Thread: SACRED GROUND:The Elysium

SACRED GROUND: The Elysium

by: DeAnna Ross – Tech Services Executive / Vampire Assistant ST

The topic of Elyisum has come up in our game recently and I wanted to take a little time to address the topic here in an official forum as well as for our newsletter. For those who don’t know, Vampire the Masquerade Revised Edition pg. 59 define Elysium as: A place where vampires may gather and discourse without fear of harm. Elysium is commonly established in opera houses, theatres, museums, and other locations of culture.

Let’s discuss the Official Rules of Elysium - pg. 43 Vampire the Masquerade Revised Edition Table Top defines the rules of Elysium as:

1. No violence is permitted on the premises. (Many Princes take this a step further and demand that no weapons are brought to the Elysium to prevent hot tempers from having ready means.)

2. No art is to be destroyed on pain of final death. (Art has sometimes been expanded to include the artist making the Toreador Clan one of the largest and most vocal supporters of Elysium.)

3. Elysium is to be Neutral Ground. (However, this doesn’t mean that the lippy neonate in Elysium tonight won’t be a smear on the ground tomorrow at the hands of the elder he disrespected.)

4. Remember the Masquerade at all times. (This includes such matters as how you enter and leave Elysium, taking heated arguments outside before things go too far, and even not hunting in the area.)



Unofficially, it’s also known that one doesn’t come to Elyisum hungry. That’s right, while they may sometimes have snacks at events on Elysium Grounds, no one should show up needing food as that’s looking for trouble. Additionally, in many courts kindred are considered protected by Elysium while traveling to their homes or next location after leaving Elysium (to prevent ambush situations) however, this only extends as far as the Keeper can enforce the spirit of this law. Also, if Kindred bring a guest to Elysium, they are often held accountable for their guest’s actions. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse. It’s up to the individual kindred to seek out the keeper of Elysium to discover if the above rules have been further defined or added to as sometimes can occur.



But despite these rules, how is it any kindred should feel safe in Elysium? It’s not as though there is some mystic power preventing someone from being hurt on the grounds, right? So, why does anyone actually think it’s safe or sacred? It comes down to this: so long as everyone upholds something as true, it is and while it might be an inconvenience to let your enemy live at Elysium tonight; next time it might be YOU who needs it’s protection to socialize safely with even your worst enemy. And so everyone does their darnedest to make sure that it never gets violated so they always have some place to go when the going gets tough and they need to talk fast to get out of trouble or even just social in general without fear of their fellow monsters.



But what if someone breaks Elysium; doesn’t that ruin the location forever? Think of it like a church that has a shooting occur in it. Everyone is horrified but do they build a new church every time something bad happens at the church? Of course not, it’s sacred ground to the people who go there and while violence at Elysium isn’t something anyone likes to admit happens (and it’s gravely punished when it does occur) it CAN happen. Vampires are part beasts after all. But it’s EVERYONE’S desire to never see that happen and so if a Keeper requires aid in stopping violence, everyone is expected to step forward and do what they can to prevent violence from ever occurring. Encouraging heated debates to move elsewhere, asking that potentially deadly courts not be held at Elysium to begin with, and even restraining friends and allies to ensure that first punch never happens are all possible things people might do. And when it does occur, it’s well known that all reasonable means to stop the offense (including use of violence) is not to be punished.



But the Prince names Elysium, can’t they simply change their mind later because (insert REALLY good reason here.) No. Here’s why. Let’s say Prince Bob decides that a museum, named Elysium in the 1800s, is no longer popular shouldn’t be Elysium anymore. No one cares and so he “unnames” the location… what’s to stop Prince Bob from “unnaming” an Elysium when he wants to kill someone (maybe YOU) on another night?



The Primogen, Elders, and influential kindred of a city would never let such a thing occur as it weakens the concept of Elysium and gives the Prince an authority they wouldn’t want him to have. Turning Elyisum on and off like flipping a switch means that it has no more meaning than the whim of any given person … and so has no real power at all and can be disrespected at your whim. So … NO… Elysiums can’t be unnamed ever, by anyone. If ground is sacred… it’s sacred forever and would be steadfastly guarded and upkept by the city’s Keeper of Elysium.



Which brings me to the last part of this essay/article; The Keeper of Elysium; pg. 38 of Vampire the Masquerade Revised states that The Keeper is in charge of what goes on in Elysium. A toreador wishing to display her latest art, a Tremere wanting to give a lecture or a Brujah scheduling an open debate on princely policies – all things must clear with the keeper, who can approve or cancel an event on grounds of preserving the Masquerade. The keeper is responsible for ensuring mortals do not enter the area of Elyisum during events and that all events run smoothly. Most keepers are appointed by the prince, often with the stipulation that their appointment is conditional until their qualifications are assured. Meaning, if you fail… you’re fired; simple as that.



Does this mean the Keeper works for the Prince? Well, yes and no. Surely the Prince can fire and hire them… but, as the tradition is older than any Prince it’s often considered a position beneath the Inner Council and the Justicars themselves. There are stories and rumors that a Keeper of Elysium who finds themselves unable to defend sacred ground from a particularly bully type elder who thinks himself above the law, have even contacted local Archons to ask for assistance and have received it.



As a Storyteller, I strongly encourage players to respect the concept of Elysium. It allows for social conflicts to occur and good story to happen without character death. I encourage players who enjoy playing antagonistic characters to remember, however, there are limits to what is wise to do in Elysium. This tradition is not an end all; be all, way to do stupid things and escape character death. Eventually you will have to leave Elysium and when you do… there will be consequences.