the traditions of the invictus - university of...

The Traditions of the Invictus

Lord Samuel Cole, editor

Dedicated to the memories ofAlder Mirandia Blake and

Alder Erik Krieger

Contributors

Pillar Leon Vogel, Consul of the Senate.

The Good Alder Simon Cassio, Prince of New York City, Primus and Judex of the Northeast, and Warminister of the Senate.

His Grace, Sir Hector Stearns Castle, Primus of the Southeast, Master of Elysium of Northern Mississippi, Knight Commander of the Swift Order of the Dark Horse, and Technologist.

Baroness Audra Jetter, Minister of the Senate and the Northeast, Speaker of New York City.

The Right Honorable Molly Laroche Essex, Councilor of the South Central Inner Circle and Seneschal of Dallas.

The Good Adriana Vitelion de' Medici, Secundus of the South Central Inner Circle, Speaker of the Prisci of Dallas, and Patron of the Guild of Muses.

The Right Honorable Michael Evengii, Commissioner of the Great Lakes, Meister of the Guild of the Silver Caduceus, and Knight.

Mister Clement, Councilor of the South Central Inner Circle, Soldier, and Patrician of the Flayed House.

Mister Earl Fraley, Archon of the Southeast and Patrician of the Flayed House.

Lord Samuel Cole, Notary of the Northeast and Keeper of Elysia of New York City

Contents

Introduction

The Invictus must be respected.

The Invictus must maintain order.

The purpose of power is power.

Rank has its privileges.

The Invictus has no secrets.

The Invictus must protect its fock lest it lose its ability to exploit it.

The Invictus is a covenant of faith.

The Invictus is society. All of it.

Nobility is in the blood we take and the blood we keep, the blood we spill and the blood we seek.

This Covenant is a relic, a memory of what it briefy was and what it can still be.

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Introduction

We are the inheritors of greatness. We are the heirs of centuries of wisdom and truth. When we face the dangers of each night, we do so confdent that age, experience, and tradition have power. Within the framework of that tradition, however, we have built upon our successes, learned from our mistakes, and adapted to a changing world. No one can truly claim that our traditions have stood unchanged for a millennium and a half; such brittleness would quickly lead to brokenness.

The strength of tradition, therefore, relies on both the grounding of ancient practice and the suppleness of innovation. Memory and destiny are two ancient lovers, eternally young, and their delicate dance keeps the Invictus vibrant, relevant, and sustainable today.

To my knowledge, no one has yet made a public efort to collect and document the body of oral tradition in an accessible way. I have long felt that such a project would be immensely valuable, and so I invited some of the most brilliant leaders, teachers, and thinkers to share their refections on our most oft-repeated maxims, for while these teachings often heard, they are also often neglected and often misunderstood.

The goal of this endeavor is not to create a defnitive and comprehensive pronouncement of an ironclad tradition, but rather to accurately chronicle the culture of the frst estate as it stands today, with all of its diversity of thought, and to preserve it for future generations who will embody it, continue it, and build upon it. In order for us to become what we must become, we must frst remember who we are. We cannot aford to squander our inheritance.

-Lord Samuel Cole October 27, 2009

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I. The Invictus must be respected.(traditional)

The Invictus must be respected. Often I have heard this saying touted when some foreign threat troubles the frst estate. However, it must be understood that this imperative applies frst to members of our covenant, and only then to the masses.

Consider: do your actions show respect for the Invictus? Do your actions show respect to your fellow Kindred of Quality? Do your actions honor tradition? Consider this in every action, both public and private. Do this and your actions will earn respect for the frst estate.

-Sir Hector Castle

This statement is the foundation of our covenant. While it is inferred that the Unconquered must earn the respect granted to them, it also requires that the Invictus extend to their covenant this same courtesy. What separates the Invictus from the other covenants is our purpose of order, treating one another with form and protocol that breeds civility. It is a standard of conduct, wherein we honor our traditions, our vassals, and the estate entire.

-Alder Simon Cassio

Of the fve essential maxims of Invictus philosophy this is the most discussed, most quoted, and most boring.

