London 1558
London is and always has been a city in constant struggle with itself. Its identity one of both strength from the perspective of politics and economics, yet with a volatility as powers shift and wane at an alarming rate both that of mortal and kindred. From the mortal realm, this can only be attributed to the fact that the entire country of England had been divided between foreign invaders for centuries, London being the representation of the heart and soul of the country, always most effected by changing powers. Simultaneously in the secret society of Kindred, it was always a contested city as this volatility of the mortal realm had a constant and never ending destabilizing effect on the vampires who ruled it and those that wished to.
By 1558 however a lot had changed. England is no longer controlled by foreign invaders like the Danes and the French, it is now ruled by its own Monarchy’s instead and as such, access to the country by foreign entities has been cut entirely. England however remains a christian country and as such maintains close ties to the Vatican, in particular in the matters of the church and state. Kings still bend the knee to god and can only rule with the blessing of the Vatican, giving credence to the continued dominance of the christian religion in Europe. The main difference is that vampires no longer have complete control over the Vatican and in turn have considerably less influence on a geopolitical stage. In essence, neither foreign mortal powers can reach London, nor can vampires from outside the city influence the city effectively. A vampire must be in the city to effect change, in a way this makes London the model for how all Vampires cities would function in the future.
To put it plainly, this is an Age in which Vampires begin to experience true loss of control over the mortal realm on a global scale. Where once vampires ruled entire nations, they are now largely reduced to ruling cities and even here, their rule is disputed by mortals who have grown resistant to the siphoning of power vampires have enjoyed for centuries unabated. The true street level game has begun.
London itself however has been stabilized under the rule of an Anarch state, governed by a primogen council of five senior vampires. They govern the city as a free city, where vampires are given considerably more freedoms than is customary in a traditional feudal governed city like those of the past ruled by Blood Rites, or the more modern and considerably more restrictive rising Camarilla cities.
London has something of a unique form of governance and the rules in the city while well established are rather alien to most vampires accustomed to more traditional feudal ruled cities that find a prince at the head of the table. The laws of the city claim some of the traditional blood rites as laws, but their are considerable exceptions.
The Laws of the Anarch State
The laws of the Anarch State are explained to all vampires that arrive to the city and while their is considerably more freedom for vampires here, the penalties for breaking the laws are no less severe then in a traditional Camarilla city. Simply put, while their are fewer restrictions, those that exist are monitored and enforced.
The symbols from left to right are for the Camarilla, The Sabat and The Anarchs. These symbols are often added to books, embroidered into the stone of buildings and hidden among mortal art and statues. It is how vampires identify the ruling power of a city. There are other symbols that represent the sites for Elysium, as well as personal marks of territory ownership. It is in a way, a hidden hieroglyphic language of the secret society of vampires.
The First Tradition The Masquerade
The Masquerade is in full effect as per the blood rite that has existed in kindred society for centuries. Hiding your nature is mandated under the penalty of death and the responsibility of masquerade breaches is always brought down upon the perpetrator and his progeny or sire as the case may be (see the fourth tradition).
Suffice to say that most Vampires understand that the masquerade these nights is as much a rule placed on them by ruling kindred as it is by the inquisition, hunters and the general mortal population who look for signs of the supernatural.
The Second Tradition Domain
Vampires as per tradition are responsible for their domains and activities within and as the classic tradition vampires are expected to respect the domains of other vampires as are vampires are accountable for their own domains. It is expected when entering the city or having the intention of living under someone’s domain that you announce yourself (see fifth tradition). While the council of the city reserves the right to reject entry into the city, vampires do not have the right to reject a vampire from living in their domain under normal circumstances. Generally once the council approves your entry in the city you are expected to be welcomed to stay anywhere you like in the city as long as you respect your fellow kindred. This includes feeding rights, as long as the vampire maintains the masquerade and respects Londons laws and each other, they may feed anywhere they like.
The one exception here is that a ruler of a domain is not directly responsible for law breakers in his domain, the accountability always falls to the perpetrator but a domain holder has every right to protect and demand punishment on those who would disrespect their territory as well as the right to ask them to leave their domain should they fail to uphold that respect.
More importantly, it is an expectation of the kindred of an Anarch state, that they are not leveraged simply because some random individual fucked up in their territory.
This altered version of the second tradition is perhaps the most defining differences between an Anarch State and a Camarilla controlled city.
The Third Tradition: The Progeny
There is no demand on kindred in London to ask for permission to procreate, albeit vampires are responsible/accountable for their progeny (see fourth tradition) and are expected to announce their progeny to the primogen council which reserves the right, as any new arrival, to eject those they deem unfit to stay in the city.
The Fourth Tradition: The Accounting
This tradition is followed to the letter of the classic blood rite. Vampires are responsible for their progeny, the crimes of the progeny are the crimes of the sire and the punishment shall always be the same.
The Fifth Tradition: The Hospitality
This blood rite is also maintained in London, a vampire unannounced is a criminal and has no rights, value or expectation to live. Any who do not announce themselves are forfeit . London is perhaps unique in that the rule applies to all and because they do not answer to the Camarilla, they do not make exceptions for elders or anyone.
The Sixth Tradition: Destruction
The city prides itself on the freedom and safety of its kindred citizens and the killing of vampires is strictly forbidden under all circumstances and carries extreme punishment for failure to obey the law even if the killing is justified. Only the primogen council reserve the right of destruction and only with their blessing can the final act be performed.
