No Kidding There I Was
From Changeling Venue
WORK IN PROGRESSS - NOT YET SANCTIONED.
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Contents |
Section I: Basic Venue Information
Domain Name: SC Regional Online Lost VSS
Domain Number: N/A
Venue: No Kidding There I was…
Lead Venue Storyteller:
Storyteller Contact:
Games Hosted On: IRC, time TBA
Section II: Styles of Play and Focus of Venue
Action: [ 3 ] (Combat and Challenges)
Character Development [ 5 ] (Personal dilemmas and choices)
Darkness: [ 5 ] (PC death and/or corruption)
Drama: [ 4 ] (Ceremony and Grand Story)
Intrigue: [ 3 ] (Politics and negotiations)
Manners: [ 3 ] (Social etiquette and Peer Pressure)
Mystery: [ 5 ] (Enigmas and investigation)
Pace: [ 3 ] (How fast do stories resolve)
The primary theme being explored within this VSS is the concept of Madness. Every aspect of a character’s life sways their hold on Clarity. One sudden upset in the mortal world can send them sprawling easily enough, to say nothing of the enchanted world. How doe these characters handle this? Will they choose to embrace their faerie side and neglect their mortal life? Will they try to reclaim their mortal life and ignore the world around them? Or will they try to maintain that balance between sources of madness?
As a special condition of this VSS, there are two options for PC location. PCs may be attatched to this VSS for the purpose of being based in Corpus Christi, being accountable to that presiding ST. Alternately, they may be based in their low changeling population city, and thereby accountable directly to the ARST: Lost. (Details to be clarified by authorized officers)
Section III: Venue History
The backdrop
The area of Corpus Christi has maintained itself reasonably well over the past twenty years, suffering from the occasional trouble and strife like any other city might. Although few people in the area are old enough to remember the more turbulent times, those that do recall the events of the nation’s bicentennial with crystal clarity.
According to the Chronicles of the Freehold
The Freehold in Corpus Christi was founded in 1936, ten years following the establishment of the port. Prior to this the numbers were simply insufficient to require a governing body of any sort. Its first governing body declared with the establishing of the freehold
“And so shall this day be remembered by all, that this exemplary freehold shall thrive in the face of adversity, shining as a beacon unto the night. United in the defense of all who would oppose the Gentry and their agents, there is nothing we can not do”
This first incarnation of the freehold operated with a different sort of government. Each of the Seasonal Courts would select their leader as usual. These leaders would together form a council, with the chair being selected via the season. In all matters of decision, the council would vote, with the chair being granted two votes. A simple but balanced form of government, it saw the freehold through forty-five years. The Council had no grand objectives, although they did accomplish a notable goal in the same summer Neil Armstrong became famous.
In winter of 1968, the Council decided that with their growing position as a port town, they needed to establish a stronger manner by which to support the needs of the Freehold. After much debate, a decision was made to host a monthly “Winter Market”. This was an immediate success, attracting members from across the region, which would come for the duration of the market and quietly leave again. A small tax was charged to each individual who wished to sell within the market, and very few stipulations on goods.
As the years went on, the Council developed a larger vested interest in the continued thriving of the Market, often sponsoring several vendors themselves in exchange for a larger cut of revenue. As greater measures were applied to ensure the safety of the market itself, fewer were applied to efforts to expand the borders of the freehold. This led to a great falling out of some of the more fanatical members of the Summer Court attempting a coup in 1998.
The events surrounding the initial coup have been difficult to accurately record. What has been confirmed though is that were it not for the approaching hurricane squalls, the uprising would have been far more disastrous. During the chaos surrounding the hurricane squalls, the motleys all banned together, calling upon contracts and pledges to drive back these powerful forces of nature. While the rain and storms did buffet the city, the damage was far less significant.
