Thorns and Roses - Princes of Darkness Mod AAR

[Captain Waffles]

Thorns and Roses - Princes of Darkness Mod AAR​

Introduction:​

(Introduction ripped nearly fully ripped from my previous AAR) Hello and welcome to my newest AAR after the others were unceremoniously cancelled since I have the attention spam of a hummingbird. My other AARs primarily focused on the A Game of Thrones mod for CK2 but this time I decided to do a narrative AAR on a mod that surprisingly has not been mentioned in these sub-forums: Princes of Darkness. This mod aims to bring the World of Darkness setting into our favorite murder simulator.

For anyone who does not know, the World of Darkness is a setting for the table-top role-playing games that were based around the supernatural mixing with our own world. There were different games in this setting, in some the main characters were werewolves, in other demons and in other vampires.

Coincidentally the Princes of Darkness mod's most fleshed out features are the vampires’ as is their start date in 1230. So naturally, this AAR will be based based around vampires (with some other creatures on occasion and humans of course) and have a focus on the main character. That's right, a single character throughout the whole AAR which goes on for over 200 years maybe even up to modern nights. The start date we are starting in is 1230 and named the War of Princes after the conflict between various vampire lords in Europe. The story will be set in the Courts of Love, an alliance of vampiric domains in France. So be ready for lots of intrigue. The AAR will go on until the famous formation two vampire sects. The Camarilla and the Sabbat. After that it will kind of depend until 1918 when the AAR will go on until its fateful conclusion in 2015.

The AAR will be divided into a chapter per year but seeing as more stuff can happen in one year than in another. Some chapters will be divided into parts.

I will be using a lot of terminology from the Vampire the Masquerade table-top game, so I suggest you keep the White Wolf Wiki on hand while reading. I may write up a small summary after the prologue detailing all the basics of vampires in this universe.

All of the artwork used is not mine and mostly stolen from the wiki or deviantart. If I manage to find out the names of the artists I'll label them under the picture.

As a warning, I did use some cheats and save-scumming but not to give me an overwhelming advantage over the AI but rather a more fun story. The reader will be informed of whether I used cheats depending on my rather iffy memory.

Mods used:

• Princes of Darkness (duh)
• A Clean Map Mod (dark)
• A Revolutionary Borders Mod
• A Revolutionary Font Mod
• A Revolutionary Water Mod
• Bigger Interface
• Immersive Culture Music (which for me was mostly Arabic-themed stuff)
• Performance 3.0 (deletes India and Tibet)

So with the introductions finished let us get to the actual story!

 

[Captain Waffles]

The Embrace - Theognosta

Moonlight shone through the window into the cramped basement. Above her head stomping and cheering of the revelers in the tavern could be heard. The room itself was filled with various crates, statues and other trade goods that Alfonzo chose to hide away from the view of commoners. But for Theognosta the only object of interest was the sarcophagus in the middle, she leaned on it and carefully observed it. She ran her hands along it- it was nothing special, simple and wooden with no markings on it. Yet when she looked further, she could feel the presence of a Cainite. Weak but angry, it was young with the Beast at tearing at the edges but too weak or tired to awaken, just like the vampire itself. Theogosta’s thoughts were interrupted when the door leading to the upper storey of the tavern opened with a creak. Song and shouts flooded into the room as well as the distinct smells of various drinks. Through the door frame came Alfonzo di Venezia, the Caintite prince of Venice. His figure was silhouetted holding a lantern against the light that poured into the room. He closed the door slowly, turned and proceeded down into the basement where Theognosta awaited. The lantern illuminated his smile as he placed it atop the sarcophagus.

He stood straight and folded his arms, “It is an honour to have a Brujah of your standing mistress Theognosta,” he began, subtly gesturing with his arm.

“Is this your achievement Alfonzo?” Theognosta ignored his courtesy and tapped the lid of the sarcophagus with her palm. She spoke Italian with him though her Nubian accent broke through at times.

“Just as promised. The result of sixteen years of my work. What you see before you is a mortal that was raised and bred to be a Caintite from her youngest years. Power and ruthlessness given flesh and blood. Both her parents were ghouls of mine, that blood gave her an edge, not too sharp mind you but enough to outdo a mortal of her standing. The parents abandoned her right on the street with no one to watch over her but she was quickly found by a prostitute and spent her first eight years being raised by them. None there had treated her fairly so at some point she escaped and roamed the streets of Ascalon. That was when I started to observe her; she would sneak into libraries and try to learn reading and writing. In the marketplace there were no better pickpockets than her of course until one of own stole from her. Throughout the years she was prospering.”

