"I will come to you in the black of some terrible night, and I will bring with me a pointy reckoning that will shudder you."

- Arthur Miller, the Crucible

It's time to tell you a little bit about the world you are in. The game will start out with your characters in Monterey, which is in a state of present turmoil. This allows me to try out any new players and gives them a chance to try out the game in turn. That way, if it doesn't work out, I don't have to saddle the game environment with any more N.P.C's. It should be remembered that the goal of your character should be to make her/his way to Santa Cruz. While it is possible and allowed in the short term to adventure into the outlying areas of San Francisco, Monterey and the Anarch areas, characters who find themselves committed to these areas in the long term will be considered out of the game area and will then become N.P.C's. I suggest that any new players also read the parts of Miryam's Chronicle that deal with the nights of May 23-24, 1995.

What was:

Monterey Peninsula, like Santa Cruz, drew a large number of tourists to the area, allowing it to sustain a larger kindred population than its physical size and population would have normally allowed for. The kindred powers, notably in person of Prince Sandra Jackson and her childer, took great pains to cultivate events that would draw the bounteous herds of kine to Monterey to be feasted on. Sometimes, as in the case of the Cannery renovation, these plans fostered strife and enmity among the kindred. Other times, all clans were able to enjoy the largesse and Prince Jackson was seen as a strong but generous ruler. Such events were seen in the building of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Pebble Beach Golf Tournament, Monterey Jazz Festival and the Laguna Seca Race to name a few among many.

Structure of Monterey - Though Prince Jackson was known as Prince of Monterey, - in reality she seldom ventured into Monterey preferring to dwell in a seaside mansion in Carmel; and her activities mostly centered around Pacific Grove. Her power extended throughout the Monterey Peninsula and included the surrounding areas. Each region was handed out like a fiefdom to various clans, who enforced the Prince's will through the council of Primogen. No kindred was allowed to dwell in the area without Prince Jackson's specific permission. Primogen of the clans were the ones ultimately responsible to ensure that peace was kept among their people. Conflicts, which would inevitably break out, were not allowed to progress so far as to destroy the general peace of the area - and thus threaten the influx of tourists and their exotic bloods for the kindred to feast upon.
Though in reality no fiefdom remained inviolate and absolute; and clans had to suffer the predations and incursions of the others at times due to the ebb and flow of power; the fiefs generally followed the following pattern as originally created by the Ventrue - Don Segovia, who had been the first Prince of the City: Brujah - Seaside; Gangrel - Carmel Valley; Malkavian - Sand City; Nosferatu - Monterey; Toreador - Pacific Grove; Tremere - Marina; Ventrue - Carmel.

The Clans - As had been said, each clan was given an area of the general Monterey area to rule in Prince Jackson's name. Primogen were the ones ultimately responsible to maintain the peace in their areas and as the permission of Prince Jackson was required to be named to the Primogen Council - the Prince was careful to name only those who would support her views.

Brujah - Prince Jackson held little tolerance for anarchy, so many of this clan took the opportunity to join the actual Anarch cause and take up residence in Salinas some time after she came to power. Those that remained called themselves artists, but were not of the sort approved of by the Toreador - graffiti artists, alternative musicians, heavy metal band leaders, etc. A few others were grudging holdouts who just refused to leave the area, often of lower generation and who didn't trust the tastes of their anarch brethren. The views of this clan were often contrary to the Prince's and as punishment for their obstinance, the clan's fief - Seaside - was given little funds for renovation. Though it was a large area, supporting a good population base, it fell into decline and became the haven for drug use, gang violence and as a home for the poor who had nowhere else to go. No tourists, unless they had strayed off the path, ever went there and the area was left to rot. Needless to say, the relations between the Brujah and Toreador were less than cordial. But squeezed between the Toreador and Tremere - the Brujah had little choice but to comply with the general will. After the Nosferatu, the Brujah were seen as the next most likely candidates for Prince Jackson's murder and diablerie perhaps aided by their brethren in Salinas. This rumour was given credence by the number of anarchs now roaming the street, despite the fact that the Brujah primogen (Victor Brightmoon) was also a victim that same night, along with a number of prominent Brujah. But it was also pointed out that the Brujah were hardly a centralized clan and that Victor had many rivals and enemies within his own ranks.

