Status: An Introduction
Status n., [[as in a social order]] rating or positioning in relation to others
Status is the term that defines the level of trustworthiness or respect within Cainite Society. It determines the weight with which a Cainite's word should be regarded, as well as the "pecking order" within Cainite society. It is a resume of adjectives that define character, rank, and standing in the society. Simply put, those with more status can demand respect from, or even ignore, those with less. In cases where there is a dispute between Cainites and the evidence is lacking, Status, and who has more of it, is always the deciding factor in who is right.
Within the Cainite society, there are many traits that are used to define a Vampire. The following adjectives are a sample of the most common forms of Status: Acknowledged, Admired, Adored, Cherished, Esteemed, Exalted, Famous, Faultless, Feared, Honorable, Influential, Just, Praised, Respected, Revered, Trustworthy, Well-Connected, and Well-Known.
Status only pertains to one specific society.
Gaining Acknowledgement
Until a vampire leaves the Accounting and gains Acknowledgment in the society, She has no Status. If she is found guilty of even a minor crime, both she and her sire could face destruction.
[A Prince may decide how to administer Acknowledgement in her own Domain as she sees fit. The following text in this section is a recommendation provided to help set an example of this process.]
Once her sire feels comfortable that she has learned the laws and social graces of their society, she may be presented to a Primogen. The Primogen will then decide if this new member of the clan is worthy to represent the clan on her own. If the Primogen rejects the candidate, she will have to work harder under the Accounting to make an impression on her parent clan. In most domains, childer without Status may be destroyed by their Sire without official consequences, as those under the Accounting do not have Hospitality. This varies, of course, according to the decisions of the Prince of each Domain.
When a Primogen finally agrees to the presentation of the neonate, the Childe is brought before the Prince to be Acknowledged as a member of Cainite Society. The Prince may interview the neonate in a manner that will prove her ability to enter Cainite Society as her own person. If the Prince approves, she then Acknowledges the Neonate, and they are considered to possess their first Status Trait.
Once the vampire has her first Status Trait, she is responsible for her own actions and expected to uphold the Traditions of the Caine. Acknowledgement is always the first status trait given to a member Cainite Society. A Cainite is only Acknowledged once. This is not to be confused with the Tradition of Hospitality, which each cainite must receive from the Prince of any Domain they enter. Without Hospitality, kindred cannot claim any of the status they hold while in said Domain.
System: Acknowledgement is usually free upon character generation. It is inferred that a character has already undergone the rigors of the Accounting. Some players may choose to begin under the Accounting, though. Plus, in-game embraces do happen. So the system for gaining Acknowledgement is quite important.
The Public Nature of Status
Granting and removing of Status Traits: Any announcements of the granting or loss of Status must be made publicly, either at an assembled gathering or in an email announcement to a public list. This must always be logged with the Harpy of the Domain home Domain of the individual who is gaining or losing the Status.
If the motives for the granting/stripping of Status Traits come into question, the Harpy may initiate an investigation. The Harpy has the power to strip the granted Status Trait as well as a Status Trait from the one who has granted it, if the exchange is viewed as a scandal.
Loaning of Status Traits: Camarilla Kindred who loan Status Traits to assist their allies must lodge their willingness to publicly back another with their Domain�s Harpy. As such, Status loans become public knowledge and cannot be altered once the Harpy records them.
Posting Status
Posting Status within email or in a letter should follow the following format: Personal + Positional +/- Miscellaneous (loans, merits, flaws, etc.). A Kindred is not required to post their Status publicly. It is simply an option, if they want the weight of their Status to be understood by everyone reading the missive. Otherwise, another Kindred will need to use their Politics ability, as per the MoP House Rules, to determine someone�s Status.
It may be posted either numerically (4+1-2) or descriptively, as illustrated in the examples below. Descriptions in brackets [] are for definition purposes only, and do not need to be included in character missives.
Example a Vampire with Position, in numerical form:
Emmett Brown
Keeper of Milledgeville, Georgia
Status: (4+1) -1 on loan
Example of the same Vampire with Position, in descriptive form:
Emmett Brown
Keeper of Milledgeville, Georgia
Status:
Acknowledged by Prince Anne of London [Acknowledgement]
Honorable by Jack Turner, former Prince of Jackson, Mississippi [Personal Status]
*Respected by Primogen Biff (on loan to Marty McFly) [Personal Status on Loan]
Honorable as the Keeper of Milledgeville, Georgia [Positional Status]
Loaned Status
There are two ways to loan Status to another kindred. In the first, a kindred may loan a single trait of her Status to another to show favor or to empower her for a period of time. This Status Trait is loaned indefinitely and is returned to the original owner immediately when she wants it back (or if the character dies). The second way to loan a Status Trait is to bestow a temporary trait upon another Kindred for a specific task. This method also requires that it be returned immediately if the original possessor demands it, but in this case, it also returns to her when the task is completed.
