TEXT:  
  Kickstarter Manuscript Preview #2C: 
  Kindred Religions – 
  The Church of Caine 
   
  © 2019 White Wolf Entertainment © 2019 Onyx Path Publishing 
  
  Kindred Religions 
  “Every methuselah is capable of shepherding a flock of devotees, convincing 
  them of miracles of the Blood, and forcing them to supplicate before an 
  almighty leader. Every methuselah is a god just waiting to take on the title.” 
  — Shrug, Nosferatu Mistress of Cardiff 
  Undeath causes many a crisis of faith. The devout Christian might cease to believe in the 
  sanctity of life and the forgiveness of God Almighty. The Muslim might fail to reconcile their 
  own experience with the Qur’an’s teachings on death as a long night of sleep, where upon 
  dying, the individual immediately discovers their destiny in heaven or hell. The Hindu waits 
  for their atman to be reborn in a new body, only to find themself locked in their own damned, 
  unliving shell. 
  It is enough to drive one away from faith entirely, and yet, vampires discover new beliefs. 
  There will always be great mysteries in the world, and faith has provided millions, perhaps 
  billions of humans with answers, and comfort where there are no answers to be found. 
  Vampirism is a terrifying state in which to find oneself. It’s only natural that Kindred flock 
  together to find meaning, purpose, and sometimes, salvation in communal struggle. 
  Sometimes it comes in service to a higher power, other times it comes through examining the 
  Beast within, and rarely, it leads to transcendence beyond a vampire’s base instincts. 
  The religions presented in this chapter all exist within the World of Darkness, with some as 
  prominent vehicles of vampire faith, and others merely existing on the fringes of Kindred 
  society. In your chronicle, these might act as backgrounds, support networks, the sources of 
  powerful Mawlas, or the font from which to draw horrifying antagonists. 
  The Church of Caine  
  “It is time to revel in the truth of our condition. All Cainites must be taught. 
  They must know their truth. For as they know themselves, you will know the 
  Dark Father.” 
  — Arch Verger Alexi Farmer, Defender of the Immaculate Church of the 
  Dark Father, Detroit 
  [LAYOUT: TRANSCRIPT] 
  SoSL undead religions study. So-called “Church of Caine,” believed gnostic group. Meeting 
  between undead titled “Cardinal” (name unknown), undead named “Pygram” sometimes 
  titled “Deacon,” and undead named “Jehoshebah” (no title listed), no dialogue recorded, as 
  her voice came through as static. Recorded with directional microphone by Father Glas in 
  Miami, FL. Father Glas apologizes for interruptions to transcript based on moving vehicles 
  and Jehoshebah static interference. 
  <1.22.19.24.32.51.63 RECORDING BEGINS> 
  Cardinal: —group will never amount to more than a heresy. It was purged once before. 
  Pygram: We won’t be purged again. The Cainites need faith now more than ever, and the old 
  ways of your sect have failed them. 
  Cardinal: Is it arrogance that compels you to believe they would flock to your temple? Why 
  would anyone so recently alive believe in Caine. Why would they believe themselves as 
  angels? It’s a folly. Pygram, my friend, you can still join us in our crusade. There’s still time. 
  
  Pygram: I thought on it, your Eminence. I prayed on it.  
  Cardinal: And? 
  Pygram: Caine answered me. The Dark Father spoke in my daytime dreams and said the true 
  heresy was within your church of cannibalism. That now was the time to accept our divinity 
  and allow you to destroy yourselves as the Amalekites and Canaanites were judged and—.  
  [Sounds of traffic eliminate nearly a minute of discussion at this point.] 
  Cardinal: —never seize the hearts and minds of Kindred, no matter whether you call 
  yourself “Deacon.” Your prophecies hold no more weight than those of a preacher on a box, 
  on the side of the road. You give yourself and your followers over to a lie, and for what? 
  What’s your angle?  
  Pygram: Your use of the word “Kindred” shows me how far you’ve fallen. There is no angle 
  but for salvation. Golconda. Recognition from Caine himself and elevation to his level. Caine 
  was ordained with the rite of bloodshed because God wanted it that way. He is an angel and 
  we are his cherubs. 
  [Pause lasting 25 seconds. Car pulls over.] 
  Cardinal: You will see yourself killed if you speak this way in any but the weakest Anarch 
  domains. 
  [Car door opens and closes.] 
  Cardinal: Jehoshebah, I’m pleased you could join us. Please tell me Pygram does not speak 
  for all of you. 
  Jehoshebah: [White noise for 11 seconds.] 
  Pygram: Your time is up. Go join your legions. Fight in your Battle of Ramoth-Gilead. 
  When only the wounded remain, they will find our church waiting for them with open arms. 
  Jehoshebah: [White noise for 24 seconds.] 
  Cardinal: No. No, I will not join you. Vampires are not divine. We are not angels. I agree we 
  are the dominant predator, but you use faith to justify your monstrosity, and I remember what 
  happened the last time you tried to do so. Good luck in surviving this Inquisition. 
  [Car door opens and closes.] 
  Pygram: Remember doubting Thomas. We will show the Cardinal the truth of our faith and 
  he will respond to direct personal experience. Or, he will never find his way to the cargo ship 
  designated to take him to Morocco. 
  Jehoshebah: [White noise for 35 seconds.] 
  Pygram: Yes, a fine example. 
  [Car pulls away and outdistances our recording hardware.] 
  <RECORDING ENDS> 
  [/LAYOUT: TRANSCRIPT ENDS] 
  The Heresy Falls 
  For over a thousand years, a vampire subsect of Gnostic Christianity operated within Cainite 
  society. This group, known to some as the Crimson Curia, to others as the Church of Caine, 
  and to their enemies as the Cainite Heresy, posited that Caine was God’s divine angel of 
  
