• The Binding • The Blood Bath • The Blood Feast • The Creation Rite • Festivo dello Estinto • The Fire Dance •
• Games of Instinct • Monomacy • Palla Grande • Sermons to Caine • Vaulderie • The War Party • The Wild Hunt •

These constitute the official ceremonial form for observing Auctoritas Ritae for the Avernus. Only one person presides over Sabbat ritae in most cases with the exceptions of a Creation Rite. The pack priest presides but this is the only auctoritas ritus, that requires the particpation of certain other positions (the sire and pack leader as well). Also, they can be (and often are) presiding officals over Ignoblis Ritae organised under the aegis of the Creation Rite, just as Ignoblis Ritae are presided over by lesser preists during Festivo dello Estinto. This is important for mechanical terms in case of any tests and is especially important for adjudicated ritae such as Games of Instinct and Monomacy.

On How Archdiocese Authority effects Ritae (LotN-R, pg. 164:)

" Every Priest can create ignoblis ritae on her own and superiors can intervene only in the cases of extreme doctrinal divergence. The archbishop can recommend ignoblis ritae that impress him into packs in his jurisdiction and even suggest them for elevation to auctoritas status. In addition, the Archbishop takes the lead in setting the style ritual observance for all the packs he leads. Priests and bishops act very slowly (if they know what's good for them) when contradicting the archbishop's preference for level of formality, aesthetic presentation and the like. "The Archbishop is also the spititual authority of her city. Many archbishops were pack priests before attaining their positions. Archbishops officiate many of the auctoritas ritae of their city's Cainites, and the often develop personal, local or regional ignoblis ritae as well. In the end, the Archbishop supervises the spiritual and therefore civid health of her city..."

"The archbishop can temporarily strip priests under his command of one or more Status Traits for inappropriate performance of the ritae -- that is for performing them in a style the Archbishop doesn't like. In cases of gross deviation the archbishop may spend a temporary Status Trait to grant the Status of Questionableor Unreliable to the priest and (at the Archbishop's discretion) to the ductus and other participants. No Sabbat member may rise through the ranks without convincing an archbishop or superior to remove the negative mark; it takes heroic displays of merit to earn release unless the archbishop himself comes into disgrace, in which case his successor undoes most negative grants."

The Binding ----------------
Date - The winter solstice.

Materials/Procedure - This ritus ideally takes place near a body of running water, but can be consecrated as an auctoritas ritus with as little ritual material ritus are increased by one for one month after the rite.

Notes - Sabbat have been known to conduct much of their war effort in the winter because of the fervour engendered by this ritus. This ritus is often followed by the Vaulderie and by the swearing of potent oaths to guard the Sabbat's secrets.

The Blood Bath ----------------
Date(s) - The consecration of a member of the high clergy, such as an archbishop, a bishop, a cardinal, or the Regent. Also, during the Palla Grande, during which ritus archbishops, cardinals, and the Regent are ritually reconfirmed.

Materials/Procedure - Starting with the priest presiding over the ritus, each attendant Sabbat brings forth an offering of blood to the leader, which is contributed to a large vessel, and kneels before the newly ordained clergyman, expressing his or her endorsement of or allegiance to him or her. The newly consecrated leader gives each of his or her subjects advice or praise. The leader then bathes in the vessel, and is Chrismed (with a sign of the Unholy Cross) with and Baptised in the commingled blood of his or her subjects. After this, the attendant Sabbat drink from the vessel, symbolising that they willingly take all the clergyman has to offer.

Presiding- A priest generally presides over the consecration of a bishop or an archbishop. A bishop, or, more frequently, an archbishop, presides over the consecration of a cardinal. Prisci and cardinals preside over the consecration of the regent.

System - Most Sabbat refuse to acknowledge leaders that they believe were not consecrated by a proper Blood Bath. It is considered a grave insult to refuse to attend a Blood Bath without extreme extenuating circumstances. Supporters of a new bishop must, before the ritus begins, temporarily expend five Status Traits, and the bishop gains two permanent Status Traits after the ceremony is concluded. Supporters of a new archbishop must, before the ritus begins, temporarily expend seven Status Traits, in addition to the confirmed support required from members of the high clergy and consistory, and the new archbishop gains two permanent Status Traits after the ritus is completed. While cardinals and Regents will not often be consecrated in game, the endorsements required for the consecration are considered more than enough to recommend the new official. Cardinals and Regents each gain three permanent Status Traits upon appointment to their new position.

