Other Domains

**Frost** · Jan 4th, 2012 03:33 PM

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

On the surface, Ft. Lauderdale is a thriving city full of sights and wonders for the urbanely challenged. The city shines brightly in the hot sun of Florida like a jewel among the rough rocks from which it was born. Most mortals go about their daily lives in peace, content with the hand of fortune life has dealt them. They are unaware of the subtle cloud of fear that hangs over the city or the deep darkness and terror that lies just beneath the polished veneer.

The city is run by Prince Victor Hallus, a Ventrue Circle of the Crone of high standing and refined tastes. Most of (if not all) his associates are also Crone and he tolerates only a few kindred of other covenants to hold any positions of authority. If one were to speak to the kindred of Ft. Lauderdale they would be told that Prince Hallus is a stern ruler, but fair and he doesn’t miss much of what goes on in his city. He also is not lax when it comes to delivering justice for crimes committed against the Traditions or his laws. What one would soon discover is Prince Hallus is obsessed with only one thing in his undead existence: control.

At first glace the laws of the city seem to be acceptable, even common sense. If one were to stop and give it further thought, however he would find that most of the laws tend to restrict one’s independence and push towards a specific school of thought. The way in which the city officers conduct themselves seems rigid, mechanical, and lacking a sense of individual flare.

Staying in Ft. Lauderdale for any length of time would reveal the place to be well maintained and run, but lacking a sense of true warmth and community. “Ruling with an Iron Fist” seems to be the motto of Prince Hallus and most of the city officers show an uncanny loyalty to the Ventrue. However, there are quite a few of Ft. Lauderdale’s kindred population who do not hold the Prince in any esteem what-so-ever.

Sometime in the early 1930’s Prince Hallus took the throne of Ft. Lauderdale and began to remold the city. The large boost in population also brought a number of kindred with it and thus the court of the city was born. Shortly after Hallus’s claim to power, the Invictus and Sanctum of Southern Florida attempted to rise up and take the city for themselves. Unfortunately there were not enough in either covenant to do the task properly and they only succeeded in isolating their respective groups. Hallus took pity on the Invictus, saying they were unduly influenced by the twisted ideals of the Sanctified and were allowed to reside within the city. The Sanctified were not as fortunate and have been banned from Hallus’s domain since. They do not really view this as a loss though, considering Hallus treats all non-Crone kindred with the same attitude of barely concealed disdain.

The Carthian Movement

Prefect: Samantha Walker

Most Carthians seem content to keep to themselves and go about their nightly business unhindered. They follow the laws of the city and pit on a face of cooperation. Behind closed doors, they discuss the state of the domain and the chafe of Hallus’s rule. They have already sent forth members to infiltrate the other covenants and find answers to a number of unasked questions. They do seek to break the Prince’s hold on the city, but they have not discovered a means to do so.

The Circle of the Crone

Hierophant: Victor Hallus

Currently there are more Crone in Ft. Lauderdale then any other covenant. Of course this is to be expected when the Prince himself is a member. Strangely, the Crone do not flaunt their status among the other kindred or host elaborate ceremonies and celebrations. They seem to be a quiet lot who regard their Prince with loyalty and in some cases adoration.

There is a rather disturbing rumor roving through the covenant, however and some of the Crone have perked up their ears to listen. Some have speculated Hallus to be a member of the Queen Bee bloodline. They claim it explains the actions of the Prince and the utter loyalty he seems to have from select Crone and his mortal staff. These are only rumors though and are not discussed in any kind of open fashion.

The Invictus

Alder Lord Jonathan Trist

Although the attempted coo seemed to have tarnished their reputation, most of the Invictus do not seem as ruffled by their diminished status as they should be. When the Sanctified were cast out of the domain, the Invictus opened it’s arms and invited them to join the First Estate. Most of the Sanctum were thus absorbed into the Invictus, as it should be of course.

This allows them to reside within the domain without fear of being hunted down and continue their plans to remove Hallus. The Sanctified/newly Invictus members have decided Hallus is not what he seems. Maybe Brood, maybe something worse, they aren’t exactly sure but they mean to find out. With careful planning and quiet determination, they carry on their existence in the lie of the Invictus.

The Lancea Sanctum

There are no Sanctified in Ft. Lauderdale. Every Sanctified has been hunted down and slaughtered like the dogs they are or forced out of the city by means of threat and intimidation.

