[Prov.RPG]Vampire - The Masquerade

[Captain Dappet]

The Lord said to Cain;�Where is your brother, Abel?�
�I know not� he replied �Am I my brother�s keeper?�
And the Lord said; �What have you done? Listen! Your brother�s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother�s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the Earth�
Genesis 4:9-12

THE WORLD OF DARKNESS.

The world is not what you think. Beneath skyscrapers' leering gargoyles, factories belching smoke and streets packed with the human throng lurk things we are not meant to see. Creatures dwell in the shadows and hidden places. They watch you, stalk you and prey upon your body and soul. The life you lead is a lie. Your darkest fears aren't make-believe.

They're real.
From the Official White Wolf website.

New York City.

The Vampiric presence in New York is as old as the city itself. Many European Kindred fled persecution in the Old World, and like their mortal counterparts, they were welcomed to the land of the Free by the Statue of Liberty, and sought to achieve their own vision of the American Dream.
In modern nights, New York is largely under the control of the Camarilla. However, certain parts of the city are under the control by Anarch Barons and independent clans, and in recent years, The Sabbat have been becoming increasingly active in the city.

Caitiff are common in New York. So common, in fact, that the Camarilla places no resources in hunting them down, unless they pose a real threat to the Masquerade.

And as if the Sabbat weren�t enough, there have been whispers that the Ashirra have been covertly moving into the city.

The Camarilla holds domain in Manhattan and Queens, while the Bronx is an Anarch Free Zone, no Prince, Baron or Bishop hold any domain here. Officially, however, the Camarilla claims domain in the Bronx as well. Open conflict between the Camarilla and the Anarchs is being avoided, for the sake of the Masquerade, but tensions are running high. Brooklyn is under the control of the Caitiff Baron Lucas Faust and his Faustinians. Staten Island is contested territory, the Sabbat have several covens operating in the area, and both the Faustinians and the Camarilla fight them here.

As of now, the Camarilla and the Faustinians have an uneasy truce; at least until the Sabbat have been driven out of the city.

CLANS.
The Clans are Bloodlines, each tracing their origin back to an Ancient vampire. Each Clan has certain powers inherent in their Blood, passed down through generations from their ancient fathers. Most Clans were, supposedly, formed well before the birth of Christ, predating even the Biblical Flood by a few centuries, by members of the Third Generation(Antediluvians). According to Kindred lore, these ancient vampires will one day return and bring about the end of the world, or Gehenna, by rising from their graves and devouring their own Childer.

Clan Ventrue.
Elegant, aristocratic and regal, the Ventrue are the lords of the Camarilla. It was Clan Ventrue that provided the cornerstone of the Camarilla, and it is Clan Ventrue that directs and coaxes the Camarilla in its darkest hours. Even in the modern age, the majority of princes descend from Clan Ventrue. The Ventrue would, of course, have things no other way. In the tradition of noblesse oblige, the Ventrue must lead the other clans for their own good. In ancient nights, Ventrue were chosen from nobles, merchant princes or other wielders of power. In modern times the clan recruits from wealthy "old-money" families, ruthless corporate climbers, and politicians. Although Ventrue move in the same social circles as the Toreador, they do not fritter away their existences in frivolity and idle chatter. The Ventrue proudly wear the privileges of leadership, and stoically bear its burdens. Thus has it always been; thus shall it always be.
The Ventrue can dominate the minds of Kine and some Kindred, as well as having a presence of authority that causes obedience for those around them.

Clan Brujah.
The Brujah can trace their roots back to ancient Babylon, and the clay tablets of the first scholars. They were the lovers and guardians of knowledge, and the founder of their line was the inventor of written language. However, in their quest for freedom, they slew their founder and were banished from the first city. Today, the Brujah are scorned as riffraff who have lost their heritage and are without pride. For over a millennium they have been rebels among the Kindred, forever questioning and testing the Traditions.
The clan is very poorly organised; its members meet only irregularly, and share little in common besides their love of rebellion. They are among the supports of the anarchs, and aiding them is one of the only matters upon which they ever agree. They are often underestimated, as much by themselves as anyone.
The Brujah are fierce warriors. No other clan can amass such brute strength as the Brujah.

Clan Malkavian.
At first glance, the members of Clan Malkavian do not appear to be a clan at all; they are chosen from all races, creeds and social strata. But Malkavians, regardless of mortal standing, bear one disturbing commonality: They are all quite mad. Whether from the clan's choice of victims, the circumstances of the Embrace, or some property in Malkavian blood itself, all Malkavians go insane shortly after their Embrace (if they were not insane to begin with). Accordingly, many Malkavians find themselves pariahs, ostracized by a vampiric society fearful of their random urges and capricious whims. Wiser Kindred, however, prefer to keep the madmen close at hand: Behind the Malkavians' lunatic cackling and feverish rantings lie smatterings of insight, even wisdom. It is said that Malkavians can hear the voices of all other Malkavians, past, present and future.
The insanity of Clan Malkavian can be spread temporarily by its members. If being within a certain radius of a victim, a Malkavian can render the victim helpless from insanity.

