Post by Malcaius Davion on Feb 4, 2014 0:51:16 GMT
Houses: A Primer
Written by Stefan
I have seen in several posts questions concerning Houses; what are they, how do they work, why are they, what if I don't want to be in a House, etc... I am taking some time to write out some information to perhaps clarify a few things about Houses and other organizations in reference to this society. I am sure some responses from people that are in Houses and such on here will prompt me to edit and add/change to make sure the data is accurate. As I will be discussing other types of organizations, I am open to input if I have missed anything.
First, let's look at some of the definitions of organizations that exists to get a general idea of diversity, then perhaps we can narrow in on exact definitions.
In my opinion, there are only four recognized organizations that have been in existence for all our history. They are Coterie, House, Church and Clan. I feel that all other names given have been simply a renaming to give an organization its own space, but essentially follows the general rule of thumb attached to each. However, there are other terms that we hear often: Coven, Order, Temple, Gathering, Nest, and Haven. The need for individuality and diversity is a necessary part of evolution in any society, but it can lead to questions and confusion.
Let us first define the four main categories:
1. Coterie : a small union of vampires, normally with a single leader or alpha. A coterie is usually very close-knit, very local and meet together often if not every day. To the outside eye, this could look like a gang or even a cult; the problem is that they normally tend to be more of a cultist atmosphere. The alpha leader tends to run the pack, so to speak. Coteries can be as small as three members, but have been known to have as many as twenty.
2. House : probably the most common and oldest of institutes. Houses are usually established by Elders, and have a manifesto or guide for the House. Though Houses should be apolitical, there is a tendency in some to have several factions. Houses are established for the gathering and unification of vampires in a given area. They are more than just a haven atmosphere, they are usually a family in its truest sence. A true house will not have an alpha leader, rather an Elder or Elders that are there to protect the House from outside forces, educate and train members and offer guidance, not control. We will discuss more of this later on in the essay.
3. Church: another very old institute. Vampire Churches vary; their basis of thought are similar to those of a House, however they tend to be more into majick or existential realms of thought. There is a recognized Vampire Faith based in strict traditions and rituals. Though many of the organizations we're discussing have no problem with those in alternate faiths and practices, the Church organization seems to be the only one that encourages it, provided those involved adhere to the basic doctrine set forth by the Elders.
4. Clan: probably the most misunderstood term of all. A Clan is a large collection of Vampires, usually a union of two or more Houses. A Clan is the organization of Houses under a single banner, with a council of Elders from each House that meet to discuss issues. The Houses themselves are autonomous in their own right, provided they are at harmony with the Clan itself.
I define these in order to give meaning to the other terms. If we examine them at their base, these fall into the following:
Coterie = Coterie, Coven, Nest, Gathering
Church = Church, Temple, Order
As a side note before we move on, I have seen organizations define themselves as "Gathering" or "Haven." Though a Gathering can be seen as a Coterie, the more accepted definition of Gathering is a coming together of vampires for a specific purpose. A Haven is a safe place for any vampire to go and not be in fear of prejudice or physical harm; this can be a house (physical location), club or any agreed upon area.
Now, as we are talking specifically about Houses, let's examine them from the inside out.
A House consists of members; to clarify, even the Elders or any other "title" within are considered members first and foremost. A good House is run by the members in a diplomatic fashion i.e., the members vote on activities, rules, punishments, expulsions, etc. The Elders are primarily there for guidance and, when necessary, to be an intermediary. In many cases, the Elders are looked upon for leadership of the House; this is usually pertaining to House direction and not on a personal basis. Elders will counsel on a personal level, but if an Elder crosses the line and tells/demands you do a certain thing or live a certain way, the House is in danger of becoming a cult. This is something to cautious of; do not consign your life and your decisions in the hands of anyone.
A House will normally have a charter or manifesto stating a credo and an inception date. Not ever House will, but it is usually common practice. The House will also have guidelines for behaviour, rituals and a set of procedures for various uncommon situations (tribunals, excommunications, etc...). These guidelines are like the constitution; they can be amended. Usually the members and the Elders will discuss changes and make amendments. However, older Houses have long-standing rules that were put in place by the Elders and may be harder to make changes to. This depends on the Elders themselves.
In some cases there is more than one Elder of a House. By and large I have not known Elders to out-and-out disagree, at least to the point of causing major problems within the House. However, there have been times I have seen this occur. One of two things will usually happen:
1. One of the Elders will simply leave. This can be seen as a House split, as sometimes some of the members will leave with them. Often times a new House will form. While this is not unacceptable, it simply prolongs additional confrontation with the original House as the issues involved are never really resolved.
