CAM/ANARCH CITY UPDATE AND LIVE GAME PREVIEW:
(Hear ye.)
Seattle was rocked on August 17th by a brazen and senseless explosion deep within the University District, leveling a long-time institution bookstore called “Magus Books” and doing damage to the surrounding area and more importantly, the people unfortunate enough to have been in the store, neighboring buildings, or the sidewalk outside. The bombing claimed 11 victims, with twice that number injured to varying degrees. Various vigils, memorials and charitable funds for the victims and their families have been organized by diverse parties throughout the city.The police are on high alert as a result, along with other investigative agencies responding to the violent act. As of this time, no group has taken responsibility for the bombing and the motive is unclear. Additional manpower has been brought in from the surrounding areas, with heavier patrols and rapid response times, particularly to anything indicative of an additional bomb threat. With greater attention and oversight, there is far less availability for law enforcement agents to respond to external requests or the usual favors without an excess of encouragement.At this point, no further attacks have occurred, but the city is still understandably on edge.For those within the Kindred community, regardless of sect, suspicion for the attacks rests primarily on a group of Independent Alliance members who visited during the recent gathering in the interests of some manner of vaguely identified proposal. The details of which are not generally available, but finding those who had opportunity to speak to the collective might prove productive. Following the first bombing in Seattle, the group was attacked, with their leader… a Giovanni going by the sobriquet of Ricardo Fantastico… banished from the body of an apparent corpse he was inhabiting. One member of his entourage was reportedly captured, while the other escaped during a highly visible supernatural battle on the Harbor Island docks. While all witnesses appear to have been dealt with, it is still uncertain whether some manner of evidence of the battle still exists. It is said that Ricardo Fantastico brazenly returned in yet another body later in the evening, but those details are overshadowed by other later events.The gathering was later interrupted again by the arrival of a group of delivery men apparently under compulsion to set up and activate a projector aimed at the sails of Blackburne’s ship. This effort was interrupted, the men sent on their way, and the projector and the video it had been primed to play taken into custody by Anarch security. The contents have not been made available to all, though a great deal of agitation and tension erupted by those known to have had a chance to view it, indicating some manner of disturbing content. Word is perhaps already spreading within the various Kindred communities and inquiring minds should check with their officers to see what has been made known.
Rumor is, not everyone made it out of the evening alive. Or undead as the case may be.
It is September 14th, 2019
Camarilla (Requires Sect membership or an Alt ID with Sect membership to know. Lore is not sufficient as it does not pertain to recent events.)
Following the bombing, the University District has become an increasingly discomforting place to dwell and feed without risking additional observation. Feeding in this neighborhood has gone from merely difficult to flat out inadvisable, with denizens not possessing a cultivated Herd better served to look elsewhere. Further disturbances have a high likelihood of drawing attention from outside organizations.
The neighborhood of Madrona has decreased in stability over the last month as the ‘homeless epidemic’ seems to be concentrating there within the local area. A large portion of Seattle’s homeless in the southern portion of the city have been moving up north, leaving areas such as Pioneer Square, Leschi and Judkins Park to instead shift to Madrona due to some changes in local policy that have made Madrona more appealing, at least for the time being, with authorities looking the other way to their presence and businesses and public centers extending their open hours, providing the homeless with places to congregate and shelter.
The U-District, Toreador territory, already in a low state of stability, has considered to sink due to the bombing event, ongoing federal and local investigations, and other similar factors. This district is considered particularly unstable and under the direct observation of various groups unfriendly to Kindred interests, which may link to Hunters before long. That the bombing happened within the vicinity of the city’s Elysium, currently without an active Keeper due to Michael Mason’s change of position to Seneschal, may be quite the subject for discussion among the city’s salons.
Shoreline, Tremere territory, and Ballard, the domain of former Prince Silence Weaver, are both seeing steady improvements in stability, with dropping crime rates and lower instances of strange, anomalous activities. Both are well fortified and well patrolled, while Shoreline has enjoyed increased funding to various civic improvement projects and investment opportunities. Ballard has shifted from a neighborhood of low stability to medium, losing its existing penalties. Shoreline’s status has not changed from being a place of medium stability, but it is approaching a higher state in the near future, barring any unexpected disaster befalling the Tremere there.
The shared domain of Issaquah has improved in stability this month, with some rather vigorous oversight by Clan Malkavian and Gangrel. It is now considered in a state of High stability, quite unappealing to outside, hostile interests.
Northgate has seen a decrease in its crime rates and vulnerability over the last month. The troubled area is moving towards an increased level of stability, but for now is still considered ‘Low’ by relative comparison to other points in the city. Continued positive effort may yield a change in this within the next month or two.
