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!


1,851 to 1,900 of 11,989 << first < prev | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | next > last >>

Michael shakes his head and smiles
" "Hans" its good to see you again.this is my good friend and business associate Gunther. I am here as requested but I seek your council in urget matters concerning the mortal realm between the doge and my friend here." Michael turns to gunther " although it may not seem like it we are safe here and can speak freely." michael turns back to Hans "Will you please hear me out"


Gunther dons an expression of confusion upon his face as he listens to Michael speaking with Hans.

"Uhhh, what do you mean by... mortal realm?"


Andrew reclines in the gondala enjoying the ride and turning over in his mind several things that required him to speak soon to a theologian very soon.


Storyteller Shadow:
here is the courage roll 3d10 ⇒ (3, 6, 8) = 17


Micheal looks at Gunther understand standing that he has not caught out just yet. Michael motions his hand in Hans direction

"Surely you do remember my employee "Hans"? The one we have all been running around about and his sister Anya."

Michael watches for Gunther to come to realization of who hans is or rather what happened to him

"Gunther you will want to listen up, I have been paid a LARGE sum of money that to transport some people to Gunthers establishment. It was to be done without anyones knowledge not even Gunthers. There are several ways this could go down. This could be a surprise birthday party that I dont know about or it could be some sort of sting set up by a very powerful man, and therefore since I am aware I too could be in peril. The person behind this is a member of the Doge"

Michael turns to Gunther"Do you have an enemies that I should know about? anyone that would like to see you or your establishment taken down"

Michael appeals to "Hans" "Gunther here has been a valued partner and good friend I would like to aid him as best I can and the men I had paid to aid me in my transportation of this people it would be nice if they were persuaded to forget this encounter happened. As I have said before I would be a loyal subject but these business asset could be very beneficial to our cause"


Micheal looks at Gunther understand standing that he has not caught out just yet. Michael motions his hand in Hans direction

"Surely you do remember my employee "Hans"? The one we have all been running around about and his sister Anya."

Michael watches for Gunther to come to realization of who hans is or rather what happened to him

"Gunther you will want to listen up, I have been paid a LARGE sum of money that to transport some people to Gunthers establishment. It was to be done without anyones knowledge not even Gunthers. There are several ways this could go down. This could be a surprise birthday party that I dont know about or it could be some sort of sting set up by a very powerful man, and therefore since I am aware I too could be in peril. The person behind this is a member of the Doge"

Michael turns to Gunther"Do you have an enemies that I should know about? anyone that would like to see you or your establishment taken down"

Michael appeals to "Hans" "Gunther here has been a valued partner and good friend I would like to aid him as best I can and the men I had paid to aid me in my transportation of this people it would be nice if they were persuaded to forget this encounter happened. As I have said before I would be a loyal subject but these business assets could be very beneficial to your cause"


"No, I do not have any enemies... none to my knowledge. 'Greetings' has some local competition, but none so that if someone wished to do me bodily harm they would have done so already."

Still looking a bit perplexed, Gunther continues

"And you still have not truly answered my question, my friend. I sense that there is something more to all of this that you are not telling me."


Shadow's Status

Alessandro Khadaji

It is likely that you have a makeshift grappling hook and rope to allow you to scale buildings quickly based upon your character concept. If you wish to, you can use your gear to latch on to the edge of the ship and pull yourself up. Make a Dexterity + Athletics check DC 7. If you get less than 3 successes you will be able to get to the ship but you will end up with your feet in the water.


Shadow's Status

Michele Querini:
Michele you hold steady despite Radek's blatant use of magic before your very eyes. What do you do now?


Shadow's Status

Michael Santo & Gunther Thesing

Hans looks at you Michael, "So early into our relationship and already you beg me for aid? Perhaps I shall grant it but first as your long time associate has requested I too would like to understand better what exactly you have gotten yourself into. After all if this endeavor is against my interests it is unlikely, despite my desire to work with you, that I will aid you in this particular project".

Anya stares at you Michael in anticipation of what you will say next. The look in her eye is far away and glassy.


Storyteller Shadow:
I will make sure all slaves are out of the gondolas and into the inn. Once that is done I will head into the inn to make sure all is set.