“Then I sent thugs after her, to see how she would fare. Not well it seemed, they defiled her and left her in the gutter sobbing and damning anyone who she thought responsible. I lost interest by then and wandered off. Then, by pure chance, I found her slitting their throats of the thugs in their sleep with a dull knife. The ferocity, by God I wish you could have seen it herself. With all the thugs dead she wandered off. I persisted as well, had her imprisoned- she escaped. Sent more thugs- she ambushed them with some corrupt guards she found and paid for. Though to this day I’m unsure how she paid them. I had even burned her library that she loved so. But she simply began stealing texts and books from the local mosque or traders.”

“And then a month ago she interfered with one of my ghouls, butchering an alliance with the local Salubri. He had something of hers but I never bothered to investigate what it was exactly. Anyways, after that I gifted her the Embrace and explained to her that the life she lived was a test for her initiation into our clan. She reacted worse than I expected, raving about injustices and cruelty. I had to Dominate her and wipe any trace of what I told her from her mind. After I finished she simply shook her head and went on ranting. Three times I attempted to destroy that memory, yet all those times she grew even angrier. Eventually I staked her heart and bought a sarcophagus to keep her in. Placed her in there and removed the steak. Afterwards hiring a mage to lock the sarcophagus and keep her in a trance.”

“You want to sell me an angry and bloodthirsty Lasombra? Do you take me for a fool Alfonzo or a madwoman? What use is she to me?” Theognosta spoke calmly but her eyes were fixed on Alfonzo who was steadily backing away from the sarcophagus.

“Angry and bloodthirsty, yes. But also driven and powerful. She simply needs some blood to calm the Beast and surely with the presence of a Methuselah such as yourself she will easily be tamed,” Alfonzo attempted to steady himself but the Brujah had gone around the sarcophagus and approached him.

She stood closely now and a head taller than Alfonzo. Placing her hand on the Venitian’s bony shoulder, she whispered, “If the fledgling proves to be what you promised. The ideal predator in the night. You will have me as an ally. But if she proves to be more trouble than a fucking Garou. No amount of Ventitian gold or ships will stop me from butchering you. Have your ghouls load her on the ship Hannibal. Good night to you Alfonzo.”

As Theognosta ascended the steps, she heard the Venitian slide slowly down to the ground with a soft thump.

 

[Levgar]

I'm excited for this!

 

[stnylan]

Very interesting. Especially as I have just happened to unearth by collection of VTM and VDA books from uni.

 

[Captain Waffles]

I'm excited for this!

I’m very glad!

Very interesting. Especially as I have just happened to unearth by collection of VTM and VDA books from uni.

Well the VDA books will come in useful I’m sure. For everything surrounding vampires I’ll be mostly lifting from DAV20.

 

[stnylan]

Well the VDA books will come in useful I’m sure. For everything surrounding vampires I’ll be mostly lifting from DAV20.

Yes, it prompted me to acquire (digitally) DAV20. Personally I am not entirely sold on the progression - though mind you I wasn't entirely sold on the progression from VDA to DAV either.

Still, I look forward to this imagining of the WoD

 

[Alizon]

oh boi that will be awesome \o/

 

[Captain Waffles]

oh boi that will be awesome \o/

I'm glad this is garnering quite a bit of positive attention.

Something to listen for setting the mood.

Terror at Sea - The Capitano
​

Waves crashed against the hull of Hannibal. To the Capitano the sound of the sea had become so familiar that even when he traveled far from it, the sea followed him even to his sleep. It was a comforting feeling at his darkest moments to know that any time there would be more cargo and he would be able to sail the Mediterraneo in peace as well as the occasional storm. Hannibal was not a large ship, nothing compared to the great galleys of Venezia but it served the Capitano well and he had sailed it for the past twenty years requiring only basic maintenance. His were crew were as reliable or maybe even more than the ship herself- everyone from the topmen to the stewards had served loyally and without question. He sometimes wondered what would happen to his ship after his death. Would the crew remain and if they did who would be the captain? He considered willing the ship to his nephew but the boy had no love for the sea instead preferring the intrigues of Italian nobility. Maybe he would entrust it to the Serene Doge? But the Capitano did not wish to think of that, not yet at least.

The moon reflected brightly in the black sea and swam around with the waves. He had remembered spending many sleepless nights simply observing the sea as it hit the lower decks with foam rising soon after. The wind blew strongly from the east as well, slowly guiding them to Lisbona and then hopefully to the port town of La Rochelle in Francia. Otherwise they would have to use the oarsmen if the wind weakened. Eventually the Capitano broke from his trance to notice the Nubian woman approaching him slowly from below the decks. She was a dark-skinned woman with long black hair; standing at least a head taller than the Capitano himself. She wore nothing more than a simple low-cut dress and a green cloak clasped with a bronze harpy. Her brown eyes met the Capitano’s, there was a presence around her that commanded respect as well as attention wherever she was. He did know why he felt it but it was always there. She approached the railing placing both her hands on the railing and looking out into the horizon.