Distilled to its most fundamental core it is a dictate for everyday behavior for all of society. Those claiming to be Invictus must show respect in all things they do, particularly to each other. Others must also treat the Invictus with respect, as rank has its

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privileges, and those who know themselves to be Invictus are of greater rank than those who do not.

The natural corollary of this maxim is that one must be deserving of respect. Stressed more appropriately, one must behave in a manner that commands respect. Behaving as the jackdaw or gnat does not demand respect, although they may have respectable qualities. On the other hand, behaving as the falcon or lion does command respect, although they may have qualities that are not respectable.

Naturally, as a falcon or lion, when respect is not given as appropriate, the ofending creature is devoured.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

This is a phrase that reinvigorates leadership and reminds us of our duty to society. Given the efects of modern American sensibilities, however, it is met with reverence as often as it is met with a roll of the eyes. Overall, this has unfortunately gone the way of the catch-phrase with all of the comical implications included. Whether or not those who cling to the statement can reestablish its original virtue is still being evaluated.

-Madame Audra Jetter

I've seen some young members of the Invictus go to arms because they feel they've been disrespected by a lesser covenant. They carry this signature phrase on a banner as they charge in to battle. We can no more be disrespected by the other covenants than a man can be disrespected by a toddler. They can bark and swear and yell all they want; we at the top will continue to laugh at those who waste their breath blowing down the wall.

-Sir Michael Evengii

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To be Unconquered is to garner respect from those around you, be they peers within the frst estate or the drab outside of it. We are respected because of who we are, but more because of what we do. Our eforts are recognized by others as well as our own, and therefor we are well received.

However, such respect does not come automatically; name alone will not carry the weight of the world. We must follow in the footsteps of our elders and lay our own paths so as to earn the respect that the Invictus must receive. Respect will never be given blindly, and we must earn it as our forbearers did before us. The tenant "the Invictus must be respected" is not only a claim of our natural tendencies, but also an order to our own number to earn such respect, and to never expect a bent knee that is unearned.

-Alder Adriana de' Medici

Respect is in the eye of the beholder. Some believe that respect is garnered by fear alone, and one must dominate one's opponent into submission, openly and, many times, physically. Some believe that respect is garnered by wisdom, and that the requiem is a chess game to be maneuvered through. Some believe that respect is garnered by how well we govern others, as we lead all of society. Others believe that respect is garnered by how well we adhere to traditional methods. Still others believe respect is garnered by how we adapt.

I believe respect is all these things because I believe respect is garnered by success. We do not gain success by removing tradition, decorum, or etiquette; rather, we are successful because of these things. A member of the Invictus should rise to be the best and manifest their blood and lineage, liege and name, to the absolute best of their ability in all things. If one's talent is to speak, one should rise to become the best and most persuasive speaker there is. If one's talent is supernatural phenomena, one should become an expert, and never requiring us to turn to other covenants for knowledge.

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It is in this success, and adhering to this success, that the other covenants look to us as the example of how society should be. It is in this success that we continue to prove that traditional methods work, and overcome the modern nuances found in the Movement. It is in this success that we are both feared and loved by all. Other covenants should look to us and desire to either be one of us or to be led by us in the capacity in which we excel. In this success, we are respected.

-Madame Molly Laroche Essex

The purpose of most creatures on earth is to survive and procreate; earth’s creatures spend their energies in a balance between these two directives. There are animals who eat their young at the frst sign of danger to ensure their own survival, like the marmot. There are creatures who give their lives to mate, like the preying mantis. There are humans who die trying to impress mates, and there are humans who fail to mate because they decline to take risks. Those two activities, however, are the focus of their energies. No matter how much a creature wants to survive, their time on earth is limited, and progeny are their legacy.

Kindred do not procreate, and it therefore becomes obvious why survival is of such paramount importance to us. Our time on earth need not be limited, and so while the inevitability of death drives humans to great feats of daring and acclaim, kindred are instead driven to survive.

There are two ways kindred can survive – by fghting every moment of every night for every scrap of freedom and peace, or by establishing a society that has rules to protect and constrain. Weary of endless confict, at some time or another, our sires selected the latter option.