For a period of nearly six years, the city was in chaos as uprising after uprising occurred. Each was stifled in turn, but all served to upset the otherwise careful measures taken to preserve the Winter Market. It was during this time that the rumor mills began to grow more vocal. Stories flew that the true reason of the Winter Market in town was that somewhere nearby, a thriving Goblin Market existed and the Council wished to keep that their own personal shopping ground.
In 2004, the Council finally restored true peace, striking an accord with the remaining members of the Summer Court. Rather than wasting their martial efforts internally, they would serve as the security for the Winter Market, ensuring that any who should try to upset the rules would be dealt with swiftly. Those who did not agree to this were given an ultimatum, leave town willingly or leave by force. Peace had been restored. This day of reconciliation was considered to be especially fortuitous by the oracles because thirteen days after the pledges were made, Corpus Christi found itself sitting blanketed under nearly a foot of snow.
In Modern Times
Corpus Christi is now, once more, home to a very strong Winter Market, bringing a healthy trade bustle in, as well as support and information from abroad. Every so often, the rumors still arise that there is a secret Goblin Market that can be reached through the area, but those are often simply discounted as the ramblings of paranoia. The Freehold itself still, technically, exists although almost exclusively to serve as the governing body of the Market. Their official position on visitors is one of “don’t make us come down there”.
Merchants wishing to vend in the Winter Market are required to pay a small free to the Market, which in turn is used to help continue its future existence. Only the most blatant of disreputable merchants or materials are barred from vending, and even then if it’s kept discreet they tend to turn a blind eye. The only behavior they refuse to tolerate is that which violates their founding precepts of opposing the Gentry and their agents.
Section IV: Character
Paperwork required for the sanctioning of a new PC is as follows:
- Character Sheet
- Experience Log
- Background Story*
- Answer, “What is my PC’s niche within the changeling community?”
Please note that the background story is an important and essential piece of paper. It is your Low ST’s job to tell a story involving your PC. If you cannot be bothered to create a good background story; why should you expect a good continuing story to be created for you? It is also vitally important in this venue to describe the life that your PC left in order to tell that PC’s continuing story.
Low approval modifications to your character sheet, such as experience expenditures must be reported in an appropriate downtime report. Such expenditures take a MINIMUM of one week (7 days) to become effective; unless modified by the Low ST’s response to your downtime. For more information on downtime actions, see the MET WoD Corebook, p.172. As an added provision, if a character is actively working towards a goal, they are requested to inform the presiding ST so that it can be noted for experience purchases. For example, if Bob was saving up and planning on buying Mirror Contract 4, he would inform his ST ahead of time. This is to ensure that appropriate adjustments to learning time can be made.
Influencing the history of this venue or its setting material shall only be permissible during the initial phase of this Venue. After chronicle-start, all new PCs must be created with minimal impact on local historical events. As outlined in the Camarilla Addendum ( ), a copy of all custom mechanics must be provided to the presiding ST. Additionally, with any approval item requiring a tracking number, failure to provide a valid tracking number results in denial of the object for use. Period.
Section V: Experience award guidelines
The breakdown of experience awards are typically as follow, with respect to all limits as outlined in the Camarilla Addendum, U.03.02.01
Though multiple characters may be portrayed by a single player in a given game session, only one character may earn Experience Traits for role play during any single game session. No distinction is made between secondary or primary PCs when awarding Experience.
Experience Awards Related to a Game Session (Max of 4/Session):
- 1xp: Attendance and Base RP (90 minutes of activity).
This award is automatic though may be stricken by Low ST.
- 1xp: RP within the Stereotypes presented by source material.
This award is automatic though may be stricken by Low ST.
- 1xp: Involved Role play (involving others in active RP).
This award is automatic though may be stricken by Low ST.
- 1xp: RP related to downtime actions.
This award is usually automatic to applicable PCs.
- 1xp: Side Session or IRC Session.
This award would be specifically noted by the Low ST.
