The Elysium
Though most younger vampires consider the tradition of Elysium a stuffy, outdated custom, it is one of the more honored of the vampire traditions. A Prince may declare portions of domain to be Elysium, places free from violence. It is here that many vampires come to pass the nights, debating, politicking and conducting intrigues among themselves for long hours. This is also where the vampire business of the city takes place, and just about every vampire will have at least one occasion to visit Elysium, if only to speak with the prince or an elder.
Elysium is said to be under the "Pax Vampirica," meaning that no violence of any sort is permitted to take place and that Elysium is neutral ground. While tempers may flare and heated words may be exchanged, rivals are expected to keep a leash on their tempers. When apologies don't work, offenders are usually shown the door and told to correct their behavior. If things do get out of control on the premises, the Prince may punish the offenders through the invocation of the First Tradition.
One thing to keep in mind in Los Angeles is the degree of autonomy granted to those who wield power under the Second Tradition. If a landholder wishes to establish Elysium, and they have the power to enforce it, then it is Elysium in every way that matters.
In order to enforce Elysium the Prince or Officer declaring it often appoints a Keeper of Elysium, whom in turn may appoint assistants.
The rules of Elysium tend to vary and normally are posted on the Elysium's message board if there is one. Often, but not always, they include the following:
1) No violence is permitted on the premises. (Many Princes take this a step further and demand that no weapons be brought into Elysium, to prevent hot tempers from having ready means.)
2) No art is to be destroyed on pain of Final Death. ("Art" has been expanded to include the artist on occasion, making the vampires of Clan Toreador some of the greatest proponents of Elysium.)
3) Elysium is neutral ground. (With relation to Rule One; what happens off Elysium grounds is another thing, however, and the upstart neonate who insults an Elder in Elysium had best have reliable transportation back to her haven when she leaves.)
4) Remember the Masquerade at all times. (This includes such matters as entering and leaving, taking a heated argument outside to cool, or hunting.)
It is also considered bad manners to show up to Elysium hungry. While refreshments are sometimes provided, often they are not, and hunting around Elysium grounds can draw suspicion. If a vampire brings a guest to Elysium, she is responsible for that guest's behavior.
Most areas of Elysium tend to be spots conducive to artistic or intellectual pursuits, such as opera houses, theaters, museums, galleries, university halls and the like. Occasionally, nightclubs or even certain vampires havens are declared Elysium. Wherever one goes, one is expected to have some semblance of proper dress and manners, if for no reason other than the Masquerade.
Elysia in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is, in some ways, terribly gauche and tasteless, particularly when it comes to celebrity fashion. But it is also a vital hub of the arts in the United States, and while it hardly has the historical or academic pedigree of Paris, or even New York, it has many places which the Princes and landholders, for one reason or another, see fit to protect as Elysium. The scope of range of Elysia in the city is as wide ranging and diverse as the vampires who inhabit it.
Chief among these is the city's largest and most prestigious art museum: LACMA, the L.A. County Museum of Art. Rodrigo established this Elysium, and Emerson has maintained it, appointing various keepers from time to time. Not terribly much to look at from the outside, it is accessed from a sculpture garden that is kept open into the evening. Notwithstanding the intermittent mortal gala party, the Elysium is open every evening to vampires from all over the city - whether Prince Emerson has accepted them in his Domain or not. Vampires who have been barred from Emerson's territories, however, trespass at their own risk.
Although they are not declared Elysium, all vampires are aware that Prince Emerson frowns on any actions that could be considered disrespectful to churches, mosques, synogogues, or the like. Violence is also prohibited at the Music Center downtown, and all vampires not banned from the domain are invited to attend the various musicals and symphonies and operas.
The list of other Elysia fluctuates as they are maintained by the other landholders. An updated list of Elysia is available on-game via <+yp/list elysia>. Below we list a few places of interest that have been Elysia in the past, at least. Whether they are continued as such or not, depends on those that hold domain over the location:
THE GETTY CENTER: J. Paul Getty, an oil magnate, left moneys to establish The Getty Center in the Sepulveda Pass. It used to be the central Elysium of the former Domain of Santa Monica and still is a popular meeting place for high society vampires.
THE PELICAN CLUB: Is a prominent club on the Third Street Promenade where the late Prince of the former Domain of Santa Monica used to hold court.
