Débutante Ball

[ Social Event ]

The Débutante Ball is a social event where women are presented to the Prince. It is specifically intended to elevate Fledgeling vampires of the upper class clans to the level of Neonate. Notably, female kindred from the lower classes are not introduced to the Prince - at least not until they become notable figures in their respective clan.

The Débutante Ball also allows visitors from other princedoms who come to live in the territory of the Prince to become members of society.

The Débutante Ball is held at the start of the Season, and not held again until the next year. It consists of two parts, the first being the presentation to the prince, and the second part being the Ball itself.

The prince and his people are responsible for organizing the Débutante Ball. No announcements are made or invitations are sent, as the Débutante Ball takes place on the same day every year.

There are no invitations for the Débutante Ball, but rather it is the Sire who decides if his Fledgeling is ready. Likewise, the Prince cannot reasonably keep track of who wants to visit his lands, so it is up to qualifying kindred to contact his people.

To be presented, however, it is necessary to register beforehand, and a check is done to see if you even qualify - only members of the upper class clans can be presented.

The Ball part of the Débutante Ball is open to all, and a very popular event as it is the first proper social of the season. It is an Open Ball, meaning anyone in the upper class clans is welcome.

As a key social event for new kindred, there are several important customs to keep in mind.

A strict dress-code applies to the débutantes who will be presented to the prince and only the best clothes will do. All débutantes wear white, floor-length evening dresses with a low cut ¹⁾ and short sleeves, and they are worn with long white gloves.

A veil is worn in the hair as part of a large hairpiece which should display white feathers, and the gown must have a train of exactly three feet. Not two feet 11 inches and certainly not three feet 1 inch. Débutantes may also wear pearls or jewellery that belongs to the family, but nothing too flashy or off-colour.

If the Sire or sponsor of the kindred is a woman, she is similarly bound by this dress-code, but does not wear feathers.

The women who are to be presented to the prince gather at the palace at the start of the night with the person introducing them, usually their Sire. Guards watch over those who have gathered to prevent incidents. A servant of the prince establishes the order in which people will be presented and another makes a detailed inspection of each of the débutantes to make sure everything is in order, including measuring the train of their gown. If it is of the incorrect length, the débutante is sent home and can't try again until next year.

Once everything has been checked the débutantes and their Sires (or the visitors and whomever will present them) line up in the Order of Precedence and are led, one by one, to see the Prince.

Upon entering the room, both Sire and débutante curtsey ²⁾, move forward to about halfway, curtsey again and then walk up to the Prince, at the indicated position, and curtsey a third time.

The Prince will then acknowledge the Sire, who will bow and say “Your Serene Majesty, may I present”, followed by the full name of the débutante, who will then makes a grand curtsey, an elaborate and detailed bow which completely ignores the fact that it is, to say the least, an impractical manoeuvre in a formal gown with a train but which does look very elegant if carried out correctly.

The débutante stays down while the Sire gives her full titles, and explains her heritage. In most cases, it suffices to mention her Sire, presuming that Sire is already a member of society. Otherwise, it may be necessary to go a bit further back. If the person being introduced is from another territory, and has been introduced to the Prince there (i.e. did not come here as a fledgeling but was part of society there), the Sire also mentions where she came from.

In rare cases, the Prince may ask the Sire for additional information. This indicates that the prince is interested in the person, which is definitely a good thing if the young kindred wants to get ahead.

Only once this has all taken place does the débutante rise from her grand curtsey. The Prince will then thank the Sire. Both will curtsey again, and the débutante will pick up her train as she does, stepping back, curtseying again, stepping back three steps, curtseying once more and laying down her train and then both Sire and débutante walk out.

In no case should the débutante speak, even if the Prince appears to ask her a direct question - any questions will be answered by her Sire or sponsor.

Once the presentation has been completed, the débutante is separated from her Sire and taken to a waiting area, where she has to wait with the other débutantes as a guard keeps watch to prevent any incidents from taking place.

Below in the grand ballroom of the palace the ball will get started as people gather. After waiting for some time, a servant comes in again to position the débutantes in their order of precedence, leading them towards the large staircase.

Just before the first dance, the débutantes will make their big entrance, one by one being announced and walking down the stairs to join the ball as the kindred present watch and applaud. They can expect to spend most of the evening on the dance floor and are expected to stay until just before dawn.