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Ranks in the Sabbat



The Sabbat is not a very structured sect. There are many levels and positions of leadership. However, unlike the Camarilla, the positions are filled only by the most loyal and capable vampires, regardless of generation. The role of leader in the sect is just that: A Leader. Leaders are not rulers. However, the higher the level of leadership, the more Sabbat will listen to and obey the leader.

The Sabbat uses the titles of clergy to denote the basic levels of leadership that exist within the sect. The practice started partially out of mockery, but has developed into a useful representation of leadership.

Regent

- The highest title in the Sabbat is that of Regent, who is the absolute leader of the Sabbat and (according to Sabbat doctrine) is merely overseeing the sons and daughters of Caine until Caine returns to lead his children himself. The Regent is the president, so to speak, of this vampire sect. The Regent does not have absolute authority, but her directives are usually carried out. The title of Regent is currently held by Merlinda (Lasombra). There have been only 4 Regents in the Sabbat's history (3 Lasombra and one Tzimisce).

The Regents responsibilities include:

Oversee all matters of the Pack
Handle all disputes that cannot be resolved by the Cardinals/Prisci
Has the authority to make/break alliances and declare enemies *
Has all powers regarding promotion and demotion of those within the Pack *
May bring others in to Unlife or give them Final Death *
Member of the Inner Circle with full voting power

Cardinals

- Assisting the Regent are the Cardinals of the Sabbat. This lot has managed to gain control over large geographical regions, similar to how the Tremere Inner Circle have large assigned territories. . The Cardinals seldom answer to the Regent or the Prisci unless their activities have a detrimental effect on the Sabbat as a whole. The Cardinals are responsible for all that happens within their regions, and for planning and delegating all Sabbat activities within their respective regions. There are 13 Cardinals, chosen by status within the Sect and not by clan.

The Cardinals responsibilities include:

Assist and advise the Regent
Handle all disputes involving more than one Clan that cannot be resolved by the ArchBishops/Bishops
Has the authority to make/break alliances and declare enemies *
Can promote or demote those of a lessor rank *
May bring others in to Unlife or give them Final Death *
Members of the Inner Circle with full voting power

Prisci

- Below the Cardinals in power are the Prisci. The Prisci act as a board of directors for the Regent, similar to a Camarilla city's Primogen and advising the Regent and the Cardinals about the affairs of the sect. Atthought they report to the Cardinals, they serve the Regent directly. Most are Elders or powerful Ancillae. One member from each clan is chosen, for a total of 13. The most prestigious of the clan members generally hold the rank of Prisci .

The Prisci's responsibilities include:

Advise the Regent and Cardinals of the Pack Members of the Inner Circle with full voting power
Unable to bring others into Unlife, give them Final Death, promote or demote, or make/break alliances and declare enemies *
Together the Cardinals and the Prisci form the Inner Circle. No one with status less then 4 could ever see the Inner Circle to meet with them, unless they summoned you for whatever reason.

Arch-Bishop

- Serving each Cardinal of the Sabbat are ArchBishops. Arch-Bishops serve their territory's Cardinal, holding sway over a smaller region, similar to a Camarilla Prince ruling a city. These vampires usually rise through the ranks, serving lengthy tenures as priests and bishops of the sect. Each Cardinal has the power to appoint whomever he wishes to the position of ArchBishop. Some accept bribes, but vampires who gain their positions in this manner often mysteriously disappear. Multiple Arch-Bishops preside over these smaller domains, all contained within a single Cardinal's region.

The ArchBishop's responsibilities include:

Oversee all matters of a clan within the Pack and lead that Clan
Assist and advise the Cardinals
Handle all disputes involving members of their Clan May bring others into Unlife *

Bishop

- Below the ArchBishops are the Bishops. The Bishops serve the Arch Bishops and are given domains in a city to control as a vassal for the Arch-Bishop.

The Bishop's responsibilities include:

Advise the ArchBishops of the Clan Assist ArchBishops in Clan matters when necessary
Unable to bring others into Unlife, give them Final Death, promote or demote, or make/break alliances and declare enemies *

Priest

- Serving the Bishops are Priests, who serve as the religious leaders of Sabbat Packs, of which there is one Priest per pack.
The Priests are responsible for leading the Sabbat rituals and ceremonies for the Pack. They may be any ranking or non-ranking member of the Pack and are often the Pack Leader as well.
The Priest is the only member of the Pack that may directly speak to the Bishop about a subject.
You may have any status to speak to the Priest, but Status:2 to the Bishop, Status:3 for Arch Bishop, and Status:4 for the Prisci/Cardinal. Status:6 or greater is required to meet the Regent personally. Going against these norms are deemed very deadly, as the Status game is followed by the assassination game.

