Dark Ages Vampire - Bloodlines

Game Master Dennis Harry

Bloodlines is a continuation of the now defunct table top Dark Ages Vampire game wherein the PC's have created lineal descendants throughout the ages.

Attendees seeking a seat or have a seat in the Inner Circle:

Assamite - Lord Bajazet al Nasir.

Brujah – Lady Meridie de Chancie, Lord Criatas, “Dark”Selena, Robin Leeland.

Cappadocian – Lord Benne.

Gangrel – Milov Petrankov.

Lasombra - Prince Narses the Archbishop of Nod

Malkavian – Antione le Fanu, Lutz von Hohenzollern.

Nosferatu – Cristo Petradon, Simon.

Salubri – Brian Stack.

Setites – Sadir.

Toreador – Rafael de Corazon, Francois Villon, Helene la Jouste.

Tremere - Radek, Mistress Fanchon.

Tzimisce – Myca Vykos.

Ventrue – Alyssa Gilbert, Lady Jadviga Almanov, Lanzo von Saschen, Prince Alexander.

Remember - only those listed get votes. Of course influencing their Childer can go a long way to getting a vote.

Social Combat:

Let me first thank Sir Dunstan and his excellent Game of Thrones campaign as the inspiration for this rules tweak. A shout out to Vitaliano who also does an excellent job as a player in that campaign.

Game of Thrones has a Social Combat system that, while not translatable directly, I used as inspiration for this campaign.

This is a proposed rules set and I am more than happy to hear feedback from Players before I implement it in full.

Roleplaying is still required to get your point across. However, I think a mechanical system could be beneficial for this scenario, a scenario quite unlike anything I have ever done in a Vampire game before.

Making My Case

To convince a “voter” to side with your Sire, you may roll the following set of Attributes and Abilities:

1. Against someone who is clearly NOT in your favor --- Manipulation+Subterfuge+Politics
2. Against someone who is NEUTRAL – Charisma+Expression+Politics

The difficulty of all rolls is that Cainites Willpower. You will need to score as many successes as they have Willpower to win the contest. Once you engage the voter, you will only have three rounds to make your case and can only attempt do so one time per night.

If you have Presence – Awe or Enrancement, you may attempt to use these powers in conjunction with the above roll. Each success utilizing that Discipline gives you one more success on your total roll.

Beware, failing in using Presence in Elysium can lead to Sanctions by Thomas Brexiano.

Also beware, Cainites may try to turn this system around on you…

But What if Someone Else Tries This on a Voter I just Brought to my Side?

Amount of successes is a key factor here, you will want to score as many success as you can to ensure that a rival does not try to take that vote from you!

Certain NPC’s already believe that others are in their favor and would never change their votes. Those will be the toughest cookies to break.

Note this system cannot be used on:

Your In-Clan rivals, no amount of sweet talking or bribes will change their minds they all want this position badly.

Prince Narses, he simply will not entertain such discourse. Of course, this does not mean you cannot try to get into the ears of one of his Childer to have them speak with him…

Discerning My Quarry’s Intent

How can I tell if someone is for or against me despite what they are saying?

Make a Perception+Empathy+Politics roll.

The difficulty is 10, less that Cainites Humanity score. Those closer to the Beast are much harder to read. For every Century over 300 years that Cainite has lived, the DC will be increased by 1, topping out at 10, as these Cainites have well and truly mastered this game to have existed for so long in the first place.

Once you engage the voter, you will only have three rounds to ferret out their intent and can only attempt do so one time per night. You will need to score as many successes as they have Willpower to ascertain their intent.

If you have Auspex – Read the Soul or Invade the Mind, you may attempt to use these powers in conjunction with the above roll. Each success utilizing that Discipline gives you one more success on your total roll.

How else can I make my case?

The use of Presence, while frowned upon, is much less cause for censure than using Dominate. Dominate does not work on a Cainite whose blood is closer to Caine than your own. If you seek to use Dominate to convince a voter (or perhaps one of the Childer?) to vote for your Sire, it would be best used elsewhere in the city.

Boons – the boon system of quid pro quo can also be used to gain votes. You will need to offer something of course that that voter does not have or cannot get from another candidate.

