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The Dome [top]

The south-facing exterior of The Dome is built into the cliffside.

The Dome (/ðə dəʊm/), officially the Thol City State (Latin: Status Civitatis Tholae), is a sovereign city state located along the coast of Le Rocher, Monaco. Thol comes from the Latin noun tholus, referring to the eponymous architectural element from which the name is derived. As a theocratic absolute elective monarchy with universal sanguine jurisdiction, the political legitimacy of The Dome derives from the absolute power of the primiceries over their descendants.

The eponymous architectural element as reconstructed in Monaco.

The Dome dates back to 1441 when the primiceries were first convened, of whom there were six in total at the time. Vlad, Marius, Roman and Konstantin were signatories to the Brașov Convention which laid down the basic legislative framework for governance. They were later joined by Mihail and Alberic when The Dome was founded in 1448, along with the independent city state of Arcalod in the French Prealps of Savoy. The Dome is the seat of the Sovereign Father, who is elected from the primiceries by regional prefects in a conclave which takes place once every 100 years, barring unusual circumstances such as death or resignation. Patria potestas is vested in the sovereign father which grants him supreme authority over all sanguine affairs within the confines of lex exsanguim, also known as the law of blood-letting. All primiceries are members of the Septemvirate, formerly the Council of Arcalod, which has the power to alter and amend the constitution. The official residence of the sovereign father is known as the Dome and often used as a metonym for the primiceries.

Colonnade of The Dome.

One of the most notable series of armed conflicts in vampire history is the Great Civil War, which was fought nearly uninterrupted for ten years, preluded by an additional ten years of insurgency. The root cause of the conflict can be traced to the conclave of 1758, which elected Roman as the Sovereign Father. Roman's reign was characterised by his implementation of controversial policies which caused a gradual rise in tension between the primiceries. In 1836, Roman invoked an emergency measure, as a by-product of which he was able to abolish the term limit and to consolidate his power to an unprecedented scale. In the following years, Roman's increasingly despotic rule resulted in a brief mutiny led by Mihail. The resistance, initially comprised of Mihail, Alberic and Konstantin, was quickly subdued and its conspirators held in captivity. Their escape, joined by Euphemia, is widely thought to have been orchestrated by Marius, who remained a loyalist in name throughout the war.

The final battle of the war during which both Roman and Mihail lost their unlives also felled the City of Arcalod on 1 September 1859, coinciding with the Carrington Event and leading to divine attributions by some of the more impressionable vampires. The sovereign state of Thol City was subsequently established by the Tholo-Monégasque Treaty of 1861 under the guidance of the next elected Sovereign Father, Konstantin.

Despite inspiring unity and reverence through strategic use of traditions and ceremonial rites, the fundamental mission of the Dome and its regional houses (each led by its own prefect) is to serve the community. It provides resources for newly turned vampires, develops infrastructures for the good of both humans and vampires, enforces the law, mediates in disputes and establishes relations with other species with a united front.

Once representative of an ancient and venerated institution rivalling the Holy See at the height of their power, the influence of the primiceries is not what it once was due to the evolution of complex society including exponential population growths, dissolution of existing sanguine bonds (major blows of which included the death of two primiceries), and general feelings of disenchantment that have been on the rise since the civil war. Despite best efforts of the surviving seven primiceries to restore the status quo, many of the prefects decided to break off and evolved under their individual banners. The Dome's decline has ironically paralleled that of the Vatican, though both institutions are still respected in many parts of the world. As befitting one of the world's oldest institutions in continuous operation, the Dome's vast knowledge and resources remain without equal and its proponents consider it integral to peacekeeping between various supernatural and non-supernatural communities in Europe.

Nespiratus sapiens [top]

Taxonomy and etymology [top]

First described in 1761 by Dutch cryptozoologist Abraham van der Leeuw as Nespiratus sapiens in his encyclopaedic volume Unnatuurlijk Systeem under the classification Immortalia Chordata Demonica Cruenta Hominidae, the binomial name is derived from the Latin negatory prefix ne- and noun spiratus meaning 'breath,' suggesting no breath. The taxonomic term was corrupted in the popular vernacular as nosferatu. Other names have applied colloquially to this specie including vrykolakas, strigoi and perhaps the most well known vampire.

History [top]

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Population and distribution [top]

The first vampire was the only one of his kind for several decades in the early 13th century until the chance discovery that he was able to create others in his image through a process of exsanguination and transfusion. These initial few bloodlines were diseased with a feral disposition in both appearance and temperament, with few surviving past the first generation. Their descendants are classified as separate species under the genus Nespiratus.

