Prestation in Kindred Society
Boons
Vampires have no use for money. The Resources merit is a nice thing to have, certainly. It tells you where on the map you can independently live, for one. For another, it's nice to be able to throw cash around in a scene. It feels good. Kindred, however, don't really trade amongst themselves in cash. They trade in Boons. A boon is, at its core, the promise of a future service to be rendered. The service is understood to be unspecified, and this is important.
(For further info on Boons and management of Boons see Boons)
Boons are often recorded by the Court Harpy or Harpies. They are ranked in order of significance. From the lowest to the highest:
Trivial boons
Trivial boons are basic in scope, risk and significance. It could be a simple as directing a hungry kindred the Rack, agreeing to cet someone into a club, providing Haven for a vampire overnight
Scenario one
Alejandro, at the Court in which he was presented to the Prince and Primogen Council, in 1995. Upon being presented he asked the Prince's permission to live in the City in his own right, as a member of Clan Tremere, and offered a trivial boon for the right to do so. The Prince accepts the boon and bids the Harpy record the boon.
Scenario two
The Sherrif needs the use of a Clan Tremere magician to pursue a course of action for the Court. Clan Tremere, generally, charge two trivial boons for the ritual. But because the Prince was owed a boon, it was provided in payment of that boon.
Scenario three
A Toreadore Neonate overhears a Ventrue talk about their latest financial acquisition. It included a series of paintings by an obscure artist. The Toreadore asks to borrow them for a Toreadore hosted Court event.
Minor Boons
Paying off a minor boon requires effort and may be risky. They may require making use of a background or of power that you control.
Scenario one
There is a Primogen council meeting coming up. Clan Toreadore's Primogen happens to mention that their clan is inclined to abstain from the vote, as it does not directly effect them. Clan Malkavian's Primogen privately says it'd be hilarious if the Ventrue lost and they'd pay a Minor boon to the Toreadore to vote that way. The Toreadore accepts the boon and votes against Clan Ventrue, thankful that the votes are secret ballot.
Scenario two
Carlos, the Neonate Caitiff, shows up to Court more hungry than is socially acceptable. In order to prevent hunger frenzy, one of the Keeper's Herd is provided. The Court declared that Carlos owed the Keeper two minor boons and the Court two minor boons.
Scenario Three
A Brujah hastily threatens a Gangrel in Elysium. The Keeper hears the threat and issues a Breach of Elysium warning, marking that the Brujah owes the Court a minor boon. No actual violence has taken place, but the threat itself was sufficiently egregious that it is considered violence in an Elysium.
Major Boons
These are a big deal and require a great deal of power to pay off.
Scenario One
A clan Malkavian Neonate was caught poaching in Clan Brujah's turf, the Prince even recognised it as Domain, but Brujah considered it theirs since the 40s. The Malkavian Primogen offers to pay the Clan Bruja a Major Boon to consider the matter dropped. Clan Brujah agree.
Scenario Two
The Prince has an embarrassing secret that a promising young Kindred stumbles upon. Rather than see the talent wasted, he offers the Kindred a major boon for his silence. The Kindred agrees and leverages the Boon to acquire a Domain size 3 feeding ground.
Life Boons
Life boons are difficult to acquire and pay off. You need to save someone's life to acquire one, or perform a task on par. And if someone else saves your life, it could well be understood that you owe them a life boon.
Scenario one
The Sabbat raided the city in 1965 and Marcos' Haven was destroyed. The explosion knocked him Torpid and a wall collapsed on him. Though sunrise was fast approaching, a Kindred with sufficient Auspex could lead the rescue team. Marcos ended up owing the Toreadore a life boon, but at least he was alive, more or less.
Scenario two
A Caitiff Anarch cotery decided to label himself independent and tried to carve out a sectino of LA for themselves. The Prince did not take kindly to it and they were all declared in breach of Domain. One or two pledged Life Boons, most met the sun.
Prestation
Boons change hands, and while it is possible to deny a boon granted in private, a boon that has been recorded can be transfered. It may be that the Harpies keep extensive logs of all Court boons, or that the tradition in Court is to write an IOU. One way or the other, you may find that when the bill comes due the kindred collecting is not the person to whom the favour was originally given.
Being owed boons is good. Owing boons can be useful as well. If it is known that you owe the Prince a major boon then the Anarch who hates you is less likely to kill you because the Ivory tower may come calling to that Anarch for that major boon, and sure, you might argue them down to two minor boons, but it's never good being in hock with the Ivory tower.
Many Kindred keep personal ledgers of debts owed and debts owing.
When it comes to disputing a boon, the validity of it, whether it has been succesfully discharged. The Harpy or Harpies are the arbiters.
Trading Favours
On paper, all things considered equal, a trivial boon is a trivial boon is a trivial boon. But in reality all things are not equal. A trivial boon from the Prince is probably worth more than a trivial boon form Francey, the Toredore unreleased Fledgling.
That said. As a rule of thumb, three trivial boons is roughly equal to a minor boon. Three minor boons is roughly equal to a major boon. But, the trade must be made. You cannot simply say "I have three trivial boons from the Francey, therefore I have a minor boon" you must find someone to trade the boons with. That said, anyone who owes you a minor boon is probably inclined to owe you three trivial boons. The exact details of how boons change hands is a byzantine and complicated affair.
