Church of Caine

Church of Caine
Nicknames	The Flock
Type	Blood Cult
Founder	Artemisia, Apollonius and Various Blood Cults
Guild	St. Louis

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.

Overview

Despite its recent appearance, the Church of Caine draws vampires as old as ancillae, with at least one elder serving as a member of the modern Crimson Curia. Something of the cult draws vampires in, whether through talk of Caine, reassurance that their state as vampires is not unclean or damned, or because of the hope for ascendancy from hell once the Time of Caine arrives again. According to the Crimson Curia’s prophecies, that time will come soon, having been forestalled from the previous appointed time in 1239 CE. They claim Caine arose and found his church absent, and so in great sorrow destroyed the boundary between worlds and fell into a deep slumber. Kindred scholars wonder at what boundary this story relates to, whether geographical — as the appointed time was close to that of the Mongol Invasion into Europe — or spiritual, annihilating a layer between hell and heaven, or bringing the deepest level of hell closer to the surface. The tale is likely apocryphal, but vampires in cults make for dedicated theologians.

The Church’s outward confidence aside, many new converts to the faith exist in constant fear of the Sabbat bringing forth all its fury down upon them. They worry the sect will return from its crusade stronger, having devoured a flock of angels, and will visit the same wrath on the Gnostics that the Inquisition and traitor clans did eight centuries ago. The Church amasses lore to defend itself and reaches out for allies within the Cainite populace. Their current catechism is of unity, “compassion,” and conversion, reaching out to those less fortunate and providing what help they can give. This religious instruction coincides with Gnostic teachings and revealing of the truth, wherein all vampires are Cainites, those of Caine, and his blessed children.

The Lasombra defection to the Camarilla poses an interesting conundrum for the Church, as while the Cainite Heresy of old mostly consisted of Lasombra, it was other Lasombra who directed the faith’s purge. For now, the few vampires who recall these details — most of whom are Lasombra anyway, or were told the stories of the Cainite Heresy by older Magisters — prepare for the Night Clan to once again visit destruction or manipulation on their order. Old habits die hard and they expect many Lasombra will assume the church is theirs to wield or crush as it once was before. The Church is content to provide guidance to most Kindred, but treads warily around the Night Clan at this time.

The reconstructed Church of Caine aims to rebuild an official magisterium, a codified scripture, review and revise their holy sacraments, and write canon law that will be both easily disseminated and protect the congregations. Then there is the defense of the new Holy Cainite Empire in Heaven, which may not exist in any meaningful way as yet, but will soon if the Crimson Curia’s plans come to fruition. With the Second Inquisition’s control over most forms of travel, the Church struggles to find a way to build all the answers needed to finish these tasks. The faith’s parishes have been content with building their own local traditions and denominations, all with a different dogma, creating a tapestry of faith much more diverse than previously expected.

This is a time of new freedoms, an age of enlightenment constructing a marketplace of ideas for Cainites to partake in and defend. Some Gnostics appreciate this freedom, others fear the heresies that will inevitably spring up to challenge the new order. Some churches have already begun venerating the Second Generation as saints or bodhisattvas of the higher Cainite pantheon. These parishes are rare though, as above all things, Caine is mighty and glorious. There are even rumors of parishes who venerate both Caine and Lilith, though the Bahari are still perceived as vile enemies to most Cainites and burned out as the heresy they are.

Description

see The Cainite Heresy

At the beginnings of Christianity, Gnostic heretics and Kindred exchanged information and Blood, creating the Cainite Heresy: the belief that Caine was the true messiah, Christ was the Second Caine, and Cainites are His angels on Earth, opposing the wicked Demiurge: the "God" of the Old Testament. The Inquisition burned the Heresy to its roots in the 15th century – but roots can grow back, watered by enough blood.

The antinomianism of the Anarch Revolt and the millenarianism of Gehenna's rising fertilized the Heresy in the last century. Vampires who use the Heresy to subvert human faiths and Cainites who truly believe in their divine mission evangelize the Heresy throughout Anarch circles.

