World of Darkness e-mail game seeks players From: jacquiewa@aol.com (JacquieWa) Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 00:00:00 +0000 Greetings to you all, I am starting up a new e-mail campaign based on White Wolf's World of Darkness chronicles and am seeking players to help create these chronicles. If you are interested, read the section below. The setting will be modern day Santa Cruz, California and environs. Santa Cruz is a coastal city of appx. 50, 000 but the campaign will also encompass the area of Santa Cruz county, which doubles the population base as well as taking part, at times, in surrounding geographic areas. For those of you not familiar with Santa Cruz, the movie "Lost Boys" was almost entirely filmed there. The city is a resort town, drawing crowds of visitors every weekend and in summers from over the mountains in San Jose and elsewhere. The main attractions are the counties beaches and the Boardwalk Amusement Park at the Main Beach which has been there since the turn of the century. The University of California has a campus in the hills above Santa Cruz and the area boasts a relatively liberal populace. Geographically, the area is very diverse, with dark redwood forests, stands of pine and fir dominating the mountain range while the hills and flats closer to the coast are of dryer chaparral and oak groves, with an abundance of introduced flora, like Eucalyptus and Pampas grass, especially prevalent in the settled regions. Most of the settlements lie along river valleys like the San Lorenzo and Pajaro rivers. The big Loma Prieta Earthquake which wrecked parts of Northern and Central California had its epicenter only a few miles away from downtown Santa Cruz, in Nisene Marks State Park. Their will be seven main chronicles, all linked in a crossover campaign. (Changeling, Immortal, Mage, Mortal, Vampire, Werewolf, Wraith). I am willing to consider other types of characters/chronicles, but only if I have access to the rules and can determine if the type of character will fit in my chosen setting. See below is a brief description of some of the dynamics for each chronicle. More specific information will be sent once prospective players have chosen which chronicle they wish to participate in. This information will give a more detailed of chronicle dynamics and will also give more information about the Santa Cruz area. Some points to consider. 1. Regrettably, for this campaign I cannot accept players who do not own or have access to the rules governing the chronicle they wish to play in. I must do this, because I do not have the necessary time to work out the nuances with such prospective players. 2. This game will emphasize role-playing, not roll-playing. This campaign is for people who are patient and who want to explore the World of Darkness in depth. I also want players to submit moves in a fictional format, but more of that will be discussed later. 3. Players will interact with the Storyteller on a one for one basis. Players' characters may or may not interact with other characters depending on actions taken or not taken. Where such groups of characters start to interact on a frequent basis, I will send out the e-mail addresses of these characters so that players can communicate with each other. 4. Since time is a factor, I will have to make moves for your characters at times, usually to reply to another character's moves or to keep things flowing in a timely fashion. Of course, I will make every effort to see that the player retains control of her character and is given time to react, but as this is not always possible, I will sometimes have to act in lieu of the player. I will always try to keep the character's personality in mind when making such decisions and will always notify the owning player of any actions taken and their results. 5. Moves will be submitted in an as you like it basis. However, as I will be dealing with several characters, place and time are key factors, players will not always receive prompt replies to their moves, but I will make an effort to inform them of possible delays. 6. Any character who is present in the setting is liable to have something happen to her/him. Eg. If a fanatic hunter character blows up a building, hoping to eliminate the vampire prince who sleeps in the basement, and your mage character is having coffee in the shop upstairs trying to work out a truce with a garou character, well - things happen. The only way to keep this from happening is to remove your character from the geographic area. 7. Though I'm an experienced roleplayer, as both master and player, I am new to the Storyteller system. As my emphasis is on roleplaying, this shouldn't matter, but I do expect my players to give me help when I need and ask for it. 8. If these points are acceptable to you, then read below to see if you are still interested. Do NOT SEND ME A CHARACTER at this time! I want to be able to talk to folks and see