The Ordo Dracul

Covenent head: Rhianna Mims

Throughout Prince Hallus’s reign the Ordo Dracul has been left to their own devices for the most part. They have heard the rumors. They have listened to the “truth” of both sides and have chosen to stay on the teetering edge of neutrality. Some Dragons have argued it to be in their best interests to get involved in the conflict, but most disagree with this sentiment. The Queen Bees are a myth and the Brood could not possibly be organized enough to run such an elaborate scam on the Crone. But still some wonder what the truth really is…….

The Unaligned

Surprisingly, there are quite a few Unaligned kindred in Ft. Lauderdale. Most of them tend to reside in the Everglades and other secluded areas of the city, staying away from the political and religious conflicts that could rise up. They are certain to announce themselves when entering the city and proclaiming their wish to stay, but this is more to do with the fear of Prince Hallus’s Sheriff then out of any real respect for the Prince himself.

Victor would prefer not to have any Unaligned in his territory. Thus the Crone have been instructed to try vigorous recruitment techniques to bring the Unaligned (and therefore unenlightened) into the fold.

Jan 4th, 2012 09:14 PM

NAIROBI: The Darkest Capital

History

At the end of the 19th century, the Animal That Looks Like A Man awoke from a long sleep and was surprised to find himself in the presence of creatures almost as bizarre as he was. These were men with strange light skin. They laid metal and wood on the ground to make a road for a great iron snake, and fought with the Kikuyu and Maasai who formed his herd. He considered destroying them, but decided to sit and wait to see what would happen.

These people built an outpost on his land that became a settlement, a seat of colonial power. People began to come to the land, and the village began to grow larger and faster than the Animal Who Looks Like A Man thought possible. More creatures like him arrived. Young Gangrel slunk in from the countryside, following the tribes they fed on into the city. From across the sea, vampires who called themselves Rakshasa came to feed on the Indian immigrants and do business among the dead just as their herds did business among the living. From the coast, the Shaitan came to preach how Jesus had spilled his blood to create the vampire prophet Longinus, who was to vampires as Mohammad was to men. Two white vampires also arrived. One said he was Unconquered and wanted to rule over the other vampires, and one said he was Carthian and wanted to live with the other vampires. The Animal Who Looks Like A Man ate the soul of the first and spared the latter.

As the humans grew in number, the black humans demanded their freedom from the white humans. They made sacred oaths to each-other in the woods to fight the British, and although they lost their war, they inspired some vampires. These vampires listened to the Carthian’s words, and declared that they would not allow a king to rule over them. They made powerful oaths sworn in blood to protect their declaration, and became the rulers of the city as a group. They called themselves Mungiki.

When the colonial governor left and the black men took power, the Animal That Looks Like A Man feared that war would break out between the Rakshasa, the Shaitan, and the Mungiki. So he made himself known, and killed many vampires on all sides. They banded together to fight him, and he let them think that they defeated him. But when they fought, he would reappear. When the Rakshasa were threatened by the Shaitan during the failed coup d’etat of 1982, he reappeared and slaughtered both sides until they joined to fight him. When the Uhuru split from the Mungiki, saying the latter were too obsessed with magic and not fighting for freedom, he reappeared again and forced the soldiers of Uhuru and the witches of Mungiki to join together. To this day he watches over his city, guiding the vampires from a distance as they compete for control over the bustling metropolis that once was nothing but a train stop.

The Covenants:

Uhuru: The Uhuru resemble the Carthians of the West. These are secular politicians, interested in modern ideologies such as communism, African socialism, and liberal democracy. The Uhuru rule Nairobi through a parliament that is a mix of elders serving ‘for life’ and younger vampires who are elected or appointed by the elders, depending on the ever-changing and oft-debated constitution of the Uhuru. This parliament makes the laws and doles out territorial rights and other giveaways that Americans would call pork, and appoints vampires from the population at large to carry out its edicts. There is no leader as such, but a Gangrel ancilla named Stanley Mathenge (in life, a general of the Mau Mau freedom fighters) is rapidly gaining power. Some whisper that he may soon try to make himself the leader of the Uhuru.

Mungiki: The Mungiki are Nairobi’s version of the Circle of the Crone. They focus most of their attention on developing and practicing a type of blood magic that is based on two or more participants taking oaths with supernatural effects. These oaths are fueled by vitae like Cruac, but resemble Invictus oaths on steroids. Any belief is welcome in the Mungiki, so long as proper reverence for oaths is observed. Traditional Kenyan religions are the most common, but some Mungiki claim to be Pentecostal Christians and a few are Hindu devotees of Kali.

