The Traditions of the Invictus

Lord Samuel Cole, editor

Dedicated to the memories of
Alder Mirandia Blake and
Alder Erik Krieger
 Contributors

Pillar Leon Vogel, Consul of the Senate.

The Good Alder Simon Cassio, Prince of New York City, Primus
and Judex of the Northeast, and Warminister of the Senate.

His Grace, Sir Hector Stearns Castle, Primus of the Southeast,

Master of Elysium of Northern Mississippi, Knight
Commander of the Swift Order of the Dark Horse, and
Technologist.

Baroness Audra Jetter, Minister of the Senate and the Northeast,

Speaker of New York City.

The Right Honorable Molly Laroche Essex, Councilor of the

South Central Inner Circle and Seneschal of Dallas.

The Good Adriana Vitelion de' Medici, Secundus of the South

Central Inner Circle, Speaker of the Prisci of Dallas, and
Patron of the Guild of Muses.

The Right Honorable Michael Evengii, Commissioner of the

Great Lakes, Meister of the Guild of the Silver Caduceus,
and Knight.

Mister Clement, Councilor of the South Central Inner Circle,

Soldier, and Patrician of the Flayed House.

Mister Earl Fraley, Archon of the Southeast and Patrician of the

Flayed House.

Lord Samuel Cole, Notary of the Northeast and Keeper of Elysia

of New York City
 Contents

Introduction 6

The Invictus must be respected. 7

The Invictus must maintain order. 12

The purpose of power is power. 15

Rank has its privileges. 17

The Invictus has no secrets. 20

The Invictus must protect its fock lest it lose its 23

ability to exploit it.

The Invictus is a covenant of faith. 24

The Invictus is society. All of it. 26

Nobility is in the blood we take and the blood we 28

keep, the blood we spill and the blood we seek.

This Covenant is a relic, a memory of what it briefy 30

was and what it can still be.
 Introduction

We are the inheritors of greatness. We are the heirs of centuries

of wisdom and truth. When we face the dangers of each night, we
do so confdent that age, experience, and tradition have power.
Within the framework of that tradition, however, we have built
upon our successes, learned from our mistakes, and adapted to a
changing world. No one can truly claim that our traditions have
stood unchanged for a millennium and a half; such brittleness
would quickly lead to brokenness.

The strength of tradition, therefore, relies on both the grounding

of ancient practice and the suppleness of innovation. Memory and
destiny are two ancient lovers, eternally young, and their delicate
dance keeps the Invictus vibrant, relevant, and sustainable today.

To my knowledge, no one has yet made a public efort to collect

and document the body of oral tradition in an accessible way. I
have long felt that such a project would be immensely valuable,
and so I invited some of the most brilliant leaders, teachers, and
thinkers to share their refections on our most oft-repeated
maxims, for while these teachings often heard, they are also often
neglected and often misunderstood.

The goal of this endeavor is not to create a defnitive and

comprehensive pronouncement of an ironclad tradition, but rather
to accurately chronicle the culture of the frst estate as it stands
today, with all of its diversity of thought, and to preserve it for
future generations who will embody it, continue it, and build upon
it. In order for us to become what we must become, we must frst
remember who we are. We cannot aford to squander our
inheritance.

-Lord Samuel Cole

October 27, 2009

6
 I. The Invictus must be respected.
(traditional)

The Invictus must be respected. Often I have heard this saying

touted when some foreign threat troubles the frst estate.
However, it must be understood that this imperative applies frst
to members of our covenant, and only then to the masses.

Consider: do your actions show respect for the Invictus? Do your

actions show respect to your fellow Kindred of Quality? Do your
actions honor tradition? Consider this in every action, both public
and private. Do this and your actions will earn respect for the frst
estate.

-Sir Hector Castle

This statement is the foundation of our covenant. While it is

inferred that the Unconquered must earn the respect granted to
them, it also requires that the Invictus extend to their covenant
this same courtesy. What separates the Invictus from the other
covenants is our purpose of order, treating one another with form
and protocol that breeds civility. It is a standard of conduct,
wherein we honor our traditions, our vassals, and the estate entire.

-Alder Simon Cassio

Of the fve essential maxims of Invictus philosophy this is the

most discussed, most quoted, and most boring.