Eliminate my rivals. This one is obvious though failure to do so without detection may subject YOU to the Final Death!


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Clan Malkavian Blood Pool 19/30

I don't think I have anything I can post to contribute at this time, it'd just be unnecessary filler.


Shadow's Status

I love unnecessary filler!

Seriously, always post if you want to even in a spoiler it may be a thought you may want to come back to later.


Clan Malkavian Blood Pool 19/30

Well the problem being in this situation is that while Vitaliano might want to speak up or anything, this is a court like setting it would be outside of proper etiquette to say much during a time of voting except for during your turn.

No one has addressed him and he has already done what he has set out to do. Anything more might screw up the work he's put in. Don't get me wrong, he'll have much more to speak of eventually...but only once everyone has had a chance to speak their vote and it's back to open court setting.


Shadow's Status

I'll try to update by tomorrow, sorry for the delay there folks.


Female Vampire Tremere Courtesan

It is my fault tonight...sorry...


Shadow's Status
Veronica Acqua wrote:
It is my fault tonight...sorry...

This is their last damn chance i'll tell you that much, this movie sucks and I'll not go again even if they pay me!


Generation 8th Clan Assamite (Warrior caste) Blood 11/15; Will 5/7 Temp: Potency Point

I’ll be away on and off for the next two weeks.

May 25-28 Paizocon
May 29-May 31 Regularly scheduled programming
June 1-June 5 on vacation.
It is incredibly unlikely that I’ll be able to post each day during the con and the vacation. Please don’t let me slow the games down, and feel free to bot me. I’ll check in as I can.


Shadow's Status

Sorry for the delay there folks. Between being sick last weekend a busy week and vacation this weekend I was just not in a position to post.

I sent a text to Michele to post.

Sent a PM to our (soon to be) Salubri as well....


Apologies but I just posted


Norwegian Mercenary / Aspiring Condottiero | 7th Generation Clan Tzimisce | BP 19/20 | Willpower 7/8 | Wound Level 0 | Active Effects: Auspex (Heightened Senses)
Storyteller Shadow wrote:
Einar strides in and immediately gets more than he bargained for... [F'ed up nightmare scenario] ...What do you do?

Well then..!

I'm gonna have to take some time with this one. Should have a post up tomorrow night.


Shadow's Status
Einar Arnesen wrote:
Storyteller Shadow wrote:
Einar strides in and immediately gets more than he bargained for... [F'ed up nightmare scenario] ...What do you do?

Well then..!

I'm gonna have to take some time with this one. Should have a post up tomorrow night.

I figured that one would catch you by surprise :-)


Male Nosferatu 6th Generation; BP 28/30, xp saved: 0, spent 155

Onfroi wants to leave with enough time to meet and speak with the Ravnos again so will be keeping track to himself


Shadow's Status

As there are new PCs and the game has been going on for quite some time, is it time for an OOC refresher as to the NPCs who are in attendance at the Conclave?


Norwegian Mercenary / Aspiring Condottiero | 7th Generation Clan Tzimisce | BP 19/20 | Willpower 7/8 | Wound Level 0 | Active Effects: Auspex (Heightened Senses)

I never even thought to actually detail Einar's equipment, which seems silly in retrospect. I figure his armament is something along the lines of the following:

Hand Ax. Str+2 lethal damage; Min Str 3.
Saber. Str+2 lethal damage; Min Str 3.
Composite armor. Armor rating 3; Penalty 1.
Small Shield. Parry difficulty 4; no attack penalty.

I think the sword and shield are standard for mercenaries of the region and era. (The best reference I've found online is this illustration.) Einar would probably wear heavier armor on the battlefield, but I imagine he traded the full chain mail in for something a little lighter once in Venice.


Shadow's Status
Einar Arnesen wrote:

I never even thought to actually detail Einar's equipment, which seems silly in retrospect. I figure his armament is something along the lines of the following:

Hand Ax. Str+2 lethal damage; Min Str 3.
Saber. Str+2 lethal damage; Min Str 3.
Composite armor. Armor rating 3; Penalty 1.
Small Shield. Parry difficulty 4; no attack penalty.

