I've pretty much blogged about every RPG monster that's captured my imagination, so I think it's a good time to start a new series, namely, the settings and characters I've either used in RPG's to good effect, or have just planned and designed and would like to use. These are going to be longer articles, attempting at least give you, the reader, the skeleton of the city, its politics, some notable NPC's, and perhaps some story hooks.
Bringing this in, I've been running Vampire for a very, very long time, and I've always enjoyed portraying Clan Tremere. Among clans, they've always interested me because of their contradictions. They're arguably the most structured clans, but they still look for eccentrics and free-thinkers to give them a new perspective. They're exceedingly traditional, but also highly innovative. They're vampires, but also mages, and they're tolerated by their allies, despite being a bunch of eccentric, almost openly and outright heretical mad magicians, simply because of how useful they are. I've been wanting to run an all-Tremere game for a while. The dynamic of the coterie interests me a lot because Tremere are, by definition, all loyal to their clan, but not necessarily to each other. They're a bunch of egomaniacal, back stabbing, college students, almost, and they're all fighting for the teacher's approval. There's neat politics in a game like that, and characters would have to get super vicious without ever raising a hand against each other.
Now, final thing, I don't know if White Wolf/Onyx Path has released a Vienna by Night, or if there are very good fan cities out there. I'm sure there are, but I haven't taken anything more than a cursory Google search for it. As far as i can tell, these are all my ideas, but if I am ripping something off, well, it's all fan stuff for copyrighted material anyway, so, well, the universe ticks on. Settings and characters I put up here are free for anyone to use.
Flavour, Culture and Government
Real world Vienna has a long, and storied history that I won't waffle on about here, when Wikipedia can do that job for me. In terms of Vampire: The Masquerade, however, Vienna is important for one reason, as the high chantry and seat of Tremere power. Vienna is often referred to as a Camarilla city, which is accurate in that it does follow the strictures of the Camarilla and violently rebukes the Sabbat and the Independents when it can, however, it would be more accurate to simply call Vienna a Tremere city. The Tremere own Vienna in very much the same way that the Ventrue own Britain or the Toreador own France. Other Kindred call it their home. Other Kindred even reside there in great enough numbers to challenge the Tremere on some issues. Despite this, the city speaks of Tremere influence. Everywhere you look, small markings of the Tremere make themselves known. Masonic symbolism. Great libraries and museums and other storehouses of culture, lore and history. The Tremere are all about knowledge, and in Vienna, that knowledge is accessible, at a cost.
St. Stephen's Cathedral is arguably one of the most important buildings to the vampires of Vienna, and yet one of the most untouched. While obviously unconfirmed, it is rumored that the building serves as the resting place of the fabled Lord Etrius, most beloved of Tremere himself, and first among equals of the Inner Circle. For obvious reasons, the Inner Circle do not have public domains or even walk the streets of Vienna very often, however their presence is constantly felt. Nonetheless, the building's lower depths are warded against virtually everything under the sky, it is patrolled night and day, and there is a constant aura of True Faith that microwaves any Kindred foolish enough to violate it. No Kindred, is allowed to set foot within without invitation.
Vienna is ruled by a Prince known only as the Witch-King. No other information is known about this vampire, including his or her gender, race, age, ethnicity, or even name. The Witch-King appears cloaked and masked in public and is constantly surrounded by ghouls and courtiers. Together with his seven heirs, his personal apprentices and liaisons with the primogens of the city (and possible player characters), he or she manages the day to day affairs of the city. It is whispered that the Witch-king is a direct childe of one of the Inner Circle, perhaps even of Etrius himself. Perhaps the Witch-King is exceedingly paranoid, or given that he or she never directly embraces anyone, merely 'adopting' promising Tremere as heirs, has led some to whisper that perhaps he or she isn't even merely one person.
