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(HAPTER, TWO: Che WAYS OR KINGS Honorall men, Love thébratherhood. Fear God. the king, — Peter 217 The followers of th tradition. Tradition is what holds the Road dot King the Scions their strength and authe understanding of mortal men. Did he inow everything Hans thought or dreamed about o hoped for? ‘Do not be afraid,” Vermore sad, as if he could read Ha thoughts. “I understand and approve of your ambitions. I ne is. There is a pla ed beter men with ambition, with fire, ata time lke forlessermenamong the ranks onthe batelfild, but amen tole A small hope blossomed in Hans’ heart. He dared to lookup at his lord and master. "My liege, 1...” he began, remaining words died in is throat as Vermaet bared his fangs and bhnged athim. He fll he was far too slow, He {to seramble away, but himper as Vermot’s fang sp into his neck, which ewmed into a sigh asthe ‘ecstasy ofthe Kiss spread through hs body lke sweet poison. Tt was slouly replaced by a growing cold tha limbs, then his heart, Hans sank hack onto the floor, his sight growing above him. snd coum co whis dim as Vermont reared u The wampire lord bbe from He nis easeal's ear “Should your ambiaons ever make you consider beraying ‘me, my dear Hans, I want youto recall this moment. Ifyou serve ‘me well, you need never experience death again. Scions choose their vasals — both mortal and Cainite carefully. Unlike the kings ofthe mortal world, Cainite princes and lords do not fall victim to illness or age. Their domains can only pass ftom them if dhey choose to st—p down, of if they ate careless and allow their ambitious underlings tooverthrow hem. Therefore wise Seionschoose sals carefully and keep a close eye on them (while quickly culled from the ranks) their tunvise Scion: Princes and lords control the right to sire offspring with good reason, since uncontrolled Embracing might allow a rival within the prince's own domain to gather a large number of Cainite followers Je. Most Scions take the tradition of progeny quite seriously, and violations are reason enough to have the offender and the childe are always on the watch for signs of unlawfal Embracing quickly to deal with it when challenge the prince's 4 destroyed. A ruler’s vassals within the domain, and ac i crops up. Scions tend to be cautious and conservative about hey Embrace. Afterall, their blood is noble, of the aine. It isa gift that should be given only are worthy of it, not simply to any peasant or wastrel line of » those A childe reflects on the reput wonsible for the childe’s actions, so siring is not some to be done lightly is not to say that noble blood isa prerequisite for ns (although some cruly arrogant T the Embrace among Cainites do consider it so) Scions keep theie own counsel! to serve, to be give vitae and, finally, co be given the gift of the Embrace. Some find diamonds in the rough among the most rude and common of folk, needinga guiding hand to shape them and bring oar their potestial. Other Scions are beguiled by a ssionshsp into giving the Embrace to the ‘wrong person, something that has led to the downfall of about a potential vassal’s worthi Although the choice of vassals is ultimately person and subjective decision, a Scion tends to look for certain things in a potential vassal, qualities that separate the wheat from the chaff. These desermine whether a va ;o remain asimple servant or may hecome something m in the vampire's service The most important is the balance between of ence and personal initiative. It is important thatthe vassal obeys the lord's commands, but few Scions want »nly mindless thralls and fawning sycophants in thei service. Their servants must be able to handle mot snall matters without attention from theit liegelod, particularly while the vampire rests during the day Indeed, the ideal servane is duriful and demands litle o the Scion’s attention because most matters are dealt with long before they requite it ‘The problem isthat too much initiative may combine with a dose of ambition and lead vassals to betray thei caths of loyalty in order to secure power for themselves Any ruler who depends too much upon his advisors a underlings to handle matters may soon find himself not ingmore than a figurehead, che eal reins of power in other hands. When that happens and may be replaced. Soa va must be balanced against any ambitions and possible be trayal in che fur Other qualities that Scions look for include physical ngth and a sharp mind. The former is more important for soldiers and vassals expected to defend their lord holdings, while the latter is more imporcant for advisor nts of the Scion cemissaries, and other ser ualities after loyalty, drive, and com and influencessuchasclan. The Ventruesre more likely toseek petence depend largely on the individual Scion ‘out thase of nable blood, particulaely when se potential protégé. The Toreadorare drawn to a, while the Brujah want free thinkers and philosophers, and may seek the company of like-minded mortals. Training Oncea Scion has chosen: period of tra the talented, and the tr potential newchilde, chore ing before the sire decides that the pec iene coer ope sort of training snoctal is ready to receive the Em the Road of Kings. The individual Scion. Some receive litle before they are brought into the nighttime world ofthe i up to the 10 education Children of Caine. Others are carefully groomed and taught by their vampiric mentors before they are consid cred ready On the one hand, some Cainites feel a sense of urgency to Embrace a suitable candidate immediately to censure that they won't be taken from the world by disease or injury, to capture their essence as also to bind them to their sire. On the o easily than vampires do, so there ‘and teach! learn and change more s something to be said for mi Men " Inthe Borer n A eaeeretT Seer err thinking fr long Preconceived notio ices ti perpective, thata maleone's, eaten Scene een ecu ee amass power as any man, and so male Scions undetesti- mate their “sisters” at their own perl Ae ae Se Re Retest fee eer eee erewor eae easy eee g until the deed is done and th ofa potential Scion is much like that able. In fact, with the rise ofthe Path Chivalry, knightly training has bec ans, even thane nat-an the path, They cithertotheir future sire or with a knightly order ofCa (orone with Cainites in its ranks). [n some cases, asire m

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