Gangrel - those of the Gangrel Clan had held mostly aloof from kindred politics. However, the bounty brought by the tourists was a great boon. The Gangrel, not wanting to be left out, were willing to support Prince Jackson and her views as long as they were given free access to tourists' blood during the time of the great festivals or when herds of their own animal prey became leaner. Other than that, the Gangrel remained apart; but by holding Carmel Valley, they became a convenient buffer to the werewolves who prowled the greater wilds to the east and to the south.

Malkavians - There were only a few Malkavians in the Monterey Area and size of their domain reflected this. The small area of Sand City was given over to them and there they hunted and played their madness in the lonely industrial areas where sand was harvested for construction - sometimes preferring to raid nearby Seaside and get into scrapes with the Brujah. However, the Malkavians possessed a great ability to go undetected and often were able to hunt or play their pranks unseen and uncaught. Lately, they had been venturing into Monterey City, drawn by the large mall complexes; finding the artificial and perverse mall culture to be a strangely attractive hunting area. The Nosferatu and Ventrue who controlled these areas were either uncaring about or perhaps too powerless to stop these incursions.

Nosferatu - Once the most numerous clan, the Nosferatu had ruled the actual city of Monterey since the days following the downfall of Don Segovia. In fact, Don Segovia's arrogance in allowing them the prize of the most populous city, preferring to rule in isolation from the then isolated area of Carmel, proved to be Don Segovia's downfall. The Nosferatu Primogen, Silas Jones, seized power and destroyed Don Segovia back in the 1840's. Jones made sure that the Ventrue were not allowed to become a significant threat and kept Carmel a backwater; which it had remained until Prince Jackson's Princedom. However, having taken care of the Ventrue, Jones made the same mistake with the Toreador - allowing them to grow and prosper until once of their number, Sandra Jackson, pulled her own coup and took over the city back in 1949. Jackson slew Jones herself and in a series of dark nights, called a Bloodhunt on all of Jones' childer, and any associated ghouls and allies. Rewards were offered for the heads of these perceived enemies that were so lucrative that even some Nosferatu (not of Silas' brood) joined in on the hunt. However, it was the Tremere and Brujah who racked up the biggest kills. Once masters of the entire area, the Nosferatu had had to watch the slow decline of their clan over the last few decades under Prince Jackson's rule. Because of their previous status, the actual city of Monterey had been left as theirs, as they were also one of the most numerous and powerful clans in the area. But as Prince Jackson consolidated her power, the Nosferatu found that portions of their territory were being eroded. The Ventrue seized and took over the Cannery Row area that bordered Pacific Grove, renovating it and bringing in the capital to build the Monterey Bay Aquarium - a world class tourist site. Certain other sites were built and huge malls built on them such as the Del Mar Shopping Center, again by the Ventrue. The Tremere advanced to seize and control of Monterey Peninsula Junior College, the Naval Postgraduate School, the Monterey Institute of Language and the Monterey Airport. Thus beleaguered, the Nosferatu found themselves denied and in decline. It was said that Prince Jackson, not trusting the Nosferatu, was behind these events - determined to see the clan eroded and perhaps destroyed. However, despite rumours that it was the Nosferatu who were behind Prince Jackson's downfall, as they had been Don Segovia's, most of the senior Nosferatu were believed to have been destroyed in the recent turmoil, including the primogen, Beth Emmons; and no Nosferatu has stepped forward to claim the Princedom as had happened after Don Segovia. In fact, there are rumours that the Nosferatu had reached an accord with Prince Jackson, as seen by the return of Del Monte Shopping Center to them - after it had been built by Ventrue funds.

Toreador - the Toreador were the most numerous of the Monterey Clans, having eclipsed both the Nosferatu and Brujah in numbers. Many were childer of Prince Jackson. Others were distinguished Toreador who dwelt in the Monterey area at the specific invitation of the Prince. Only the most accomplished and cultured of vampires would be invited into the fold. Blessed with a discerning eye, Prince Jackson had little tolerance for poseurs. Though her main crypt was in Carmel, along 17 Mile Drive, Pacific Grove was the traditional domain of the Toreador and Prince Jackson kept a number of houses there as well. Life in the undead world of Pacific Grove was a continuous series of soirees and parties. Like the Tremere, the Toreador seemed to have been specifically targeted and few of any note managed to survive the first night of carnage. Certainly, none of note are known to still exist at present times.

