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The Sabbat has developed its own methods and rites as effective as the
Masquerade, though, some might say less sophisticated. Sabbat vampires
accept Final Death, and they embrace their beast that the vampires of the
Camarilla reject, loosing all of their humanity. The Sabbat believe mortals
are food, not to be tip toed around as the Camarilla does.
Becoming a Sabbat is a trial in its self, they perform a rite, nicknamed The
Shovel Dance, where they drain the kindred dry and bury them in the ground.
If the kindred rises they have taken the first step on the road to become
true Sabbat, the result is the total loss of humanity. Some Kindred never
rises. This rite separates the weak from the strong. The Sabbat do not
except weak members as they jepedized the safety of the sect. Sabbat members
are nearly impossible to interrogate for similar reasons. This fanaticism,
which stretches far beyond the bounds of loyalty, is a main reason for the
Sabbat's rapidly expanding power.
All within the Sabbat are Blood Bound to one another for protection of the
sect. Additionally, the sect is highly organized and high standards exist
among various groups within a single city. Many Sabbat packs maintain
permanent havens, called pact houses. Sabbat are seldom loners depending on
their pacts to help maintain the strict laws
The Sabbat is a very structured sect. There are many levels and positions of
leadership. Unlike the Camarilla, the positions are filled only by the most
loyal and capable Kindred, regardless of generation. The role of leader in
the sect is just that: a leader. Leaders are not rulers. However, the higher
the level of leadership, the more Sabbat will listen to and obey the leader.
The role of leader is more or less claimed, not awarded. Thus, those fit to
lead find their places, pushing out those who are unfit.
The levels of leadership within the Sabbat are not always precisely defined.
The amount of power leaders have is based on how much they can rightfully
claim. If they can back themselves up through the support of packs, then
they have the right to that level of leadership. The Sabbat uses the titles
of clergy to denote the basic levels of leadership that exist within the
sect. The practice started partially out of mockery, but it has developed
into a useful representation of leadership.
The Structer of the Sabbat is as Follows:
Regent
Cardinals
Prisci
Archbishop
Bishops
Priest
Paladin/Templar
The pack is a basic unit of structure for the sect, serving both social and
military functions. All Sabbat, even the sect's leaders, are members of a
pack. A Sabbat vampire does not have much choice about the pack to which he
will belong since he has no control over who chooses to embrace him. He must
remain a member of the pack that created him. Packs maintain their own
permanent communal havens. They travel occasionally, but one city remains
their home. Packs conduct their business on a certain night each week. These
weekly meetings are known as esbats. Often an Ignoblis Ritus will be held
during the esbat, but it is mainly used to conduct pack business. All pack
members must attend unless a good reason for absence is given in advance.
All Sabbat put their sect before themselves and everything else in the
world. They know what will happen to them if they do not. The Sabbat treats
disloyalty very harshly, and some members have perfected the art of torture
and disfigurement. Final Death is the only real choice for the disloyal.
This does not mean that all within the sect possess the same opinions. Among
the fanatics are those with differing views on all Sabbat activities. The
Sabbat leaders do not want mindless drones. They want strong-willed vampires
ready to face death for the second time. Only strong Sabbat can understand
true freedom, and they are the ones who push the sect on to domination.
The Sabbat provides protection, freedom and loyalty to all its members.
These gifts are not without their costs. The members are required to protect
sect interests, carry out missions and to give the Sabbat total fealty and
devotion. All Sabbat have what are called Vinculums, or special bonds of
love and loyalty shared with their pack. The Vinculum varies between all
members, but always translates into a strong love for and loyalty to the
sect itself. While Vinculum strength may vary with each individual bond,
Sabbat vampires tend to be stronger in their loyalty and devotion to the
sect itself than to individual members. Because of this Vinculum for the
Sabbat itself, its members are considered fanatics. Most are willing to
accept Final Death for the good of the sect. In addition, this special Blood
Bond makes the Sabbat's secrets especially hard to uncover.
From the day a Sabbat vampire is Embraced, she has certain responsibilities.
All Sabbat must uphold pack tradition and practices. They must choose and
support leaders who serve the good of the Sabbat as well as the good of the
pack itself. They must challenge weak and incompetent leaders as well as
those who serve only their own interests. They must perform missions for
their leaders. They must work to destroy all the enemies of the Sabbat.
