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ALTERNATE VIRTUES AND PATHS OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Some vampires forgo the petty mortal concerns embodied by the concept of Humanity. These Kindred reason that they are no longer human, thus they have no need to apply the sentiments of the living to themselves. Whether or not a Kindred chooses to follow the moral tenets of Humanity, some sort of behavioral system must exist. To accept utter randomness is to court the Beast, and no vampire wishes to sink into the clutches of mindless depravity. Even those vampires who plumb the depths of immorality have some ethical bulwark they use to anchor themselves against the Beast.
Kindred who voluntarily abandon Humanity follow behavioral codes known as Paths of Enlightenment. While mechanically similar to Humanity, these codes have very little — in fact, sometimes nothing — to do with the mores of mortal culture. Adopting a Path of Enlightenment means giving up everything that matters to a "normal" person or, indeed, many Kindred.

SO YOU WANT TO FOLLOW A PATH
Many Kindred loan themselves especially well to certain Paths. By all means, if your character concept fits a Path better than Humanity — and if the Storyteller permits — take it! It is important to know a few things before you commit to a Path of Enlightenment, however.
• Paths are advanced concepts: For beginning players and Storytellers, it's best to stick with Humanity. Not only do most vampires still maintain vestiges of their mortal beliefs, it's less difficult to portray a character who knows and believes similar things as the player.
• Paths are exclusive: Few Kindred are initiated into the secrets of the Paths. Most vampires — even those of the independent clans and the Sabbat — follow the ways of Humanity; they simply tend to degenerate to very low levels over time. Not just anyone can follow a Path; becoming such an inhuman creature requires discipline and spiritual strength, albeit of a distinctly alien sort. A person seeking to join a Path must have the capacity to discard her human nature, as well as the fortitude to survive the process.
• Paths are utterly inhuman: Players wishing their characters to adopt Paths of Enlightenment are in for extremely demanding roleplaying experiences. Absolutely nothing the player believes in will be reflected by any of these Paths. These are codes of immortal ethics that Kindred have spent hundreds of years, if not millennia, studying. It's fine and good to have an Assamite character following the Path of Blood, but the player will have to devote an enormous amount of energy toward thinking how that character really thinks.
As a corollary to this, a Path follower is treated as though he has a Humanity store of 3 when using the rules for interacting with mortals. If the Path follower's Path rating is less than 3, use that score instead.
• Paths shock conventional moralities: This cannot be stressed enough. Paths use game systems similar to Humanity, but the codes that constitute these ideas emphasize such alien ideals that anyone observing them is likely to be put off. Look over the Hierarchies of Sin for the Paths — some of them accord prestige, honor or righteousness to behavior that would cause the gods to strike a human dead in his tracks. Some codes espouse killing, while others cannot be bothered with it. Indeed, some codes are so selfish that even thinking about helping others constitutes a moral failure.
To put if plainly, this is some heavy s**t. These Paths are here to illustrate how utterly inhuman and removed the Kindred are from humankind, and to give them spiritual protection from the talons of the Beast. Use the Paths when the story or character demands them, not to free the characters from penalties for wanton murder or perversion.

SYSTEMS
Characters on Paths of Enlightenment use the same systems for degeneration as characters who still subscribe to Humanity. Each Path has its own Hierarchy of Sin. To recap, any time the Storyteller feels that the character is about to act in a manner contrary to morality as her Path defines it (i.e., she wishes to do something proscribed at her Path level or below), he should warn her that persistence will require a degeneration check. If the character undertakes the action anyway, have the player make the degeneration check (alternatively, the Storyteller may do this in secret) and apply the proper consequences, if any.
Some Paths are so far removed from conventional human morality that concepts like Conscience and Self-Control do not apply to them at all. For these codes of ethics, different Virtues apply. Depending upon which Path a character follows. Conscience may be replaced by the Virtue of Conviction, while Self-Control may be replaced by the Virtue of Instinct. No character may have both Conscience and Conviction or Self-Control and Instinct. Which Virtues the character actually possesses depends upon which Path he follows. Remember, however, that all characters have Courage, regardless of Path.

