We predominantly follow the Kheperian caste/road system, where vampyres can choose to be one of the three castes of Warrior, Priest or Companion. We allow other races of Otherkin to follow these Roads if they are comfortable with them. However, we also believe that many other philosophies, codes of behavior and types of personality exist. These usually fall under one of the broader headings but are still not easily acclimated into the Road. Thus we have a lesser system of Paths that fall under the greater roads. Here are their descriptions.

Road of the Warrior (Amakh, Mradu, Kel)
Road of the Priest (Cenoquodi, Ramkht, Sen)
Road of the Counselor (Bigliade, Kitra, Kath)

Road of the Warrior (Amakh, Mradu, Kel)

Guardians, protectors, sources of energy and keepers of the traditions, Amakh are physically and spiritually tough. See the entry in the Vampyre Codex by Michelle Belanger elsewhere on this site. Any Amakh must rest from duty if ordered to do so by both an elder Cenoquodi and an elder Bigliade.

1. Path of the Guardian
   Guardians are bodyguards, protectors of allies and healers and keepers of sacred places. They are responsible for keeping the peace and keeping Artifacts and holy places sacred and undefiled. Guardians are expected to be calm, level headed and impervious to insult, yet ready to defend others physically or astrally if required. Guardians should NEVER initiate combat under any circumstances, and should always try to peacefully diffuse tense situations. That said, all Guardians must be in some type of ongoing martial art or other self-defense training. Guardians must be bound by the dictates of personal honor and uphold the Black Veil. Guardians are traditionally linked to a location, person or Temple and usually only offer their services in that direction. A Guardian may choose to move from one person or place to another where they feel they are more needed or more comfortable.
2. Path of the Avenger
   All of the above holds true for avengers and more besides. Avengers actively investigate tales of wrongdoings and rending of the Veil. All avengers should be trained in self defense and investigation. Avengers also answer challenges to the House. If an Avenger uncovers solid evidence of a serious crime committed by a House member, it is their duty first to notify the house mediators of their findings, then the offender(s). The offender(s) is brought before the mediators and the House Jaidah & Vran, to give their account which is recorded, at which time the Avenger must provide tangible evidence and convince the Mediators that the offender is guilty. The Mediators decide whether the situation should be brought to a vote before the house, and any emergency decisions are made by the Vran & Jaidah present until a full meeting is called.. In the case of illegal activity, the evidence and name of the offender is anonymously submitted to the local law enforcement officials. All Avengers must maintain a trustworthy police contact just in case of such an event.
3. Path of the Wolfwalker
   These are practicioners of astral shapeshifitng and deeply attuned to nature. Their protectorate or territory is a predominantly wooded area (such as a park), and they are responsible for keeping it clean and keeping an eye on mundane activities within. Wolfwalkers try to develop the instinctive link between themselves and certain animals and do research in that direction. They are often practicioners of shamanism, Wicca, druidism or other earth-centered religions. Wolfwalkers are expected to aid local environmental groups if possible and keep up with such issues in their community. Wolfwalkers are often solitary wanderers and welcome in any Temple or Haven allied with our House.
4. Path of the Deathspeaker
   These are warriors of the spirit and astral realm. They investigate cases of haunted or posessed places and specialize in dealing with the spirits of the dead. Deathspeakers are expected to study parapsychology as a science and spiritual path and be equipped both physically and intellectually to investigate using both approaches at once. Deathspeakers should be historians, able to unearth the history of a location of a place or individual. They also maintain a database of historical vampire encounters and people for use by Aspirants. Deathspeakers are expected to be accomplished magicians of their chosen tradition.

Road of the Priest (Cenoquodi, Ramkht, Sen)

Priests are the leaders, mystics and guides of community. They collect, write and perform Rituals, Rites and Initiations, form Covens and Circles and keep traditions sacred and accessible. Priests are also expected to initiate new members and seek out those on the verge of Awakening or in need. Priests are almost always practicioners of some type of magic.

