…there are two types of laws; just and unjust.  I would be the first to ad-vocate obeying just laws.  One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws…a just law is a code [that] squares with the moral law…rooted in eternal law and natural law.
From “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” by Dr. Martin Luther King

~ THE FIVE PRINCIPLES ~
1. Law: Living Vampires are not criminals and remain within the boundries of mortal corporeal laws.
2. Adults: Living Vampirism is reserved for the adult mind.  No minors shall be formally initiated into the Family.
3. Blood: Living Vampires see Blood as a Metaphor for something far more subtle and do not drink of corporeal blood.
4. Quest: Living Vampires respect free will of all sentient beings and never proselytize, only inspire.
5. Secrets: What happens within the Family remains within the Family. Secrets bind and protect the Living Vampire.

~ OVERVIEW ~

The Black Veil lies at the foundation of the Mysteries and contains Our most sacred Principles.  It has been created in order to ensure Us the freedom of a solid, real-world, Dayside foundation.  The edition presented here pertains exclusively to the Strigoi Vii and the Sanguinarium.

The Black Veil has been the source of Our ethics and power, and is Our staff and Our shield.  It exists for the preservation and prosperity of Our Mysteries, Family, and the Sanguinarium, and is endorsed by the Synod and the OSV.  Those who are not Strigoi Vii or with the Sanguinarium are not ex-pected to uphold these Principles as they are not bound to them.  Of course, We of the Strigoi Vii encourage even those who are not of the Family to recognize and respect the com-mon sense inherent in Our Black Veil.  These simple guidelines provide Us with the freedom to maneuver unhin-dered through the mundane world.

~ HISTORY ~

The initial version of the Black Veil was originally written in late 1996 by the first Synod and Father as the code of conduct for the Gotham Halo’s first Noir Haven, the Long Black Veil, and the members of Clan SABRETOOTH.  The first edi-tions of the Black Veil were based on a mix of the fetish scene’s codes of conduct from the Eulenspiegal Society (TES) and the elegance of Renaissance Faire etiquette, as well as containing elements of chivalry and Romantic overtones in order to raise the Vampyre Glamour.  Over time, several revisions and drafts of the Black Veil were created, the most notable being the 13 Rules of the Vamp Community edition by Michelle Belanger, and the revision of an edition by Lady Melanie.  These versions of the Black Veil were highly influenced by the role-playing game Vampire the Masquerade, from which the vampire community drew upon in these early years for terminology and community structure.  Many different groups and individuals within the vampire subculture have created their own variations on the Black Veil, including the 7 Ethics of the Vampire Community, a revision of Michelle Belanger’s earlier version.  This revision was endorsed by the Synod in order to create an edition of the Black Veil that would accommodate all those outside the San-guinarium in the “vampire community.”  However, the current Strigoi Vii Black Veil presented here represents the fundamen-tal core ethics of the original Black Veil.  It is the final version of the Black Veil embraced and endorsed by the Strigoi Vii and the Sanguinarium.

Why are there so many different versions of this text, and what makes this edition the most useful?  From the perspective of the Strigoi Vii, the other editions of the Black Veil have high merit; however, they have not fully captured or expressed in words how to avoid potential liabilities faced in the tangible Dayside realities of the everyday world.  As well, many of the earlier versions of the Black Veil are now quite out of date.  Contemporary Dayside reality must be addressed in order to ensure the security and prosperity of the Family.  It is unwise and self-defeating for a Strigoi Vii or Black Swan to betray themself by violating the common sense of these Principles.  These simple guidelines should not be seen as restricting, but instead as empowering, as they offer Us with the means to ex-ist and thrive responsibly and judiciously within mundane society.

If a Strigoi Vii violates the Black Veil, they will suffer not only obvious consequences within the Sanguinarium and amongst the Family, but, most importantly, a condition of negative Zhep’r known as khaskt, which means “loss of opportunity.”  In effect, those who violate the Veil are robbing themselves of their own Zhep’r and actually reversing their opportunity for Immortality of the Self.  Khaskt can be seen as the Strigoi Vii equivalent of negative karma.  Yet it is much more potent for those attuned to the Current of Elorath through Initiation, or by employing the Mysteries on any level.

Strigoi Vii promotes social responsibility and recognizes that the consequences of Our actions may have various, often negative, repercussions as We become more visible to the mundane world. Those who proudly bear the Legacy Ankh close to their hearts, be they Strigoi Vii or Black Swan, make the statement that they are in agreement with the Principles of the Strigoi Vii Black Veil.  These Principles are innate common sense for the responsible members of Our Family.  The Black Veil gives Us the freedom and foundation to live and thrive within mundane society without offending or placing fear into Our Source.

1ST PRINCIPLE: LAW
Strigoi Vii are not criminals.

