Category: Uncategorized

Spindle knocks on Tag’s door only a second before his head pops through. He’s wearing a baseball cap with the university’s husky mascot pulled low over his eyes, and the plainest coat in his repertoire. He’s also fidgeting more than normal, his fingers tugging at his black wool sleeves.

“Um. Y-you ready?” he asks with a swallow. “I’m sort of just gonna follow you if that’s okay.”

His master stands after completing one of his mysterious rituals. “You seem…subdued. I’d have thought you’d be excited at the prospect of finding more werewolves.”

“N-not exactly?” Spindle scratches at a patch on his cheek that’s starting to show the first fluffy strands of facial hair. “Um. It’s sort of like your mom just had another kid, b-but the kid’s really angry and could probably kick your butt, but the really scary thing is that you don’t know what they’re going to be like. Um. What if they’re jerks? What if they’re r-really helpless, and you screw up when you try to protect them? I d-don’t even know if there are any out there yet. You’re not nervous at all?”

Tag grabs one of his verboten protein shakes and downs it. “I suppose there’s always a degree of danger, but that is why I want you along. If we do find one of yours, don’t you think it would be best to have you there to talk them through it?”

“N-no, um.” Spindle’s jaw flexes as he searches for the right words. “I’m not scared of getting hurt. You’re, um, w-way capable of handling a werewolf. P-pretty sure you could take on a whole pack if you had to. Um. I mean, I’m scared of what will happen after. I’ve never had to teach one of the People before.”

“It is said that in order to become a master at anything, one must first become a teacher to others. I’ve found this to be true.” He pats the little werewolf on the shoulder. “Though I admit, I’ve been blessed with an excellent Padawan.”

Spindle lets out a noise like a chicken being strangled, like his emotions hit a traffic jam in his throat. “M-Mister Tag, um.”

He starts helplessly shaking, barreling toward a full-on werewolf meltdown.

Tag immediately frowns. He tries for comforting. “Spindle, is there something more going on that you want to tell me about?”

Spindle throws his head into Tag’s chest as the geysers behind his eyes and nose erupt. “I H-HAVEN’T EVEN MADE MY LIGHTSABER YET!”

Tag looks both shocked and completely confused. “What?”

“Y-you need to make a lightsaber to become a Jedi Knight,” Spindle explains through the gushing fountains in his face. “Um. I haven’t. I c-can’t take on a Padawan!”

“Spindle, I was just making a light reference. You don’t need to be a master at everything to start teaching.”

“Knights aren’t even Masters! Y-you have to go through a whole bunch of other stuff. I’m n-not even good enough to be a Knight,” the little werewolf whimpers. He hunches his shoulders as high as they can go, trying to make his head disappear. “Y-you might think it’s just a metaphor, b-but I really am just a kid to my people. I don’t even have a pack. Y-you’ve had students before, and you have other mages who can back you up, b-but I’m really, really, scared, and that’s not stupid.”

“Of course it isn’t stupid.” Tag’s hands wrap gently around his student’s shoulders in his attempt at a comforting hug. “It’s a big responsibility. But if not you, who else can teach them how to be werewolves?”

“N-no one. Um. I’m still going to do it. It just scares me. A-and I really do have to build a sword. Um. The Uratha way.”

Spindle wriggles his shoulders to get comfortable in Tag’s hug.

“S-sorry. I know we have to get going.”

“We can talk along the way. You know you don’t have to do this alone. I may not be pack, but I can still provide a framework of support for you.”

Spindle peels himself free with a wet scratching sound. “Th-that sounds good. Um. Both parts. Um. J-just lead, and I’ll follow, um, k-keeping one eye on the other side.”

Tag nods and opens the door and silently leads his student with him to the city around them. He seems to take circuitous routes, seemingly at random.

“You were wrong about one thing: I never had a student before you.” He smiles wryly.

“Oh. Oh right.”

Spindle’s pulled out a pink umbrella with a chibi husky design to ward off the rain, and when he shakes his head a few drops go skittering onto Tag’s shoulder.

“S-sometimes I forget that. You really seem to know everything, or at least like you can figure it out. Um. You’re basically a Master too, right? Or at least, um, a Knight for sure.”

