Chapter Three:

The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester

Manchester for the Vampires is the one true focal heart of the North of England. As a metropolitan city of the 21st century the city has many opportunities for aspiring Kindred. However, even though for the most part the Kindred stalk the city as most kine view it, there are elements that have been of mysterious and disturbing that conform to nothing that the Kindred know. Rumours of strange bloodlines of vampires stalking the canal tunnels, the Cult of Mithras or the vampiric Al Ghula haunt the “The truth is, I Kindred in addition to their troubles related to the continual politicking of the Covenants, as the Lancea like this world. Sanctum try to regain their age old power in the city, and “The truth is, I the Ordo Dracul return from their 20 year banishment. You've got dog Manchester it seems, even for the stagnant Kindred, is always in a state of flux, and this chapter like this world. encapsulates this struggle and their problems. You'veracing, got dog Manchesterracing, Manchester United, and you've United, and you've gotgot people... people... Night brings many a being and creature to the billionsbillions of of people people centre of Manchester, the Pit as it is known to both Vampire, Mage and Lupine, as many a person is drawn to walking around like the nocturnal delights of the city. Not a single night goes walking around untouched as people saunter through the array of steel, Happy Meals with glass, red brick and cut stone, as they look for their next like Happylegs.” Meals evening of pleasure under the sodium illuminated clouds. For all intents and purposes the Kindred control Spike,with Buffy legs.” the the city centre, with the Lupines never venturing in to the city, never crossing the loop of the Manchester ring road Vampire Slayer and the Mancunian way. The Magi on the other hand are Spike, Buffy too few to lay claim to the inner city, however they too maintain their influence from their hidden sanctums, the Vampire carefully protecting their influence in the museums and universities. It is for these reasons that the Kindred often have little dealings with the other supernaturals of the city, Slayer fearing the crazed werewolves at the border, and the strange will workers that hide in the shadows. Better not deal with them than become entangled in their own plots and dealings.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester1 The majority of the Kindred influence is focused upon the central business district, located at the heart of the city, and also the vast amount of nightclubs Brigid and the Bull that litter the city centre. There is also the Earliest records of vampires in university district, however the combination Manchester are kept by the members of the of Kindred law in the city, and the Circle of the Crone and the Ordo Dracul. interference of the Magi makes this area a Manchester, being a region of mystical sort of no-mans land for the Kindred. significance has always had vampires However those Kindred with enough present. So far they claim that the vampires influence and power are more than able to of the time, whether or not they were of the make use of the resources left to their same blood as modern clans or something disposal by this asset. else, were venerated by the local tribes. To With the dominating control of the the ancients British tribes in the area the Chairman’s office, the Constable and his vampiric beings represented a channel to the officers ensure that no Masquerade afterlife. It is believed that the vampires, breeching acts occur or at least those they Lupines and mages coexisted in some don’t go unpunished. However this form of uneasy truce. Each contributed local mystics, patrol is also kept by the Magi who are also gods or elemental forces to be consulted or keen to put a stop to any acts that may draw placated. attention to themselves. It is for this reason Of course this balance of power was that the two parties accept to keep a clear destroyed with the arrival of the Romans distance and follow their rules so that no and the rule of the Camarilla. The area of undue attention is drawn. Manchester was soon under the command of The Lupine however only send into the legions of the Roman Empire. At the the city centre small groups, seeking out edges of the Empire the Legio Mortuum, as those spirits that will give them more clues the martial arm of the Camarilla was called, to the nature of the city, and it is for this was the largest influence on the Kindred of reason that the Kindred are very alert to their the area, while the other Roman vampires presence as it always brings chaos in the city. learnt all they could from the native However, this does not mean the vampires. Kindred have total control of the city, for The main cult brought with the beyond the ring road the Uratha carefully Roman legions and followed by almost all patrol their territories in the suburbs, Kindred of the age was the cult of Mithras, a ensuring that the actions of Kindred, Magi, blood cult that even in modern nights is still the Pure tribes or spirit does not unsettle the followed by the members of the Circle of the uneasy balance of spirit and material. In Crone. order to carry out this control over their However, towards the end of the territories the Lupines are always on the look domination of the Empire brought the at for visitors at bus stops and the stations of influence of the Lancea Sanctum. With the the Metro Link and those train stations that arrival of these venerators of a single god are in their land. and a dead mortal came a new faith and new The Kindred control over the city is hope for mortals in a dangerous world. not absolute. Their constant politicking and The fall of the Empire the and their nightly intrigue with the other denizens dissolution of the Camarilla the Kindred of of the city means that they will always be at Manchester were free to follow their own the mercy of the kine; it is they who have rule, and so with the arrival of the Danes, domain over the city, yet are blissfully Angles and Saxons the Kindred changed into unaware of the monsters that stalk the the feudal lords that would rule for centuries shadows under their corporate towers. to come. Numerous invasions brought new Kindred lords, the waxing and waning of the control of clans and the proto Covenants. For the time being the Circle of the Crone

Blood Red Brick | Brigid and the Bull retreated from the politics of the Kindred, cover of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s uprising. leaving the fight for power to the Invictus Once war had passed the self claimed dukes and Lancea Bishops. Cardinal set to work moulding the city about The arrival of the Normans heralded the churches and parishes, bringing faith to the start of the age of chivalry. Castles were these down trodden Kine. built, churches constructed and the Kindred As time passed the Cardinal became lords ruled the night openly, striking fear aware of his alienation from the world about into the hearts of their peasants. However, as him and sired Jonathan Williams, the son of the centuries passed by the Kindred once a world trader in teas and other oddments more had to retreat into the shadows as the from the east. Williams had knowledge of power of the mortal church grew. But so did the new sciences of this age and of the the mortal population and soon more peoples that were flocking to Manchester vampires lurked in the shadows, all from the colonies; he was the perfect liaison representing a threat to the Masquerade. with the masses and the neonates. Manchester grew with the increase Time passed and the Second Estate in the textile trade, and with it the nightly held its divine position with the support of lords became merchants in the shadows. The the Invictus. These two saw that the other influence of the small towns around rivals where kept in place, in the dark Manchester grew as trade increased. amongst the swelling masses. But with all However, the rapid growth of trade brought the best laid plans, rot sets in at the core. plague and disease, and soon the vampires 1819, the Peterloo massacre saw the of the Invictus and Lancea Sanctum began beginning of things to come, of revolution. executing vampires who were found to be For the Lancea Sanctum the lupines that spreading the foul illness. populated the fields around Manchester If plague is an impersonal threat were a true beast amongst men that had no from within the Kindred society, then place in God’s order, and so the Cursed took revolutionaries are personal, an open attack it upon their selves to persecute these on the ideals of other Kindred. Under the creatures of the moon. Amongst this guise of the Royalists the Invictus led and growing hatred kindred flocked to opposing assault on the rulers of Manchester, the sides, with the Circle supporting what lupine Lancea Sanctum. allies they had, and the few other kindred The following century brought acting in support out of spite for the Lancea further wealth to the city, and the Kindred Sanctum. brought artefacts from all about the world to In the massacre many men died, but the city. The vampire population boomed, during the night the conflict still raged, with but with crime rife on the streets the odd an eventual truce being drawn up by drained victim was just another body to be Williams and his troupe, with aid from the buried. But the idea of a few Kindred ruling more accepting lupines. the growing masses was causing friction. It Science surged on in the city with was now that the seeds of revolution were great buildings and universities being sown. constructed, many of which were funded in part by Williams, a legacy that today he now reaps. The summer of 1839 was the start of the upheaval of the diocese of Manchester. The Slaying of Two Dragons With the Chartist movement in full swing In the 18th century as the world the kindred in power feared for their control advanced and industry and trade expanded if they lost their precious pawns. But no across the globe, with Manchester at the matter how much they aided their human heart of this trade. In to this centre of growth minions the true threat lay right under their came the first true lord of Manchester, the noses. In the night of the festival of Cardinal James Furlong. In 1745 he came Ascension, the 24th of May, a band of upon the city with his entourage of kindred neonates and Ordo members, Inquisitors and scourged the city of stormed the havens of the Primogen council unbelievers and feral Damned, all under the and the leaders of the Invictus and the

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Lancea. In a night of blood shed and The resulting expansion of the city in rebellion Manchester fell and out of the ashes the following years renewed aggression rose the new council of equality, inspired by between the kindred and the lupine, leading their colonial cousins the Carthians had to the uneasy borders drawn up around the arrived in Manchester and at their head was city centre. Even today the borders are Williams. reviewed each year with packs accepting the For the next few decades this new cordial manner of these Carthian vampires. group took a grip of Manchester, fearing The last attempted uprising took reprisal from their fallen masters. The Ordo place during the recession of the 1980’s. As and the Circle heeded this new group seeing unemployment rose the police was hindered how many of their own youth flocked to its ever more, and under the guise of unrest and banner, both covenants realised the benefit riots the Ordo fabricated the means to attack of siding with this sizable political group. the very heart of the Carthian movement. In Over time the Lancea Sanctum 1983 their plans came to a head, as they recovered and played by the rule of this new pursued a running battle across the face of equality, accepting the benefits of the open Manchester. Many on both sides were put to climate yet acknowledging the safety gained final death. It was only through the by this new method of rule. Only the intervention of the Lancea that the tables Invictus truly suffered, bolstered only by turned and the Carthians and their old those who tired of the parliamentary games enemies obliterated the Ordo in a weekend and sort more direct means to power. of fires and street battles. The Prince, or Chairman, as The result of this attempted coup is Williams was known, took advantage of the the exemption of the Ordo Dracul covenant method of equal rights, setting rivals against from any voting rights for 50 years, and no each others throats, perfecting the trade of presence in the Chamber (Primogen boons and votes, but always holding over all Council). For many of the sects this is a parties the fear of the unheard masses if any blessing as for the past 20 years all have been single one strayed too far from their given making effective use of this power over the position. Ordo. The Primogen council in turn evolved, acting as board members, one from each covenant and clan, all with equal say in the ruling of the city. However this peaceful game of favours and blackmail can last only Blood on the Streets so long. The Kindred of Manchester, like all Rumours of revenge spread through Kindred, must meet in the shadows and the Lancea Sanctum, seeking to reforge old conspire and make deals. Where do they go alliances, that the unclean be put back under to feed on their prey in seclusion and view the heel of God. The Invictus also hungered the latest collection by one of Manchester’s for power and saw that the time was ripe for up and coming artists? them to take the stage. Murders and battles The Kindred of Manchester exist in rage during the nights of the Second World the very ‘Pit’ of the city, the very centre of War, only quelled by luck. the region, surrounded by suburbs and the In one night's bombing of the city network of motorways. It would be false to the raging fires killed the uprising. Many believe that the Kindred control everything kindred died in the blaze as buildings and that exists in the central city, but they are the homes where destroyed by the incendiary largest group and so exert the largest bombs. However, Williams survived, influence. However, the Kindred are unsure secreted away from the devastation. When why the werewolves do not venture further the dust cleared he quickly went about into the city and only maintain a territory rounding up the surviving neonates and about the city. The wizards know more and ancillae, quickly reforming the Carthians to they aren’t telling anyone. The Ordo Dracul deal with any snap attacks from the other thinks they know what is going on but really covenants. this is just pomp and hot air and they are none the wiser. The Kindred have a sense

Blood Red Brick | The Slaying of Two Dragons | Blood on the Streets that they have a hold on something Just between Piccadilly Gardens and important, but they have no idea what it that the university district is the bright, dazzling they have and whether it good or bad. and spirited area of Canal Street. This street along the canal between Oxford Road and Piccadilly Station is a stretch of clubs catering for the gay and lesbian residents of the city, also featuring massage parlours and Tomb of Steel a variety of shops and boutiques for any The city centre is neatly cut in two sexual preference. It is this predilection for by the central Market Street, leading from seduction and exploration of sexuality that Piccadilly Gardens and the train station, up draws the Kindred of the city here in their to Deansgate and the River Irwell. To the droves, a prime Rack with easy pickings. north of this division is the Northern Intrigued students, domineering women and Quarter, filled with specialist shops and all beckoning men make this section of the town manner of modern and industrial period perfect feeding grounds for those Kindred of buildings, this area of the city is a network of a more social manner, able to make promises interweaving streets, filled with trendy bars that the Blood can definitely fulfil. and cafes, clubs and music venues, quirky Running along the River Irwell is Deansgate, clothes stores and eclectic shops. For these lined on either side by classy wine bars, franchised pubs, cafes and clubs, filled with all reasons the area is dubbed the ‘creative manner of middle class men seeking a women to quarter’, as new business break into the lie with, students on another pub crawl and high market, bands perform their first gigs and art powered business men and women drinking away galleries. It can be easy to see how the most their stress. The road leads all the way from the perspicacious Daeva, intrigued Mekhet or looming monolith of the Beeton Tower, past the predatory Gangrel can easily make himself at Great Northern shopping centre, filled again with home. more nightclubs, gyms and strip bars, and Sitting between Salford and China towards the cathedral and the Urbis centre and the Town is the business district of the city, with Printworks. the Town Hall and the city library sat in the middle. Not far from these are the upmarket fashion stores, wine bars and banks, with the central police station a stones throw away. GAP, Versace, Vivienne Westwood and The Circle other leading brand stores, plus the One of the most recent accompanying clone coffee houses line the developments within the city has been the streets, loomed over by towering office acquirement of the Circle Club by blocks and Victorian constructions. It is into Spokesman Rain, the head of Elysium, and this world that the Ventrue extend their his childe, Danny Bacchus. talons, plucking the ripest of mortals; The Circle club is a gathering point lawyers, architects, bored wives of the rich, for much of the media, arts and marketing, plying their disciplines on the weak minded where networking is carried out and deals and greedy. are made. Rumours of course run rampant in China Town however is an area off this bar and not just between the mortals. limits. Not only do the Kindred have trouble The Circle Club, or just the Circle as with wizards and sorcerers, as they do in any its members prefer to call it, is located under other part of the city, but the Kindred of the the Barton Arcade shopping centre. The city must deal with those elements of their Barton Arcade itself is a construction of kind that they do not quite understand, and Victorian steel and glass, yet below lurks the so it is out of fear, hate, misunderstanding exclusive bar. It’s location in the very heart and reluctance that the Kindred of the city of the city is attractive to many business men are barred from China Town. Rumours and media moguls who wish to launch their persist of an elder of the East, while others latest show or film or instillation, the club speak of the strange spirits that ripple across being mere minutes from train stations, the mosaics and the statues. hotels, restaurants and studios, all of which give pretty discounts to the refined member

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester of the club (especially considering the attend Elysium without worry of membership fees that have to paid in order breaching the Masquerade. However to join this club). this presence of this entrance presents The entrance of the club is very problems of it own if it were to be elusive, a simple black door that leads out abused by those who know of it, or onto a dark side alleyway behind the shops those who discover it. and stores on St Ann’s Square. The door As an interesting aside there are itself is only noticeable due to the two some Kindred who claim to have bouncers on guard and the tempting gold noticed the activity of ghosts within the circle that blazes on the front door. club. How true these sightings are is unknown, and rumour that Spokesman Upon entering the club members Rain wishes to keep quiet. follow the steeps down until they come to the front desk where their membership cards are scanned and their belongings can be However, in addition to being run as safely secured in the cloak room. Members a location for Elysium the club is also used as then go down a further small flight of steps the start of a hunting ground looked after by and into the club. the Spokesman, a sign of his power over the inner city. Some of the Directors speak of The club is a cool combination of how dangerous such flagrant acts are, but dark tiled floors, slate covered bar, red tiled the Spokesman assures them time and again walls and stark back lighting of the booths. that if it were not for how he ran the club Glass tables stand ready for patrons to order many of their new acquisitions would meals, and a DJ booth pumps out soothing instead be under the control of others, and chilled out tunes. All about on the walls that they are lucky that he has not called HDTV’s beam a montage of images and upon favours from them. news onto the screen, while a host of cameras gaze upon all who walk into the bar. The very control of this location has brought the Spokesman and his childe a fair amount of favours and respect, with the club Urbis offer a safe haven in the very heart of the city and protected by the interests of influential The Urbis centre is a strange mortals. However it is this link to the mortals building of glass topped with what is that makes the club even more important, it commonly called the ‘stinger’, a bee like is a place to gather favours and play the edifice that strikes out in to the sky from the Danse Macabre. cheese slice of glass, tipped with a burning red light. From the location of the Circle Spokesman rain is able to run a monthly The centre is in fact a museum court for the Board of Directors and those located in the Millennium quarter of the city, Kindred who are able to receive an invitation facing out onto the Cathedral gardens and to be heard by the Directors. over looking the menagerie of buildings; the Triangle, the Printworks, Selfridges, and the newest wing of the Arndale shopping centre. Morgue The Urbis is right at the heart of the city, Unknown to many of the where the old meets new, religion meets Kindred of the city save for Spokesman progress and capitalism, and people of every Rain and Danny Bacchus and select colour and creed gather. members of the Nosferatu Clan, the The museum is unusual simply for Circle Club still maintains some the fact that it does not display items that are entrances that lead to the unused more than a century old, if that. Instead the canals beneath the city, dating back to museum is a display of everything that when the area occupied by the club modern culture, running exhibitions was the morgue of the prison that detailing life in other cities, fabricating mock stood above it. rooms and homes from these cities so that Now years later this entrance visitors may sample what life is like in places allows those of the Nosferatu Clan to half the world away.

Blood Red Brick | The Circle | Urbis At the top of this building is the would notice that there were a few more location of another location of Elysium, one hidden about. run on a more frequent timetable than that of Director Kerkoft, or as she prefers, the Circle Club, this Elysium is that of the Lady Advisor Kerkoft, maintains a haven in Chairman’s Office. the building and from here runs her Here on the four floors, with the city meetings with those of her Covenant and as a backdrop, surrounded by glass so that clan that wish to receive her advice, ear and no one could hide from the Chairman’s gaze, backing. However it is also a well known fact Kindred can attempt to draw the Chairman’s that she may not be the only Invictus that interest to matters of concern that may be claims a haven within the building and some overlooked by the Board of Directors. Of suggest that it may be a dynastic House course there is a greater chance that the where Kerkoft is preparing her protégé. presenting Kindred may in fact have the audience of the Spokesman or the Chamberlain. The Urbis centre is the usual location for presentations of new Kindred to the city Hangman’s but also for some of the more important and The Hangman’s club is located in the elaborate affairs of the Board of Directors as old Great Northern warehouse, located it is here that the Board convenes with the down on Deansgate, a renovated listed Chairman and business is carried out, building that now stands as a semi used allocating hunting grounds, the Constable’s shopping centre, housing a few clubs and a patrol, the starts and ends of investigations cinema. critical to the well being of the domain. The construction site of the warehouse was critical, as it stood next to the old Central train station, now also renovated and is the GMEX conference centre. The Refuge The Hangman’s club sits on the top floor away from the other clubs and shops. Dominating the southern portion of The entrance is easily spotted due to large the city centre, facing onto the corner of neon ‘Hanged Man’ that stands outside of Whitworth street and Oxford road, is the the bar. Inside the bar the décor is no better. Meridien Palace hotel, otherwise known Gaudy red neon lights illuminate the bar and even today as the Refuge. the undersides of the leather seats. All The Refuge, or Refuge Assurance surfaces are either dark leather or building as it was originally known, was unpolished dark marble. With the red built between 1891 and 1910, and built from lighting and limited pure white light in the terra cotta bricks to match the rest of the bar the interior is dark, ominous and is local buildings. At the corner of Whitworth considered chic and desirable, a place for the Street the hotel boasts a grand turreted gable elite of the city to gather. Hangman’s is in entrance, while above the main entrance direct contrast to the ultra gothic, taxidermist stands a magnificent neo-Gothic clock tower, haven, Negresco. a true landmark of Manchester. The manger of the bar, John As a listed building the hotel mixes Gardner, is a rather pompous egocentric both modern styles with classic themes, man who simply wishes to see the famous making the building have an ageless and rich frequent the bar. Gardner is often at character. It is here that the Ventrue Director, the club on the busiest nights. Dishing out and elder of the Invictus, Natalia Kerkoft the drinks to soap stars, football players and holds her bi weekly meetings. singers he attempts to share some of their Rumour has it that she had limelight. He is always trying to ensure his originally been an investor in the design of club is ahead of all others in the city. It the hotel, and that there are many secret always has the latest DJs, the best new rooms and floors dispersed throughout the bands, even hosting wine tasting events and structure. However with 252 rooms who movie nights for new directors. Little does he know is that he is simply a puppet for

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Spokesman Rain who operates a well Due to the nature of the buildings managed ‘blood bar’. Odans maintains a high level of security that act in unison with the university guards, and is further supplemented by those fellow Acolytes who take watch over the buildings. Whitworth Hall The main bus route through Manchester, down which sits the University of Manchester, is a very busy artery of the city. One of the key buildings along the route in the university district is Whitworth hall. Whitworth hall is attached to the original university buildings and itself was As part of the Chairman’s also one of the original buildings. These administration of the city the city and the buildings also connect to more modern suburbs are divided up into domains that are constructions that are in keeping with the held by each of the members of the Board of style of the former buildings. These newer Directors. Some of these sub domains are sections form the Manchester Museum. entire areas of Manchester while others are Whitworth hall has stood for more sections dotted about the city and even fall than a hundred years and holds numerous within the domain of other Kindred. administration offices, and host weddings, Currently the city of Manchester has banquets and is also the location for the domains. The Prefect Arken of the Carthians university graduation ceremonies. holds the largest domain which covers The age of the building means that almost all of the centre of the city and then there is a lot of superstition linked to it. Staff some. This entire area is primarily managed claim to hear things at night when working by the Prefect of the Carthians, who has in late, or seeing shadows moving about in the turn allocated sub districts to each of the café which resides within the Christie Carthian members of the Board of Directors Library. Of course some of this is nonsense, so that all Clans are represented in this all and some of it is true. It is no surprise than encompassing domain. This large Carthian some of these rumours are due to the domain follows all of the laws of the city and Kindred that use the buildings. enforces only a few more, such as the Within the cellar of Whitworth hall restriction of hunting within university and is one of the havens and offices of student areas of the city. Of course not every Chamberlain Odans. The Chamberlain and single Clan has a Carthian Director, in which his entourage of ghouls and Kindred case the Prefect has nominated a Carthian assistants operate from here, filing away officer to act in that position. This means that reports and notes from the meetings of the while the Prefect is the overall controller of Board of Directors. It is also from here that the Carthian domain, the domain has been all the main records of trials and Carthian distributed between the Directors; Max Neils resources are kept. the Daeva Priscus, Priscus Stewart of the Mekhet, Priscus Collins of the Gangrel, and Odans does not only use this two more officers; Patrick Falcon of the building for his offices, but also makes use of Ventrue and the Nosferatu called ‘Nails’, his ghouled university staff to organize named so for her frightening claws. meetings and Elysium events. But Odans is not limited to using this location for the The other Covenants have also been Carthians. Odans, unknown to most given domains. The Invictus Judex Lord members of the Carthians, holds a dual Peter Hawkins and the Viscountess Natalia membership as he is also an Acolyte of one Kerkoft hold sizable domains to the west and of the Circle of the Crone cults. For this south of the city respectively. Under the reason Odans has cultivate links and rules of the Carthians there is the right to influence over the adjoining museum, for the pursue religious beliefs as the Kindred feel cult that he is a member of venerates the fit, and for this reason the domains of the Egyptian Goddess Isis. Lancea Sanctum are littered about the city

Whitworth Hall | The Administration and are not entire sections of the city but of his area. Falcon oversees the centre of locations of worship and study. In much the Manchester along with the Priscus Max same way the Circle of the Crone are also Neils. The north east of the city is given over allocated locations that are for their rituals to the Mekhet, Priscus Stewart, while the and observances. The key law with all these canals and underground tunnels are the sub religious domains is that they must adhere to domain of the Nosferatu, ‘Nails’. the laws of the domains that they lie within Each follows the laws of the city as and the owners of those encapsulating laid down by the Carthians, the Chairman domains must also ensure the safety of those and the Board of Directors. However, it is domains and the travel of those Covenant not beyond any of the administrators to members to the edges of the domains. Of abuse their position. But it is mutual course the banned status of the Ordo Dracul suspicion of each other that ensures none of means that they have no official domain and them overstep their mark. their members must operate in secret in whatever domain they can find refuge. The final domain that is not held by any Covenant is the small section of central Manchester that is China Town, and this area The Duchy of Kerkoft is given over to the Eastern Kindred and is The Duchy is the name given to the subject to now laws except that of the domain of the Alder Lady, Viscountess Masquerade, such is their deal with the Natalia Kerkoft, and Director representing Chairman. the interests of the Invictus. Her domain lies Within each of the Covenant to the south of the city centre and covers the domains the rules of the city have been areas of Withington, Didsbury, Heaton Moor further augmented. While all Kindred are and Stockport. allowed to hunt within the Carthian Domain The primary reason why she claims and make their havens within its limits, the these areas as her domain are for the level same cannot be said for the domains of the autonomy that it offers, and the particular Invictus. These domains are exclusive to the locations that fall within its boundaries. Invictus and those who have successfully There are botanical gardens, manor houses, applied for havens there. More often than art galleries and affluent families, while not the Lancea Sanctum domains lie within Stockport offers more advantages that she the domains of the Invictus, while those of cannot claim from the Manchester city the Crone are predominantly within the centre. Carthian domain, but there are exceptions. Within Kerkoft’s domain the Kindred who have been given haven within it must attend her monthly meetings and pay their tribute to her in whatever form that she The Carthian Central District deems, be it money, blood etc. One key location within the Duchy As it can be imagined the central of Kerkoft is the Georgian manor house of district of Manchester that is run by the Fletcher Moss, and the associated botanical Carthians, covering the areas between gardens. Here Kerkoft holds key Invictus Salford and Withington, and stretching out meetings and offers the location on rare to the north east towards Oldham, and the occasions as a location for Elysium. The south west towards Trafford, have been Spokesman Rain has is always aware of the sliced up between the Carthian offer and is watched by the Chamberlain to administrators. Priscus Collins of the ensure that he does not offend the Gangrel has taken charge of the areas of Viscountess. Moss Side, Stretford and Levenshulme, and actively takes a hand in the manipulation of the street gangs that roam these regions. Patrick Falcon, though not a member of the Board of Directors, has shown himself to be a formidable opponent and capable manager