“It is a beautiful night today captain,” her voice was of a low tone and her Italian, though more competent than most foreigners, was tinted with a harsh Nubian accent though it seemed more different than that of other Nubians he heard.

“It is madama, can you not sleep as well? It is a calmer night today than usual.”

“I simply find the night breeze more pleasurable than a burning sun.”

“About the sun madama, if you forgive my indiscretion. I find it strange that you never appear among us and stay in your chambers at the day. May I ask why?”

“A skin disease had afflicted me when I was young. The sun frequently irritates my skin so I have no wish to greet it every morning. Also I would rather we do not speak of this, it is a delicate subject for me.”

The Capitano found himself suddenly averse to keep pushing the subject. But he had now noticed that the Nubian woman did not move once except her lips while they spoke. While prodding his mind for more amicable subjects to discuss with their passenger he had remembered the casket which she had brought with her along with an amount of ducati that weighed ‘the weight of the casket’ as the Nubian had put it. In recompense for the inconvenience she said. It was placed in the lowest deck- out of sight. When the Capitano was about inquire about it, one of his topmen ran from below the decks, huffing and a haunted look about him.

“Captain! There is a situation at the lowest deck. The last cargo we loaded, the casket, we heard thumping and- and screaming as well, human screaming. Enrico brought an axe and is about to break the lock open. We thought you should see whatever is inside as well.”

“Screaming you say?” Capitano shot a glance at the woman who simply replied with a curious glance, “Take me to where the casket is. Hopefully the others have not opened it yet.”

The Descent​

He and Antonio the topman ran down to the lower decks while the woman stayed behind mentioning unknown dangers. As they ran across the decks and further down the stairs the Capitano noticed that most cots were empty. It seemed that the whole ship felt unease that night, some sailors were even on the top deck with him he recalled. Occupants of the few cots that were occupied stirred and rose from their sleep. When they got closer to the lowest deck the Capitano heard the thumping below and muffled screams. Where the casket lay the thumping and screaming was heard the loudest and several men stood around it. Enrico a burly man with a hard-set face, the first mate, held an axe tightly in his hands as he looked towards the Capitano. Capitano nodded as the noise from the casket continued. With one swift strike, Enrico had hacked off the lock that held the lid of the casket down.

In just a single moment, the night went from troublesome, to utterly precarious. The Capitano had seen the lid of the casket burst into a thousand pieces and covered his face, and fell back as the force that had destroyed the lid pushed him off-balance. The sound of the splitting wood mixed with a scream that could only be described as belonging to a Banshee. Several other sounds followed; cracking of bone along with the tearing of flesh, screams of men, and footsteps running across the floor. When the Capitano’s daze had ended he saw Enrico’s body lying limply on the floor- his head crushed and blood flowing out of it. The Capitano crawled over to him and knelt above his body. Grief stricken. Several of the sailors around also picked themselves up, their faces either horror-struck or dazed. Slowly the Capitano stood up and addressed his men.

“Did anyone see what did that?” he pointed towards Enrico, his voice shaky.

“I think it was a woman!” cried one.

“Yes!” shouted another “Black of hair in a dark dress, dirty and tattered. I saw her snatch the axe out of Enrico’s hands with such ease. And then she- well. Damn her.”

“She ran off with Fiero biting into his neck. I saw. She took the axe too I think.”

The Capitano gathered himself together and looked around at his men. There was a scream from the decks above. Distressed, he addressed his men again, “Gather all the weapons you can find. Bladed if you can. We must find this woman- bestia, whatever she is. And end her before she slays anyone else. GO! QUICKLY!”

The crew quickly began running around scavenging cargo and finding anything bladed or sharp they could find. The Capitano picked up the wooden shrapnel left from the casket lid and held it in front of himself. Perhaps as a reflex. His men gathered around him, seven men. The Capitano, the topman, two of the guards and the rest seamen, with the rest going above to warn the other seamen hopefully not arriving too late. He nodded to the small party and they set off up the stairs, huddled close together. When they ascended they saw the horror of what had occurred, bodies strewn around the deck with blood collected in pools or splashed across the walls and the ceiling.