One of the relevant social rules is that those who are respected are not attacked. Attacking someone who is respected results in swift reprisal by everyone else who is also respected; after all, should they fail sufciently to respond, they know it might very well be

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they who are attacked next. Imagine the prosperity and mutual defense of an entire covenant of kindred who declare that by joining them, anyone can become respected, and gain access to that defense. This would be a formidable group indeed, and so it is no surprise that the Invictus is the foremost covenant on earth.

The rule that one does not, by attacking, disrespect a member of the Invictus, however, applies to others within the covenant, as well. Therefore, a dispute resolution mechanism must (and, indeed, does) exist. If two members of the Invictus have a personal problem with each other, they are required (if close enough in station) to sit down and attempt to talk it out. If they cannot reach an accord, they can ask a Judex to help. If they still cannot reach an accord, and the insult is so severe they refuse to exist in a world that allows them to be insulted in such a fashion, they can request the Judex enact our most ancient and sacred rite, the duel that must end in death: Monomacy.

There are several things that must be noted about this process. The Judex chooses to declare Monomacy or not - the parties merely request it. One does not challenge another to Monomacy. Neither must the other party accept - if the Judex fnds the insult grave enough to warrant Monomacy, neither party may escape adjudication by merely refusing to participate. If they wish to avoid the risk of immediate destruction, the disputant must ofer terms reasonable enough to persuade the Judex to make their opponent accept those instead of combat.

The mechanism itself is complex and nuanced, but the purpose is simple: to enforce the rule that “the Invictus must be respected.” The mechanism is a natural consequence of the rule, and the rule is likewise a natural consequence of the desire to survive itself.

-Mister Earl Fraley

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II. The Invictus must maintain order.(traditional)

Order breeds success; this is a known certainty. When each individual Unconquered serves a chosen role to the best of his or her ability, working in concert towards the betterment of the covenant, the chaos and uncertainty of our requiem is thwarted. Notions and ideas come and go with the passage of time, but by honoring our traditions and our forms, we cultivate a routine that has proven its worth time and again.

-Alder Simon Cassio

Order is our purpose above all others. Without order, the niceties of society are meaningless, having been drowned out by the blood-dimmed tide. Remember always that only we, the frst estate, have this dedication to order. We dedicate ourselves as no other covenant does to the safety of all kindred. Only we, of all kindred, say "frst the Masquerade, then everything else". This dedication is honorable, and all Invictus must take due pride in it.

-Sir Hector Castle

One of the fve essential maxims of Invictus philosophy is “Order Above All.” There are many layers to this saying, not all of them pleasant to the ear. Most importantly, one must realize that each of the essentials of Invictus philosophy must be treated in balance or at least with understanding of the others.

I will admit that as a creature of order and reason this philosophical axiom stands as my favorite. My fondness may also stem from its nearness to the great question.

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The Invictus must act for the purpose of creating and maintaining order. In doing so we see to the greater good of all; without order, society turns upon and devours itself. This necessitates both understanding and sacrifce.

To bring and maintain order, one must understand one's own virtues, strengths, weaknesses, as well as those of others. If I know that another is better suited to a particular duty, then I should, generally speaking, support that individual as he or she performs it. The most commonly discussed confict in which this is dismissed is the insistence from one party or plurality that they are best suited for leadership when they are, in fact, not. They fght amongst themselves and sow chaos, but this could have been avoided by a proper understanding of themselves and one another. This of course brings us to the next aspect of maintaining order: sacrifce.

Once one realizes that one may not be suited for every task necessary to institute and maintain order, one must also realize that sacrifce is necessary. Chiefy, I speak of personal sacrifce. This is not to say one must surrender one's life, but that one must be willing to surrender one's position and glory in the service of the greater good. Again, using the most commonly discussed confict, one who could bid for leadership and who comes to the realization that he or she is not best suited for leadership must then sacrifce immediate designs on leadership so that order may be rendered.

