Owbn Status Packet 2007

Preface The Camarilla is a society of predators. While the Ivory Tower adheres to certain codes of conduct and enforces certain social rules, the Kindred of the Camarilla are creatures of intrigue and Machiavellian social maneuvering. The sweetest smile and kindest word may hide a dark ulterior motive, and newcomers to the society would be especially wise to watch their backs for more than just physical threats. Some Kindred take great delight in ruining the reputations of others, playing cruel social games as a way to pass the endless years. In other words, Vampires are sneaky. The social interaction between Camarilla Kindred, both locally and in the world at large forms a major part of the story in an OWBN LARP. The OWBN Status Packet is designed to help players and storytellers participating in the OWBN universe to understand this complicated aspect of the game.

Status: An Introduction Status defines the level of respect or social renown within Camarilla society. It determines the weight with which a Kindred's word should be regarded, and is the basis for the social ‘pecking order’. The Camarilla was created in a time where social hierarchy was very important, and the ebb and flow of one’s reputation has a serious effect on a character’s life even in modern nights. Within the game, Status takes the form of a résumé of adjectives that define character, rank, and standing in the Camarilla. Functionally - those with more Status are considered higher ranked. They can demand respect from or openly ignore those with less. If there is a dispute between Kindred and there is no specific evidence, Status is usually the deciding factor to determine who is right and who is wrong – or at least, who gets the last word. Common Camarilla Status Traits: Acknowledged, Admired, Adored, Cherished, Esteemed, Exalted, Famous, Faultless, Feared, Honorable, Influential, Just, Praised, Respected, Revered, Trustworthy, Well-Connected, and Well-Known. Other adjectives may be used but players should avoid being too silly: “Spiffy” is not an appropriate Status Trait. Curse-words and common slang are not appropriate for Status Traits. Please note: Per OWBN Bylaw a character may only have a total of 6 Personal Status, plus the Status from any official Camarilla Position he may hold. Characters may only gain a 7th (or higher) Personal Status Trait via a vote from the OWBN Council. If a 7th Status is granted, it functions exactly like all the others, and may be stripped at the whim of the Harpies. If any Status is lost, another vote will be required to push the character back over the 6 Status cap.

Gaining Acknowledgement Acknowledgement is always the first Status Trait given to a member of the Camarilla, and it is always the last Status Trait removed in the event of a Scandal or crime. A Kindred is usually only Acknowledged once, unless they suffer the extreme humiliation of having that Status stripped away for a mistake. Acknowledgement is not to be confused with the Tradition of Hospitality, which each Kindred 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, and few Princes will want

to offer Hospitality to one who has lost her Acknowledgement somehow. A Kindred who loses her Acknowledgement is at the mercy of the Scourge. Until a vampire gains Acknowledgment in the Camarilla, she has no Status. A Prince may decide how to administer Acknowledgement in her own Domain as she sees fit, within the general format. The Tradition of Accounting - during the Accounting, any crimes committed by the Childe fall on the Sire’s head, he must answer for his progeny’s misdeeds. The childe has no rights while under the Accounting – the Sire may slay the childe at will, without suffering penalty unless a Prince has made specific rules to the contrary. Until the childe is Acknowledged, she is not considered a real person within the Camarilla. A childe is held under the Accounting until her Sire feels she is ready to be presented, at which point a meeting with the local clan Primogen may be arranged so that the neonate may be evaluated and tested. If satisfied that the childe is ready, the Primogen may then arrange a meeting with the Prince for a final presentation. The Prince may choose to set his own tests, or he may accept the Primogen’s word is good. If there is no Clan Primogen, the Sire would first bring the childe to the Seneschal, who would then arrange the meeting with the Prince. The specifics of presentation may vary by Domain. Once the vampire is Acknowledged, she has her first Status Trait, and is responsible for her own actions and expected to uphold the Traditions of the Camarilla. Players should consider what sort of Accounting the character had and what the character’s relationship is with his or her Sire. Some players may choose to begin under the Accounting, and in-game Embraces should always include an Accounting as a matter of course. The Accounting for an in-game Embrace should be role-played out between the Sire and Childe over substantial period of time – at least 6 months of real-time play. Starting With Acknowledgement – Acknowledgement is free upon character creation. Additional Status may be purchased in accordance with the house rules of the game, to a maximum of three. (Acknowledgement free, plus a maximum of two additional Traits purchased at a minimum of 1 experience point per Status Trait. Storytellers are free to add additional costs at their discretion). Status Modifiers such as Reputation or Prestigious Sire do not affect this cap, but must be logged and/or approved by the Camarilla Coordinator before entering play. (See: Status Modifiers) Storytellers and players are strongly encouraged to have characters earn their Status during the course of active play. The restrictions outlined above are intended to prevent abuses, not to recommend the purchase of Status at character creation. Stripping Acknowledgement: Acknowledgement can be stripped just like any other Personal Status Trait, though the repercussions are severe. Usually only Princes strip Acknowledgement, and once the Status is lost, the unfortunate Kindred is at the mercy of the Scourge until she can find another Prince to Acknowledge her again. Many Princes will consider an outsider stripping someone in their domains of Acknowledgement to be a breach of the Tradition of Domain and react accordingly. Acknowledgement must always be the last Status Trait removed. If the offending Kindred holds a Position, the related Status Trait should be temporarily stripped before moving on to permanently remove the Acknowledgement. Once Acknowledgement is lost, no Camarilla Positions may be held until Acknowledgement is regained. Second Accountings: Placing any Kindred who was once Acknowledged back under the Accounting is a serious disgrace to both childe and Sire. It should not be a usual practice and it could result in the Notoriety Flaw being attached to one or both characters, and the shame of it should be well-nigh unbearable. The Accounting is one of the Traditions, after all. The Camarilla isn’t known for being generous with second chances.

