From: Steve Gilham Subject: London by Night 1985 I think I'll let this write-up by one of the players in my chronicle serve as an introduction to how I'm starting with some of the ideas from the WoD version of London, and a bunch more of my own. Note that I'm discarding the Tremere/Ventrue rivalry & replacing it with a lot more intra-clan schisms as the driving force as the old clashes with the new. Crowley however was Embraced as a Prank, as per the official line. I'm stating that the high latitude, cloudy weather & late season allow well wrapped up vampires w/some Fortitude to move around outdoors with only minor discomfort for some while before sunset or after sunrise (on the basis of reducing target number & wound level into the auto-success domain) Diary of Rupert Manners ============================================== Fri Oct 18th 1985 Geoff came round, shortly after dark, again talking about the strange ideas of Alistair Crowley. He's been explaining the theories over the last couple of weeks - interesting but not as amusing as the traditional stuff (Ouija boards etc.) especially as he risks taking it altogether seriously. He gets quite worked up sometimes, but mellows out later after a few beers. This time he was on about Initiation Rites, as per some book of A.C.'s. I expounded some stuff I'd picked up from a book on Native American Shamans (not Shamen!). I thought my bit was the better argued, and IS based on scholarship, not just an (interesting) crank. Sat Oct 19th Shattered this morning - Geoff keeps talking late! Geoff phoned reminding me that he wanted to take me through the Rite on Monday. I denied it all, but he insists I agreed. Blamed it on the beer, and agreed, prvidied I get to wear a cape and cane like his. [He reminds me of Orson Wells...] Mon Oct 21st G. came round. Shattering. It seems it's all true, and A.C. was a Vampire, and he (Geoff) too. And now me... It's all so sordid, I had to scrub and scrub afterwards - if only it didn't have to be this "sex magic" stuff. G. left me, hungry and tired, but fed somewhat. Told me too many things, and to stay indoors. [Why doesn't he?] Wanted to try out bat-shape etc., but got nowhere. G. says "Tremeres" don't get those "powers". He'll come back with more food on Weds. Tues Oct 22nd Hungry, but not yet ravenous. Slept all day, waking to find the sun already set. Got bored staying in, but made =A33k in HK (Ahai Keno shares). Weds Oct 23rd Tried shaving, then realised I wasn't growing face hair. Snipped other hairs to investigate. G. at last. I don't like this dependence on him - I find him alternately captivating and replusive. Took me to a club, picked up someone and took them to a place of his. Unclean! Bid me rest again, he'll come Friday, to take me to Court. He explained a bit about Princes... Thurs Oct 24th Bored, so snuck out about midnight, and had trouble restraining myself. Down boy! Spent much thought wondering who else on the late night streets had business they should not be about... Fri Oct 25th [Hmm - hair restored when I woke. Asked G: he says it's always that way when you wake, just as it was when you died. Must make keeping in fashion difficult over long periods.] Geoff stirred me awake about 6pm, all wrapped up. Very sleepy. He'd a boy with him... Crashed as soon as he'd gone. He came back an hour or two later looking distracted, made me get dressed up, clucking like a mother hen. Challenged him as not dressed up, but says he'll change later. Drove the BMW over to Belgravia, to some mansion with security barriers and footmen. The formality makes me think of home, and itch to be away. Met some other (Vamps) in a waiting-room, seem to be on top of unLife, but here to introduce themselves to the nobs. Funny lot - turned out, later on, that most of them've been dead for years, but have sort of slept through - no clue what life is about these days. Girl was moaning about the cost of taxis (6p! she reckoned it should be). Place is full of breathing flunkies - since they're in on the secrets, I guess they're these "Ghuls"). Asked "if Sir had broken his fast", and offered "a choice of vessels", but "only the small drink". Didn't like having to choose one - do they have to be pretty? Dunno, but picked the pretty one anyway; had him in a room upstairs. He was shocked at first (unlike the others), but when we were showering after, he came over all excited and wanted more. I had to Tell him to stop. I don't understand this wanting to be bitten, but it seems they're addicted