Draft3
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Timeline of Houston
Early 1800s
Founding Nights
Circa 1837
- Houston is founded. Soon after, Kindred of the Camarilla establish a quiet foothold.
- A Toreador Prince, name lost to time, declares Praxis over the frontier city.
- Clan Ventrue and Tremere arrive to support the fledgling Camarilla presence.
Mid-1800s
- The city remains a minor Camarilla holding, often overlooked due to the greater powers in New Orleans and Mexico City.
Late 1800s
- Bayou Intrigues
1870s–1890s
- Houston grows rapidly due to railroads and industry.
- Gangrel and Nosferatu carve out control of bayous, rail hubs, and shanty zones.
- Conflicts with Anarchs and Sabbat scouts rise and fall with brutal efficiency.
- A mysterious Ventrue Elder claims Praxis in the shadows of this chaos. His identity is deliberately erased from public record by the clan.
1920s–1930s
- Tremere chantry solidifies influence behind energy conglomerates.
- The Prince at the time begins favoring reclusive industrialists over political manipulators.
1950s
- A Ventrue Prince, fascinated by mortal influence and control, begins targeting mortal power brokers for Embrace.
1976
- Howard Hughes, eccentric billionaire, aviation pioneer, and recluse, is Embraced by the reigning Prince of Houston. His fatal plane crash is a cover story.
- In truth, Hughes vanishes from the mortal world and becomes a Kindred recluse, hidden under the Prince’s protection.
- Whispers within Kindred society suggest Hughes was the intended heir of the Praxis, a Ventrue experiment in creating a “corporate regent.”
1980s–Early 1990s
- The Prince rules from the shadows with Hughes and a secretive Primogen Council.
- Houston thrives economically and remains unusually stable among Kindred domains.
- The city becomes a refuge for political exiles from Sabbat-threatened territories.
October 31, 1993
- On Halloween Night, the entire Kindred population vanishes in what would be named the Bayou City Massacre. Elysiums burn. Havens are found empty, bloodless, or worse—corrupted. There are no survivors.
- The Camarilla declares Houston a no-go zone.
- Rumors abound of infernalism, Sabbat rituals, or even a Gehenna-sign event.
July 1994
- Archon Ha-Joon, under orders from Justicar Madame Guil, arrives to investigate the massacre.
- Upon realizing the city is still viable, Ha-Joon declares Praxis.
- He is supported by a cadre of trusted Kindred: Sonja Ashton – Elder of Clan Ventrue; Abraham Creed – Elder of Clan Brujah; Roisin – Ancilla of Clan Gangrel; Helena – Ancilla of Clan Tremere.
- The Houston Camarilla is reborn.
September 1994
- Roisin departs the city, her reasons kept private.
- Abraham Creed is named Sheriff, charged with defense of the Praxis.
- Sonja Ashton becomes Ventrue Primogen.
- Primogen Ashton and Sheriff Creed aid Prince Ha-Joon in uncovering the culprits of the Bayou City Massacre: The Tal'Mahe'Ra.
- A Clan Brujah challenge sees: Catherine win the seat of Primogen.
- She is quickly deposed by Eddie Dubois, who solidifies his control.
October 1994
- The Midnight Circus, a supernatural carnival, arrives in Houston.
- It traps Helena, the Seneschal, within one of its attractions.
- Sonja Ashton is promoted to Seneschal in Helena’s absence.
November 1994
- Anya Duchen, a Ventrue neonate, is captured by the Special Affairs Division (SAD).
- Under interrogation, she reveals the existence of the Camarilla Praxis in Houston.
December 1994
- Prince Ha-Joon withdraws the Kindred to a fortified villa outside Houston.
- There, he offers shelter and protection to newly arrived Giovanni, whose talents are deemed useful.
January 1995
- The Camarilla strikes back.
- A series of operations destroy SAD cells operating in and around Houston.
- Victory is achieved, though at a cost.
- The Kindred return to the city.
- Life, unlife, and the Masquerade return to a fragile state of normalcy.
April 1995
- The Sabbat, now with their Archbishop Silas Tivel, makes their presence known in the southern Parts of Houston.
- The Sabbat seeks the eradication of the Anarchs.
- The Camarilla intervenes and saves a few Anarchs who have pledged their alliance after being offered Protection and Sanctuary from the Sabbat. During this, the Archbishop uses the Camarilla intervention as an excuse to dispose of their previous treaty.
May 1995
- The Prince disbands the Primogen Council until the Clans can unify themselves and awaits for leaders to emerge.
Vampire XP Costs
V20 Core, pg 124
| Trait | XP Cost |
|---|---|
| Raise an Attribute | Current Rating x4 |
| New Ability | 3xp |
| Raising an existing Ability | Current Rating x2 |
| New Specialty | 4xp |
| New Merit | 3xp per point |
| Buy off/reduce a Flaw | 2xp per point |
| New Background | 3xp |
| Raise an existing Background | Current Rating x2 |
| New Discipline | 10xp |
| Clan Discipline | Current Rating x 5
|
| Other Discipline | Current Rating x 7
|
| New Path (Necromancy or Thaumaturgy) | 7xp |
| Secondary Path (Necromancy or Thaumaturgy) | Current Rating x4 |
| Virtue | Current Rating x2
|
| Humanity/Path | Current Rating x2 |
| Willpower | Current Rating |
Caitiff have no Clan-based Disciplines, just as they have no Clan. For them, the cost of raising all
Disciplines is the current rating x 6. This is both the curse and the blessing of being Clanless.
Increasing a Virtue through experience does not increase Traits based on that Virtue (Humanity,
Path, Willpower).
Ghoul XP Costs
V20 Core, pg 499
| Trait | XP Cost |
|---|---|
| Raise an Attribute | Current Rating x4 |
| New Ability | 3xp |
| Raising an existing Ability | Current Rating x2 |
| New Specialty | 4xp |
| New Merit | 3xp per point |
| Buy off/reduce a Flaw | 2xp per point |
| New Background | 3xp |
| Raise an existing Background | Current Rating x2 |
| New Discipline | 20xp |
| Clan/Family Discipline | Current Rating x 15
|
| Other Discipline | Current Rating x 25
|
| New Path (Necromancy or Thaumaturgy) | 20xp (Clan Ghouls only) |
| Secondary Path (Necromancy or Thaumaturgy) | Current Rating x15 (Clan Ghouls only) |
| Virtue | Current Rating x2
|
| Humanity | Current Rating x2 |
| Willpower | Current Rating |
A vassal gets a cost break on the Clan Disciplines of her first domitor, regardless of the domitor’s actual Disciplines. So, while a Toreador may know Dominate, his ghoul still pays current level x 25 for it. An independent gets a cost break on Celerity, Fortitude, and Potence. A revenant gets a cost break on her family’s Disciplines.
A vassal who leaves a vampire’s service is treated as an independent from that point on, while an independent who becomes blood bound to a domitor is treated as a vassal.
Increasing a Virtue through experience does not increase Traits based on that Virtue (Humanity, Willpower).