As should be apparent, we face two great foes in the pursuit of order. The frst is the personal ego. Within the covenant we have many strong egos, and they clash often. To make meaningful progress one must be willing to set one's ego aside. The second is, of course, the Beast. The Ordo Dracul would mistakenly claim that they know the Beast best of all, but in truth we mastered it long ago. We did not need any trickery or witchcraft; we came to realize that society itself leaches the Beast. Strong will and strong adherence to tradition allows us to overcome what some consider a defciency without parlor tricks.

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I would hope that the reader realizes that these examples examine the near term, and that as the depth of the analysis of any given situation is expanded (that is to say, how far into the future one wishes to create and/or maintain order), and that as the breadth of the analysis of any given situation is expanded (that is to say, the swath of society one wishes to afect), the situation becomes more complex. The greatest danger is not the complexity that is born from a full analysis, but that what must be done to create and maintain order may vary, thus coming in confict and potentially creating chaos if one is not both aware and willing.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

There is a system that is greater than any one individual, and that system has proven time and again, over thousands of years, that if you go against the system, the system will go against you. Over that time, the Invictus has learned that we do not control the system, we simply recognize that a machine that is well-oiled functions better than one that is not.


If there is one idea that we must hold closest to our hearts, it is this. All of our traditions are based on order. Order is the foundation of all our systems of civility and etiquette. Only through order can kindred culture exist and thrive. Why? Because, at our core, we are petty, blood-sucking parasites who would otherwise spend more time thinking of clever ways to murder our enemies than how to lead our society into a promising, utopian future.


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III. The purpose of power is power.(traditional)

Power is a tool. The purpose of that tool is to better the tool itself. It can be seen as a pathway to money, blood, control, and many other things. Each of these in turn is something that may be wielded in the pursuit of power. One must never forget that the veneer, no matter how enthralling, is simply a distraction from the true purpose of all things: power. Even though it may not be readily apparent, each tool may be leveraged to one’s advantage, and thus be used in the pursuit of power. When you wield a tool, do so with knowledge of this true purpose.

I must comment on a common misinterpretation of this maxim. Many will misstate it as "power for the sake of power." Stated thusly, power is no longer a tool to be wielded but an excuse to be levied. One will do an act, commonly in the usurpation of order, claiming that it is to “garner power.” This is a child's action, and garners no more true power than that of the schoolyard bully. True power comes instead from the realization that the purpose of power is power.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

Find any force in nature that exists for some purpose other than to exist. The Sun does not shine on the Earth because the Earth pays taxes. Gravity does not pull down because it is angry at the sky. Power and authority exist for no other purpose than to be those things. Others will gravitate or be repulsed by these concepts, but they will continue to persist despite any resistance.


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This particular proverb has been used to justify any and all pursuits of power, whether they are wise or not. I do not believe this traditional quote is a justifcation, however, but rather an explanation of our values.

While each other covenant has a hidden agenda in pursuing power, be it religious, experimental, academic, or otherwise, the Invictus understands that the end goal of power is power in itself. It is not to convert others who’s hearts may be turned later. It is not to experiment based on the ability to do so. The goal of power is simply this: to achieve, maintain, and solidify power. Those who have the ability to obtain power in their given feld of interest should do so because they are great enough to do so. However, wise kindred know what they are good at and what they are not. Woe be the one who pursues a praxis, for example, who is not meant to lead. He or she may achieve transitory success, but true power is longer lasting.


This statement is often misinterpreted and used to imply an imaginary right to power even if contrary to the good of the covenant. In truth, “the purpose of power is power” is an assessment of how power should be wielded once gained, and does not presuppose that power should always be sought. It is about the dynamics of our relationship with others. We use power to gain more power, and when we use our resources to assist others in achieving their goals, we all beneft and those who we assist become more dependent on our collective resources.

-Alder Simon Cassio

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IV. Rank has its privileges.(traditional)

Rank has its privileges. These privileges are contingent on the fulfllment of the duties of rank. Do not be the fop. Do not forget that those with rank must act and be seen to act for the betterment of those beneath them. Remember also that you are Invictus, and even our lowest-ranking initiate is set above the masses and given greater privilege.