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester that the Lancea should be more martial in their approach and root out all the heathens and heretics. Within the city the city the Lancea The Duchy of Hawkins Sanctum maintain a number of places of To the north east of the Manchester worship. Some of these are disused churches city centre are the city centre of Salford, and in various suburbs. Others are small chapels the towns of Eccles and Swinton come under that have been made in the basements of the jurisdiction of the Judex Lord Peter houses or offices. These ‘Parishes’ as they are Hawkins of the Invictus. This allocation of a known are situated in all domains of the city second Duchy to the Invictus is not just and are open ground for those Kindred who another way of placating the Invictus, but wish to attend. also to drive a wedge between the two most powerful Invictus lords of the city. Two Duchies means two rivals to the Invictus throne. However, there are some who fear that this will one day backfire on the The Abbey of the Fallen Chairman. The Duchy of Hawkins is very much Of all the Parishes in Manchester like the Duchy of Kerkoft, but with a few there are a number that are of most differences. The most significant is that importance to the Lancea Sanctum. In Hawkins allows members of other particular there is the Abbey of the Fallen. Covenants to make to their haven with his The Abbey, located in the basement of an old domains. He also only requires the members electronics factory out toward Oldham the of the Invictus, who make their haven within Abbey is unknown except to the most his domain, to meet him on a regular basis. trusted of the Sanctified. The Abbey is The main focal points of the Duchy protected at all times by a number of of Hawkins are the Renaissance style Eccles ghouled guards who patrol the area under library, medieval manor house of Wardley the guise of a private security team. The Hall and the equally majestic Tudor mansion interior of the factory is still as it was when it of Ordsall Hall, where it was rumoured that was first abandoned and stripped of any the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was planned. salvageable machinery. The basement of the Ordsall Hall is also the location of building is very different. In the largest one of the most prominent haunting in the section of the basement is the Abbey. The city, the White Lady, who appears in the Abbey itself is almost like a small temple Great Hall, or Star Chamber as it is also formed from layers of draperies of red known as. For these reasons Ordsall hall is material. A number of walls of these curtains also the location for a number of Crone must be passed until they reach the heart of rituals which Hawkins allows (some the Abbey. At the centre sits the altar, a believing that Hawkins is in fact a Crone recovered piece from a 14th century church. sympathizer and wishing to bring about The altar is simple in its adornment, with a some form of alliance what with the chalice, a knife, and two burning braziers. resurgence of such beliefs in modern nights. There are also a number of pillars from which shackles hang for any sacrifices to God. The decoration of the Abbey emphasises Bishop Kenner’s stance on the Requiem and the Lancea Sanctum faith. The Sermons of the Damned Abbey reflects the mystery that the Kindred The Bishop Michael Kenner keeps must maintain, while also being majestic, close ties to both the Carthians and the venerating God while new comers to the Invictus. Unlike his predecessors Kenner is Abbey are rightly overwhelmed. keen to make good of the relative peace that exists and the openness of faith that the city allows. Not all the Lancea Sanctum are happy with the situation, with some voicing

The Administration | The Hunters Hall | Ganglands | Moss Side that live in the flats, and the open space in the middle of the building allows for the cult to perform open air rituals under the guise Temples of the Beast that they are friends of the hippies that live The Circle of the Crone, just like the the flats. Lancea Sanctum, operates in a city where The final cult that operates in the city faith is separate to politics. The Circle is closely allied with the Cult of Hathor is the maintains a small number of temples, the Cult of Mithras. The cult follows more majority within the Carthian domains, with traditional Roman practices, ignoring just a single temple residing within the concepts that suggest that Mithras was in Duchy of Hawkins. fact the first vampire. But then that is what The temples of the Circle of the the leaders of the Cult of Mithras want their Crone are kept by one of three cults that Chorus and outsiders to think. The Roman form the Circle of the Crone in Manchester. cult was predominantly followed by soldiers Within the city is the Magus Gregor, the and made its way to Manchester, with signs oldest and most respected member of the of its following being found on the remains Circle. Gregor and his cult follow a faith of the fort that was built where Manchester based upon the veneration of Cernunnos. would stand. The temples of Cernunnos reflect this Celtic The Cult of Mithras is a cult horned god by being decorated by animal dedicated to blood, places of darkness and skins, skulls and roughly hewn stone. These sacrifice. The cult attempts to usurp power temples are often situated towards the edges over the over cults within the Circle while of the city in an area that is less urbanized. ensuring that their darker goal comes to The temples are decorated in earthy colours, fruition. The cult must maintain a low profile and in the air there is thick with the stench of however as its beliefs and practises are blood. considered heretical by the Lancea Sanctum. The other cult with in the Circle of The temples of the Cult of Mithras the Crone in Manchester is the cult dedicated are of course known only to a few their to Hathor. Led by Priestess Bethany Eringer, location within the city rumoured but not a member of the Daeva, and supported by confirmed. None of the Covenants know Carthian, Chamberlain Odans. The Cult of where the temples are or whose domains Hathor is ecstatic in its faith, with rites that they fall within. focus on sex and the drinking of communal The main temple of the cult of blood. The cult seeks to find enlightenment Mithras is located deep below ground in an by finding a different state of consciousness. unused and drained section of the canals The cult has many resources available due to under the streets of Castlefield, close to the the membership it attracts and the high original Roman fort. Here the members of ranking officials that are allied to it. This the cult found remains of the old Roman means the temples of the cult are far grander Mithraic temple, adorned with images of and reflect their debauched rituals. Their lions, bulls and serpents. In the centre is the altars are adorned with statues of cats, with sacrificial circle where a bull, or person, is the chambers decorated in the paintings of suspended above the Acolyte and bathes in Hathor with dark curtains adorning the the flowing blood from the offering. Some ceilings and walls. However, the gaudy rumour that is through these rituals in this décor does not hide the more vile elements temple that the cult is able to manifest their of the temple. In adjacent rooms there are blood magic that is able to control the very shackles and benches upon which the fires of a person’s soul. depraved acts of the cult can be performed. Unlike the other cults, the well connect members of the cult of Hathor are able to ensure the security of the temples and have them located in prominent buildings. For The Hunters Hall example one temple of the cult is under a The Hunter’s Hall is the name given block of flats maintained by a cooperative. to the primary temple maintained by the This temple has ghouls within the families Cult of Cernunnos. Located outside of the

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester domains of all Covenants the temple is crime that comes with the drugs trafficking, located in the hillside near the stone circle at and also is well known for the number of Cheetham Close, north past the town of riots that have occurred in the past, in Bolton. Access to the site is dangerous as the particular the race riots of 1981 and the ever area is notorious for Lupines; however those constant turf wars of the gangs throughout Acolytes in the know are able to take a path the 90’s and on into recent years. Moss Side that has been provided for them through the is a maze of terrace homes, council house territory of the werewolves. Here the Magus towers and dingy roads line with shops Gregor has a temple located deep beneath protected by steel shutters and mesh. one of the cairns that dots the landscape, and Abandoned cars lie burnt out by the bored within is a true pagan temple devoted to the youth, and homes are fearful of the gangs hunt. The temple is dark save for the small that patrol the streets at night. Needles fill amount of light provided by candles. The the back alleyways where teenagers take temple itself is a network of connected heroin and coke, while collections of flowers chambers, where the main chamber is large sit where the latest shooting took place. enough to hold a dozen or so Kindred about Though even with this amount of a roughly cut stone altar. The rest of the crime and fear the community here has a temple is adorned in abstract carvings and tight knit feel, wary of outsiders, and even of skulls of deer and other animals. The air of the police whom they feel persecuted by. the temple reflects the nature of the location, This is unsurprising when we consider that pungent with the smell of woad, blood, and over 30% of the population is Afro- burning herbs. The area about the site is Caribbean, with the population mainly filled with a haunting atmosphere and a consisting of peoples of Somali and Asian sense of the closeness to the spirit world and descent. However it is also notable that close the gods, and for this reason the Circle has to 40% of the population in the district have guarded this site from wizard, werewolf and no qualifications. Dragon. The area also did boast the home of the Manchester City Football club, but since 2002 the club has moved to its new residence in Sport City on the other side of Manchester, and since then the area where Ganglands the Maine Road football stadium stood is The west of Manchester city centre is now a wasteland surrounded on all sides by rife with crime and unrest. A region rebuilt terrace homes. since the Victorian times into a suburban With the amount of crime within the wasteland, punctuated by concrete towers, area; drugs, guns, theft, prostitution, rackets, discarded waste, blocks of run down terrace it is easy to see why a number of Kindred housing, gun crime and gang warfare, the choose to make havens in the area so best to area is riddle with drugs, crime and the look after the financial businesses in crime. unfortunate deaths of the young caught up What with the amount of drug dens and in their unfortunate circumstances. burnout homes, or homes that just will never be sold, it is easy for a vampire to swoop in and Dominate the current residents or squat. Though if current police and council trends continue the Kindred of the area should Moss Side taken advantage of the offerings before they Moss Side sits to the west of disappear. Manchester, south of the district of Hulme. The area is a purpose built council estate that only in recent years has begun to undergo regeneration in an attempt to tackle the sources that lead the youth of the area to dabble in drugs and crime. The suburb is notorious in British culture for the number of deaths that occur due to the rampant gun

The Administration | The Hunters Hall | Ganglands | Moss Side Ash What could be worse to a vampire than a vampire hunter, an Hulme elder may ask. A human driven by The area north to Moss Side is revenge or morals to seek out the Hulme, another suburb that again is filled Damned and send them to final death with council flats and terrace housing. is a dangerous person, as they do not However this was not always the case. In the have to sleep during the day, and their past Hulme was a the location for many conviction allows them to press on cotton mills, and due to this success many against the Disciplines granted by the homes for the workers had to built quickly, blood to the Kindred. leading to overcrowding and shoddy Though what if the reason for construction. With the end of the World hunting the Kindred was not faith, Wars these slum homes were removed in vengeance, hatred or fear, but lust. Lust for their blood? favour of the stark and grim concrete towers, In Moss Side this is the case. A favoured by the need for fast and modular gang operating out of this suburb construction of these so called cities in the actively hunts Kindred with the aim of sky. using them as blood bags just as any Recent years have been favourable vampire would use a human. They on the suburb though, as funding has come hunger Kindred vitae like any other in from both the universities and also the addicted ghoul, though the difference Common Wealth games, leading to the being that they harvest the blood from redevelopment of leisure centres, the their victim, gaining all the benefits construction of new office space and new and none of the problems of the blood luxurious apartments. However this comes bond. at a price, as the suburb is only a stone’s To the Kindred they are the throw from areas such as Moss Side, worst kind of addict. They don’t just do Trafford Park, Streford and Ardwick, anything they can to get their next hit. making residents in this area potential Instead they find their dealer and targets for criminals on the streets. Much like squeeze him for every last once that he Moss Side these districts of Manchester offer has. a lot of resources to the enterprising Worse still is what these Kindred, be those contacts among the gangs, wayward gang ghouls do with the pimps, dealers in weapons and prime targets drained corpses of the Kindred they for their blood thirsty needs. capture. Through a little hard work and just the right equipment, skilled members cut the ash remains of the Kindred with raw cocaine. The new mixture they call Grey, an addictive The Student South drug slowly filtering onto the market, the effects being that of coke but with To the south of Manchester many of the added sensation of the Kiss. Of the townships and suburbs have become the course the next high up is Kindred favoured location for the student population Vitae and the last thing any vampire to live. Also included in this area is the needs is a bunch of crack heads eyeing sensitive area of Rusholme, the ‘Curry Mile’, them up as their next hit. and it is for this reason the Kindred in this part of the city must conduct their business with extra care. Mindful of the danger that hunting of the student population would cause the areas of Fallowfield, and those areas near halls of residences are off limits to all vampires (of course this doesn’t stop the

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester hungry or the desperate), and so it is these areas that see a greater deal of policing by Constable Ihram’s officers. As for the area of Rusholme, the presence of vampires of Asian descent means that particular care is taken to accommodate their beliefs and natures, and so this stretch of the city is given over to those Kindred that understand their mortal people best. It also acts as a way to keep tight tabs on those Kindred that the Lancea Sanctum wishes to have no dealings with, such as those of the Iblic creed and the Crone vampires who follow the mysticism of India and South Asia.

The Kitab Si’lat During Ramadan the Kitab Si’lat resurfaces in the hands of a young Crone neonate. This book, legend would have, is able to command angels, demons, Jinn and other spirits of the world, including those that created the first vampire, the al’ghul. The Lancea Sanctum, keen to put down this heresy, send their own coterie to the representatives of the Iblic Creed to hunt down the demonic text, while at the same time the Ordo Dracul also begin to make moves over the nights of fasting to recover the lost text. However to the surprise of many the Chairman is in no rush to be involved in the Covenant dispute, and some of the Circle of the Crone have heard whispers of wizards also investigating this legendary book.

The Backbone To the east of Manchester lie the boroughs of Oldham and Tameside, the landscape slowly rising to meet the spine of Britain, the mountain range of the Pennines. It is no surprise that these regions are lightly populated by the Kindred as the Lupines of the region gather at the edges of the city as the suburbs give way to towns, villages and the wild mountain countryside.

The Administration | The Student South | The Backbone Tameside is named after the River Tame that cuts through the area, the region coming into being as a Metropolitan area in the 70’s, and so unlike the other boroughs is The Old City not names after any pre-existing town or To the north west of Manchester, city, forming from nine towns. Due to the across the River Irwell is the city of Salford. proximity to the Pennines Tameside boasts Before the advent of the Industrial some of the most beautiful scenic views, the Revolution Salford was the governing city of towns bearing the marks of the industrial the region. However with rise and fall of the revolution as they provided agriculture and British Empire, and closure of factories the weaving. area was hit with decline, a shadow of its Though for all it beauty and historic former grandeur before the coming of merit the borough is not unlike any other industry. The terraced housing and cramped area of Greater Manchester in the 21st streets, home to the work force that attended century. Towns and estates fear change and the factories, gave way to more modern the unknown as burglary, drugs and crime constructions. Now towering concrete spread from the city, partly helped by the council flats loom over the gothic spire of the disenfranchised youth who tire of the dreary cathedral, and the city centre is deprived due towns. to the dominance of the nearby city of Oldham, lying to the north of Manchester. Manchester, extends to the moors of the Salford however does have an Pennines, and like Tameside, has had to cope advantage. It’s cheap. In recent years the with change with the end of the industrial area about the Ship Canal and the docks is revolution. Many of the buildings are run undergoing a dramatic regeneration, as new down and in need of repair, and the town it luxury apartments are constructed, the self is lacking in hope and progress as the presence of museums such as the Imperial gangs and thieves encroach upon their lives. War Museum and the Lowry Centre for arts. Worse still this feeling on isolation and And the future seems to get even brighter seclusion has allowed racial tensions to boil, with the plans for the BBC to move its UK leading to the Oldham riots, the worse racial branch to the city. However with this influx violence to occur in Britain, all part of the of money only those able to afford the rent 2001 ‘Summer of Violence’ as it was dubbed and life style will gain, while those in the by the media. It is this mixture of racial deteriorating towers and crumbling estates hatred, extremism by groups such as the will be eventually made to move on for the BNP, and the myth of racial ‘no-go’ areas, lucrative professionals drawn to this new that makes the area of Oldham a powder keg ‘Media City’. of tension. For a Kindred Salford is a place to For the braver Kindred and make investments. Time being on their side, accomplished Gangrel Tameside and the hard work of entrenching themselves in Oldham still offer many of the advantages the newly growing establishments will allow that the city centre does, though without the them in the future to harvest a host of strict control of the Chairman. There are contacts and allies. There are even Kindred many council estates and run down houses that believe that is Salford does rise to and slums that would make ideal havens for prominence once more that the Chairman of Kindred seeking to be away from the Manchester may well have relinquish power attention of the However in return the over Salford to another Prince, something vampires must deal with more dangerous that all Covenants are keen to exploit, the foes, such as the Lupines who patrol the Lancea Sanctum in particular, wishing to mountainside and towns, and other stranger bring back the glory days of before the creatures that stalk the night. Peterloo Massacre. To the Kindred of Greater Manchester Salford is the centre of the new gold rush, and already tension is high between those already claiming territory in the area and those now seeking to carve a better unlife for themselves.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester more than one seat by also holding a number of Covenant seats, while the reverse is true for a Covenant. In Manchester this occurs, where the majority of seats are held by the Carthians and the Ventrue. The Chairman does not operate alone, he has a number of Kindred who fulfil the decrees of the Board of Representatives. The influence of the Kindred of The Chairman is firstly aided by the Manchester can be felt at all strata of society. Chamberlain. The Chamberlain is in charge Unlike many cities where there are tenuous of ensuring all the documents and claims over domains, Manchester has a rigid paperwork is kept up to date and that it has and well managed system of administration been distributed to all the appropriate zones and Duchies, all of which mean that officials. The Chamberlain is both accountant the Kindred know exactly who they are and lawyer in one, ensuring that there is accountable to at any one time. The concept always some form of record to support the of domains being formally recognized, with actions and demands of the Chairman and all the associated red tape and paper work, the Board. He is also the one who is turned means that unlike any other city Kindred to when fights break out over territory and know exactly what to expect if they break the feeding rights, since he will surely have a rules. However, such a system can only be piece of paper neatly filed away that will run in conjunction with the elected settle the dispute. representative system of government that the The laws of the city are enforced by Kindred of Manchester operate under. The one man, the Constable. The Constable sees elected representative system of government to it that all new Kindred to the city are was introduced by the Carthian, Jonathan identified and made known to the Board. Williams. Williams usurped power from his This also includes those Kindred newly sire, the then Prince and Cardinal of the city. created without the permission of the The concept of the representative system was Chairman. The Constable is also in charge of that all Covenants and Clans would have a identifying breaches of the Masquerade and say in the operation of the city, and in preventing any further transgressions and essence replace a Primogen council with a eliminating any threat to the Kindred that group that was more approachable and arise due to these breaches. The Constable is accountable to those Kindred they represent. free to use deputies to aid in these tasks, Under the rules laid out by the however the deputies themselves must be Carthian majority the city is managed by the accepted by the Board. One of the most Board of Representatives. The Board consists important jobs of the Constable in of the elected representatives for each Clan Manchester is to ensure that the Free Rights and Covenant, and is overseen and kept in of Passage are maintained. Due to the order by the Chairman, who acts as a referee overlapping nature of the domains, Kindred while ensuring that filibustering does not are allowed safe passage between domains hinder the administration of the city. of their Covenant and the Carthians. To the Ultimately the Chairman can break east of Manchester lie the boroughs of stalemates, intervene in arguments and Oldham and Tameside, the landscape slowly makes the decisions of the Board law. rising to meet the spine of Britain, the However, the Chairman has other powers mountain range of the Pennines. It is no beyond acting as manager of these arguing surprise that these regions are lightly elected officials. populated by the Kindred as the Lupines claim these areas outside of the city as theirs. The members of the Board are selected by what ever means seems ft for the If it is the Constable who maintains Clan and Covenant. The Chairman is not the law of the Board of Representatives it is about to enforce Carthian laws within the Spokesman who ensures that the another Covenant, only that there is a form Kindred population of the city is aware of all of representation for all. This form of council that has been decreed by the Board, of means that it is possible that a Clan can hold elections and votes being held, and forums

Kindred Politics where Kindred may speak to the Board and in order to protect them. This means the Chairman. The Spokesman wields a great that in times of strife the Chairman responsibility and can easily abuse his may allow individuals to sire, breach power, forgetting to invite certain Kindred, the Masquerade, and consume the not informing others of changes in domain blood of fellow Kindred in the course of boundaries and laws. The position of restoring all of the traditions and Spokesman does not just cover the role of bringing to justice those that have put Herald in traditional domains, but also the Kindred at risk. covers the role of Master of Elysium, and so the Spokesman has the ability to make and break the reputation of Kindred in the city. He arranges the location for Elysium, organises the security with the Constable and sends the invites. However, the role of Master of Elysium is at odds with many of The Carthians the other roles in the Covenants, leading to The Carthians have been in power conflict of interests between the Spokesman now for almost 200 years. In all that time and Covenant officials. Chairman Jonathan Williams has held his The other role, not widely known to position in order to allow the Carthians to the Kindred, a role that is called upon only assume their supremacy over the other by the Chairman is the Lictor. The Lictor is Covenants after the events of the Peterloo the personal assassin of the Chairman and Massacre. Immediately the oppressed the identity of the Lictor is known only to the majority of Kindred, the proto-Carthians, Chairman and the Chamberlain. The Lictor swept into power and instituted a new form has the right to break all rules of the city in of rule that allowed the Carthians to gain order to maintain them and bring rogue allies in all Covenants. Kindred to justice. Of course the Lictor is The open acceptance the Carthians dangerous and operates beyond the rules of have of other groups has meant that many of other Kindred and could be seen as being a the other Covenants often battle each other lose cannon under control of a single person. for support of the Carthians. Ultimately the Carthians have set themselves up at the top The Fourth and Fifth of the pecking order with the other Covenants fighting for their attention. This Traditions has translates into the boons that the The Carthian rule of Manchester Chairman hands out as gifts and rewards to has lead to many freedoms. Kindred Kindred, further gaining the support of have the freedom of speech, freedom Kindred regardless of their Covenant or of religion and belief, and the freedom Clan. This further erodes the control of a to not be persecuted by others for their Covenant over a Kindred member as they choice of Covenant. These freedoms see the benefits of conforming to the rules of are much like the freedoms the mortals the Carthians who are more than happy to have in a democracy. allow duel membership. However there are those who This constant battling for Carthian will turn a blind eye to these and the support and boons has led to a form of traditions themselves. For this reason the Chairman has the right to preserve stability where the democratic system lends the Kindred of the city by any means itself to this constant power play, something possible. The Fourth Tradition means that the Board of Representatives, regardless that when the 3 Traditions of the of Clan and Covenant, have taken advantage Kindred are at risk the Chairman can of. Even the Invictus recognise the system as empower others to break all freedoms beneficial method of control the more of mortals, and their laws, to ensure anarchic neonates. that the Traditions are maintain. The Carthians currently enjoy the More drastic is the Fifth stability of their democracy, but is clear that Tradition, where the Chairman gives the government that has allowed them to Kindred the right to break all Traditions flourish is now stagnating and acting against

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester the interests of their Covenant, with the the extent of the oppression. The syndicates Board of Representatives seen as nothing will cause minor breaches in the Masquerade more than a puppet assembly for the tyrant and embrace without permission, all in the Chairman. attempt to draw out the real nature of the Chairman’s government. Within the Carthians there is a good mix of Kindred from all Clans while the majority hail from the Daeva and Mekhet Structure Clans. The presence of the Daeva acts in the Williams as Chairman can no longer interest of the Covenant as they inspire other play an active role in Carthian politics in Clans to follow the Carthian way and join in order to appear impartial. The Carthians are their gatherings. The presence of the Mekhet currently lead by Prefect Arken. As Prefect, suits the needs of the Clan more than others Arken ensures that the Carthians participate as they are free to pursue their own studies in Kindred politics as much as possible, and form their own cults and covens without discussing current issues, organizing the restrictions and control of large religious Carthian funds, voting on issues affecting the and occult bodies that form the Covenants of Carthians and ensuring that members the Crone, Lancea or Ordo. support on another. The structure of the Carthians is But life for the Carthians is not all fairly simple. There are those elected officials about being in a collective. Prefect Arken who act as organisers and then there is the represents the democratic status quo. He is Mob. The Mob itself is broken down into the keen on progress, but at a rate so that it different political and social factions and creeps in to Kindred society rather than coteries. One of the most prominent groups shaking the foundations. The Prefect sees the in the city is the Night Doctors. future of the city as freedom from a The Night Doctors currently hold the Chairman who has become paranoid and undisputed position of the most preeminent jealous of power, and seeks to have the role scholars on Kindred physiology. The Night of Chairman finally pass to another, finally Doctors have achieved this position in part allowing the Kindred of the city to once by reputation but also by opportunity. Since more have hope in politics and a sense of the exile of the Ordo Dracul from the city control of those who represent their interests. and the personal interests of the Chairman The Prefect motivates the Carthians by have meant that the Night Doctors have holding frequent gatherings so that he can access to the best researchers, neonates and gauge the mood of the collective so that he funding and have the open society where can better advise the Chairman of the mood they can showcase their research. Other of the Carthians while also being able to minor groups that exist focus on modern understand how best to manoeuvre the technology and the use of it with Kindred Chairman out of power. abilities, creating new and strange But there are those that want change disciplines. to come quicker. Julia Reinhart represents this faction. Julia is a strong proponent of proportional representation. He is seeking a new method of government for the city where instead of a Board of Representatives Carthian Politics there is instead a new form of Parliament The Carthians follow the simple where Kindred have a greater say in the policy of divide and conqueror. With the running of the city and the reigns of power other Covenants bickering over votes, are not in the hands of the select few. feeding grounds, territory and attention the The other opponents within the Carthians are able to highlight the benefits of Carthians are the Anarch Syndicates. These their method of government, of the open small collectives of Carthians are a loud political system that allows for Kindred of all minority and participate in terrorist acts ages to have a say. But there is growing against the Invictus and the greater Carthian discontentment with the control that the community. Often these Anarchs try to show

Kindred Politics Chairman exerts over the city. Opposition to the Chairman is quite open as he is not allowed to directly level his power against However, if the tactics of the those who would speak out against him, for Invictus against the other Covenants is if he did then it would destroy the carefully considered underhand then when they are designed system of rule that he has managed odds against each other the fights become for over a hundred years. Instead the even bloodier. Though they may show Chairman is now planning to move against difference in public the Invictus are not these groups for the benefit of the Carthians, against the eliminating rivals. Though while allowing those others the changes that hierarchy is everything to the Invictus both they wish. Change must come, but slowly to Hawkins and Kerkoft allow for this type of ensure that the Carthians take full advantage sport, hoping to ensure that those that of it first. Of course this won’t be easy with remain are the perfect soldiers for their coup. the Carthians so close to tear each other Currently the Invictus are following apart, as once they sense the first taste of the path laid out by Kerkoft, hoping that the power then there will be no stopping the seeds of chaos will take root and that the onslaught. Fortunately the Chairman has an Carthian rule will crumble. It may not be an ally in the Myrmidon Duncanson, and out right take over but it may be just enough together they try to ensure tempers are to swing support behind the Invictus. And, released and the Carthians act in unison for though the elder Invictus would not want to the Covenant as a whole. But if need be the admit it, the system of government that the Myrmidon and the Chairman are not above Carthians currently peddle is very useful for making use of the Lictor to remove fooling the neonates into thinking they have firebrands to keep the status quo. some form of freedom.

