The largest sect of vampires in existence, the Camarilla is an open society; it claims all vampires as members (whether they want to belong or not), and any vampire may claim membership. Though the Camarilla is the largest sect, just over half of the 13 known vampire clans actively participate in its affairs. These clans are; Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Torerador, Tremere, Ventrue. The Camarilla mainly concerns itself with the so-called Masquerade; a web of lies and misinformation, a farce, intended to deceive and conceal. It was created in the 15th century as a response to the Inquisition, because even though there was an ancient tradition of self-concealing among vampires in the Dark Ages, in many cases common people knew or suspected their existence and their works, as in those days most people superstitiously believed in many supernatural entities, including vampires. As the Church became more and more powerful, the Inquisition chased and destroyed many Kindred, until they became convinced that the only way to survive would be to deny their own existence. The Masquerade was taught as law in the Camarilla from then on, and took advantage of the Age of Enlightenment, by reinforcing the idea that vampires are a fruit of ignorance and superstition. By the 19th century, most educated people in the West laughed at the suggestion that the vampires of old legends were real creatures. Thus Camarilla policy is that all Kindred should try to fit in with and/or hide from the rest of humanity, as to easily feed on them, and to survive. The Masquerade requires that humans who know about vampires be promptly killed or otherwise rendered unable to spread the news. It also means that a vampire that breaks the Masquerade will have to fix it or face severe punishment, possibly final death. The Camarilla also enforces the Eldest as ruling class over the younger vampires. When in the Dark Ages one Elder claimed land as his and all other vampires had to obey his ruling if traveling his lands. In modern nights the Camarilla still holds to this tradition. The ruling Elder of a so called domain, usually a human metropolitan and surrounding areas, is called the Prince. His rule is essentially that of an autocrat; all power, executive, legislative, and judicial, rests with the Prince. The six fundamental rules (also known as the Traditions, see below) of the Camarilla grant the Prince the right to destroy other vampires, grant or deny the right to hospitality and allow him to decide whether or not a vampire is allowed to create offspring. Besides the Prince usually the oldest member of each of the Clans holds a fair amount of power and the title Primogen. Along with the other Primogen, these clan leaders form the Prince's council of advisors.

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THE TRADITIONS:

The First Tradition:
The Masquerade
Thou shalt not reveal thy true nature to those of not the Blood.
Doing so shall renounce thy claim of Blood.


The Second Tradition:
The Domain
Thy Domain is thy concern. All other owe thee respect while in it.
None may challenge thy word in thy domain.


The Third Tradition:
The Progeny
Thou shalt sire another only with the permission of thine elder.
If thou createst another without thine elder's leave,
both thou and thy progeny shalt be slain.


The Fourth Tradition:
The Accounting
Those thou create are thine own childer. Until thy progeny shall
be released, thou shalt command them in all things.
Their sins are thine to endure.


The Fifth Tradition:
Hospitality
Honor one another's domain. When thou comest to a foreign city,
thou shalt present thyself to the one who ruleth there.
Without the word of acceptance, thou art nothing.


The Sixth Tradition:
Destruction
Thou art forbidden to destroy another of thy kind. The right of
destruction belongeth only to thine elder.
Only the eldest among thee shall call the blood hunt.