  murder who had absorbed the soul of Christ, and that all vampires were his children and just 
  as blessed. It was their divine mission to cull the weak, turn the living hell of the world into a 
  heaven, dominate the Catholic Church, and usher in the Time of Caine, or third resurrection 
  of Caine and Jesus, prophesized to arrive in the year 1239 CE. 
  The Cainite Heresy subverted the faith of mortals and vampires alike, its adherents believing 
  themselves to be God’s chosen predators. Most importantly for other vampires, their actions 
  inside and outside the mortal Church drew the attention of the Catholic Inquisition as well as 
  hunters from the ranks of the Muslims of Iberia. In a rare show of unity, imams sided with 
  churchmen and put the torch to the Cainite Heresy before their Time of Caine could arrive. 
  The parent clan of most of these “Gnostics” was the Lasombra, and along with vampires of 
  the Banu Haqim and Clan Brujah they hunted down the remaining stragglers. 
  The Church of Caine reached its end close to the time when mortal Gnosticism was declared 
  a heresy punishable by death. Just as the Catholic Church had no more patience for rival 
  faiths within its own sphere, the Lasombra ran out of tolerance for the Church of Caine’s 
  increasingly aberrant views of Earth as hell, vampires as angels, and mortals as soulless 
  cattle. Vampires who knew of the cult’s denouement celebrated its fall, and those who 
  campaigned against it worked hard to scrub the cult’s name from the scant Cainite history 
  books that recorded it. 
  The Heresy Rises 
  The idea of a Demiurge on high, responsible for all the evil in the world, alleviating of that 
  responsibility the perpetrators of criminal acts, is a reassuring one to some. Vampires have a 
  tendency to find excuses for their terrible acts, and when one can point elsewhere and say 
  “He made me that way,” it — at least in the mind of the vampire — helps absolve them of 
  their sins. Not that the modern Church of Caine are truly looking for absolution.   
  The re-emergence of the Gnostics in the modern nights is a subject of great mystery and 
  conjecture. Few Kindred recall the original Cainite Heresy, most being Beckoned, 
  succumbing to the sleep of ages, or destroyed in the last eight centuries. While some believe 
  the rising Gnostic tide must be at the beck and call of methuselahs who wisely slept instead 
  of facing the torches of the Inquisition 800 years ago, the modern Church of Caine shows few 
  of the hallmarks of a methuselah-led cult. They don’t have a hierarchy based on age, they 
  care little for lineage and clan, and their centralized power comes in the form of the renewed 
  Crimson Curia — a council of priests — rather than a single, ancient figurehead. 
  Of course, the other conclusion is that Caine brought the Church back into being, though 
  there’s no evidence to show he was ever around to see the Church in its original form, let 
  alone approve of its purpose or methods. The idea that this cult may exist in direct service to 
  Caine is a thought that undoubtedly troubles many Kindred, however, and leads a surprising 
  number to join its ranks just to err on the side of caution. If the Dark Father is real, awake, 
  and leading a sizable cult, better to be on his side. 
  What is known, is the Church of Caine has leaked out of the darkness again, with its words, 
  beliefs, and practices becoming visible for the first time in centuries following the 
  Beckoning’s commencement. The Church claims Caine himself calls his errant childer to fill 
  his long-empty veins, and only the Church will be saved. Caine is the face, voice, and mind 
  of the Demiurge in this hell on Earth, and he will not be denied. His angels will ascend with 
  him once the rest of the world accepts their place as the meek and the fallen. Until then, his 
  will be done. 
  Hell on Earth 
  
  The Church of Caine has long held the view that the world is divided into many planes of 
  existence, with the Demiurge above all, and his angels governing the ranks of the unknowing. 
  At each level of awareness, an individual grows closer to becoming an angel themselves, but 
  these levels go down as well as up, and the farther down one descends, the closer they come 
  to being damned forever. 
  This view may seem incompatible in a modern world, but to vampires of the Church, and 
  mortals who believe themselves more enlightened — through intellect, influence, money, or 
  even charm — it’s a rational view. It’s a class society imposed by a supreme power, and it 
  makes sense to an amoral mindset. The Church of Caine for instance believes that while the 
  Demiurge is all-seeing and all-knowing, he sends a representative (sometimes more than one) 
  to Earth to mete out his will. Specifically, the Church posits, this representative is Caine, 
  though infamous vampires such as Sutekh and Mithras may have been his angels as well, and 
  Lilith certainly fits the mold of an angel who couldn’t help but abuse her power and fall. The 
  Antediluvians were likewise angels, but fought Caine’s children and therefore fell from 
  grace. They still deserve punishment for this. Likewise, humans with proficiency in angelic 
  arts — whom the Tremere call mages — are of greater importance and value than the 
  sleeping kine.  
  Earth is not a median point in this cosmic theory. Earth is hell, and receiving the Embrace is a 
  step toward escaping that hell. All worlds layer on top of each other, so it is possible to exist 
  in heaven and hell at the same time, but divine right grants one resilience against hell’s slings 
  and arrows. At least, that’s the Church of Caine’s theory behind Disciplines such as 
  Fortitude, and their reasoning for why all their powers are symbolic of the type a god might 
  use against a mere mortal. 
  Sublimating Divinity into Society  
  Gnostics have forged never-before-seen paths into the Ivory Tower and the rekindled 
  Anarch Movement. Their gospel celebrating the vampiric condition has seldom been heard 
  within these sects. This message is surprisingly accepted, if not enjoyed, by the “Kindred,” 
  who wish to come to some deeper sense of understanding of their damnation. Some 
  Camarilla domains have received word from one Justicar — Juliet Parr of Clan Malkavian — 
  that they are not to oppose this new missionary work. The running theory among some 
  Kindred is that Parr belongs to the Heresy, or one of her ancestors did and now speaks with 
  her through the Blood, but equally likely is that Parr wants no internal conflict while the 
  Inquisition is watching. The absence of the Sabbat helps the Camarilla and Anarch 
  Movements greatly, so why start a new war when these priests aren’t striking out with 
  anything but words? 
  The Church of Caine’s belief system is unlike most widespread mortal religions of these 
  nights, so their dogma is one rarely delivered in full to vampires of any sect, at least not until 
  vampires have shown willingness and acceptance of the Gnostic reality. To start, most 
  Gnostics introduce their belief that Caine was chosen by God and all vampires are likewise 
  blessed children, uplifted to the role of divine predators. This is a belief many vampires can 
  understand, as most know the story of Caine and Abel and most realize they possess more 
  power than when they were mortal. Tales of layered planes of reality, vampires as angels of 
  murder, all beings as spirits trapped in a liminal state, and Earth being equivalent to hell tend 
  to follow much later. 
  The Gnostics find themselves occupying an unexpected role within Cainite society. While 
  they themselves rarely use the term “Golconda,” Kindred who know of the legendary state of 
  being see the way Gnostics believe in ascension and divinity, and the peace with which they 
  
