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| − | The '''Lancea et Sanctum''' ('''Lancea + Sanctum''', '''Lancea Sanctum''') is one of the major [[:Category:Covenants|covenant]]s. More than any other [[Kindred]], the "Sanctified," as they call themselves, embrace the theocracy of modern religions. In the [[neo-feudal]] political structure vampires have made for themselves, the Lancea Sanctum represent the Catholic Church, painting themselves as the moral authority for the whole world.
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| − | Members of this covenant acknowledge they have been cursed by [[God]]. But they also point out that unlike the Devil, they were not cast into Hell. Instead, they walk the modern nights with their free will intact. They were even blessed with special abilities including [[:Category:Disciplines|Disciplines]], powers of the blood (such as healing and physical augmentation) and immortality. And, through the curse, they are forced to prey on God's children to survive.
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| − | Thus the Kindred of the Lancea Sanctum conclude that they are to serve as object lessons to humanity; they are the price of sin. By preying on mortals they remind them that life is fleeting and nothing compares to the Heaven the worthy attains. To this end, the Sanctified zealously bear the weight of damnation as they revel in their monstrous nature, knowing that they are part of God's Great Plan. They see the Glory of Heaven as the ulimate carrot for humanity's salvation and themselves as the ultimate stick.
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| − | A Sanctified Prince is called an Archbishop
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| − | == History ==
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| − | === A Shaky Beginning ===
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| − | The Sanctified trace their origin to a passage in the Bible when a Roman soldier stabbed Jesus Christ with his spear while the Savior was being crucified. Thus the name of the covenant, Lancea Sanctum, or "sanctuary of the lance" (though in actual Latin it is ''lancea sancta'', the corruption having come from memory loss and conscription of ignorant neonates). What the Bible doesn't say is that some of the blood of Christ fell into the mouth of the soldier, whose name was [[Longinus]], and thus he became a vampire. In mortal life, Longinus celebrated every sin to its fullest extent. He was violent, arrogant, lazy and cruel. He would gamble away his mother's earnings, insult her in public and, on one occasion, rape her. As a Roman soldier, he disobeyed orders, abused his authority and even killed a superior. It was only through the Hand of God that he was able to keep his position so he could fulfil his destiny.
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| − | After his transformation and a 33 year long "sabbatical," Longinus visited the tomb of Christ to confirm that the body was no longer there. Upon this verification, the Archangel [[Vahishtael]] appeared before him and told him his role in God's plan. Longinus would then later [[Embrace]] at least one mortal, [[Monachus]], who gave the founder an education. The two oversaw that others accepted Longinus's words with equal devotion; the first five would later give their unlives to the cause and become known as the [[Five Martyrs]]. One of them, [[St. Daniel]] would perish as he rained down the powers of [[Theban Sorcery]] upon some particularly evil Romans. It is this Discipline that the young covenant discovered in [[Thebes]] that became the signature power of the organization and a great asset in the centuries ahead.
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| − | In [[335 (WOD)|335]], Longinus and Monachus founded the [[Black Abbey]]. It acted as the first place that the covenant claimed as its own to accept new converts. It also housed important relics, such as the [[Spear of Destiny]], the very same weapon Longinus used to enter damnation, and the [[Testament of Longinus]], five books of history, laws and prophecy the founder wrote over the centuries. Presumably, the Sanctified also researched Theban Sorcery there. In [[947 (WOD)|947]], the Abbey witnessed a betrayal that ended with it destroyed, the Spear missing and Monachus a victim of [[Amaranth]]. The [[Night of One Hundred Martyrs]] was the last time anyone ever saw the Spear.
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| − | Since the Sanctified did not rely on Monachus as a spiritual authority (that honor goes to the local Bishop), members turned inwards for ways to strengthen the covenant. Each hold of Sanctified considered itself to be an abbey of sorts, a tactic that insures against attack and continues to this night. Over the centuries that followed, the Lancea Sanctum grew by leaps and bounds and today encompasses many faiths from all over the world.
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| − | === Modern Nights ===
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| − | While Catholics, and more generally Christians, make up most of the covenant's membership, other monotheistic religions have also found a place. They integrate with the covenant by focusing on the overall message of Longinus and supplementing it with their faiths' rituals and beliefs. Muslim Sanctified might make prayers to the covenant's founder while facing Mecca, for example. The Sanctified continue to attract Kindred of all clans and ages.
