V5 Chronicle – Faction Profile – The Barony of the Angels

During the course of the various stories of this chronicle the coterie has and will meet many characters so I'm therefore creating several profile pages for different groups within my version of kindred Los Angeles to help them keep track. I'll also amend these profiles as new information comes to light.

All the various factions within have been informed that they may, if they wish, handle their own internal security, in which case Marius's sweepers won't interfere and will limit their patrols to the perimeters. The caveat being that should they fail to do so, then he maintains the right to sort out any issues that could be potential Masquerade breaches or otherwise draw unwanted attention.

Some sweepers from other Baronies under Marius's protection have been relocated to The Barony of the Angels to supplement those already in place in order to help deal with what is certain to be an increased workload.

Bat Ears (Perception +4), Claws c/w Venom Glands (Feral Claws, Necrotic Venom), Enhanced Senses (All), Wings c/w Venom Glands (Prehensile, Spikes, Necrotic Venom)

Armour, Efficient Metabolism, Improved Detoxification, Pheromones, Regeneration, Unihemispheric Sleep.

Marius Walker expanded his domain by absorbing what was once the Barony of the Angels into it and has extended the limits of his borders, by various means, several times since. Marius's allies and enemies amongst the other Barons vary wildly based on which of them he has 'fixed' problems for and which others have suffered as a result of his machinations.

Chinatown was for many years the domain of the Kuei-jin, or 'Vampires of the East' and it was only their departure that allowed Lyko Wu and his two childer to begin to re-establish their presence and power within the area. His control over the areas Triad gang known as 'The Blood Dragons' had given him a significant, but not dominant presence.

The Baron of Downtown and therefore also of Chinatown, Marius Walker had an arrangement with the Blood Dragons regarding his properties and club which was basically a simple pact of mutual none-interference. It was Marius and his allies who drove their Eastern competitors from Chinatown but as he did so for his own needs, Lyko Wu considers him to merely have their gratitude rather than them being in his debt. Especially as Marius's legitimate companies bought up more than half of the businesses in the area vacated by the Kuei-jin which Mr Wu considers to be more than enough compensation for the deed.

After bringing the former Barony of the Angels territory back into the expanded Barony of Downtown, Marius made Lyko Wu an offer. Lyko would guarantee the protection of all his business interests within Chinatown and in return, Marius would declare Chinatown to be Lyku Wu's domain to do with as he pleased. He, of course, accepted.

Now under the umbrella of the new Barony of the Angels, Lyko Wu's domain has taken on the responsibility of any kindred refugees fleeing the so-called Kindred of the East and has been expanded to cover several local neighbourhood's with a similar ethnic background.

Rumoured by some to be a childe of Carna herself the blood mage known by her closest friends as 'Ruby' has fully embraced the vision of Carna and her fledgling House of a 'new' clan Tremere free of the restrictions it once inflicted upon it's members.

A member of Clan Tremere for nearly four centuries she had a reputation as an innovator in the field of ritual blood magic though many of her discoveries over the centuries had been attributed to her superiors within the pyramid to increase their own standing. With the abuses of authority suffered by her at the hand of those above her in the pyramid she was an easy recruit for Carna and had been one of her most loyal and overt supporters. This support would no doubt have resulted in her destruction along with the rest of Carna, the Princess witch's fledgling rebellion if not for the Second Inquisitions destruction and scattering of the Tremere hierarchy via the bombing of the main chantry in Vienna.

Now, along with her own followers and the somewhat selective support of the other houses within she is the de-facto Regent of the new Consolidated Chantry of Los Angeles. It's only a matter of time before the higher powers within what's left of the clan contact her to gauge her intentions and in anticipation she has reluctantly took on the title of Regent so as to maximise their negotiating position.

The Consolidated Chantry of Los Angeles is the former base of Maximilian Strauss, a Camarilla Tremere who disappeared some twenty years ago. Several different Houses of Clan Tremere sought it out and eventually formed an uneasy alliance.

Each 'House' resides in it's own areas within the Chantry which inexplicably always seems to have exactly the number of rooms necessary for its inhabitants requirements. With the arrival of a fourth House, the Chantry's residents discovered a new wing within the building that all are willing to swear was never there before.

Unknown

Koreatown is the domain of a creature known as 'The Nameless One', who mercilessly hunts any kindred who cross the border into his feeding ground. However he has recently agreed to give any trespassers a single warning before taking action, which should prevent any fatalities resulted from misunderstandings about the new borders within the Barony of the Angel's.