Tag laughs. It’s a genuine emote. “I’m a thunderbolt guardian. Middle management. I put up a good front, but I don’t know everything. And don’t let any magi convince you they’re all-knowing.”

“S-so a Knight,” Spindle presses. His chin tilts up to follow something Tag can’t see, then tips back down again. “Um. How did you know you were ready to be a teacher?”

“I never knew when I would be ready. I only knew that I didn’t want my order’s teachings to die with me.”

“I guess I don’t want that either.”

From the side of Beacon Hill the two can see out into the downtown area’s remaining lights. In broad strokes the cityscape looks the same as it always had, but without its ferris wheel and the rest of its sound-facing side, it has the feel of a partially amputated limb. 

“If I did f-find a student, I could only teach them how to be an Iron Master, I guess. I could tell them about the other Tribes, and support them, b-but not really guide them. I’m not even a normal Iron Master; whatever I taught them would s-sort of be half-Arrow. I’d s-sort of be helping found a new school.”

“All our societies have been devastated. I knew that you wouldn’t be the traditional apprentice, but adaptability is strength. Perhaps there’s something we can learn from each other.”

“M-maybe we can do more to make a single training th-thing for any apprentices either of us finds. Um. L-let me help train your mages the werewolf way.”

Spindle turns his shiny eyes on Tag.

Tag regards his apprentice. “Some of them may be spoken for. There are other orders. But I wouldn’t be against you helping train those that wish to walk the Adamant Way.”

Spindle’s whole face smiles. “Th-that’s fine. Um. I can’t teach everyone. I d-don’t really know if I can teach anyone. Um. But if I can, I w-want to teach them about relying on each other, a-and reverence for the city around them.”

“I think those lessons are well worth learning.”

Tag catches Spindle’s butt waggling for want of a tail. The werewolf changes the subject.

“Um. It’s s-sort of weird on the other side right now. Everything’s sort of riled up. Spirits tend to cluster around First Changes, b-but the city’s huge, and I don’t, um, h-have enough friends to help me look. You’re sort of just following Fate, right?”

“Yes, trusting in the Force to guide me as it were.”

“What happens if you find someone who attacks you, or tries to run?”

“No matter what we find, I think we can both agree that leaving a supernatural to roam about the city without even the most basic training is dangerous. I’m prepared to take them in by force for a crash course if necessary.”

“Yeah. Um. How do you know if one should be, uh…?” Spindle makes a slicing motion across his neck.

Tag frowns. “I don’t plan on taking any lives.”

Spindle looks away, evidently uncomfortable. “There was something on the news. Um. J-just got me thinking.”

“What was on the news?”

“Just something that reminded me of, um, what can happen when a F-First Change goes really, really wrong.”

“That’s a cryptic answer for you.”

“A family died,” Spindle says softly. He keeps walking ahead of Tag.

“And you think it was one of yours?”

Spindle slows. His face scrunches as he searches for appropriately delicate phrasing. “No! It didn’t, um, r-really…match…exactly. Um. N-no animal claws or anything. Um. But, th-that could happen. With claws.”

“Well that’s why we’re out here. Hopefully we can identify most of the fledglings before they do something violent.”

“But what if they do? Um. Before us?”

“What do you think we should do?”

“I don’t know. Um. D-don’t kill them? Please? It’s n-not their fault.”

Spindle looks up at his teacher through sad, fluttering lashes.

Tag’s smile is small but genuine. “I don’t plan on killing anyone,” he reiterates.

“Should we do something for the, um, v-victims if it happens?”

“If we can. I can’t bring back the dead.”

“The families? Um. The survivors, I mean.” Spindle looks mortified at the conversation.

“If it’s in our power, yes.”

“Okay. Um. I’m sorry my people are such a mess.”

“Awakenings from my kind are on occasion, violent. You aren’t the only ones that can be a mess when new.”

“I still feel bad. It’s s-sort of like running around naked, except there’s also murder.”

“We’ll get to them before they do harm.”

Spindle hunches his shoulders inwards and hides under his umbrella.

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.