The Invictus Structure The Invictus are clearly divided into The Invictus are formally lead by the three groups. There are those that support Good Alder Lady Natalia Kerkoft. As the Kerkoft, those that support Hawkins, and current eldest and most respect and feared of those who simply want to replace both and the Invictus she is the leader by default. She get their hands on power. But fortunately the holds the title of Viscountess until her elder Covenant as a whole has a single unifying awakes from slumber and it her time to enter goal, to finally take charge of Manchester. torpor. Kerkoft is a stickler for formalities, Most of the Invictus elders are happy to say titles and protocol, all of which reaffirm the that the Lancea Sanctum have neither the difference between the Invictus and the numbers, faith or political savvy to take rabble Carthians. But Kerkoft is not the control of the city, and that the alliance that undisputed leader of the Invictus, due to the unspoken support the Invictus has for Carthian cunning. In a snub against her the the Second Estate if it were to make a move Chairman allowed for her subordinate Judex for the throne is simply lip service. The Hawkins to claim domain. This very act Invictus would sooner see the Lancea meant that the Invictus were divided Sanctum stabbed in the back. The Dark Ages between two domains and the Invictus as a are over and so is the Lancea Sanctum, whole could make a choice of which domain something which the Carthians have proved to hold allegiance to and who to listen to. more than once. Instead the Invictus have Judex Hawkins of course has not already begun a plan to erode the politic squandered this opportunity, and has made power base of the Carthians with the aid of slow moves to undermine Kerkoft while the exiled Ordo Dracul. Together they are enticing neonates to the Covenant while already offering the resources to the anarchs painting Kerkoft as a tyrant in waiting. within the city, while to others they have Hawkins is now equal to Kerkoft in all ways enticed them with offers of power and blood. within the Invictus except for the fact that he If anything the Carthians is filled with plenty was given his domain, rather than taken it. of fools who would sell out their Covenant.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Below Hawkins and Kerkoft is a small duchies, models of the society that number of Kindred of lesser titles who serve either would impose upon the city in time. It to function as their Whips, messengers, is now only a matter of when these two Knights and other secondary roles who form forces will be forced into conflict with each each elders own personal courts that act like other, with the Carthians sat in the middle. With respect to the other Covenants, Order keeps these practices secret from all the Invictus treat them as contemptible fools but those who have survived to make the at most. Superstition and magic is of little middle ranks of their Order out of fear of interest to the Invictus in these nights, reprisal from the Circle of the Crone. however there are those few within the The influence of Kerkoft and Covenant that do take the time to study Hawkins is of course not eternal, and a large these arcane arts within the Guilds. There are proportion of their influence has been 4 major Guilds within the city. Each claims a through inheritance from older members of particular field of knowledge for it’s own but their Covenant who currently slumber. two are act as rival schools on the subject of Kerkoft and Hawkins care for three other Kindred lore and Disciplines, and often elders as part of the cyclic dynasty of the engage in inter school competition, where Invictus. Kerkoft currently looks after Jonas one of these Guilds is in fact a Invictus Order Hewitt, the Marquis of Manchester, and of Knights, the Order of the Angel, named Baroness Claudia Estabelle. This House of after the Angle Stone of the arch angel the Blue Rose has been in Manchester ever Michael that stands in the Cathedral. since Medieval times. Hawkins holds the The Order of the Angel represents dynasty of Lucius Vesey, Duke of Invictus faith, and transcends the teachings Manchester, and an elder, who after the of the Lancea Sanctum and instead focuses English Civil war held the city of Manchester on concepts of Hermetic arts and bits and for a brief period. pieces of Cruác that they have learnt. The Kenner fights for the souls of the Kindred of the city. However, some see this as a soft approach to the situation, arguing that politics and modern trappings and luxuries The Lancea Sanctum are making the Kindred weak, and exposed The Lancea Sanctum are the fallen before the hunters that stalk their streets. At rulers of the city, and act as subservient as the head of this group of militant Kindred is possible to the Carthians in order to regain Priestess Amanda Heath. Heath not only acts some portion of the power they once held. as the second authority amongst the Lancea Overall the Lancea Sanctum has resigned Sanctum, but also the Nosferatu as she acts itself to acting as the conscience of the as their representative on the Board. Chairman and the Carthians. Meanwhile Heath is in direct opposition to both they try to support the Invictus while not Kenner and the Carthians and even the appearing to act as rebels. Invictus, seeing all opposing parties as weak The Lancea Sanctum falls into two and without faith, having turned their backs parties. There are those that are led by the on the teachings of Longinus. Her Bishop Michael Kenner who follow a policy ceremonies and rituals are bloody affairs, of status quo, waiting in the wings while the claiming to truly acknowledge the birthright Carthians and other Covenants tear holes out of all vampires. Many of the city Inquisitors of each other. However, the presence of the act on behalf of Kenner and also are offered Carthians has been both a blessing and a to the Chairman in times of need, but there curse. Kindred are now freely able to pursue are those few Inquisitors that are more stern whatever faith they wish. But just as Lancea and follow Heath and her rulings. Sanctum are allowed their converts and to Out of fear a growing proportion of freely express their beliefs, then so are the Sanctified are attending the chapels led by other Covenants. What was once a war of Heath, while the majority still go to those claws and fangs is now a war of tongues as that are led by Kenner.

Kindred Politics a month where the Bishop or Priestess leads the service. So in effect the Lancea Sanctum operates something of a cell like system Structure where small groups are responsible for their The two sides of the Lancea Sanctum own faith, something which is of course are organized in similar ways. Both rely on a tested by their elders. number of subservient priests who tend to Heresy is of course something which the masses and direct them in rituals and can worm itself into the Covenant with congregations on a daily basis. It is typical converts and such a fractured organisation, for most small groups of Sanctified to be led and so the Inquisitors police the masses, by a priest. These groups then attend larger rooting out any heretics and questionable congregations once a week and another once rituals and belief. Both the Cult of Hathor and the Cult of Cernunnos have good dealings with one another, aiding in the acquisition of temples and the removal of sacrificial victims. But this does not mean that there are not rivalries The Circle of the Crone between the two cults. The Cult of The Circle of the Crone has not been Cernunnos sees the Cult of Hathor as the most active Covenant in Manchester. modern upstarts who have latched onto old Simply there are those Kindred of the teachings as an excuse for debauchery and Covenant that are recognised as elders and power. This is not far wrong, as the Cult of have accepted the seat in the Council of Hathor has only existed since Victorian times Primogen, or now, on the Board of and performs rituals that focus on sex and Representatives. In the past the Acolyte blood. This in contrast to the Cult of representative has been a low ranking Cernunnos that has been about since the member who sits in the seat on behalf of the before the arrival of the Romans, resurfacing elders. In some respects this position is seen after the invasion of Saxons after the Romans as something of a punishment as the Acolyte left the British Isles. finds that they are removed from daily Of course this rivalry between the rituals and so fall behind within the internal cults can lead to open violence and fights for power plays within the Covenant. artefacts and temples, however Gregor tries However, currently this has all to keep this to a minimum as any sign of changed with the reawakening of Magus internal strife would have Sanctified Gregor of the Cult of Cernunnos. But Gregor crusaders at their doorstep. It is for this has risen above the divisions within the reason that the two cult actively seek out the Covenant and has delegated ritual darker elements of their Covenant for fear of observances to his pupils while he takes a giving the other Covenants reason to start a more prominent role in Kindred politics. witch hunt. This has surprised both members of his own cult and those of the Cult of Hathor, who are more than happy for the elder to cause trouble for the other covenants. Structure The Circle of the Crone is now been growing in numbers for the last 10 years The Circle of the Crone has different with Gregor taking full advantage of the structures for each of the cults that form the Carthian government and Elysium to Covenant in Manchester. Each is led by their promote the teachings of the Crone and how respective high priest or priestess, who is in much more accepting the Covenant is while turn aided in their studies and rituals by a not wanting to impose themselves on the number of pupils. With their students the running of the city. This stance has high priests lead the gatherings of their cult, impressed many Carthians who have tired of which come together at auspicious times of organised religion in their mortals lives and the month, while small groups are led in are seeking a spirituality that is more their rituals by those students of the high fulfilling. priests.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Though the Circle of the Crone is right people to talk to. But this level of officially recognised its members are not so secrecy ensures that the Covenant is able to open of their affiliation with the Covenant, observe these Kindred and assess if they are and if they were to admit to being part of suitable candidates or simply wasting their any Covenant they are just as likely to say time, or worse. that they are Carthian or unaligned, with a Other than the high priest for each few able to even claim membership to the cult, there are few formal roles within the Invictus. This secrecy is both a blessing and a Covenant, with most Acolytes switching curse. It is known that Kindred are free to roles frequently and the Chorus attending to join the Cults, but first they must find the their needs when asked.

Structure The Ordo Dracul The Ordo Dracul within the city is The Ordo Dracul occupies a very nothing more than a loose collection of strange position within the city. Officially the coteries that cling together for support. Covenant is banned from voting in matters Meetings are few and infrequent as they fear of government. They can claim no seats on larger gathering will attract the officers of the the Board of Representatives and members Chairman. For now they seek solitary who openly claim to be of the Ordo Dracul research while trying to understand the are watched carefully. This is what happens situation within the Kindred politics. Power when a Covenant tries to take charge has well and truly been wrenched from their without following the rules of democracy. grasp and now they must cling to each little Officially only a few of the Ordo piece that drops in their laps. Dracul are open about their allegiance and But the Covenant does have the they are not often seen at Elysium. Others advantage of anonymity, operating in the assume any survivors of the failed coup have shadows and peddling favours to those that now left the city or now hide in plain sight as need them. They are the spies in the plain members of the Carthians or unaligned. sight and they are now just simply biding But things have got better for the their time and gathering their resources so Ordo in recent months as reinforcements that they might finally rise back into power. from other cities have arrived, unknown to Within the city there are a few who the Carthians who have been keeping can claim titles of some form, even while in anarchs under control. hiding. Conner McDoan, a Gangrel, holds The main aim of the Ordo Dracul is the position of Kogaion and is also the to re-establish their Covenant within highest ranking member of the Covenant in Manchester and from there hope to take the city, as he is the most accomplished in control of the city as their Covenant grows. the Coils of the Dragon, and is also a member of the Sworn of the Dying Light. However, many of those in hiding McDoan holds the position of Master of the think that the Chairman had other reasons Dying Light, having presented a curious for banning them from the city, and so see thesis on the study of the ley lines of the reacceptance of their Covenant as Manchester, a document that apparently has unlikely. Either way the Ordo Dracul has a been found duplicated in the hands of lot of ground to make up and so have no mages. resorted to making the most of their time in hiding, allying with the Invictus, hoping that Other than McDoan there are no they can fill the gap that the Lancea Sanctum other elders within the city and he has have left. focused on gathering more recruits and building a new Academy for the Order. McDoan has even been heard to say that the banning and breaking of the Covenant in the city is possibly just what was required for

Kindred Politics the Ordo Dracul to grow both spiritually and So if the Daeva are so anarchic and physically. backstabbing then how does Max Neils become the Priscus of the city and so represent the clan on the Board? It comes down to influence and being a lesser pain in the ass. Neils is simply considered less annoying than Spokesman Rain, and Neils at least seems to be more capable in manipulating the Carthian chain of command to aid his fellow clan members. It explains why a lot of Daeva have cushy The democratic nature of havens. Manchester means that Clan and lineage has In general the Daeva are lone wolves little or no meaning unless you are a member when hunting, but as a group they enjoy of the Invictus. Ideas not blood hold power gathering to socialize, even if it is for a game in the city. of who’s the bigger bad ass, who got into what clubs, and who has the juiciest bit of information. Within the Daeva the changing of The Daeva Covenant is the most common, facilitated by knowing fellow clan members who are The Daeva of the city are the second already members of the Covenant they wish largest clan in the city, which is now surprise to join. This of course benefits the Carthians considering the large importance of the since the Daeva enjoy using the democratic media and music scene to the city. More than system to show just how involved they are in likely each club in Manchester will be visited ‘party’, and what better way to show that by one of their clan during the night as they than by converting your clam mates. stalk the Rack for prey. At the end of the day the Clan as a Even though Spokesman Rain would whole allows for inter-Covenant meetings like to think he his the highest ranking clan but essentially this is only because the Daeva member in the city and that the clan must of the opposing clans have personal jump when he tells them to, he is very much business. At the end of the day they are mistaken. The idea of a unified Daeva clan is Vampires first and belong to a Covenant a fallacy. The Daeva hierarchy is not second. The fact they actually have controlled by the Chairman or the something in common just makes it easier to Spokesman, but it is very much dominated know who you’re dealing with. by the rumour mill of the Elysium and the biting tongues of the Harpies. largest inner city green spaces and find these areas plentiful for feeding, along with the fun that comes with hunting in the crime filled suburbs like Moss Side, Longsight and Hulme. Hunting these areas allows the The Gangrel Gangrel to be more vicious since no-one The area about Manchester is the misses the dead gangsters that plague the perfect hunting grounds for the clan of streets with guns, knives and drugs. beasts. However, the presence of werewolves The Gangrel is the smallest clan in in the same areas makes hunting problematic the city, and loosely held together and and fraught with danger. And so for this evenly distributed through the covenants, reason the inner city is the main hunting with their elders generally found amongst grounds of the Gangrel. No one knows the Circle of the Crone, Carthians and Ordo exactly why the lupines don’t penetrate Dracul. All these Covenants offer the further into the centre of the city, but the Gangrel the means to express themselves Gangrel are happy to it stay that way. fully while not requiring them to be the most Fortunately Manchester boast some of the sociable of Kindred.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester The Gangrel are dangerously another. Bartholomew Kollins represents the protective of their territory, and show their Gangrel on the Board simply because no clan mates only the smallest amount of other will and he has taken it upon himself respect, as one wolf does to another. Thus to represent their interests, ensuring that hierarchy is inherent within the Gangrel, and appropriate measures are taken to preserve often there are mistakes where one insults the Gangrel hunting grounds. A number of the Mekhet, being the masters of secrets and shadows and so are able to create, manipulate and influence society through the creation of secret societies, and a small number are controlled The Mekhet by Mekhet Kindred. In particular, one The Mekhet are the most populous Carthian Mekhet is in charge of a flourishing clan of the city and so have some form of cult that is devoted to the study of Hermetic organization. The majority of the Mekhet fall arts, all the while the Mekhet vampire is within the Covenants of the Carthians and using this cult to further his work within the the Circle of the Crone. Both Covenants offer realm of dream manipulation. A Circle of the what the Mekhet desire for freedom and Crone Mekhet instead has a cult of mortals pursuit of secrets and power from the devoted to his own brand of philosophy and shadows. taste of a unique drug. But no matter the cult the aim of all of these is power over mortals Because of this disposition for and other Kindred. gathering pieces of information and being drawn together out of a need for freedom, The Priscus of the clan is Carl the sense of clan often transcends a Mekhet’s Stewart. Stewart has been in the favour of alliance to a Covenant. The Mekhet are well the Chairman for since the Peterloo known to gather together to exchange Massacre, and is considered a master of the knowledge and to teach others skills in alchemical arts and history. Some find it return. However, there is a definite distrust interesting way he has not found a position of the Mekhet and for this reason the Mekhet within the Ordo Dracul or the Circle of the meet in secret as no one wants their Crone. But amongst the Mekhet, Stewart is Covenant to think they are talking to the considered a master of the arts and wrong sorts. deserving of respect, no matter their Clan allegiance. the Nosferatu are quick to anger and so rivalries at meeting can quickly escalate. These rivalries extend to the claiming of territory in the areas of the city that no Covenant or clan would want to The Nosferatu claim, and the sewers and underground The Nosferatu of the city a not so canals beneath the city. These tunnels are numerous compared to the Mekhet and extensive and winding and so there are Daeva, but they are not without influence. rumours that the numbers of the Nosferatu The Nosferatu are typically found within the have been underestimated. ranks of the Carthians, Ordo Dracul and Typically the hunting grounds of the Circle of the Crone. They seek the accepting Nosferatu and the Gangrel overlap, leading nature of the Carthians, the philosophy of to some fights between clans. Mainly the the Dragons so that they might overcome the Nosferatu seek out the homeless and fear they cause in others, or to understand gangsters that litter the inner city and the their beast and the very nature of being a crime infested suburbs. vampire. The Priscus for the clan, Priestess Much like the Mekhet the Nosferatu Amanda Heath, has taken the position by gather together out of the need to speak with cowing others of her clan. She welcomes others who do not suffer from the fear they those who wish to have their issues heard by cause, those that understand themselves. But the Board, but expects them to approach her being the monstrous creatures that they are in manner fitting of beasts that accept the

The Clans | the Gangrel | THE MEKHET | the Nosferatu glory of God. Of course many Nosferatu representative rather than be prostrate before would rather seek out their Covenant Heath in the name of God. manipulation and boons. The revolutionary faction is led by Patrick Falken, a well spoken and savvy businessman who has allies amongst the Lancea Sanctum and Acolytes. The Ventrue Patrick Falken may be a Carthian, It is no surprise that the majority of but he does follow the general line of the Ventrue are Invictus. And so it is also no Ventrue philosophy, and so seeks to clip the surprise that the Ventrue are pissed that they claws of the Chairman and make full use of have to accept the dominance of a Mekhet the Carthian structure and so control the who hides behind democracy. The Ventrue Covenant while still ensuring that there is an see this state of affairs as unacceptable. illusion of democracy. Those Ventrue who are among the Carthians Invictus gatherings are frequent are seen as turncoats, while those Carthians affairs, and are more like a gentleman’s club. see their Invictus brothers as old guard fools. Favours are traded, boons given out, Thus the Ventrue are a divided. territory and herd loaned and rented. All for Leading the loyalist faction is Judex the benefit of the Ventrue. Hawkins who is the Priscus for the clan, however this is a position won out of only takes a couple of hours to travel to Manchester from most major cities in England, either by train or by car. In reality nomads have little need to go into cities and instead keep to the smaller towns and the outer suburbs of a city. However this doesn’t mean that travel between cities is safe. Various groups lay claim to the stretches that lie between the cities, and not many are well understood. The main advantage then of Manchester sits at a sort of travelling to a city like Manchester is the crossroads to the North. You may think that potential safety and the chance at a new itinerant vampires, nomads, may need to start. stop off in Manchester and present themselves. But then this isn’t the USA, Russia or even some countries in Europe. It course the Carthian ploy to spread their philosophy beyond the confines of Manchester. The Carthians are keen to show that they are accepting of visitors, even those of The Carthians other Covenants, however they do not want All of the major train stations lie their hospitality to be abused. If a visiting within the Carthian Central District and so Kindred wishes to stay longer than a week any nomad seeking to stay in Manchester for then the visitor is expected to contribute to any period of time must seek out the the Carthians, either in money or favours. Chamberlain and petition for shelter. The visitor may need to teach a Discipline, Kindred needing to stay for a few nights as acts as a messenger to another city or even part of their journey are given the hospitality eliminate potential threats to the Carthians. of the Carthians. A temporary haven is Of all the Carthians Spokesman Rain takes allocated and feeding grounds overseen by the most interest in using this network to the Constable Ihram are given. The visitor is further his own influence. invited to Elysium and to even present what Those Kindred wanting to stay in the they know of other cities. All of this is of city, no matter their clan or Covenant, have

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester to present themselves to the Chamberlain, offered, but only until they have found their and then the Chairman. Once they have been own haven, at which point they must presented the Kindred then give their case contribute to the Carthians to clear their for why they would be a benefit to the city. debt. After this the Kindred are free to follow This is then given to the Board to consider the policies of their Covenant while and vote upon. If successful the Kindred respecting those of the city and the joining the city is offered the same Chairman and the Board. However, breaches hospitality of the Carthians as any visitor is by immigrant Kindred are not taken lightly. priest and then they are asked to confess their sins to the priest. Once these initial welcoming rites have been finished and the visitors is offered the hospitality of the Lancea Sanctum and The Lancea Sanctum allowed to join in communion with the If the Carthians are the most members of the Covenant. However, visitors welcoming of Covenants, then the Sanctified are not allowed to outstay their welcome. are the most insular and paranoid. Every Those Kindred who wish to stay for more Kindred to visit the city may potentially a than a few days must of course then be heretic. The inquisitors and Ositary look out presented to the Chairman and the Board of for visitors and watch them keenly, watching Representatives. Meanwhile, as the where they go, who they talk to and what newcomer’s situation is considered the this leads to. It only takes a few unwatched Lancea Sanctum take the opportunity to test Kindred to lead to a full scale insurgency of a the Kindred and make use of him, a small group of Belial’s Brood, or even the danger price to pay for their hospitality. of VII. If the newcomer is welcomed by the Visitors that head directly to one of Lancea Sanctum then the Archbishops and the parishes of the Lancea Sanctum are often Priests of the city can help in their petition to direct there by their fellows in other cities, join the city. Of course this is the perfect time and often these visitors are members of the to hand over any heretics to the Constable. Lancea Sanctum. Lancea Sanctum messengers, Visitors who come direct to the itinerant priests, receive a more pleasant Lancea Sanctum first must acknowledge the welcome. However in recent years a number divine right of the Sanctified in Manchester. of these travelling ministers and inquisitors They ask for the blessing of the attending have never been seen again. The Cult of Hathor is always open to visitors and jump at the chance to indulge them in their vices and grand rituals. If however the visitor finds the Cult of Cernunnos they are welcomed, but there is much more suspicion The Circle of the Crone and the visitor is kept from engaging in As the smallest official Covenant in rituals with the cult, the Magus being elitist Manchester they are the least capable of and distrustful of other cults. providing for visitors. A travelling Acolyte is Those immigrant Acolytes must more than likely going to pass straight choose to either one of the cults or must be through the city and miss any resident part of the Covenant but not participate with Acolytes, or more likely end up in the arms any of the cults and instead remain alone in of the Carthians or Invictus. Fortunately the their faith. Within Manchester almost a sixth Carthians laws makes the situation less of the Acolytes are independent and so dangerous than expected, with the same sort gather for friendly discussions. Those of hospitality being offered as would be visiting Acolytes that follow distasteful offered to other Carthians. beliefs are often shunned and offered any If lucky a visiting or immigrant help during their stay. If things are truly bad Acolyte will be directed towards the local then even the local Acolytes wont pass up an cult, but then it is a choice of which to go to. opportunity to sacrifice a Kindred and spill vitae in the name of the gods.

The lay of the land Presentation to the Chairman and Covenant or have a good word put in for the Board for the Acolyte is not as easy as it them from someone who lives in the city that is for other Covenants unless they have the they have travelled from. However, this support of one of the cults of the city. If they Kindred’s word cannot be trusted and so do not have this support then the Acolyte many Acolytes must offer their services to will have to find a patron within another the Carthians in order to gain favour. is known for being a trouble maker then the Invictus, if they can get away with it, will take matters into their own hands. Itinerant Invictus Kindred, typically travelling knights and messengers are all the The Invictus hospitality at the disposal of the Invictus So the Carthians are the welcome all lords. Both Lord Hawkins and Viscountess and make an effort to show how beneficial Kerkoft hold courts for visitors, calling all their way of government is. The Lancea Invictus Kindred to welcome the visitor and Sanctum and Acolytes have less trust to listen to their news from other cities. Of visiting Kindred. But the Invictus are the course this is all pomp and a chance for the worst combination of these three. They open Invictus lords to show their power and their arms and acknowledge the visitor influence. But with two Invictus courts a before firmly letting them know where they visiting Invictus could unwittingly snub one stand, who is in charge and who they must court by only visiting the other. obey. The Invictus quickly put their foot If there is one thing neither Kerkoft down to ensure that the local Invictus show or Hawkins have time for are those Invictus their dominance, but they are careful to who believe that they can come to the city to show the appropriate etiquette to elders who lead a war against the Carthians. These arrive. visitors are not only displaying their desire Presentation at the courts of the to lead the Invictus, but also suggesting the Invictus elders is the priority of all visiting incompetence of the current Invictus lords. Invictus. Visitors of other Covenants merely Often these visitors are just led into the need to show the right respect and they will hands of a anarchic Carthians who take great be directed towards the appropriate delight in showing this Invictus the error of Covenant. This attitude towards visitors is to his ways. show that like the Carthians they can be lenient and tolerant. However, if the visitor free. The Carthians give the Dragon a stiff warning but kindly drop them off at the city limits so that they can continue their journey, while the Invictus see an opportunity to either win points with the Carthians or keep The Ordo Dracul quiet and turn the Dragon into one of their Manchester is not usually where a pawns. travelling Dragon will stay very long. Maybe Those Dragons that expect to stay in just one night somewhere on the outskirts of the city must find a home in amongst once of the city where they are unlikely to be the other Covenants, keeping their true spotted. Those that do come to Manchester allegiance secret. This is especially true of the on purpose are in the city to help bolster and Sworn and high ranking members of the aid those Dragons that exist in hiding in the Order who are most likely capable of city. bringing the Ordo Dracul back to power. But what of the Dragons that are Kindred of other Covenants who are picked up by the other Covenants? What met by any Dragons are made to believe that becomes of them? The Acolytes turn them they are talking to either a Carthians or away, seeing them as more trouble than they Unaligned Kindred, but such situations often are worth. The Lancea Sanctum see them as allow for the Dragons to spread godless depraved animals and will sooner disinformation. have their head on a stake than let them go

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester The lay of the land .