Example of a Status loan for a period of time:
Bob Duncan steps up as Sheriff of his Domain. Upon doing so, he also assigns Cactus Jack as his Deputy by loaning his *Feared name (see Assistants). Cactus Jack will retain this loaned status until Bob Duncan requests it back, or removes his Deputy.
Example of a Status loan for a specific task:
Frodo wishes to gain audience with the Prince of his Domain. He lacks two of the Status required to gain audience. He petitions his fellow clan mates to loan him their Status, in order to speak to the Prince. Frodo is able to gather enough Status to enter the Prince�s chamber. Once Frodo leaves the Prince�s chamber and informs his clan mates he was able to speak to the Prince, all loaned status returns to the proper owners.
In the event that a Cainite acts in a scandalous manner, and she is in possession of loaned Status, the negative view of her actions reflects on those who have loaned her Status as well. If a kindred is loaned a Status Trait through a favor by an Elder, and the younger cainite is found to have broken a law or acted in some scandalous measure, the Elder is now in danger of losing the Status Trait that he had loaned.
Note: A Cainite may loan only one Status Trait to any given Vampire, though she may loan Status Traits to multiple Kindred as long as she has Personal Status to loan.
Status and Positions
A Cainite assuming a station that carries Positional Status Traits adds those Status Traits to her Permanent Status. These Traits may not be permanently stripped as long as she holds the position, though they may be stripped temporarily. Though it is possible to hold multiple stations, a Cainite may only claim the status inherent to one of the offices, usually whichever is greater.
Positional Status is valid in any Domain that the possessor visits, though their positional authority is confined to the Domain where they hold that position.
Positional Status for the Officies of a Domain.
Prince: Known as Exalted, Famous, Well-Known
Seneschal: Known as Cherished, Esteemed
Primogen: Known as Respected
Harpy: Known as Influential
Sheriff: Known as Feared
Keeper of Elysium: Known as Honorable
Scourge: Known as Feared
Whips have the same powers as the Primogen in their Primogen�s absence. However, they do not gain the Positional Status Trait.
As long as they hold their official station, no Cainite may permanently lose their Positional Status Traits, though they may be stripped temporarily.
A Harpy�s Positional Status
Upon being appointed by the Primogen Council, a Harpy is shown support with a Loaned Status Trait from each of the Primogen. The Primogen, in turn, list this Trait as loaned so long as they support the Harpy. Though these Traits are Loaned Status, they may not be used by the Harpy when comparing Status Traits in a regular (personal) debate. The Harpy can call upon the Traits when performing Harpy business (i.e. stripping status, mediating a boon dispute, etc.). Should a Primogen feel that the Harpy is not properly doing her job, they can temporarily, or in extreme cases, permanently remove their support from her. In this situation, the Harpy would not be able to call upon that Primogen�s status during the course of her business. A Harpy should be especially careful not to incur the wrath of the Primogen Council while in her position, as they can take away her position as easily as they gave it to her. There is a fine line between a good Harpy and a power hungry Harpy. The Harpy provides a considerable amount power to the Primogen, and vice versa.
Assistants
The Harpy, Sheriff, and Keeper are allowed to create lesser versions of their positions. These positions are the Lesser Harpy, the Deputy Sheriff, and the Deputy Keeper. In order to appoint a Vampire to this position, the holder of the parent position must loan one of her own Personal Status Traits to the recipient and declare the appointment to the rest of the Domain.
Ghouls
Ghouls are nothing more than property. They are servants who perform functions that are usually below the station of most Kindred. When a Prince recognizes a ghoul in her Domain, that ghoul carries the Status of Recognized, which is similar to a Status Trait but only for the purpose of confirming presentation to the Prince. It may not be used in any other manner related to Status, and does not make the ghoul an Acknowledged member of the Cainite Society. Recognized is another way of saying Status 0. You don't have any actual Status for mechancical purposes, but you are a part of Cainite society and expected to live by its rules.
