VtM V5 - Boston by Night

Boston by Night

A sourcebook for Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong and the
Vampire: The Masquerade TTRPG.
Author: Matthew Dawkins

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What is Vampire:
The Masquerade?

There are monsters out there. your friends, your job, your
Real monsters. Ours is a World social status like a false skin to
of Darkness, and behind closed disguise what you truly are:
doors and the sounds of muffled a blood-drinking predator.
screams, staring you right in You might fool yourself into
the eyes over an office desk, believing you’re moral by
over drinks at an exclusive bar, feeding only from lovers or
or over the body of the person criminals. You might try to
they just drained of blood, form real attachments with
you’ll find real monsters. the mortals in your unlife. You
In Vampire: The Masquerade, might even masquerade as a
you play one of these monsters. caring partner with a night shift
As a vampire — known as and an odd dietary disorder…
Kindred to others of your kind But the truth is, you’ll never go
— you hide yourself among out in daytime, you’ll never eat
mortals, wearing your family, another solid meal, you’ll never
produce living offspring, you’ll

4

never age, and you’ll always — the sire who drained them
need blood. and made them into an undead
And so, you, as a vampire, monster, the childer they create
must find your own company. in turn, their brothers, sisters,
Some come together as and distant kin connected via
coteries — groups of vampires invisible strings of vitae, the
who share common interest, Blood stagnant but potent in
territory, feeding habits, or their veins.
mutual enemies. Others align Whether you try to hide among
for sectarian, political, or the living or climb the slick
philosophical reasons, forging ladder of Kindred hierarchy,
alliances with vampires of or focus on your development
similar persuasion, and making of vampiric gifts — your
enemies of those on the other Disciplines — and become the
side of the line. Meanwhile, monster you know yourself to
some Kindred organize by be, the decision is between you
clan — their family of Blood and the Beast within you.

5

6

What is Vampire:
The Masquerade — Swansong?

Welcome to the world of the the players to connect the dots to in the name of influence and
narrative RPG. Developed by and realise the depths of the the all-important Masquerade –
a passionate and experienced conspiracy at Swansong’s core. the global conspiracy that hide
studio in the form of Big the undead from the mortal
Bad Wolf, Vampire: The In Vampire: The Masquerade world .
Masquerade — Swansong is — Swansong, the player takes
a game of social drama and high on the roles of three vampires Swansong explores a setting
stakes, peaks and plummets — Galeb, Leysha, and Emem — already established in Vam-
of emotion, and presents a within the domain of Boston. pire: The Masquerade, now
gripping story set in the World Each vampire belongs to a presented for the first time in
of Darkness. different clan of the elite Kindred the game’s present edition. The
sect known as the Camarilla, events in this game will affect the
Swansong is a consequences- and each has their own personal world beyonsd Boston and New
based game, where the players motivations for participating England, and depending on the
are presented with choices with in the story. As you play each players’ actions, might see to the
sometimes subtle, other times protagonist, you confront their downfall or the ascendance of
devastating consequences. pasts, their ambitions, and the their domain, their Prince, and
Behind the game’s surface plot dreadful truth of what lengths their own status.
hides a mystery, waiting for the vampires of Boston will go

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What is Boston
by Night?

This book provides details, shape the domain in which we Despite its name, Boston by
mysteries, and tales beyond what’s play tonight. It also provides Night content can be extracted,
presented in Vampire: The detail of some of the intriguing manipulated, or skinned,
Masquerade — Swansong, characters within the setting, renamed, and repurposed for
acting as both a companion to including who you play as in your own games regardless of
the Swansong experience and Swansong, and who you might their setting. This book acts as a
a sourcebook for the Vampire encounter. Further, Boston by toolbox of enthralling lore and
storytelling game. Night provides an array of plot fun mechanics for Storytellers
Boston by Night contains ideas for Storytellers looking to and players to use as they see fit.
insight into the Kindred history start chronicles in this domain, Every section has potential stories
of Boston and New England, and Loresheets for players layered within it, and is closed
exploring the domain’s past and wanting to tie their characters to with a handful of story hooks for
the important figures who helped the events of Swansong and the Storytellers to use.
book’s eponymous location.

8

What’s Past
is Prologue

Vampires may be unaging, In New England, the elders and everything falls or adapts
but they’re not fixed in amber. are all gone. Kindred in this to survive the outcome.
When vampire Princes fall, corner of the United States are To understand why Boston
and the eldest of Kindred left without the hoary, tyrant and New England are as
start disappearing all around masters of old, leaving spots they are tonight, one might
the globe, these events cause for well-placed, clutching benefit from looking back at
ripples. Ripples swiftly turn to vampires to seize power. the domain’s past events and
waves. These waves crash into What’s more, the monstrous figures of prominence. This
every city and roll over every death cult known as the Sabbat domain has rarely experienced
vampire, changing everything — a shadowed army of fanatical peaceful, harmonious
and destroying much, as vampires believed to practice existence, with one threat or
bloodlines collapse, ambitious cannibalism and terrible blood other clawing at its edges while
Kindred stake their claims on rites — disappeared from New precarious Princes struggle to
vacated cities, and vampires England seemingly overnight. balance atop their crooked and
use upheaval as a method to With each change, ripples broken thrones.
humiliate, ruin, or assassinate expand, they become waves,
their rivals.

9

egwpnccrdiurooheoAStierlumiuststkglap,epnoidhsnpoesrewepspceyhib,ceaendeta.earrr,tHnsrtirAovaiv’eirocatndagbuocuylseeulbkstfveae,orueien:.rronnmolImyTryftnehlaahushweenttlyveeohwaeoenoleeSbnAualkntalyidratibasbaiolsfcslrhbiflmthekaelaeeifnrecradeictiotslgilnttaneiuhwhtoaein;raicfish’selsit—se,eto,s gtomhrsavbttoticoenotaehsuhhrrcnpdempnaoyeilymrriooahpagftvpwkrohecaenoooetlthmseetkoe,tsaerwmfheirpstgsseoeitpewosmraahnilnteiaboehtstiwniloyhesfroeuetarsafsBra.oty,pvssanme.,eaeocTgo,wksfieVpynaoihidliannvtnenaiemdi,tpstsgnratrtpwhomgpeoida,srhvprueurpwieeandicacptththtieoreonwesenirarngditeyaelhtd,loe

STthoerDy Hecoaoykin: g Prince —Psdtrvareipakinsnaopmpaiodcwrneieseifepssrredns-cnmoriuear,tholscer’so.tsautaorfpPeWouuiuretlvpeofrcadicatcsenrhoiladieltsomatn,ce,dlebenhlsiasdsgeu,aome.entafrtgtnnoeraattIghdeeliogdonecddndenrm,tysgeaoe,giheclpynrnrtcnaioahroieangtwlioaienuothnllqnnodrioxerdmeutrv.ubiiyaiessinWocyesebirshlicrlofinhl,pnyodlenreuchcmouooeteetnccsiehnrmhaxrilaegnsetteaeuipeihjeccdmveaoosrsrrleeaoleanfidvepwm,mciKmafaelinaoiidreaosaeirtlpsfsiun,lhisowitoonmotsprduhffuaeorsetuwsytwhieh-bcrdhaaaehEedarlnphfivctepoewaoeccnrettnviohtnhedoiuofttargintsaleuhnsiheototsgeiiaaftoehdohtsfeirlv’diiaeasstrlnoieKrh,ynptntnloi,hodpgiiaagmfsnsdeeetefnnethrngudereohdworresnerateu?reoehimtencaetdsfopoDihcast?vtttuhpwecechyhoaArrooht’eieemosnsptntrstieshehhroldndspKltaionadihsihswumyfirnieevenotesterhratroprctda,iaimmhortcfratttechpa,ehaewpshlhaetdoslrkeiaaihtrritowverperaaemfBseoeahpstdsvttenakicieuhhcoselgtgn.?hkepneweeheBsmeorp.cntwunsioh’tthariaynte’snsg,

10

Six States
at War

Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, this pocket of the thirteen colonies-turned-
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, United States, on more than one occasion utterly
and Connecticut make up the gutting Vermont of its Camarilla and Anarch
American region known as populations.
New England. Its northeastern position, its The onslaught of monsters and inhospitable
long coastline (only Vermont doesn’t touch environment improved little until the 19th
the ocean), and historic significance make it a century reached its end. The Sabbat, who
sought-after domain among kine and Kindred long held a cruel gauntlet over any Kindred
alike. Naturally, when something or somewhere daring to cleave to another sect — or even
is desired by many, conflict arises. more dangerous, to independence — found
So it is with New England. themselves in a defensive war against invaders
Revolt in Boston ignited the fuse that led to from across the ocean. British Kindred under
the American War of Independence, but New the yoke of the Camarilla Prince of London,
England was a source of anarchy and strife for the god-emperor Mithras, arrived, but not as
more than just mortals. As far back as the 18th allies to the few Camarilla in New England;
century, fierce packs of werewolves — known they came to seize the territories for their
to the colonist Kindred as “Lupines” — bit and master a century after they’d fallen from mortal
tore at any vampire bastion in the area, isolating Britain’s grip.
vampires to their towns and cities like castaways What followed was a three-way war between
on islands in an unstoppably tempestuous sea. the New England Camarilla, the Sabbat, and
The severe winter time became one of extreme the British Camarilla, the latter of which was
famine for vampires in the region, forcing many led by a coterie known as the Triad. While
to cannibalism or the sleep of torpor, as the no side definitively won the war, by the 20th
kine population rarely surged outside spring or century the respective sides had carved out
summer. The Sabbat routinely sent war packs domains and buried themselves deep, with
to terrorize and subjugate Kindred throughout borders rarely shifting.