Seattle is a city of booms and busts. The timber industry, the gold rush, World War 1 and 2, the tech industry and all the spaces in between. Change comes in sudden surges and the supernatural realm is no different, though whether it is the source or subject of this phenomena is a matter of perspective and opinion.

From resting in the hands of the Anarchs to the Tower and back again, from the Ventrue to the Brujah and the rise of rival empires of human sorcerers and soul-stealing Fae clashing over old wounds and new crimes, change came fast and rarely without conflict.

After months of back and forth, the city now splits between the Tower and the Movement, separated by the namesake legacy of Yesler. The Fae Monarchs have risen and then fallen; destroyed or disappeared. Their courts scattering with them, leaving behind echoes of corporations existing solely on paper and stories melting away beneath the summer sun like a castle made of ice. The Mages, who dug so deeply and expended so much in pursuit of power were left with only hallow caverns in exchange, slinking away to study and regroup, puzzling and arguing over what was learned and who was to blame. The Garou have drawn back to the wild lands, seemingly content to let the Kindred oversee the city so long as their borders are respected, or at least so it would appear.

The world shakes as ancient titans clash through puppets and proxies and Seattle is not immune to the tremors. The Camarilla Praxis has slipped from the grasp of Clan Brujah into the hands of a most unlikely candidate, the Elder Carpathian Tsinna, now seeking to groom and cultivate the Tower as he might his beloved arboreal gardens. Meanwhile, the Anarch Movement strives to create a new form of governance over their sprawling southern territories, only to find themselves challenged as much from within as without, as differing viewpoints and visions for the future among their ranks clash together. Since December, they have surged in membership, yet still remain but a third of the Camarilla’s size. Outnumbered, yet holding onto their expanded territories stubbornly regardless.

It is August 17th, 2019.

The Camarilla has just held its Grand Conclave in Tombstone, Arizona. The Justicar of the Nosferatu, Warwick, faced censure before the Inner Circle. Rather than stand before their judgement, he fled, and now occupies a space on the Red List reserved for the Sect’s most vile and dangerous foes. The once unthinkable powers of Viscissitude and the long-condemned clan of the Salubri no longer bear the death sentence they once did, and while it is an overstatement to claim they are welcomed into the Tower with open arms, the door is now open for those willing to brandish such powers and affiliation in public.

The sub-sect of the Anarch Movement known as the UFS has now gotten what it wanted. Complete independence from the oversight of the Tower, but at what cost? Will the rest of the Movement still accept them as siblings in arms? The Phoenix Society seems to say no, having struck out and murdered former Justicar turned Anarch turned UFS supporter Theo Bell just before the evening’s vote could occur.

Complicating this further are the newly re-signed Blood Accords. Extended in the face of greater conflicts. The Sabbat and the Tower holding one another at arm’s length, uneasy allies against the extremist… even for the Sabbat… Unblinded Brotherhood, and now perhaps, the Independent Alliance, while the Anarchs share no such protection. At least, not in Seattle.

And what of Seattle? A great ritual between a group of varied supernaturals seems to have repelled doomsday for the city. A group of hunters willing to spawn droves of new Kindred and unleash them on the city, untrained and ravenous, in the name of exposing the undead menace to the world was put down at last, with dozens of newly spawned vampires and those they in turn created either fleeing the city, put down by the Camarilla forces or taken in and smuggled elsewhere by the Anarch Movement. Or perhaps meeting even darker fates when none were watching.

Quiet returns to the city. The Fae have seemingly dispersed with the death or departure of their leadership, once again vanishing within the population of the city. The Mages, seeking to harness the power of an ancient nexus and willing to risk apocalypse to grasp it, found themselves coming up empty handed and with little else worth contesting for, have departed to turn their interests and attention elsewhere. Leaving the Kindred, for better or worse, in control of what remains.

It’s an uneasy quiet though. Seattle has been through a lot in just a few years, with escalating rates of crime and death and violence within the city. While just about anyone you spoke to would laugh off the possibility of the supernatural existing, especially vampires, they might do so with a strained tone to their voice and a shifting of the eyes to warily watch the shadows around them. What is said in public in bright, crowded places may not be the same thing said while alone on a dark night, or while rechecking the locks on an apartment door.

