London

London 2012

Since its founding, London has been a prime domain for vampires. The human population explosions of the 19th and 20th Centuries were matched by huge influxes of Kindred hoping to make the great city their home.
Although no official census was ever attempted, at the turn of the Millennium it was widely believed that there were well over 200 vampires dwelling in London’s greater metropolitan area. The city’s massive size has made it relatively easy for newcomers to settle – and for refugees to hide – without the knowledge of the local Kindred establishment. As a deterrent, Kindred not registered with the Court of London are considered unprotected, and fair game for the Scourge and other aspiring bounty hunters and diablerists. In fact, this culture of sanctioned hunting has been the cause for many vampires to visit and settle in the city, and it goes all the way to the top: Queen Anne herself is a secret practitioner of diablerie, and she continues to welcome any opportunity to claim the essence of uninvited guests.
The Kindred Court of London is where the powerful and influential met to do business, to boast about their exploits, and to check upon their rivals. While absolute authority lies with Queen Anne herself, the traditional position of Seneschal holds a great deal of power to manage and direct night-to-night affairs. Among their responsibilities, the Seneschal manages the city’s resident list, as well as any domains not assigned to individual residents. The Court traditionally meets every full moon in one of the city’s many Elysia, as selected and prepared by the Keeper of Elysium. All the city’s registered residents are notified discretely by the Herald and are welcome to attend.
One change that has occurred since Queen Anne took power in the 1940s has been the gradual shifting of power from the Queen to the Primogen representatives of the local Kindred factions. With increasing numbers of young and open-minded vampires appear ing in the city, the relevancy of the Court as the only place to do business has lessened. Queen Anne has been pragmatic enough to grant her peers more authority and autonomy, on the understanding that they continue to support her rule. A similar shift of power has occurred across the UK too, with major Baronies such as Manches ter, Birmingham and Liverpool demanding more independence from London’s absolute authority. Queen Anne eventually granted them more freedom and autonomy after they demonstrated a commit ment to upholding the Traditions (formerly Mithras’ Blood Laws).
Things have changed much less in relation to the traditional enmi ties between the Kindred clans. It was widely known that Mithras hat ed the Tremere, and while Queen Anne is more diplomatic, she has little love for the Warlocks herself. Under pressure from the Camarilla in Europe, the Court has lately be come more welcoming to Tremere, but clan representatives often still face exclusion or ridicule. The Ventrue of London have also main tained centuries-long feuds with the Toreador lineages of France and Scotland which had still not abated in the Court’s final nights. Anne considered the Treaty of Durham a necessary tool in her diplomatic arsenal, and she was keen to hold her Kindred hostages to account. In addition, the Ministry have been unwelcome (although still present) since they were formally banished from London by Mithras at the end of the 19th century.
Queen Anne herself claims certain domains as sacrosanct and prohibited to other Kindred: the entire old City of London, much of Westminster, Canary Wharf, and the Vauxhall area south of the Thames. This is mostly for practicality and security, as she is keen to discourage other vampires from meddling with the UK’s wider apparatus of commerce and government. The areas of the old East End (from Shoreditch through to Hackney, Whitechapel, and Bethnal Green) and the old West End (from Holborn through Soho to Covent Garden and Mayfair) are declared as open feeding grounds for all (often called “the Buffet” or “the Banquet”). All major mu seums, galleries and theatres are considered Elysium. The major parks and green spaces – e.g. Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Victoria Park, Clapham Common, Hampstead Heath, Wanstead Flats, and Epping Forest – are all given a wide berth as known lupine territory. In the last 20 years some areas south of the Thames – notably Southwark and Brixton – have effectively been taken over by Anarchs, who now only nominally recognize the Camarilla’s authority

The Clans of London

Brujah with academic inclinations tend to congregate around Blooms bury and the prestigious University College of London (UCL), or in Kensington, where the Imperial College and several important museums can be found. Younger Brujah rabble can be found in any of the city’s many nightlife spots, or in some of the most down-trod den council estates, neck-deep in gang violence.
Few Gangrel are ever seen in central London, but many make their homes in the Barrens – the less urban suburbs and outskirts. Some are reputed to have es tablished neutral relations with local werewolves. London Zoo in Regent’s Park is Gangrel territo ry, and other Kindred are wise to avoid it.
Malkavians congregate in a wide variety of unusual places, including Highgate Cemetery, Bat tersea Power Station, the Imperial War Museum, the Old Operating Theatre at St. Thomas’ Hospital, and the relocated Crystal Palace.
The Nosferatu of London are notorious for spending more time below ground than above. Many are versed with a complex, inter connecting network of covered riverways, Victorian sewers, forgot ten basements, abandoned Tube tunnels, and war-era shelters found in central London.
  Toreador are most frequently found in Elysia, often chasing mortal artists and celebrities to the most popular restaurants, entertainment venues and night clubs in town. London’s vibrant burlesque and fetish scenes are sponsored and appreciated by many of the clan.
The Tremere continue to main tain a network of private and public chantries, including a permanent suite at the Andaz Hotel on Liv erpool Street (giving access to the Masonic Temple there), rooms near the Temple Church in Holborn, and a town house next to the Theo sophical Society headquarters on Gloucester Place.
The Ventrue continue to be the most numerous vampire clan in London, with many Havens and meeting places, from private clubs on the Strand in central London, to stately homes in the suburbs. Clan meetings have most recently been held regularly and privately at the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

Maps

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  London City

  London is the capital and most populous city of England and United Kingdom. In the World of Darkness, this region is one of the most frequently-described in Europe. Gothic-Punk London is a dreary place, with several of its locations, like the docklands, having been left to urban decay. The danger of terrorist attacks, either from the IRA or various Middle Eastern terror groups, has become an everyday affair.

Type

Capital

Related Reports (Secondary)

• Fall of London part 6 Report