to it (the "Vessels" aren't Ghuls, just hooked...). Geoff re-appeared in gown and hood, but with mystic sigils embroidered in; hope I get one someday. Led us all through - room with a Blackadder type on a throne (Prince Edmund), with flunkies; some cabbage faced geezers ("Nosferaut" or some such), a couple of normals, and two (breathing) Hoods (7' tall!) looking after a (breathing) City exec ~ (nice girl!). One of the cabbages hissed at me when I went over to introduce myself to her, so I hissed back - nearly bit me but the gangly Eliz. chamberlain type (Parsifal) called him off. One of the cabbages is called Baldwin. She's some girl - great force of personality and shoulder pads to match. Swapped dropped names for a bit - some interesting overlaps: we shared Cooper at Middle Finance, and Thommers at Haigh Investments. She asked was I a drinker of Blood, and admitted so... she looked worried so I rushed to explain ~ looked funnily at me, but then unruffled again. She seemed uneasy with all these ancient old bones, & I rather took to her. Didn't explain what she was doing there, & somewhere I missed her name. (Better ask G. [G: Simone Gentle - finance dealings]) Turns out she's a "Lupine" - blimey - first Vamps and now Lon Cheney. I'd better look out some videos, and see how it all goes together. Most of the highups kept off the canapes (G. says they can't stomach food). Talked with the newbies - wierd. G. introduced me to his Grand-site Nicolai, and showed off that his in turn was The Great Beast Himself. Talked WW-I with some bean who was a short time "Neck-the-Hun-to-death" hero till they blew him up with matchsticks(?); looked puzzled at almost everything modern. Phased him when I talked about the Sinking of The Bismark. [Lt. Henry Bannerworth.] At least he seemd to have heard of Lt.Colonel Sir Roderick Manners. Another was some ancient German Count [Graf Siegfred von something], (out for the count(!) since 1850's). He likes travel, so poured on Beach stories 'til he looked pale... trouble was, he didn't know where they were, and how to get there! Funny little Biochemist chap - got caught up in his studies 'til the Prof. bit him. Keeps a stash of blood on ice in his bike panniers! Nice girl in a "timeless" evening dress. I thought she was real ('specially as she smoked!), until I realised she was some Victorian, too. Flew in on a night flight from Yugoslavia, after shipping as freight to Zagreb(!). Tried to her about my hols in Y. but she wasn't interested. Got lively after this, when some prankster (Vamp) gatecrashed with a bunch of breathers. Prince Edmund was all for ripping their throats out, but various V's Told them to Sleep. Then another vistor shows up, with a rude letter from some upstart Queen pretender (Blackadder and Queenie!). His Nibs rages at this, looks round and announces that I(!) shall take his reply, accompanied by the other newest, youngest V's. Thanks a bundle. G. kept quiet, the Rat, but I suppose it's understandable. Better ask him for some advice on Who's Who. The visitor Vamp, "Ernie" (Bruja?) seems a hoot. He knows some of the same clubs G. introduced me too, and has a good ear for a party. Sat Oct 26th *** Clocks go back tonight. [Means the sun sets early, so can creep out around 4.30, if wrapped up well!] Took Tamsin a magnum to console her, and apologised for not going out with her - "City business" - offered Monday as a substitute. Picked up some videos for research, on the way down town, and the local papers for a "spare" hideout. Met the others at 8.30 at the Down-Town; Sam sitting lonesome, the others already busy chatting up (?hunting?). Chivvied them out and off to Victoria: Bowesely & Associates, 10th floor. They were in a Board meeting - the Board's all Vamps... Palmed me off on one Prof. John Dee ("head of Tremere") - dismissed our lot as "Crowley's little sodomites & charlatans" - huh! At end of intros., the messenger boy from last night proffered invites to a Halloween Ball at one Lockwood Hall, a "Masquerade" - his stress. Bannerworth chappie was bothered by seeing one Sir Francis - reckons he's the spitting image of a bounder who bothered his family before B. died. (Explains it all if he's a Vamp. too ~~). Q.A.'s version is that Edmund disappeared during the Blitz, and someone had to settle things after that, so it was forced on her. Then E. shows up again in '55, and wants his throne back. Seems he got the "throne", but I'm not sure he got the authority with it... After we left, we heard a