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Camarilla Status Guide

Status: An Introduction
Status n., [[L, standing]] position, rank.

Status is the term that defines the level of trustworthiness or respect within Camarilla Society. It determines the weight with which a Kindred's word should be regarded, as well as the "pecking order" within Kindred society. It is a resume of adjectives that define character, rank, and standing in the Camarilla. Simply put, those with more status can demand respect from, or even ignore, those with less. In cases where there is a dispute between Kindred and the evidence is lacking, Status, and who has more of it, is always the deciding factor in who is right.

Within the Camarilla, there are many traits that are used to define a Vampire. The following adjectives are a sample of the most common forms of Camarilla Status: Acknowledged, Admired, Adored, Cherished, Esteemed, Exalted, Famous, Faultless, Feared, Honorable, Influential, Just, Praised, Respected, Revered, Trustworthy, Well-Connected, and Well-Known.

Status only pertains to one specific society (Sect). A Camarilla Vampire who learns a Sabbat member's Status, for example, may alter her choice on how to interact with that Vampire, but Status is never accepted or respected across Sect divisions.

Gaining Acknowledgement
Until a vampire leaves the Accounting and gains Acknowledgment in the Camarilla, She has no Status. If she is found guilty of even a minor crime, both she and her sire could face destruction. [A Prince may decide how to administer Acknowledgement in her own Domain as she sees fit. The following text in this section is a recommendation provided to help set an example of this process.]

Once her sire feels comfortable that she has learned the laws and social graces of their society, she may be presented to a Primogen. The Primogen will then decide if this new member of the clan is worthy to represent the clan on her own. If the Primogen rejects the candidate, she will have to work harder under the Accounting to make an impression on her parent clan. In most domains, childer without Status may be destroyed by their Sire without official consequences, as those under the Accounting do not have Hospitality. This varies, of course, according to the decisions of the Prince of each Domain.

When a Primogen finally agrees to the presentation of the neonate, the Childe is brought before the Prince to be Acknowledged as a member of the Camarilla. The Prince may interview the neonate in a manner that will prove her ability to enter the Camarilla as her own person. If the Prince approves, she then Acknowledges the Neonate, and they are considered to possess their first Status Trait.

Once the vampire has her first Status Trait, she is responsible for her own actions and expected to uphold the Traditions of the Camarilla. Acknowledgement is always the first status trait given to a member of the Camarilla. A Kindred is only Acknowledged once. This 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.

System: Acknowledgement is usually free upon character generation. It is inferred that a character has already undergone the rigors of the Accounting. Some players may choose to begin under the Accounting, though. Plus, in-game embraces do happen. So the system for gaining Acknowledgement is quite important.

The Public Nature of Status
Granting and removing of Status Traits: Any announcements of the granting or loss of Status must be made publicly, either at an assembled gathering or in an email announcement to a public list. This must always be logged with the Harpy of the Domain 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.

Loaning of Status Traits: Camarilla Kindred who loan Status Traits to assist their allies must lodge their willingness to publicly back another with their Domain’s Harpy. As such, Status loans become public knowledge and cannot be altered once the Harpy records them.

Posting Status
Posting Status within email or in a letter should follow the following format: Personal + Positional +/- Miscellaneous (loans, merits, flaws, etc.). A Kindred is not required to post their Status publicly. It is simply an option, if they want the weight of their Status to be understood by everyone reading the missive. Otherwise, another Kindred will need to use their Politics ability, as per Laws of the Night: Revised, to determine someone’s Status.

It may be posted either numerically (4+1-2) or descriptively, as illustrated in the examples below. Descriptions in brackets [] are for definition purposes only, and do not need to be included in character missives.

Example a Camarilla Vampire with Position, in numerical form: Jane Doe
Sheriff of Ft. Wayne
Status: (3+1) -1 on loan

Example of the same Camarilla Vampire with Position, in descriptive form: Jane Doe
Sheriff of Ft. Wayne
Status:

Acknowledged by Prince Roosevelt of Chicago [Acknowledgement]
Honorable by Matthew Alexander, former Prince of Cincinnati [Personal Status]
*Respected by Primogen Smith (on loan to Virgo Stein) [Personal Status on Loan]
Feared as the Sheriff of Ft. Wayne [Positional Status]

Loaned Status
There are two ways to loan Status to another kindred. In the first, a kindred may loan a single trait of her Status to another to show favor or to empower her for a period of time. This Status Trait is loaned indefinitely and is returned to the original owner immediately when she wants it back (or if the character dies). The second way to loan a Status Trait is to bestow a temporary trait upon another Kindred for a specific task. This method also requires that it be returned immediately if the original possessor demands it, but in this case, it also returns to her when the task is completed.

