Vampires. Legends, myths, creatures of lore. As far as most people know. How wrong they are.
You cannot die. Well, you cannot die of old age. Either long ago, or more recently, you were turned. Created. Shifted. Transformed. There are a dozen words for it and none of them quite describe the experience. Your life ended and your unlife began. No longer could mortal food, drink, or lust satisfy you. You now satisfied these needs through the draining of mortal blood. Your maker taught you the rules of the society, and showed you the ways of your new world. And when the time was right, or perhaps for another reason, you left them, and sought your fortunes out in the world at large. You followed the path that fate laid for you, which one day, brought you across the ocean blue to the New World, a new land of opportunity, for the living and the dead.
Welcome to Court of Blood, an RP based off the Choose your own adventure game Choice of Vampires. Loosely at least. The rules and vampires and the structure of vampiric society are all based off what is laid out in the game and it's sequel. The premise of the RP is to tell the tale of a vampire society in America throughout the history of the United States, starting with the Eve of Revolution, Boston, 1763. There will be a central plot to each location the RP visits and most will be self contained stories pertaining to those locations at that point in history.
General Stuff
As for the actual society of Vampires, there is a bit of history behind them, as one might expect from a society of immortals. Though almost contrary to that, there is almost no history of vampire-kind before the Roman Empire. During the time of Julius Caesar, a young roman commander worked his way up the ranks. Adonis Pluto Liber was brilliant in military command, and as a self styled son of Pluto bore incredible gifts of strength and speed, born with only one weakness, he could not walk under the sun of day. In reality, Adonis was a vampire, a younger one but still of considerable power. Vampire's were still unorganized at the time, and confined within the borders of Rome. Taking advantage of the political upheval that followed Caesar's assassination, Adonis seized the moment. In a great campaign across the empire, with several of his brood, or vampires he created, Adonis slew every vampire older than himself and gave the ones younger than him a chance. Swear to him as ruler of Vampirekind, or be slain. By the time Augustus rose to power, Adonis was in complete control of Vampire society.
The first thing he did with his new power was strike all records of himself from mortal records. Following that, Adonis formed the Cruento Praetorian, the enforcers of his new "Society of Night." These new Praetors were loyal to the self styled Consul Adonis, and sought out any mention of Vampires before Adonis's takeover, and had it destroyed, along with any dissenters to Adonis's rule. In order to ensure peace within his society, Adonis created the political system that still governs Vampires today. He created a senate, and a system of governors. While an edict from Adonis was undeniable, the Senate would handle the more menial decision making and administrative duties, while the governors would enforce the Consul's will in the area they were assigned, including appointing Quaestors, who watched over larger settlements in Adonis's name. Once a city had a Quaestor, the Senate would then choose a Senator from amongst vampire kind to represent the city.
In order to enforce his rule over his new system of bureaucracy, Adonis then created the 3 Rs. The Rules of Respect, Restraint, and Reserve. In actual terms, it meant that a member of the Society would have to receive the permission of a Quaestor to stay in larger cities, that all members of the society would have to keep themselves hidden from Mortals beyond servants at any cost, and that members of the society could not kill each other without reason. That privledge was reserved for Adonis and his Praetors. Thus Adonis was able to establish total control over vampires, and from there begin to control their expansion. Vampires traveled all over the world, but only cities worthy of Adonis's blessing were granted any power in the society. As time went on, Adonis became more drawn into his own research than to truely bother with his Society, leaving duties to the Senate for a few hundred years, who could only approve Governors to control new provinces by a unanimous decision.
It was also around this time that select vampires began to worship Adonis, fueling a vampiric religion known as Consuline Worship, believing Adonis to be a living god who would lead Vampires to total dominance of the planet. Counter to the Consulines were the Children of Abraham, who worshipped the christian lord, and believed all vampires to be descendants of Isaac, son of Abraham, who was turned into a vampire when Abraham attempted to sacrifice him. The two religions clashed, until Adonis began to hunt down any and all of the Children of Abraham. This recent refocusing of the Consul has triggered the creation of several new districts across the world, including the now settled northeast colonies of Great Britain, centered around the newly appointed Governor of Philidelphia. This has lead to the influx of vampires across the world to many cities in the north east, all desiring to become a Quaestor in this new realm.