The Voiceless Ones - Clan Unknown

The three cannibalistic kindred of unknown clan, known as 'The Voiceless Ones' who hunted below the city have also now made their home beneath Koreatown, though the circumstances behind this are unknown. It is however of some relief to the kindred populace of the city that these two very different, but equally dangerous threats are now in one place.

Rumours abound that The Nameless One is actually an impulsive embraced childe of one of the more powerful Los Angeles kindred residents. His power and potency are far beyond what one would expect of a kindred of his suspected age, making an ancient sire the only reasonably likely explanation.

'The Voiceless Ones', named for the complete silence with which they hunt their prey, are rumoured to be serial diablerists, from a line of kindred also notorious for such. As they have never been known to utter a sound, this is a secret that may never be verified. On the rare occasions that an observer survives the experience they have been seen communicating with one another in a form of sign language, possibly of their own invention as it matches none of the conventionally recognised ones.

Unknown Generation Lasombra

Haven 3: Apartment Building (Armoury 5, Hidden Armoury 5, Library: Occult, Postern 3: Linked Basements, Security System 5, Watchmen 3)
Backgrounds

Ally 3 ('Nannie' Grey, Hecate), Allies (Gang Members: Effectiveness 4, Reliability 3), Herd 3 (Building Residents), Influence 3 (The Shades), Mask 1, Mawla 4 

(Marius Walker), Resources 3 (Crime), Status 3 (Lasombra), Status 1 (Anarch)
Merits

Beautiful 2, Bond Resistance 3
Flaws

Despised 1 (Former Barony of the Angels Gangs), Infamy 2 (Unpredictable)
Derangements

Antisocial Personality Disorder (Suspected), Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Psychopathy (Suspected),
Lore

Descendent of Montano (2: Siblings in Darkness, 3: Abyssal Apprentice), High Clan (2: Sway the Low), Kindred Iconography (1: Iconographer, 2: The Writing on the Wall), The Bahari (1: Dangerous Reputation, 3: Sacrifice the Children, 4: The Womb's Blood), The Labyrinth (1: Tunnel Access)

Priss
Though the former gangs of the Barony of the Angels would be happy to see Priss staked and left in the sun, her association with Hank had ensured that fear kept them at bay, for a while at least. With the Barony of the Angels gangs now effectively absorbed into other domains, destroyed or disbanded this is now a more trivial issue.

The only two members of her gang not of the Brujah clan are Arbaaz and Ophelia, Gangrel Sweepers inherited from another Barony of the Angels gang who were pragmatic enough to know which way the wind was blowing. Though the rest of her gang doesn't really trust them, they are good at their jobs, so are tolerated. Priss however seems to hold no prejudices against them and treats them as the equal of any other gang member.

Priss, and her new followers, ruled a border barony that acted as a buffer between Hank and his immediate neighbours and was initially well equipped by the Crypt's Sons in the weapons she needed to defend it on their behalf. However as Priss's influence increased, Hanks supposed ally, Kayne, began to poison him against her. This was in spite a number of successful 'jobs' on behalf of Hank which included a pre-emptive strike by her gang which set back the progress of The Crypts Sons rivals, 'The Blood' significantly. Her crippling of a significant amount of their vampire hunting 'cells' is a blow from which they have yet to fully recover.

With the threat of having her hard won domain taken from her she turned to Marius Walker, Baron of Downtown for aid. He was happy to oblige. He also put her in touch with a talented freelance kindred bodyguard, named 'Nannie' Gray, a specialist in close-protection duties with over a century of experience, in return for a small commission.

The former Barony known as 'The Border' has now been absorbed by Downtown and subsequently made part of the new Barony of the Angel's. This is somewhat ironic as Priss came to prominence as a gang leader within the Barony of the Angel's original incarnation.

'The Shades' is now where Lasombra who have abandoned the Sabbat, but have no wish to place themselves under the strict rules that the Camarilla places upon the Lasombra that join it, can make a home.

Unknown Generation Brujah
Haven

The Last Round (Haven 2: Hidden Armoury 3, Postern 1, Security System 3, Watchmen 2)
Backgrounds

Allies (Mortal Revolutionaries: Effectiveness 3, Reliability 2), Herd 1, Influence 1, Mawla 5 (Theo Bell), Mawla 4 (Salvador Garcia), Mawla 3 (Smiling Jack, possibly deceased), Resources 1, Status 5 (Anarchs), Status 4 (The Barony of the Angels)
Lore

Anarch Revolt (2: Speak the Words), Lupine Expert (1: Huntsman, 2: Tactician, 3: Soldier, 4: Trophy), Ruins of Carthage (1: Clan Historian), Salvador Garcia (1: A Way With Words, 2: Old School, 4: The War of Ideas, 5: Rise Up), Sect War Veteran (1: Survivor, 2: Active Participant) Theo Bell (4: Bell's Circle)

Armando 'Nines' Rodriguez
As one of a poverty-stricken family of nine, Armando learned responsibility at a young age, working hard to support his family at an early age. Still, a series of crises brought about by the state of the world during the Great Depression taught Rodriguez that hard work is not everything when the system itself is working against you. This lesson was reinforced when his younger brother died from an illness because the family could not afford the price the local doctor was demanding for treatment. His Embrace finally gave him the power he needed to fight back against oppression. At some point he began going by the nickname 'Nines', possibly as a reminder of his family.

