[IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.com/img910/5440/1RK5Lj.jpg[/IMG]

[indent][b]Charleston, South Carolina. September, 2016.
Charleston Harbor, Dock 15 Warehouse.[/b]

[indent][color=c8b189]Becoming a vampire enters you as a pawn in a manipulative and age old game of politics and power that plays out across this city like a chess game. You are, essentially, the property of your sire. For one reason or another you are not content to simply remain the pawn. You’ve finally decided to do something about your situation; all you can do is hope that this play for power will bring reward and not execution.

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[hider=SETTING]
[center][color=2E2C2C]...[/color][/center]
[color=c8b189]
[indent]Charleston is a hub of economic exchange; including the container seaport, technological/corporate hubs, and tourism. The draw for tourism is vast and boasts a French Quarter, Arts District, theater, stadium, beach front, historical districts, international airport and a cruise ship port, just to name a few. It's shipping industry is also no small feat; boasting 5 separate terminals, it is one of the largest ports for North America.

As the city has grown outwards it has enveloped many out lying areas that have become a part of Charleston and are included in the human statistics, as well as, Monarch's control. Humans are not so different from vampires when it comes to location. The economic appeal has maintained a violent human history and crime culture in Charleston that has helped mask the prevalent population of Vampires.
[center]***[/center]
A tantalizing history permeates the entire city; a pungent and encroaching feeling that has clung to old brick walkways and lingered in the sub-consciousness of the residents since the rise of old world occupation. The bars, the tourists, and even the majority of residents have changed, but they have existed for centuries in one form or another. The streets are now a blur of decorative lights on classic southern homes that seep into low rises painting the night skies with flickering LED colors. Religious spires claw towards the sky, begging escape from the city below and providing a reminder of something lost; something traded in search of a dream. The American dream tarnishes the souls of the willing and incautious; pervading more than just the human culture. Wherever there is power for those who are willing to risk everything for it, the vampires will integrate themselves seamlessly into the skyline.

And Charleston possessed a skyline that had long stood as a beacon of power. There are very few places devoid of light even at the darkest hour in this expansive hub of commerce. It provides an awareness numbing sense of security for the mundane. They have always been overly trusting of false light. Fireworks crack across the sought out darkness in the sky and distract from the shadows caressing into their fluorescent views. Jazz swirls with cigar smoke on the ocean breeze and conceals the muffled cries and metallic tinge on the air. Piers become a tongue where bodies are swallowed into the gaping current of the ocean.[/indent]
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[center][color=2E2C2C]...[/color][/center]
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[hider=VAMPIRE HISTORY OF CHARLESTON]
[center][color=2E2C2C]...[/color][/center]
[color=c8b189]
[indent]Vampires existed before Charleston, but most of the older vampires but don't talk about it to much. The story of Charleston was common enough though.

During the infancy of the city, as life began to stir, there were vampires there to feed on it. It is hard to say if the perfect camouflage provided by the city came naturally for Charleston, or if the lengthy influence of the vampires shaped it this way. There is no doubt that the city had always had a special something. Sadly, for its non-vampire residents, this special something brought with it the burden of becoming a political and economic seat of power for the vampires. It is this burden that undoubtedly contributed to the strict and rigid power structure in which the youthful vampires are held in check by their elders. It wasn’t always this way.

When Charles Town was a fledgling British colony there were very little regulations for the vampires in this new world. There was no war, no order, no structure. As the ports began to play a larger part in the machinations of America, both the vampire and human communities fell into vicious conflict for the right of ownership. Barons of the vampire community traveled from other areas alongside human politicians and businessman, seeing an opportunity for more power. Initially, there were a few Barons and Baroness engaging in squabbles over territories, each rivaling for the ports.

All at once it was as if someone had lit a match under the usual terms of engagement. Loose treaties all collapsed and vampire on vampire casualties soared, along with human. Two wars waged side by side; one occupying sunrise to sunset and the other filling all the time in between. It waged on just below the surface of the blossoming city, brutal and bloody. The conflict reached crescendo simultaneously for the vampire and human communities in the late 18th century, with the human population none the wiser.

A fierce and well-connected vampire called Pylos took claim over the city with no further open attacks after decades of struggle. Wars of subterfuge and sabotage continue, always remaining in the shadows. Pylos saw the need for strict regulation to maintain his own power and ensure the continued prevalence of Charleston. Originally there were 6 Barons and their territories were drawn with extreme bias across the city. Around 1940 the districts were redrawn and increased to 14 Barons, mostly due to the need for more regulators over an expanding city that now includes neighboring areas. After an unfortunate incident occurring with a Baroness there are 13 remaining. Her territory was combined with another.[/indent]
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[center][color=2E2C2C]...[/color][/center]
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[hider=VAMPIRE STRUCTURE]
[center][color=2E2C2C]...[/color][/center]
[indent][b]THE MONARCH[/b][color=c8b189]
[indent]There is a single Monarch who has maintained his figurehead position over Charleston for over 200 years named Pylos. His responsibilities include attending all high courts, judgments and ceremonies; including the introduction of new vampires and death sentences. While he does not partake in the night to night politics, his power should not be underestimated. His connections afford no enemy a corner of the world to hide.