The Masquerade still holds, but the strain is showing. The Occult industry is having a bit of a boom of its own, with sales of protective talismans and charms popping up more noticeably in farmer’s markets and struggling independent bookstores. Religious attendance is up, as are gun sales and firearm licenses.

Areas particularly in disarray are:

(ANARCH TERRITORIES) Chinatown (20%), Renton, Sodo, Tukwilla, Burien

(CAMARILLA TERRITORIES) Chinatown (80%), Ballard, 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.

Other portions of the city are far more secure. Whether because of lower population density, lower Kindred and other supernatural activity, more affluent residents or other factors, the following neighborhoods are considered highly stable and comfortable for Kindred habitation. These include the following:

(ANARCH TERRITORIES) Alki, Claremont/Rainier Vista, Columbia City, Harbor Island, Genesee, High Point, Hillman City, Beacon Hill, New Holly, Delridge

(CAMARILLA TERRITORIES) Eastlake, 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.

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 August’s game and September’s. These ‘stability ratings’ can be affected positively or negatively by influence actions, downtime actions, and in game events. For example, Ballard and Issaquah are both improving, as is Renton. Shoreline, Central Seattle and the U-District are decreasing in stability. Other areas are only seeing marginal positive or negative change, not overtly noticeable to casual observation. If a character is interested in a particular neighborhood, put in a Patrol action and they will receive its general status.

City News and Rumors:

The violent wave of attacks, believed to have been sparked by noxious batches of designer drugs spread through the city, has finally begun to wane. Nightmarish attacks by berserk individuals driven to attack even armed police officers with little more than their bare hands and teeth, but to a level of ferocity that cost several officers their lives or put them into critical condition, along with other unfortunates caught alone and vulnerable over the last few months. The Narcotics unit of the Seattle PD believes they have stemmed the flow of the responsible compound, but remain on high alert for any remaining amounts.

There were a remarkable amount of reports of nightmares, seizures and other psychological trauma and psychic phenomenon occurring over the course of the last month. While this declined dramatically after the mid-point of July, it was a topic of disturbed conversation throughout the city. The populace feels distinctly unsettled, especially coupled with the recent violent outbreaks and random killings and both church attendance and concealed-carry license applications have spiked noticeably.

The homeless population has shifted and flowed through the city. A portion is navigating to the Renton area, where word is that generous donations are available, much more significantly than other areas of the city. Rumor has it that several of the homeless and disenfranchised have received counseling and guidance that have led to miraculous turnarounds in their life in short order, though this is but a drop in a large bucket.

Other homeless populations have been flowing upwards into Central Seattle, above the Yesler line, drawn by new changes in library operating hours, bolstered shelters and more lenient patrols and officers tolerating their presence. This will make feeding in the Central Seattle area more precarious due to the higher populations, along with increasing potential crime rates and violence surrounding the already densely packed heart of the city.

The City Council primaries were last week, with many shocking upsets or turnovers of expected fortunes. Some scandalous, last minute revelations regarding a few of the candidates and dramatic shifts in the donor bases led to some very surprising results as dark horse candidates picked up wins and those previously considered guaranteed victors suddenly left struggling either due to scandal or an evaporation of their campaign funds. Now begins the election season heading into November.

Rosalynd Smith, the only child of Mark and Sarah Smith, has recently gone missing. This has made local news headlines as Mark and Sarah are quite wealthy and high placed executives at Microsoft, attached to many local charities and events, serving on various Board of Directors in the area, and are highly connected to the ‘political and social elite’ within the county. Rosalynd was taken from the Smith’s home while they were away at a fund-raising banquet for one of the City Council nominees.

Some strange graffiti has been popping up throughout the city, primarily in southern Seattle, with a rash of ‘third eyes’ being featured prominently on street art, or affixed to public sculptures, posters and advertisements. Police are not terribly concerned and chalk it up to being, quote -Stupid millennials- endquotes.

Rumor is in the Kindred communities that notorious Prince-Turned-Anarch Blackburne will be holding quite the event off the docks of Harbor Island on their extravagant and unmistakable restored antique Frigate, an exact replica of the Queen Anne’s revenge. Guests are advised to be on their best behavior. The cannons work, after all.

