IMPERITURAE

By J.D. Carriker (oakthorne@hotmail.com)

Nickname

The Undying

Description

The Imperiturae are less of a family than a religious order, in terms of social organization. Complete isolationists, the Undying have served their Inconnu masters for centuries, in Inconnu strongholds tucked away from Kindred and kine alike.

The Imperiturae were first founded as Rome began to rise in power, sometime after 200 BC. The kindred who gathered there (to be later known as the Inconnu) saw the need for a group of daytime defenders and agents. So, drawing from various bodies of lore (including that of the Tzimisce), these ambitious Kindred created the Imperiturae.

They found the perfect candidates in the blood cult of a Cappadocian member of their order. This cult worshipped their domitor as the earthly embodiment of the chthonic diety Dis Pater. In short order, they were ghouls to the Inconnu. Generations later, the Imperiturae birthed their first Revenant -- a boy-child called Disfilis (Son of Dis). By this time, Rome was teetering on the verge of total collapse and the Goths slavered at the Empire's gates.

Many Inconnu fled Rome, but a few retreated into the Catholic Church. With them went the Imperiturae, becoming a secret order of monks within the Church. In time, even the teachings of the Imperiturae changed, as they absorbed more and more of the Church teachings. Soon, worship of Dis became the worship of the Risen Christ, as ascendant over death as Dis Pater. Eventually, their moral system (which included Cainites in an exalted role) trickled down to Cainite morality, becoming the Via Caeli, or Road of Heaven (see Vampire: the Dark Ages for details of this Road).

As time has passed, the Imperiturae have continued their reverence for their Inconnu masters and providers. As happens to any organization secluded from the parent branch, the religious practices of the Imperiturae have wildly diverged from the Catholic faith. The Imperiturae never took vows of chastity or celibacy; their Mothers and Fathers are more than just titles. The Communion is precisely that -- touching God through his angels, the Cainites, who provide the Vitae in the chalice. Their Mass is held at night to accomidate their Cainite patrons and should any of them be so honored with the Embrace, the new Angel of God is shrouded and placed within a tomb. When he emerges three nights later, he is proclaimed to be Resurrected.

Appearance

The Imperiturae all dress in the garb of monks and nuns, excepting the Father of a Sanctuary, who wears the fine vestments of a priest. Brothers allow their beards and hair to grow long; only the Father is clean shaven.

Family Estates

The homes of the Imperiturae are always secluded Sanctuaries, a monastery and convent built flanking a central chapel. These Sanctuaries are built in secluded places, difficult to find and reach, though always near two or more Inconnu Monitors who watch over the Sanctuary and provide the Vitae for Communion. Over the years, many Sanctuaries have been built, but because of their secretive nature, it is unknown exactly how many are still inhabited. Some that are known are in the Appenine Mts (one near Rome and another near Naples), Atlas Mts (near Algiers, Algeria), Pyrenees Mts (near Barcelona, Spain), Scottish Highlands, Kyolen Mts (near Oslo, Norway), Sierra Madre Occidental (one near San Salvador, El Salvador, another near Monterey, Mexico), Rocky Mts (near Albuquerque, NM), Coast Mts (near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), Sierra Nevada (near Los Angeles, CA), Appalacian Mts (near Washington, DC) and the Black Mts (Maine).

Background

All of the Imperiturae are well-learned, able to speak a number of languages (though usually in old dialects). Each adult member of the family has a duty to perform for the Sanctuary. Also a small number of the Imperiturae develop True Faith at later ages (when they have advanced to a 9+ on the Path of Heaven, though not all who achieve these heights gain True Faith).

Character Generation

Imperiturae are suggested as NPCs, simply bcause of the uninteresting lives they lead (in the light of role-playing). All are Outsiders, with Mental Attributes and Knowledges primary. They may not take Backgrounds that deal with the outside world, nor "modern day" Abilities. All have the Anachronism Flaw.

Disciplines

Auspex, Fortitude, Obfuscate. Many also study the holy magical arts of Theurgy (treat as Thaumaturgy with religious trappings, or see the Inquisition sourcebook for Vampire:the Masquerade).

Weakness

All Imperiturae participate in the Communion (Vaulderie) weekly, using the Vitae of their Inconnu patrons. All Imperiturae begin participation in the Communion from the first time any of their revenant powers manifest.

Preferred Paths

Imperiturae follow the Road of Heaven (see Vampire:the Dark Ages) to a one.

Family Organization

Each Sanctuary is run by a Father, the eldest to manifest True Faith. Others who do likewise shave their faces but still wear monastic garb and are called Uncles. The Father's wife is the Mother, who likewise is the eldest woman to manifest True Faith. It should be noted that the manifestation of True Faith is rare; the largest Sanctuaries have perhaps two or three who wied it. Most have only one or even none at all. Should any other females manifest True Faith, they are given the title of Aunts. Those men and women who have shown the use of Disciplines (i.e. have come of age as Revenants) are Brothers and Sisters. The only established married couple is the Mother and Father. All others are paired off by Father and Mother after Communion ("As you have Communed in Spirit, Commune now in Body"), usually for ideal breeding purposes, though as Brothers and Sisters age, those who love one another are often allowed their Bodily Communion at this time. In any case, the Brothers and Uncles live in the monastery quarters, while Sisters and Aunts live in the Convent. In the Roman Sanctuary dwells the leader of all the family, the Imperiturae Pater, who is a combination family patriarch/ Pope for the Imperiturae.

Gaining Family Recognition

Loyal service to family and Inconnu, manifesting True Faith, being chosen to found a new Sanctuary (though only Aunts and Uncles are given this distinction, for they will be the Mother and Father of the new Sanctuary), learning Theurgy.

Duties

The Imperiturae guard the Inconnu who Haven in the lavish vaults beneath the Sanctuaries, protect Torporous Inconnu, provide themselves as vessels (when the need is great), perform cataloguing and scribing duties and in general obey the commands of the Inconnu (who are forbidden to ask them to leave their Sanctuary, for the Imperiturae are distinctly unable to cope with the modern world, though a few brave Imperiturae have done so in emergencies in the past).