The first thing he did with his new power was strike all records of himself from mortal records. Following that, Adonis formed the Cruento Praetorian, the enforcers of his new "Society of Night." These new Praetors were loyal to the self styled Consul Adonis, and sought out any mention of Vampires before Adonis's takeover, and had it destroyed, along with any dissenters to Adonis's rule. In order to ensure peace within his society, Adonis created the political system that still governs Vampires today. He created a senate, and a system of governors. While an edict from Adonis was undeniable, the Senate would handle the more menial decision making and administrative duties, while the governors would enforce the Consul's will in the area they were assigned, including appointing Quaestors, who watched over larger settlements in Adonis's name. Once a city had a Quaestor, the Senate would then choose a Senator from amongst vampire kind to represent the city.
In order to enforce his rule over his new system of bureaucracy, Adonis then created the 3 Rs. The Rules of Respect, Restraint, and Reserve. In actual terms, it meant that a member of the Society would have to receive the permission of a Quaestor to stay in larger cities, that all members of the society would have to keep themselves hidden from Mortals beyond servants at any cost, and that members of the society could not kill each other without reason. That privledge was reserved for Adonis and his Praetors. Thus Adonis was able to establish total control over vampires, and from there begin to control their expansion. Vampires traveled all over the world, but only cities worthy of Adonis's blessing were granted any power in the society. As time went on, Adonis became more drawn into his own research than to truely bother with his Society, leaving duties to the Senate for a few hundred years, who could only approve Governors to control new provinces by a unanimous decision.
It was also around this time that select vampires began to worship Adonis, fueling a vampiric religion known as Consuline Worship, believing Adonis to be a living god who would lead Vampires to total dominance of the planet. Counter to the Consulines were the Children of Abraham, who worshipped the christian lord, and believed all vampires to be descendants of Isaac, son of Abraham, who was turned into a vampire when Abraham attempted to sacrifice him. The two religions clashed, until Adonis began to hunt down any and all of the Children of Abraham. This recent refocusing of the Consul has triggered the creation of several new districts across the world, including the now settled northeast colonies of Great Britain, centered around the newly appointed Governor of Philidelphia. This has lead to the influx of vampires across the world to many cities in the north east, all desiring to become a Quaestor in this new realm.
Vampires are granted a few abilities upon their turning. While many vampires are satisfied with mere immortality, there are abilities for those who are willing to explore their condition and push their own limits. These are seperated into two classes, Basic abilities that any vampire with the knowledge of them can master, and Advanced abilities that require centuries to master.
Basic Abilities
Blood Spittle: Vampires can bite the inside of their mouth and mix their blood with spit to create a powerful healing agent that can mend all but the worst mortal wounds. This tactic is often employed to hide bite marks on mortal prey, so as to keep Vampiric presence hidden.
Stealth: Vampires have an almost natural ability to blend into the background of the world. Mortal's will scarce notice their presence in a crowd, their eyes gliding over the vampire in question without issue. Some Vampires have taken the time to study and hone this ability to the point of being practically render themselves invisible to mortals when standing still. This takes decades to truly perfect but can be well worth the time for some.
Intellect: This ability is natural in all Vampires. Vampires can learn things much quicker than any mortal and have a far easier time recalling that information later, making them able to master a wide variety of mortal hobbies and arts.
Advanced Abilities
Shapeshifting: By far the most common advanced technique, Shapeshifting is also the easiest to master, with most vampires being able to master at least one form within a century of study. Additional forms become harder to master after the first one, with only the true upper eschelon of powerful vampires being to handle upwards of three forms.
Hypnosis: Certain vampires have mastered the ability to charm mortals to do their will. While many vampires find that they become more persuasive after death, true hypnosis is an incredibly difficult art that takes decades to even begin to use, let alone the multiple centuries it takes to master. Some of the most ancient practitioners of this art, the few vampires who come close to Adonis himself in age, can even control other vampires.
It is also worth noting that with time, Vampires slowly get stronger and faster. This ability cannot be improved beyond a small measure by practice, as only getting older will truely increase a vampires speed/strength. Typically a vampire will only start to experience notable shifts when they have been a vampire for around 50 years, with multiple centuries old vampires being able to easily lift a horse and carraige, and Adonis and his ilk practically being superhuman. This what allows the Praetors to so easily keep order over the Society.
Basic Abilities
Blood Spittle: Vampires can bite the inside of their mouth and mix their blood with spit to create a powerful healing agent that can mend all but the worst mortal wounds. This tactic is often employed to hide bite marks on mortal prey, so as to keep Vampiric presence hidden.