2. A tribunal will be called: A tribunal is exactly like it sounds, more or less a court. It is always important that there be an arbitrator who has no personal interest involved. If during the tribunal the issues are settled, then the situation is at an end. If it comes down to an Elder being expelled, it must be by a majority, usually 66% or higher vote of the membership. The tribunal is used for many types of infractions, not just conflict between Elders, and the decision of the tribunal is final.
Houses provide a safe haven for its members and, in some cases, to others that are not part of the House at the discretion of the Elders. They also offer protection against outside forces be they from the mundane world or from other Vampiric organizations. In the Old Days, Houses and their domains were highly respected; a lot of politics were involved in the pecking order, and between Houses as well. Territory was a major concern and violations were causes of wars in the society. With the advent of the internet and more open communication, territorial boundaries have all but faded. However, when a radical vampire or group of vampies enter into an area and cause trouble, it is not uncommon for the established House to enter into the fray.
Also because of the Internet, it is not uncommon for a person to be a part of a House that is not in their immediate area. This is up to the discretion of the Elder(s). It is also not uncommon for people to be members of more than one House, however the Elders of both Houses should discuss matters before allowing dual membership to avoid any possible conflicts in the future.
In addition to a haven atmosphere and protection, a House has several other functions. A House should breed peace and unity, not only from within, but to other vampires and organizations; the House is a place of learning, whether one is an Elder or a Fledging because learning never ends. A House is for sharing of information and of self; if a donor is needed, one is found or shared. Counselling is available to those in need, and if necessary, monetary assistance for extreme needs can be raised and distributed. A House is a support unit, a school and a training ground for those who wish to partake.
Many say that being part of a House is not for them. Statements have been made that Houses tend to control the lives of people, are too political or are in a state of anarchy. This is unfortunate that these Houses in question have been seen as an example of the whole. Most of the Houses I have been in personal contact with have been very open and polite, and have followed these general rules. Keep in mind that Houses are like individuals, each is going to be a little different in their ideology and procedures. It is up to the individual to make an educated choice based on information available. Some Houses have interviews, some have induction rituals; some have levels and circles, some see no reason for such. But remember that most Houses are more than willing to speak to you, share their doctrines and let you decide if their House is the right one for you. It's an open-minded world.
Written by Stefan
I have seen in several posts questions concerning Houses; what are they, how do they work, why are they, what if I don't want to be in a House, etc... I am taking some time to write out some information to perhaps clarify a few things about Houses and other organizations in reference to this society. I am sure some responses from people that are in Houses and such on here will prompt me to edit and add/change to make sure the data is accurate. As I will be discussing other types of organizations, I am open to input if I have missed anything.
First, let's look at some of the definitions of organizations that exists to get a general idea of diversity, then perhaps we can narrow in on exact definitions.
In my opinion, there are only four recognized organizations that have been in existence for all our history. They are Coterie, House, Church and Clan. I feel that all other names given have been simply a renaming to give an organization its own space, but essentially follows the general rule of thumb attached to each. However, there are other terms that we hear often: Coven, Order, Temple, Gathering, Nest, and Haven. The need for individuality and diversity is a necessary part of evolution in any society, but it can lead to questions and confusion.
Let us first define the four main categories:
1. Coterie : a small union of vampires, normally with a single leader or alpha. A coterie is usually very close-knit, very local and meet together often if not every day. To the outside eye, this could look like a gang or even a cult; the problem is that they normally tend to be more of a cultist atmosphere. The alpha leader tends to run the pack, so to speak. Coteries can be as small as three members, but have been known to have as many as twenty.
2. House : probably the most common and oldest of institutes. Houses are usually established by Elders, and have a manifesto or guide for the House. Though Houses should be apolitical, there is a tendency in some to have several factions. Houses are established for the gathering and unification of vampires in a given area. They are more than just a haven atmosphere, they are usually a family in its truest sence. A true house will not have an alpha leader, rather an Elder or Elders that are there to protect the House from outside forces, educate and train members and offer guidance, not control. We will discuss more of this later on in the essay.
3. Church: another very old institute. Vampire Churches vary; their basis of thought are similar to those of a House, however they tend to be more into majick or existential realms of thought. There is a recognized Vampire Faith based in strict traditions and rituals. Though many of the organizations we're discussing have no problem with those in alternate faiths and practices, the Church organization seems to be the only one that encourages it, provided those involved adhere to the basic doctrine set forth by the Elders.