The only true exception to this is self-defense, but even in the case of self-defense one must be able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt this is the case. These cases are heavily scrutinized, plots that leverage this exception of the sixth tradition are exceptionally harshly punished and made public.
General Laws
While the traditions in themselves in the Anarch city already offer considerable freedom for vampires, as an Anarch state their is a general theme to the style in which the primogen council govern the city. As a whole, vampires who behave reputably and respectfully have the protection of the council. The politicizing of kindred requiems and the struggles for power in London are not tolerated. The primogen council rules on behalf of its citizens, justly and fairly. Vampires can expect to always have the council on their side as long as they behave in a manner befitting of the free city. Those who would attempt to claim control through kindred games and act discreditably can expect violent and swift repercussions. In particular the law of the Camarilla and their desire to rule is not tolerated, those that would act on behalf of the Camarilla are treated especially harshly as enemies of the state.
The Camarilla
This new entity is quickly growing and enveloping the secret societies of kindred. In many cities around Europe this takes place very willingly as the magnifying glass of suspicious mortals has proven impossible to avoid without strict adherence to the traditions set forth as laws by the Camarilla.
The Camarilla however are more than just a ruling power, they are quickly becoming the new norm in city power structures, one that is supported officially through the signing of the convention of thrones by several clans including The Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere and of course the true ringleaders of the Camarilla the Ventrue.
It is presumed by the Camarilla that all clans are unofficially included in the Camarilla traditions, even if they did not officially sign and participate in the formation of the Camarilla. However, the clans that have participated are expected to ensure that members of their clan adhere and accept the rule of the Camarilla and are expected to enforce punishments on those that reject their clans participation. Often, those from a clan that has willingly joined the Camarilla and rejected the sect are referred to as Antitribu.
The Camarilla traditions, in fact the Camarilla themselves however are quite young and as such the conversions of many cities to its rule is a work in progress, as is the conversion of the vampire mindset. None the less because the Camarilla is formed on the basis of the old feudal blood rites, it is almost as if the Camarilla have in a sense made the old blood rites system, official There is much resistance to the elders in many places and after the war of the princes, the power the elders once held has been weakened as a result of the many causalities in that war which has hindered the Camarillas expansion. Still to many, the Camarilla rule is inevitable.
The Camarilla have yet to set their eyes on the city of London and its not surprising given its history as the center of the Anarch revolts, it is here their resistance is strongest. The vampires of London however know that it is only a matter of time before they will be put to the test and will have to either fight to maintain their independence or accept the rule of the Camarilla. The Lasombra and Tzimisce in particular who have publicly rejected the convention of thorns and are rumored to have allied in direct opposition to the Camarilla are rumored to be forming an opposing sect. Each clan reaching out to its members preparing for the coming storm.
The word Sabbat is heard for the first time in this decade, a word derived from Witches Sabbath, a phrase meant to instill this new sects primary purpose which is in short, giving the Camarilla the middle-finger.
Denizens of London
London quickly becomes the first and quite possibly the only true “Free City” in Europe, at least by comparison to the stifling rule present in most cities under Camarilla rule or functioning under the old blood rites. Here a vampire could enter the city, stake out a claim and live out his days without the feudal institutions and constant policing of greater powers ruling over them for “their own good” or leveraging them like pawns in the games of elders. These denizens protect that freedom vigorously, forming a kind of unity that is rare in the societies of kindred. The only question is whether or not selfish monsters can truly maintain such a social order.
The landscape of London has become something of a melting pot, one in which there is both a distinct segregation of vampires who live their secret lives under Londons ever growing metropolis, yet with an unspoken unity in which most Vampires living here are ready to go to war to maintain their freedoms. Rumors of powerful elders who have proclaimed themselves the primogen has spread and the result is a city populated by those that have good reason to oppose the Camarilla. The atrocities of the crusades, war of the princes and the inquisition have left many vampires seeking out lives of freedom from tyranny, London has proven itself to be just such a place.
The primogen council, quite possibly the only thing resembling law in the city rules over it with a light touch. In a sense, as long as vampires do not make a nuisance out of themselves, they are free to live in the city with very few restrictions. They have gone so far as to even extend the hand to werewolves, perhaps one of the most controversial and concerning developments in London. Concerning in particular to the Camarilla leadership who recognize that if the Anarchs can indeed form some sort of a alliance with these beasts they would unstoppable.
The result is a city with perhaps some of the most varied and interesting characters one could imagine.
Maps
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London 1558
London in the 16th century was spread out along the River Of Thames, both its primary point of entry and the source of the cities commerce. In 1558 construction of the first Bridge across the Thames was completed, perhaps the most noteworthy achievement in London at this time, opening up the cities expansion across the river. This bridge would later become the Westminster bridge. 1558 also marks the start of Queen Elizabeth I's reign who would have significant impact on the expansion of London and the city becoming Englands permanent capital.
Fun Fact: Did you know that it was in London that Bram Stoker conceived and ultimately wrote his most famous book "Dracula", inspired by the gothic and dark London skyline. He is largely attributed for creating the modern day Vampire that were key inspirations for White Wolf writers when they were creating Vampire: The Masquerade. One of the only chronicles ever written in the early 19th century (Victorian London) was specifically created as a tribute to Bram Stoker and in the book one of the characters (the former prince of London - Valerius) is based entirely on Bram Stoker himself using his portrait for the art work in the book.
Characters in Location
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