As a logistical note, this will be my first formal game as VST. I will be modifying my approach as the months go along based on feedback and response, so please let me know anything you significantly do or do not enjoy.

Downtimes and Influence Actions will refresh at the start of each month’s game, rather than on the first of the month. I prefer this as it encourages players to use up all their assets rather than having to sit on some for use during or immediately after a live game. Note that Allies and Contacts refresh on a Per Game/Session basis, rather than being tied to a monthly refresh cycle.

*City-Wide Effects: *

– On June 1st, 2019, the weather changed in King County from unusually cold
and frigid to perfect summer weather.  It happened over the course of the
last few weeks of May and the first week of June, with temperatures
returning to seasonal averages, if not a bit warmer.

– The homeless encampments are breaking up from mega-camps into smaller
camps, spread throughout the city and the East side, sprawling from Redmond
to Renton, from Shoreline to Burien.  The camps have broken up due to
funding sources being cut by largely mundane means, but the final nail in
the coffin came from the imprisonment of Henry Marshall from Marshall
Industries for tax fraud.  The elderly man has had his sentence commuted
and is on house arrest in Issaquah.  Catholic charities have ramped up
their level of involvement into the safe-keeping and well-being of the
homeless camps, but the demand is overwhelming.  The camps are diminished
in size, but the mega-camps have been demolished as of June 1st.  Right now
it’s a scattered mess, though efforts are being made to reorganize.

*In the news:*

– On June 2nd, a Seattle blogger known as Nana Hattie publishes her final
entry on “nanassecrets.org“.  The next day, she is reported missing by her
care-givers at Brookdale Senior Center in West Seattle.  The entry reads:
“The tower will rend the sky apart, the prism will be broken and the pieces
will shatter the lock.  The Beast approaches, the Beast will reign and the
Emerald will covered in the blood of all.  The pirate ship will burn, the
third eye will open in blood, the Silence will kill his bane, the Lords
will turn to the flame, and the Land will rebel and revolt against the
shepherd.  The Mirror cuts everything it touches, touch it not, believe it
not.”  The entry before this shows a recipe for spinach-artichoke dip.  All
of Nana Hattie’s predictions are listed in alphabetical order, this one
however, seems out of sorts.  No previous entry has “the Beast” associated
with it.

          OOC: Characters with Occult will have heard of Nana Hattie’s blog
and considered it milquetoast, but, a blog to check.  Some of her
predictions come true, some are complete bunk, she is considered as
reliable as other mortals seers have been.

– On June 3rd, the “Fashion, Bitch” Promotion Company took out full-page
adverts in the Seattle Times and The Stranger announcing block parties from
now until August.  The adverts are loud, multi-colored, and each party
seems to showcase a different theme.  The theme for June 15th seems to be,
funnily enough, a neon party as well at Gasworks Park in Fremont.  Other
themes include “Fang Bangers” showing scantily clad young women and men
with fangs.  “On All Fours” showcases people in werewolf costumes.  “Fucked
in the Woods” showcases people with faerie wings and faerie wands.  “Wand
Polishers” showcases people with Harry Potter wands and capes.  For those
of you young enough to use social media, you’ll see advertisements from
“Fashion, Bitch” all over Facebook and Twitter with vague but stylish ads
showing up.

–  Gang violence is on the rise throughout King County, though in the
Ballard neighborhood, the numbers appear to be dropping.  Police are
reporting the crime numbers, but have no explanation for the drop in
Ballard.  Arrests throughout King County have gone up by 3% since May, and
a number of underground fight clubs appear to be on the rise.  The most
famous of these is “Art of Pugilism”, rumored to be Fremont.  “Art of
Pugilism” has no social media presence and appears to have only been
mentioned on air at KOMO in passing by Andrew Coleman during a report on
June 2nd about rising violence in once peaceful neighborhoods.

—

All of that said, your characters would receive the following invitation
from Christian Flemming, Advocate of Free Seattle.