Paladins

- Also called Templars. The protectors of the Sabbat. Originally formed as a response to the fears concerning the loyalty of the Black Hand. The Leaders of the Sabbat may call upon the Paladins, or Templars, of the Sabbat as protectors. From the Rank of Bishop on up, have at least one Templar bodyguard. Many have whole packs of them. The Regent has the largest at 30 members who follow her every whim. The Templars are more loyal to the people they protect then to the Sabbat.

Sabbat Packs

The pack is a basic unit of structure for the sect, serving both social and military functions. All Sabbat, even the sect's leaders, are members of a pack. A Sabbat vampire does not have much choice about the pack to which he will belong since he has no control over who chooses to embrace him. He must remain a member of the pack that created him. Packs maintain their own permanent communal havens. They travel occasionally, but one city remains their home. Packs conduct their business on a certain night each week. These weekly meetings are known as esbats. Often an Ignoblis Ritus will be held during the esbat, but it is mainly used to conduct pack business. All pack members must attend unless a good reason for absence is given in advance.

All Sabbat put their sect before themselves and everything else in the world. They know what will happen to them if they do not. The Sabbat treats disloyalty very harshly, and some members have perfected the art of torture and disfigurement. Final Death is the only real choice for the disloyal.

This does not mean that all within the sect possess the same opinions. Among the fanatics are those with differing views on all Sabbat activities. The Sabbat leaders do not want mindless drones. They want strong-willed vampires ready to face death for the second time. Only strong Sabbat can understand true freedom, and they are the ones who push the sect on to domination.

The Sabbat provides protection, freedom and loyalty to all its members. These gifts are not without their costs. The members are required to protect sect interests, carry out missions and to give the Sabbat total fealty and devotion. All Sabbat have what are called Vinculums, or special bonds of love and loyalty shared with their pack. The Vinculum varies between all members, but always translates into a strong love for and loyalty to the sect itself. While Vinculum strength may vary with each individual bond, Sabbat vampires tend to be stronger in their loyalty and devotion to the sect itself than to individual members. Because of this Vinculum for the Sabbat itself, its members are considered fanatics. Most are willing to accept Final Death for the good of the sect. In addition, this special Blood Bond makes the Sabbat's secrets especially hard to uncover.

From the day a Sabbat vampire is Embraced, she has certain responsibilities. All Sabbat must uphold pack tradition and practices. They must choose and support leaders who serve the good of the Sabbat as well as the good of the pack itself. They must challenge weak and incompetent leaders as well as those who serve only their own interests. They must perform missions for their leaders. They must work to destroy all the enemies of the Sabbat. Finally, they must be willing to give up their immortal lives for their sect.

Unlife in the Sabbat is wild and dangerous. Most Sabbat vampires do not exist long after they have been Embraced. Younger members are considered the most expendable. Constant fighting with the Camarilla and other foes, such as the Inquisition and Lupines, forces Sabbat to live on the edge. While the Camarilla vampires fear Final Death and seldom take great risks, the Sabbat's basic beliefs lead all sect members to do whatever it takes to carry out the mission of saving Kindred from Gehenna.

The pack fills two important, connected roles for the Sabbat. First and foremost, it serves a combat function. This military aspect is important for furthering Sabbat plans. The second function of the pack is to provide a social group for individual Sabbat.

The Clan does not play an important role in the pack. Each clan maintains its own ties, but these are secondary to those of the pack. Clans sometimes hold their own gatherings, and members often partake of the Vaulderie together.



TITLES

Titles Similar Titles Forms of
Address
Regent none Our Most Distinguished
Excellency
Cardinal
(Always associated
with a certain
Region)		 High Lord (Lady) His (Her) Eminence
Priscus Grand Master
Mistress, Monsignor		 Very Reverend Sir(Madam)
Archbishop
(Always associated
with a certain
Region)(		 Archdeacon, Father
(Mother) Superior		 His (Her) Excellency
Bishop
(Always associated
with a certain
Region)		 Deacon
High Father (Mother)		 His (Her) Excellency
Templar/Paladin Lord (Lady) Sir (Lady)
Ductus Lord (Lady)
Sergeant, Chief		 (by title)
Priest Father (Mother)
Master (Mistress)
Minister		 Reverend Sir (Madam)
Pack Member none None, though sometimes
Brother or Sister



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