Introduction | The Domain | Concierge | Story Arcs | Factions | FAQ
What happened at Deep in the Heart, our 2023 San Antonio event that started the chronicle? Visit the Synopsis page here!
“Has it really been that long…?”
It’s been several years since the last kindred gathering of note. In the years since the rise of the Second Inquisition, the Camarilla has considered them much too risky, keeping instead to smaller, carefully controlled Elysiums. The last unfortunate attempt was to have taken place in Tampa some years ago, but as the early arrivals found their coffins dragged into sun by a FIRSTLIGHT tactical squat, the event was hastily called off. No Prince since then has dared stake their reputation on hosting a kindred event of any significant size. That is, until now.
Prince Vera Velasquez of clan Nosferatu has invited all kindred to join her in celebrating Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, in her domain of San Antonio. She and her court have pledged to secure the safety of all attendees, and she has even managed to gain the approval and support of the Justicar Lucinde for her upcoming gathering.
News of the event has quickly become the talk of courts worldwide. Is this the start of a return to form for Camarilla society? No doubt, should the Day of the Dead celebration prove successful, other Princes will follow suit.
Introducing Cynthia Marie as the Prince of San Antonio.
Known to fans and LARP connoisseurs as Nelli G from LA By Night and CoCo from New York By Night, Cynthia Marie has modeled for multiple World of Darkness Books and has been a long-time World of Darkness larper and tabletop gamer. Cynthia will join Darkness Emergent as our Event Cultural Consultant and as an Ambassador for By Night Studios.
Cynthia brings not only her expertise and passion for live action gaming, but also years of experience and knowledge that she is excited to showcase with other fans and supporters.
In addition to serving as the Darkness Emergent Cultural Consultant, Cynthia will also portray the Prince of San Antonio, welcoming your characters into the shadows that lurk within San Antonio’s RIverwalk, and into the web of darkness that lies “Deep in the Heart.”
Concierge
Have you met your concierge? Cheshire will reach out to help coordinate your character submission, interface with our Storytellers, and help you have an amazing experience! If you haven’t met them yet, please email cheshire @ bynightstudios .com
THE DOMAIN
The Domain of San Antonio
The city that would become San Antonio began as a loose series of settlements in the 17th century. It was later expanded by the Spanish in 1716 who formally established a mission in hopes of checking the expansion of the French Toreador in nearby Louisiana. In 1719, the Marquis of San Miguel de Aguayo proposed to the king of Spain that 400 families should be sent from Spanish holdings in the Caribbean to populate and fortify the city. A group of ancillae took note and followed, including a Lasombra named Vinçente de Robles.
De Robles was disaffected with the Elder Lasombra of Spain. Both he and other ancillae were excluded from the great wealth flowing from the colonies; vast sums of gold, gemstones, cash crops, and resources carried in wide-hulled ships steadily back to Spain and into the coffers of the elders. Any notable Spanish port city was already held by a prince centuries older than him, and he was far too proud to serve in hopes of tiny share. The only options for any self-respecting magister was to either fight in the colonial battles of the great powers, or resorting to piracy. De Robles thought he saw a different way forward: building something entirely his own.
When Mexico fought for its independence in 1821, De Robles seized upon the chance to curtail Spanish influence in the Americas, and acted in favor of the revolution. However, he quickly fell out of sorts with the kindred of Mexico City who sought to control him. By the time of the Texas Revolution in 1835, De Robles had spent years building a coalition of Texas Lasombra and Brujah allies who together revolted against Mexico, prompting a counterattack. The loss of the Alamo was a setback that should have killed the Lasombra’s attempt at independence, but at the time of the fortress’s fall a cagey Vinçente had left 14 nights prior. In 1845, the revolutionary efforts had since succeeded, and Texas was annexed into the United States. A military garrison was formally established, and De Robles established his domain shortly after.
In 1861, Texas joined the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy. Its governor, the former general and former president of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston, refused to take an oath to join the Confederacy, but was quickly disposed of as the state’s landowners fought to retain their slaves. Their efforts failed, and in 1865, the last day of slavery in the United States ended in Texas, on a holiday which would later be celebrated as the Juneteenth.