Distilled to its most fundamental core it is a dictate for everyday

behavior for all of society. Those claiming to be Invictus must
show respect in all things they do, particularly to each other.
Others must also treat the Invictus with respect, as rank has its

7
privileges, and those who know themselves to be Invictus are of
greater rank than those who do not.

The natural corollary of this maxim is that one must be deserving

of respect. Stressed more appropriately, one must behave in a
manner that commands respect. Behaving as the jackdaw or gnat
does not demand respect, although they may have respectable
qualities. On the other hand, behaving as the falcon or lion does
command respect, although they may have qualities that are not
respectable.

Naturally, as a falcon or lion, when respect is not given as

appropriate, the ofending creature is devoured.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

This is a phrase that reinvigorates leadership and reminds us of

our duty to society. Given the efects of modern American
sensibilities, however, it is met with reverence as often as it is met
with a roll of the eyes. Overall, this has unfortunately gone the way
of the catch-phrase with all of the comical implications included.
Whether or not those who cling to the statement can reestablish
its original virtue is still being evaluated.

-Madame Audra Jetter

I've seen some young members of the Invictus go to arms because

they feel they've been disrespected by a lesser covenant. They
carry this signature phrase on a banner as they charge in to battle.
We can no more be disrespected by the other covenants than a
man can be disrespected by a toddler. They can bark and swear
and yell all they want; we at the top will continue to laugh at those
who waste their breath blowing down the wall.

-Sir Michael Evengii

8
To be Unconquered is to garner respect from those around you, be
they peers within the frst estate or the drab outside of it. We are
respected because of who we are, but more because of what we do.
Our eforts are recognized by others as well as our own, and
therefor we are well received.

However, such respect does not come automatically; name alone

will not carry the weight of the world. We must follow in the
footsteps of our elders and lay our own paths so as to earn the
respect that the Invictus must receive. Respect will never be given
blindly, and we must earn it as our forbearers did before us. The
tenant "the Invictus must be respected" is not only a claim of our
natural tendencies, but also an order to our own number to earn
such respect, and to never expect a bent knee that is unearned.

-Alder Adriana de' Medici

Respect is in the eye of the beholder. Some believe that respect is

garnered by fear alone, and one must dominate one's opponent
into submission, openly and, many times, physically. Some believe
that respect is garnered by wisdom, and that the requiem is a chess
game to be maneuvered through. Some believe that respect is
garnered by how well we govern others, as we lead all of society.
Others believe that respect is garnered by how well we adhere to
traditional methods. Still others believe respect is garnered by
how we adapt.

I believe respect is all these things because I believe respect is

garnered by success. We do not gain success by removing tradition,
decorum, or etiquette; rather, we are successful because of these
things. A member of the Invictus should rise to be the best and
manifest their blood and lineage, liege and name, to the absolute
best of their ability in all things. If one's talent is to speak, one
should rise to become the best and most persuasive speaker there
is. If one's talent is supernatural phenomena, one should become
an expert, and never requiring us to turn to other covenants for
knowledge.

9
It is in this success, and adhering to this success, that the other
covenants look to us as the example of how society should be. It is
in this success that we continue to prove that traditional methods
work, and overcome the modern nuances found in the Movement.
It is in this success that we are both feared and loved by all. Other
covenants should look to us and desire to either be one of us or to
be led by us in the capacity in which we excel. In this success, we
are respected.

-Madame Molly Laroche Essex

The purpose of most creatures on earth is to survive and

procreate; earth’s creatures spend their energies in a balance
between these two directives. There are animals who eat their
young at the frst sign of danger to ensure their own survival, like
the marmot. There are creatures who give their lives to mate, like
the preying mantis. There are humans who die trying to impress
mates, and there are humans who fail to mate because they decline
to take risks. Those two activities, however, are the focus of their
energies. No matter how much a creature wants to survive, their
time on earth is limited, and progeny are their legacy.

Kindred do not procreate, and it therefore becomes obvious why

survival is of such paramount importance to us. Our time on earth
need not be limited, and so while the inevitability of death drives
humans to great feats of daring and acclaim, kindred are instead
driven to survive.

There are two ways kindred can survive – by fghting every

moment of every night for every scrap of freedom and peace, or by
establishing a society that has rules to protect and constrain.
Weary of endless confict, at some time or another, our sires
selected the latter option.

