Post by Storyteller on Dec 16, 2015 5:57:41 GMT
One of the strangest properties of Cainite vitae is its ability to forge a link between the vampire and the drinker. This power is used to create ghoul servants, but it can also be used to bind other vampires to the Cainite's will. The strength of this bond depends on the number of times the victim has drunk the blood of the same Cainite, but after three such sups, the drinker is almost irrevocably bound. The person (living or unliving) who comes under this bond, called the blood oath, is known as the thrall, while the Cainite holding power over them is the regnant.
A fully bound thrall is utterly devoted to her regnant and cannot take action against her. In many cases this is like a mortal addiction or obsession. The thrall need not like her regnant (though many do) and she may even actively despise her, but she follows her orders nonetheless, even if she is dominated or otherwise manipulated by outside agencies. Many Cainites have described the oath as a compelling force, but it is not necessarily a complusion to do exactly as the regnant days. Rather the thrall is honor-bound to demonstrate loyalty, to not disobey orders or the express wishes of the regnant. The distinction between compelled obedience and loyalty is a fine line, but it allows the thrall to demonstrate some flexibility. Invariably, however, the thrall follows her master's wishes, the way of oathbound loyalty in the Dark Medieval world for mortals and Cainites alike. Going against the master's wishes is simply unconscionable.
The power of the oath is not dependent on the regnant's generation. The blood of a 12th generation neonate can bind an elder as readily as the elder binds others to her will. This is the only Cainite power that does not appear to degrade with generation. A Cainite may be fully oathbound to only one regnant, but she may have several thralls and lesser bonds (those involving one or two drinks) herself.
Taking the Oath
The blood oath is both a physical compulsion and an expression of the bonds in Cainite society. Although cautionary tales of regnants force-feeding their blood to thralls abound, very few Cainites come under the full effects of the blood oath. Most of the damned are simply too willful to surrender themselves so permanently. Nevertheless, there are vampires who were ghouls before their Embrace (and thus carry on their blood oath), and the chains of Cainie feudalism can be strengthened by the power of the oath. It's fairly common for the oaths of fealty to be accompanied by a single drink of the lord's blood, but taking steps beyond that is exceptional. The Usurpers of Clan Tremere use a similar technique to ensure the loyalty of their neonates.
The most common way to undergo the full oath or even the single drink is in a ceremony of outright fealty. This involves a gathering of a Cainite court, at which point the thrall drinks from the regnant's slit wrist and, her lips still smeared scarlet, swears loyalty to her lord. The lord also swears to protect his new vassal, as if she was of his own blood. It is from this practice that the oath gets its name.
The power of the blood oath depends on the number of drinks taken from the regnant (which must be at least a night apart). One or two drinks leaves the prospective thrall imperfectly bound. Only after the third drink is the thrall fully held by the oath.
First drink:
After the initial sup of the regnant's vitae (which may be as little as a single drop of blood, depending on its potency), the drinker finds herself drawn to the other Cainite. This effect has been likened to a mortal infactuation, with the vampire finding thoughts of the regnant creeping into her thoughts and dreams, and her subconscious driving her to seek out the regnant again, usually in "coincidental" encounters.
There is no mechanical effect at this stage, but it should be roleplayed. All childer have this level of bond toward their sires, for the Embrace itself requires one drink from the sire; the childe may love her parent, hate him, or both, but she is rarely indifferent.
Second drink:
The second drink binds the drinker to the other Cainite. The drinker’s feelings grow strong enough to influence her behavior. She begins to take deliberate actions in her regnant's favor, and she actively seeks out further encounters. The drinker may find herself obsessed with the regnant, suffering a broad range of often conflicting emotions (simultaneous feelings of intense love and hate are not uncommon). Though she is by no means enslaved to the vampire, he is definitely an important figure in her life. She may act as she pleases, but must spend a point of Willpower per hour if she wishes to directly harm her regnant. Additionally, defensive Social test pools to resist her regnant’s powers suffer a -1 penalty.
The drinker often rationalizes her actions as "respect" for a worthy lord and a willingness to obey those in power. The prospective thrall continues to thirst for the regnant's blood, and she must spend a Willpower point to refuse another drink.
Third drink:
Full blood bond. At this level, the drinker is completely bound to the vampire. He is the most important person in her life; lovers, relatives, and even children become secondary to her all-consuming passion. A thrall must spend a point of Willpower anytime she wishes to do something that she believes her regnant would disapprove of, and she must spend 3 Willpower per hour to attempt to directly harm her regnant. Additionally, defensive Social and Mental test pools to resist her regnant’s powers suffer a -3 penalty. Additionally, simply hearing their masters voice is enough for them to be dominated by them. They are assumed to have part of their focus on their Regnant if they are close by.
A drinker can experience lesser (one- and two-drink) bonds toward several individuals, but upon the formation of a full blood bond, all lesser bonds are wiped away.
Oathbreaking
It is possible, though difficult, to break a blood bond. If a regnant is killed, the bond will slowly fade over the next month.
A three-point blood bond must be reinforced regularly. If the thrall avoids drinking her regnant’s blood for three months more than one game session (you must inform ST you are doing this as it is obvious to the regnant you are avoiding them), her bond will fade and become a two point bond.
