On the Consumption of Titles & Traditions

It is difficult to reconcile the preference for human titles with our immortal state. Perhaps we have clung to these antiquated relics of respect through a desire for constancy, or a longing for something that may approach our own immortal lifespans. King, Queen, Prince, Baron, Duke, Duchess. These titles define only the status of a person, and not their responsibilities. I much prefer the more practical descriptions of Keeper, Harpy and Sheriff, to the vaguely ominous and yet ubiquitous symbol of rulership that justifies any inequity, tyranny, villainy or imbecility, all propped up and supported by those with sufficient standing, status and title to remain invested in the perpetuation of a system that has been staggering along under the weight of its own inadequacy for two more centuries than it deserved.

Therefore I will be adopting the title of Arbiter of Greater Sacramento. The title clearly states that my responsibility is to resolve any dispute that occurs between our kindred that occurs within the bounds of Sacramento county. In addition, the power to ordain offices and individuals to hold those offices as needed to prosecute this responsibility lies within the purview of this title. Including the rights to domain.

I will also take on the title of Protector of Greater Sacramento. This self-descriptive title is limited only by the traditions we hold dear, including those of the Masquerade, Domain, Progeny, Accounting, Hospitality and Destruction. These are my responsibilities and I shall endeavor to ensure that they are neither onerous to bear, nor trivial to transgress.

The Masquerade shall be enforced by the Sheriff. It behooves all individuals to report any incident to the Sheriff that may merit their investigation. Furthermore, no impediment will be made in the prosecution of these duties lest those that obstruct the Sheriff in his duties find their own persons under scrutiny for the actions they conceal from the Sheriff's lawful investigations.

Our sheriff is: Theseus Ahroun of the Gangrel

What title should we address you by? Arbiter or Protector?

All kindred wishing to reside in Sacramento longer than the space of one day in a given lunar cycle, must present themselves to the Arbiter. It will be the duty of the Scourge to maintain watch over the diplomats and visitors of our city to ensure that no unacknowledged kindred hunts here. It is by tracking the deaths and assaults in the city that such criminals will be located and the Scourge must have the influence therefore to learn of these things in advance of the court's knowledge.

The Scourge will monitor the city to ensure that no domain is overextended through hunting, that the number of deaths through hunting are what could be associated with predators of the number and predilections of those that live there. The Scourge shall therefore be responsible for keeping a census of the city and any attempt to abrogate or obstruct that census taking shall be construed as an admission of guilt to be brought before the Arbiter.

Our Scourge is: Kali of the Assamites

In three weeks time, Richard will present to the arbiter a true and complete census of the city.

There are no circumstances in which the death of a vampire is warranted. However, at the unanimous request of the elders of this city, the right of destruction inside Greater Sacramento, outside of the domain of the Elders will belong to the Protector and the Protector alone. Inside a governor's domain, the right of destruction shall belong to the governor and the governor alone.

At the behest of the Arbiter, the Sheriff shall be responsible for ensuring that this right is not abused.

Greater Sacramento is a large domain, and investigating every mortal death in that domain would be prohibitive, so it will be the discretion of the Arbiter's ordained surrogates which of these deaths merit investigation. However, every death of a vampire inside the County of Sacramento shall require the Arbiter's attention and merit an investigation into the victim, perpetrator and the circumstances surrounding such and unfortunate event.

The Arbiter's surrogates shall be called Wardens, in the manner of Gamewardens, and shall be assigned areas of focus. This responsibility shall be accompanied with personal domains to improve their hunting and allow them to operate independently of their clanmates and elders.

The Wardens shall be three:

The South Warden shall have jurisdiction over every murder that takes place south of I-50 and East of the River. The West Warden shall have jurisdiction over every murder that takes place West of the railroad tracks, and north of I-50, and West of the River. The East Warden shall have jurisdiction over every murder that takes place East of the Railroad, and North of I-50.

• Our South Warden is: Jordy Masterson of the Brujah
  
• Our West Warden is: Demetria von Hausen of the Tremere
  
• Our East Warden is: Raven of the Gangrel

The enforcement of Domain promotes cooperation and coexistence between individuals that live through predation. It is the responsibility of all civilized nations to establish protocols and guidelines by which they agree to abide. Those that are tasked with a Domain shall be called Governors. Governors may subdivide their holdings to other kindred, but this privilege will not be taken into consideration by the Arbiter should reason arise to shift the boundaries of a domain.

The Governor of a domain is owed the Tradition of Hospitality inside his domain by any that cross that boundary regardless of title and status. All other Traditions are retained by the Arbiter. In the event that a blatant disregard is shown for the Tradition of Hospitality, the Governor may exercise any influence he feels necessary to end that trespass, or create a public dispute and recommend that situation to the Arbiter's judgment.

Though final judgment rests with the Arbiter, every Governor should place their confidence in the largesse of that judgment provided that every effort is made to preserve the Traditions in the event of the Governor's defense of their domain.

Foremost among all Governors is the Keeperof Elysium. Any building designated Elysium shall be, for the duration of that title, the sole domain fo the Keeper of Elysium.

Our Keeper of Elysium is: Marius of the Brujah

In three weeks time, Mr. Blackwell will present the Arbiter with the addresses of all permanent Elysiums which shall be a publicly known document. We will continue in the practice of shifting our meeting locations to discourage complacency.

If any individual is repeatedly found wanting in the measure of their adherence to the Traditions, that individual's shortcomings shall be made plain to all by the Harpy. The Harpy will accompany this record a full and complete record of all publicly known boons.

