Kindred - OOC

[Christopher Smith]

I've floated around with the idea of a vampire rp for a while, something along the lines of Masquerade and the Anne Rice books. A dark rp, examining the soul, humanity and desire.

I'm looking for people interested in playing a modern gothic style piece. The setting will be an alternate Earth city similar to New York named as the first city was: Enoch. Vampires, Werewolves and other undead creatures wage a silent war for control, all the time keeping the presence secret from humankind. The Vampires at the present moment have control of the city, holding positions in local government, the police and big businesses, the other factions remain in the background plotting take-overs.

The Vampires have a hierarchy, with a chief elder, or Prince 'ruling' the others. This prince tends to be the oldest if not the most powerful of all the others. There is a council of elders that advise the Prince, and all other Vampires within the city must follow their decisions.

The werewolves organise themselves in packs, with an elder chief male or female in control.

I'd like to see if there is any interest before I go further. Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas or further bits to add to what I've said.

[FalseProphet]

I love RPing as vampires, and although I love werewolves I'm not necessarily good at being one. Question though, is it entirely RP based or is it going to have a footing in the VTM system that has been the basis for most of the other vampire-related RPs I've seen?

I would gladly join either way, really. I have not RPed as a vamp in awhile, and would love to run up some ideas for a new character.

[Christopher Smith]

Those that want to refer to the masquerade books can feel free, but I want to restrict use of disciplines to the four major ones.

For those that haven't played the games these are Potence, Celerity, Fortitude and Presence. The first deals with increased strength, the second increased speed, the third increased resistance to damage and the fourth your ability to entrance another/others. If anyone wishes to use another discipline I want a good reason for you to possess it.

I'd prefer if people either focused their characters around one particular discipline as their called, or two at most. Also bare in mind that you will be a fledgling, a vampire recently created and so simply put no powerhouses. Also these disciplines will use up the blood you have stored. So constant use of them will require you to feed more often.

The first incarnation will take place in the equivelant prohibition era, around the 1920's to 30's. As the story progresses so to the years will pass until the equivelant present day, in a sense allowing you to grow from fledglings to powerful members of your undead community.

I'll also be granting certain 'bonuses' as I see fit. These will generally be the result of good rp or teamwork, or in the result of a good progression. I'll keep these bonuses secret until the time comes.

Go ahead and post your characters when you're ready. I'll set up the rp thread in time.

[Eleri]

Most definatly intrested. *smiles*

I'll have character infromation up in a day or so. ;p

[Escushion Amarant]

What other undead creatures might we incorporate into this? I'm fine with being a vampire or werewolf, but I'd like to see if there's more variety possible.

This isn't going to be like Underworld, right?

[Maledict]

Sounds good but I agree with Escushion's comments about having other undead creatures.

I personally would like to see shambling zombies.. every dark roleplay needs shambling zombies

The Vampire-Werewolf thing has been done a -lot- so it would definitely need a new angle to make it stand out

[Christopher Smith]

Okay a few questions to answer, here goes:

Maledict and Escushion: There are disciplines that deal with raising the dead, both with mortals and vampires, but you really don't actually want to play a zombie do you?

Okay, I'll open up the field a little, no this is not going to be like Underworld. *L* You can be hunters, vampires, werewolves, occultists/mages, everyday mortals, mummies, zombies if you really want to.. *L* but the same thing applies throughout, no powerplay. Each character type has advantages and disadvantages, some more obvious than others. In each case you are equivelant newbies finding your way. So even if you are mortal you'll still find certain things going your way, including the fact that you could later become one of the other kinds

Oh, and there are interactions between each type, in the sense that although each faction wishes to control the city ((possibly even the world)) there are alliances here and there for certain purposes. One of these alliances is a basis for one of the earlier plotlines as will be seen.

Edit: Also this is more about development and self searching. I want to see 'real' characters. No good and evil in a sense, the lines are blurred. Does a vampire consider itself evil when it has to feed to survive? Does it battle with desire? Does a werewolf have to constantly fight it's own inner beast, losing it's humanity from month to month to the wolf inside? How does the everyday mortal cope with the day to day problems with society, whilst also dealing with the slow realisation that the monsters he/she feared as a child are actually real? Does a hunter consider a vampire/werewolf/mummy a human being when it comes to him/her having to kill the 'monster'. Anything goes in this rp.

Any other questions?

[Raige]

I'm down with this RP as well, I'll have a character description up tonight sometime, assuming things don't take too long with my USN recruiter (hopefully I'll be leaving for boot camp in about a month, y0!). This sounds like a very interesting idea, for sure.

