Ungin at Roundhay; All-venue National 2008

The Camarilla UK All-Venue National 2008; Forsaken VSS

Invitation

I had a strange bird spirit visit me, it was like an eagle or something, only it sort of looked like it was drawn or painted rather than being real, it was 3 dimensional, but sort of looked like it was only a trick of the brush (if that makes any sense). Anyhow, it said that i should invite the People to come and see our slab of old stone and so i will.

We're at Roundhay, near to Leeds. Was going to ask people if they wanted to come and see it - but i'd rather not have a lot of people coming in and out. Disturbing the peace of the park!

My dreams smell of summer, so I was thinking that a picnic at the Spring bank holiday might be cool. Then i thought that there would be fewer eyebrows if it were the weekend after - so, Saturday the 31st, which is the end of the month, i've persuaded my pack and my patron to let people come into the park and to travel through the territory to get there. I'll have a barbecue going so bring some meat or whatever - and something as a present to our totem or pack. I don't have a lot of money so there'll be punch but nothing more than that - bring drinks.

We can put people up for the night, but that's all. If you'll want to stay over or if you want to come by train or bus rather than driving to the main carpark (it's pay and display) please let us know in advance - most of my packmates are going to be making sure the territory is all safe and sound and we'll deal bad things with people sneaking about, okay?

Erm, yeah, anyhow, thanks for reading this - hope to see you soon!

Smalltalk

• Cahalith & Ironmaster

ST Contacts

• Venue Lead: Rik Sowden UK ANST Forsaken; email
• Other STs: Ian Cannon, Fran Dale, Matt Dodds, Nick Lambourn

Place/Time

This VSS is applicable to all Forsaken games run during the UK National All-venue event held in Leeds 30th May to 1st June 2008. This applies to either ST-directed games or to Soft RP, whether included in the convention schedule, or impromptu game sessions.

Theme/Mood

The Forsaken venue is a harsh place – every hand could be turned against you, no matter if it’s your tribemate, your mother, your neighbour or your lover. The Shadow is a hostile place to even the most experienced Bone Shadow, there are foes out there to challenge and best the most skilled Blood Talon, there are puzzles which can stump the most clever Iron Master, places too wild and untamed for the most hardy Hunter in Darkness and more challenges for leadership for even the strongest willed and noble Storm Lord. It is a venue where the needs of fellowship, company and society must be balanced with concern for territory and even survival. Some of the things which lurk in the dark are even worse to meet down a dark alley than yourself.

For many werewolves the Pack is all, but for others – for most – there is a drive, a need, for company and companionship with others of your own kind. Pack are your family, other werewolves are your friends, are your workmates and acquaintances. More than just that though other werewolves are those who you can learn from, who can help to destroy threats before they damage your territory – and who you can, perhaps, learn some trust for.

When werewolves gather it can be for reasons of peace – as well as reasons of war. Sometimes it can be for both.

Event Rules

There are a few simple rules which we will be using, these are the principles of the event. Please understand them and follow the spirit of them throughout the game:

• Show, don't tell; With any live-game everything feels so much more real when you can see and understand what is happening. Where possible don't just describe what you're doing, instead act it through as well. If you're going to sneak off and do something make the tests and then sneak off. If you're going to perform a Rite make the tests and then act it out. Don't tell me what you're doing, make me understand - lets put the 'Live Action' into things again!
• Act with respect and responsibility; Your character might be an arse, may be evil, you as a player aren't. Please be respectful of other players, crew, any members of the general public you meet and of the hotel staff. Also please act responsibly; don't freak the mundanes, and keep an eye out for the other people on site. Help each other OC, even if you're glaring at each other IC.
• IC and RP is the win; You may find that there are times when you are not actively involved the game, where the “action” is taking place off scene, or where plot is low key. Use the time at this event to help shape the feel of the UK game, and to build links to other places in the country, and across the world. Prepare stories to tell and exchange, compete in tests of skill or riddles with other PCs, and generally immerse yourself in the surroundings as best you can.

Character Restrictions

There are no blanket restrictions for the Forsaken venue, although the Lead Venue Storyteller reserves the right to deny any item, power, or character type on a case-by-case basis. Any PC with items from the list below need to notify the Lead Venue Storyteller no later than 10th May 2008 of their intention to attend. This is not a guarantee of acceptance, although it is likely. Notifications after 10th May 2008 will have an incredibly high chance of being denied. A return email from the Lead Venue Storyteller will be sent with the decision to accept or deny the Approval in question.

Items which require contact from the Lead ST:

• Character Types; Any which require a High (or greater) approval, any character who is not a Werewolf who has sworn the Oath of the Moon (other than Ghost Wolves).
• Approval Items; Any PC which has a High (or greater) approval item on their sheet and who will want to bring it with them. This includes Gifts, Rites, and Fetishes etc. Players must include on their character sheets a typed description of that power, ability or item, and its game mechanics, otherwise it will not be available for use at the National. Please note that this will include any Gifts, Rites or Fetishes which are unique to a Lodge (such as the Opening Gifts for the Lodge of Doors).
• Cross-venue Approval; For any cross-venue interaction with the Forsaken game please have an approval number for it from the Approvals Database, with the permission of your own VST and from the Lead ST. No approvals will be granted at the event.