The city of Manchester is home to 2.6 million “[H]ere the kine, with a further 7 million in the suburbs and districts about the city centre. This means Manchester can easily human spirit accommodate 80, with anywhere up to 150 Kindred in the “[H]ere the Greater Manchester region. It would be impossible to describe the entire population of the city but we can look humanbecomes spirit at the key players of the city, those who have the most at stake in the city and call all the shots. However we will becomesperfect, perfect, and at briefly describe the collectives of vampires that gather in the city and the types of things they get up to. and at the same For each of the Kindred presented here numerous the same time plot hooks will be suggested and will be obvious the time brutalised, types of conflicts that are present and be used to drive a brutalised,that civilisation that plot for a story or an entire chronicle. But if you have ideas for your chronicle which conflict with what has producescivilisation its been described here then by all means just change the characters in this chapter to suit your needs. If however marvels and that there are characters not detailed here, such as those who produces its support the Carthian Parliamentary Revolution of Oscar civilised man Reinhart then by all means fill in the blanks, or even let marvels and that your players fill these roles. After it is your game, so returns to the make Manchester your city.

civilisedsavage.” man Count Alexis de Tocqueville,returns to 1840 the savage.”

Count Alexis de Tocqueville, The Office of the Chairman The position of Chairman is a precarious one. On the one hand you wish to see the Carthians stay in power and so ensure that Carthians ideals are followed in the domain. But on the other hand you want to stamp out any possible opposition to democracy in place. Of course

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester these policies are polar opposites and so the Willpower: 5 Chairman is always in danger of hypocrisy. Humanity: 5 He must always ensure his use of influence Virtue: Temperance always appears to be in the benefit of Vice: Envy maintaining democracy rather than looking like a tyrant. Of course there are those that Health: 10 can see past this and are already working to Initiative: 5 undermine his power and seek to reduce the Defence: 2 Chairman’s position to nothing but a Speed: 9 figurehead role. Blood Potency: 6 The Chairman maintains the Disciplines: Auspex 3, Celerity 3, Obfuscate democratic system by managing the city 3, Resilience 3, Theban Sorcery 2 with a small select group of Kindred who Theban Sorcery Rituals: Blood Scourge (1), perform all the hard work for the Chairman. Crown of Thorns (1, see Lancea Sanctum The individuals make up the Chairman’s page 194) Office. It would be wrong to think that all of Derangements: the Kindred that act behind the throne Fixation actually see eye to eye with the Chairman’s Vitae/ per turn: 15/3 policies, but the power and influence it Appearance: Jonathan is almost 6 foot tall, he provides more than makes up for having to tends to wear immaculate suits and has a follow the policies of the Carthians. goatee and moustache. His features are stern and angular, and his eye tells a tale of great pain, of a constant nagging pain in his soul. Jonathan also has a limp in his right leg and Chairman Jonathan Williams has a walking cane to aid him. Clan: Mekhet Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1794 Apparent Age: 30s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 4 Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 5 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 3, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (History of Science) 3, Investigation 3, Medicine (Biochemistry) 3, Occult (Vampire physiology, Vampire Lore) 3, Politics (Manchester, Carthians) 3 Physical Skills: Brawl 2, Drive 2, Stealth Jonathan Williams was the son of an (Streets, Crowds) 2, Weaponry 3 entrepreneur and grew up in Liverpool, but Social Skills: Empathy 2, Expression 2, also spent a fair amount of time being taken Intimidation (Stare down) 3, Persuasion around the world by his parents, spending (Kindred) 3, Socialize 2, Streetwise 2, time in India, China and Africa. Subterfuge 4 When Jonathan was old enough he Merits: Contacts (Historians, Biochemists) 2, was sent to study at Cambridge, choosing to City Status (Manchester) 5, Clan Status 3, study the classics and history and religion, Covenant Status (Carthians) 4, Haven: even participating on archaeological digs. Location 3, Size 4, Security 4, Herd 2, However, it was now that Jonathan was Language (Latin, Arabic, French) 3, consumed by his own greed. He returned Resources 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 3 home, now a graduate and returned to his father business, only to sell him out and have

Chairman Jonathan Williams him murdered in order to inherit the reckless and vindictive, seizing any company. opportunity to stake another corrupt elder Murder did not rest easy with out in the sun. But in time the Carthians Jonathan, and consuming himself in his formed a sort of council, a collective of business was not enough, though he was leaders with Jonathan acting as arbitrator of accumulating a large number of artefacts the discussions. This council then grew and from all over the world, his passion for the votes were held for the first time in 1854, exotic and mysterious could not stop him blessed by the acting Archbishop of the sinking into depression. Jonathan began Lancea Sanctum in Manchester. visiting church in order to find some sort of In addition to creating this new redemption. Over a series of evenings senatorial style form of government Cardinal James Furlong could see promise in Jonathan, now the Chairman of Manchester, this man if he could make him confess his researched heavily into Kindred lore and set sins and have him accept the embrace as a up a series of laboratories to test the Kindred form of purging of his mortal sins. Jonathan physiology. The reason is a deep secret of the accepted the offer and was embraced before Chairman, as he soon developed stigmata, a the parish of the Lancea Sanctum. The curse laid down upon him by his sire the Cardinal hung from a cross for 3 evenings, dead Cardinal. It took time to develop but as which at the end of Jonathan was drained the years past the Chairman took more and and fed blood from a cut to the Cardinal’s more time to perform his research to seek a stomach. way to overcome this curse. He learnt the old Williams’ world spanning arts of alchemy, stole texts from the Acolytes knowledge and understanding of the of the Crone and the Dragons. Jonathan also modern world was an asset to the Cardinal ploughed vast amounts of into chemical and the Sanctified of the city. His knowledge companies, funding research into blood. His of the sciences and of trade allowed the research even now continues. Cardinal to obtain relics from the far reaches Jonathan’s more radical experiments of the world and amass wealth and influence have involved the use of his only childe, in the modern industrial world. Nathaniel Radcliffe, a street urchin and thief As the years passed Jonathan could who now is locked away in a secret lab in see that he had sold his soul for a new life, Manchester asylum. Nathaniel is often fed, but a life amongst monsters, something that injected and treated with new serums and did not rest well with his education. The concoctions of vitae, as Nathaniel is also Peterloo Massacre of 1817 proved to subject to Jonathan’s curse. Jonathan has also Jonathan that as mortal society was changing gone as far as stealing an experimental vitae so Kindred society also needs to change. tank from the Ordo Dracul and studied the Inspired by the mortal revolution taking text of the Kitab Si’lat, finding reference to place he found like-minded Kindred in the Ghul vampires and the group of amongst all strata and Covenants. The seeds vampires known as the Tremere. of the Manchester Carthian Movement were Now, ever since the bomb of ’96, born. Jonathan fears that he is losing control of At the head of the Carthian Manchester, having become entrenched in Movement, now an underground collection his role of Chairman. He has become a of disenfranchised neonates and ancillae, hypocrite, seeking to impose rules and Jonathan led the Ascension Day Revolution. democracy that he himself seeks to On the evening of the 24th of May 1839, circumvent in order to maintain his precious Ascension Day, Jonathan and his Carthians status quo so that he might finally find the and allies within the Ordo Dracul stormed cure that he is seeking. But with both the havens of the Primogen and the Lancea Carthian anarchs, power hungry Invictus Sanctum, dragging their bodies out into the and vengeful Dragons out for his blood time streets, fire consuming their dead flesh. is ticking. Over the next few years the Currently the Chairman maintains Covenants fought for dominance, however influence in both the university research into the Carthians had the advantage of numbers. leukaemia and other blood diseases, while The Carthians in these early years were also wielding temporal power amongst the

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester very people who donate money to these order to keep up with the demands of the institutions. Jonathan also has ties to the Board of Representatives and their voters. local laboratories of Astra Zeneca and smaller companies that are focused upon the pharmaceutical industry. The Chairman, through his ghouls, is also a major patron of The Fourth and Fifth Freedoms the museums of the city, allowing his The office of the Chairman does not collections to be shown to the public, while rule without official authority. A set of laws, also holding private showings for those few known well only to those Carthian lawyers mortals that are have interest in the occult and Representatives on the Board, are and obscure. It is during these private known as the ‘Fourth and Fifth’. Under these showing that the Chairman often finds a laws and the Traditions the officers of the chance to acquire new ghouls and resources. Chairman have the authority of the city to do And so with these resources the Chairman is what is required to maintain the Traditions able to give everything that young neonates and the safety and security of the Kindred of need, and so is able to gain the votes he the city. requires. Of course this is the aim of the These additional laws can of course Chairman, to appear as a charitable mentor allow the Chairman if he so wishes to veto to the Carthians. the wishes of the Board and make decrees without their consent. However, in almost 100 years the Chairman has never had to make such a ruling, and no one wishes to be the one who allows for a tyrant to come to Goals: Status Quo power. Of course there are those in the Ultimately the Chairman and his Carthians and other Covenants who are allies who make up his office seek to actively seeking to find a way for the Board maintain the status quo, for the greater good to gain the influence to remove these of the Carthians, whether they like it or not. emergency powers from the Chairman. Sometimes the reason outweighs the Of course the Chairman, on behalf of methods. At least that is the view of the the Board, is in charge of the Constable and Chairman. Democracy keeps all of the his officers, and the Lictor. However, this Damned happy, and perpetuates the idea of control is open to abuse and so there are freedom, though all the power is in the rumours that a number of final deaths that hands of the few Carthians and Board have been at the hands of the Lictor at the members who the Chairman can direct. command of the Chairman. The Chairman, and the Chamberlain and the Constable must be careful to ensure that all executions and judgements ordered by the Chairman What They’ve Got and the Chamberlain have the appropriate paperwork to back up these rulings. Between the Chairman, the Ultimately the Chairman is seen by Constable, Spokesman and Chamberlain the most as fair but tough, exactly how the Chairman and his office have a great deal of Carthians like it, as they have all the benefits influence at all strata. Boons can be trade for of accessible boons and favours while not changes in policy, fear and direct the voting having to worry that other Covenants will of the neonates, and a well placed spy can take advantage of this charity, while the bring all the blackmail material required to Chairman stamps out any such actions that end one Kindred’s aspirations while making put the Carthians and the rest of the domain another’s come true. Though the office is few at risk. in number their contacts and allies form a complex web across a number of Covenants. However in recent years the growing resentment of a portion of the Carthians has led to his office being tied up in red tape, processing more and more paperwork in

Chairman Jonathan Williams Vitae/ per turn: 13/2 Appearance: David is over five and a half feet tall, with shoulder length hair and a heavy set frame. He dresses somewhat anachronistically, almost Victorian, and Chamberlain David Odans enjoys smoking and playing with his lighter Clan: Ventrue with his well manicured hands. Covenant: Carthian/Circle of the Crone Embrace: 1805 Apparent Age: 20s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 2, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 3, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Law) 3, Investigation 3, Crafts (Painting, Forgery) 3, Occult 2, Politics (Manchester, Carthians) 3 Physical Skills: Brawl 2, Drive 3, Firearms (Rifles) 2, Weaponry 3 Social Skills: Animal Ken 2, Empathy 2, Expression 3, Intimidation (Blackmail) 4, Chamberlain David Odans was born Persuasion (Kindred, Fast Talk) 4, Socialize in London to a banker, and so was brought 3, Subterfuge 3 up by his father with the intention of Merits: Allies (City Hall, University Deans) following in the family business. However, 2, Contacts (Police investigators, City Odans attended King’s College London and planners, Old Boys network) 3, City Status it was here that Odans’ became aware of the (Manchester) 3, Clan Status 2, Covenant things that lurked in the shadows. He Status (Carthians 2) (Circle of the Crone 3), attended medical autopsies, séances, lectures Haven: Location 2, Size 2, Security 2, Herd 2, on ghosts and the dead and the strange Language (Latin, Italian) 2, Resources 4, things found in Egypt. Retainer (Ghouled) 2 This interest in Egypt brought Odans Willpower: 6 into the company of a gentleman’s club, but Humanity: 6 also a cult, one focused on the acquisition of power and money. This Cult of Thoth, Virtue: Prudence preached knowledge and power above all Vice: Sloth other things. Health: 8 In a few more years Odans was Initiative: 6 married to the daughter of one of the Defence: 2 wealthy officials of the club, and travelled to Speed: 10 Manchester to oversee business for his new Blood Potency: 4 family there. He was a skilled banker, but also had a keen mind and was a proficient Disciplines: Animalism 3, Cruác 3, lawyer. But it was his sin, his participation in Dominate 3, Majesty 1, Resilience 3, Vigor 2 the cult that lead to him being picked out by Cruác Sorcery Rituals: Rigor Mortis (1), the vampire priest, Tigerus Arkwright. Taste of Knowledge (1, Circle of the Crone Arkwright need resources and power and page 204), Cheval (2), Maiden Skin (2, Circle was to sire as it was a gift from the Cardinal of the Crone page 205), Beloved Deodand (3, to do so. Odans would be the perfect childe. Circle of the Crone page 206) It would the chance to give a sinner a new Devotions: Iron Muscles (Carthians book, life in the grace of God, a chance for them to page 201) confess their sins. Derangements: Melancholia, Suspicion

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Odans was Embraced, and his first Chairman becoming more of a despot every kill was his equally sinful wife. Odans hated year and so now acts behind the scenes, what he had become. His first nights were taking the Chairman’s decrees and executing painful but as they past and he came to them in such a way to soften the blow and to know what he was. Odans pretended to ensure that the Carthians do not cry out that listen to his sires patronising rhetoric, his their head of state is now a King. Odans talk of God and redemption and of struggles each night to ensure that the Longinus, but knew that there must be more, Chairman remains a symbol of democracy that God was not the source of vampirism, and so stave of revolution, for the fall of the that older cultures in the world had Carthians would allow barbarians to tear vampires exist amongst them. down the Crone. With Williams, the seeds of the Carthian Movement in Manchester were sown, and Odans sort to be free from the oppression of the Lancea Sanctum. But while Williams courted the Ordo Dracul, Odans found allies amongst the few young Kindred who also sort the mysteries of the old ways. They were few but they were the Circle of the Crone. There were rumours of elders but they had not been seen in years, the last true gathering having taken place before the siege of Manchester during the Civil War. It was with these few that the Cult of Hathor was born and the Circle of the Crone was spoken of once more. After the events of Ascension Day uprising Odans took the position of Chamberlain. It allowed him the ability to take an active role in the new Kindred society that was forming, but also remain autonomous enough to lead his growing cult. As the years past the cult grew, aide in part by the new order that tolerated the beliefs that were now resurgent with the coming of modern technology. The world wars and the atomic bomb had shown people the God was truly dead and that the old gods must hold power of these new times. But as his cult grew so the old elders came out of the wood work. Now no longer in fear of the Lancea Sanctum Magus Gregor, and elder of terrible age and power. Odans knew that he could not compete against the knowledge and power of this monster, and so stepped down as head of the Circle of the Crone and allowed this revered elder to lead the Covenant into the new century. But with this relinquishment of power came competition as the Magus reformed his Cult of Cernunnos. Now after so many years Odans fears that all that the Carthians and the Circle of the Crone have built will fall. He sees the

Chamberlain David Odans Spokesman Mathew Rain Clan: Daeva Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1876 Apparent Age: Mid 20s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 5, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 4, Composure 2 Mental Skills: Academics (Opera) 2, Crafts (Piano, Composing) 2, Investigation 2, Spokesman Rain was born the Politics (Manchester, Carthians) 2 illegitimate child of a dancer at a theatre in Physical Skills: Brawl 3, Drive 2, Larceny 2, Paris. He spent much of his early life Stealth 3, Weaponry 2 watching his mother perform on stage and then teach others. He of course grew up as a Social Skills: Empathy 2, Expression 4, stage hand and later to a more active role in Intimidation 2, Persuasion 2, Socialize the promotion of the shows of the theatres (Smooth talker) 3, Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 2 where his mother worked. Merits: Contacts (Clubs, Media types, However, Mathew had higher Private Investigator) 3, City Status aspirations, and sought to leave the theatre. (Manchester) 3, Clan Status 3, Covenant His achieved this through blackmail and Status (Carthians) 3, Haven: Location 3, Size bribery. But worst was to come. When he 3, Security 3, Herd 3, Language (Latin, discovered that his father was none other but French) 3, Resources 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 2 the owner of the theatre he exacted his Willpower: 4 revenge for all his years, and his mothers, of Humanity: 5 being treated as slaves. He brutally beat his Virtue: Hope father before taking what money he could Vice: Greed find before leaving for England. Health: 8 In England, in particular Stratford, Initiative: 6 Mathew, now adopting the full name of Mathew Rain, was able to find a place Defence: 4 amongst the theatres in that large town. Speed: 11 However, his business prowess and social Blood Potency: 4 acumen caught the attention of his sire to be, Disciplines: Auspex 2, Celerity 3, Dominate Silas Arken. Arken had need of a young man 2, Majesty 4, Vigor 3, Resilience 2 who was more keenly aware of the emerging Devotions: Husk (Carthians book, page 191) new media and more connected to the real Vitae/ per turn: 13/2 world. Also Rain reminded Arken of himself Appearance: Spokesman Mathew Rain is when things were much simpler. slender and pale. He is almost 6 foot tall and Sometime after Rain’s embrace, he has short blond hair that is swept back. He is and Arken fled to Manchester to embrace the immaculately dressed and also takes as emergent modern ideals that the Carthians much care with his own hygiene. He is often were promoting, while in the South of dressed in the most up to date styles, England they had to deal with conservative adopting menacing business suits, brogues Invictus lords or stuffy Sanctum priests. It is and a smile of a shark. in Manchester amongst the still young Carthian society that both Rain and Arken were able to carve out their positions in

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Kindred society. But it has been more recent dream remain and expand beyond the that sire and child have clashed as Rain seeks borders of Manchester. This has meant at out ever more power while Arken has time their goals have matched, while others mellowed and wishes to see the Carthian they have been in opposition.

Spokesman Mathew Rain Constable Ihram Clan: Gangrel Covenant: Circle of the Crone Embrace: 1147 Apparent Age: Mid 50s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 5, Resolve 4 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 4, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Arabia, Persia) 4, Appearance: Ihram wears concealing long Crafts (Writing) 2, Investigation robes much like any Muslim or Indian man (Masquerade Breaches, Murder Scenes) 4, who walks the streets of Rusholme in the Occult 3, Politics (Manchester, Carthians) 2 south of Manchester. His beard is dark and Physical Skills: Athletics 1, Brawl 4, Drive 2, long, and his eyes are now intensely blue, Firearms 2, Larceny 2, Stealth 3, Weaponry both the effect of his age and thickness of (Swords) 3 blood. His hands are gnarled with age and Social Skills: Empathy 2, Expression 1, his nails are long and cracked. Intimidation (Physical Intimidation) 3, Ihram was born in the north of what Persuasion 2, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 3 today would be Iraq. He was raised to in a Merits: Contacts (Police, Private family of priests, but not of Allah and Islam, Investigator, Islamic Priests) 3, City Status but of Zoroaster. His embrace was one of (Manchester) 3, Clan Status 3, Covenant vengeance upon his family. It was a painful Status (Circle of the Crone) 2, Fighting lesson of humility. Cursed by the unknown Finesse (Scimitar) 2, Haven: Location 2, Size Ghul, Ihram began his initiation into the 2, Security 3, Language (Syrian, Arabic, mystery cult of Ereshkigal, the goddess of Italian) 3, Resources 2, Retainer (Ghouled) 3 the Netherworld. With this cult, and within Baghdad, Ihram was taught many secrets Willpower: 6 and magics, including the powerful blood Humanity: 3 sorcery of the Kindred. However, though Virtue: Justice this time was one of peace and knowledge, it Vice: Gluttony was not to last. Health: 8 In 1258 Baghdad was sacked by a Initiative: 7 force that also included the Mongols, and Defence: 4 with them their own strange mystics and Speed: 12 creatures of the night. The cult of Ereshkigal was broken and scattered as the city fell and Blood Potency: 6 its treasures looted. Ihram fled west, to Disciplines: Auspex 3, Cruác 4, Dominate 4, Egypt and the Holy Lands, once more Protean 4, Resilience 3, Vigor 3 disguised as a priest of Allah. He is Cruác Sorcery Rituals: All most all. rumoured to have only stayed in a city for a However it is suggested that these rituals few decades before moving on. Always he embody an Eastern Persian theme. tried to keep to himself, and if failing Vitae/ per turn: 15/3 proclaimed himself a cousin to the Lancea Sanctum. His journeys brought him to the heart of the Venetian Republic and from there to the coast of Spain and then to England.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Ihram did not arrive in Manchester was finally able to reveal his true nature. He until 1822, travelling from the city of accepted the position of Constable from the London. His appearance in Manchester was Chairman in 1947, realising that though he is simply put down to the influx of foreigners no politician that the current climate within from the Arabian world, and so he was the Kindred of Manchester allows for overlooked by the current leader of himself, and those like him within the Circle Manchester Kindred, Cardinal Furlong. of the Crone, to openly follow their own However it soon became apparent that this faith. strange Gangrel was not just a foreigner, but Unlike other elder Crone Acolytes, a true elder. The Cardinal offered Ihram Ihram has remained alone in his studies, domain, which he politely refused, stating rather than seeking to build a cult. He has his true desire was to further his studies of offered tuition to others on rare occasions, the Blood and understand Allah better. The and has acted as a councillor for the two Cardinal, though repulsed by the Islamic rival Crone cults. But there are those who faith, at least thought the this was at least still think he has an agenda beyond seeking better than the foul teachings of the Crone. Golconda. It was only with the fall of the Lancea Sanctum in Manchester that Ihram

Constable Ihram Ellen Ling - The Lictor Clan: Mekhet - Morbus Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1984 Apparent Age: Mid 20s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 5, Resolve 4 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 5, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 3, Composure 2 Mental Skills: Computer 2, Crafts (Forgery) Equipment: Tonfa – Damage 2(B), Size 2, 2, Investigation (Masquerade Breaches, Durability 2, Defence +1 in close combat only Kindred) 3 Appearance: Ellen Ling is typically dressed Physical Skills: Athletics 3, Brawl (Grapple) in functional clothing. Dark military jackets, 4, Drive 3, Firearms (Pistol) 3, Larceny 3, combat boots and fitted clothing allows for Stealth (Shadowing) 3, Weaponry (Stakes, Ellen to conceal weapons such as stakes and Tonfa) 3 knives. She is very pale skinned and has Social Skills: Intimidation (Physical short cropped black hair that reveals her Intimidation, Torture) 3, Persuasion 2, almond shaped eyes, eyes that have been Streetwise (Manchester, Gangs) 3, Subterfuge tainted yellow by the plagues that infest her 3 body. Merits: Contacts (Gangsters, Drug Dealers) Ellen Ling was born in Bristol to a 2, City Status (Manchester) 1, Covenant wealthy family who made their money in the Status (Carthian) 2, Fighting Finesse (Tonfa) electronics industry and banking. However, 2, Fighting Style (Kung Fu) 3, Haven: Ellen took advantage of this life of luxury, Location 1, Size 1, Security 3, Language slumming it with the students and ravers, (Japanese) 1, Meditative Mind 1, Resources 2, taking drugs and injecting herself with Retainer (Ghouled) 1 heroin. It was by this means that she Willpower: 6 contracted AIDs, and was soon ostracized by her family and friends for fear of catching Humanity: 4 the disease. Virtue: Prudence Ellen’s life was one of squalor and so Vice: Wrath she was a fitting meal for her sire, a foul Health: 8 Kindred who had been infecting and Initiative: 7 spreading the disease about the city. One Defence: 5 night in another warehouse rave Ellen was Speed: 13 attacked and left for dead, her sire put to Blood Potency: 3 final death by the Kindred of the city while her body was overlooked, her sires blood Disciplines: Auspex 3, Cachexy 3, Celerity 3, spattered on her lips and giving her life. Obfuscate 3, Vigor 2 It did not take long for Ellen to Vitae/ per turn: 13/2 realise the danger that she was in as she Derangements: Bulimia spoke to independent vampires within the Diseases: HIV, Influenza, Herpes, Syphilis, city. It seemed only the Nosferatu had the Gonorrhea, Chlamydia time for her, but even they did so out of reluctance. Ellen arrived in Manchester after years of persecution by her own kind. In Manchester hiding would be easier for her,

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester and over the next few years she dedicated Soon enough Ellen was given sanctuary herself to training and defence, hunting only within the city, only known to the Chairman those humans and Kindred that were riddled and the Constable. Her official position of with disease. Lictor, the city assassin, was put into action It soon became apparent to the immediately, hunting down other virus Chairman that Ellen was a desperate carrying Kindred, heretics and potential creature and could be used for his benefit. revolutionaries.