CONVICTION
The Conviction Virtue quantifies a character's ability to maintain a sense of reason when faced with desire, suffering or need. Utterly inhuman, Conviction represents the reconciliation of the predatory urge with the character's capacity for atrocity.
As opposed to Conscience, which deals with remorse and atonement for Path transgressions, a character with Conviction recognizes his failure and plans to overcome it. Conviction is completely inhuman; the character who has this Trait can no longer pass for human under anything but the most cursory of scrutiny. Creatures who can sense the Beast (vampires, werewolves, etc.) immediately recognize someone with the Conviction Virtue for what he truly is: a monster. Like Con-science, Conviction comes into question when a character must check for degeneration.
• Steady
•• Determined
••• Driven
•••• Brutal
••••• Completely self-assured

INSTINCT
The Instinct Virtue refers to a character's ability to control the Beast by familiarity rather than denial. It allows characters to "ride the wave" of frenzy and emotional excess by keeping a close rein on their passion, rather than letting passion control them. As atavistic as Conviction, Instinct is the Virtue of a monster who accepts his nature rather than maintaining a sense of human compassion.
Instinct allows the character to harness the Beast's destruc-tive power; a character with high Instinct is primal and turbulent. A player rolls Instinct when attempting to control a character's existing frenzy. When a character who possesses the Instinct Virtue faces frenzy, she always enters the frenzy, unless the difficulty to avoid it is less than her Instinct Trait, in which case she may choose whether or not to frenzy. Thereafter, for the duration of the frenzy, the character is wholly under the Beast's sway, and must be run by the player (or controlled by the Storyteller) in an appropriate fashion. Any time the player wishes the character to consciously take an action (known as "riding the wave"), she must roll Instinct against the difficulty to avoid the frenzy. Frenzies attest the character normally (including ignoring wound penalties, etc), though she may sometimes exert a bit of control while so enraged
• Intuitive
•• Feral
••• Bestial
•••• Visceral
••••• Primal

CREATING A PATH FOLLOWER
If a player wishes to create a beginning character on a Path, a few changes in the character creation rules take place
• Alternate Virtues begin at zero: While every human (and thus every recently Embraced Kindred) has a modicum of their "natural" Virtues, vampiric Virtues must be inculcated from the ground up. So, while a character with Conscience, Self-Control and Courage is treated with one free dot in each Virtue, then has seven points to spend on Virtues, character with Conviction, Self-Control and Courage begins with only two free dots (in Self-Control and Courage). A character with Conviction, Instinct and Courage begins with only one free dot (in Courage). All characters receive seven points to spend, but must use points to buy the inhuman Virtues to at least 1. This may seem unfair, but shunting off one's human nature is not undertaken lightly. Even monsters are not created overnight.
• A vampire following a Path of Enlightenment must begin the game with a Willpower Trait of 5, minimum: This can be achieved by spending points on Courage or raising Willpower with freebie points. Beings of lesser ego simply do not have the spiritual vigor needed to break down their very souls and rebuild them from the ground up.
• Beginning characters may not start the game with Path scores above 5: It the combination of the character's Virtues would indicate a Path score of higher than 5, simple record "5." Likewise, freebie points may not be spent to increase a beginning character's Path rating above 5, either. Beginning character vampires who subscribe to these codes still have only 25 or fewer years of experience as Kindred — hardly enough time to master the rigors of inhuman codes of behavior.
• In all other ways, unless otherwise specified, inhuman Paths and Virtues are used like their human counterparts. So, if a roll calls for the player to use Perception + Self-Control, and the character has Instinct, roll Perception + Instinct.

