Sabbat Ritae

[Tami]

The sabbat values its bonds of loyalty above all else. To this end, the sect has established a number of rituals, that help establish and maintain the pack and sect solidarity. The entire sect observes the 13 Auctoritas Ritae, while the Ignoblis Ritae vary in number, and observation from pack to pack. I will first go over the 13 Auctoritas Ritae, then the Ignoblis Ritae.

Auctoritas Ritae

The Binding
The Blood Bath
The Blood Feast
Creation Rires
Festivo Delo Estinto
Fire Dance
Games of Instinct
Monomacy
Palla Grande
Sermons of Caine
The Vaulderie
The War Party
The Wild Hunt

[Tami]

The Blood Feast

No Formal Sabbat gathering would be complete without a Blood feast. – Some Sabbat cities hold blood feast as often as twice a year in addition to other events that require them. It serves as both sustenance and as a vehicle to express the Sabbat’s lust to exist as the ultimate predator. The blood Feast is a ritual “meal” in which captured vessels are suspended from the ceiling, bound to sculptures or otherwise immobilized and fed from at the leisure of all vampires present. The feast itself is as much a social gathering as a structured Ritus, and many Sabbat make grand entrances, wearing the best of their finery.

In preparation for a blood feast, a specially created pack or hunting party will have collected humans or even a rogue vampire or two the night before the feast. Much shouting, cheering and baring of fangs occurs as the hunting party makes a formal presentation of the night’s feast tot eh highest ranking Sabbat Present. The official receives each victim and thanks the giver by kissing her forehead. He then hands the victim over to assistants chosen to prepare them for the feast. They bind the victims hand and feet together and they hoist them up on chains to hang at head level, or the tie (or nail) the victims to objects that prevent the slightest movement.

The night after the preparation, ghouls or low ranking Sabbat prepare the Feast location by placing the vessels. After all the guests have arrived – it is considered grievously poor form to show up fashionably late – the Priest, Bishop or Arch Bishop holding the service conducts the Ritus, dedicating the vessels to the Sabbat. Cainties at the gathering then bite open the victims and feed on the fresh Vitae, often licking the wounds closed so as to not waste. (Some particularly bountiful Blood Feast, however, resemble debauched blood orgies, in which vitae splatters everywhere. At these incarnadine gatherings, the Sabbat literally wade through their victims’ vitae, writhing in carnal lust amid the blood and violence that surrounds them.) Style of feeding varies greatly at this event. Many Lasombra and Toreador antitribu partake by draining the blood into fluted champagne flutes, while most Malkavian and Brujah feed right from the source.

There is usually one victim for every three vampires present; the presiding Priest, Bishop or Arch Bishop gets first choice of the nights feast, and he draws first blood.

The transubstantiation of simple vitae into Blood of the Sabbat provides rich sustenance to vampires at Blood feasts. Each blood point a Blood feast victim posses mystically transform into two as it leaves his body. For this reason, feast tend to get a bit sloppy, as Vampires romp through the vitae and revel in the monstrosity of their Damnation. By the third night after a Blood feast, however, the blood once again condenses back down to its original amount (If it hasn't been used and remains in a vampire's body.)

[Tami]

The Binding

All members of the sabbat take part in the Binding, from the lowest recruit to the regent herself. Group participation and familiarity with the ritual helps unify sect members, in a similar fashion as the Vaulderie, In essence, the Binding is a formal allegiance to the sect. where the vampire swear fealty to the Sabbat. The event serves as a sober reminder of why the Sabbat exists as it does.

The ceremony starts with a recitation of the Sabbat’s credo, which is usually based on the packs interpretation. (No formal written code exists, most Sabbat have enough presence of mind to compose a summation of the sect’s doctrine, these may be anything from long prosaic accounts to fervent, one sentence rallies of vengeance.)

The event occurs on Winter Solstice night. In larger Sabbat-held cities, nomad pack in the region attend with the local founded packs. If possible, this important ritus is overseen by a member of higher status than a pack priest, like a Bishop or Arch Bishop. Ideally the Rite takes place on a beach, river bank or by a waterfall. If such is impossible, a fountain may suffice. The water represents the implacable nature of the – water always finds a way to flow around an obstruction, just as the Sabbat will one night find a way to surmount its terrible progenitors.

