appendix

well-timed trance vision) ensures that little takes him by surprise.

PracticalPsychology(dicepool9)–Ormaybehisgreatest strength is his ability to calculate what people want, what they fear, and what stimuli lead them to act as he wishes without ever suspecting they were manipulated.

Golconda(dicepoolN/A)–Orjustmaybehisgreatest strength is that he’s perfectly adapted to his condition and utterly at peace with his genocidal urges towards his own kind.

Combatants

Acolyte Sheriff

Quote: “I appreciate the position you’re in. If you’ll be kind enough to answer my questions, we can end this quickly.”

Background: In a city where the Prince and ruling vampires are not all Acolytes, an Acolyte Sheriff is in a somewhatprecariousposition.Hemustfirstandforemost represent his Prince and his city. The covenant’s needs come second – or, at least, must appear to come second. Right or wrong, the city’s Kindred feel occasionally uncomfortable around blood witches and sorcerers of purportedly black magic. The Sheriff has to let them knowthathe’s“okay,”andisn’tnecessarily“oneofthem”

– even if he is one of them.

Description: The Acolyte Sheriff dresses for a fight. Others seem perfectly willing to pick fights with him, so hemustbereadyforsuchencountersonanygivennight. Knowing this fact, sometimes its best to dress dark and stick to the shadows. With a weapon handy, of course.

Storytelling Hints: It’s best to come across a little bland. The local Acolytes bring enough color, attitude

and other strangeness to the table. The Sheriff may dial it down, appearing as much an “Average Joe” as his unique position will allow. He doesn’t wear his faith on his sleeve, even if he’s particularly religious in his offhours. Patience is a virtue: he will suffer many slings and arrows, and must grin and bear it – at least, until they make the first move. Then the game is his.

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 4, Resolve 2 PhysicalAttributes:Strength4,Dexterity3,Stamina3

Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 3, Composure 3

Mental Skills: Computer 1, Investigation 3 (Small Details), Occult 3, Politics 1

Physical Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl 2, Drive 1, Stealth 4 (Walk Softly), Weaponry 3

Social Skills: Empathy 2 (Read Room), Intimidation 2, Persuasion 2, Socialize 1

Merits: City Status 2, Covenant Status 3, Fresh Start 1, Haven 2

Health: 8

Disciplines:Celerity1,Crúac1,Obfuscate2,Resilience2 Crúac Rituals: Rigor Mortis (•)

Self-Proclaimed Crone

Quote: “You will tell stories of me. You will bring me gifts. And I will show you my favor.”

Background: Those considered to be Crones within thecovenantarebothblessedandcursed.Fewtrustthem and their power; how can one trust a tidal wave or a hurricane?Andyet,theyareoftenthecenterofculticactivity, worshipped either as a dominant personality within the covenant or as a full-blown deity. Some are granted the title by other Acolytes. They believe her a potent force,andsotheynameherCrone.Othervampiresmust take the mantle for themselves, proving they are the

powerful creatures they claim – if others must suffer to see the truth, then that is the way of the Circle.

Description: It is often frightening to gaze upon a Crone. She might have blood matting her hair, or bits of skin between her filthy teeth. A Crone, as a so-called “mother of monsters,” must certainly look the part. She does what she must to appear both grotesque and divine: strange tattoos, asymmetric scarification, presenting her naked flesh to all who come to her. The Crone appears as a hag, bestial and primeval.

Storytelling Hints: The gods are often mercurial, and Crones tend to be the same. Their volatile natures represent teacup tempests: will they give a gift or take one away? Like the gods, Crones often surround themselves with insane levels of personal drama, amplified to purportedly divine levels. Many Acolytes are wary of getting caught up in a Crone’s hysteria and melodrama, but they are truly tidal. Like an undertow, it is easy to be swept under in the blink of an eye. (As for their actual power, many self-proclaimed Crones call themselves such earlier than they are perhaps ready. Their supposed divine power is often a mask.)