The Public Nature of Status Players should keep track of their permanent Status on their character sheets. Information such as who gave the Trait, why it was given and what the descriptive word is are commonly requested via the use of the Politics Ability. Anyone playing a Harpy may wish to either keep some sort of record (via whatever means their character would use) or buy up a lot of the Politics Ability so that they can produce information about the members of their domain on request. Granting and removing of Status Traits: Any announcements of the granting or loss of Status must be made publicly, either at an assembled gathering (such as a live game) or in an email announcement to a public list (national or local game list). This must always be logged with the Harpy of the 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. Such an action is likely to deeply offend both Kindred, but if the Harpy thinks the Status award is unwarranted, she can disrupt the process and punish everyone involved.

Posting Status Posting Status within email or in a letter should follow one of the following formats: Jane Doe Sheriff of Ft. Wayne Status: 3 OR Jane Doe Sheriff of Ft. Wayne Status: Acknowledged, Admired, Feared OR Jane Doe Sheriff of Ft. Wayne Acknowledged by Prince Blah Admired by Primogen Joe Feared by Position Politics Abilities on the Lists: A Kindred is not required to post their Status publicly, indeed, doing so is the social equivalent of stamping one’s foot – it draws attention to name and rank, demanding recognition. If the Kindred does not include her Status, anyone who sees the letter and has the Politics Ability may expend a level, as per LotNR, to determine her Status. Functionally, anyone expending a Politics ability for the Status of another character should do so via private email. Some games require such emails to be CC’d to the STs, so please check your house rules. If for whatever reason a player refuses to answer inquiries about their character’s Status, an email should be sent to [email protected] for help from a Moderator. In terms of in-character mechanic, using the Politics Ability represents checking with your contacts or remembering something you heard of years before, it isn’t a magic encyclopedia in

your brain. It represents the knowledge that some characters have by working to stay ‘in the know’ in terms of keeping up with the social whirl. Politics Ability in OWBN gains you the following types of information. • • • •

Number of Status Traits (“Joe Brujah has 4 Status”) Names of Status Traits (“Joe Brujah is Acknowledged, Respected, Feared, Loyal) Kindred who gave the Traits (“Joe Brujah was Acknowledged by John Ventrue, etc) Reason the Trait was given (“Joe Brujah is Respected for defending the Domain against Hunters”)

The level of Politics required to gain this information may vary from chronicle to chronicle, check with the STs of the character you’re trying to gain information about. Any differences in rules or disputes should be handled jointly by the Storytelling teams involved. Dead Characters - using the Politics Ability on a deceased character may be more difficult, especially if the character has been dead for a long period of time. Consult with your storyteller and the storyteller of the dead character if you are attempting such an investigation, they will determine together what the appropriate abilities may be. Some games may require Camarilla Lore in addition to Politics if a player is requesting extremely detailed information.