Ellen Ling | The Lictor Initiative: 6 Defence: 3 Speed: 11 Blood Potency: 5 Disciplines: Auspex 2, Celerity 3, Dominate The Carthians - A 3, Majesty 4, Obfuscate 3, Vigor 4 Vitae/ per turn: 14/2

Republican Parliament

Prefect Simon Arken Clan: Daeva Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1714 Apparent Age: Mid 40s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 5, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Appearance: Prefect Simon Arken is well Stamina 3 muscled man, obviously embraced for his Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation wealth and connections. He his ruddy faced, 5, Composure 3 moustached and has a prominent devils peak hair line. He tends to wear fancy Mental Skills: Academics (History, Law, clothing, cravats, spats and a smoking jacket. Linguistics) 4, Crafts 2, Investigation (Carthian intrigue, Kindred) 3, Occult Simon Arken is a keen observer and (Carthian Rites) 2, Politics (Scandals, Bribery) commenter on Carthian politics and Elysium 3 functions. His awareness and organization of the Covenant means that his word can easily Physical Skills: Brawl (Clawing) 3, Drive 2, make or break the reputation of a member. It Firearms (Rifle) 2, Larceny 3, Stealth (Streets, is also his word within the Board of Silent Movement) 3, Weaponry (Swords) 4 Representatives that can cause large changes Social Skills: Empathy 2, Expression 3, for individual Kindred of the Covenant. For Intimidation (Threats, Blackmail) 4, these reasons the Prefect is a well respected Persuasion (Speeches) 4, Streetwise 2, figure, but this position is not one that is Socialize (Elysium master, Bar Hopping) bought but gained through popularity and a Subterfuge 3 vote. For the last 70 years Simon Arken has Merits: Contacts (City Councillors, News held the position of Prefect after the Reporter, Land developers) 3, City Status Chairman stepped down from the position (Manchester) 4, Clan Status 3, Covenant as he assumed his role of head of the city. Status (Carthian) 4, Fighting Finesse (Sabre) Simon Arken comes from Oxford. 3, Haven: Location 3, Size 4, Security 4, Herd He was in line to inherit from a long line of 3, Language (German, Spanish) 2, Resources Lords but was instead embraced in a 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 4 moment of passion by Lady Elizabeth Willpower: 5 Ashfall. Humanity: 5 Embraced into the Invictus, Simon Virtue: Temperance tired of their out dated method of Vice: Gluttony governance and society. He had a desire to Health: 8 leave the over bearing woman and orchestrated her demise and final death at

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester the hands of her opponent within the while still giving the impression of Invictus. democracy. However this has become more Fleeing to Manchester the Simon met difficult over recent years and so the Prefect Williams and together with David Odans seeks to have the Chairman restricted, they orchestrated the fall of the Lancea removing some of his executive powers. Sanctum. Following the end of Cardinal Furlong’s reign Williams and Arken organized the first Caucus of the Carthians, and with Odans the first government was What They’ve Got formed. Williams acknowledged Arken’s ability to act as spokesman for the Carthians The Prefect of course does not and the elected elite, and so Arken began to operate alone. His main allies are Patrick formalize and arrange the social events of Falken, a well respected member of the the Carthians of Manchester. Carthians and potential future Boardman or Over the years Arken has moved Carthian figure of authority, Chamberlain from being a master of Elysium and Whip, Odans, who carefully releases information to and taken the elected position of Prefect, the benefit of Carthians so that appropriate replacing Williams who formally took the action can be made to alleviate issues before position of Chairman. It has been this they occur. The Prefect also is helped by the rearrangement of power that has led to the Myrmidon Duncanson, who acts as judge current situation for the Carthians and the and councillor to the Carthians and so is Prefect. privy to many of the issues the electorate have with city and the Chairman and the Board. Opposing the Prefect are a small number Kindred. The Prefect’s child, the Goals: Democracy Spokesman Mathew Rain, is a constant thorn The Prefect now stands in the tricky in his side as Rain takes full advantage of the situation of either working for the Chairman power wielded by the Chairman. Arken also and ensuring the Carthian dominance of the must deal with the vocal anarch syndicates, city, or instead upholding the ideals that small groups of Kindred who fight for self were formed over a hundred years ago so governance and a Communist state. Finally that the Carthians do not collapse. Simon is there is Julia Reinhart, a rising Carthian who quite aware that there is a very vocal part of argues that the Chairman and Board are a Carthians who want to see the Chairman corrupt elected minority that should instead removed as he is a dictator. So the Prefect all be elected to power in a new attempts to balance these issues, offering the representative parliament. Chairman alternatives so that he can rule but

Prefect Simon Arken Myrmidon Estabelle Duncanson Clan: Mekhet Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1774 Apparent Age: Mid 30s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 4, Resolve 4 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 5, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Classics, English, Appearance: Estabelle wears classic cuts, Art) 4, Crafts (Forgery, Painting, Sculpting) almost Victorian in style. She wears bustle 3, Investigation (Riddles, Artefacts) 3, Occult skirts, jackets and lace. She has deposed of (Kindred, Spirits, Cults) 4, Science 2 using hats in order to look somewhat Physical Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl 2, Drive 2, modern. Estabelle has strawberry blonde Larceny (Concealing stolen goods) 3, Stealth hair in ringlets and freckles. Her eyes are a (Shadowing, Crowds) 3, Weaponry 2 clear jade. Social Skills: Animal Ken 2, Empathy (Lies, Estabelle is the daughter of a doctor, Motives) 3, Intimidation (Bluster) 2, and so was expected to marry a young Persuasion 3, Socialize 3, Subterfuge (Cons, doctor or surgeon. Estabelle was raised in Misdirection) 3 Edinburgh and was able to have a well rounded education. However, Ellen was also Merits: Contacts (Art dealers, Historian) 2, something of a rebel and with her friends City Status (Manchester) 3, Clan Status 3, engaged in dubious occult practices. In Covenant Status (Carthian) 3, Haven: particular she joined the cult of the Golden Location 3, Size 3, Security 3, Language Gate, worshippers of old Egyptian gods. (Greek, Latin) 2, Resources 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 3, Unseen Sense 3 It was this link that led to her embrace and she became part of the Invictus. Willpower: 6 She organized her husband’s death so that Humanity: 4 she would inherit his family’s wealth. But Virtue: Charity ultimately their conservative practices led Vice: Envy her to leave the Covenant, and travelled to Health: 8 York where she joined the Ordo Dracul for a Initiative: 7 brief time. However, her views conflicted with theirs and so her only choice was to Defence: 3 move on and join the Carthians of Speed: 11 Manchester. Blood Potency: 4 Estabelle’s arrival in Manchester and Disciplines: Auspex 4, Celerity 3, Majesty 3, conversion to the new Carthians was seen as Obfuscate 3, Vigor 2 proof of their philosophies. Estabelle initially Devotions: Husk (Carthians page 191), acted as an intermediary between the Quicken Sight Carthians and the Ordo Dracul and Circle of Vitae/ per turn: 14/2 the Crone. This eventually led to Estabelle Derangements: Obsessive Compulsion (she assuming the position of Myrmidon after the must undo every button and button it again) last Kindred in the position met final death at the hands of the Lancea Sanctum. In the last 50 years Estabelle has been busy ensuring that the Carthians remain a stable organisation while furthering

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester her own personal research into the occult. Ultimately the Myrmidon is seeking This has led to her uncovering a number of to remove and replace the Chairman and the mystery cults in Manchester, in particular Spokesman, potentially with high end one that is based upon Mithraic rites. She is members of the Carthians or even the Ordo also keenly aware of the Chairman’s own Dracul. research and that he is being overbearing with his powers.

Myrmidon Duncanson Patrick Falken Clan: Ventrue Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1836 Apparent Age: Mid 30s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 3, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (British History, Law) 3, Computer 3, Investigation (Business Reports) 3, Science 3 Physical Skills: Brawl 3, Drive 2, Larceny (Lock Picking) 3, Firearms 2 Social Skills: Empathy (Lies) 3, Intimidation (Veiled Threats, Black Mail) 3, Persuasion 3, Socialize (Bars, Old Boys Network) 3, Subterfuge 4 Appearance: Patrick has is about 5’ 10’’ and has short curly brown hair clipped short. He Merits: Allies (Hacker) 1, Contacts always tends to wear suits when working or (Construction, PI, Hacker) 3, City Status he can be seen wearing more casual jackets (Manchester) 2, Clan Status 1, Covenant and polo neck shirts when at Elysium or not Status (Carthian) 2, Fresh Start 1, Haven: working. He has very pinched features, grey Location 2, Size 3, Security 3, Inspiring 4, eyes and almost visible fangs. He is neither Language (Latin, French) 2, Resources 4, slender or heavily built. Retainer (Ghouled) 2 Patrick Falken was born in the early Willpower: 6 Victorian period, brought up in the West Humanity: 5 Country, his father was an influential Virtue: Hope engineer and so Patrick was expected to go Vice: Pride to university and follow his father’s Health: 8 profession. He was tutored at the Initiative: 6 Manchester Mechanics Institute and it was Defence: 3 after his graduation he was picked out for embrace by the Ventrue Caleb Amber, a Speed: 11 priest of the Lancea Sanctum. However Blood Potency: 3 Caleb was amongst those who met Final Disciplines: Animalism 3, Auspex 1, Death during the Carthian uprising, and so Dominate 3, Majesty 2, Vigor 2, Resilience 3 Patrick was easily converted to the Carthian Devotions: Body of Will, Veridical Tongue cause and initially protected and instructed Vitae/ per turn: 13/2 by Jonathan Williams. Derangements: Depression Patrick’s Ventrue urges to gather power were tempered by the Chairman’s need for a student who was capable of comprehending the new sciences that were emerging. Patrick was the Chairman’s eyes onto this new world. After 30 years under William’s wing Patrick was considered a fully fledged

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester member of the Carthian society and he soon death of the Cardinal. The Bishop has taken gained a reputation for understanding and great offence to Falken’s Carthian Atheist manipulating the new industries that were agenda, especially due to the blood relation appearing in the city of Manchester. One of that they share. these would be the computer. Patrick has one obvious weakness Patrick Falken has made enemies of that he keeps utter secrecy regarding, his a number of Kindred within the city, in love for a mortal woman, Sophia Andrews. particular the Bishop Michael Kenner, his Sophia is a doctor of humanities at the grand sire who came to Manchester after the university.

Patrick Falken Julia Reinhart Clan: Daeva - Toreador Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1956 Apparent Age: Mid 20s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 3, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Art History, Classics) 3, Crafts (Painting) 3, Investigation (Art Forgeries) 2, Politics 2 Physical Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl 2, Drive 2, Firearms 2, Larceny (Lock Picking, Safe Cracking) 3, Stealth 2 Social Skills: Empathy (Lies) 3, Intimidation (Black Mail) 2, Persuasion (Seduction) 3, Appearance: Julia is an average height and Socialize (Bars) 3, Subterfuge 2 slender, her hair an auburn red, her eyes an Merits: Allies (Drug Dealers, Art Dealer) 2, unusual blue. She tends to wear modern Contacts (Art Galleries, Historian, Forger) 3, close fitting jackets and short skirts and City Status (Manchester) 1, Clan Status 2, boots. She wears a pendant that has the Covenant Status (Carthian) 2, Haven: picture of her husband who died in the Location 2, Size 2, Security 3, Herd 3, army. Her face is calm and almost porcelain Resources 3, Retainer (Ghouled), Striking like in complexion. Looks 4, Unseen Sight 3 Julia was born in York to Irish Willpower: 6 immigrants. She was brought up by her Humanity: 6 grandmother and she has always had a sense Virtue: Charity of the supernatural about her, her Vice: Gluttony grandmother helping her develop this family Health: 8 trait. Initiative: 7 She was eventually married off to a army serviceman at the age of 17. While her Defence: 3 husband was away on service she Speed: 12 maintained the family business of running Blood Potency: 3 the antique shop, and made quite a name for Disciplines: Auspex 1, Celerity 2, Dominate herself and her keen eye for fakes and 3, Majesty 3, Vigor 3 originals. This eventually got the attention of Devotions: Husk (Carthians book, page 191), Max Neils who immediately was infatuated Quicken Sight with her. Over the next few years Julia bore a Vitae/ per turn: 12/2 child and her husband died in duty. Julia was whisked away in her grief by Max, and Derangements: Bulimia enamoured by her beauty in grief he embraced her. Julia relocated to Manchester to be with her sire. She believed they were in love but over the years this soon evaporated as Max turned his attention to another interest.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Julia now is a prominent Harpy with the power of the majority of the other within the Elysium of the city, and is Covenants, see the position of the Chairman especially influential amongst the Carthian reduced to nothing but a figurehead and neonates and those Kindred who are tired of arbiter in the parliament. the current political situation.

What They’ve Got Goals: Proportional Representation Julia leads a coterie of revolutionary Julia is the leader of a faction of Carthians. The coterie includes the Gangrel, Carthians who have tired of the elder, elite Adam Leasonby, the Ventrue Mizuki Xin, minority be in charge of the decisions made the Mekhet, David Walters, and the Lancea for the city. Instead they want to see this Sanctum Daeva, Chris Godfrey. apparently elected board to be replaced by a So far Julia has support from about a parliament where the members are elected to third of the Carthians and also support represent new domains that would be setup. within the Lancea Sanctum, however This would allow for power to be distributed without support within the other Covenants evenly and for the neonates of the city to she has little hope of pushing her agenda have more of a voice. forward. However, things may change if the To achieve this goal Julia would first Invictus see the benefit of the supporting need to replace the current Prefect, and then these troublesome Carthians.

Julia Reinhart Devotions: Body of Will Vitae/ per turn: 13/2 Derangements: Paranoia Nails Clan: Nosferatu Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1867 Apparent Age: Older than 50? Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 5, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 1, Composure 4 Mental Skills: Crafts (Engineering) 3, Investigation (Architecture) 2, Occult (Manchester, Hermetic Arts) 3, Politics 2 Physical Skills: Brawl (Night fighting) 4, Larceny (Lock Picking) 3, Stealth (Shadowing, Move in Shadows) 4, Survival Appearance: Nails as he is known is tall and (Underground) 3, Weaponry (Staff) 3 stocky, his skin blotchy and scaly. His clothes are of course tattered and his mouth Social Skills: Animal Ken 2, Intimidation is almost always covered in dry gore. (Stare Down) 3, Streetwise 3 Nails has been in the city of Merits: Contacts (Health Inspector, Manchester since the turn of the century, Homeless Man) 2, City Status (Manchester) feeling here after the fall of the Carthians in 2, Covenant Status (Carthian) 2, Haven: Nottingham. Nails was welcomed to the city Location 1, Size 1, Security 3, Resources 1, by the Chairman as they needed a vampire Retainer (Ghouled Dogs) 1 of his kind capable of navigating the Willpower: 7 underground canals and tunnels of Humanity: 4 Manchester, to act as the Carthian voice of Virtue: Fortitude the Nosferatu. Nails readily accepted. Vice: Wrath Nails is a self claimed sheriff of the Health: 8 undercity, giving domain to those Kindred Initiative: 6 who sought safety in the tunnels, regardless of Covenant. Nails is also one of the few Defence: 3 Kindred who has semi-frequent run ins with Speed: 13 the other types of denizens of the undercity, Blood Potency: 4 such as the shambling men made of body Disciplines: Animalism 3, Auspex 2, parts, the twisted wolf men, degenerate Nightmare 4, Obfuscate 4, Vigor 3, Resilience sorcerers and skulking Fae creatures. 3

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Priscus Bartholomew Kollins Clan: Gangrel Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1722 Apparent Age: Mid 40s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 4, Resolve 4 Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 3, Stamina 5 Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 3, Composure 4 Mental Skills: Academics (Battle Tactics) 2, Investigation 3, Medicine (Makeshift Treatments) 2, Politics 1 Physical Skills: Athletics 3 (Lifting Weights), Appearance: Bartholomew is grim looking, Brawl (Boxing) 3, Drive 3, Firearms (Rifles) 3, unshaven, his head bearing a cropped mow Larceny (Pickpocket) 2, Stealth (Move hawk. His eyes are like that of a wolf, Silently) 2, Weaponry (Sword) 4 assessing his opponents and staring down his lesser. He often adopts functional Social Skills: Animal Ken 3, Intimidation 4, clothing, such as a leather jacket, jeans and t- Socialize 2, Streetwise (Gangs) 2, Subterfuge shirt. 3 Kollins served in the British army Merits: Barfly 1, Brawling Dodge 1, Contacts having been brought up in South Africa to a (Police, Gangs) 3, City Status (Manchester) 4, family of farmers. It was during his time in Clan Status 3, Covenant Status (Carthian) 3, the army, serving in the American colonies. Fighting Style (Boxing) 4, Haven: Location 2, It was here that he was on patrol. He was a Size 2, Security 2, Iron Stamina 3, Inspiring 4, captain in charge of a platoon of men who Language (German) 1, Resources 2, Retainer were hunted down by the native vampires of (Ghouls, dogs and men) 3 the area. Bartholomew was lucky to escape, Willpower: 8 but he was changed. He awoke the next Humanity: 4 night thirsty and slaked his thirst on the Virtue: Justice bodies of his injured men. Vice: Greed Kollins eventually found his way Health: 10 back to the British Isles after a short period in Initiative: 7 New England. It was there that he came to meet others of his kind and he was taught Defence: 3 about his Kindred nature and his Gangrel Speed: 12 inheritance. Blood Potency: 5 Returning to England Bartholomew Disciplines: Animalism 4, Auspex 1, Protean brought with him thoughts of revolution and 4, Vigor 4, Resilience 3 democracy. It was only in Manchester that Devotions: Instantaneous Transformation, he found like minded Kindred, the Carthian Partial Transformation, Rhino’s Hide domain of Chairman Williams. (Carthians page 197) In modern nights Kollins acts as an Vitae/ per turn: 14/3 advisor to the Gangrel in general, acting as a Derangements: Narcissism, Sanguinary voice of reason while not patronizing like Animism those of the Clan who belong to other Covenants. Also as Priscus, Kollins tries not to interfere with the Requiems of his Clan.

Priscus Bartholomew Kollins Kollins’ primary concern is one of Kollins’ other role within the harmony with his own Beast. He knows that Covenant is one of law enforcement, often this can only be achieved through testing being called upon to organise security for himself, yet not denying his own nature, caucuses and Elysium. This often brings him making Kollins seemed inhuman at times, into conflict with the Constable and and more than human at others. Spokesman, but often he must bite his Additionally Kollins has no time for tongue and accept that his position in such fools, and is not above hunting other matters is one of service not command. Kindred in order to teach a lesson to these ignorant vampires.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Priscus Max Neils Clan: Daeva - Toreador Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1811 Apparent Age: Mid 30s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 5, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Philosophy) 3, Crafts (Sculpture) 3, Investigation 4, Occult 3, Politics (Bribery, Elections) 3 Physical Skills: Brawl 3, Drive 3, Firearms 2, Larceny 3, Stealth (Silent Movement) 3, Weaponry 2 Social Skills: Empathy (Lies, Motives) 3, Expression (Acting, Opera) 3, Intimidation (Scandals) 3, Persuasion (Seduction, Good Appearance: Max Neils has a slim figure, Listener) 4, Socialize (Bars) 3, Subterfuge olive complexion. His eyes are dark and (Misdirection) 3 brooding and he only seems to give of any other hint of emotion when he is performing Merits: Allies (Prostitute, News Reporter) 2, for his peers. Ambidextrous 3, Contacts (City Councillor, Club Owner) 2, City Status (Manchester) 3, Max was born in northern Spain. Clan Status 3, Covenant Status (Carthian) 4, From an early age he was aware of things Fast Reflexes 2, Herd 3, Haven: Location 3, beyond the human world as his father was Size 3, Security 2, Language (Latin, Spanish) part of a cult of hedge wizards, and so Max 2, Resources 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 3, Striking was able to sneak about to see their rituals Looks 2 where he saw his mother participate in ritual sex. Willpower: 6 Max would never have a normal Humanity: 5 outlook on life, always seeking the more Virtue: Prudence decadent experiences, ever more perverse Vice: Lust pleasures. Health: 8 Max, through lots of effort, sacrifice Initiative: 7 and bribery eventually landed a part in a Defence: 3 play in the local theatre, and it was here that Speed: 12 his career as an actor began. He even made Blood Potency: 4 his way to Barcelona where he took part in opera. It was here that Max met his sire to be, Disciplines: Auspex 2, Celerity 3, Dominate the seductive Isabella. Over the course of a 3, Majesty 4, Vigor 2 number of months Isabella bent Max’s will to Devotions: Husk her own, ghouling him and eventually Vitae/ per turn: 13/2 embracing him. Derangements: Irrationality Initially a member of the ruling Lancea Sanctum, simply due to his sire’s affiliation, Max grew tired of their ways. He disliked their veneration of Longinus and their need to convert all Kindred to their

Priscus Max Neils ways. Max had been taught to seethe world Max has always been one of the differently to these God fearing vampires, strongest supporters of revolution and and he felt compelled to stand against their progress of Kindred supporters. Through his crusade. work Max rose through the ranks of the But the revolution never came, and Daeva, himself being a member of a Max fled across the waters to England, prominent and renowned bloodline. originally finding shelter in the domain of However this has brought him into direct Bristol before heading north to Manchester conflict with the Invictus Daeva elder, where he joined the growing Carthian Tabitha Gao, and Spokesman Rain. Movement. That is not to say that his entry Max is obsessive about theatre and is to the domain of Manchester was not an easy currently involved in a intimate relationship one, as members of the Lancea Sanctum with an actor. learned of his true identity and began a witch hunt against him.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Priscus Lawrence Stewart Clan: Mekhet Covenant: Carthian Embrace: 1798 Apparent Age: Mid 20s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 4 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 3, Composure 4 Mental Skills: Academics (Law, Philosophy, European History) 4, Crafts (Forgery, Watches) 3, Investigation (Books) 3, Occult (Kindred, Ghosts) 3, Politics 1 Physical Skills: Brawl 2, Drive 2, Firearms 2, Appearance: Lawrence is 5’ 7’’, unkempt Larceny (Theft) 3, Stealth 4, Weaponry 2 hair, worn clothes and glasses. He has Social Skills: Empathy 2, Intimidation 3, stubble and dark rings around his eyes. He is Persuasion 2, Streetwise (Fences) 2, often seen carrying a suitcase filled with Subterfuge (Lying, Misdirection) 3 papers and books. Merits: Allies (Book Dealer, Antique Dealer) Lawrence was born in Cambridge. 2, Contacts (Book Collector, Banker, His father was a stone mason and was Historian) 3, City Status (Manchester) 2, Clan brought up with the expectation that he Status 3, Covenant Status (Carthian) 4, would follow the same trade. However this Disarm 2, Eidetic Memory 2, Haven: did not happen, as Lawrence found his Location 2, Size 2, Security 3, Language calling as a watch maker. But he did get (Latin, French, Arabic, Italian) 4, Resources 3, introduced to the local Masonic lodge. It was Retainer (Ghouled) 1 through his involvement here and his knack Willpower: 7 for understanding the esoterical, Lawrence Humanity: 5 rose through the ranks of the lodge and came Virtue: Prudence to the attention of the Mekhet Invictus Vice: Envy Kindred, Gael Richter. Gael was a French Health: 9 occultist and acted as the local Prince’s seer and advisor. But with the age of new Initiative: 8 sciences Gael needed a new student and a Defence: 3 person that could help Gael’s understanding Speed: 12 of the world that was coming into being. Blood Potency: 5 Lawrence was embraced in a Disciplines: Auspex 3, Celerity 3, Dominate traditional Invictus ritual, and followed his 3, Obfuscate 4 sire in his research of the Kindred condition, Devotions: Cleansing Impression (Carthians joining the Invictus Cambridge Guild of the page 192), Message in a Bottle (Carthians Esoteric Arts. They adopted methods more page 191), Quicken Sight akin to Hermetic arts, leading to conflict with Vitae/ per turn: 14/3 members of the Lancea Sanctum. Derangements: Irrationality, Obsessive However, Lawrence could not stand Compulsion the stifling environment maintained by the Invictus. He had higher ideals than just power, and it took the betrayal of his sire to