A two-point bond lasts until the thrall is able to spend six months three game sessions without meeting or speaking to her regnant.
A one-point bond lasts until the thrall has spent a full year six game sessions without meeting or speaking to her regnant.
A fully bound thrall is utterly devoted to her regnant and cannot take action against her. In many cases this is like a mortal addiction or obsession. The thrall need not like her regnant (though many do) and she may even actively despise her, but she follows her orders nonetheless, even if she is dominated or otherwise manipulated by outside agencies. Many Cainites have described the oath as a compelling force, but it is not necessarily a complusion to do exactly as the regnant days. Rather the thrall is honor-bound to demonstrate loyalty, to not disobey orders or the express wishes of the regnant. The distinction between compelled obedience and loyalty is a fine line, but it allows the thrall to demonstrate some flexibility. Invariably, however, the thrall follows her master's wishes, the way of oathbound loyalty in the Dark Medieval world for mortals and Cainites alike. Going against the master's wishes is simply unconscionable.
The power of the oath is not dependent on the regnant's generation. The blood of a 12th generation neonate can bind an elder as readily as the elder binds others to her will. This is the only Cainite power that does not appear to degrade with generation. A Cainite may be fully oathbound to only one regnant, but she may have several thralls and lesser bonds (those involving one or two drinks) herself.
Taking the Oath
The blood oath is both a physical compulsion and an expression of the bonds in Cainite society. Although cautionary tales of regnants force-feeding their blood to thralls abound, very few Cainites come under the full effects of the blood oath. Most of the damned are simply too willful to surrender themselves so permanently. Nevertheless, there are vampires who were ghouls before their Embrace (and thus carry on their blood oath), and the chains of Cainie feudalism can be strengthened by the power of the oath. It's fairly common for the oaths of fealty to be accompanied by a single drink of the lord's blood, but taking steps beyond that is exceptional. The Usurpers of Clan Tremere use a similar technique to ensure the loyalty of their neonates.
The most common way to undergo the full oath or even the single drink is in a ceremony of outright fealty. This involves a gathering of a Cainite court, at which point the thrall drinks from the regnant's slit wrist and, her lips still smeared scarlet, swears loyalty to her lord. The lord also swears to protect his new vassal, as if she was of his own blood. It is from this practice that the oath gets its name.
The power of the blood oath depends on the number of drinks taken from the regnant (which must be at least a night apart). One or two drinks leaves the prospective thrall imperfectly bound. Only after the third drink is the thrall fully held by the oath.
First drink:
After the initial sup of the regnant's vitae (which may be as little as a single drop of blood, depending on its potency), the drinker finds herself drawn to the other Cainite. This effect has been likened to a mortal infactuation, with the vampire finding thoughts of the regnant creeping into her thoughts and dreams, and her subconscious driving her to seek out the regnant again, usually in "coincidental" encounters.
There is no mechanical effect at this stage, but it should be roleplayed. All childer have this level of bond toward their sires, for the Embrace itself requires one drink from the sire; the childe may love her parent, hate him, or both, but she is rarely indifferent.
Second drink:
The second drink binds the drinker to the other Cainite. The drinker’s feelings grow strong enough to influence her behavior. She begins to take deliberate actions in her regnant's favor, and she actively seeks out further encounters. The drinker may find herself obsessed with the regnant, suffering a broad range of often conflicting emotions (simultaneous feelings of intense love and hate are not uncommon). Though she is by no means enslaved to the vampire, he is definitely an important figure in her life. She may act as she pleases, but must spend a point of Willpower per hour if she wishes to directly harm her regnant. Additionally, defensive Social test pools to resist her regnant’s powers suffer a -1 penalty.
The drinker often rationalizes her actions as "respect" for a worthy lord and a willingness to obey those in power. The prospective thrall continues to thirst for the regnant's blood, and she must spend a Willpower point to refuse another drink.
Third drink:
Full blood bond. At this level, the drinker is completely bound to the vampire. He is the most important person in her life; lovers, relatives, and even children become secondary to her all-consuming passion. A thrall must spend a point of Willpower anytime she wishes to do something that she believes her regnant would disapprove of, and she must spend 3 Willpower per hour to attempt to directly harm her regnant. Additionally, defensive Social and Mental test pools to resist her regnant’s powers suffer a -3 penalty. Additionally, simply hearing their masters voice is enough for them to be dominated by them. They are assumed to have part of their focus on their Regnant if they are close by.
A drinker can experience lesser (one- and two-drink) bonds toward several individuals, but upon the formation of a full blood bond, all lesser bonds are wiped away.
Oathbreaking
It is possible, though difficult, to break a blood bond. If a regnant is killed, the bond will slowly fade over the next month.
A three-point blood bond must be reinforced regularly. If the thrall avoids drinking her regnant’s blood for three months more than one game session (you must inform ST you are doing this as it is obvious to the regnant you are avoiding them), her bond will fade and become a two point bond.
A two-point bond lasts until the thrall is able to spend six months three game sessions without meeting or speaking to her regnant.
A one-point bond lasts until the thrall has spent a full year six game sessions without meeting or speaking to her regnant.