Camarilla of St. Louis

The Camarilla is the strongest group in the city of St. Louis. In order to survive in the World of Darkness, it is important that a sect member understand the rules of the game. Whether you choose to have your character follow those rules is up to you. (There is a name for people who don't follow the Camarilla rules -- Anarchs)

Many characters get into trouble right off the bat, because they fail to understand the heirarchal system that the Camarilla operates on. These pages are here to help you understand the structure of the Camarilla.

Keep in mind, the Camarilla is not the "good guys" compared to the Sabbat. As far as backstabbing and treachery goes, they can be pretty nasty. It is an elitist nepotistic group, who oftentimes won't give a fig about your character or its continued existence within the system. Your ability to "play the game" is reflected in your status and even in your long term survivability.

Status

"Status (in the Camarilla) is the central focus of many Kindred's existence." In fact, it is the central pillar that holds up the Hierarchy of the Camarilla. Status is how the Camarilla elders maintain control over the Camarilla. It is the primary tool that the elders wield over the anarchs and each other. This is an elder's most guarded privilege. Status is crucial among the kindred of the Camarilla, and the anarchs' lack of respect for it creates much of the friction between them and the elders.Respecting Status is difficult to do, but that is the point, you are not supposed to like it. The Elders have all the power (both authority and physical) and not everyone agrees on how that power is applied.

Here are some ways your status can be raised:

· You have performed a major service for the Camarilla (killed sabbat, protected the Prince)
· You have made yourself well known to the Cainites in the city (elysium regular)
· You have achieved a position within the Camarilla (primogen, keeper, sheriff)
· You have provided resources or aid to the Camarilla
· You have shown good etiquette
· You have imparted wisdom and knowledge about the camarilla to others (lores)
· You have assisted other Kindred with introductions or getting settled.
· You have been shown favor by those of high status (prince, primogen)

Here are some ways your status can be lowered:

· You have argued with elders, failure to defer to your betters
· You have expressed a lack of knowledge about the Camarilla
· You have shown a lack of etiquette in elysium
· You have failed to cooperate with elders
· You have badmouthed or disrespected those of status
· Your childer or ghouls have misbehaved.
· You have exercised "bad judgement"
· You have broken the Masquerade or "bent" other Traditions
· You have failed to honor a boon.

Independents

By definition, "independent" refers to an invididual that belongs to a clan that is not afffiliated with the Camarilla - Giovanni, Setite, Samedi. How the Camarilla deals with independents varies from city to city and often is based on the ruling body's percerptions (and biases) toward that clan. Giovanni are generally left alone due to a Treaty between the Clan and the Camarilla. Others may need to work out a deal with the Prince of a city in order to remain, or just stay under the radar of the Prince and her cronies.

A very important distinction to note here is that an independent is a member of a clan that is not part of the Camarilla. When an individual of an affiliated clan (Brujah, Ventrue, Nosferatu, Toreador, Malkavian) decides to remove themselves from the Camarilla, that does not mean they are independent. Depending on the nature and the philosophy of the individual in question, removal from the Camarilla structure can mean a few things. One: if its just the politics and the political structure that's driving them from the central camarila structure, they are effectively anarchs (and still part of the Camarilla). If they are totally against the camarilla and its ideals and abandoning their clan, then they're anti-tribu. If they just want to be left alone and want no part of any kindred society, then they are autarkis. It's also important to note that if an individual is in a city and interacting with Kindred and playing the politics game, they're not autarkis. There really is no such thing as an "independent malkavian".

The Lextalionis

Also known as the bloodhunt, it is the punishment for high crimes in the camarilla. A bloodhunt can be called for kin-slaying, diablerie, wide-scale breach of the masquerade, or any behavior that is deemed a threat to the masquerade or the safety of the kindred within the city. A blood hunt can only be called by the Prince and is formally declared in Elysium, with primogen and others present to carry the news to other Kindred in the city. All kindred of the city are expected to participate in the hunt, giving aid to the hunted is grounds for having a blood hunt called on yourself. Hunts should not be called lightly, any prince that calls the hunt does so with full knowledge that her actions may come under scrutiny. A prince that calls to many hunts or it is found that hunts are called without cause may find himself saddled with a justicar "observer" or in worst cases, he may even be deposed and replaced.

On some occassions, high ranking camarilla (such as primogen) outright refuse a Prince's call for a Hunt. If the general populace is swayed in this direction, the Prince's reign is effectively over. Some wily elders use the Hunt to get rid of Princes, by forcing their hands in calling a Hunt that will not be supported by the masses. Of course, a Prince "deposed" in this manner may try to hold on through sheer will and force, it is unlikely to last, and he may in fact become the target of a bloodhunt declared by his successor.

Prestation

The art of giving and granting favors - Boons

The world of vampires has a currency just like any other, but vampires are not generally that impressed with cold hard cash. They deal in something a bit more complicated, boons.
 
A boon is like a debt. You do someone a favor, and if they acknowledge that you helped them out, they now owe you a boon. Sounds pretty simple, but nothing in the world of darkness is ever simple when you take everything into account.

Also understand that a boon isn’t owed just when you take it upon yourself to declare it. If someone saves your existence by choice, and others see him do so, if you don’t acknowledge the boon, the court may destroy you. If a vampire becomes known as untrustworthy or an oath breaker, the harpies may allow others to ignore their debt to him later. (And it becomes very hard to trade in boons in any event.)
 
One thing to remember is that boons must be paid off because the social order demands it. If a Prince doesn’t enforce boons, then the people who owe him boons might not have to pay him off, and he isn’t going to tolerate that.

Boons fall into three categories: minor, major, and life boons. A simple request made in Elysium could very well be interpreted in the sense of boons. Failing to honor a boon can result in a drop in status. See Boons for more information.

Boons can also be traded like currency, you may have originally been indebted to Bob, the Brujah, Bob may trade that debt to someone else in order to pay off his own. In any case it can get very difficult to keep track of. Generally, harpies will keep track of boons, and they have a special knack for listening and marking favors asked and granted. Sometimes younger kindred do not even realize when they've accidentally placed themselves into the debt of another.