The Church of Caine is a heretical Kindred cult that worships Caine. It is the organized successor to the Gnostic Cainite Heresy of the Dark Ages in modern nights.
Biography[]
It is unclear how the legacy of the Cainite Heresy survived so long in secret before being able to resurface as an ecclesiastical body. Those who could possibly know more—that is, those who would be old enough to remember the original Heresy—have either met Final Death, reside deep in torpor, or have experienced the Beckoning and are not available for an interview. If it is in fact a cult led by methuselah, as may normally be expected, then it does not show; as its hierarchy is not dependent on age, clan, or lineage. What is known for certain is that the Church has emerged from the shadows only since the start of the Beckoning, a fact that members of the Church are more than willing to use to their rhetorical advantage.
Recently, the Church has transitioned toward a new form of doctrine. With the perverse call to revel in the delights created by the powers of the Blood, Cainites are bound to provide knowledge to neonates to curb disastrous outcomes. Cainites are to drink deeply in the wisdom of the Cainite condition and their history to forego repeating the errors of the past. They are angels in this world, and it is their duty to uplift others from squalid hell to the heaven Caine and his faithful followers occupy. This united with denying participating within the Jyhad and providing “compassionate reconciliation” to their fellow Damned, can elevate Cainites to a higher sense of being.
The belief that the world is a layered hell with strata of deserving and undeserving individuals, some of whom are being punished for sins they committed eons ago, before they came to possess their current forms, is one all the Church priests come to understand and believe in. As soon as a Gnostic accepts this reality, it makes feeding and killing a lot easier. The moral damage can be severe, but the detachment from the basic human perception of Earth brings one to a new state of enlightenment. To ascend toward heaven, the cult maintains a vampire must be capable of overcoming their fear of hell’s weapons. The Church of Caine do not believe the Demiurge made vampires vulnerable to fire, but rather, this burden is a holdover from their time among hell’s denizens. After all, are mortals not harmed by fire too? They reason Caine must be immune to this element by now, so they must attempt to be the same way, and so the Church preaches that Gnostics must defeat the fire by staring at it, handling it, and walking through it. The same will apply to sunlight, when a Gnostic is powerful enough. Arguably the most controversial of the cult’s beliefs is in diablerie as a necessary sacrament.
If the Crimson Curia deem a vampire unworthy of their layer in the hierarchy between heaven and hell — usually due to some grievous crime committed against the Church, in the name of Caine, or because they’re a vocal, influential proponent of another faith — the Curia advocates for their diablerie. The Gnostics believe all spirits exist in a cycle and just reform on a lower level when their flesh vessel is destroyed. The only way to prevent this is through the divine act of devouring the soul. While practiced rarely, it is not forbidden, nor is it withheld for any reason other than appearances. The Church of Caine has not yet gained sufficient allies to make diablerie an acceptable ritual in Camarilla and Anarch domains, but they’re biding their time.
Gnostic Convictions[]
Gnostics often adopt the following Convictions to help them maintain their sense of self while pursuing their faithful existence:
* Never unwillingly allow the Beast to take over. Exercising restraint by never succumbing to the extremes of behavior is vital to becoming a renowned vampire in the Church of Caine. Wild, uncontrollable animals find the entire jungle working against them, whereas cool, calculating predators find their stomachs full and their presence unnoticed.
* Never succumb to fear. Willpower is all-important to these vampires, who believe that in order to emulate (or even surpass) Caine, one must harden one’s mind against hell’s weaponry. Gnostics are expected to sample a snatch of sunlight, walk through fire, and adorn themselves with holy symbols, just to show their defiance and power.
* Let nobody prevent you from growing closer to Caine. This Conviction can be interpreted in multiple ways, but generally refers to the cult’s desire to build its knowledge of Caine and of the Church’spredecessors from the first millennium. Other Gnostics with this Conviction believe any attempt to interfere with cult sacraments is to be punished, and frenzy if someone tries to stop their actions.
* Feed only from hell’s denizens. All Gnostics agree some mortals are more worthy than others, and depending on the domain, may have selected some strata of mortal society to exempt from hunting. They believe all others are beings in hell, and there to sate the hungers and whims of angels above them. Some Gnostics might use this as justification to commit diablerie, if a vampire has fallen far enough from Caine’s grace.
* Do not consort with the lowest beings of hell. The Church of Caine believes strongly that all vampires are angels or blessed, and spending time in the company of devils is a fine way to make oneself fall. Many Gnostics cut away unnecessary mortal ties that might inhibit them from progression within the Church.
* Never brook an insult to Caine’s divinity. This Conviction leads to more conflicts than probably any other, but is fundamental to the Church of Caine’s beliefs: Caine is divine, he is the Dark Father of all vampires, and he is to be revered. Any who doubt that should receive correction and education. Any who insult that should receive punishment. Caine is the angel of murder and hunting, and the Church will not hear him be referred to as some common murderer.
While it is true that the parish structure of the cult allows for disparities in the way liturgy is delivered and how Caine’s role in the world is described, there are certain defined sacraments universal to all members. While many of these are being revised and blended together currently, these sacraments are propagated as universal gifts of the Dark Father. Those Cainites who hold the titles of priest or verger generally teach these rites to the flock. These vampires are protectors and defenders of the gospel of the Dark Father. Part preacher and part templar, these vampires act as a communiqué between the parishes, delivering letters and artifacts between church leaders, and helping to develop sacraments and canon law.