Pylos placed Barons into positions of power, making them vassals under his rule and regulation. Each created a blood pact with the Monarch, as is customary to provide a semblance of trust, though it is unknown the degree of the details and restrictions for each pact. There are currently 13 Barons; each with their own district, policies, low court, enforcers and cleaners.
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[b]THE BARONS[/b]
[indent]
[hider=5 City District Barons]

[indent]
[hider=The French Quarter]
[center][b]Armand Marill-Valentino
"The Gentleman"[/b]
[hider=][img]https://i.gyazo.com/b3162d63297999a33e2062441c534805.png[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]Baron of the French Quarters, The Baron comes from Italian and French heritage and was prolific as a  behind the curtains bank roller for various Sicilian crews in the city during the prohibition. He is however older then that and has been around in town for as long as the current Monarch, serving as a general of sort during the conflict. He will, upon it striking his fancy, regale his court about stories from the French Revolution. If these are really true is yet to be determined. Not that anyone would openly doubt him.

Of the same bloodline as Lyra and her Sire, his incredible ease in maintaining Thralls has made him a massive power player. Having been one of the Barons appointed by the monarch, the "Gentleman" enjoys a iron grip on his domain. He rule by deceit and manipulation, like any good manipulator and With his Madame Blanche and others by his side, he has means to both find you and compel you to do as he please.

He is however, a very hands off person. If business is smooth, and upstarts know their place he see no big reason for kicking the nest. He knows he can very well kill anyone that gets on his radar either way.
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[hider=South of Broad]
[center][b]Ealdgyth the Exiled 
"Lady Edith"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8800000/Dresses-masquerade-8821669-485-750.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]
South of Broad is the Charleston’s thriving Arts District. The area caters to a multitude of arts and patrons. There are wealthy galleries sporting decor and pieces that range from modern to classical. There is a smaller area with more eclectic styles catering to a younger hip crowd. The Dock Street Theater was converted into the building that stands today around 1935 and is used for a multitude of arts, from concerts to ballet. The operators of the majority of businesses are either vampire or associated with them (even if they are unaware).


Ealdgyth is the Baroness of this district and for good reason. She has nurtured and developed it into the thriving hub that it is today. She is an aristocrat by both birth and nature; early European. Her appearance remains classical, exuding both youthfulness and control. She is soft spoken, always choosing her words carefully and is generally viewed as polite. Her own art collection and influence on the art community may have started as a pebble in the water, but the ripples have touched across continents. 

Her abilities, like her children, include a radiating presence. This may have something to do with her quiet and coy nature. She’s never had to assault a room to be known, but rather it just happens naturally. This does not always result in positive emotions. Strong willed are usually bristled by this ability and sense something is a bit off. No bother, she is good at soothing any differences that arise. While her kind have the ability to nurture and follow many paths for abilities she has focused heavily on art. She has the ability to feel the emotions of artists and their intent when viewing art pieces, but also has the same pesky issue of becoming enthralled herself to certain pieces. It is said that for a solid year in the 1940’s all she could do was dwell on an obscure piece until the Monarch came and removed the temptation, placing it in an unknown storage.
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[hider=The Business District]
[center][b]Eriko Nishimura & Jean Bontemps
"The Pirates"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqgyeeIWPd1r0y1ifo1_400.jpg[/img][/hider]
[hider=][img]http://iv1.lisimg.com/image/1670645/600full-patrick-petitjean.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]
Eriko Nishimura is the rightful Baroness of the Business District. Her small stature and femininity has suited her well, ensuring she is always underestimated. It also created barriers in business and early on she saw a need for a partner she could trust and who would be trusted by the white male upper-class. Thus her other half was born.

Her first child, Jean Bontemps, the perfect right hand; practically a mirror image of her views, goals and personality. It is exceedingly rare to see them apart. Prior to their death both were involved in piracy, strong leaders, and shrewd negotiators. They moved to Charleston from New Orleans around a century ago, replacing the previous Baron through negotiations, not war.

Some of the more approachable of the Barons; they lack the air of regality that some of the others don like a dracula cape. They prefer to drink in the company of others and can be rather good story tellers. It should not be forgotten that they are always searching for a way to gain power. They are extremely focused, tactful and goal driven.  They both have a high stress tolerance, lack remorse and are ruthless, egocentric, charming and manipulative. When it comes to vampires living in their district they strictly gauge acceptance and respect for others based on their usefulness.