Clan Nosferatu.
Caine's childer are called "The Damned," and no vampires embody this more than the wretches of Clan Nosferatu. While other vampires still look human and may travel in mortal society, Nosferatu are twisted and deformed by the curse of vampirism. To put it bluntly, the Embrace transforms them into hideous monsters. Unable to walk among humans, Nosferatu must dwell in subterranean sewers and catacombs. Other vampires revile the Nosferatu, considering them disgusting and interacting with them only when they must. Because of this stigma, however, Nosferatu are survivors par excellence. Few creatures, mortal or vampire, know the city's back alleys and dark corners like the Nosferatu do. Additionally, Nosferatu have refined the crafts of sneaking and eavesdropping to fine arts; if anyone or anything has the latest dirt on mortal or vampiric society, it is the Nosferatu. Finally, millennia of shared deformity and abuse have fostered strong bonds among the monsters. Nosferatu forego the squabbling and feuds ubiquitous to the other clans, preferring to work in unison. You mess with one, you mess with 'em all - and that can get messy indeed.
The Nosferatu are the best at hiding in the shadows. They can render themselves invisible for long periods of time.

Clan Toreador.
The Toreador are called many things - "degenerates," "artistes," "poseurs," and "hedonists" being but a few. But any such mass categorization does the clan a disservice. Depending on the individual and her mood, Toreador are alternately elegant and flamboyant, brilliant and ludicrous, visionary and dissipated. Perhaps the only truism that can be applied to the clan is its members' aesthetic zeal. Whatever a Toreador does, she does with passion. Whatever a Toreador is, she is with passion. To the Toreador, eternal life is to be savored. Many Toreador were artists, musicians or poets in life; many more have spent frustrating centuries producing laughable attempts at art, music or poetry. Toreador share the Ventrue's love of high society, though not for them the tedium of actually running things - that's what functionaries are for, darling. Toreador know that their place is to captivate and inspire - through their witty speech, graceful deeds, and simple, scintillating existence.
The Toreador have a powerful presence which allows them to work people like puppeteers.

Clan Tremere.
Even among vampires, the insular Clan Tremere bears a reputation for treachery. This reputation is well earned; the Tremere were formerly a cabal of human wizards who, hungering for immortal life, wrested the secrets of vampirism from unwilling Kindred. Such vile deeds earned the clan a sinister reputation; even today, certain vampire clans would love nothing better than to destroy the entire Tremere line. Nonetheless, Clan Tremere holds a place in the Camarilla, for its members were instrumental in suppressing the Inquisition and supporting the Masquerade. Then, too, the Tremere have proved themselves dangerous enemies - and powerful allies. Tremere still practice a version of the arcane arts they studied in life, and so these "warlocks" use their sorcerous powers in service to the Camarilla almost as much as they use the Camarilla in service to themselves.
The Tremere use Blood Magic, a mysterious power unique to their clan. With it, they can, theoretically, kill their enemies by just looking at them. They have also been known to create Gargoyles to protect them.

Clan Gangrel.
Of all vampires, the Gangrel are perhaps closest to their inner nature. These nomadic loners spurn the constraints of society, preferring the comfort of the wilderness. How they avoid the wrath of the werewolves is unknown; perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the Gangrel are themselves shapeshifters. When a mortal speaks of a vampire changing into a wolf or a bat, she is probably speaking of a Gangrel. Like the Brujah, Gangrel are fierce warriors; unlike the Brujah, Gangrel ferocity does not stem from anarchic rage, but from animalistic instinct. Gangrel have a keen understanding of the Beast in their souls, and prefer to spend their nights in communion with the animals whom they so emulate.
Gangrel can shapeshift into animals. However, some choose to concentrate on other areas, and instead control the animals around them.

Clan Lasombra.
The clan of Shadows has led the Sabbat since its inception. Those who are selected for the Lasombra Embrace tend to come from the ranks of the most skilled and callous manipulators that the world has ever known. Whereas those of the Clan Ventrue led the Camarilla because they believe it is their sacred trust and duty to do so, the Lasombra lead the Sabbat because they believe themselves superior to all other vampires and indeed, all other creatures in the world. The Lasombra also understand the need for the use of force and will not hesitate to physically devastate any foe that they cannot outmaneuver politically, so long as it can be done by the rules, or at least in the shadows. They live by the adage; I am my brother's keeper, whether he likes it or not. Lasombra do not cast a reflection. Lasombra Antitribu have been known to serve the Camarilla.
The Lasombra can render themselves invisible, and have a certain Presence to them that may cause awe, respect or even fear.

The Serpents of Light.
A heretical group spawned from the Followers of Set which claims allegiance to the Sabbat, and rejects the traditional cosmology of Setite religion, believing instead in the story of Caine. The Serpents often serve as advisors to the leadership of the Sabbat. They are sometimes called Cobras.
The Serpents are social animals. They are able to extract information from anyone, and corruption is their specialty.

Clan Ravnos.(Independent)
Once a great clan, the Ravnos have, in modern nights, been reduced to a shell of their former selves. The treacherous tricksters once walked randomly among the other Cainites, untrusted and beholden to no one. In a recent storm of madness and death, though, they have been slain and lost until they are but a shadow of their former ranks. No more than a few hundred now claim Ravnos lineage and the strange illusions and philosophies that come with it. The Ravnos are closely affiliated with the Gypsy population across the globe, and are thus sometimes referred to as �Gypsies�. The Ravnos are not aligned with the Camarilla, Sabbat or Anarchs. They are an independent clan, and it�s members may choose to ally themselves with whomever they wish.
The Ravnos weave enthralling illusions to deceive and fool their victims to willingly give them what they want. The Ravnos are nomadic, and since the near-extinction of their clan, some have developed a degree of paranoia.

