3 f robuction

Viking have lost! You stand before the childe of Julian Cerialis, the blood brother of your sire. He is not your enemy!” Katla’s eyes never left John, but Leland saw that the words affected her. After a moment, she spoke to Eyolf in a language the Tremere had to assume was native to them both, and the einherjm Gangrel responded in kind. Her eyes passed over Eyolf and Leland before letting the axe drop to her side. She allowed Eyolf to escort her from the castle as the clouds thickened overhead, and John once again allowed Leland to bear his weight. “You have done me a great service today,” the Ventrue lord said. “It will not be forgotten.” 3# f robuction The first act of Ventrue Chronicle takes place in the dark halls of medieval York, at the beginning of the 13th century. It has elements of a murder mystery, and a complex political tapestry in which characters can strive for personal advancement. The court of Baron John of York is beset by tragedy. Several important members have met an untimely end in the past months. Mithras, Prince of London, has used an agent within John‘s inner circle, a Tremere named Leland, to weaken his opponent’s support in north England. The characters are asked to root out the source of York‘s woes, at the same time entangling themselves in complex webs of intrigue spun by John, Mithras and the Tremere Meerlindaof Durham. For more detailed information on Cainites of the 13th century, it might be a good idea to reference Dark Ages: Vampire. For more information on the British Isles at this time, see Dark Ages: Europe and Dark Ages: British Isles. Zbeme an$ %ooS The Dark Medieval is a world dimly lit by candles and torches. Where curses, legends and monsters are all too real and mortals lock themselves behind heavy doors and castle walls as daylight wanes. Vampires of this period are the true rulers of the night, preying on the kine masses and serving as dark reflections of kings and feudal lords. The War of Princes rages across Europe as the children of Caine rise against each other in open conflict, seeking to expand their domains and conquer centuries-old enemies. The conflicts of Europe are waged subtly in the British Isles, but lose none of their bitter intensity. A dark power has risen in London and forces the Cainites of England to his will though many chafe under these newly forged chains. Specifically, Baron John of York seeks independence from the Methuselah Mithras, playing a dangerous game that could easily end in ruin or Final Death. Many secretly share John’s desire to throw off Mithras’ control, but John has both the power and support to pose a significant threat to the Methuselah’s established order, the Baronies of Avalon. pass through these gates. Those wishing to enter by boat pay as they are stopped by chains strung across river access points. York Castle The original castle was built in 1069 shortly after the Normans took the city, and Ventrue Julian Cerialis immediately claimed it as his haven. When Julian met Final Death, John assumedcontrol of the haven and held court there. Built by William the Conqueror on a large earthen mound overlooking the southern approach on the River Ouse, the fortification was destroyed by fire in 1190 during an intense wave of persecution and violence toward the city’s Jewish population, which had taken refuge in the tower. John barely escaped the conflagration with the help of Leland, a Tremere messenger from Durham who has since become a close advisor. Rebuilt in timber shortly after its destruction, the castle was expanded to include a courtyard with an armory and residential buildings for guards and constables. Around the castle, the River Foss has been rerouted to provide a shallow moat, with two bridges connecting to the mainland. The tower itself has become less a fortification and more a residence and symbol of political power. The common room where John holds court is replete with hanging tapestries, ornate silver and gold candelabra, and oil paintings. The second floor contains a small library and two bedchambers. John has established his haven within the castle, in the cellar of the constable’s chambers (he retains the constable as a ghoul servant). He presides in the main tower while William de Stuteville, the Sheriff of Yorkshire, is abroad. The Baron also has another haven outside the city walls in St. Mary’s Abbey. York Minster Christians have congregated at the site of York Minster since the withdrawal of Roman forces in the 4th century. Several churches and cathedrals have been constructed and destroyed here over the last thousand years. The Saxon Minster was heavily damaged in the 1 lth century during skirmishes against Normans seeking to control the city. The Norman Minster was itself damaged extensively a century later due to fire. Lack of strong leadership and public support made repairs and renovations to the structure sporadic at best, until Walter de Gray ascended to archbishop in 1215. In 1220, constructionon the Minsterbegan again inearnest, with the intention of building a rival to that of Canterbury. Cainite