Loaned Status There are two ways to loan Status to another Kindred. 1) A Kindred may loan a single Trait of her Status to another to show favor or to empower her for a period of time. (“Jane Doe may use my Respected name until Sunrise on Friday, the 15th of November”). Note: this period of time shall not exceed 1 year and 1 day, max. 2) A Kindred may loan a Trait to another for a specific task.(“Jane Doe may use my Respected name in order to gain an audience with the Prince of Chicago”) In all cases of loaned Status: 1) The Status is returned to its owner immediately upon demand. 2) The Status is only good until the date named or the completion of the specified task. 3) If invoked (“I am Jane Doe, speaking with the Respected name of Elder Joe”), the Status cannot be invoked in a Challenge again that same evening. 4) Only 1 Status Trait may be borrowed at a time from any single Kindred, though there is no limit as to how much borrowed Status a Kindred may carry if she chooses to call in favors from many Kindred in order to boost her reputation. (Joe Brujah cannot loan both Cherished and Respected to Jane Gangrel, but Jane may borrow a Cherished from Joe and a Respected from Valerie Ventrue.) 5) You cannot loan loaned Status, you can only loan your own. You CAN call in Boons or favors from your allies to convince them to loan Status to someone you support, but that exchange should be role-played out. 6) Status is not to be permanently loaned. You cannot command another Kindred’s Reputation be committed to you indefinitely. 7) Loaning Status is not without risk. In the event that you loan a Status trait to another Kindred, and that Kindred finds themselves in Scandal, you may find yourself permanently stripped of the Status Trait you loaned as a punishment for your bad

judgment. This is especially true in the case of loaning a Status Trait to someone who has lost their Acknowledgement, as such a Kindred is already under close scrutiny.

Status and Positions A Kindred holding an Office in a Camarilla Domain 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 Camarilla positions at once, it should be unusual. In that case, a Kindred 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. A Justicar’s power is absolute, globally. Therefore, they may grant or strip Status as they see fit, no matter where the specified Kindred lives.

Positional Status for the Camarilla Stations Justicar: Faultless, Just, Feared, Respected Archon: Empowered, Feared Prince: Exalted, Famous, Well-Known Primogen: Revered Sheriff: Feared

Alastor: Sanctioned, Feared Seneschal: Cherished, Esteemed Harpy: Influential Keeper of Elysium: Honorable Scourge: Feared

Whips have the same powers as the Primogen in their Primogen’s absence. However, they do not gain the Positional Status Trait. A Primogen will often loan one of his Status to the Whip when he knows in advance he will be out of the Domain. Other Positions: Princes or Justicars may choose to add titled positions such as Warlord or Lord Arcanum, but such positions do not carry official Positional Status as do those listed above. Invented positions do not reflect the norm of Camarilla society. While they may carry a customary granting of Status in a Domain or for a project, these invented positions may not take a character over the OWBN Status maximum, and whatever powers they have are part of the Tradition of the Domain and do not necessarily carry any social weight, respect, or benefits outside of it. If the Prince or Justicar wishes the position to raise a character in esteem, he or she may loan Status to the individual, using the rules outlined above.

A Harpy's Positional Status Harpies are Influential by position. They are appointed by the Primogen Council, not by the Prince. Upon being selected, a Harpy is shown support with a Loaned Status Trait from each of the Primogen. The Primogen, in turn, list this Trait as loaned out for as 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. Therefore, the Harpy should be careful not to incur the wrath of the Primogen Council while in her position: 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. It takes a majority of Primogen to

name a Harpy. There is never more than one Harpy, though she may select Kindred to assist her as Lesser Harpies, much as a Primogen appoints a Whip.

Assistants Harpies, Sheriffs, Scourges, and Keepers of Elysia are allowed to create lesser versions of their positions. These positions are the Lesser Harpy and the Deputy (Scourge, Sheriff, 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. There is no such thing as a “Deputy” Seneschal, Prince, Archon, or Justicar. While such characters may have assistants of various kinds, (particularly Justicars, who may have multiple Servires working for them at once), the title “Deputy” is not appropriate.

Ghouls Ghouls are considered to be 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 becomes Recognized (as per Liber des Goules), 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 Camarilla. Some traditional Princes refuse even to allow ghouls to speak at gatherings unless first invited to do so by an Acknowledged Kindred. Ghouls are almost never allowed to speak in public. Killing a ghoul does not normally violate the Tradition of Destruction, unless the Prince has laid down specific instructions to that effect for his Domain. However, because ghouls are valuable property, any Kindred who destroys or poaches someone else’s ghoul may find himself owing sizeable Boons to the original Regnant.