  hold their faith, and wonder if this cult is the key to Golconda. For its part, the Church of 
  Caine makes no promises that a follower will achieve a state where they “lose their curse,” as 
  its doctrine is adamant vampires aren’t cursed, but blessed. That blessing may grow as a 
  vampire acquires wisdom and strength, and that may be what others call Golconda, but to tell 
  a Gnostic they’re cursed by God is a good way to earn an adversary. 
  Ad Limina 
  Despite its recent appearance, the Church of Caine draws vampires as old as ancillae, with at 
  least one elder serving as a member of the modern Crimson Curia. Something of the cult 
  draws vampires in, whether through talk of Caine, reassurance that their state as vampires is 
  not unclean or damned, or because of the hope for ascendancy from hell once the Time of 
  Caine arrives again. According to the Crimson Curia’s prophecies, that time will come soon, 
  having been forestalled from the previous appointed time in 1239 CE. They claim Caine 
  arose and found his church absent, and so in great sorrow destroyed the boundary between 
  worlds and fell into a deep slumber. Kindred scholars wonder at what boundary this story 
  relates to, whether geographical — as the appointed time was close to that of the Mongol 
  Invasion into Europe — or spiritual, annihilating a layer between hell and heaven, or bringing 
  the deepest level of hell closer to the surface. The tale is likely apocryphal, but vampires in 
  cults make for dedicated theologians.  
  The Church’s outward confidence aside, many new converts to the faith exist in constant fear 
  of the Sabbat bringing forth all its fury down upon them. They worry the sect will return from 
  its crusade stronger, having devoured a flock of angels, and will visit the same wrath on the 
  Gnostics that the Inquisition and traitor clans did eight centuries ago. The Church amasses 
  lore to defend itself and reaches out for allies within the Cainite populace. Their current 
  catechism is of unity, “compassion,” and conversion, reaching out to those less fortunate and 
  providing what help they can give. This religious instruction coincides with Gnostic 
  teachings and revealing of the truth, wherein all vampires are Cainites, those of Caine, and 
  his blessed children.  
  The Lasombra defection to the Camarilla poses an interesting conundrum for the Church, as 
  while the Cainite Heresy of old mostly consisted of Lasombra, it was other Lasombra who 
  directed the faith’s purge. For now, the few vampires who recall these details — most of 
  whom are Lasombra anyway, or were told the stories of the Cainite Heresy by older 
  Magisters — prepare for the Night Clan to once again visit destruction or manipulation on 
  their order. Old habits die hard and they expect many Lasombra will assume the church is 
  theirs to wield or crush as it once was before. The Church is content to provide guidance to 
  most Kindred, but treads warily around the Night Clan at this time. 
  The reconstructed Church of Caine aims to rebuild an official magisterium, a codified 
  scripture, review and revise their holy sacraments, and write canon law that will be both 
  easily disseminated and protect the congregations. Then there is the defense of the new Holy 
  Cainite Empire in Heaven, which may not exist in any meaningful way as yet, but will soon if 
  the Crimson Curia’s plans come to fruition. With the Second Inquisition’s control over most 
  forms of travel, the Church struggles to find a way to build all the answers needed to finish 
  these tasks. The faith’s parishes have been content with building their own local traditions 
  and denominations, all with a different dogma, creating a tapestry of faith much more diverse 
  than previously expected.  
  This is a time of new freedoms, an age of enlightenment constructing a marketplace of ideas 
  for Cainites to partake in and defend. Some Gnostics appreciate this freedom, others fear the 
  heresies that will inevitably spring up to challenge the new order. Some churches have 
  