Dexterity + Athletics: 4d10 + 2d10 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 9) + (6, 4) = 26


Michael Santo & Gunther Thesing

Gunther fixes his attention on Michael with slight suspect


Michael crosses his arms looking at his audience. And coughs up a name.
"Michele Querini paid me to deliver people to your inn. Thats all I was hired to do. But the shroud of secrets that surround it has me unedved. My contact that I sent to you never returned, the handsome sum for this secret to be kept. If this is something huge I figured you two should know for both business and personal reasons. If I refused to take the order you think I would be allowed to walk away anyway knowing what is planned. This is one powerful man in the city and bodies have been missing and found in odd places. Michael gesturing at "hans" while looking at Gunther. " I am no good to either of you if I am removed from the equation. Both our business would suffer and that would be a great asset for everyones endeavor." Michael turns to gunther I couldnt speak of this outside because i didnt believe we weree safe until we reached here." michael addrsses fihadi  "I am sorry to cause you trouble I was just consulting your council for advise and if you could help with the minor details of persuading those underlings to forget this encounter"


row row row your gondala....


Shadow's Status

Michele Querini:
You enter the Inn saying nothing further to Radek who stays in the gondola closing the door behind you. To your surprise these slaves are all sitting quite comfortably at tables eating hot meals with plenty of drink to go around.

You turn to the ones that attempted to escape as they are closest to you and you realize that they too are sitting quite comfortably as well with a glazed look in their eyes. You suspect that someone has used more "magic" on them.

Turning quickly to your right you see that Santo's gondola men are all lined up with their backs against the wall. Most of them have the same shocked look that you likely have witnessing the humane treatment of these people who were just brought in as no better than smuggled goods! Santo's right hand man is talking with a figure whose back is to you. The man is quite tall with a pale shaved head, even looking at him from behind there is something in the way he holds himself that tells you he is in charge here. Santo's man who generally wears an arrogant sneer the same way you wear your nobility looks quite humbled as he listens to what the man has to say.

Barmaids walk around the room serving food and drink to the slaves. They too appear to have a glazed look in their eyes.

Across the room is another strange sight. Seated at the bar is a very tall beautiful man, his features somewhat feminine. It hurts to behold him he is so beautiful, in fact it is hard to even make out his features and just the mere sight of him brings tears to your eyes. Next to him is an attractive woman whose beauty pales in comparison to his. Flanking them on either side are bare chested men, well muscled, with long flowing blonde hair. They survey the room with a look of near paranoia despite the sea of calm around them.

What did you do?


Shadow's Status

Alessandro Khadaji

I did not expect there to be zero successes! Do you want to spend a Willpower point to avoid ending up in the water?


Shadow's Status

Michael Santo & Gunther Thesing

Hans chuckles, "Are these people being delivered of their own free will? I take it that this Querini did not tell you who his employer was then? No need for apologies my friend, you have made the wise choice coming to me for my council. I may help you yet but first let us see what your friend has to say perhaps this is something that simply slipped his mind". Hans turns to you Gunther to gauge your reaction.


You and me both! Sure. I'm playing this full tilt.


Michael Santo & Gunther Thesing

"People being transported to my inn on their own volition is one thing, but to be 'shipped as cargo' is by far yet another thing altogether."

A look of disgust washes over Gunther's face

"I am at a loss for words."

Gunther folds his burly arms across his barrel-chest, shakes his head and sighs heavily

"What is done, is done. The question is, how do we go forward from here?"


Shadow's Status

Alessandro Khadaji

You manage to pull your feet up at the last moment to prevent a loud splash as you grapple onto teh side of the ship. However, your feet are soaked as you begin to climb up the side of the ship. Using available notches in the ship as well as some ropes which hang from the side of the deck you are able to reach the top.

Peering over the side you have excellent visibility. The crew sits perfectly still around a large opening. Hanging over the hole is a pully system. The men are all armed simply staring down into the hold. They say nothing to one another. It is quite strange, most sailors you have met are a raucous bunch. This is eerie.

You neither see nor hear anything else on the ship as it sits at dock creaking and swaying from the gentle waves coming in from the sea.

What do you do?


Shadow's Status

Michael Santo & Guntehr Thesing

"You see your friend is quite reasonable when it comes to matters of business, now answer my questions and I will let you know what business I will or will not do".


Alessandro keeps his distance, stays hidden and observes... Scanning for an escape route, as well.


Storyteller Shadow:
I will start heading towards Santos' men. I want to make sure all is set and delivered so I may take my leave and return home. Do you recall, so I do not have to look through the thread, when Sadir said he was going to contact me again?