Priscus Lawrence Stewart the Lancea Sanctum to seal Lawrence’s supernatural. However, this position has led desire to leave Cambridge and the Covenant. to very open conflict with those Kindred of Lawrence fled to Manchester, on the the Ordo Dracul, the Lancea Sanctum and trail of the work of John Dee, and discovered the Circle of the Crone. But these troubles that the Carthians had already taken over the pale in comparison to the outright warfare domain. Lawrence presented himself to the that would occur between these Covenants. fledgling government and over the course of Due to the potential conflict with his a decade him was accepted into the ranks of enemies in other Covenants, and with other the Carthians. entities that inhabit the city, Lawrence Over the following decades maintains a low profile, holding infrequent Lawrence gained the respect of the other gatherings of the Clan, with most Kindred in the Covenant, particularly those communications operating by a pyramid interested in the occult, as Lawrence started system. a form of guild devoted to the Hermetic arts. More recently Lawrence acquired a Thus Lawrence became the head of a small sizable portion of the Ordo Dracul library cadre of Carthians dedicated to investigating after their chapter house was eliminated the supernatural. This group evolved into after the failed coup during the Poll Tax the more modern PPI (Paranormal Riots. Lawrence is aware that there are many Phenomena Investigation bureau). Kindred who would seek to obtain the His position as head of the PPI has information contained within these texts, be led to Lawrence attaining the position of it historical reports, snippets of information Mekhet Priscus, primarily due to his cross- regarding disciplines and the Coils, and the Covenant presentations on matters of the location of potential Dragon Nests.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Vice: Pride Health: 9 Initiative: 8 Defence: 4 Speed: 14 The Circle of the Crone - Blood Potency: 6 Disciplines: Animalism 3, Auspex 4, Cruác 5, Dominate 3, Majesty 3, Obfuscate 4, Vigor 3, Resilience 3 Cruác Sorcery Rituals: Rigor Mortis (1), The Cults of Cernunnos Taste of Knowledge (1, Circle of the Crone page 204), Cheval (2) , Imperious Call (2, Circle of the Crone page 201), The Hydra’s Vitae (2), Maiden Skin (2, Circle of the Crone page 205), Succulent Buboes (2, Circle of the Crone page 206), Beloved Deodand (3, Circle and Hathor of the Crone page 206), The Metamorphosis of Spilt Blood (3, Circle of the Crone page 42),Rain (3, Circle of the Crone page 207), Servant from the Hidden Realms (3, Circle of the Crone page 201), Veiled Curse (3, Circle Magus Gregor of the Crone page 202), Blood Price (4), A Clan: Nosferatu Child from the Stones (5, Circle of the Crone page 209), Feeding the Crone (5) Covenant: Circle of the Crone Devotions: Arcane Sight, Veridical Tongue Embrace: 34 BC – maybe? Vitae/ per turn: 15/3 Apparent Age: Ancient Derangements: Paranoia, Vocalization Mental Attributes: Intelligence 5, Wits 4, Resolve 5 Physical Attributes: Strength 6, Dexterity 4, Stamina 4 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 2, Composure 4 Mental Skills: Academics (Roman History, Celtic Mythology) 4, Crafts (Wood Carving) 4, Investigation 3, Medicine 3, Occult (Kindred, Spirits, Ghosts, Werewolves, Demons) 5 Physical Skills: Brawl 4, Stealth 4, Survival (Woodland) 3, Weaponry 3 Social Skills: Animal Ken 3, Expression (Oration) 4, Intimidation (Stare down) 4, Subterfuge 3 Merits: Allies (Human Cultist) 1, Altar 2, Contacts (Werewolf, Paranormal Appearance: The Nosferatu known as Investigator) 2, City Status (Manchester) 4, Magus Gregor is a foul looking creature, Clan Status 4, Covenant Status (Circle of the with lipless teeth, a pointed nose, bright Crone) 4, Haven: Location 1, Size 2, Security green eyes and sallow taught skin, blotchy 4, Language (Latin, Celtic, Norse, French) 4, with dark veins showing. His head is Resources 1, Retainer (Ghouled) 4, Temple 4 covered in a few strands of grey hair that are matted against his scalp. Willpower: 9 Gregor is largely a little known elder Humanity: 4 of the Circle of the Crone. What is known Virtue: Faith comes from those few other elders that have

Magus Gregor also been awake during the same periods as 1600s where he once more guided the Gregor. Acolytes of the city, redirecting them in their Gregor is known to be at least 1000 study, and also ending their current schism years old, perhaps more, and if his own tales and infighting. are to believed, then Gregor could well be Gregor only returned to activity one of the oldest Kindred to exist in during the last 30 years. His return to the Manchester, even in the entire of the British Acolytes came with the renewed interest in Isles. Gregor Has been found referred to in other faiths and philosophies. It also came in the tomes maintained by the Lancea Sanctum time to see the Ordo Dracul fall from a and the Invictus, and has been seen almost position from power within the city while all over Britain. the Crone themselves were enjoying the What is known (well recorded) is openness the rule of the Carthian Chairman that Gregor is one of the Brigante tribe that allowed. This has led to many conflicts with existed in the Manchester area when the the Lancea Sanctum, and so Gregor often Romans arrived. Gregor was embraced acts as the spiritual leader of the Acolytes, before their arrival and was one of the tribal instead allowing for one of his students to sit priests who attended to the dead. He fed on on the board as his political representative. the blood of their dead and dying and was More recently Gregor has become considered to be one of their gods. more aware of a growing issue within the Gregor has been documented having city, the madness of the spirits and the a role in various periods of the Dark Ages, gathering of the dark entities that he has not and then was not seen for almost 200 years seen since the days of Rome, the Strix. He and then documented during the Tudor fears their gathering numbers in the city. period, in particular coming into conflict Gregor has always been aware of the with those Kindred who were following the importance of Manchester and the curious Hermetic teachings of John Dee. These network of ley lines that spread like a spider Kindred would go on to join the group that web across the city. But Gregor is also aware would form the Ordo Dracul. that over time these lines have moved and After spreading his teachings have been broken. And worse, in Gregor’s amongst those Acolytes, Gregor returned to long sleep he has heard the dreams of torpor to once more to hide from those of the whatever it is that exist within the city, ready Lancea who would hunt him down. Gregor to awake. would then next return to Manchester in the

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester of the Morrigan (3), Servant from the Hidden Realms (3, Circle of the Crone page 201), Taste of Destiny (3, Circle of the Crone page 207), Blood Price (4) Haruspex Michelle Quinn Devotions: Arcane Sight Clan: Gangrel Vitae/ per turn: 12/2 Covenant: Circle of the Crone Derangements: Obsessive Compulsion, Embrace: 1826 Vocalization Apparent Age: Mid 20s Physical Flaw: Blindness (-2 dice to all rolls Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, relying on sight) Resolve 4 Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 4 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 3, Composure 5 Mental Skills: Academics (Theology, Mathematics) 3, Investigation (Enigmas) 2, Occult (Kindred, Scrying, Spirits) 4, Science 2 Physical Skills: Brawl (Blind Fighting) 2, Stealth (Move Silently) 2, Survival 2 Social Skills: Empathy (Lies, Motives) 4, Expression 3, Intimidation (Stare down) 3, Persuasion 2, Socialize 2, Subterfuge 2 Merits: Allies (Cult) 3, Altar 1, Contacts (Bookshop, Hedge Witch) 2, City Status (Manchester) 2, Clan Status 3, Covenant Status (Circle of the Crone) 3, Danger Sense 2, Haven: Location 2, Size 3, Security 3, Herd 3, Inspiring 4, Language (Latin, Norse, Celtic) 3, Meditative Mind 1, Resources 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 2, Unseen Sense 3 Appearance: Michelle is a slender pale Willpower: 9 woman, often seen robed into pale blue Humanity: 5 dresses. She is blind and so in public (and she often does not leave her haven) wears Virtue: Hope shades and carries a walking cane. However, Vice: Sloth in her role of Haruspex, she often appears Health: 9 naked except for the ritual purple robes she Initiative: 8 wears as a member of the cult of Hathor. She Defence: 3 (0 due to blindness) has red hair that fall in curls onto her Speed: 9 shoulders. Blood Potency: 3 Michelle Quinn was born in Sheffield, the daughter of steel workers. Disciplines: Animalism 3, Auspex 5, Cruác From an early age she was able to see the 4, Majesty 2, Protean 4, Resilience 3 spirits of the world around her. The Cruác Sorcery Rituals: Drops of Destiny (1, lumbering, sooty machine spirits of the Circle of the Crone page 204), Taste of factories, the cackling red-eyed fiends of hate Knowledge (1, Circle of the Crone page 204), and malice, the sensual and glistening Cheval (2) , Imperious Call (2, Circle of the entities of lust. The spirits knew that she Crone page 201), The Hydra’s Vitae (2), could see them and plagued her dreams and Maiden Skin (2, Circle of the Crone page then her waking hours. 205), Succulent Buboes (2, Circle of the Crone Michelle then heard the spirits of page 206), Beloved Deodand (3, Circle of the envy, the green nebulous sprits, filling her Crone page 206), The Metamorphosis of Spilt father’s head with cruel words, making him Blood (3, Circle of the Crone page 42), Touch paranoid and protective of his wife. He

Haruspex Michelle Quinn raged against those that looked at Michelle’s abilities to shapeshift into forms that have mother in any manner not to his liking. And greater senses. Her use of disciplines allowed although Michelle tried to calm her father all her new senses, able to read thoughts, leave she could do was look on as the spirits drove her body and even ride the senses of others. her father mad. So Michelle became the city Then one night in a fit of rage her Haruspex, guiding the Acolytes with her father took a pair of scissors to her mother, visions and interpretation of the things the slashing her throat and then turned on spirits would whisper to her, became a Michelle, gouging out her eyes. Her father prominent figure, and one targeted by the then slit his own throat. Lancea Sanctum of the domain. Michelle, now blind was taken in by Fleeing Sheffield Michelle was the workhouse, and though blind she could arrived in Manchester, offered refuge by still hear the chattering of the spirits. She was David Odans. However, she found her place considered by others as a seer, capable of amongst the cult of Cernunnos, aiding the seeing the true nature of others and what interim Hierophant, the Vala, Caleb Fallen. urges directed them, or would soon In modern nights Michelle is a dominate their lives. It was these abilities respected elder of the cult, with a troupe of that drew the attention of the Circle of the Adhvaryu, attendants, who aid her in her Crone and her sire, the Richard Mortin. rituals and act as her eyes, ears and teeth. Michelle quickly gained a reputation amongst her Covenant, developed her

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester page 205), Soul’s Work (2, Circle of the Crone 206), Final Service of the Slave (3, Circle of the Crone page 206), The Metamorphosis of Spilt Blood (3, Circle of the Crone page 42), Vala Desdemona Tiamat’s Offspring (3, Circle of the Crone Clan: Daeva 207), Touch of the Morrigan (3), Servant from Covenant: Circle of the Crone the Hidden Realms (3, Circle of the Crone page 201) Embrace: 1924 Devotions: Arcane Sight, Quicken Sight Apparent Age: Mid teens Vitae/ per turn: 12/2 Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 4, Resolve 3 Derangements: Manic-Depression Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 4, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Egyptian History, Classics) 3, Investigation (Egyptian Artefacts) 3, Occult (Egyptian Lore, Kindred Lore) 3, Politics 2 Physical Skills: Athletics (Ballet) 3, Brawl 2, Larceny 3, Stealth 2, Weaponry (Sword) 3 Social Skills: Empathy (Counselling) 3, Expression (Singing) 3, Intimidation (Veiled Threats) 2, Persuasion (Inspiring Speeches, Seduction) 3, Socialize (Bars, Balls, Formal Events) 3, Subterfuge 2 Merits: Allies (Cult leader, High Society) 2, Altar 2, Contacts (Drug Dealer, Theatre Owner) 2, City Status (Manchester) 3, Clan Status 2, Covenant Status (Circle of the Crone) 3, Fast Reflexes 2, Haven: Location 4, Size 4, Security 3, Herd 4, Language (Egyptian, Greek, Latin) 3, Resources 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 2, Striking Looks 4, Temple 2 Willpower: 4 Humanity: 6 Appearance: Desdemona is a small petite Virtue: Prudence girl, almost Lolita, with dark long hair that Vice: Wrath hangs down her back, almond shaped eyes, and pale skin. She tends to wear flattering Health: 8 dresses, some very expensive, and her Initiative: 7 makeup is also exceptionally striking. In her Defence: 4 role of Vala, a priestess of the Kindred cult of Speed: 11 Hathor, Desdemona is often seen naked Blood Potency: 3 during rituals, wearing simple sheer gowns, Disciplines: Auspex 2, Celerity 3, Cruác 3, and jewellery and headdresses that are Dominate 3, Majesty 4, Vigor 2 appropriate for her spiritual role. Her back is Cruác Sorcery Rituals: Drops of Destiny (1, adorned with a tattoo of hieroglyphs. Circle of the Crone page 204), Fires of Desdemona was born in New York. Inspiration (1, Circle of the Crone page 204), Her father was a pianist and her mother a Pangs of Proserpina (1), Cheval (2), cellist, and they were committed to bringing Imperious Call (2, Circle of the Crone page their daughter up as a dancer, just as her two 201), Maiden Skin (2, Circle of the Crone older sisters were. Desdemona, or Cloe as

Vala Desdemona she was known then, was a dedicated Hunted and persecuted Cloe student of ballet, but she also sought the escaped to Manchester, finding the Circle of darker attractions of Coney Island. It was Crone weak but growing as both mortals and through her friendship with the other Kindred seek to find other answers in the teenagers that frequented the island that she post war period. Together with the came into contact with a group of teenagers Chamberlain, Desdemona, as she had who were dabbling with the occult. Tarot become known, founded the Cult of Hathor, cards, Ouija boards, anything that they could and acted to protect the other members of get their hands on. This eventually began to the Circle of the Crone while supporting the focus on the mysteries of Egypt following the religious freedom advocated by the uncovering more tombs in the desert. Carthians. Cloe still practiced ballet, attending However, Desdemona’s dominance practice and getting roles on Broadway over the other members of the Covenant theatre. However, she soon came to the came to the end with the re-emergence of attention of the Daeva Harpy, Vernon Reade, Magus Gregor, bringing the Cult of Hathor a theatre goer and gangster. He became into direct competition with the Cult of obsessed with Cloe, in love with her. But her Cernunnos. embrace would lead to tragedy, with Cloe Desdemona currently is the head of killing her family in a fit of frenzy, and the Cult of Hathor, acting as their spiritual eventually Vernon became bored with her. leader. She maintains the appearance of Cloe was struck with despair and difference to the elder Magus Gregor, but found herself looking for meaning to her life does not accept his teachings, thinking them with the very things that she had toyed with, to be flawed, even incorrect, and she has and so she found her way into the Circle of often clashed with him on spiritual matters. the Crone, travelling to London to escape her But this never stops the two working in past and to discover more about the union when threatened by the Sanctified or vampiric condition and the lore of the the Ordo Dracul, or even Belial’s Brood. Egyptians. This of course brought her into Ultimately Desdemona’s goal is to retake conflict with those elder vampires of the Old command of the Circle of the Crone and World, and especially those members of the eliminating other cults. Lancea Sanctum as she began to question the very origin of the rituals of Theban sorcery.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Language (Russian, German, Italian) 3, Resources 5, Retainer (Ghouled) 4, Torpor Connection 3 Willpower: 7 Humanity: 5 The Invictus - A Tale of Virtue: Temperance Vice: Pride Health: 8 Initiative: 7 Defence: 3 Two Domains Speed: 13 Blood Potency: 7 Disciplines: Animalism 4, Auspex 2, Dominate 5, Majesty 2, Obfuscate 3, Vigor 4, Resilience 3 The Advisor, the Good Alder Lady, Devotions: Body of Will, Veridical Tongue, The Message (Lords Over the Damned page 109) Natalia Kerkoft, Viscountess of South Vitae/ per turn: 20/5 Derangements: Hysteria (Rubies), Suspicion

Manchester Clan: Ventrue Covenant: Invictus Embrace: 1664 Apparent Age: Mid 20s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 5 Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 5, Manipulation 3, Composure 4 Mental Skills: Academics (European History, Russian History) 3, Investigation 3, Politics (Bribery, Intrigue, Scandals) 4 Appearance: Natalia is tall and European Physical Skills: Brawl 3, Drive 3, Firearms looking, with red hair, green eyes, a heart (Rifle) 2, Stealth 3, Survival (Cold Climates) shaped face, and a voluptuous body. She 2, Weaponry (Swords) 3 tends to dress in formal dresses, but with a Social Skills: Animal Ken (Wolves, Dogs) 3, modern twist. She favours natural materials, Empathy (Motives) 4, Intimidation (Black and has a number of leather boots and furs Mail, Torture) 4, Persuasion 3, Socialize to wear. She also wears a locket which (Balls, Formal Events) 4, Subterfuge 3 contains the picture of her dead lover. Merits: Allies (City Hall Planning, Natalia was the daughter of a Environmental Health Office) 2, Contacts courtesan of the Russian Tsar. Her father was (Construction, News Paper Editor, a provincial Boyar. She was born at the start Councillor, Banking, Police Inspector) 5, City of the Romanov rule over Russia, and during Status (Manchester) 4, Clan Status 4, this time and her father served in one of the Covenant Status (Invictus) 4, Fighting Style: 80 government departments. Two Weapons 4, Haven: Location 5, Size 5, Russia continued to grow and her Security 4, Herd 3, House Membership 3, father’s wealth increased and Natalia, his

Lady Kerkoft only daughter, was to be married at the age Natalia, sickened by the elders of the of 18. Her marriage was to be one of French court, sought to gather more militant convenience and would bring more power to members of the Invictus in order protect the her father. And for this reason the Ventrue elders while rooting out the weak and lord, Semyon, embraced her. He could see feeding them to the anarchs. If the Maria the influence that she would have over her Antoinette had said “Let them eat cake”, husband, and so after their first 5 years of then the anarch neonates could have their marriage Semyon made her one of the cake too. But at the same time Natalia Kindred. wished to see the French royal family Over time Natalia would disappear remain. It would require careful from court, her husband growing old and manipulation. But it failed. then dying of an unknown illness. She would Natalia fled France as the revolution ghoul her own grand children and assume took hold, her plans had been undone and the position of a relative, always turned against her. The fires of revolt had manipulating the family so that they been let loose without guidance. She crossed followed the goals of the Ventrue. But of the waters to England and to the North. course this would not continue forever. In Manchester she found the Diocese The formation of the Russian Holy of Salford at the height of its power. Cardinal Synod brought mortal inquisitors and James Furlong held dominance over the hunters, and the Kindred of Moscow hid in domain and the Lancea Sanctum but as a low the dark belly of the city from these fire ancillae of the city and the Invictus Natalia brandishing hunters. Natalia fled, her sire could once more see the signs of revolution. using her as bait for the hunters. She escaped This time her plans for power would not fail. their torches and stakes and went west, and She acted in secret and quietly. She arrived in Vienna, Austria. understood how the Ordo Dracul operated The Hapsburg family still held after her time in Vienna and through them power over Austria, and the Empress Maria she fed the anarchs the information they Theresa still ruled. Here there was safety needed. Homes, names, weaknesses. from hunters, deep in the heart of Europe. It On the night of Ascension in 1839 was also here that Natalia as a member of the Natalia looked on as her plan came to Invictus, made enemies of Ordo Dracul who fruition. The Lancea Sanctum fell, with the claimed domain in the city of Vienna, and it Invictus ready to move in. But something was here, as one of the few ancillae. The happened they did not expect. The anarchs Thirty Year’s War has come and gone, got organized. Rather than descending into leaving the Covenants split and many infighting and petty squabbles these anarchs Kindred elders dead. Many Invictus had had a plan. Dumbstruck, and unable to died during the conflict and so Natalia was mobilize quick enough, Natalia just sat back welcomed to the city. However she was also and watched these Carthians claim the city seen as potential trouble to the grow Ordo with their Dragon and Acolyte allies. Dracul of the city. One act of particular note Over the following 100 years Natalia was Natalia’s own investigation and has worked with this new Kindred elimination of those Dragons who sought to government, trying to work with the influence the Austrian princess destined to democratic republic that has sprung up. be the French Dauphine. Initially the Invictus were quickly out Natalia followed the Dauphine to manoeuvred, only claiming one seat, but as France and into the heart of the old and the years rolled by, and neonates became twisted courts of the Kindred of Versailles. ancillae, and ancillae became elders, Natalia These Invictus were decadent and was able to cultivate more influence, and debauched, involved in bloody orgies and was able to claim one or two of the Priscus oblivious to the growing resentment seats. amongst the neonates of Paris. Natalia could sense history about to repeat itself. Though this time it would the difference of power, not religion, which would fuel these rebels and their revolution.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Hawkins. In a clever move the Chairman granted the Invictus a new domain to the north of the city, granting it to the Judex, and Goals: Imperial Rule so splitting the Invictus in two. Natalia simply wants to replace the Natalia also has to deal with the entire democracy with a new Imperial Japanese vampire Shironawa Tetsuro. Invictus government. She is completely Tetsuro is a Nosferatu of the Burakumin aware that the old days of fiefs and bloodline, and he came into conflict with kingdoms are over and that the only way to Natalia in the 1860s in Japan. Natalia had a return to anything close to that form of rule vested interest in seeing the fall of the is to subvert the current model. Such a play Shogunate Japan and making money from for power requires a number of things to the new regime. Tetsuro of course was an happen first. The very idea of democracy agent of the local Kindred population and must be shown to be a falsehood. For this to also the head of the vampire Ninja that come to light the Board of Representatives worked to ensure the stability of the should be shown to be nothing more than a vampiric Shogunate empire. Natalia struck bunch of corrupt officials, or worse, puppets out at Tetsuro, eliminating the one thing that of the Chairman. In addition the system was of importance to him, his mortal legacy. needs to be shown as weak, and that In a single night Tetsuro’s family were democracy and the red tape associated with murdered, declared traitors and their graves it need to be exposed as hindering the desecrated. protection of the Kindred of the city. Tetsuro would have his revenge in during the 80s, when he orchestrated the murder of Natalia’s mortal lover. Ever since then Natalia and Tetsuro have been bitter What They’ve Got enemies, with Tetsuro now residing in the city and benefitting from the protection of Natalia has allies amongst the the Chairman while only being an unaligned Lancea Sanctum who seek to reclaim lost vampire. glory, and those amongst the Ordo Dracul Natalia is also in near constant who want to be allowed back into the city. conflict with Max Neils, as both wage war in Then there are those Carthians, so tired with the field of media and news. their dreams being manipulated and abused, that they wish to tear down the government Natalia Kerkoft’s full title is The in the hope of replacing it with something Advisor, the Good Alder Lady Natalia greater. Natalia just gives them the tools to Kerkoft, Viscountess of South Manchester. do the first bit. She is the formal head and representative of the Invictus and is also the head of the Inner This of course would all be so much Circle and is Meister of the Guild of easier if Natalia had total dominance over Advisors, a sort of political training the Invictus of the city. But instead she must collective for her Invictus students. compete with the Ventrue Priscus, Judex

Lady Kerkoft Blood Potency: 5 Disciplines: Animalism 3, Celerity 3, Dominate 4, Majesty 3, Vigor 3 The Advisor, the Good Lord, Judex Devotions: Hounds of Blood (Lords Over the Damned – Ventrue page 110), The Knights Example (Invictus page 213), Veridical Tongue Peter Hawkins, Viscount of the North Vitae/ per turn: 14/3 Derangements: Bulimia, Inferiority Complex of Manchester Clan: Ventrue Covenant: Invictus Embrace: 1673 Apparent Age: Mid 20s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 4, Resolve 4 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 5, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Poetry, Classics) 4, Crafts 2, Investigation 3, Politics (Kindred, Invictus) 4 Physical Skills: Brawl (Dirty fighting) 3, Drive 3, Firearms (Rifles) 3, Stealth (Buildings) 3, Weaponry 4 Social Skills: Empathy 3, Expression Appearance: Peter is boyish looking, (Oration) 3, Intimidation (Black Mail) 3, standing only 5’ 8’’, with choppy fashionable Persuasion (Bribery, Seduction) 4, Socialize 4, hair. He is handsome and looks like he Streetwise (Drug Dealers) 3, Subterfuge 2 should be a member of the Daeva. He tends to wear clothes so that he fits in with the Merits: Allies (Drug Dealer, Gangster, Law latest trends. He also wears a wedding ring Firm Partner) 3, Contacts (Black Market, and has a brand on his right shoulder. Photographer) 2, City Status (Manchester) 4, Clan Status 4, Covenant Status (Invictus) 3, Peter was born in England, the son Disarm 2, Fighting Style: Two Weapons 4, of a Lord and so was involved in high Haven: Location 3, House Membership society. He was an expert manipulator of his (Invictus page 187) 3, Size 4, Security 3, family’s finances and influence in court. But Language (Latin, Spanish) 2, Resources 4, first Peter and his family had to suffer under Retainer (Ghouled) 3, Speaker for the the rule of Cromwell and his Reformation. Eclipsed (Invictus page 188),Torpor The Hawkins family had always been loyal Connection 3 (Invictus page 187) to the monarchy, and with the restoration of the royal family Peter became and common Willpower: 6 face in the court of Charles II. Humanity: 6 His embrace, another low noble, Virtue: Charity began to mentor him, and Peter became Vice: Sloth more and more prominent in court, but then Health: 8 his sire orchestrated his downfall. Peter was Initiative: 7 cast out of court after being found in Defence: 4 possession of material considered traitorous. But his sire to be offered him a way out, Speed: 12 power to alter his fate. And so Peter accepted

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester the Embrace and joined the Ventrue and the structure and the Carthian Republican Invictus. But in doing so Peter also murdered Democracy. Peter is aware that both offer the his wife, draining her. illusion of power to those below the Since those days Peter eventually left Chairman, the Board of Representatives and the city of London and headed to Reading the Inner Circle and it was here that he and there explored his vampiric nature. He caught the attention of his future mentor. looked on as Charles II attempted to bring In recent years Peter has taken Catholicism back to Britain, and during that charge of the Moor House and grown in time faced the growing might of the Lancea power to rival Kerkoft. More importantly, in Sanctum. In time Charles was succeeded by recognition of his position and little respect James II and then by Anne and the George I. he holds for the Carthian Board, Peter has For a short period he journeyed to the been given rights to his own domain. This he colonies in the Americas before returning to gladly accepted as it was an obvious snub to England and to Oxford, joining the court Kerkoft and also cemented his position as the there and obtaining a position as Meister of Ventrue Priscus, as this acceptance allowed the Guild of Arts and obtaining a seat on the him to gain the trust and support of those Inner Circle of the Primogen. Carthian and Crone Ventrue. Peter’s exodus from Oxford in 1865 Peter for the moment is more than was in response the changes taking place in happy to see the status quo maintained, even Manchester, with the Ventrue lord, and head going as far to allow the current democracy of the Invictus, Lady Margret Moore, of the city fall into tyranny and effectively offering Peter a position within the city. Invictus control. Peter happily supports the Peter accepted the offer and relocated to actions of the Chairman, but is also keen to Manchester, the Lady having already gained help their Carthian ideals just to antagonize the allegiance of Natalia Kerkoft. Kerkoft. Ultimately Peter wishes to see Peter over the next few decades Invictus control but his alone. gained the trust of Moore and became her To facilitate his role as Priscus, and successor to her House while she entered that of professional judge, the Judex, Peter is torpor, while Natalia set about establishing often welcoming and polite to all who attend her own house. his court and come before the Board. He is In recent years Peter has taken to keen to win over the hearts and minds of the making use of both the Invictus political city and take control quietly.

