In the 1990s and
early 2000s I mostly GMed modern or near modern games set in the World of Darkness. For the longest
campaign I ran, I pushed the setting out to the year 2013. Yes, that is last year,
but at the time it was at least ten years in the future. The original notes I provided
for South Bank cover the years 1992 through 2005. These pick up in 2013.
The only notes I have
in a format that are easy to put online is a list of people and places of
interest. Most of the latter are bars the characters visited. The people portion
includes Kindred and Mages. The players were all vampire and I treated Garou as
per first edition rules. Garou are the enemy and will kill Kindred on site. I
only brought them in to play for the Gangrel and as combat monsters in one or
two situations. Still, I struck home the lethality of a Garou by severely
jacking up characters with one Garou versus a Brujah, Gangrel, and Ventrue. I do
not remember how much I involved Mages. The Technocracy crossed paths with the
characters. I may have planned for more, due to the Nephandi involvement or I
may be misremembering something.
The game had three
characters throughout the course of the three plus years I ran it. There was a
fourth character for less than a year, when I had a roommate. They did not mix
well with one of the regulars and it was abrasive. This was a building game and
they wanted a more social game. Which, to their credit, was what they were
accustomed to me running.
The game started
with the turning of the characters and expanded to the characters being part of
the Prince’s security teams. They would go on to fight one of my two Greatest
Big Bad badass groups, one become True Brujah, one become part Immortal ala
Highlander, one became an anti-tribu, and they all faced devils and angels as
the world burned in an apocalypse. It was a grand game.
The tabs in the
Clans section are meant to represent who sired whom. “(d)” represents deceased
characters.
Thus, I present to
you a listing of Kindred and Mages who populated a major city in my games set
in South Bank. Some of the names are taken from White Wolf products, others are
mine. It has been so long since I ran this game that I vaguely remember which
are which.
Camarilla Clans
Brujah
Chris Anderson:
Primogen, 7th Generation, biker style, owns a motor-cross
park
Razor: Member of the Primogen’s primary security
team, male, Nazi symbols on leather jacket
Robert
Brown (d)
Nigel
Preseton (d)
Laurie
Parker: owns several grunge bars/clubs
Buzz: club DJ
Peter: Anarch
Ed: Anarch
Beth: Anarch
Carmen: Anarch
Curtis
Smith: Handles gang activity
David
Chang: Contact with the Tongs
Randy: Contact with non-Garou shapeshifters
(Ryan Johnson: 7th
Generation)
Bruce
Warschilkshy: Handles the Unions
Tony
Volczek: Trade Industry
Cole
Swanson: Minor Trade Industry
Cliff
Castle: Major Trade Industry
Bridge Hellstrom (d):
Idealist, considered rogue by most of South Bank’s Camarilla Kindred
Gangrel
Karen Spieletreff:
Primogen, 7th Generation
Wade
Sheats: South Bank representative to
other cities
Kathleen
Moore (d)
Jacob
Sumpter: South Bank representative to
the local Garou
Len
Higgens: Rep from Elkhart
Donald
Durango: Member of the primary security
team for the Primogen
Agnes
Gallows: Member of the second security
team
Luis: Anarch
Stephanie: Luis
George Kruegar: Handles local wildlife organizations (parks,
zoos, etc.), Sabbat mole with Vicissitude abilities
Kathryn: Member of the third security team, has
Vicissitude
Andrea
Newman: Controls local game preserves
not already under the control of the Garou
Adrian “Ivan” Petru: Member of the third security team, drank and
Immortal and gained a
Generation
Malkavian
Samuel Tippicanoe: Primogen, often found singing and
playing the piano at Singalong Sam’s
Sandy
Bouchard: Oversees County/State jails
Brian
