Lancea Sanctum - North America
The continent has become as much home to The Lancea Sanctum tonight as any part of the Old World. The covenant dominates more than a few prominent cities, and in many of these the Sanctified have succeeded in establishing working theocracies. In such places, the word of the Archbishop or Cardinal is law and those Damned who dare to openly flout The Testament of Longinus or work to undermine The Lancea Sanctum’s catholic power will find their Requiems uncomfortable at best.
Of course, domains entirely under the sway of Sanctified obedient to the traditional Monachal Creed are rare. Much more common are cities that can claim a few flavors of faith, as it were. The Bishop may adhere to the Monachal Creed, but it’s quite possible that two-thirds of the covenant’s congregation follows some divergent sect. It is quite usual in these situations for the Bishop to include these less-than-orthodox Sanctified in the ceremonies, practices, responsibilities and privileges of those who cleave to her own persuasion. Wise prelates understand the value of inclusiveness: Not only is the covenant strengthened by numbers, but it is far easier to bring wayward believers back to the true faith — at least as the leadership sees it — if they are favorably inclined toward the hierarchy. So long as at least lip service is paid to The Lancea Sanctum’s authority figures, little significant trouble arises.
This does not mean that every splinter group is openly welcomed, however. Whether for reasons of personality, theological incompatibility or even political gain, sometimes the various creeds and sects within a domain find it impossible to find common ground. Ordinarily, adversaries keep these schisms hidden from those outside the covenant, or at least make an effort to do so. At times, even a pretense of camaraderie proves untenable, however. Where this occurs, the split can be quite public and the Danse Macabre that takes place between the opposing factions can be more complex and downright lethal than any of the other political and social maneuverings going on in the city.
For obvious reasons, the larger the city the more likely this kind of infighting is, but not necessarily. In even the largest domains The Lancea Sanctum can come together despite any differences, especially if a charismatic individual who has mastered the Danse Macabre is its leader. Such leaders can easily turn internal feuds and disagreements into a righteous fire cannily directed at more traditional enemies like heretics, blasphemers, and other covenants, as well as enemies of circumstance, like diablerists, Lupines or mortal witch-hunters.
As elsewhere, the Sanctified gather in the greatest numbers in American, Canadian, and Mexican cities with large populations, especially those with a thriving nightlife and a high crime rate. Unlike the other covenants, The Lancea Sanctum is also drawn to (or perhaps partly responsible for?) cities and towns whose histories are especially bound to mainstream religious institutions. Areas with a strong association with religious movements, from Puritanism and Catholicism to Evangelism and Pentecostalism naturally hold great interest for the covenant. Exceptions are common, however, and a Sanctified who must flee his domain and seek shelter in another would be wise not to make any assumptions about The Lancea Sanctum’s presence in his new city or its openness to Sanctified outsiders, especially if that city’s version of Longinus’ faith differs markedly from the one practiced in his original domain.
As a general rule, the Monachal Creed has its strongest hold over the cities of Mexico and the American Southwest, as well as the continent’s northeastern reaches. Many of the first Sanctified in North America adhered to this most orthodox denomination and where they set foot it tends to have great influence. The Anglican-inspired Westminster Creed is more popular along the Atlantic Coast as well as the Midwest and Central Canada. In the so-called Bible Belt states, the spiritual White Robes of the Tollison Creed claim an estimable following; this sect is also commonplace in smaller cities and towns of a rural character, places where cults of personality flourish easily. The West Coast and Northwest are the least homogenous when it comes to religious persuasion, with few creeds being able to lay claim to majorities in any domain. Of course, this is a simplified overview. Other divergent creeds, many of local origin, exist throughout the continent, with few cities not being home to at least a few sectarian individualists.
The vast majority of Sanctified, whether snake-handling preachers in the Texas Panhandle, solemn theologians in Montreal, or half-mad flagellants in Monterrey, spend their entire Requiem in the city of their Embrace, likely never stepping foot beyond the blood-rich heart of the domain again. This is no different than most other Kindred, of course. The power of faith can be strong, however, and at times it calls the believer to risk all in order to bring The Testament of Longinus to those still condemned to ignorance. Perhaps more than among the members of any other covenant, members of The Lancea Sanctum are sometimes overcome with the urge to voluntarily undertake travel outside the safety of their domain.
In the manner of the first Sanctified to bring the Testament to the New World, the Damned who hear the Call usually set forth on their journey in pairs — often sire and childe, or Mentor and disciple. Only the most foolish or spiritually fortified believer sets off as a missionary alone, but those who do, generally receive great respect from The Lancea Sanctum for their exceptional devotion and piety. A few such itinerants have actually earned themselves some celebrity, with small cults of adoring Sanctified cropping up and paying reverence to a particular missionary in borderline heretical fashion.
Pilgrimages are less common here than in the Old World, as few places have such great historical and religious significance as to cause the Sanctified to put themselves at risk just to see or touch an artifact or edifice. However, nearly as popular in North America is the continued practice of traveling revivals. Most common in the American South and Midwest, these religious road shows are rarely regarded as a good thing by The Lancea Sanctum of a more traditional or cautious bent.
Usually attracting younger neonates as well as the simply curious, the fire-and-brimstone preachers come off as more entertainment than message. Often such performances can bring unwanted attention from the kine, and sometimes they stir such passion in the audience that frenzy results. This can lead to all sorts of other trouble. For these reasons, few ranking Sanctified look forward to the arrival of these religious carnivals and do what they can to keep them from setting up shop in town and upsetting the balance of religious power. Of course, given the intricacies of the Danse Macabre, inviting a Sanctified revival into Elysium may actually score a Bishop a success depending on how she plays her cards.
