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Boons are the currency of vampires, a complicated concept to be sure, but it does make unlife interesting.
A boon is like a debt. You do someone a favor, and if they acknowledge that you helped them out, they now owe you a boon. Sounds pretty simple? Don't bet your unlife.
Note that a boon isn't owed just when you take it upon yourself to declare it. If someone saves your existence by choice, and others see him do so, if you don't acknowledge the boon, the court might destroy you. If a vampire becomes known as untrustworthy, or an oath breaker, the Harpies may allow others to ignore their debt to him later.
One thing to keep in mind: Boons must be paid off, because the social order demands it. If a Prince doesn't enforce boons, then the people who owe him boons might not have to pay him off, and he isn't going to stand for that.
Since boons can be complicated, and are important to the Way Things Work, they are described here in two ways: First, what would need to be done for the boon to be owed, and secondly, what it would take to repay the boon.
Trivial Boon
A small boon, granted to a person who didn't inconvenience himself to do a favor. Example: Joe is too far from his haven to make it there before sunrise. Sam's haven is close, and offers Joe a day's rest there.
A trivial boon is paid off with a single instance of recompense, and nothing further is owed. It requires, for example, the use of a discipline on the owner's behalf, information provided, a vote in the owner's favor. If a person chooses not to repay a trivial boon when he could do so (such a boon is usually not 'called in'), he could probably get away with it, but the Harpies or Prince might use this to destroy his status,
Minor Boon
A somewhat larger boon, this is granted to a person who inconvenienced himself, or gave up part of a limited resource, on behalf of another. Example: Joe is having trouble hunting due to some injury. Sam allows him to feed from his herd.
A minor boon is still typically paid off in a single act of recompense. While this boon is held, the one that owes it, should be polite in public to the one that holds it. It doesn't mean he has to agree with everything, though. While a trivial boon might be 'overlooked', if someone calls in a minor boon, it best be paid. Such a boon might be paid off by allowing long term use of one's haven, or instruction in a common discipline, such as Potence, Celerity or Fortitude.
Major Boon
A major boon is granted to one who sacrifices greatly of his time or resources, and subjects himself to a certain degree of risk. A Prince is typically granted such a boon in exchange for being allowed to remain in his city, and hunt.
At this level of boon, you must support the holder in a political action that he requests: this will satisfy the boon. Teaching of a clan discipline (Not a physical, which is covered by a Minor boon, nor a Clan Specific, which is covered by a Blood boon) would also cancel such a debt.
Blood Boon
A blood boon is granted to one that has risked his assets or friends, or put himself at some direct risk to his unlife.
A blood boon is such that it might never be paid off. While it is owed, the owner knows that he'll have at least one vote in his favor, that one voice won't be raised in opposition. Whatever he wants to be taught, it will be taught. Unless he wants a Clan Specific discipline - teaching such will cancel such a boon. Having his unlife saved by the one who owes it will also cancel the debt.
Life Boon
This is granted only in the case of one who laid his very unlife on the line.
The owner of such a boon can demand anything he likes, -anything- ... and get it. This debt can only be repaid by saving the unlife of the one who owns it. Anything short of that, he can ask for, and the boon is still owed.