1. Path of the Bloodpriest
   A bloodpriest is a literal priest and devotee of a vampyric or other dark deity. These include but are not limited to Anubis, Osiris, Nephethys, Morrigu, Kali, Anwyn, Hades, Hecate, Sekhmet, Lilith, Tlatzolteotl, Tzcatlipoca, Hel or Hephaestus. Bloodpriests may take a confession of a vampyre if they wish to give one, pass along the prayers of the community, bless havens or Temples or initiate Acolytes. Bloodpriests give spiritual council to vampyres in need of such and are expected to have training in at least peer counseling and basic psychology. They are also expected to be knowledgable about their patron deity and other dark deities and devote time and effort to creating Rites for the community. Bloodpriests often search out and investigate rumors of the Ageless or Undead. If an ageless or undead is ever found they trade services similar to a Companion to them. Others research means of magically or artificially extending their lifespan or developing powers similar to vampires of legend.
2. Path of the Sangomancer
   Sangomancers are Vampyre magicians, sorcerers and witches. A Sangomancer spends a great deal of time on studying magical lore and history. They are a resource for vampires who wish to study the occult or simply have a talisman made for any purpose. They do spells for and within the community and maintain the House's library as well as their personal libraries. Sangomancers are asked to create new spells for the House Grimoire as they are able or contribute articles and research to our database. No sangomancer is permitted to do spells involving spirits of decay or demons. Such practice is absolutely forbidden. We accept satanists as members but reserve the right not to bestow upon them the rank or title of Sangomancer if their spells or rites involve demons or other infernal spirits. All Sangomancers are subject to spiritual examination to prove they do not use such magic. Those who break this law will be asked to submit to a penance (usually an amount of community service and a purification ritual). Those who refuse or consistently repeat the offense will be cast from the House, shunned and have their names and records expunged from our rosters and our hearts.
3. Path of the Scribe
   Scribes are our record keepers, lore researchers, website runners and document creators. The head Scribe of the House is our formal Record Keeper, and allowed a vote at House meetings. Scribes are expected to remain completely neutral in all disputes within or without the house. Scribes tend to be bookworms and are required to have a basic understanding of human laws. They are also expected to have a large amount of knowledge available about modern vampire culture, houses and beliefs. Scribes keep a record of all House members, their names, Paths, affiliations, etc. If a vampire is ever cast from the House, it is the Scribe who destroys all references to their name in the records and burns their House Oath in the expulsion ritual. Scribes are expected to be able to recognize and translate most commonly used magical scripts, and to be knowledgeable in the areas of calligraphy, formal document layout, papermaking, manuscript preparation and the like. No House member my attack a scribe for any reason as long as they stick to their oath of neutrality and uninvolvement, and all are expected to protect them. Scribes are usually unarmed and commonly travel with a Guardian as a protector. Scribes often function as our ambassadors to other Houses.
4. Deathspeaker
   A deathspeaker is literally a speaker for our Ancestors. They are the truest historians of our kind and often spend most of their time buried in old books of legend. Deathspeakers try to correct mistakes in our histories and, like scribes, keep records of lore. Many Deathspeakers pick a particular historical person to research and devote most of their research to that being or person. Deathspeakers may also research and compile mythology dealing with vampires from ancient cultures, and studying how such myths impact our society today. Deathspeakers usually are not involved in vampire culture on a day-to-day basis, and many are mostly solitary. Like Scribes, deathspeakers are mostly neutral lorekeepers who one treats with respect, goes to for information and otherwise leaves to pursue their studies. Many Deathspeakers travel to sites involved in historical vampire lore and do research in the field as well, as quite a few are amaeteur archeologists.

Road of the Counselor (Bigliade, Kitra, Kath)

Companions, Counselors and Concubines are the gentlest and often the most understanding. As a rule, they are devoted to the welfare of others. They are a lover who understands your needs, a friend who does not mind you crying on their shoulder and someone you can rant to when you are fed up with life. Counselors are sacred and cherished and very lucky is anyone who has one for a coven member or friend.

1. Path of the Companion
   A companion or concubine is exactly that- a person who is the perfect aid to a vampire (or other creature) in a position of power or leadership. They are well versed in the arts of love, the practice of massage and herbalism, the mysteries of healing and the manipulation of energy. They can also be a true power in their own right as information gatherers, spies, social manipulators and organizers of gatherings. Woe to anyone who offends a Companion, as their bond mate will often ostracize the rude fellow or madam for the offense. Companions often offer comfort of different kinds to allies of their blood bond mates, including all of the aforementioned. Many companions wield true power due to these skills, while others are content to work from the shadows of their more public bond mates. These vampires are content in the knowledge that without their support and selfless devotion, our House would not be capable of holding itself together. Most Companions are formally Blood bound to a follower of one of the other greater Roads. This bond may be renewed or seperated annually.
2. Path of the Healer
   The vampire who undertakes this path is a rare and cherished individual indeed. Like Scribes, no house member may ever harm a healer unless they physically are attacked by the Healer first. Healers are neutral, and expected not to take a side in any dispute. They ae also expected to help any vampire who comes to them in need. Healers are expected to at the very least be certified in Infant, Child and Adult CPR yearly. They are also required to take basic first aid at a minimum as well as peer counseling classes. Many Healers are EMT's or Paramedics with local Fire Departments, and this is strongly encouraged. Many also learn energy healing, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, herbalism, reiki or other alternative healing skills. Healers are welcome in any haven or Temple at any time, and must be helped and protected by other House members (within reason). This is the only vampiric path that may be followed by Black Swans, who will be equally honored as long as they continue to offer aid to those in need, both inside and outside the House.
3. Path of the Neferai
   Neferai is an Ancient egyptian word that means " beautiful one ". These vampires devote themselves to the arts and to preserving and promoting beauty within the vampire culture. All must practice some kind of art, and should seek out new and upcoming artists to make others aware of them. Many are art or antiques dealers, some are appraisers and others just love pretty things of all kinds. All kinds of art and artists are revered, from classic painting and sculpting to the cutting edge of body modification and performance art. Neferai often use themselves as a canvas, decorating their bodies with clothing, jewelry, makeup and tattoos. Neferai are expected to be knowledgeable about different artists, both famous and obscure and to devote at least a little time to the study of art history. Like all those on the Counselor path, Neferai are usually very beautiful, alluring and sensual creatures.
4. Path of the Seer
   Seers are exactly that, vampiric rune casters, tarot readers and psychics. Many are at least semi-professional and should be experienced in several methods of divination. Most Seers excel at a truly vampiric form of scrying known as blood scrying. This is creating an artificial "blood" medium (usually a red liquid such as rosehip tea, cranberry juice or wine) with a few drops of their blood or some of their energy added and placed in a ritual vessel. This is used exactly as with water or oil scrying, but many Seers say it makes their visions stronger and clearer. Other vampires specialize in dowsing for water or other substances. Some simply study the history of divination and it's connections to the vampire culture, while others try and create new divining tools for our kind. All Seers are expected to keep their clients (both mundane and Otherkin) information and readings in total confidence, similar to a priest in a counseling session. All Seers are welcome to practice their craft at havens and Temples. Seers are often asked to do readings before the House undertakes a venture so that the members of the House may know some of the possible outcomes.

The original Paths Concept is © Michelle Belanger & House Kheperu.
The Expanded Paths & Roads are © Copyright 2003-2004 Raven OrthaeVelve & House Eclipse and are not to be reproduced without expressed written consent.