The ritus often ends with an observance of the vaulderie and the swearing of an oath to protect the Sabbat’s secrets unto final death

For the month following the Binding, all Viniculum scores for vampires present at the ritus are increased by one. For this reason, many overt Sabbat war efforts take place in the winter to better capitalize on the righteous wrath engendered by the ritus.

[Tami]

The Blood Bath

This ritus is performed whenever sect leaders wish to recognize a Sabbat Vampire’s claim to a title, such as Bishop or Cardinal. The Blood Bath formalizes the vampire’s new status in the sect. As many Sabbat as possible who will serve under the new leader must attend the ceremony, for failing to do so without an adequate reason is a grave slight tot eh leader in question. Starting with the priest conducting the ritus, attendant sect leaders and other Sabbat take turns coming forward, kneeling in front and expressing their endorsement of or allegiance to the Caintite, and then contributing a quantity of blood into a large vessel. The newly titled vampire gives praise and/or advice to each of the vampires present, emphasizing the benefits the Sabbat stands to gain through the sharing of her wisdom. The then baths in the blood donated to the pool. Following the ceremony, all vampires present drink from the bathing vessel (The blood in which is sometimes consecrated as a Vaulderie), symbolizing that they willingly participate of everything the new leader has to offer.

Most Sabbat refuse to acknowledge a leader who has not been confirmed through a proper Blood Bath ceremony, if they have reason to suspect so.

[Tami]

Creation Rites

This is the rite that only True Sabbat under go, this is the passage from nonentity to entity. Only True Sabbat - those members who have proven themselves in combat or intrigue against the enemy receive the creation rites – may select recruits for the sect. They scrutinize potential recruits carefully over several days, weeks and (in some cases) years, looking for strength of conviction, determination and physical prowess. After the Embrace, the new vampire is eligible for the creation rites only after he has demonstrated his worth to the sect – perhaps the very night of his embrace, perhaps years later.

Creation Rites always take place in the in the presence of a priest. The ritus itself is quite simple – the priest merely touches a flaming brand to the initiate’s head and leads him in an oath of allegiance. The ceremony that precedes the creation rites, however, varies widely, and it is wholly in the hands of the Cainite’s Sire. Some Panders and Brujah antitribu have ceremonies not unlike gang initiations, which involve pummeling the vampire in question until the Sire decides he’s had enough. Tzimisce ceremonies are mush more civil and formal affairs, often involving recitations of one’s lineage and praise of one’s Sire. Some vampires require no ceremony at all, deciding that they have all they proof they need from a given vampire’s performance while others still require Byzantine trials or bizarre acts like bestiality, kidnapping, murder, self mutilation or other depravity.

The Rites serve several purposes, both practical and symbolic. The flames help reduce the new Sabbat’s fear of fire, while the ceremony teaches him what is expected of a Sabbat member like himself. Immediately following the Creation Rite comes a Vaulderie, which binds the Cainite to the pack, his new immortal family.

Without the Creation Rite, a vampire is not truly a vampire to the Sabbat. Such an unfortunate may not participate in Sabbat ritae or functions until he has received his Creation Rites, and in fact considered vampira non grata, to be kicked about, abused and ordered around by any of the “real” vampire’s whims.

[Tami]

Festivo Dello Estinto

The “Festival of the Dead” occurs during the entire second week of March. All Sabbat-held cities take part, and nomadic packs make their way to the nearest Sabbat held city to celebrate. The purpose is to revel in being a vampire, celebrating immortality by laughing in the face of death and decay. The celebration culminates in a Blood Feast of epic proportions, and nightly Vaulderies take place among (and sometime between) the collected packs of the Sabbat. The revels are tailored to each individual pack, and the event has as many differences in celebration as it has commonalties. Some packs participate in ritual sacrifice. Some may circle a bonfire in a slow waltz, using disinterred bodies or corpses borrowed from the local morgue for dance partners. Other re-enact passages from the Book of Nod. Against the backdrop of all this revelry, the Bishops and Arch Bishops watch with interest, encouraging their malignant “children” to indulge in what it truly means to be a vampire while participating in their own bloody, bacchanalian excesses. On popular event uses up to six Sabbat “contestants,” each with a live human victim. The vampires use what ever means they can come up with to dismember and kill the victim, causing the most suffering and wasting the least amount of blood to spillage. The results are voted on by a panel of judges. The winner receives the honor of drawing first blood in the Nightly Blood Feast.