The first successful siring of Nespiratus sapiens occured in 1242. Later that same year, more than a thousand villagers near Brașov were turned and eventually hunted by their maker. Many of these villagers and their children-in-darkness fled outside of continental Europe in search of refuge, establishing their own vampiric orders in areas such as Asia, Oceania, Africa, Antarctica and the New World, in which the Dome has historically observed a strict policy of non-interventionism. As of the 21st century, vampires around the world make up about a hundredth of the world's population.

Biology [top]

Psychology [top]

Governance [top]

The Septemvirate, comprised of the seven primiceries, is The Dome's centre of political power and has full executive, judicial and legislative powers in both sanguine government and civil government. The administrative body of The Dome is known as the Curia and comprises of regional prefects, today numbering 114. Each prefect is appointed by the Septemvirate from a list of three candidates nominated by universal suffrage for a 10-year term and rotates quinquennially through the seven departments within the Curia, each headed ex officio by a primicery. Prefects can be removed at any time through the unanimous agreement of all seven primiceries known as fatum spontaneum, but this has never occurred in practice. The position of the Sovereign Father is held for 100 years with a single consecutive term limit, and is determined by the prefects in a secret conclave.

Primiceries [top]

The authority of the primiceries is derived from their power and prestige as the apical ancestors to whom all other vampires can be traced. Each primicery is a direct progeny of the original vampire. The Dome keeps a close watch on creation of new bloodlines in order to make contact with all known brothers and sisters. Countless bloody wars have been waged throughout the centuries with some of their less cooperative siblings, many of whom were ultimately slain due to the Dome's zero tolerance policy on separatism until the 1811 Treaty of Sarayburnu.

Vlad [top]

One of six founding fathers of the Dome.

Vlad (Romanian: Vlad; 1206-1242) was a Vlach prince in the north-eastern part of present-day Argeș County in Muntenia, Romania, who ruled a modest territory in approximation of Rucăr, Dâmbovicioara, Lerești, Valea Mare-Pravăț and Dragoslavele. Better known to more apocryphal historians for the atrocities he committed both for and against Mongol armies, his use of longitudinal impalement was popularised as a method of execution in the Ottoman Empire, Greece and Armenia, as well as inspiring serial murderers throughout the ages including Vlad the Impaler (no relation). Being the first of Bartoloměj Pešek's children-in-darkness to survive transition, he is also the world's first recorded vampire hunter and continues to serve in a lateral role as a primicery of the Dome. Thought to have perished in the Great Civil War in 1859, he re-emerged into public view as a person of interest and key witness in the Whitechapel Murders in 1890 and resumed his primicerial duties in 1939.

Mihail [top]

The first Sovereign Father ruled from 1448-1548.

Mihail (Romanian: Mihail; 1208-1249, d. 1859) was born to a peasant family in the western part of present-day Alba County in Transylvania, Romania. Struggling to make ends meet was a theme that carried through to Mihail’s adulthood. His daughter was born sick and confined to her bed, and much of the money that Mihail was able to make as a farm worker went to paying for her limited available medical aid. The situation became more dire after the family barely survived two Mongol invasions when he crossed paths with Bartoloměj Pešek in 1249. His first act as a vampire was to sire his daughter, elated to finally provide her with the pain free life she deserved. Tragically, she was murdered two days later, and this became the driving force for the legacy that Mihail desired to create. As one of the six original primiceries, Mihail led as the inaugural Sovereign Father from 1448-1548, during which time he was instrumental in drafting key legislations that continue to shape the work of the Dome in modern times. Mihail was the first to stand in defiance against the then-Sovereign Father Roman's tyranny in 1839 and led the resistance until the conclusion of the Great Civil War, offering his unlife in sacrifice for his brothers and sisters. In 1859, the Dome formally recognized 03/03 as Mihailia, a day of reverence for his bravery and for the resistance movement that he created.

Alberic [top]

The incumbent Sovereign Father was inaugurated in 1959.

Amgalan (Mongolian: Амгалан , 1220-1268) was a Mongolian scribe and historian, rumored to be an illegitimate son of Batu Khan, the founder of the Kipchak Khanate, better known today as the Golden Horde. Believed to have been born in modern-day Crimea, Amgalan (known as Alberic from 1285 onwards) followed the Golden Horde throughout battles in central Europe in the late 1240s and 1250s. Raised and built with the expectations of becoming a fierce warrior, Amgalan chose to turn to strategies and treatises instead. He learned the ways of war and ruling through those of the past, in cultures spanning throughout the historical world, Sumerian, Greco-Roman, and Eastern Asian, to name a few. Alberic proved popular amongst The Dome and the common sanguine community alike since he officially entered the public light in 1446. His easy-going nature in his personal life translates to his reign as Sovereign Father (1959-present), though some progressive niche factions consider his perspective and rule "too conservative."

