Path of Quantum Death
By Patrick K. Aiex (paiex@indiana.edu) for the 5150s bloodline.
We came about by accident. All life comes about by accident. By and large, death happens in much the same manner. In order to understand life, death, and the forces that tie all things together, one must search for patterns in all things. No one can escape the quantum flux -- all are trapped. Only through understanding can one ride the wave.-- The Master, Founder of Bloodline 5150
Nickname
Basic Beliefs
Pattern Dancers believe that quantum mechanics and chaos theory hold the answers to all questions of life and unlife. Finding this wisdom requires the Dancers to look for and attempt to understand how chaos theory affects the world around them. One example used in many chaos theory texts is that if a butterfly flutters its wings in a particular pattern, it may cause a storm to develop over Madagascar. If the same butterfly flaps its wings in a different pattern, it may make the sun shine in France. All is chance, say the Pattern Dancers. It's just a matter of learning how to read the chances before they happen. This search for meaning in interlocking patterns will, say the Pattern Dancers, lead to the understanding of something known as "the greater pattern." The greater pattern is an ill-defined concept in which all patterns merge, and are dictated only by the unpredictable rules of chaos theory.Like the Path of Caine or the Path of Blood, Quantum Death not only condones but espouses the virtues of diablerie. Only two exceptions are made: no 5150 shall diablerize another of his bloodline; nor shall any Unconquered Assamite be diablerized. When it comes to the simple killing of Cainites -- not diablerie -- the Quantum Dancers (and 5150s in general) will seek to kill any Giovanni they encounter.
The Path of Quantum Death seeks to increase the practitioner's awareness of the patterns all around him, and eventually, how to 'ride' those patterns to the practitioner's best advantage.
The Ethics of the Path
Read all available work on the subject of quantum mechanics and/or chaos theory. Seek to understand what you read, even if it means going back to school to learn. Study patterns in all that you see and do. Study patterns in all that everyone else says and does. Take any opportunity to diablerize anyone not protected by the Master's laws. Serve the Sabbat with complete loyalty. When the Sabbat (or one of its duly recognized representative) issues an order, carry it out to the best of your ability. Provide the Black Hand with special loyalty. If the Sabbat ever falls, it is more than likely that the Black Hand will survive.
History
The Path of Quantum Death developed as a result of the Master's fascination with quantum mechanics and chaos theory, a holdover from his mortal days as a physicist. It is the Master who set down the tenets of the faith, and declared certain texts to be 'canon'. Among the best known are anything written by Stephen Hawking, and the text by John R. Gribbin, In Search of Schrodinger's Cat.The Path is as new as the bloodline itself, and as such, is still evolving. This is the reason why the Master has only the one rule concerning diablerie 'set in stone'. All else is malleable, as befits a bloodline who revels in chaos and disorder.
Current Practices
5150s, despite their small numbers, are enthusiastic participants in the Creation Rites. They see the Rites as a particularly powerful embodiment of chaos patterns. One never knows what will happen during a Rite. In their free time, they either read the latest texts on chaos theory and quantum mechanics, or discuss it in small groups. The only ritual observed by Pattern Dancers is that of the Chaos Dance, done at each year's Pallas Grande. In the Chaos Dance, the Pattern Dancers whirl about the stage madly, resembling dervishes. If one watches, the dancers form abstract patterns. As the troupe on stage makes subtle use of the Dementation Discipline, the viewers are tantalized with brief glimpses of the significance behind the patterns.
Description of Followers
So far, only the 5150s follow the Path of Quantum Death, although a few Assamite antitribu have expressed interest in it. For notes on Appearance, see the relevant section. In manner and bearing, Pattern Dancers love to throw in bits of trivia on chaos theory or quantum mechanics, or pointing out to their packmates when chaos theory is at work around them.
Views About the Other Paths
Path of Caine: Anything the Assamites dig is cool. This drive for oneness with Caine is something we can understand. It's all in the pattern, man.Path of Cathari: Kinda sorta cool. This duality thing comes close to the truth. They're so close and yet so far.
Path of Death and the Soul: There's pattern here, if only a pattern of corruption and decay. But we gotta say okay, 'cause it's our other brother bloodline, the Samedi, who follow this Path."