Granting Status:
Those who may grant Status by the power of their office may only do so for acts that occur within their own Domain or to Canites who reside there. Only the positions of Prince, and Seneschal (when applicable) may permanently grant the Status Trait Acknowledged. A Prince or Seneschal (when applicable) may grant the Status Trait Acknowledged to any visiting character in their personal Domain.
Princes may grant Permanent Status to any Kindred at a cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Permanent Status Trait awarded. It does not cost the Prince anything to award the Status Trait of Acknowledged to any Cainite.
Seneschals may grant Permanent Status to any Cainite at a cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Permanent Status Trait awarded. Unless otherwise publicly noted by the Prince, the Seneschal can only do this when the Prince is absent. A Prince may also allow her Seneschal to award the Permanent Status Trait of Acknowledged even while still being present in the Domain. This is an afforded right of the Prince as Domain matters may often require his attention in other matters. The decision may be revoked by the Prince, at no cost, if she chooses to do so.
Primogen may award Permanent Status to a member of their clan at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Status awarded.
Whips may award Permanent Status to a member of their clan at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Status awarded, but can only do this when their clan Primogen is absent.
Harpies may restore Status they have stripped at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait per Trait restored.
Any Cainite may grant a Permanent Status Trait to another Kindred if they are of the same clan and they have more than double the Permanent Status of the individual receiving the Status. This does not include awarding the Status Trait of Acknowledged. This costs the Cainite doing the granting one Temporary Status and the award must be made publicly. This is the only manner in which a Cainite can grant Status to someone in another Domain. Thus, even if a Prince (for example) wishes to grant Status to someone in another Domain over the Camarilla email list, she must belong to the same clan and possess more than double the Permanent Status of the individual receiving the Status grant. Some Princes may consider this a Breach of Domain, so Cainites choosing to exercise this option are warned to tread carefully.
Stripping Status:
Those who may strip Status by the power of their office may only do so for acts that occur within their own Domain or to Cainite who reside there. Only the positions of Prince and Seneschal (when applicable) may permanently strip the Status Trait Acknowledged. A Prince or Seneschal (when applicable) may strip the Status Trait Acknowledged from any visiting character to their personal Domain. When any other holder of a Cainite Society position is faced with removing Status and the victim holds only Acknowledged, the Prince or Seneschal (when applicable) should be petitioned for final adjudication. Deputies should first contact their direct superiors for audience with the Prince or Seneschal (when applicable) in such matters.
Note: Acknowledgement is the last Status Trait that can be stripped from a Cainite. All other Status must be removed, either permanently or temporarily, in order to then remove Acknowledgement.
Princes can remove a Permanent Status Trait from any Kindred at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait per Trait removed.
Seneschals may remove Status from any Cainite at a cost of one Temporary Status Trait per Trait removed. Unless otherwise publicly noted by the Prince, the Seneschal can only do this when the Prince is absent. A Prince may also allow her Seneschal to remove the Permanent Status Trait of Acknowledged even while still being present in the Domain. This is an afforded right of the Prince as Domain matters may often require his attention in other matters. This is an afforded right of the Prince as Domain matters may often require his attention in other matters. The decision may be revoked by the Prince, at no cost, if she chooses to do so.
Primogen may remove Status from a member of her own clan at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Status Trait removed.
Whips may remove Status from a member of her own clan at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Status Trait removed, but can only do this when their clan Primogen is absent.
The Primogen Council may remove one Status Trait from their Prince by collectively expending Permanent Status Traits equal to the Prince�s Permanent Status Traits.
Harpies may remove one Permanent Status Trait from any Kindred who has backed out of a boon or been involved in a scandal. This removal costs nothing, although there has to be some truth to the scandal. The Harpy must produce evidence at a gathering of Cainites when the Status Trait is removed.
Keepers of Elysium may remove a Permanent Status Trait from any Kindred they catch breaking The Silience of the Blood within their own city. This removal costs nothing.
Sheriffs may remove one Permanent Status Trait from anyone who refuses to accompany them for questioning or judgment while they are within their own city. This removal costs nothing.
Scourges may remove a Permanent Status Trait from any Cainite that is discovered to be harboring or abetting Vampires created without the Prince�s permission or who have not been presented formally to the Prince of the Domain. This removal costs nothing. However, a Prince can return the stripped Status should she be unconvinced or find insufficient evidence to back the Scourge�s decision.