Loresheet

• Let He Who Hath Understanding: The Storyteller will give you one clue freely to understand, investigate, or detect the Heresy's actions or plans, now or in previous centuries. You can use this lore once per story.
• Hand of the Heresy: Take a total of three dots from among Allies, Herd, Mawla, or Retainers to represent your role in the city's Heretical deaconate. For example, if you took Herd and Mawla, you might bless a small cult of human worshipers and have a renowned scholar of the Heresy as your teacher. You also have the Dark Secret Alaw (Heresy) in some domains.
• Counter-Inquisition: You can smell True Faith on a human; if you need to test to do so, your pool is Resolve + your highest rating in Cainite Heresy. You might also oppose the Heresy, and instead use this gift to know who to trust.
• Red Celebrant: You know the rituals and the specific dosages to induce the Red Pentecost in a human congregation: a kind of ecstatic religious version of the frenzy. During the Red Pentecost, humans act according to their worst natures. You can procure enough herbs and fungi for one ceremony per story; the Red Ceremony requires a Hunger check and may trigger frenzy in Kindred participants.
• The One Named in Prophecy: You are a linchpin of the Heresy's plans: perhaps they consider you an avatar of Caine, you possess the only copy of the Testimony of St. Panteleimon, or your vitae is the only effective sacrifice to Ialdabaoth to propitiate or distract the Demiurge. Every informed member of the Heresy, and many who simply want to curry favor with the Anarchs, know your role. Once per story, you can use this fact to dictate the winner of a Social conflict if you can give a plausible reason for that outcome.

History

For over a thousand years, a vampire subsect of Gnostic Christianity operated within Cainite society. This group, known to some as the Crimson Curia, to others as the Church of Caine, and to their enemies as the Cainite Heresy, posited that Caine was God’s divine angel of murder who had absorbed the soul of Christ, and that all vampires were his children and just as blessed. It was their divine mission to cull the weak, turn the living hell of the world into a heaven, dominate the Catholic Church, and usher in the Time of Caine, or third resurrection of Caine and Jesus, prophesized to arrive in the year 1239 CE.

The Cainite Heresy subverted the faith of mortals and vampires alike, its adherents believing themselves to be God’s chosen predators. Most importantly for other vampires, their actions inside and outside the mortal Church drew the attention of the Catholic Inquisition as well as hunters from the ranks of the Muslims of Iberia. In a rare show of unity, imams sided with churchmen and put the torch to the Cainite Heresy before their Time of Caine could arrive. The parent clan of most of these “Gnostics” was the Lasombra, and along with vampires of the Banu Haqim and Clan Brujah they hunted down the remaining stragglers

The Church of Caine reached its end close to the time when mortal Gnosticism was declared a heresy punishable by death. Just as the Catholic Church had no more patience for rival faiths within its own sphere, the Lasombra ran out of tolerance for the Church of Caine’s increasingly aberrant views of Earth as hell, vampires as angels, and mortals as soulless cattle. Vampires who knew of the cult’s denouement celebrated its fall, and those who campaigned against it worked hard to scrub the cult’s name from the scant Cainite history books that recorded it.

The idea of a Demiurge on high, responsible for all the evil in the world, alleviating of that responsibility the perpetrators of criminal acts, is a reassuring one to some. Vampires have a tendency to find excuses for their terrible acts, and when one can point elsewhere and say “He made me that way,” it — at least in the mind of the vampire — helps absolve them of their sins. Not that the modern Church of Caine are truly looking for absolution.

The re-emergence of the Gnostics in the modern nights is a subject of great mystery and conjecture. Few Kindred recall the original Cainite Heresy, most being Beckoned, succumbing to the sleep of ages, or destroyed in the last eight centuries. While some believe the rising Gnostic tide must be at the beck and call of methuselahs who wisely slept instead of facing the torches of the Inquisition 800 years ago, the modern Church of Caine shows few of the hallmarks of a methuselah-led cult. They don’t have a hierarchy based on age, they care little for lineage and clan, and their centralized power comes in the form of the renewed Crimson Curia — a council of priests — rather than a single, ancient figurehead.

Of course, the other conclusion is that Caine brought the Church back into being, though there’s no evidence to show he was ever around to see the Church in its original form, let alone approve of its purpose or methods. The idea that this cult may exist in direct service to Caine is a thought that undoubtedly troubles many Kindred, however, and leads a surprising number to join its ranks just to err on the side of caution. If the Dark Father is real, awake, and leading a sizable cult, better to be on his side.

What is known is the Church of Caine has leaked out of the darkness again, with its words, beliefs, and practices becoming visible for the first time in centuries following the Beckoning’s commencement. The Church claims Caine himself calls his errant childer to fill his long-empty veins, and only the Church will be saved. Caine is the face, voice, and mind of the Demiurge in this hell on Earth, and he will not be denied. His angels will ascend with him once the rest of the world accepts their place as the meek and the fallen. Until then, his will be done.

