Chicago By Night (Vampire the Masquerade 5th Edition)

CHICAGO BY NIGHT

THE OCCULT SCENE

THE CITY SUCCESS FAILURE

1 Omen You see a positive omen on your travels. Gain a die You see a bad omen on your travels. Lose a die on
on all Occult rolls for the evening. all Occult rolls for the evening.

2 Ritual You have been invited to a ritual taking place in a You have stumbled into a ritual taking place some-
location of power somewhere in the city. where in the city.

3 New Age You receive a thread of Golconda, a brief moment of You have met someone who “understands your
relief from damnation. What made that happen? condition” and will “help you along your path” even
without your consent.

4 Temple You have located some place sacred to a group of You have located a place sacred to mortals and
mortals. its true faith has marked you in some way. The PC
suffers −1 die from an Attribute roll of the Storyteller’s
choosing.

5 Grimoire Chicago holds a trove of ancient tomes filled with You have found something that has cursed you with
powerful magics. You have acquired one. some level of knowledge that is incredibly dangerous
to possess.

6 “Magical” Item You find something incredibly valuable to a group You have found a supposed “magical” item that is
of people. You have no idea how it works but you completely useless yet a group of individuals wants
have it. it from you.

7 Dark The manifestation of magics greater than you has You have walked through the wake of something
touched you. +1 die to all Stealth rolls for the more powerful than you and it has changed your
evening. scent. Subtract a die from all Stealth rolls for the
evening.

8 Sacrifice Your blood is highly sought after by a group of mor- You check all the boxes for a sacrifice that was sup-
tals and they are willing to help you for it. posedly prophesied.

9 The Spirits You have been seeing moving things that shouldn’t Things keep going wrong; take the Haunted flaw for
be there all over the city and you don’t know why. the evening.

10 Will Worker You meet a real magician who can bend the very You meet a “magician” who is ready to show you
fabric of reality around them. about how powerful they are for the next hour.

THE UNDERWORLD

THE CITY SUCCESS FAILURE

1 Gunshots or It was fireworks, no big deal. It was gunshots and there are people running
Fireworks? down the block you’re on.

2 Brawl You witness a fight that has broken out in the You get accosted by a random stranger.
street.

3 Petty Theft Where is your phone? Where is your watch? Where is your wallet or purse?

4 Panhandled Hey, can you spare some change? I’m down on This person will just not let go of your attention by
my luck. stepping in front of you or grabbing onto you.

5 Drug Deal You get offered illegal drugs. You’re not a narc, You witness an illegal drug deal and the offenders
right? are walking toward you.

6 Breaking and Entering Someone has attempted to break into your haven Someone successfully broke into your haven.
but was clearly disturbed before they succeeded.

7 Gang Violence There has been a drive-by shooting and thankfully There has been a drive-by shooting and you or
no one was hurt. someone near you have been hit.

8 Pressure One of your Touchstones is being threatened. One of your Touchstones has been physically
assaulted.

9 White-Collar Crime An area in your character’s control has assets or An area in your character’s control is victim of a
money stolen from it. hostile takeover.

10 Extortion You are being extorted by someone and you You are being extorted by someone. You don’t
know exactly who they are and what they want. know on what basis or what they want.

350

APPENDIX

DRAGOON

THE CITY SUCCESS FAILURE

1 Bureaucracy Another vampire in the city offers you a favor: They’ll Someone has obliterated your personal records in
create an entire separate alias for you. the county and federal filings.

2 Finance With the assistance of a knowledgeable ally, you Your accounts, assets, and portfolios have all been
take the proper precautions to create a perfect frozen by a rival. But which one?
financial portfolio that should maintain and maybe
grow your Resources over the year.

3 Health Paperwork from the mortal courts has landed in your You have been declared deceased by the county.
lap from an anonymous benefactor. You can declare You first find out about it when you read your own
someone deceased. obituary.

4 High Society A contact provides you with some key information Your or a coterie member’s establishment’s reputa-
that can help destroy the reputation of a new estab- tion has been socially tarnished by a rival.
lishment.

5 Industry You receive a hot tip regarding which pioneering A massive union strike cripples your resources and
industry in your city is worth investing in, and the associated businesses for a long duration. Is a
benefits you could receive by doing so. vampire behind it?

6 Legal A judge owes you a favor and can summon some- You have been summoned to court at 9 A.M. It
one to court during the day time, if you have their could be a way for the Second Inquisition to flush
name and address. you out.