Among the Kindred of Vienna, the dichotomy between the High and Low clans is very strongly pronounced, with the culture of each clan changed somewhat. Tremere are not viziers and court mages in Vienna, rather, they lord over the city as philosopher kings and sorcerer lords. While Vienna goes through the motions of having Primogen, and maintains the facade that any vampire in the city has a say, it is clear that the ruling class of the city are the Tremere. The power of clans in the city is decided entirely by how useful they are to the Tremere. Ventrue, despite their usual princely stereotype serve as advisors and knights of the Tremere, embracing chivalry and dignitas and emphasizing their prodigous Fortitude in protecting their masters. The Toreador are seen as 'shepherds' and warders of both the low clans and the kine, keeping the peace and pacifying the masses. Malkavians, Brujah and Gangrel are not held in such high esteem, being seen as undignified rabble, who are tolerated, though with nowhere near enough power to challenge the privileged three. Some Brujah may become enforcers and some Malkavians seers and librarians for the Tremere, but there is a certain unspoken rule based on traditions enforced for centuries. Nosferatu are the odd ones out here, being held in both high regard and high suspicion by the Tremere. The Nosferatu are the only clan that can match the Tremere in unity and in information gathering. Relations between the two are guarded and neutral, but whereas the Tremere rule the surface, the tunnels and catacombs of Vienna are very much the home turf of the Sewer Rats, and even the Witch-King hesitates to descend into their depths.
Beyond these clan relations, all important positions are held by Tremere, with the exception of Sheriff and Keeper of Elysium, which traditionally are held by the most highly acclaimed Ventrue or Toreador within the city.
Laws of the Witch-King
- Vienna shall adhere to the six Traditions of the Camarilla
- Vienna, in addition, shall adhere to the oath of Clan Tremere, whether they be part of the Clan or not.
- Thaumaturgy is a responsibility and can only be used safely by Clan Tremere. Any Kindred demonstrating Blood Magic skills will be turned over to the Witch-King for the safety of the city
- Kindred of clans or bloodlines not belonging to one of the approved seven clans of the Camarilla must make themselves publicly known.
- No Kindred may set foot in St. Stephen's Cathedral, or utilize any vampiric abilities within Elysium.
Blood Magic is an exceedingly touchy subject within the city, as most would expect. Among the Tremere, Thaumaturgical study is a must, and yet the clan is exceedingly paranoid about the discipline leaking free of their clutches. The public line is that only the Tremere are qualified to dabble in the intricacies of blood sorcery, but it is crystal clear to everyone that the Tremere simply want a monopoly on the practice. Notably, the laws put any form of blood magic under the banner of Thaumaturgy, meaning that within this city, Koldunic Sorcery, Assamite and Setite Sorcery, Necromancy and any other form of kindred magic is quite illegal and liable to get a kindred dragged before the Witch King. This crime is compounded tenfold if the criminal is a Tremere who has had the audacity to teach Thaumaturgy to someone out-of-clan, and any Tremere found guilty of this can look forward to a truly horrible death, for both themselves and their student.
Tremere paranoia also limits the acceptable bloodlines of Kindred within the city to those of the Camarilla clans. this simultaneously keeps order in the city, its citizens quantifiable, and keeps track of any clans that may have sorcery inherent in their blood, such as the Tzimisce and the Giovanni. Because of their.....colorful history, the city especially keeps a watch out for any hint of surviving Salubri, as well as Assamites, Tzimisce and any of the other worryingly large amount of people the Tremere have managed to annoy in their time. The removal of the curse on Clan Assamite by Ur-Shulgi, the direct childe of Haqim worries the Witch-King immensely, as well as the rumors of Salubri joining forces with the Tzimisce against their mutual enemy, and joining the Sabbat.
Unlife in Vienna
Unlife in Vienna, like many things related to the Tremere, is an immense paradox. Innovation and tradition compete with gritted teeth, and the Tremere never seem to make up their minds on which they support. While not a technological wonderland, the Tremere support the rise of mortal science and engineering, knowing the edge that their Thaumaturgy gives them against other, more anachronistic Kindred. As a center of culture and a tourist attraction, Vienna is constantly teeming with mortals to feed on and use, however, the Tremere frown upon being too flagrant about this, as the same qualities put Vienna under the international eye.