Non-Camarilla Clans and Status Kindred who are not members of one of the six Camarilla clans have a difficult time acquiring credibility and political weight within the Camarilla. These members should have an extremely difficult time getting and holding onto Status Traits. Where the Harpies might overlook a slight error or faux pas by a Ventrue, every step out of line that an Acknowledged Ravnos makes should bring a quick and harsh punishment. Caitiff in particular almost never have much Personal Status, and it is rare for a Caitiff to be given a major Office such as Sheriff or Scourge. Kindred who are not Acknowledged members of the Camarilla cannot hold Camarilla Status. Therefore, Camarilla Status cannot be granted to an Independent or to a member of the Sabbat.

Granting and Stripping Status: Status should always be difficult to gain and easy to lose. All transactions involving Status should be role-played out to the best ability of the players involved. Status and Prestation are deliberately gray areas that invite in-character manipulation and subterfuge. Any Camarilla Kindred may grant a Permanent Status Trait to another Kindred if they are of the same clan and the grander has more than double the Permanent Status of the individual receiving the Status award. This costs the Kindred doing the granting one Temporary Status and the award must be made publicly. This is the only manner in which a Kindred can grant Status to someone who is in another Domain at the time of the award. Some Princes may consider this a

Breach of Domain and try to punish the offender in some fashion, usually by attempting to remove a Status Trait. Thus, Kindred choosing to affect the reputations of those outside their Domains are warned to tread carefully. Visiting – When a Kindred is visiting another Domain (not his home), he is subject to the will and laws of that Prince and the other Officers of the Domain, for good for ill. If he misbehaves or earns the ire of his hosts, he may be punished in any fashion the hosting Officers see fit, within their roles. By the same token, an outstanding visitor may be honored with an award of Status before he leaves. While in general a host’s power over his guests is limited to the duration of the visit, it is neither impossible nor unheard for a Harpy to attempt to strip Status from a visitor after he or she departs for something he did during his visit. For example, if a Harpy discovers that the visiting Kindred was involved in some great Scandal or Crime while in her jurisdiction, she may seek to punish him for it after the fact. It is much more difficult to strip Status after the offender is home again, as the Harpy of that Domain may have his own opinions about the Scandal. In that case, negotiations should be role-played out. The following may grant or strip Status at the cost of one Temporary Status for each action: Justicars may grant or strip Status to any member of the Camarilla, in any Domain, at any time. If they give more then 5 Status Traits per evening, additional awards will cost the Justicar Permanent Status, so it is rare that many Kindred are honored at once by the same Justicar. Archons may not grant Status, but they may strip it off of any Kindred that hinders their official missions. Alastors may not grant Status, but they may remove it from any Kindred that hinders their official missions. Princes & Seneschals may grant or strip Permanent Status at the cost of one temporary Status for each award or removal. Seneschals may only grant or strip Status in the absence of the Prince. In such a case, which name should be associated with the award (Prince or Seneschal) may be a topic for in-character debate. Primogen and Whips may award or Strip Permanent Status to a member of their clan at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Status Trait awarded. As with Seneschals, Whips may only act in this manner in the absence of their Primogen.

Other Status Removals 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 Kindred when the Status Trait is removed. Harpies may restore Status they themselves have stripped at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait per Trait restored. Harpies do not have the power to grant Status. The Primogen Council may remove one Status Trait from their Prince by collectively expending Permanent Status Traits equal to the Prince’s total Permanent Status Traits. Note: This may require one or more Primogen to expend more than one Permanent Status Trait. Who loses what is a subject for role-play. Keepers of Elysium may remove a Permanent Status Trait from any Kindred they catch breaking the Masquerade within their own city. This removal costs nothing. Many Princes also

