Path of the Community (Universal)

The Roads

Description:

A natural outgrowth of the civic consciousness espoused by the cor Road of Humanity, the Path of Community takes such a sensibility to its logical conclusion. Especially popular in places with large populations (many cities in Muslim lands, in particular), this path teaches that the first duty of the Cainite is not to individuals, but instead toward society as a whole as a vehicle for salvation. Often, those most drawn to this path were deeply immersed in the community (especially the less fortunate side of the community) in mortal life. Poor village priests and leaders among the peasantry, for example, are much likelier to walk the Path of Community than wealth archbishops and rulers among men.

Known as the Tariq el-Umma in Muslim lands, the Path of Community is especially popular among Prodigal Assamites, who usually dwell among such great numbers of kine as to make it virtually impossible to, in good conscience, exalt the one above Many. Many Civilized, as they call themselves (in the sense of being worthy of or part of civilization), are formally trained to the path, since it is often counterintuitive step for a once-human creature to look past the faces she sees before and see the good of all those whom she shares a society. Still, some few do come to the Path of Community by way of intuition and instinct, especially those who were in life regarded as pillars of the community (of whatever sort; a particularly well-respected former member of the local leper colony is just as likely to find this path as an influential farmer whose family has dwelt in the area for centuries).

Civilized Prodigals are usually well received by Cainite rulers, Since it is well known that they do the best to shore up the social order and to maintain peace and balance between the Cainites and kine. Of Course, tyrannical or unjust rulers like them somwhat less, knowing that the civic consciousness of such Cainites may move them to take up arms against those who govern through fear and pain. Just as the Civilized do not condone wickedness within themselves, so , too do the reject the idea of bending knee to those who harm the community in order to exalt themselves. Accordingly, the most self-indulgent of Scions and Sinners scorn the Civilized. Likewise, many Ferals find the very idea of commitment to civilization worthy of derision and so look with distaste upon them.

Sobriquet: Via Communitas

Additional Ethics of Community

• Dwell among the people and share both their levity and their sorrow, for the desire for community is the most essentially human need.
• Never abuse the trust of those among whom you dwell, for the Beast longs to turn you against those closest to you
• The races of Caine and Seth in their entirety are the greater community in which you exist.

Practices:

Older, more experienced walker upon the Via Communitas induct those Civilized who are trained to the path with pomp and ceremony. Such rites stress the responsibility of the new initiate to the greater community of mankind, as well as to its microcosms; the individual human society and the Cainite court. Such childer are taucht that, by sharing one's virtues with the world, the weight of one's vices including the Beast, are carried by many that all burdens are thereby made less. Civilized often donate generously to the community, giving of time, monies and whatever else seems to be required. The path is not really organized, though its adherents do consider themselves to be brothers and sisters with a common responsibility toward one another. Bonds of respect, rather than authority, hold the Path of Community together.

Virtues: Conscience & Self-Control

Hierarchy of Sins against the Community (Universal)

10	Thoughts that defy the greater good	Criminal thoughts lead to criminal acts.
9	Acting against the greater good in any way	Selfishness begot Caine;s own crime.
8	Injury to another person	Hurting others hurts society.
7	Flagrant disregard for a community's laws	He who cannot respect the rules cannot belong.
6	Accidental violation of another	Society suffers for every crime, intentional or not
5	Wonton Destruction	Property is part of what keeps civilization intact.
4	Impassioned violation of another	Without control, there can be no belonging
3	Planned violation of another	Let him who knowingly work evil be outcast
2	Casual violation of another	Such monstrousness has no place in a community
1	The most heinous and demented acts	Acts of such evil deny civilization utterly.