Shadows moved on their own accord, not subtle movements with the moonlight or even candle light but morphing into their own shapes- that of men. These shadows approached the corpses and observed them while other shadows, more obscure in shape had moved towards the Capitano’s band. This unnerved one of them to such an extent that he dropped his weapon and ran. While other simply watched the shadows with growing concern just as Capitano did. It was unnatural but their concern was safety now, of themselves and the rest of the crew.

Moving across the deck they saw that some of the dead men had pale skin and were dreadfully thin with their bones almost protruding. In some cases actually protruding. From what the Capitano could gather, their blood was drained from them by that beast. Immediately Capitano’s mind went to thoughts of vampires before being distracted by screams on the deck above them, this time more dire. Capitano sent two men with the best weapons they had to the above deck, those with a spear and mace. Walking, they saw Fiero lying on the floor in a pool of blood though it appeared it was someone else’s as he looked nearly drained of his own blood. He raised his hand, pointing at the Capitano.

The Capitano knelt beside Fiero. Slowly, the man began in a hoarse whisper, “It was horr- horrific. She came charging at as with an axe, shadows warping all around her. How many tried to stop her, she just lunged at them. Slicing through them like butter. God. At some point she lost the axe and slashed at us with her nails. She killed nearly everyone even those who came to help from above. All who she did not kill she maimed and drained them of blood. You must escape. There’s no weapon that will destroy her…”

With one last cough of blood and phlegm Fiero died. The Capitano looked sadly at him, with pity. He closed Fiero’s eyes with his palm and stood up addressing the remaining two guards and the topman, “Do not let Fiero die for nothing, we will finish this beast, whatever the means. We will not surrender to a hell spawn. Let us finish this.”

The remaining men nodded, lost for words and they went towards the stairs leading to the deck above them, the last enclosed deck. As they ascended the last step they were greeted with bodies of the two men he had sent up. The rest of the sailors dead around them as well with shadows moving in more sinister ways than they had below. The Capitano noticed that one the men was missing the spear. In that moment he heard growling behind them and when he turned around a spear shot through one of the guards’ head with warm blood spraying out from his head onto the Capitano. Behind the guard’s back Capitano saw a shadowy figure of a woman wield the spear. The other guard was killed when the spear was dislodged from the head of the first one and shoved into his chest. Both guards were too slow to react and Capitano stood unmoving- paralyzed. Only the topman rushed towards the figure with dagger in hand and screaming. Yet he was simply grabbed by the neck which was then crushed in a matter of seconds. After throwing away the topman the figure then turned to the Capitano. Who was still frozen.

The woman in the black tattered dress jumped at him and threw the man so far he felt his back crash against the stairs that lead out into the night sky above. Through his blurred vision he could see the woman running towards him. Just as he stood up, he felt a pressure on his neck before being thrown outside into the night breeze. There was loud bang of the hatch to the lower decks being closed shut and something ramming against it over and over. When his vision cleared the Capitano saw the Nubian woman looking at him while keeping one arm on the hatch.

“Open it!” he demanded.

“She will kill you or worse you fool. Flee while you can and tell no one of this. There’s a rowboat for you, if you sail north you should get to Marsiglia in a couple of days,” the ramming against the hatch continued from the other side but the Nubian kept her hold easily while observing him.

“What is that thing?” he asked. Calmer slightly.

“A creature of darkness. And if you leave now, you may survive it yet.”

“My crew deserves to be avenged!”

“Your crew died and you have no chance against her or at avenging them. Leave.”

“I am a captain. I will not let my ship fall into her hands or yours. I care not who you are anymore. My ship is lost, so is my crew. If you have any mercy in your heart let me die defending what I have left,” the Capitano remembered the wooden shrapnel which by some luck, he still held in his hand.

The Nubian considered him, her brown eyes looking at him and then at the hatch, “So be it.”

She let go of the hatch and through it burst the woman, or as he realized, a girl no older than sixteen. She fair he saw, if not for her ragged appearance she could have been considered beautiful even. As she ran towards him his heart pumped faster than it had ever done, not even when he got his ship. The girl bit down on his neck and the wooden shrapnel fell out of his hand. As he felt the blood leave his body the Capitano felt relaxed, happy, in a state of bliss he could not imagine was possible. This was like nothing else he had ever experienced. As light faded from his eyes, the Capitano felt that perhaps everything that had happened was for the better. Every memory he seemed to remember was suddenly a paradise for him, and every nightmare a dream.

Author's Note: The picture is taken as a screenshot from the video game Return of the Obra Dinn as is the music.

 

[stnylan]

Return of the Obra Dinn is great.

Very interesting indeed.

 

[Captain Waffles]

Return of the Obra Dinn is great.

Very interesting indeed.

I’m liking this approval of Obra Dinn. Felt it was thematic.