DISCIPLES OF ERIS

By Sarah Trout (holychao@swbell.net). Also see the Disciples of Eris bloodline.

Parent Tradition

Cult of Ecstacy

Description

The splinter Tradition known as the Disciples of Eris arose in the late 1950's, founded by a renegade Tremere vampire who had been a Cultist in life. The fact that the vampire who now calls herself Eris retained almost all of the magickal ability of her warm days after her Embrace both intrigued and unnerved Clan Tremere, and the elders of the Clan attempted to capture and study her in order to better understand the phenomenon so they could create a strike force of vampires capable of working true magick.

This was easier said than done.

Although Eris and her handful of Ecstatic followers were successful in keeping the Tremere at bay, they realized that they were going to need help. Eris petitioned her old mentor for aid, and got it in the form of a legion of mage volunteers for her Embrace. Some did not survive. Most lost their magickal ability. But a good number -- fifty or so -- came through the Embrace with their magickal ability intact. All, however, were branded on the forehead with the mark of the Tremere antitribu.

In an inspired moment, Eris gathered her followers together, Vampire and mage alike, and enacted a great ritual that rendered the mark visible to mundane sight. From that moment, even the mortal mages were marked as Erisians, and the brand transformed from a mark of shame to a mark of pride. As a result, an Erisian, breathing or not, can be identified by the glowing blue sigil on her forehead.

It was around the mid-40's that Eris discovered her namesake, the goddess of chaos. Eris began to seriously study the dynamics of chaos magick and apply them to both true magick and Thaumaturgy; thus were born a multitude of magickal effects and a new Thaumaturgy Path, the Path of Discordia. Eris discovered that Discordian magick was often hilarious to perform (Discordian magick involves anything and everything from bad puns to board games to practical jokes) and therefore infinitely less stressful than most other forms of magick...which made higher-level magick incredibly easy. However, Vampire Erisians only use true magick as a last resort; they pick up Paradox twice as fast as mortal mages.

Many say that the Disciples of Eris are responsible for the beginnings of the Discordian religion. The Disciples of Eris are accepted as full members of the Cult of Ecstacy. Even mages of other Traditions who join their ranks are adopted into the Tradition with open arms.

The appearance of the Erisians varies wildly. There are hippies, goths, weirdos in robes, 80's cute-punk-Valley-Girl teenyboppers, swashbuckling caped avengers, you name it. Many Erisians are mistaken for Marauders.

Philosophy

Why be normal? Your pineal gland is trying to tell you something. As soon as you go out of your way to conform you might as well just lay down and croak.

Style

The Discordian magick of the Erisians serves a dual purpose. First, the light and humorous nature of Discordian workings relieves some of the stress and nervousness that goes along with magickal work and makes it much easier to pull off high-level effects. Second, Erisian magick is often underestimated because of its levity; Erisians are usually not taken seriously until it's too late.

Sphere

Time

Common Foci

Incense, music, a special bell called the Chao Bell which is worn around the neck and rung, large quantities of beer

Organization

The Erisian hierarchy is designed to poke fun at the revered Pyramid of the Tremere. Apprentices are called Popes, while Masters are referred to as Clowns, Poo-Bahs, or Dudes. Other than that, there really isn't much structure to speak of. Erisians hold meetings on the 23rd of each month to discuss progress in the Ascension War and to eat hot dogs. By about the half-hour mark the meeting deteriorates into a party.

Initiation

Varies wildly. Initiates must demonstrate magickal talent, wit, and plain-old attitude. One of the more imaginative (and dangerous) tests involves having the initiate tie a bell around a sleeping Tremere's neck.

Acolytes

Anarchists, Discordians, hedonists

Concepts

Reality buster, cutey-punk, borderline Marauder material

Stereotypes

Akashic Brotherhood: You guys could learn a lot from Liu Kang. Come out of yer dusty old monasteries and kick some butt.

Celestial Chorus: [snore] 'Nuff said.

Cult of Ecstacy: Our roots lie with these wonderful folks. We stand with them no matter what.

Dreamspeakers: Good ideas, great drugs, lousy sense of humor.

Euthanatos: Who? Oh yeah. those guys. [shudder] No comment.

Order of Hermes: Get with the times, Merlin. Besides that, these creeps spawned the Tremere.

Sons of Ether: I don't know about some of their stuff, but they seem pretty harmless to me.

Verbena: Yes, they're scary, aren't they? You should be scared of them.

Virtual Adepts: Good folks, but the need to focus more in the real world and less on this cyberspace crap.

Hollow Ones: [shrug] Whatever.