Its two in the morning when the car pulls up outside of Hohenheim College. Its raining lightly and despite your sire’s assurance that it shouldn’t bother you, you still don’t cherish the thought of getting wet wandering the sprawling campus. You’ve heard the joke that no one local goes to Hohenheim College, that its student body is made up of out-of-state students and weirdoes with pet theories to prove. Still, your sire assures you that in its extensive library there are books thought lost hundreds of years ago or destroyed in purges. He also tells you that this is the personal domain of the Prince, Brandon Devouix, but not to worry because his Seneschal is the one you’re here to see. You buck a bit, not wanting to go out in the rain to spend an evening in a dusty old library. Your sire smiles and tells you its not optional; if you want to understand the machine you’re in now, you have to know how it got here.
You climb out of the car and start your search for this mystic library. Surprisingly it takes you less time to find then you’d think. Its almost like these people are proud of these musty old tomes, there are signs everywhere pointing to the “Worlds Most Comprehensive Library”. You get through the doors and you’re only slightly soaked to the bone; true to Murphy’s Law, the rains picked up as soon as you got out of the car.
You wander the isles for a few minutes before you round the corner and almost crash into a young lady. She has long dark hair tied up in a messy pony-tail and her face is slim and gaunt. She’s dressed in a simple black silk top and slack combination that screams librarian more then monster of the night. But Monster is what she is, for you feel the Beast claw up at you and evoke a desire to flee this masterful predator. You stare for a moment, fangs showing, before regaining your composure and clearing your throat. To her grace, you didn’t even notice the Beast in her.
“Sandra? Seneschal Sandra Pully?” You ask meekly.
“Guilty as charged, you must be my audience for tonight.” She smiles easily and hands a stack of books to you.
“Whats this stuff?” You ask, taking the books into your arms.
“Reminders. Its hard to keep everything straight so I need help sometimes.” She says and starts walking towards a nearby table.
You follow Sandra over and she gestures for you to place the books on the table. She then pulls a chair out for you and tells you to have a seat, she’ll be back in a moment. A minute later she returns with a small scroll. You’re about to ask what it is when she unrolls it and sets it down in front of you.
“Prince Devouix’s Fifth Law: Sandra Pully’s mind is not to be altered, manipulated, or tampered with in any way. Violation is the same as Violation of Traditions.” She says briskly
“I woul…” You begin but she cuts you off.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t but I must make sure everyone understands the Law.” She says briskly before turning to a book.
She sits down across from you and reads for a minute before looking up and telling you about the recent city history.
She begins: Ten years ago the last Prince died. Details are sketchy but we believe it tied to the Mortal Inquisition that cropped up around that time. This left our society in a fix and there was a bit of a power struggle over the city. Archbishop Anton O’Riley, Big King Calhoun, Brandon Devouix, Janet Tennant, Sir Reginald Francis Wingate, III, and Phantom all had the structure in place to become the next Prince. Only Archbishop O’Riley backed down and the struggle for control of the city was between five Kindred.
The first year was hard for us, the Inquisition that killed the Prince was making it hard to Kindred to stake a claim on territory. There was a bit of Media Exposure due to the former Prince’s grisly demise and then the ensuing Federal Investigation made it next to impossible to use any assets we could attain. The Federal Investigation got the five rivals attention and one by one they tried to overcome it, and one by one they failed.
Everyone began staking claims and only Tennant and Wingate clashed that first year. Wingate was working over some Mortals in control of the Pat Gleason Memorial Airport and Tennant tried to maneuver them out of power to instill her choices. Wingate succeeded and took control of PGMA.
The next year there were more troubles, between a Strained Vitae Supply and Archbishop Anton O’Riley’s clever Philosophical Debate things just kept getting harder and harder in this city. Oddly, it was about this time that a Government Aid showed up and starting giving out orders from the Phantom while the Phantom wasn’t seen.
Wingate and Tennant, apparently setting aside their squabble from the previous year, team-up and take out Archbishop Anton O’Riley’s Philosophical Debate early on. From there, all five opponents banded together to resolve our Strained Vitae Supply. Things didn’t work to well at the beginning but with some quick thinking Calhoun managed to turn a couple local hidden brothels into feeding havens.