what kind of character they want to play and maybe have a little input on their preludes. Hope to see you in the game. CHANGELING - (This chronicle is only included for completeness. No characters will be accepted until later.) This chronicle will center around a legendary kingdom called Ador Sanmh. Some say it lies in the fog enshrouded mountains, waiting to be reawakened from its slumbers. Are the tales of this lost kingdom merely myth, or does an ancient truth still flow in the blood of forgotten children? IMMORTAL - In April of the Year 1185, the Samurai Taira Tsunashige died defending the child Emperor Antoku at the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, the last of the great battles of the Gempei War. After his body was dumped overboard from his burning ship, Tsunashige recovered underwater and, claiming the sword from a crab infested noble's corpse, he returned to the world above, strangely alive. The immortal Tsunashige, albeit under different names, travelled across Asia, battling until he was one of the greatest warriours who ever lived. Only other immortals could challenge him and even they fell before him, adding their quickening to his. After World War I, Arcanum sources lost track of Tsunashige, until recently. It is believed that the ancient Samurai came to the United States to reclaim his sword, taken as booty by a G.I, who had removed it from a temple in Japan during the occupation. In 1953, the ex G.I. was found murdered, his body almost cut in two and his house riddled with gunfire. A recent clue has lead certain individuals to believe Tsunashige is in Santa Cruz. Now you are another immortal who has come to find the ancient warrior, perhaps to learn from the old master or to take his quickening. But others have come too. MAGE - All the Traditions have representatives in the area, however, some are more numerous than others. There are rumors that the Verbena, Celestial Chorus and Virtual Adepts have each founded chantries in the county. Dreamspeakers, Cultists of Ecstasy and Hollow Ones also are well represented, though much more loosely organized. Across the Santa Cruz Mountains, or "The Hill" as locals call it, lies the ordered wasteland of Silicon Valley and San Jose, where structure and rigid reality have mostly won. Though incursions by the Technocracy continue, they had been hampered by not being able to send physical forces through the mountains, being kept at bay by a power or powers residing there. But now it appears that this power is weakening and the looming strength of the Technocracy threatens to destroy the Traditions in Santa Cruz. Perhaps they are behind the earthquake that destroyed many of the rich nodes that once existed in the area, for now some Magi are desperate to find Tass to fuel their studies, or to defend themselves against the forces of the New World Order. Some of these mages have taken to raiding the nodes of others and the once tranquil peace between the Traditions has been shattered as they each struggle to survive. Now into this maelstrom comes new young magi, ready to add their voices to the storm. MORTAL - The Mortal chronicle will deal with hunters of some sort. They will be either seekers of knowledge such as the Arcanum, those seeking to destroy evil incarnate, such as the members of S.A.V.E (from the Chill gamesystem) or the Society of Leopold, etc., or a little of both, such as government agents sent to investigate, both the paranormal and the groups that investigate them. There are strange reports of deadly gang activity in Watsonville, where supposedly slain gang members are seen fighting on other nights, murderers that stalk by night preying upon the homeless but leaving no trace except a missing person whose name was never known, strange rituals in the mountains involving animal and possibly human sacrifice, a cult of fanatics setting up a church in town, livestock slaughtered by savage beasts that are only half seen in moonlight, homes reporting paranormal activity, or if it is to be believed, actual ghosts who beseech them for aid and a rash appearance of decapitated bodies that the local authorities have hushed up. Perhaps your character is a victim of Vampire hunger or a Werewolf's rage. Perhaps he is curious or has stumbled onto something that has intrigued his curiosity. Perhaps, having talent, he has been recruited by one of the aforementioned groups. How will you face the darkness and unknown? VAMPIRE - Though not large in population, Santa Cruz and vicinity supports at least fourteen kindred, perhaps due to the number of homeless and runaways, extra people whose disappearance no one seems to notice, at least until now. The Prince of the city is a mad Malkavian, whose real support comes from a gang of Brujah bikers. Why they support him is a mystery as nearby Salinas and San Jose are both Anarch baronies, atagonistic to Camarilla rule. The local Ventrue primogen chafes at being lorded