Experience awards not related to a game session (Max of 3/Month):
- 1xp: Side Session
- 1xp: Pre-game and/or Post-game reports.* **
- 2xp: Full downtime report detailing downtime actions.*
- 1xp: IC Journal including PC’s views.* **
- 1xp: IC narrative showing PC’s manner of thought.* **
- 2xp: Dream/Nightmare narrative experienced by PC.* **
*: Needs to be emailed. **: With Low ST approval prior to submission, these items may be considered ‘Game-Related’ for the purposes of Experience Awards.
Section VI: “Special” Mechanics
Clarity Loss: Each instance of Clarity Loss shall be entered into the approvals database with a Low approval level. This shall serve as low notification of such a loss. All relevant questions need not be answered, but a short description should be entered into the Mechanics portion of the application describing the situation that caused the Clarity loss. Also note which Storyteller (name & Cam Number) ran the scene (and email address if it is not your Low ST), whether or not you gained a derangement as a result of a loss of Clarity and the resulting degeneration roll, as well as the date of the occurrence
Willpower Dot Expenditure: Each instance of Willpower Dot expenditure shall be entered into the approvals database with a Low approval level; this shall serve as low notification. All relevant questions need not be answered, but a short description should be entered into the Mechanics portion of the application describing what the permanent willpower was spent for. Also note which Storyteller (name & Cam Number) ran the scene (and email address if it is not your Low ST), whether or not you gained a derangement as a result of a loss of Clarity and the resulting degeneration roll, as well as the date of the occurrence
Any Permanent Loss: Each instance of a permanent loss of a merit or otherwise applicable item (to include body parts) shall be entered into the approvals database with a Low approval level; this shall serve as low notification. All relevant questions need not be answered, but a short description should be entered into the Mechanics portion of the application describing what the permanent willpower was spent for. Also note which Storyteller (name & Cam Number) ran the scene (and email address if it is not your Low ST), whether or not you gained a derangement as a result of a loss of Clarity and the resulting degeneration roll, as well as the date of the occurrence
Glamour/Etc
All attempts to harvest glamour, tokens, or otherwise must be run by the presiding Storyteller. Rules outlined in Changeling the Lost, along with any approved supplements will be utilized. Unless otherwise noted as a result of downtime reports or specific storylines being run, all characters will be assumed to be at full glamour.
Proxy rules
Rules governing sending a proxy to this VSS are outlined in the Camarilla Addendum, U.6.04, with the additions as follows.
There is no such thing as a “soft proxy” to the VSS. While many proxies may be relatively eventless, this does not preclude the need for character sheets, etc. Additionally, while the Camarilla Addendum specifically gives authority to refuse any character that the presiding Storyteller feels is unbalancing to game, it is noted here as well that the presiding Storyteller reserves the right to refuse any proxy.
Characters who regularly visit the VSS may, at the discretion of the VST, be put on file so as to eliminate the need for full proxy outlines for each visit. Details on this arrangement, should it be offered, will be worked out between the ST staff, the player, and their supervising ST.
Additionally, with any proxy it is important to be as specific as possible in regards to the time constraints of proxies and the conditions under which the PC would attempt to leave the area. This is emphasized so as to prevent any complications resulting from complex proxy sets. This guidelines applies to all proxies, including those fitting into the above category of “pre-approved” proxies.
Travel Rules
Travel within the mundane world will typically not be subject to any restrictions, outside of plotlines that may be in progress or actions by player characters. On the other hand, travel within the Hedge (be it by trod or otherwise) or by supernatural means is another matter entirely and is subject to the complications typically associated with such.
Visiting Character Guidelines
All visiting characters will need a full character sheet with experience log and ST contact information, as well as a copy of all applicable approval codes. These codes MAY be verified and if found to be inaccurate will be investigated fully. Proof of Membership class is appreciated, but not required. All approval items may be subject to temporary denial by the presiding ST. Chances of this can be minimized by emailing at least 48 hours in advance so that arrangements can be made.