SWITCHING FROM HUMANITY TO A PATH
A character may also elect to eschew his human nature in favor of a Path. This is exceedingly difficult, and those who fail find themselves permanently soul-scarred as a result.
A character seeking to switch from Humanity to a Path must have a Humanity rating of 3 or below, as well as ratings of 1 in whichever Virtue or Virtues are to change to their counterparts. For example, a vampire seeking to follow a Path espousing Conviction and Instinct must have (Conscience and Self-Control ratings of 1.
During the chronicle, a "deserving" candidate is typically approached by a Kindred already on the Path; in this sense, Paths resemble secret fraternal orders, approaching candidates they deem worthy rather than being open to solicitation. This process should always be roleplayed. If the character chooses to initiate himself toward the Path, he begins a program of rigorous study, and a vampire already on the Path is assigned as the initiate's mentor. An initiate spends at least a year in contemplation and study of the Path's ways. During this time, the initiate must forcibly degenerate his human Virtues, dropping them to "acceptable" levels (Humanity 3 or below, ratings of 1 inappropriate Virtues), if he has not done so already. Again, this should be accomplished by roleplaying.
The vampire then undertakes a test, which must be roleplayed by the player and Storyteller. This test can involve study of forbidden lore, answering of riddles, completion of ordeals and tasks, or whatever else the Storyteller deems appropriate for the given Path. However, part of the test always involves the vampire committing an act that, in human terms, would be viewed as an atrocity. Such a deed is undertaken not for the sake of mindless evil, but rather to impart a lesson about the character's nature in relation to the Path.
Following the completion of the test, the character makes a Willpower roll. It the character's Humanity is 3, the difficulty of the roll is 10. If the character's Humanity is 2, the difficulty is 8, and if the character's Humanity is 1, the difficulty is 6. Willpower may not be spent to gain automatic successes on this roll.
If the character succeeds, he sheds his human nature and the Virtues that accompany it, gains ratings of 1 in all appropriate Path Virtues, and gains a Path rating of 1.
If the character scores three or more successes, he experiences a profound, it twisted, enlightenment, gaining a Path rating of 2.
If the character fails the roll, he commits a stupid, pointless atrocity without gaining any corresponding understanding. He loses a point of Humanity, fails to attain the rudiments of the Path, but may reattempt the test (at a difficulty appropriate to his lowered Humanity Trait) in a month's time. If the character botches the roll, he loses a point of Humanity and may not reattempt the test for an entire year.
Should a character be driven to Humanity zero in this fashion, his soul is lost to the Beast, and the character is permanently taken over by the Storyteller.

THE PATH OF THE BONES

The body is a shell; the mind a cell.
The soul is chaff.
Death is the purpose; inevitable death.
— Alessandre Giovanni, Thanatopsis IV
Nickname: Gravediggers
Basic Beliefs: The Path of the Bones, it is believed, grew out of a warped code upheld by the morbid vampires who sired the Giovanni. Human, Kindred or otherwise, every being sooner or later ends up in death's arms. The most ardent followers of this Path espouse "giving oneself over to the comprehension of life's inevitable end." Vampires who follow this Path seek the knowledge of precisely what death is: Is it simply the end of life? The transition of the soul to what lies after life? Is it the end of the soul's desire to be? These questions haunt the followers of the Path of the Bones each night.
Many vampires believe that the Path of the Bones is a degenerate Path that encourages followers to participate in all manner of murder and deviance. These who uphold the Path and those who are familiar with it, however, know that it involves itself with a pursuit of life's and unlife's meaning. Followers of the Path seek to understand death's nature and purpose, and thus the roles individuals play in the greater scheme of the world. Mortality is inevitable, except for vampires, who have somehow managed to cheat the cycle.
Kindred nature, however, is generally outside the avenues this path explores It is truly a scholar's code, as the Kindred who follow it forsake even their own comfort to advance their understanding of mortality's mysteries. These Kindred are not necessarily cruel — they merely value comprehension more than human life.
At its simplest, the Path of the Bones seeks to define not only what death is, but also its meaning to those who have escaped it. It is a Path of knowledge and power, and many who support it learn to wield great influence over the living and dead alike. Many among the Path become quite erudite in the ways of ghosts, but even these odd beings fail to answer many of the Gravediggers' questions — what, for example, happens to a ghost that resolves its psychic struggle or discorporates into the void?

