Mind's Eye Theatre - Vampire The Requiem.pdf - RoseRed

a gilded cage• staying near the well • social support
inevitably loses control and frenzies. At best, the vampire has a frightened, angry population
of mortals on his hands, all of whom move on or look for the culprit with shotguns. At worst,
the elaborate charade that hides the Kindred from the world’s awareness is compromised,
at least on a local level.
Some few vampires take the idea of escape a step further and attempt to survive in the
wilds, feeding on animals. Many give it up after a relatively short time, though. Not only do
they face a relative paucity of available blood, Kindred eventually reach the point at which
animals are no longer sustaining. Why scavenge and scrounge in the yard when they can
simply stay nearer the table and feast?
In addition to the diffi culties involved in feeding, existing outside a city invariably leaves a
Kindred subject to the other hazards and diffi culties inherent to travel.
SOCIAL SUPPORT
The paradox of the Kindred is that they possess both the solitary nature of the predator
and the social leanings of humans. They gather in groups, though their competitive and
aggressive nature often renders such gathering dangerous, or at least uncomfortable. They
compete against one another — plotting, scheming, backstabbing — yet they fi nd themselves
unable to function in other environments. Even if the Kindred could easily acquire blood
outside the urban sprawl, few would be willing to leave cities behind, for both Kindred and
mortal society supports them.
The Kindred gain most of their power and strength not from their innate abilities, but from
the infl uence they wield in the mortal world. No matter how old or powerful a vampire is,
someone is always older and stronger. Why risk one’s potentially eternal existence, miserable
as it might be at times, when one can manipulate pawns into taking those risks instead? Rare
is the Kindred without some infl uence, or at least a few contacts in government, business,
organized crime or some other potentially useful element of kine society. And for the most
part, those connections are all within the city because that’s where the people are.
A Kindred without contacts is largely helpless. He certainly has his innate powers — the
strength and abilities inherent in the Blood and his undead nature — but so do his enemies,
and he no longer has any help on which to call.
Even Kindred society serves as something of a safety net, as long as everyone involved is
willing to follow the rules. For the most part, any given vampire is unlikely to attack another
openly within the city. All but the most desperate Kindred think twice before blatantly violating
the Traditions of their kind or the local law for fear of reprisal from the Prince and other
authorities. Away from the reach of the Prince, however, all bets are off. For the Kindred,
anything beyond the city limits is lawless territory, lacking any supreme authority to whom
grievances can be brought. As most wise Kindred stay inside their cage, those who do not have
no undead allies on whom to call, just as they have few or no mortal pawns.
PLAYING THE DANSE MACABRE
The need to build up both mortal infl uence and Kindred allies is a vicious cycle that
constantly feeds into itself. Young, unattached Kindred who are new to the Requiem
quickly fi nd that they need some degree of leverage in order to make a place for
themselves in the world of the Damned. Maybe a fl edgling vampire has accidentally
angered another neonate, someone holds a grudge against her sire, she needs to
convince an elder to allow her to feed in his territory, or maybe she simply runs across
someone who dislikes her covenant, clan, bloodline or hair color. She needs allies
among the local Kindred, or at least something to offer or with which to threaten her
rival. The greatest asset most Kindred have is access to their ties and connections in
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