Finally, they must be willing to give up their immortal lives for their
sect.
Unlife in the Sabbat is wild and dangerous. Most Sabbat vampires do not
exist long after they have been Embraced. Younger members are considered the
most expendable. Constant fighting with the Camarilla and other foes, such
as the Inquisition and Lupines, forces Sabbat to live on the edge. While the
Camarilla vampires fear Final Death and seldom take great risks, the
Sabbat's basic beliefs lead all sect members to do whatever it takes to
carry out the mission of saving Kindred from Gehenna.
The pack fills two important, connected roles for the Sabbat. First and
foremost, it serves a combat function. This military aspect is important for
furthering Sabbat plans. The second function of the pack is to provide a
social group for individual Sabbat. The Clan does not play an important role
in the pack. Each clan maintains its own ties, but these are secondary to
those of the pack. Clans sometimes hold their own gatherings, and members
often partake of the Vaulderie together.
Sabbat being very strict, and very demanding when it comes to loyality, the
punishment can and will be harsh if one breaks the strick laws laid down for
the good of the Sabbat.The Sabbat protects itself from its members'
wrongdoing through the use of a special tribunal. The tribunal is made up of
at least four prelates, selected from among the members of the Inner Circle
and the Arch-Bishops, with at least one of those members being of Cardinal
rank or higher.
The accused is brought before the tribunal and the accuser or another
prelate presents the case against him. The accused is then allowed to state
his case. The tribunal meets in private thereafter and makes its decision.
If the Sabbat is found guilty, she is punished severely. If she is found
innocent, the accuser often receives the punishment the Sabbat on trial
would have. Sabbat punishment is swift and harsh. The nature and degree of
the punishment is based upon the actual crime. The Code of Milan is used as
the basis for Sabbat law.
A tribunal will only be called upon in extreme circumstances, such as
treason and situations that cannot be worked out by one leader alone. The
decision of the tribunal will be final and all involved will agree before
the onset of the trial to abide by that decision.
Members of the Sabbat are generally free to do as they please, as long as
their actions have no adverse effect upon the sect as a whole, but as it can
be clearly seen, the Sabbat is not at all lenient to those who act in a
disloyal fashion.
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Sabbat Structure
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Regent - The highest title in the Sabbat is that of Regent, who is the
absolute leader of the Sabbat and (according to Sabbat doctrine) is merely
overseeing the sons and daughters of Caine until Caine returns to lead his
children himself. The Regent is the president, so to speak, of this vampire
sect. The Regent does not have absolute authority, but her directives are
usually carried out.
The Regents responsibilities include:
Oversee all matters of the Pack
Handle all disputes that cannot be resolved by the Cardinals/Prisci
Has the authority to make/break alliances and declare enemies
Has all powers regarding promotion and demotion of those within the Pack
May bring others in to Unlife or give them Final Death
Member of the Inner Circle with full voting power
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Cardinals - Assisting the Regent are the Cardinals of the Sabbat. This lot
has managed to gain control over large geographical regions, similar to how
the Tremere Inner Circle have large assigned territories.The Cardinals
seldom answer to the Regent or the Prisci unless their activities have a
detrimental effect on the Sabbat as a whole. The Cardinals are responsible
for all that happens within their regions, and for planning and delegating
all Sabbat activities within their respective regions.
The Cardinals responsibilities include:
Assist and advise the Regent
Handle all disputes involving more than one Clan that cannot be resolved by
the ArchBishops/Bishops
Has the authority to make/break alliances and declare enemies
Can promote or demote those of a lessor rank
May bring others in to Unlife or give them Final Death
Members of the Inner Circle with full voting power
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Prisci - Below the Cardinals in power are the Prisci. The Prisci act as a
board of directors for the Regent, similar to a Camarilla city's Primogen
and advising the Regent and the Cardinals about the affairs of the sect.
Atthought they report to the Cardinals, they serve the Regent directly. Most
are Elders or powerful Ancillae. One member from each clan is chosen, for a
total of 13. The most prestigious of the clan members generally hold the
rank of Prisci .