THE ETHICS OF THE PATH
• Study death in all its permutations.
• Determine when death occurs; define it
• Search for a purpose for death and the life that prefaces it.
• Quantify the differences of death by variouS causes.
• Achieve a comfort with death and unlife — distinguish between damnation and salvation.
• Hasten death's arrival, should it seem to be unnaturally delayed.

VIRTUES
Vampires on the Path of the Bones observe the virtues of Conviction and Self-Control.

HISTORY
This Path grew out of a moral code upheld by the vampires whom the Giovanni destroyed in their bid for greater power. A select few Giovanni saw more than a means to an end in their practice of Necromancy, and upheld the ritual- and studies of their forebears. Although the Path is not widely practiced among the clan, followers of its precepts pioneered most of the Giovanni's advances in Necromancy.

CURRENT PRACTICES
Elder members of Clan Giovanni follow this Path, as do those with a sincere interest in improving their necromantic knowledge for a purpose other than temporal power. Giovanni who uphold the Path of the Bones rarely deal with mortals, as their grim inquisitiveness often proves fatal for mortals with whom they come in contact.

DESCRIPTION OF FOLLOWERS
Vampires on this Path are genuinely curious, wishing to learn exactly what purpose individuals serve. Thanatology is more a science than a philosophy to Kindred on the Path of the Bones. This Path is quite introspective, and greedy Giovanni rarely follow it, preferring the more materially comfortable outlook of Humanity. Gravediggers support the Giovanni family primarily through the knowledge they bring it, rather than through advancing the political aims of the clan.

FOLLOWING THE PATH
Vampires who subscribe to the tenets of the Path of the Bones should be detached yet inquisitive. Although they are not cavalier about death, Gravediggers seldom aid one about to slough off the mortal coil, preferring to watch and learn. Less fatalistic vampires may take issue with this, and the Kindred on this Path will not act against them should they seek to aid the dying individual. Obviously, their time has not yet come, though were their benefactor absent....
Common Abilities: Kindred on this Path naturally special-ize in those proficiencies that advance their macabre research. Knowledges are favored, particularly in the realms of Medicine, Occult and Science.
Preferred Disciplines: Followers of this Path obviously favor Necromancy, and also refine their aptitude with Auspex. As well, certain elders of the Path are rumored to have developed unique mystic arts related to the study of death.


Score|-----------------------Moral Guideline-----------------------|-----------------------Rationale
--10--|Showing a fear of death------------------------------------|Fear inhibits learning.
---9---|Failing to study an occurrence of death-----------------|Refusal to learn indicates refusal to understand.
---8---|Accidental killing----------------------------------------------|There is no opportunity to gain insight.
---7---|Postponing feeding when hungry-------------------------|Denial of the self serves no greater purpose.
---6---|Succumbing to frenzy----------------------------------------|The Beast is irrational, and emotion serves little to advance understanding.
---5---|Refusing to kill when an opportunity presents itself---|Experimentation proves theory, and without proof, there is no conclusion.
---4---|Making a decision based on emotion rather than logic|Vampires are dead; so, too, are their emotions.
---3---|Inconveniencing oneself for another's benefit----------|Death is inevitable; what meaning does easing another's doomed discomfort have?
---2---|Needlessly preventing a death----------------------------|One must not prevent the cycle, but should learn from it.
---1---|Actively preventing a death--------------------------------|Such emotional ties befit humans, not Kindred.