I think the sword and shield are standard for mercenaries of the region and era. (The best reference I've found online is this illustration.) Einar would probably wear heavier armor on the battlefield, but I imagine he traded the full chain mail in for something a little lighter once in Venice.

Sounds reasonable. Due to the circumstances of the storyline access to wealth has not been an issue. It may be at some point down the road but for now it is not.


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Shadow's Status

FYI - IN the thread the correct night should be Friday March 28th. Somehow the Tuesday March 25th day cropped up again and I just realized it... Grrr... Moving forward I will fix that once more.

The Conclave Attendees:

Those in Italics are vying for or have already captured a seat (reflected by the Clans that have only one BOLD name.

Assamite - Lord Bajazet al Nasir, Giovanni Dal’este - al Nasir's Childe, Talon Vandras, El Cid. El Cid has fled the city and been the subject of a Blood Hunt. Talon's whereabouts are unknown.

Brujah – Lady Meridie de Chancie, Sir Dunstan Füller Meridie's Childe, Lord Criatas, “Dark”Selena, Seneschal Christol Left the city earlier this night. , Robin Leeland. Armin Brenner of Magdeburg whereabouts unknown, Ecaterina the Wise of Prague whereabouts unknown.

The Brujah vote will be the night of Saturday March 29. Criatas just left Elysium

Cappadocian – Lord Benne, Lorenzo Cappelli Benne's Childe.

Gangrel – Milov Petrankov, Cantor Petrankov's Childe, Adria Darkling, Luca Marano. Adria and Luca are NOT currently at Elysium , Erik Longtooth Left the city earlier this night, Yenshun Igodini Left the city earlier this night.

Lasombra - Khadijah Saadeh - whereabouts unknown, Xing Shi, Tommaso Brexiano (D), Lord Kestral (T), Alejandro Prince in exile of Jerusalem, Guadlupe Rezaran (T), Magdalena Castellucci Borcellino, Pacifico Grillati - whereabouts unknown, Leopold Valdemar - now Seneschal, Fadris Childe of Alejandro, Kratos - whereabouts unknown, Sepio Volusenus the Shadow Pirate - whereabouts unknown, Prince Narses the Archbishop of Nod

Malkavian – Antione le Fanu, Vitaliano da Riva Antoine's Childe, Lutz von Hohenzollern, Vasatanesa whereabouts unknown, Gregorius Dimities.

Nosferatu – Cristo Petradon, Onfroi the Bastard Childe of Petradon, Ferdinand, Niccolo, Cristiano Lintini - whereabouts unknown, Simon - whereabouts unknown, Ghost of Clan Nosferatu.

Salubri – Brian Stack, Andrew the Hardy Childe of Brian.

Setites – Sadir, Michele Querini Childe of Sadir, Khay’tall Serpent of Eden. Sadir has simpy vanished from Elysium

Toreador – Rafael de Corazon, Bassanio Strozzi Childe of Rafael, Francois Villon, Ranerius Bernerius Childe of Francois, Violetta Childe of Francois - whereabouts unknown, Alda Vassari the Artisan, Helene la Jouste, Victor la Rouche Childe of Helene.

Tremere - Mistress Fanchon, Veronica Acqua Childe of Fanchon, Radek, Michael Santo.

Tzimisce – Myca Vykos.

Ventrue – Alyssa Gilbert, Alessandro Khadaji Childe of Alyssa, Lord Jurgen von Verdun Left the city earlier this night., Lady Jadviga Almanov, Lady Partrizia, Lanzo von Saschen - Emissary of Hardestadt who is the Ventrue Councilor, Franz Albert Capsali Childe of Lanzo, Gustav Breidenstein, Prince Alexander.

ONLY Gustav and Lanzo with his new Childe Franz is in attendance among the Ventrue

Independent –
Durga Syn - Clan Ravnos.
Bagrat Kamsaraken – Mortal Descendent of Narses
Talisman the Cainite formerly known as Michael the Patriarch - Bloodline - Left Elysium earlier this evening.

---

Feel free to interact (if you are in Elysium) with any NPC listed above. I listed ALL NPCs that attended Elysium thus far so if you want to try and seek any out you can leave and do that as well!


Shadow's Status

Let me know if I missed anyone. Thanks.


