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| | Lords of the Dead is our home-made version of an elder Vampire game. We employ a mix of official-choice rules and some of our own. Below we present a description of PCs, NPCs, places of interest and setting details. Everything placed here is of an optional nature. Aspects of the game might change according to the player's particular choices and preferences. | | Lords of the Dead is our home-made version of an elder Vampire game. We employ a mix of official-choice rules and some of our own. Below we present a description of PCs, NPCs, places of interest and setting details. Everything placed here is of an optional nature. Aspects of the game might change according to the player's particular choices and preferences. |
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| − | == PCs == | + | == CHARACTER CREATION == |
| | | | |
| − | [[Samuz]]
| + | Character creation follows the standard point distribution placed in Belladonna’s system. The point progression used in this campaign is a bit different, though. We apply the table below. For the Lords of the Dead campaign we are applying maximum points for all characters, regardless of age. This will help maintain all PC builds (as well as NPC numbers) balanced. |
| | + | Special thanks to the gang (MarkK, EnigmaticOne, Pheidias, Chronicler and Icon) for bringing Balladonna’s archives and building this system bit by bit. |
| | | | |
| − | == SETTING ==
| |
| | | | |
| − | In this version of the World of Darkness, several ancient secrets are accessible to the player characters, given their age and experience. The world has been deeply affected by supernatural presence, and mortal life is heavily influenced by dark plots and immortal needs. This is mostly apparent when mortal existence is confronted by the ever-growing concerns of neonates and ancillae, those who control directly the mundane ways of the world. But what about the truly ancient secrets of history? What about the Methuselahs and their titanic expectations?
| + | [[STATS AND NUMBERS]] |
| | | | |
| − | Surely their own agendas would change the world in unpredictable and tremendous ways…
| + | == PCs == |
| − | Many of the things we’re about to present are the result of centuries of hidden history, in which the most ancient and powerful creatures of darkness attempted to adapt to a reality far too frail and delicate to accommodate their conflicts and power games. Some represent the lost and hidden history of the supernatural races, others are simply the remnants of old experiments, others yet are novelties brought up by the awakening of the ancients. Most of them are fabled among younger and less experienced members of each race, spoken in hushed tones in courts around the globe. One thing they have in common, though: all of them belong to the collective unconsciousness that crowd men’s nightmares since the dawn of time.
| |
| | | | |
| − | [[RUINS OF THE SECOND CITY]]
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| | | | |
| − | [[THE NECROPOLIS]]
| + | Ladies and gentlemen, our protagonists! They are the reason we are all here! I would say heroes.... But some of them might be far more... pragmatic throughout the campaign. |
| | | | |
| − | [[MACABRIA]]
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| | | | |
| | | | |
| − | [[THE SOLACE OF REASON]] | + | [[Pakor, the Seed]] |
| | | | |
| | + | [[Pelops]] |
| | | | |
| | + | [[Samuz]] |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| − | == LEGENDS == | + | == NPCs == |
| | | | |
| − | == Timeweavers ==
| |
| | | | |
| − | Cephalos entered the yard in silence. At least a decade had passed since last he stepped onto it to perform his rituals, a habit he kept, if only to remember how far he had gone since his embrace, ages before. Overtaken by tall grass and silence, it was in ruins. Once, long ago, this had been the place of his ancestors and his sons. Time would take everything from him, though, the price of blood paid in full. Cephalos reached for the almost unseen altar in the center, the pyre unlit and the stone unclean. He was to begin his prayer when he saw the tall figure coming from the shadows.
| + | These are a few NPCs for our game. They might or might not be who they say they are. After all, the golden rule is "never give out your real name"! |
| | | | |
| − | “Cato” – the old corpse said to the other. “Finished arguing with your son-in-law, I presume?”
| |
| | | | |
| − | The other one, stiff severe face of a roman, bowed his head as to recognize the jest.
| + | [[Agamemnon]] |
| | | | |
| − | No smile came out of him, though.
| + | [[Cato]] |
| | | | |
| − | “Here we are, old friend.”
| + | [[Cephalos]] |
| | | | |
| − | “Here we are.”
| + | [[Dejah]] |
| | | | |
| − | “Would you allow me to help? We share the same blood, after all.”
| + | [[Dominic (LOTD)]] |
| | | | |
| − | “Indeed. Brother and offspring, you are, good Cato.” – between the two of them, no sentiment rose. Only a subtle form of trust enticed the elders as they silently rose prayers at the ruined altar.”
| + | [[Kane (LOTD)]] |
| | | | |
| − | After moments of silence, they gazed each other.
| + | [[Markus Weiss]] |
| | | | |
| − | “How deed it strike you, Cephalos? Knowing for the first time you had the power to twist your fate…. Knowing you would be forever fated to contemplate their inevitable ends while you yourself struggled against our own determinist reality?”
| + | [[Mortaron]] |
| | | | |
| − | “I believe it was the very last moment of my life that allowed me an overwhelming sense of fear… As if engulfed by fire, I rested my expectations entirely in the possibility of unveiling time itself, as the Fates would have, I’m sure, even before the oldest of gods. Nonetheless….”
