardly wants to get blamed for some 'Rogue out to no good end'.
The Vampire Oath
The Oath is an exchange of fealty between a Master of the City and those of the Kiss who are staying in his territory. It grants the Master power of life and death literally and figuratively. Any non-oathed non-master vampire will become a revenant, a ravening mindless killing machine of a vampire. The oath allows them to rise at dusk and helps keep the Hunger controllable. The Oath also allows a Master of the City to either fuel or feed upon the energy of all vampires oathed to them.
What is known socially within the preternatural community of vampirekind is that without the oath, a Master is free to seek out and kill those vampires in his territory that have refused the oath. If you plan to be in the city for any length of time, and have not made arrangements otherwise (Before coming, joining the Church of Eternal Life, etc), then you are at risk of serious consequences.
Again, this practice helps prevent any rogue vampires from running amok (or local vampires from secretly going rogue).
Meetings
When meeting another vampire for the first time a battle of auras takes place. It is a silent battle that takes a matter of seconds but can feel as if it takes place over the span of days or years depending on the vampires in questions relative personal strength. It is also an automatic defense mechanism that all vampires have. No damage is done but a testing of each other's mettle is done and cataloged. It immediately grounds into the vampires psyche which of the two are in fact more powerful.
Another step in the complicated dance of everyday vampiric life comes in the subtle signs of acknowledging another as more powerful than yourself. This does not just deal with the amount of cold, vampiric power that animates the vampire's corpse; It can involve official position in the Kiss, force of will, or even force of strength. Generally speaking, a vampire should find a way to expose their throat to more powerful vampire, as a sign of respect.
Secrets of the Kiss
Talking about Kiss business where the public might overhear it is a giant NO. Members of the Kiss can be very secretive about their goings on, and this is only partially because of the questionable legality of some of the inner workings. Those who are found to be discussing Kiss business in public, or sharing things with those not trusted, are likely to find themselves on the wrong end of a Master's sense of swift and strict justice.
Pomme De Sang
A Pomme de Sang, or Apple of Blood, is someone that a vampire has declared their protection over and taken as a source of frequent food. A Pomme de Sang is considered to be off limits for vampire feeding from any save the one who declared them Pomme, or one that has been given permission. Feeding from another's Pomme De Sang, even an alternate feeding, is a challenge to the authority and power of the vampire that declared the Pomme de Sang.
While there is no limit on how many Pomme De Sangs one may have, it should always be remembered that for each Pomme De Sang, the vampire is expected to protect and care for them, and this often means in a monetary way as well. It has become customary that one approve their Pommes with the Master before declaring them. Pomme De Sang's are often given a higher standing in the Kiss than regular non-vampires.
Human Servant
Human Servants follow some of the same rules as a Pomme de Sang. However, a Human Servant should be treated as the vampire they are bound to, with all the respect and authority that comes with. A Human Servant has shared a vampire's life force and with it the benefits and risks of being bound to an undead being. If the Vampire dies, the HS usually dies. If the HS dies, they can take the Master with them. For all intents and purposes in the Kiss, a Human Servant is as much the vampire who made them as his own hand might be.
taken from compiled information here MUX
