V5: Secrets

Actually played V5!

Introducing Grace. (Not her real name.) She wonders if a monster like her can still love someone.

Sophie Thatcher
Because Sophie Thatcher hasn't played a vampire yet
and this seems like an oversight

1

Grace, Toreador, haunts New York's alternative scene. If anyone asks, having Goth nights is good for the Masquerade.

She meets Eloise, Hecata, on the way to a night class at the university. They discuss the next new moon's Elysium. Grace's sire will be there so she'll have to smile.

At the class, Grace sees the young man she's been avoiding getting too close to all semester. His smile is too inviting, and his scent too tempting. Eloise pretends not to notice.

They meet up with Samuel, Caitiff, and Jack, mortal, at a gig not far away. She wasn't really in the mood, but she dances anyway.

There are some other vampires and in-the-know people around. She'll have to talk to some of them...

2

Grace listens to the band. They're not really her kind of thing, but at least they don't hurt.

Samuel and Jack meet with a scene Caitiff who tells them about a warehouse party in a couple nights. Anarch but open.

The next night, Grace meets with Eloise and they take in a class. And there's another vampire there.

He waits politely after class, to tell them he's moving on to campus, and remind them that it isn't their domain.

3

Eloise checks with her sire, who says she'll ask about their new neighbor.

The night after, the four go to the warehouse party. Grace wears a leather jacket, LBD and fishnets.

They meet some angry vampires, some bored vampires, and some human hangers-on who would be in trouble if the Camarilla were to know. And Grace recognises one from an art show sponsored by one of her clan a while ago...

4

And for the next night, time to prepare for Elysium. Not one of the big meetings but they're still expected to make an effort. Grace in particular, as the grandchilde of the Keeper of Elysium. Time to pick up her gown, and make sure she hunts well and late the night before so she might not need to call a 'friend' the following evening.

And at the club, she is approached by one of the vampires from the anarch rave. One of their mortal guests has gone missing, and she would like to know why.

Eloise tries to get more on their new neighbor, with help from Samuel. We'll see how that goes.

5

Grace meets Eloise to get ready for Elysium. Her sire Michael and his sire Diana, and assorted other members of the brood, are all going to be there. "At least you don't have to deal with that in public," she groans to Eloise.

The Hecata only ever send a few representatives to conduct business, offer their services and remind the Ventrue that they're not the only clan with tailors. Eloise is expected to look like she belongs there.

Hair and nails at an exclusive salon. Elysium is a political minefield but looking good gives a confidence boost.

Samuel gets suited and booted so he can look fine while being shunned. Grace makes a point to show friendliness when her sire's looking.

Grace makes her way around her family of Harpies and not-quite Harpies, playing the good youngest member being seen and not heard. Her sire asks after her education to show interest. She mentions the new neighbor, and he seems like he might do something.

Then she asks her grandsire if she knew about the warehouse party. It seems she did, and is curious how it was. Grace mentions the disappearance, and Diana makes a note. Maybe a way to make the Bronx vampires look bad.

6

The Prince is aloof and beautiful. The Camarilla members bow and curtsey dramatically, the others present nod their heads and lower their gazes.

Diana tells her of Grace's issue, and she encourages the coterie to take a look, "for the good of our alliance", so yes, a chance to show up the Anarchs.

Diana advises speaking with Lang, a Tremere who proves only too happy to help with this purpose. They're to meet at the warehouse the next night to investigate.

Waking with the Hunger rising, Grace has to visit a dorm to take some blood from a distracted 'friend'. She finds this more discomfiting with the number of mortals she knows well lately.

She sees The Young Man and finds herself using the Blush of Life without thinking. She leaves feeling awkward.

The new neighbour gets to see all this.

7

Leather jacket and combat boots for a trip to the abandoned warehouse. The coterie arrive early to meet Lang, who is right on time.

Lang examines the place, paces the floor, and smirks. "Well. Looks like our mortal friend saw one too many of us and decided to run. Mortals do that sometimes."

He can't give them an address, but it's enough to tell the Anarch.

Who would like to know who scared him away.

Lang suggested a big man with a shaved head.

"One of your sheriff's men," she suggests.

The next night, Grace is back on campus, doing her best to smile and be social with the mortal students who think she's one of them. She's invited to a house party on Friday. Maybe she can go, if she doesn't have to hunt...

8

Grace visits one of her herd on Thursday, and wakes that Friday with the Hunger only a little tempted.

Eloise shakes her head at her efforts to look so much like a vampire and use the Blush of Life around mortals.

Samuel asks some other outcast vampires about the Sheriff's deputy.

Grace sees The Boy at the party. And sees their neighbor noticed.

December

Reuel: Whatever happened to poor Grace?

Me: What happens to so many PCs. Scheduling.