In modern times, the Church has established a strong presence in Manchester, seeking to influence the southern cities such as London.

Culture

The Church of Caine has long held the view that the world is divided into many planes of existence, with the Demiurge above all, and his angels governing the ranks of the unknowing. At each level of awareness, an individual grows closer to becoming an angel themselves, but these levels go down as well as up, and the farther down one descends, the closer they come to being damned forever.

This view may seem incompatible in a modern world, but to vampires of the Church, and mortals who believe themselves more enlightened — through intellect, influence, money, or even charm — it’s a rational view. It’s a class society imposed by a supreme power, and it makes sense to an amoral mindset. The Church of Caine for instance believes that while the Demiurge is all-seeing and all-knowing, he sends a representative (sometimes more than one) to Earth to mete out his will. Specifically, the Church posits, this representative is Caine, though infamous vampires such as Sutekh and Mithras may have been his angels as well, and Lilith certainly fits the mold of an angel who couldn’t help but abuse her power and fall.

The Antediluvians were likewise angels, but fought Caine’s children and therefore fell from grace. They still deserve punishment for this. Likewise, humans with proficiency in angelic arts — whom the Tremere call mages — are of greater importance and value than the sleeping kine. The Church of Set hotly refutes this notion, as they believe the Demiurge responsible for creation of all clans not descended from Sutekh, and responsible for preventing Sutekh’s absolute influence over the world.

Earth is not a median point in this cosmic theory. Earth is hell, and receiving the Embrace is a step toward escaping that hell. All worlds layer on top of each other, so it is possible to exist in heaven and hell at the same time, but divine right grants one resilience against hell’s slings and arrows. At least, that’s the Church of Caine’s theory behind Disciplines such as Fortitude, and their reasoning for why all their powers are symbolic of the type a god might use against a mere mortal.

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.

Organization

Gnostics have forged never-before-seen paths into the Ivory Tower and the rekindled Anarch Movement. Their gospel celebrating the vampiric condition has seldom been heard within these sects. This message is surprisingly accepted, if not enjoyed, by the “Kindred,” who wish to come to some deeper sense of understanding of their damnation. Some Camarilla domains have received word from one Justicar — Juliet Parr of Clan Malkavian — that they are not to oppose this new missionary work. The running theory among some Kindred is that Parr belongs to the Heresy, or one of her ancestors did and now speaks with her through the Blood, but equally likely is that Parr wants no internal conflict while the Inquisition is watching. The absence of the Sabbat helps the Camarilla and Anarch Movements greatly, so why start a new war when these priests aren’t striking out with anything but words?

The Church of Caine’s belief system is unlike most widespread mortal religions of these nights, so their dogma is one rarely delivered in full to vampires of any sect, at least not until vampires have shown willingness and acceptance of the Gnostic reality. To start, most Gnostics introduce their belief that Caine was chosen by God and all vampires are likewise blessed children, uplifted to the role of divine predators. This is a belief many vampires can understand, as most know the story of Caine and Abel and most realize they possess more power than when they were mortal. Tales of layered planes of reality, vampires as angels of murder, all beings as spirits trapped in a liminal state, and Earth being equivalent to hell tend to follow much later.

The Gnostics find themselves occupying an unexpected role within Cainite society. While they themselves rarely use the term “Golconda,” Kindred who know of the legendary state of being see the way Gnostics believe in ascension and divinity, and the peace with which they hold their faith, and wonder if this cult is the key to Golconda. For its part, the Church of Caine makes no promises that a follower will achieve a state where they “lose their curse,” as its doctrine is adamant vampires aren’t cursed, but blessed. That blessing may grow as a vampire acquires wisdom and strength, and that may be what others call Golconda, but to tell a Gnostic they’re cursed by God is a good way to earn an adversary.

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

• Byron Rocha (Priest)
• An Tran
• Rui da Costa
• Jerri Voss
• Fred Hartmann
• Marilyn Haig

Gallery

Art by Mark Kelly

References

• VTM: Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Corebook, p. 388
• VTM: Cults of the Blood Gods, p. 57-68
• VTM: The Chicago Folios, p. 69-71
• VTM: The Crimson Gutter
• VTM: Anarch