Golconda

The Book of Nod
When I looked up from my drink of                                     greater sorrow                                                 than you can ever know the archangel Gabriel                     for even now there is a path opened gentle Gabriel                                                a road of Mercy Gabriel, Lord of Mercy               and you shall call this road [Golconda]. appeared to me. And tell your children of it, The archangel Gabriel said unto me,            for by that road may they come ‘Son of Adam, Son of Eve,                     once again dwell in the Light.’ Behold, the mercy of the Father is

"note: The fact that there is an important diamond city in India also called Golconda may or may not have bearing to this particular stanza. I am beginning to think that the term was originally coined by Saulot, who was known to travel to the Far and Middle East on quests of enlightenment."

Lexicon

 * Golconda
 * Kindred salvation, in which the vampire is freed of bloodlust and the urges of the Beast.

Golconda
"And so what’s the end of your story? Murdered by a fellow? Soul eaten by a nemesis? Become a wild animal to be put down? Fall asleep and never wake?

"Maybe there’s another way. Here, I’ll speak softly as there are those vampires who don’t care for these things to ever be discussed.

"The story goes that you can make peace with your Beast, and find a balance between animal and human that grants you a state of beautification. You become like a saint among us. You retain your dark powers, but the sun no longer kills. You do not need the blood of others to survive. You cannot be stopped by a stake through the heart.

"Those of us who go looking for the blessed state of Golconda likely die in the process of looking. Further, it is possible that the Antediluvians themselves have the secret and seek to keep it from the likes of you and I. So even if you did reach such a blessed state, be assured, you’d be hunted until you were ash.

"But maybe it’s worth it, even if you only have a moment of peace before the Final Death, aye?"

Lexicon

 * Golconda
 * A state of balance between the Beast and the soul, achieved by a vampire making peace with herself.

Golconda and Other Means of Salvation
"For most Cainites, to be vampire is to be eternally Damned. Many legends speak of vampirism as the curse not only of Caine, but of the Devil himself. Even those vampires who scorn such superstition nonetheless see a secular hell of sorts in their Beast, their Hunger, and the all-consuming ennui of centuries.

"It is not surprising that some Cainites speak of a state transcending their eternal hunger and rage. Vampires who attain this state, which is called Golconda, are said to have mastered the Beast to such an extent that it no longer controls their actions. While vampires in Golconda still blood to survive, they need far less of it. Moreover, they are able to quell the urges of the Beast to such an extent that they need never fear losing control to it. They are no longer properly vampires, but a different, higher species of creature entirely.

"As the stories go, Golconda is known only to a few among the undead. They live in the wild places, at one with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky. Even the werewolves leave the masters of Golconda be. Vampires who have attained Golconda occasionally enter the larger society of undead, seeking disciples whom they can guide along the path to Golconda.

"Attaining Golconda cannot be simulated with charts or experience points. It is as ephemeral, yet as powerful as love or self-acceptance, and its attainment should be the focus of an entire chronicle. In general, characters learn of Golconda only after spending some time among the undead, for Golconda lore is spread in puzzling riddles and whispered from seeker to seeker. It is certain that vampires who wish to attain Golconda must feel remorse. The greater a vampire’s sins, the greater the penance necessary. Vampires wishing to enter Golconda must seek out the families of old victims and make amends, protect those weaker than they, and try to make the World of Darkness a better place. This inevitably entails maintaining one’s Humanity and spending Willpower to commit good deeds whenever possible. Vampires on Paths of Enlightenment are believed to be unable to achieve Golconda.

"Attaining Golconda should come only at the end of a long and arduous chronicle. During this chronicle, characters must meet certain criteria. They must attain a rating of 7 or higher on Road of Humanity and Conscience ratings of 4 or higher, and they must maintain those ratings over lengthy periods. Moreover, they must consistently display penitent, abstinent, and honorable behavior over dozens of stories.

"Typically, at about the midpoint of the chronicle, prospective Golconda-seekers travel in search of a mentor reputed to harbor the secrets of Golconda. If they find a mentor, the vampires must prove themselves worthy. Such tasks often lead the questers through grave perils to both body and soul. The culmination comes when a worthy vampire undergoes a ritual called the Suspire. The precise effects of the ritual are unknown, save that it involves a journey into the world of dreams and, ultimately, into the vampire’s own soul. It is extraordinarily difficult, and many vampires fail to survive it with their unlives or sanity intact. Still others return from the Suspire whole, but having forever failed to gain Golconda.

"Should a vampire actually gain this legendary state, the effects are most miraculous. Foremost among them is a total immunity to frenzy or Rötschreck. In addition, the character does not need to drink blood as often. The character loses only one blood point per week rather than one blood point per night. He must still spend blood normally to power Disciplines, heal wounds, etc.

"A vampire in Golconda partly transcends the Curse binding his own blood; he may increase any Trait to as high as 10 regardless of Generation, though his blood pool remains as it was.

"A vampire in Golconda must maintain rigid standards of purity. Should his Humanity rating ever slip below 7, or his Conscience rating below 4, the vampire loses all benefits of Golconda, including heightened Traits."

Vampire: The Masquerade
"Golconda is a mystical state of enlightenment where a vampire is no longer subject to the Beast, or alternatively the Beast and human aspects of a vampire are in balance.

Overview
"Golconda was promised to Caine by the archangel Gabriel, Lord of Mercy, while he was in exile in the Land of Nod. Although Caine never achieved Golconda, the way to Golconda was supposedly achieved by Saulot after traveling to the East, studying under Hindu gurus.

After achieving enlightenment, which resulted in a third eye in the middle of his forehead, Saulot preached Golconda and taught the path to his clan, the Salubri. From this time onward, Golconda and the Salubri were closely linked, with many Salubri (such as Mokur) becoming teachers on the path to Golconda.

After the diablerie of Saulot by Tremere, the Salubri were driven into hiding and much Golconda lore was lost in the process. Since that time, Golconda has largely been treated as a myth."