Example of a Status loan for a period of time:
Richard Trip steps up as Sheriff of his Domain. Upon doing so, he also assigns Tomas Fox as his Deputy by loaning his *Feared name (see Assistants). Tomas Fox will retain this loaned status until Richard Trip requests it back, or removes his Deputy.

Example of a Status loan for a specific task:
Orion wishes to gain audience with the Prince of his Domain. He lacks two of the Status required to gain audience. He petitions his fellow clan mates to loan him their Status, in order to speak to the Prince. Orion is able to gather enough Status to enter the Prince’s chamber. Once Orion leaves the Prince’s chamber and informs his clan mates he was able to speak to the Prince, all loaned status returns to the proper owners.

In the event that a Kindred acts in a scandalous manner, and she is in possession of loaned Status, the negative view of her actions reflects on those who have loaned her Status as well. If a kindred is loaned a Status Trait through a favor by an Elder, and the younger kindred is found to have broken a law or acted in some scandalous measure, the Elder is now in danger of losing the Status Trait that he had loaned.

Note: A Kindred may loan only one Status Trait to any given Vampire, though she may loan Status Traits to multiple Kindred as long as she has Personal Status to loan.

Status and Positions
A Kindred assuming a Camarilla station 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 stations, 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.

Positional Status for the Camarilla Stations
Justicar: Known as Faultless, Just, Feared
Alastor: Known as Sanctioned, Feared
Archon: Known as Empowered, Feared
Prince: Known as Exalted, Famous, Well-Known
Seneschal: Known as Cherished, Esteemed
Primogen: Known as Revered
Harpy: Known as Influential
Sheriff: Known as Feared
Keeper of Elysium: Known as Honorable
Scourge: Known as Feared

Whips have the same powers as the Primogen in their Primogen’s absence. However, they do not gain the Positional Status Trait (refer to Laws of the Night: Revised for more information).

As long as they hold their official station, no Kindred may permanently lose their Positional Status Traits, though they may be stripped temporarily.

A Harpy's Positional Status
Upon being appointed by the Primogen Council, a Harpy is shown support with a Loaned Status Trait from each of the Primogen. The Primogen, in turn, list this Trait as loaned so 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. A Harpy should be especially careful not to incur the wrath of the Primogen Council while in her position, as 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.

Assistants
The Harpy and the Sheriff are allowed to create lesser versions of their positions. These positions are the Lesser Harpy and the Deputy Sheriff. 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.

Ghouls
Ghouls are nothing more than 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 carries the Status of 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.

Non-Camarilla Clans and Status
Kindred who are not members of one of the six Camarilla clans have a significantly more difficult time acquiring credibility and political weight within the Camarilla. These members should have an extremely difficult time getting and holding onto Status. 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.

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 Status:
Those who may grant Status by the power of their office may only do so for acts that occur within their own Domain or to Kindred who reside there. A Justicar's power is absolute, globally. Therefore, they are exempt from this limitation.

Justicars may grant permanent Status to any Kindred at a cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each permanent Status Trait awarded. If a Justicar wishes to grant more than five permanent Status Traits in a single session1, the sixth and subsequent Status will cost the Justicar Permanent Status.

Princes may grant Permanent Status to any Kindred at a cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Permanent Status Trait awarded. It does not cost the Prince anything to award the Status Trait of Acknowledged to any Kindred.

Seneschals may grant Permanent Status to any Kindred at a cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Permanent Status Trait awarded. The Seneschal can only do this when the Prince is absent. The decision may be revoked by the Prince, at no cost, if she chooses to do so.

Primogen may award Permanent Status to a member of their clan at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Status awarded.

Whips may award Permanent Status to a member of their clan at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Status awarded, but can only do this when their clan Primogen is absent.

Harpies may restore Status they have stripped at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait per Trait restored.

Any Kindred may grant a Permanent Status Trait to another Kindred if they are of the same clan and they have more than double the Permanent Status of the individual receiving the Status. 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 in another Domain. Thus, even if a Prince (for example) wishes to grant Status to someone in another Domain over the Camarilla email list, she must belong to the same clan and possess more than double the Permanent Status of the individual receiving the Status grant. Some Princes may consider this a Breach of Domain, so Kindred choosing to exercise this option are warned to tread carefully.

Stripping Status:
Those who may strip Status by the power of their office may only do so for acts that occur within their own Domain or to Kindred who reside there. A Justicar's power is absolute, globally. Therefore, they are exempt from this limitation. Archons and Alastors are able to strip Status if a Kindred is impeding their investigations, no matter what Domain they are in.

Note: Acknowledgement is the last Status Trait that can be stripped from a Kindred. All other Status must be removed, either permanently or temporarily, in order to then remove Acknowledgement.

Justicars may remove Status from any Kindred at a cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Permanent Status Trait removed.