  already begun venerating the Second Generation as saints or bodhisattvas of the higher 
  Cainite pantheon. These parishes are rare though, as above all things, Caine is mighty and 
  glorious. There are even rumors of parishes who venerate both Caine and Lilith, though 
  the Bahari are still perceived as vile enemies to most Cainites and burned out as the heresy 
  they are. 
  Church Hierarchy 
  The Church of Caine upholds a hierarchy resembling a blend of the Medieval Catholic 
  Church, modern Gnostic churches, and even the Eastern Orthodox Church. To the cynical 
  vampire, the church hierarchy structure is just a means to exert control and has little bearing 
  on the spiritual significance of the vampire holding the rank of “deacon” or “bishop,” but 
  curiously, the modern Church of Caine eschews the idea that only the eldest may hold the 
  most important roles. This vampire religion rewards merit, which may come to fracture the 
  organization when elders refuse to shift from their long-held roles. 
  Congregation / The Flock 
  The bulk of vampires who consider themselves faithful Gnostics, Cainites, or simply 
  believers, are referred to as “the congregation” or “the flock.” Individual vampires at this 
  level believe in Caine as the progenitor and uphold the belief that they are divinely mandated 
  as predators. Despite the latter belief, the congregation are far from uncontrollable monsters. 
  Their superiors in the Church teach Gnostics how to unleash their Beast, how to satisfy the 
  urge to frenzy, and how best to retain one’s Humanity while accepting the nature of an 
  undead blood-drinker. Members of the flock are permitted to hear the cult’s liturgy but 
  cannot witness the sacraments. 
  Doorkeepers 
  The ancient role of doorkeeper was assigned to churches to prevent their persecution by other 
  faiths, opposing societies and governments, and sabotage from unhappy citizens. This guard 
  role exists to this night, with those vampires more disposed to violence (whether doling it out 
  or preventing it) more likely assigned this title than one responsible for administering the 
  faith. Doorkeepers are more than hired muscle, as they’re expected to still attend services and 
  participate in the sacraments, but they are also the first vampires opponents of the Church 
  will see, if threats or delivery of violence is required.  
  Doorkeepers tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (•).  
  Acolytes 
  Acolytes of the Church of Caine are responsible for several duties, including arranging safe 
  venues for Gnostics to meet, ensuring priests are equipped with the tools and apparel needed 
  to perform their ministerial duties, and hunting down artifacts important to the Church. This 
  varied role is commonly the first title a vampire earns upon formally joining the Church of 
  Caine, with each acolyte having performed at least one firewalk (see p. XX). Acolytes often 
  act as audiences to encourage or cajole others participating in the sacraments. 
  Acolytes tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (•). 
  Vergers 
  The verger is a vampire who wanders from domain to domain teaching others of the liturgy, 
  the Demiurge, and Caine, in the most non-controversial terms. These roving preachers vary in 
  importance from nominal Gnostic mouthpieces to cult leaders building larger and larger 
  followings. The most notorious vergers are known as arch vergers. They hold no influence 
  over the Church of Caine’s formal hierarchy, but in this era when the Second Inquisition 
  
  scrutinize cult-like behavior and strange reports of priests administering blood to their 
  congregations, the merits of being a traveling holy person sometimes outweigh those of being 
  a leader with a static flock. 
  Vergers tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (•) and at least one dot of Streetwise. 
  Lectors 
  Lectors act as readers during church services. The role is largely honorific, as when not 
  performing for the flock, they occupy the same standing as acolytes. The major difference is 
  in the confidence given to a lector, as a priest or deacon speaks with them on matters of faith 
  and expects the lector to read from the texts important to the Church of Caine with earnest 
  belief and understanding. 
  Lectors tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (••) and rarely have fewer than two dots in 
  Occult, with a Specialty in Gnosticism. 
  Deacons 
  Deacons hold administrative power in the Church of Caine. While they might stand in for a 
  priest to perform services, it’s more likely the deacons busy themselves with upholding the 
  financial, bureaucratic, and personnel end of the Church. This sounds mundane, but the 
  power deacons wield over the channeling of wealth in and out of the Church, and the prestige 
  awarded to members of the flock and the acolytes beneath them, is impressive. Deacons are 
  effectively the Harpies of the Church of Caine. In terms of reporting, deacons bypass priests 
  and report to the bishops and Crimson Curia itself. Gnostics cannot become priests of Caine 
  before they have held the title of deacon. 
  Deacons generally hold Status: Church of Caine (••) and rarely have fewer than two dots in 
  Politics or Finance.  
  Priests / Church Leaders 
  Responsible for overseeing the sacraments, administering Church doctrine, and keeping the 
  faithful community whole and growing, there are few roles within the Church of Caine so 
  visible and so immediately influential as that of the priest. Priests might read from ancient 
  religious texts verbatim, schooling their flock on the word of Caine, or they might lead a 
  congregation with their own interpretation of Caine’s will. Priests carry enough power in 
  their words and actions to form schisms without knowing it, and for that reason their actions 
  remain closely observed by deacons who report priest behavior to the bishops, while priests 
  report on flock behavior to those same bishops. Every city with a contingent from the Church 
  of Caine must have a priest, even if that requires bringing a priest in from a separate domain. 
  Without a vampire who knows the rites and dogma, there is no Church.  
  Priests hold Status: Church of Caine (•••) or higher, and each has at least three dots in Occult, 
  with a Specialty in Gnosticism, or sometimes, Catholicism. Most have some proficiency in 
  the Presence Discipline.  
  Bishops 
  The Church of Caine’s bishops — of which a select few form the Crimson Curia — are 
  responsible for keeping the entire order together, furthering the Dark Father’s agenda (such as 
  they interpret it), creating new sacraments, interpreting ancient texts and myths, and acting as 
  spiritual centers when domains run the risk of falling due to priestly absence or failures 
  (though they often delegate this role to powerful deacons). Bishops possess the ability to 
  order sweeping changes across the faith, though before any major decisions are made they 
  
