A Dissertation on Mentoring
by Dr Rhys McCann
Background
The recent interpretation of the fourth tradition, that of The Accounting (Those thou create are thine own children. Until thy progeny shall be released, thou shalt command them in all things. Their sins are thine to endure), by Justicar Petrodon of Clan Nosferatu at the last conclave in Portsmouth, placed an alternate emphasis upon the traditional interpretation of The Accounting.
Under his Interpretation, Justicar Petrodon has introduced the need for mentoring in the Southern Fiefs of England, by which it is meant that any childe or kindred new to a fief must be taken under the wing of one who has been resident within that fief in excess of six months. Whilst it is implied that clans should look after their own, there is nothing to prohibit mentoring of those who may not have an elder within the fief, such as the lesser bloodlines. Until such time as the childe has successfully completed the probation of six months, the childe will be unrecognised by the Camarilla.
The reason for this decision was made quite clear by the Justicar during his announcement. The recent display of near anarchy, and the blatant disrespect given to those holding some standing within the Camarilla over the last few months was clearly down to improper execution of the fourth tradition; to imply otherwise would be to admit that improper control was being exercised in the domain and the that the fief was rife with anarchs - a situation in the Justicar’s eyes which could only lead to mass punishment of the harshest kind.
The solution, therefore, was to extend the period of probation in order to ensure any misdemeanours could be contained by both clan and mentor. Any indiscretions, henceforth, will be met by both childe and mentor, thus ensuring that a greater control be exercised over whelps and childer.
Implications
The implications of this decision are quite straight forward, as it merely extends the tradition of the accounting and all the rewards and punishments contained therewithin. The period of six months is a minimum setting, and often mentors will decide that the childe needs additional attention before proper release into society. Often proof of readiness will be accompanied by the successful completion of a task set by the mentor, ranging from the obtaining of a difficult piece of information to the collation of certain influence.
Of course, the conduct of the childe reflects strongly on the mentor, both during the accounting and immediately afterwards - should the childe make a fool of herself, she will often make a greater fool of the mentor, and, indeed, should the childe be released before she is ready the mentor will find himself the point of ridicule in society, possibly endangering any status he has (especially respected, admired etc), or jeopardising any future chance to sire progeny.
Of course, conversely, a well groomed childe will be a credit to the mentor, and it is both to the advantage of childe and mentor to produce a childe one should be proud to introduce into society. It has been commented on at more that one social that so and so’s childe does clan whoever credit, and this, of course, comes back fivefold upon the clan, often resulting in permission from the Prince to create more progeny should such a clan wish to do so.
Of note is the actual presentation itself. After the presentation, such a childe is released into society and acknowledged by the Prince of the City, however, certain clans, the Ventrue in particular, do not stop their mentoring or siring there. A kindred’s childe can be hers for unlife - at least, as far as the mentor’s clan is concerned. It is not unusual for a respected member of kindred society to lose prestige for the actions of a childe who was released a decade or more ago, so the emphasis is to train, and train well - some clans more than others.
Punishment and Reward
One of the most difficult areas to grasp is that of the punishment and reward of the childe under control. It has been traditionally assumed that "thou shalt command them in all things" grants the right of destruction over the childe - a punishment that has often been carried out for failure on behalf of the childe. Nevertheless, there are alternate punishments for non compliance, such as extension of probation, tasks set or even public humiliation. The punishments are there to guide the childe, not to embitter her, and the mentor should be careful not to make an enemy of the childe or to push her over the edge. Should punishment be required, and the mentor does not wish to destroy her, blood bonding, can, of course, be used, although this should be used sparingly, and as a rare option. To be seen to bind childer will be viewed as an admission of defeat by other clan members and clans - should the mentor be unable to raise a childe without crushing her will, then there is surely something wrong with the kindred who is in charge.
Conversely, of course, many childer will prove to be of great benefit to the clan, and the pride of the mentor. The Sire should be responsive with praise and often reward the childe as encouragement - additionally, such rewarding should encourage the childe’s peers, and ultimately endear such a sire to childe. Examples of rewarding can be as simple as respecting the childe as an equal in conversation or allowing the childe minor responsibilities, to full control of a clan’s area of influence of execution of clan offices.
Training
Neccessarily, the pivotal aspect of raising a childe is actual education itself. The childe will, of course, be groomed according to the particulars of the clan - correct terms of address, if necessary, aspects and nature of the clan and of course expected duties and behaviour patterns. Additionally, much of the tutoring of the childe will focus about the external relations the clan has. Failure to inform the childe who the Keeper of the Elysium is, for instance, could prove embarrassing at the very least.
