Path of Tears
Sobrequiet: Martyrs
According to path gospel, this system of beliefs has its origins in an ancient cabal of Salubri warriors who, after struggling against the Baali and their demonic overlords, vowed to do whatever they must to rid the world of such evil. Those fanatics actively pursued interactions with demons then end his own existence, thereby freeing Earth of the demon's foul taint. In practice, the Path of Tears is a combination of the Paths of Penitence and Retribution. Martyrs, as followers of this path are known, believe God cursed them with the duty of combating evil in the world (a sort of "fire with fire" arrangement), and in so doing pay the greatest cost of their atonement in undead toil, suffering and struggle.
The beast is seen as the personal barometer of damnation. Whenever it rears its ugly head, it must be beaten down through the sacrifice of the metaphorical blood of the damned. This can be the Cainite's own blood or it can come in the form of another damned creature's blood. To this end, Road rating is a very important issue for Martyrs. If they find themselves slipping too far down the path, they view it as Satan (or whomever) gaining undue influence over their souls. They will dutifully end their own lives without hesitation if it looks like they've fallen too far to recover. In addition, some martyrs still cling to older practices, opting to indebt demonic forces to themselves, thus tying their essences together, and then voluntarily suffer Final Death while they still have control.
Practices: The Path of Tears typically draws two broad types of Cainites into its fold. First, there are those whose religious beliefs where suddenly bolstered (or, in some cases, terribly shaken) by the Embrace. The first-hand revelation about the existence of the Damned, compiled with ensuing revelations about other truths of the World of Darkness, confirms every paranoid notion of Heaven and Hell. It makes fanatics of those who would see Earth cleansed of evil, thereby cementing their own place in Heaven come the End of Days.
The second category of Cainites most often drawn to this Path are those who have grown so disgusted at what they've become that they feel they must pursue evil at every turn, simply to reconcile their spirits with their natures. These distraught individuals, vampiric masochists of a nearly puritanical bent, believe that God has cursed them this way to give them the opportunity to whip themselves into spiritual shape. he wants them to do some dire atoning for their sins, and the key component of that atonement is blood - beaten and sweated out of them in service to the Lord.
Although the Path's most fervent supporters in early nights were the embodied cabals of selfless Salubri, the Baali wars of the seventh and eighth centuries saw an increase in the Path's representation in other clans, most commonly among the Ashirra (who refer to their path as the Tariq el-Alaan'). With the downfall of Saulot and the ensuing pogrom upon all those of his line, the final shift came that tipped the scales. Tonight most of the path's adherents can be found among the Ashirra. Although this path is on the decline among its own progenitor clan, it has actually seen a spike in its numbers since the dawn of the War of Princes (mostly from new Assamite and Toreador converts).
Virtues of Martyrs: Conscience and Self-Control
Additional Ethics of Martyrdom
- It is the duty of the Martyr to suffer so that others might not.
- The tide of corruption brought forth by demons and other Cainites must be stemmed.
- Aid must be offered to those in pain, and protection to those who suffer evil's scourge.
Hierarchy of Sins Against Martyrdom
| 10 | Neglecting your duty in any way. | Only by fulfilling god's plan can redemption be found. |
| 9 | Showing cowardice in the face of evil. | Your penance is to face down the forces of darkness, even if it means your destruction. |
| 8 | Acting out of pride or some other sinful impulse | Sin is the road to the Beast |
| 7 | Theft, robbery, willful vandalism. | Martyrs must lead by example. |
| 6 | Causing harm to a pious and virtuous person. | God sees all and punishes such sins. |
| 5 | Feeding from an innocent without permission. | Your curse is to suffer, but for those whom God sends to sustain you. |
| 4 | Blasphemous or Heretical acts | Denial of God leads only to damnation. |
| 3 | Allowing a crime or major sin to go unpunished. | All who sin do the work of the Devil |
| 2 | The Murder of Innocents | Destroy only evil in God's name |
| 1 | Aiding a demon or other agent of evil. | It is your duty and curse to battle against such forces |