James: Eccentric millionaire, plays the
“Puritan”
Jaques
St. Clair: Oversees the South Bank
Institute for the Mentally Challenged
Randy
Bloom: Head of South Bank’s chapters of
MUFON and NICAP
Maye
(d): Operated from within Chinatown, actually
a Nosferatu
Morgan
Tyler: Member of security team three
Nosferatu
Simon Cielewski (d):
Primogen
Patti
Rieser (d)
Isabella
(d)
Ana
(d)
Timmy
Smith: Controls smaller, local colleges
Nicholas
Voinea: Security team two’s spymaster
(Khalid)
Mona
Swanson: Security team one member;
Arabian in origin
Toreador
Malinda Fuyakara:
Primogen, owns Club Zombie, dark appearance
Billy
Haynes: Writer
Kone-ko: Runs brothels and underground casinos
Miles
Rolstein: Handles work for Kone-ko
Stacey Veidt:
Owner of Club Death, dark red hair, blue eyes, dresses very clean and
modern
Kristina Kandler:
Owns several nightclubs, same sire as Stacey Veidt
Evelyn
Motz: South Bank representative to
Indianapolis
Henry
Masterson: Security team two member,
involved with local kine politics
Colin Hutchinson:
Owns local theatre for the performing arts, same sire as Stacey Veidt
Aryn
Marca: Poseur painter
Theresa
Charbonneau: Owns a local auditorium
Melissa
LeRousch: pianists
Nick Meltzer: Painter,
representative from Indianapolis
Kim Drieburg:
Cellist, representative from Chicago
Robert Davis: Jazz
musician, owns three local clubs
Tremere
Louisa Markoffe:
Primogen and Chantry leader
Jasmine
Parks: Louisa’s lover and constant
companion
Paul
Roesier: Louisa’s enforcer and when
doesn’t use Aluta
Darius
Van Hoeven: Owner of Bethlehem
Theological School of South Bank
Nikolai
Werschaft: Owner of various occult
stores
Lester
Summers: Occult researcher
Wade Deka: Spy
Adele
Panzera (d): Acolyte
Ventrue
Ian Stewart:
Prince of South Bank (future)
Griffith
Wyman: Handles local paper media and
sports teams
Laura
Styles: Controls police and fire
departments
Chuck
MacGregor: Oversees the gang activities
not controlled by the Brujah; black hair and eyes, hangs out at
Tommy Sheehan’s Pub and Grill
Eric Morcock: Manages security teams two and three
Frank
Drascovic (d): Computer systems
Jordan Studebaker (d):
6th Generation, assassinated in 2010 by an unknown Kindred
(Aluta)
Terrence
Friedman: Primogen, owns some Major
Trade Industry and some local media, owns The Delta Night
and does not truly like the
Prince
Tara Cho: Representative to Chicago
Sandra Colwynne: Representative to Indianapolis
Igor
Koziol: Handles government offices
involved with business and health
Louis Toscani: Mafia relations
Sabrina
Giovanelli: Drug and gun sales
Antonio
Perrelli: Member of security team three
Byron Chapman: Representative
from Indianapolis
Paul Caldone:
Representative from Chicago
Neutral Clans
Assamite
Deborah al-Muthlim Sedonia: Chief of all South Bank security and personal
bodyguard to Prince Stewart. Prince Stewar contracted the Assamite family in
2018. The most recent time a family member visited South Bank before Deborah
was in 2010 to reassure the Kindred that assassination attempts on Prince
Studebaker’s life was not an Assamite contract. Deborah’s contract is for five
years. She typically dresses in black, skin tight clothing with no jewelry.
However, she will dress up to match her Prince for social occasssions.
Daughters of
Cacophony
Caitlen Eire:
Owner of Tombo’s, lead singer for Irish Mist, given the right to sire
due to her participation in the Sabbat war of 1997
Iva
Walker: Lead guitarist for Irish Mist,
short and skinny, borne in 1997
Gargoyle
Aluta: Serves the
Tremere and blood-bound to Louisa. She killed Jordan Studebaker after Louisa
decided she had had enough of his actions against her clan. Aluta has heard of
the gargoyle named Angel, but they have yet to meet. Aluta plans on playing
with Angel as prey and then killing Angel. She feels Angels ways of pacifism
are a disgrace to the Gargoyle heritage.