Aimery de Methuin takes credit for the ambitious plans, claiming to have no little influence over thcse close to the shrewd and severe archbishop. He hopes to combat John‘s duenceover the city with the power of the Church, seeking to take control of the barony should John falter. Airnery’s ambition of controlling the Minster has found opposition within the cathedral itself. Beneath the structure lie the foundations of an ancient Roman Legionary fortress that has been sealed for centuries. The einkrjar Katla Thranddottir has only recently returned to these underground chambers originally used as a haven by her sire, Thrand, and her grandsire Julian Cerialis. Understanding the significance of the Minster, Katla has worked to undermine Aimery’s influence over Walter de Gray and secure a measure of sway over this bastion of the Church. Aimery has accomplished little in response, yielding to these new pressures and showing his true lack of guile and ambition. X>urf)am Situated on a peninsula surrounded by the River Wear, the city of Durham boasts an impressive Norman castle and cathedral, and a Benedictine monastery. The previous Saxon structures were ordered destroyed by William the Conqueror shortly after the Normans gained control, and construction on the castle and cathedral commenced immediately afterward. In the mortal world, the walled city serves as a strategic defensive position for the Normans against the Saxons in the north of England, and against the rebellious Scots. For Cainites, Durham plays an important defensive role as one of the northemmost population centers in the Baronies of Avalon. The Norman castle is of Romanesque design and has a layout similar to that of York Castle, There is a fortified tower at the top of a large earthen mound and an enclosed courtyard surrounded by walls, a large stone gateway, a chapel and other residential structures for constables and the bishop. The castle is home to the Earl of Northumbria and haven to Ventrue Eloise Marchand, John’s representstive in Durham. The Walls sections of wdls date back to the found& of the Roman fortress o f m in AD. 71, although the city has expanded considembb since that time. After the b n a n Empire a b a n d o n ~ t h e f o ~ ~ i n t h e ~ l ~ 5 t h c e n h ~ , t h e ~ g l o - S ~ o ~ fortifiedthecitybycreatingwallsofmoundedearththatenclosed a h e r area. Over time, the walls were strengthened and ex. pmded the Normans to Construct walk ofstone. The 13th CentUDj sees a perid of further f~rtification as Stone walls b e p to fully encircle the city. The walls are interrupted by several bars, many fortified, which are used as controlled access points to the city and for toll collection. Bootham Bar, also called Galmanlith, along the northwestem wall was rebuilt by the Normans on the site of an old R m ~ n gateway and has ~nder the influence of Katla Thranddottir. The einhetlar maintains the guard station and tower as a hidden, secondary entrance to her haven, as the structure is linked to the old Roman dungeons by a subterranean passage. Walmgate Bar at the southeast comer of the city and Mickelgate Bar along the southwestern wall mark two other major entrances into the city, covered by stone archways carved through the earthen walls. Alsoofnoteisa 10-sidedRomantowerbetweenBootham Bar and the River Ouse. While the tower has fallen mostly into disrepair, Aimery de Methuin uses an under€Pund chamber within the structure as his haven. This is perhaps the most heavily fortified position in the city and it overlooks St. Cathedral of St. Cuthbert The cathedral is mostly finished Save for the main central tower. The twin West Towers were recently completed in 1226. A prominent holy site, the remains of St. Cuthbert are kept within a shrine inside the cathedral, as are the Lindisfame gospels. The Benedictine monastery adjoining the cathedral is led by prior Ralph Kermet, Over whom Meerlinda has exerted influence for Over a Mary’s Abbey. decade. St. Mary’s Abbey The first stone of St. Mary’s Abbey was laid in 1088 when the former church of St. Olave’s had become too small for the inhabiting Benedictine monks. The wealthiest and most influential abbey in the north of England, St. Mary’s became the secondary haven of Baron John shortly after the destruction of his sire. Holding court in the nowneglected St. Olave’s Church whenyork Castle is occupied by the Sheriff of Yorkshire, John has insinuated many agents into the abbey hierarchy and wields considerable sway within its power structure. Serving as Durham’s Elysium, the cathedral has seen meetings between many of the city’s most notable Cainites. Those wishing to meet within the cathedral speak in hushed tones while pretending to pray at one of the cathedral’s many small chapel alcoves. The building itself has been constructed too recently to have developed a True Faith rating of its own, although the shrines containing holy relics at the front of the cathedral are repellant to Cainites. Meetings most often take place at the rear of the building, but those seeking exceptional privacy force them-