-Sir Hector Castle

Society is a tapestry of protocols - little rules of etiquette that help keep not just the Beast, but our baser instincts at bay. Within this tapestry we choose to honor those of rank, and rightfully so. The words of one who is honored carry greater weight and meaning than those of who one is not. Those of rank should be the frst heard, never made to wait, and included in discussions that lessers would not be, unless invited. After all, a privilege of rank is to dictate as well as to defer.

It is often misunderstood that rank automatically equates to station. When I travel to a city I do not automatically become the leader of the city. My words carry a measure of weight, but I do not, by virtue of my standing, have the ability to dictate to a prince or a local inner circle. In fact, I must be cautious of the damage I may cause because of my rank. Remember, one must act to bring about and maintain order. If one attempts to use his or her rank to assert authority, he or she may easily be working to undermine that order. Thus, rank also has its burdens.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

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The etiquette of tradition lends to precedence. Those who have fought, bled, battled, politicked, ingratiated, or otherwise made a name for themselves will be honored in our words, actions, and deeds. What culture does not have rewards for those who have put in time and efort? Should the Invictus be no diferent?

The Invictus choose in all things to look at that which lasts. It is in this adherence and reverence of tradition that we excel. In this excellence, we are remembered for all time if we are worthy to be. This allows the youngest of us to look forward to what patience and exoneration will bring about. This allows the oldest of us to remain secure that what we have earned will not be forgotten, nor will it be belittled within our hallowed ranks.

In these modern nights, this is one of the most overlooked of our sayings, but one of the most important. We live in a modern society of entitlement and speed. By adhering to this and learning what it means, we instill patience and the desire for things that last. These, not the quick or modern, are the things of which society is truly made.


Our society is a stratifed, multi-layered system of capable kindred who rely on one another. Every person of rank has risen to it, beginning as a lowly neonate with little to no privilege and a great deal of learning to do and continuing up to whatever rank they currently claim. Many of us, through our great number of years, have risen and fallen numerous times. Rank, once earned, is to be respected due to the amount of time and efort required to the rise to that rank.

Once a higher level of responsibility has been earned, it is understood that it comes with certain privileges. We respect these privileges because of the efort done by the person who earned them, as well as in the understanding that one day we may rise to that level if we are diligent and resourceful. Proper incentives will incite all to reach for that point where they too can enjoy the

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privileges that higher rank ofers, and through such encourage better members of society.

-Alder Adriana de Medici

When a lion dies, it does so having eaten anything it wanted. The vultures will pick at him, true, but they wouldn't dare while he still stood. Other cats may try to steal his prey, but he still holds the title, "King of the Jungle." He may not be the most efcient killer, but even man bows to him to some degree. Rank comes from experience, from achievement, and from skill. There is not enough room at the top for everyone.


Too often this statement is used to oppress those who are viewed as unworthy (be that because of birth, wealth, station, etc). And while these diferences do exist without question, this maxim should not be used to rationalize cruelty, tyranny, or subjugation. Instead it should act as a reminder of the blessings we have received as Invictus and why we, more than any other covenant, are aforded opportunities for kindness, compassionate leadership, and charity.


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V. The Invictus has no secrets.(The Rt. Hon. Alder Cadeyrn)

...which is not to say that individuals within the Invictus have no secrets because obviously they do. This speaks more to removing the often-skewed perceptions of those who do not understand the purpose of Invictus leadership. Individuals inherently fear what they do not know or comprehend, often ascribing malicious intent where there is none. Arbitrarily cultivating layers of mystique does nothing but alienate those who would inevitably beneft from our guidance. Through openness and education, kindred will come to grasp our altruistic motivations and support our rule.


Secrets are often required in our nightly requiems, as deception is a weapon to be used to our collective advantage. However, when the Invictus is at its best, it need not hide behind lies or subterfuge. Each act the Invictus does is done out of service, unapologetically and fully protected from the scrutiny of outsiders. We do what we must for the good of the frst estate, in honor of our forms, our traditions, and our oaths. So armed, we need not obfuscate our reasons for we are righteous in our cause.