Male Nosferatu 6th Generation; BP 28/30, xp saved: 0, spent 155

You missed me being jealous of Einar for having a chance to have Myca Vykos as a sire. Oh man. One of my most favorite vampires ever. Onfoi had a dealing with him and I secretly gushed in my vampire crush.


Male Italian (Toreador)

Sorry folks, our elderly housemate is having issues, falls at 4 in the morning and other things. on top o that, car problems and ..well, at least we don't have the plagues of egypt


Shadow's Status

Tis kk RL happens.


Clan Malkavian Blood Pool 19/30

I assumed you either overlooked that I agreed to follow the Lord of Aasimite's outside or you ran out of time for my response tonight. Just thought I'd post in case you overlooked ^_^.


Shadow's Status
Vitaliano da Riva wrote:
I assumed you either overlooked that I agreed to follow the Lord of Aasimite's outside or you ran out of time for my response tonight. Just thought I'd post in case you overlooked ^_^.

Crap, thanks for the reminder :-(


Female 6th Generation Brujah|Blood Pool: 18/30|Willpower: 6/6

Anything for Sister Maria? We're going through the alleys.


Shadow's Status
Sister Maria Bellarosa wrote:
Anything for Sister Maria? We're going through the alleys.

Yep, I posted in my Status thread that I've been a bad DM this weekend, focusing on games I am a PC in (or trying to be a PC in).

I'll update tomorrow or Tuesday, sorry about that guys!


Female 6th Generation Brujah|Blood Pool: 18/30|Willpower: 6/6

Ok.


Norwegian Mercenary / Aspiring Condottiero | 7th Generation Clan Tzimisce | BP 19/20 | Willpower 7/8 | Wound Level 0 | Active Effects: Auspex (Heightened Senses)

Hi everybody. For the next few weeks my work/life balance is going to be very out of whack from the norm, and my posting will most likely be spotty and/or brief. I apologize for the disruption, and please feel free to bot me whenever necessary. My hope is that by the end of June I'll regain some equilibrium and be back to my regularly scheduled posting.

I should still be able to check here 2-3 times a week, but if I go quiet, this is why.


Shadow's Status

Apologies for the delays, I got into 5 of 5 games I applied to the past few weeks so I've been PC building like crazy with different systems, Pathfinder Gestalt etc. etc.

Updates for this game tomorrow!

Thanks for the patience. I do not plan to apply to any more games so my free time will free up and I can dedicate myself to running and playing from now on without these crazy builds eating up tons of free time...


Male Nosferatu 6th Generation; BP 28/30, xp saved: 0, spent 155

Onfroi is still waiting to speak to Durga syn so no problem for me.


Norwegian Mercenary / Aspiring Condottiero | 7th Generation Clan Tzimisce | BP 19/20 | Willpower 7/8 | Wound Level 0 | Active Effects: Auspex (Heightened Senses)
I wrote:
Dexterity + Athletics / Dodge: 5d10 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 8, 4) = 15

@ Shadow: I'm a little rusty - would spending a WP point here even help, or do the multiple excess 1s pretty much negate that option?


Shadow's Status
Einar Arnesen wrote:
I wrote:
Dexterity + Athletics / Dodge: 5d10 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 8, 4) = 15
@ Shadow: I'm a little rusty - would spending a WP point here even help, or do the multiple excess 1s pretty much negate that option?

I would not waste the willpower, that's a pretty bad roll... ;-( Two will is a lot to spend and just ensures you don't botch. Not to worry, you're gonna die in this scene anyway, the question is just how!


Shadow's Status

More updates after lunch that was the most aged response I owed so wanted to get it out there!


Norwegian Mercenary / Aspiring Condottiero | 7th Generation Clan Tzimisce | BP 19/20 | Willpower 7/8 | Wound Level 0 | Active Effects: Auspex (Heightened Senses)
Storyteller Shadow wrote:
Not to worry, you're gonna die in this scene anyway, the question is just how!

Yeah, it just seems like the how being by tripping over himself directly into his enemy is an embarrassing way to "prove" himself to his sire-to-be. I'm sure it's something Einar will have to hear about for years (centuries?) to come ;)

"Have I ever told you of Einar's embrace? He was brave enough to fight a Szlachta, and droll enough to do it face-down on the floor! I knew then that even if he wasn't a good soldier, he would make a fine jester."