Their exact power is unknown, but they seem to be extremely lucky in business and in undeath.
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[/hider]
[hider=Harleston Village]

[center][b]Marreck Osei
"Watchdog"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://img03.deviantart.net/ac90/i/2013/306/0/8/badass_warior_by_mir_ahmad-d6sqfsb.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]
His ability is well known, though the true expanse of his power is hard to gauge. With physical contact he can remove the abilities of other vampires, or he can enhance them. On humans the power manifests as something that can drain a human of all energy to the degree of coma or he can energize them like a shot of adrenaline. His power is extremely demanding on the human body. For this reason many of the vampires in his employ are not his own progeny and are instead involved in a blood pact. They are hand chosen for their skills which vary almost as much as the Monarch collection.

If anyone has their finger on the pulse of Charleston, it's this man. He came with the Monarch to Charleston and has served him longer than any of the other Barons. He worked for awhile as a go to between all of the Barons until juggling the politics of the human and vampire world became to much for him. Instead of letting him retire, the Monarch gave him a Baronship and continues to rely heavily on his skills and monitoring. He is, debatably, the Monarchs closest confidant. Many believe that the Monarch may be his sire.

His blood pact force have taken over most of the day to day operations, infiltrating almost every level of the human justice system. Deputy Chief Simon Fuller is one of a handful that he trusts. Many use thralls for day time information collecting but also hold positions with access to information for themselves. The Baron himself has no human recognized position, but busies himself making sense of the large amount of both pertinent and useless information that crosses his desk.

While many of the Barons have their own cleaners, those who need something swept under the rug without any complications will get in touch with Marreck or one of his children. They do an exceptional job keeping the vampire world separate from the human.
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[hider=The Burroughs]

[center][b]Daciana Vãduva
"Lady Umbra"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://img10.deviantart.net/e8e5/i/2014/058/3/1/vampire__the_masquerade___natalja_liwinska_by_z_grimv-d7849qm.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]
What do you want? Girls? Boys? Stolen Art? Weapons? Ancient tomes? Underhanded or discreet services? You can find all of this and more, if you know where to look in The Burroughs. The lovely and ever gracious Baroness of this district has fundamental rules for her children, and any currently in her district. Do not steal within the district without consent. Do not kill in the district without consent. Do not bring attention from the human population, ever. And that's it. Follow the rules, and your stay will be enjoyable. Break the rules and you wont make it out of the Burroughs with your undead life.

Of the Barons, her origin story is one of the most cliché. Born in Transylvania at the edge of the Carpathian Mountains, the youth of her undeath was entirely opposed to the life she lives now. There were no rulers beyond her sire, but there was a true and haunting fear of discovery from the human populace. She has a subdued, but very real fear of humanity and has human dealings as little as possible, if at all.

Her most often discussed ability is the manipulation of shadows. She can fuse them about herself to the extent she can survive briefly beneath the sun. She can access areas in the shadows unknown to most, both for storage and camouflage. She can almost entirely become the shadows themselves when there is a lack of light. The lesser discussed perk of her genetic line is the ability to hibernate. It requires them to be buried in the dirt of their homeland and there they will fall into a dreamless sleep until they are awoken. It was probably Daciana who buried her sire and left him. If he is ever unearthed it would not bode well for her or any of her ilk.

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[hider=8 Outer Barons]
[indent]
[hider=James Island & Folly Beach]
[center][b]Orthrus
"The Boogeyman"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://pre01.deviantart.net/0e61/th/pre/i/2013/327/1/6/let_s_dance_mother_f__ker_by_z_grimv-d6v76aq.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]
Orthrus came to Charleston from New Orleans where the terrors he inflicted upon human and vampire slaves is still a whispered travesty. He started the blood sports early in Charleston's conception to feed his own joy and taste for violence and brutality. He is a true showboater; loves attention, be it good or bad. He enjoys holding extravagant parties where you will find humans bleeding out from hooks and chains decorating the walls. He can be absolutely charming, as long as you aren't afraid. The problem is, he knows what you are afraid of. He knows how to become the boogeyman crawling out of your mind and across the ceiling.

Torture is possibly his greatest joy and he loves pressing the limits of absolute terror. It's bred into him, he grows strong in its presence and it is just as addictive as any drug. Thanks to this he trains his line in all forms of terror, removing it from them so that all is left is a shell. The caterpillar eating itself to become the butterfly. This shell has little option but to fill it's being with the terrible addiction and anger. Most of his ilk are viewed as deranged serial killers and blood hungry thugs (though aren't most vampires?). 