Clan Tzimisce.
Potent sorceries, crumbling castles, forbidding mountains, villages of huddled and fearful peasants; These images play through the history of the Tzimisce. The scholarly Fiends trace their roots to the demesnes(demesne: the domain of a Tzimisce) of Eastern Europe, where they ruled as feudal lords over a superstitious populace (and, in some places they still do, it is whispered) Even in the modern day, anachronistic behavior and uncommon occult insight are hallmarks of the Tzimisce. the pre-eminent sorcerers of Cainite society, they now serve the Sabbat as terrifying, alien creatures that epitomize the traditional characteristics of vampires. Dracula himself is said to be one of the Tzimisce though in the Sabbat, he is counted a traitor to the Clan. While the younger Tzimisce of the Sabbat may be described as sadistic or cruel, the Elders of the Clan fail to even comprehend the concepts of mercy and suffering. There is a small number of Tzimisce Antitribu in the Camarilla, and some even operate independently.
The Tzimisce have been known to use their power of Vicissitude to shape themselves into beings of terrible or divine beauty, and to shape victims into abominations of their former selves.

Clan Giovanni.
The upstart Giovanni Clan maintains a genteel exterior, dealing in matters of finance and internal business. Of course, as with all vampires, their outward facade merely hides much worse. Rumored to have wrested their position Clan Cappadocius, now lost to antiquity, the Giovanni keep their small and secretive ties within their own family. Where there's money to be made, it's said, there's probably a Giovanni. However, the business dealings of the Necromancers hide their debauched dealings in the magics of the dead. The Giovanni traffic in mortal crime and politics more as a way to fulfill expected stereotypes. Underneath, they study hideous Necromancy, engage in debauched rituals and wallow in the excessive wealth of an incestuous immortal family.
The Giovanni study Necromancy, and can, through rituals, raise or even reanimate the dead. They can also Dominate the minds of Kine especially, but Kindred as well. Giovanni can also sense the intentions of the weak-minded.

Clan Assamite(Independent)
They are the assassins among the Kindred, swearing loyalty to no masters, the Assamite serve who ever can pay their price. The Assamites independent is a matter of belief; they believe that their founder hails from the second generation and that all other Cainites therefore are flawed copies of themselves. Other Cainites exists only for them to feed from, so they can bring themselves nearer perfection, or nearer the "One", the father of all vampires, Khayyin. Be this as it may, their belief is held in secret, so no other can learn of it, even the younger Assamites don't learn of it until they are old enough to be trusted. So still, the Assamites have at least some degree of contact with outside clans. The Assamites have been known to practice Diablerie, and as a result, there have been records of Kindred of other Clans devouring Assamites, to gain their power, and sometimes even be granted membership in the Clan. Kindred like this are often not viewed kindly by all elements of the Assamite Clan, and will sometimes even be hunted by their brethren.
The Assamites are assassins extraordinaire. No other Clan has the skills to deliver silent death like the Assamites. Like other Kindred who prefer not being seen, Assamites can render themselves invisible for a short period of time.

The Followers of Set(Independent)
The Snake Clan is the probably the clan which has least allies among outside clans. Claiming that they hail from Set, a dark god predating even Caine. All of the members work towards the resurrection of Set, even so most other Kindred think Set nothing more than another Antediluvian. Regarding what is the truth other Cainites do not look upon Sets resurrection as a acceptable course of action. Their influence is far spread; Africa, India and the Middle East are all inside the Setite sphere of influence.
The Followers of Set practice with great skill the arts of corruption, deceit and ancient Egyptian sorcery.

VITAL INFORMATION.

The Masquerade.
The Masquerade is a complex web of lies and misinformation, with the objective of keeping the existence of Vampires secret from the human population. It encourages Kindred to try to blend in with mortal society, as to make it easier to feed from them.
Violation of the Masquerade is punishable by Final Death.
The Camarilla officially enforces the Masquerade, most Anarchs believe it�s common sense, and the Sabbat openly oppose it.

The Camarilla.
The ideology of the Camarilla is closely linked with The Masquerade. It is made up by seven clans, and is possibly the largest organization of supernatural creatures in the world.
The Camarilla believes that the only way to ensure the survival of the Kindred species is to unite � one breach of the Masquerade, by even a single vampire, even once - may endanger the entire race. And in times when humans wield weapons of mass destruction, napalm and phosphorus shells, the Masquerade is all the more important.
The Camarilla also enforces Elder vampires as a ruling class over the younger vampires, and claims all Kindred as members of their organization. The Camarilla dismisses the existence of Antediluvians, Gehenna and Caine sightings as superstition.
The Prince is the local Camarilla authority. Contrary to the title, however, the Prince acts more like a Magistrate or an Overseer than a Monarch. The Princes are under the authority of the Inner Circle. A group of Elders, whose true motives are often kept secret, and their identities even more so, at least to common Kindred.
Core Camarilla Clans:
Ventrue
Brujah
Nosferatu
Gangrel
Tremere
Toreador
Malkavian

The Anarchs.
Technically, The Anarchs are members of the Camarilla. They believe in the importance of the Masquerade, but reject the Camarilla�s top-down power structure. They aim to change it to the grand protector of Kindred everywhere, which it claims to be. Their name refers to the anarchic form of social organization that they favor, over the Camarilla�s Hierarchic structure.
All Clans can be represented among the Anarchs, though the Camarilla clans are the most common.

