Path of Caine

[Tami]

PATH OF CAINE

Nickname: Noddists

Hierarchy of Sins

Rating Moral Guidelines

10 ……………..Failing to research and study at every opportunity
9……………….Failing to instruct other vampires on the Path
Of Caine
8………………..Treating Mortals as equals
7………………..Disrespecting other students of Caine
6………………...Failing to “ride’ the wave of Frenzy
5……………......Succumbing to Rotschrek
4………………..Failure to slay and Diablerize an enemy
3………………..Not testing the Limits of the Vampiric Form
2………………..Failure to pursue knowledge about Caine
And Vampirism
1………………..Denying the hunger or needs of the Cainite
Form.

Ethics of the path

• The way of wisdom is the way of restraint. Never go to extremes in anything. Indulgence, passion, and mercy – all these thing cloud the mind.
• Develop the Will. One’s will is his greatest tool. Learn the meaning of inner Strength
• Learn as much as possible about vampiric history, especially that which concerns Caine. Search for every clue, fragment and hint about the dark father. Learn well from them.
• The Vitea of the unworthy should be taken. Always seek to drink the heart’s blood of older generation and thereby grow closer to Caine. Take the vitea of the weak and savor their experiences and insight. Caine whispers in their blood too.
• Adapt to the undead state. Exist as a vampire. Do not lie to one’s self and be subservient to mortal laws or moral structures
• Meditate and spend time alone to better understand one’s self
• Do not take the curse for granted. Exult in its power and beware its weaknesses.
• Respect those on this Path who have come closer tot eh truth than one’s self.
• Recognize that other vampires are of the race of Caine and humans are the race of Abel. It is a vampire’s right to take human lives at will. It is the curse placed upon Caine and all his children.
• Fight the Beast. Master it. Be stronger. Will can overcome weakness. Never succumb to Frenzy; always “ride the wave”. The Beast led Caine to murder Abel. The Beast can be force lesser beings to perform unplanned and foolish acts of depravity.
• Live in peace among mortal whenever possible. Do not reveal the vampiric exsistence to them. But never forget that the undead are their betters and mortal are food.

Virtues: Vampires on the path of Caine uphold Conviction and Instinct.

[Tami]

Basic Beliefs

The key to redemption lies within. Only by learning of Caine’s ways and following his divine teachings can a vampire learn to be at peace. A Cainite must examine himself, his desires, his weaknesses and his feelings. The vampiric condition can be understood only through thorough self-examination. Pain and uncertainty must be confronted and transcended. The agonies of undead existence are mere penance.

The key to undeath, Noddist say, is that by knowing the past, one can understand the present. Followers of the Path of Caine go well beyond simple aphorism, though. Understanding Caine and the beginnings of things is an obsession beyond all else. Caine is the paragon of all vampires, the Dark Father to whom all vampires should aspire. To seek such greatness, a vampire must explore all the advantages and limitations of his nature and learn about how these phenomena came top be. To fully comprehend Caine’s blessing, Caine himself must be comprehended and the student must understand why the dark gift was given.

Adherents of this path are the historians of the Sabbat. Noddist obsessively search through mortal history and the shadow histories of vampires. They are expected to be scholars, both to record the epic glories of the Sabbat’s struggle against the Antediluvians, and to ferret out information that might be useful to the sect’s crusades. The Sabbat expects useful information, but also allows the Noddist to continue their obscure pursuits unmolested. Followers’ grails are primary sources – the fragmentary and seemingly contradictory record of Caine, the First City and the Flood. This obsession goes far beyond mere historical interest. It borders on the religious and mystical. Noddist are the theologians of the terrifying faith of Caine.

The true heart of this path is the acceptance of the curse. But acceptance is merely a start. Vampirism is considered a gift. By becoming a vampire, a mortal can come close to the truth of all things and touch divinity. The undead form and its weaknesses must be fully understood, even as one studies Caine’s Laws. One cannot comprehend vampirism without knowing the law. Caine’s gift must also be honed, sharpened and tested, by developing Disciplines, learning new skills and by challenging oneself.

Diablerie is sanctioned and practiced by adherents of the faith – to become closer to Caine. Noddist seek to approach the father, not the Antediluvians. Advocates seek to end the Antediluvians above all other goals. After all these elders defied Caine and were punished.

Diablerie is not anything as base stealing power. It is not merely a cheap way of learning Disciplines. By drinking the heart’s blood of another vampire, one can savor another’s unlife, another’s experience, and grow in the light of Caine’s wisdom. Other vampires all have insights to the nature of the vampiric condition. By drinking tier souls, Noddist receive blessings from unlife itself.

This path is not concerned with salvation or with somehow seeking redemption from God. Vampires are the result of God’s curse, and so the undead should have no need or desire to seek His grace or to supplicate themselves to his power. Vampires are not “evil” – they are part of the natural order. To be a vampire and not exult on one’s nature is evil. To be undead and not use the tools that the Curse provides is evil. Sanctity, if it applies to the vampires at all, can only come through learning Caine’s way. Transcendence, if possible, will only come when Caine awakens and gathers his children to him. On the Final Night, he will judge all and bring those who have been faithful into his mercy and grace.

The Path of Caine is demanding, righteous and specialized. It emphasizes scholarship, eschatology, insight and harsh personal control. Followers are expected to spend most of their time learning all they can about Gehenna, searching for fragments of the Book of Nod and other texts, and defending their theology against doubters and blasphemers. Other things, the adherents are told can wait. After all, vampires are undying.