One of the relevant social rules is that those who are respected are
not attacked. Attacking someone who is respected results in swift
reprisal by everyone else who is also respected; after all, should
they fail sufciently to respond, they know it might very well be

10
they who are attacked next. Imagine the prosperity and mutual
defense of an entire covenant of kindred who declare that by
joining them, anyone can become respected, and gain access to
that defense. This would be a formidable group indeed, and so it is
no surprise that the Invictus is the foremost covenant on earth.

The rule that one does not, by attacking, disrespect a member of

the Invictus, however, applies to others within the covenant, as
well. Therefore, a dispute resolution mechanism must (and,
indeed, does) exist. If two members of the Invictus have a personal
problem with each other, they are required (if close enough in
station) to sit down and attempt to talk it out. If they cannot
reach an accord, they can ask a Judex to help. If they still cannot
reach an accord, and the insult is so severe they refuse to exist in a
world that allows them to be insulted in such a fashion, they can
request the Judex enact our most ancient and sacred rite, the duel
that must end in death: Monomacy.

There are several things that must be noted about this process.
The Judex chooses to declare Monomacy or not - the parties
merely request it. One does not challenge another to Monomacy.
Neither must the other party accept - if the Judex fnds the insult
grave enough to warrant Monomacy, neither party may escape
adjudication by merely refusing to participate. If they wish to
avoid the risk of immediate destruction, the disputant must ofer
terms reasonable enough to persuade the Judex to make their
opponent accept those instead of combat.

The mechanism itself is complex and nuanced, but the purpose is

simple: to enforce the rule that “the Invictus must be respected.”
The mechanism is a natural consequence of the rule, and the rule
is likewise a natural consequence of the desire to survive itself.

-Mister Earl Fraley

11
 II. The Invictus must maintain order.
(traditional)

Order breeds success; this is a known certainty. When each

individual Unconquered serves a chosen role to the best of his or
her ability, working in concert towards the betterment of the
covenant, the chaos and uncertainty of our requiem is thwarted.
Notions and ideas come and go with the passage of time, but by
honoring our traditions and our forms, we cultivate a routine that
has proven its worth time and again.

-Alder Simon Cassio

Order is our purpose above all others. Without order, the niceties
of society are meaningless, having been drowned out by the blood-
dimmed tide. Remember always that only we, the frst estate, have
this dedication to order. We dedicate ourselves as no other
covenant does to the safety of all kindred. Only we, of all kindred,
say "frst the Masquerade, then everything else". This dedication is
honorable, and all Invictus must take due pride in it.

-Sir Hector Castle

One of the fve essential maxims of Invictus philosophy is “Order

Above All.” There are many layers to this saying, not all of them
pleasant to the ear. Most importantly, one must realize that each
of the essentials of Invictus philosophy must be treated in balance
or at least with understanding of the others.

I will admit that as a creature of order and reason this

philosophical axiom stands as my favorite. My fondness may also
stem from its nearness to the great question.

12
The Invictus must act for the purpose of creating and maintaining
order. In doing so we see to the greater good of all; without order,
society turns upon and devours itself. This necessitates both
understanding and sacrifce.

To bring and maintain order, one must understand one's own

virtues, strengths, weaknesses, as well as those of others. If I know
that another is better suited to a particular duty, then I should,
generally speaking, support that individual as he or she performs
it. The most commonly discussed confict in which this is
dismissed is the insistence from one party or plurality that they are
best suited for leadership when they are, in fact, not. They fght
amongst themselves and sow chaos, but this could have been
avoided by a proper understanding of themselves and one another.
This of course brings us to the next aspect of maintaining order:
sacrifce.

Once one realizes that one may not be suited for every task
necessary to institute and maintain order, one must also realize
that sacrifce is necessary. Chiefy, I speak of personal sacrifce.
This is not to say one must surrender one's life, but that one must
be willing to surrender one's position and glory in the service of
the greater good. Again, using the most commonly discussed
confict, one who could bid for leadership and who comes to the
realization that he or she is not best suited for leadership must
then sacrifce immediate designs on leadership so that order may
be rendered.

As should be apparent, we face two great foes in the pursuit of

order. The frst is the personal ego. Within the covenant we have
many strong egos, and they clash often. To make meaningful
progress one must be willing to set one's ego aside. The second is,
of course, the Beast. The Ordo Dracul would mistakenly claim
that they know the Beast best of all, but in truth we mastered it
long ago. We did not need any trickery or witchcraft; we came to
realize that society itself leaches the Beast. Strong will and strong
adherence to tradition allows us to overcome what some consider
a defciency without parlor tricks.

