The Khabar

It has been said that the khabar is the true strength of the Assamites. The seven towers of the Khabar are as follows:

*Asabiyya - This refers to the bond of loyalty between Clan and individual. Loyalty to the Clan is absolute, and the Clan's interests always have precedence over the interests of the individual. The Clan has become known and feared over the centuries because its members are so willing to risk and face destruction in order to achieve the Clan's aims.

*Ikhwan - Assamites are forbidden to fight each other under any circumstances, even across the Clan/Antitribu divide. They must assist each other in all things, except in Assasination; This is a holy task, to be undertaken alone.

*Muruwa - An Assamites word is practically unbreakable-- a rare thing indeed among vampires-- and only a fool or an ignoramous would insult an Assamite by demanding an oath or a written contract. Assassination contracts are absolutely unbreakable, since they are regarded as a sacred duty to Haqim. Likewise, another's word given to an Assamite is regarded as unbreakable, and the Clan will enforce this, if necessary.

*Hadd - Vengance is a vital concept to the Assamites ---Vengance for the Clan as a whole and for fallen comerades. In many ways, it is the prospect of eventual vengance which gives the Assamites the strength to carry on and stay true to the Khabar despite enourmous pressure. Vengance is the duty of each individual and the clan as a whole. There is only one exception to the Hadd: Assamites who were destroyed in the execution of a contract (whether or not the contract succeded) are not avenged, unless they were betrayed by bad information or tricked to their doom by a false contract.

*Taqqiya - The duty of secrecy is ingrained in each member of the clan through millennia of danger; in effect, it is a second Masquerade, aimed at Kindred rather than kine. In addition, the principle of Taqqiya permits an Assamite to pose as an outsider in the furtherance of a contract-- something that would normally be forbidden by the strict rule of muruwa. While posing as a non-Assamite, it is permissible to lie, cheat, steal, and murder in order to maintain the deception and facilitate the closing of the contract, without compromissing one's personal honor.

*Mumin - The duty of faith demands complete and unquestioning devotion to the khabar and to the path set down by Haquim, including the Path of Blood.

*Umma - The idea of community is central to Assamite survival. This last demands that the individual should serve the clan humbly, according to the clan's needs and the individual's gifts, and without reference to the individual's own desires and ambitions. Because of this, the clan's scholars, mages, and other specialists are as respected as the warrior and assasins. Members are sometimes required to go out and obtain skills and knowledge needed by the clan, and this is as sacred and honorable a task as performing an assasination.