[Lizzy]

I have a fledgling mage/hunter that I was using in another rp that died. If that would work, I can post her character. If not, I'd love to bring a mortal into the mix.

[Mykayla]

So many rp's so little time. Looks like it has potential...and assuming I get into a rhythm and am not too busy with the writing committments I've already got, I'll look into bringing in a vampire of my own. Of course, I have this love of being different and mildly annoying, so I'll PM you with more information about her. *smiles*

[Dyvim Tvar]

*kicks Mal*
No expressing any kind of interest in V:tM based RP when the original and best has been resurrected recently or I'll be forced to beat you to death with a small porcupine;->

[Escushion Amarant]

I wasn't really referring to zombies, but the original post said "other undead," so I wondered what these might be. Zombies and mummies get a little too out-there in being workable RP characters, but I was wondering what other things could be available that would work in a modern gothic RP. The undead are supposed to be unknown, so... Thoughts?

[Maledict]

lol Dyvim ^^

Esc, I know you didn't really mean Zombies, I did though.. -grins-

Though it's all a moot point for me now unless I want to suffer the death of a porcupine beating

[Christopher Smith]

*L* There are worse things than porcupine beatings... believe me..

On the other undead matter. Wraiths will also feature. Wraiths have bypassed true death where Vampires, Mummies etc have not. Though they are able to interact with the material world, they are still bound to certain rules. Wraiths tend to have certain supernatural ways of interaction, and can be bound by certain spells.

What else. Ghouls. Ghouls have drunk vampire blood, but not enough to create a change. This drinking, if frequent, supplies them with some of the lesser abilities of vampires, as well as lenthening their years. But generally they find themselves in some form of bondage to ensure they can recieve their 'top-ups'. My character will be one of these. It must also be said that the drinking of vampire blood can forge a bond between patron and ghoul over time.

Sabbat. The sabbat vampire is anarchic and harks to the days of Kain. They are the antithesis to the rule and order of the masquerade adhering kindred. They tend to run in packs and are savage, brutal and in most cases out of control, completely throwing themselves over to blood lust and killing.

Abominations:... this is a touchy one. Abominations are either vampires that have been turned by werewolves ((and actually survived which is extremely rare)) or vice versa. They tend to be mutated in form, and are hunted by both wolf and vampire alike, not to mention the human hunter. They usually have the raw power of werewolves mixed with the added disciplines of vampires and are extremely lethal. But again due to their being high on the kill list generally don't survive long. If someone wants to play one of these I'd need a pm of your character and idea before you post it here.

Any other ideas you have for undead throw them my way and I'll let you know. Any other questions?

[FalseProphet]

Mmm, okay, this sounds like fun. Should I be cheap-ass, normal, or try something different? I could be a total ass and ask to use that one that allows you to make illusions, but I actually want to play this, so I'll resist the urge since I could eventually kill people with it. (Chimerstry for those in the know)

Too many fuckin' ideas...Too much inspiration to be evil...MUST PICK ONE! *rolls dice*

Cerelity it is! (that's the one I wanted anyway)

NAME: "Ace" Lagoon
DISCIPLINE: Cerelity
APPEARENCE: 5'9", 120 lb, short rust-colored hair swept back, olive skin, cobalt eyes, black long sleeve collared shirt with the collar turned up (reversable to be red), blueberry blue short sleeve shirt (reversable to be black), black pants (reversable to be tan); often seen with black half finger gloves.
PERSONALITY: "Mentally unsound" as some have put it. Ace is usually seen with a strange smile on his face, somewhere between a smirk and a grin, and has a habit of laughing, giggling, or chuckling often and randomly in conversation, even and especially at inappropriate times. It is rare that he ever shows another emotion besides this, except when he becomes angry, when it's almost like talking to an insane clown or something (kind of like the Joker from Batman). He is always looking for something to do, as he is very energetic and curious. His bloodsucking is just as much of an impulse as his compulsion to take things that aren't his; he fills it anytime, anyway, anywhere.
HISTORY: Originally a petty theif and burglar, Ace became a somewhat minor part of Al Capone's organization. Alcohol-running was one of the trades he got involved with, but his main skills as a second story man proved invaluble to the Mafia syndicate. He stole documents, jewelry, alcohol from competing bootleggers, and always took a little extra for himself.
HOW HE WAS TURNED: He was turned by a freak coincidence, actually. Ace's wrong place, wrong time story came to be in a police station. He noticed out of the corner of his eye, as he was stealing some files from a policeman's desk, that his ex-girlfriend (a bitch of epic proportions) was in one of the holding cells. She was waiting out her night in jail before being transferred to her real cell. She convinced him to let her go, and in return she'd give him a real good kiss. The kiss happened to include the sucking of his blood, and luckily she turned him. When he came to, he found with great glee that he could move much faster than before.
OTHER: carries an eight inch long knife (five inch blade) and a six inch long one (three inch blade), two decks of cards-one loaded and one legit-and two pairs of dice-one pair is loaded.