Stealth: Vampires have an almost natural ability to blend into the background of the world. Mortal's will scarce notice their presence in a crowd, their eyes gliding over the vampire in question without issue. Some Vampires have taken the time to study and hone this ability to the point of being practically render themselves invisible to mortals when standing still. This takes decades to truly perfect but can be well worth the time for some.
Intellect: This ability is natural in all Vampires. Vampires can learn things much quicker than any mortal and have a far easier time recalling that information later, making them able to master a wide variety of mortal hobbies and arts.
Advanced Abilities
Shapeshifting: By far the most common advanced technique, Shapeshifting is also the easiest to master, with most vampires being able to master at least one form within a century of study. Additional forms become harder to master after the first one, with only the true upper eschelon of powerful vampires being to handle upwards of three forms.
Hypnosis: Certain vampires have mastered the ability to charm mortals to do their will. While many vampires find that they become more persuasive after death, true hypnosis is an incredibly difficult art that takes decades to even begin to use, let alone the multiple centuries it takes to master. Some of the most ancient practitioners of this art, the few vampires who come close to Adonis himself in age, can even control other vampires.
It is also worth noting that with time, Vampires slowly get stronger and faster. This ability cannot be improved beyond a small measure by practice, as only getting older will truely increase a vampires speed/strength. Typically a vampire will only start to experience notable shifts when they have been a vampire for around 50 years, with multiple centuries old vampires being able to easily lift a horse and carraige, and Adonis and his ilk practically being superhuman. This what allows the Praetors to so easily keep order over the Society.
1. I am the OP and my Word is law.
2. Anyone who is given Co-Op Status has those same rights
3. This RP, while it is more free than other story based rps, is still following an overall story, depending on the location, and players are reccomended to follow that story.
4. No Metagaming, Godmodding, etc.
2. Anyone who is given Co-Op Status has those same rights
3. This RP, while it is more free than other story based rps, is still following an overall story, depending on the location, and players are reccomended to follow that story.
4. No Metagaming, Godmodding, etc.
- Code: Select all
NS Name:
Character Name:
Appearance:
Age (Recommended maximum is around 500 years old. Anyone much older than that wouldn't have reason to leave the continent):
Maker (AKA, the vampire who turned you. I recommend you make something of a backstory for them):
City of Origin: (Where they were turned, not where they were born.)
Abilities: (All vampires would have access to one of the basic abilities. Older ones would have both of them and an advanced ability as well)
Religion: (Any works, including the two Vampiric ones listed in the lore section)
Languages Spoken:
Biography:
#CoB1764 [APP CODE, DO NOT DELETE]
NS Name: The Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune
Character Name: Lev Vasyutin, also uses the alias Leon Petra
Appearance:
Age: 360
Maker: Karina Popov, now Governor of Moscow, a truely ancient being whose original name has been lost to time, instead going by the Russian name she has adopted for herself. Karina is famous among the upper echelons of the Society for rejecting the title of Praetor five times, even when offered to her by Adonis himself. Instead, Adonis made her Governor of the Russian Territories that were quickly rising in the world following the collapse of the mongols.
City of Origin: Moscow
Abilities: Both of the basic abilities, and he has modest success shape shifting into the form of a barn owl.
Religion: Eastern Orthodox, but he has some leanings into the Consulite faith, mostly due to his time with his Domina/maker
Languages Spoken: Russian, Greek, English
Biography: Lev was born three and a half centuries ago, during the reign of Vasily I, Grand Prince of Muscovy. His family were minor nobles in the court of the Grand Prince in one of the greatest periods of turmoil in Russian history. The Grand Prince had cast off the yolk of the Tatar's and for the first time in two centuries the Muscovites were truely independent. Lev's father made something of a name for himself as a commander in Vasily's army, though the realm saw no proper warring during the reign of Vasily I. Lev himself was raised to be a warrior, a force against to be reckoned with upon the battlefields. He was tutored by some of the best commanders in Russia and was also taught Greek by the various priests who came to court. This lead Lev to grow up to become a true sucessor to his father and more as one of the Grand Duke's premier commanders.
Eventually, Vasily passed on, leaving his throne to the then 10 year old Vasily II. Almost immediately afterward, Yuri, brother of Vasily I, began to plot to try and seize the crown. Though an alliance with the Grand Duke of Lithuania kept Vasily on the throne for 5 years, his death led Yuri to gain the permission of the Khan of the Golden Horde to seize the crown of Muscovy. Yuri then attacked the forces of Vasily outside of Moscow. It was during this battle that Lev was mortally wounded. While he laid dying, his father recovered him from the battle field, and brought him to a lover of his, a mystic that could heal his wounds.