13
I would hope that the reader realizes that these examples examine
the near term, and that as the depth of the analysis of any given
situation is expanded (that is to say, how far into the future one
wishes to create and/or maintain order), and that as the breadth of
the analysis of any given situation is expanded (that is to say, the
swath of society one wishes to afect), the situation becomes more
complex. The greatest danger is not the complexity that is born
from a full analysis, but that what must be done to create and
maintain order may vary, thus coming in confict and potentially
creating chaos if one is not both aware and willing.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

There is a system that is greater than any one individual, and that
system has proven time and again, over thousands of years, that if
you go against the system, the system will go against you. Over
that time, the Invictus has learned that we do not control the
system, we simply recognize that a machine that is well-oiled
functions better than one that is not.

-Sir Michael Evengii

If there is one idea that we must hold closest to our hearts, it is

this. All of our traditions are based on order. Order is the
foundation of all our systems of civility and etiquette. Only
through order can kindred culture exist and thrive. Why? Because,
at our core, we are petty, blood-sucking parasites who would
otherwise spend more time thinking of clever ways to murder our
enemies than how to lead our society into a promising, utopian
future.

-Madame Audra Jetter

14
 III. The purpose of power is power.
(traditional)

Power is a tool. The purpose of that tool is to better the tool itself.
It can be seen as a pathway to money, blood, control, and many
other things. Each of these in turn is something that may be
wielded in the pursuit of power. One must never forget that the
veneer, no matter how enthralling, is simply a distraction from the
true purpose of all things: power. Even though it may not be
readily apparent, each tool may be leveraged to one’s advantage,
and thus be used in the pursuit of power. When you wield a tool,
do so with knowledge of this true purpose.

I must comment on a common misinterpretation of this maxim.

Many will misstate it as "power for the sake of power." Stated
thusly, power is no longer a tool to be wielded but an excuse to be
levied. One will do an act, commonly in the usurpation of order,
claiming that it is to “garner power.” This is a child's action, and
garners no more true power than that of the schoolyard bully. True
power comes instead from the realization that the purpose of
power is power.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

Find any force in nature that exists for some purpose other than to
exist. The Sun does not shine on the Earth because the Earth pays
taxes. Gravity does not pull down because it is angry at the sky.
Power and authority exist for no other purpose than to be those
things. Others will gravitate or be repulsed by these concepts, but
they will continue to persist despite any resistance.

-Sir Michael Evengii

15
This particular proverb has been used to justify any and all
pursuits of power, whether they are wise or not. I do not believe
this traditional quote is a justifcation, however, but rather an
explanation of our values.

While each other covenant has a hidden agenda in pursuing

power, be it religious, experimental, academic, or otherwise, the
Invictus understands that the end goal of power is power in itself.
It is not to convert others who’s hearts may be turned later. It is
not to experiment based on the ability to do so. The goal of power
is simply this: to achieve, maintain, and solidify power. Those who
have the ability to obtain power in their given feld of interest
should do so because they are great enough to do so. However,
wise kindred know what they are good at and what they are not.
Woe be the one who pursues a praxis, for example, who is not
meant to lead. He or she may achieve transitory success, but true
power is longer lasting.

-Madame Molly Laroche Essex

This statement is often misinterpreted and used to imply an

imaginary right to power even if contrary to the good of the
covenant. In truth, “the purpose of power is power” is an
assessment of how power should be wielded once gained, and does
not presuppose that power should always be sought. It is about the
dynamics of our relationship with others. We use power to gain
more power, and when we use our resources to assist others in
achieving their goals, we all beneft and those who we assist
become more dependent on our collective resources.

-Alder Simon Cassio

16
 IV. Rank has its privileges.
(traditional)

Rank has its privileges. These privileges are contingent on the

fulfllment of the duties of rank. Do not be the fop. Do not forget
that those with rank must act and be seen to act for the
betterment of those beneath them. Remember also that you are
Invictus, and even our lowest-ranking initiate is set above the
masses and given greater privilege.