-Alder Simon Cassio

Of course we have our secrets. The one who claims there are no secrets is the one who hides the most.

In its best possible light, this statement provides that we are the most open of all covenants. This is not to say that we accept all, but rather that we act more openly than others. We have long since realized that open displays of power are potent tools and the

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more omnipresent they are, the better.

I realize that many cleave to this saying, and use it as an excuse to invite others to our meetings, despite being in direct contradiction to our maxim that rank has its privileges.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

We have no secrets because we have nothing to hide. We work to make the world a better place - why would we hide anything?


I believe this has been the most misquoted and misunderstood quote given by one of our great leaders. Its ambiguity has lent itself to comedy, but I would present a diferent view.

Each member of the Invictus, due to the very nature of our ability to lead and pursue leadership and power, is a public fgure. A spotlight has been shined on each of us as politicians and diplomats, experts and leaders. We live in glass houses.

Every kindred has personal secrets. This is true, and no one would dispute this. However, the Invictus politics of leadership are no secret. We all adhere to the tried and true methods of tradition and etiquette in all things. Each covenant can look at us and know exactly what we believe; each covenant can look to us and not have to wonder about our philosophy, political structure, or confict resolution procedure. We are emulated by other covenants, even by those who do not stand by either tradition or propriety.

In this, we have no secrets.


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Of course we have our secrets. We have secrets even from our own membership. This statement is merely an elder's attempt to keep the neonates content in their belief that they are not missing out on the things we have kept from them.


Some things must be kept private, if for no other reason than to allow others to save face. Simply repeating Alder Cadeyrn's proverb does not give us leave to air dirty laundry in public, nor does it allow us to abandon propriety. He did not mean that we must tell the entire world everything we know, everything we think, and everything we've heard.

If, for example, you believe the prince of your city has made a poor decision, criticizing him or her in public would undermine the authority of the praxis, potentially destabilizing the city, and would require retribution. Going to that same prince privately, however, and ofering your concerns and critique would not be an ofense; in fact, if you are an Advisor, it is your duty to do so.

What I think Alder Cadeyrn actually meant is that, more than any other covenant, we are predisposed toward working with those not among our ranks. The Invictus exists to lead, yet we lead not because we are more worthy than other covenants but rather because we are better connected, better organized, and broader-minded. We share knowledge, we share success, and we share the benefts of living in a stable and safe society.

Let others have their secrets. I am Invictus and I have no time for them.

-Mister Samuel Cole

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VI. The Invictus must protect its fock lest it lose its ability to exploit it.

(traditional)

This is simply one of many ways in which one may perceive the patronage system. One must protect all who serve lest one lose their services. Such service may be passive, as is often the case when one speaks of the fock, or such service may be active, as is often the case with vassals. In all cases, the lord has a duty to serve his people just as they have a duty to serve him. This symbiotic synergism is one of the greatest strengths of the Invictus.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

Mortals are power. The best of us have long since passed the time when we can talk to men directly without killing them. As long as we allow humanity to run the world, we will need to protect the best of them to serve us, and to one day become us.


Patrons and clients, lieges and vassals, shepherds and sheep: this is the kind of language which opponents of traditional society fxate upon when they criticize us.

Yet who can dispute that the responsibility of the shepherd to the sheep is far greater than the responsibility of the sheep to the shepherd? This is, in fact, the greatest merit of the patronage system: that when one joins the Invictus, one gains a powerful ally and mentor who is personally invested in your growth and development. Who else can boast this?

-Mister Samuel Cole

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VII. The Invictus is a covenant of faith.(The Rt. Hon. Alder Cadeyrn)

The Second Estate has its various creeds and interpretations. The Ordo Dracul has its books and philosophies. The Acolytes have their pantheon of deities and the Carthians have no deities at all. The one article of faith that the First Estate has is a shared service towards something better, toward the dream of a world that is civil and secure and ordered. Each Unconquered serves this dream in his or her own way, and it is this collective act that makes us divine.