Notes - Note that though packs may elect a bishop to lead them, a new archbishop requires the sponsorship of a priscus, his or her soon-to-becardinal, and either two other archbishops or an archbishop and a recognised member of the Black Hand. A new cardinal requires the sponsorship of the majority of the archbishops within his or her demesne, three of the prisci, a fellow cardinal, three members of the Black Hand, and the sect's Regent. A new Regent requires the written sponsorship of a majority of the consistory, which is made up of all the prisci, all thirteen cardinals, and, when they choose to take part, all four of the seraphim of the Black Hand. High clergy to not need reaffirmation of this sort when they are reconfirmed at the Palla Grande. Also, the blood in the vessel in which a leader bathes is sometimes consecrated as a Vaulderie before his or her subjects drink it.

The Blood Feast ----------------

Date - Any formal Sabbat occasion. This ritus takes one night of preparation, and the Feast itself lasts for one night.

Materials/Procedure - A specially created hunting party collect vessels and/or rogue vampires in preparation and brings them before the assembled Sabbat the night before the Feast. The hunting party is usually expected to gather one victim for every three vampires attending. The hunting party is met with cheers and bared fangs by the assembled Sabbat as the party returns from its hunt, and the presiding official kisses the forehead of each of the members of the party as they present their prey to him or her. The official then hands over the victims to a group of abbots or ghoul assistants that they might be chained or bound so that they do not escape. The next night, the night of the Feast, the victims are chained or nailed by the abbots and presiding ghouls to the ceilings and walls, so that attending Sabbat may have their fill. After all expected Sabbat have arrived, the presiding official consecrates the Feast in the name of the Sabbat. The presiding official gets first choice of the feast, and draws first blood after the consecration of the victims. Presiding-Any confirmed member of the priesthood, or a member of the high clergy.

System - The blood of the victims, once consecrated in the name of the Sabbat, mystically becomes twice as bountiful as it leaves their bodies. Thus, every Blood Trait of the victims spilled from their bodies becomes two as it leaves their bodies. However, any blood remaining in a vampire's body from the feast three nights after the feast is concluded condenses into its normal volume. Thus, three nights after the Feast, halve all Blood Traits gained from the ritus, rounding up.

Notes - Sabbat vampires have received formal censure for excessive observation of the Blood Feast from higher-ranking members and have even been prosecuted for heresy and treason by the Inquisition and Black Hand in extreme cases.

Materials/Procedure - The ceremony itself only requires the application of a flaming brand to the supplicant's head, after which the supplicant is led by the priest in an oath of allegiance to the Sabbat. However, this auctoritas ritus is often preceded by ignoblis ritae specific to the clan and pack of the supplicant. Tzimisce Creation ritae, for example, differ greatly from Pander and Brujah antitribu Creation ritae, and Creation ritae also differ greatly from pack to pack. The Vaulderie is always observed immediately following the Creation Rites.

Presiding- The priest of the pack, the leader of the pack, and the supplicant's sire. Sometimes, probationary sect members who had fallen from True Sabbat status must again receive the Creation Rites in order to be fully accepted again. In these cases, the supplicant's sire is not necessary.

System - Without the Creation Rites, a Sabbat is considered False Sabbat and therefore unequal to the other vampires of the sect. Upon receiving the Creation Rites, a vampire permanently receives the Status Trait: Proven.

Notes - Until a False Sabbat or probationary True Sabbat has received the Creation Rites, they are not considered "real" vampires, and are ineligible to take part in the auctoritas ritae.

Festivo dello Estinto ----------------
Date - The entire third week of March.

Materials/Procedure - This ritus is a celebration of the undead state, and is a week of revelry opened by the presiding official at a special esbat. The nature of the revelry varies by pack, and all packs observe nightly Vaulderies among themselves and with other packs. High clergy conduct special ritae and excesses among themselves and often offer nightly Sermons to Caine in their cathedrals, while encouraging their "flocks" to horrible vampiric excess. Regard for human life, if any were left in the minds of the depraved Sabbat, is abandoned in favour of celebration of death. Often, many other auctoritas et ignoblis ritae are conducted at this time, acquiring special significance during this 'Festival of the Dead.' Most packs have special ignoblis ritae reserved especially for the Festivo dello Estinto. The Festivo dello Estinto culminates on the third Saturday in March with a Blood Feast of epic proportions. Presiding-The highest-ranking priest within each diocese or archdiocese presides over Festivo dello Estinto.