The city grew in the decades following. In 1876, construction of what would later be named Fort Sam Houston began. In 1877, San Antonio was connected via railroad to the rest of the United States. The Domain of San Antonio became a kindred border city, a western stronghold among a network of Camarilla domains which included Dallas, Austin, Houston, and even distant New Orleans.
By the late 20th century, De Robles was an elder by years, and certainly by power, and celebrated 150 years of holding praxis with a large gathering of kindred surrounding Día de los Muertos. Following this celebration, his appearances at court became less and less frequent. He eventually disappeared in the early 2000s, leaving the city vacant. Some speculate he may have been one of the first affected by the Beckoning, but others say his disappearance was much too soon.
The city’s Nosferatu Primogen, Vera Velasquez, took Praxis in a bloodless ascension that left many impressed. She handled various incursions by the Sabbat and the Anarch with deft, using her network of information gatherers and mercenaries to stay one step ahead of any threats to the city. The Nosferatu once walked into what was supposed to be a secret gathering of Anarch leaders, flanked by members of her clan and her court officers. She relayed to them what they had thought were their secret plans for revolt, and demanded their departure from the city. Similarly, she and her allies arrived a night early to the staging ground of a Sabbat incursion, and killed its earliest arrivals, effectively severing the head of its operation.
The coming of the Second Inquisition severed or severely limited Camarilla courts throughout the United States with a number of domains going dark entirely. San Antonio, however, had several factors working in its favor. Geographically, it was separated but well-informed by the East Coast cities which bore the initial assaults. As a Nosferatu, Prince Velasquez also routinely operated under a heightened level of security and paranoia, and had been clued into heightened activity. She was also one of the rare few among her clan who hadn’t adopted the Noseratu network, SchrekNet, which the Second Inquisition compromised, leaving the SI with few actionable targets. When the daytime assaults came, she and her court were able to implement an older contingency plan intended to address potential Sabbat activity, evacuating most of the kindred population. The domain’s losses included its Tremere seneschal, killed while attempting to fortify the wards of the city’s chantry. The city’s losses were meaningful, but it fared much better than other cities of its size.
In the years since, Prince Velasquez has worked to transform San Antonio into a tourist destination, transforming its river walk into a bustling rack. As the Justicariate considered ending its policy forbidding large-scale gatherings, San Antonio ranked highly on the short list due to its careful preservation of the Masquerade, and the efficacy of its court.
Vera Velasquez
When it comes to the Nosferatu Prince Vera Velasquez of San Antonio, there is much that is rumored, but very little that is confirmed, and that’s entirely as she prefers it.
Reportedly a great beauty during her mortal days, several accounts insist that she was the model for Diego Rivera’s Nude with Calla Lilies (Desnudo con Alcatraces). The painter was known for his frequent love affairs, and was known to seduce his models. The story is that he took a liking to the young Vera, a simple girl from a small village, painted her and secluded her, and abandoned her once his work was finished. The young Vera was judged harshly by her community not only for her affair with the painter, but also for the nudity of the work itself. An especially religious Nosferatu found and embraced her, and, disdainful of her youth and beauty, took delight as her skin withered and her beauty faded.
In the years since, she established herself as a capable information broker and arranger of special services. While she assumes an alluring physical form and is known for her taste in gowns, she prefers to converse with informants and mercenaries over artisans and courtiers. An excellent listener, she is known to pay especially well for information and talent, and is seldom, if ever, surprised. On the few occasions that someone was willing to investigate her, she was observed stalking the dance halls of San Antonio, selecting only the best dancers to feed upon. Vera is reportedly an especially talented dancer herself, though she has never acknowledged this at court.
Few were surprised when the then-Primogen Velasquez of Nosferatu announced her intent to fill the vacant Praxis of San Antonio in 2015. When her rival for Praxis, the Toreador Primogen, asked how their contest should be settled, she placed her hand on his shoulder, almost as if the two of them were to dance. Perplexed, he reached for her hand, but the Nosferatu whispered something into his ear that sent him fleeing the Elysium.