Sabbat spend the entire week socializing and gorging on vitae. The packs hunt at will, giving little thought to hiding from the eyes of mortals. Often, mortal are singled out and used for games of fox and hound. Anything relevant to vampiric nature goes on this celebration of immortality, and packs often mingle to trade stories and secrets of their own.

The festivities of the Festivo dello Estinto open once the highest-ranking priest in town declares it underway. For this week, very little is taboo, and much happens behind closed doors as does amid the festival’s events proper. Generally, this is a time of undead celebration – rivalries are put aside and Monomacies are forgotten as the Sabbat unite in a show of solidarity to bring Hell to Earth.

[Tami]

Fire Dance

To most vampires, fire is something that should be feared, respected and avoided, yet not to the Sabbat. While they still fear it, they are not above turning loose on their enemies. In a sense, this fearlessness shows how truly fanatical the Sabbat are. They gladly take something that is anathema to vampires and use it against their foes, hoping it destroys more of their foes than themselves. To be fully Sabbat, one must face Rötschreck and master it. Additionally, mastery of fire emboldens the Sabbat to use it against others of their kind.

This ritus has no particular time or place; priest may create one whenever a morale boost or rally is needed. It is generally held before War Parties, and several packs at one time converge and participate in the fire dance. The ritus is entirely a test of courage. Since the Sabbat values free will greatly, pack member are allowed to refuse to participate in the Fire Dance, but they put themselves at risk of derision and disrespect at their cowardice from the rest of the pack.

To enact this Ritus, the priest lights a large bonfire in a place secure from mortal eyes. Through the rhythmic beating of a drum, chanting or both, participating Cainties enter a trance-like frenzy, whirling around the flames, writhing before them and prostrating themselves in front of the blaze. As the ceremony reaches its peak, vampires rave and chant, and encourage each other to jump through the flames. They make fantastical leaps, some even turning aerial somersaults over and over again to the point of exhaustion. The Fire Dance comes to a close when the last Vampire present has jumped through the flames and collapsed from all the activity.

After a Fire Dance, characters who leapt through the flames gain a temp. bonus to their courage for three nights after the ritus. This temp point can even exceed the max. number of 5 for the virtues limit.

[Tami]

Games of Instinct

The Vampires of the Sabbat engage in numerous sanctioned “games” adjudicated by their pack priest to maintain their predatory edge. These games take various forms, and different packs practice different styles. The only commonality between the games is that a pack priest presides over them, consecrating them as righteous exercise.

Some of the games are: Cowboys and Indians, Demolition Derby, Rousing the Beast, Rat race etc. details on these can be found in the Guide to the Sabbat book on pages 150-51.

Basically any mayhem works for the game as long as it is sanctioned by the pack Priests. Most pack Priest indulge their pack in one Game of Instinct per month or so (if that often) any more frequent makes the ritus less valuable, as it becomes common.

[Tami]

Monomacy

When two (or more) Sabbat have a disagreement and con not come to a resolution, the ritus Monomacy serves to settle the issue. To the uninitiated observer, Monomacy looks like a simple duel to the death. In truth however, it is a good deal more. Monomacy serve the Sabbat as the ultimate evolutionary tool; By culling the ranks of those who are incompetent, the sect grows stronger. Monomacy is accorded a sacrosanct status among the vampires of the Sabbat, who recognize that without strong leaders, their struggle against the Antideluvians amounts to nothing. Additionally, the winner of the Monomacy typically diablerizes the loser.

Monomacy is usually practiced by only ranking members of packs. Many young Sabbat are considered too hot-headed to recognize the gravity of ritual combat, and would resort to it every time a pack mate took blood from a vessel they decided they liked. As such, the ritus is conducted by the pack priest, to whom a challenge is issued simultaneously with the challenge to the rival. The Priest then decides whether or not she chooses to preside over the ritual.

Should the Priest deem the cause worthy, the challenged vampire may decide to decline. In theory, there is nothing wrong with declining a challenge, but unless the challenger is of such little consequence as to be below the challenger’s notice, declining usually involves a great loss of face. (And perhaps an unsanctioned duel afterward if those who pursue the Monomacy hail from different packs, it may be necessary to involve a neutral third party, such as another pack priest or even a Bishop or Arch Bishop.