Even at his age his thralls can not help but fear him so they often prickle the vampires instinct to kill. His age has made him terrifying enough to instill loyalty when it comes to betrayal, yet he still feels human are an animal to be hunted. Due to this he is completely untrusting/uncaring of thralls and has been known to enslave or slaughter the thralls sent unaccompanied into his district. 
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[hider=Johns Island]
[center][b]Lyssa Uranina
"Mania"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://41.media.tumblr.com/122c62fd7b6219aac3b8f1770f7e25d2/tumblr_nxkzzgYO1c1ulvp8vo1_1280.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]
Some say she talks to the dead; some say she can hear the inner most thoughts of those around her or those she has killed; and some, some say she is just insane. One may never know because you surely can't believe the stories she tells. Whatever the cause of the insanity, it doesn't matter, because it's real and it's contagious. She can infect the minds of others. She has had centuries to learn how to handle it, but when she reaches out for you what preparation have you had to contest the tentacle grip of an absurd reality wrapping about your mind and senses? Progeny are usually chosen from already insane mentalities because of their ability to handle the bite. It is documented that occasionally the transformation isn't survivable. It is thought that a mind too rational can't handle it. You will find a higher number of youthful cleaners from this line.

To define her or her morals is a completely impossible task. She keeps a sort of childlike glee about life, terrible and good. She is a bubbly flighty thing, speaking in exaggerated hand gestures of long dead philosophies while gingerly nibbling on the finger of a prepubescent child. She likes to giggle and flirt, batting lashes over brilliant dead eyes, playing the part of extended youth dripping with distracting but delightful insanity. Then the facade would crumble and the vicious untrusting monster would whisper the contained madness of her mind, directly assaulting any rational foothold one possesses. Though most with a rational foothold didn’t care to find themselves in her presence. Even with her flaws, she is debatably the most caring and loving of the progeny she creates and those she takes in. She believes in family; albeit sick and twisted, but family.

The Baroness helped fund the human endeavor to build a large psychiatric institution on the island. Other than that the island is rather devoid of activity. It is surrounded almost entirely by the ocean and an expanse of bayou wilderness. She was chosen for her ability to protect a large portion of the outer border, though illegals in the city have been light in the past couple of decades. She should not be underestimated.
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[hider=West Ashley]
[center][b]Berrak Kokinos
"The Oracle"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://orig08.deviantart.net/b6cb/f/2012/032/e/4/female_wizard___01_by_aditya777-d4oaidm.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]

The Oracle’s abilities are pretty self explanatory. She doesn’t have the ability to force visions about specific events easily; it requires extreme focus. Normally she just picks up tidbits that relevance wavers from what her neighbor will have for breakfast to outcomes in war. The vampire community seems torn when asked about the truth of her visions; some claiming her ability is more about current perception than fortune telling. That said, she is still taken seriously; if she speaks, people listen. She very rarely speaks and is viewed as withdrawn and quiet. She attempts to never involve herself in vampire politics and has proctors that control the day to day politics of West Ashley for her.

She seems to be one of the most unwilling Barons; claiming it’s irrelevant and tedious. Her ilk are rarely considered for positions of power because they generally lack the means to protect themselves. It is common for them to sell their services for the protection of stronger barons, but Berrak has gained enough favor and protection to hold her own in the political world.

On a whole the line produces kind and gentle vampires, if not a bit flighty and delusional,  which is reflected in their low numbers. They trade out their progeny for muscle and other helpful skills. They generally find killing, through feeding or sport, extremely distasteful. She chooses intelligent thralls, usually philosopher types, that she builds strong relationships with. She prefers the company of her thralls and humans much more than most vampires. This should not lead you to believe she is weak or feeble minded. She predicted the rise of the Monarch and has gained many unanswered favors from a plethora of vampires over the years. 

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[/hider]
[hider=North Charleston]
[center][b]Ánhaga
"The Recluse"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://pre10.deviantart.net/5001/th/pre/f/2015/055/6/b/vampire__by_boularis-d8jbacx.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]
It is difficult to see the human he once was through his current form, but whatever race he came from they bred them tall. He stands at an imposing 7 feet, but can maneuver through under ground tunnels and sewers as easily as the rodents he occasionally dines upon. If the Lady Umbra has a cliché history, then Ánhaga has the most dramatized façade. Nosferatu often comes to mind, and to be honest the Baron delights in the bit of fame that shines on his otherwise hidden existence.

The other Barons are weary of him, not only because of his appearance, but for his ability and his seemingly unlimited knowledge about what goes on beneath the lights of the city. He craves company and has been known to hold younger vampires for lengthy period of time; bordering on kidnapping, but it is usually overlooked as one of eccentricities. Vampires will offer their children in return for some of the secrets he keeps and to stay in good favor. Should he ever decide against your favor it would be advised to stay away from alleys, sewers, darkness....well, you should probably just pack your bags and run.