| + | [[Jon the Young]] |
| | | | |
| − | “Nonetheless it is still uncertain, your fatal resolution, is it not, old friend?”
| + | [[Vathek]] |
| | | | |
| − | “In a way, yes. You do know what they say about our gift, do you not, Cato?”
| |
| | | | |
| − | “They say many things, Cephalos.”
| |
| | | | |
| − | “Many, for sure. One calls my attention, though. Perhaps the closest one to our experiences. Suppose we had the chance to muster all the strength of the blood in one epiphany, a single moment of universal realization, to bring all other moments to their ruinous truths. Suppose that…”
| + | == SETTING == |
| | | | |
| − | “That someone could contemplate the end of all things…”
| + | In this version of the World of Darkness, several ancient secrets are accessible to the player characters, given their age and experience. The world has been deeply affected by supernatural presence, and mortal life is heavily influenced by dark plots and immortal needs. This is mostly apparent when mortal existence is confronted by the ever-growing concerns of neonates and ancillae, those who control directly the mundane ways of the world. But what about the truly ancient secrets of history? What about the Methuselahs and their titanic expectations? |
| | | | |
| − | “The end of all things…”
| + | Surely their own agendas would change the world in unpredictable and tremendous ways… |
| | + | Many of the things we’re about to present are the result of centuries of hidden history, in which the most ancient and powerful creatures of darkness attempted to adapt to a reality far too frail and delicate to accommodate their conflicts and power games. Some represent the lost and hidden history of the supernatural races, others are simply the remnants of old experiments, others yet are novelties brought up by the awakening of the ancients. Most of them are fabled among younger and less experienced members of each race, spoken in hushed tones in courts around the globe. One thing they have in common, though: all of them belong to the collective unconsciousness that crowd men’s nightmares since the dawn of time. |
| | | | |
| − | “Therefore, your absence, your silence, for all these years.”
| |
| | | | |
| − | “Precisely.”
| + | [[RUINS OF THE SECOND CITY]] |
| | | | |
| − | “In other words, you do believe there was a first one to fight against fate itself, attempting to control all circumstances throughout our history. Nevertheless, what good would come of it, should it’s reasons be solely it’s own?”
| + | [[THE NECROPOLIS]] |
| | | | |
| − | “He who faces fate and rescinds to the heart of his own secrets might as well become fate. Foreseeing everything by his own power, free at last to live forever, to remain as others fall.”
| + | [[MACABRIA]] |
| | | | |
| − | “Or enslaved by his own sense of responsibility, doomed to try and trick Fortune in order to leave his legacy.”
| + | [[THE SOLACE OF REASON]] |
| | | | |
| − | “Yes….”
| |
| | | | |
| − | Surprise took Cato, suddenly. Not a common vista.
| + | == LEGENDS == |
| − | | |
| − | “You….”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “A glimpse, my friend. Of another, worry not. And the resolution…. How painful.”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Are you to sacrifice yourself, then?”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “No. I adopted a riskier, yet more pragmatic, way out of my predicament.”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Which is…?”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Bringing fate itself into tomes of knowledge for the victim to find. In a very straightforward manner. No mysteries. Until the day we meet. Until the day it is safe to meet.”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Is he one of us?”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Yes. And of old blood, as well.”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Why is he so relevant?”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “He might be a means to an end. Maybe more. As far as my sight leads me… He might well be the resolution for our deepest fears and doubts.”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “To uncover the end?”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “To uncover the end. The end of all things.”
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| − | | |
| − | == A THOUSAND NIGHTS == | |
| − | | |
| − | Night, high moon. The penthouse studio saw the silver light filling every inch of it’s manor-like interior, bathed in gradual pale touches as the steel blinds opened with a hum.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | “You overslept, love….” – she said, as he pressed on the controls.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “I’ve earned it, dear Dejah.” – the blonde, pale man contemplated the white towers of this new-century Dubai, raging lights against a clear nocturnal sky.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Do you remember the days of youth, lost so long ago, love?” – Dejah embraced the other one from behind, watching stars as they vanished behind the skyscrapers. A smile crossed the other one’s face.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Yes, I do, geliebte. How we wandered, how we came to know intimately the myriads of light that measured our steps!”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Do you miss it, love?”
| |
| − | | |
| − | He turned towards her, contemplative and soft in his manners. He was in love once more, as he had been a thousand nights before, for a thousand years.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “You know me very well…. I do. You know I do.”