The Prisci's responsibilities include:
Advise the Regent and Cardinals of the Pack
Members of the Inner Circle with full voting power
Unable to bring others into Unlife, give them Final Death,
promote or demote, or make/break alliances and declare enemies
Together the Cardinals and the Prisci form the Inner Circle. No one with
status less then 4 could ever see the Inner Circle to meet with them, unless
they summoned you for whatever reason.
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Arch-Bishop - Serving each Cardinal of the Sabbat are ArchBishops.
Arch-Bishops serve their territory's Cardinal, holding sway over a smaller
region, similar to a Camarilla Prince ruling a city. These vampires usually
rise through the ranks, serving lengthy tenures as priests and bishops of
the sect. Each Cardinal has the power to appoint whomever he wishes to the
position of ArchBishop. Some accept bribes, but vampires who gain their
positions in this manner often mysteriously disappear. Multiple Arch-Bishops
preside over these smaller domains, all contained within a single Cardinal's
region.
The ArchBishop's responsibilities include:
Oversee all matters of a clan within the Pack and lead that Clan Assist and
advise the Cardinals
Handle all disputes involving members of their Clan
May bring others into Unlife
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Bishop - Below the ArchBishops are the Bishops. The Bishops serve the Arch
Bishops and are given domains in a city to control as a vassal for the
Arch-Bishop.
The Bishop's responsibilities include:
Advise the ArchBishops of the Clan
Assist ArchBishops in Clan matters when necessary
Unable to bring others into Unlife, give them Final Death,
promote or demote, or make/break alliances and declare enemies
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Priest - Serving the Bishops are Priests, who serve as the religious leaders
of Sabbat Packs, of which there is one Priest per pack. The Priests are
responsible for leading the Sabbat rituals and ceremonies for the Pack. They
may be any ranking or non-ranking member of the Pack and are often the Pack
Leader as well. The Priest is the only member of the Pack that may directly
speak to the Bishop about a subject. You may have any status to speak to the
Priest, but Status:2 to the Bishop, Status:3 for Arch Bishop, and Status:4
for the Prisci/Cardinal. Status:6 or greater is required to meet the Regent
personally. Going against these norms are deemed very deadly, as the Status
game is followed by the assassination game.
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Paladins - Also called Templars. The protectors of the Sabbat. Originally
formed as a response to the fears concerning the loyalty of the Black Hand.
The Leaders of the Sabbat may call upon the Paladins, or Templars, of the
Sabbat as protectors. From the Rank of Bishop on up, have at least one
Templar bodyguard. Many have whole packs of them. The Regent has the largest
at 30 members who follow her every whim. The Templars are more loyal to the
people they protect then to the Sabbat.
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Sabbat Rituals
The Sabbat has established may rituals to strengthen its bonds of loyalty
and fraternity. Some rituals, called the Auctoritas Ritae, are practiced by
the entire sect. Other rituals, called the Ignoblis Ritae, vary in manner
and observation among the packs. Auctoritas Ritae The entire sect practices
Auctoritas Ritae because of long-standing tradition, as well as their
significance in Sabbat beliefs. The rituals are usually led by the clergy
(the priests) of the Sabbat. The following are the rituals that will be
observed on a regular basis:
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The Blood Bath:
The Blood Bath is held whenever sect leaders recognize a Sabbat Vampire as
having rightful claim to a title. All the Sabbat who will be under the
leadership of the vampire are invited to attend the ceremony. Each
subservient vampire is brought before her superior. The superior recognizes
the vampire and proceeds to give praise and advice. The titled vampire then
shares in the Vaulderie with all present. After this, the vampire is
actually led to a pool of fresh and blood bathes in it. All ranking vampires
(Regent, Cardinals, Prisci, ArchBishops, and Bishops) will be treated to
this ritual upon their taking upon their rank. It will be attending by all
vampires who are able to be in attendance, whether they will be subservient
to that vampire or not.
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The Blood Feast:
The Blood Feast is held at almost all important gatherings. Humans, and
possibly an enemy Kindred, are chained and hung from the ceiling upside
down. The Sabbat at the gathering are allowed to bite open the victim and
fill their glasses with blood. It is customary to lick the wound closed when
finished, so as not to waste any vitae. The Blood Feast is blood on tap.
