Anoushkka's Ladder
The Sworn of the Ladder believe the mystic changes wrought on a vampire by Anoushka’s Ladder are the first steps towards divine forgiveness. If any rungs exist beyond the known three, they may lead a practitioner back to a mortal existence or the eternal freedom of a guiltless death.
According to Rites of the Dragon, however, it was not the purpose of The Ordo Dracul to regain its lost mortality, but to transcend the curse of vampirism. Dracula did not seek forgiveness, but to overcome his damnation through an understanding of the forces of change and a profound strength of will. In the eyes of many within The Ordo Dracul, the course towards a divine pardon requires many steps backward. Reversing damnation is folly; the way out is through.
Thus the changes manifested in a vampire through these rare and difficult powers are considered contrary to the aims of the covenant. That is, if Anoushka’s Ladder is even real. Many, even among The Sworn of the Ladder, suppose that tales of the Upright who learned the so-called rungs of Anoushka’s Ladder are, in fact, tales of blessed flukes and unrepeatable circumstances. It’s possible for a Ladder-Sworn vampire to do everything necessary and still be unable to learn these secrets.
To learn a rung of Anoushka’s Ladder, a character must have at least nine dots in other coils. To enjoy the benefits of any of these rungs, the character must have a Humanity of 8 or higher. Should a character’s Humanity fall below the threshold necessary for a rung she knows, she gains no benefit from that rung until her Humanity is raised again.
According to Rites of the Dragon, however, it was not the purpose of The Ordo Dracul to regain its lost mortality, but to transcend the curse of vampirism. Dracula did not seek forgiveness, but to overcome his damnation through an understanding of the forces of change and a profound strength of will. In the eyes of many within The Ordo Dracul, the course towards a divine pardon requires many steps backward. Reversing damnation is folly; the way out is through.
Thus the changes manifested in a vampire through these rare and difficult powers are considered contrary to the aims of the covenant. That is, if Anoushka’s Ladder is even real. Many, even among The Sworn of the Ladder, suppose that tales of the Upright who learned the so-called rungs of Anoushka’s Ladder are, in fact, tales of blessed flukes and unrepeatable circumstances. It’s possible for a Ladder-Sworn vampire to do everything necessary and still be unable to learn these secrets.
To learn a rung of Anoushka’s Ladder, a character must have at least nine dots in other coils. To enjoy the benefits of any of these rungs, the character must have a Humanity of 8 or higher. Should a character’s Humanity fall below the threshold necessary for a rung she knows, she gains no benefit from that rung until her Humanity is raised again.
Effect
First Rung: Rise Above Thirst
As long as the character’s Humanity is 8 or higher, she spends just one Vitae to rise each week. If the character has also mastered the first tier of the Coil of Blood, this expenditure of Vitae enables her to stay awake for seven days plus her Resolve. The character suffers no penalty for actions undertaken during the daytime, though she is still burned by sunlight.Second Rung: Divorce the Clan
As long as the character’s Humanity is 9 or higher, she is not affected by her clan or bloodline weakness if she has gone at least one day and one night without using a Discipline, whether that Discipline is associated with her clan or not. As soon as the character uses one of her Discipline powers, the effects of her clan and bloodline weakness return.Third Rung: The Open Cage
As long as the character’s Humanity is 10, she is not subject to the Beast. The character no longer experiences frenzy of any sort. She cannot “ride the wave” and is not subject to frenzy under any circumstances.
Related Organizations
Related Discipline
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