disturbance down the alley by the building. The others insisted on investigating, and blundered into two Irish (IRA?) chappies messing with a car - so one turns into a 9' tall heebie-jeebie Werewolf! (They're not THAT tall in Company of Wolves!) I opted to alert the big-guy Vamps while the others boldly-went... (9'!) The board weren't pleased to be disturbed, nor with their car being car-bombed... They called up an Insp. Lambert from The Yard (almost round the corner), who came in with one of those funny-handshakes. Outside again, Ernie turned up, with his "new" young lady (V.), in a Loud jacket. "Drinks" on Ernie, back at the Down-Town. Back home, to punt shares & study my videos... G. on ansa-phone, wants me to meet the clan head at 11 tomorrow. Sun Oct 27th Rambled round suburbs until G. thought I was lost (ha!). Someone had dressed up a Church for a Black Mass. Nicolai & Maurice (G.'s sire), & others. "Large, black clad, heavy built figure at altar, almost bald, with bulging eyes": the Great Beast Crowley - still around. Pounced on me, drained me all, then fed me his foul blood. While caught up in the potent rush of it all, he was droning on about "do what thou wilst". [Prof. Dee was right!] Must get some books & study up on The Beast. Think about seeking advice from Prof. Dee. (?can I trust him?) Mon Oct 28th Met up with Tamsin after work, had a reasonable evening. Found out about pumping blood to keep warm, and pump other bits... Asked her to take Belinda shopping. Later, after she was sleeping, went clubbing/hunting, and made some initial investments for B. She wants me to manage a portfolio for her, after I explained some of the complexities of earning enough to live on... Tues Oct 29th Shopping with Belinda & Tamsin; left them at it, looking reasonably happy. I think I trust B. with her. Went visiting basement flats while they were out, then keeping up phone contacts. Out on the exchanges, but things are quiet. Spent most of that chasing/swapping leads & rumours. Clubbing/hunting: establishing a pattern of pick-up, then go to a place of their recommendation, and so enlarging my hunting grounds. Weds Oct 30th More flats. Picked one in Whitechapel, nice and deep, and not too much "improved" to give more light. Stocked up with heavy drapes and black paint, and a stout lock to fit, should I need it. At least it's cheap, and a hidden alternative should things happen at home. Finished moving monies etc. into new names; I'll keep shunting them so no-one can trail me if they latch onto the current me as a Vamp. Thurs Oct 31st Pick up Tamsin, and head for the Ball... Must keep an eye on her, but they say it's all under the Masquerade, and full of mortals. London By Night =============== Important historical events --------------------------- 1666 - Great Fire; the Old King disappears. Prince Edmund and his followers seize control 1885 - Count Dracula visits; is betrayed to Hunters and flees. 1941 - Blitz; the Young King disappears. Anne Bowesley takes charge 1955 - Edmund revives; attempts to regain control. November 1985 - Now The Ventrue ----------- 4th Generation: Mithras (see World of Darkness), with the exception that his disappearance is much earlier. Offstage Chandangac (see Kim Newman's Anno Dracula). A knight of Charlemagne's court; sired during an attempt to re-establish the Imperial might of Rome. Offstage. 5th Generation Valerius (as mentioned in World of Darkness). Roman. Offstage Edmund de Foulque Nerra, the Young King. A knight of the English crown, from northern France, during the Hundred Years War. Once a plain, straightforward man, centuries of scheming have affected his mental balance. He will only drink the blood of foreigners (preferably the French). Sired by Chandagnac, who favoured the English side. 6th Generation Anne Bowesley (see World of Darkness); sired by Valerius Parsifal, seneschal to the Young King. A favourite of Edmund's in his breathing days, he saw himself as a crusader after his time. Loyal to Edmund, if not too swift on the uptake. Will only partake of the blood of those who are not devout Catholics; preferring Muslim blood. Sired by Edmund 7th Generation Sir Henry Fanshawe. Victorian industrial magnate, sired by Anne. Currently he acts as the head of Ventrue on the board of Bowesley and associates, which is how Anne's court Masquerades itself. Will only drink of women. Brunnhilde (offstage) A French noblewoman, great-grandchilde of Chandagnac by a line that remaind French. 