Speaking of Tremere politics, Talomyr (since I think you're the most familiar with VtM lore)- where does your PC stand with respect to Aisling/Genie/Imp? He's an occult scholar, but you can't be apolitical as a Tremere neonate even if you want to be, so which Tremere faction/chantry has he fallen in with?
Sorry about the delay, hadn't noticed/forgot the discussion thread was active.
As to your question - he is definitely more closely aligned with the Imp. He sees Aisling as foolish for wasting the opportunity and power she has to claim more of NYC for the House and Clan. He doesn't have much of an opinion either way on Genie.
Michael arrived in NYC as an 18 year old, eager to be away from his overly religious parents in 1972. Michael has been the "owner" of the Gryphon bookstore at 75th and Central Park for just under 13 years, taking over the shop from his sire, Xavier Delacroix, a Tremere of Manhattan during the days when the island was all the Camarilla had of the Big Apple.
Those who were there, know that the Camarilla's retaking of New York was not without its costs, Xavier was one of those costs. With Xavier gone and the Sabbat incursions into Manhattan growing more and more frequent in those days, Michael kept a low profile, biding his time, hoping against hope that someday the Sabbat would no longer be here.
Low and behold that day finally came 10 years ago, and with that a great influx of new Camarilla Kindred into New York. Michael found himself pushed back further in the Pyramid than he would have liked, but he understood the situation, even if he didn't particularly care for the methods or the seemingly lack of ambition of Aisling Sturbridge, the newly appointed High Regent of the Five Burroughs. Fortunately for Michael, he found a like-minded Warlock in the Regent of the recently reopen Kenilworth Chantry, Lord Ephraim Wainwright. Michael could prove himself a useful tool, if not ally to Wainwright, whereas the Regent is loath to leave the Chantry, Michael is no stranger to manipulation of others to get his way outside of the Chantry. Maybe they both could get their ways.
2+ Goals:
1) Gain power and influence within the Camarilla.
2) Increase his rank and standing within House and Clan Tremere - Perhaps even as high as Regent of his own Chantry, and if he can ride the coattails of Wainright as he moves on to bigger and better things, all the better.
3) This one I'll save for now until I have a better understanding of the Coterie.
Talomyr here. Michael Halifax is the Tremere I will be rebuilding for use in this game, please don't pay too close attention to the details currently in the profile.
Questions for karlprosek:
1) I know you are using V20 and have recommended New York by Night, but are there any other recommend sources for character creation, or more importantly any sources from VtM you would rather we didn't use - I ask as I have a rather extensive collection of WoD books and as with any game system some of them are better/more suitable than others.
2) You say above that London and Vienna have yet to fall (Great! Not big on that particular story arc in V5), but what sort of things have happened? Are we rolling meta-plot back to the end of Revised/beginning of V20? Have any of the events described in Becketts Jyhad Diary occurred? Has the fracturing of Clan Tremere begun? (House Carna etc.)
Unfortunately, life has been busy enough that I have not been able to keep up with this game like I would have preferred to do. Rather than continue with the half-hearted/half-assed attempt to do so, I will be bowing out.
GM, thanks for running the game. Good luck and happy gaming to the rest of you.
For now, unless spoken to by the new comers to Alary's, Michael is content to sit drinking his blood while eavesdropping as best he can on any conversations conducted by those who just entered the bar.
"10 pm. Got it." Michael says before adding, "Not that I'm too terribly sure where that is, but I suspect that Primogen Watson knows the place fairly well." while taking the offered blood.
"I know I'm early, but I trust this place gets a bit busier than this?"
"Nice to meet you, Sheriff Matheson. Indeed, I am new to the city, just in from Milwaukee last night. As I understand it, I am slated for introduction tomorrow night."
Michael nods affirmatively to the man behind the bar. "Sounds great, thanks."
Extending a hand he introduces himself. "I'm Michael, nice to me meet you..." he says dragging out the end of the sentence a bit, implying a desire to know the bartender's name as well.
Michael sits in the car watching the darkened building. When the back door lights finally come on, Michael shuts down the car and heads for the door. Too f%&~ing cold to hang out here, even in a heated car... he thinks to himself, locking the car door before heading into Alary's.
Michael takes the offered keys. "Thank you...and thanks for the directions. I'll see you later." he says to Traikoff as he heads out the door and toward Alary's.
"Very well, Traikoff. Thank you. I think I shall pay a visit to Alary's this evening, in case the Regent asks, especially since I have not been introduced in this city as of yet."
With that Michael grabs his jacket and heads out for Alary's.
Michael awakens for the evening, washes his face and gets dressed. He exits his quarters and almost absent-mindedly says, "Good evening, Traikoff." knowing full and well the gargoyle would hear him even if he was particularly near by.
Michael then heads for the study where he was introduced to Regent Weston. "Traikoff, do you know if the Regent is in this evening? Or perhaps more importantly, if he requires anything of me this evening?"
All right children of the night, I will be posting a list of vampires in the campaign tab and what they do and some domains. Please do not use that knowledge in character until you have it.
"Thank you again, Traikoff." he says to the Gargoyle.
After settling in and putting away his few possessions that he had brought with him from Milwaukee, Michael will wander about the Chantry, trying to get a better idea of his new, at least for now, home.
Other than the previously mentioned trip by the herd to fill up, Michael will wander around the upper and ground floors of the Chantry, being careful to knock before entering any rooms, and not forcing the issue if a door is locked.
Following his trip around the Chantry, Michael calls out for Traikoff again. Upon the Gargoyle's arrival, Michael asks, "You had mentioned a crypt before, Traikoff, are there labs down there beyond potential quarters, and would you mind showing me around a bit?"
"You know just so I do not enter anywhere I shouldn't." he adds with a smile.
"Understood." Michael says plainly. "I believe I shall stay here, at least for a while and certainly until after my presentation."
"Will Traikoff be showing me to my quarters, or should I simply go to an empty room? Afterwards, I think I will pay that herd a visit and then retire for the evening, unless of course there is something you require of me, Regent."
Number of Vessels Present:1d6 ⇒ 5
Plenty available. I'll take 2 BP off of 3 vessels to tank up.
"Regent, am I to have quarters here in the Chantry, or am I to find my own haven?"
If the Regent doe not have any requests/orders for Michael, he will ask where to access the herd. How many vessels are available and how many Tremere are there in the Chantry?
"Understood, and thank you for your hospitality, Regent Weston." Michael says. "Is there anything you require of me in the interim between now and when I am to be introduced?"
"Just so I do not immediately make a fool of myself or invoke your wrath, Regent, the dominated pagans are effectively a herd for the Chanty?" Michael asks, trying not to screw things up too badly on his first night in the Twin Cities.
"Pleased to meet you, Trikoff...and apologies for my reaction to your appearance. I shall endeavor to do better." Michael says, seeing the creature as a potential ally, or potentially a useful tool at worst.
Michael thinks to himself while waiting, Gargoyles...fascinating...
Nope sure doesn't. Hopefully that's getting the 1's out of my system and not indicative of how things are going to go for this character. Oh well, shit happens.
Michael, as quietly as possible, says "What the f$*$ is that?" upon seeing the winged stone creature. Then doing his best to regain his composure, he ultimately follows the creature to the study. "Thank you, Trikoff." he adds as he left at the study.