System - There are no special mechanical effects, but Monomacy is usually put aside and petty rivalries are ignored as all Sabbat put their shoulders together during this week to conjure what many outside the sect would consider Hell on Earth.

The Fire Dance ----------------
Date - None in particular. Priests usually begin the ritus whenever they feel that their "flocks" need to be rallied or need a morale boost.

Materials/Procedure - The presiding official lights a bonfire, around which the assembled Sabbat dance and chant, signing praises of their deeds or prowess and urging each other on. At the peak of the ceremony the attendant Sabbat urge each other to jump over the flames, sometimes multiple times. Presiding-Any confirmed member of the priesthood, or a member of the high clergy.

System - At the peak of the ceremony, a vampire must win a Static Courage Test (retest Courage) difficulty 2 using their Courage as traits to even approach the flames. To leap the flames, the player must win a Static Physical Test (retest Athletics) against difficulty 6, or higher at the Narrator's discretion for particularly daring feats. Multiple leaps require multiple Static Courage Tests and Static Physical Tests in succession. After a Fire Dance, all vampires who were able to leap the flames gain a temporary bonus Trait of Courage for three nights following the Fire Dance. Some vampires may be granted permanent Status for multiple and impressive leaps by the presiding priest for the temporary expenditure of three of his or her status Traits. G

Games of Instinct ----------------
Date - No particular time, but priests generally refrain from officiating Games of Instinct more than once a month, so that the Games themselves continue to hone the skills of the vampires involved.

Materials/Procedure - Numerous Games have been invented, but all involve the honing of the participating Sabbat's skills to a knife's edge.

Presiding-Any confirmed member of the priesthood, or a member of the high clergy.

System - After the Game is completed, the winning player gains a level in the Ability, for two months, that he or she used the most during the Game.

Notes - Excessive observation of this ritus is frowned by the elders of the Sabbat, who often feel that the "spoiled childer" should be putting their time to better use, in War Parties or actual missions for the Sabbat. Abuse of this ritus for Ability-pumping should be liberally curtailed by inventive Narrators, who may place anything from marauding Lupines to massive SWAT teams in the place of overzealous Gamers.
Note also that only the most dangerous and deadly activities are usually consecrated as Games of Instinct, and that trials of skills in which a pack is already proficient are often ineffective.

Monomacy ----------------
Date - Any time Sabbat have grievances with another that cannot be otherwise resolved.

Materials/Procedure - The challenger offers the challenge to his pack priest, or if he or she is unaligned, then to a neutral pack priest. The priest then decides whether or not the grievance is worth Monomacy. The challenger also informs the priest of the conditions for the Monomacy that he or she would prefer, including the weapons or Discipline restrictions he or she would prefer. The presiding priest, if he or she decides to preside over the ritus, delivers the challenge to the challenged. The vampire thus challenged may either decline the challenge or accept it. If the vampire accepts, he or she may make stipulations on the weapons, Disciplines and other assets used in the ritus, after being informed of the challenger's preferences. The ritus is conducted and the winner usually diablerises the loser, after which other ritae and general celebration and congratulation occur.

Presiding - Any confirmed priest. If the dispute is between packmates, the pack priest usually presides. But in cases where the grievance is between members of different packs, the challenger's priest communicates this to the priest of the challenged vampire. Because the two are biased, it is brought to a third party.The priests are intermediaries for their parishioners in securing the aribitration of the dispute. It is proper form for the two priests to seek a neutral third party, being a neutral confirmed priest or occasionally the local bishop or archbishop.

System - While the challenged vampire makes final stipulations on weapons, Disciplines, and the victory conditions of the duel, as well as any other details (blindfolds, participants must ride the wave in frenzy during the duel), the challenger decides where and when the ritus will be conducted. Occasionally, the challenger and the challenged vampire will establish a dialogue on the ritus back and forth through the officiating priest, and these dialogues have sometimes ended in bizarre and incredibly elaborate ritae by which the dispute is settled. Unless the challenged vampire has more than double the status of the challenging vampire, he or she cannot refuse the challenge without losing a Status Trait permanently for her cowardice. The presiding priest officiates the duel, and the duel begins and ends only at his or her word.

