The Iron Crown

by Jon G.

April 25th, 2012

  Reed held the phone clutched in his grip.  "Well I don't care if he thought it was the Holy Fucking Mother of all Goddamn Werewolves, what the fuck was he thinking shooting at it in a parking lot two blocks from Main Street?"  Somewhere in the back of his head, he was distinctly aware that this situation was spiriling out of control, and that upset him.  Bothered him quiet deeply really.  "Hang on, I've got another call, and I've got to take this. Don't hang up the goddamn phone."

  He switched lines.  "Your Grace.  What can I do for you?"

  The voice that spoke to him was soft, but there was nothing gentle about the way it caressed the words.  "I thought I might inform you that there had been an... incident."

  "Yes your Grace, in the parking lot, I assure you that the situation..."

  "Not the parking lot."

  "Not the parking lot?

  "No, I'm quiet aware that you have someone taking care of that."

  "Yes, your Grace."  He responded, dreading what was coming next.

  "No I meant the young Gangrel, currently selling haven locations to a party of Lupines over on Meadow Rd.  You will take care of that, will you?"

  Reed responsded without hesitation.  There really was only one thing he could say.  "Of course your Grace."

  "Good.  Then I should ask, do you require assistance."

  He hesitated a moment.  The question was loaded.  Say yes, and if the situation was easy, he'd be in trouble for wasting resources.  Say no, and if the situation proved too difficult, he'd have to call back.  Then she'd make him beg.  He hated begging.

  "No your Grace.  It'll be taken care of."

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  Given Domain over the Masquerade, the Iron Crown are the hardest working Kindred in show business.  As much global conspiracy as political party, the Crown is deliberately a-political, eschewing office or title outside the Crown itself.  Their Kindred don't hold domains, the Crown itself do.

  Sworn in fealty all up and down their chain, each member has a direct liege to report to, and reports to no one else.  The Crown operates outside normal Kindred law, and are exempt from the consequences of them.  

  Each city has one member.  It's a very prestigious position, but comes with a heavy cost.  All breaches of the Masquerade in the city are your problem, and are considered your fault.  

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Recent & Local Events

by Jon G.

April 20th, 2012

We're working on putting up a timeline of world events, but here's some things that have been going on in our backyard.

5 Years ago: Every supernatural creature in Hartford CT vanished.  Every supernatural in most other US state capitals vanished also.  The city was quickly repopulated by Kindred moving in, and some Kindred who lived there but weren't in the city when it happened are still around, but by and large, it's a city of people from other places who don't know each other all that well.

5 Months ago: Boston went dark. Any supernatural attempting to go in stopped coming out.  Rumors arose of a Methuselah.  Terrible forces were attributed to it.  

5 Weeks ago: An army of kindred gathered in New York, to stop the spread of the Thing in Boston.

5 Days ago:  New York was struck and fell, but a second front, organized by a newly reawakened warleader called "The Cardinal", was opened up, retaking 13 cities between Boston and New York to sever the connection between the forces holding Boston and the Forces that seized New York.  

5 Hours ago: Rumors began spreading that holding contiguous territory was somehow important for the Thing's plans, and that it would with to retake the lands betwen Boston and New York.  

5 Minutes ago: You decided to stay.  

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Having discussed various openings for the game, the one we like best (and are therefore going to use) is that game 1 will occur with the Kindred of the Domain of Hartford coming together, without Prince or Sheriff, or Seneschal or Scourge or aught else, to decide what to do.  

Some of them are native to CT.  Others arrived having fled Boston.  Some fled New York instead.  Others were part of the forces that retook the 13 cities, and are fresh from fighting the Things forces.  Most are certain that this isn't over.

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Coteries/Motleys/Packs/Broods Etc. Also: How to get the character packages into your hands

by Jon G.

April 20th, 2012

During this ramp up period, we're encouraging players to think about possibly coming in as part of a group, especially a group working together towards some sort of objective.  

There's a couple of reasons for this.  First off, it gives you a set of people to RP with right off the bat, and reasons for being around and active.  Second, it lets us hand a pile of packages to the group, and have the players choose who gets what, and not the staff.  It means we can cut the favoritism right out of the equation and get rid of it.  The bigger the group, the bigger the pile of sheets, and the more characters in it that are older.  Simple.  Clean.  Fair.

When you have a group together, let the staff know how many are in it, and we'll give you a pile of sheets. 

Here's the early neonate package, so you can take a look at what they look like.  There's another earlier post about how to operate them once they're in your hands.  Take a look a that, and let me know if you have questions.  

https://docs.google.com/open?id=1bkLJtRyyebZ1bshihhSLUN779Ep-HT3y1TeHiUI1uppgMz6ow648CrBoqqYvfHyZNahP0148VGba7zQX

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The Ventrue

by Jon G.

April 19th, 2012

  Arwain really couldn't believe what he was watching.  It had all the venear of normalcy, but some part of him was numb with shock.  The Secretary read the letter of introduction aloud, but none of it made sense.

  "My Esteemed Cousins, and Members of the Board.  I write you to introduce my Loyal Childe, Eduardo Salazar, that he may speak on my behalf on a matter of great import to all.  He is twice decorated in battle, and comports himself with the dignity and grace that we should expect from all.  His word is, in all things, true and forthright, and I account him the most trustworthy and honorable of knights.  

  Vincent Day

  Childe of Leander Phipps

  Paladin to the Most Holy Inquisition"

  Arwain tensed, expecting violence.  

  "The Chair recognizes Eduardo Salazar child of Vincent Day"

  "Cousins" began Eduardo.  He was Mexican by the look of him.  Dark hair and eyes, and a small moustachio.  All very neatly trimmed.  He wore a dark suit, that suited him well, and diamond cufflinks.  

  "I bring to you the wishes of my sire.  I support him in these wishes, and in his Most Holy Crusade.  We speak as one in these matters.  We have come to warn and to ask for action.  In the matter of the recent defection of the Lasombra, we have news and ill tidings.  We have cause to suspect that these actions were done at the will of the Secret Masters, and that they are actively directing the activities of that Clan once again."

  The room largely fell silent.  Not the awed or struck silence that Arwain imagined the speaker had been going for, but the stone faced silence of men who were trying not to laugh, and were very good at that.  Down the far end of the table, where the youngest were sat, someone had to hold a hand in front of her mouth to stop a smile from showing, but that was about it.  

  Then Arwain noticed that he was being gestured over to the high end of the table.  He got up and moved, leaning in to hear what the elder who had summoned him wished.

  "Before he leaves.  Please inform Mr. Salazar I wish to speak with him in privacy.  I wish to hear more of this.  Do not announce my intentions to anyone."

  Arwain nodded, and moved back to his place.

  "The Chair... thanks... the... gentleman," spoke the chair by and large concealing his contempt for the speaker.  

  Arwain looked back at the elder who had summoned him and shuddered.  What could Pieterzoon want with this madman?

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The Ventrue have been, in some ways, the least changed by all that has gone on.  They are princes and rulers yes, but the image of the stuffy chair thatdoes nothing but be pompous is giving way in recent nights to ruthless leaders who are willing to act while their sires sleep.  The world is changing, and for once, the Ventrue are on top of that.

The elders have fallen asleep, but in the Ventrue, that has merely allowed a new generation of careful handpicked leaders their first chance to really take charge.  

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