Angel: Lives in
the basement of a local university, does not serve the Tremere, and is not
aware of another Gargoyle being in town
Giovanni
Leo: South Bank
media liason specialist on the occult, owns a very pricey, used bookstore that
is only open by appointment. Leo is also involved with the city’s cemeteries,
several funeral homes, and controls the city morgue. To this extent, he has
made himself invaluable to Prince Stewart.
Orazio Lamberti:
Not Kindred, but rather Leo’s ghoul manservant. He is hunchbacked and
uses a cane.
Ravnos
Jan Yuri: 7th
Generation, controls various breaking and entering rackets, casinos, movie
theaters, pawn shops, extortionist rings, and Zekes
Sandy Yuri:
Niece-Daughter of Jan, can be found at Zeke’s, a rough and tumble biker
bar
Samedi
Roger
Steven Cartwright:
Servant of the Giovanni Death Club
Bushi
Suguru Fukuda
Cruaigh
Liam O’Connell: He
once lived in this area, but has since moved away. He is rumoured to live
somewhere in Michigan, but with an eye on the local activities. He still owns
an old boathouse in Lincoln. The property is five acres of forest on a lake
surrounded by an electrified fence.
Alasdair Ferguson
Caitiff
Markus Kuchenmeister (d):
Brujah
Christos (d):
Gangrel
Katja (d): Brujah
Polly (d):
Toreador
Setsu-Otsuki (d):
Nosferatu
Barry Hooper: Runs
the docks, takes payments from various gun dealers and allows them to work out
of his place
Mark Roseta:
Leader of security team two, an outsider even to his security team
Sabbat Clans
Kiasyd
Mary Tarbert:
Member of the Giovanni Death Club
Pander
Hawk: Owner of
Nighthawk’s Flight Service. He will take jobs from either Camarilla or Sabbat
Kindred. He is a member of the True Black Hand and knows the location of the
Blood Brothers who are in torpor. He is unaware of the Nagarajas’ presence in
South Bank.
Nagaraja
Angelo Schatten:
Member of the Giovanni Death Club and True Black Hand, is considered
rogue.
Thomas Smythe
Lasombra
Marcel Lisboa
Tzimisce
None
Antitribu Clans
Brujah
Gangrel
Henrik Hovgaard
Nosferatu
Jean Dermond O’Callahan: Killed Victor Fleming in Kokomo
Station, goes by “JD”
Toreador
Malcom Morgan
Audry Graham
Ventrue
Meral Halid: Works
in the Archbishop’s office
Other Sabbat
Paul Dalsgaard:
Friend of Forcas, owns Dr. Damdhi’s Waxworks where he has Robert Brown
and Kathleen Moore on exhibit as “Tragic Neo-Gothic Vampyre Lovers.” The
Waxworks has been closed since 2003. There is a secret, underground hallway
from the basement of the waxworks to an exit under the South Bank Mariner’s
(baseball) pitcher’s mound.
Jeret Brandt:
Internet alias of “Crater-Man,” wants Pirrelli to be his mole within the
Camarilla
Tradition Mages
Akashik
Brotherhood
Miss Wu: Elder,
friends with Su (kitsune). Ms Wu owns several dojos in the area, most
specialize in exercise and self-defense. She is a women’s rights proponent.