More than other Camarilla domains, Vienna is oppressive. Everyone, Tremere, vampires, and some rumor even mortals, know their place in the hierarchy. The Witch-King rules, seldom seen but often heard, and his seven heirs form a buffer between the Tremere and the other clans. Complaints go to a vampire's Primogen, who then brings it to the appropriate heir, who, if he or she deems it important, may bring it to the Witch-King's attention. Non-Tremere Kindred, even the Ventrue and Toreador are very well aware that while they are privileged and honored, their status exists only while they are useful to the Blood Mages. Anarch presence within Vienna is very uncommon and frowned upon, though, on the very loosest of technicalities exists, and there are certainly no (openly) Tremere Anarchs. The Sabbat are completely unknown to Vienna. A combination of total, pervasive surveillance, Blood Magic, and the policing of magic and clans has made the city a totally Sabbat-free zone. Independents pass through Vienna, but often do not stay long. While the Witch-King may not be so brazen as to outright slay an envoy from Clan Giovanni or some Setite sorcerers, a tithe will be demanded, and they will be most unwelcome in the city of the warlocks. Lupines and Magi are similarly unheard of. If Kindred cannot feel safe within Vienna, where can they?
Society among the Tremere of Vienna can best be described as a truly cutthroat meritocracy. While all Tremere act in the clan's best interest, to the best of their ability, the lower on the totem pole you go, the more of a snake pit it becomes. Tremere neonates viciously compete with others for favor, for the attention of the best teachers and for access to the best lore. Mentors fight to show off their apprentices and gain further status within the hierarchy, and even the seven heirs of Witch-King are constantly under pressure to outperform their peers and prove their worthiness of the title. The Witch-King can promote or demote any Tremere within the city, and as Etrius and the rest of the Inner Council usually cannot be contacted, he or she really is the final arbiter of rank of all Tremere. The heirs have a similar level of power to promote or demote, however those who throw the privilege around too flagrantly may suffer demotion by the Witch-King themselves. The struggle for status within the clan ultimately defines the city, and every other vampire and human, whether they know it or not, is a puppet of this ruthless cold war. Clan Tremere does not attack each other directly, but there are far more ways to hurt your fellows than merely shooting or stabbing them. To a Tremere, status, knowledge and power is everything, and they are things very easily lost, or taken away.
Story Hooks
Some story hooks if you wish to set a Chronicle in this version of Vienna:
The Unmasked King
A truly malicious rumor is going around, that perhaps the Witch-King is not Tremere at all! Perhaps he or she is a simply a pretender, using Thaumaturgy and the entire clan to his or her advantage. Of course, Tremere in both the city and around the world find this a laughably desperate attempt to discredit their leader, however, there are those who hunger for the tradition of the Prince of Vienna and implied lordship over the world's Tremere, who would like to see the Witch-King's position undermined. As the rumor reaches the ears of the players, there is some proof that surfaces, that seems just too convenient to be coincidental. Are they being lured into a trap, a test of loyalty? Or is the Witch-King, and perhaps the entire upper echelons of the pyramid, infested by intruders?
Thaumaturgy Black Market
Someone has turned traitor and turned traitor hard. The Tremere are rabid to find this elusive Kindred, who simply calls himself Dresden, who not only has stolen a vast amount of occult lore and Thaumaturgical resources, but is giving them out to almost any person who will sit still. The Witch-King has declared that any Kindred found in possession of these materials will face Final Death, and by the amount of would be Thaumaturges that have been left on rooftops, it appears he isn't kidding. The characters are contacted by Dresden, who offers them tutoring in Thaumaturgy. Is it a trap? Is it some kind of Anarch plot? Or is this truly a rogue Tremere attempting to topple the hierarchy?
Father's Ire
A rumor has spread about the city, that has the local Kindred frozen in paranoia, and has given even the Witch-King pause. A member of the Inner Circle of Clan Tremere, the most powerful Warlocks in the world, walks the streets of Vienna. No one knows what he or she looks like, but there is a certainty that the elder vampire is watching, waiting, and judging to see if he or she finds the city to his or her satisfaction. As signs of his or her displeasure mount, the city becomes ever more paranoid, and even the heirs and the Witch-King are on edge. Something is going to happen, and if the city does not meet the elder's requirements, there will be a very bloody reckoning with the Tremere's wayward childer.
- Kephn
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