The Sabbat.
Freedom preached in accordance to the Sabbat belief that every Vampire is free to create their own destiny without being hindered by the reputation of their Elders, and that no Sabbat has to lay down their life for cowards who can�t take care of their own matters. Of course, it does not always work like this in practice.
The Sabbat opposes the Masquerade, embracing their Inner Beast, and deeming those who don�t cowards and weaklings that are unable to face their own nature. The Sabbat also believes in the existence of Antediluvians, ancient vampires of the dreaded Third Generation, and rabidly opposes them. The Sabbat believes that Vampires are a higher form of life than humanity, and its ultimate goal is to destroy mortal society and enslave the remaining populace, for them to feed on.
The Sabbat is organized in packs, groups of vampires bonded together by a powerful ritual known as Vaulderie, where the members of the pack drink a mixture of blood from all of its members. The packs are in turn ruled by a local Bishop, the self-proclaimed Sabbat leader of a city. Clanless vampires are welcomed into the Sabbat, and known as Pander. The Sabbat are mostly violent thugs and criminals. When making an offensive, the Sabbat leadership often embrace large numbers of lowlife humans and hit them in the face with a shovel or some other blunt object. The result is weaker vampires in larger numbers, too stupid to ever question their masters.
Core Sabbat Clans:
Tzimisce
Lasombra
Camarilla Antitribu
Serpents of the Light
Pander

Caitiff.
Caitiff are Clanless vampires. They were either left sireless after their Embrace, or are of thin blood, and thus no discernable bloodline can be determined. New York has a high concentration of Caitiff, but Thin-Bloods are rare. There are so many Caitiff, that some have banded together to form groups that challenge the Camarilla for control over the city. Many Caitiff have a hard time learning new powers, as they have no way of knowing what powers they have inherent in their blood. They do not specialize in anything, but can learn any discipline or develop their own. However, without a mentor this could prove difficult indeed. Caitiff allied with the Sabbat are seen as an individual clan called Pander.

The Ashirra.
The Ashirra are a Muslim sect of Vampires who had embraced the tenets of Islam. The Ashirra, which means �Brethren� in Arabic, still maintained much of their humanity and had loose ties with the Camarilla. The sect was founded by the Lasombra Suleiman Ibn Abdullah, who had heard the Prophet Muhammad speak, and converted to Islam.
The Ashirra are rare in the West, but have strong territorial dominance in the Middle East, in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran and Afghanistan, where neither the Camarilla or Sabbat hold much influence.
The Ashirra includes all Clans, but the most common are Assamites(Banu Haqim), Lasombra(Qabilat al-Khayal), and Hajj(Nosferatu). There are rumours that the Vampires of the Ashirra are affiliated with- or the authority of- the dreaded al-Qaeda terrorist organization.

Antitribu.
The Antitribu are essentially traitors to their parent clan. The Sabbat consists largely out of Camarilla Antitribu, and likewise there is a small number of Lasombra and Tzimisce Antitribu in the ranks of the Camarilla.

The Faustinians.
A local sect founded by Lucas Justinian Faust in the early 1940�s. The Faustinians derive their name from the last and middle names of their founder. It operates a lot like a mafia, with legal businesses serving as fronts for smuggling and other, sometimes supernatural, activities. Most Faustinians are Caitiff, Clanless vampires needing answers and protection, though all Kindred are welcome to try and gain the trust of Faust. Unlike most sects, the Faustinians do not base their membership on lineage, but on trust and loyalty. Before you are truly accepted into the sect, you will have to prove your worth and dedication. The Faustinians value the Masquerade, and seeks to uphold it. Those caught violating the Masquerade within Faustinian territory will be brought to face trial, and often suffer Final Death as punishment.

The Beast.
Vampires are the fallen and the damned, and each one fights an eternal struggle with the monster within themselves. The Sabbat fully embrace their Beast, believing it to be more than just the source of their power, but their very nature. When a Vampire gives in to their Beast, they risk going into Frenzy. When this happens, the Inner Beast takes control, granting amazing destructive force, but turning them into a wild animal. Scared, cornered and hungry. Frenzy puts the Vampire at great risk of violating the Masquerade. Physical damage and hunger can trigger Frenzy. To keep the Beast at bay, Kindred are prohibited from draining their victims dry when feeding, unless they pose a direct threat to their survival.