The actual practice of Monomacy varies widely – no formal code exists to the choice of weapon, location or even terms of victory. Most often Monomacy duels are fought to the death in some ridiculously dangerous or highly inaccessible place like an iron foundry or atop a skyscraper. Whether or not the vampires may use weapons, Disciplines or other assets is typically lefty up to the challenged. On the priest invocation of the ritus, the combat begins, and the last vampire standing is declared the winner, usually followed by other ritae and celebration. As Monomacy is an Auctiritas ritus, formal weapons such as sword or daggers are usually used (if any); modern weapons, particularly firearms are considered inelegant and clumsy.

(Page 152 of the Guide to the Sabbat has a few ways that a Monomacy can be done.)

The challenger decided the time and place of the duel. The challenged decides on whether or not weapon will be used, as well as any other details. (Until first blood instead of final death, no Disciplines, etc) The Priest administering the ritus is an official – the duel begins or ends on her word, and it may be aborted at anytime. It is even within the Priest’s power to declare a monomacy null and void after the fact, but the priest who does this to favor his own candidate is looked upon with extreme displeasure thereafter by other Sabbat.

[Tami]

Palla Grande
Of the 13 Auctoritas Ritae, the Palla Grande is the highlight of any Sabbat coven’s year.

The “Grand Ball” tales place on All Hallows Eve and all Sabbat in the city are expected to attend. Nomadic packs , not wanting to miss the festivities, travel to the nearest Sabbat city in order to attend. The highest ranking Sabbat in the city preside over the affair; and the most renowned priest opens the celebration. It is held in a public place such as a civic Auditorium or a public park, as long as most of the revels take place in front of as many humans as possible. In fact, many Sabbat arrange their Grand Balls like Raves or public festivals, sometimes even charging mortals admission for the secretly malignant privileges of attendance. The vampires often go the whole nine yards when creating this party atmosphere, hiring bartenders and providing liquor and other refreshments for their guest.

As the palla Grande is a major social event, the Ventrue and Toreador antitribu, Lasombra and Tzimisce usually find themselves with the responsibility of planning the affair. In true high society fashion, many vampires compete with each other for the most elaborate costumes. Often the most spectacular and unusual display are by one or two of the Tzimisce skilled in the art of flesh craft, but it is not unheard of for a Toreador antitribu to exchange favors with a talented Tzimisce “artist” to create a finely fleshcrafted face or costume for the party.

Hidden from the public debauchery, the Sabbat also consecrates a Blood Feast at the Palla Grande. The “kine kegger” as the younger Sabbat call it capitalizes on the public location of the masquerade ball. Victims of the feast are often vampire wannabes, drunken revelers and “witches” out for a good time on Halloween Night. These victims are often lured tot eh feast under the pretense of being invited to attend an exclusive affair. They have no idea how fleeting the honor will be. Other possible sources of Vitae for the Blood feast include retainers or ghouls selected from the Sabbat covens’ own members who may be of no further use to the sect. (or are too dangerous to allow to live.)

The main event, which kicks off the affair at midnight, is a re-enactment of an event from vampire legend or history. This stage could be anything from the slaying of Abel by Caine as told in biblical terms to the dramatic signs and portents of Ghenena. It is completely organized, acted and choreographed by a group of Vampires, through “audience participation” in event depicting sacrifice or feeding does occur, with the “guest” actors being whisked away or quietly disposed of after the debut.

After the final act of the historical play, all the Sabbat present retire to the Blood feast for a special version of the Blood Bath. This night the Arch Bishop baths in the vitea, as a symbol of the sect’s power and vitality. The ritual begins with the blood from a victim suspended overhead flowing freely into a large, ornate receptacle where the Arch Bishop reclines. Each vampire in the coven adds some of his own vitea, first bleeding into a ceremonial Vaulderie vessel, then tipping it into the bath. The Arch Bishop performs various rituals and incantations while this process proceeds – details vary city to city. It is rumored that the Palla Grande Blood Bath imbues the Arch Bishop with certain powers until the next sunrise, such as the ability to see into the realm of the undead.

At the conclusion of the Blood Bath, all the Sabbat at the Palla Grande begin a frenetic dance of undeath, dancing to near deafening music and drinking insatiably from the Arch bishops bath, from the hanging vessels and from each other. Many of the participants fall into frenzy, driven on by the violence of the dance and the scent, sight and feel of blood coagulating on the floor, caked on walls and splashing from the carpets as Dawn draws near.

Once the night revels conclude, Sabbat ghouls take care of the clean-up. Any potential loose ends are swiftly dealt with over the next couple of night through death, the Disciplines of Dominate or the Embrace, depending on the extent of the problem and potential use of use of the individuals involved.