We are ever in between until the chrysalis overtakes us.
— Laika, Tzimisce koldun
Nickname: Metamorphosists
Basic Beliefs: The world is made up of evolutionary chains. Animals are below humans, who are below the Kindred, who themselves are below something. The metaphysical, arcane members of Clan Tzimisce follow this Path, which focuses on defining and attaining the state of being beyond the curse of vampirism. Citing their use of the transformative Discipline of Vicissitude, the Tzimisce believe they have the potential to transcend the constraints of the flesh. Hearing Metamorphosist Fiends speak, however, reveals the true monstrosity of their philosophy; they believe that the next step is a state akin to apotheosis, and they will do anything — anything — to achieve it.
Some Metamorphosists believe that their ideology corresponds closely with the concepts of the enigmatic mages. Although their means are different — the Path of Metamorphosis leans heavily toward the passage from life into undeath and onward — it seems that both groups seek some sort of supernatural "ascension."
The Tzimisce are characteristically thorough in their study of this Path's ideals. By coordinating their experiments on living, dead and undead subjects (as well as other curiosities they may come across, like werewolves or the errant ghost), the Fiends have formed complex theories as to precisely what the next step in vampire transcendence is. The solitary and suspicious Tzimisce rarely compare notes, however, and the Path suffers as each follower spends much of her unlife learning the rudiments that other Kindred have already deciphered.

THE ETHICS OF THE PATH
• Learn the characteristics of all stages of life and death.
• One should not concern oneself overly with mortals — they are a step below the Kindred, not above them.
• Do not share knowledge with others, as it is too valuable to trust to a flawed creature like oneself.
• Indulge the Beast and deny it; true comprehension of unlife requires a broad range of experience.
• One should alter and augment one's body—changing the flesh may pave the way toward changing the soul.
• Do not heed the needs or desires of others, as their lack of introspection may distract even the keenest intellect.

VIRTUES
Vampires on the Path of Metamorphosis subscribe to the Virtues of Conviction and Instinct.

HISTORY
The Tzimisce have researched this Path in their solitary way for literally thousands of years. The Tzimisce have always been creatures of tremendous mystical potential; the followers of this Path seek to realize that potential. Followers of this Path relate very little to the world outside themselves, and many relate this fact to the inexorable decline of the clan itself.

CURRENT PRACTICES
Most Metamorphosists claim membership in the Sabbat but pay it little more than lip service, involved as they are in more esoteric pursuits. In truth, this Path long predates any sect, and Kindred committing themselves to it subscribe to beliefs and creeds far older than petty notions of Kindred politics.

DESCRIPTION OF FOLLOWERS
Followers of the Path of Metamorphosis are truly some of the most alien creatures any Kindred could hope (or have the misfortune) to meet. Metamorphosists are cold, utterly inhuman and exactingly scientific. Their concerns are metaphysical rather than legitimately ethical, and it is precisely this frame of mind that leads many to believe that the Metamorphosists have literally begun their transformation into something else. Some take this a step further by altering their flesh in various means until they no longer have a recognizable gender or look even remotely human.

FOLLOWING THE PATH
Metamorphosists, conduct all manner of bizarre experiments, most of which take place far from others' eyes. It is a distant, lonely philosophy, removed from any needs other than the matter of sustenance. Followers should be heedless of others around them, existing only to satisfy their personal concerns.
Common Abilities: This Path concerns itself almost exclusively with Knowledges, particularly those of Occult, Medicine and Science. Many Metamorphosists also pursue more specialized Knowledges such as Philosophy, Theology and sundry supernatural lores in hopes of uncovering secrets unexplored in larger fields of study.
Preferred Disciplines: The Tzimisce Metamorphosists favor attention to their unique powers of Vicissitude, Thaumaturgy and Auspex are also highly prized.


Score|------------------------Moral Guideline------------------------|------------------------Rationale
--10--|Postponing feeding when hungry---------------------------|Hunger causes distraction.
---9---|Indulging in pleasure------------------------------------------|Hedonism deters one from greater ends.
---8---|Imploring another for knowledge---------------------------|The lessons of Metamorphosis are secrets that must be uncovered, not copied.
---7---|Sharing knowledge with another----------------------------|Knowledge must be learned, not simply illustrated.
---6---|Refusing to kill when knowledge may be gained from it|Before superseding death, the Metamorphosist must understand the phenomenon.
---5---|Failing to ride out a frenzy------------------------------------|A Kindred must know the Beast to transcend it.
---4---|Considering the needs of others----------------------------|Those who cannot be bothered to attain Metamorphosis are beneath one's attention.
---3---|Failure to experiment, even at risk to oneself------------|The Path may be understood only through empirical research.
---2---|Neglecting to alter one's own body-------------------------|Physical change must be attained before any more significant metamorphosis.
---1---|Exhibiting compassion for others----------------------------|The fates of others drag one into devolution, not transcendence.