USEFUL INFORMATION.
Kindred.
The race of Vampires as a whole, or a single vampire.
The Embrace.
The transformation of becoming a vampire. The human is drained entirely of their blood, and fed Vampire blood instead.
Sire
A vampire who has embraced another. To the Embraced, there is a strong bond between them and their sire.
Childe
A newly Embraced Vampire. The term is sometimes used derogatorily, indicating inexperience. Plural: Childer.
Other words with the same meaning: Fledgling, Neonate.
The Jyhad.
The invisible war waged between the generations. Many events in human history have been influenced directly by the Jyhad. Vampiric conspiracies, that never reveal their true goal. Indeed, most combatants do not know exactly who they are fighting, or why.
Gehenna.
Judgement Day, Armageddon, the mythical End of the World described in Vampiric lore, when the Antediluvians return to devour both Kindred and Kine, and wash away all things in a flood of blood. Signs of Gehenna are, for example, the appearance of thin-bloods and Clanless, which is why some Kindred believe they are living in the Final Nights.
Caine
Biblical Caine, the Father of all Kindred and the first murderer. Upon killing his brother Abel, Caine was cursed by God to walk the Earth for all eternity. He met Lilith, and she taught him the power of the blood. Later, Caine killed Lilith, and founded the First City of Enoch where Kindred and Kine co-existed. Enoch was washed away in the Great Flood. The Antediluvians are three generations removed from Caine, and are the fathers of the largest Clans today. These events are described in the elusive Book of Nod, which has never been published in its entirety.
Kine
Humans. The word originates from an archaic word meaning �cattle�.
Ghoul.
A human who drinks vampire blood. Ghouls live longer, heal faster, are stronger and generally physically superior to normal humans. Vampire blood is however extremely addictive, and after drinking three times from the same vampire, a blood bond may manifest itself. The Blood Bond is one of the most potent emotional sensations known, and causes the Ghoul to blindly follow and sometimes love their master unconditionally.
Diablerie.
The act of a younger vampire drinking the blood of an elder, until the victim suffers Final Death. In doing so, the younger vampire gains the power of the elder. Diablerie is illegal in the Camarilla, but rather common practice amongst the Sabbat.
Primogen.
The leaders in a given city; the Camarilla�s ruling body of elders, typically composed of one member from each clan present in a city.
Shovelhead
Sabbat shock troops. Embraced and hit over the head with a heavy object, often a shovel. Also known as "Clangs", from the sound the shovel makes.
Elder
A Vampire who has lived past two centuries of their Embrace.

[Captain Dappet]

If you wish to join, PM me your character's info. Two character limit.
Full Name:
Race: Human/Human(Ghoul)/Kindred
Place of Birth:
Date of Birth: DD/MM-YYYY
(KINDRED)Date of Embrace:
(KINDRED)Clan:
Affiliation: Camarilla, Anarch, Sabbat, Faustinian, Independent + mortal affiliations like the Police or others.
Skills/Powers:
Bio: Background story of your character.

CHARACTERS


Played by: Captain Dappet
Full Name: Lucas Justinian Faust
Race: Kindred
Place of Birth: New York
Date of Birth: 25/11-1909
Date of Embrace: 25/11-1934
Clan: Caitiff
Affiliation: Faustinian
Skills/Powers: Can read people very well. Has a Presence of Authority. Can Dominate the minds of most Kine, but not Kindred. Excellent gunman.
Bio:
Respected by the local Caitiff, left alone by the Anarchs, loathed by the Camarilla and hated by the Sabbat, Lucas Faust was Embraced on his birthday in the mid-30�s, but was left sireless when the Camarilla killed his sire for not requesting permission to Embrace the young Faust. Like many sireless Kindred, he was left for dead on the mean streets of the city. He learned of what had transpired, and his undead nature, from the local Anarchs, who saved him from the impending sunrise, laying the foundations of an understanding between Faust and the Anarch movement.
Before his Embrace, he had a different name, which now holds no meaning, and those that know it, dare not mention it. In life Lucas Faust was well-connected with the Cosa Nostra, working as an enforcer for the powerful Stracci crime family.
In 1941, he mysteriously disappeared, only to return 2 years later, with a considerable number of Caitiff on his side. He forcibly but covertly took control of the Stracci family and recruited some of the family members and made-men as ghouls.
By the beginning of 1944, Lucas Faust had cemented his hold on the old crime syndicate, making it his own. Its members are now known as a separate sect, local to NYC � �The Faustinians�.


Played by: Valathous
Full Name: Dominick Seigneur
Race: Kindred
Place of Birth: Paris, France
Date of Birth: 09/09/1249
Date of Embrace: 06/05/1279
Clan: Toreador/Assamite
Affiliation: Independent
Skills/Powers: Known to have quite a silver tongue dating back to his Toreador days. Has since learned the invisibility and quickness of the Assamite. Expert swordsman and marksman.
Bio:
Dominick very much considers himself to be a Renaissance man, having been born and Embraced as a young aristocrat in the Medieval ages and enjoying his life in the Renaissance the most of all his time. While he is uncertain, he believes himself to be one of the oldest remaining, as while he is quite a fighter, his tongue has saved him and garnered him respect many times before. After growing tired of the internal politics of the Camarilla, he abandoned his clan and had his wealth stripped from him. He later joined the Assamite in hopes of earning back his wealth and took to their ways rather quickly while still maintaining his aristocratic personality. Despite abandoning his original clan, he still maintains some respect for his age, knowledge, and pursuit of the Masquerade. He moved to the Americas in the mid 1900's. He fought in the Napoleonic Wars and WWI due to still holding national loyalties despite being Kindred and not Kine anymore.


