Across to Recap of August game
Back to recap of 2000 game.
It was a hot, hot night in New York. The Kindred were gathering on Ward's Island in an effort to make a decision on several key issues. External pressure was being exerted by Democritus to find a solution to the Grendel problem. For whatever reason, the Ventrue Justicar had decided that Grendel was a problem of utmost importance. He (Democritus) had gone so far as to threaten the rest of the elders with his legendary wrath.
Armitage saw it important to gather the Princes and the Primogen together to decide what to do about the problem. She summoned everyone to Ward's Island, where she had a visiting director ready to perform a play for the entertainment of the other Kindred. The entire Primogen, led by Chariman Wilhelm Gearhart, was present, ready to make some decisions.
There was a lot of hub bub about Grendel, and what to do. Should the Primogen and Princes unite against him, to give Democritus what he wants? Or do they ignore the problem and hope Democritus gets distracted in another way?
Another important issue -- a few years back, the Camarilla and the Sabbat have formed some sort of cease-fire between the two sects. While everyone knew it wouldn't last, it was a temporary respite from the centuries of war. At this point, Ambassadors were being sent to certain key cities throughout the world. An elder Ventrue Antitribu named Charles Lancaster was making his New York City debut. There was some trepidation about his presence.
Also present were a couple of ghouls belonging to a heretofore unknown entity -- a vampire from the Far East. Some form of Oriental undead whose customs, strengths and weaknesses were foreign to the more traditional Kindred.
Two young Toreador -- Siren and Warhol -- had captured and killed a Sabbat pack in New York City earlier that week. It was evident that something deeper was at work here -- the Ventrue and the Toreador were playing particularly close attention to this issue. As was the Sabbat Ambassador...
A wide variety of influences were also being struggled over. The New York City Subway system was being warred over between the Nosferatu and a group of Lasombra, led by the elder Moncada.
Cade Palmer, a Media Mogul, was an up-and-coming Donald Trump type who several vampires wanted a key piece of.
Ontario Telecomm was rumored to be a Sabbat holding company, containing key elements of their communication lines.
The Lasombra elder Moncada and some of the Tremere were looking for some form of magical focus. Some form of shadow gate, the casual observers heard. Others scoffed at this, saying that Moncada was making up something that sounded dangerous to other people just to make others nervous.
The night started with a bang -- literally. Shortly after the beginning of the overly pretentious introduction to Gomme Staedler's play, a pair of gunshots rang out in the night. Gomme Stadler's stomach exploded -- apparently, he had been shot. His most immediate concern was about who was interrupting his play.
Armitage was not so lucky. Another bullet (?) had hit her, and the mighty Archon was felled. As a handful of Kindred surrounded her, another couple chased after the location of the shooter. The Primogen quickly determined that Armitage was in torpor, unconscious. Gearhart and Veronique were amongst the people who placed her in a secure room.
There was quickly an investigation mounted, and the shooter was tracked down by the Nosferatu Masters. Apparently, he was a hired actor, hired through his agent by persons unknown. His agent could not, initially, be tracked down.
After a bit of investigation, Denver Hammersmith and Monroe learned that Adrian, Armitage's ghoul, had been responsible for the hiring of the assassin. Although Hammersmith's initial interrogation was unsuccessful, with the help of the rest of the Primogen, they were able to crack the Dominate holding Adrian's tongue.
Adrian had been working for Yin and Yang for some time. It wasn't Adrian's fault, necessarily, but he had been continually manipulated by them. He had hired the actor (through his agent), and had also arranged for the feeding which had introduced the foreign element into Armitage's system. This "potion" had been given to a vessel which was then given to Armitage to feed. And it was discovered that Imogen also had drank -- she, too, was vulnerable to the Cathayan's gun.
The Princes universally blood hunted Yin & Yang, and virtually everyone gang tackled them. Yin & Yang did not fight back, and died quickly and ugly. Whatever masks they were wearing dropped, and the mortal bodies they had been inhabiting were not Asian at all... A couple of minutes later, it was discovered that killing Yin and Yang had done nothing at all. The spirit of the ghouls had simply moved to another mortal body.
The Nosferatu had some information on the Cathayans, as did a Brujah named Rao from nearby Jersey. There were five Cathayan Anchors that needed to be removed -- a natural, a supernatural, a political, a financial and a metaphysical.
It was quickly determined that the political was the easiest -- a certain amount of Asian culture is founded on propriety and social obligation. If they were not welcome or allowed by those who claim domain over the land, they are harmed. All the local Princes blood hunted them, and that was done.
A particular stock that the Cathayans controlled was also important. If too many people invested in the INY stock (in the Ventrue game), that would provide the Cathayans with sufficient financial support to make their position in New York stronger. This, too, was easily done.
A third anchor related to a natural presence. Apparently, there were animals around the site, which were connected to Yin & Yang somehow -- using a Tremere ritual and a drop of Yang's blood, they were able to track down the moths and the cocoons which had spawned them. Upon destruction of these, another Anchor had been removed.
There was an influence which the Cathayans were dependent upon -- the Jersey Kill was a key breeding ground for their animal servants. However, due to poor communication, the Kindred (Hawk) who ended up in control of that item believed that keeping it natural (rather than developing it) was the way to go. This was beneficial for the Cathayans, and allowed the Anchor to remain in place.
The final Anchor was a key magical item. It was a magical focus, some odd blend of Obtenebration and Thaumaturgy that took both Tremere and Lasombra to learn about. This particular item was some form of gate, or the seal of a gate, that was important to keep Cathayan energies from flowing back and forth. Alas, after a large amount of group indecision, it was decided to mount an ongoing investigation. Key in this investigation was Moncada, Uriel Rehnquist (a Tremere), and Charles Lancaster (the Sabbat). Somehow, during their study of the focus, it disappeared. Any number of fingers were pointed, but no evidence appeared: the focus was gone.
This was another positive thing for the Cathayans.
So, with only three of the five Anchors displaced, the Cathayans remained in New York. Seriously weakened, but still a threat.
After much debate, the Primogen elected the Nosferatu Masters to fill the vacant seventh seat on the council. Additionally, they made no decision on the Gambling in the Bronx issue.
In regards to the Grendel issue, the Primogen decided to support Grendel, and sent a letter to Democritus telling him why. They stressed that Grendel was doing a better job of running the Bronx than anyone else could. And, more importantly, he was the only one who wanted to.
Armitage woke up a few days later, with a pounding headache and asked "You sent a letter to Democritus telling him he was *wrong*???!!?!? Aw, fuck me."
Influence Results:
Silas Thompson, City Councilman : Hawk
Subway : Masters
Ontario Telecomm : Charles Lancaster
Bayonne Shipping : uncontrolled
Cade Palmer : Veronique
Ward’s Island : Thomas Skinner
Elaine Kramer : uncontrolled
Jersey Kill : Hawk
MSG TV : Imogen
Matthews-Berry : Matthias Swift
Troy McHart, U.S. Marshall : Hawk
Gambling in the Bronx : no decision
Primogen Member : Masters
1 : Christof Trevalian
2 : Charles Lancaster
3 : Elijah Hightower
Continuity-establishing, combined Results of the 2001 Vampire Game.