JUDEX Hawkins Disciplines: Animalism 3, Celerity 2, Dominate 3, Majesty 4, Ortam 5 (Bloodlines: the Legendary) Councillor, Lady Tabitha Gao, Vitae/ per turn: 13/2 Derangements: Hysteria, Paranoia Favoured Scent: Virtuous men Meister of Harpies, Meister of the

Guilkan Clan: Daeva – Gulikan (Bloodlines: the Legendary) Covenant: Invictus Embrace: 1734 Apparent Age: Mid 20s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 5, Composure 3 Appearance: Tabitha is tall, at least 6 foot Mental Skills: Academics 2, Computer 2, tall, and is slender and tanned. Not Crafts 2, Investigation (Court Intrigue) 3, surprising as she has Asian heritage. She has Medicine (Natural Remedies) 3, Occult 2, long black straight hair, almond shaped eyes Politics 4, Science (Herbalist) 3 and long nails, almost talons. She tends to Physical Skills: Brawl 3, Larceny 3, Stealth wear simple gowns that are adorned with (Hide in Crowds) 3, Weaponry 2 lots of gold and precious stones. However, Social Skills: Empathy (Emotion, Lies) 4, what is curious, is that some may consider Expression (Singing, Speeches) 3, her beautiful, but not beautiful enough for Intimidation (Veiled Threats) 4, Persuasion Daeva standards. But then she is not just a (Satire, Seduction) 3, Socialize (Bars, Dress Daeva, but a Guilkan, a Daeva bloodline Balls) 4, Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 2 more obsessed with scents that looks. Merits: Allies (Club Owner, Gossip Tabitha was born to a master Columnist) 2, Contacts (Newspaper Editor, jeweller in Iran. She was expected to be Pimp) 3, City Status (Manchester) 3, Clan married off to a wealthy husband, but her Status 3, Covenant Status (Invictus) 2, father was also keen for her to be well Haven: Location 4, Size 4, Security 4, Herd 4, educated so that she would be an assest to House Membership (Invictus page 187) 4, her husband and their joined families. Language (Latin, Arabic, Hebrew) 3, The wedding, on her 17th birthday, Resources 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 4 was a success and the marriage was a Willpower: 5 pleasant one. That was until she was picked Humanity: 6 out in a crowd by her sire to be, Hilal. It was Virtue: Prudence in the packed bizarre that Hilal found her scent and followed her. Over the coming Vice: Envy months he watched her, befriended her, gave Health: 7 her perfumes and gifts. Tabitha, then known Initiative: 6 as Siata, fell for Hilal’s charms, and more Defence: 3 importantly his vampiric attraction. Speed: 11 Tabitha fell completely for Hilal, Blood Potency: 4 becoming his student and mortal aide, and

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester once they had fled her home city she was Within the Invictus Tabitha is a prepared for her embrace. respected Harpy. Her connections and For the next few decades Tabitha appeal with all Kindred meant that she was a stayed close to her sire, travelling to Istanbul, natural choice for the position of Head of Baghdad, Cairo and India. It was at height of Elysium and Spokesman, but after 30 years the industrial that Siata completed her she stood down as she accepted the title of training and made her way to England and Lady and Councillor on the Invictus Inner the heart of industry where she could gain Circle. Since then she has been a constant an understanding of the new chemical frustration to the current Spokesman, and techniques being used, and also find her own happily sits on the sidelines watching domain. She travelled to Manchester and Kerkoft and Hawkins attempts to out- was welcomed by the local Invictus and manouver each other. All the while Tabitha Carthians, but she was careful to hide her is simply watching for the moment to strike heritage and bloodline. while gaining the respect of the bored and During her time in Manchester disenfranchised Invictus and Carthians. Tabitha has slowly established her own Tabitha is more wary of the Crone house but has only revealed her lineage to Acolytes, the priests of the Lancea Sanctum, only a couple of students, her own secret and more importantly the Ordo Dracul, who guild of the Gulikan. all have a greater grasp on the intricacies of blood sorcery.

Lady Gao Disciplines: Animalism 3, Nightmare 4, Obfuscate 4, Vigor 4 Vitae/ per turn: 12/2 Councillor, Lord Ralph Kendall, The Derangements: Delusional Obsession

Vile Tongue, Meister of the Guild of

Secrets Clan: Nosferatu Covenant: Invictus Embrace: 1822 Apparent Age: Mid 60s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 5, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 2, Stamina 4 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 2, Composure 4 Appearance: Ralph is heavily built, his eyes Mental Skills: Computer 2, Investigation are bleak beady thing sunken into his skull, (Crime Scene) 2, Occult (Ghosts, Kindred) 3, his face almost like a mask of clay, pock Politics 3 marked flesh that quickly shifts between his emotions. Physical Skills: Athletics (Climbing) 3, Brawl (Grapples) 4, Drive 3, Larceny (Lock Ralph was born in Manchester, and Picking, Pickpocketing, Safe Cracking) 3, grew up in the busy factories where he Stealth (Move Silent, Move in Shadows) 4, would work making linen or other wares Survival 3, Weaponry (Knives) 3 that would be traded around the world. Ralphs family were not well off, living in Social Skills: Animal Ken 2, Intimidation squalor in a run down house. His father was (Physical Threats, Tortures) 4, Streetwise 3, a gangster, participating in a protection Subterfuge 3 racket. However things got worse when he Merits: Allies (Black Market Trader, Bent was just 7 when his father never came back Copper, Drug Addict, Ghostly Scholar) 4, one night. His mother suffered, both in her Brawling Dodge 1, Contacts (Fortean health and her sanity, and his siblings did reporter, Homeless Shelter, Taxi driver) 3, not fare much better. City Status (Manchester) 2, Clan Status 2, Ralph fled his family home and Covenant Status (Invictus) 2, Haven: found his way into a group of young Location 1, Size 2, Security 3, Resources 2, criminals, surviving by pickpocketing, theft Retainer (Ghouled hounds) 2 from market stalls, or just hounding the rich Willpower: 6 on the streets. Ralphs survived like this for Humanity: 4 many years, working his way up the ranks Virtue: Prudence until the fateful night when he and his gang Vice: Wrath came face to face with the inhuman monster Health: 9 that made its home in the graveyard of one of the churches. Initiative: 9 Following a night’s good haul Ralph Defence: 2 and his gang were sat in the graveyard Speed: 11 looking through their booty, dishing out the Blood Potency: 3 money, when they were suddenly set upon by a man. Shock made way for fear as they

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester looked on as this filthy beast tore through then the Carthian takeover, and amongst the the gang. Bones broke, necks snapped and dead was Ralph’s sire. After this time Ralph blood flowed. has aspired to never overlook the weak and Ralph fled with his the others only to has sought to rule with an iron fist, by fear. be chased through the graveyard and Over the next century Ralph trapped, confronted by this blood drinking perfected his skills, built a reputation of fear man. His long hair concealed his mouth of and terror amongst his own clan and fangs and sallow skin. His nails were all covenant, working initially as a Knight of the cracked and caked in filth. In a split second it Invictus before assuming his own position was upon the gang, Ralph knocked to one on the Inner Circle. side and winded as the fiend tore at the Ralph is of course keen to take throats of Ralphs friends. And then there, in control of the entire covenant, thinking that the pitch black of night, Ralph found his the politics of the other members of the Inner courage and picked up a nearby shaft of Circle is weak. He also wishes to exact wood and lunged at the murderous creature. revenge upon the Carthians, in particular the But it was too quick. It caught Ralph’s wrist Chamberlain who killed his sire in order to and snapped it before biting into the meat of obtain the books that he kept. Ralph’s neck. Ralph is also something of an oddity Ralph then awoke to find himself in in the Invictus, as he is one of the more a cold, dank chamber, sat on the grimy stone knowledgeable amongst the covenant on floor with the man-beast before him. Ralph matters of the occult, in particular ghosts. then saw the body of the young woman Ralph has been the one many of the covenant before him, dead and bloody. His mouth turn to when they have been plagued by the tasted of blood, and was sticky. And so ghosts of their past, be it victims or family. Ralph learnt of his true nature that night There are even rumours that Ralph has had with is sire, Maggot Morgan, as it named dealings with the Ordo Dracul on this itself. matter, even leading coteries into the tunnels Since then Ralph learnt that his sire of Manchester to places that should not be, was the one of a number of enforcers returning with artefacts thought destroyed amongst the Invictus who worked with the hundreds of years ago. Sanctified of the city. However there was

Lord Kendall Speed: 10 Blood Potency: 3 Disciplines: Animalism 2, Dominate 4, Majesty 2, Resilience 2, Theban Sorcery 3 Vitae/ per turn: 12/2 The Lancea Sanctum - The Derangements: Avoidance, Narcissism Theban Sorcery: Blood Scourge (1), Hauberk of Blood (1, Lancea Sanctum page 194), Liar’s Plague (2), Blandishment of Sin (3), Blood Lost Crusade Fire (3, Lancea Sanctum page 197)

Bishop Michael Kenner Clan: Ventrue Covenant: Lancea Sanctum – Westminster Creed Embrace: 1737 Apparent Age: Mid 40s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 5 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 2, Stamina 4 Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 5, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Church History, Appearance: Michael Kenner is rotund, Bible Studies) 3, Crafts (Calligraphy) 2, balding, with steely cold eyes and a beard of Investigation (Enigmas) 3, Occult (Kindred, greying blond hair. He typically wears Theban Sorcery) 3, Politics 3 casual clothes typical of any other middle Physical Skills: Brawl 2, Stealth 3, Weaponry aged member of the community, but in (Morning Star) 4 meetings of the covenant he wears the red Social Skills: Animal Ken (Hounds) 3, and black vestments that are associated with Empathy 3, Expression (Bible Readings) 4, the position of Archbishop. Michael had Intimidation 3, Persuasion (Inspiring) 3, wrapped about his left hand a rosary Socialize 2, Subterfuge 2 necklace. Merits: Allies (Church Priest) 1, Contacts Michael was born in Manchester, the (Devoted member of mass, God-fearing son of a sailor. His mother worked at a entrepreneur) 2, City Status (Manchester) 3, bakery and so Michael and his siblings Clan Status 2, Covenant Status (Lancea helped out, carrying sacks of flour, making Sanctum) 4, Haven: Location 2, Size 2, deliveries, and generally helping out in the Security 3, Inspiring 4, Language (Latin) 1, bakery. He grew up to take over the business Resources 2, Retainer (Ghouled) 4 and was well respected both in church and Willpower: 5 in the local community. However, this was Humanity: 5 marred by the fire that swept through the street and destroyed his home and killed his Virtue: Charity wife and family. He sought answers within Vice: Sloth his Catholic faith. Frustrated he turned to Health: 9 alcohol and crime to support his addiction. Initiative: 6 Michael was not forgotten. His pain Defence: 2 and search for answers was watched by his

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester sire to be, a member of the Ordo Dracul, then Archbishop without opposition. Hugo Johannas. But within the Ordo Dracul Michael accepted that for the short term the Michael could find no answers. His sire Carthians had control and that attacking thought his personal quest might be the them directly would win no favours with the drive required for Michael to achieve great neonates while allowing the Ordo Dracul things within the covenant. Instead Michael and Crone Acolytes to gain support from the turned to the Lancea Sanctified. Inspired by godless revolutionaries. Even their old the Cardinal’s words Michael found his faith Invictus allies had taken the chance to once more, learning about the need for pain divided the Sanctified domain. Michael and despair to test the faith of Man. It was knew that the only way back to power was also at this time that Michael learnt that the to swallow their pride and win the hearts fire was no accident, but an act of arson. and souls new generation of Kindred. Michael could not the sit back and accept this and so set out to find the arsonist in order to get justice. Following his investigation Michael cut a bloody trail through the underbelly of Manchester Goals: Help Others Save their own Souls society. More recently Michael has had to On the streets Michael became once more defend his position from more synonymous with the urban legend of the militant priests of the covenant. If anything “Bloody Priest”. His victims were found Michael’s policies concerning the city have brutally disfigured, there faces cut with become more conservative, hoping to win strange Latin verses from the Bible. His back the trust of his old allies while actions became known amongst the removing the Acolytes and Dragons from the Sanctified and soon he came to the attention city. Michael is aware that the nights of old of the Cardinal who took too Michael under are gone and that undisputed rule is not his wing. His rage and fury had to be possible in this faithless age. He knows that tempered and focused on furthering the his covenant must simply act as guides and goals of the Lancea Sanctum. Michael was council to others. offered all the tools to further his revenge in exchange for becoming one of the Cardinal’s Crusaders. Following his vengeance Michael What They’ve Got continued to rise in power within the covenant, being promoted to the position of Michael has a collection of devoted paladin and the personal body guard of the Kindred who are his students and guardians. Cardinal, before becoming a deacon and These ‘Paladins of the Red Cross’ are finally a priest. dedicated warriors and scholars. His flock also consists of other Kindred who are less When the Carthian uprising came martial, and there are even those who come Michael and his flock defended themselves from the Invictus and Carthian covenants, a from attack. After the night of fire and blood good sign that Michael’s words are Michael emerged from hiding in the sewers penetrating into the greater Kindred society. to discover that the Cardinal was dead, put to final death and betrayed by his child, Michael also has a secret collective of Jonathan Williams. And so began the enmity crusaders, known as the ‘Chosen of the that Michael and Jonathan share, though Archangel Michael’, after a vision that the they were once friends that are now bitter Archbishop had before the Angel Stone. rivals. These warriors, inquisitors, crusaders and deacons are those trusted enough to spread Ever since the Ascension Day the word of Longinus while enacting the will uprising Michael has led the Sanctified from of God on Kine and Kindred. These warriors the front, seeing off rivals who he saw as find the heretics and threats to the Sanctified weak and more concerned with their own and bring them to justice before God. power. Michael declared himself Bishop and

Bishop Kenner Priscus, Mother Amanda Heath Clan: Nosferatu Covenant: Lancea Sanctum – Belial’s Brood Embrace: 1746 Apparent Age: ? Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 4, Composure 4 Appearance: Amanda Heath is thin, almost Mental Skills: Academics (Biblical History, skeletal, with no hair whatsoever and skin Heresies) 3, Investigation 3, Occult (Christian that is thin, paper like, and taught across her Lore) 3, Politics 2 bones and muscles. She tends to wear Physical Skills: Brawl 2, Larceny 2, Stealth 3, concealing cloaks of many layers of thin Survival 3, Weaponry (Knives) 3 fabric. She has no hair and her fangs and Social Skills: Empathy 2, Intimidation (Stare visible at all times. During rites she is down) 2, Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 3 adorned in the black and violet vestments of Merits: Allies (Church Priest, Doomsday her office, almost appearing as some foul Cult Leader) 2, Contacts (Charity Collector, perversion of a nun. Cultist) 2, City Status (Manchester) 2, Clan Amanda was born in the north of Status 3 Covenant Status (Lancea Sanctum) Spain, the daughter of farmers in the 2, Haven: Location 2, Size 3, Security 2, Herd mountains of the Pyrenees. Her father could 2, Language (Latin, Spanish, French) 3, not afford her a substantial dowry, and so Resources 3, Retainer (Ghouled) 3 she, being the youngest of the daughters was Willpower: 5 given to the local convent. Humanity: 3 (6) (Effect of being a member of It was here, out in the shadows of the Mercy Seat faction of Belial’s Brood) the Pyrenees that she was picked out for her Virtue: Faith devotion to the Holy Ghost. Her sire to be, Vice: Greed ‘The Word of the Other World’, came to her and ravaged her, destroying the connection Health: 8 between her mind and her mortal body, Initiative: 7 before embracing her. Defence: 3 In the caves of the mountains Speed: 11 Amanda found her self amongst the strange Blood Potency: 4 carved churches and chapels of the Cathars. Disciplines: Majesty 3, Nightmare 4, It was here that she felt the Call and felt the Obfuscate 4, Theban Sorcery 2, Vigor 2 power of the church and the perverse energy Theban Sorcery: Blood Scourge (1), Crown of the sanctum. The place resonated with the of Thorns (1, page 194 Lancea Sanctum), power of the Adversary. Curse of Babel (2) Unknown to her sire she began to Investments (page 128 Belial’s Brood): Beast research more and more about the Sense, Fire in the Head, Undying Beast Adversary and the recorded dealings with the Brood. She rose in prominence within the Vitae/ per turn: 12/2 domain, becoming a deacon of the Sanctified. Derangements: Paranoia Sister Amanda was now in a position to learn more about the origins of the Lancea Sanctified and understand the flaws of the faith. She had become one of the Mercy Seat,

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester or Faustians. Unknown to her elders she was Since she has been in Manchester now teaching small pieces of Gnostic Amanda has risen in position, and is now a Christianity. Her teachings emphasised their Priest of the Lancea Sanctum, taking position as the wolves of the mortal material advantage of the Westminster Creed and its world, emphasising only those of true faith focus on faith over material glory. She has a will move beyond this world. growing covey and has also a small coterie of Over time her teachings sculpted the Sanctified and Carthian neonates who have domain into once of vengeful killers, taken to heart her Gnostic teachings. vampires of faith trapping sinners in the Amanda now just waits for the best material world, catching them in a net of moments to throw into their midst the tablet their own vice. These simple Kindred from the caves so that this coterie can believed they were testing mortals, not become it’s own covey (and in turn a device trapping them in the realm of the Adversary. of distraction and chaos within the city). Of course Amanda gathered to her a covey Amanda now works to hinder the of Kindred, not all were members of the return of the Lancea Sanctum to power while Lancea Sanctum, making the secrecy of the bringing about a state of total chaos in the covey easier to maintain. city. The anarchic coteries of the Carthians, However, it was never to last, and as the war mongering Invictus, the insidious once of her covey was singled out by Dragons and righteous Sanctified provided Sanctified Inquisitors she worked quickly to the perfect melting pot for such a situation. have a group of Sanctified neonates targeted One needs only to stoke the fires enough, as the source of the corruption. offer temptation and fuel their greed and Seeking to retain her safety and to vice, and their precious tower will fall. continue her Pursuit, Amanda left Barcelona Amanda and her covey maintain a and headed north, via France and then onto haven near a resonant, a location that is filled England and to Manchester. Word of the with the power of the Demiurge. The site is new republic had reached her ears, the that of an old workhouse, a place in one democracy of Manchester was the perfect week 40 people died at the hands of a place to sow the seeds of corruption, religious fanatic. Their bodies were found especially as the usurper Carthians had rotting in the basement of the workhouse, already done the hard work by eliminating their bodies bearing cuts that spelled out in the Cardinal of Manchester. Latin verses from the Book of Revelations.

Priscus Mother Heath Appearance: Victor is about 6’ 2’’ and is stocky and broad shouldered. He has a stern, scarred face, short crop hair and the look of a man from the military. He wears functional Father Victor Luncean clothing but underneath his body is heavily Clan: Gangrel scarred, seared by fire, cut by flails, shredded Covenant: Lancea Sanctum by his own claws. Embrace: 1832 Victor was born in Lincoln, his parents having arrived from South Africa as Apparent Age: Mid 40s servants to a wealthy landowner. Victor’s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 3, youth was tough and he was brought up as a Resolve 3 determined Christian, resilient and self Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, reliant. His father, amongst the black Stamina 4 population, acted as the local priest and so Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation Victor learnt the Bible, sung hymns, and 3, Composure 4 attended to the chapel. Mental Skills: Crafts (Motoring) 3, Victor’s married and he continued to Investigation 3, Occult 2, Politics 2 work with his father at the chapel. His wife Physical Skills: Athletics (Running) 3, Brawl bore him three children but things would (Wrestling) 4, Drive 3, Firearms 2, Larceny 2, soon take a turn for the worse. One night a Survival 3, Stealth 3, Weaponry 3 man, an aristocrat or businessman, raped his Social Skills: Animal Ken 2, Intimidation daughter and beat his wife while Victor was (Physical Threats, Torture) 3, Persuasion 2, cleaning and repairing the chapel. Enraged Socialize (Bars) 3, Streetwise (Gangs) 3, Victor sought out the man that very night, Subterfuge 2 and believing he had found him, beat the man to death. Merits: Allies (Gangster, Biker Gang Leader) 2, Barfly 1, Contacts (Trucker, Evangelical The next day it came to light that a Priest) 2, City Status (Manchester) 1, young man had died, and worse, it seemed Covenant Status (Lancea Sanctum) 2, he was not the rapist. Victor could not consol Fighting Style: Boxing (4), Haven: Location 1, himself, he had committed a sin in an act of Size 3, Security 2, Language (Latin) 1, rage. So Victor chose to flee his family, Resources 2, Retainer (Ghouled) 1, Strong seeking out the slums of the city and joined a Back 1, Stunt Driver 3, gang. He thought death would come quick to him, and he prayed for God to strike him Willpower: 5 down. His prayers were answered, but not Humanity: 4 by God but by one of the Damned. Virtue: Temperance Victor had been watched by a priest Vice: Wrath of the Lancea Sanctum, and Victor had been Health: 9 chosen for his dedication to Christ, but also Initiative: 7 his devotion to enacting God’s will upon Defence: 3 sinners. Victor was approached by his sire to be, Deacon Ben Knight, who over the next Speed: 10 few months taught Victor the first few pieces Blood Potency: 3 of Sanctified doctrine, and that there is Disciplines: Animalism 4, Protean 4, purpose beyond the mortal life. Victor clung Resilience 3, Theban Sorcery 2 to the idea that there are those who are the Devotions: Partial Transformation wolves of God, herding the sheep into his Theban Sorcery: Blood Scourge (1), Vitae glory, or punishing those who have turned Reliquary (1), Sinner Song (1, page 196 from his divinity. Certain of Victor’s desire Lancea Sanctum) to leave his mortal life, Ben revealed his Vitae/ per turn: 12/2 Kindred nature, and Victor, at first horrified, Derangements: Narcissism, Phobia (Silver) realised the divine nature of Ben and the Kindred. Victor was brought before the Sanctified of the city and in their church

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Victor and Ben were ritually flogged, their the Ordo Dracul who had been waiting for a skin flayed. Then before the gathered chance to take revenge on the war congregation Ben drained Victor and mongering Father Knight. embraced him. Victor survived the attacks, but Victor awoke to a new life. He had could not afford to stay in the city and in been blessed with a second life, a divine 1955 moved to the city of Manchester and mission, a dark angel had been born. In the was given the position of Deacon. church, lying next to him the drained body Victor was disgusted by the Kindred of a man. This was Victor’s first kill. of the city, and the usurper Chairman Since Victor’s embrace he has been Williams. For the Bishop this was exactly one of the foot soldiers of the city. He what he needed, a weapon to use to gain the quickly rose to position of an enforcer, a respect and allegiance of the Kindred of the crusader. He was a weapon of the Sanctified, city. seeking out members of the Brood, heretics, Since Victor’s arrival he has been and those Kindred who broke the laws of the promoted to the position of Father, and has Traditions. Furthermore he and his fellows also gained the nickname of ‘Red River would engage in acts of war against the Victor’ as he has been always quick to call other covenants, assassinating elders, Bloodhunts and lead them. This has often led destroying coteries and terrorizing neonates to conflict with the Constable, both into joining the Sanctified. politically and religiously, and the two Victor rose in prominence and Invictus Lords as they have at times denied obtained the position of Deacon, his sire now Bloodhunts from passing into their domains. a priest of the city. But with this rise in Victor is a passionate priest, hunter, power and influence came new enemies and crusader. He sees all mortals as within the covenant. In particular the ruling misguided flock, and his rhetoric and Bishop of the city was not a hardliner savagery inspire many of the neonates of the compared to Father Knight, and Knight was city, being drawn to Victor’s divine wrath. gaining greater influence in the city to the Victor prays to his dead family each point that Knight’s opinions and commands night in his private haven, and wears on his were followed while the Bishop’s were left leg a painful binding that cuts him largely ignored. The Bishop had to end the deeply, a reminder that though he may never Sanctified aggression to the other covenants, age he is not beyond pain or death. and so in secret Knight and his militant faction were hunted down by those within

Father Victor Luncean Sister Rebecca Castle Clan: Mekhet Covenant: Lancea Sanctum Embrace: 1981 Apparent Age: Mid 30s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 4, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2 Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 2, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics 2, Computer 2, Investigation 3, Politics (Lancea Sanctum) 3 Physical Skills: Brawl 2, Drive 3, Larceny (Lock Picking) 3, Stealth 3 Social Skills: Empathy 2, Intimidation (Black Mail) 2, Persuasion 1, Socialize 1, Subterfuge 2 Merits: Allies (Lawyer) 1, Contacts Appearance: Rebecca is 5’ 8’’, she has an (Dominatrix, Psychologist) 2, City Status hour glass figure, with long brown hair that (Manchester) 1, Clan Status 1, Covenant is tied back tightly in a pony tail, giving her a Status (Lancea Sanctum) 1, Haven: Location pointed, pinched, appearance. She tends to 2, Size 2, Security 2, Herd 3, Resources 2, wear power suits, leather jackets and high Retainer (Ghouled) 1 heeled boots. She also has a tendency to Willpower: 6 stomp around during congregations crack a Humanity: 5 stick against her boots. Virtue: Fortitude Rebecca moved to Manchester from Vice: Gluttony Coventry, taking a job in with a law firm, Health: 7 specializing in business law and real estate. Her life was monotonous, filled with a Initiative: 6 continual drag of paper work, constant Defence: 3 bickering and backstabbing with colleagues. Speed: 10 Her embrace by Peter Strauss of the Blood Potency: 2 Invictus was a simple one. He required a Disciplines: Auspex 3, Celerity 3, Obfuscate new student and ally in the modern age. 3, Theban Sorcery 1 Technology was evolving, money was Theban Sorcery: Blood Scourge (1), Vitae shifting hands quicker, and Peter needed Reliquary (1) someone who had a head for this brave new Vitae/ per turn: 11/1 world. But Peter did not get what he had bargained for. Rebecca had a need to understand what she was, what meaning there was to her life before her embrace and after it. She felt more alive than ever and she desired to know why she was cursed in life and death. Rebecca joined the Sanctified, ritually flogged before the Bishop. She was drawn by the answers that the faith provided

