The Serpent Rite
A powerful rite that lies at the core of the Tollison Creed, the Serpent Rite is derived from the practice of snake-handling associated with Holiness churches, a subset of the Pentecostal Church. The practice of snake-handling is derived from Mark 16:17-18: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.” The vampires who follow the Tollison Creed bastardize this mortal practice as part of their efforts to achieve enlightenment. Typically, the centerpiece of a Serpent Rite is a mortal tied to an altar around which the congregation gathers. After a vitriolic sermon by the Priest designed to inflame the passions of the assembled vampires, several Sanctified bring forth snakes, usually rattlers, and cause them to bite the mortal. As the mortal goes into shock, the assembled vampires drink from her, and the combination of poison and adrenaline in her blood often causes hallucinations and fugue states in those who drink. While this rite normally makes use of snakes to prepare the vessel, sometimes other poisonous animals are used or the vessel is simply injected with a massive dose of some psychotropic drug.
In many White Robe congregations, the Priest performing the Serpent Rite will accompany it with the discrete use of the Theban Sorcery Ritual Curse of Babel (see Vampire: The Requiem, p. 146.) The ritual is essentially used to force someone to speak in tongues, and to improve the ritual’s efficacy, the Priest often performs it on himself in the hope that when his congregation hears him speak in tongues, they will be “slain by the spirit.” Often, it has just that effect.
In many White Robe congregations, the Priest performing the Serpent Rite will accompany it with the discrete use of the Theban Sorcery Ritual Curse of Babel (see Vampire: The Requiem, p. 146.) The ritual is essentially used to force someone to speak in tongues, and to improve the ritual’s efficacy, the Priest often performs it on himself in the hope that when his congregation hears him speak in tongues, they will be “slain by the spirit.” Often, it has just that effect.
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