By Ian Sheridan and revised by Andrew Lucas (kebl0297@sable.ox.ac.uk) based on the works of Clive Barker.
After three successes by the Cenobites, the victim becomes subconsciously aware of what is going on, as a two way gate is established. The victim may comply, in which case a full doorway is opened. If not, the victim may make a Willpower roll to resist (difficulty eight, at least!), with each success being deducted from the successes of the Cenobites. If, during this struggle, the Cenobites' successes reach zero, the victim is freed and the gate closed. If the Cenobites achieve a further four successes (for a total of seven), however, a doorway opens, and the victim goes to Hell.
When the doorway opens between Earth and Hell, the Cenobites may choose to come through, as the victim's immediate surroundings temporarily become part of Hell. The victim may also, if unmolested by them, wander into Hell proper through the gate. The Cenobites, when they appear, will, as Mr. Sheridan puts it, "grant the wish..[of the victim]..or commit their worst nightmare upon..[them].., whichever is worse." After the victim's body has been destroyed, her soul is dragged into Hell to suffer and enjoy further. At this point, the Cenobites close the gate, and the connection is broken.
It is possible to realise the Lament Configuration even further, in truly exceptional cases. In such a case, the Cenobites would forebear to act until the gateway is open, which allows them to bring Leviathan into our world, effectively swallowing Earth within Hell.
Cenobites are, in game terms, analogous to vampires. Obviously, blood, Generation, sunlight and frenzy are irrelevant to them. They automatically regenerate one health level per turn when injured, due to the power of Leviathan, even if "killed." Aggravated wounds from supernatural attack can only be healed in Hell, in the presence of Leviathan. They possess the equivalents of the Disciplines of Fortitude, Daimoinon and Presence. They all possess the equivalent of Heightened Senses, and in addition, all Cenobites can employ various supernatural powers relating to torture, which Mr. Sheridan defines as a Discipline called "Poenaplaceunque". Cenobites have an additional characteristic called Horror, representing the degree to which they are mutilated. Amongst "normal" people, this characteristic is effectively subtracted from their Appearance and added to their Intimidation dice pool. Horror is ranked from one to five, with one representing the most superficial mutilation and five representing injuries that make the Cenobite appear totally inhuman. Horror is ignored amongst those who share the Leviathan's frame of mind, such as willing victims of the Lament Configuration gate. When initially generated, one half (rounding down) of the Cenobite's Humanity is immediately removed, and added to their willpower. Cenobites have no initial Background points, twenty freebee points, and five points worth of Disciplines (plus the free point of Auspex). However, most Cenobites encountered will be older and more experienced. The only Disciplines permitted are those listed above, plus Potence, Celerity, Dominate and possibly others if the ST thinks them appropriate. Auspex may rise as high as three, other disciplines may reach level five. Poenaplaceunque is a special case. Backgrounds may be bought with freebee points, and, in a game with PC Cenobites, would represent soething analogous to a wraith's fetters, in providing connections to the real world. The allowable Backgrounds are Status (within the hierachy of Hell (the only background possessed by the older Cenobites)), Resources (on Earth), Fame (On Earth), Family (On Earth) and Love (On Earth). The last two represent attachments to people left behind, their numerical rating indicating a combination of the intensity of the memory and the degree of the attachment. Other Backgrounds can readily be invented.