7 Police You can apply pressure to a dirty cop who has You are tailed for an evening by the police and they
agreed to erase your criminal history from city watch your every move.
records.

8 Political You have connections with the local ward and A politician running for office has dropped your
alderman staff. They could grant you construction name specifically in their smear campaign. You
permission for a new haven or nightspot, or maybe didn’t realize you were on their radar.
interfere with an enemy’s civic activities.

9 Organized Crime We got that thing you wanted. It fell off a truck We got that thing you wanted. By the way, I really
somewhere. No questions asked, you’re handed an love your house. I could see myself living in it…I
item you’ve been looking for. hope we can keep doing business.

10 University Not only do you have access to the campus at night Someone has been making their way through
due to a fake student or faculty ID, giving you ac- members of your friend group from back when you
cess to student housing rich in blood, you can also were a mortal student, questioning them about you
coerce the board into awarding you an honorary and in some cases killing them. Word has gotten
degree. back to you.

351

CHICAGO BY NIGHT

PEOPLE PERSON

THE CITY SUCCESS FAILURE

1 Police Intentionally or not, you helped the cops tackle The local cops think you’re a menace or a nui-
a wanted perp. Word has spread about your sance due to rumors they’ve heard about you, the
good deed. You gain a dot in Contacts: CPD for way you act, or the color of your skin. You lose a
the remainder of the story. You may keep it if you die on Social rolls when dealing with all members
cultivate the relationship and spend experience of the CPD.
points on the Background.

2 Fire Department The CFD believes you’re the kind of person who Someone in the fire department hates you and has
will help out if someone is stuck in a burning build- ensured there’s a delay to send a fire truck out to
ing or a cat is up a tree. You gain +1 die on Social your haven if a call ever comes in.
rolls when dealing with all members of the CFD for
the remainder of the story.

3 Garbage A member of the Chicago Sanitary Union found Another vampire has put in a word with the Chica-
a limb in trash collected near your haven, but in- go Sanitary Union that you don’t need your trash
stead of calling the police, came to you offering to collected anymore, so it just stacks up outside your
dispose of the body part in exchange for payment. haven.

4 Chicago Teachers A local teacher has taken an interest in you and A student has reported you as disturbing, leading
Union would love for you to come to their school and to a closing of ranks among faculty, staff, and the
speak to students about your area of expertise. student body. You lose two dice on Social rolls
Gain a dot in Influence: Students for the remainder when dealing with all members of the CTU.
of the story. You may keep it if you cultivate the
relationship and spend experience points on the
Background.

5 Service & Hospitality You’ve already slipped the concierge a little cash The staff keep asking you about your strangely
Industry for a room in the center of the hotel, where no light nocturnal lifestyle, how you never order food, and
can penetrate and you can take a guest until the where that busboy went. Without a sizeable tip,
next night, no questions asked. they will try to get you to leave.

6 Bartenders You helped a bartender out of a sticky spot with The next time you head into your favorite haunt,
a dangerous customer recently, and they haven’t you find your name behind the bar. You’ve been
forgotten. You can arrange a private party on the banned from the premises for actions that may be
premises just once, after closing hours. false or you just can’t remember, and the bouncers
are coming for you.

7 Construction Workers You’ve got a good line on a building firm making The next time you head into your favorite haunt,
reliable structures on the cheap. You could pur- you find your name behind the bar. You’ve been
chase a dot in the Haven Background for the same banned from the premises for actions that may be
experience-point cost as a new level in a Skill. false or you just can’t remember, and the bouncers
are coming for you.

8 Security Guards A mortal for whom you recently did a good turn The security in the local shopping mall is convinced
comes to you with an offer: they’ll keep an eye on you are the thief who’s been stealing from them.
your property while you’re away or busy, at no Whenever they spot you they will harass you or try
cost to you. You gain a dot in the Retainer Back- to get you arrested, unless you can convince them
ground for the duration of the story. of your innocence.

9 Union Card You recognize the struggle of the working mortal, You betrayed the union when they were striking
perhaps having lived that life yourself. You still pay and they’ll never forget your scabbing. You lose
into a union and gain a dot in Contacts: Union two dice on Social rolls when dealing with the
and another in Allies: Union for so doing, lasting union with whom you were affiliated for a duration
until the end of the chronicle. Choose the type of determined by the Storyteller.
union you support.