Shadow's Status
Einar Arnesen wrote:
Storyteller Shadow wrote:
Not to worry, you're gonna die in this scene anyway, the question is just how!

Yeah, it just seems like the how being by tripping over himself directly into his enemy is an embarrassing way to "prove" himself to his sire-to-be. I'm sure it's something Einar will have to hear about for years (centuries?) to come ;)

"Have I ever told you of Einar's embrace? He was brave enough to fight a Szlachta, and droll enough to do it face-down on the floor! I knew then that even if he wasn't a good soldier, he would make a fine jester."

LMAO, well, if you want to spend the Will based on that view I'll not stand in your way!


Male Nosferatu 6th Generation; BP 28/30, xp saved: 0, spent 155

ok DM, because I like Einar already would you allow me to spend one of my three luck for his incredible botch to allow him to reroll?

Seriously I cannot allow him to embarrass himself in front of Myka Vykos. I just cannot.

I will accept that for this scene I have only two luck if you would but allow Onfroi's distant will to intercede on his behalf.


Shadow's Status
Onfroi wrote:

ok DM, because I like Einar already would you allow me to spend one of my three luck for his incredible botch to allow him to reroll?

Seriously I cannot allow him to embarrass himself in front of Myka Vykos. I just cannot.

I will accept that for this scene I have only two luck if you would but allow Onfroi's distant will to intercede on his behalf.

I cannot, we all must endure our rolls for weal ir woe!


Shadow's Status

Onfroi I sent you a PM.

---

G!# d@@n I love RPing Khay'tall.


Clan Malkavian Blood Pool 19/30

Don't mind me, I'm just gonna get myself killed over here for being mouthy.


I knew with my response I would serve you up for a nice return from him but man that was good.


Shadow's Status

ST Shadow ONLY:

Man+Sub - 3d10 ⇒ (4, 8, 2) = 14
Per+Emp - 4d10 + 1d10 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 3) + (10) = 22


Norwegian Mercenary / Aspiring Condottiero | 7th Generation Clan Tzimisce | BP 19/20 | Willpower 7/8 | Wound Level 0 | Active Effects: Auspex (Heightened Senses)

Thanks for the attempt, Onfroi ;)

Shadow, thank you for allowing Einar a chance to redeem himself rather than just getting stomped to death - I like how this is playing out :)


Male Ventrue 8 Generation 14/15 BP

I've been absent these past few days for medical reasons.
Apologies for any inconveniences that may have caused.
I am still recovering, but hope to catch up and get back to posting again soon.


Female 6th Generation Brujah|Blood Pool: 18/30|Willpower: 6/6

So, ST, what roll would it be to try to talk the ruffian leader into leaving us alone?


Shadow's Status
Sister Maria Bellarosa wrote:
So, ST, what roll would it be to try to talk the ruffian leader into leaving us alone?

Charisma + Performance or Manipulation + Subterfuge of you want to concoct a lie DC 10 - 3 successes.


Shadow's Status
Einar Arnesen wrote:

Thanks for the attempt, Onfroi ;)

Shadow, thank you for allowing Einar a chance to redeem himself rather than just getting stomped to death - I like how this is playing out :)

It seemed a much more interesting way to do this :-)


I’m very interested to see what this group of knights is up to..... and how Talisman will turn it to his advantage


Gangrel Blood Pool 13/10

Apologies for the absence. I'm juggling burnout, work, and my university is less than cooperative.


Shadow's Status
Luca Marano wrote:
Apologies for the absence. I'm juggling burnout, work, and my university is less than cooperative.

Understood we are slow pace anyway :-)


Shadow's Status
Geoffroi de Clairvaux wrote:
I’m very interested to see what this group of knights is up to..... and how Talisman will turn it to his advantage

Me too :-)


Clan Malkavian Blood Pool 19/30

I'm just waiting till the Elysium is over. I feel like at least five enemies will show up for my character...and I'll be overwhelmed attempting to "fight" against their efforts.


Shadow's Status

Soon the announcement will be made, want to give RP time and my onw schedule has still been a bit erratic though better than it has been in the early part of the year.

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