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The Creation Rites:
This ritual is used when recruiting new members for the sect. In it, all
those chosen to become Sabbat are drained of their blood and then given a
small amount of vitae from their sires. The Sabbat then bludgeon the chosen
unconscious and bury them. Those who claw their way to the surface are
knocked out again. They are taken to the secret haven of the pack, where
they are awakened and their new status explained.
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The Vaulderie:
Of all the Auctoritas Ritae, the Vaulderie constitutes the most important
ritual the Sabbat practices, for it is the source of their freedom and
solidarity. In fact, it is essential to what the sect is, the foundation for
Sabbat society and success. It is a ceremony of Blood Bonding with all other
Sabbat present. The Vaulderie breaks all other Blood Bonds and establishes a
Vinculum (bond) between all Sabbat taking part in the ritual. The feeling
the Vaulderie creates is one of fellowship, comfort and intense loyalty. It
raises the morale of the participants and gives them a tremendous rush. The
loyalty created by this bond is far beyond any human emotion and therefore,
much more profound.
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Games of Instinct:
Sabbat believe the strong alone survive. The Games of Instinct test vampires
to see who among them are the strongest. The games are meant as competitions
and many place bets on who will win. There are many types of games, and
Sabbat are always inventing new ones. The games test such things as hunting
ability, resistance to pain, fighting ability, bravery and wit. The Games of
Instinct are like sport for the undead.
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Monomacy:
Monomacy is the method for handling grievances among Sabbat vampires through
combat. It allows vampires to challenge each other in duels to settle their
differences.
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Sermons of Caine:
All vampires in the Sabbat know the story of their origins from the Book of
Nod. The Sabbat often gather to hear sermons on their history to remind them
of who and what they are. The sermons are used to strengthen Sabbat loyalty
and ideology. Sermons of Caine are usually carried out by Sabbat priests
following the Path of Caine, and by higher-level leaders during other
rituals. Sermons of Caine are always followed by the Vaulderie.
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The Wild Hunt:
Sabbat vampires seldom turn traitor, but those who do rarely survive. The
Sabbat is a sect which protects its secrets. If a member reveals something
to the enemy that could harm the sect, she is punished severely. Should the
enemy ever manage to gain something of vital importance from a Sabbat
vampire, the Wild Hunt is called. The Wild Hunt is much like a Blood Hunt,
except the Wild Hunt targets all those who may possess the secret knowledge.
The hunt is truly wild. The Sabbat stop at nothing to destroy all who
possess their secrets, especially the Sabbat traitor who revealed the
secrets in the first place.
Other rituals may be observed on special occasions, such as the Festivo
dello Estinto, Palla Grande, or Danse Macabre. In addition, all vampires
must swear to the Oath of Loyalty. There will be a Pack Symbol and a Test of
Verification that each vampire will be made aware of upon completion of all
necessary requirements to reach the rank of Cainite. Any time a ritual is to
be observed, all members will be given advance notice of the coming
festivities. The eldest and highest ranking priest will be responsible for
determining which other rituals will be observed and when. If someone would
like to see a ritual held they must contact this person to set it up.
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Code of Milan
In addition to the Commandments of The Sabbat, the Code of Milan will be
followed at all times, by all members of the Sect. These are the statutes
comprising the Code of Milan:
I. The Sabbat shall remain united in its support of the sect's Regent. If
necessary, a new Regent shall be elected. The Regent shall support relief
from tyranny, granting all Sabbat freedom.
II. All Sabbat shall do their best to serve their leaders as long as said
leaders serve the will of the Regent.
III. All Sabbat shall faithfully observe all the Auctoritas Ritae.
IV. All Sabbat shall keep their word of honor to one another.
V. All Sabbat shall treat their peers fairly and equally, upholding the
strength and unity of the Sabbat. If necessary, they shall provide for the
needs of their brethren.
VI. All Sabbat must put the good of the sect before their own personal
needs, despite all costs.
VII. Those who are not honorable under this code will be considered less
than equal and therefore unworthy of assistance.
VIII. As it has always been, so it shall always be. The Lextalionis shall be
the model for immortal justice by which all Sabbat shall abide.