Prince Velasquez has ruled San Antonio ever since, and is considered a model prince by many. With the endorsement of the Ventrue Justiciar Lucinde, she is boldly extending the first invitation to a large gathering of Kindred in several years. Should the event be successful, there may be more to follow.
story arcs
Let me tell you a story.
Deep in the heart of Kindred memory lies an answer to the riddle of death. One individual sought to unravel the strands and sort the truth from the lies. He was driven, and bid his children to find these answers for him. They scoured the world of the living and the dead in search of these answers, but it was never enough. They could not sate the appetite for knowledge of their elder. In the end, he was met by the treachery of his children. Frustrated by his greed and ruthlessness, his children fell to the same base desires that drove him. And in that treachery, he found the answer to the elusive riddle.
Or so the story goes.
They say objects hold memories; the more important the object, the stronger the memories. Mementos, grave goods, remembrances; many names across innumerable cultures. In some cultures, special masks were made for the living in preparation for their final departure so that they may be remembered even long after their deaths. I have heard that one such mask – or at least its pieces – have been unearthed, and there’s powerful Kindred after them. We’re a superstitious lot now that our eldest are dead and gone, and we can’t point to the ones that lived the old stories anymore.
Now I don’t know much about the truth of the old stories, but I do know one thing:
If you want to make a name for yourself, that’s your meal ticket.
The Wild Bunch was a gang of robbers known for their daring heists throughout Utah, Kansas, and Texas. Led by the legendary outlaw Butch Cassidy, the group successfully robbed a series of trains and banks, evading both law enforcement and the Pinkertons in a blaze of gunfire and escaping with piles of silver and cash.
A recently unearthed photo placed of the gang’s members in San Antonio shortly before Day of the Dead some time in 1900. Perhaps the group considered something within the Alamo City a potential target? If so, the gang never reunited to claim it, and with the last living member of the Wild Bunch having died in 1961, the secret of their visit to San Antonio has died with them.
Perhaps whatever they had their sights on could still be within the city? If so, it is certain to remain unknown unless the spirits of the gang themselves come back to claim it. Such a gathering would undeniably spell trouble – Butch Casssidy himself claimed that he’d never killed a soul in any of his robberies, but history has shown that was not entirely true.
With the city of San Antonio gathering to celebrate Day of the Dead, it’s not entirely impossible the Wild Bunch wouldn’t reunite. After all, if you throw a big enough party, you’re bound to attract a few crashers.“
Factions
FACTIONS
For those visiting San Antonio, travel is a risky endeavor for even the most resourceful kindred. The Second Inquisition is known to have the means and the connections to search suspicious cargo in transit, and many a wayward traveler has wandered into lupine territory while stopping for a bite to eat.
Travelling is much safer if you know the lay of the land, and that means making a few friends among the locals. That’s where factions come into play.
Factions are groups of kindred loosely drawn together around a common interest or cause. For some, the purpose is pure profit motive. Others are bound together through shared faith, ideals, or their enthusiasm for a common thing. Most cities have them; they’re larger than coteries but more public than secret societies. Some kindred loosely belong merely to socialize, while others define themselves by their affiliation with them. Fortunately for you, a number of them have offered their support in helping people visit. Very possibly, one of them was able to help you out.
It’s always good to know people. Whether you’re new in town or a San Antonio local, you’ve decided to attend a faction meeting. Very likely, they’ll have an agenda in mind, but it’s up to you if you want to participate or not. Either way, it’s a good starting point to learn the lay of the land and meet some potential allies.
