                          THE PATH OF RE-EMERGENCE



   "Morality, wisdom, ethics: These are all lofty and noble ideals, to
   which all should aspire. Yet what is their value, if they are never
   tested? What is the hope of their realization, if the way is misguided
   and unfruitful?" - Ephrim, Setite Philosopher

   Nickname: Awakeners

   Basic Beliefs: All conscious entities in the world are embroiled in
   the constant conflict of their baser impulses to evil against their
   higher yearning to good. Also in the world are many things which lead
   one to evil. Setites are one of these.

   Awakeners believe that for intelligent and self-aware entities, the
   pursuit of the good is the greatest and most worthy of goals. Yet the
   very worth of the good is intertwined with the possibility of a
   falling away into the evil. For the Awakeners, they strive for the
   good by ensuring the continued value of the good. Only by constant
   temptation and corruption can the virtue grow strongest.

   Corruption also acts as a useful pruning method, cutting away the ones
   lacking self-awareness and introspection, those who have lost their
   way on the path upwards, or who have corrupted the process of the
   ascent. Only by stripping away all of these corrupt and useless
   values, leaving the base human animal, can the pure process begin
   again.

   For those on this path, the roll of the Setites as the great
   corrupters is viewed as being a necessary evil to ensure the greater
   good. Far the Awakeners, so long as they perform with this in mind,
   and not act gratuitously, then they have achieved a goodness as
   instruments of the process of the universe. As instruments of, rather
   than participants in, the universe, they themselves are not beholden
   to the usual moral standards which they themselves judge others
   against.

  THE ETHICS OF THE PATH



   - Always act with control and reserve. Your needs must not corrupt
   your own goals. Always fight the urge to Frenzy.

   - Corrupt the evil and the ordinary people. The truly virtuous will
   flourish, the others need to reassess their beliefs.

   - Tempt the virtuous. Remind them of the value of their beliefs, and
   discover those with flaws that need correcting.

   - Protect the lives of the evil more than the good. The evil have yet
   to realize their own moral potential.

   - Practise self-contemplation. Only then can you be sure you are
   acting in accordance with the process of the universe.

   - Embrace only the virtuous. Only they perceive deeply enough to
   appreciate the need for ones such as we.

   History: The Path of Re-Emergence is the youngest of the Paths
   practised by the Setites, emerging at the time of the Inquisition and
   the Anarch revolt that spawned the Sabbat. The fervor and the faith
   demonstrated by the Inquisition in their war against the Kindred
   brought the realization amongst a small group of Italian based Setites
   that only through the practise of evil does good grow the strongest.
   The Path of Re-Emergence never captured the imagination of most
   Setites, and claims the least number of Setites of any Path.

   Current Practises: Awakeners do not have any regular gatherings or
   meetings. They are far less likely to establish or rule a temple than
   other Setites, being often nomadic and concerned with an individual
   case of corruption. Possibly their most distinctive practice is the
   time and effort they spend in choosing and embracing a childe. Having
   established the virtue of the candidate, and embraced them, they begin
   the long and involved process of subtly corrupting them, while
   maintaining the depth of their understanding. This can take months, or
   even years. Young Awakeners generally have the highest virtues of any
   Setite neonate.

   Description Of Followers: To human eyes, Awakeners seem in a state of
   self-contradiction. An Awakener may engage in deep ethical discussion,
   espousing the value of such, and then calmly perform some twisted and
   perverted act. They are extremely calm and controlled, often leading
   ascetic lifestyles of self denial. Of all Setites, the Awakeners are
   generally the more learned and of philosophical bent.



  VIEWS ABOUT THE OTHER PATHS



   Path of Typhon: "They are helpless and blind, seeing only what is
   already in their own hearts and souls. Still, they are our fellow
   instruments of renewal, although I wouldn't bother trying to make them
   understand this."



   Following the Path: The character should maintain his composure and
   reserve at all times, avoiding situations that lead to frenzy. The
   character should spend time in self-contemplation to ensure his own
   continued purity and strength of purpose. The character should
   investigate matters ethical thoroughly, the better to corrupt it. The
   character should concentrate all efforts to corrupt on a single
   individual or institution at a time. The character should disdain
   worldy power and possessions beyond what is required to corrupt a
   particular subject.

   Common Abilities: Acting, Bureaucracy, Empathy, History, Meditation,
   Philosophy (Ethics), Setite Lore, Subterfuge.

   Preferred Disciplines: Beyond the Clan Disciplines, Auspex is the most
   commonly exercised. Animalism is another common one.

  DO'S AND DON'TS OF FOLLOWING THE PATH OF RE-EMERGENCE



   1 - You must corrupt the evil so that they may ascend.

   2 - You must tempt the good to renew their understanding of morality
   and to weed out those lacking true understanding.

   3 - You must corrupt the institutions of man, which harbour and
   reflect the values of the ones who control them.

   4 - You must sublimate your own needs to the will of the Universe.

   5 - You must engage in self-examination and meditation to ensure that
   your motives are pure.

   6 - You must resist frenzy, which blinds you to your task and the
   means of achieving it.

   7 - You must reject the blandishments of the world, such as material
   wealth and power, that distort your vision.

   8 - You must examine the idea of "goodness" in all it's forms, so as
   to corrupt it better, and renew your conviction.

   9 - You must only Embrace those of sufficient ethical and spiritual
   depth to see the need for ones such as us.

   10 - You must not attempt to corrupt fellow Setites. They are tools as
   much as you, although followers of other paths may be blind to this
   fact.

  PATH OF RE-EMERGENCE HIERACHY OF SINS



   If an Awakener ever acts contrary to humanity without the end of
   corruption in mind, or derives any gratification from the act itself,
   then they must make a Path roll exactly as if they possessed Humanity.

   10 Failing to pursue an opportunity to expand your ethical
   understanding

   9 Allowing evil people to die when saving them would endanger your own
   life

   8 Diverging your focus of corruption from more than one target at a
   time; Failing to periodically engage in self-examination and
   assessment

   7 Failing to attempt to corrupt an inaccessible target

   6 Allowing evil people to die when saving them would involve some
   danger; Choosing to save good people over evil ones when this is the
   easier course of action

   5 Riding the Wave during frenzy or acting in a way that may distort
   your perception of your purpose

   4 Failing to attempt to corrupt an accessible target

   3 Allowing evil people to die when saving them would present no
   apparent danger; Choosing to save good people over evil ones when this
   is the harder course

   2 Embracing the evil and the non-virtuous

   1 Deliberately choosing to corrupt yourself by seeking to frenzy or by
   reveling in worldy blandishments
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