11

O pen fighting in the streets, The New England Camarilla never existed
the docks, and more rarely, in great numbers (in large part due to
the forests and mountains Sabbat abductions, murders, and raids on
(still the Lupines’ province), poorly protected domains), leading to their
had become a bygone activity only the existence as two underground movements:
Sabbat favored. Now, warfare was a the Kindred of Liberty in Massachusetts,
matter conducted via assassinations, who through sabotage and politicking
economic persecution, property sabotage, attempted to undermine and oust Quentin
and exploiting or threatening an enemy’s King and his Triad supporters; and a coterie
mortal associates. named the Gemini League in New Haven,
The primary Lord of the British Triad was a Connecticut, who through a combination
vampire under the epithet of “Pendragon,” of Ventrue financing and Tremere rituals
and for much of the 19th century, Pendragon protected their domain, but increasingly
focused his war efforts on Maine, New isolated themselves. Behind all of them, a
Hampshire, and Vermont, much to the joy large coterie previously known as the Web
of the notoriously combative Sabbat in those (believed to be an exclusively Nosferatu
states. The New England Sabbat — known affair, though they never declared their
as the Crimson Tide — met Pendragon’s numbers and membership) spied on their
challenge with a combination of brutality peers and enemies. To this night, few could
and adroit subtlety. Massachusetts fell to the make an informed guess as to the network
Triad early, with the Malkavian Prince of allegiances and objectives, though some
Boston — one Quentin King — becoming believe they were an oversized Anarch gang
one of Pendragon’s puppets. While the looking to set every faction against the
thought of a puppet state under foreign other for as long as it kept everyone beyond
rule pleased few New England Kindred, itself weak.
few could deny the relative peace Boston The wars raged on, and only in recent years
was able to maintain, unlike the domains in have the scales of power tipped.
Massachusetts’ sister states.

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Story Hook: Fresh Blood —
ltoibhtmufthiyrahontySeaoid,farlmolateucntacEueoaTenucarnoSggdnmdooncnbarnnKhhdtuknhratdetiogotthsoagdtylhncisnadosibatoliyaaauanpfoaieamhoadaerevodeifrnsmscrIlnimgImdvtnnunensrueiteeyrtlnemtlhyktnerdraireesl’doyedroeadeoesas?eiqsitettgucgtuitrloch,neasoNrHdojchsitoMthulvakritgnvroiooaatnguceoetfiectiitaechirhleenrachksaeprassoanyndraiwdttdrtoeekief,naniteerhshu.hkyrottumdtreoosawifotiIptirfheseibressEnoneoknhriotonfepotve.myeeeeemnscrapanpeongresotiCllynad:octoktincgaew“oglmkapégoaahtmd’ioroacrtsTd,rlodcgltleunthckamsnèeLveboeatacnppoiitronabpiyr.aeeermvnhseinu,aortniiuce’lridneBmiirdnswflrkepityndspdbeedeotEtaiEoenesh,eoslot.idsitrenredasperaa,iaolhnmelnmwiTsCrtroednyylyimrcstaticaieyapvanerdestiaowsnoen,eomaibansrhiihlentrikagugaoblnnuosahuaidoiimoBdehdmrlt,pnkralyrnttnrlgmnumoaaiwsikuetoleobwilizcenestinahdnngnostdayiwgsroh.twyrsuerhoiinptiieodoohctnnng’aaCtgsdemnnnosoeslemduihNrrKtaaqr,dvevenr,hBinofiyMesrgctpeereuoalyfnntwicei,shhool,oeiidpythrbornoguaeemdlesvsvehaayfiaiogascreuiihiytdidrdlioeveepnsrtrsusdKt”onlntpsirmtplraciNteqeoovtMnoigreaiawirgnhmaeietaotnllsrunparr.nundashgrciiivnegaatefortmeeechatgewaomndiyseilsratrsfeaeysttnc,phafurtia,arhamoshhp,areotnaptouwsew.txtecivaidaorahiandtthrnnnodslmCorleaaodinhdveettoelrcne—aitulvecp,fsiiaeheef,odctisfesotKTirtttuttnrvhl,aimrwh.natrrounmmsmigetaeregtorneoniooTesr.geshneaaimneaaitrtlpmlaeaadcAgwwaevihhnradiyiigvhdohncycssnoidnbeneebitgdeeevdhptonreavnsyaslmosrs,r.rnerieyooieelitriglafgrdcorewdSarditlstincbitrwro.issdilraevsrbotthusnetaiusonoflAyyoatihieiocneeivabfecdrmlhassnmtotgvas,aifohreewecithkhhncuaeecenrgkesltststoposweth.eiKtws,hwiesnenrhytultrphiritevsebebtheoeohteeneapeniihtktlenoseavluenxiunevseiTalpcstesiegtemaynBanstiaotnasriaudecertnheatuardypekhotrcimdgirtopsrptbstlen,eilrerhsaotorevielsorisaaotvrhoraizaeyvsmaddedraionoicrtaslr.oaceacceinvanono.omlsi’sw’yeRluhrcmassbeybdtermtpsae,Mc.pattanahailleeyiitaescfhnowInlpeoldgw.unsriroer?deiwftieirinnahsfnOanurese,haotdhsiCrduyto?llinityeicnvlpgreesnbletroviocNxdtAo,eyrsyhlongthceuonaeinrol,ecerrfoecPrl.atBncosuvesowaksiHunnreeomndtrnrwilhsdroienyteteiwrsiosecvynnedess

13

The Reign of
Prince Quentin

King’s century and a half reign they were not all men, nor were
over Boston is considered they all British (and the Kindred
remarkable among the Kindred outside of Quentin’s set referred
who know of it. By rights, this to them by far less impressive
puppet Prince with his talk of names, such as Praxis, Pro Bono,
being “King Arthur reborn” Cum Laude, Sine Die, Dine Qua
should have been ousted in the Non, and Probus). King, for that
early nights of his rule, yet he matter, was a New York police
persevered with a combination inspector in his mortal days,
of fanatical and clandestine but that mattered little to the
support, as well as being aided devoted coterie.
by the wars surrounding his The Arthurian and his knights
domain, as they kept his potential attempted to bring an air of
enemies weak. The Arthurian pageantry and pomp to Boston,
clung to power, and the Kindred including tourneys in Elysium
in his domain enjoyed an uneasy involving the blatant use of
peace under an unstable, yet powers that frequently violated
conservative praxis. the Masquerade. Their presence
King’s most fervent support kept morale high, in the sense
came in the form of his “questing that Boston was a novel domain
knights.” Some were childer with an eccentric rulership
he Embraced, others flocked always worthy of gossip, which
to Boston to kneel before him only avoided the attention of
and offer their services and Camarilla Justicars due to the
fealty. Blood scholars theorize chaos in neighboring cities
a collective delusion imposed and states. Quentin King was,
by an elder of Clan Malkavian, by most Camarilla standards,
for reasons unknown, but the more a Keeper of Elysium than
result was a Prince who was effective Prince. Without a rival
referred to as “the Arthurian” offering something better, and
and a willingly Blood Bound with the support of his coterie
coterie known collectively as and his more clandestine backers,
“the knights.” Some Kindred he adhered to praxis.
knew these knights as Lancelot, King’s more discreet support
Sagramore, Galahad, Gawain, came in the form of an elder
Percival, and Lamorak, though

14

from his clan, named Biltmore. the Mithraists’ ambitions, he
Unlike the knights, this vampire lacked the wisdom and allies to
was British, and represented form an alternative.
one third of the invading Triad, With his domain pulled between
with Pendragon (a Brujah, des- rival forces and his sitting upon a
pite the eponymous Arthurian fragile throne, it took until the late
connection and many supposi- 20th century for Quentin King
tions as to his manipulation or to start imposing his will, such
lineage ties to Quentin King) as it was. Biltmore’s Redcoats
and the crushed-faced Nos- were established as the domain’s
feratu Stanford Warwick for- enforcers, the Web was so deeply
ming its remaining leadership. embedded as to be unseen by
It was through Biltmore and this point, and the Sabbat were
his Redcoats — largely mortal a rare presence in Boston with
retainers and fierce ghouls, but Pendragon’s forever-war raging.
with some Kindred among their To demonstrate his praxis, King
number — that the Mithraist made a choice that would alter the
Triad enforced their hegemo- balance of power in his domain:
ny through Boston. Pendragon he invited the Giovanni — now
focused on leading his war, no- part of the Hecata — to act as a
minally against the Sabbat, but fully acknowledged Camarilla
destroying any Kindred in his clan within his domain. They’d
path. In one notable part of the held a presence there for many
campaign, Pendragon’s ghouls years through their cadet family,
successfully salted the earth in the Milliners, but King was
every major cemetery in New determined to extend a formal
Hampshire through use of hand and offer to the Giovanni in
Blood rituals, thus entombing the interest of gaining allies who
all sleeping Sabbat, who used weren’t attempting to control
the cemeteries as a matter of him. This was, in King’s mind,
habit. Meanwhile, Warwick es- his way of exerting independence
tablished the Web throughout from the pathological knights
New England. Quentin King, and Biltmore’s grip.
for his part, was aware of the It was a plan that went horribly
Triad’s activities, but was too wrong.
weak and prone to fits of mania
to do anything about it. Even if
he could have interfered with

15

Story Hook: The Elite —QBcsoDuleAduosveaiehroeelnoeKrfdtdrsohn”cthvetsaweqiioainlvbeBuhQnnlnydutdagesmraootgeeteueKrm,uanhf,ov’s,ieeusttnprfeiaibcdtphnsnmccyehigunirehooocnt.wgreiietidfmpAvaiert’aincassrpltsneetosteyhps.vrnonhfnxmEKcfWaepirlfltaeiautiualtnsalsirerayruymtdnenyteihoseeonnmhafiegenbfiwb—foudcsleiweohceeeretmn(aeermyrdeiiatthnsnsns,ha.(a,rutrliikoyotuTrewasgencnorlronygoscucoshdinaikentoktiintisaehhtgtce-hmtfosmgaccbhteeeicekfoao,mridrolptnburevyllmostuwolaoahaa)dnou—melsnhnewcedmendotnbkdgoeaizoysddehbndgkpm,evstnarwreitnnigQieisfeirmoesrn.ttoisnoreefuuhhgSmnritl’sokeeBhsneehiti..fdw)entyreetdeoEeerdedsaestoqcs.n,rntbi“oteusouniiTaosisfoPuccnnlaigirnocnddhlKgrvhggasoudydonesalmbtsiniigfopi-l,nBlfneitutoentalhnhgooKenanreaasger-a’enditttasnrniisciailaognnednhlonoil,lefdfggn”,geowykgtsfhenrkoen“wleoalapaatruoitCaeniyrcatrtonrfgrlKkhtseeuetuustchgesli,hyemoittrneymentsn.hhbenfarsngtWloeeugpLgcatdwaiifeha’tetdnkrasespaiieoeotguwrntapolofhnhmfheadfubfovaaatooayfssaeephaslfueterenr,lptpda”eirnrmethsndeitndnntkactoeohtfiaehaie,nntnuludek,costelotidtstlinoaitcirgle.olerhcmocynidhe“mnTialugeKaSfodotahlhtrsBbavsuiltioietsnhyeheananontesstesarensgdoilotiykvddoosfheyneoaiansl

