Often, an Acolyte within the Chorus establishes herself above her fellow novitiates. Perhaps she seems stoic in the face of pain or appears preternaturally blessed by the powers that be. (Alternately, perhaps the Hierophant favors the Acolyte for more selfish reasons.) Whatever her supposed qualifications, the covenant considers her worthy for a special position by the side of the Hierophant.
As Adhvaryu, the vampire leaves the Chorus (often without trial and before the others) and attends to the ritual needs of the Hierophant. The Adhvaryu becomes his arbiter of sacrifice. During any ritual, she is the one who handles the actual act of sacrifice according to the Hierophant’s desires. She is the one who crushes grain, slits the goat’s throat or clips the fingers from the struggling child.
The role is meant only in a ritual capacity — the Adhvaryu is supposed to only serve the Hierophant’s needs during times of ceremony. Many Hierophants abuse this, however, and claim that as ritual figures, all they do is somehow sacred and needs the attention of the Adhvaryu. A Hierophant might bind the young vampire to him, and force her to perform any manner of scutwork or debauchery. Those who struggle in the role of Adhvaryu are often threatened. They can cease to be the handler of the sacrifice and can instead become the sacrifice.