Stupid other question: are there clans and that stuff too? Or is it just "Hey, look, he's way the fuck older and more powerful than I am, I'm going to not piss him off"?

Of course, I humbly submit this character for approval.

[Escushion Amarant]

Alright, I think I've sort of got mine. Maybe I'll scan an image at some point.

NAME: Marcus Wight
DISCIPLINE: Fortitude
APPEARANCE: (This is just for when they start, right? We change through the eras...) Very short black hair and black eyes with glasses. After he was turned, he no longer needed them, but he kept clear glass in them to fool people and to better conceal his new eye color. He's typically seen wearing a brown work-suit and a brown business hat. If you saw him on the street, you'd think he was nothing more than your average office-employee, managing stocks and bonds. He usually carries a briefcase of unknown contents, but he actually keeps bottled souls inside when he can catch them.
PERSONALITY: (Again, just for the start.) Mild-mannered, charming, and helpful would be what most people call Marcus Dwight. He's a bit of a loner, not feeling comfortable with people, even before he was turned. When not working, he usually enjoys sitting at home, listening to the radio. Even after his alteration, he doesn't see himself as anymore than another cog in society's machine and is content to live out his life that way. You could almost call him happy.
HISTORY: Nothing unusual. He was raised by loving parents out in the country, but he decided he wanted to do more with his life, so he moved to the city of Enoch. Once there, he got involved in the economy, found that he enjoyed it, and has stayed there ever since. He's never been in trouble a day in his life.
HOW HE WAS TURNED: Marcus was not turned into a vampire, but he was turned by a vampire. He hardly saw it, and couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman, but he knew that it didn't know what it was doing. It had wanted to kill him, but he managed to escape. It started cursing and incidentally summoned something else. What it was, Marcus didn't know. It could have been a demon or an angel or a phantom of some kind, but he'd been marked by the vampire and it changed him. He could now devour souls... and had to. He discovered this as the vampire ran off. He chased it, desperately seeking answers, and found it gorging on an innocent woman. When it had finished, it ran off again, and some instinct in Marcus's altered mind told him to inhale, to take "something" in. And he did: the woman's soul, before it had finished leaving her body.
As time went on, Marcus discovered that he had to devour souls or he would become weak and withered. But he also found that the more he devoured, the more impervious to harm he became. Marcus had no desire for power though; he simply wanted to live. So, when he found a wandering spirit, he would absorb the soul, and then exhale it into a bottle, where he could keep it until he needed again. Morality never came into question... not yet.
OTHER: While Marcus has business papers in his briefcase on the main compartment, there is actually a second compartment where the bottles are stored. The bottom can be lifted up to reveal this, so that he always has what he needs.

I don't know what you'd call what I made him. I suppose the idea rips off of Soul Reaver a little, so I'll call him a reaver for now.

[Lyssia]

Just a quick question...not sure if I've got the time to branch out of Maxim and rp here (but I do so love the vamp/werewolf-based WoD rps that turn up here from time to time!).

Christopher
-For the werewolf characters how are you limiting their powers? Obviously with the vamps you want them to use one of those four disciplines but are you doing the same for the werewolves? What I mean is, instead of the werewolves having their rites and gifts are you limiting them to potence, celerity, fortitude and presence? Or are you going to choose some of the basic rites/gifts for them to have instead?

Just curious because the chances are if you've got the space for an extra person I wouldn't mind playing a werewolf. I wouldn't want to go about creating her if I then mess up on one part of the character creation

[Eleri]

NAME : Eleri Young
DISCIPLINE : Presence
APPEARANCE : Blondish white hair, violet blue eyes. Of medium height and slender build. Pale complexion. Mostly she wears dresses. What ever is in fashion at the time. She stick to deep, rich colors such as crimson, dark blues and greens and plum.
PERSONALITY : Soft spoken and very quiet. Not much seems to rattle her outwardly. But most of the time she is broody. She has a way of making her point very clear with out saying much of anything but her quiteness more often than not ends up pushing her out of most groups. She is also very bookish and reads constantly.
HISTORY : She immigrated from Scotland when she was about twenty. The reason she did was because she was pregnant and there was very little food and money to take care of herself or a new baby. Soon after she left her home though she lost the baby.(not sure what else I want to add if anything here)
HOW SHE WAS TURNED : She was out at night by herself not long after she lost her child and was feed on and turned by a vampire. He stuck around for a short while to explain what had happened to her because she was quite naive and didn't know what was going on. She also found she had the ability to entrance people, but she didn't use it often to begin with. After awhile she grew to think of drinking blood just a way of life and it was no big deal to her when at first she struggled with the idea.
OTHER : Carries about a set of 5 throwing knives with her hidden under her long skirts and dresses.