Prince Tsinna is said to have returned from recent journeys. What tales does he bring with him?
Anarchs (Requires Sect membership or an Alt ID with Sect membership to know. Lore is not sufficient as it does not pertain to recent events.)
The death of Robert Arlington was a significant blow to the Anarch Movement within Seattle. The gunslinger was well known as an intermediary and experienced hand at dealing with the complexities of bridging the gaps between the Elder Kindred and the younger long before his still very recent conversion to the Anarch Movement. That this was followed up by reports of the passing of the increasingly monstrous, but staunch defender Mick O’Leary was a one-two blow that is said to have had a notable impact on Blackburne. Given the militant strength the Valorbjorn lineage offered to Seattle’s Anarchs, this leads to some uncertainty how the Movement might endure more concentrated assault from any number of hostile parties.
Conditions in Renton have significantly improved over the last month, due to concentrated efforts involving support to the homeless camps, city beautification efforts and steady patrols. While the area has had a long history of destructive events and conflicts between hunters and Kindred, focused effort has improved this considerably. The discovery of bombs near the Jimi Hendrix memorial was a potentially destabilizing act, but the event was not well publicized and connected details have been covered up, preventing it from having an impact. The area is no longer considered to be in a state of ‘low stability’ and no longer suffers a penalty.
Tukwila has also improved due to steady Anarch efforts to police their vast territory, though not to the same extent as Renton, in part due to the much higher concentration of resident and visiting vampires centered within what is becoming the effective heart of the Anarch movement in the area. Continued efforts may improve its overall status and neutralize its current penalty in the next month or so, barring any negative factors.
The South Seattle neighborhoods of Judkins Park, Mt. Baker and Leschi have also been bolstered by recent efforts. Already relatively stable, these areas are well on their way to reduced crime levels, improved temperament among the human populace and economic improvement, all factors that could result in becoming far more appealing territory for Kindred to reside in.
Similarly, the West Seattle neighborhood of Alaska Junction benefited from some boosted budgets this month. Not enough to change its already relatively stable standing, but a nice benefit to residents and business owners in the area.
Harbor Island significantly dropped in stability over the events of last month. Break-ins, flagrant battles on the docks, missing persons and other factors all have caused authorities to focus their attention upon the area, though not to the extent of the University District. While this was considered a highly stable area as of last month, it has dropped back to a moderate state of stability, losing its previous benefits.
Mechanical Notes:
Areas considered to be in a Low state of stability are:(ANARCH TERRITORIES) Chinatown (20%), Sodo, Tukwilla, Burien
(CAMARILLA TERRITORIES) Chinatown (80%), Capitol Hill, Downtime Commercial, First Hill, Fremont, Lakecity, Northgate, Queen Anne, Roosevelt/Ravanna, South Lake Union and the U District.
To greater or lesser degree, an exceptional amount of violence and supernatural activity, mortal crime, institutional corruption and/or a high population of resident Kindred have all taken their toll on these neighborhoods. The mortal residents are warier, the police forces more strained and underfunded, or content to allow themselves to be bought off by any one of the dozens of hands tugging their strings, and local government has limited resources or political will to attempt to repair the social damage.
Mechanical Impact: Feeding in these neighborhoods is more challenging. The kine are not as oblivious and careless as they ideally should be; Two downtimes rather than one must be spent to feed undetected if doing so in these neighborhoods. Feeding from Herd is unimpacted.
Cover Up actions and Influence actions regarding the Police in these neighborhoods have an inherent Level 1 Block to overcome. This is not from any one singular source, but just a level of increased difficulty in affecting these troubled areas.
These areas will be of primary vulnerability to hostile interests and parties while they remain in this state of lower stability.
Special Note: The U-District is particularly unstable at the moment due to the recent bombing. Any further disruption, particularly any Masquerade breaches, is highly likely to draw attention from larger, organized Hunter groups.
The following areas are considered to be in a high state of stability, with kindred residing in these areas enjoying the following benefits:
(ANARCH TERRITORIES) Alki, Claremont/Rainier Vista, Columbia City, Genesee, High Point, Hillman City, Beacon Hill, New Holly, Delridge(CAMARILLA TERRITORIES) Eastlake, Issaquah, Kirkland, Madison Park, Mercer Island (Ventrue), Miller Park, Montlake/Portage Bay, Phinney Ridge (Brujah).Mechanical Impact:
Kindred havening in these areas gain the ‘Location’ merit on their Havens without cost, if not already present.
Kindred without Herd can feed from these areas without needing to expend a downtime action. They must still note that they are doing so in their downtimes however, and doing so will eventually degrade the status of the area.