" I do not know who the employer of mr querini is and I only know that im supposed t9 deliver these peiple to the inn in secret. " Michael stands waiting for instructions


Shadow's Status

Alessandro Khadaji

Your best escape route is to leap off backwards into the water. It will make noise but it would be tough to catch you.

You take a position as comfortable as you can get taking pressure off of your arms and letting your legs stay tied to teh side of the ship using the ropes already available. With your clothing and the dark night it would be hard for someone to spot you unless they shined a torch towards your side of the ship and even then you are still well positioned.

As you continue to observe the men it is clear they are not normal. They stand motionless simply looking below and they do not speak at all. Do you continue to observe, this is very strange.


Shadow's Status

Michele Querini:
As you approach you can hear the man's voice as he speaks to Santo's man, the voice is not especially unusual in any way.

"Go and quickly, you have many more deliveries to perform this night. Failure will not be tolerated".

The man turns at your approach and you are rooted to the floor. His eyes are horribly, unfathomably soulless and cruel. His gaze sees you and just as quickly passes over you, within a fraction of a second he has noticed you and judged you unworthy of being in his presence, you can feel it and it strikes you with the force of a charging horseman because deep down you know it to be true. He speaks to you despite the fact that he has totally disregarded your existence, the feeling is qute offputting.

His face is pale and his head is totally bald. He is neitehr attractive nor unattractive. The man seems like he could pass by in a crowd based upon looks though the way he carries himself is imposing.

"Who are you then and why are you here? Answer me quickly or you will be dealt with more quickly".


Shadow's Status

Michael Santo & Gunther Thesing

"I see. I shall make investigations of my own then. Meet me at this place in four hours time and I will tell you whether I will help you or not. You may do whatever you wish in the meantime. Hurry now, the night stands still for no one".


This strangeness has come into my world... I must know what it is. It does not seem friendly.


Storyteller Shadow:
"I am Michele Querini and I was contracted to deliver these people to this inn this night."


Shadow's Status

Michael Santo & Gunther Thesing

Just to clarify "meet me at this place"means Greetings Inn.

Hans heads out the door leaving you both standing in the kitchen with Anya smiling at you, "Are either of you hungry? Shall I fix something?"


Shadow's Status

Xing Shi:
You wait and wait for your contact to arrive. Sitting in one spot for so long is nothing new to you, it is part of what you do.

As you sit there, a cloud seems to form in the room. The cloud swirls together, it seems to be made of dust. The pattern i mesmerizing and you have clearly exhausted yourself far too much over the past few days as you are now hallucinating.

Then the dust cloud takes the shape of a man. The shape turns to you a look of surprise in its eyes, it is your contact. He chuckles, "You were not supposed to see that", and he begins to move towards you.

What do you do?


Shadow's Status

Lorenzo Cappelli

You sit in your study and reflect upon the events of the day. You had expected the evening to come to quite a different end. Sighing in annoyance you read the same portion of the book you have been attempting to read for the past hour.

Your reading is interrupted by a knock at the door. Whether annoyed or relieved by this new circumstance you are not sure. The insistent knock comes again. What do you do?


Shadow's Status

Michele Querini:
"Ah, Sadir's pet. Good, thus far I am pleased by your progress. Quickly now get back to that ship and bring more and more of my guests. By the time you are arrived again, these souls will have found their lodgings and the next round of meals will be prepared. You may call me Mr. Kestral or Signore Kestral if this suits you. Do not delay, I have short patience for foolishness".


Shadow's Status

Alessandro Khadaji

Still the men on the ship do not move and no sound is heard. This is moving beyond strange and into macabre. No man should be able to stand so still for so long much less several. Still no sound is heard, it is almost as if the fog has even kept the curious away for this dock should be busy with men unloading cargo from such a large ship.

As your eyes become used to the darkness you begin to look at other sections of the ship. Flying off the mast is a black flag. This is no merchant ship but the ship of pirates!


Shadow's Status

Andrew the Hardy

Finally the gondola glides into the dock in front of the Way of King's Inn. Federico and Donnach are in jolly moods and do not seem to have noticed your melancholy disposition.

They head inside to share celebratory drinks based upon the success of the meeting with the Giovanni.

What do you do?


Michael nods his head smiling, yes I would enjoy a nice home cooked meal please... turning to face Gunther
"looks like we have a few hours to figure this out. Eh" Michael stroll s through the house and finds himself a seat.
"Has anything strange develop lately at your inn. New clients, disappearances of regulars? michael appears to be in deep thought


Andrew goes in with the others inquiring of the barkeep...