over by a loon, but is afraid of the Brujah. However, recent events have threatened to throw things into turmoil. The Toreador Prince of Monterey has been murdered and diablerized, whether by Anarchs or the Sabat is unknown. Now that the Garou of the mountains are distracted, the Anarchs from San Jose are finding it easier to cross the mountains. And their brothers from Salinas are growing bold, heartened that Monterey is in turmoil, they seek to rip both Monterey and Santa Cruz from the grasp of the Camarilla. The border city of Watsonville has become a battleground, distracting the Brujah. Add to this that investigators have come into the city, searching for the whereabouts of a missing girl. Their inquiries threaten the Masquerade. Above all are the cries of the Ventrue primogen, who threatens, now that the Brujah are elsewhere, that the time has come for a change. WEREWOLF - About a hundred and fifty years ago, numbers of the Fianna, Silver Fangs, Shadowlords, and Get of Fenris arrived in the Santa Cruz mountains. Finding the area already inhabited by Wendigo and Uktena, they set about in a savage war to win the land for themselves, aided by their kinfolk and, unknowingly, by the anglo settlers. Driving the Wendigo south, the newcomers set about establishing their septs around powerful cairns in the mountains. Black Furies, Bone Gnawers, Children of Gaia and Stargazers soon arrived, to help in the process of building. The Children of Gaia helped put an end to the war, leaving the Wendigo to remain in the Ventana Wilderness above Big Sur. The Uktena, encouraged by words of peace and wisdom, settled in both areas, those that could accept the newcomers and forgive, coming back to their homes, those that could not, settling with their anger amongst the Wendigo. Long have the Garou of the coastal mountains protected their lands, preventing overdevelopment and encouraging peace and respect amongst the people and protecting the land from the Weaversons of the Technocracy in Silicon Valley. But now, Black Spiral Dancers have appeared, though where their dark cairn lies is unknown. Wyrm spawned vampires from San Jose trespass on Garou lands. And Magi have begun raiding the cairns, to steal their essence, battling the garou and robbing them of their strength. Decrying that the Silver Fangs and Children of Gaia have led the tribes to weakness, the Shadow Lords agitate for change while the Get of Fenris wish to seek open war. A small group of the Get and most Bone Gnawers have left their septs to dwell in the city, leaving the fight to find their own septs. And now, the harvest of the War Assumption is truly sown as the Wendigo of Ventana and Big Sur, now grown strong again, lend deaf ears to any cries for help or aid. As young garou, come to the mountains, your Rage and frustration call to you. Will you succumb or is their another way? WRAITH - Not a direct vassal to Stygia, the hierarchy of Santa Cruz owes allegiance to the great Citadel of the dead at Colma. From the daunting walls of the old Mission on the hill overlooking town, the seething Anacreons look down upon a Necropolis divided. On one side of the San Lorenzo river lie the haunts and holdings of thralls of the Mission. On the other side, in which was once the old town of Branciforte, lawlessness and disorder run rampant, as the Anacreons see it. To the locals of Branciforte, it is freedom and the ability to exist in death or seek transcendence that they struggle to keep. Once their was war here, as one side sought to bring down the other. Exhausted by a Maelstrom that struck in 1982, an accord was reached, and from that came the lottery. As long as the requisite number of souls reached Colma, the hierarchy of that place did not care what happened in Santa Cruz. Unable to win over each other, but neither side wanting to see the Legions of Colma visit Santa Cruz, both sides of the river agreed to give up a certain number of wraiths as tribute to Colma, and thence to the Deathlords of Stygia. On the Mission side of the river, the Anacreons appoint whatever hapless thrall pleases them, drawn from souls dead on the mountain highway or from their fiefs at the hospital and nursing homes. On the Branciforte side, the unfortunates were chosen by lottery, though some wraiths claimed the lottery was fixed. However, this is all past as Colma has since demanded double tribute. The dead of Branciforte refuse to doom any more of their number then has been allotted, and the Mission, unwilling to find the surplus amongst its own ranks, threatens to unleash the Barghests to round up wraiths to fuel the appetite of Colma. New word comes that the Mission seeks to bring human death Magi to its aid. As a larva, newly come into the Shadowlands, what kind of world have you come into. Can you exist long enough to find transcendence or will the soul forges of Stygia, or your own Shadow find you? Please send all inquiries to jacquiewa@aol.com Up