8th Generation Lt. Henry Bannerworth. (PC) He fell in the trenches of the Great War; but was saved by Brunnhilde, and had a short career as part of her coterie who fought to save France from the Boche. A shell drove some splinters of wood through his heart; he was encoffined and sent for burial in England; to revive when the splinter was rotted and his torpor complete. An unscrupulous type, son of a Yorkshire manufacturing family. Will only drink of women. 9th Generation Lady Nora (as in P N Elrod's Red Death) A socialite of the 18th century, Embraced by a childe of Brunnhilde's while on her Grand Tour. Entertains a flock of young men who are her herd. 10th Generation Professor Renfield; A man of science in Victorian England, he stumble across things man was not meant to know while seeking out the truth of old stories in the Balkans. Nursed by Dracula (whose hospitality he had previously enjoyed), and sent home to recover. Beaten near to death by Sir Francis Varney (not the Count, as Stoker misleadingly suggested) while trying to prevent his passage; he was rescued into unlife by Nora. Recovered in the shock, he installed himself as prince of Reading, where he has become an eccentric Professor at the University, with interests in haematology. He will now drink only donated blood, from a cup or blood bag. 11th Generation Samuel Gwynne (PC) A research student of the Professor's; embraced about 10 years ago after a fatal lab accident. *there is at least another line of descent of Ventrue* The Toreador ------------ 6th Generation Claudia (from The Moorlake Ball in the July'93 issue of RolePlayer Independent) Head of Toreador at Bowesley's. Wealthy and a poseur, slowly yielding to the beast. A contemporary of Nora. Christine (ibid) Contender for the clan leadership. Another wealthy poseur; though a nicer character Clarence de Ruthven; elder brother in darkness to Christine. He would be clan head if he cared for the job. 7th Generation Julian Clarke: (from The Moorlake Ball) An unprepossessing minor artist embraced by Claudia. A fat balding depraved cherub, addicted to vampiric sex (i.e. blood exchange). Robert Amies: (ibid) A poseur embraced by Christine. He is the Toreador representative at Edmund's court; and organiser of most events. Lianna (as world of Darkness) 8th Generation Sharon (as Chicago by Night) childe of Julian Allicia (as V:tM) childe of Amies Elizabeth Siddal; consumptive beauty of the pre-Raphaelites, embraced by a Childe of Ruthven. A collector of painters and portraits of herself. 9th Generation Michael (as CbN) childe of Shaorn 10th Generation Kathy (as CbN) grandchilde of Siddal. Zaroff (as WoD) (by diablerie) Graf Siegfried von Kirchmoeser (PC) A decadent German aristocrat, embraced by a covent of Toreador anarchs (read Sabbat) in the mid 19th century. Partied away until the 1930s when the Magi of the Circle of Thule and their Garou allies made life unpleasant. Slept until the mid 80's, awoke in communist East Germany; decided that the decadence of "Swinging London" that his first victims had heard of meant that this was the best place for him, being persona non grata in Paris and Berlin. Well advanced in the path of Cathari. Maintains a herd of singers and musicians and servants (as befits an aristocrat). *there is at least another line of descent of Toreador* The Tremere ------------ 5th Generation John Dee (as WoD) Head of Tremere at Bowesley's. A remote professorial figure. 6th Generation Montgomery Cavendish; A more flamboyant figure, aloof from politics. Often to be seen at Edmund's court and Toreador events. Avuncular in attitude to the newer undead. Childe of Dee 7th Generation Tracy (as CbN) childe of Cavendish Rafael childe of Caevndish. Diablerised by Crowley, who is thought to be his childe. 8th Generation Garwood Marshall (as CbN) childe of Rafael. The Malkavians -------------- 6th Generation Crowley (as Wod) embraced at 8th generation; diablerised his sire and Rafael and at least one other; aided by a childe, now destroyed. 9th Generation Michael (similar to the character in V:tM) a black child of about 12. 'Crazy Jim' (the Malkie from Baby Chorus in CbN) 10th Generation Nicolai; a Russian Jew Cabbalist, seduced by Crowley, who is his grandsire. Thinks himself a Tremere. 11th Generation Maurice; another pseudo-Tremere occultist, childe of Nicolai. 