Auctoritas Ritae The Vaulderie

Source: https://vamp.bynightstudios.com/vampire/library/auctoritasritaethevaulderiesabbat

The Vaulderie is the foremost ritual of the Sword of Caine. It ensures freedom from the blood bond, as well as promoting unity between bickering political factions. The Vaulderie gives vampires a simulated emotional connection to their comrades known as vinculum. Unlike the blood bond, which can be one-way from regnant to thrall, a vinculum affects how you feel toward multiple people — and ensures how they feel about you. Like them or not, you have an affinity towards those with those with whom you Vaulderie. Your packmate may be a monster, but she is your monster — and you are hers.

As Paths of Enlightenment grow popular among members of the sect (who revel in anything that throws off the shackles of Humanity), the Vaulderie has become even more critical. Vampires on paths are fanatic about their enlightenment, to the detriment of sect allegiance, faith, and even survival.

Vaulderies are small affairs, not 50-person blood orgies. Individual Vaulderies are typically comprised of 10 to 15 members. When the sect gathers en masse, its members perform many small Vaulderies between packs, along clan lines, within factions, or among those with similar personal ethics. It is a matter of politic at a gathering as to who you Vaulderie with first, or whom you avoid. Cunning vampires can learn a great deal by watching the ebb and flow of Vaulderie circles over the course of a night.

System Rules

Performing the Vaulderie

To begin the Vaulderie, the Priest or clergy member officiating the ritus gathers the participants into a circle. She then brings forth a vessel and a weapon: usually a chalice and a consecrated knife. Standing in the center of the circle, surrounded by kneeling assistants, the priest initiates the ritual. This may involve a Sermon of Caine or simply a short,

inspirational speech.

The officiant then chants the ceremonial words of the Vaulderie, "My blood springs from Caine, and is gladly spilled in his service." Thereafter, she cuts her wrist and bleeds into the cup. The officiant (or one of her ritual assistants) then carries the chalice around the circle, so that each vampire in the ritus can speak the same blessing and add her blood to the mix. Traditionally, the officiant takes chalice to the most prestigious vampire participating in the ritual and then proceeds to the left from that point.

Once everyone in the circle has contributed, the officiant stands in the center of the circle once more and lifts the cup toward the heavens. She speaks the second ceremonial invocation of the Vaulderie, "Praise Caine! May the bonds be broken." The blood within the cup is transubstantiated and purified by the ritual. This act removes the taint of disease or drugs, and negates powers that leave lingering harmful effects in the blood (such as Acid Blood).

The officiant then drinks from the chalice, thanking Caine for his blessing. She (or one of her assistants) carries the chalice around the circle again, beginning with the most prestigious and then moving to the left of that individual. Each repeats the second invocation and drinks from the chalice, until the final vampire in the ritual drains the chalice dry. The rite is now complete.

Remember that the Vaulderie is a pretend pageant, and that Vampire: The Masquerade is a game. Don't carry the roleplay too far, and don't make anyone uncomfortable. Remember that real bloodletting in entirely inappropriate, and should not be allowed at any point in the game.

Vinculum Ratings

Vinculum is very similar to the blood bond, but there are several key differences between the two. Most importantly, vinculum is always mutual; someone cannot have a vinculum without the other individual feeling the same vinculum in return. Once a character has participated in a Vaulderie with another individual, she always has a vinculum rating of 1 toward that individual. This rating is permanent. A vinculum rating between two characters is based on how often those characters participate in the Vaulderie together. Although this system is somewhat different from the one used in tabletop games, the intent is to keep the feel and restrictions of the Vaulderie, while still utilizing a flexible and simple system appropriate for live-action games.

System:

Successfully participating in a Vaulderie requires a basic belief in Caine and in the doctrine of the Sabbat. Only willing individuals can participate in the Vaulderie. A character cannot be forced to take part, or the ritual will fail. False Sabbat who drink but do not contribute blood receive Vinculum ratings to others without those characters developing a Vinculum rating to the false Sabbat member in return. This is an exception to the rule that Vinculum ratings are always mutual.

When two characters first participate in a Vaulderie ritual together, they gain a vinculum of 1 to each other. Vinculums between two individuals cannot be raised more than once in a single night, no matter how many Vaulderies the two individuals participate in during that night. Thereafter, whenever you meet that other player in-game, you must determine the current vinculum rating between your two characters. To do that, answer the following questions:

Have you participated in a Vaulderie with this individual every few days for the last three months? If so, you have a rating of 5. Vinculum ratings of 5 are uncommon and short-lived: the better to protect against a tie that feels too much like the blood bond. You are completely infatuated with the other person, believing anything she says and instinctively aiding her whenever possible (even to your own detriment). To work against her best interest, you must spend 2 Willpower per scene; to attack her, you must spend 2 points of Willpower each round. You are incapable of killing the subject or knowingly allowing her to be killed.
Have you participated in a Vaulderie with this individual approximately every week for the past three months? If so, you have a rating of 4. You might have missed a few weeks during those three months, but you cannot miss more than two weeks in a row. You feel as though the other person is an integral part of your life: a lover or a trusted companion. You will instinctively aid the other individual, and you always give her the benefit of the doubt. To work against the subject's best interest, you must spend a Willpower per scene; to attack the subject, you must spend a point of Willpower each round. You must also spend a Willpower to kill her or to knowingly allow her to be killed.
Have you participated in a Vaulderie with this individual more than 10 times in the last year? If so, you have a rating of 3. You feel a close connection and deep friendship with that individual, as though you had been friends for a very long time. A character must spend a point of Willpower to attack a person with whom she has a vinculum rating of 3. If you spend a Willpower, you can attack her for the rest of the scene. You do not need to spend this Willpower during Ignoblis games, training sessions, or other non-murderous fights. You can disagree with her or cause her troubles, but you actively do not wish to cause her harm.
Have you participated in a Vaulderie with this individual more than once in the past year? If so, you have a rating of 2. You feel a sense of empathy towards the other vampire, as though she is your friend. A character must spend a point of Willpower to kill a person with whom she has a vinculum rating of 2. You may plot against her, harm her, or cause her embarrassment, but ending her life is not something you want to do.
The first time you participate in a Vaulderie with someone, you gain a rating of 1. This rating is permanent, no matter how long it has been since you participated in the Vaulderie together. You feel a sense of kinship and are neutral-to-friendly with the subject. There is no mechanical effect.

Anyone who participates in a Vaulderie automatically has all her blood bonds lowered by one step. This reduction cannot occur more than once per night.

Source Book: MET - VTM - Core Book