Nines is a rising star among the L.A.'s Anarchs and in the modern nights, the main reason a lot of young Kindred join the Anarch Movement. He would probably be welcomed as a Baron if he chose, but he eschews those sorts of leadership roles. Maximillian Strauss during his tenure as Regent during the brief period the city came under Camarilla rule hinted on several occasions that, were it not for his stated political affiliations, Rodriguez would be a useful ally of the Camarilla.

Despite the Anarchs re-establishing themselves in Los Angeles, the war over the territory continues: The Camarilla, the Eastern vampires from their base in San Francisco and possibly even the Sabbat. While Rodriguez does not believe any vampire should rule another – including Barons – he finds himself beginning to see the need for someone to assume the mantle of leadership in the wake of MacNeil's disillusionment with the Free State experiment and possible Final Death. Still, he is no field tactician, and would no doubt find himself uncertain about where to direct his forces first.

Though once one of the poorest and most derelict areas within the city, a recent renovation project has revitalised it considerably. Located centrally within this area was The Last Round, a bar where noted Anarch 'Nines' Rodriguez could be found along with his close allies Skelter and Damsel.

Though still well equipped with homeless shelters and soup kitchens, the general condition of the streets and buildings has increased tenfold. The redesign, courtesy of Marius's Aegis Construction, also included many kindred friendly areas, havens and dayrooms.

Nines has been granted this entire area, and several adjacent blocks, as his feeding ground and domain. The hope is that 'Nines' bar and the newly revitalized skid row will be a perfect place for the idealistic neonates to learn what it means to be Anarchs from one that most agree is an exemplar of what that actually stands for.

Armando 'Nines' Rodriguez has embraced his role as mentor to the cities neonates, while Damsel acts as a kind of 'Den Mother' and Skelter ensures that all who enter are aware that even amongst the Anarchs, there are some basic rules to be followed.

This arrangement has suited Marius as some of Nines more lofty ideals have been mitigated as he becomes more aware of the pressures of actually running a domain. His idealism now being tempered by the realities of leadership.

8th Generation Gangrel

Haven 2: Downtown Warrens (Armoury, Cell 1, Creepy, Postern 1: Rear Entrance, Security System 1, Shrine 1, Watchmen 2)
Backgrounds

Allies (The Swarm: Effectiveness 4, Reliability 3), Herd 3 (The Swarm), Mawla 4 (The Mistress of the Swarm), Resources 1 (Tribute), Status 3 (Gangrel), Status 2 (Barony of the Angels), Status 1 (Anarch)

Bloodhound, Iron Gullet
Flaws

Infamy 3 (One of The Swarm), Rival 2 (Blake, The Swarm), Rival 1 (Melinda, The Swarm)
Derangements

Paranoia (Mild)
Lore

Kindred Iconography (1: Iconographer, 2: The Writing on the Wall), Low Clan (1: Thick Hide, 2: Cursed with Pride), The Labyrinth, Los Angeles (1: Tunnel Access, 2: Boxcar Blues)

The Last Round - Base of 'Nines Crew'

There are now five vampire friendly meeting places within the Barony of the Angels. Marius's Club Confession in Downtown and Glaze in Chinatown, Fortiers Club Zombie, El Hermandad's A Taste of L.A. and Nines bar, The Last Round.

With the number of Baronies sending their most charismatic recruiters into the bars and clubs of Downtown, some tensions are likely. Never one for complicated diplomatic solutions, Marius has put forward a simple one. Or more specifically, Victoria has put one forward on his behalf.

Each Barony is to specify exactly who they are allocating the role of 'recruiter' to, if anyone, and any representative who causes trouble will be prohibited from returning to the Barony. Any who resist eviction will be staked or destroyed, based on what's most convenient at the time. No action will be taken against the victim of any transgressions as Marius, according to Victoria, has stated that "...self defence is entirely acceptable if someone's fucking with you, or just run away and I'll fuck them on your behalf..."