The childe should be educated in the nuances of Camarilla etiquette - a difficult shark infested sea, at best, but ultimately she should know where the clans stand, political inclinations, terms of address, people of note, status, rules of Elysium, by-laws, local dangers, areas of restriction and of course, the traditions, themselves.
Upon presentation, it is likely the childe will be questioned by the Prince, and failure to answer questions upon the traditions, for instance, will result in refusal of acknowledgement and embarrassment for the mentor. The presentation is often not as formal as many are lead to believe, although this does not mean that the presentation is any less important or that the Prince does not take the childe seriously - if anything, the opposite. The Presentation to the Prince is often attended by such office holders as the Sheriff, and it is here that impressions are made - if the childe is cocksure or arrogant, it is likely the sheriff or Keeper will target her, and conversely, a polite and duly submissive kindred will be respected by the powers that be. Of course, such a childe will, at this point, reflect upon the mentor, and Princes in the past have been known to take offense at a childe’s attitude, refuse to acknowledge them, and duly punish the sire under the fourth tradition. Ultimately, of course, the presentation is a combination of impressing the Prince whilst giving him no cause to dislike or manipulate the childe.
Clan Methodology
Various clans incline their teaching and mentoring of childer in very particular ways. Below are a few examples of clan methodologies:
Brujah: Clan Brujah tend to bring up childer to believe strongly in their approach to the World, be it idealist, iconoclastic or individualistic. Often the Mentor will set a task to prove completion which reflects the nature of the mentor - one might organise a particularly impressive rant, or simply produce an outstanding piece of philosophy. More often than not, though, the Brujah recognition of the importance of individuality over rides any dependance, and the mentor will present the childe at the earliest opportunity.
Gangrel: The Gangrel tend not to bother much with the observances of such a system - their tendency to come and go often prohibits any form of mentoring, and when it does take place, it is often remote observation, with a final tidying up near the end, and an introduction to the political nuances of the Camarilla. Because of a Gangrel’s indifference to the politics within a city and her individuality, many do not bother to present themselves, and those that do are often nominally acknowledged by the Prince rather than letting him trouble himself with these loners.
Malkavian: The Malkavians are able to get away with much more than the other clans, simply because they are recognised for their insanity. However, there is a definite line between insanity and recklessness, and it is perhaps this clan, more than any, that is closely watched by the Prince and his Primogen. When a Malkavian is presented it is important that she does not unduly let her derangements take advantage, as often this will result in a delay of acknowledgement. Release often comes when the Malkavian Childe understands and has great insight into the clan and the traditions. It is often rumoured that out of all the clans, Clan Malkavian is least likely to break the traditions simply because their insanity provides enviable insight into many situations.
Nosferatu: The Nosferatu are perhaps the most honourable of all the clans with respects to presentation. Their reputation depends upon integrity of clan members and information and so the mentoring often tends to be given the utmost emphasis. The completion of the mentoring system is often dependant upon the tutee or childe proving their worthiness to the clan - this is often carried out by the retrieval of a useful or difficult piece of information which will be of use to the clan, and has the added advantage that the information will often set up the clan member with a reputation within the rest of the clan.
Toreador: Clan Toreador equally place a great deal of importance upon the mentoring and presentation of childer to the Prince. Because so much of the clan revolves about social integrity and prestige the chance to prove themselves through successful rearing of a childe becomes of paramount importance to the mentor. Reputations can be made and broken through the presentation of childer and a great deal of emphasis is placed upon the smallest details such as etiquette, dress and deportment.
Tremere: The Tremere have a slightly different approach to the system. The basic upbringing of a childe is treated with almost objective indifference, but the detail becomes integral to the mentor - such opportunities allow the mentor to explore the strengths of a childe and often the presentation will be followed by a detailed post mortem of what the childe thought about the Prince, her modus operandi and so on. The Tremere often associate completion of apprenticeship with the production of something useful to the clan - this can be either attainment of a discipline useful to the clan, or simply the forging of useful links with an important person either within the fief or from another domain.
Ventrue: The Ventrue often observe the raising and presentation of a childe as an opportunity to prove themselves the self appointed leaders of good taste. Whilst they are quick to punish transgressors, they often reward successful candidates with important positions within the clan as leaders of clan projects. Completion is often directly linked to obtaining certain areas of influence in great quantities, and the chance to raise or mentor a childe is often the result of a carefully laid plan to ingratiate themselves into an area of mortal importance.