Minor Exorcism
The mortal world can be an ugly thing — base, vile and naïve. Compassion for it has a habit, though, of remaining and thriving in the dark places of a vampire’s heart, feeding on guilt and doubt. The ritus of exorcism is meant to metaphorically conjure up that tiny moral mortal voice and snuff it like a candle flame. Any covenant member who reveals himself as pandering to mortal concerns is ripe for an exorcism, and that exorcism may be brought upon him by his coterie, or any Sanctified who feel justified in the act. The Kindred should be willing to submit to the exorcism, however, for he is required to be still for hours while his coterie chants over him and reads from the Testament. (Some don’t care if the transgressor is willing, and bind and gag him until he is still and silent.) When this is done, the coterie brings a mortal before the vampire, hands him a weapon (or demands he use fang and claw), and he is then to hurt, feed from, or in extreme cases destroy the mortal being. If they have to force his hand, the exorcism is deemed a failure. Their demands can be many — they may demand he carve his name all over her body, or drink from her, violate her, or even kill her. When this is done, they leave him alone with the body (alive or dead) in the hopes that he will reflect upon the frailty of the human condition.
Storytellers, handle the use of exorcism carefully. Remember that a character’s Humanity is not how “nice” he is, but rather how well he can deny the beast and pretend that he is human still. In that regard, it is almost certain that certain invocations of exorcism will put a Kindred at odds with his Humanity score. Actions undertaken during an exorcism may well end up costing him Humanity. That’s the point, really — The Lancea Sanctum believes its role is to terrify mortals, but if they don’t maintain their own Humanity, they will be undone by their own depredations and thus unable to fulfill their role. Exorcism is meant to test this paradoxical dichotomy in a dramatic sense, not to encourage players to turn their characters into gore-streaked psychos.
Storytellers, handle the use of exorcism carefully. Remember that a character’s Humanity is not how “nice” he is, but rather how well he can deny the beast and pretend that he is human still. In that regard, it is almost certain that certain invocations of exorcism will put a Kindred at odds with his Humanity score. Actions undertaken during an exorcism may well end up costing him Humanity. That’s the point, really — The Lancea Sanctum believes its role is to terrify mortals, but if they don’t maintain their own Humanity, they will be undone by their own depredations and thus unable to fulfill their role. Exorcism is meant to test this paradoxical dichotomy in a dramatic sense, not to encourage players to turn their characters into gore-streaked psychos.
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