His nature forced solitude has provide him with plenty of time to hone and manipulate his own abilities. The blood filter present in his children has been shaped into a rather unique ability. The Baron can hold diseases in the memory of his blood and inflict them upon vampires and humans. "Blood Rot" is his most common infliction against vampire foes and it is a slow and excruciating death. The vampire will feel sick, like a human with a cold. Soon it escalates to a gnawing within them. The pain flares; the vampire feeling the rot eating at their brain, some have said you can hear it whispering your own death as it rips apart your being. When the pain is so much that most vampires would choose death, it is to late for release. The disease has devoured the weaknesses of vampires and there is no release. Burning the infected vampire to ash seems to be the only remedy and is often carried out by their sires for fear the Blood Rot will spread. He studies the diseases he holds on the vampires given to him, always seeking a way to reverse his kinds deformity or to expel the inherent vampire weaknesses; though as of yet he has failed.

It is his ability that is rumored, and truly must be, the catalyst in the transformations of this kind, though the effects vary depending on the vampire. It appears that the more they succumb to their ability and tainted blood the more deformed they become.

From North Charleston the vampires have access to a plethora of sewer lines and underground tunnels that lead throughout the territories. While the tunnels below each district do [i]technically[/i] belong to the Baron above, it is commonly understood that The Recluse holds right of way.
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[hider=Daniel Island]
[center][b]Faol Wulver
"The Beast"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://orig07.deviantart.net/dfd5/f/2008/078/c/8/c8085ff7520ff33a.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]

Faol tends to keep to himself, which doesn’t help the rumors that his beastlike appearance is indicative of a primal personality. Those who count him as a friend argue that the rumors are wildly exaggerated and that he is actually quite pleasant, considering. His line’s transformation forces the beastlike appearance and gives the vampires much higher physical attributes than the other vampire lines. Due to his inability to regain full human appearance it is argued that his line is one of the original relating to animal kinship. Younger vampires in his line are usually more primal and this is something they either embrace or, like himself, compartmentalize as a piece of them that does not define the whole.

Those under his rule have always maintained a pack like mentality; with a strict hierarchy in play, but they also genuinely support one another. He has close relationships with many in his district and allows access to his company by appointment instead of stealing away. He personally deals with all issues and squabbles in his district. While he isn’t cruel, he does not gauge his acceptance of others on their own alignment. He’s accepting of the monster that vampirism creates and chooses not to judge.
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[hider=Mount Pleasant]
[center][b]Lenore Nevermore
"Raven"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://img12.deviantart.net/1df1/i/2013/312/f/9/lady_and_the_jackdaw_by_z_grimv-d6tgevr.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]
Her specific line has the ability to control scavengers and other smaller creatures. From the youth of her undeath she has nurtured a relationship with ravens. She uses the ravens, feeding them her blood, so that she can keep an eye on the city. This gives her the unique position of having a plethora of eyes out during the day, a built in spy ring with no question of loyalty. She hand selects competent thralls and human consorts, oblivious to her nature, to control her shipping enterprise and day to day operations. Mount Pleasant is a wealthy district and almost all shipments requiring discretion due to vampiric or supernatural value go through her.

There is a strong claim the baroness can transform into an unkindness of ravens; some have even claimed to see it. The claim, while terrifying, is not completely unreasonable. Lenore has maintained control of the Mount Pleasant Baronship since the Monarch took control of Charleston and she was one of the strong contenders for the Monarch position herself.

Her outward demeanor is quiet and watchful, which often leads people to believe she is pretentious. She does nothing to dispel this belief, nurturing any rumor that distracts from her true calculating nature. She can be both cruel and conniving, if necessary, and is said to hold a grudge almost as well as the Monarch himself. Other Barons pay her the respect she has earned and do all that they can to stay off her radar.
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[/hider]
[hider=Cainhoy Peninsula]
[center][b]Maike Fockesz
"The Frisian"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://shadowness.com/file/item2/44141/image_t6.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]

The Cainhoy Peninsula is not a welcoming place. Legends and horror stories surround the district so that most humans know to stay out of the woods at night, and most just avoid the area all together. The skeptics blame animals for the disappearances, claiming a black bears, gators or bobcats are at fault. It isn’t the wildlife, but rather the Frisian, Baroness of the district, that allows for unabashed hunting, as long as the dead are buried in her district. She holds an annual hunt in her district where a select few receive an invitation. It is a hedonistic event, catering to the animalistic need suppressed by many Barons. While most vampires have acclimated along with the humans, she seems to create and thrive in a world entirely separate. She can not create thralls of the living so has no real purpose to associate with them and her humanity and empathy has suffered. Most barons are either for or against humans, but the Frisian truly sees them as game as nothing more. 