It is these secrets which warp our souls, these very enigmas which mark us with our master's venom. Typhon is not a loving father.
— Khamala Bey, The Thousand Nights of Sutekh

Nickname: Theophidians (only among themselves; the outside world knows them as Corrupters or by the Followers of Set nickname, Serpents)
Basic Beliefs: Vampires who follow the Path of Typhon have a truly sinister purpose in mind. Theophidians seek the resurrection of their patron and father, Set. Though most vampires view Set simply as a mythical member of the Third Generation, Theophidian doctrine teaches that Set was, in fact, a divine being even before his Embrace.
Indeed, Theophidians view Caine as a lesser being than Set, and claim that Set in fact allowed Caine to Embrace him so that he might use the descendants of Caine to strike at his divine counterparts, such as the mythical Gaia and Lilith. In this manner does Set, and through him the Setites themselves, fulfill their place in the universe, acting as agents of entropy and breaking down the old so that the new may blossom.
Accordingly, this Path preaches the importance of influence and control. Many Setites on the surface appear to be little more than pimps, pushers and fixers; in truth, they are much more. Setites commonly view other individuals as tools or founts of information — they are resources for the Setites either way. By gaining control over others, the Setites may use them to fulfill their own ends. Thus, rather than owing those who provide them with information or services, the Setites reverse the role, and instead have their marks come to them first.
Followers of this Path revere Set as something more than a vampire — Set is attributed a deified status, almost a literal translation of the Egyptian god of the underworld. Ways and means for achieving this reincarnation differ, and for this reason, the Followers of Set extend their influence far and wide in hopes of finding information wherever it resides.

THE ETHICS OF THE PATH
• Gather information, secret or otherwise, and learn how it applies to the resurrection of Set.
• Contribute to the clan's greater goal of reviving its slumbering master.
• Bring others under your sway, thereby increasing your influence and capability.
• Subjugate the Beast, as its reckless wiles serve only itself.
• Maintain a veil of secrecy, for other look ill upon this Path's means and ends.
• Look for Set's hidden signs and act upon them.

VIRTUES
Vampires on the Path of Typhon uphold the virtues of Conviction and Self-Control.

HISTORY
Theophidians claim a history dating back to nights before the First City. Whether or not this is true is a matter of much debate, especially among detractors, but the widespread presence of human myths that mimic the relationship between Set and Osiris lends credence to its longevity. For millennia, the Theophidians have plied their degenerate trade from ill-lit alleys to holy temples and everywhere in between. Many leaders among the Kindred and kine alike owe their acquisition of power to the followers of this Path, though the prices they have paid are surely high.

CURRENT PRACTICES
Theophidians support no sect other than their own clan, though some members have forsaken the resurrection of Set and actually oppose his quest from the ranks of the Sabbat. Many followers of this Path cultivate blood cults of devout followers and indenture legions of desperate individuals to themselves, while the Theophidians are not averse to doing "dirty work" themselves — quite the contrary — they reason that with others serving then purposes, they can accomplish much more than they would ever be able to by themselves. Thus, followers of this Path play many roles: seekers, fixers, scholars, courtesans and harvesters of souls.