[Tami]

Sermons of Caine

Some members of the Sabbat value their knowledge of the Book of Nod. Others don’t know or don’t care about the book, and see their role in the Sabbat as one endless war and violence. Those members take the story of their origins very seriously often gather to hear sermons of their history to remind them who and what they are. This reminder serves to strengthen their loyalty to the sect and their ideology. Pack members take turns reciting from the Book of Nod, while others in a semicircle holding lit candles and meditating on the passages. The sermons are sometimes followed by the vaulderie, and, among intellectual packs, intense deliberation. Pack members often discuss the passages read during the ritus almost until dawn.

Vampire history, particularly as far back as Cainite legendary is largely an oral tradition – very few copies of the Book of Nod actually exist. Few, if any, Sabbat packs can agree unanimously on the exact phraseology of a given passage from the book. The sect is divided on this matter – some Sabbat believe that as long as the spirit of the Book of Nod is preserved, the letter is irrelevant, while others maintain that for all the Sabbat to have the same reference, a standard book needs to be decided upon. This schism, of course, results in a variety of individual positions on the matter, from the violent support on both ends of the spectrum to a profound ambivalence for anything outside one’s pack on the matter.

[Tami]

The Vaulderie

The vampires of the Sabbat take their nightly struggle seriously – so seriously that they tolerate no dissent in their ranks. From the lowest new recruit to the most exalted priscus, the Sabbat ensures loyalty to one another through a bloody ritus called the Vaulderie.

The Vaulderie is similar to a blood bond, though it differs in intent and function. No Sabbat would ever voluntarily succumb to a blood bond, reasoning that such bonds are the tools the elders use to enslave their childer. Rather, the Sabbat swear the Vaulderie to each other, bonding themselves to the pack instead of an individual, and thus to the Sabbat’s greater cause.

Those who are ignorant of the Vaulderie’s finer details believe it to be a simple commingling of Vampire vitea in a vessel and the subsequent drinking of it. In truth, the matter is far more mystical. To start the ritual, the priest takes a tool used specifically for the Vaulderie and nothing else and cuts her wrist. The ritual cutting tool can be a small knife, silver straight razor or awl. To impart more gravity to the ritus, many packs use elaborate ritual bloodletters decorated with engraved swirls, spirals or blood droplets. The priest then bleeds into the vessel and passes the cutting device to each Sabbat present, who pierces his own flesh and bleeds into the chalice. The vessel is then passed around the pack again and the priest recites an incantation over it, consecrating it as a terrible sacrament while every member of the pack draws a draught.

Vaulderies take place anytime – before assaults, during important Sabbat gatherings, at the initiation or Creation Rites of new members and almost infallibly at pack esbats. This ritus is perhaps the foundation of the sect’s ritae, and it is afforded the most reverent status.

The results of this ritus is known as a Vinculum, or blood-tie. These ties connect each member of the pack to one another, engendering a mutual loyalty in addition to bolstering pack morale. Because of the mystical nature of Vaulderie, however, Vinculi are imperfect – what one pack member may feel toward another one night may pale in comparison to what he fells on the next. Vinculum ratings may change every time the ritus is observed.

Those who refuse the Vaulderie are not looked upon favorably by other Sabbat. Vampires who refuse to take partake of the Vaulderie at least monthly suffer ostracism from the pack itself – and may become vessels for Blood Feasts or destroyed outright at worst.

[Tami]

The War Party

The Sabbat thrives on diablerie and the destruction of elders, and this dangerous ritus serves to facilitate both those urges.

War Parties consist of multiple packs that vie for the blood of non Sabbat elders in question. Hunting the potent elders is not something under taken lightly, and the Sabbat tries to sway the odds in its favor by sending numerous packs against the enemy. Of course, packs participating in the War Party Compete against each other for the privilege of killing and diablerizing the elder, but rarely do the packs come into deadly conflict with each other, reserving their violence for their target.