Brian Chang:
Contemplative Warrior
David Li: Yogi,
herbalist, runs an Oriental market
Celestial Chorus
Sister Isabella:
Elder, resides at the Catholic university
Brother David:
Elder, theological professor at the Catholic university
Sister Jasmine:
Social worker based out of a junior college associated with the Catholic
university
Sister Diane: Runs
the local homeless shelter, often seen working in the soup kitchen
Sister Michelle:
Hunts down evil, is not a member of the Society of Leopold
Cult of Ecstasy
Pat Mansfield:
Medievalist
Garland Navarro:
Deadhead
Elena Wells: Club
owner
Debbie Shelton:
Owns casinos, hotels, and brothels
Camile Duvalle:
Owner of Fantasy, Unlimited
Dreamspeakers
Jimmy “Red Bird” Smith:
Elder, very old and close to death, friend of the Garou
Alicia White:
Student of Red Bird’s, will most likely be asked to be the
representative to the Garou upon his death
Jesse Coleman:
Student of Red Bird’s, works for the DNR, can sometimes be found at the
local State Park
Lisa Wittman:
Ecologist
Euthanatos
Keith Jones: Low
to mid-grade power level, from Chicago
Darren McCloud:
Low to mid-grade power level, from Indianapolis
Sadik Kadish: Member
of the Giovanni Death Club, not a known Mage of South Bank
Order of Hermes
Johnathon Carmine:
Elder, alchemist, thinks he is the most powerful Mage in the city, no
one has ever tried to dis/prove this; House Bonsigus
Stacey Wilson:
Alchemist; House Quesitor
Hector Ramierz:
Professor of history and linquistics at the local Catholic university
and related colleges; House Jerbiton
Sonya Meyer:
Astrologist, odd tattoos on body and face; House Criamon
Richard Ferber:
Professor of philosophy at the local state college; House Ex-Miscellanea
Sons of Ether
Thomas “Zip Gun” Choppe:
Elder, head of physics department at the local Catholic University
Kent Dixon:
Visiting biochemist from a Big Ten university, teaching at the local
state college
Christopher Wagner:
Gadgeteer
Verbena
Derek Stellner:
Elder
Aileen Thomas:
White witch, streak of white in her hair, former student of Stellner’s
Kathleen Greenburg:
Black witch, former student of Stellner’s
Aron Kelly:
student of Aileen’s
Virtual Adepts
Blake Wilder:
Elder, owns several computer firms, has ties to big money in the
computer industry
Stephen Rurk:
Elder, owns several programming companies, known ofr his hacking
abilities
Kathy Billingsly
Larry Schively:
Operations manager of local Tellus Enterprises, he does not realize what
he is involved with
Hollow Ones and
Orphans
Jules Fiorbjorn:
Elder
Amy Syrus
Marlene Jackson
Gabriel Ashcraft
Natasha Stark
Michael Tomlin
William Fischer
Kelly Burns:
Member of the Giovanni Death Club
Kimberly Allsop:
Member of the Giovanni Death Club
Ali-Batan
None
Technocracy
New World Order
Armin Khrolovich:
Reporter for national news agency
Iteration X
Syndicate
Has control of local news media and major religious
charitable giving organization
Progenitors
James Wong:
Gene-engineer, has access to MIB and HIT Marks, teaches at both the
local state college and Catholic university, he continues to work on his experiments
with Garou DNA. He has been working on this project for more than twenty years
and has come a long way. He has been cloned for the greater good of the
Technocracy. He once knew the whereabouts of the Renegade pack. He had hoped to
bring them into his scheme, but was unsuccessful.
Void Engineers
Marauders
Francisco: Frank’s
wife was a Daughter (Son) of Ether. One night, a raging Garou lost cub attacked
their home. Everyone in the family, besides Frank, were killed. Frank was left
barely alive. At the point where the Delirium should have kicked in, Frank’s
unAwakened Avatar awoke. The experience drove him insane. He learned his
Spheres quickly, yet was completely unrefined in his learning. He found one of
his wife’s diaries from the first days of her tutelage and studied it. He was
able to discern how to find other Awakened individuals, whatever the race. He
also found a Talisman of his wife’s, a Peacemaker .45 revolver. He has since
embarked on a mission to rid the world of the supernatural, especially Mages.
He knows of many in the South Bank area. He blames the other Mages and Garou,
in general, for his wife’s death. He considers Kindred a plague to society.
Nephandi
Set of Seven
Ramiel: Real name
is unknown, but he is widely accepted as being Derek Stellner’s first student,
who was lost to the Nephandi. He is an Order of Hermes-barabbi. He never had
the time to develop into a certain House. He has completely black eyes.