Notes –
• This ritus takes many forms, from the short, brutal, no-holds barred brawls of the neonate Sabbat to the elaborate, formal contests observed by the elders. What all Monomacy ritae have in common is the final settlement of the dispute, and the solemnity with which they take place. This ritus is perhaps the most sacred ritus of the Sabbat next to the Vaulderie, as all Sabbat recognise the need for strong sect members and the final settlement of disputes between sect members.

• For the record here, "one's pack priest" refers to the priest of one's pack. A "pack priest" (without the possessive) refers to a qualified member of the Sabbat for presiding over the ritus. This includes confirmed members of the priesthood, as the "Presiding official" section indicates. There is one"Presiding official", and only one, priest who oversees Monomacy. This is the official who adjudicates.

Palla Grande ----------------
Date - All Hallows' Eve.

Materials/Procedure - The local Sabbat puts on a great "ball' to which many of the local kine are invited, providing all sorts of creature comforts for them, even bartenders and snacks. The 'ball' can take the form of a rave, a waltz, a dinner party or any number of other things, just so long as the event takes place in view of as many kine as possible. Some cities' Sabbat even charge admission for the 'privilege' of attendance. However, hidden away from the festivities at a secluded location, the presiding official consecrates a special Blood Feast, whose victims are selected from among the many mortals 'out for a wild night'. They are lured to the Feast under the pretense of being invited to attend an exclusive social affair. Other victims for the Feast can include ghouls or traitorous Sabbat recently condemned but kept for this very purpose. At midnight at the public 'ball', the main event, an historical reenactment of a story from vampire legend or history is put on by several local Sabbat. It is completely acted, choreographed and organised by vampires, and mortals interfering in the event are quickly whisked away. After this eerie entertainment, the vampires quietly slip away to the awaiting Blood Feast, where the presiding official (usually an archbishop) awaits with his or her entourage. The assembled Sabbat then participate in a special Blood Bath that reconfirms the presiding official. The official reclines in a receptacle into which the Feast Blood is emptied from victims suspended from the ceiling. While the official bathes, each vampire adds some of his or her own blood the receptacle from a special Vaulderie vessel into which each vampire bleeds. The vessel, then emptied, is given to the next vampire, who bleeds into the vessel and contributes his or her blood. All the while, the presiding official recites various incantations and performs ignoblis ritae he or she creates especially for the Palla Grande. After all have contributed their vitae, the suspended vessels are closed and the official is given the Chrism and the Baptism as per Blood Bath rules, above. At the conclusion of this Blood Bath, the Sabbat at the ceremony begin a wild dance of undeath, with deafening music dominating at the Pallas Grandes of the archbishops, and frenzied chanting at the less popular but much more formal reconfirmations of the cardinals and of the Regent. They drink insatiably from the hanging Blood Feast vessels, from the official's bath and from each other. Ghouls clean up the site later, and the loose ends are tied up through Domination, murder, and the Embrace. Presiding-An archbishop, except in Mexico City, or in the See of a cardinal, where the Regent or the particular cardinal presides.

System - Aside from the mechanical benefits of the Blood Feast, all Sabbat vampires who attend the Palla Grande completely replenish their Willpower.

Notes - It is common for many bishops, even those directly subordinate to an archbishop, to make a pilgrimage to the See of their cardinal for the Palla Grande, for to reaffirm their cardinal's authority and their own loyalty. It is usually a grave insult for a bishop who is not subordinate to an archbishop to refuse to attend Palla Grande with his or her cardinal, as independent bishops are directly subordinate to their cardinal.

Sermons of Caine ----------------
Date - No particular time. Sermons of Caine are conducted all through Festivo dello Estinto, and are often a popular part of many parish and diocesan esbats.

Materials/Procedure - Members recite passages from what they have heard of the Book of Nod, or about vampiric history, after the presiding official has given a sermon. These are often deep philosophical and theological discussions, and they are solemnified by the air of an auctoritas ritus. While de Laurent's version of the Book of Nod has come into wide acceptance by the Sabbat, many fragments still exist and even de Laurent's version of the Book of Nod is somewhat inconsistent.

Presiding - Any confirmed member of the priesthood, or any member of the high clergy.

System - While there are no direct mechanical effects for this ritus, it has much roleplaying potential. Narrators may wish to award experience toward the Lore: Noddist ability for involved participation in this ritus.

Notes - Perhaps no other ritus save the Vaulderie is more universally respected by the priesthood, and any violating the sanctity of this ritus, which can take the air of a Puritan bible study, will be severely censured by the priesthood, if not many of the Tzimisce presiding.