permit their Keepers to remove a Permanent Status Trait from any Kindred found to be in violation of Elysium, under the Tradition of Domain. 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. Some Princes use their Sheriffs for additional duties, under the Tradition of Domain. Scourges may remove a Permanent Status Trait from any Kindred that is discovered to be harboring or abetting vampires created without the Prince's permission or who have not gained Hospitality in that Domain. This removal costs nothing. However, a Prince can return the stripped Status should she be find insufficient evidence to back the Scourge's decision or be convinced to counteract it. Any Kindred of higher Status may remove Permanent Status from Kindred of lower Status at the cost of one Permanent Personal Status Trait per Trait removed. Status may be temporarily removed in the same fashion by expending Temporary Status Traits. This is the only manner in which a Kindred can always remove Status from someone who is in another Domain at the time of the removal. Some Princes may consider this a breach of Domain, so Kindred choosing to exercise this option are warned to tread carefully. Players may not attempt to use Positional Status to enact a Status removal of this type, they must sacrifice one of their character’s own Personal Standing. 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. Note: This may require one or more members of that clan to expend more than one Permanent Status Trait. Who loses what is a subject for role-play.

Blood Hunts (Lextalionis) A Prince may call a Blood Hunt if an individual in his Domain has committed a great crime (or even just sufficiently roused his ire). A Blood Hunt authorizes all Kindred within a domain to destroy the quarry and forbids them to aid the criminal in any manner. Sometimes a Prince may even order all citizens to actively participate in the hunt. As the name implies, customarily a Blood Hunt includes tacit permission to Diablerize the hunted unless the Prince expressly forbids it. In the Camarilla, the practice of Diablerizing a duly convicted criminal is known as Amaranth, and while it may be permitted under certain circumstances, many Kindred are uncomfortable around those that are known to have destroyed someone in that manner. (For additional information on the gravity and significance of Blood Hunts, please refer to Laws of the Night: Camarilla Guide, pages 106-111) Overturning a Blood Hunt In OWBN, a Prince may recall any Blood Hunt she herself has called, but such wishy-washy behavior represents a Scandal of epic proportions and costs the Prince two of her own Permanent Status Traits. Only the Prince who called the original Hunt may revoke it in this manner. A Prince may not revoke hunts called by her predecessors. The Primogen Council can overturn any Blood Hunt called by their Prince, provided that they collectively expend enough Permanent Status Traits to equal that of the Prince’s total Status (Personal plus Positional). Furthermore, this action must be taken within one month of the Blood Hunt being called. By employing it, the Primogen Council strips two Permanent Status Traits from

their Prince and causes him a massive loss of face in front of the entire Camarilla. Note: This may require one or more Primogen to expend more than one Permanent Status Trait. Who loses what is a subject for role-play. A Justicar can overturn any Blood Hunt at his or her discretion. It should be noted that killing the Prince that declares the Blood Hunt does not end the Hunt. Instead, it forces the Hunt to stand until a Justicar reviews and rules upon the case.

Status Modifiers Status Modifiers represent the way in which a character’s reputation is influenced by her actions to the point where the perception of those around her is noticeably altered. A character’s own actions may speak loudly enough to impact how others perceive her Status. In some cases the actions of another member of the lineage, usually the Sire, may also come into play. The following section outlines how these Modifiers work in OWBN. Merits & Flaws: The Merits: Prestigious Sire and Reputation act as “phantom” Status Traits. They do not count toward the maximum 6 Personal Status Traits (see OWBN By-Law Section 8: Status Regulation), nor may they be bid or spent in a challenge. The Kindred with either of these Merits is simply perceived as having one higher Status than she actually does, and will gain a bit more respect in social situations. Modifiers do not get logged with the Harpy, nor are they considered to be Personal Status Traits. No Harpy can strip these Merits, but they can be lost through game play should a Kindred fail to keep up her Reputation, or should her Sire fall into disgrace or obscurity (storyteller discretion). By the same token, the Flaws Infamous Sire and Notoriety work the same way, only they lower the perceived reputation of the Kindred rather than raising it. These Flaws may be handed out or bought off through role-play at the discretion of the Storyteller. Prestigious Sire – the Sire is a well known or important Camarilla figure, one whose good reputation helps boost that of the childe. Note: just as it is possible to become Prestigious and well known, it is possible for childer to eclipse their Prestigious Sires, or for the Sire to fall into disfavor, thus removing the Merit. In the event that the Childe character becomes famous in his own right and earns the Reputation Merit, the character’s Storyteller or the Camarilla Coordinator may remove the Prestigious Sire Merit, as it may no longer be appropriate for the character to lean on their Sire’s prestige. This is especially true if the Sire in question is deceased or no longer holding a prestigious position. Unbroken Lineage – some games allow this Merit from the High Clans book. It falls under the same rules as Prestigious Sire and must be approved prior to entering play. This Merit may not be taken simultaneously and stacked with Prestigious Sire. If the chronicle allows this Merit to bestow an actual Status Trait instead of as a normal modifier, the Status gained from this Merit will not take a character over the OWBN Status max. It shall follow the same rules as Positional Status – it may be stripped temporarily, and the Trait will disappear entirely for any length of time that the character is without Acknowledgement if the relevant Kindred has the misfortune to lose his somehow. If the character disgraces his line sufficiently to be rejected, this Merit may be lost through role-play. Infamous Sire – the Sire is a notorious or infamous figure in the Camarilla, a diablerist, perhaps, or someone who has committed a crime against the Ivory Tower. The unfortunate childe is tarnished by the misdeeds of his Sire and suffers the stigma of this bad reputation.