-Sir Hector Castle

Society is a tapestry of protocols - little rules of etiquette that help

keep not just the Beast, but our baser instincts at bay. Within this
tapestry we choose to honor those of rank, and rightfully so. The
words of one who is honored carry greater weight and meaning
than those of who one is not. Those of rank should be the frst
heard, never made to wait, and included in discussions that lessers
would not be, unless invited. After all, a privilege of rank is to
dictate as well as to defer.

It is often misunderstood that rank automatically equates to

station. When I travel to a city I do not automatically become the
leader of the city. My words carry a measure of weight, but I do
not, by virtue of my standing, have the ability to dictate to a
prince or a local inner circle. In fact, I must be cautious of the
damage I may cause because of my rank. Remember, one must act
to bring about and maintain order. If one attempts to use his or
her rank to assert authority, he or she may easily be working to
undermine that order. Thus, rank also has its burdens.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

17
The etiquette of tradition lends to precedence. Those who have
fought, bled, battled, politicked, ingratiated, or otherwise made a
name for themselves will be honored in our words, actions, and
deeds. What culture does not have rewards for those who have put
in time and efort? Should the Invictus be no diferent?

The Invictus choose in all things to look at that which lasts. It is

in this adherence and reverence of tradition that we excel. In this
excellence, we are remembered for all time if we are worthy to be.
This allows the youngest of us to look forward to what patience
and exoneration will bring about. This allows the oldest of us to
remain secure that what we have earned will not be forgotten, nor
will it be belittled within our hallowed ranks.

In these modern nights, this is one of the most overlooked of our

sayings, but one of the most important. We live in a modern
society of entitlement and speed. By adhering to this and learning
what it means, we instill patience and the desire for things that
last. These, not the quick or modern, are the things of which
society is truly made.

-Madame Molly Laroche Essex

Our society is a stratifed, multi-layered system of capable kindred

who rely on one another. Every person of rank has risen to it,
beginning as a lowly neonate with little to no privilege and a great
deal of learning to do and continuing up to whatever rank they
currently claim. Many of us, through our great number of years,
have risen and fallen numerous times. Rank, once earned, is to be
respected due to the amount of time and efort required to the rise
to that rank.

Once a higher level of responsibility has been earned, it is

understood that it comes with certain privileges. We respect these
privileges because of the efort done by the person who earned
them, as well as in the understanding that one day we may rise to
that level if we are diligent and resourceful. Proper incentives will
incite all to reach for that point where they too can enjoy the

18
privileges that higher rank ofers, and through such encourage
better members of society.

-Alder Adriana de Medici

When a lion dies, it does so having eaten anything it wanted. The

vultures will pick at him, true, but they wouldn't dare while he still
stood. Other cats may try to steal his prey, but he still holds the
title, "King of the Jungle." He may not be the most efcient killer,
but even man bows to him to some degree. Rank comes from
experience, from achievement, and from skill. There is not enough
room at the top for everyone.

-Sir Michael Evengii

Too often this statement is used to oppress those who are viewed
as unworthy (be that because of birth, wealth, station, etc). And
while these diferences do exist without question, this maxim
should not be used to rationalize cruelty, tyranny, or subjugation.
Instead it should act as a reminder of the blessings we have
received as Invictus and why we, more than any other covenant,
are aforded opportunities for kindness, compassionate leadership,
and charity.

-Madame Audra Jetter

19
 V. The Invictus has no secrets.
(The Rt. Hon. Alder Cadeyrn)

...which is not to say that individuals within the Invictus have no

secrets because obviously they do. This speaks more to removing
the often-skewed perceptions of those who do not understand the
purpose of Invictus leadership. Individuals inherently fear what
they do not know or comprehend, often ascribing malicious intent
where there is none. Arbitrarily cultivating layers of mystique does
nothing but alienate those who would inevitably beneft from our
guidance. Through openness and education, kindred will come to
grasp our altruistic motivations and support our rule.

-Madame Audra Jetter

Secrets are often required in our nightly requiems, as deception is

a weapon to be used to our collective advantage. However, when
the Invictus is at its best, it need not hide behind lies or
subterfuge. Each act the Invictus does is done out of service,
unapologetically and fully protected from the scrutiny of
outsiders. We do what we must for the good of the frst estate, in
honor of our forms, our traditions, and our oaths. So armed, we
need not obfuscate our reasons for we are righteous in our cause.