*”To the members of Free Seattle, it’s neighboring Camarilla domain, and
any others interested in travel to the North West,*

*The area known as Free Seattle will be hosting an event of epic
proportions this upcoming June 15th at my Seahurst Park residence near
Burien WA.  Please consider this an opportunity to explore the past,
present, and future of that which resides within all of us.  Our Beast.
This may involve subtle reflection, or destructive fighting.  The choice is
up to you; however, whatever consequences your actions bring are yours
alone to manage.*

*A frivolous game will be offered for your enjoyment.  The prize of which,
I’m lead to believe, will be very sought after.  I encourage everyone to
participate.  Further details on the night in question.*

*Clan Brujah will be provided space to meet as a whole and to deal with any
internal issues they may have at this time in whatever fashion they deem
necessary.  I will be quite offended if I find the room provided ends the
evening in the same condition it starts.*

*The event will be in the theme of a modern day “Glow” party.  Meaning
anything you wear should scream in the darkness.  Ask your friends if you
need further explanation.  Potential party prizes to be awarded to those
who attempt to allow their beast a chance to shine.*

*Come, please, one and all and have fun.  Take a moment to frolic with us.
Hold your meetings, make your connections, further your nightly Jyhads.
But do it in style, and with some flare, I beg of you.*

*Yours,*

*Christian Flemming*
*Advocate of Free Seattle”*

OOC Note:  The following news stories are fictional.  Any similarities to reality are purely coincidental and unintentional. 

IC:  The call has gone out for the monthly gathering to take place in a nearby suburb to mull over the events of the gathering in Vancouver as well as to discuss the impending decision by Prince Blackburn regarding the direction of the city.

While these issues are mulled over and discussed, the world beyond Kindred affairs continues to speed by and broil with increasing heat.  The following news stories are of note to Kindred watchers.

Reported on 8/31/18 in The Stranger:  “Witch Burning Video a Hoax?” by Samantha Prichard – A video appeared briefly on Youtube last night, uploaded to a “WeRWatch1ng” account that is now deleted, and was quickly taken down two hours later by  which showed five figures in masks around a gagged woman in a black robe, tied to an upside down cross, who appeared to be screaming under a gag.  One of the masked figures takes a red plastic gas can and appears to spray her with the liquid, before setting her on fire.  The video appears to be shot outside the UW Roosevelt Medical Center, though UW has issued a blanket denial.  The flames are blue and green, and the screaming is immediately immolated in a dazzle of sparks and flame.  The video has appeared on TOR browsers on the Dark Web, and sites throughout the web, and has been reportedly SnapChatted repeatedly.   Media critics are saying that the incident was staged, with special effects digitally added later, warning that the video is likely part of some sort of viral marketing campaign.  Not all critics agree though, Gordon Handel, a self-described local Occult Expert/Legal Expert submitted his own analysis, saying “This is a sign of trouble to come, this is just a warning not to interfere”.  Addison Hargrove, a professor of Theology at Seattle University describes the symbols present in the video to be “A mishmash of Christian and pagan symbols, the whole thing is a reach”, and that “Mr. Handel is a known crank”.  Youtube declined to comment when asked for comment.

 

Reported in The Seattle Times on September 1st, 2018:  “Violence Against the Homeless Increasing and Being Filmed” by Harold Clark – As the heat begins to dissipate and the smoke fades from the Seattle landscape, a new threat is on the horizon, primarily men and women filming themselves in masks, taking phone videos while they beat up the homeless.  Seven incidents in the past week have caught Seattle PD by surprise.  These videos are being uploaded to blogs, passed through social media and the Dark Web as well.  The videos start with men and women holding signs, telling the viewer where they are.  One video that was shown to this reporter showed an alley in Downtown Seattle where a local bar was named in a handwritten sign, a piece of posterboard with the location written with a marker.  Below the sign was the hashtag “#CleantheStreetsofSeattle”, which was reported to authorities immediately after the video was shown.  The person holding the sign appeared to be a young woman wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and a red bandana masking her face.  Her skin is olive and her hair black and pulled into a ponytail.  After a few moments, she drops to the sign to reveal that she’s holding a wooden baseball bat.  She then moves to a sleeping figure and proceeds to savagely beat the man.  She’s joined by a male and another female with a similar appearance, and the beating lasts for a horrifying few moments until they turn again to face the camera, picking up the sign and laughing.