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester her, and their divine crusade made sense to Carthians and Invictus, and the twisted her eyes. philosophies of the Ordo Dracul. For the last 10 years Rebecca has In private Rebecca is self assured been a Deacon of the Sanctified, effectively with her vampiric nature. She enjoys it, the equivalent of a Invictus whip, except her revels in it, to the point that she sees the mission is one of faith rather than power. powers bestowed on vampires as just gifts Rebecca is a dedicated member of for the curse they bear, the divine purpose the Sanctified, and has gathered her own they follow. Rebecca indulges in her desires, small coterie who follow the Bishop’s words enjoying sadomasochistic romps, stealing and decrees, seeking to hound the heathens secrets from the pillows of her lovers. of the Crone, the unbelievers of the

Sister Rebecca Castle Merits: Contacts (Museum Curator, Book Dealer, High Society Socialite) 3, City Status (Manchester) 1, Clan Status 1, Covenant Status (Carthian) 1, Covenant Status (Ordo Dracul) 3, Crucible Ritual 3 (Ordo Dracul, The Ordo Dracul - The page 202), Fontal Ritual 2 (Ordo Dracul page 202), Haven: Location 2, Size 3, Security 4, Language (Latin, Greek) 1, Mind of the Devouring Worm 3 (Ordo Dracul page 204), Resources 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 4 Willpower: 6 Watching Wyrm Humanity: 5 Virtue: Temperance Vice: Sloth Health: 9 Zahred Zilber a.k.a. Grand Wyrm Initiative: 7 Defence: 3 Speed: 12 Blood Potency: 6 Zackarius Silverman, Questing Adept Disciplines: Animalism 3, Auspex 2, Protean 5, Resilience 3, Theban Sorcery 2, Spoiling 2 Theban Sorcery: Blood Scourge (1), Vitae Reliquary (1), Sinner Song (1, page 196 of Wild, Burning Hunger, Lancea Sanctum) Fontal Rituals: Feast of Blood (Ordo Dracul page 211) Blood Solutions: Eyes Blood (Ordo Dracul Parliamentarian of the Sworn of page 207) Devotions: Partial Transformation Coils: Blood 3, Banes 1, Beast 2 Mysteries, Vitae/ per turn: 15/3 Derangements: Narcissism, Phobia Clan: Gangrel (Avoidance) Covenant: Ordo Dracul - Carthian Embrace: 1633 Apparent Age: Mid 30s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 4 Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 3, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Philosophy, Secret Societies) 4, Investigation (Enigmas, Experiments) 2, Occult (Kindred, Alchemy, Ghosts) 4, Politics 4, Science 3 Physical Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl 4, Drive 2, Larceny (Concealing Stolen Goods) 3, Stealth 3, Survival 2 Social Skills: Animal Ken 3, Empathy 2, Intimidation 3, Persuasion (Inspiring) 3, Subterfuge 4

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester growing centre of research, such as autopsy, astronomy and alchemy. It was here that Zahred found the Ordo Dracul. Unknown to the bickering courts of the Invictus and Lancea Sanctum, the Ordo Dracul was lurking in the shadows, gathering in covens to discuss their findings and discoveries. The chapter house of Milan was large, and boasted members from other covenants, and it was inevitable that the Ordo Dracul would reveal their presence. It was here amongst these like minded individuals that Zahred discovered what he sought most, freedom from this curse. He studied the arts of physics, biology, alchemy and the occult. Here in secret he learnt more about his curse than any Sanctified book could ever reveal. Zahred rejoined the Sanctified, returning to them as an honoured priest, one who had overcome great tribulation in his wonderings. He rose to a position of trust Appearance: Zahred, or Zacharius, is about within the covenant while other Dragons did 5’ 9’’, with short cropped brown hair, so within the Invictus. However their stubble, brooding eyes, and pale skin. He is attempt was thwarted and the Ordo Dracul slim and taught, tending to wear casual suits, was driven from Milan back to Venice, while shirts and well polished shoes. Zahred took flight north, taking a ship to Zahred was born in Romania to a England, arriving in Hull from where he family of professional soldiers. His ability then went onwards to York. and strength eventually earned him the title Far from London or the diocese of of captain. It was in the dark shadows of the Salford, Zahred was able to gather more Carpathian mountains that Zahred met his Dragons together and continue their pursuit end in the cold castle of his lord, defending of The Great Work. Of course there was the his lands from the invading Transylvanians. publication of ‘Dracula’ and the Ordo Dracul This was not the end for Zahred, and he was revealed to the other covenants. In York awoke the next night, buried with his allies Zhared took the initiative and command of in a mass grave. He crawled out from the the Covenant within the city, establishing the ground and was met by his sire, Thadeus. York chapter house. Thadeus was a mendicant monk of the With Zahred established as head of Lancea Sanctum, and a Gangrel, and had the academy of York, an adept of Wild, been chosen by God. Zahred took in this Burning Hunger, Grand Wyrm and a knowledge and accepted that he had died for member of the Oracles of the Sworn of some greater good. Mysteries, Zahred was the elected Over the next few decades Zahred Parliamentarian, a position bestowed upon was instructed in the lore of the Lancea him before Lisette, the youngest of Dracula’s Sanctum, he himself becoming a warrior brides. As the years passed Zahred stepped monk. However, it was in Venice that down from his position and devoted more Zahred witnessed the horror of the depraved time to his studies and those of his students. Sanctified, and in disgust turned on his With the fall of the Ordo Dracul in covenant and fled to the wilderness, Manchester Zahred has now taken it upon travelling as a member of the Invictus, acting himself to act as Oracle to the remains of as a messenger of the Lords, for the next Manchester’s Dragons, and has assumed the number of decades. identity of a younger vampire in order to th By the late 18 century Zahred had infiltrate the city and bring the Ordo Dracul arrived settled in Milan. Milan was a back to prominence.

Grand Wyrm Zahred Zilber Zahred acknowledges his vampiric them from the shadows rather than ruling condition and is well practiced in matters of over them like the priests of the Acolytes and philosophy and alchemy, the very tools he the Sanctified. However, Zahred knows the needs to teach and discover the secrets of meaning of change, and has come to Kindred enlightenment. Before other Manchester to teach the meaning of it to the Kindred he assumes a lesser role, informing city.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Derangements: Paranoia Appearance: Oliver is a brutal, monster of a man. He is 5’ 8’’ but of a heavy build, matted shoulder length hair, grizzled features. His Oliver Valt, Adept of the Bloody eyes are a luminous green and he is always filthy from living on the streets. Oliver was born to a family of immigrants to Manchester. WWI was over Terror, Companion of the Sworn of and he had seen the war ravage Europe. He came with his family to Manchester, hoping for a better life. But working conditions were still disgraceful, and Oliver soon found the Axe himself in the cramped conditions of the Clan: Gangrel slums. When war broke out once more Covenant: Ordo Dracul - Unaligned Oliver would have been conscripted, however Oliver sought to escape the ravages Embrace: 1947 of war by hiding out in the streets and slums Apparent Age: Mid 30s of the city. It was here that he was embraced, Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 4, by accident. Resolve 4 Destruction should have been the Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 4, consequence of his embrace, but with the Stamina 4 bombing of England, the Kindred population Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation had been greatly reduced and so Oliver was 2, Composure 2 accepted into the city by Chairman Williams. Mental Skills: Crafts 2, Investigation (Crime He needed people who could keep the peace Scenes) 2, Occult 2 and Valt was one of these. The war had led Physical Skills: Athletics 3, Brawl (Kick to chaos in the city as some elders met their Boxing) 3, Drive 2, Larceny 2, Stealth 3, final death at the hands of Nazi bombs. Survival 2, Weaponry 2 As the years rolled on, Valt was Social Skills: Animal Ken 1, Intimidation promoted and became a respected officer of (Torture) 3, Socialize 2, Streetwise 2, the city. However it was in the 70s that Valt Subterfuge 2 met had his undoing, and was used as a Merits: Allies (Homeless Shelter) 2, Brawling pawn within the Chairman’s plots, and setup Dodge 1, Contacts (Beat Cop, Homeless for causing the final death of one of the Man) 2, Clan Status 1, Covenant Status (Ordo priests of the city. This allowed the Dracul) 2, Crucible Ritual (Ordo Dracul page Chairman to move in on the domain of the 202) 3, Fighting Style: Boxing 3, Fleet of Foot Lancea while diverting their attention to an 2, Haven: Location 1, Size 1, Security 2, apparent Carthian traitor. Resources 2 Valt, outcast, found refuge amongst Willpower: 6 the Ordo Dracul and within their chapter house found safety and a mentor. Valt learnt Humanity: 4 the secrets of the Ordo, the mysteries of the Virtue: Wrath Coils. However the Grand Wyrm of Vice: Fortitude Manchester had plans to remove the Health: 9 Chairman from power. The Chairman and Initiative: 6 the Grand Wyrm had been conducting a Defence: 4 shadow war, battling for occult resources and texts. However the Ordo Dracul had Speed: 13 been gathering soldiers under it’s banner. He Blood Potency: 3 trained in the arts of mesmerism, and Disciplines: Animalism 3, Auspex 1, Protean worked to train his body, becoming a 5, Resilience 2, Vigor 3 Companion of the Sworn of the Axe. Devotions: Partial Transformation Valt was one of those Kindred on the Coils: Blood 2, Banes 1, Beast 2 front line during the Poll Tax uprising. The Vitae/ per turn: 12/2 Chairman mobilized the Carthians and the

Oliver Valt Ordo Dracul met the resistance of these low profile and trying to remain undetected Kindred and allies within the Lancea by the Lictor or Constable of the city. He has Sanctum. since been mobilizing the remaining The Ordo Dracul were crushed, their Dragons of the city, training new members of chapter house attacked and destroyed, with the Sworn of the Axe. Valt has also acted as their research materials removed and sheppard for the Dragons of the city, setting confiscated by the Bishop and the Chairman. up a secure chapter house ready for the Valt went into hiding, a blood hunt was arrival of Zahred Zilber. called against him and so he fled to York. Oliver has a enmity towards the Valt returned to Manchester years Bishop and the Chairman and wishes to see later, remaining as an outsider, keeping a both fall before the Ordo Dracul.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Lauren Esten, Castellen and Seer of the Sworn of Mysteries Clan: Daeva Covenant: Ordo Dracul - Carthian Embrace: 1987 Apparent Age: Early 20s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2 Social Attributes: Presence 5, Manipulation 4, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics 2, Crafts (Photography) 2, Investigation 2, Occult 1, Politics 1 Physical Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl 3, Drive 3, Larceny (Concealing Stolen Goods) 2, Stealth Appearance: Lauren is 5’ 4’’, voluptuous, (Clubs and Crowds) 2 and has platinum white hair cut in a short Social Skills: Empathy (Lies) 2, Intimidation bob. She tends to wear revealing, stylish 3, Persuasion (Seduction) 2, Socialize (Clubs, clothing, featuring leather, pvc or some other Student Parties) 3, Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 3 sexy materials. She has a round, heart Merits: Contacts (Club DJ, Journalist) 2, City shaped face and seductive eyes. Status (Manchester) 1, Clan Status 1, Lauren arrived in Manchester as a Covenant Status (Carthian) 2, Covenant student at Manchester Metropolitan Status (Ordo Dracul) 2, Haven: Location 3, University. Already she was a wild young Size 3, Security 4, Herd 3, Resources 3, person, getting drunk almost nightly, Retainer (Ghouled) 2, Striking Looks 2 indulging in drugs and having many sexual Willpower: 6 encounters. This contrasted her conservative Humanity: 6 parents, both of whom were respected professionals in their fields. Lauren was Virtue: Charity treated as the black sheep of her family. Vice: Pride It was during one of these drug Health: 7 fuelled parties that Lauren was spotted by Initiative: 6 her sire to be, the Dragon, Kristen Byres. Defence: 3 Kirsten was entranced by Lauren, and Speed: 10 desired this young vibrant person in her Blood Potency: 3 Requiem. Kristen, obsessed with Lauren, embraced her that night, without the Disciplines: Celerity 3, Dominate 3, Majesty permission of either the Grand Wyrm or the 3, Vigor 3 Chairman. Lauren was kept from the other Coils: Blood 3, Banes 1, Beast 1 Kindred of the city. She learnt of their ways Vitae/ per turn: 12/2 and became Kristen’s lover. Derangements: Narcissism With the Ordo Dracul mobilizing for a takeover of the city, Kristen introduced Lauren, and so Lauren was in turn introduced to the Chairman as a newly

Lauren Esten embraced childe who was seeking induction aware of. Her training has thus been into the Carthians. This suited the needs of somewhat limited before the arrival of the Grand Wyrm as he needed a insider Zahred Zilber. within the Carthians. Lauren has also been an active The fall of the Ordo Dracul, the final Carthian, organizing locations for Elysium death of her sire, the banning of the and providing herds for feeding. But behind Covenant from the city, led to Lauren this has been gathering secrets ready for the remaining as a Carthian within the city while return of the Ordo Dracul. in secret meeting with those Ordo Dracul With the return of Zahred Zilber still within the city. As a result she has Lauren has been officially named as become the Castellen of the Covenant, with Castellen, and as such she has now been the Dragons meeting at clubs owned by her. setting up a new chapter house for the Since the banning of the Ordo Dragons and providing space for havens and Dracul, Lauren his grown in reputation new laboratories. Because of her active role amongst the Carthians of the city, well in Covenant and city politics, or at least known for the Blood parties that she holds. social life, she has been made a Seer of the She is notorious for pushing the laws of the Sworn of Mysteries. As a result she has been city to their limit. tasked to learn what she can about the Lauren has in fact been helping to Carthians and the Chairman. This has led gather the Ordo Dracul together so that they her to make allies within the Invictus once more be officially accepted within the ancillae, those desperate for her insider city. She has learnt what little she can of the knowledge of the Carthians, unaware of her Coils and occult rites that her peers were position within the Ordo Dracul.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Fontal Rituals: Arcane Vitae (Ordo Dracul page 210) Coils: Blood 3, Banes 2, Beast 2, Soul 1 (Ordo Vincent Landen, Kogaion and Master Dracul page 175) Vitae/ per turn: 13/2 Derangements: Fixation, Paranoia of the Dying Light, Illuminus of the Wild Burning Hunger Clan: Mekhet Covenant: Ordo Dracul Embrace: 1864 Apparent Age: Mid 30s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 4, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 4, Composure 4 Mental Skills: Academics (Religion, Secret Societies) 4, Investigation 3, Occult (Spirits, Ley Lines) 4, Politics 2, Science 2 Physical Skills: Brawl 3, Drive 2, Larceny 2, Stealth 3 Appearance: Vincent is skinny, with a mess of dark hair, a constant, distant look, and Social Skills: Expression 2, Intimidation 3, wears simple clothes that look slept in and Persuasion 3, Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 3 heavily worn. He wears a small pendant Merits: Contacts (City Council Planner, which doubles for dosing. Mortal Mystic) 2, Covenant Status (Ordo Vincent was born in Scotland, Dracul) 3, Crucible Ritual 3 (Ordo Dracul, Edinburgh. His father died in the army and page 202), Fontal Ritual 2 (Ordo Dracul page so he and his mother lived with his 202), Haven: Location 1, Size 2, Security 4, grandmother and grandfather, a judge. Language (Latin, Greek, Arabic, French) 4, Vincent, was brought up with an expectation Mind of the Devouring Worm 3 (Ordo to also become a lawyer, and he was Dracul page 204), Resources 4, Retainer inducted into Edinburgh University and it (Ghouled) 4 was here that he also followed his Willpower: 8 grandfather’s example and joined the Humanity: 3 Masons. It was within the Masons that he Virtue: Fortitude learnt of various occult matters, and his Vice: Gluttony interest in law waned. He would begin going Health: 8 to locations in the city renowned for paranormal activity. After a number of such Initiative: 7 attempts he caught his first view of a ghost Defence: 3 and from there he came into near contacts Speed: 11 with other such beings. Then he found Blood Potency: 4 vampires. Disciplines: Auspex 4, Celerity 3, Obfuscate One night Vincent was in the 4, Protean 2, Resilience 3 autopsy laboratories of the university, Devotions: Quicken Sight, Sample the Earth hoping to see one of the ghosts that were (Ordo Dracul page 200) rumoured to walk the halls. But instead he

KoGaion Vincent Landen came across a number of Kindred, in a conflict with other supernatural entities, but medical manner, feeding on a person his particular specialty was with dealing strapped to a surgery table. Filled with a mix with spirits, and in particular their tie to the of fear and curiosity Vincent stood still, Kindred Beast. struck by the monstrosity of the act. The However, then came the Poll Tax feeding Kindred spotted him and kidnapped riots and the Ordo Dracul were driven out of him. the city. Vincent remained, going into After a number of nights being hiding, gathering up what documents he interrogated and psychologically broken the could while the Dragons fought on the Dragons learnt more about Vincent and how streets. With the Dragons driven from the he would be of value to their Covenant. So city Vincent took it upon himself to become rather than kill him they released him back the new Kogaion. out into the world and watched him. In recent years Vincent has been the Vincent would go on to graduate unofficial head of the Covenant in secret. He from university but was also making in still maintains the maps of all the ley lines, roads into other occult societies. It was now the Wyrm Nests and locations of paranormal that the Ordo Dracul returned to Vincent activity. For this reason Vincent wishes to see and inducted them into their group and after the Chairman and the Lancea Sanctum fall, a number of years as a ghoul Vincent was since between the two of them the files kept embraced. by the Ordo Dracul have been destroyed or Following his embrace Vincent hidden. Worse is that there are a few moved to Manchester in order to escape any individuals within the Carthians that are issues associated with his past life, but also some form of paranormal investigation to promote the Dragon concept of change. In organization, and so have been turning up at Manchester Vincent would involved himself Wyrm Nests. For this reason he has begun with the occult societies that were present, in studying the arts of alchemy so that he might particular the Hellfire club. be able to level curses against these Over time Vincent moved up the intruders. However, the arrival of Zahred in ranks of the Dragons, eventually becoming the city has thrown his plans out of shape as on a Journeyman of the Sworn of the Dying he now must acknowledge the command of Light. His work brought him into much and elder Dragon.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Derangements: Depression, Obsessive Compulsion (Counting Grains of Rice) Appearance: Tetsuro is 5’ 8’’, his body is thin and skeletal, with dark skin that is withered. He wears a burgundy kimono and what The Unbound - Lurking in remains of his hair is tied back in a pony tail. He wears a small jade pendant, apparently a talisman against evil and curses. Tetsuro was born into a family of butchers in the south of Japan. He had a humble life in the town where he worked the Shadows with his father. But it was his affinity with the Shinto faith, and his father’s desire for his son to be accepted as a priest, that caught the attention of the local Burakumin. His sire to be presented himself to Tetsuro as an Tetsuro a.k.a. The Endless Scream ancestor spirit, and that he needed Tetsuro’s Clan: Nosferatu - Burakumin help. This of course involved Tetsuro becoming the Burakumin’s ghoul, and Covenant: Unaligned eventually being embraced. Embrace: 1733 As one of the unclean Tetsuro was Apparent Age: Unknown already used to the prejudice against him, Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, and this was nothing new being a Resolve 4 Burakumin. Instead he kept to the shadows, Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, learnt from his ancestor, kept watch over his Stamina 4 own family, and studied the arts of the Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation blood, ghosts, the dead, Shinto and the 1, Composure 3 Disciplines. Mental Skills: Academics (Philosophy, As the century rolled on the English Shinto) 4, Investigation (Bodies) 3, Occult and the Americans arrived and change was (Shinto, Ghosts) 4, Politics 3 sweeping the nation. Tetsuro had moved to Physical Skills: Brawl (Tai Chi) 4, Larceny 3, Tokyo in order to pursue his own research Stealth 4, Survival 2, Weaponry (Katana) 4 while pushing for change within the Kindred politics. However, he would have to deal not Social Skills: Intimidation 4, Streetwise just with enemies from within Japan, but (Yakuza, Triads) 3, Subterfuge 3 those who had just arrived. One of whom Merits: Allies (Shinto Priest) 1, Contacts was Natalia Kerkoft. (Buddhist Priest, Yaukza gang leader) 2, Natalia was in Japan on a visit to Haven: Location 3, Size 3, Security 3, learn more about the strange country, and Language (Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese) also to ensure the safety of her investments. 3, Resources 2, Retainer (Ghouled) 2 The local Kindred treated her like a lord. In Willpower: 7 exchange for more influence in the west Humanity: 3 Natalia was allowed to conduct her business Virtue: Faith as she saw fit, including stealing priceless Vice: Gluttony artefacts from Kindred, in particular Tetsuro. Health: 9 However, Tetsuro did get his revenge. He is the one who killed her mortal lover. Initiative: 7 In the early 20’s, along with other Defence: 3 migrants, Tetsuro travelled to England. He Speed: 12 was brought with the migrants who believed Blood Potency: 5 him to be a form of ancestor spirit, and in Disciplines: Auspex 2, Getsumei 5, Manchester he was buried in the basement of Nightmare 4, Obfuscate 3, Vigor 4 the Buddhist temple. Tetsuro knew that for Vitae/ per turn: 14/2 himself and his kind, freedom from the prejudice could only be obtained in the West,

Tetsuro and it be here that he would be able to grow Oriental lineage. This allows the Burakumin his influence. to exert a great influence over them while In modern nights Tetsuro is still being free from the interference from the known to a few mortal priests and family other Kindred of the city. This exclusivity elders as an ancestor spirit. They make over China town was granted to Tetsuro by frequent sacrifices to appease the vampire the Chairman in exchange for the Burakumin while he protects them and their families. refraining from interfering in city politics. Though Japanese, Tetsuro now resides in the This of course doesn’t stop Tetsuro resuming Buddhist temple in China Town, as it is his vendetta against Kerkoft. frequented by many people of Eastern

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester Derangements: Depression

Perses Rachael Witten Clan: Mekhet Covenant: Unaligned – Invictus – Circle of the Crone – Cult of Mithras Embrace: 1991 Apparent Age: Mid 30s Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3 Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 4, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Academics (Roman History, Persian History) 3, Investigation 3, Medicine 2, Occult (Mithraism) 4 Physical Skills: Brawl 2, Drive 2, Larceny 2, Stealth 3, Weaponry 3 Social Skills: Empathy 2, Expression (Oration) 2, Intimidation 2, Persuasion 1, Appearance: Rachel is 5’ 4’’ and has jet black Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 2 hair and tends to wear functional clothing, Merits: Allies (Cult Leader) 1, Contacts such as jeans, boots, dark shirts and silver (Manchester Historian, Sewer Engineer) w, pendants bearing Mithraic emblems. She is City Status (Manchester) 1, Covenant Status not particularly beautiful but dresses well to (Circle of the Crone) 2, Covenant Status appear enticing and commanding of her cult. (Mithraic) 5, Haven: Location 2, Size 2, Rachel was born in Lincoln, the Security 3, Herd 2, Language (Latin) 1, second eldest of 3 children. Her father, a Resources 4, Retainer (Ghouled) 3 police officer worked hard to get her into Willpower: 6 university, hoping that she might join the Humanity: 4 force as a forensics officer. Family life was Virtue: Faith harsh, and she grew to hate her father and Vice: Pride the way he had treated her and her siblings. At university she led a quiet life, Health: 8 studying night and day. Those few times she Initiative: 7 did let her hair down she would indulge in Defence: 3 drugs, coke being her preferred narcotic. It Speed: 12 was during one of these blow outs that she Blood Potency: 3 witnessed what she thought was a person, Disciplines: Auspex 3, Celerity 2, Culter some fiend, drinking the blood of another Mithras 4 (Mythologies page 22), Cruác 2, person at the party. In the morning Rachel Obfuscate 3 thought nothing of it until the student was Cruác Sorcery Rituals: Drops of Destiny (1, reported missing. Rachel was drawn into the Circle of the Crone page 204), Fires of investigation, at first as a witness, but then as Inspiration (1, Circle of the Crone page 204), her own detective. She found the blood stain, Pangs of Proserpina (1), Cheval (2), and knew it was evidence that the person Imperious Call (2, Circle of the Crone page that was missing had been there. But there 201), Maiden Skin (2, Circle of the Crone was more to be found. Rachel delved into the page 205), Soul’s Work (2, Circle of the Crone mystery and uncovered photos taken that 206) night. The blurring. What puzzled Rachel Vitae/ per turn: 12/2

Persus Rachel Witten was why this had not been mentioned in the police reports that she had obtained. Eventually the investigation was shelved, but Rachel did not give in. She was obsessed but the police prevented her from further investigation. Rachel eventually graduated and joined the police force in London, but she did not stop in her work piecing together what she could from that night. She had learnt of the existence of something else in the world, and she had been seeing their signs in society. Vampires. What she was unaware of was that they too had been watching her. Rachel was pursued one night, stalked back to her home and cornered. The looming monster, known simply as Red King, embraced her, turned her, and revealed to her the secret world of the Kindred. She awoke in robes of linen, mummified and her organs removed. As a Mekhet Rachel was inducted into their secret society, learned the lost history of the Kindred, all under the streets of London. She became knowledgeable in Kindred lore and became a member of the Circle of the Crone. However her studies led her into the arms of the Cult of Mithras. Her desire to understand more of the world led her to the dark caverns of the order, and in the dark. Since her initiation into the Mithraic cult Rachel has been tasked with discovering more of the lost temples and fighting for their possession. In particular she has been sent to Manchester, where with the Carthians in power, and the Lancea Sanctum and Crone fighting for the soul of the Kindred of the city the Mithraic cult can take back what is theirs.

Chapter Three:The Endless Waltz: The Vampires of Manchester