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 3, Resolve 4 Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 5 SocialAttributes:Presence4,Manipulation5,Composure2

Mental Skills: Crafts 2, Investigation 1, Medicine 2, Occult 3, Politics 3 (Dirty Tricks)

Physical Skills: Brawl 1, Larceny 2, Stealth 2, Survival 2, Weaponry 2

Social Skills: Animal Ken 1, Empathy 1, Expression 3 (Theatrics), Intimidation 2, Persuasion 4, Subterfuge 4 (Spontaneous Deception)

Merits: Covenant Status (Circle of the Crone) 4, Fast Reflexes 1, Herd 5, Retainer 1

Armor: n/a Health: 10

Disciplines: Crúac 3, Majesty 3 Nightmare 3

Crúac Rituals: Pangs of Proserpina (•), Cheval (••), Touch of the Morrigan (•••)

Derangements: Megalomania (severe), Vocalization (mild)

Garden Daedelus

Quote: “You just couldn’t leave me alone, could you? You thought you could bring me back to the cold, ugly monstrosity of a building you call Elysium for a ‘trial’. You came for me here, in my garden. In. My. Garden. Do you have any idea foolish you are?”

Background: A long time ago, this old Acolyte discovered that she had a love and talent for gardening. As the years passed, she perfected first the art of cultivating naturalgardens,thenthepracticeofghoulingplants.She secured a sizable haven and has constructed an insanely complicated garden labyrinth on the property, which she tends every night. Friends who walk its paths testify to its stunning, majestic beauty and the eloquence of her tribute to nature. Enemies who pass between its gates are swallowed within, never to be seen again.

Description: This is a vampire in perfect harmony with her chosen environment. Her appearance perfectly mimics that of a wealthy suburban retiree, although it might seem a little strange to see her out in the middle of the night with her floppy sunhat and summer dress, tending to the roses. When forced to deal with anyone who isn’t part of her trusted Circle, she can barely conceal an expression of annoyance and contempt. For her own, though, she is all smiles.

Storytelling Hints: The Garden Daedelus is a Prince in her own tiny domain, ruling her labyrinthine garden with love and fiercely protective care. There is nobody who knows more about the flora of the city than this vampire. She’s a walking encyclopedia – not because of book learning, but because she’s grown every variety of plant life she can get her hands on, tended it carefully,

and gained a deep understanding of it. She’s happy to share her knowledge with any fellow Acolyte who demonstrates a humble respect for the natural world, and happy to correct anyone else’s notions of superiority over “simple plants”.

The Garden Daedelus rarely leaves her haven for anything but the hunt, and will never, ever confront other Kindredexceptonherowngrounds.Ifbattleloomsaway from home, she will vanish at the first opportunity and flee to the safety of her garden.

If she can draw an enemy into her territory, she unleashes the full fury of her hidden power. She will lure them into her garden, bringing them into the range of her toxic, stinging mandragora (nettles to snag and tear the flesh and ivies to irritate and burn the living) and hammer them with confusing attacks from the shadows. The construction of her garden is such that those within are easily turned around, often finding that their avenue of retreat is simply not where they thought it was. To make matters worse, she is intimately familiar

with the twists and turns of the maze, and can rapidly disappear within it, misleading and frustrating her quarry at every opportunity. More than one confident Kindred warrior has succumbed to an unadvised rage frenzy in those green corridors, only to find themselves lost, low on Vitae and covered in small wounds when they return to consciousness.

Clan: Mekhet

Covenant: Circle of the Crone

Embrace: 1868

Apparent Age: 38, but sufficiently weathered to pass for a woman in her late forties.

Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2 Presence 3, Manipulation 3, Composure 3

Skills: Crafts (landscaping) 4, Intimidation (fomenting confusion) 2, Occult 3, Science (botany, natural toxins) 3, Stealth 3, Weaponry 2

Merits: City Status: 1, Covenant Status: Circle of the Crone2,FastReflexes1,FleetofFoot2,Haven:Security 4, Haven: Size 4, Resources 3, Retainer: Mandragora 3

Willpower: 6

Humanity: 4 Suspicion, 6

Virtue: Prudence. This vampire is careful not to do anything rash so that she can continue tending her gardens and protecting the life within.

Vice: Wrath. If anyone crosses into her territory uninvited or fails to show the proper respect when standing on her soil, she has a tendency to fly off the handle.

Health: 7

Initiative: +7

Defense: 3

Speed: 12 (24)

Blood Potency: 3 (Vitae: 12/1)

Disciplines: Auspex 1, Celerity 1, Obfuscate 4, Crúac 3

Rituals: Blood Witness (•); Rigor Mortis (•); Barrier of Blood(••);DeflectionofWoodenDoom(•••);Flower of Demeter (•••)