12th Generation Ryman; childe of Maurice. Ditto 13th Generation Rupert Manners (PC) yuppie dabbler, embraced by Ryman. *there is at least another line of descent of Malkavians* *I shall probably use some of LordArioch's NY Malkies, especially Spinning Jenny and Saint Wanda* The Nosferatu ------------- 7th Generation Baoduin - servant and lackey of Edmund. Danov - as V:tM. The Nosferatu of Bowesley and associates. 8th Generation Nathanial (as CbN) Vampire hunter, childe of Baoduin's Old Hetty - as in Hellblazer &c., only a vampiric inhabitant of the London Underground. *there must be some more of these* The Brujah ---------- 7th Generation Sir Francis Varney - cad and bounder from Yorkshire. Usually to be found in the Principality of York. Was responsible for siring Lucy, and setting the hunters on Dracula's trail. Ernie - East End crime boss, patron of Ron & Reggie Kray amongst others 8th Generation Reggie, Blake, Tel - Ernie's brood of minders. Evelyn (as V:tM) Ernie's latest bird; and his childe. Damian (as CbN) 10th Generation Kerry BDSM leathergirl (from Pat Califia's The Vampire); dresses in tight leather and bomber jacket the colour of dried blood, with black cap. Carries a whip or riding crop. 12th Generation Gengis (as CbN) *there must be some more of these* The Gangrel ----------- 5th Generation Jarl Hrolf of Yorvik - Prince of York. Offstage. 8th Generation Lucian (as V:tM) Fiona McNaughten - heretic preacher of the return of Lilith and the need for diablerie by the young to ensure her survival. Embraced at a much later generation. Well advanced on the Path of Lilith (as Path of Caine). Marked by fur down her spine and a fox-like tail. *there must be some more of these, but possibly not in the big city* The Tszimisce ------------- 5th Generation Tzigane, Sire of Vlad (offstage, if not dead) 6th Generation Vlad Dracula; who still intends to make that trip. (offstage) 7th Generation Mina Harker; who retired to the Carpathians after Jonathan's death. (offstage) 8th Generation Elenya; peasent child, rescued from death by Mina (offstage) 9th Generation Belinda Challis; (PC) doctor's daughter from Hertfordshire; signed on as a VADS in the Great War; rescued from death by Elenya. Now returned as Vlad's agent to find out what really happened. The other Clans --------------- Setites are involved in the yardies (Jamaican gangs). They are moving into to peddling the new drug, crack (which started hitting the headlines at the end of Nov '85). A Chinese vampire of early generation lives in Chinatown (between Charing Cross Road, Shaftesbury Avenue and Leicester Square) installed there by the Lord of Strange Deaths about the turn of the century. Other vampires areadvised not to enter the gates. The Lord of Strange Deaths and his Si-fan assassins can also be found there. The Garou --------- Fianna of the IRA make an occasional appearance Glasswalkers in the City are seeking to undermine Anne's control Simone Gentle (Philodox) is the emissary to Edmund's court; as well as a succesful financier in her own right. William Sanders (Ahroun); financial adviser; cleanser of the streets. The Mummies ----------- Reginald Ramsey (much as per Anne Rice). A frequenter of the Toreador events. The Magi -------- None in London, but the Circle of Avalon, a Hermetic house of Diedne, take Winchester, Glastonbury and Stonehenge as important sites. Vampires going south of the M25/M4 risk being used as walking sources of Corporem vis. The Lord of Strange Deaths is some form of immortal mage. Power groups ------------ Endmund's court is weak; but has some influence. Meeting every Friday in Belgrave Square, he offers his herd to feed supplicants. This increases the popularity of the event, if not his prestige. Edmund, Parsifal and Baoduin are its core. This group has been viciously parodied at Anne's command in the Blackadder TV series; unfortunately Edmund doesn't follow new-fangled things like TV. Anne's court is where the power is. Clan heads have been noted. Crowley and Ernie (with their childer) are virtually independent princelings. The Toreador are rent by the struggle between Claudia and Christine. York has been humbled by Anne (the Miner's strike was crushed); and Varney is an emissary from York, sent ostensibly to make amends, but actually to make mischief. The Setites and the Lord of Strange Deaths are at odds, and both are opposed by Ernie's interest in the drug trade. Meanwhile certain of the Tremere are seeking Egyptian Hermetic information and finding strange links with the magics of Tibet. These researches have arounsed the unwelcome interest of the Setites who want none of the lost secrets of the (they believe extinct) Children of Osiris to be uncovered.