Marius [top]

Marius reigned as Sovereign Father from 1548-1658.

Al-Malik Lutfi al-Mallakh Ammar (Arabic: الملك لطفي الملاخ عمّار‎; 1282-1322), better known as Al-Malik Ammar, or Marius, was an Egyptian trader, explorer and spy. The son of a prominent Mamluk scholar, he spent much of his youth travelling with his father across the Silk Road and was recruited into Sultan Al-Nassir Muhammad's network of spies. In 1303, he distinguished himself in the Battle of Marj al-Saffar and spent further 19 years performing some of the most delicate clandestine operations for the sultan until a botched mission put him out to pasture. He was last embroiled in a conspiracy surrounding Princess Tulunbay when Bartoloměj Pešek courted him with promises of enlightenment and a chance to shape a better world. He was one of the four original signatories to the Brașov Convention of 1441 and served as the second Sovereign Father after the founding of the Dome.

Roman [top]

Roman headed the Dome from 1758-1859 and is currently the longest reigning Sovereign Father.

Roman von Plauen (1305-1340) came from the Reuss family of Plauen, Saxony. He joined the Teutonic Order at a young age. He was first a brother in a monastery in Germany before arriving in Prussia in 1325 when he became the Vogt of Dirschau. He rose through the ranks without obstacles, achieving Komtur of Elbing in 1327 and Landkomtur of Hesse the year after. As the Grand Master's cousin, his influence in the Order grew and he advanced quickly. His steady advancement in the Order came to a halt when he was turned in 1340. Though Roman declared it a self-exile out of respect for the Order, historical documents record a violent banishment by the Order’s Grand Master. Being promised a position of influence, Roman convened with other founding fathers and signed the Brașov Convention in 1441. Though Roman’s followers consider his ruling abilities to have led the Dome to prosperity, reality was anything but. Roman's mad grasp for power caused a fracturing of the Dome that eventually led to the Great Civil War. Roman’s death and subsequent fall of Arcalod ended the War in 1859, with Konstantin as the next Sovereign Father beginning the rebuilding work.

Konstantin [top]

Konstantin ruled as the Sovereign Father from 1859-1959.

Konstantin Diamandis (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Διαμαντής, 1402-1431) was a prominent Patron of the Arts from Crete, Greece. A student of post-Byzantine painter Angelos Akotantos, there has been historical confusion as to the correct attribution of many of his unsigned paintings at the time. Konstantin gained widespread notoriety for claiming to be the second coming of the Greek god Dionysus, inspiring a rather devoted cult of men and women who were eager to fund his artistic endeavors. His charismatic nature attracted the attention of Bartoloměj Pešek in 1431, and Konstantin was eager to sign up for an immortal life of eternal beauty and charm. There are sparse details regarding the decade prior to which Konstantin joined the Dome; however, it is believed that his cult sustained his vampirism through ritual blood sacrifices to him in his honour. Konstantin governed as the Sovereign Father from 1859-1959, during which time he was responsible for the onerous task of rebuilding the credibility of the Dome after the Great Civil War. Most notably during his reign, Konstantin enacted a temporary policy of differential neutrality during World War II. This allowed individual vampires the freedom to choose whether they wished to participate in the war, so long as their supernatural abilities did not tip the scales in favour one way or the other.

Hadrian [top]

Hadrian served as Sovereign Father from 1658-1758.

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Anatoly [top]

Anatoly has been a Primicery of the Dome since 1845.

Anatoly Moroz (Ukrainian: Анатолій Мороз, 1708-173?) was born in Bracław (now Bratslav, Ukraine) into a family of local magistrates. Records show that he was enrolled into formal education as expected of males of his station in 18th century Ukraine. However, there are anecdotes of his passage through Polish-controlled Ukraine instead. First-hand accounts of Anatoly’s sightings extend as far west into modern-day German-French border around 1728. Of these accounts were eyewitnesses of murders, village razing, and cannibalism, though none were historically supported or cross-checked. The circumstances of Anatoly’s turning remain a mystery to this day. Historians hypothesized that he was turned in the 1730s, based on his birth records and his physical appearance. The first historical record of him post-transformation can be found in the annals of a church in Goteborg, Sweden, from the 1750s, in which his appearance is vividly described by a young male in a near-catatonic state, believed to have embarked on årsgång, or 'year walk.' Anatoly made his existence publicly known in 1845, after terrorising continental Europe from the Channel to the Urals for well over a century. Though he continues to serve the Dome, he is only minimally accepted by the rest of the Septemvirate.