Archons may remove a permanent Status from any Kindred attempting to interfere with their investigation or a sentence they have pronounced. This removal costs nothing and only a Justicar can reverse it.

Alastors may remove Status from any Kindred attempting to hinder her official mission. This removal costs nothing.

Princes can remove a Permanent Status Trait from any Kindred at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait per Trait removed.

Seneschals may remove Status from any Kindred at a cost of one Temporary Status Trait per Trait removed. The Seneschal can only do this when the Prince is absent. The decision may be revoked by the Prince, at no cost, if she chooses to do so.

Primogen may remove Status from a member of her own clan at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Status Trait removed.

Whips may remove Status from a member of her own clan at the cost of one Temporary Status Trait for each Status Trait removed, but can only do this when their clan Primogen is absent.

The Primogen Council may remove one Status Trait from their Prince by collectively expending Permanent Status Traits equal to the Prince’s Permanent Status Traits.

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.

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.

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.

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 been presented formally to the Prince of the Domain. This removal costs nothing. However, a Prince can return the stripped Status should she be unconvinced or find insufficient evidence to back the Scourge's decision.

Any Kindred of higher Status may remove Permanent Status from Kindred of lower Status at the cost of one Permanent Status Trait per Trait removed. Status may be temporarily removed in the same fashion by expending Temporary Status Traits. These are the only manners in which a Kindred can remove Status from someone in another Domain. Thus, if a Prince (for example) wishes to remove Status from someone in another Domain over the Camarilla email list, she must have more Permanent Status then the individual being stripped, and permanently sacrifice one of her own. Some Princes may consider this a breach of Domain, so kindred choosing to exercise this option are warned to tread carefully.

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.

Status Modifiers
Merits
The Merits: Prestigious Sire and Reputation act as “phantom” Status. They do not count toward the maximum 6 Personal Status (see OWBN By-Law Section 8: Status Regulation), nor may they be bid or spent. The Kindred with either of these Merits is simply perceived as having one higher Status than she actually does, and will garner more respect in social situations. These “phantom” Status 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 (storyteller discretion).

It is strongly recommended that the Merit: Reputation is not bought at character creation, but through role-play of the character (and Storyteller discretion).

The Historian/Status Coordinator must approve all Prestigious Sires, in an effort to assist with the historical continuity of One World by Night.

A character with either of these merits would list them below their permanent Status Traits.

Example of a Camarilla Vampire with Position and Status Modifying Merits in numerical form:
Jane Doe
Sheriff of Ft. Wayne
Status (3+1) +2 perceived (Reputation and Prestigious Sire: Lane Doe)

Example of a Camarilla Vampire with Position and Status modifying Merits, in descriptive form:
Jane Doe
Sheriff of Ft. Wayne
Status:

Acknowledged by Prince Roosevelt of Chicago [Acknowledgement]
Honorable by Matthew Alexander, former Prince of Cincinnati [Personal Status]
Respected by Primogen Smith [Personal Status]
Feared as the Sheriff of Ft. Wayne [Positional Status]
(Childe of Prince Lane Doe: Prestigious Sire) [Prestigious Sire Merit]
(Reputation: Author of “So you want to be an Elder?”) [Reputation Merit]

Flaws
Conversely, the Flaws Infamous Sire and Notoriety act as “phantom” negative Status. No Status award can negate these Flaws, but they can be bought off through role-play should the Sire redeem herself, or should the negative reputation become redeemed (storyteller discretion).

These “phantom” Status Traits do not get logged with the Harpy, nor do they decrease the actual number of a Kindred’s Personal Status Traits. But a Vampire with these Flaws will be treated as if they had less Status than they actually hold, and other Kindred will not be expected to respect the Status, which is reduced by either flaw. Vampires with these Flaws would list their Status the same as detailed above for Reputation or Prestigious Sire, but as negative numbers, which lessen their Perceived Status.

It is suggested to Storytellers that they hand these flaws out freely to characters that they think deserve them.

The Historian/Status Coordinator must approve all Infamous Sires in an effort to assist with the historical continuity of One World by Night.

Assamites as “Probationary Sect Members”
Schismatic Assamites 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 (Storyteller discretion).

Lasombra Antitribu Clan Advantage
Refer to Laws of the Night: Revised Page 43 under Advantage.

Boons: Introduction
Prestation is the monetary system of the Kindred. Boons should be considered a form of currency among the Kindred and are taken very, very seriously.

Whenever someone does a favor for a Kindred, beyond that individual’s expected duty or station, she is expected to fulfill an obligation to repay the debt. It is important that she repays any Prestation debts, and it is important that she be sure that all the debts to her are upheld. In the event that a Kindred feels that another owes her a Boon for some reason, she may demand a Boon from them and any negotiations must be settled between the two and the Harpy.