Kshatriya: In India, they were the warrior caste. In Kenya, they are the business caste-fixers who will hide bodies, procure vessels, and build havens for the right price. The Kshatriya’s hard core is a coterie of Rakshasa elders, but Kenya’s culture of capitalism has ensured that they have many neonate recruits from all clans looking to gain the temporal money and influence that only they can give. This greed is tempered by the ceremonialism and ritual the Rakshasa imported from India, which emphasizes respect for elders and deference to the covenant leaders.

Shaitan: Although originally Islamic based, the leaders of this group of vampires emphasize Longinus and consider debates about Mohammed versus Jesus to be beside the point. As long as vampires believe in Allah and follow the laws of the dark prophet, they will be saved no matter what religion they professed in life. The Shaitan are currently being bolstered by an influx of Islamic vampires from Somalia, but hidden among these is a twisted sect that whispers that vampires are devils and should act like such. The Shaitan tries to suppress the Brood infiltrating their ranks, but fear that this problem is growing too big to control.

Jan 5th, 2012 01:15 AM

Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

Minneapolis–Saint Paul is the most populous urban area in the state of Minnesota, United States, and is composed of 186 cities and townships built around the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix rivers. The area is also nicknamed the Twin Cities for its two largest cities, Minneapolis, with the highest population, and Saint Paul, the state capital.

Saint Paul and Minneapolis have had a friendly rivalry since there inception and the Kindred Domains are no different. Only perhaps less friendly. Saint Paul and Minneapolis, although referred to as the twin cities, are completely separate the two cities are independent municipalities with defined borders and are quite distinct from each other. Again the Kindred Community is no different, having separate domains, hierarchy, and laws.

The Domains are not only separated by boundaries but have also come to a separation of fundamental beliefs. The Carthain Movement have found a home in the younger, more modern, Minneapolis. Whereas the Lancea Sanctum have rose to prominence in the older German Catholic rooted Saint Paul.

The Lancea have slowly, over the decades, removed any presence of the other Covenants from the City of Saint Paul as they make their home within the Cathedral of Saint Paul. As the Lancea have gained control of the Archdiocese they also made their way into the government offices of the state.

Over in Minneapolis the Carthians have worked there way up in a far different way then the Lancea Sanctum. As the Lance made there way into power through the Church and through intelligence. The Carthians incited chaos within the other covenants. The Movement planted evidence, fabricated stores and paid off witnesses to drive the other covenants into turmoil. Once chaos settled, the Carthian Movement claimed the seat of power in Minneapolis.

The Covenants

Carthain Movement.
In Minneapolis, they are the top dogs. They ahve hooked and crooked there way to the top of the food chain. In Saint Paul, they don’t exist. Cause why would they when they can go across the river and count for something.

Circle of the Crone
A blood hunt has been ordered for any followers of the Crone in the City of Saint Paul. But in Minneapolis, they are tolerated by the cities Hierarchy. Not really sure why, Maybe it’s because they are not the Lance. Or maybe the Movement owe them something.

Lancea et Sanctum
The Lance rule the city of Saint Paul with a Iron Fist. Allowing no non-believers within their city without paying a toll and swearing loyalty.

Ordo Dracul.
The Order of the Dragon remain reclusive. Staying on the campuses of colleges and within medical centers. They exist in both Domains, because of how entrenched they are within those institutions. The Lancea et Sanctum have ordered that any members of the Dragons found on Saint Paul’s soil shall be put to death. But for some reason, this is never enforced by the Domain’s Law.

And Last we have the Invictus who have no publicly known presence in the Twin Cities. Why you might ask does the self professed rulers of Kindred society have no public presence in Minneapolis Saint Paul? Because they choose not to. The Inner Circle of the Invictus sit atop their thrones of glass and steel, the IDS Center and the Wells Fargo Plaza, looking down on all of those fools as they squabble. Little do they realize that all is going according to plan.

Jan 6th, 2012 09:31 PM

Atlanta, the City That Rose From the Flames

European Kindred first reached the Creek and Cherokee territory that would become Atlanta when the British started building forts in the area. They found only one vampire. She told them that all others had left because she had foreseen herself any many others meeting the final death by fire. A Ventrue Invictus Ancillae steeped forward, staked her and declared himself the ruler of that area.