Prestigious/Infamous Lineage – Occasionally a group of related characters with a shared surname becomes so well known that the name itself begins to be more recognizable than any single member. A majority of the members of the lineage must be able to meet the requirements for Reputation or Prestigious Sire on their own merit as individuals before they can be considered as a group. Generally, there will be at least four characters involved, either in a vertical line (Sire, Childe, Grandchilde, Great-Grandchilde), horizontally (Sire, Childe, Broodmate, broodmate), or some combination of both. Other role-play mechanics developed through story (such as adoptions) may be considered. Lineage-related Modifiers (Merits or Flaws) cost and operate exactly the same way as the Sire Modifiers (Merits or Flaws) per this packet and the house rules of whatever game the character is based in. Lineage-related Modifiers must be approved by the Camarilla Coordinator the same way as Sire-related Modifiers. Storytellers are free to ignore the Lineage mechanic, in which case characters claiming the Merit or Flaw under “Lineage” would be considered to have Prestigious or Infamous Sire as appropriate. Note: Lineage does not stack on top of Prestigious or Infamous Sire – it replaces it. This modifier represents an OWBN phenomenon created through the course of org-wide role-play over the last decade and can be gained and lost in exactly the same manner as the Sire-related modifiers. Indeed, in some cases Lineage is more fragile, for the line is so well known that major mistakes from any member can affect all those who carry the name. Reputation – a character with the Reputation Merit has done something to get himself or herself known in a positive way through Camarilla circles. They may be known as a Sabbat hunter or great protector of humanity, individual stories may vary. Wherever possible the Reputation Merit should be purchased in-game, in consultation with local STs, the Camarilla Coordinator and the appropriate Clan Coordinator. Often someone very well known in a small area will not be known at all outside the region. If a player is interested in purchasing Reputation through role-play, the Storytellers and appropriate Coordinators should help the player set goals in the pursuit of the desired Merit. Reputations should be role-played out consistently – a character should be constantly reinforcing their Reputations through their actions within the context of the story, and Storytellers should feel free to remove Reputations that are not being supported through role-play. Notoriety – as with Reputation, Notoriety can be gained through role-play, though it is always much easier to be reviled than to be celebrated. Characters may gain or lose Notoriety through their actions within story. Just as it is possible to buy off the Flaw through appropriate good behavior in-character, it is very possible to gain it through Scandal or misdeeds. Storytellers should feel free to give out this Flaw where appropriate and simply notify the Camarilla Coordinator of the change and circumstances. The Lasombra Clan Advantage works the same way as Prestigious Sire or Reputation Merit. “Probationary Sect Member” Flaw - this Flaw may be assigned by Storytellers to any character in their chronicle that they feel should carry it, though it is most frequently applied to Kindred that come from a non-Camarilla Clan. It may be bought off through the course of story at the discretion of the Storyteller in accordance with that chronicle’s rules. Schismatic Assamites in OWBN - carry the Flaw “Probationary Sect Member” when they become members of the Camarilla. Any member of that clan shall be subject to the rules of the Flaw of the same title found on page 119 in Laws of the Night: Revised, until they have proven themselves. The Flaw may be bought off through the course of story, at the discretion of the Storyteller.

Storytellers are encouraged to consult with the appropriate Genre Coordinator before removing the Probationary Sect Member Flaw.