Kindred are often offered favors by others, and when this occurs there can be a number of different reactions. It is dangerous to offer someone a boon, especially to those of lower status, as you never know when or how it might be called due. Moreover, once the boon is given, the granter has no say in what will be requested in return.

The ability to demand a boon is a demonstration of power. Thus, many Kindred search for ways to “assist” their fellows (even if they have to arrange those circumstances necessitating their assistance).

The chart below lists examples to be used as a general guideline for determining the value of a Boon. Obviously, these are not the only acts that could constitute the existence of a Boon.

Trivial Boon: One-time favors, unsolicited information, watching over someone for an evening, aiding someone with a Discipline, supporting someone’s political move, helping with a plan, etc

Minor Boon: The task performed can last more than one evening and generally requires some sort inconvenience. Providing needed information of crucial value, instruction in a rare Ability, using Influences or Resources to aid another, minor Political maneuvering/sway, acting as a bodyguard for an extended amount of time, facilitating passage through a hostile territory, disposing of a 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 information, major political maneuvering/sway, helping someone get out of trouble, etc.

Blood Boon: 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.

The listed values of Boons can be adjusted based on the Status levels of the Kindred involved. Obviously, no self respecting Harpy would allow a six Status elder to owe a one Status neonate a Life Boon. Regardless of the facts in the case, a neonate saving an elder is not usually impossible, as the elder was probably not in as much danger as the neonate thinks. 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 she is under constant scrutiny to make the choice that pleases the ‘authorities.’

Two Kindred who agree upon a Boon have the option of registering it with the Harpy. If they do so, they run the risk that the Harpy will discuss the matter with others (although this is bad etiquette on the part of the Harpy). If they do not, however, there is no guarantee that the Harpy will enforce the Boon, even if a complaint is brought up later.

Trading Boons
Boons may be traded between Kindred. Such a transfer must be registered with a Harpy in order to be acknowledged, though the reason for the transfer need not be registered.

Boons and Stations
Doing things that are expected of a Kindred will usually not lead to a Boon being bestowed. As an example, if the Keeper of Elysium is able to cover a Masquerade breech, then it is within the expectations of her duty and there are no Boons awarded. The Harpy is charged with the positional responsibility of adjudicating the worthiness of a Boon if it ever comes to question.

Prestation or “Paying the Piper”
In terms of the Status system, receivers are considered to gain as many Status Traits as the Boon is worth (Trivial Boons would be worth one Trait, Minor Boons are worth two, a Major Boon is three, a Blood Boon is four, and a Life Boon is five Traits). These Traits may only be applied when comparing Status between the debtor and receiver; the Status adjustments do not apply to any interactions between the individuals and the rest of society.

Non-Camarilla Kindred and the Prestation system
Non-Camarilla Kindred have no onus to repay boons that they may owe, and they have no voice or standing in the Camarilla with which to secure that debt. Who is going to make sure that a Giovanni pays you back for the help you gave her? The Harpy does not care about Independents. Therefore, Camarilla Kindred deal in Boons with non-Camarilla Kindred at their own risk.

Lexicon:
Boon: A favor done by one Kindred for another.
Loaned Status: A Status Trait temporarily given to another Kindred.
Permanent Status: Total of a Kindred’s Personal Status and Positional Status
Personal Status: Status held by Kindred regardless of any stations they might assume or depart.
Positional Status: Status held by Kindred because of their assumption of a Camarilla station.
Prestation: The balance of debts and boons owed to Kindred.
Status Modifiers: Merits & Flaws that affect the perception of Status, such as “Prestigious Sire”.
Temporary Status: Status Traits recovered at the beginning of the next session.

One World by Night Bylaw
Character Regulation Bylaw
Section 8: Status Regulation
So that the relative value of status from chronicle to chronicle remains constant and uninflated, players are limited to receiving six status points from other players, plus the highest status bonus from offices held. (A Prince who was also Ventrue Primogen would thus have a ceiling of nine status.) The council OWBN may award points over and above the six points + office limit to recognize exceptionally famous Kindred.

All characters with more than 6 inherent status (inherent being 'without office') should be considered to be covered by the rule covering Rare/Unique creatures. These characters would be entering a level of the jihad above the average level of play and, as such, are now exceptional individuals in OWBN. Therefore, to introduce a creature of this power level it would take the approval of the OWBN council.

Resource Materials
Minds Eye Theatre Laws of the Night: Revised
Minds Eye Theatre Laws of the Night: Camarilla Guide

Contributors
Gabriel K. Balmes Historian/Status Coordinator Nov 2001-Feb 2002
Jason Brannen Status Sub-Coordinator Nov 2001 thru present
Amber Kendel Status Sub-Coordinator April 2002 thru present
Mike Lehman Status Sub-Coordinator April 2002 thru present
Stefanie Moser Historian/Status Coordinator April 2002 thru present