16

SKtschoishnnatrRaoddboyrWrwaeobraiaeweetaHBhcnehsdsttcbeps,oieekttlropioooChrrhttc,etssrurhm,soosoreiastaacatfeusfiiyowkehmenphoebnfemvigBerteerplel:nedevhyulaieaseeredeineegtxPowcrrteyip,rnoatkuhptniiecahtuinakunl’noeerhmoso,ltednsccetndsaannriphntstateomni.coiefsloiacPnspwcotydonTngtwditksheuhgecdienigidhipeupnela,lcsenretlydaieliltbsdsatfemeaohitearhreuScrrsosttosxtetete?heasptntemi“tlpiiaoirlrleigToswatdrlrylfynuitthnoliinserhohiinvrzgnneueisbtmndeeqaeenbeophboeRifnaarmuyptrfjgrapesthorteelierwbohiuasscpaeppfdedBrnmteteloyaiyeeoel—iscvlt,rrr’ridnyecoriBehvawiikmaaner.aytcgeeetom1setniiNgoltcs7nslebpisptwdsohtydhnrhpa.uetaroore”haheiosggowntpsCrmirneru“eu,toTtspertaaat’ntotirahmlfesehhhcnmglifeetentetineevveo.ethcaektsifhaeeBnleBTdrhaenepreurrrerisiirrureoueiynsrdisnBiipcmcsdlttlptaoihihglksiluaoihgnarcflidonaswfltwthakNeohguaopmrlotsnwetifaeraltheCowelsttrade.ynoy,hwhwlcewoadiedsrntCttenmceatameheioEea’hhrhnrlgevtrfelowscnrnsae.aeibybrs’ritoygfrgOlauraeshoenm’rgihilhapylbsaslenaobolilstltecivocemonpsaacinrtsmblufe,venfeel.heddtdry,”aevssrygstatecostwetstyThnsiahthaprrotenhshsseiolahaeieorsfsoutlagkewrtsnlemhmteceevymiishB,hg.nn.etceeeede,reanfgoasnoiioun,nfttsfreoei’necsssrte,hehicrrseesr,osf

King’s Gambit

The libertine Andreas Giovanni clanmates to Boston and began at the turn of the 21st century,
and his clanmates, the cautious establishing it as a necromantic he declared in Elysium that he
Stephano Giovanni and the bastion in the United States. would abandon his role and
ambitious Jason Milliner, Ceremonies took place in his- voluntarily adopt an unlife of
seized the opportunity to exert toric buildings, invoking old exile. It’s possible he expected
influence in Boston. They’d ghosts, capitalizing on the city’s his statement would provoke
been given territory, feeding spirit of revolution. The Fami- sympathy, or calls for him to
rights, a say in the domain’s glia Giovanni found their posi- remain, but the Giovanni pre-
war with the Sabbat, and a vote tion stronger than in any other sent mocked, the American
in the (admittedly ineffectual) U.S. domain, with the Milli- Camarilla in attendance reco-
city council. What’s more, they ners as their front-of-house gnized an opportunity for
had what so many of the other financiers and money launde- one of their own to ascend to
clans in the domain lacked: rers, while Andreas, Stephano, power, the Redcoats blistered
unity. Clans aren’t factions and others worked tirelessly to at the unexpected move, and
at the best of times, but the further their family’s agenda. the Prince’s knights ran King
proto-Hecata always displayed As the Necromancers’ plan through with their ceremonial
remarkable capability for acting proceeded, Quentin King wooden swords.
as a coordinated unit. openly despaired. He brought Assault on a Prince in Elysium
Taking advantage of Quentin these mercenaries into the fold is not an unknown maneuver
King’s weakness, Andreas in- to serve him; not to sabotage his in Kindred society, despite the
vited increasing numbers of his domain. In an infamous event assumption of peace and neu-

18

trality in such locations. The Arthurian that the knights were worry about than a brief period
mirth, outrage, and hunger in his thrall, and had long been of impalement.
for influence abruptly ceased mentally conditioned to stake
with the knights’ attack on the Prince if he did something Bereft, realizing his faithful
their Prince, however. Nobo- stupid and chaotic, like trying bodyguards were — knowingly
dy — not even the knights, it to flee his responsibilities. or unknowingly — actually
seemed — could explain why King couldn’t understand his captors, Quentin King
they did what they did, but how Biltmore’s conditioning returned to power. He watched
his honor guard-turned-be- somehow superseded his as the Hecata powerbase grew,
trayers quickly ferried King’s Blood Bond with the knights, driving the Kindred of Liberty
paralyzed body from Elysium, but Biltmore was less than further underground. This
leaving the domain in a brief forthcoming with the details. American Camarilla subsect
period of disarray. The elder Malkavian instead found themselves forced to
While Boston’s Kindred advised King to be a good boy, violence against Andreas
recognized Quentin King’s retake his throne, and allow the Giovanni’s family, and the
return one short week later, few Redcoats to run the domain New England war moved
were aware of what transpired through him as they’d done from three fronts — Sabbat,
during his disappearance. since the British Camarilla American Camarilla, and
For the first time in over a arrived. The knights were there British Camarilla — to include
century, King was introduced to for “his protection,” but the a fourth — the Necromancers.
Biltmore, who explained to the next time King did something
foolish, he’d have more to

19

The conflict between each group hothouse of mental domination. just gave — information to
took differing forms as the new Through these methods, the Sab- the Sabbat regarding Redcoat
century dawned. The Sabbat bat successfully struck Camarilla safehouses. The Kindred
had been embroiled in a conti- vampires in their daysleep, their of Liberty also assassinated
nent-wide war with the Cama- ghouls turned into rogue agents. some of Pendragon’s agents in
rilla and Anarchs, and just as the By the time any hypnosis or vi- Boston, unknowingly pushing
Sword of Caine in New York and tae-fuelled loyalty wore off, in the King closer to the freedom
Atlanta had to form new strate- cases where it did, the retainers he sought. This move sent
gies to combat their enemies, the were without their domitors, shockwaves through the domain,
New England Crimson Tide and many — in an act the Sabbat as Camarilla fought Camarilla
did likewise. The Sabbat with didn’t intend, but greatly appre- despite the Sabbat assault, but
interest and influence in Bos- ciated — then assaulted other it was swiftly forgotten as the
ton commenced campaigns of Camarilla Kindred in efforts to British redoubled their efforts to
mass Embraces in the villages access more of the precious vitae control the Arthurian. What the
and smaller communities out- they required. American Camarilla did achieve
side the city, sending rampaging, The American Camarilla was, at least for a time, open
blood-starved fledglings into the acted with less unity, but no communication between the
domain as shock troops, while less aggression. Frustrated at Kindred of Liberty and the long-
the experienced Crimson Tide the British presence in New isolated Gemini League. Though
Cainites abducted Camarilla England, some vampires it wasn’t to last, the two worked
ghouls and put them through ra- among the Kindred of Liberty together to protect themselves,
pid indoctrination, combining sold — and in some cases, hunkering down to weather the
the forced intake of vitae with a fallout of the war above.

20

For their part, the British Cama- Finally, the Famiglia Giovanni pennies on the dollar. Suddenly,
rilla again campaigned against and Milliners at their side the law was interested in this
their enemies in a coordinated, scoured every battle site for vampire’s fake ID, or their haven
effective manner, increasing the precious vampire remains and being registered in the name of
numbers of mortals and ghouls the tormented wraiths of dead someone long dead. The Hecata
in their service so as not to be servants. Their vulture-like played a dangerous game with
reliant on night-time assaults. practices were however a happy the Masquerade, putting every
They used the Web to discover result of war rather than a vampire in Boston on edge.
nuggets of information regar- means to secure the domain of The 21st century war for Boston
ding their enemies, subjects, and Boston. Ghosts were helpful for had turned dirty, and once again,
collaborators, waging a war of in- reconnaissance and tormenting there was no clear victor in sight.
formation where the Sabbat and victims, but the Clan of Death’s That is, until the event known as
American Camarilla increasingly preferred method was financial the New England Gehenna.
leaned on violence. The Triad’s and legal. Through the Milliners,
intention was to blackmail and vampires who opposed them
humiliate their opponents, rather found their havens and
than running the expensive risk belongings suddenly subject
of destruction. It wasn’t through to tax inspection or marked
fear of loss or an attachment to for repossession. Their mortal
humanity that they acted this way, associates were threatened with
but due to the knowledge that debts and court summons, as
spilled vitae draws Sabbat like flies the Kindred found businesses
to a puddle of excrement. in their name bought out at