IX. All Sabbat shall protect one another from the enemies of the Sect.
Personal enemies shall remain personal responsibility, unless they undermine
Sect security.
X. All sect members shall protect Sabbat territory from all other powers.
XI. The spirit of freedom shall be the fundamental principle of the Sect.
All Sabbat shall expect and demand freedom from their leaders.
XII. The Rights of Monomacy shall be used to settle disputes among all
Sabbat.
XIII. All Sabbat shall support the Black Hand.
XIV. All Sabbat have the right to monitor the behavior and activities of
their fellow Sect members in order to maintain freedom and security.
XV. All Sabbat possess the right to call a council of their peers and their
immediate leaders.
XVI. All Sabbat shall act against Sect members who use the powers and
authority the Sabbat has given them for personal gain at the expense of the
Sabbat. Action shall be taken only through accepted means, approved by a
quorum of the Inner Circle.
Sabbat Games
Sabbat Games:
Car Racing: The Sabbat often steal cars and race each other around town. If
they run into a police officer, so what? They either Dominate or kill him.
They usually end up crashing the cars and causing others to wreck.
Cowboys and Indians: The Sabbat dress as cowboys and Indians and hunt each
other in public areas. They shoot at each other with real bullets, often
hitting innocent bystanders. They never really hurt each other because they
do not mind calling a time out for wounded vampire to drink some blood and
heal herself.
Demolition Derby: Similar to car racing, the demolition derby is a game in
which the Sabbat use stolen cars to intentionally see how many wrecks they
can cause, especially involving other pack members.
Dueling with the Enemy: A single Sabbat vampire will often approach an
anarch and challenge her to a duel. The duel is seldom to the death, but the
Sabbat usually tries to get the Camarilla Kindred in trouble.
Football: This is just a game of football. The Sabbat play it all the time
among themselves. The problems start when they play tackle football in the
park or some other open area. The Sabbat version can draw attention with the
massive brutality it causes, especially when the Sabbat play against mortals
and the carnage really mounts.
Fox Hunt: The Sabbat hunt down a single Lupine, bring him into the city and
turn him loose. They give the Lupine a few minutes' headstart and then
proceed to hunt him down and kill him.
Freeplay: Certain packs capture humans and Dominate them into believing they
are monsters in a fantasy world. They often use sewers to make the game more
believable. The humans are given weapons and sent away to hide. Then a group
of Sabbat pretend they are the heroes exploring a dungeon. The humans are
treated like monsters and slaughtered by the Sabbat "heroes."
Gangbanging: The Sabbat ride past Camarilla Kindred and fill them full of
lead. Seldom do they kill the enemy vampires, but this game stirs up a lot
of trouble among mortals, especially when the guys they supposedly killed
get up and stumble away.
Headbanging: The pack members go into the mosh pits of clubs, work
themselves into a frenzy and begin tearing people up and drinking blood. The
only reason any mortals survive this is that the frenzied Kindred often
attack each other. This is a terrible game to play in one's own town, but it
can lead to wonderful escapades when played in a Camarilla Rack.
Horse Racing: The Sabbat will often race horses just as they race cars,
except they can take the horses places cars cannot go -- shopping malls,
hospitals and grocery stores, for example.
Human Gladiators: The Sabbat often capture a few humans, equip them with
knives, clubs and chains, and make them battle each other. The Sabbat tell
them the survivor gets to keep his life. Whether this is true is up to the
pack, but most are enjoyed as post-game meals.
Spirit Games: A Sabbat pack with Thaumaturgists who know the proper magic
summons a spirit and asks it questions. This is similar to using a Ouija
board, but much more spectacular and dangerous.
Torture Games: Sabbat often find the suffering of others most amusing. They
take kine and Kindred "performers" to their communal haven, where they test
the individual's pain resistance.
Trick or Treat: Sabbat often go door to door trick or treating, even when it
is not close to Halloween. If they are not given candy by the people inside,
they usually "trick" them by sneaking in and drinking their blood. Sometimes
they play silly pranks instead.
Trip to the Zoo: The "trip to the zoo" is the Sabbat's name for the process
of capturing a Camarilla vampire and turning her loose in Lupine territory.
Gee, how awful. The only problem is finding a safe seat from which to watch
the game.
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