In preparation for a War Party, the participating packs gather and celebrate. They may also perform a Fire Dance, listen to the Sermons of Caine and participate in a Blood Feast or Vaulderie. The chief of the War Party, usually the most accomplished or highest ranking priest among the packs (though political War parties may be called by Bishops or other titled officials of the sect.), offers the assembled pack the challenge. She stands before the individual packs, each lined up behind their leaders, and asks each of the packs’ leaders in turn, “Do you come freely to war, and do you take up this noble cause, never resting until the blood of our enemy is spilled?” the leaders respond with a forceful “We do!” Only after the packs have committed to the hunt does he reveal the identity of the target. A pack suffers great humiliation if it backs out of a challenge after its members have committed themselves tot his most dangerous game. For the remainder of the night, the Vampires hold a revel, to prepare themselves for the hunt the following eve.

The War Party set out after its prey on the night following the challenge – the hunt begins. Sabbat vampires on the warpath stop at nothing to take down their prey. They kill, burn, smash and overturn anyone and anything that stands between them and their target. IN fact, once the Sabbat have entered the victims haven, sometimes they don’t even bother to use hallways, doors or passages, instead bursting literally through the walls to find their marks inner sanctum.

Competition is fierce during the War Party, but Sabbat almost always recognizes the claim of the vampire to sink his fangs into the victim. (Those who don’t usually have their greedy asses beat into submission by members of the claimants pack.) Of course, biting the elder is no guarantee of victory, as few elders relinquish their blood so willingly. Obviously, once the pack has found the elder, a fight of epic proportions often ensues, unless the elder can somehow escape or convince the slavering, ravenous Sabbat to let him live.

Camarilla and Sabbat vampires most often come into contact during War Parties, as many of the Sabbat targets claim membership in the Camarilla. Nothing short of Final Death can stop the packs from achieving their goal, resulting in major property damage, attacks on other Camarilla vampires or Anarchs and general brawling. Even Sabotage of another pack may occur, but these tactics are generally diversionary; they are rarely intended to do serious damage.
The winning pack is the one whose member consumes the elder’s blood first. The target, unloving or dead, or some recognizable portion of the target must be brought back to the place where the packs accepted the challenge. The Chief of the War Party accepts the trophy and bestows her blessing over the winning pack. Once the chief recognizes the winner, all bets are settled and another celebration is held.

[Tami]

The Wild Hunt
One of the greatest crimes a Sabbat can commit is to turn traitor, and the sect protects its secrets. If a member reveals a sect secret to the enemy, she is punished severely.

If a Sabbat leaks information of a vital nature, a priest may call for a Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunt is much like the Blood Hunt, but ends in eradication of the offending Sabbat member, as well as anyone – kine or Kindred – who may have knowledge of the information. Sabbat from all over the territory are called (and expected) to participate. Nothing stands in the way of a Wild Hunt. Obviously, the gravity of the Wild Hunt depends on the traitor in question – the packs are expected to police their own ranks, while high profile turncoats receive the attention of the Arch Bishops, Prisci, Cardinals and all those that serve them.

Necessity dictates that those who have passed on or gained forbidden Sabbat knowledge must be destroyed; it is done in a way that makes it plain that such a breach of trust is intolerable tot eh Sabbat. The priest assembles the local Sabbat and formerly calls them to the hunt, which is sometimes similar to the preface of a War party.

Once caught, the offending Sabbat is staked and immobilized. The pack takes her before the ductus and priest (or bishop etc), who recite her crimes to her packmates. The pack them torments the offender in whatever manner it deems appropriate – hot irons, Vicissitude, mutilation are the least creative forms of vengeance a righteous pack can inflict on a traitor. Finally the pack destroys the traitor by throwing her (still staked) on a consecrated burning pyre. This action is often accompanied by a recitation from the Chronicle of Caine from the Book of Nod, to remind them all that they need unity to overthrow their enemies, and mistrust within the sect destroys the Sabbat’s Foundation.

After the traitor meets her end, the Sabbat pursues those who either learned the secret or were involved. Sabbat justice is relentless – the sect stops at nothing to ensure their security.

[Tami]

Ignoblis Ritae

Unlike the Auctoritas ritae, the "low" or "common" rituals vary widely from pack to pack. Several of these ritae show up in one form or another in every Sabbat pack, but many of them are unique to regions or even individual packs.

These "low" ritae are: Acceptance ritus, Allegiance ritus, Contrition ritus, Welcoming ritus, Ritus of Thanksgiving, Martial ritus, Spilling of blood, Stealth ritus, Sun dance, tests of pain, The Asp's Blessing, Truth Revealed, Special Sect Practices (Sabbat oath of loyalty, Symbol of the Sabbat, Test of Verification, Localized signs and tags & Sect colors)