21

Story Hook: Mercenaries —SctSeahohcbonfeetwimownivgialrhunigdhaeaoethnientfsdfhemstnkghtreitd.isfceomhnbgctemtIeoictppiutlhanlnlifohrbniieeioraetweottgeregnirygsstusmnaddm.epehc,lntodtnelelWdrutvmtoilbeuynfefeloiueairniimoys,peaerfetdinmetsctrlsoorrstnhhldaoadaphnriKcoopfmercneksapeyecoeiisoamiretdcpnirar,huneno.dus—eaetltaentdsliMa,prstlirsawecvproydartryalcaorteelnaeeiesaviehnfoavlgtd,nnyrgieyatnceeeydpntl,cigahtnhiitlaeoeoGfs.nryftrcrnsneoorsshoiPauuhigatmreagauiCdbehxceeanstofprylhre,reeeeopregitotsbthtcyureoossorrrwtirweiosaemdamoareosafnuqteplotcilydhcvrt,geetuaesokhskmh.ffsatersBninitahsMienaimr—tchh.arunreersaeopseinMi,hpsedacwdlrrtrttblapouihiheyiaoerefncaoludsnwbemedgeameteHsmgttdeaethhyparipa,Aaktpaiseealel,vyoriniiallwrrqurmnacnoowoeopseytiiltuuracmytsgsymeeaaethttey.ttrhroitwhtrprashhsnha,Atikehtciiarsea,wdeRgihnhreiasmifnriwsseeesehaoroca,wntdsslsh.rtrennhhvwoicteorianmaidoeoneyrotlmehoclxstheaeswmotteptneov,thelerascorn,amlute,raaewitiilywenlhslanenittcaloo’mn,nohbeonhsorrateropsrteeedhfpktjtrotsskgylcauomlasraeakiaifHoidrlsucnbnyossfsbytyauotlseurosegseaeatontcwctrdrhsathhlntfnaaa’moodhhdnteordwnrt.cerieoeadeatroderhnuotlnrteaolhlgosertehboheefe
Story Hook: The Taxman —advgoaahoinBmnoatdtadlgvuhoptsteoetpVeikohhTrxsdt:atfeeeheahoosmidBlwmkelereoleiovpmoraobjnpniwoeikytlcdrpobdiet,cetsnsosoeahot?sbgoslfmmoeplmBafmtehelcoruecmaocoktnieinmrwnonoaottdrdoongrlaavslaniltetlkyaknaahnaemayewdgleeseyotysahtrtppouohhtegeiuackhrarrneeinrneeinalpstcamdetotcthaxotpecaieyspr,keiooxsarsoileifwteaornrrteomslesnhengeflurdfvsed..ocsioaoeeArcBlfmcwndoeitaarurraentsnenesdtlhottht’it,uheethmeytotvnoprisheoetmorlseluehnylearisvrvotieottymaseuihureamnxl’reeoaivecgmvssrmiclve’egltoahevyaraahouleay,snlsltlontstmrlt,irfb,thetisoohnaompseesrnurritdattbrguaeeahyhe.aiynpsresleptis.leadmtersaDthnttaeoihshpprniedtpaneloaafipyelotgtlcmlehiyrkje.ndouenBeaifugsnsobruntapwuiispynl,hgil;tgt;hoahiwnleg

22

The New England Gehenna

Gehenna is an apocalyptic event, before departing the American East Coast. The
foretold for centuries by Kindred sheer volume of Sabbat in attendance could have
withapenchantforsuchdoomsaying. spelled a massacre, but it appeared they were
The Gehenna that arrived in New keen only to abduct the food they’d need for the
England was far from Armageddon, but created journey, before abandoning New England.
chaotic fractures throughout the region, from The remaining vampires in New England were
which the Kindred of Boston and beyond have unhappy to not know why the Sabbat had flown
yet to recover. the coop, but they celebrated the sect’s absence
The first sign was the Sabbat’s disappearance. nonetheless. Their revelry lasted two nights, the
Around the world, the Sabbat were vacating their New England Truce ending almost as soon as it
ancient strongholds on what was dubbed in some was agreed upon, as old enmities flared and the
places, “the Gehenna Crusade.” This was the war was rejoined.
purpose for which the sect was built, according The New England Gehenna wasn’t over. Within
to some, and the time had finally come for the months of the Crimson Tide’s departure, the
murderers and monsters of the Sword of Caine British Camarilla began acting erratically.
to take their fight to the eldest of Kindred. The Redcoats stopped hearing from their masters.
exodus was sporadic, hitting different domains at Quentin King’s knights were sometimes absent
different points, but New England was one of the from court, and when they were there, they
first American regions to keenly feel the Sabbat’s appeared confused. Pendragon’s armed assault
sudden absence. against his enemies — now having been pursued
At first, the Triad, American Camarilla, and for over a century — abruptly ceased. Much as
Hecata all suspected each other of having dealt with the Sabbat’s disappearance, the remaining
a crippling blow to the most homicidal of New Kindred viewed the entire event with a sense of
England’s Kindred factions. Word hadn’t traveled apprehension. Surely, the same thing couldn’t
that this same phenomenon was taking place in happen twice? Word spread that Pendragon’s
cities around the world. The war fell into an uneasy tactics had changed, and recognizing the
ceasefire as each competing side shared tidbits of destabilizing effects from the Crimson Tide’s
intelligence, culminating in the Breakers Truce, absence, he decided to emulate it with his elite
where each group sent three representatives to coteries, and put his enemies on unsteady terrain.
plead their case, and ignorance to the Sabbat’s Everyone prepared for Pendragon’s British
vanishing. Working together, albeit uneasily, Camarilla to spring from the shadows with a
they discovered the Sabbat of New England had coup d’état against their American cousins.
carved a bloody swathe through Portland, Maine, It never came.
and taken over two ships in the Portland Port,

23

The event known as “the Beckoning,” names off property deeds, company boards,
had gripped Pendragon, Biltmore, and in the extremely overt cases (most common
and other elders around the world, among the Brujah and Toreador artistic types),
and much as the Gehenna Crusade started performing via mortal proxies. He was
made its march toward destiny, as did many of on borrowed time, however, with the Kindred
those vampires who felt their ancestors’ summons. of Liberty never forgetting his role as the British
The Redcoats were left without leaders, and Camarilla’s puppet.
now, the Kindred of Liberty and Gemini League Quentin King disappeared, just like his masters.
— depleted of old, potent vampires — took Whether this was due to the Beckoning reaching
advantage of the chaos without any kind of his ears, Biltmore’s threat against his free will
investigative truce to allow the Redcoats to gain coming to fruition, or the Kindred of Liberty
their bearings. finally snuffing him out, none can say. One
The British Camarilla were not eliminated. The night he was in court; the next, he wasn’t. 2014
Web remained intact, with some believing its spelled the end of Quentin King’s surprisingly
master Warwick found a method of staving off lengthy praxis.
the Beckoning (popular rumor had him staking By the time King’s reign ended, the only
his sire and grandsire and retaining them in his meaningful warring factions were the American
haven beneath Boston), and there was talk of Camarilla and the Hecata, the latter of which
others allied to the British hiding in isolation, losing their taste for the conflict when the British
or forming small coteries across New England. Camarilla broke down. The Famiglia Giovanni
Nevertheless, as a force, they were neutralized. had undergone their own internal problems in
For a brief moment in vampire terms — a few the preceding decade, with Andreas hollowed
months, at most — King held praxis over Boston out after a necromantic ceremony gone horribly
without the British Camarilla manipulating wrong, and the clan undergoing significant
him. He only held it for that long because the strife in its home domain of Venice. With King’s
Kindred of Liberty and Gemini League were busy removal of Kindred from Milliner grasps, the
scouring the domain for Hecata and still, in some Hecata stepped back from the conflict entirely,
cases, waiting for the other shoe to drop with leaving the Milliners in Boston to maintain their
Pendragon returning, or the Sabbat invading financial affairs and diplomatic negotiations, but
from the south with thralls or leaderless packs. dropping their council vote and all Giovanni-
King’s free reign was unremarkable, except held territories, as the clan reduced to a handful
for its contribution toward strengthening the of influential members in the domain. They still
Masquerade in New England. His goal, which observe and subtly manipulate from the fringes,
he communicated eloquently to the few subjects but have no desire to determine the outcome of
who listened, was to fabricate mortal reasons for the next plays for power.
the carnage in Maine surrounding the Sabbat’s The New England Gehenna was a multi-part,
exit via Portland, and to diminish the visibility segmented apocalypse. Within the course of a
of Kindred in positions of influence. Despite decade, the status quo had completely changed,
his faults, King achieved what he set out to do, with the American Camarilla ascendant by virtue
and in doing so weakened the Hecata’s leverage of its youth and its members’ dogged tenacity.
over high profile vampires, as they took their

24

Story Hook: The Missing Ships —tchTatceeNhsowreKmnesrtahurdohiofwyvaetfinperMeshrfiyhtapgittdnomteMsheIoobdohfrrBotivrsvietsrseeveere,lhonidrae”ac,Taddeooihltiodalademknsvswucmtieiwrpsqdmacwmiiejvaeshoepnvaasdounilodhhvve,ecloaisercel.ecdvoriiioa)kvtmdforaraTnsedeseunueestafedtthrunnsgeehiddrphmnddgtlnilirtrdeeihlejizioPsdievea,crawaknnfise,AlseeskaonealhniecauhesgnCorsnimkmntodsirgQtirncthepoteefirepdwklrlheteeddvduseiassohbntn,remetes,wiehnduufoieorutsestsnwGicheuaaodncewnesrcvPattioorniehrlre.deonerisnnvtoieihdrfn’shDnissarewtirsteotehnteCTgrehtmvreKjxnsudmealligheupaeoaiitsap(nndsiedst,slobacatamnnshdttavdkthraey,isnnethgdiegletieanfonCbojttysdosnedoioaharhtn,decrrr.ragcomaieniceetebulaendvkbtfy?otDaldtltUhdhitssiiaoighoastFwsaedensioieawkhsg.eraksosdtaSeciwegrrsetrenqrupenwtr.,ettsdeiliiwAt’upehgmnNacletoottswre-htedehhaovrsrtwcopihaaesoletebokeetplttnsateienrrvrfahuiehotevpmmaenvtyyotdhncoeAiteaowenmntepteofmwnyoisirCitdolcdsnuossncrnsoya-iel.eurstcQttgtmdO.tsanlutaeoFifahhcsaomirtmanuwrhc.oleiltidiiersnnmehpd“rsfoeTes,iaeapodainsoeersiggtalnuine,hiacwyanerhalrtrdteand,aawealsueoixwvoTwnoednenttvsscarrievn,ipoeetdiayiksefeeogaodrcunetlDrkcsfanurudauetnmenoguthfynfa.’reievcdhatssolotdpAie.noeeteitlhellrettolosuiovyrPclrnyhttherrnoree,trech.teeettihrrwyoahsefbhofesssevewto,tdepaieesienfrFiloysbnrtone,gfBiortamgtuthIhtwteeei,or