Anthony Lopez, a spokesperson for the Seattle PD issued a blanket condemnation and reminded citizens who are engaged in this behavior that they will be hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law  He also stated that police are looking into those posting the hashtag and will be investigating those who post videos.

For some experts, this isn’t enough, as Marina Bogdanavic stated in a Facebook post which has gone viral, being re-shared over twenty thousand times:  “The police aren’t doing enough, we need more cops on the streets, we need another task force, and we need our City Council to act, we need the Mayor to pull her head out of her ___!”.  The post was shared, and when reached for comment, Alvin Garcia commented to the Times that “The City Council is looking into all of our options at this time, and we both condemn and deplore the actions of a few select citizens.  We do not encourage vigilantism or terrorism on our disadvantaged citizens”.  A Town Hall meeting is being set for Saturday the 8th at 8 PM with representatives from the Mayor’s Office, City Council and Seattle PD.

 

Reported on the “Antiques Today!” blog as well as “Occult Northwest” which boasts a readership of 25:  “Calvin Juniper Estate Sale: The Sale of the Season!” by Francis Dowd – Ever since the death of noted collector and antiquarian Calvin Juniper at the age of 94 in late July, the question on every antiquarian’s mind has been ‘What about the estate?!’.  Today, Marvin Juniper, the eldest son of Calvin, announced that Beechwood Manor, the ancestral home of the Junipers since 1893, and the vast collection of Calvin Juniper will be for sale at a private estate sale.  Calvin Juniper was born here in Seattle in 1924 to the lumber magnates Albert and Constance Juniper, and soon left the lumber industry after serving in the Second World War.  In 1954, he opened his first antiques store in Ballard, The Juniper, which hosted a bar of the same name next door.  Business did so well, that over the next forty years, he developed his business into a chain of Juniper Antiques with a location in First Hill, Downtown Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Queen Anne.  The Ballard location  was closed in 1988 after owners of the building claimed it was haunted. What nonsense right?

 

Outside of these articles, there are more reasons to be a careful Kindred in the big city than not.

 

 

OOC:  Be sure you get your downtimes to me by Friday evening if you haven’t already done so at seattle.masquerade.vst@gmail.com.

 

Thanks!

Aaron Gomez
US2002021788
VST Masquerade – Seattle

 

Good evening everybody,

The events on the night of July 28th are truly shocking and surprising for all of us.  Those of us who live in domains with many a Brujah share feelings of sympathy, compassion, curiosity, and concern as to what this moment means to them and to the rest of us who live safely within the Ivory Tower.

In the Emerald City, we have many Brujah residents and among them, we have our new Prince, Seneschal, and Sheriff.  So in light of Theo Bell’s decision to leave the Tower, we wanna know: What’s going to happen to Seattle?

Prince Blackbourne isn’t sure themselves. You see, Prince Blackbourne is a political agnostic. The Camarilla? The Anarch Movement? What is the advantage of one group over the other?  They would really like to know. No really, they do.

So, tonight I share a message with you on behalf of Elder Brujah Prince Blackbourne:  “Let the world know that Seattle is accepting bids.”

From now until the Longest Night Ball in December, Prince Blackbourne will entertain bids, bribes, whatever else to influence their decision which will decide which group the Domain of Seattle will be affiliated with.

Here are the rules: Do not directly contact or approach the Prince on this subject! Send your bribes via your Primogen, Influential Elders, myself or another member of the court who you think can somehow communicate your desires.  

If someone would be kind enough to forward this to an Anarch for distribution, that would be great!

Any questions?

Kweene

OOC:   

Greetings Everyone!

Yes, you have read this announcement correctly, the Prince is open to listening to other options.  Just in case there are misconceptions about this, let me clear up a few things regarding this announcement:

From the Featured Game to the Longest Night’s Ball, Prince Blackburne will be considering options for the direction of the city, to follow Theo Bell’s example, or to stay the course and remain in the Tower, or chart a new or unknown course forward.  This is your chance to convince the Prince of one direction or the other. This is your chance to make your voices, your boons, and your roleplay known. December is a long way away, and there are plenty of games, plenty of time, and a lot of roleplay between now and then.  