"I need tah do a bit o readin, is a library or seminary nearby?"


Storyteller Shadow:
"yes of course signore Kestral." With that I nod in deference and spin away quickly to get back to the gondola with Radek and back to the ship.


Michael Santo & Gunther Thesing

"Yes, thank you Anya. I think a nice home-cooked meal would be a wonderful idea... and perhaps a tall glass of ale if that is not too much trouble. It might be just the thing I need to relax my nerves."

Gunther turns to Michael

"To answer your question, I have had some new clientele as of late, but no disappearances... at least none to my knowledge."


"How much do you know of Michael Querini? I've worked for him throughout the years but our relationship has always been one sided. if it came down to the most powerful men in the city and you my friend then hey we battle them full force." michael slams his fits onto the table he is sitting adjacent to "I will not have these pompous bastard stepping on us any longer. We will rendezvous with "hans" then we take action but we need to keep the element of surprise. Anything you wish to do in the mean time?"


Max Blood Pool/Current = 20/10

Xing Shi:

Xing Shi rubs her eyes quickly to see if he is really there and realizes it's not a dream and backs away quickly trying to go for her sword.

"Stay back móguǐ! (Chinese word for demon)


5th Generation Cappadocian | Bloodpool: 26/40 | Willpower: 6/8

Not expecting any other visitors this evening, Lorenzo cautiously approaches his door. "Who is it?" he calls out, waiting for a response before opening the door.


Michael Santo wrote:
"How much do you know of Michael Querini? I've worked for him throughout the years but our relationship has always been one sided. if it came down to the most powerful men in the city and you my friend then hey we battle them full force." michael slams his fits onto the table he is sitting adjacent to "I will not have these pompous bastard stepping on us any longer. We will rendezvous with "hans" then we take action but we need to keep the element of surprise. Anything you wish to do in the mean time?"

"I know nothing about Querini, but I have to ask... why would I be confronting the most powerful men of the city? Do they have some sort of vendetta towards me? What threat could I possibly pose?"

Gunther's eyes narrow a bit as he contemplates his current situation

"What have you gotten us into, Michael?... and who are those people whose fate you sealed by 'shipping' them to my inn? For what purpose? Where did they come from?"
Gunther's temper begins to flare as he continues pondering the topic

"I think you have some further explaining to do before I go any further or I take other measures to correct this matter on my own, my friend."


Shadow's Status

Andrew the Hardy

"Indeed Signore, there is a Church right across the plaza. The Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. It is still open now though if the Pope's edict is declared its doors will close I fear".


Shadow's Status

Michele Querini:
You and Santo's men head out of the Inn feeling a bit better about the entire situation. Whatever was going on is not nearly so sinister as you suspected. It is strange though that so much effort would be put into this only to treat slaves so well. Perhaps it is something you should ask Sadir. At the moment though you have a job to perform and you hop to it.

Radek says nothing on the return trip though he seems to be getting paler by the minute as the fog again rolls in thickly masking your progress through the Venetian canals. Hold for a moment there.


Shadow's Status

Storyteller Shadow ONLY:
Forgetful Mind 6d10 ⇒ (1, 6, 10, 6, 3, 5) = 31


Shadow's Status

Xing Shi:
His eyes bore into yours and you hear his voice as if from far away. Your eyes close and then open.

You are seated on the bed with your weapon bared in your hands. Your contact is next to the door placing the trap back into place. He turns to you, "No need to bare steel at me woman. I have come to see your progress. I presume you have made progress finally".

For a moment you pause. How is he able to disarm this trap with you in the room. Did you doze off? You remember seeing him as a demon a threat. It must have been a dream but quite a frightening dream...

You have been made to "forget" what you saw. As far as you know it is just a crazy dream. You were suspicious of him before now doubly so but you do not perceive him as a Mogui! What do you do now?


Shadow's Status

Lorenzo Cappelli

"Lorenzo it is Dominic open up!"


Finishes a drink

"Headin crost tha plaza fer tha church, yah ken wait here o go back tah tha room."

Andrew heads for the church hoping to catch the cardinal, bishop or whomever......

1,851 to 1,900 of 11,989 << first < prev | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Online Campaigns / Play-by-Post / Bloodlines - A Dark Ages V20 Campaign All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.