It was so that Lev met Karina Popov, a younger looking woman who looked to be of greek descent. While Lev was strewn out and incoherent on her table, Karina informed his father that there was only one thing she could do, and that Lev's father would pay with his life. Wanting his son to live at all costs, he agreed. Karina began her black work, performing the time consuming blood transfusion that turned mortals into Vampires. Lev's blood turned to fire, and his wounds healed. He woke with a great leap, and felt only one thing... hunger... indescribable hunger. Locking his eyes on his father, Lev lunged at him and bit into his neck, savagely draining him of blood. By the time Karina could pull Lev off of his father's corpse, Lev was practically sucking on a mummy. Removing the corpse from the room, Karina allowed Lev to undergo the final stages of his transformation, returning to him the following night.
By then Lev had regained control of his senses, and demanded to know what was happening. Karina explained the circumstances of his transformation, leaving out the part about draining his father, and the details of his new condition. Upon hearing about Vasily's exile following the ascension of Yuri to the throne, Lev realized what a deal his father had secured for him, and willingly joined the society. He spent the next 50 years in Moscow with his maker, seeing an end to the great civil war after another twenty years of fighting, and the rise of Ivan the Great. In this time he also witnessed the final refusal of Praetorship by his Domina and her appointment as Governor of Moscow, giving her reign over all the Russian territories. Lev learned the ins and outs of the society from his maker, making connections all across the continent. Finally, in 1483, after hearing about the goings on in other parts of the continent, Lev bid his maker farewell for the moment, and after sealing himself in a box, set off for the growing heart of the rennaisance, Florence.
Lev found himself right at home in Florence itself, having already been on good terms with Crassus the Bloody, the ancient vampire who had been made Quaestor of the city and his maker's broodmate, thus making him the nephew of the Quaestor. While the city interested Lev and he had a fine time feasting upon it's residents, he soon grew bored of Italy itself, and secured himself a spot aboard a ship bound for England.
He arrived in England itself around 1503, where he established himself in London as a merchant, shrewdly trading with the growing maritime industry and building himself quite a bit of wealth, that he managed through a front company that he ran through a servant. He established tense relations with Aeron ap Braith, the long time Governor of London, whose domain extended over all the British isles. Aeron was an ancient rival of Karina and though he allowed Lev succor in London, constantly plotted ways to find him guilty of a crime of the society and execute him to bring embarrassment to his rival. Lev managed to outsmart him for a number of years, but finally was forced into exile at Aeron's command in 1634. Not particularly liking any of his prospects for power in the old world where most of the cities and towns had long been cornered off, Lev was informed of a rumor that the Consul was considering appointing proper Governor's in the new world. Joining a wave of vampiric migration to America, Lev found himself in Boston a year later, settling down near the harbor.
Lev, now going by the alias Leon Petra, opened a new shipping business in the Colonial city, establishing relations with the company he used to own, and making himself a name as a local millionaire, though very few had ever seen him in person. Lev witnessed the Cape Anne earthquake of 1755, and after almost dying in the Great Fire five years later, faked his own death, not a very difficult task, and retired to a simpler life of painting and engaging in politics with the other society members in Boston. He's recently stepped up his game now that the recently appointed Governor of Philidelphia has revealed his intention to appoint Quaestors in the most important Colonial cities.
#CoB1764
Character Name: Lev Vasyutin, also uses the alias Leon Petra
Appearance:
Age: 360
Maker: Karina Popov, now Governor of Moscow, a truely ancient being whose original name has been lost to time, instead going by the Russian name she has adopted for herself. Karina is famous among the upper echelons of the Society for rejecting the title of Praetor five times, even when offered to her by Adonis himself. Instead, Adonis made her Governor of the Russian Territories that were quickly rising in the world following the collapse of the mongols.
City of Origin: Moscow
Abilities: Both of the basic abilities, and he has modest success shape shifting into the form of a barn owl.