-Alder Simon Cassio

Of course we have our secrets. The one who claims there are no
secrets is the one who hides the most.

In its best possible light, this statement provides that we are the
most open of all covenants. This is not to say that we accept all,
but rather that we act more openly than others. We have long
since realized that open displays of power are potent tools and the

20
more omnipresent they are, the better.

I realize that many cleave to this saying, and use it as an excuse to

invite others to our meetings, despite being in direct contradiction
to our maxim that rank has its privileges.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

We have no secrets because we have nothing to hide. We work to

make the world a better place - why would we hide anything?

-Sir Michael Evengii

I believe this has been the most misquoted and misunderstood

quote given by one of our great leaders. Its ambiguity has lent
itself to comedy, but I would present a diferent view.

Each member of the Invictus, due to the very nature of our ability
to lead and pursue leadership and power, is a public fgure. A
spotlight has been shined on each of us as politicians and
diplomats, experts and leaders. We live in glass houses.

Every kindred has personal secrets. This is true, and no one would
dispute this. However, the Invictus politics of leadership are no
secret. We all adhere to the tried and true methods of tradition
and etiquette in all things. Each covenant can look at us and know
exactly what we believe; each covenant can look to us and not
have to wonder about our philosophy, political structure, or
confict resolution procedure. We are emulated by other
covenants, even by those who do not stand by either tradition or
propriety.

In this, we have no secrets.

-Madame Molly Laroche Essex

21
Of course we have our secrets. We have secrets even from our own
membership. This statement is merely an elder's attempt to keep
the neonates content in their belief that they are not missing out
on the things we have kept from them.

-Alder Adriana de' Medici

Some things must be kept private, if for no other reason than to

allow others to save face. Simply repeating Alder Cadeyrn's
proverb does not give us leave to air dirty laundry in public, nor
does it allow us to abandon propriety. He did not mean that we
must tell the entire world everything we know, everything we
think, and everything we've heard.

If, for example, you believe the prince of your city has made a poor
decision, criticizing him or her in public would undermine the
authority of the praxis, potentially destabilizing the city, and
would require retribution. Going to that same prince privately,
however, and ofering your concerns and critique would not be an
ofense; in fact, if you are an Advisor, it is your duty to do so.

What I think Alder Cadeyrn actually meant is that, more than any
other covenant, we are predisposed toward working with those not
among our ranks. The Invictus exists to lead, yet we lead not
because we are more worthy than other covenants but rather
because we are better connected, better organized, and broader-
minded. We share knowledge, we share success, and we share the
benefts of living in a stable and safe society.

Let others have their secrets. I am Invictus and I have no time for
them.

-Mister Samuel Cole

22
VI. The Invictus must protect its fock lest it lose
its ability to exploit it.
(traditional)

This is simply one of many ways in which one may perceive the
patronage system. One must protect all who serve lest one lose
their services. Such service may be passive, as is often the case
when one speaks of the fock, or such service may be active, as is
often the case with vassals. In all cases, the lord has a duty to serve
his people just as they have a duty to serve him. This symbiotic
synergism is one of the greatest strengths of the Invictus.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

Mortals are power. The best of us have long since passed the time
when we can talk to men directly without killing them. As long as
we allow humanity to run the world, we will need to protect the
best of them to serve us, and to one day become us.

-Sir Michael Evengii

Patrons and clients, lieges and vassals, shepherds and sheep: this is
the kind of language which opponents of traditional society fxate
upon when they criticize us.

Yet who can dispute that the responsibility of the shepherd to the
sheep is far greater than the responsibility of the sheep to the
shepherd? This is, in fact, the greatest merit of the patronage
system: that when one joins the Invictus, one gains a powerful ally
and mentor who is personally invested in your growth and
development. Who else can boast this?

-Mister Samuel Cole

23
 VII. The Invictus is a covenant of faith.
(The Rt. Hon. Alder Cadeyrn)

The Second Estate has its various creeds and interpretations. The
Ordo Dracul has its books and philosophies. The Acolytes have
their pantheon of deities and the Carthians have no deities at all.
The one article of faith that the First Estate has is a shared service
towards something better, toward the dream of a world that is civil
and secure and ordered. Each Unconquered serves this dream in
his or her own way, and it is this collective act that makes us
divine.

-Alder Simon Cassio

The Invictus is also a covenant of reason. Society cannot be

separated from faith and reason, and thus we are both.

