- possibly by he or she who benefited most from the

- possibly by he or she who benefited most from the Aside from the major forces struggling for influence of York, other figures play prominent roles. These lesser players are pressured from many sides, moved about as pawns in the games of their elders. ‘%wry be Znetbuin Embraced in the middle of the 10th century on the Continent, Aimery was already a prominent figure in the Cainite world when the Normans turned their eyes northward to the British Isles. He and his sire Olivier sought to use the Norman Conquest as a means to greater power, planning to secure control of York once William shattered the English defenses. It was not until York had fallen and Julian and his newly Embraced childe John took control of the city that Aimery and his sire discovered their own plots had been foiled. Aimery resents John’s hold on York, but his personal power base is not strong enough to topple John or resist Mithras. For now, he accepts John as his prince, but rumors persist of his attempts to curry Katla’s favor in hopes that she will take the city and reward those who gave her aid. Katla recognizes Aimery’s proffered loyalty as empty; he lacks the true ambition or influence to play a major role in the city. C?yol[3twscon Serving as John’s trusted warmaster, Eyolfwas Embraced at the height of the conflict between John and Katla’s sires. Originally serving as a scout for the einkjar seeking to regain Jorvik, the Gangrel saw the futility in such a plan and found comfort in the strength of Julian and his childe John. Serving first as Julian’s warmaster, Eyolf has shown remarkable fidelity to John and has gained much territory from Lincoln and Chester. Katla’s recent return to Yorkdivides Eyolfs loyalties, and he spends increasingly more time with his fellow einherjm. Manb of Durbam John’s Tremere keeper and close advisor, Leland wields considerable influence in John’s court after saving the baron from the fire of 1 190. He first came to York as a representative of Meerlinda from Lion’s Gate Chantry in Durham, and had difficulty gaining the baron’s trust, even after decades of faithful service. In 1190, while several Jews took shelter in York Castle, a fire broke out that almost brought Final Death to the baron. If not for Leland’s intervention, John might not have survived. The fire was reportedly caused by the mass suicide of the Jews, but rumors persist of Cainite involvement - possibly by he or she who benefited most from the catastrophe. Leland is known for being something of an eccentric, believing in strange superstitions and creating small magical charms and trinkets that he parcels out to those he feels are in need. eimon of2Bbitby Embraced at the turn of the 12th century, Simon is the younger childe of Olivier. (Thus, Aimery is his “sibling.”) His sire recently“cal1ed toLondon”afteropen1y opposing Mithras, Simon has only recently ascended to power in Whitby at Aimery’s behest. Whatever hopes his sire had for placating ambition and initiative to warrant her Embrace in 1113. Diligently tracing her lineage back through the centuries, Evelyn was puzzled why her great-grandsire Dorian abandoned his sire in England to return to the Continent. She resolved to return to her bloodline’s roots and traveled to York with her sire’s permission. Presenting herself before Baron John along with her austere lineage, she became a retainer in his court and was chosen as his seneschal. Mithras’ anger must have gone awry, as Simon has not had any news. Aimery has practically abandoned his blood brother to his opponents in Whitby, having no true loyalty or desire to get involved in Simon’s affairs. Aimery has forsaken his brother in favor of focusing his attention on John’s court. Simon and others see this dismissal as weak and cowardly. Mithras’ agents and other forces conspire to undermine Simon’s influence in Whitby, and he is forced to rely upon John’s patronage time and again. Simon first met John in the nights before Julian’s Final Death, and became involved in schemes he did not fully understand. Simon’s involvement in Julian’s betrayal would have gained him many enemies, but the newly installed Baron of York managed to conceal Simon’s involvement. Since that time, Simon has remained secretly in John’s debt, though he fears his troubles in Whitby make him more of a liability than an asset. (Eloise ZnarcbanS One of John’s most trusted retainers, Lady Eloise rose quickly through the vampire hierarchy. Embraced little more than a half-century ago, the young Ventrue maneuvered her way into John’s good graces through a display of incredible political acumen. Assigned as John’s representative to