Any Cainite of higher Status may remove Permanent Status from a Cainite of lower Status at the cost of one Permanent Status Trait per Trait removed. This does not include removing the Status Trait Acknowledged. Status may be temporarily removed in the same fashion by expending Temporary Status Traits. These are the only manners in which a Cainite can remove Status from someone in another Domain. Thus, if a Prince (for example) wishes to remove Status from someone in another Domain over the email list, she must have more Permanent Status then the individual being stripped, and permanently sacrifice one of her own. Some Princes may consider this a breach of Domain, so kindred choosing to exercise this option are warned to tread carefully.
A Clan may remove one Status Trait from an elder of the same clan by collectively expending Permanent Status Traits equal to the elder�s Permanent Status Traits. This does not include the Status Trait of Acknowledged.
Status Modifiers
Merits
The Merit: Prestigious Sire acts as �phantom� Status. TheCainite with this Merits is simply perceived as having one higher Status than she actually does, and will garner more respect in social situations. This �phantom� Status does not get logged with the Harpy, nor is it considered to be Personal Status Traits. No Harpy can strip this Merit, but they can be lost through game play should a Cainite fail to keep up her Reputation, or should her Sire fall into disgrace (storyteller discretion).
The Mandate of Power Storyteller Staff must approve all Prestigious Sires in an effort to assist with the historical continuity of the Mandate of Power world.
A character with this merits would list it below their permanent Status Traits.
Example of a Vampire with Position and Status Modifying Merits in numerical form:
Jane Doe
Sheriff of Jackson, Miss.
Status (3+1) +1 perceived (Prestigious Sire: Bane Doe)
Example of a Vampire with Position and Status modifying Merits, in descriptive form:
Jane Doe
Sheriff of Jackson, Miss.
Status:
Acknowledged by Prince Roosevelt of Chicago [Acknowledgement]
Honorable by Matthew Alexander, former Prince of Cincinnati [Personal Status]
Respected by Primogen Smith [Personal Status]
Feared as the Sheriff of Jackson, Miss. [Positional Status]
(Childe of Prince Bane Doe: Prestigious Sire) [Prestigious Sire Merit]
Flaws
Conversely, the Flaws Infamous Sire and Notoriety act as �phantom� negative Status. No Status award can negate these Flaws, but they can be bought off through role-play should the Sire redeem herself, or should the negative reputation become redeemed (storyteller discretion).
These �phantom� Status Traits do not get logged with the Harpy, nor do they decrease the actual number of a Cainite�s Personal Status Traits. But a Vampire with these Flaws will be treated as if they had less Status than they actually hold, and other Cainites will not be expected to respect the Status, which is reduced by either flaw. Vampires with these Flaws would list their Status the same as detailed above for Prestigious Sire, but as negative numbers, which lessen their Perceived Status. A character with these flaws should wear an item card at game to relay this knowledge to other characters.
It is suggested to Storytellers that they hand these flaws out freely to characters that they think deserve them.
The Mandate of Power Storyteller Staff must approve all Infamous Sires in an effort to assist with the historical continuity of the Mandate of Power world.
Boons: Introduction
Prestation is the monetary system of the Cainite Society. Boons should be considered a form of currency among the Kindred and are taken very, very seriously.
Whenever someone does a favor for a Cainite, beyond that individual�s expected duty or station, she is expected to fulfill an obligation to repay the debt. It is important that she repays any Prestation debts, and it is important that she be sure that all the debts to her are upheld. In the event that a Cainite feels that another owes her a Boon for some reason, she may demand a Boon from them and any negotiations must be settled between the two and the Harpy.
Cainites are often offered favors by others, and when this occurs there can be a number of different reactions. It is dangerous to offer someone a boon, especially to those of lower status, as you never know when or how it might be called due. Moreover, once the boon is given, the granter has no say in what will be requested in return.
The ability to demand a boon is a demonstration of power. Thus, many Canites search for ways to �assist� their fellows (even if they have to arrange those circumstances necessitating their assistance).
The chart below lists examples to be used as a general guideline for determining the value of a Boon. Obviously, these are not the only acts that could constitute the existence of a Boon.
Trivial Boon: One-time favors, unsolicited information, watching over someone for an evening, aiding someone with a Discipline, supporting someone�s political move, helping with a plan, etc
Minor Boon: The task performed can last more than one evening and generally requires some sort inconvenience. Providing needed information of crucial value, instruction in a rare Ability, using Influences or Resources to aid another, minor Political maneuvering/sway, acting as a bodyguard for an extended amount of time, facilitating passage through a hostile territory, disposing of a threat, helping carry out a plan, important advice, etc.