10 Aldermanic Council The Chicago City Council rewards those who have You’ve been caught up in one of the many
paid into it for as long as you have. You know corruption scandals afflicting Chicago’s council.
which strings to pull for building or demolition per- You must either send a representative to court on
mits, and even have access to city archives. You your behalf or lose a dot of Resources in fines for
gain two dots in Influence: Aldermanic Council for your presumed crime, recovering it at the end of
the remainder of the story. the story.

352

APPENDIX

THE COLLAR COUNTIES

THE CITY SUCCESS FAILURE
1 Community
This is the third time that one old lady has walked by There is a group of neighbors walking toward you and
Watch with her dog. they aren’t bringing a pie.
2 Lost
You’re pretty sure you are completely lost somewhere in You just could have sworn that you were supposed to
3 Gas Station the Collar. Thankfully you know if you head due south, take that last right turn. There is no cell signal out here,
4 Subdivision you’ll eventually hit I-80, hopefully before sunup? either.
5 Insular
There is one helpful person behind the counter and his The gas-station bathroom door just got kicked open and
Citizens skin just looks a little too tight over his face. something is running out of it.
6 Isolation
Why do the people dress the same out here? Wait, that Everything looks the same out here. Where the hell are
7 Secret guy blinked at the same time as that other woman. we?
Society
You know when you aren’t welcome, and you are most You may be unwelcome, but these folks want to make
8 The Fields definitely aren’t welcome here. sure you never come back here. Ever.
9 Bored Cops
You need to get out of here, but you don’t know where Why is the very act of being in this place making your
10 Tracked “here” is and how to do that. Beast freak out? Take one Superficial Willpower dam-
age every hour you are in the Collar.

You have stumbled upon a gathering of kine that You have walked into a meeting that you had no place
seemingly have plans. You don’t know exactly what being even remotely a part of. But now you’re here and
they are yet. they won’t let you leave.

Why do all the bugs out here seem so huge? What is moving all of the corn and coming toward us?
And what is that clicking sound?

You could swear you have been through three towns, What brings you to town? License and registration,
but that car is still following you. please. We don’t particularly like your kind around
these parts.

You realize there’s a large creature that smells distinctly of There’s a beast on that rooftop, ready to attack. Allow
an animal of some kind following you and your people. one surprise attack round for the enemy.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

THE CITY SUCCESS FAILURE

1 Rogue A ghoul you know is desperate for vampire blood and A ghoul you know is looking to get your vitae any way
Ghoul is willing to work with you. they can.

2 Med Card You come across an abandoned ambulance that was There’s a missing shipment of blood and the owner, a
shipping a significant amount of blood. Where did the powerful elder, is blaming your coterie for its disap-
owners go? pearance.

3 Malnutrition All the kine in this area have experienced a level of All the blood in this area is just not healthy enough to
economic poverty that has affected their blood. All be used properly. You immediately vomit it up.
blood taken from this area deducts one die from all
Athletics or Brawl rolls for the evening.

4 Damnation You come across a dying human. They have been most- You have come across a recently Embraced Kindred in
ly exsanguinated and are desperate for help. frenzy from their first hunger.

5 Lead All the kine on this street have poisonous blood that All the kine have lead poisoning in their blood in this
Poisoning will cause you to take two Superficial Health damage area and will cause four Superficial Health damage
whenever you drink. whenever you drink from them.

6 Psychopomp You come across a vampire who murdered a mortal You come across a Kindred who has killed during
during feeding. They beg you for help. feeding. They run off into the night and there are sirens
in the distance.

7 Rival Coterie You have met an openly hostile coterie and they are There is a coterie out there, somewhere, working
here to fuck up your night. against you. You just don’t know which.

8 Industrial This area is so saturated with industrial chemicals the The blood you just devoured is so saturated with
Blight blood is outright dangerous. It causes you to roll −2 chemicals that it’s toxic. Take one Aggravated Health
dice on all Stamina-based rolls for the evening. damage for every drink. It’s a miracle these mortals are
still alive.

9 Missing You get a distressing message from one of your Touch- Your Touchstone is missing. You haven’t seen them in
Touchstone stones. some time. You’re beginning to get scared.

10 Wight You stumble upon a Wight who has killed and is feed- You stumble upon a Wight who has just finished off a
ing from a corpse. It has yet to notice you. meal and is looking for something more fortifying.