Euphemia [top]

Euphemia entered the Dome as a Primicery in 1612.

Euphemia Marques (1574-1612) was born in Portuguese East Africa (now the Republic of Mozambique). Heiress to a prominent trading company, she became widely known for using her inherited wealth to assist in freeing Mozambican slaves from the prazeiros. Euphemia is the last verified progeny of Bartoloměj Pešek, who promised her a wider platform and reach to continue her humanitarian work. Taking the initiatve to present herself at the Dome, she began serving as a primicery almost immediately after her transition in 1612. Euphemia was honoured as the first vampire to win a Nobel Peace prize in 2011 for "devoting her life to creating and promoting unity through education between vampires and humans across Europe." She has notably never served as the Sovereign Mother, despite modern popularity, and has chosen instead to maintain a diplomatic presence amongst her fellow primiceries.

Curia [top]

The Curia since its post-war reformation is comprised of seven disparate departments, each headed by a primicery. The Department of Communications (Konstantin) is responsible for public relations, social functions and ombuds services. The Department of Defence (Anatoly) oversees the Dome's civil security and armed forces, as well as the Knights of Arcalod who serve as the Sovereign Father's personal guard. The Department of Finance (Hadrian) tends to the Dome's finances and fiscal policies. The Department of External Affairs (Marius) is in charge of inter-species relations, trade, human rights and intelligence. The Department of Internal Affairs (Vlad) handles sanguine relations, law enforcement and intelligence. The Department of Justice (Alberic) provides court services and correctional services. The Department of Social Affairs (Euphemia) promotes education, science, culture, health and social security.

Culture [top]

Languages [top]

Diplomacy [top]

Military [top]

The Dome shares a defence pact with Monaco and France, whilst maintaining nominal but capable all-volunteer ground, air and sea force. It is able to conduct a wide range of operations including conventional, hybrid and adaptive warfare, and is augmented by both the Department of External Affairs and the Department of Internal Affairs in its occult and cyber capabilities.

Holidays [top]

Annus Novus [top]

Originally occurring on the first of January according to the Julian calendar, annus novus is not an especially significant holiday for the sanguine community but is still celebrated with magical light installations and festivities. A twelve-stage ritual is also observed during which pilgrims can receive blessings from the Sovereign Father or their local prefect.

Dies Natalis [top]

As a national day commemorating the signing of the Brașov Convention, dies natalis is celebrated both at The Dome as well as its regional houses around the world and is a formal affair involving state visits, public ceremonies, cultural displays and military parades.

Mihailia [top]

Public ceremonies, military parades and a night of celebration take place on this day of reverence in memory of Mihail and the resistance movement that was active during the Great Civil War.

Dies Ater [top]

Services are held with a full minute of silence observed on the twenty-first hour on this solemn day dedicated to the remembrance of the Great Civil War.

Brumalia [top]

Brumalia is a winter solstice festival and holiday that lasts a month from 24 November to 25 December. It is a celebration of the long night as well as primal aspects of vampirism that are normally repressed, promoting a sense of community and self-acceptance in a safe and consensual environment. Vampires from all over the world make annual pilgrimage to The Dome during this period. Due to customary disinhibition and debauchery, security is especially heightened within the city limits and surrounding areas.

Although events vary from year to year, certain traditions are observed. Every Brumalia commences with a formal liturgy and a parade known as noctivaga. This is followed by three days of venatio, popularly known as 'the hunt,' which features consenting blood donors and concludes with a blood feast. December starts off with a two-day gladiatorial event known as ludi in which participants are matched according to age bracket. As a blood sport, there are no rules in ludi beyond the prohibition of wooden weaponry, removal of the heart and decapitation. Due to vampire physiology, this event is particularly brutal and mortal spectators are advised to exercise extreme caution. This leads to two days of provocatio, a tradition by which any primicery can be challenged to a trial by combat in place of a lawfully prescribed penalty. The condition of provocatio is à l'outrance, or to the death. No primicery has been defeated to date. On the fifth day of December comes confiteor, another tradition by which sins are heard by the primiceries and absolved under the proviso of true remorse and prescribed act of penance. On 7 December, sacred mysteries are performed.

The final week is usually academic in nature, with 23 December being reserved for an open forum encouraging dialogue between the primiceries and prefects and the general public. Political appointments and investitures for outstanding services and achievements take place on 24 December. A formal liturgy marks the end of Brumalia. This final day is called vespertina and is spent in the company of intimates, during which additional traditions such as gift giving and wish making are observed.

Although not an officially recognised component of Brumalia, The Dome is famous for the extravagance of its parties both formal and informal occurring throughout the days and nights.

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