THE VIRTUES AND ROADS
Updated: 28 February 1999
THE VIRTUES AND ROADS
The Rules about the Virtues and Road have been redefined in Vampire: The Masquerade, Revised Edition, and completed in the edition of the twin sourcebooks The Camarilla/The Sabbat. For those searching for more accurate information, please read Vampire: The Masquerade, Revised Edition, p134-136
Note that most our ideas about the Paths were confirmed, but as new Paths appeared, and old ones seem ot have disappeared...
About Path of Illumination Effects of Vampires
This is a little resume of the information given in the main rulebook, smoothed with our own interpretation of it. The less humanity/path a Vampire have, the less human he seems to be, and the more her Beast appears in her behaviour. It doesn't mean that low humanity Kindred will see fair growing all over her face, just that some instincts will become more and more appearant, and their attachement to human peripherical values (like clothing, etiquette, etc.) will disappear. Appearing human will be more and more difficult, and the Kindred with low humanity (under 5) will appear more or less paler, or even corpse-like! Note that a ''corpse-like'', 6-appearance Vampire will not grow sunken eyes and see her skin tighten on her bones. She will more probably appear as a --supernatural?-- beauty, with chalk-white skin and bloodless (but so beautiful) lips, as well as a stare that seem to convey this eerie feeling she will love you to the death...
All that is often enough for a human to understand that the beautiful creature is not wholly human (or perhaps she is sick, isn't she?). Vampires with 3 or less in humanity are rarely considered humans by default.
Note that because of their attachement to inhuman values, Vampires following (any) Paths of Illumination is considered as having at most humanity 3 for purpose of determining human appearance and interactions.
Path of Virtue
Indeed my friends, on what will you build a society. In the ruins of the Camarilla principles, where corrupted Elders gather the power to protect their paranoid skin from our justified demand of freedom? On the inhuman beliefs of the Sabbat, where monsters choose to forget the one thing that made humans appart from animals, that little thing we call the sense of Good and Evil, over the ridiculous pretext that evolution gives them the right to behave like the most crazed animal? Or perhaps in the humanity itself, whose reason rarely goes over their next meal, or is easily swayed by money, sex or drugs? No... We must build a society of Virtue, where essential virtues will be upheld as protection against the corruption which threathen every thing we hold dear...
St Just
Nickname: Fanatics
Basic Beliefs: To the contrary of other Paths, this Path of Illumination accept the Virtue of the Path of Humanity, but believes it to be unable to build anything greater than a small village without being affected by the innate corruption of the human soul.
This Path relies on principles and Virtues that protect the freedom of others, and who actively makes the follower correct the wrongs commited. This is a difficult Path, but their followers are as reliable as knights, without the pride, and as visionnary as priests without the belief in divinity. Virtues are to be followed for themselves, and not because some entity decided they should be followed.
It is not surprising to see that the Fanatics are among the most anticlerical beings on earth, not because of the beliefs of religions, but because they believe the Virtues demanded by the gods are either from false gods, or by gods that showed they didn't follow the virtues they demanded.
Ethics of the Path
Virtues
Vampire of the Path of Virtue subscribe to the virtues of Conscience and Self-Control.
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History
This Path is probably one of the only example in Kine's history of a Path of Illumination created by a mortal. Indeed, St Just had imagined this set of principles to guide the new republic of France
When St Just became a Kindred, he already followed this Path, and his actions were proof enough of this. Now, few (if any) follow this Path but St Just, but some Anarchs and Brujah, wanting to lead others into freedom, are contemplating switching from Humanity to the Path of Virtue to insure they will avoid any corruption tentation due to the power they will probably have...
Current Practices
Followers of this Path can be trusted upon, and rarely hide their principles to others, even trying to convert those who are promised to an ambitious future.
Most of the time, the fanatics are polite and very civilized persons. But should one fall into their wrong side (i.e.: Being discovered as corrupted -- highly corrupted, because corrupted is common in the World of Darkness), they can appear more fanatic than Assamite searching for Blood.
Description of Followers
There is few Followers of this Path, and most are either Brujah or Anarch idealists.
Following the Path
The Followers of this Path can have the most humane and civilized behaviour, as well as helping others, just because they are categorized as non-corrupted. After all, ''we are all in the same boat''. But should one show enough corruption, the Fanatic's mission is to erase this person and his actions from earth. Note that Tolerance is a Virtue, and ironically, is the Virtue the most easily breached by the Followers of this Path, as they can refuse the fact others can sincerely believe otherwise...
Common Abilities: The Fanatics study knowledges above everything else. History, Philosophy, Law.
Preferred Disciplines: The Fanatics rely, most of the time, on the Auspex Discipline, but make profit of their supernatural nature to insure their survival, and thus the survival of their principles. They can be the most formidable warriors...
Path of the Veilleur
We are in great danger, and we must hold together. Our mission is to learn, and to protect, either the Camarilla Kindred, and the Kine from supernatural secrets that threaten them all. And to learn we must protect ourselves from danger. Therefore, anything that divide us, or that lead us to selfish behaviour is a danger to us all.
Alexis, Master of the Veilleur.
Nickname: Veilleur
Basic Beliefs: While the Veilleurs are in no way naive Kindred, their mission, their power as well as the need they have for each others needed some ''prompting''. The fact a significant number among them decided to follow this Path led to a greater cohesion, and as such, a greater efficiency.
The Veilleurs believe they are working to protect Kindred and Kine. The followers of this Path inherited the views on mortals the Followers of the Road of Chivalry had: Mortals are not seen as equals to Kindred. Still, they are treated with honor, and protected.
Ethics of the Path
Virtues
Vampire of the Path of Veilleur subscribe to the virtues of Conscience and Self-Control.
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History
This path was created by Alexis, from the Ancient Road of Chivalry who fell in disuse, to bring even more together the Veilleurs already united by the Vinculum.
This path is one of the reasons the Veilleurs are not seen in so bad light as are the Masques.
Current Practices
The Veilleurs appear to be a crossing between a knight and a scholar, and in some ways, they are...
They are united by the Vinculum and by this Path, and so rarely enter in conflict with each other.
Description of Followers
The Veilleurs are a sect of Kindred occultists investigating supernatural.
A more complete description is given in the Sectbook: Veilleur.
Following the Path
The followers of this Path specialize in one ability for the sake of completeness, and in general in occult knowledge.
Common Abilities: Occult Knowledges
Preferred Disciplines: Auspex and Hekau Thaumaturgy.
Path
Introduction.
Nickname:
Basic Beliefs:
Ethics of the Path
Virtues
Vampire of the Path of ??? subscribe to the virtues of Conscience/Conviction and Self-Control/Instinct.
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History
Current Practices
Description of Followers
Following the Path
Common Abilities:
Preferred Disciplines:
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