Venue Rules

We will be using all rules published and approved for play, which at this time it includes: World of Darkness (MET Corebook), Shadows of the UK, Werewolf: the Forsaken (Tabletop Corebook), Lore of the Forsaken, Lodges the Faithful, Lodges the Splintered, Predators, Blood of the Wolf, Blasphemies, Territories, The Pure, The Rage and War Against the Pure. In addition some material from Tribes of the Moon may be introduced through game play at the event.

The UK Forsaken venue uses White Wolf’s Werewolf: the Forsaken and The Camarilla’s Fan Club Rules Addendum to Werewolf: the Forsaken with the below alterations as per the UK addenda:

• Doubled-Form Bonuses; the Camarilla UK does not use the double form bonus rule.
• Talens; As per Werewolf; the Forsaken (core book, p79) each point of Fetish dedicated to Talens allows for 3 Talens to be carried (“The fetish has a level equal to the dots in this Merit. One dot of Fetish is equal to three talens.”). These Talens may be traded freely but must still be made, characters without Fetish points dedicated to Talens may not keep Talens after the game session where they are given them – if not used they are considered to be lost.
• Visiting Characters; Members of Camarilla affiliates outside the UK may be required to strike items from their character sheets, alter supernatural powers or effects, or otherwise work with the Storytellers to make sure their characters are in compliance with the UK (mainly, see any differences in the UK Addenda).

Essence

Characters will start with Essence equal to either their Harmony or +3 to their finishing pool from their last game. They may additionally add the rating of any Loci which have been bought as a Pack Merit (from Territories). Any additional Essence may be gained by speaking with members of the ST staff before entering game play, or with the agreement of a PCs own VST (through downtime or in-game actions). Please note additional Essence must be “signed off” by an ST if arranged before the game – an email, note or verbal agreement from the ST (if available) is sufficient.

On-Site vs. Off-Site

As the Forsaken venue comprises both physical reality and the Shadow Realm, certain areas may be designated for the Hisil, depending on availability of space. Players who are on the physical location of the gamesite yet "off-site" in terms of play represent a breakdown in the continuity of the game and will be limited as much as possible. Those events that have been designated as off-site will be clearly marked on the schedule or by Storyteller Announcement. In some cases participating in these events may limit your ability to participate in the regular venue, as well as be subject to travel risks and/or additional time requirements.

Proxy Rules

As per the Universal VSS and the Camarilla Rules Addendum. Though proxy play is permitted by the Camarilla rules supplements, proxy characters are not allowed for the UK National without Lead Storyteller approval due to the difficulty in finding players and Storytellers to run them. This approval must be secured not later than 10th May 2008. On-site approvals will be extremely unlikely.

Travel Risks

Long-distance travel is rarely assured to be safe for any supernatural denizen of the World of Darkness. For the Forsaken, specifically, many threats seek to destroy them. However, in the interest of actually getting characters and players to the convention, assume that characters may reach the Ungin site without undue trouble so long as they travel in some conventional method (car, bus or plane). If characters are travelling to the National in some other manner (hoofing it in Urhan form, or, Luna forbid, through the Shadow), players should contact the Lead Venue Storyteller no later than 10th May 2008 for appropriate...wrinkles in their travel plans. Notifications of this sort arriving to the Lead Venue Storyteller after 10th May 2008 are unlikely to be handled promptly, due to last-minute preparations for the convention.

Narrator and Lead Venue Storyteller Empowerment in Mass Combat Scenes

The Forsaken game at the All-venue National may have one or more challenges designed as part of the plot and these will be handled by the ST in charge of that aspect of the plot. Beyond that, mass combat and scenes with over six participants, because of their tendency to escalate quickly into time freezes, will be carefully monitored.

A Storyteller may pull a large (six or more person) scene away from the main playing area to avoid disruptions to roleplay. The Storyteller is empowered to determine when and how other characters are allowed to enter such scenes. If any players argue with any of the Storytellers, or otherwise disrupt the flow of the scene, that player can be asked by a Lead Storyteller to hand their character sheet over to the them and leave the scene, at which point the PC will be scripted out of game in a manner fully at the discretion of the Lead Storyteller. Any and all ST’s or narrators have authority over how the game is run and onsite rules calls. Any arguing or disruption of game will not be tolerated.

In addition, the Lead Venue Storyteller reserves the right to temporarily deputise Narrators throughout the duration of the convention, on a case-by-case basis, as needed.

Player Advisory

The World of Darkness is not a happy place. From time to time, the Lead Storytellers in a venue may use adult themes, vivid descriptions, and contentious social issues to bring the World of Darkness to life. For those familiar with the White Wolf tabletop material, some plot elements or themes could be considered "Black Dog" material. Such themes and issues may include racism, sexism, bigotry, prejudice, sexual assault, and extreme violence. If, at any time, a player feels uncomfortable with a scene, the player should immediately inform the Storyteller running the scene. The Storyteller will either tone down scene so that the player is once again comfortable participating in it, or will excuse the player from the scene and hand the PC to a Narrator or other designated representative to finish out the scene without breaking continuity. These disturbing elements will not be used lightly, and players that leave due to comfort issues will be treated with compassion and courtesy. Storytellers will make every effort to ensure that players who must leave a scene for this reason are not put at a disadvantage by their departure.

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