Adherence to the laws of Our local governments, even if We disagree with them, is essential to provide Us with the freedom to explore Our nature.  Criminal or illegal behavior is greatly condemned within Strigoi Vii culture.  By this We do not refer to minor legal infractions such as parking violations. We are referring to serious crimes such as drug dealing, murder, rape, assault, theft, etc.  Strigoi Vii are free-spirited and individualis-tic.  However, all Strigoi Vii are expected to act with common sense and practice social responsibility.  It is the duty of every Strigoi Vii to conduct themselves in a manner that will not bring negative consequences upon the Family.

2ND PRINCIPLE: ADULTS
Strigoi Vii are adults.

We must honor the need for minors to establish a skeptical, objective, and rational Dayside foundation before exploring and embracing the Nightside.  Those who have not reached the age of majority (eighteen in the United States) must not be encouraged or permitted to explore Our Mysteries, participate in Vampyre ritual, or enter Our Sanctums under any condi-tions.  Thus no minor shall ever be involved in Strigoi Vii, either privately or publicly, until they come of age.
Those children curious about Our Mysteries should explore the basics of yoga, quantum physics, theology, paganism, magick, Reiki, martial arts, and the works of philosophers such as Charles Darwin, Frederick Nietzsche, and Ayn Rand.  This way they build a solid foundation that shall better prepare them to pursue Zhep’r upon coming of age.

3RD PRINCIPLE: BLOOD
Strigoi Vii See Blood as a Metaphor for something far more subtle.

From the perspective of the Strigoi Vii, the Art of Vampyrism occurs purely on a subtle energetic level and thus Strigoi Vii are not drinkers of corporeal, physical blood for tapping ener-gies. The word “Blood” with a capital letter “B” is merely a metaphorical term for the subtle vital life-force better known as Prana in Sanskrit, chi in Chinese medicine, or ki in Japanese martial arts.  The term “Sanguine” symbolizes the spiritual Current and Blood (heritage) of the Family.  To satisfy Our spiritual hunger and desire for Zhep’r, We practice other, more subtle forms of absorbing energy, which We find much more efficient and pertinent to Our Mysteries. On a Dayside level, the decision not to drink blood leads to a clear avoidance of legal liabilities and health risks such as blood-borne dis-eases, including Hepatitis, Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, and many more.

4TH PRINCIPLE: QUEST
The Strigoi Vii have a unified cause – the Current and the Quest

The Current is the “Blood” that is the signature of Our Family.  The collective duty of all Strigoi Vii is the Quest of Family.  We must search out those with potential to Awaken, yet who are not aware of their potential.  However, We never force a Potential to follow Our way, as Vampyres are not mindless followers.  Potentials must be allowed to come to the Family in their own way and in their own time.The Strigoi Vii should always use one of the proven tools for supporting the Quest of Family, as to not degrade Our Mysteries. Give the Seeker a hint, let them feel the Calling, and come when and if they are ready. Never support or join an organization or individual that actively opposes the Family or Our Quest. Never enter into debates with the mortal minded or try to convert them to Our ways, as such behavior is in conflict with the Glamour and a waste of time and energy.  Betraying the Quest of Family is not only betraying the Family:  It is betraying yourself.

5TH PRINCIPLE: SECRETS
The Strigoi Vii is an open secret, hidden in plain sight.

Secrets protect and bind Us. Our Mysteries are Our own, and those who wish to explore them should seek them out alone, through personal initiative and action.  As a sleight of hand magician would employ the principle of “hidden in plain sight,” so does the Living Vampyre.

Here follow three examples of the Black Veil Principle of Se-crets.  Firstly, take example from the Magisters.  Honor your Sorors’ and Fraters’ right of privacy, such as in respect to their mundane identity.  Never disclose their personal information to anyone, especially to the mortal-minded, but even to other Family members, without their explicit permission.  The only circumstance under which the Synod would disclose the given name and identity of any Strigoi Vii is if such information was required under the legal jurisdiction of the proper authorities.

Secondly, public discussion of Strigoi Vii and the Mysteries outside of the Sanctums, such as with the media, on social networking websites, in public, or with those not of the Blood, is an obvious violation of this Principle.  At all times speak only for yourself, and never represent the greater Family out-side of the guidelines of the Quest of Family.  Leave that to those select members of the Priesthood who are properly trained in public relations.  Supporting this Principle furthers the Glamour and protects Our Mysteries.

Finally, one of the most important aspects of this principle of the Black Veil is avoiding discussion of the Mysteries with someone who has not had the opportunity to read Sanguinomicon and reflect upon the contents.  Respect free will, and let Seekers gain a first impression of the Mysteries and formulate an opinion on their own.  When an individual has the opportunity to read a text, they shall draw their own conclusions, whilst if you tell them about it, they will more likely only be able to see it from your perspective.

~ SUMMATION ~

The Strigoi Vii Black Veil is Our Code and applies only to the Strigoi Vii or those involved with the Sanguinarium.  Employ these proven Principles and you will have a solid foundation for Zhep’r.   Do not debate with others who disagree or cannot see the common sense outlined here.  As they are not in agreement, simply smile and say, “We must agree to disagree, for free will is the whole of the law.”