HAPTER, CWO: ChE ENDLESS HUNT When hunting for foxds, prepare to mect lions. Anonymous From the colection of Xavier, Mage of House Tremere: Wy dearest Elsa Wy reseatch goes well 1am becoming accustomed to these nights in ithuania, but 1 still find the peasantry distastfil and the sueroundings prinitine. Pevertheless, I have continued to accumulate information on the mays ofthe Cainites, Co my delight, as able to acquive large collection ‘of writings, al from the same hand. The author — one Rodrigo — is, asfuras! have been ablete Determine a Seral. Chatis, be flloms the Via Bestve. Despite his frequent references to ‘the roa) oral tradition, he bas taken consideenble effet o set is practices Sonn on paper, Be is Beujah, 50 pethaps his inclination t scholarship and his urge to consider matters of philosopby (more common among the 50- called “Sigh Clans”) hane led him to undertake this task. Philosophical tteatisesare at odds ith bisbeliefsto some extent, though | Daresay e wou be quick t9 point out thatt isnot forbidden fora Feel to ecord his belies 1 pare noted certain tension i bis writings betecen the ficulty of xcason and the primitive urgesbe describes as “the Beast.” holens that these Seeals may habe achieved a considerable understanding of ote commen condition. Do ndt discount dhe insights and practices recorded. Sor your convenience, have eemoved all but the relevant content. Che names, and mat Stas T could gle of Rodrigo's correspondents, ae beer taken Sonn and passed on to other agents of eur clan, | ave also taken the liberty of including nuiberof comments and notes throughout the clletion, 1 awalt your thoughts and impressions most impatiently ‘Yours Xavier ”andBituals correspondence and writings of Rodrig ad is noc known for i We have no schools, few sacred texts, no appointed teachers or leaders or malities, members of an official hierarchy. We have no catechism, no formal doctrine. Some believe we ate the Children of Caine. ¢ believe we are descended from god far older The only thing weallagreeon isthat i isthe Beast that sour existence. The Beast should not (and indeed cannot) be contained or trapped. Rather, it should be madk into a willing servant orally We all know what happens when the Beast is denied its release. To keep the Beast placated we carry out a number ofrituals that serve ro remind us of our true nature They keep our instinets honed and our thoughts simple. than habits we all seem to have 3 of formal situal. [will catly from placetoplace acquired, while others are little s note, however, chat they can vary They represent ideas and experiences thac are common tous, not formalized rituals sve must slavishly enact The Lorekeepers often meet and exchange new id and new practices. In this way, some rituals have spread far Tho vary, a Feral from Iberia will still be able co participate in a hunt or rite in Scotland with little trouble, Nor will she improper if new ricual batfles her Prayer and wide the precise practices may accounted save perhaps the Beast. We have no any of our number maintain a dialogue and: formal prayers, but of sorts with their Beast, coaxing, persuading, cajoling Ie is common ro utter a few words to the Beast before commencing a hunt. We may ask for fleetness of foot or a pursuit, @challen xl fight from our These words help the pre) help the hunter Je rocome. And sus her wil on the str ifthe E a vital preparation, The Beast before a hunt he ascis to be loosed and allowed to run free, they are powerful and cunning. Prayers uttered jensure that it does nor take the hun unawares and seize control. Being in the pr frame of mind helps che hunter prepare for the Beasts onslaught and ride its fury, guiding without surrenderi and controlling it twit completely When the kill has been made, another round of prayers may be offered. T before the bunt ssehave the opposite purpose to those said ins. They area way to focus the mind, ive the faculty of reason an opportunity to return, tostep out from the shadow of the Beast’ fury Especially when the Beast has been ridden ina hunt, it can be difficult to put it away. [tis usually exhausted, sated and full from its exertions, but that does not mean it slinks quietly blood, it generally ick into its cage. When it has been given a taste of wants more. It does not like to be caged We pray at other times too, ofcourse. Usually, we use bur prayer under great stress or temptation, we ti talk to the Beast, talking it out of its urge o its intention to kill all who defy or thwart it ‘These prayersare particularly important The temptation and frustration that await us in these settings are considerable o placate and conteol the Beast. When place hc step bac and followers oak! who move in civilized circles and the Beast must be constantly reassured chat revenge ill be taken forslights as necessary It is particularly appropriate to tar one’s though inward when feat of a long-standing for, a moment of clarity and anewchilde nificant event has taken place. Th understanding of one's nature, the Embrace all are times when a moment of reflection on thi and its nature may come to us. This meditation is inwhich weadvane and progress along the path we have chosen for ourselves Study sini on Leek en pay crir Propagation of xe th ‘These humble musings notwithstanding Tega second a wore, Ourmn our faith is not one that ha with th we have no written tradition. Aside from our epics, out dest records are the paint ngs and etchingsin the caves Th ed of our road that housed our ancestorsand eld the hune are the earliest physical re ‘Wevdo, however, have agreac tradition of poetry, song and verse It is the Lorekeepers who keep these traditions alive by telling our stories and reciting our epics Lorekeepers The frstand most important task of a Lorekeeper isto Jeamn our epics and our songs. These are the record of out road's exploits, its triumphs and its defeats. They give us inspiration and courage and demonstrate how the greates among ushave made theit way through the dangersof these deadly nights. We have no formal linurgy, but these tales are our closest parallel A Lorckeeper begins by listening to the tales told by others, When he thinks he steady, he approaches another Lorekeeper who, once satisfied of he junior'spotential and intentions, begins teaching by a simple process of repei tion, Once the teacher has imparted as much (or as litle) ashe thinks necessary, he and che student part ing new stories and telling ir uavels, gath the old ones. too learn by listening. Whenever two Ferals meet they those of us who are nat Lorekeepers, we hange stories. Whenever we Ferals meet for one of our gatherings, any Lorekeeperswho arepresent will (orshould) eer theit tales “Most Ferals know the most famous stories of our road, me of which have become traditional. These include th asa childe ofthe Beast, not‘8.