Major Boon: Great expenditure of time or resources, instruction in a Discipline, purchasing a location to serve as someone�s Haven, exchange of controversial information, major political maneuvering/sway, helping someone get out of trouble, etc.
Blood Boon: Coming to someone�s aid and suffering injury, being willing to shed blood, saving the life of a Kindred�s immediate kin, instruction in a clan-specific discipline, etc.
Life Boon: Saving another from certain death when one�s own life is in peril.
The listed values of Boons can be adjusted based on the Status levels of the Cainite involved. Obviously, no self respecting Harpy would allow a six Status elder to owe a one Status neonate a Life Boon. Regardless of the facts in the case, a neonate saving an elder is not usually impossible, as the elder was probably not in as much danger as the neonate thinks. On the other side of the coin, a powerful elder may pull a neonate from harm�s way with little effort on her part, therein reducing the literal value of a Boon. These complicated adjudications make the job of the Harpy difficult at best, as she is under constant scrutiny to make the choice that pleases the �authorities.�
Two Cainites who agree upon a Boon have the option of registering it with the Harpy. If they do so, they run the risk that the Harpy will discuss the matter with others (although this is bad etiquette on the part of the Harpy). If they do not, however, there is no guarantee that the Harpy will enforce the Boon, even if a complaint is brought up later.
Trading Boons
Boons may be traded between Cainites. Such a transfer must be registered with a Harpy in order to be acknowledged, though the reason for the transfer need not be registered.
Boons and Stations
Doing things that are expected of a Cainite will usually not lead to a Boon being bestowed. As an example, if the Keeper of Elysium is able to cover a Silience of the Blood breech, then it is within the expectations of her duty and there are no Boons awarded. The Harpy is charged with the positional responsibility of adjudicating the worthiness of a Boon if it ever comes to question.
Prestation or �Paying the Piper�
In terms of the Status system, receivers are considered to gain as many Status Traits as the Boon is worth (Trivial Boons would be worth one Trait, Minor Boons are worth two, a Major Boon is three, a Blood Boon is four, and a Life Boon is five Traits). These Traits may only be applied when comparing Status between the debtor and receiver; the Status adjustments do not apply to any interactions between the individuals and the rest of society.
Hospitality
Any visiting character with at least the permanent Status Trait of Acknowledged must petition the audience of the Prince, Seneschal, or Harpy when wishing to enter or reside in a foreign Domain. If the Harpy is petitioned, she must gain audience with the Prince or Seneschal and make arrangements for Hospitality to be given. The process of requesting Hospitality is seen as a necessary and courteous act. A character not requesting and receiving Hospitality is seen as disrespecting the standing of the Prince and may be subject to immediate and undisputable justice by the Prince, Scourge, or Seneschal. Once Hospitality is received in a given Domain, it need not be requested again for that Domain.
Public Knowledge of Status and Boons
All Status and Boons are listed in the Harpy�s notebook and can be requested for observation at anytime by a Cainite. Status Traits should have the name of the granting individual and of the recipient. Boons should include a listing of Trivial, Minor, Major, Blood, or Life notation. In addition, all Boons should be listed in the Harpy�s notebook with full explanation and perimeters for repayment when applicable. Boons are not subject to public knowledge at the discretion of the Harpy.
Lexicon:
Boon: A favor done by one Kindred for another.
Hospitality: A necessary process of a character requesting entry into a Camarilla Domain. The character must have the Status Trait of Acknowledged and must petition the Prince, Seneschal, or Harpy.
Loaned Status: A Status Trait temporarily given to another Kindred.
Permanent Status: Total of a Kindred�s Personal Status and Positional Status
Personal Status: Status held by Kindred regardless of any stations they might assume or depart.
Positional Status: Status held by Kindred because of their assumption of a Camarilla station.
Prestation: The balance of debts and boons owed to Kindred.
Status Modifiers: Merits & Flaws that affect the perception of Status, such as �Prestigious Sire�.
Temporary Status: Status Traits recovered at the beginning of the next session.
Resource Materials
tWoD
V:tR
Mandate of Power House Rules
www.geocities.com/wiz_30101 (Mandate of Power website)
And any others we may have missed. Thank you!
Any questions about the Mandate of Power Status Guide can be directed to [email protected]