Story Hook: Vacated Territories —bTPcteclorhhrcmeittpeovinkeeovefmwnlmlFaaearrtsudtlicunepoiihceyegxedewamrwrierasset(tytemehhathoferKmhaloadeb(aeaiffrdNtianstitahgkneomentvdisuaornleeadendevcwsmepnnvtmroreu.hefodeKmrleienEInduouyennrwnirsrptntnlnioreaaybrggfQstfewdkinoohooelaosrutetmafrradtilhfhne,nenivhfdsefeznt)tsecgedoeh.eehrscatK(esItn,eaiauetdrwhnrniiassnrteileneeGohoiennipdKssnfrdmtta,rgedhoyeyiftrtmtegfngaero,heslwiarretreidegiaeohnaondonc,yntguaeordihntaio.nhtfksnwianeloPetLnegsddLwstodolre,gedievnsrirmonan.nbwmadeoivWoogeagmpn.iicfborouhdtstfoptohdophytetinyodpno)n.eieh)utc,reloyn,gTeesietortscrkr.msapohrthoortnNudmouefeintewgwntihrelweoedprowoitieewrenltn,tsyrfaigpyhHlefaoa’Eeyitca,urslnBoetnanctralhnasdyoerguuKrcoelsstlobrlsrotbfaaoihunioerooonennvnldrewlvnifdeddowdneytedehrtah’ra’fsetsonieorodtfds

25

Boston’s
Empty Throne

King’s throne wasn’t going to remain empty power grab occurred among Boston’s vampires,
for long, but the Kindred of Liberty were not for praxis, but for positions on the Primogen
determined to organize the Boston Kindred Council. Some members retained the positions
differently than before. The council under King they held previously, under King, while others
was a form of Duma with no meaningful say ascended to new seats of power.
over the domain. This would change. A hasty

Berel Underwood — Jara Drory —

One of the most influential, wealthy, and Once occupying a dual-identity within the
longstanding Ventrue in the city kept hold of the Kindred of Liberty and British Camarilla, and
seat for his clan. A former Primogen under King, one of the few dissenting voices as Primogen
Underwood seamlessly shifted loyalty to the new during King’s reign, the widely unpopular Jara
Prince when she took power. never lost her seat on the council, despite all
questions surrounding her loyalty.

Hilda MacAndrews — Richard Dunham —

A backroom-dealing, widely connected Diva Another Kindred who served as Primogen under
with a background in artistry, unusually Quentin King, but avoided much of the backlash
academic and discreet for a member of her clan, against the British Camarilla due to his reclusive
seized her place. MacAndrews took the initiative behavior, Dunham represents the domain’s
and receives the respect of all culture-addicts and thinkers and planners on the council.
creative types for her power grab.

26

As far as the council were concerned, The three Primogen instead conspired to
they had no need for additional manipulate another vampire into the role of
Primogen. Some Malkavians of Prince, ideally someone young, who could act
Boston protested their lack of as the lightning rod should disaster ever come
representation in court (Dunham had always crashing down again. In doing so, they secured
been a quiet voice, representing his faction of their own power without taking on risk or
theorists more than a family of blood, and they constraint. The three, proving themselves the
were used to King speaking for their clan too), most influential vampires on the council, selected
resulting in the council’s first statement, to which Hazel Iversen of Clan Ventrue. She wasn’t their
Prince Iversen acceded, once she’d taken power: first choice: initially Underwood offered the
Malkavians would never again be permitted position to his sire, Galeb Bazory, known as “the
praxis in New England. Rightly or wrongly, Diamond.” Berel was surprised when Galeb
King’s chaotic reign and his chief manipulator, refused, having been certain his sire would take
Biltmore, were castigated post-departure not for the throne and be grateful to his childe for the
their actions, but for being Malkavians. The sharp offer. On the contrary, Bazory rebuked the
slap on the wrist for questioning the council sent offer harshly in the middle of Elysium, telling
a clear message: the new order wasn’t going to be Underwood exactly what he thought of the role
as weak or forgiving as the last. and his childe, before declaring his desire to leave
The lack of a Prince was telling, in Boston, and town ahead of a new reign of chaos.
reflected an unstable domain. Either nobody Hazel Iversen, domain Seneschal and new perfect
wanted the throne because of the mess King puppet, assumed the throne. Nobody tried to
left behind, or nobody was bold enough to be take her down, or not openly. In fact, Iversen
the first to step up, only to get struck down by saw this opportunity coming and made efforts
their rivals. to hamstring potential opponents to power,
The neonates of Boston expected Berel, Hilda, though they were few. As soon as the Ventrue
or Richard to take praxis as some of the eldest took praxis, she supported two new Primogen —
Kindred remaining in the domain, or at least, the Delsin Coates, a Gangrel fanatically loyal to her
eldest vampires anyone knew about. The three and more than capable of acting as her warlord
refused the poisoned chalice however, passing and line to the council, and Dajan Siaka, a friend
it between themselves with various reasons for of the Salem Chantry and diplomat who reaches
their declining the role. Richard cited his clan, from Boston to other New England Kindred, as
justly, due to the council’s ruling on Malkavians. the occult representative for Boston and domains
Hilda leaned on her unfamiliarity with domain beyond — and began her rule. Primogen tend to
governance, always having performed best out of exist as a balance against a Prince’s power, so many
sight. Berel had a harder time persuading anyone of the existing council view these “appointees” as
he was unfit, until he reasoned in court that “the weak puppets more than true peers.
Anarchs would reignite old wars were a Kindred Of course, the new Boston Primogen found, to
like myself to assume power.” Nobody wanted a their frustration, that as soon as you put someone
return to the way things were. in the seat of power, they start using it.

27

ISNtoereyd Ha Voookic: e —fvfrhtaicooheonomgmfrenrmbodrmiirspworrlwgstatmePtKiimooohmhhhtcmtrnhwrksIsohoetiehoJeti)otieenunaiotesmB.gi’rstohtrurdsrrlms,ohshuhrymaeepottrRtti.pttahgsEsieohutPDsoaeeerideIvpirnnimaseuclsnsrenkdeierkhhfoonosiegioebefnamfiDcasnshnrCnnrieptouncorryvgnaheaiettgeafce(dd,nwohb’sacejdhfpmsaateiteoeatkltrhhcB,prenniirycDhlaseennraeeulalofyerstyirofSaufgrasnhiediroKoieoiicrlnnrPeitraonadsltrrasori,awihtmelkripmh.nomriiinpvaiaravmnnWtygdatKmaratiomueyh,nsrgceiaimetdilneeseroethinsntodv,ehowg,piitsedopngleeiuctitennlCirrsitmhpdevKehteeDaeKisyidpcoenfhmiKoveevriifnfgtaasnasereesioeatpdreonnvfnmcdcrhrarnleiathmoroeiddreeithneepeuravlmeevitrb,eeltdeamirdlorhraeaaxruaiBtuciedtenmna,erphtcinlysoocsyeeonwboeeeeihfetstPpnsbrcufhsoditrt.ghsitirvouo’rvLLseinortoFsnalsiiedtlnfeioygiicmnfrooenbletbnmeC.’aeewhtumaettsehgdootvTtariesmeriaahhgiteigtoftmmPtselhrryeru“hleoepryeerignrd’ehBrai,dhtpsesnaeinPo,,earwloabCmdrgBaamfogBirkrrfbcswerlandooif.hootoioliraendsfrmnaadsiktgrsyeetotottfcne.eoo,irthroimaednnFfchonnrtent,oraauysiuteho’uitnulosoosnttl.elttfudrrlyydofan,oier”infryng IThe Red Salonf the Kindred of Boston were
expecting a quiet Prince without
drive, they didn’t know Iversen as
well as they thought. Prince Iversen
immediately took to examining weaknesses
in her domain, and she identified
Boston’s major vulnerability as its Kindred
population. This was no surprise, but
when competing against a city with a rapid
response police force, a surfeit of privately
owned cameras in stores, houses, clubs, and
vehicles, and a vast difference between the
densely packed city center and an incredibly
sparse suburbia, it equaled a problem: the
mortals would realize they were being
hunted. The lessons from domains such
as Vienna and London, both of which
were hit hard in the Second Inquisition
(though some question how much of that
was Kindred-directed, especially in the case
of Vienna), were fast learned.