Status Modifier Rules The Camarilla Coordinator must approve all Prestigious or Infamous Sire Merits and Flaws, as well as the related Lineage Merits and Flaws, in order to maintain OWBN continuity. All Reputation and Notoriety Merits must be logged with the Camarilla Coordinator, for the same reason. The Camarilla Coordinator will in turn make the appropriate information available to the OWBN Archivist. Note: it is strongly recommended that the Merit: Reputation not be bought at character creation, but rather through the role-play of the character. No character in OWBN may carry more than two Modifier Merits or Advantages of any kind at any given time. For example, a character may not claim the Lasombra Clan Advantage AND Prestigious Sire AND Reputation at the same time. While there is no corresponding limit on the number of Modifier Flaws that may be carried, common sense should be applied. For example, while a character is technically allowed to be a Probationary Sect Member with an Infamous Sire and a Notoriety Flaw all at once, storytellers and players are urged to bear in mind the possible repercussions of such combinations on the life expectancy and story of the character. You may not take multiple versions of the same Modifier Merit or Flaw to stack the effect. For example, you may not take two Reputation Merits simultaneously, even if your character is known for two different skills. The nature of the reputation (the description) may change slowly over time through the course of story, at the discretion of the storyteller. No individually created (house rule) Modifier may take an OWBN character over any of the OWBN-enforced caps for Status, real or perceived. Storytellers are free to disallow any Merit or Flaw that modifies a character’s Status (real or perceived) in the event that the character signs into their game and is subject to their house rules. Disclosure - Status-Modifying Merits and Flaws, (including Probationary Sect Member) should always be included in email posts, players should put a little ooc tag beneath the character’s signature: (OOC: Notoriety Flaw: Caused a big Scandal in Milan) or (IC: Reputation Merit: Legal Expert). They are sometimes represented as a +1 or -1 if the player puts her Status into numeric format.

Boons Boons are something like currency among Kindred, and they are taken very seriously. Whenever someone does a favor beyond that individual’s expected duty or station, she is expected to repay the debt. In the event that a Kindred feels that another owes him a Boon for some reason, he may demand a Boon from that Kindred and any negotiations must be settled between the two, usually in consultation with the Harpy. As always, the relative Status of the parties involved plays a major part in who comes out on top. The mechanics of Prestation are deliberately vague so as to allow for maximum Role-Play among the characters involved. Players are encouraged to role-play the machinations and intrigues of Prestation whenever possible.

Earning Boons - doing things that are expected of a Kindred will usually not lead to a Boon being bestowed, particularly when that Kindred has some kind of Position like Sheriff or Scourge. The Harpy is charged with the responsibility of adjudicating the worthiness of Boons. Appeasement - Boons are often offered or demanded as an apology for a social misstep of some kind. Be aware that it is dangerous to offer someone a Boon, especially to those of lower Status. You never know when or how it might be called in – once the Boon is in the Harpy’s records, there is no way out of paying it off without damaging one’s reputation. Moreover, once the Boon is given, the granter has no say in what will be requested in return, within the limits of the Boon level. Registering Boons - Kindred who agree upon a Boon must register it with the Harpy if they want it to be official and enforceable. If they do not inform the Harpy of the existence of the Boon, it is unofficial and there is no guarantee that the Harpy will enforce it, even if a complaint is brought up later. Being in Debt - in terms of the Status system, if you owe someone a Boon, they have a hold over you, regardless of how much Status you have personally. It is not wise to throw the weight of your reputation at someone you owe, especially if you owe them something especially serious, such as your life. Trading: Once properly registered with the Harpy, Boons may be traded between Kindred, bought and sold or given away at the pleasure of the one who holds the Boon. Such a transfer must be registered with a Harpy in order to be acknowledged, though the reason for the transfer need not be registered. The value of the Boon does not change, all parties have to agree on the value at the outset (p.220 LotN) but one can, in effect, demand that someone pay a Boon to you by service to a third party. Obviously, there is a great deal of room for role-play in such transactions. Adding - You cannot add multiple small Boons up and get a Major, Blood, or Life Boon without the agreement of the Kindred doing the owing. The values are established at the time the debt is put on the books, so to speak, and cannot be changed thereafter without everyone involved agreeing to it. Please note however that how the characters convince each other to agree to changes is entirely up to role-play. Vampires are extremely sneaky and crafty, and not generally too interested in being ‘fair’. Dividing- Boons are not actual money, and every transaction of Prestation is a complicated giveand-take as characters try to get the most power for the least work. If someone owes you a Major Boon, you cannot arbitrarily decide to break it into several Minor Boons and pass them out to your friends, not without the debtor’s approval and agreement. As stated above, the values are established at the time the debt is put on the books, so to speak, and cannot be changed thereafter without everyone involved agreeing to it. That said, sometimes Boons may be paid back piecemeal or it may be arranged that someone will do several small tasks in order to repay a larger one. Such negotiations are part of the role-play of prestation and should be settled in character. Defaulting - if a Kindred defaults on a Boon, she may be stripped of a sizeable portion of her Status, depending on the size of the Boon. A Trivial Boon might only cost her a Temporary reduction, or at worst a loss of one Permanent Status Trait. Defaulting on a Life Boon, however, could knock someone from the pinnacle of the Camarilla social scene right back down to bare Acknowledgement, depending on the temper of the Harpy involved. Furthermore, Kindred who default on Boons will soon begin to get a very negative reputation (Notoriety Flaw) and will find themselves with few who are willing to deal with them at all.