The dead being buried on her land serves more than just the purpose of hunting and disposing. Her ability, summoning the dead, benefits greatly from fresh bodies awaiting reanimation. There are restrictions on her abilities and the dead she can resurrect, though no one other than her kin are quite sure of the “rules”. Her ability crosses into the vampire world of dead by allowing her to summon other vampires, though she can not force or control them like she can her zombies. She comes from one of the oldest known vampire lines; her sire is an exceedingly powerful and influential force in Europe. They rarely create progeny due to the implications of their abilities and the lack of control there is in youth. To create a progeny they must set aside a large amount of time to dwell in an unpopulated area. 
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[/hider]
[hider=Summerville]
[center][b]Ethelred
"Mr. Red"[/b]
[hider=][img]http://img14.deviantart.net/e5e2/i/2014/080/7/0/vampire__the_masquerade___alan_sovereign__ventrue_by_z_grimv-d6z82tr.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[color=c8b189][indent]
Very little is known about the Baron of Summerville. The vampires that reside under his rule are an eclectic bunch as he is not opposed to taking in strays. This adds to the rumors that the Baron is extremely powerful because of the obvious dangers inherent in taking in unaligned. One rumored power is the control of memories, more importantly, the ability to remove them. Politically they have remained neutral and relatively quiet. Those who have met the Baron claim their mind feels weaker in his presence, though this may be psychological due to the rumors surrounding him.
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[/indent][/hider]
[hider=Sullivans Island]

[color=c8b189][indent]
Sullivan’s Island is a North Eastern small Island on the edge of the territories. On the island there is an underground meeting hall. It is used as a diplomatic ground and has strict laws regarding any malicious acts towards vampires or humans by decree of the Monarch, Pylos. Beneath the meeting hall is a sealed chamber containing enemies/defectors of the Monarch that were imprisoned in stone instead of dispatched entirely. No one is sure of where the Monarch is located at any given time; this is most likely where his residence is.
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[/indent]

[b]LOW COURTS, ENFORCERS & CLEANERS[/b]
[color=c8b189]
[indent][u]Low Courts[/u]
[indent]Deal with matters of civil and criminal cases that occur in their domain. These are extremely biased court systems with no jury. All final decisions can be made by the Baron/Baroness but normally they don't show up and the decisions are dolled out by their second in command.[/indent]
[u]Enforcers[/u]
[indent]Most high ranking vampires have their own group of enforcers. They consist of body gaurds, snitches, assassins and various other underlings who help enforce the rule of the Baron/Baroness or the Monarch.[/indent]
[u]Cleaners[/u]
[indent]Everyone needs cleaners. They are debatably the most under appreciated of the vampire system, and they do exactly what their name implies. If you need a situation cleaned up, you call a cleaner. Influential vampires keep a team of cleaners under blood pact secrecy the majority of the time. Cleaners can be hired by any vampire. Those not worried about secrecy get a much cheaper price.

Cleaners are not from any specific vampire line. While there are "normal" cleaners, usually management types, the majority are tainted vampires that got a sickness from devouring flesh. The continued ingestion of flesh has made them ravenous creatures. They sacrificed their powers and their minds to an insatiable hunger. They can not be salvaged from this state.[/indent]
[/indent]
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[b]SIRE RELATIONSHIP[/b]
[color=c8b189]
[indent]Every vampire owed their fealty to their creator. Many of the sires lived in fear that their children would one day rise up. This created a divide in which the sires usually denied their children any semblance of power that could threaten their own. It is not hard to see how this heavily restricted the younger vampires. While not all suffered at their sire’s hands, many did not have pleasant relationships with them and were often viewed as tools. Some were manipulated mentally, while fewer, but yet still worth mentioning, dealt with physical abuse, torture and experimentation that was rumored to be perpetrated against the younger group.

Any sire can kill one of their own children, or their children’s children, ect. without repercussion. Essentially lesser generations are the property of the elder ones. Killing a younger vampire that is not of your own can be brought to court, but usually a fine or a trade is negotiated. To kill a vampire above your stature is almost surely to beg execution. The only way out is for an elder of your line to negotiate with the deceased’s sire. Part of the reasoning is that the elder generations are more controlled and have the attained power to make judgment calls to protect Charleston’s way of life.

The skills you have will be reflected in your sire's. At one point they most likely had skills just like your own. If there is a Baron of your line in the city it is likely they have extended your power to frightening levels.[/indent]
[/color]

[b]CANNIBALISM[/b]
[color=c8b189]
[indent]Feeding from another vampire is frowned upon by some factions and enjoyed by others. To kill another vampire by feeding on them is possibly the greatest vampire "sin". There is the possibility of gaining some of their power, but it is more likely that your mind will snap and you will be put down. At a young age, there is no way to withstand the power of a Baron, even if you were somehow capable of killing one. It is so rare that it is more of a myth.[/indent][/color]

[b]LEAVING THE CITY[/b]
[color=c8b189]
[indent]Traveling to another city is difficult and you would have to attain permission not only from your own sire, but from the ruling class in whatever city it is you attempt. While this does occur, it is not common. Travel in and of itself its perilous. Vampire’s are untrusting and there are other evils in the wilderness between cities.[/indent]


