Laws of Santa Cruz
Wallenstein's Law
Sheriff Wallenstein has put into place several laws to keep those in Santa Cruz safe from harm. Any who fail to abide by these rules will be branded, stripped of territory, or executed. While these laws are strict, Wallenstein's message of "security first" allows him to paint his opposition as the worst kind of quislings, attempting to drag the safe domain into hell for their own enrichment.
1.
The Traditions of the Camarilla all apply here. Do not break them.
2.
All Kindred within the city must acknowledge and pledge loyalty to the Sheriff.
3.
Ghouling without permission of the Sheriff shall be considered a breach of the Masquerade.
4.
Elysium is sacred. Violation of Elysium is as heinous as the violation of any Tradition. The Sheriff is not subject to Elysium.
5.
A Kindred's haven is her own. Violation of a haven is the same as violation of Elysium.
6.
Withholding information is considered a crime against Santa Cruz. If the Sheriff asks you to speak, speak only the truth.
7.
All Santa Cruz Kindred are expected to work in defense of their city. If they cannot handle a weapon, they must provide intelligence, morale, or sacrifice their own assets to defend this city.
8.
Any Kindred executed for breaking these rules must never be spoken of again in positive memorial or in jest. Their sins against the Camarilla are too great for their memory to ever be purified. Any who defy this law or hold keepsakes of the deceased will be considered co-conspirators and handled as such.
Traditions of the Mist
The vampiric Traditions are fundamental rules of conduct, akin to the mortals' Ten Commandments. Their origins are shrouded in mystery, but they were passed down from antiquity, and when the Camarilla was formed, the Traditions were codified and set into law.
How the Traditions are interpreted, and how strictly they are enforced, depends on who is interpreting or enforcing.
In the Domain of Mist, Prince Vannevar Thomas strictly enforces the Traditions with a fundamentalist fervor. As a result, the Domain resembles the most Traditional European courts; London, Berlin, Vienna. Age is everything to Prince Thomas, and a neonate should not expect to be treated as anything more than a servant to the old.
In Thomas' court, Camarilla procedures are scrupulously followed, with a complex set of protocols on how to address an elder, how to ask permission to Sire, or even ghoul. Punishments for even minor transgressions are severe, and they are strictly enforced. The Prince's fundamentalist interpretations of the Traditions have come to be known as the Traditions of the Mist.
The First Tradition
The Masquerade
Thou shall not reveal thy true nature to those not of the Blood. Doing such shall renounce thy claims of Blood.
Vampires should not, in any way, let their vampiric nature be known to mortals. Breaches of the Masquerade are punishable by Final Death. Breaches which are "fixed" prior to official involvement may be considered controlled breaches, and will be punished with loss of status, physical chastisement, or worse. Ghouling without permission of the Prince, Sheriff, or a Clan Elder shall be considered a controlled breach of the Masquerade.
The Second Tradition
Domain
Thy domain is thy own concern. All others owe thee respect while in it. None may challenge thy word while in thy domain.
Only a Camarilla Prince may claim domain. This tradition is therefore interpreted to mean that one must obey the Prince. Thomas is Prince over the Domain of Mist, but forwards bits and pieces of that Domain to those that support him.
The Third Tradition
Progeny
Thou shall only Sire another with the permission of thine elder. If thou createst another without thine Elder's leave, both thou and thy Progeny shall be slain.
Vampires may only Embrace with permission from the Prince or a Sheriff. Creating a childe without permission shall be punished by death for the childe, and often death for the sire.
The Fourth Tradition
The Accounting
Those thou create are thine own children. Until thy Progeny shall be Released, thou shall command them in all things. Their sins are thine to endure.
The sins of the childe shall be visited on the father. Until the childe is presented to the Prince or a Sheriff, recognized, and released, the sire is held responsible for everything the childe does; both shall be punished.
The Fifth Tradition
Hospitality
Honour one another's domain. When thou comest to a foreign city, thou shall Present thyself to the one who ruleth there. Without the word of acceptance, thou art nothing.
Any vampire that resides in the Domain without formally presenting themselves at Elysium shall be staked and left to meet the sunlight. Any landholder may permit (or block) a vampire's right to reside or hunt in the territory they control. However, enforcement of domain is a matter of the landholder, and whatever power he can draw upon to defend his claim.
The Sixth Tradition
Destruction
Thou are forbidden to destroy another of thy kind. The right of destruction belongeth only to thine Elder. Only the Eldest among thee shall call the Blood Hunt.
Prince Thomas, like most Princes, claims the right of destruction. However, he expands this tradition with an ancient, traditional interpretation. In the Domain of Mist, the right of destruction belongeth truly to thine Elder, meaning the Clan Elders residing in the Domain may call upon their right to destroy any of their Blood. All Kindred are considered Elder to thin bloods.