Boons

The world
of vampires has a currency just like any other, but vampires are not generally
that impressed with cold hard cash. They deal in something a bit more
complicated, boons.

A boon is like a debt. You do someone a favor, and if they acknowledge that you
helped them out, they now owe you a boon. Sounds pretty simple, but nothing in
the world of darkness is ever simple when you take everything into account.

Also understand that a boon isn’t owed just when you take it upon yourself to
declare it. If someone saves your existence by choice, and others see him do
so, if you don’t acknowledge the boon, the court may destroy you. If a vampire
becomes known as untrustworthy or an oath breaker, the harpies may allow others
to ignore their debt to him later. (And it becomes very hard to trade in boons
in any event.)

One thing to remember is that boons must be paid off because the social order
demands it. If a Prince doesn’t enforce boons, then the people who owe him
boons might not have to pay him off, and he isn’t going to tolerate that.

However, if the boon isn’t formally acknowledged, the social order will not
force the boon to be paid off, it’s as simple as that. Of course, some
principled vampires will repay their debt just because they choose to honor the
system of protestation, but it’s not a good idea to rely on principle in this
harsh world.

One of
the interesting things about boons is that if you should kill kindred, and that
kindred owed a boon, you now owe that boon in turn.

Certain enterprising kindred have even taken out such boons, knowing that
someone hunting them might elect not to kill them, simply because they don’t
want to pick up the boon.

However, this doesn’t matter in the case of a blood hunt, or someone killed by
a member of the court expressly doing his or her job. The boon disappears in this case.

Finally, also remember that this is all enforced by the harpies and the Prince.
If both the harpies and the Prince hate you, then you’d best step very
carefully when interpreting your boons. On the other hand, if enough people
like you, they might not consider something to be worthy of a boon. Popularity
is a very good thing.

The other thing to remember is that the worst time to be seen as ignoring your
boons is when someone else already has. The more the rules are trod upon, the
more likely the Prince is to lash out, possibly invoking the Tradition of
Destruction. As his domain is seen to be lawless, his power weakens. (But even
the first time might be the last, should the Prince be in a bad mood.)

## Trivial Boon

A small
boon like this doesn’t mean that the person who did you the favor
inconvenienced himself while helping you, just that he helped you. He might
trade information and demand a boon.

A trivial boon is paid off with one action, and never requires anything of that
character again. It requires that the player use a discipline on the other’s
behalf, or that he votes on his behalf, or perhaps that he supplies a piece of
information. If a person chooses not to repay the boon when he could do so, he
can usually get away with it, but the harpies or Prince might use this as an
excuse to destroy his status in such a case.

## Minor Boon

If
another person inconveniences himself on your behalf, giving up part of a
limited resource, then a minor boon is appropriate.

A minor boon is still generally paid off with one action. While the boon is
held, the one who owes should be polite and not insult the other in public, but
that doesn’t mean he has to agree with him. Where with a trivial boon one can
choose not to repay and only risking status, when someone comes to collect a
minor boon, you’d better pay. A minor boon could be paid by allowing someone to
use your haven for a long period of time, or by guaranteeing their safety in a
domain you already control. A minor boon can be paid off by instructing another
in a discipline which is common, like Celerity, Potence, or Fortitude.

## Major Boon

A major
boon is owed when the person sacrificed greatly of his time or resources, and
subjected himself to a certain amount of risk.

A boon can be repaid by teaching the other hidden lore or how to perform a clan
discipline. (Thaumaturgy, Protean, and Quietus count as a blood boon, unless
the person owing the boon is willing to repay his debt in that manner.) At this
level you must support any political action the possessor of the boon desires,
even against your own clan, but this negates the debt.

## Blood Boon

A blood
boon is only appropriate when the collector of the boon risked his assets or
friends for you, or put himself at some direct risk at losing his existence.

A blood boon is a truly terrible debt, which might not ever be repaid. While it
is owed, you may never vote against the owner’s interests, you may never speak
directly against him, and you must teach him when he requests it. (And if he
demands your political support he will get it. If giving such support actually
endangers your life in a real way, the debt is now paid.) If he demands dark
clan secrets, like Thaumaturgy, teaching him such negates the debt.  If
you risk your existence to save the owner of the boon, the debt is canceled.

## Life Boon

A life
boon may only be claimed if the claimer of the boon truly laid his very
existence on the line. Fighting clearly inferior opponents does not count.

The possessor may demand anything that he likes, anything. This debt is only
repaid by saving the life of he who owes the boon. He may demand anything short
of that and get it, and you still owe him.