@ mortal), the Fall of the Second City and the Lesson of The death of Ennoia, Some of these tales are cautionary. Christ is such a one, as is the Lay of Shabago the Nubian, We also have legends, perhaps not literally true but pos sesed of fundamental, philosophical truths inste When Ferals hear these stories, we learn and we are given comfort to know that our way isthe true way — our h the clearest and our hearts thi Twould write these stories down, but [fear what would happen were Ito iscovered. Some among us believe writing to be a tool forthe weak-minded, effete priests and cowardly rulers another face. [ido not deny that this is true for some, but neither would [deny my willingness ta meet face-to-face any that Ritual tpwritedown whatthey would dare notsay , bloody affairs, We revel in imp fast, and these events a ‘We are not, as a rule, particularly attached co the hninutia of our rituals. What I describe here are simply the practices thar T have observed or that I have heard tell of When two adherents of our road have a dispute jexample, over a hunting ground — they usually settle it by fighting. Afterall, the weak must necessarily submit tothe The Ferals observe two ways todo this, depending on. the importance of the matter at stake. If itis int but not worth dying for, the fight will be to submission. Such ituils are often held to determine who will Embrace 2 promising mortal or who will ead.a hunt, They are also the luxal means of resolving challenges for leadership ofa pack. Whenever the issue is norsufficiently important to justify we los ofa pack member, such a challenge takes place, A cleat space is found, and the combatants enter naked unarmed. Dependingon the seriousness ofthe matter, the tweaffangand claw maybe forbidden, butpowers of the blood freely. Whena fighters ready to admie defeat, or ares his throat jor then “throats” the vanquished, when his opponent has drawn first blood, he to the victor nipping the foe on the neck, Ifthe victor loses control ro the Beast a this stag Ihave Tost fis cli, event if he emerges ensuing figh that may hold to the loser). victorious i (for whatever consolation Foramoreseri he combatants may choose toler their Beasts decide the winner. In this case, restraint isneither expect ren. The challenger ealls out his spgenent and insults him, claiming that he isnot worthy of the Beast, The challenged must ain, both must be naked and unarmed, but this time h and claw hunt the challeng victor shows hi are not only permitted but expected. The dablerie upon the lose, taking his Beasts well ashisunlif ithe desies. Bo eras: Ror nen a These duels are called over mattersofoonly the greatest such as betrayal or theft of domain. A senior Feral who call importane but 100 many juniors soon finds himself shunned by his fellows. There is, however, no particular stigmain challengingan inferior. Ifa weak Cainite is foolish anger an elder enough that the elder feels justified in challenging, then he deserves the punishment hat will surely follow Punishment When we wish to punish a fellow adherent, we fallow BWO P crimes, and one ocedures: one for significant (but still forgivable) for deadly crimes, ‘When a Feral has brought shame and embarrassme her death nor harm, he may punish we don’t really care eno upon us, but Thisisa less seriou nt that generally involves no physical harm gh about the dpinions of others to kill or seriously harm out fellows ove what outsiders chink Ie Feral beingshunned ismade ro standar the center ofa circle. His accusers then step forward and make thei accusations. The accused is allowed to speak. When all have spoken, those who believe he should notbe punished step forward. If more remain outside the circle than within, the accused is guilty and will be forced to run the gauntlet All present form two Lines, and the guilty must walk slow ‘erween them as the other Cainites strike their Once the gauntlet has been run, the hunt begins. For the remainder of the night, the guilty may be hunted and even, fed upon, but not kille In more serious cases, a similar procedure is followed. Thesccuedstandenabed inthe center ofthe circle. The ra proceeds as it dees normally. Ifthe guile of the accused is proven, he will be hunted by all assembled and killed when he is finally brought to ground. Inall cases, the decision reachedisfinal and will ot be rescinded, even if itis later found to be unjust. The strong do notallow themselves to be brought low by false ac tions. To do so is proof enough of one’s weakness and is jor destruction, Others Occasionally, we wish to make it known to others that they have rrespassed upon lands sacred to us. This usually happens when anew Cainite tries to claim domain over one ‘of our holy sites. [eis notalways possible tosimply attack an destroy such individuals, especially when our numbers are fewandwhen the offending Cainite hasarrived withstrength. Weirstoffera warning. Usually, something of valueto the Cainite is taken and held — a fav ishest, We then senda emissary with a message telling the red kine or retainer Cainite to cease their activities If they cease, the hostage is released and harried and chased back t0 sa delivered y. I they do not cease, the hostage is the Cainite, one piece at a time. Then che conflict begins in eamest. Themessage robesent isclear. We ask for litte trom ourbrothers, bur we expect tobe given that Tittle and left in peace. To do otherwise isto invite disaster