-Sir Michael Evengii

Alder Cadeyrn and I did not always see the world in the same
light. He was as stone where I am as water. However, in the matter
of faith we agreed.

The word of the Invictus is sacrosanct. It is known that when we

give our word we will do everything required to keep it, even at
the cost of our own lives. This is part of what it means to be
Invictus. Because of this, when other members of the Invictus say
that they shall perform a task or abide by a decree, I know they
shall. I may know nothing more of them beyond their being
Invictus, but that is all that is required. I have no proof that they
shall behave in a particular fashion, but because they are Invictus I
know nonetheless. This is faith.

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The Acolytes and the Sanctifed see their faith rewarded
constantly, so constantly that one might argue there is no faith but
instead formulaic science. The Invictus, conversely, have no such
formula; we have no security blanket to assuage our concerns and
fears. Instead, we have our faith.

Almost inevitably there comes a time when one betrays the faith
we all place within them. It may come from a broken promise or a
broken oath. No matter the fne words that spill from lips when
this is done, there is never any true excuse that justifes breaking
one's word. Even if one breaks one oath to uphold another, even if
one were to save the universe through the act of breaking their
oath, they have failed and they have spat upon our faith. Where I
could thank such an individual for such actions as they might have
beneftted me, I would also know that I could no longer trust
them; they would be lesser in my eyes.

As we are a covenant of faith, and as it is relatively easy for one of

us to fall from grace, we must also consider the matter of
atonement. Is it possible for one to make amends sufcient that
our faith in them is restored? The answer must necessarily vary by
individual. Ask yourself, what would be required for you to know
that one who has once broken his or her word will never do so
again?

-Pillar Leon Vogel

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 VIII. The Invictus is Society. All of it.
(Pillar Leon Vogel)

And we will continue to be for as long as there are kindred to

govern.

-Sir Michael Evengii

Whether by subscribing or by reacting to the maxims, traditions,

and etiquette of the Invictus, modern kindred society has been
shaped profoundly by our leadership… and the world is better for
it.

-Madame Audra Jetter

All who seek civilized society can fnd it within the Invictus. All
who seek to become part of civilized society act as if they were
Invictus. The Invictus is the pinnacle of society, and represents
what society is in its most proper form. All others are merely sad
attempts to achieve what we already have.

-Alder Adriana de' Medici

This is a statement with layers. The frst layer is easy to examine:

kindred society, as it exists today in every part of the world, exists
as the Invictus created it. The praxis and inner circle models were
crafted and refned by the Invictus, and it is they that are used
throughout all of society. The statement has deeper meaning
however.

Covenants rail about what defnes them. Carthians, Dragons,

Acolytes, Sanctifed, and more all claim something that makes

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them special, something that sets them apart, but they are wrong.
All that these covenants have to ofer is found within the Invictus.
Each can be defned within the various functionary positions that
we, the Invictus, have given society. We have those who investigate
kindred nature, we have those who chase spiritual pursuits, we
have those who question philosophy, and we have more. Each has
its place within the Invictus, and if an individual's pursuits have
impact and meaning, they shall be adopted within the Invictus as
sound refnements. When one chooses to defne oneself as apart
from the Invictus, however, all one accomplishes is to defne
oneself in relation to the Invictus. Not all realize their position,
just as not all realize they have the potential to be so much more.

In truth, only one covenant should exist, as far as covenants are

defned today: the Invictus. For every other covenant, someone
failed to understand the maxim “order above all.” Thus, instead of
these other bodies and beliefs being fully and properly
incorporated, divisions within society are greatly (some may say
irreparably) exaggerated.

The exception of course is Beliar's Get, or Belial's Brood as it is

often called. These creatures and not kindred and have no place
within society, which they seek only to undermine. They deserve
fnal death, no more and no less.

To provide a fnal layer for the purpose of this truncated discourse,

to accept that one is outside of society is to accept that one is not
held to the standards of society. As the Invictus is society, we must
hold all to the standards of the Invictus; to do otherwise is to
excuse behavior and abandon order.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

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 IX. Nobility is in the blood we take
and the blood we keep,
the blood we spill
and the blood we seek.
(traditional)

To be Invictus is to strive toward nobility, and by this I mean

mythical or ideal nobility. The reality, of course, always falls short
of the ideal, which is good, lest we have nothing to strive for.
Nobility is not a facet of oneself that may be turned on and of as a
spigot. No, one must always endeavor to be noble in all things, be
it through thought or deed.