Played by: Founder
Full Name: Nathan Chross
Race: Kindred
Place of Birth: New York, United States
Date of Birth: 04/06/1979
Date of Embrace: 06/05/1990
Clan: Brujah Antitribu
Affiliation: Sabbat
Skills/Powers: Incredible martial artist and very strong. Also very acrobatic.
Bio:
Nathan was formerly a loser in his "Kine" days. His mother died during child birth and he spent the next few years being shuffled between his grandparents and an abusive uncle. He would eventually flee into the streets before running into a powerful Vampire Elder. Despite the fact he was embraced by a Sabbat member, the elder Vampire took pity on him and raised him as a son, his personal star pupil. Nathan, due to his deprived childhood, hates Humans and agrees heavily with the Sabbat philosophy that they should be enslaved. Despite his youth, he is a famous foe against the other clans due to his "father" and his high-killing rate on the other clans.

[Captain Dappet]

Alright, let's get this thing started, guys.

Faust's Mansion, Brooklyn

Faust's black car rolls through the gates of the extravagant mansion. Well out of place with the rest of the area, guards circle around the property at all hours of the day and night - armed to the teeth, every one of them. Most of them are simple humans, who believe they're working for another powerful mortal, some of them however, are Ghouls, bound into servitude to their masters by blood. The Mansion was built by Vito Stracci in 1902, and was known as the Stracci Compound until the old crime family was taken over by an unknown organization or person.

Few people know that the family was brought down by vampires.

The car rolls up to the entrance, and a man in a black suit walks up and opens the door to the passenger's seats.
"Welcome back, Mr. Faust" he says, as his boss, Lucas Justinian Faust, steps out of the car.
"Thank you, Paulie" Faust replied, correcting his black and red striped tie and stepping towards the door. He took a long look at his home before stepping inside, reminiscing days of old, how he dreamed of one day owning this place when he worked for the mortals who built it.
A smile ran across his face as he opened the double-doors and stepped inside.
This place was perfect. There was plenty of room for everything he could ever wish for. A ball room, a dining room, countless bedrooms, and - most importantly - the basement. The basement was the perfect place for any activities of supernatural nature, or to keep prisoners for interrogation. In effect, the basement had been turned into some sort of dungeon. Countless of Sabbat shovelheads and other offenders had lived through their final night there.

He made his way upstairs, down the corridoor and into his personal domain. No one was allowed in here without permission from Faust himself, and being cleared three times by his most trusted brothers.
His domain was extravagantly decorated and filled with antique, and very expensive, furniture. What made it special, at least to mortal eyes, was the fact that there were no windows. To a Kindred of wealth, this sort of architectual modification was a must. Otherwise, all you'd have to do was open a window during daytime, and the resident is done for.

Faust walked up to a mirror, and looked at his pale face.
"Being Kindred really ain't that bad" he thought to himself, as he dusted off his gray suit, and corrected the collar of his black shirt. "Stay up all night, sleep all day, and kick ass. *beep*, I could live like this forever"
A smile cracked open on his face, baring his fangs in the mirror...

[Valathous]

Chez Seigneur

Within a beautifully and classically decorated room, the flickers of shadows danced across the walls in a steady but chaotic fashion as the pale light of several Gothic candle-stands lit the sides of the rather large living-room while the centre was lit by a large, round, metal candle chandelier that hung down from the high ceiling. The room was filled with old wooden furniture that was embroidered with plush red and gold fabrics. Several couches graced the left side of the room while a wooden table and chairs were meticulously placed in the middle of the right side of the room. Close to the arrangement of couches was a decorative fireplace that burned with a hearty fire. The bricks came out several feet past the fire and a thin chain mesh prevented any embers or lit ashes to escape and set fire to the room. The floor was an old but recently polished oak with a uniquely designed red and gold tapestry rug to match the motif of the room, and several old paintings hung from the wall ranging from forest scenes to a medieval marketplace. The house itself was not all that old, relative to his age of over 700, though he paid a private contractor to give it an older feel.

Sitting in a plush single-bodied chair with his feet elevated on a foot rest, sat Dominick Seigneur. In one hand he held a silver goblet, feeding the stem through his middle and ring fingers while holding the base of the cup with his domed fingers. In the other hand he held a first edition copy of Machiavelli's "The Prince." It was a work that he had read many times in his lifetime, but enjoyed it thoroughly each and every time he read it.

Dominick sighed as he closed the book and took a sip of wine out of his goblet as he looked around the room. He had successfully regained much of his former wealth, having been stripped of it upon abandoning his former clan, the Toreador, and joining the Assamites. While this was all well and good as he had always enjoyed a very luxurious life and fully intended to continue to do so, what he really desired at this moment was to regain much of the respect that he'd lost from his peers upon switching clans. He had grown tired of the internal politics and the constant aristocratic banter and had wished to do something more entertaining. This was why he had chosen the Assamite clan. It allowed him to hone a variety of new skills to keep him occupied and allowed him to deal with the Sabbat much more effectively. One would think that his loyalty to upholding the Masquerade to the level that he did, hunting down and executing the Sabbat, though many of which for a reasonable fee, would replace his lost respect with a new appreciation. That had yet to be the case thus far, however. Prior to this switch he had been held in quite high regard.