What you are not being asked to do is to file any applications, fundamentally alter your character, retire your character, or change anything about your character at all.  The venue is Camarilla/Anarch/Independent, which means that your characters are just fine the way they are in case there are IC changes down the line. If there are changes, your characters will not be invalidated or your months of roleplay suddenly vanished overnight.  Every change to the VSS will be discussed and voted on by the domain. This isn’t going to be decided without your input, without your voice, or without you vote.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at seattle.masquerade.vst@gmail.com.  

Thank you for your time!

Aaron Gomez

Seattle VST

Longest Night: 12/15/18 Tentative

NPO: Need volunteers for board. Will bring it up at CoD-X too. Our paperwork will be submitted in August.

DST: DST Term ending in September. Cam/Anarch VST election complete, waiting for official vote count and announcement. COD-X election underway.

Prestige

Mojo has volunteered to be our ADC prestige. Please submit your prestige to the Seattle DC email or through the prestige form on the website. Jana will remain the ADC admin.

Site rules for UW:

• Food: Allowed, but dispose of your food containers outside.
• Setup: Leave it just like we found it.
• Rooms: Only open rooms we have rented (350 and 254).
• Doors: ALL exterior doors are locked, except the 2nd floor parking garage doors.  DO NOT prop any doors open.

Rules for Issaquah Library Service Center

• Absolutely no glitter
• No messy or greasy food (like pizza or enchiladas). Sandwiches, drinks, and cookies are fine. 

Schedule: Sept, Oct, Nov Masquerade and Apocalypse will all be on the 2nd Sat due to ST and site availability

• 7/28 – CoD-X VFW hall 1-6
• 8/18 – Apoc and Masquerade – Featured game at Swedish Club 2-11
• 7/25 – CoD-X VFW hall 1-6
• 9/1 – Voyage of the Damned in Vancouver BC
• 9/8 – Apoc and Masquerade – Issaquah King County Library Service Center 2-11
• 9/29 – CoD-X VFW Hall 1-6

Date: Saturday, 7/21

Garou 2-6 PM; Masquerade 7-11PM

*NEW LOCATION*

University of Washington

South Campus Center

1601 NE Columbia Rd, Seattle, WA 98195

Parking:

S1 Parking Garage – accessed from 15th Ave NE and Columbia Road, located behind the UWMC.

Drive south on 15th Ave NE until it dead ends into NE Boat street, make a left, go through the parking toll booths, and make an immediate right then left into the S1 garage.

WEREWOLF: THE APOCALYPSE

There once was a kin named Collyn,

Who it turns out was more than she seemed.

She wasn’t feeling so hot

And then she got shot

Now she’s part of the werewolf team!

Threats to Kinfolk are nothing new in the endless war, but as the ranks of Gaia’s defenders dwindle in the Northwest, vulnerabilities become more and more apparent. The supporters of the Sept of The Reach found themselves betrayed from within by the head of security at the Kinfolk compound, while another high ranking Kin found themselves abducted and hauled away via helicopter.  A third Kin, Collyn Laskaris would have perished under targeted assault by Fomori snipers, but instead, taken by the Change, she now joins the fight in an entirely new role. Welcome to the Pack, Collyn! Hope you survive the experience!

Will the inhabitants of The Reach manage to track down their adversaries and rescue their lost Kin? Will new City Father Duwamish continue to ascend in power, or will rivals and ambitious Weaver spirits replace tradition and heritage with growth and innovation? And what’s going on with those vampires? Probably nothing good, that’s for sure.

—–

VAMPIRE: CAM/ANARCH

There once was a Prince named Gray

Who reigned until he went away

Now the Hunters are irate

And the Court chose a pirate

So for the Domain, it’s Anchors Away!

Welcome to the reign of Prince Blackburne of Clan Brujah, who took the Praxis of Seattle, Washington without contestation or murder. Now the new Prince and their Seneschal Silence Weaver must address an increasingly aggressive group of Hunters, backed by necromantic wraiths and a small army of mindless, brainwashed drone soldiers before their attacks escalate even further. All while simultaneously adapting to the new Edict of Austin handed out by the Justicariate in the face of the threat posed by the Unblinded Brotherhood.

Is this the beginning of a new status quo, or the next match on the fuse?