Tremere - Marina was the traditional home of the Tremere. The members of this clan proved to be astute political survivors - weathering the changes of power through Don Segovia to Silas Jones and then finally to Sandra Jackson with relative ease - always maintaining their position and often benefiting from the change. Prince Jackson took great pains to ensure control or at least loyalty of this clan as they in turn controled the Army Base at Ford Ord - and thus had a massive arsenal at their beck and call. It was the threat of the use of troops from Fort Ord that helped keep the anarchs from Salinas at bay. However, due to apprehension that this arsenal would fall into anarch hands, kindred princes in other cities used their influence (many blame San Francisco's Vannever Thomas) to ensure that Fort Ord would be among the many bases closed. The Tremere had found their best asset then removed altogether but were able to help contain the damage by using their influence (along with Prince Jackson's clan) in the State Assembly to see at least that the grounds of the former base were at least made into a University - providing them with a steady stream of sustenance, ghouls and recruits. Also, this clan wisely made sure that it gleaned an impressive amount of firepower from the army stockpile before it was shipped elsewhere. This clan of undead scholars paradoxically became the strong arm of Prince Jackson's will as few other clans had the reserves of automatic weapons, flamethrower (even howitzers and armoured personnel carriers it was rumoured) at hand. Having a bit more stomach for combat than the Toreador, it was the Tremere who were called upon to put down any outrageous insurrection or to persecute any kindred or kine who fell into Prince Jackson's disfavor. As a reward, the Tremere were allowed to share in the seizure of Nosferatu territory, along with the other Toreador ally - the Ventrue; while the Toreador stood by as if this were none of their doing. In this fashion, the Tremere gained the Monterey Peninsula Airport as well as a number of Monterey's most prestigious learning centers. Already controlling the Marina Airport and KSBW Television Station (also in Marina), the Tremere were able to control the flow of traffic, information and goods into the otherwise isolated (from a vampire standpoint) city. It is little wonder that they were specifically targeted - perhaps even more so than the Toreador - since none of their number is believed to have survived with all being destroyed - from primogen and elders on down to the most insignificant neonate. Not even any of the Tremere ghouls are believed to have survived - so successful was their annihilation.

Ventrue - The Ventrue, though one of the least numerous clans, had often maintained a significant presence in the area despite their numbers. This was achieved through diplomacy, financial wealth and through the use of underlings. The first Prince of Monterey (who actually lived in a castle in the Carmel Highlands) was Prince Don Segovia, who ruled the Monterey area when only a handful of vampires lived there, starting back in the 18th century. Failing to keep in check the population growth of certain vampires - especially the Nosferatu - Don Segovia paid the price of his folly when in 1849, he was destroyed (some say diablerized) by the Nosferatu Primogen, Silas Jones. Ever since that day, the Ventrue Clan had been waiting, hoping to bring about the downfall of the Nosferatu in turn. The Ventrue found their ally in the person of a relatively unknown Toreador named Sandra Jackson and in 1949, on the night of the 100th anniversary of Jones' victory, Jones was destroyed by Jackson and her allies while celebrating the anniversary of his own coup. Perhaps as a mark of her old association with them, Jackson's main crypt was in Carmel rather than in the Toreador dominated Pacific Grove. Aside from Prince Jackson and her retinue - Carmel and the Carmel Highlands were seen as the exclusive domain of the few but powerful Ventrue in the area and their retinues. In most cases, the Ventrue supported Prince Jackson as her views on managing kine resources coincided with theirs. With Jackson's blessing, the Ventrue cultivated Carmel into the playground and habitat of the rich and famous - with millionaires, movie stars and politicians flocking to the now fashionable area - which had been a backwater under Jones. The Ventrue were the vehicles for change in the area - under the guise of renovation projects. The loosers in these power plays were often the Nosferatu and Brujah. These efforts at 'renovation were said to be with the blessing and sometimes covert help of the Toreador. But some countered, saying that it was rather the Ventrue who were the master manipulators, using the Toreador to gain revenge on the Nosferatu for the destruction of Don Segovia and the usurpation of power by the Nosferatu. As the Ventrue Primogen, Don Palomar, was a chylde of Segovia's, there could have been truth to the rumour. Certainly, despite their coup at Cannery Row, the Ventrue weren't above reproach, as shown by Jackson's arbitrary award of the Del Monte Shopping Center (after it had been built with Ventrue funds) back to the Nosferatu.