  must form a conclave of at least nine vampires from the Church of Caine, five or more of 
  whom must be at the bishop or deacon rank. 
  Bishops tend to hold Status: Church of Caine (••••) and possess at least four dots in Occult 
  and three in Politics. Most hold proficiency in Auspex, so they can glean deep insights into 
  the priests and deacons beneath them. 
  The Metropolitan 
  There is no metropolitan in the Church of Caine, though if there were one, it would be Caine 
  or a vampire who could believably channel his will and direction. The Church of Caine is 
  growing swiftly enough to warrant the appointment of a proxy metropolitan in the next few 
  years, just due to the benefit of having a strong autocrat in charge of such an organization, 
  though the Crimson Curia may overrule any such appointment. Most bishops agree a 
  metropolitan is a necessity for some night in the future, but few are prepared to nominate an 
  untested vampire. They wish to avoid electing a metropolitan, only to see them suffer the 
  Beckoning or suddenly become a target for the Second Inquisition, and so the bishops for 
  now have agreed the Crimson Curia is sufficient, until a suitable candidate reveals themself. 
  The theoretical metropolitan of the Church of Caine holds Status: Church of Caine (•••••).  
  Church Dogma 
  At its core, the Church of Caine believes it is a vampire’s destiny for the Demiurge to select 
  them, make them as holy as Caine, and take them to his right side. To achieve this requires 
  controlling one’s Beast, not to become a pacifist or vegan, but to gain the ability to let it off 
  the leash in a measured manner. The most successful predators in the world are not those that 
  mindlessly savage in a whirlwind, but those who stalk, hunt, kill, and devour, leaving just 
  enough bones to make their presence known.  
  The Church preaches the words of Caine as recorded by experts and seers of the Crimson 
  Curia, and their belief in Kindred as blessed. Their faith is one of trial and victory, in which 
  vampires must prove they’re worthy of the love of the Demiurge and of Caine, and when the 
  time comes — and it will come soon, the Crimson Curia says — they must be there to see 
  and assist in the third rising of angels, sometimes called “the resurrection,” otherwise known 
  as the “Time of Caine.” 
  The belief that the world is a layered hell with strata of deserving and undeserving 
  individuals, some of whom are being punished for sins they committed eons ago, before they 
  came to possess their current forms, is one all the Church priests come to understand and 
  believe in. As soon as a Gnostic accepts this reality, it makes feeding and killing a lot easier. 
  The moral damage can be severe, but the detachment from the basic human perception of 
  Earth brings one to a new state of enlightenment. 
  To ascend toward heaven, the cult maintains a vampire must be capable of overcoming their 
  fear of hell’s weapons. The Church of Caine do not believe the Demiurge made vampires 
  vulnerable to fire, but rather, this burden is a holdover from their time among hell’s denizens. 
  After all, are mortals not harmed by fire too? They reason Caine must be immune to this 
  element by now, so they must attempt to be the same way, and so the Church preaches that 
  Gnostics must defeat the fire by staring at it, handling it, and walking through it. The same 
  will apply to sunlight, when a Gnostic is powerful enough. 
  Arguably the most controversial of the cult’s beliefs is in diablerie as a necessary sacrament. 
  If the Crimson Curia deem a vampire unworthy of their layer in the hierarchy between 
  heaven and hell — usually due to some grievous crime committed against the Church, in the 
  name of Caine, or because they’re a vocal, influential proponent of another faith — the Curia 
  
  advocates for their diablerie. The Gnostics believe all spirits exist in a cycle and just reform 
  on a lower level when their flesh vessel is destroyed. The only way to prevent this is through 
  the divine act of devouring the soul. While practiced rarely, it is not forbidden, nor is it 
  withheld for any reason other than appearances. The Church of Caine has not yet gained 
  sufficient allies to make diablerie an acceptable ritual in Camarilla and Anarch domains, but 
  they’re biding their time. 
  Gnostic Convictions 
  Gnostics often adopt the following Convictions to help them maintain their 
  sense of self while pursuing their faithful existence: 
  •  
  Never unwillingly allow the Beast to take over  
  Exercising restraint by never succumbing to the extremes of behavior is vital to 
  becoming a renowned vampire in the Church of Caine. Wild, uncontrollable 
  animals find the entire jungle working against them, whereas cool, calculating 
  predators find their stomachs full and their presence unnoticed. 
  •  
  Never succumb to fear  
  Willpower is all-important to these vampires, who believe that in order to 
  emulate (or even surpass) Caine, one must harden one’s mind against hell’s 
  weaponry. Gnostics are expected to sample a snatch of sunlight, walk through 
  fire, and adorn themselves with holy symbols, just to show their defiance and 
  power. 
  •  
  Let nobody prevent you from growing closer to Caine 
  This Conviction can be interpreted in multiple ways, but generally refers to the 
  cult’s desire to build its knowledge of Caine and of the Church’spredecessors 
  from the first millennium. Other Gnostics with this Conviction believe any 
  attempt to interfere with cult sacraments is to be punished, and frenzy if 
  someone tries to stop their actions. 
  •  
  Feed only from hell’s denizens 
  All Gnostics agree some mortals are more worthy than others, and depending 
  on the domain, may have selected some strata of mortal society to exempt from 
  hunting. They believe all others are beings in hell, and there to sate the hungers 
  and whims of angels above them. Some Gnostics might use this as justification 
  to commit diablerie, if a vampire has fallen far enough from Caine’s grace. 
  •  
  Do not consort with the lowest beings of hell 
  The Church of Caine believes strongly that all vampires are angels or blessed, 
  and spending time in the company of devils is a fine way to make oneself fall. 
  Many Gnostics cut away unnecessary mortal ties that might inhibit them from 
  progression within the Church.  
  •  
  Never brook an insult to Caine’s divinity 
  This Conviction leads to more conflicts than probably any other, but is 
  fundamental to the Church of Caine’s beliefs: Caine is divine, he is the Dark 
  Father of all vampires, and he is to be revered. Any who doubt that should 
  receive correction and education. Any who insult that should receive 
  punishment. Caine is the angel of murder and hunting, and the Church will not 
  hear him be referred to as some common murderer. 
  Sacraments 
  