THE HUNTINGON: Los Angeles, like many cities, relies a great deal on private patronage for some of its most spectacular sites. Henry E. Huntington established the vast and beautiful Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, which includes a lush Chinese garden, a quiet duck pond with koi, plants and trees from all over the world, and one of the most spectacular collections of old and rare books in the country.
EXPOSITION PARK: Finally, in South Central, the large expanse of Exposition Park, while often ridden with crime, was maintained as an Elysium of the former Domain of South Central. The park consists of two museums — the Natural History Museum of L.A. County with its famous Rose Garden, and the Air and Space Gallery - as well as the Memorial Coliseum, which while nominally Elysium, is seldom visited by vampires.
Courts
A vampire court is an event where the Prince and/or high ranking officers of the Domain make themselves available for an audience with their subjects. During courts, residents may petition official requests (such as permission to Sire, being granted territory or applying for a position) Most of the time official announced courts are initiated for the purpose of a particular announcement or hearing. Transgressors are often judged and punished during court.
More often than not, courts tend to be very formal occasions. It is the physical and public manifestation of everything the Prince's/Officer's rank stands for. As a result, during court most vampires are as formal and respectful as possible to the officers in charge.
You can find some logs of courts and other public events here.
Conclaves
Conclaves are the greatest events in Camarilla politics - at least the greatest events to which every vampire can be privy. One American vampire described conclave to his childe as "a House Committee session, the Supreme Court and a tent revival all rolled up into one." A conclave serves as the highest court of Camarilla vampires, a legislative session for considering and deciding future Camarilla policy, and a reaffirmation of the Camarilla as the guiding principle behind the Masquerade and vampire-mortal relations.
Any and all vampire who hear the call to conclave are welcome to attend. These events can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. A city hosting a conclave may never be aware of what is occurring, except that many hotels are suddenly booked up. Naturally, conclaves are perilous undertakings; so many vampires (many of them potent-blooded elders) in a single location presents a tempting target for Sabbat or diablerists. Many attendees might not know where the conclave will be held until a few nights before the event itself.
Only Justicars may call conclaves, and only when needed, due to logistical concerns. The conclave is usually held in the geographic region most concerned with the issue at hand, or more centrally if the problem is widespread. The vampires who attend the conclave are referred to as the assembly, and any may speak, provided they are supported by at least two other members. Each member of the assembly receives a single vote regarding the issue.
Conclaves are typically called with regard to powerful individuals, such as Princes, or serious breaches of the Traditions. Any vampire may bring a grievance to the conclave and expect to have it addressed. A Prince may request more leeway regarding the Traditions to deal with Sabbat or anarchs, or to have a destructive quarrel between two powerful Elders mediated. The conclave may call blood hunts against individuals, including Princes, or have particularly powerful Princes removed from office. The right to depose princes is one the Camarilla keeps a tight leash on, and while a Justicar may not remove a Prince, she may call a conclave for the sole purpose of forcing a Prince's abdication.
Any actions that would result in a serious breach of the Traditions must be discussed and agreed upon by the conclave to avoid punishment in the future. The conclave interprets the Six Traditions and may add amendments or enact precedents. Many Princes have come to demand that certain powers, which could be breaches of Tradition, be given them in dealing with unruly vampires.
A vampires on trial at a conclave may challenge the ruling by requesting an ordeal. These ordeals can be quite literally almost any exacting task or quest, with a time limit for completion. If the ordeal is not completed to satisfaction, the Justicar may impose any penalty. Should the crime be considered too heinous to allow the accused an ordeal, she may be challenged to ritual combat by one of her accusers. As with the ordeal, almost anything can happen: ritual weapons, both opponents blindfolded, forbiddance of Disciplines, etc.
After a conclave, Princes often reward those who voted in their favor and punish those who did not. Some vampires, in anticipation of a Prince's anger, settle their affairs and seek out new living arrangements at the conclave. Others take the opportunity to curry as much favor as possible, hoping that their "loyalty" will be rewarded.
Not every conclave called is an emergency meeting. Some Justicars arrange for annual conclaves allowing all vampires who choose to attend an opportunity to meet and talk over the year's business. These are opportunities for Camarilla vampires to discuss business that relates to the sect as a whole, to fraternize with others of their station and clan, and simply to socialize with new faces and old acquaintances. However, with the increasing boldness of the sect's many enemies, many vampires fear that one of these conclaves will provide a perfect target for a retaliatory strike.