4. Clan: probably the most misunderstood term of all. A Clan is a large collection of Vampires, usually a union of two or more Houses. A Clan is the organization of Houses under a single banner, with a council of Elders from each House that meet to discuss issues. The Houses themselves are autonomous in their own right, provided they are at harmony with the Clan itself.
I define these in order to give meaning to the other terms. If we examine them at their base, these fall into the following:
Coterie = Coterie, Coven, Nest, Gathering
Church = Church, Temple, Order
As a side note before we move on, I have seen organizations define themselves as "Gathering" or "Haven." Though a Gathering can be seen as a Coterie, the more accepted definition of Gathering is a coming together of vampires for a specific purpose. A Haven is a safe place for any vampire to go and not be in fear of prejudice or physical harm; this can be a house (physical location), club or any agreed upon area.
Now, as we are talking specifically about Houses, let's examine them from the inside out.
A House consists of members; to clarify, even the Elders or any other "title" within are considered members first and foremost. A good House is run by the members in a diplomatic fashion i.e., the members vote on activities, rules, punishments, expulsions, etc. The Elders are primarily there for guidance and, when necessary, to be an intermediary. In many cases, the Elders are looked upon for leadership of the House; this is usually pertaining to House direction and not on a personal basis. Elders will counsel on a personal level, but if an Elder crosses the line and tells/demands you do a certain thing or live a certain way, the House is in danger of becoming a cult. This is something to cautious of; do not consign your life and your decisions in the hands of anyone.
A House will normally have a charter or manifesto stating a credo and an inception date. Not ever House will, but it is usually common practice. The House will also have guidelines for behaviour, rituals and a set of procedures for various uncommon situations (tribunals, excommunications, etc...). These guidelines are like the constitution; they can be amended. Usually the members and the Elders will discuss changes and make amendments. However, older Houses have long-standing rules that were put in place by the Elders and may be harder to make changes to. This depends on the Elders themselves.
In some cases there is more than one Elder of a House. By and large I have not known Elders to out-and-out disagree, at least to the point of causing major problems within the House. However, there have been times I have seen this occur. One of two things will usually happen:
1. One of the Elders will simply leave. This can be seen as a House split, as sometimes some of the members will leave with them. Often times a new House will form. While this is not unacceptable, it simply prolongs additional confrontation with the original House as the issues involved are never really resolved.
2. A tribunal will be called: A tribunal is exactly like it sounds, more or less a court. It is always important that there be an arbitrator who has no personal interest involved. If during the tribunal the issues are settled, then the situation is at an end. If it comes down to an Elder being expelled, it must be by a majority, usually 66% or higher vote of the membership. The tribunal is used for many types of infractions, not just conflict between Elders, and the decision of the tribunal is final.
Houses provide a safe haven for its members and, in some cases, to others that are not part of the House at the discretion of the Elders. They also offer protection against outside forces be they from the mundane world or from other Vampiric organizations. In the Old Days, Houses and their domains were highly respected; a lot of politics were involved in the pecking order, and between Houses as well. Territory was a major concern and violations were causes of wars in the society. With the advent of the internet and more open communication, territorial boundaries have all but faded. However, when a radical vampire or group of vampies enter into an area and cause trouble, it is not uncommon for the established House to enter into the fray.
Also because of the Internet, it is not uncommon for a person to be a part of a House that is not in their immediate area. This is up to the discretion of the Elder(s). It is also not uncommon for people to be members of more than one House, however the Elders of both Houses should discuss matters before allowing dual membership to avoid any possible conflicts in the future.
In addition to a haven atmosphere and protection, a House has several other functions. A House should breed peace and unity, not only from within, but to other vampires and organizations; the House is a place of learning, whether one is an Elder or a Fledging because learning never ends. A House is for sharing of information and of self; if a donor is needed, one is found or shared. Counselling is available to those in need, and if necessary, monetary assistance for extreme needs can be raised and distributed. A House is a support unit, a school and a training ground for those who wish to partake.
Many say that being part of a House is not for them. Statements have been made that Houses tend to control the lives of people, are too political or are in a state of anarchy. This is unfortunate that these Houses in question have been seen as an example of the whole. Most of the Houses I have been in personal contact with have been very open and polite, and have followed these general rules. Keep in mind that Houses are like individuals, each is going to be a little different in their ideology and procedures. It is up to the individual to make an educated choice based on information available. Some Houses have interviews, some have induction rituals; some have levels and circles, some see no reason for such. But remember that most Houses are more than willing to speak to you, share their doctrines and let you decide if their House is the right one for you. It's an open-minded world.