Path of Honorable Accord

The Path of Honorable Accord is a Path of Enlightenment that harnesses the Beast through the rigorous practice of honorable and chivalrous behavior. A practitioner may be variously referred to as a Canonicus (plural Canonici), a Patriot, or a Knight.

Overview

Cainites on the Path of Honorable Accord have always placed a high value on ritual and ceremony. The Sabbat's Knights therefore always participate in War Parties, ritae, ceremonies, and other pack events. As a whole, the followers of the Path seek to knit together the disparate factions of the sect under the common banner of loyalty to a cause. Although alternately ignored or derided by followers of other Paths, the Knights are a stern example of the best qualities of any Sabbat, and they cannot be faulted by their brethren. Knights do not often take leadership positions (as they find the political duplicity appalling), though they are at the forefront of many battles, showing courage and discipline unmatched by any other soldiers among the undead.

Knights are by turns cold and aloof, yet honorable and trustworthy. A Knight never goes back on her word and always honors her agreements. She does not shirk on her duty or flee from battle. Still, she is far from humane: The Knight sees humans as a resource, just as another warrior might see a fine warhorse as admirable but far from an equitable associate. Many of this Path's followers display a grim and taciturn image, but the Knights are capable of humor and joviality — they simply find that duty outweighs personal gratification.

The vast majority of this Path's followers are of Ventrue antitribu and Salubri antitribu blood, but a fair number of Nosferatu antitribu, traditionalist Tzimisce, and even reasonably lucid Malkavian antitribu study this Path. Panders who serve the ideals of the Sabbat (instead of crusading for personal advancement) espouse this Path as well. A rare few Camarilla elders, primarily Ventrue, hold on to the precepts of this Path from their nights of vampiric, medieval chivalry.

A follower of the Path of Honorable Accord must always keep honor foremost in her mind. A Knight cannot act rashly or in haste; she must always be aware of the nature and consequences of her actions. The devout student of this Path must hold onto courage and discipline at all times while she seeks to dispence justice and fairness. The true Knight fights and dies, for her cause.

Traits

Common Abilities: Knights study Brawl, Dodge, and Melee, as they consider personal combat a most honorable pastime. Expression and Leadership are valued assets, as the Knight is often called upon to mediate disputes fairly. Similarly, Investigation and Law can help to discern truth and justice.

Preferred Disciplines: Fortitude and Presence are considered the epitome of the Knightly way; these vampires are stalwart in defense and eloquent in discourse. Since so many Knights follow a martial destiny in the turbulent modern nights, Potence is fairly common as well. The Salubri antitribu of the sect also develop the puissant abilities of Valeren.

Virtues: The Path of Honorable Accord espouses the virtues of Conscience (although the Knights do not experience remorse in the sense of human morality) and Self-Control.

Ethics

• Always keep your word and honor your agreements.
• Never show cowardice. Overcome your fears.
• Duty comes before personal matters.
• Treat fairly and equitably with those of station. Conversely,the dishonorable are beneath your contempt.
• Always repay your debts.
• Support your comrades-at-arms in all things, except where they counsel treachery.

Hierarchy of Sins

10 Failing to uphold all the precepts of your group (in most cases, the Sabbat). True duty to a cause requires sterling character.

9 Failing to show hospitality to your allies. Hospitality and generosity are the wealth of the soul.

8 Associating with the dishonorable. Serve as an example, but do not be dragged into the pettiness of the ignoble.

7 Failing to participate in your groups' rites. Tradition and ritual are important parts of heritage.

6 Disobeying your leader. Loyalty is the keystone of hierarchy.

5 Failing to protect your allies. Defend those who are worthy of your esteem.

4 Placing personal concerns over duty. Duty is the vampire's purpose.

3 Showing cowardice. Honor lies in fighting for a cause, not in fleeing it.

2 Killing without reason. Life and death are God's will, not individual Cainites'.

1 Breaking your word or oath; failing to honor an agreement. To break one's oath is to be without the honor that defines existence.

References

• VTM: Guide to the Sabbat