The Vaulderie ----------------
Date - Any occasion. This is the most frequently practiced auctoritas ritus.

Materials/Procedure - To start the ritual, the presiding official takes a tool used for the Vaulderie and for no other purpose and cuts his or her wrist. The ritual tool could be a small knife, a silver razor or an awl. Many priests and high clergy use ornate and elaborate bloodletting devices. The priest then bleeds into a small vessel used for the Vaulderie only and passes the cutting device to each Sabbat present, who bleeds into the chalice. The vessel is then received by the priest again and is consecrated as a terrible sacrament as each participant takes a draught. A special ceremony for the breaking of the Blood Bond is detailed below.

Presiding - Any Sabbat member who knows the ritual may conduct the Vaulderie. As sacred to the Sabbat as Communion and Baptism are to Christians, the Vaulderie may be presided over in times of emergency or duress by any Sabbat with the Ritual Knowledge necessary. The Vaulderie is always the first of the Sabbat rituals taught to any student of the ritae.

System - The Vaulderie engenders a specific type of communal Blood Bond called a Vinculum. All Sabbat members who participate in a Vaulderie with each other gain Vinculi to all others present. A mass Simple Test known as the Vaulderie Test. If there are any Sabbat present at the ritus who have not entered into the Vaulderie with any others, those Sabbat must conduct the Initial Vaulderie Test. All participants in a Vaulderie throw Rock, Paper or Scissors. Each player records his new Vinculi to those he or she has tested against-3 on a win, 5 on a tie, or 7 on a loss. These Initial Vinculi are recorded only for characters with whom any given character has not shared the Vaulderie. If a player wishes, he or she may call for a Generation bid of any character against whom he or she has tested. If a character that calls for a bid is of lower generation than the character against whom he or she bids, her initial Vinculum result is lowered by the difference in generation between them. If there is no difference or the challenged character is of lower generation, no commutation of the effects of the Vinculum occurs. Any player may ask for a countering Generational bid and thus reduce their Vinculum, however. One may bid a higher Generation than one's actual generation during these bids if one so chooses.

(Example: Frank, playing Laurence, participates in a Vaulderie with Phil, playing Jacko. Laurence has never participated in the Vaulderie with Jacko, and after the Narrators announce the results of the Vaulderie Test, it seems Frank has thrown Rock and Phil has thrown Paper. Laurence dislikes Jacko, however, and Frank calls for a generation bid to see if he can negate some of the effects of the Communal Bond. Frank bids eighth, and Phil bids eleventh. Frank reduces his new Vinculum of seven with Jacko, as the test would have indicated, to a more modest Vinculum of three.)

Extant Vinculi are altered by the Vaulderie test, in a different manner. A loss increases one's Vinculum rating to a character by one, a win decreases one's Vinculum rating by one, and in the case of a tie, characters bid their Vinculi to each other. An equal Vinculum score means the characters remain the same, and a character bidding a higher Vinculum score in a tie will win the test, thus lowering their score, while the character against which they have one will gain a higher score in their Vinculum. Characters with genuine good feeling towards others may ignore a win result against another character, but a tie or loss result on the Vaulderie test cannot be ignored. Generation does not factor into the calculations for alterations of extant Vinculi. The upshot of this mechanic is that the Vaulderie can be conducted with One Big Test. A Narrator will call for the test on three. After every participant has thrown a sign, the Narrator will call for all characters who threw Rock to resolve Vinculum scores, whether they establish new Vinculi with each other or merely alter Vinculi, with those who threw Paper, and direct those who threw Scissors to resolve with themselves. After this, the Narrator will call for those who threw Paper to resolve with those who threw Scissors in the same manner, and the Rocks with themselves likewise, and then finally the Scissors with the Rocks, and the Papers among themselves likewise. This conveniently establishes new Vinculi or alters old Vinculi between all present, with one simple, massive Test. To review: First, the Narrator calls for the Test. Second, all participants Test. Third, the Narrator calls for Rocks to create new or alter old Vinculi with Papers, and for Scissors to do the same amongst themselves, then calls for Scissors to create new or alter old Vinculi with Papers, and for Rocks to do the same amongst themselves, and finally for Scissors to resolve with Rocks, and Papers to do the same amongst themselves. Within each resolution, every player goes to every other character and either records Initial Vinculi, with Generational bids modifying the results if desired, or alters his or her Vinculum according to the results of the test, resolving ties on Vinculum score bids, if they have already participated in the Vaulderie with that character. Conduct the Test and resolutions after the ritus has been roleplayed.

