The Creation Rite
The induction of a new childe to the Requiem is a powerful event for the Sanctified. On one hand, it symbolizes the continued growth of their covenant and the birth of another disciple of the faith. On the other, it is a violation of the very Traditions that The Lancea Sanctum has sworn to uphold. The Creation Rite, then, is a combined celebration of the new childe and an act of penance for his sire. It must be conducted as soon as reasonably possible after the childe is Embraced, ideally at the very time of that Embrace. A Priest or other high-ranking member of The Lancea Sanctum conducts the rite, which involves substantial prayers and litanies recited by the Priest and the sire. The childe is then anointed (described below), and blessed with a burning brand. The brand does not touch the flesh of the childe. Rather, the Priest waves it over her not unlike the Catholic christening. The sire, however, is exposed to the brand, which is placed directly against his chest. Contact lasts only a moment, but crying out or lapsing into a fear frenzy from the flames is a mark of shame. Only when this rite has been completed is the childe considered “truly” Sanctified, and a childe whose sire holds up well is accorded more respect than one who does not.
Multiple variations on this rite exist, as few Lancea Sanctum domains and coteries operate in exactly the same fashion. Some Creation Rites involve the sire exposing herself to the rising sun or to night-long sessions of flagellation with barbed whips. One particularly dangerous variation involves the childe (after being blessed) staking his own sire and then setting one of her extremities alight. The purpose is for the childe to let his sire burn just long enough to leave a wound, yet not so long as to risk Final Death. If the childe performs well, the sire is lauded for her choice. If the childe does not perform well, the sire usually isn’t concerned with anything else said on the topic.
Every parish or domain has some version of the Creation Rite, as it distinguishes actual members of The Lancea Sanctum from those who merely dabble with its ideals or simply observe the covenant’s practices prior to making the decision to join. The name is a misnomer, as the actual Embrace of the childe is almost never performed as part of the ritus. While The Lancea Sanctum acknowledges that the Embrace is sometimes necessary, it is still a sin. The actual Creation Rite typically consists of two separate ceremonies. The first, known as the Choice, requires the prospective sire to offer his potential childe the opportunity to become a Kindred or not. Naturally, those who choose not to become Kindred usually meet their death, (and if the sire doesn’t kill his erstwhile candidate, he’s committed a serious breach of the Masquerade). In some cases, the Choice is commuted to the officiating Priest, who recites to the prospective childe a litany of the curses inflicted upon the Damned before giving her a choice between the Embrace and death.
Assuming the mortal chooses the Embrace (which she must sometimes do in front of the Priest or other witnesses), both the mortal and the prospective sire must be subjected to Purification. That is, they both receive some form of ritual punishment, though the punishment is always much harsher for the sire. The most common form of Purification is for both the sire and potential childe to be whipped a number of times, though the sire will typically take the lashes due to the mortal for himself. Another common form of Purification involves the Priest heating a short branding iron, passing it in front of the mortal’s face (as if blessing her), and then branding the sire with it. The Purification usually comes with a statement of reverence to God and Longinus, though this is sometimes implicit.
For those Kindred who wish to join The Lancea Sanctum after their Embrace, obviously, their sire need not be present to confirm the Choice. The practice of Purification remains, however, and is almost universally borne by the convert. In some parishes, one of the Sanctified may vouch for the convert, and in so doing bear the pains of Purification, but these parishes are few, as most Lancea Sanctum localities see Purification as proof of the convert’s newfound devotion to the covenant.
Multiple variations on this rite exist, as few Lancea Sanctum domains and coteries operate in exactly the same fashion. Some Creation Rites involve the sire exposing herself to the rising sun or to night-long sessions of flagellation with barbed whips. One particularly dangerous variation involves the childe (after being blessed) staking his own sire and then setting one of her extremities alight. The purpose is for the childe to let his sire burn just long enough to leave a wound, yet not so long as to risk Final Death. If the childe performs well, the sire is lauded for her choice. If the childe does not perform well, the sire usually isn’t concerned with anything else said on the topic.
Every parish or domain has some version of the Creation Rite, as it distinguishes actual members of The Lancea Sanctum from those who merely dabble with its ideals or simply observe the covenant’s practices prior to making the decision to join. The name is a misnomer, as the actual Embrace of the childe is almost never performed as part of the ritus. While The Lancea Sanctum acknowledges that the Embrace is sometimes necessary, it is still a sin. The actual Creation Rite typically consists of two separate ceremonies. The first, known as the Choice, requires the prospective sire to offer his potential childe the opportunity to become a Kindred or not. Naturally, those who choose not to become Kindred usually meet their death, (and if the sire doesn’t kill his erstwhile candidate, he’s committed a serious breach of the Masquerade). In some cases, the Choice is commuted to the officiating Priest, who recites to the prospective childe a litany of the curses inflicted upon the Damned before giving her a choice between the Embrace and death.
Assuming the mortal chooses the Embrace (which she must sometimes do in front of the Priest or other witnesses), both the mortal and the prospective sire must be subjected to Purification. That is, they both receive some form of ritual punishment, though the punishment is always much harsher for the sire. The most common form of Purification is for both the sire and potential childe to be whipped a number of times, though the sire will typically take the lashes due to the mortal for himself. Another common form of Purification involves the Priest heating a short branding iron, passing it in front of the mortal’s face (as if blessing her), and then branding the sire with it. The Purification usually comes with a statement of reverence to God and Longinus, though this is sometimes implicit.
For those Kindred who wish to join The Lancea Sanctum after their Embrace, obviously, their sire need not be present to confirm the Choice. The practice of Purification remains, however, and is almost universally borne by the convert. In some parishes, one of the Sanctified may vouch for the convert, and in so doing bear the pains of Purification, but these parishes are few, as most Lancea Sanctum localities see Purification as proof of the convert’s newfound devotion to the covenant.
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