Followers of Set

See Followers of Set on the White Wolf Wiki.

Followers of Set
Pronounce	SET-iyts
Nicknames	Followers of Set, Snake Clan, Judasians, Liberators, Corrupters, Tempters, Serpents, Setites, The Clan of Faith, the Clan of Lies, Typhonists, Sand-Snakes, Vipers, Mesu Bedshet
Antediluvian	Set
Faction	Independent Alliance
Disciplines	Obfuscate, Presence, Serpentis

The Followers of Set (or Setites) are a clan of vampires who believe their founder was the Egyptian god Set. Orthodox Setite belief dictates that Set will one day return to rule or consume the world, and devout Setites prepare the way for his resurrection. The Setites formed the Independent Alliance with the Giovanni in 2010.

The Church of Set

The Church of Set is a global alliance of Setite faiths, each adapted to the unique culture and beliefs of its region. While these regional faiths maintain their distinct practices, they all acknowledge the Egyptian Orthodoxy as the central authority and recognize Set, in his various forms, as their primary deity. The Church of Set teaches that the universe is controlled by two powerful, opposing forces. The first is an Oppressive Force, often represented as Ra, The Creator, or The Great Enemy. This force is linked to the sun and light, which symbolize laws and limitations that keep humanity trapped under its control. According to the Church, this oppressive power imposes rules that bind people to a life of servitude, preventing them from reaching their true potential. On the other side is the Liberating Force, personified by Set, also known as Sutekh or The Liberator. Set seeks to break the chains that hold humanity back, offering freedom from the constraints of the oppressive force. However, Set and his followers must act in darkness and secrecy to avoid the harsh light of Ra, which constantly seeks to crush any rebellion. A key part of the Church’s belief is that death was the first great chain Set broke. Set gave humanity the gift of vampirism, allowing mortals to escape the grip of death and achieve immortality. However, this act started an eternal struggle between the forces of light and darkness, with Set’s followers working in the shadows to fight the forces of oppression. The Church of Set sees Set’s path not just as rebellion, but as the way to true freedom and enlightenment, with vampirism being a symbol of defying the natural order imposed by Ra and the oppressive force.

The Path of the Setites

In the teachings of the Church of Set, human morality is seen as one of the many chains imposed by the Great Enemy, designed to keep humanity bound to servitude. However, unlike some other vampiric sects, such as the Sabbat, who aggressively cast off their humanity, the Church warns that moving too quickly or recklessly away from one's human nature can lead to disaster. This path risks falling prey to the Beast, or as the Setites call it, the "poison of Apep" (Apophis), turning the follower into a slave to their own instincts and desires.

Instead, the Church of Set advocates for a more measured, gradual approach to spiritual freedom. Followers are encouraged to break their chains in a systematic, balanced way that allows them to achieve true liberation without falling victim to their darker impulses. Inspired by the myth of Ra’s journey across the sky, the Egyptian Orthodoxy ranks its followers by Hours, which reflect their level of enlightenment. An initiate of the First Hour is newly indoctrinated, just beginning their spiritual journey, while a member of the Eleventh Hour stands just beneath Set in terms of spiritual advancement. The journey through these Hours is both a spiritual and political hierarchy within the Church. To advance from one Hour to the next, a follower must pass a test called a Gate of Revelation, assigned by a priest. Each Gate represents the breaking of one of the "morality chains" that still bind the follower to the oppressive forces of the Great Enemy. Successfully passing through a Gate prepares the follower for greater revelations and deeper truths within the cult. While the Egyptian Orthodoxy provides a formal structure with the Hours and Gates, regional branches of the Setite faith are often more flexible. They may alter the order or nature of the Gates to reflect local customs and beliefs. However, despite these differences, the system of Gates and Hours is widely used as both a religious and political tool across Setite temples worldwide, ensuring that the faith maintains a structured path toward freedom and enlightenment for all its followers.

The Gates of Revelation

The Mysteries of the Nine Gates of Wisdom form a foundational part of the spiritual journey within the Church of Set. These Gates represent powerful experiences that each Setite must pass through in order to ascend within the Church hierarchy. While there is no fixed order to the Gates, the journey is always guided by a priest and tailored to the individual. Completion of each Gate does not require conscious awareness of the test but rather the successful execution of the task set before the initiate. Each Gate invokes intense emotions and challenges that push a Setite to their limits. However, these powerful experiences come with risk. Vampires undergoing these trials may succumb to Frenzy, receive spiritual Stains, or even fall into Wightdom—a state of mindless, bestial existence. The Church considers those who cannot control themselves during these trials to be unworthy of further advancement. The Nine Gates represent different facets of the human and vampiric condition: Ecstasy, Terror, Wrath, Desire, Satiety, Despair, Ignorance, Chaos, Blood. Passing through these Gates is not only a test of strength and will but a crucial part of the Setite path to enlightenment. Each Gate strips away a layer of the initiate’s mortal or vampiric constraints, allowing them to break the chains that bind them to the world of the Great Enemy and move closer to true freedom.