DESCRIPTION OF FOLLOWERS
The Theophidians are frequently social chameleons, given their need to move through many different circles. They are smooth, ingratiating and wholly inspired by then greater cause. Followers of this Path rarely ask favors of others — they prefer to help satisfy the desires of others, and then call in favors based on what they have already done for those others. It is this side that non-Setite Kindred see most frequently and despises; they publicly decry the vices peddling and corruption of the Followers of Set as breaches of the Masquerade or the puppetry of the Ancients. The Setites know the truth, however: Other Kindred are loath to acknowledge the desires in themselves that a canny Theophidian can satisfy. Clever Setites have even managed to convince non-Setite Kindred to follow this Path after long periods of corruption, dependency and debasement.

FOLLOWING THE PATH
Followers of the Path of Typhon are first and foremost seekers of arcane lore, though their keen social graces also make them silver-tongued diplomats. These Kindred are also insidious, working their way into existing vampire societies with serpentine facades of false identities and cadres of loyal followers. The eldest Theophidian in a given locale often erects a temple to Set in some out-of-the-way place, to better serve the slumbering god.
Common Abilities: Any Ability that helps the Kindred achieve her end is prized by the followers of this Path. As such, the Theophidians have very diverse and capable members. Abilities of particular favor among the Setites include Empathy, Intimidation, Streetwise, Subterfuge, Performance, Academics, Investigation and Politics.
Preferred Disciplines: Theophidians are masters of the reptilian Discipline of Serpentis, though their dealings with others inspire them to pursue the Setite clan Disciplines of Presence and Obfuscate.

PATH OF TYPHON HIERARCHY OF SINS

Score|--------------------------------Moral Guideline-------------------------------|--------------------------------Rationale
--10--|Pursuing one's own indulgences instead of another's-----------------|The slide into vice is a tool, not a recreation.
---9---|Refusing to aid another follower of the Path----------------------------|Teams work efficiently to raise Set.
---8---|Failing to destroys a vampire in Golconda--------------------------------|Those who have transcended their desires cannot brought under sway.
---7---|Failing to observe Setite religious ritual-----------------------------------|This is akin to denying Set.
---6---|Failing to undermine the current social order in favor of the Setites|Other Kindred are purposeless or misled, and this indolence delays Set's revival.
---5---|Failing to do whatever is necessary to corrupt another----------------|The more individuals in the Setites' debt, the better.
---4---|Failing to pursue arcane knowledge----------------------------------------|The mysteries of Set's resurrection may be hidden anywhere.
---3---|Obstructing another Setite's efforts----------------------------------------|The ranks of the righteous are no place for petty power plays.
---2---|Failing to take advantage of another's weakness-----------------------|Compassion has no place in Set's greater plans.
---1---|Refusing to aid in Set's resurrection----------------------------------------|This is the purview of unbelievers.

Glory

Defeating mighty enemies and succeeding at noble quests are both ways to gain Glory. Fighting on through overwhelming odds and triumphing will ensure the Garou his fair share of Glory. But just the fighting isn't enough. The cause must be clear, and, in the end, you must never surrender, regardless of the cost. Many young Garou have found their Glory stripped for entering into fights they could not hope to win. The best way to win great Glory is by attempting the impossible, and living to tell the tale. Even so, a grand death gives the deceased a large share of the Glory they strove for in life.

Glory Creed
I shall be valorous
I shall be dependable
I shall be generous
I shall protect the weak
I shall slay the Wyrm

Glory
--------------------------------------------Sample Behavior--------------------------------------------|Award
Proving one's bravery in less-than-lethal circumstances; participating in a just challenge|----1
Surviving an incapacitating wound; defeating a minor threat-----------------------------------|----2
Defeating an average threat; surviving a hostile Umbral Realm--------------------------------|----3
Defeating a strong threat; dying while defending a caern (posthumous)---------------------|----5
Defeating a very powerful threat; sacrificing oneself to save a caern and its defenders--|----7
Refusing any sept position; suffering a fox frenzy-------------------------------------------------|----1
Not preventing a caern from being overrun by the Wyrm----------------------------------------|----3
Conscious cowardice that resulted in the death of another Garou-----------------------------|----5

Wisdom

Garou with a reputation for Wisdom are the ones most likely to be listened to and deferred to at moots. High Wisdom Renown marks a character who thinks through her words and actions before sharing them, and is adept at sensing when others have not done the same.
Werewolves rich in both Wisdom and glory are a rare breed. The two are often at odds, with the glory-seekers charging into battle at any opportunity and those who quest for Wisdom picking their battles carefully. Both have their advantages, but those who lose on the quest for Wisdom are most likely to be able to try again. A werewolf who is both wise and valorous knows when to fight and how, and he is, therefore, the most valuable of allies.