Of course, domains entirely under the sway of Sanctified obedient to the traditional Monachal Creed are rare. Much more common are cities that can claim a few flavors of faith, as it were. The Bishop may adhere to the Monachal Creed, but it’s quite possible that two-thirds of the covenant’s congregation follows some divergent sect. It is quite usual in these situations for the Bishop to include these less-than-orthodox Sanctified in the ceremonies, practices, responsibilities and privileges of those who cleave to her own persuasion. Wise prelates understand the value of inclusiveness: Not only is the covenant strengthened by numbers, but it is far easier to bring wayward believers back to the true faith — at least as the leadership sees it — if they are favorably inclined toward the hierarchy. So long as at least lip service is paid to The Lancea Sanctum’s authority figures, little significant trouble arises.
This does not mean that every splinter group is openly welcomed, however. Whether for reasons of personality, theological incompatibility or even political gain, sometimes the various creeds and sects within a domain find it impossible to find common ground. Ordinarily, adversaries keep these schisms hidden from those outside the covenant, or at least make an effort to do so. At times, even a pretense of camaraderie proves untenable, however. Where this occurs, the split can be quite public and the Danse Macabre that takes place between the opposing factions can be more complex and downright lethal than any of the other political and social maneuverings going on in the city.
For obvious reasons, the larger the city the more likely this kind of infighting is, but not necessarily. In even the largest domains The Lancea Sanctum can come together despite any differences, especially if a charismatic individual who has mastered the Danse Macabre is its leader. Such leaders can easily turn internal feuds and disagreements into a righteous fire cannily directed at more traditional enemies like heretics, blasphemers, and other covenants, as well as enemies of circumstance, like diablerists, Lupines or mortal witch-hunters.
As elsewhere, the Sanctified gather in the greatest numbers in American, Canadian, and Mexican cities with large populations, especially those with a thriving nightlife and a high crime rate. Unlike the other covenants, The Lancea Sanctum is also drawn to (or perhaps partly responsible for?) cities and towns whose histories are especially bound to mainstream religious institutions. Areas with a strong association with religious movements, from Puritanism and Catholicism to Evangelism and Pentecostalism naturally hold great interest for the covenant. Exceptions are common, however, and a Sanctified who must flee his domain and seek shelter in another would be wise not to make any assumptions about The Lancea Sanctum’s presence in his new city or its openness to Sanctified outsiders, especially if that city’s version of Longinus’ faith differs markedly from the one practiced in his original domain.
As a general rule, the Monachal Creed has its strongest hold over the cities of Mexico and the American Southwest, as well as the continent’s northeastern reaches. Many of the first Sanctified in North America adhered to this most orthodox denomination and where they set foot it tends to have great influence. The Anglican-inspired Westminster Creed is more popular along the Atlantic Coast as well as the Midwest and Central Canada. In the so-called Bible Belt states, the spiritual White Robes of the Tollison Creed claim an estimable following; this sect is also commonplace in smaller cities and towns of a rural character, places where cults of personality flourish easily. The West Coast and Northwest are the least homogenous when it comes to religious persuasion, with few creeds being able to lay claim to majorities in any domain. Of course, this is a simplified overview. Other divergent creeds, many of local origin, exist throughout the continent, with few cities not being home to at least a few sectarian individualists.
The vast majority of Sanctified, whether snake-handling preachers in the Texas Panhandle, solemn theologians in Montreal, or half-mad flagellants in Monterrey, spend their entire Requiem in the city of their Embrace, likely never stepping foot beyond the blood-rich heart of the domain again. This is no different than most other Kindred, of course. The power of faith can be strong, however, and at times it calls the believer to risk all in order to bring The Testament of Longinus to those still condemned to ignorance. Perhaps more than among the members of any other covenant, members of The Lancea Sanctum are sometimes overcome with the urge to voluntarily undertake travel outside the safety of their domain.
In the manner of the first Sanctified to bring the Testament to the New World, the Damned who hear the Call usually set forth on their journey in pairs — often sire and childe, or Mentor and disciple. Only the most foolish or spiritually fortified believer sets off as a missionary alone, but those who do, generally receive great respect from The Lancea Sanctum for their exceptional devotion and piety. A few such itinerants have actually earned themselves some celebrity, with small cults of adoring Sanctified cropping up and paying reverence to a particular missionary in borderline heretical fashion.
Pilgrimages are less common here than in the Old World, as few places have such great historical and religious significance as to cause the Sanctified to put themselves at risk just to see or touch an artifact or edifice. However, nearly as popular in North America is the continued practice of traveling revivals. Most common in the American South and Midwest, these religious road shows are rarely regarded as a good thing by The Lancea Sanctum of a more traditional or cautious bent.
Usually attracting younger neonates as well as the simply curious, the fire-and-brimstone preachers come off as more entertainment than message. Often such performances can bring unwanted attention from the kine, and sometimes they stir such passion in the audience that frenzy results. This can lead to all sorts of other trouble. For these reasons, few ranking Sanctified look forward to the arrival of these religious carnivals and do what they can to keep them from setting up shop in town and upsetting the balance of religious power. Of course, given the intricacies of the Danse Macabre, inviting a Sanctified revival into Elysium may actually score a Bishop a success depending on how she plays her cards.