However, one cannot rule without subjects. In a little under three decades he and his comrades in the First and Second Estates were able to establish a small city and monopolize the many trade routes passing though his new city. As the city grew so did it's Kindred population and it's the madness of it's ruler. He became paranoid anyone trying to take his Praxis. At the hight of his insanity, he even began staking any high ranking Kindred of Quality who visited the city. If an Invictus of high rank was traveling to another city, it was obvious that they must have been traitors.

The old alliance held until the Civil War reached the city. As Sherman prepared to burn it all, he was entranced by a priest who was ghouled by one of the Sanctified. The General spared the churches, Havens and places of power belonging to the Lance. The majority of the other vampires in the Atlanta, including the Prince, burned with the city. Sherman continued to march to the sea, never knowing the part he had played in the nightly power struggle of the undead. Some members of the Invictus saw the Sanctified saving only themselves as a betrayal. However, the Covenant had lost many members and those that survived had lost most of their assets. The First Estate had been reduced from the ruling Covenant to the junior partner of the Sanctified.

Months later, a traveling coterie of Invictus Knights stumbled upon “the closet.” Inside, they found many kindred staked by the old Prince. They were the ones he considered the most repulsive: the Brood, the Circle, and the 'treacherous” Invictus. However, one of the latter was wearing a golden bracelet with the sign of the Mithraic Ventrue on it. Not knowing the old Prince's rules, they removed the stake and Albert Mithras awakened. His first order was to have them remove the stakes of all other vampires. Albert Mithras told them that if the fought for him, he would make the city a place where they were all welcome. To a Kindred, every one of the formerly staked vampires pledged they agreed and joined the cause. Without knowing it at the time, Albert Mithras founded the Carthaian Movement in Atlanta. The ensuing conflict continued for many decades. The Movement and it's allies took over sometime in the 70s and have held the city ever since.

Ruling Coalition

The Carthian Movement
Every year, all Carthians get together and have a vote on confidence for First Citizen Albert Mithras. Theoretically, if he lost there would be a general election for the next First Citizen. That has not happened so far, but there have been some years in which it was really close. His light touch with the Ruling Coalition and heavy hand with his Persecuted Rebels are likely a reflection of these 'elections.' At some level, Albert and his 'inner circle' know that if they ever tried to take absolute power, the Carthian Law that had been protecting them would change and favor someone else.

Belial's Brood
The Brood love Atlanta like no other city except perhaps Los Vegas. Whenever a nomadic Coterie of Brood stroll into town, they are welcomed with open arms by their brothers and sisters. Although the Brood's hierarchy is unknown, they do have an 'ambassador' to the Carthians. It has no name and has given up It's previous gender and Clan in service of the Adversary. It ask the Carthians for feeding rights and legal justification, and willingly takes the seemingly inexhaustible lists of targets. Belial's soldiers are treated like rabid dogs, but they know it and don't care.

Circle of the Crone
While the Carthians play politics and the Brood kills stuff, the Circle has it's own plans. They have access to every sacred location not currently covered in blood. The unparalleled access has allowed them to recover some long lost rituals and even 'make' a couple of new ones. The Carthians actively encourage such practices, to avoid a 'sorcery gap' with their enemies. The Acolytes don't care why they get support, as long as it keeps coming.

Persecuted Rebels

Invictus
Twice in the history of Atlanta, the Unconquered suffered great defeats. The first time was at the hands of the Sanctified and General Sherman and the second was at the hands of the so called 'ruling coalition.' Any power plays are complicated by Carthian Law weakening their Disciplines and strengthener those of their enemies. Then, a Mekhet found a way to fight back. By incorporating Atlanta suburbs into their own cities, the she was able to remove both that tax revenue from the Carthian controlled city government but also remove the incorporated area from the power of Carthan Law. Other member of the First Estate have been fighting for incorporation of their own little fiefdoms ever since. Many of them have succeeded.

Lancea Sanctum and Ordo Dracul
The two other spiritual Covenants exist on the fringes. Inside Atlanta, they are potential targets for the Brood's fun. Nor are they welcome in the small cities controlled by the Invictus. There the Sanctified are treated as betrayers and the Ordo are treated as cowards. Still, the Invictus will take them in for the right incentives.

Other Domains

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