Vampire: The Masquerade

Styx and Bones is an exploration of the Hecata within the World of Darkness, and the logical continuation of the Cults of the Blood Gods setting. This story centers on the Hecata as they exist in Munich, a Camarilla city that barely survived the Second Inquisition. As members of the Hecata or as their trusted allies, the players will explore two cults in the World of Darkness. They will unearth old ghosts, investigate new dangers, and struggle with the personal cost of Kindred warfare.

The Hecata struggle to survive. When it comes to the newly formed Clan of Death, the Camarilla and Anarch Movement would like to finish eradicating the troublesome independent clan, which from all appearances seems to be on the ropes. However, in the German city of Munich, they’ve carved out toleration under the reign of the progressive Prince Ursula Eisenstadt. Through the leadership of Anja Giovanni, Mother of the local Hecata, they’ve acquired territory on which to build an estate. And, as long as they conduct themselves peacefully, the extended family and their associates are able to meet there in relative safety. As they welcome a new minor family into the Clan of Death, the Munich Hecata mend old grievances, pursue unrealized goals, and pledge their eternal fidelity to family. But, when bodies begin to pile, the Hecata must contend with a new foe while the Camarilla keeps the boot to their necks.

Paris: a city steeped in history. Since the Parisii tribes gathered along the banks of the Seine to the grand heights of the Kingdom of France to the revolutions and the wars, Paris has been at the epicentre of France, culturally, artistically and politically. And as these things go, for as long as the mortals have gathered there, so too have the kindred, vampires as some call them, although they find it a rather unrefined term.

Since the failure of the French Revolution and the return of the Bourbons, Francois Villon has ruled this city’s kindred and by extension much of the city itself. The grand Prince of Paris is not without enemies however, many despise the rule of Francois and his Toreador allies (a particular breed of vampire, obsessed with beauty, no wonder they have taken the City of Lights for their own). In the sewers the Parisii Nosferatu, unique among their kind for their translucent skin and lack of major deformity, muster for change. The Ventrue, obsessed with power as always, have always resented the Toreador rule, believing themselves to be the only rightful rulers. The Tremere stay in their libraries, although rumours do have a way of spreading. The Malkavians are as unpredictable as ever, although their presence has been concernedly lacking in the balls and functions of high society as of late.

Change is coming, the air is thick with potential, anyone with any idea of anything knows it. The Second Inquisition, the unrest among the low clans, it’s all coming to a head. Paris is at a crossroads, the question now is who is going to push it one way or the other?

Berlin, 28 April 1945. The city burns under the relentless bombardment of Soviet artillery. The end of the Third Reich is near. But while the human population awaits the end — fearfully, stoically, or fanatically — the Kindred have weathered the war mostly unmolested. And yet, not all is well. Something stirrs under the rubble and in the dust clouds thrown up by the deluge of artillery shells…

As haven after haven goes up in flames and the night sky is filled with tracer rounds, will you stand and fight for your hunting ground, or flee under the cover of darkness? But how — the city is surrounded…

The Heralds awaken from torpor half a century after they entered their slumbers, all unable to remember much more than fragments of who they are, yet still driven to seek five artifacts to restore their absent master.

Will the Heralds coterie see their master returned to his throne, maybe even take his place as Prince of London or perhaps more likely succumb to the purging flames of Operation Antigen and its shadowy agents?