-Alder Simon Cassio

The Invictus is also a covenant of reason. Society cannot be separated from faith and reason, and thus we are both.


Alder Cadeyrn and I did not always see the world in the same light. He was as stone where I am as water. However, in the matter of faith we agreed.

The word of the Invictus is sacrosanct. It is known that when we give our word we will do everything required to keep it, even at the cost of our own lives. This is part of what it means to be Invictus. Because of this, when other members of the Invictus say that they shall perform a task or abide by a decree, I know they shall. I may know nothing more of them beyond their being Invictus, but that is all that is required. I have no proof that they shall behave in a particular fashion, but because they are Invictus I know nonetheless. This is faith.

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The Acolytes and the Sanctifed see their faith rewarded constantly, so constantly that one might argue there is no faith but instead formulaic science. The Invictus, conversely, have no such formula; we have no security blanket to assuage our concerns and fears. Instead, we have our faith.

Almost inevitably there comes a time when one betrays the faith we all place within them. It may come from a broken promise or a broken oath. No matter the fne words that spill from lips when this is done, there is never any true excuse that justifes breaking one's word. Even if one breaks one oath to uphold another, even if one were to save the universe through the act of breaking their oath, they have failed and they have spat upon our faith. Where I could thank such an individual for such actions as they might have beneftted me, I would also know that I could no longer trust them; they would be lesser in my eyes.

As we are a covenant of faith, and as it is relatively easy for one of us to fall from grace, we must also consider the matter of atonement. Is it possible for one to make amends sufcient that our faith in them is restored? The answer must necessarily vary by individual. Ask yourself, what would be required for you to know that one who has once broken his or her word will never do so again?

-Pillar Leon Vogel

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VIII. The Invictus is Society. All of it.(Pillar Leon Vogel)

And we will continue to be for as long as there are kindred to govern.


Whether by subscribing or by reacting to the maxims, traditions, and etiquette of the Invictus, modern kindred society has been shaped profoundly by our leadership… and the world is better for it.


All who seek civilized society can fnd it within the Invictus. All who seek to become part of civilized society act as if they were Invictus. The Invictus is the pinnacle of society, and represents what society is in its most proper form. All others are merely sad attempts to achieve what we already have.


This is a statement with layers. The frst layer is easy to examine: kindred society, as it exists today in every part of the world, exists as the Invictus created it. The praxis and inner circle models were crafted and refned by the Invictus, and it is they that are used throughout all of society. The statement has deeper meaning however.

Covenants rail about what defnes them. Carthians, Dragons, Acolytes, Sanctifed, and more all claim something that makes

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them special, something that sets them apart, but they are wrong. All that these covenants have to ofer is found within the Invictus. Each can be defned within the various functionary positions that we, the Invictus, have given society. We have those who investigate kindred nature, we have those who chase spiritual pursuits, we have those who question philosophy, and we have more. Each has its place within the Invictus, and if an individual's pursuits have impact and meaning, they shall be adopted within the Invictus as sound refnements. When one chooses to defne oneself as apart from the Invictus, however, all one accomplishes is to defne oneself in relation to the Invictus. Not all realize their position, just as not all realize they have the potential to be so much more.

In truth, only one covenant should exist, as far as covenants are defned today: the Invictus. For every other covenant, someone failed to understand the maxim “order above all.” Thus, instead of these other bodies and beliefs being fully and properly incorporated, divisions within society are greatly (some may say irreparably) exaggerated.

The exception of course is Beliar's Get, or Belial's Brood as it is often called. These creatures and not kindred and have no place within society, which they seek only to undermine. They deserve fnal death, no more and no less.

To provide a fnal layer for the purpose of this truncated discourse, to accept that one is outside of society is to accept that one is not held to the standards of society. As the Invictus is society, we must hold all to the standards of the Invictus; to do otherwise is to excuse behavior and abandon order.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

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IX. Nobility is in the blood we takeand the blood we keep,

the blood we spilland the blood we seek.