This proverb does not tell us that nobility is literally in the blood
per se, but that we must treat all things with the respect owed to
their station, be it above or below our own. How one behaves,
how one treats the metaphorical blood they take, keep, spill, or
seek is refective not only of the value of said blood, but of oneself,
as well. By every action, by every thought we judge others and
ourselves; if every action is not bent towards the higher ideal, then
it is degraded.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

Clever, but pedantic.

-Sir Michael Evengii

Blood is a particular favorite of mine: the hunting of it, the

nourishment, the favor. In my time, blood was not a commodity,
but the very thing that led to violent disputes between predators.

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We are predators. There is nobility in that. There are those who
hunt with such ideals in mind. There are others, less savory, less
appealing to the eye, who cherish the tenants of blood in the most
primal and unspeakable ways, but as Unconquered, I consider
them beautiful none the less.

To be Unconquered is to understand one's place in the hierarchy

of killers and monsters, and then to subsequently conquer that
place, and then next the very notion itself. We are a society not of
lords and servants, but teachers and students, and all are welcome
to feast.

-Mister Clement

Nobility is such a misunderstood term, much like “gentleman.” In

times past, being called a gentleman signifed peerage, i.e. a
member of the gentry. Today, however, “gentleman” no longer
denotes a social class, but rather a standard of behavior and
etiquette.

Similarly, during the Romantic period, the word “nobility” took on

the connotation of chivalry and virtue, but prior to this the term
denoted being part of the land-owning class under a vassalage
system. The Invicti of today use the term in both ways, much to
the confusion of our neophytes.

The Invictus is older than either meaning, however. The Invictus

is older than Romanticism. The Invictus is older than Feudalism.
The Invictus is older than this proverb. Like a phoenix, the
Invictus was begotten in the ashes of the Camarilla, and from
those ashes it rose to reforge civilization from chaos and disorder.

So ignore anyone who tells you that being Invictus is akin to being
a noble or belonging to a gentry class, or that this gives you
privileges over other covenants. Our roots, and our duties, reach
far deeper than that.

-Mister Samuel Cole

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 X. This Covenant is a relic, a memory of what it
briefy was and what it can still be.
(Alder Quintus of Alexandria)

With due respect to the good Alder Quintus of Alexandria, I

believe his words are poorly chosen. A relic is a dry and dusty
thing, a remnant of what was once life. I declare here that the
Invictus is not a Covenant that lacks for vigor. I have with my eyes
witnessed the stars of new initiates rising, taking on the banner of
the sacred traditions our covenant espouses. I have witnessed the
glorious Alders of the Invictus standing as a testament to the
perseverance of that tradition. We are no relic.

The good Alder Quintus of Alexandria called on the frst estate to

seek expansion at all times, and indeed it is truth that all domains
not in the hands of an Invictus Prince should be in the sure and
trusted hands of an Invictus Prince. However, we, the First Estate,
understand that time is our ally. We do not race against it as so
many others do, but rather we bide what time we have until the
proper moment, and in that moment act with sure grace to seize
what is ours by right.

-Sir Hector Castle

The Estate is not what it once was because the world is not what it
once was. Yet since the fall of the Camarilla, the Unconquered
have survived for nearly two thousand years without the
protection of the Legio Mortuum or any other power, and during
that time we have remained true to our traditions, our oaths, and
our way of life. We are not a relic, we are a sustained tradition, and
by honoring our history we build a new memory that will survive
long after we are gone.

-Alder Simon Cassio

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Yet, the covenant is not transitory. Individual kindred within the
covenant can fail, can misinterpret the philosophies of the
covenant, and can even go against the covenant, but the covenant
itself is immutable. We are stability. We are society. We are
Unconquered. It is not a choice. One does not decide to be
Invictus. One either is or is not.

-Sir Michael Evengii

The covenant is many things to many people; how we view it is

shaped by our experiences. I have not lived Alder Quintus's life, so
I do not see the Invictus from the same perspective as he. This
said, my vision is not terribly dissimilar. The Invictus is an ideal to
which we can aspire or not; if we choose the latter then we fail not
just ourselves, but all of society.

-Pillar Leon Vogel

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