Thats it for now I think. Um, if something needs changing let me know

[FalseProphet]

Hokay, so someone needs to be Potence so we have all the colors of the rainbow. Good fun, can't wait.

[Brannon White]

NAME: Brannon White

DISCIPLINE: Faith

APPEARENCE: She is about 5'5" with a slender frame. She has curly, short blonde hair and dark blue eyes with a sharp gaze. Most the fellas she meets, think she is the "bees knees".

PERSONALITY: She is very inquisitive, constantly searching for answers and information about past and present. She is stubborn to a fault, but generally friendly, likeable, and fun to be around. She has a strong faith and believes she can do anything without fear, if she is doing it for the right reasons. She knows there is evil out there. She is positive there are monsters that stalk the night and that their prey is the unsuspecting human- and she is going to find out everything she can about them and expose them for what they are. Just as long as she doesn't have to do anything icky in the process.

HISTORY:The daughter of missionaries, Brannan was exposed to many cultures and beliefs. This exposure, coupled with her insatiable curiosity, led her to discover and learn things her pious parents would have rather her never learn- many of which were on the fringe of or dipping into the occult and supernatural. By her 21st birthday her parents had despaired of her reading and learning of "good" and "proper" subjects, becoming a school teacher and/or marrying a godly man. They finally relented and allowed her to go out into the big world to try and become an investigative reporter. By chance, she ended up in Enoch.


HOW SHE WAS TURNED: She isn't turned. She's mortal.

OTHER: She carries a big purse around with her, with a pad of paper and several pencils. She carries a change of clothing, for those times when ickiness can't be avoided. She always has a pack of gum with her. She hasn't taken up drinking or smoking, though she carries a pack of cigarettes with her as a "cover". She doesn't have any weapons- not because she doesn't think she'll never need them, but because she is fairly certain that if she DID need them, something stupid would happen and she'd do worse damage to herself with one, than without. She's also a fairly good artist- so that she can draw the people she meets later.

[Christopher Smith]

I like what I see so far.

We have one mortal which is nice to see, although connections to a buffy-esque character could be made. j/k. One thing to bear in mind for the vampires out there, characters with a lot of faith tend to have certain resistances where kindred are concerned. Vampires find the faithful abhorrent and usually avoid encountering them. Character with unusually high faith also tend to have certain supernatural powers against the undead. I'm not sure yet what Brannon wishes to do with her character, but if she strives for true faith she's definately a character you vampires will not want to mess with.

Lyssia, nice to see you darlin , as to your question, werewolves will be governed by the disciplines of Potence Celerity and Fortitude, they can not possess presence, but they start with limited levels in each discipline. But unlike the blood use needed by vampires, the werewolf must eat human flesh to maintain his/her powers. Also around the full moon werewolves naturally recieve enhanced abilities. Rp this in, and also bear in mind the fledgling status you have. You are not a werewolf powerhouse ((which is quite difficult as most werewolves are powerhouses)) . Also bear in mind the fact that as an extra weakness, I'm introducing the humanity aspect to this creature. Over time it becomes more and more difficult for Werewolves to control themselves and retain their human sides. Pm me with any further questions on this.

And we need a potence character? Well I suppose I should introduce mine then.

Name: Giancarlo "The hand" Fizzoni
Discipline: Potence.
Appearance: Tall and broad shouldered. Dark hair and dark brown eyes matching an olive complexion. Giancarlo normally wears a black suit with matching shoes covered by 'spratz' ((I think that's the right word, the little white bits of cloth they had over their black shoes in the time.)) He also wears a black rimmed hat with white trimming. Typical gangsta type. Pencil thin moustache. Usually smoking a thin cigarette. Always armed with a small pistol, and occasionally with a tommy gun.