Get the full details by going to https://www.darknessemergent.com/factions
THE DIGITAL COLLECTIVE
The Digital Collective aims to stay one step ahead of any technology that would threaten Kindred society. We work to develop Masquerade preserving tools and protocol, allowing for rapid containment of most local-level incidents before they go viral. As technology regulations can vary between sects and domains, we work mostly independently, and take efforts to safeguard our identities. Learn more @ https://www.darknessemergent.com/factions
THE HUNT CLUB
They call us The Hunt Club, one chapter in a network of lodges in domains throughout the world where the strong and the brave gather to share stories and recognize the deeds of exceptional hunters. We command the wilds in these parts, where every manner of beast under the Texan moon and more has fallen to the fang and claw of our devoted hunters. Learn more @ https://www.darknessemergent.com/factions
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Our membership includes the most brilliant financial minds throughout history, spanning across clans, continents, and centuries. Our wealth surged with the industrial revolution, soared with the information age, and is filled with the fortunes of dynasties long-forgotten. The innovations of Smith, Keynes, and Friedman – all luminaries of their time – were nearly a century behind our Kindred financiers. As civilization’s great wealthy families have come and gone – the DiMedicis and the Fuggers, and soon the Astors, the Rockefellers, and the Waltons – we will endure, our fortunes secured, fortified, and diversified. Learn more @ https://www.darknessemergent.com/factions
THE CHIMERA GROUP
We cover a long list of services from routine bag-n-tag working for the Prince or Sheriff, or running information for the Anarch Movement across hostile borders. We pull from the ranks of reputed and reviled organizations alike, filling our roster with all manner of skilled professionals. An ex-trafficker from the Circulatory System can find common ground with mooks from the criminal Putanesca that fill the ranks of the Hecata, coming together for a common cause: money and boons. If the pay is good, we’ll take the job.
Now, you’re a professional. Don’t get cocky. Don’t take a stupid risk that you can’t cash the check for. Learn more @ https://www.darknessemergent.com/factions
THE WILTING LILY
Lys Flétri… Such a visual contradiction. The purity of the lily’s petals etched by the spreading brown of decay. I can think of no more perfect symbol of our kind. Understand that no matter your clan, no matter your past, at our core, we are the same. In your heart, in mine, lurks an ochre eyed beast just beneath the surface of a placid pool. This slavering monster drives us to destroy everything we strive to create, everything we love. This duality defines us as kindred, binds us together in ways that the kine cannot comprehend, and we master it. Learn more @ https://www.darknessemergent.com/factions
THE FREE SPIRITS
No one fights on so many fronts, so something’s gotta change. Can’t expect much from the ossified licks in the city. Feeding from the troth so long has dulled their senses, made their wits slow. That means we gotta work the situation, not so much as to make enemies, but enough so we can stretch our legs without added dangers. Learn more @ https://www.darknessemergent.com/factions
THE MIDNIGHT CONGREGATION
Ours is the legacy of ancient blood, blood that ruled entire kingdoms and guided fledgling nations to glory. We are the caretakers of that history, entrusted to the living memories of the likes of Menele, Helena, Mithras, Montano, and more. We seek the ancient wisdom of these living Gods so that we may weather the onslaught of the Second Inquisition. Learn more @ https://www.darknessemergent.com/factions
AURORAL SHIELD
To deny magic is to deny life. Long before humanity could make sense of reality, magic has existed, and over the centuries we have learned ways to supplant, change, and manipulate it. These forces envelop our world, and always will, long after the gates of Gehenna open and long after the sun devours the earth. Where once magic was dominant and science was secondary, now science has its say but magic lies behind it. Learn more @ https://www.darknessemergent.com/factions
FAQ
Q: Will this have the same sort of story/background as club based plots and themes?
A: Darkness Emergent is going to be a different product than what you may find in a club. There will not be known or visible antediluvian/elder machinations that guide the event. No elder is going to call an event or prevent hunters from entering the door. Our goal is to provide a platform for players to engage in their own machinations with a backdrop of non-player characters who help to promote player-driven antics and machinations.
Q: Will there be 10 o’Clock Monsters and hunters that show up to close out the event?
A: No. The purpose of Darkness Emergent is to focus on you, the players and your character and what YOU are doing as opposed to how they are reacting to existential threats.
Q: Does that mean there are no external enemies or threats?
A: No. It just means those are not the focus of the event.
Q: WIll there be a chance to make plot based character ties?
A: Yes! We encourage everyone to attend Faction meetings as there will be an opportunity to make character ties as well as be a part of plot seeds and information.