Church Hierarchy[]
The Church of Caine upholds a hierarchy resembling a blend of the Medieval Catholic Church, modern Gnostic churches, and even the Eastern Orthodox Church. To the cynical vampire, the church hierarchy structure is just a means to exert control and has little bearing on the spiritual significance of the vampire holding the rank of “deacon” or “bishop,” but curiously, the modern Church of Caine eschews the idea that only the eldest may hold the most important roles. This vampire religion rewards merit, which may come to fracture the organization when elders refuse to shift from their long-held roles.
Congregation / The Flock. The bulk of vampires who consider themselves faithful Gnostics, Cainites, or simply believers, are referred to as “the congregation” or “the flock.” Individual vampires at this level believe in Caine as the progenitor and uphold the belief that they are divinely mandated as predators. Despite the latter belief, the congregation are far from uncontrollable monsters. Their superiors in the Church teach Gnostics how to unleash their Beast, how to satisfy the urge to frenzy, and how best to retain one’s Humanity while accepting the nature of an undead blood-drinker. Members of the flock are permitted to hear the cult’s liturgy but cannot witness the sacraments.
Doorkeepers. The ancient role of doorkeeper was assigned to churches to prevent their persecution by other faiths, opposing societies and governments, and sabotage from unhappy citizens. This guard role exists to this night, with those vampires more disposed to violence (whether doling it out or preventing it) more likely assigned this title than one responsible for administering the faith. Doorkeepers are more than hired muscle, as they’re expected to still attend services and participate in the sacraments, but they are also the first vampires opponents of the Church will see, if threats or delivery of violence is required. Doorkeepers tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (•).
Acolytes Acolytes of the Church of Caine are responsible for several duties, including arranging safe venues for Gnostics to meet, ensuring priests are equipped with the tools and apparel needed to perform their ministerial duties, and hunting down artifacts important to the Church. This varied role is commonly the first title a vampire earns upon formally joining the Church of Caine, with each acolyte having performed at least one firewalk (see p. XX). Acolytes often act as audiences to encourage or cajole others participating in the sacraments. Acolytes tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (•).
Vergers. The verger is a vampire who wanders from domain to domain teaching others of the liturgy, the Demiurge, and Caine, in the most non-controversial terms. These roving preachers vary in importance from nominal Gnostic mouthpieces to cult leaders building larger and larger followings. The most notorious vergers are known as arch vergers. They hold no influence over the Church of Caine’s formal hierarchy, but in this era when the Second Inquisition scrutinize cult-like behavior and strange reports of priests administering blood to their congregations, the merits of being a traveling holy person sometimes outweigh those of being a leader with a static flock. Vergers tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (•) and at least one dot of Streetwise.
Lectors. Lectors act as readers during church services. The role is largely honorific, as when not performing for the flock, they occupy the same standing as acolytes. The major difference is in the confidence given to a lector, as a priest or deacon speaks with them on matters of faith and expects the lector to read from the texts important to the Church of Caine with earnest belief and understanding. Lectors tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (••) and rarely have fewer than two dots in Occult, with a Specialty in Gnosticism.
Deacons. Deacons hold administrative power in the Church of Caine. While they might stand in for a priest to perform services, it’s more likely the deacons busy themselves with upholding the financial, bureaucratic, and personnel end of the Church. This sounds mundane, but the power deacons wield over the channeling of wealth in and out of the Church, and the prestige awarded to members of the flock and the acolytes beneath them, is impressive. Deacons are effectively the Harpies of the Church of Caine. In terms of reporting, deacons bypass priests and report to the bishops and Crimson Curia itself. Gnostics cannot become priests of Caine before they have held the title of deacon. Deacons generally hold Status: Church of Caine (••) and rarely have fewer than two dots in Politics or Finance.
Priests / Church Leaders. Responsible for overseeing the sacraments, administering Church doctrine, and keeping the faithful community whole and growing, there are few roles within the Church of Caine so visible and so immediately influential as that of the priest. Priests might read from ancient religious texts verbatim, schooling their flock on the word of Caine, or they might lead a congregation with their own interpretation of Caine’s will. Priests carry enough power in their words and actions to form schisms without knowing it, and for that reason their actions remain closely observed by deacons who report priest behavior to the bishops, while priests report on flock behavior to those same bishops. Every city with a contingent from the Church of Caine must have a priest, even if that requires bringing a priest in from a separate domain. Without a vampire who knows the rites and dogma, there is no Church. Priests hold Status: Church of Caine (•••) or higher, and each has at least three dots in Occult, with a Specialty in Gnosticism, or sometimes, Catholicism. Most have some proficiency in the Presence Discipline.
Bishops. The Church of Caine’s bishops — of which a select few form the Crimson Curia — are responsible for keeping the entire order together, furthering the Dark Father’s agenda (such as they interpret it), creating new sacraments, interpreting ancient texts and myths, and acting as spiritual centers when domains run the risk of falling due to priestly absence or failures (though they often delegate this role to powerful deacons). Bishops possess the ability to order sweeping changes across the faith, though before any major decisions are made they must form a conclave of at least nine vampires from the Church of Caine, five or more of whom must be at the bishop or deacon rank. Bishops tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (••••) and possess at least four dots in Occult and three in Politics. Most hold proficiency in Auspex, so they can glean deep insights into the priests and deacons beneath them.
Members[]
References[]
- VTM: Cults of the Blood Gods, p. 57-68
- VTM: The Chicago Folios, p. 69-71
- VTM: The Crimson Gutter