DStuoprlyicHitooouks:Dealings —

Not all Primogen have their faction’s Berel, Hilda, and Richard the eldest and
best interests at heart. Indeed, some most dominant. This leaves a lot of room
of them may not serve the Traditions, for the lesser Primogen to hire the services
only looking out for their personal gain of an ambitious coterie to dig up dirt
or working for some outside interest to on their rival council members, or for
destabilize the city. Boston’s a strange the greater Primogen to do the same in
domain with its Primogen Council efforts to secure their positions. This kind
consisting of former enemies, former of investigation could lead to all manner
loyalists, and new arrivals, meaning of revelations, from loyalties to another
few have truly stood the test of loyalty faction, such as Hartford Chantry, the
and time. Despite their supposed united Edinburgh Mithraists, or the British
front, the Primogen are always pecking Camarilla.
at each other for greater influence, with

28

Prince Iversen’s first domain-wide action as Iversen’s coteries corralled homeless people (of which
Prince, kept from the wider court during Boston has over 20,000, but Iversen suggested taking
its establishment, was establishment the homeless from other domains first), migrants, sex
of the Red Salon with the aid of Clan workers, orphans, independent gangsters, psychiatric
Malkavian’s Dr. Richard Dunham. In Iversen’s outpatients, departures from VA hospitals, and so on.
case, she recognized the Circulatory System’s efforts Doing so meant no more hunting for a meal in an alley,
in Chicago and the Midwest, and agreed that blood no more breaking into a house to feed on a sleeping
trafficking was the way to sustain a domain. Rather victim, and no more risk of being caught.
than relying on haphazard “meals on wheels” coming Iversen and Dunham’s Red Salon was a VIP super-
in at a premium cost, it was Richard Dunham who market for vampires, and buying into the conspiracy
instead proposed the establishment of a blood to gain access to it is a way of agreeing to their me-
farm, of sorts, in Boston. Ever since the 1950s he’d thods. The bar was spruced up, advertised to Kindred,
been experimenting with inducing resonance in his and then put behind a firm invitation-only list.
vessels, introducing his prey to chemical cocktails to Iversen dreams that over time, the Red Salon human
significantly amplify their emotions before selling trafficking network will criss-cross the entire country.
them on. He told Iversen about this, and suggested She’s concerned it’ll come into conflict with the
they pool resources and research to help fuel the Circulatory System, and is divided on whether to
Boston Kindred. sabotage the competition or attempt to work along-
When Iversen learned about Dunham’s experiments, side them. Where the Circulatory System delivers
she agreed to give him the means to carry out his research gourmet meals, or so they claim, the Red Salon allows
and negotiate an alliance with the Hartford Chantry to you to dine as if in a restaurant on your chosen kine.
gain the assistance of the Warlocks for blood and reso- The two could see each other as rivals, though they’ve
nance preservation. She realized the opportunity Dun- yet to openly conflict, due to how exposure could kill
ham’s work presented for Boston: maintained proper- their businesses and lead to the destruction of hun-
ties of “enhanced” blood, available in a contained dreds of Kindred.
form, cornered an aspect of the blood market and made The Red Salon production line is designed to extract
for a unique boon within her domain. as much blood as possible from each subject in a very
Iversen’s first suggestion was to sacrifice the surplus short period of time. The subjects are kept asleep
of city neonates who’d come flooding in once the war and on antibiotics to help them withstand their
ended, but the Primogen firmly shut her instruction journeys, repeated draining, and deeply unpleasant
down. Dunham proposed an amended initiative, living conditions.
more palatable to the city’s Kindred, to shepherd Though to call it living would be a lie, and to claim they
the “invisibles” from cities outside Boston, as well always remain sedated would also be untrue. Some
as those within the domain, to a low-key bar he’d vampires like to feed from a meal with a little kick.
invested in some time ago, built in a warehouse in
the Boston Docks. Utilizing the city’s firm Nosfera-
tu base for information and underground trafficking,

29

Story Hook: The Prince’s Plans — The Ambitious Advisor

HmhttatIhdhwevoainpvihorogneioatgazoeaKidppsauoansbmihrtmuenwpuoetvg.kisleektlissdoneihbAp-niidaiecnnIaiwrsnjitdaetsmtnvseirtlighbphgi,enrsltcuoeevlaeeoatetepanrsetlniehsnfdnhnm,rswstg.pisgieeewno)seddMrgtrhoetnfhbvPywedahaeoIs-ootieeaa.snoitrdeharht’hetfnhtTsln)iifqhinenollaw,onenoiilnyluheyintuninisirlcadntkteiymesbsooaggysmrthectfuhcsiegscneloehhiootteontyrtae’gadmieeefruhshtiroohelanretd,digrl.senfnemordldsyilasfsoHestoic’eueooaeawhuiseiitrainnragipnnraoagedamdetrevpieyohlddottsBnenecoiofheuoi.iaoanauItuhosgrgtnfelIuvssohgtnhtenatfpayerhnCare(KtrvdIeriaros,atersntvRaeeaseusnaihwoenegreeapgmnrrtefearntiacidlnhmodgkcdedrsaiiraaiddeecndiucrceSndcaantrdolao,aeheieaa,nt’itioetmdlsansalinbelmlnihaslcosroaloa’sehgaspeltirlniyriduioalt’aeel,engsyioiccchoadn(ngnbmahal,uigpiaeoiaiseinctalngtsrnren,snwtheliinecepnadyogsam,fdaaekep’.rou,hncatnhtesapIeelrvtstoudnrpaisvelerhawertetairphredoetsroorssnrotnduipneayuvaedtstsvviaorsihheerfigtanieoflrdvnnoldehBsheomttPiyp.It’nhreklveoBso,vSrtriitracaeismofoseonaiofunettitlrnojoisooddehinteeudstiortncwthn.e,clsoehercoeytnernIhnaeu,fr,,s erel Underwood is closely in-
volved in the running of the
Red Salon. Ever since its setup,

BUnderwood has understood the

long-term benefits of these flesh and blood
factories, and he’s been disappointed since
the start that the vampires have focused
only on the blood, when the flesh is just
as profitable.

Underwood received permission from
the Prince to explore ways of making the
operation lucrative. Dunham doesn’t care
much about Berel’s activities, as long as
it doesn’t limit his research and that it
remains untraceable.

ESstcoarpyinHgotohke:Salon —tcphcoTpooemmosflhntsneaiShmoieTcfxrbeyaroeusiovulemttplsysoirabotnsecfepnelndtinwceicasegt,hmaarchaeoimeasstrsreo,dsereioonaldeasbperconhtenculitlootaatyaaiotkhuektydlteurhieteewesirnygtl,cnsrayehh,tagbrhortapcubloentuehyetioartdmen,anbtm,imorheafsbfaiveineltaantlosceiyhhdvkenntntn’ereeleoegdelarstR,a?hsbio’seelefdefpsprctoOihuacsesgoeptatinnftohdtateoteediiieeriuronnsrococsinn,ggehfaeofocdpnirtttott.fsfhhichro,ioAoteofeoturnmtnhnhstwapeheeadtlroehoiPacvoyfynioefye.rft’mtrwoeiaettnelrhhrh,nodgcieeyeceeoiaiyharavsrineatwdislchnmdrdooktseagnhueeowhcfrt’sleritthaadivytnerarrimariesedbwltsnae,eeaet.lcsryhe

30

Story Hook: Dr. Moreau —TpsshehtcrfheoatesvheutolraaemheemnrlxTrm,ndesyaaepceathpicslpfeomentakotb.ueaihtrihhtgyptHenehnrrrbaiaehao’tppem-vegrpreaimhotrefctetowaeiicewacreciaeefMsoDtopmtohooauenheienrcntlgtnr.nownhuvhiiteetpeartwAnfsietisrenoeeaior.lyoerrhdirrngfedkhuucru,etIeivo,rtadeamsatpnndssadmeeeius’vrimksrtsslgixtsitafbaii’oigseisaasiscoankPnnncajlgiootrimrhmeeonesetifrnsyaguiscvnraemaitnspntoaioePaeomVhdgnnspnlrrmgrlcdider,ailoeeleiitsoaselyiusanbn,sgsoomeygimnou,sicrruincgtDenfisjbtnsieoetpnaonotutipnatgestuermgias,hsttsicihilgrres,eotnhcnobnspeeeeneceitmcebhesctemohotttRht’ttashogrehannBfshiirircsaocesinimnasisBceaooobkndrsmpncligygnsnaueelmoorg’itsiihdrsSisrnbtdeso.tnncemeoeoasaoderontiPlolg.gnarvaceetlutpifieTUohyosnrotmdcrnotrgenhaaorteeghtrfnahodUicreahsi,moesrraenedmms,imdeacfrndncb,npeedoarhetoodeiixrtsstputafyfinltrcyseowpneortaeakkm’tiereohrsoroeaegnoe.tviniwrsmenepcchseroBetcdh,iarad.ltttdnsoeifmee,euSsriertoo,w’s,hgnoisacttwersdtetownoauoalehasatnsn’nita.rniitdumbsiyentytrsoayTtehl,stutaccdnttimeHtiboohhmnaeosic’shoinfsntaliteusnuetgaslpmriihyshsdtcievmsgocitpepedh’oereoairphtrt,ioTrdseseythanoermlltesemsi,ryanesrtennshtairaaasvcoioboo,jaytneucdatitaytsvl.nmeX,iiefnadtdo.iytrttlIshyne

TSthoerLyeHakoo—k:

The vast majority of scientists hospital or morgue, and there’s
follow a code of ethics. One no identifier to say it’s human,
MIT student working in a despite the fact it clearly is. This
Dunham-funded laboratory student shares her findings
is new to the job and given her with her friends at a bar in
first flesh sample for testing. downtown Boston that night,
She thinks it’s going to be a pig’s and though they laugh it off,
trotter, but gets a lump of flesh gossip spreads, and suddenly,
very much resembling a human Dunham needs help in cleaning
calf muscle. “No big deal,” up operations. This is where an
she thinks. It was probably ambitious coterie enters the
donated for medical testing scene, to locate the leak, plug
through appropriate channels. it, and ensure experiments can
But no, she can’t find records get back on track without loose-
tying this human tissue to any lipped kine ruining things.