353

CHICAGO BY NIGHT

ELYSIA

THE CITY SUCCESS FAILURE

1 Thin- A Duskborn looks up to you as a leader and can give A pack of thin-bloods are taking quite a “liking” to you.
Bloods you some tips for roughing it. You gain +1 die to all Your vitae could make them more powerful.
Streetwise rolls for the rest of the evening.

2 Caitiff A local Caitiff believes they may know something dubi- A local Caitiff believes they are of your bloodline or
ous of your lineage and are willing to trade for it. may even be your childe, and is threatening to make a
scene of it.

3 Brujah A Brujah finds a moment of camaraderie in their hatred Wait, what did you just say? You get into a debate with
for someone by slipping you some intel. a coterie of Brujah. Good luck with that.

4 Gangrel A Gangrel catches your scent and finds you novel. They A Gangrel senses your Beast and just doesn’t like it. They
wish to discuss hunting tactics with you and provide are slowly circling you or have their hackles up.
you some much-needed pointers. You gain +1 die to all
hunting rolls for the rest of the evening.

5 Malkavian A Malkavian provides you a brief flash into your You have something of the Malkavian’s (no, you don’t)
subconscious by indulging in a bit of micro-therapy with and you know where it is (no, you don’t) and it simply
you. You gain +1 die to all Insight rolls for the rest of the must come out.
evening.

6 Nosferatu A Nosferatu has a piece of information for you, for a A Nosferatu knows someone has put a mark on your
fee. Trust me, it’s worth the price. data. They could feed them bad info for a fee.

7 Toreador The Toreador just love your ensemble and speak highly Your outfit is grinding against the Toreador and they
of you about the town. Gain +1 die to all Persuasion are making it quite a thing. Loudly. Lose −1 die to all
rolls for the evening. Etiquette rolls for the evening.

8 Tremere A Tremere loved the last book you read and wants to The Tremere keep looking at you and whispering. One
talk about it at length. They drop some knowledge on made some gesture with their fingers and the other is
you, but in plain speak. Gain +1 on all Academics rolls furiously writing something down.
for the rest of the evening.

9 Ventrue The Harpy has just made you aware a certain Ventrue is The Ventrue are looking to procure something of value
looking to procure a boon from you for a high price. from you. They’ll acquire it or take it, come hell or high
water.

10 Lasombra The Lasombra are looking for allies. They need a person The Lasombra think harming you would show the rest of
just like you and they are willing to pay handsomely. the Camarilla just how serious they are about joining.

354

APPENDIX

DIGNITARIES AND DEBUTANTES

THE CITY SUCCESS FAILURE
1 The Church of Caine
You are being courted by The Cainite Heresy. They You are on the local preacher’s list of the deserving
2 The Baron keep sending you “gifts.” Damned. He enjoys directing his congregation to
mess with your night.
3 The Herald
The local Baron has taken an interest in you and be- The local Baron thinks you’re a bootlick and com-
4. The Hound lieves you have something that would help improve mands the other Anarchs to tell you to “get fucked.”
the Movement.
5. The Primogen
Council The Herald has an interesting bit of gossip for you if The Herald has just sold one of your boons to
you are willing to trade for some of your own. someone. They will tell you who, for a trade of
6 The Ambassador information.

7 The Keeper The Hound currently ignores your presence and may The Hound has taken an intense interest in one of
of Elysium even look to you for some intel on a subject. your Touchstones. They say this mortal knows too
much.
8 The Sheriff
9 The Seneschal The Primogen are looking for a certain someone The Primogen are looking for a certain someone
with your exact set of skills and might elevate you to with your exact set of skills, except that person is
10 The Prince a title if you serve them. not you and could never be you. You’re worthless
to them.

A diplomat from one of the sects has an important The Ambassador has tarnished your name in an-
message for you from a vampire in another domain. other domain due to a perceived offense you made

against them.

The Keeper needs someone to deliver a piece of art The Keeper will be holding the next Elysium in your
to the next Elysium. Are you willing? territory whether you like it or not.

You know the Sheriff has a new case, and you have The Sheriff would like to interview you about a
a significant piece of evidence in it. recent breach of the Traditions.

The Seneschal is willing to offer you a major boon The Seneschal is looking to speak with you privately.
for your assistance in a very private matter. Please, Now. Please, step into this room.
step into this room.

The Prince is offering the Right of Progeny to some- There are rumbles the Prince will soon be splitting up
one and you are on the shortlist. But, why? existing territories. You are on the shortlist. But, why?

355