Religion: Eastern Orthodox, but he has some leanings into the Consulite faith, mostly due to his time with his Domina/maker
Languages Spoken: Russian, Greek, English
Biography: Lev was born three and a half centuries ago, during the reign of Vasily I, Grand Prince of Muscovy. His family were minor nobles in the court of the Grand Prince in one of the greatest periods of turmoil in Russian history. The Grand Prince had cast off the yolk of the Tatar's and for the first time in two centuries the Muscovites were truely independent. Lev's father made something of a name for himself as a commander in Vasily's army, though the realm saw no proper warring during the reign of Vasily I. Lev himself was raised to be a warrior, a force against to be reckoned with upon the battlefields. He was tutored by some of the best commanders in Russia and was also taught Greek by the various priests who came to court. This lead Lev to grow up to become a true sucessor to his father and more as one of the Grand Duke's premier commanders.
Eventually, Vasily passed on, leaving his throne to the then 10 year old Vasily II. Almost immediately afterward, Yuri, brother of Vasily I, began to plot to try and seize the crown. Though an alliance with the Grand Duke of Lithuania kept Vasily on the throne for 5 years, his death led Yuri to gain the permission of the Khan of the Golden Horde to seize the crown of Muscovy. Yuri then attacked the forces of Vasily outside of Moscow. It was during this battle that Lev was mortally wounded. While he laid dying, his father recovered him from the battle field, and brought him to a lover of his, a mystic that could heal his wounds.
It was so that Lev met Karina Popov, a younger looking woman who looked to be of greek descent. While Lev was strewn out and incoherent on her table, Karina informed his father that there was only one thing she could do, and that Lev's father would pay with his life. Wanting his son to live at all costs, he agreed. Karina began her black work, performing the time consuming blood transfusion that turned mortals into Vampires. Lev's blood turned to fire, and his wounds healed. He woke with a great leap, and felt only one thing... hunger... indescribable hunger. Locking his eyes on his father, Lev lunged at him and bit into his neck, savagely draining him of blood. By the time Karina could pull Lev off of his father's corpse, Lev was practically sucking on a mummy. Removing the corpse from the room, Karina allowed Lev to undergo the final stages of his transformation, returning to him the following night.
By then Lev had regained control of his senses, and demanded to know what was happening. Karina explained the circumstances of his transformation, leaving out the part about draining his father, and the details of his new condition. Upon hearing about Vasily's exile following the ascension of Yuri to the throne, Lev realized what a deal his father had secured for him, and willingly joined the society. He spent the next 50 years in Moscow with his maker, seeing an end to the great civil war after another twenty years of fighting, and the rise of Ivan the Great. In this time he also witnessed the final refusal of Praetorship by his Domina and her appointment as Governor of Moscow, giving her reign over all the Russian territories. Lev learned the ins and outs of the society from his maker, making connections all across the continent. Finally, in 1483, after hearing about the goings on in other parts of the continent, Lev bid his maker farewell for the moment, and after sealing himself in a box, set off for the growing heart of the rennaisance, Florence.
Lev found himself right at home in Florence itself, having already been on good terms with Crassus the Bloody, the ancient vampire who had been made Quaestor of the city and his maker's broodmate, thus making him the nephew of the Quaestor. While the city interested Lev and he had a fine time feasting upon it's residents, he soon grew bored of Italy itself, and secured himself a spot aboard a ship bound for England.
He arrived in England itself around 1503, where he established himself in London as a merchant, shrewdly trading with the growing maritime industry and building himself quite a bit of wealth, that he managed through a front company that he ran through a servant. He established tense relations with Aeron ap Braith, the long time Governor of London, whose domain extended over all the British isles. Aeron was an ancient rival of Karina and though he allowed Lev succor in London, constantly plotted ways to find him guilty of a crime of the society and execute him to bring embarrassment to his rival. Lev managed to outsmart him for a number of years, but finally was forced into exile at Aeron's command in 1634. Not particularly liking any of his prospects for power in the old world where most of the cities and towns had long been cornered off, Lev was informed of a rumor that the Consul was considering appointing proper Governor's in the new world. Joining a wave of vampiric migration to America, Lev found himself in Boston a year later, settling down near the harbor.
Lev, now going by the alias Leon Petra, opened a new shipping business in the Colonial city, establishing relations with the company he used to own, and making himself a name as a local millionaire, though very few had ever seen him in person. Lev witnessed the Cape Anne earthquake of 1755, and after almost dying in the Great Fire five years later, faked his own death, not a very difficult task, and retired to a simpler life of painting and engaging in politics with the other society members in Boston. He's recently stepped up his game now that the recently appointed Governor of Philidelphia has revealed his intention to appoint Quaestors in the most important Colonial cities.
#CoB1764