31



Factions

Hazel Iversen has been any internet-based networks,
Boston’s Prince for under a de- and other Kindred within the
cade, and already the domain’s sect follow their unique brands
seen remarkable changes. They of elitism, which they claim is to
can’t all be laid at the Prince’s the betterment of the domain.
feet, but she takes credit for the Multiple clashing Anarch packs
good ones, all the same. represent the sect, but do so
Iversen’s a popular Prince courting different philosophies
compared to her predecessor, and no unity. Outside forces
but factionalism continues still desire Boston, New Haven,
unabated even with the New Worcester, and Providence, and
England wars ending. The believe Iversen’s brief tenure as
Camarilla breaks into lines of Prince is one ripe for toppling.
allegiance, with the Kindred of Meanwhile, mortal hunters
LibertyandGeminiLeaguenow wait, studying the domain for
gone, roughly replaced by the signs of Kindred activity.
Boston Camarilla and Hartford Boston and New England
Chantry. The Triad no longer feel safe for the first time in
lead the British Camarilla (or if over 100 years, but they’re on
they do, they’re doing so from the edge of a precipice. The
a place of great secrecy), and illusion of safety is just that.
the Redcoats disintegrated as a All the domain needs is one
force. The Web muted in the little push to send everything
post-SchreckNET debacle, crashing down.
vampire society getting rid of

33

The Boston Camarilla The Primogen

The Boston Camarilla took over where the The Primogen Council could help stabilize the
Kindred of Liberty broke apart. As the Kindred domain, or could act as Boston’s quick burning
of Liberty’s successor, they’re New England’s fuse. While they give nominal voice to Boston’s
oldest Camarilla faction, originally consisting Kindred, they’re selective over who they listen to
of Native Americans and those who wanted to and advocate for, and are largely bound up with
break free from the British, but now co-opted their own aspirations. Their desire to listen to
by Prince Iversen as a flag with which to rally all neonate coteries who want the right to Embrace,
Kindred in her domain. The word “Camarilla” is or who wish to risk the Masquerade to force a
used seldomly in Boston, with younger vampires mortal into thralldom, are far beneath their
citing “the Bostonians” and “the Cam,” while spheres of interest.
those stuck in the past still refer to “the Coals” as The council has greater purpose and grip on the
their sect, when it’s relevant. domain than in Quentin King’s time, but now
that they have the power, without external foes
The Prince threatening the city they fixate on their own
localized concerns. It’s arguably a good problem
Prince Iversen’s position seems stable to the to have, except respected Primogen such as Hilda
average Boston Kindred. She rules with elegance, MacAndrews and Berel Underwood work to
hosts exquisite soirées, appears even-handed, and enrich themselves at the potential expense of
routinely takes counsel from the city’s Primogen. the Masquerade. Richard “call me Richard”
In reality, however, her reign is built on a house Dunham spends his time courting the city’s
of cards. The Primogen routinely jockey for more Malkavians with one hand while expanding
influence over her, the domain, or each other, and his laboratory experiments with another.
her far-reaching goals involving the Red Salon, Meanwhile, Jara Drory — a silent contributor to
sacrificing fledglings up for diablerie to satisfy Dunham’s research — attempts to fix her image
hungers and lessen the feeding stress on the Boston due to her reputation as a former Triad agent.
population, her plot to annex Worcester as part of In the background, Dajan Siaka and Delsin
the Boston domain by bending or breaking its Coates do their best to respond to the city’s more
current rulers to defer in all things to Boston, and administrative demands, enforcing the Traditions
thegoal ofunificationundertheBostonCamarilla where required, representing their sides and
banner, all place her on precarious ground. the Prince to the best of their ability, but they
Iversen believes she earned her position and remain overshadowed by their more ambitious
success, and listens to her advisors carefully, counterparts. Siaka’s personal attachments to
especially Richard, Hilda, and Berel. She plans to Salem and Coates’s single-minded devotion to the
consolidate her support, to guarantee her praxis Prince only impede matters.
lasts for decades, or centuries, rather than a handful
of forgettable years. To do that requires making
common cause with Anarchs and fledglings,
which is one of the places where her relative youth
as a vampire assists her.

34

The Wild Cards The third is Emem Louis, errant childe of Hilda
MacAndrews and until recently, a subject of
At least three of New England’s vampires may Quentin King’s strain of brutality. During
enable Iversen’s plans for New England to come King’s reign, Emem often fell afoul of King’s
to fruition, or cut it off at the knees, and send the capricious nature, and that of his knights, who
six states into anarchy. took their ire out on Emem for wrongs both
Leysha, childe of Richard Dunham, is the first. real and imagined, from Masquerade breaches
Something of an oracle, or seen as such among to violations of court etiquette, from being
many of the domain’s Kindred, this Malkavian the reincarnation of the Arthurian Morgana
served Quentin King as a seer and prophesied to slaying several of King’s knights. Though
to Hazel Iversen that her praxis would end in she’s on amicable terms with many Kindred
a terrible explosion, and soon. Prince Iversen’s in the domain — her closest confidante being
scared of Leysha, but also enchanted with the Journey Atkins, the city’s Keeper of Elysium
idea of premonitions that might aid her reign. — Emem feels her Beast raging within at all
The second is Galeb Bazory, one of the eldest times, and knows it won’t be long before it
vampires remaining in New England following explodes into action.
the Triad’s departure. A Ventrue lacking the Notable Kindred: Hazel Iversen, Jara Drory,
pride of most members in that clan, Galeb was Hilda MacAndrews, Dajan Siaka, Delsin Coates,
encouraged to take the role of Prince by his Berel Underwood, Richard Dunham, Galeb
childe Berel Underwood, and harshly declined. Bazory, Emem Louis, Leysha, Journey Atkins,
Despite Galeb’s overt self-removal from city many more.
politics following Quentin King’s disappearance, Spoiler Warning
many among the Boston Camarilla retell the The following coterie chart details some
tales of Bazory’s industriousness and vicious of the relationships within Vampire: The
nature, and wait for the moment this potent Masquerade — Swansong. Avoid this chart if
vampire regains his spark of ambition. With you want every relationship in the game to come
some Boston Kindred unhappy to serve such a as a surprise to you, as the chart contains clues as
young Prince, Bazory seizing praxis would be a to characters’ true feelings and motivations.
great improvement to their moods, and in their
view, their city’s status. He’s demonstrated no
desire for such a role, however.

35





The Hartford Ch

These nights, the major center of Tremere activity
in New England is Hartford, Connecticut.
Since their inception, the Gemini League were
a reclusive coterie led by fiscally-minded Blue
Blood and studious Warlocks of New Haven and
Hartford, Connecticut, named after the Gemini
Club in which they formed. Even now, the Hartford
Chantry — as its chief successor — attempts to keep
its affairs discrete from the rest of the American —
and in particular, the Boston — Camarilla.
The Hartford Chantry may appear weak next to
the Boston Camarilla, but shrewd decisions keeps
the coterie going. Their Regent Deneb Osborne
outlasted the Triad and most of the eldest Kindred of
Liberty, so he has good cause to feel smug. Though
Osborne’s Warlocks have been roundly mocked
for their paranoia regarding the Web, they’ve been
revitalized through their endurance, and now target
the Kindred who spent so long belittling them, with
Hilda MacAndrews and her offspring Emem Louis
at the top of their list.
The Warlocks would be content to remain quietly
successful in Connecticut, but Hazel Iversen —

38

hantry

independent of her Primogen — has invited them
to send representatives to Boston and take a seat
to counsel the city advisors. Having only recently
learned of this, the Boston Primogen are outraged.
They are the Boston Camarilla. These newcomers
are cockroaches who managed to withstand a blast;
not respectable Kindred, and especially not equals.
The Hartford Chantry cautiously approaches
the offer, having swiftly discovered this is part of
Iversen’s play to unite all Boston’s Kindred, and
spread this plan to New England. The Chantry
don’t want any leadership other than their own, but
they’re content to play nice in efforts to pay off their
debt to the Boston Camarilla, all the while keeping
their eyes open for old enemies spies. They’ve
reached out to the Tremere Primogen, Dajan Siaka,
in efforts to create a secure passage of information
between the cities.
Notable Kindred: Deneb Osborne (Regent),
Lynn Vance, Maddox Samuels, Graham Flemming,
Janis Wakefield, Clyde Moses, Mildred Woods,
Everett Green, Upton Rowlands, Jeremy Skelton,
several other Ventrue and Tremere of Connecticut.

39





The
Patriots

W ith the century-long hostilities small group of Anarch hackers with a “Massachusetts
between New England’s sects and First’’ attitude. In the opening nights of Iversen’s rise,
factions, the Anarch Movement the Patriots coterie collective removed one of King’s
has always been a background few remaining allies from Worcester. They installed
concern, acting as a drip tray for those Kindred whose themselves as an advisory council for the city’s Kindred,
coteries cast them out, whose sires spurn them, or nominating Thane as Baron. In normal times, such an
vampires who find themselves alone in the region action would provoke reprisals, but war weary and
without a Mawla or an ally. The Anarchs of New hoping for a new day under Iversen, the Kindred of
England have always struggled to unify, with the brief Massachusetts shrugged and waited to see how the
periods of joint cause disrupted when they discover Patriots’ leadership played out.
they’re being manipulated by the Triad, the K.O.L., The Patriots have long advocated for an end to callous
or the Web. Discovery of this kind breeds suspicion hunting through the streets and picking up vessels
and paranoia, and eventual infighting among the in nightclubs, considering the tradition selfish and
Anarchs who don’t split off and form new coteries. harmful to other Kindred in the domain. The Patriots
It’s only since the wars died down and Prince Iversen instead advocate for what they call “a feeding trough,” at
took the throne that the Anarchs have started meeting which all Kindred — no matter their station — can feed
and discussing their plans for the domains of New without fear or harm. The Patriots therefore cautiously
England, led by the self-titled Baron Randall Thane. back Iversen’s play for the Red Salon, as a result.
They’re helped by Iversen’s intention to bring all These nights, the Patriots expect any Kindred who
New England Kindred under her banner, as it means make their havens in Worcester to seek their counsel.
there’s less open hostility toward their Movement, They don’t believe in the imposition of law, but abide
but several Anarchs want to take advantage of the by “the Worcester Contract,” which says:
opening, Thane included. • I will not impose my will over any other Kindred.
Collectively, New England’s Anarch coteries are known • All my feeding will take place indoors, ideally in a
as “the Patriots,” but individually three prominent
Anarch coteries jockey for primacy. None are yet seen place the Patriots deem preferable.
as a threat to Iversen or the Boston Camarilla. Prior • I will take up arms in the event of external takeover
to Iversen’s praxis, all New England Anarchs existed
as a loose underbelly of Anarchs called “the SRs,” or of our domain.
socialist revolutionaries, who occasionally reared their • I will encourage diplomacy, negotiation, and
heads to extol the virtues of communal feeding areas,
cooperation on the subject of the Masquerade, but compromise in the event of internal antisocial
independence from any Prince-ordained laws or Sheriff- behavior.
delivered punishments. The SRs’ only achievement was Though it could be argued the Worcester Contract is
assassinating three of Quentin King’s Sheriffs and one just anotherset of laws,thePatriots neverdirectly punish
of his knights with bombs, until the position of Sheriff vampires who breach the contract. Instead, they expect
was dropped in Boston (and then Hazel reinstated the the Kindred in domain to regulate themselves, which to
role with her ascension to praxis). date, has proven to be a successful (if sometimes petty or
Many Anarchs of the SRs reformed as the Dead Ferals excessive) method of domain governance.
— a biker gang led by a Gangrel named Saule — who Notable Kindred: Randall Thane (social idealist),
are still predisposed toward explosive revolution, and Viola Anderson (cold pragmatist and Iversen’s contact),
Cerys’s Militiamen, who act as Randall Thane’s honor Saule (violent revolutionary), Rafa (hacktivist), Cerys
guard. Beyond them, a vampire named Rafa leads a (bodyguard), Joey Patriarca (New England gangster),
Yong-Sung (Camarilla defector).