Path of Harmony: Ummmmmm. I don't think so. They've taken a pattern, which is cool, but they don't run far enough with it. They don't try and see the other patterns that affect this one.
Path of Honorable Accord: Some of our bloodline follow this Path, and if for that reason alone, we gotta respect it.
Path of Evil Revelations: Nope. There's no pattern here. It's pure chaos, and while that is cool in theory, the way they're workin' it is just wrong.
Path of Power and the Inner Voice: No pattern, only domination. This is no Path.
Hierarchy of Sins
| Path Rating | Minimum Wrongdoing for Path Roll
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| 10 | Spending less than two hours a week in pursuit of more knowledge on the subjects of chaos theory and quantum mechanics.
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| 9 | Showing fear of Final Death -- which betrays fear of the greater pattern.
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| 8 | Acting against the Sabbat.
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| 7 | Failing to look for patterns that may lead to fuller understanding of the greater pattern.
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| 6 | Failing to diablerize a more powerful vampire when the opportunity presents itself.
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| 5 | Failing to bring to light a breakthrough in chaos theory or quantum mechanics when one is found.
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| 4 | Failing to participate in the Chaos Dance when asked to do so.
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| 3 | Failing to engineer a prank that demonstrates the greater pattern at least once a month to your packmates.
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| 2 | Needlessly preventing a death -- which prohibits expansion of the greater pattern.
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| 1 | Failing to go where the greater pattern takes you, if it could lead to important revelations about the Path or the bloodline.
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Following the Path
The Path of Quantum Death is difficult, if only for the vast amount of esoteric wisdom and technical knowledge that its practitioners must comprehend. Many of the warrior 5150s eschew this Path as being too "intellectual" and follow the Path of Honorable Accord instead. Those of the thinking caste of 5150s follow this Path exclusively.A character on this Path should express a voracious interest in all things having to do with chaos theory and quantum mechanics, and show adulation nearing on god worship for leading thinkers in the field. Many 5150s find it ironically appropriate that one of the most popular characters in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Jurassic Park was the minor character played by Jeff Goldblum, a chaos theorist. Characters should view the world with the mixture of wide-eyed innocence typical of Malkavians and cynicism shown by Samedi. They may be easy to get along with most of the time, but when they find a person who does not see the patterns that they see, they will pick on that character mercilessly. Pattern Dancers should always seek to expose the greater pattern, and teach those around them about the greater pattern. Pack Recognition, Clan Prestige, and Sabbat Status are all very important to Pattern Dancers, due to the fanatical devotion that all 5150s have for the Sabbat.
Common Abilities
Brawl, Firearms, Intimidation, Medicine, Kindred Lore, Occult, Science, Subterfuge, and others are all common abilities.
Preferred Disciplines
The practitioners of the Path of Quantum Death share one thing with those who follow the Path of Power and the Inner Voice, and that is a belief that no one Discipline is more important than another. All Disciplines should be developed to their fullest possible potential. As of late, the Master has exhorted all his progeny to learn the Disciplines of Auspex and Dominate, as these Disciplines greatly facilitate interaction with mortals and the acquisition of knowledge concerning chaos theory and quantum mechanics.
Do's and Don'ts of Following the Path of Quantum Death
1. You act with great enthusiasm for unlife, especially with regard to the fields of chaos theory and quantum mechanics.2. You follow orders issued by your Sabbat superiors unquestioningly, except when doing so would result in the obviously senseless Final Death of the follower.
3. You show great interest in making new friends and educating them about the greater pattern.
4. You do not resist frenzy, as to do so is resisting the greater pattern.
5. You quote material or trivia about chaos theory and/or quantum mechanics when the situation calls for it.
6. You read a great deal, focusing primarily on the areas of chaos theory and quantum mechanics.
7. You don't mind killing when necessary -- you will do it cheerfully, in fact.
8. You don't fear Final Death, but you will avoid it until you've discovered all you can about the greater pattern.
9. You spend a lot of your free time reading, or socializing with others of your bloodline. If none are available, you will try and teach your packmates about the greater pattern.
10. You will, if allowed to by your Sabbat superiors, form friendships with mortals in the field of chaos theory or quantum mechanics.