(traditional)

To be Invictus is to strive toward nobility, and by this I mean mythical or ideal nobility. The reality, of course, always falls short of the ideal, which is good, lest we have nothing to strive for. Nobility is not a facet of oneself that may be turned on and of as a spigot. No, one must always endeavor to be noble in all things, be it through thought or deed.

This proverb does not tell us that nobility is literally in the blood per se, but that we must treat all things with the respect owed to their station, be it above or below our own. How one behaves, how one treats the metaphorical blood they take, keep, spill, or seek is refective not only of the value of said blood, but of oneself, as well. By every action, by every thought we judge others and ourselves; if every action is not bent towards the higher ideal, then it is degraded.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

Clever, but pedantic.


Blood is a particular favorite of mine: the hunting of it, the nourishment, the favor. In my time, blood was not a commodity, but the very thing that led to violent disputes between predators.

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We are predators. There is nobility in that. There are those who hunt with such ideals in mind. There are others, less savory, less appealing to the eye, who cherish the tenants of blood in the most primal and unspeakable ways, but as Unconquered, I consider them beautiful none the less.

To be Unconquered is to understand one's place in the hierarchy of killers and monsters, and then to subsequently conquer that place, and then next the very notion itself. We are a society not of lords and servants, but teachers and students, and all are welcome to feast.

-Mister Clement

Nobility is such a misunderstood term, much like “gentleman.” In times past, being called a gentleman signifed peerage, i.e. a member of the gentry. Today, however, “gentleman” no longer denotes a social class, but rather a standard of behavior and etiquette.

Similarly, during the Romantic period, the word “nobility” took on the connotation of chivalry and virtue, but prior to this the term denoted being part of the land-owning class under a vassalage system. The Invicti of today use the term in both ways, much to the confusion of our neophytes.

The Invictus is older than either meaning, however. The Invictus is older than Romanticism. The Invictus is older than Feudalism. The Invictus is older than this proverb. Like a phoenix, the Invictus was begotten in the ashes of the Camarilla, and from those ashes it rose to reforge civilization from chaos and disorder.

So ignore anyone who tells you that being Invictus is akin to being a noble or belonging to a gentry class, or that this gives you privileges over other covenants. Our roots, and our duties, reach far deeper than that.

-Mister Samuel Cole

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X. This Covenant is a relic, a memory of what it briefy was and what it can still be.

(Alder Quintus of Alexandria)

With due respect to the good Alder Quintus of Alexandria, I believe his words are poorly chosen. A relic is a dry and dusty thing, a remnant of what was once life. I declare here that the Invictus is not a Covenant that lacks for vigor. I have with my eyes witnessed the stars of new initiates rising, taking on the banner of the sacred traditions our covenant espouses. I have witnessed the glorious Alders of the Invictus standing as a testament to the perseverance of that tradition. We are no relic.

The good Alder Quintus of Alexandria called on the frst estate to seek expansion at all times, and indeed it is truth that all domains not in the hands of an Invictus Prince should be in the sure and trusted hands of an Invictus Prince. However, we, the First Estate, understand that time is our ally. We do not race against it as so many others do, but rather we bide what time we have until the proper moment, and in that moment act with sure grace to seize what is ours by right.

-Sir Hector Castle

The Estate is not what it once was because the world is not what it once was. Yet since the fall of the Camarilla, the Unconquered have survived for nearly two thousand years without the protection of the Legio Mortuum or any other power, and during that time we have remained true to our traditions, our oaths, and our way of life. We are not a relic, we are a sustained tradition, and by honoring our history we build a new memory that will survive long after we are gone.

-Alder Simon Cassio

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Yet, the covenant is not transitory. Individual kindred within the covenant can fail, can misinterpret the philosophies of the covenant, and can even go against the covenant, but the covenant itself is immutable. We are stability. We are society. We are Unconquered. It is not a choice. One does not decide to be Invictus. One either is or is not.


The covenant is many things to many people; how we view it is shaped by our experiences. I have not lived Alder Quintus's life, so I do not see the Invictus from the same perspective as he. This said, my vision is not terribly dissimilar. The Invictus is an ideal to which we can aspire or not; if we choose the latter then we fail not just ourselves, but all of society.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

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