These areas will be far less likely to suffer assaults or habitation by hostile (NPC) interests.
All other neighborhoods in King County are considered ‘neutral’, with no particular benefit or negative impact at this time.
These effects will be in place between September’s game and October’s. These ‘stability ratings’ can be affected positively or negatively by influence actions, downtime actions, and in game events.
City Rumors:
Word is that there may be a ferry worker strike in the near future, the results of fresh disputes between labor and management.
Media airwaves are bombarded with two main stories; the University District bombing and the disappearance of Rosalynd Smith, the daughter of two wealthy executives in the East Side tech industry. Rosalynd went missing last month and there has still been no sign of her or ransom demand. The parents have offered a significant reward and are motivating other affluent families on the East Side to push for more police protection and enhanced security surrounding their children.
The bombing is the top story however, with authorities still not able to identify a motive or a party responsible for the event, though they do say a number of ‘persons of interest’ are in custody for questioning. There is also said to be some anomalies regarding some of the remains found at the bombing site, but police are tight lipped about the details.
City Council elections are coming up in November. The race at this point appears to be down to two main candidates. Colette Mulaney, a conservative, whose history involves serving as a board member on multiple charities and lobbying groups connected to the Catholic church, and Donovan Chang, a liberal candidate who comes from a legal background in both the private practice and within the D.A.’s office. Collete has enjoyed a significant burst of support at the last moments of the primaries, benefiting from an unearthed scandal that rocked the base of a more established competitor, and draws much of her backing from religious groups. While Donovan Chang was initially favored, he is currently dealing with accusations of improper conduct between himself and a staff member that was exposed by the press in the last week. While this has not been the top story in the area due to the other events in King County, it will not help to dampen Mulaney’s momentum heading into October and the final debates.
Word is spreading in Renton of a wealthy philanthropist by the name of Jennifer Morrison who has been changing lives within the homeless encampments. Several of those that had been displaced by last year’s storms, various economic situations or chemical dependencies have stories of acts of kindness provided by this woman and words of advice that led to significant, life-altering changes in their conditions. Morrison has been elusive to reach however, and has not responded to requests for interviews. Also in Renton news, Heritage Park is undergoing a significant maintenance effort this month due to some recently shifted priorities and freed up funds in the Parks and Recreations department that is expected to improve property values and walkability scores in the area.Eye based graffiti is continuing to appear throughout the city. It seems gang related, or possibly occultist in nature, linked to rising fads in spiritualism and occultism among the city’s populace. It could also be some manner of illegal guerrilla marketing campaign.
A pair of tourists in the Seattle area went missing last month after renting a boat for a late night jaunt out into Elliot Bay on August 24th. Their boat never returned to harbor. Dredging efforts near Harbor Bay turned up the wreckage, along with several body parts. Authorities are at a loss to explain the occurrence given the peaceful weather that evening, and loose theories point to the possibility of some manner of giant shark. It would not be the first time there were rumors of shark sightings near Vashon Island. Investigations are still underway, with authorities noting other ‘suspicious evidence’ discovered in the Harbor Island area from that night.
A certain video is said to have made waves last month. Have you seen it? Do you know who has? Do you know what it shows? Probably something notable.
It’s 4:00 AM. Do you know where your retainers are?
Upcoming Gathering:On September 14th, all Seattle Camarilla and Anarchs will have received invitations to a gathering at The Last Call, said to be run by local Toreador and renowned vintner Francis Merlot:Rumors have popped up of a members only bar off of Yesler. As you drive down the street you might notice an overly lit up diner, very 1920’s in style, aptly named Frankie’s. You round the block and park but instead of going to the diner you turn right down the alley next to it. A velvet rope and a bouncer show the status of the location and a small black sign with silver letters reads The Last Call. Upon spotting you the Bouncer lets you in. No wait needed.You enter a lavish room. Low light, private booths with high backed leather seats, tables with people of varying ages laughing and drinking deep red wine, swing music as you might remember it but remixed to keep with the times. A man stands behind a counter near the back, behind home are bottles and bottles of red wine.Welcome the The Last Call. A neutral meeting place for the Cam and Anarchs.
Invitations have also been sent out to other domains in the greater northwest area. The existence of this bar is common knowledge among Kindred within King County. Weapons are not allowed within the club. This site is NOT an Elysium, nor has its neutrality been formally declared by sect authorities at this time. Perhaps they will dispute that fact during the gathering itself, or reach an accord regarding whether the Tower, the Movement or neither hold sway here.
For now, there is much to discuss among both sides and after a tumultuous August, perhaps September’s social event will prove a little less explosive.