  While it is true the parish structure of the cult allows for disparities in the way liturgy is 
  delivered and how Caine’s role in the world is described, there are certain defined sacraments 
  universal to all members. While many of these are being revised and blended together 
  currently, these sacraments are propagated as universal gifts of the Dark Father. 
  Those Cainites who hold the titles of priest or verger generally teach these rites to the flock. 
  These vampires are protectors and defenders of the gospel of the Dark Father. Part preacher 
  and part templar, these vampires act as a communiqué between the parishes, delivering letters 
  and artifacts between church leaders, and helping to develop sacraments and canon law. 
  The Sacrament of Valediction 
  When initiated into the Church of Caine, a Cainite focuses upon leaving one’s previous life 
  and accepting the state of being of a vampire. In modern nights, the Church of Caine 
  performs this rite as a symbolic act, but one filled with terror nonetheless. 
  A dedicant of the Church must openly name and describe one fear they held within their 
  mortal lives or recent vampire existence and explain how they plan to go about ridding 
  themselves of it. Only by witnessing their lack of fear can they be fully initiated into the 
  Church by sacrament, usually with a drop of blood or vitae upon the new member’s forehead. 
  Every member of a parish must take part in this rite, and even older members routinely 
  rededicate themselves to Caine by participating in this sacrament, to show to the congregation 
  their deeper ecclesiastical understanding of the Gnostic mysteries. 
  System: The vampire must name one of their fears and allow other members of the cult to 
  expose them to it. The vampire’s player must succeed on a Resolve + Composure roll 
  (Difficulty 5) or succumb to a terror frenzy the other members of the congregation will allow. 
  Once the frenzy is overcome or the fear withstood, the vampire regains a point of Willpower 
  (if any have been lost) and when facing this fear the next time, may reduce the Difficulty by 
  1. Vampires may attempt to lie about their fear to complete the sacrament, but doing so 
  conveys no benefit and requires a successful Manipulation + Subterfuge roll against the 
  church leader’s Wits + Insight.  
  The Sacrament of Exculpation 
  Once referred to as a “Sermon of Caine,” this rite sees members of the congregation invoking 
  the flaws of their bloodline while quoting stories or passages from the Book of Nod. The 
  participants need to present how their quotations can help Cainites in their present situation. 
  The sacrament invites vigorous discourse and the possibility of social conflicts and 
  resolutions, as the practicing theologians debate the modern merits of the Book of Nod. The 
  debates are often used to show the folly of vampires closer to hell or to highlight wisdom 
  found in angelic Caine’s words. 
  Demonstrating a clan bane differs from vampire to vampire, but for a Nosferatu it might 
  mean participating in sacrament rite with no disguise in place, or for a Hecata they would 
  need to feed from a vessel in front of the other practitioners, despite the anguish caused. 
  Some vampires find their banes harder to invoke than others, but for those who have truly 
  situational curses, they are free to just discuss the problems and fears they possess 
  surrounding their weaknesses, and how these weaknesses keep them locked in hell. 
  Enlightenment gleaned from this sacrament comes through self-awareness, as when the 
  participants discuss and demonstrate their respective clan banes and Caine’s verses, they 
  accept themselves for what they are and find hope in their ancestor’s words. Vampires who 
  participate openly in this sacrament always feel refreshed and reinvigorated upon its 
  conclusion. 
  