Notes - One may ignore wins on the Vinculum Test to Alter Score, if one wishes. Note also that Vinculi under these new rules do not fade with time and are only altered by subsequent Vaulderies. It is rumoured heavily that members of the Inquisition and some Nosferatu antitribu have a ritual to break the Vinculi, by which the Inquisition are rumoured to sever ties to suspected infernalists. Note also that the contribution of additional Blood Traits to the Vaulderie chalice has no additional effect on Vinculi engendered to the more generous party. In fact, large amounts of blood are contributed by many participants in a Vaulderie when they suspect that one or another of their number is Blood Bound, and they then give a discreet word to the priest to encourage so-and-so to drink deeply.

Special use for the Vaulderie - If the Vaulderie is to be used for the breaking of a Blood Bond, the vampire wishing to break a Bond must have no more than a Trait of blood in his or her system before partaking of the Vaulderie, and must ingest six Traits of Vaulderie blood. This dissolves the Blood Bond entirely. Infiltrating packs have been known to contribute enormous amounts of blood to Vaulderie vessels before gorging, in order to ensure that they are never Blood Bound. Vinculi, unlike Blood Bonds, will never fade or dissolve, and a character cannot be Blood Bound after he or she has received the Vaulderie unless the character, not the would-be Regnant, is of the Eighth Generation or lower-the capacity of one who has received the Vaulderie to be Blood Bound lies not in the potency of the blood of a Regnant, but in one's own ability to internally overcome the effects of the Vaulderie somewhat.

The War Party ----------------
Date - Any time. This ritus takes two to three nights to conduct, depending on whether or not a Blood Feast is included in the preparation for the War Party. The actual hunt starts on the final night of the ritus.

Materials/Procedure - Multiple packs congregate and celebrate with each other, often observing the Fire Dance, Sermons of Caine, the Vaulderie, and the Blood Feast. At some point during the celebration and ritae, the presiding official, called the Chief of the War Party, assembles the packs, who line up, each behind their ductus. The Chief then asks each of the packs' leaders in turn, "Do you come freely to war, and do you take up this noble cause,

Presiding - Usually, the most renowned priest of all the packs participating in the War Party is named Chief, though members of the high clergy mayoversee a War Party.

System - Diablerie of the elder is awarded to the first vampire who sinks his or her fangs into the elder, unless they are shaken off, in which case the diablerie is awarded to the next vampire to bite the elder, and so on until the elder or all the Sabbat are dead. Violators of this principle are usually killed outright by their fellow Sabbat, who recognise that the need to ensure that an elder is immobilised while he or she is being diablerised far supersedes the greed of any individual. The winning pack must retrieve the ashes of the target to the place where the challenge was issued, where the Chief accepts this trophy and bestows her blessing on the pack, taking the form of two Permanent Status Traits which all (surviving) members of the winning pack gain automatically. The Chief of the War Party need not expend any Status to bestow this Status.

The Wild Hunt ----------------
Date - Any time.

Materials/Procedure - If a Sabbat leaks information of a vital nature, a priest or high clergy member may call for a Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunt is much like the blood hunt, but ends with the eradication of the offending Sabbat members, and of anyone, Kindred or kine, who may have knowledge of the information. The presiding official assembles the local Sabbat and formally calls them to the hunt, which formal challenge is often similar to that of the War Party. Once caught, the offending Sabbat is immobilised and then the Wild Hunters bring the offender before the presiding official who recites the offender's crimes before all assembled. The traitor's pack then torments the offender in whatever manner it deems appropriate. Finally, the pack destroys the traitor by throwing him or her, still staked, onto a consecrated pyre. This action is accompanied by a recitation from the Chronicle of Shadows of the Book of Nod to remind the assembled vampires that they need unity to overcome their enemies and that violation of the trust of the sect destroys the sect's foundation. After the traitor is burned, the Sabbat pursue and murder all who learned of the secret or were complicitous in its release. In this, the sect is relentless.

Presiding - Any confirmed member of the priesthood, or a member of the high clergy. Packs are supposed to police their own, as are bishops supposed to police their dioceses and archbishops their archdioceses.

System - Any Sabbat member made the target of a Wild Hunt is no longer considered a sect member. Occasionally, the presiding official will offer the choice of the ignoblis ritus of contrition or death by the Wild Hunt, but this is rare.