A full and complete record of the sires and childer shall be to the betterment of our society. The sins of the childe shall be rendered up to the sire, and the sins of the clan shall be the burden of the Elder to bear.

The Harpy shall spare no individual, regardless of station or status, who trespasses against the Traditions. The Harpy will keep a record of every publicly held boon. In addition, the Harpy will have the power to reduce in status those that flaunt the traditions. Furthermore, the Harpy shall have the power to recommend to the Arbiter any individual for whom these consequences are insufficient motivation to redress their ways.

Our Harpy is: Sayd Galut of the Settites

Sayd Galut will present a complete list of all childer, sires, and elders to the Arbiter in three weeks along with any publicly held boons.

Though it is never a light matter to engage in, the Tradition of Progeny is often treated as a political tool without concern for the mortal life that it will extinguish or the challenges that newly embraced individual will face. Because of the Arbiter's own inclinations against this practice, the Seneschal shall be ordained with this Tradition and any petition to create progeny will be made to the Seneschal. The Seneschal will exercise this privilege publicly with all of the gravity and concern that the matter deserves.

With this privilege, the Seneschal will gain the responsibility of advocating for those that he has helped to create. Any unacknowledged kindred, childe or ghoul will petition the Seneschal for an audience for any grievance they may hold against kindred, ghouls, elders or trespassers from other cities. The Seneschal will Advocate on behalf of any kindred who is in danger of being stripped of their acknowledgment and shall petition the Arbiter for the acknowledgment of any kindred entering the city.

The Seneschal is the Gatekeeper, the Ferryman between acknowledgment and disavowal. He shall bear the title Advocate when speaking on behalf of the unacknowledged residents of this city.

Our Seneschal and Advocate is: Richard Delacourt of the Tremere

There is some reorganization here. If the prose is unwieldy, blame a rhetorical streak that never left me in college. I shall endeavor to answer your questions now. And I hope that you will consider this treatise to be a living document, to be revised and clarified in accordance with what will promote our most successful society.

"There are no circumstances in which the death of a vampire is warranted."
To clarify for everyone, could you explain what that means?

I feel that with consideration to the advantages of a stick of wood, any destruction of a kindred materially deprives the city of resources, either in members, or in the availability of intelligence. Anyone who resorts to the destruction of kindred inside the county of Sacramento shall be subject to the Arbiter's direct inquiry.

Not any vampire can be stopped with a stake. Hearts can be moved or removed and there are ways to destroy stakes. What if a stake is not even at hand? Information is important I agree but if a person is attacked by a large group does he really need to stake each and every single one of his attackers when one might do? This policy seems like it could get Kindred of our city killed while they worry more about not killing their opponents instead of keeping themselves alive.

The policy is there to preserve the city. Rampant disregard for the immortality of life is what undid two of the last four rulers of this city. If you kill a vampire, it will be closely scrutinized. There is no situation where the death of a vampire is a desirable result.

How exactly will such a policy preserve the city? Please explain.

It is my hope that the city will benefit from three things that I bring to the table, leadership, transparency, and stability. Murder disrupts all three of those thing. It is done by the weak to disrupt the strong, it is done in the dark with motivations unknown and methods untold, and it has been the ending of two rulers in the past quarter century.

Now there are times when the death of a vampire is self-defense, and not murder. But those are the exception. Therefore, every vampiric death will be accounted for to the Arbiter to ensure that we do not promote an atmosphere of distrust, instability and secrecy.

Any further discussion becomes philosophical in nature and is not suited to this thread. I'll be happy to discuss it with you in person.

I was asking about self-defense Marius. It seems you missed that part, or I just didn't phrase it well. I consider defense of the city against it's enemies to be self-defense.

Well, that is where we got confused, you see, I don't equate defending property with self-defense. I don't see how those are the same at all. But that is beside the point also.

It all boils down to this. If you have the strength to kill a vampire, then you also have the strength to render them torpored instead. If you don't have the power to kill them, then most likely the only way you triumph is through the use of a stake, in which case, killing them is murder. Now, we differ philosophically on the nature of self-defense, so I recommend that we let this matter rest.

You were a soldier were you not? When you fought for your country did you not consider that self defense?

Another question I have is this. Say we do stake an enemy and does or doesn't have information. What then? Is he going to be let go or kept prisoner forever in some "Vault of Vampires?" Or is he then to be killed as soon as his usefulness is over?

That is a moral question that will weigh heavily on the Arbiter's conscience either way. Consider yourself lucky that such decisions are not yours to make.

I would like an answer though. Will they be let go or killed?

And I cannot give you that answer. The circumstances will dictate my decisions, so I cannot give you a blanket statement in one direction or another. I appreciate that your conscience discourages you from handing over a helpless victim to the authorities. I am sure you intend only to see that anyone you arrest will be fairly treated.

For crying out loud. Is this gonna be the Solomon Tells The Guy In Charge What To Do thread, or is it going to be the Marius Tells Us How The City Is Going To Function thread?

Because it we're getting all Solomon, all the time, I'd appreciate the thread being retitled so I don't feel obliged to watch it. If important information is going to be placed here, I'd appreciate it if the attempted emasculation of our fearless leader be consigned elsewhere.

For my sanity. Please.

Thank you Vai. I shall only address any further questions if they pertain to the Traditions or Titles themselves. I apologize for getting involved in discussion irrelevant to this forum and have taken it to private message.

Well apparently its now the "Vai bitches about people asking questions of her friend Marius" thread. Apparently she thinks everyone should just blindly follow orders. You'd have made a good circle Tremere with that attitude.

Its not irrelevant to discuss these changes and policies you are making either. I'm sure others probably have questions about them as well.