Kindred Society of New Covenant

Kindred society is often very stratified. While the newer cities in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and Australia often allow for greater upward mobility than the lithified circles in Europe, backstabbings and assassinations happen at a much quicker rate among the young and impatient. The following is a general ranking, though clans and even individuals may have a slightly different order.
==Prince==
The sovereign of the city, the Prince's primary responsibility is judge and jury in violations of the Masquerade. In addition to these tasks, the Traditions offer the Prince several other rights like establishing domains and determining who may sire. Prince Pierre Legrand has occupied this post for a little over two centuries, though not without some challenge to his position.
==Primogen==
Often, but not always, the highest-ranking member of the Great Clans and a member of the Conclave. In New Covenant, they serve to both keep the Prince in check and affirm his power. Unfortunately, infighting and power trips often limit the Conclave to only the most general of actions. Examples, where a clan may opt to not have its highest member be their Primogen, include the Ventrue, whose highest member is the Prince and he may sit in on the Conclave but not act on anything he witnesses, and Tremere, whose highest member is the Pontifex.
==Seneschal==
The Prince's second-in-command, the Seneschal is primarily a prince-in-training. While the Seneschal does fill in for the Prince when the Prince is unable or unwilling to face the night, particularly on the rare instances where the Prince must leave the city. Fabien Bonhomme has occupied this position since the late 1970s when Legrand sent out for his own childe to replace the Venture Primogen's childe, Samuel Cooper. This usurpation has lead to a bit of a schism between the Prince and the members of his clan.
==Representative==
Depending on the clan, Representatives and the Seneschal vary in relative power. The Ventrue often see the Seneschal as higher ranking while Malkavians and Nosferatu often view the relation as reversed. These are sitting members of the Conclave without a voice and represent the antitribu Sabbat members of New Covenant along with three of the Lesser Clans. While the leader of the Assassmite is often accorded similar dignities, his role offers him a unique position within society.
==Pontifex of New Covenant==
One of the seven pontifices scattered throughout North America, this Tremere is accorded great status both among his clan and outside the city. However, because of the history between the Prince and the clan Tremere, the Pontifex has a diminished status within the city itself. While once the Primogen of the Tremere as well, between the Princely decree and the logistics of constant travel and dealing with the Conclave has forced the two positions to become separate in the mid-1970s. Pontifex Emily Chao has held the position since the Final Death of Pontifex Arthur Harper at the hands of Prince Legrand.
==The Sheriff==
While the Prince may be judge and jury, the Sheriff is executioner. Primarily tasked with carrying out the Prince's orders and leading blood hunts, the Sheriff is accorded great respect among the Kindred of the city. The Sheriff is suggested to the Conclave by the Prince and once approved, will hold the position until dismissed by the Prince. A dismissed Sheriff may differ to the Conclave, where, if nine members support the Sheriff, he may retain his position. The position is currently occupied by the Bruja Anikina Emiliya Andreevna.
Deputies are sworn members serving under the Sheriff. Deputies are sworn in before the Prince and are awarded the position for a set period of time, often for six months or a year. Their primary task is assisting in blood hunts, though finding a missing offender or ensuring exiles are often other required tasks.
Posse members are similar to deputies but are much looser in their affiliation. Often sworn in at the start of a blood hunt, their only task is to assist in the hunt until the target faces Final Death. Once the hunt is over so is the posse member's oath. Hunts often only last a week or so, and everyone who is sworn in understands the temporariness of the position.
==Regent==
Another special Tremere title, a Regent is the head of a chantry, of which New Covenant has two. Most clans other than the Tremere accord Regents the same respect as any other Elder. The positions are currently occupied by Samantha Turner and Jacob Hattendorf. The position of Regent varies by chantry with some holding power for life while others may serve a term or even be elected. A vote of no confidence by the chantry often leads to the former Regent enter a self-imposed exile from the city.
==Scourge==
Once a common position inspired by Caine's reaction to his childer siring without his permission, it had fallen out of favor during the Dark Ages. However, in recent times the position has been revived in many cities and New Covenant is no exception. The given motive by the Prince for creating this position is the security of New Covenant. The Scourge is to watch the perimeter and handle any Lupine or Sabbat incursions. While this is one of the roles the Scourge plays, the less public rule consumes much more of the Scourge's time. The Scourge and his coterie, known as the falaqi, prune the dregs of Kindred society. They eliminate Thin Bloods, Caitiffs, weak neonates, and unguarded fledglings as a form of population control. The position is currently held by Maliq al Basra.
==Elder==
The pinnacle for most members of Kindred society, elders have it made. They have an established domain often filled with the choicest kine, a business network to generate passive income, and often ghouls, fledglings, and neonates to do their bidding. Most members of this tier are refugees from Europe, looking for a chance to grow their own power in a new society. Most members are in excess of the centuries old, though power and status matter more than raw age.
Most elders feel all other elders are equals, whether they have a special title or not. While most give lip service to the Prince or Pontifex, so long as these Kindred do not interfere greatly in the elder's day to day operations they could care less about the pomp of the Ventrue or Tremere.
==Ancilla==
If elders are the vampiric masters, ancilla are the journeymen of the society. Many ancilla spend centuries roaming from city to city, building contacts and forming their own base of power. During this time, the ancilla are slowly transforming from the unsteady neonate to power-hungry elder. It is also during this time they learn how little control they have in the Eternal Struggle.
==Neonate==
The lowest level of Kindred society according many and the lowest level acknowledged by the Prince. Neonates often live near their sire's domain frequently contacting their elder when they come across more complex or demanding interactions. The frequency of these calls decreases as the neonate ages until the neonate finally steps out on their own. This can be done by finding their own small domain but often involves the neonate leaving their old city to find their own fortunes.
==Caitiff==
These are clanless Kindred who eke out an existence on the fringe of society. If lucky their sire gives them the bare basics, but often they are abandoned barely knowing their status. Many are put down after unknowingly breaking the Masquerade, sometimes by the Sheriff but normally they are handled by the Scourge. Should a Caitiff live long enough, they may find hints of their clan through their actions. Even if they do figure out which clan they belong to, they are rarely welcomed and have a hard time learning clan skills. Tremere have been caught using Caitiffs to boost their numbers after their clan's failed coup.
==Fledgling==
While members of Kindred society, their place in linked to the respect granted their sire. This is often an intensive training period, though length varies by clan. The process of going from fledgling to neonate varies by clan but at minimum requires the fledgling be presented to the Price by their sire. If the fledgling fails this initiation, they often leave the city since the Prince will not reinterview a prospective fledgling. Should a fledgling fail in multiple cities, they often give up and join the Caitiff coteries.
==Thin Blood==
Sometimes a Kindred's lineage removes them so far from Caine, they are little more than a mortal with an appetite for blood. In the best of circumstances, they are ignored. However, many superstitious Kindred, and many are, feel these are an omen of the coming of Gehenna. For this reason, Thin Bloods are often sought and killed, though their numbers have been growing since the turn of the millennium.