Elysium - Prince Jackson had declared the following areas as Elysium - the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Presidio, Asilomar (in Pacific Grove) and though she did not declare that Jones' Elysium in San Carlos Catholic Cemetary be valid, most clans still maintained peace on its grounds rather than unnecessarily outrage the Nosferatu. A number of smaller cultural establishments were given the status as well - but were not worth mentioning as they were seldom used as meeting places in the broader sense.

OUTLYING AREAS:

Big Sur/Ventana Wilderness: This rugged and beautiful area was the exclusive domain of werewolves and spirit folk. No vampire dared to ever go there. Vampires didn't know much about it and cared even less. Perhaps only a few had ever visited it at all in their mortal lives.

Moss Landing: The Tremere never admitted if they were behind the strange experiments at this site but as they are all gone, no one will now ever know now - except that someone - perhaps human magi - are believed to have taken up residence.

Salinas: Salinas, once another Camarilla holding fell to the Anarchs during the Anarch Uprising. It is now an Anarch Barony and as such, was a constant threat to Prince Jackson's rule. At first, threat of using the troops and weapons of Fort Ord was sufficient to keep the Anarchs in line - accompanied by bribes to the senior Anarchs. But with the removal of Fort Ord, Anarch incursions into the Monterey area grew more frequent. And though buying the Anarchs off became the favoured tactic, more and more it was failing to work so that the Tremere had to arm themselves as the front line against the Anarchs, waging battle in the night. Many blame the Anarchs for Prince Jackson's destruction and diablerie but again, no one is sure.

Santa Cruz: Though part of the Camarilla, Santa Cruz was seen as a insane carnival place - though one full of dark intrigue and exotic bloods. Like Monterey, Santa Cruz was a tourist mecca and supported a population of vampires in excess of what it's population would have otherwise allowed. However, Santa Cruz was ruled by a mad Malkavian, Prince Happy, through the strong-arm tactics of a mercenary unit of Brujah Anarchs. It had been fashionable of late for Monterey vampires to go "Cruzing" up the coast (a drive of 45 minutes to an hour), braving possible Anarch ambushes for the thrill of going to the Boardwalk and tasting some of the different bloods in the area. All this was put to a stop when once of Prince Jackson's favorite childer was murdered - staked and left for dawn by Prince Happy's Brujah thugs. War was almost declared but cooler heads in the Primogen Council were able to prevail upon the Prince to keep the peace. No one it was felt would win by a war between two Camarilla Princedoms with the anarch wolves waiting to feast upon both participants. Though still outwardly cordial and calm in her few communications with Prince Happy, thus allowing peace to prevail, Prince Jackson forbade further travel up the coast, isolating the two domains from each other.
Santa Cruz is believed to have still survived, but with the downfall of Monterey, it is more isolated than ever. Now, having no Monterey to worry about, the Anarchs of Salinas can aid their brethren of San Jose to destroy this last outpost of the Camarilla below San Francisco. It is only a matter of time.

What is:

On the night of May 23rd-24th, Prince Sandra Jackson, those of the Primogen Council and most other vampires of note were murdered and diablerized. Some blame the Anarchs - some blame other clans within the city (most fingers are pointed at the Nosferatu and/or Brujah) and their are even rumours of the Sabbat. Those that weren't murdered fled or went into hiding.
Now, roaming bands of vampires travel the nights, trying to flush out Camarilla survivors and murder and/or diablerize them. Characters have been witness to such murders and diablerie themselves and know for a fact that if they are caught - the same will befall them.
There seems to be little organization in these events - giving credence to the theory that it was the Anarchs who brought about the downfall. Characters have witnessed such bands fighting and feasting on each other with as much relish as they would on the characters. A few times, characters have seen vampires they know (but not well) seeming to have joined some of these bands. As the vampires seem to have been drawn from all clans (but few Toreador and no Tremere), this can't be seen as proof positive that any one clan was behind the coup.
What is certain is that it is only a matter of time before the characters are themselves flushed out and murdered. Refuge must be sought but where? In the country, there is only murder at the hands of the werewolves. Up the coast, in the mad domain of Santa Cruz, it is known that some Monterey kindred have fled but no word has come back about their reception. They could very well have and probably did meet the fate of other vampires going there - being staked and left for dawn. Airports have only infrequent and (inspected) flights and the trains and buses seem to be in control of the Anarchs.
It is a time for hard choices but the stakes are high - one's own unlife. May Caine be with you.

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