43





Other Factions and Coteries

New England’s a broad The Special Affairs Division king to protect and the direct
region, and plenty of Kindred arrived in Boston in 2016, manipulations of Biltmore
refuse to subscribe to any occupying a disused, Cold (who, while possibly active
of its sectarian politicking. War-era base on Long Island. and alert, unlike his fellow
Indeed, many have existed in They swiftly discovered Triad members, is no longer
the region for several lifetimes, proof of supernatural activity in New England), they rove
keeping themselves aloof from throughout New England, around New England looking
the wars and philosophical including werewolves and for portents they can tie to
debates consuming Boston vampires, and due to the their Arthurian delusions and
and its neighboring cities. severity of the infestation skirt the line of falling into
Some of these smaller groups called upon consultants in wightdom as they embark
and powerful individuals the Society of St. Leopold upon pointless “quests'' to keep
have the capacity to sway to establish a large-scale themselves from frenzying.
situations to the advantage elimination operation. These Kindred are sad exa-
of one player or another, if The mortals who know of mples of what happens when
they lend their weight to a blankbodies aren’t naive. All a vampire’s been held in thrall
cause. Independently, they’re it’ll take is one Kindred getting for decades, or even centuries,
curiosities. As kingmakers, sloppy, word getting out from and all of a sudden the cord
they’re each a potential danger. the Red Salon, or a vengeful between slave and master
Hunters of the Second vampire trying (as many snaps. It’s possible they could
Inquisition: Not a coterie, have tried before) to use the be rehabilitated and reinte-
naturally, but a presence Inquisition as a cudgel against grated into Kindred society,
throughout America in the their enemies, for the Special but they were never truly a
form of FIRSTLIGHT and Affairs Division to fix its beams part of it, and it’s more likely
to a lesser extent, the Entity, on the Boston Kindred. In Iversen will quietly command
along with fringe divisions fact, they’re already planning their destruction should she
of government agencies a clandestine mission titled hear of them wandering the re-
and localized paramilitary Operation Swansong... gion. Of course, if the knights
cells of hunters, the Second The Knights: Quentin King do find a new Arthur, they
Inquisition is here and it’s not may be gone, but some of his could become valuable body-
going away. knights remain. Lacking a guards and hired killers.

46

The Circulatory years, the British Camarilla argue against a return to the
System: Newly influence on New England, old ways, and many nightly
aware of Prince exerted through a coterie plan Iversen’s Final Death and
Iversen’s and known as the Triad, was an a return to a war-footing for all
Richard Dunham’s Red Sa- anachronism representing of New England.
lon enterprise, the Circulatory something historic and best Despite this, no Triad resusci-
System has dispatched agents forgotten. The American tation has taken place to date as
throughout New England to people had moved on from a far as is known, with Iversen’s
locate and disrupt the threat desire for rule from a far-off Kindred warily eyeing all co-
to their prized market. They’re monarch, so the American teries for signs of disloyalty to
not so foolish as to want to Kindred should do likewise. the Boston Camarilla.
expose any Red Salons to the For vampires Embraced over The Web: A coterie formed
mortal gaze (increased scruti- 30 years ago, however, the for the express purpose of
ny isn’t good for anyone in the Triad stood for aggression, information gathering,
blood trafficking industry), but dominance, and imposition scrutinizing, and implementing,
they’re content to sabotage and of will. To many, especially the Web was one of the most
make the business more costly those raised in the traditions flexible of the Triad’s weapons
than it is beneficial. of Clans Ventrue, Lasombra, during the New England
A coterie without allies might Tzimisce, and Tremere, the wars. Perhaps its greatest
find themselves approached Triad holds great appeal, asset was how commonly it
by Circulatory System agents, especially when compared to was believed to be an Anarch
offering them a chance for Iversen’s apparently open- enterprise. Its head — the
quick money and all the blood minded, unity-driven praxis. Nosferatu Stanford Warwick
dolls they can eat, if they can Further, the Triad’s fighting — was an unknown on the
perform some undercover coteries — the Redcoats — political scene until he took
work. Doing so would make still exist with largely the same Providence, Rhode Island as
an enemy of the Kindred of membership. They pledged his domain, and even then his
Liberty, however. allegiance to the new Prince, attachment to the Web was
The Triad: To vampires forswore old loyalties, and one of New England’s best
Embraced within the last 30 now abide by Prince Iversen’s kept secrets.
rule. But, few of them would

47

Warwick’s style was while the Triad benefited from perma-
to send forth loyal nently reliable intelligence.
spies, all Nosfera- Warwick vanished along with the other
tu, in what he called members of the Triad and most other
“web strands.” Four strands stretched elders in New England, but Providence
across New England in different di- soon gained a new Prince in the form
rections, with each strand picking up of one of his childer and Web spy, Kurt
other Nosferatu for the cause. As far as Densch. With the Triad disintegrated,
most Nosferatu knew, they were part Densch led the Web as a formal Anarch
of a spy network opposing the Sabbat. concern. The few spies who knew the
The truth was the Web was a force of Web was a Triad operation don’t know if
misrule designed to oppose anyone Densch was wilfully redirecting the Web,
not aligned to the Triad. Through or whether he always believed it was an
Warwick’s agents, the Web sold intelli- Anarch coterie, but affiliations changed
gence to the American Camarilla, the overnight without fuss.
Sabbat, the few Anarch enterprises of In turn, Densch vanished. Kindred
note in the region, the Hecata, and in the Web are even now investigating
even outliers among the proto-Mi- whether he went to ground to better run
nistry and few Ravnos holdouts in the his secretive coterie, or whether he was
region. They constantly tipped scales “Beckoned” like so many other vampires.
when one side appeared dominant
in the war, to keep every enemy weak

48

Boston

The pride of New England, of Massachusetts, community, including Kindred from Black
and one might argue, one of the brightest jewels communities. Anarchs in Boston sometimes
in the Camarilla crown, Boston stands tall as use the Meeting House for its original purpose
a city for mortals and a domain for Kindred. or worship, or to pass conspiratorial messages
Boston is rich with commerce, tourists, politics, back and forth to each other in a location lacking
and finance. It looks out onto the Atlantic, bears Camarilla scrutiny.
a rich history for the entire nation, and sees The Black Rattlers: Some of the most sought-
copious traffic passing through it. Its architecture after lounge clubs around Boston, numbering
and city design stands out among other cities of three in total (but likely to expand in number,
its size, and it houses some of the finest seats of due to their popularity), these nightspots fall
learning in the nation. under the control of the Toreador Emem.
Boston is the heart of Vampire: The She makes good on her claims to book only
Masquerade — Swansong, the home of our delightfully curated jazz women and DJs from
protagonists, and a domain thick with potential around the world, making the Black Rattlers
stories and encounters. The below sites in Boston places of pilgrimage for any fans of a fusion of
are but a small collection of places a coterie might house, downtempo and jazz.
explore or find introduction to, in this great city. Emem forbids hunting in her clubs, but there’s
The African Meeting House: The oldest Black talk of an underground line of rule-breaking
church in the United States stands in Boston, Kindred who use the Black Rattlers as their
once being a place for segregated peoples to preferred feeding grounds, due just to the music
come together in worship. These nights, it exists quality and the sheer number of people who visit
as a museum like so many of the other historic and then leave Boston in the days that follow.
buildings in Boston, but the African Meeting The Black Rattlers venue has a friendly rivalry
House (sometimes known as the First African with Iversen’s preferred club, the Grand.
Baptist Church or Belknap Street Church) has
a deep cultural value to many of Boston’s Black

49

Combat Zone:

In downtown Boston, centered on Washington Street, you’d have once found
the Combat Zone. The area was a haven of adult entertainment, sex work,
bathhouses, and more depraved activities, before the city renovated the area,
removing or relocating its more questionable businesses. For Kindred, howe-
ver, the Combat Zone never went away. Just because the Hayden Building’s
porn theater and bathhouse was changed into luxury apartments, doesn’t
mean vampires don’t use those apartments for hookups with blood dolls and
to literally pit ghouls against each other in combat sports. The veneer changed,
but the content remained the same. Iversen’s concerned the Combat Zone
will draw mortal police attention, but Berel Underwood’s assuaged her, to
date, ensuring police commissioners and politicians enjoy the Combat Zone’s
offerings and filming them in the process.

Faneuil Hall:

Faneuil Hall was built in the 18th century as a market hall
co-opted for public meetings, colonists protesting British taxes, and by the
mid-19th century, anti-slavery rallies. It’s a building with great historical si-
gnificance to many Kindred and kine, with the few vampires present in New
England at that time sometimes spending hours basking in its history, remem-
bering an earlier time with nostalgia, guilt, or loathing. Faneuil Hill still plays
host to markets that spill out into the streets, day and night, and is often used
as a place for Kindred to conduct business in front of witnesses.

50