Samiel: Real name
is Kevin Anders. He made a Pact with the Dark Ones to fix his blindness and
paraplegic body. All that he must accomplish for the Dark Ones is the
destruction of the Celestial Chorus and Dreamspeaker Mages of the South Bank
Area. He serves as the public front-man for the Set of Seven. He is a Celestial
Chorus-barabbi. He has completely white eyes.
Sameveel: Real
name is Ian Jamison. He serves as Ramiel’s advisor. He has a secret agenda. He
has plans to bring forth the King in Yellow, an avatar of Hastur. He is an
Euthanatos-barabbi. He has completely navy-blue eyes.
Caim: Her real
name is Tina Olson. She is a New World Order-barabbi. She has completely orange
eyes.
Tumiel: Her real
name is Sabrina Elliot. She is a Verbena-barabbi. She has completely red eyes.
Forcas: Her real
name is Renee’ Kasmeerzak. She is a Dreamspeaker-barabbi. Her eyes are
completely purple.
Marax: His real
name is Nicholas Wilson. He is a Void Engineer-barabbi. He has completely green
eyes.
The Set of seven were the Big Bads for this campaign.
They were introduced within the first five sessions and stayed until the party
was able to kill them. I first described them in ways that were otherworldly
and demonic. I did this, because I was not certain what they would become. In
time, the abilities I wanted them to display were very much in line with Mage.
Thus, they became barabbi.
Marax was killed and his soul is nowhere to be found.
Ramiel is lost in Malfeas or another Nether realm. The others’ souls were
placed in a glass ball. Tumiel was removed and chained to Stellner’s Umbral
Realm with Stygian Metal. The others were dropped into the Set of Seven’s well
of souls, which was then Hermetically sealed against man, beast, and time by
Stellner.
When I think of organizations within roleplaying games
that really made a game happen, this is one of my top two. The other was the
“Circle of Thorns” from my WEG Star Wars game. I tend to revisit both
organizations as nemesis in my games.
Places of Interest
A Taste: Coffee house
with low lights, wide spread tables, long bar, and a small stage; owned by
Colin Hutchinson
Club Death:
Industrial dance club, sight of the 1996 slaughter; owned by Stacey
Veidt
Club Zombie: Loud
metal, industrial, techno mix, doorman dresses as Mr. Samdhi, coffins and
skeletons are everywhere; owned by Malinda (DeWinter) Fuyukara
Crossroads:
Mage-related bar, run by Zero, a former Consor
The Delta Night:
Luxurious nightclub on the upper floor of a downtown business, black
tie, and name must be listed to gain entrance; owned by Terrence Friedman
The Dock: A quiet
biker bar where many weapons deals are made
Drumhoelfers:
Cheap, 1980s styled bar with pool tables
564 Club:
Traditional jazz and blues club, very pristine condition, suite and tie
dress attire; serves “house wine” to Kindred
Fantasy Unlimited:
Strip bar in an old church; owned by Camile Duvalle
The Hole: Trashy
S&M club in the arts district
Hurricane: Top 40s
dance club
The Locker Room:
Huge sports bar, the building is three stories tall with at least one
bar open on each level at all times, every booth or table has TV screens with
large-screen TVs on all the walls; run by the Syndicate
The Lamp Lite:
Brothel in the casino district; run by Kone-ko
Luna’s: Garou pub
Singalong Sam’s:
Piano bar with very bad singing by Sam the Man aka Samuel Tippicanoe
The Sunset Club: A
cheap venue for rock style bands, once a county clubhouse where the clubhouse,
golf course, bar, and surrounding housing subdivision went downhill. 11550
South Crawford Avenue, the sign is half0lit with neon red lettering, the
parking lot is filled with litter, cracks, and weeds. The exterior of the
building is drab and gloomy, done in brick and stone. It is run by the Union
Council, a South Bank Camarilla watchdog group
Tombo’s: Rock
style bar that plays music from the 1960s-1980s. They feature live music most
nights. This bar was known as The Prancing Unicorn in the 1990s. Owned by
Caitlen Eire.
Toucan Liquor Stand:
Tropical themed bar whose owner is a very gay Satyr