Durham over Cainites many decades her senior, Eloise made the best of the placement and further impressed the baron with her skill and savvy. She became an adopted childe to John and soon found herself in the vanguard of adelicate political game with the Tremere Usurpers in Durham. Still potentially within a mortal lifespan, Eloise is less impressed with age and experience than she is with subtlety and guile. This youthful QkeLyn Se%cberre Born in the countryside of Normandy, Evelyn became a ghoul servant to a Ventrue lord at the end of the 11 thcentury. After several decades of faithful service, she showed enough arrogance lowers her in the eyes of elders such as Meerlinda. This lack of respect in turn affords Eloise the advantage of surprise, as she clearly possesses ability well beyond her years. She has become a success story for the neonate Ventrue of York, but wise elders warn that the candle that burns twice as brightly burns half as long. The Cainites of York weave a complex tapestry of longterm ambitions and short-term goals. While elders engage in subtle intrigues and gradual development, younger Cainites see vast potential in the immediacy of the War of Princes, seeking to gain prestige and domain. There are two major Ventrue familial lines involved in this act, and a host of other undead that all seek to increase their influence. Many complex schemes involve active support for John in the hopes of gaining his favor, or subtle machinations to limit or restricthispwer.Theactopnswiththecourtinapanicoverthe suddendisappearanceofseveralnotableCainites, andthis anxiety offers many opportunities. Those seeking to undermine John‘s rule may use thedisorder toeliminaterivals, althoughsuchactions riskdrawingblameforallthedeaths. Thw hoping torise in John‘s esteem may strive to solve the mystery, or implicate a rival as the cause of the problem. Characters involved in the political landscape stand to gain influence over the major players through blackmail or favors. Doing so risks drawing undue attention, though, specifically the kind that has gotten so many Cainites destroyed in recent months. Political maneuvering requires careful gathering of both vampire and mortal informants, and relies on an acute awareness of the social climate. Other plots may center on the expansion of John’s territory and new domains. Eyolfs raids on Lincoln and Chester have created numerous opportunities for young Cainites to acquire their own domains. Such boons are bestowed by the baron alone. Several domains, large and small, have opened along the borders of the barony. Those whom John deems loyal and capable may receive lucrative or strategically important domains, while those he mistrusts may watch as vampires decades their junior gain prestige. Worse, suspicious characters may inherit domains certain to be retaken by Chester or Lincoln in a matter of nights. John has intimated to Eyolf that Manchester would be a welcome addition to the barony and would serve as a great victory for York over the Barony of Chester. While such conquest would be bitterly resisted by Marcus Verus, the Baron of Chester, the prospect of such a domain has kindled the fires of ambition in the unbeating hearts of many in John’s court. While young Cainites may dream of such an opportunity, many elders harbor feelings of entitlement after the upstart John snatched York from them. The responsibility of securing Manchester would fall upon only the most trusted and capable of John’s allies. This goal may be a driving force for the characters and their sires. Of course, the choice between winning prestige for oneself or for one’s sire may cause contention between sire and childe, especially if selfishness denies the bloodline standing or profit. Yet, a character may prefer to be prince of a small domain than settle for second place to a sire’s ambitions. If a character is successful in bringing dignitas to his bloodline and boosting his sire in John’s eyes, he may find himself a retainer or advisor to his sire in a major domain along York‘s border. Any ambitions ofgaining a personal domain would be dashed for some time, though. Otherwise, a character may seek dignitas for himself, securing his own domains at the cost of betraying his bloodline and provoking his sire’s anger. Whitby is another major area of interest, as Simon’s position becomes rapidly less secure. If he collapsed, any number of Cainites may seek to establish themselves in the city. Characters close to Simon would of course seek to keep the city under the influence of that bloodline, but Whitby’s importance in the north makes it a prime target for the Cainites of York. Characters of other bloodlines may seek