The group then rallies again and goes after the Inquisition that killed the previous Prince. Their first attempt fails miserably and they almost take casualties. The second time around Tennant manages to Dominate one of the Inquisitions high-ranking officers while Wingate, Calhoun, Devouix, and Tennant throw all their resources at the problem. Finally, after two years of terror, the mortal Inquisition is disbanded.
There are two minor territorial clashes this year, one in Ashton Park between Wingate and Calhoun with Wingate coming out on top, and a second over The Yards between Tennant and Devouix, with Tennant proving superior. Both opposition attempts were by the losing party and they were more of a hurdle then a wall.
In the third year, Wingate brought in a big Business Tycoon and does his business by proxy through the Tycoon; not showing up in public. Then the Gangrel declares his desire to control some of the cities slums.
Turmoil was starting to die down but a small Carthian uprising happened at the beginning of the year and the Phantom set out to squash it quickly. The Phantom promised to stay out of Teletex Circus and Hoyt and Cross, to give his control of Six Hundred Guilford to Devouix, as well as helping Devouix to muscle Tennant out of the Three Corners. In return, Devouix helps the Phantom with the local Uprising and gives control of Red Beach over to him.
Still requiring more aid, the Phantom approaches Calhoun offering City Hall to him for aid in the Uprising. Calhoun agrees to help. Devouix and the Phantom kick on Vigor and the trio destroy the Uprising before it can get footing in the city. Calhoun then sets his site on this Federal Investigation and with everyone’s assistance the team convinces the Feds to get out of their hair.
Territorial clashes abound this year, first seeing Calhoun vie for control of Ashton Park from Wingate. Tennant throws in to help Wingate but the ensuing power struggle forces all three contributers out of the district. Tennant then steps up, Dominates the crap out of Calhoun and takes control of Ashton Park. Wingate and Calhoun clash again over Calexico, this time Wingate managing to gain control. Finally the year is ended with Devouix and Tennant clashing over The Yards again, with Devouix gaining control.
Year four starts off with Devouix getting a message from the Phantom to meet in the Metro Underground for their agreed exchange. Wingate’s Business Tycoon vanishes but a Traffic Controller shows up in his control. Tennant attracts the attention of a Patron of the Arts and a Famous Film Star but a Resource Shortage dries up some of our assets.
The Phantom sets his sights on the Resource Shortage out of the gate and with the assistance of Devouix, Wingate, and Calhoun the four re-balance the budget and free up some extra resources for everyone. Devouix then brings Calhoun and Tennant together to take care of their Media Exposure with great success. Calhoun then threatens Wingate with violence and Devouix sides with Wingate. Instead of being trounced by Calhoun, Wingate beats a hasty retreat.
The Phantom sets his sights on Spoke Hill only to be ejected by Wingate with the assistance of Tennant. The Phantom returns again with more resources and successfully ejects Wingate from Spoke Hill. Calhoun vies for control over Castleback Circle and the Phantom, having promised it to him earlier, rolls over and allows Calhoun to take control. Calhoun and Tennant then clash over Ferryman, Wear Street, and Fells Heights; Tennant coming out on top of all the zones. Devouix then swoops in and takes the Three Corners from Tennant while Wingate throws his influence at the Phantom’s control of Saint Jude’s, successfully stealing control from him. Later in the year Devouix tries to wrestle control of the Felix Plaza from the Phantom but in the struggle both loose their control.
The fifth year starts with Devouix backing out of his agreement with the Phantom and trading influence with Wingate over Marlowe Cemetery and the University of West Gate, Wingate taking Marlowe and Devouix taking the University. Wingate then gives his Traffic Controller to Devouix and Devouix promptly eats the Traffic Controller. The Phantom’s Government Aid vanishes this year while Calhoun curries favor with a Rising Celebrity. Then the National Guard Patrol has the city under lock-down.
