Editing Golconda (section)

==Achieving Golconda==

First off, you'll need to actually learn about it. The [[Camarilla]] really don't like talking about the subject (as with most things even vaguely related to potentially changing the status quo) and look very suspiciously at anyone trying to, while the entire concept of "Enlightened and fairly human vampire" runs completely contrary to the [[Sabbat]]'s [[Path of Enlightenment|Paths of Edgelightenment]] philosophy. The entire concept is obscure to begin with, even without being associated with [[Salubri|those guys who supposedly worshipped demons and ate souls so often the Assamites raised an eyebrow]]. (Thanks, Tremere!)

Either way, let's assume you somehow found about Golconda and avoided being kidnapped to have your genitals painfully inverted by the Camarilla's inquisition, eaten by the local Sabbat meatheads, or otherwise fatally inconvenienced. Now you need to find a guru - someone who already knows about Golconda, and preferably one who's achieved or is on the way to achieving it. [[Vampire:_The_Masquerade#Inconnu|The Inconnu]] may be able to help, but they're really bloody secretive and their fluff is an utter clusterfuck of contradictory nonsense.

After you find someone to guide you, you need to regain your Humanity. Depending on how far you've gone down the track, this can be easy or bumcrunchingly difficult, as you need to keep your Humanity above 7 and avoid frenzy '''at all times''' while making amends for the crimes you've committed so far. The exact process of atonement is fairly vague and up in the air; one possibility is to make the punishment fit the crime (as it were), like having a vampire who drunk someone dry fast by not drinking blood for a while to atone. If you decided to go down the Path of Enlightenment route, though, tough shit -- this is where your Golconda journey ends outside of Storyteller fiat, because basically re-wiring your sense of morality to something most people consider utterly alien kinda conflicts with regaining your Humanity. 

After you've atoned for your crimes and keep your Humanity above 7 for however long your Storyteller thinks is appropriate, it's time for the last step. Your character has to go through a ''suspire'' - a vision quest of some kind that involves going into your own mind to deal with your inner demons and your current state as a vampire. Like most of Golconda-related fluff, what it actually involves is really vague, so there's a lot of room for making whatever spooky crap your vampire will run into in dreamland.

This is '''really''' fucking dangerous: aside from being very damaging to your PC's body and mind, it can be failed, and if you do fail, it is the ''end'' - your PC will never achieve Golconda and likely be driven batshit insane, go into wassail, and devolve into a mindless [[Wight]]. 

If you do succeed, on the other hand, it's all roses. You come to terms with the Beast, get the benefits of Golconda, and can go on your merry way as an enlightened, mostly-human Kindred. Just remember to keep your Humanity above 7, or you'll drop out of Golconda and be unable to regain it. (Note that this doesn't necessarily mean being a ''nice'' Kindred, either. Even the Golconda-seeking Inconnu aren't forbidden from killing in self-defence or the like, and Saulot can get real nasty when provoked enough.)

[[Category:Vampire: The Masquerade]]
[[Category:White Wolf]]
[[Category:Game Mechanics]]