Personality: Keep yourself to yourself G. That's what his mother had always said, "Dont ask too many questions, and don't ever bite the bullet for somebody else, you gotta make your own way, don't let anybody else keep you down" Was another of her many lines. Philosophies Giancarlo has kept to this day. He seen as a cold type, vicious and explosive at times and at others detached. An image he likes to maintain, it inspires fear. He has a black sense of humour, finding some things humourous that others would never dream of finding funny. Like the way a freshly killed victim sometimes kicks just before death.

History: Papa was a baker, got himself in some deep hole by refusing to pay gratis to the local don. Mama was a homemaker through and through, all the while that he was growing up, his mama always kept telling him how not to turn out like his father did. He kicked around with the local hoods, a little theft here, a little intimidation there. Loose change was all it was. Loose change that multiplied into hundreds of notes the day his soon to be capo came upon the boy and hired him. He was a made man three weeks later, an accidental shooting. He rose like a man hell bent on making it big, and soon came to the attention of Franco, the Don of Enoch. He was soon to realise that all he had seen was nothing compared to what realy was.

How he was Turned: He hasn't been. Don Franco decided he was to young in his ways to fully accept the life of Kindred. Instead he is fed drops of vampiric blood on a daily basis, maintaining his power and his existence as a ghoul. He has a bond to Franco he cannot escape from and will do anything for the Don.

[Raige]

Here ya go FP...you knew I was going to choose Potence

Name: Damion "Priest" Sheldon
Discipline: Potence
Appearance: About 6' tall, with a linebacker's body. Fierce red hair, kept rather short (to begin with) and sharp green eyes, with a well-groomed red goatee, pale skin. Wears the attire of a priest, sans the cross. (To begin with.)

Personality: Truly a tormented soul. Sadness is an almost visible aura about him. Tries to fight feeding off of humans to the point of succumbing to his inner beast, during which time he has no control over his actions. Afterwards, when he regains control of his mind, he will pray for hours on end for his torture to end and for the souls of the people he knows he just destroyed.

History: Damion grew up in a heathen household, his parents following the voodoo religion. Damion found it very hard to accept their beliefs, and as soon as he was old enough, cast his eyes elsewhere to base his faith. Soon afterwards, he joined the Catholic church, and never missed a single Sunday. As he grew older, he took a wife that frequented the same church as he. She died less than a year after their wedding, and by this time, Damion was a Priest, began to question his faith, weakening his own defenses unknowingly against the creatures his faith viewed as damned, until the night he was turned.

How he was turned: On the anniversary of his wife's death, Damion was overcome by sorrow. He went to a local pub close to his home and drank himself into stupidity. He was wandering the streets, trying to get to the graveyard where his wife was buried, when he was attacked. The creature found it hilarious that he, a priest, was comepletely drunk and defenseless, and turned him. That vampire's laugh has haunted Priest's dreams every day since then. The damnation that Damion felt for himself caused him to flee the Church and never return, although the people that meet him still call him Priest because of his clothes.

Other: Carries a single stake strapped to his thigh in the hopes of killing the vampire that Turned him. Also (much later) a katana with the pommel made of gold and in the shape of a tiger (will be explained as the story goes on, you dig?)

There. That should be basis enough for internal conflict, I should think.

Edit: Oop, didn't see CS's post before mine. Maybe our character's should arm wrestle or something;)

[Christopher Smith]

*L* I don't think there will be a need for that. As a kindred with Potence you'd be far stronger than Giancarlo who's only a ghoul and your discipline is part of you, not granted through the blood of another. That said Giancarlo would still be stronger than a human of the same size and build, surprisingly so. G can also walk amidst the sunny rays like a not so happy go lucky normal human being, which is a disadvantage you kindred will just have to work round.

[Raige]

Haha, good point. He's also well-dressed and not wearing priest's clothes. Two points for your char, one for my char (the discipline being a part of him). Grrrr

[Raige]

Just a quick question. Doesn't really have anything to do with my character, but I'm just wondering if anyone knows.

Vampires abhor religion/faith. Is that only the Christian religion? For instance, could a vamp be a pot-smokin' Rastafarrian(sp?)? Or a Buddhist? Or is it all religion/faith that is no good to vamps?

I ask this because...for some reason...it just popped into my head and I realized I've never thought about it before.

Edit: Which also brings to question another mind: I haven't read too many of Anne Rice's novels, much to my displeasure. Can vampires get stoned/wasted/wired/high/trip (as in LSD, mushrooms, mescalin, peyote, etc)? Just another thought to ponder. Could explain FP's nutball character...one too many trips down LSD Avenue....

Edit 2: I just reazlied I said "to question another mind." Switch that around and you get what I'm trying to say