The Phantom goes after the National Guard and with the help of Wingate, Calhoun, and Tennant they remove the curfew. Calhoun then takes Wingate and the two attack Devioux under the orders of the Phantom. Devouix puts on a valiant fight kicking in Vigor but Calhoun and Wingate best him, Calhoun draining his Vitae and forcing him into Torpor.
The Phantom then bids for control of Saint Jude’s and Wingate rolls over and lets the Phantom take control. With Devouix in Torpor, Calhoun moves in and takes control of Police Plaza while Wingate takes control of Nobility Hill, Blackgate and Roosevelt Park from Calhoun.
You cough lightly and Pully looks up at you.
“This is really… boring. Do I really need to know the minutes of the last power struggle?” You ask.
“Well, this is the ground work. Things start to get interesting after this. See, the Phantom was declared Prince but there was one problem… No one could find him to tell him.” Pully says and you find yourself interested in history again.
“So, after all that struggle, the Phantom just… vanished?” You ask.
“It would appear that way.” She says, and continues her story.
With the Phantom missing, Archbishop Anton O’Riley, a fellow Nosferatu, steps in and secures his territory for him. Except that O’Riley doesn’t care about most of the Phantoms acquisitions. O’Riley stacked all his power in Saint Jude’s, Wicker Village, & Mount Zion. Then with a quick power play he secured Hohenheim College from Devioux, who was still in Torpor at this time. This cut off Ormwood from the rest of Calhoun’s holdings and Calhoun agreed to give Ormwood to O’Riley if he could have control of Six Hundred Guilford.
Calhoun, having secured his downtown assets, gifted his northern domain to Jerry Bleest, a fellow Gangrel. Jerry based out of Kellogg, and simpled extended his control into Ripley, Edge Harbor, Briarville, Chinatown, and Little Italy. Jerry’s first push was into Laidlaw Towers and seeing no resistance from Wingate pushed into the Walter Chadwick Projects as well. O’Riley had no interest in his control of Spoke Hill and quickly that too fell under Jerry’s boots. Finally, Jerry pushed for control of Hoetsch Island and without Devouix to oppose swept that under his domain as well.
With Devouix disposed, Wingate moved in on the Morgan County Reservoir to secure the region between Hoyt and Cross and the Pat Gleason Memorial Airport. It was just as Wingate tried to push into Teletex Circus and Butcher’s Row that Devouix returned from Torpor. Wingate managed to wrestle control of Teletex Circus from Devouix but his returned vigor helped Devouix hold on the Butcher’s Row.
Devouix quickly claimed the Throne and the gifts for his mercy started pouring in. Calhoun offered over Lockham, Wingate gave Devouix Calexico, O’Riley turned over control of Drover’s Park and Tennant offered Grand Junction.
Devouix forced Tennant to give the West Gate Harbor to Wingate in exchange for the University of West Gate and Calexico. Devouix was trying to curry favor with Wingate in order to secure Teletex Circus and Center Street Station for a complete geographical domain. Except Wingate declared Center Street Station ‘Sacred’ and refused to give up the domain. Without Center Street Devouix couldn’t close his domain and the deal was called off.
Devouix, having full control, started appointing advisers and granting titles. His first non-territorial act was to force Calhoun to drink of his blood again, ensuring Calhoun’s loyalty. He then granted the big Gangrel the title of Sheriff and the two have been thick as thieves since. He of course named me his Seneschal and Mortekai Wikman his Herald. Sir Reginald Francis Wingate, III became Mekhet Priscus while Janet Tennant was nominated Priscus of the Ventrue. Calhoun pulled some strings to see Jerry Bleest be elected Priscus of the Gangrel while Devouix announced Archbishop Anton O’Riley was to become Nosfertu Priscus. The biggest shock was a newcomer, Lucinda Blair, being declared Daeva Priscus; despite only being in the city for less then five years. Oh, it should be noted that while not official, ‘Earth’ Baines has been acting as Hound in town since before the last Prince’s demise.
Sandra finishes explaining the city to you and hands you a rough map outlining domain control. She then excuses herself and heads further into the library. You’re looking at the map intently and you don’t even notice that your Sire is standing behind you until they speak.
“Understand the city now? I hope so, tomorrow night we have a Party to go to.”
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