| |
| − | | |
| − | Silence fell upon the couple.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “The Sheik enjoyed your observations. Jon is downstairs…. Feeding.” – another moment of silence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “We should leave, Markus. Leave this place behind…. There is nothing for us here. Nothing. The sheik…”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “The sheik can’t protect us forever, I know. Nevertheless, he has something we still need.”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “There are other blood diviners around the world, Markus…”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “But only one to be called prince of Dubai, geliebte! I promise you, in due time…”
| |
| − | | |
| − | A shadow of resentment fell upon her face.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “In due time… What happened to the bold knight that defeated his assassin so many years ago?”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “He fell in love for his assassin… And he wishes for her to come to no harm…”
| |
| − | | |
| − | As he approached her, Dejah held a heavy disposition. Still accepting his caresses, her thoughts returned to the last contract she ever took under the banners of her bloodline, as well as her failure... Slowly, her body tensed, thinking about the future and what it had in store for them.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “What is it, Dejah?” – she could not escape his gaze. They never escaped each other.
| |
| − | | |
| − | For seconds, she hesitated, as if trying to find a way out of that conversation. They were tied together, he embraced her. By now, he could feel her subtle, distant trembling and apprehension. They never escaped each other… She rose her eyes towards him and saw only anticipation. He knew it already. No words were needed.
| |
| − | | |
| − | He smiled slowly, relief and satisfaction resting upon his visage.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “I knew it. Solomon’s treasures would buy Sheik Vathek’s cooperation! Now, where is it, my darling?”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Somewhere in Vienna, my dear…” – her voice was heavy. Markus’ smile vanished slowly, but resolve did not leave him, she could see it.
| |
| − | | |
| − | “Vienna, of all places… I could not bring myself to call it home, but the harsh memories it holds make it appropriate… Soon, my love, soon...”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “We don’t have to do this….”
| |
| − | | |
| − | “The Champion of Blood guarantees your survival, my dear…. None of your fellow clansmen will dare approach you with ill intent once you hold it in your hands. We’ll be free, geliebte! We’ll roam the world once more, side by side… As you wished for so many years!”
| |
| | | | |
| − | “Only if you….. we…. Survive.”
| + | This section gathers stories that may be used as hooks for player characters. They also serve as samples of potential narratives for the PCs and NPCs. |
| | | | |
| − | His eyes shone moonlight as he rested them upon her visage. They were so impassionate about each other, a love beyond explanation or measure! A thousand nights, in a thousand years, and never an ounce of doubt!
| |
| | | | |
| − | “No peril is too great… As long as it gives you eternity.”
| + | [[A) TIMEWEAVERS]] |
| | | | |
| − | Ah, Fortune... Such misery as love can only be true as it unfolds its own tragedy…
| + | [[B) A THOUSAND NIGHTS]] |
Lords of the Dead is our home-made version of an elder Vampire game. We employ a mix of official-choice rules and some of our own. Below we present a description of PCs, NPCs, places of interest and setting details. Everything placed here is of an optional nature. Aspects of the game might change according to the player's particular choices and preferences.
CHARACTER CREATION[edit]
Character creation follows the standard point distribution placed in Belladonna’s system. The point progression used in this campaign is a bit different, though. We apply the table below. For the Lords of the Dead campaign we are applying maximum points for all characters, regardless of age. This will help maintain all PC builds (as well as NPC numbers) balanced.
Special thanks to the gang (MarkK, EnigmaticOne, Pheidias, Chronicler and Icon) for bringing Balladonna’s archives and building this system bit by bit.
STATS AND NUMBERS
Ladies and gentlemen, our protagonists! They are the reason we are all here! I would say heroes.... But some of them might be far more... pragmatic throughout the campaign.
Pakor, the Seed
Pelops
Samuz
These are a few NPCs for our game. They might or might not be who they say they are. After all, the golden rule is "never give out your real name"!
Agamemnon
Cato
Cephalos
Dejah
Dominic (LOTD)
Kane (LOTD)
Markus Weiss
Mortaron
Jon the Young
Vathek
SETTING[edit]
In this version of the World of Darkness, several ancient secrets are accessible to the player characters, given their age and experience. The world has been deeply affected by supernatural presence, and mortal life is heavily influenced by dark plots and immortal needs. This is mostly apparent when mortal existence is confronted by the ever-growing concerns of neonates and ancillae, those who control directly the mundane ways of the world. But what about the truly ancient secrets of history? What about the Methuselahs and their titanic expectations?
Surely their own agendas would change the world in unpredictable and tremendous ways…
Many of the things we’re about to present are the result of centuries of hidden history, in which the most ancient and powerful creatures of darkness attempted to adapt to a reality far too frail and delicate to accommodate their conflicts and power games. Some represent the lost and hidden history of the supernatural races, others are simply the remnants of old experiments, others yet are novelties brought up by the awakening of the ancients. Most of them are fabled among younger and less experienced members of each race, spoken in hushed tones in courts around the globe. One thing they have in common, though: all of them belong to the collective unconsciousness that crowd men’s nightmares since the dawn of time.
RUINS OF THE SECOND CITY
THE NECROPOLIS
MACABRIA
THE SOLACE OF REASON
LEGENDS[edit]
This section gathers stories that may be used as hooks for player characters. They also serve as samples of potential narratives for the PCs and NPCs.
A) TIMEWEAVERS
B) A THOUSAND NIGHTS