  System: The test involving the clan bane differs depending on the participants’ clans. When 
  demonstrating a clan bane or confessing to a way in which the bane has severely impeded 
  them, the vampire’s player makes a Resolve + Composure roll (Difficulty 3), with a 
  successful roll granting the vampire a temporary dot of Humanity (providing they don’t 
  exceed a rating of 10) that disappears at the end of the chapter. Failing at this roll results in 1 
  Superficial Willpower damage.  
  The Sacrament of Firewalking 
  One of the most emblematic sacrament of the Church of Caine sees them walking through 
  fires of varying size and ferocity to demonstrate how they have risen above the weaknesses of 
  hell’s creatures. Different branches of the Church argue the ultimate purpose of such a 
  potentially destructive sacrament, and whether it’s in fact an insult to Caine and the 
  Demiurge to test one’s curses in such a way, but as a measure of a vampire’s will few 
  sacraments compete. 
  The Church of Caine typically makes its newest adherents walk down a narrow corridor of lit 
  candles or lamps, surrounding them with several minor sources of fire. The fires increase 
  with the prestige of the vampire. When attempting to achieve title in the Church, or following 
  another great act for which the vampire desires acclaim, a firewalk takes place as a way of 
  punctuating the vampire’s worthiness. The fires in such tests are often long pathways of 
  burning coals or recently broken up burning bonfires or haybales. To become a verger or 
  other church leader a vampire must successfully pass through a roaring fire without 
  succumbing to fear, maybe in the form of walking through a standing bonfire, or perhaps 
  having to traverse an obstacle course of burning tires and rooms — the sacraments depend as 
  much on the sadism of the priest in charge as they do the beliefs of the congregation.  
  In all cases, physical injury is expected. Vampires with Fortitude resist harm more easily than 
  other participants, but the physical scars are less important than the vampire’s ability to 
  withstand the fear. If they are able to pass through the fire without hesitating or frenzying, the 
  vampire feels completely in control of their Beast. 
  System: To pass through any of the trials of flame requires a roll to resist terror frenzy (see 
  Vampire: The Masquerade, p. 220) and exposure to fire damage (see Vampire: The 
  Masquerade, p. 221). Successfully completing a firewalk heals all Superficial Willpower 
  damage, and if the walk was through particularly dangerous fire, between 1 and 3 points of 
  Aggravated Willpower damage. The harder the trial, the more likely the Storyteller will 
  reward the character with a dot of Status: Church of Caine, which can then be purchased with 
  experience, or disappears at the end of the chapter. 
  Cainite Dominion: St. Louis 
  St. Louis has always been a contentious domain, swinging from one sect to the next as wars 
  raged between Kindred interests. These nights, the battlefield has changed. Street crime is 
  down, reports of supernatural activity have dried up — at least as far as FIRSTLIGHT are 
  concerned — and the Sabbat have, as with most American cities, moved on. The war for St. 
  Louis now is for its soul, and the souls of the vampires within it. Presently, the warring cults 
  are evenly contested, but rumor holds that influential vampires from within the Camarilla 
  support the Church of Caine in the Gateway to the West. 
  The Gnostics in St. Louis have adopted a stance of aggressive Caine reverence, leaning into 
  the evangelical. They display the results of their faith in secret ceremonies and displays for 
  other Kindred, manipulating flame and showing no fear of fire like carnival freaks looking to 
  impress a crowd. They show reverence for the city’s elders, its remaining Primogen, and the 
  fallen Prince, just due to these vampires’ age. They claim that proximity to Caine brings a 
  
  vampire closer to heaven and thus, farther from the hell fledglings inhabit, making the 
  Gnostics ready servants of the Camarilla’s hierarchy. The cult routinely meets with notable 
  Camarilla vampires in Busch Stadium or Six Flags St. Louis, in the belief that ostentatious 
  displays of mortal hubris and wealth at once humble the undead while simultaneously 
  reminding them of the arrogant hell in which they reside. 
  Crucially, St. Louis’ Gnostics turned the tide of Kindred opinion in favor of the 
  controversially brutal Chief Inspector (the Lou’s version of a Sheriff, who has weathered the 
  sectarian storms) further to his diablerie of three Masquerade-breakers. Though Chief 
  Inspector Oubier’s punishment of these three vampires was unorthodox and inhumane, 
  tantamount to cannibalism in most domains, the Gnostics acted as bodyguards to the vicious 
  Malkavian and extolled his actions as the will of Caine and in the best interests of the 
  domain. They successfully persuaded the city’s Anarchs that without Oubier’s brutality, the 
  city would have been the next target on the Second Inquisition’s list, thereby slumping even 
  farther into hell. What the Church of Caine actually wants with a deranged killer like Oubier 
  is unknown outside the cult. The Gnostics know, however, that he is of significant blood 
  potency and generation, and will make for an adequate figure of worship, before becoming a 
  martyr, a saint, and an icon for the Church and city. The cult is adept at spinning horrifying 
  acts into gripping parables, and intends to do the same with the “passions” of Oubier. 
  St. Louis’ Church of Caine are far from unassailable. The city contains plentiful rival cultists 
  from among the Bahari, Mithraists, and even a couple of Nephilim. Each wants a chance to 
  steer the city through its period of conflict and come out as the primary power player. Where 
  the Gnostics differ, is in their lack of desire to rule. The cult genuinely wants to pull the city 
  from hell and into heaven, even if that requires the sacrifice of every vampire who opposes 
  their view of Caine and codified laws for hunting and herding the kine, to remind them of 
  their place at the bottom of the food chain. They’re not going to appoint a Prince to rule the 
  domain, nor are they going to try running a theocracy, instead believing that spiritual 
  dominion over St. Louis is more than sufficient. 
  The Gnostics in the Gateway City have adopted a formal structure around Bishop 
  Jehoshebah, who makes her haven in the abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary with several 
  of her Gnostic kin. A Lasombra who claims to be a member of the original Church of Caine, 
  Jehoshebah says she voluntarily adopted a torpid state in the 13th century CE. Though few 
  know if her words are true, she carries a body of impressive, believable tales, and regularly 
  demonstrates her command over the Blood to cow Gnostics and unbelievers alike. She claims 
  the Beckoning has no effect on her because she communes directly with Caine. Supposedly, 
  he intervenes in the summons while she has work to do in the Americas. In truth, her Cainite 
  generation is far from what one might expect of a near-900 year old vampire, but she speaks 
  with enough conviction to convince others of her power. 
  Around Bishop Jehoshebah and the upcoming martyr Oubier, the cult commands six 
  vampires — a mixture of priests and deacons — to handle different aspects of the city, each 
  acting as a go-between for the Church and the Camarilla, Anarchs, kine, and other cults, 
  respectively. Some take a militant stance and employ coteries of doorkeepers to protect them 
  as they spread the Gnostic word, while others tread softly, such as with the city’s Camarilla 
  Kindred, offering spiritual advice and “evidence” of their progress on the journey to 
  Golconda, all to win converts and turn the Gateway to the West into a heavenly domain, at 
  least by Gnostic standards. 
  Perspectives 
  