As he continued to sip his wine thoughtfully while admiring one of his old paintings, Dominick Seigneur promised himself he would regain the respect he deserved as an Elder of the Kindred. He had hoped to start anew when he left his beloved homeland of Paris, France in favour of New York but his actions had apparently preceded him.

[Founder]

(Sorry this is so late and Vampires have reflections...? )

Streets of New York

Nathan Chross, blood soaked, ran down an alley as he struggled to evade his captors, the Faustinians. Months under their guard, he was brutally tortured and "starved" until he gave information up on the Sabbat and the Elder that had transformed him into a Kindred. He never broke, but that was no doubt due to the strength he had as a Brujah, not due to any inefficiency on the part of his captors. No, they were very thorough and brutal as they broke his body...

The opportunity to flee finally came as many of the guards had left. Why? He didn't know. It's not like they would tell him. Perhaps a religious ceremony, or welcoming their master home, or just sheer negligence on their part. It was enough for him to use. A young, inexperienced Vampire stood guard over him and he was able to manipulate her into opening his animal-like cage. He had no powers of mind-control or anything of the sort. No, it didn't take that for him to free himself anyways. She was easy to seduce, despite the his tattered and broken body. Her loyalties were still developing and her naivety caused her complete undoing. After feasting upon her, regaining his strength, he fled the underground basement and rushed into the connecting sewers.

He was careful to avoid the Vampires that lived in the sewers, but it was possible they had spotted him. His priority was to run, not necessarily be stealthy. He had finally made it back into the city and was desperate to seek out his elder. His capture and the torture that followed would provoke an escalation in the "war" that was erupting. Nathan wanted to make it his priority to wipe out the Faustinians for their actions...every...last...one...of them....

[Captain Dappet]

(Every clan save for the Lasombra cast a reflection)

Faust's Mansion, Brooklyn.
Faust's Private Domain

Lying down in his antique couch, his tie hanging loose across his neck and his shirt unbuttoned, Faust was playing with his favourite pistol, a German wartime Luger sidearm, with a record by Django Reinhardt playing on an old grammophone in the background. A fine piece of military engineering, Faust had always been fascinated by the power this pistol could deliver, in spite of it's age.

He pulled out the magazine and slowly aimed it at the ceiling and pushed the trigger, and just as he did there was a knock on the door.

"Sir!" he heard his most trusted ghoul, Paul Romano, shout outside "I need to speak with you!"
Faust heard in his voice that he was about to tell him something he didn't want to hear. He put the magazine back in the pistol.
"Come in" he replied, and Paulie entered the room, his face looked panicked and his eyes were full of fear.
"What do you want, Paulie?" Faust said as he stood up and turned to his ghoul, putting down his gun on a small table next to him, and put his hands into his pockets.
"Well, sir...Y'know that Sabbat *beep* we had locked in the basement? It seems...well, sir...he...he's killed Trish" Paulie said, drops of sweat running down his face.
"That's a damn shame. Burn him a bit, then"
"Well, sir...he...he's escaped, sir"
Faust went silent and picked up the gun from the table again. He turned his back to Paul, and walked slowly back and forth in the room.
Then he turned around to Paulie again, his eyes now glowing red with rage. Within a split second, there was a gunshot and Paul was lying on the floor, holding his knee and screaming in terror and pain.
"Shut the *beep* up, you stinking *beep* ghoul!" Faust screamed "Get up! Get on your feet!"
Paul groaned in pain, tears running from his face, and stood up as straight as he could. Faust walked up to him, stared into his eyes and grabbed his collar.
"Find him" he said through clenched teeth "Or you won't be useful to me anymore. And put out the word to every Kindred in the city that I want them all here. Tonight. If they feel any obligation to protect the Masquerade at all they better *beep* show. Understood?"
"Y-yes, sir, I'll get it done, I swear" Paulie stuttered.
"Good" Faust said and pushed Paul off his feet and out of the room "Now get out of my sight! Useless!"
He closed the door violently and sat down in the couch again, leaning back and running his fingers through his hair, attempting to calm down.

He started thinking. This'll get messy. As soon as this sad little shovelhead returns to his pack they'll be howling for blood. His blood. And it's not like they're going to be discreet about it either.
One thing is certain now, though. The Sabbat must be destroyed and driven out of the city, even more so than the Camarilla. In fact, if the Camarilla indeed is the great protector of the Masquerade and all Kindred everywhere, as they claim to be, they'll take this seriously too.

Faust stood up again. If there was going to be a meeting of Kindred tonight, he needed to get changed. Afterall, this suit smelled like gunpowder now.

[Valathous]

~ Chez Seigneur ~

Dominick Seigneur, Elder yet partial outcast to many of the Kindred, walked slowly around his luxurious home with his goblet of wine still remaining perched in his fingers as he sipped it slowly while examining his newest acquisition, a painting of a dark forest landscape. He had always enjoyed the artistic side of things. It was likely due to his aristocratic upbringing prior to his embrace along with originally being a member of the Toreadors.