Non-Camarilla Kindred have no official onus on them to repay Boons that they may owe, and they have no voice or standing in the Camarilla with which to secure that debt. The Harpy does not care about Independents. Therefore, Camarilla Kindred deal in Boons with non-Camarilla Kindred at their own risk.

Levels of Boons Trivial Boon: A small task. One-time favors, unsolicited information, watching over someone for an evening, aiding someone with a common Discipline, supporting someone’s minor political move, helping with a plan, etc., these are all examples of Trivial Boons. Minor Boon: The task performed can last more than one evening and generally requires some sort inconvenience. Examples include: providing needed information of some value, instruction in an unusual Ability, using Influences or Resources to aid another, some types of political support, acting as a bodyguard for multiple nights, facilitating passage through a hostile territory, disposing of a minor 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 or very valuable information, major political maneuvering, helping someone get out of trouble with the Prince, etc. Blood Boon: Examples include: 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. Adjustments - the listed values of Boons can be adjusted at the time a Boon is given based on the individual characters involved. Regardless of the facts in the case, traditional Camarilla thinking would find a neonate saving an elder’s life to be virtually impossible, as the elder was probably not in as much danger as the neonate thought he was. 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 he is under constant scrutiny to make the choice that pleases the ‘authorities.’. Sorting out the appropriate levels of Boons is a major part of the role-play that surrounds Prestation. The Waiting Game – it is technically possible for a character to owe a high level Boon, (Major, Blood, or Life) even if that character has very low Status. They have less social standing to lose, but in many ways that simply makes their position worse, for they may be asked to use Influence or Resources or some other means to secure the debt. Being of low Status in no way gets one off the hook in terms of owing Boons - Camarilla Kindred are patient creatures who are good at coming up with unpleasant consequences for those who do not pay their debts. A canny Elder may hold onto a Boon for century just waiting for the debtor to become useful before demanding repayment.

House Rules, Traits & Challenges All interactions wherein Status Traits are factors in a Challenge of any kind fall under the house rules of the chronicle where the interaction is taking place. Storytellers are strongly encouraged to consider and include addressing the following issues in the house rules for their individual chronicles: •

Which Modifiers are permitted in the chronicle

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Status and Modifiers as they apply to character creation

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When Status can be added to other Traits in any Challenge

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Mechanics (and penalties, if any) for ignoring Status Traits in any Challenges

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What supervision is required for any Challenges (ST, Narrator, Player Consent, etc)

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What rules apply for any scene that plays out anywhere other than an official live game with storytellers present, including email scenes and online chat-program interaction.

Please remember that while Status and Prestation do not have a direct physical impact on characters, the effects of their use can be just as devastating and far-reaching.

Inter-Chronicle Disputes Players and Storytellers are encouraged to remember that in the event of an irreconcilable Status and/or Prestation related dispute, the Camarilla Coordinator is an available resource for resolution of disagreements.

Primary Resources Minds Eye Theatre Laws of the Night: Revised Minds Eye Theatre Laws of the Night: Camarilla Guide OWBN Status Packet (original version contributors: Gabriel K. Balmes, Jason Brannen, Amber Kendel, Mike Lehman, Stefanie Moser )

Credits Revisions 2007 by Abigail Graham Special Thanks to: Original contributors, Dawn Sherman, Daniel Karpouzian, Sean Carroll, and many devoted storytellers and players from throughout OWBN.