  Anarchs: A surprising fertile ground to till for worship, though the Ministry have their hooks 
  in with talk of spiritual liberty. I believe we could do wonders with this sect, however, if we 
  could convince prominent Barons to accept their roles as Caine’s appointed descendants and 
  leaders of Cainites. 
  Bahari: At least they don’t have the temerity to refer to Lilith as an angel. She was, but no 
  longer. She fell just like the Antediluvians fell, and just like all of hell’s creatures fell. They 
  are misguided, and I feel they should be the last cult we attempt to save. They need to learn to 
  suffer. 
  Camarilla: Just two decades ago I would have balked at the idea of working within the 
  Camarilla, but just as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam (among countless other religions) 
  have undergone spates of persecution (some longer than others), we are in a period of quiet 
  worship and the Camarilla is the best-placed sect for such. We offer them our support and 
  influence within mortal religious bodies, they offer us their protection. 
  Church of Set: Are they a clan or a religious order? How can one be Embraced into a belief 
  system? While I understand the idea of baptism and indoctrination from birth (or the 
  Embrace, in our case), their entire structure seems more based on brainwashing than actual 
  faith. That, and so many other reasons, puts us at odds with this cult. 
  Servitors of Irad: We would know more of this fellowship. Few cults rise to worship Caine’s 
  first childer, so it begs the question whether they know more of the Demiurge’s chosen than 
  most other, non-Gnostic Kindred.. 
  New Rituals 
  The Lure of Flames is the thaumaturgical embodiment of victory over fear. Pioneered by 
  vampires of Clan Tremere, the Church of Caine heavily utilizes these powers as part of their 
  sacraments and their arsenal against enemies of the faith. It is both a way to protect oneself 
  from the bane of fire and a weapon used to instill both injury and terror in the enemy. 
  This form of Blood Sorcery exists in the form of Rituals, with the rolls required detailed on p. 
  275 of Vampire: The Masquerade, unless noted otherwise. 
  Level 1 
  Dampen the Fear 
  This Ritual allows the caster to briefly douse their natural vampiric fear of fire.  
  •  
  Ingredients: A holy object, such as a crucifix, bible, or Qur’an. 
  •  
  Process: The vampire must burn the holy symbol before walking into, past, or 
  otherwise interacting with fire. The object does not need to be destroyed, just exposed to the 
  fire. 
  •  
  System: A successful Ritual roll following the burning of the holy object grants the 
  character +2 dice on all rolls relating to resisting Rötschreck. A critical win results in the 
  character needing to make no terror frenzy rolls at all. The power wears off once the scene 
  ends. 
  Level 3 
  Fire in the Blood 
  This Ritual allows a vampire to invoke the anguish of fire in a victim’s blood. Blistering heat 
  emerges from the target’s veins and causes intense pain. The power from this Ritual differs 
  
  from Cauldron of Blood (see Vampire: The Masquerade, p. 274) in that it is usable from a 
  distance and an efficient way to incapacitate rather than kill the victim.   
  •  
  Ingredients: A sample of the target’s blood, a visual depiction of the target such as a 
  photo, painting, or video recording, a candle made from red wax or a lighter made of iron.  
  •  
  Process: The vampire concentrates on the visual depiction of their target (which can 
  be the individual in person) and burns the target’s blood sample, usually held in a petri dish, 
  glass bottle, or vial, over the flame. The effect occurs almost immediately, as the victim’s 
  blood heats up in their veins. 
  •  
  System: The player makes a Ritual roll following the incantation versus the target’s 
  Resolve + Occult (adding Fortitude, if the target is a creature with this Discipline). The 
  number of successes achieved are converted into Superficial Health damage that also inflict 
  wracking pain upon the victim, forcing them to incur a −2 dice penalty to all actions taken for 
  the remainder of the scene. On a critical win, the dice penalty increases to −3. A Kindred 
  target must make a Rouse Check due to the damage to their vitae. 
  Level 4 
  Creatio Ignis 
  The caster of this Ritual engulfs their own limbs in flames born from vitae and can set items 
  and people alight using the fire. This Ritual is a phenomenal breach of the Masquerade as the 
  power is entirely visible and can cause intense environmental feedback. 
  •  
  Ingredients: Sufficient vitae (from any vampire) to coat the caster’s arms up to the 
  elbows.  
  •  
  Process: The vampire immerses their arms in the blood and withholds the urge to 
  feed or frenzy. After extracting their arms, the caster concentrates and the vitae on their arms 
  bursts into flame. The vampire can then go on to set targets alight using the fire on their skin. 
  •  
  System: If the user is at Hunger 4 or more, make a hunger frenzy test at Difficulty 3 
  when they attempt to immerse their arms in vitae. Following that, they make a Ritual roll and 
  two Rouse Checks instead of the usual single check for a Ritual. Success creates flames on 
  the vampire’s hands and arms (technically it can cover more of the vampire if the vampire 
  used more vitae for the Ritual). Touching a victim with these burning hands inflicts one 
  Aggravated Health damage per turn, and if their clothing ignites, the damage grows on 
  subsequent turns. If the vampire grapples a victim, the damage increases to two Aggravated 
  Health damage per turn, or more if more of the vampire’s body is engulfed as part of this 
  Ritual setup. A critical win on this Ritual roll allows the vampire to flick fire from their 
  fingertips, allowing them to start fires a short distance away. The burning stops when the 
  caster wills it or when the scene ends. 
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Storyteller [multi]/World of Darkness (WoD) [multi]/Vampire/Vampire 5e/Cults of the Blood Gods Preview/Cults of the Blood Gods Kickstarter Manuscript Preview 2C (V5).pdf