There was a small amount of activity going on within his home as he left the door open much of the time to the others within the Assamites and even to the occasional Toreador who may choose to keep their ties with Dominick, though they were few and far between. It wasn't even unheard of for Dominick to have Kine into his home for social events, albeit without exposing them to the truth about Vampires. During these events, should another Kindred kill a Kine in his home, he is likely to be killed by Seigneur by threatening to expose the Masquerade either by alarming the Kine to their nature, or by attracting the police to his home, which would ultimately lead to the discovery.

After walking down a rather long hallway which matched the decor of the living room he had just been in, he reached the kitchen which had a far different feel to it than the Elizabethan feel of the house. The kitchen was much more modern with it's appliances, though the cupboards being a rather expensive cherry wood. He simply gave a curt half-nod to his hired cook, Gaston LeBouef, as he entered. Having come from France and living there hundreds of years, Dominick, even though he almost never ate real food, couldn't imagine life without French cuisine from time to time. Though mostly the cook was there to cater to any events Dominick held to keep himself entertained. He had several Kine employees, but he never kept the same ones around for longer than 10 years to avoid them noticing his agelessness.

Dominick walked over to the counter where he had left the bottle of wine he had opened and began to refill his goblet when his butler approached him and informed him of a gentleman at the door seeking to speak with him.

"Of course, thank you, Michael," he said to his butler, Michael Hurshaw.

Dominick made his way to the front entrance to his home which was a rather large open foyer with two arching staircases, one on either side, and a chandelier that hung down. Still clasping his glass when he arrived, he knew right away his guest was a Ghoul by his demeanor and smell. There was no tempting smell of fresh blood.

"Ah, how I love company," Dominick began with outstretched arms and his thick French accent, "the beautiful exchange of pleasantries, the meticulous banter of daily routine affairs, and the amicably amenable exchange of cultural devices in our ever striving desire for knowledge," Dominick said with a pompous smirk. "Though, I do not believe that is why you are here, are you?"

His guest, obviously not one of idle conversation, was less than enthralled by his greeting, but in fact even slightly confused being a crony to the mob rather than an Oxford graduate, which Dominick found rather amusing.

"Lucas Justinian Faust demands your presence at his mansion as one who wants to protect the Masquerade," the ghoul finally said.

"Demands my presence? Does he now. I do not believe we have ever met, though if we have, I'm sure it was uneventful perhaps a tad dull," Dominick sighed, "I'm surprised your ilk would think of me, if one were to be completely honest. Though, if we are to gather for the continued maintenance of the Masquerade, than he shall be graced with my presence as requested. Now leave the directions with my butler and be gone. Dreadfully odorous you Ghoul are..."

And with that Dominick turned away and left the Ghoul, seeing to it that Michael collected the information and saw their guest out.

~ Faust Mansion ~

A half hour later, properly groomed and wearing what had become his signature black overcoat, leather gloves, and other black attire, Dominick climbed into his car, a rather nice Aston Martin Vanquish. Following the directions offered to him by the Ghoul, Dominick was at the Faust mansion within 2 hours of being summoned. He stepped out of his car and handed his keys to the apparent mansion valet before asking to be escorted onto the property.

[Captain Dappet]

Faust's Mansion

Dressed in a dark green suit with black pinstripes, a white shirt and a blood red tie, Faust sat in the seat of honour by the long mahogany table in the middle of the room. Every exit was guarded by his most entrusted kindred and ghouls.

Around the table, and leaning against the walls were representatives of the New York Kindred community. Several Anarchs had decided to show up, as well as a representative of the Camarilla, and a number of individuals who preferred not to align themselves with any sect.

Whispers and murmurs of the individuals present created the same atmosphere as anywhere Kindred choose to met - cold and cautious, suspicious but courteous.

When the last guests had been escorted to the room, Faust stood up from his seat, and silence fell across the room.
"My fellow Kindred" he began "I want to start off by thanking you all for coming. If you're hungry, fresh blood can be arranged"
His face turned into a scornful smile as he turned his eyes to the representative of the Camarilla "And let's not forget that we have royalty here - welcome to my humble domain, Cammy"
The roomed filled with laughter, some anxious and fake, some honest.
"And my Anarch comrades" he continued "You're always welcome here."
He scanned around the room for familiar faces, and his eyes locked on to Dominick Seigneur.
"And a living legend..." he said and made a quick bow towards Dominick and smiled "The lonely Frenchman. You've got some respect around here, mr. Seigneur"
He sat down again, and put his hands together on the table in front of him.
"Anyway, to business" he said "Recently, my people captured a Sabbat fledgling of some prowess and rank. We hoped to extract information from him, concerning Sabbat movements and locations on Staten Island" he said as he leaned back into his chair.

"Unfortunately, it seems I underestimated this individual, as he managed to escape - likely through the sewers. He killed one of my most promising young Kindred, and there's a high price to pay for such a crime. It is apparent to me now, as well, that the Sabbat must be dealt with once and for all. What I'm proposing is a pact - that all Kindred who seek to uphold the Masquerade join me in my campaign to destroy these scum once and for all"
He looked around the room, and was met with nodding heads from the Anarchs, and individuals around the room. The Camarilla representative had a look of disgust on his face, likely because they would have no choice but to accept this collaboration with the Faustinians. Should they refuse, their concern for the Masquerade would become questioned.
"So..." Faust continued "Let us share whatever information we have on the Sabbat. Does anyone know the location of a Sabbat coven or hideout?"