Road of the Beast



Via Bestiae, commonly called the Road of the Beast, is one of the major Roads that kindred may choose to follow in Vampire: The Dark Ages and Dark Ages: Vampire. Followers of Via Bestiae control their Beast through the primal concepts of survival, strength, and individuality. Many members of the Road of the Beast choose simple, animalistic existances to best serve the beliefs of Via Bestiae, while others follow it by living simplistic existances, akin to barbarians. Followers of this Road are known as the Feral.

History
The founder of Via Bestiae is commonly believed to be Ennoia, who also and most appropriate founded the Gangrel clan. Reflecting on the corruption that had developed in Enoch, Ennoia found it to be a mere distraction from the Beast rather than a way of mastering and controlling it. Plunging into the wilderness, she disappeared for forty years; when she returned, the Beast was under her control. Gathering interested followers, Ennoia began teaching her methods and lessons, leading to what became Via Bestiae

Rules and Practices
Fighting for the right to exist is the number one rule of Via Bestiae. To the Feral, there is no mercy or compassion, no helping others; there is only themselves and their needs. They are expected to make themselves able to survive in any situation, and so strength and wile are strongly desired and respected among the followers of the Road of the Beast. However, followers of the Road are also not to kill unless needed to feed, or to take silly risks. They may ally themselves with their Beast, but are never to be controlled or manipulated by it; to succumb to its will would be to fall in with the wretches of Via Peccati.

While there is little organization, the Feral are still far more organized than many Cainites would believe. Most important to this are the Lorekeepers, who gathers the knowledge and traditions of Via Bestiae and keeps them safe and circulating among the Ferals. Wardens, who guard the sacred grounds of Via Bestiae, also have a place of importance on the Road. Rituals are common among the Ferals, usually to focus themselves on a task to come. Celebrations of thanks for blood and of mourning for those who have passed on are also common.

Many Ferals form packs, several of which, such as the Schwarze Rudel and the Hounds of Iberia, have become well-known to both Ferals and non-Ferals.

Paths
The four optional Paths of Via Bestiae are:


 * Via Praedator (The Path of the Hunter) - These Feral exist to prey on those they consider lower than them. To not do so, they feel, is blasphemous to their very existance.  They also use their Beast as tools to accomplish their hunts.


 * Via Erronis (The Path of the Nomad) - To these Feral, civilization and anything associated with it is anathema. They travel light, and they travel always.  This path is also known as Tariq El-Bedouin to the Islamic kindred, and is one of the their main Roads.


 * Via Feritas (The Path of the Savage) - The Feral on this Path are the most prone to unleashing the Beast in fits of rage. Their fury is directed towards anything they consider weak, especially civilization.  They strike often, and they strike hard.


 * Via Venator Umbra (The Path of the Grey Hunter) - If there are any Ferals who do not loathe the concept of civilization, it is these. Rather, they view towns and cities as a different form of hunting ground.  They are the most civilized of the Ferals, but make no mistake, as they are no less capable of hunting than the others.

Holy Sites

 * Caine's Valley, the Holy Land
 * Ennoia's Theater
 * The Great Mosque at Cordoba
 * The Ruins of Bjorn's Longhouse, Denmark


 * Dark Ages: Vampire: Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook, p. 100-101
 * Dark Ages: Vampire: Road of the Beast