Creed of Wisdom
I shall be calm
I skill be prudent
I shall be merciful
I shall think before I act and listen before I think


Wisdom
Sample Behavior Award
Learning a new rite; creating a talen; healing a fellow Garou (not of one's pack) unselfishly 1
Giving good advice; discovering a fetish after following mystic signs and advice; summoning an Incarna avatar 2
Revealing, with certain proof, that an area or object is "of the Wyrm"; completing a spirit quest successfully; 3
besting someone (including a spirit) in a riddle contest
Giving a prophetic warning that comes true later; ending a threat without serious harm to any Garou 5
Discovering an ancient caern that was lost; discovering or creating a new Gift 7
Refusing any sept position; suffering a frenzy; missing a Moot Rite -1
Having poor relations with nearby Kinfolk; attacking a much more powerful force without aid -3
Breaking a powerful and necessary fetish accidentally -5

Paradox

The bane of magicians, Paradox strikes all mages at some point in their careers. As the mage twists the universe to his whims, the universe bends back and strikes change on the mage in return.
Paradox tracks on the same wheel as Quintessence, but it proceeds counter-clockwise from the opposite side of the starting dot. Usually, large quantities of Paradox will burn off in startling ways or explode, but it's possible for a mage to gather a significant amount of Paradox and Quintessence at the same time. However, Paradox always wins out. If the mage has too much Paradox, it prevents her from storing further Quintessence, and additional Paradox removes Quintessence as it's gained. The more that a mage screws with reality, the less that he can hold the power of Creation in his hands, until he's paid the price.
• Each time a mage calls on vulgar magic, he garners at least one point of Paradox.
• Attempting magic and failing badly (botching) can indicate that a spell has gone awry, which also incurs Paradox.
• Often, Paradox rebounds and twists a mage's Effects in some unexpected fashion. Sometimes, though, Paradox waits, an almost palpable distortion in the mage's Pattern. Such Paradox energy, tracked on the Quintessence/ Paradox wheel, could explode out in a spectacular display any time the mage garners additional Paradox, or it might just stack up. There's no telling when Paradox will behave in a given fashion.
• A mage who holds Paradox energy can bleed it off slowly. For each week of relatively mundane existence — that is, each full week in which the mage does not gamer any additional Paradox —one point dissipates as the mage's Pattern "unbends" and settles back into reality. Such is true even if the mage isn't involved in "normal" places and actions, as long as he manages to avoid any additional Paradox. However, once the mage has over 10 points of Paradox, this escape no longer works. The mage's Pattern is so twisted up with Backlash energy that something's got to give sooner or later. A mage who manages to store all the way up to 20 Paradox may enter a permanent Quiet, vanish completely from reality or explode in some spectacular fashion, at the Storyteller's discretion.
• Mages with too much Paradox energy can sometimes pick up permanent Paradox Flaws, manifestations of change that rebound to alter the mage in question permanently. These flaws could be physical, mental or supernatural Effects. A mage might suffer a withered hand, a constant buzzing noise or a luminous glow about his head. Such changes become part and parcel of the mage, and they are as difficult to remove or alter as changing any other fundamental aspect of the mage.
• Mages who hold a large quantity of Paradox tend to draw attention. People, always sensitive to the fact that mages "just aren't right," are even more nervous around beings who hold the pent-up seizures of reality. Although few beings other than mages recognize the feeling of Paradox, most creatures instinctively fear such forces and are wary of a mage with too much Paradox.