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[hider=CLARIFICATION ON VAMPIRES]
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[indent]
[b]CREATION[/b]
[color=c8b189][indent]The vampire drains the human. The human must be actively feeding upon the vampire as the vampire takes their last bit of blood so that the vampire blood will take over. Some strains have more specific rituals, but the base is the same.[/indent][/color]

[b]DESTRUCTION[/b]
[color=c8b189][indent]Sunlight, Decapitation, Fire, Destruction of the heart (this can a stake, the heart pulverized, ect.). You could be torn apart by bullets, or really anything that could pulverize the body, especially at our age. Different lines do have other weakness. There is a common practice of burying your enemies still alive, though lately the trend is to view burial an archaic practice.[/indent][/color]

[b]AGE[/b]
[color=c8b189][indent]Characters will be anywhere from 70-20 years into their undeath. Your ability to manage skills and relationships in the vampire community or your general “dealing with shit” will be better the older you are. The younger you are, the less blood you require to maintain. Sure you may splurge, but you don’t have too. The older the vampire the more they have to drink to keep it together.

The drawbacks of enhanced skills lessen as a vampire ages and hones their abilities.

The rank of your sire will not cancel out your age, but older sires will exert more influence and power, and this places you closer to it. Consider also that this will mean you were created undoubtedly for a specific purpose, or are completely expendable. Creating new vampires is not done lightly.[/indent][/color]

[b]BLOOD[/b]
[color=c8b189]
[indent][u]Basic[/u]
[indent]Vampires are dead. They have no pulse and do not require air to breath or food to eat. Blood maintains their life force and physical being. They do not have the digestive system to deal with food, but can force metabolization at the cost of blood. There is a drain of blood any time your character uses energy. Using vampire specific abilities or getting injured increase the need for blood even faster.

When a vampire is well fed they have heightened strength, speed and awareness, regeneration; as well as more control over themselves and their abilities. No matter the strength of the vampire they have an aversion to sunlight. Direct contact, through glass or reflected off mirrors sunlight will burn their skin.[/indent]
[u]Low on Blood[/u][indent]When a vampire is low on blood there are both physical and mental afflictions. They grow exceedingly pale, gaunt, fatigued, slower; as blood deprivation grows severe they enter a zombie like state and will begin to decay. Without blood a vampire will deal with mental issues akin to drug withdrawal; starting with nervousness, being tense, paranoia that leads into aggressiveness, confusion and culminates in full blown insanity before the mind shuts down.[/indent]
[u]Thrall[/u][indent]Blood that the vampire steadily feeds a human will create a thrall. The longer the bond, the more invested and addicted the thrall will be. There is a blood cost for vampires. Older vampires can keep thralls addicted with less blood. Younger vampires can not maintain lengthy or multiple thralls without a cost to their own strength.[/indent]
[u]Blood Pact[/u][indent]Freely given blood from any vampire can seal a contract, a blood pact. It is required that the contract is written or spoken upon the blood offered by those entering into the contract. It is nearly impossible for a vampire to break a blood pact. Their muscles will tense, their words will stop, but there have been some who have broken through.

As a vampire ages the type of blood contract they can enter into increases. Under the age of 100 most contracts include the keeping of secrets/information, small favors/short term work contracts. The Prince is capable of the most extreme contracts, but a contract relies on the lowest entrant. This is important because decade long mind altering servitude contracts cannot be forced on youth.[/indent][/indent][/color]

[indent][hider=tell me more about blood pacts because the ooc is not already long enough]
[center][color=2E2C2C]...[/color][/center]
[indent][color=c8b189]
Legend has it that the blood pact ingrains itself into the blood. It seals the blood of the vampire under contract and becomes a part of their being. There are whispers of ancient blood pacts that permeate entire vampire lines; passing from sire to their kin, all their shared blood. 

The consequences of broken blood pacts are not legend. The former Baroness of Folly Beach had created a blood pact with the Baron of James Island assuring neither would sabotage the other's financial ventures. There was a wonton lack of specification regarding the exact defining terminology of 'financial ventures'. In a weird turn of events the Baron of James Island sent a group of his best enforcers to kill Baroness Ik'Skull. They caught her off guard in slumber. The first one was easy and she had no way of knowing that their deaths would count as 'financial ventures'. Somewhere in her subconscious her mind questioned the pact her muscles began to seize up. She killed two more before collapsing. All of the blood in her body escaped. As if to not be tainted by her affront.

The Baron was found guilty when the weird turn of events came to light. He, of course, said his enforcers went rogue. He provided convincing evidence, which meant his long winded speeches, and sacrificed three of their, our, lives to the high court to cover his own attack. Somehow he weaseled his way into gaining control of Folly Island.

