Path of Glorious Reclamation

Nickname

Reclamationists

History

This offshoot of the Path of Caine developed almost exclusively within the Tzimisce clan. However, it quickly spread among the Assamite antitribu, the Panders, and a few members of the other clans. This Path raised a few eyebrows by being the first to back the Panders as a legitimate clan in the Sabbat. Their argument was simple: it matters not who gave the vampire her blood, only what she does with it.

This path has been primarily responsible for the Sabbat's bogeyman status among other sects. Even within the Sabbat, there are those who cringe at the thought of working with a Reclamationist. The Reclamationists, lost in their self-improvement and dreams of All-Fatherhood, could not care less.

In current times, the Path of Reclamation tries to curb the number of vampires created during sieges, and generally refuses to create vampires to use as cannon fodder. Their members are known for coming up with ingenious alternatives to this tried-and-true Sabbat tactic, but old ways die hard. They also fight for equality among the clans; to them, the idea that an entire bloodline is de facto inferior to any other is ridiculous. All vampires have the right to prove themselves before earning the epithets of 'weak' or 'worthless.'

Basic Beliefs

"In the Beginning, There Was Only One. In the End, Only One Shall Survive." This is the credo of the Reclamationists, who have geared themselves to be ready when Gehenna comes. In the meantime, they hunt down and diablerize vampires who are unworthy of the Gift of Caine (which naturally includes every vampire who is not a member of the Sabbat). They believe that only they have found a "proper" morality for the Sons and Daughters of Caine to follow. They see themselves as predators, not former humans, and attempting to act and feel as if they are human is the root of evil among all vampires.

Animal blood is to be scorned, and even human blood is poor in nourishment. Only vitae and diablerie are meals worthy of the ultimate predators. Thus, Reclamationists prefer to foster human genocide, to force vampires to hunt other vampires. They cannibalize their kind not only for the power of the vitae, but to cull the weak, the stupid, the decadent and the undisciplined from their ranks. In the end, one of their ranks shall find and diablerize Caine himself, and from there beget a new and better race of vampires. Until then, it is a blasphemy to feed the Gift of Caine to humans or animals, or to sire childer unless the new vampire exhibits the proper predatory traits for one on the Path of Reclamation.

Reclamationists devoutly believe in self-reliance. They proselytize that the new vampire should spend her unlife learning everything necessary to make her a smarter and stronger vampire, thus bettering the odds of being able to consume Caine at the end of Gehenna. Depending on others, even those you have made your slaves, may cause you to grow decadent and soft. Better to be alone and self-reliant, without the weakness of attachments (physical or emotional) to slow you down.

Ethics of the Path

• Cull the weak and useless from the vampire line. Use the Gift of Caine wisely, so that others do not cull you.
• Sire no vampires; those you do sire must prove themselves worthy or you must take back your vitae. Never waste your vitae making animal or human ghouls.
• Become skilled at everything, and thus dependent on no one.
• Challenge those who have proven weak or foolish. Allow others to challenge you.
• Harness the Beast; only let it out when appropriate.
• Feel no kinship to humans or animals, and very little kinship to other vampires. All other vampires will be enemies when Gehenna comes.
• Develop yourself to the fullest possible potential physically, mentally, and spiritually.
• Fight the effects of Vaulderie or the Blood Bond whenever possible.
• Waste no time or energy in the pursuit of political power, wealth, inter-clan squabbling, artistic noodling, etc. Never play silly games with your prey. Always focus yourself on the goal of becoming the new All-Father.

Description of Followers

Members of this Path are fanatical and focused. They defend their ideals with gusto and fury. They are highly competitive and have a rather confident outlook. "Never give up, never surrender" is one of their basic creeds. Although loners by nature, they prefer the company of vampires to mortals. They can usually be counted on to inspire others when getting ready for a War Party. They tend to see themselves as the embodiment of their Path, and act accordingly.

Following the Path

The character should be:
• self-reliant to the point of feeling insulted if anyone offers to help.
• waiting impatiently for the opportunity to diablerize.
• dismissive of those who claim a given clan/bloodline is innately inferior or superior to others.
• contemptuous of those vampires who associate with humans or "play with their food."
• extremely reluctant to sire new vampires.
• extremely competitive and self-confident.
• devoting herself to self-improvement at every spare opportunity.
• dismissive of wealth, status, or political power, except when it would improve his chances of accomplishing his ultimate goals.
• willing to die rather than back down.

Common Abilities

All Reclamationists are somewhat skilled in the following: Alertness, Brawl, Dodge, Intimidation, Kindred Lore, Meditation, Melee, Occult, Sense Deception, Stealth, and Subterfuge. Various martial sub-Abilities are also emphasized.

Preferred Disciplines

Auspex, Celerity, Fortitude, Potence, Protean, Quietus, and Vicissitude are favored. In practice, all Disciplines are to be developed to their fullest potential.

Hierarchy Of Sins

10	Doing anything foolish, wasteful, or unnecessary.
9	Refusing a challenge to Monomacy; siring new vampires, or making ghouls.
8	Showing respect to those who have not proven that they have greater power and wisdom than you; unnecessarily involving yourself in "useless" activities, such as acquiring too much wealth, political intriguing, romantic attachments, etc.
7	Feeding on humans if there are appropriate vampires nearby; depending on anyone for any reason, even if it means Final Death.
6	Not diablerizing an "unworthy" vampire; feeling remorse over a fallen vampire.
5	Not spending some part of the night in self-improvement; siring an unworthy childe.
4	Accepting a less capable/weaker generation vampire than yourself as leader, feeling self-doubt, depending on others unless it means Final Death.
3	Refusing to be part of a War Party; accepting defeat at the hands of non-vampires.
2	Expressing fear, sympathy, compassion, or any "human" emotion; caring what happens to humans
1	Drinking animal blood; acting on self-doubt.

Views about other Paths

Path of Caine: Our spiritual forefathers, but their lack of enthusiasm and their scholastic tendencies will be their downfall. They must practice more of what they preach.

Path of Cathari: A sickness and rot within our society. Were it not for our need to eliminate the Camarilla, these would have already fallen under our fangs.

Path of Death and the Soul: They understand much of how we exist, but are hopelessly lost on why. Their pointless obsession with death will lead them to their goals much quicker than they realize.

Path of Evil Revelations: They pollute the vitae so profoundly that it cannot be reclaimed. They are poisoned whores among us, selling themselves and others out to the highest bidder. They must be annihilated!

Path of Harmony: What is the compromise between death and life? Or between light and darkness? Or between predator and prey? How then can we "compromise" between humanity and vampirism?

Path of Honorable Accord: Sad, noble fools. There is no honor among predators, and they shall only know this upon Gehenna.

Path of Power and the Inner Voice: They are the opposite side of the same flawed coin as the Noddists. Instead of knowing the truth but not acting on it, they act on every predatory impulse they have, without separating between the necessary and the frivolous.