Hours

In the Church of Set, the spiritual journey mirrors the soul's passage through Duat, the Egyptian underworld of black waters and pale flames. Every soul, knowingly or unknowingly, follows this path, recreating the journey of the dead. The Church carefully monitors each follower’s progress, ensuring that no one experiences a revelation too soon and becomes overwhelmed by the truths of the faith. The path to enlightenment is marked by Hours, with each Hour representing a step closer to Set’s ultimate mysteries. Followers must pass through various Gates of Wisdom, challenging and transforming them as they ascend the hierarchy.

First Hour - The Church designates potential converts as unbelievers in their First Hour. Recruiters make themselves constantly available to the First Hour initiate, anticipating his needs and meet¬ing these to the best of their ability, all while watching carefully for signs that the initiate is ready to be guided through his first mystery: They receive an invitation to a celebration in a temple, to experience the Lesser Mystery of Set. In the Lesser Mystery, the facilitating priest places emphasis on revelations and conducts sacrifices, though these will be called by another name. Sometimes the attendees are bidden to pour their blood over a clay vessel while asked for a source of anger or repression. This Mystery is a lesser eversion, a small liberation from the assaults of the soul. But for every attendee who feels the rebellion rise within them, and every member the priest deems worthy, there is a second event that will come after: a revelation of one of the Gates.

Second Hour - Once deemed worthy, the initiate passes their first Gate of Wisdom. This moment signifies their first true step toward enlightenment.

Third Hour - As the initiate advances to the Third Hour, they begin to feel the pull of chaos and uncertainty. Guided by a priest, they experience two Gates of Wisdom, which challenge their understanding of self and the world.

Fourth Hour - In the Fourth Hour, the Church demands more of the initiate, requiring service and scrutinizing their relationships. They are promised deeper revelations and are guided through the Third Gate of Wisdom, bringing them closer to the Church’s inner truths. Most Setites stop their path of revelation at this point.

Fifth Hour - By the Fifth Hour, the initiate has passed through four Gates of Wisdom. This is the point of Confirmation and full Induction into the Church, where they are allowed to study its true doctrine. They are now considered fully-fledged members of the Church.

Sixth Hour - At the Sixth Hour, having mastered six Gates, the initiate is permitted to guide others through the Gates they have conquered. Politicians halt their spiritual journey at this step.

Seventh Hour - In the Seventh Hour, the initiate has mastered seven or eight Gates. Warriors often find themselves unable to progress beyond this point, missing the final Gates. A Setite who reaches this Hour is permitted to open and manage a local temple, leading a spiritual community.

Eight Hour - With mastery of all Nine Gates of Wisdom, the Eighth Hour represents a place among the upper levels of the Church. Setites at this level may serve as High Priests or Hierophants in older temples, guiding large congregations and having significant influence in the Church.

Ninth Hour - The Ninth Hour marks entrance into the highest ranks of the Church. High Priests of the Founding Temples reach this level, guiding the broader Church and wielding great authority in Setite affairs.

Tenth Hour – When a Setite survives an entire Sothic cycle of 1460 solar years, they become an Eternal of Sirius or Djet Spdet. Setites honor their Eternals as genuine Demigods—Methuselahs from ancient times who have transcended mortal limits. Many of these beings are believed to be in long periods of slumber, their presence only whispered about in the Church’s deepest circles.

Eleventh Hour - In the Eleventh Hour, it is believed that Set himself waits to lead his followers to the Final Hour, beyond which only Set knows the true nature of the ultimate liberation and enlightenment.

Church’s Structure

In the Church of Set, a group of Setites practicing their faith in a specific region is usually called a Cult. These cults are largely autonomous, with little oversight from higher authorities, but they also face limitations in advancing through the formal hierarchy of the Church. Due to this independence, cults often have restricted access to new knowledge and resources necessary for progressing along the path of enlightenment. If a cult is led by a member of the Seventh Hour, it may independently declare itself an official Temple. Since the rise of the Serpents of Light, this declaration undergoes some scrutiny by the Egyptian Orthodoxy, which checks for potential heretical practices. However, local temples are generally allowed to maintain the unique adaptations that have helped them flourish in their regions. Once established, a Temple can become a center of pilgrimage for Setites far from Egypt, and its priest may oversee the spiritual growth of surrounding cults, helping spread Set's teachings far and wide. Above ordinary temples are the Founding Temples, which are led by Hierophants, the highest-ranking leaders of the Church of Set. These temples are built on land considered sacred to the Setite Clan, often situated near the Nile River, and are governed by enigmatic figures rumored to have walked in the presence of Set himself. Founding Temples hold immense power within the Church, having the final say in all operations involving the Setite Clan. A local Temple may approach a Founding Temple to become its daughter Temple, elevating its priest to the rank of High Priest and raising the temple's status in the eyes of both the regional faith and the Orthodoxy. This deepens the connection between the local faith and the central authority of the Church. At the pinnacle of the Founding Temples is Ombos, often referred to simply as "The Temple." It is regarded as the highest authority in the Church of Set. However, even the most powerful Setites know little about the inner workings of this ancient site, and no one truly knows who or what rules over Ombos. Its secrecy only adds to its mystical power, making it the central symbol of the Setite faith.

Characters

• Sobeka
• Sobek
• Davik Chekmanov

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