Before The Game Began
Part One: History
Crescent City has been under the unwavering control of the Camarilla since the mid 1800’s. In 1845, a coterie consisting of 5 Camarilla Elders decided that it would be best (for themselves as well as the Camarilla) to secure a third major port city for the Camarilla along the California Coast. Due to this decision, the 5 founding elders moved to what would become Crescent City and began to guide it towards becoming the metropolis it is today. The 5 founding Elders consisted of members from Clans Gangrel, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, and Ventrue.
The Five Founding Elders were led by the Ventrue known as Isaiah Smith. Upon arriving at what the Coterie deemed the best location to establish their new city, Isaiah Smith claimed Praxis over the existing community and the surrounding areas. With the help of his Coterie, Isaiah promptly began investing in and developing his new stronghold.
Isaiah made immense progress from the time he arrived in 1823 until he succumbed to Torpor in 1938. Prior to succumbing, Isaiah ensured that his own Childe Judah was strong enough and ready to take his place as Prince of Crescent City. Rumor has it that Judah is the only Kindred who still walks the earth that knows what truly happened to Isaiah, and/or where he may have hidden himself away as he fell into the defenseless state of Torpor. Some believe he may even be buried deep beneath the City somewhere.
Prince Judah took control of Praxis when his Sire and the original Prince of Crescent City, Isaiah Smith, succumbed to Torpor in 1938. Judah held a firm grip on the city as he continued to guide it's rapid development, until he could no longer resist the call of the Beckoning. In 2017, Judah could no longer resist the Beckoning, so he declared his Childe Corwin Martin as his Steward and Prince Pro-Temp and issued Corwin the task of overseeing the City until Judah could return.
During the last couple of years as Prince, Corwin has diligently been working to fill the shoes of his Sire. Despite his dedication, he has been struggling with maintaining the same iron grasp on his control of Crescent City. As a means of obfuscating his shortcomings, Prince Corwin Martin has been focused on rallying support among the Kindred of Crescent City so that he may declare open war against the Anarchs of Fort Dick. The Prince has been hoping that by wiping out the Anarchs once and for all, it will secure his status as Prince and eliminate many of the challenges he has slowly started to face.
Part Two: The Fight Begins
For the last 2 years, Prince Corwin Martin has struggled to keep his power and his control of the city. Many of Elders that have not succumbed to the Beckoning view the Prince as weak and merely a Puppet to the Seneschal. Now that the Seneschal has been summoned to the East, there is little faith that Prince Corwin Martin has the strength or skill to hold Praxis.
There are also several Ancillae that agree with the belief that the Prince is unfit to rule. A few groups of Ancillae have been working towards seizing Praxis from the Prince, as they believe they can do a better job. Despite the Ancillae believing that it was always their idea to pursue Praxis, this is but one of many ways that Jyhad can be seen and felt in Crescent City.
The former Brujah and Toreador Primogen formed a Coterie known as The Brutal Rose. Together they desired to overthrow the Prince and to claim Praxis. As the Prince slowly became more paranoid about his power and control, he began to suspect that the Brujah Primogen was getting help from the Toreador Primogen to overthrow him. The Prince assembled a Coterie of Ancillae to investigate his suspicions, but before the Coterie was able to verify anything, Primogen Serafina Ostrogski ensured that the two other Primogen did not return from a brutal and intense fight with a monstrous Toreador Elder. After the fight, Serafina informed the Prince that she had discovered the plot of the 2 Primogen, and ensured that they did not survive the encounter, for which the Prince was incredibly grateful.
Primogen Serafina told the Prince of this to deepen the trust the Prince places in her. Serafina used this along with many other situations as a means of blinding the Prince of what she was truly doing, and what her true intentions are.
As a result of the Elder Toreador Recruiter, the Anarchs released a new drug called Cookie Dough on the streets of Crescent City. This drug enhances the effects other drugs have on mortals, but causes aggravated damage to any Kindred who might feed from a Mortal under the influence of this drug. The purpose of doing this was to reduce the Camarilla’s food supply, which would then weaken the Camarilla. Once Baron Vincent Dane returned, the Anarchs were planning on attacking the Camarilla in their weakened state. The Anarchs also seek revenge for the Anarch Purge for which they blame Prince Corwin Martin just as much as they blame Prince Judah.
The New Haven Initiative has been actively working against the Prince, striving to seize Praxis. Primogen Serafina Ostrogski of Clan Tremere plans on declaring herself as the new Prince, with Madame Eleanora of Clan Ventrue as her Seneschal. The Initiative has been pulling the strings of Quinton’s Bois and several other Kindred, directing them to do things that directly weaken the Princes hold on influences and resources throughout the city. Once the prince is no longer in control, the Initiative is immediately prepared and steps in to take control.
The New Haven Initiative was also involved in aiding Bishop Giovanni being granted Domain over the Native American Massacre Site as a reward for his help in sealing the veil. Serafina used this as a means to garner support from the Giovanni, and hopes to someday be able to learn Necromancy from him.
Due to the political infighting among the Camarilla, and the mustering of the Anarchs, neither sect noticed that a small Sabbat Pack infiltrated the City. During the last couple of years, they have established a base in town and began to gather intel, resources and influences so that they can eventually destroy the Camarilla and Anarchs that inhabit Crescent City and it’s surrounding areas.
One of the ways the Sabbat has been undermining the Camarilla, has been the direct influence they have had with The Hunt Club. They have been encouraging Kindred to participate in the Blood Hunts which allow them to Diablerize the victim.
Part Three: Tensions Rise
Vincent Dane will return from his trip to Los Angeles, and he has brought with him a few Anarch Gangs to help provide the extra Muscle the Anarchs will be needing in the upcoming conflict.
Once the Prince receives the Confirmation that the Thin Bloods are responsible for the Cookie Dough, he will call for all out war with the Anarchs. This will lead to several heated battles between the Anarchs and Camarilla. The New Haven Initiative will use this as another example of how inept the Prince is, and why he should be removed from Praxis immediately.
With the increasing tensions and the start of a campaign against the Anarchs, a Coterie of Archons will arrive in the City and will be granted Domain over the Cultural District. They will be observing what unfolds are initially there to merely ensure that the Camarilla does not lose the city.
Due to the increase in violence, the extremely loud “gang war” at Fort Dick, the explosion of the Mansion, and a few hate crimes where churches were burnt, the Second Inquisition opens a new office in Crescent City.
Part Four: Serafina’s Praxis and the New Haven Alliance
Several years will pass after Serafina seizes Praxis from Corwin Martin. During this time, there are several fights among the Anarchs and Camarilla as they learn to live together again.
The Traditionalists from the Camarilla, led by the Shadow Council consisting of the 2 Archons, are furious about the new alliance with the Anarchs. The Shadow Council begins mustering further strength and support in the region to overthrow Serafina and regain control of Crescent City as a true and pure Camarilla stronghold. The Coterie is led by a Ventrue named Dimitri Serrano who is a descendant of Hardestdat. Dimitri is a hardcore Traditionalist, so much so that he still believes to his core that Women are far inferior to men and should always submit to men.
The New Haven Alliance catches the attention of a radical Anarch coterie known as the Freedom Fighters. Led by Baron Omar Espinoza, the Freedom Fighters come to Crescent City and take over the northern half of Fort Dick. They declare the territory as part of the Anarch Free State. Once they set up camp, they immediately begin fighting the Anarchs that were already living in Fort Dick. Any who refuse to join the Freedom Fighters and would rather support the Alliance, are killed.
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