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| − | == Organization ==
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| − | Few covenants are as tightly organized as the Lancea Sanctum. The Church of Longinus borrows many ideas from its mortal counterpart, the Catholic Church, including titles and the distinction between the leaders and the followers.
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| − | Most Sanctified are considered laity. While devoted to the religion, they do not swim in it as a theologian might. Only the very powerful and influential lay Kindred hold political sway. Such persons, however, are the exception to the rule; the reigns of the covenant fall into the hands of the clergy. They are the ones that can hold political title. They are the ones that make the decisions. They are the ones that immerse themselves into the finer points of religion.
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| − | === [[Sanctified Ranks and Titles|Positions]] ===
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| − | Familiar titles are abound. The [[Archbishop]] is the leader of the covenant in a city and is often [[prince]]. When there is no Archbishop, the [[Bishop]] holds the reigns of the local Sanctified. While most cities only have one Bishop, larger ones can have as many as five (these cities tend to have an Archbishop). Bishops perform ''rites'' and train [[Priest]], who act as counsellors and advisors to individual Kindred. The rare [[Cardinal]] takes on the duties of Archbishops ''and'' Bishops. [[Inquistor]] typically keep the Sanctified (and sometimes other covenants) free of [[heresy]] and traitors.
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| − | The Lancea Sanctum also recognize numerous minor offices. An [[Ostiary]] is in charge of defending a particular Sanctified-held city, often keeping watch over routes into the metropolitan area. A [[Parish Archivist]] keeps and protects hard copies concerning the covenant's past. [[Legate]]s are temporary positions that involve some kind of travel. Their exact purpose varies widely, from delivery boy to spy to diplomat, but acts have one thing in common: the Legate has to leave the city to perform her duty. The little-used elite army of the Lancea Sanctum are the [[Crusader]]s. Finally, [[Saint]]s are Sanctified who take piety and devotion to an idealized level and thus holding sway as the covenant's holiest members. They are almost always elders.
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| − | As one looks deeper into the organization of the Lancea Sanctum, their organizational structure becomes more fluid than its mortal equivalent. This counter-intuitive reality doesn't make sense for most vampires as it is often the other way: Kindred are less flexible, not more, than humans. But the shadow of the Night of One-Hundred Marytrs is long and the covenant learned long ago that too much power in one place is dangerous for covenant with so many enemies.
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| − | === Advancement ===
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| − | Unlike in the mortal realm, being [[Anointed]] to a higher position is not a matter following a well-trodden path that your superiors lay out for you. Instead, Sanctified priests start their education with self-teachings. When they feel they are ready they claim a title, but only get them when a peer or superior Anoints them in a ceremony. Advancing is thus a formalized, but risky, endeavour because those that claim title but don't get verification look arrogant and naive.
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| − | == Culture ==
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| − | The Sanctified are truly the world's biggest "big-tent" religion; its followers are Baptist and Mormon, Muslim and Jew, young and old, Ventrue and Gangrel, and everything in between. While predominately Catholic, their decentralized organization enables multiple views to meld Sanctified dogma with personal belief. While rites and interpretation vary widely, all Sanctified practice certain customs.
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| − | === Works ===
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| − | The Lancea Sanctum unanimously acknowledge that Longinus is their leader and savior. They also follow that his first disciple was the Monachus.
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| − | === [[Creeds and Heresies]] ===
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| − | === [[Rites]] ===
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| − | === [[Theban Sorcery]] ===
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| − | == [[Factions and Societies]] ==
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| − | == [[:Category:Bloodlines|Bloodlines]] ==
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| − | ==Known Lancea Sanctum==
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| − | <categorytree mode=pages>Lancea Sanctum Status 5</categorytree>
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| − | <categorytree mode=pages>Lancea Sanctum Status 4</categorytree>
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| − | <categorytree mode=pages>Lancea Sanctum Status 3</categorytree>
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| − | <categorytree mode=pages>Lancea Sanctum Status 2</categorytree>
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| − | <categorytree mode=pages>Lancea Sanctum Status 1</categorytree>
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| − | ==Ghouls of the Lancea Sanctum==
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| − | <categorytree mode=pages>Lancea Sanctum Ghoul</categorytree>
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| − | ==Reference==
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| − | * Lancea Sanctum
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| − | [[Category:Covenants]]
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| − | [[Category:Lexicon]]
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