Needless to say, blood pacts are not to be taken lightly.
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[/indent]
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[color=c8b189]
((everything listed above needs no mention in your skills/weakness part of CS unless your characters weakness/strength directly pertains to changing one of the previously mentioned; eg. cannot create thralls, extremely sensitive to sunlight.))[/color]

[b]SPECIFIC SKILLS[/b]
[color=c8b189]
[indent]There are many different types of vampires in the world, and while each Baron/Baroness represents a different family, there are many more, especially in legend. Each family carries their own genetic differences, so that each vampire line has one or two specialized skills. These can be honed into skills unique only to that vampire, but the base skill starts the same. With each skill there seems to be a corresponding weakness.

Choose one or two enhanced skills with equivalent drawbacks that relate to your character. I will let you get creative with the two editions. (Remember: We are not 'newborns', but we are not all powerful.)

It is considered uncouth to ask another vampire about their powers; though younger generations seem less concerned. Some don't talk about them at all, others are more widely known, some have bled into folklore and media; mind control, susceptible to crosses, even vampires that can turn into a cloud of bats.[/indent][/color]

[/indent][/indent]
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[hider=OOC NOTES]
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[indent][color=c8b189]This is a [b]fictional[/b] Charleston, South Carolina. It does not have to align perfectly with the actual city. Feel free to add/bend things if it will help with the story. (I left details about the corporations and technology specifically vague in case someone wanted to embellish in the future.) I plan to adapt many parts of the city to suit our needs, and you are welcome to as well.

Our characters will be contacted due to their displeasure with the current system and because someone noticed untapped ambition. You are told to arrive at the dock via messenger, a human thrall with no answers to any of your questions.

Characters will have a variety reasons for wanting to gain power, political footing and/or removing obstacles (e.g. abuse, morality, revenge, outside manipulation, aspirations to do better or simply a drive for what those above you have). Be creative! Talk it out in the OOC if you want to.

Depending on the ranks and ambitions of the accepted characters I will shape ‘missions’ to accommodate. Contracted missions will be handed down from anonymous higher ups trying to keep their hands clean. These will be in exchange for favors, money, blood, ect. Characters can also push their own agenda amongst the group. I don’t have a rigid course set.

I want people who want to help form the storyline, not simply play in one. Each character will have its own secret motivations, it’s own driving goals. I want you to focus your character on what they will bring to the group. Their beliefs, aspirations, background, alliances and skill set will all be a big part of motivating the story.

I’m hoping for about 5 or 6 players with one main character each. Each player can create NPCs. Unless otherwise specified NPCs are fair game to be used in your, and other’s, posts and to forward the story. As stated previously it is likely I will use your characters to help define the barons and their abilities.[/color][/indent]
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[hider=CHARACTER SHEET]
[indent]
[b][center][sub]***[/sub]
PM ME YOUR CHARACTER SHEET BEFORE POSTING FOR APPROVAL AND DISCUSSION.
[sup]***[/sup][/center][/b]

[b]Name/Alias:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b] [color=c8b189](actual; age immortalized)[/color]
[b]Physical Description/Picture:[/b]

[b]Strengths:[/b] [color=c8b189](those specific to your vampire)[/color]
[b]Weakness:[/b] [color=c8b189](those specific to your vampire)
**Strengths/Weaknesses- please feel free to ask questions OOC, message hellis, myself, or both if you have any questions. There have been a lot already so don't be shy. I want to hear ideas, especially if they are a little different.**[/color]

[b]Motivations:[/b] [color=c8b189](love, hate, guilt, redemption, power, greed, insanity)[/color]
[b]History:[/b]
[b]Connections:[/b] [color=c8b189](This should include relationship with NPCs, as well as other characters; does not have to be completed prior to submission, unless you are submitting an NPC as well. I have no problem with people creating backstories that entwine.)[/color]


[b][center][sub]***[/sub]
This is just a guideline. If there is something else you'd like to include fell free.
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[/indent]
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[b]Questions? Comments? Interest?[/b]

[color=c8b189]
**Your character may or not be aware of specific information based on their connections, experience.**

Co-GM is [@Hellis]
& still here to party[/color]

[center]
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[i]
...
[color=c8b189]
Generals gathered in their masses,
Just like witches at black masses.
Evil minds that plot destruction,
Sorcerers of death's construction.
[/color]
... 
[color=c8b189]
In the fields the bodies burning,
As the war machine keeps turning.
Death and hatred to mankind,
Poisoning their brainwashed minds.
[/color]
...
[color=c8b189]
Politicians hide themselves away,
They only started the war.
Why should they go out to fight? 
They leave that role to poor. 
[/color]
...
[color=c8b189]
Time will tell on their power minds 
Making war just for fun 
Treating people just like pawns in chess 
Wait 'til their judgment day comes
[/color]
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqasrR1g-ho]...[/url]
[sup][color=e8dfce]
(Excerpt) War Pigs - Black Sabbath
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