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[Fniff]

FLAME AND FAMINE
A Chronicles of Darkness roleplay set in the Irish Famine
"I fear what may happen if I go out on the road,
I dare not walk into the dark."
"London", The Elizabethian Sessions

The Great Famine was one of the darkest periods in Irish history: considering how Irish history is a series of terrible wars, failed revolts, and constant tragedy, that's saying something. It began when the staple food of the Irish underclass, the potato, underwent a blight. Thanks to the British government's laissez-faire policies and the landlords having no choice but to throw their poorer tenants out, a million starved, thousands emigrated, and scars were left on the nation that still haven't healed. All this happened in the years between 1845 and 1852, a biblical tribulation in the century of the steam engine and the train.

The Chronicles of Darkness is the second version of the (New) World of Darkness, a horror/gothic/urban fantasy roleplaying game. It takes place in a version of our own world, where the shadows run deeper and monsters dwell in the darkness.

I've tried running a few games set in the Chronicles of Darkness world before. They never really took off, mostly due to my own neglect. Even though I love the concept, I could never make the modern setting work for me. It ended up generically transatlantic: dull as dishwater, in short. However, I noticed that when I set the games in my home country of Ireland, I had some success even playing with people who never visited it. The combination of the familiarity and the uniqueness of the setting reacted with the supernatural elements, making it engaging. I decided this was a good direction to go in. However, I didn't want to set it in modern times because I wanted something new.

On a whim, I started reading up on the Famine and discovered fascinating tales of desperation and survival, rich with atmosphere. Perfect for a game of gothic horror. After all, Dracula was written by an Irishman. I made some basic plans, wrote up a few interesting characters, and here we are.  I want to run this on Roll20. I haven't decided the days yet, but I imagine the weekend would be most convenient. I'm running off GMT 0+, aka European time. I know this is an American-centric forum, so if you can't make it but know someone who could and might be interested in the game, please share them the link to this game.

I'm aiming for 4-5 players, hopefully the cream of the crop. This isn't First-Come-First-Serve, but I will set the deadline as next Sunday.

If you're interested but know nothing about Chronicles of Darkness, read all the spoilers. If you know the game just read the Synopsis, the Storykit (posted below OP), and the Authorized Beings of the Night spoilers.

Spoiler: Synopsis (click to show/hide)

Once, life was good in the West of Ireland. You worked the land to pay rent, selling all your crops 'cept for your potatoes, your sole foodstuff. When work ended you danced and made merry. In your future a marriage and a child was inevitable.
For the Seomra Cognaraí, the supernatural league of Ireland, all was well. They stood united, werewolves and vampires and changelings and sin-eaters, against the continental secret societies aiming to cripple them. Ireland was a haven for occult scholarship, free of infighting and intrigue.
Then the blight came, poisoning the land and killing every spud it could touch. The stench that rose up from the fields: the potato's death. Together with the sights of men and women dead on the roads or the moans of those struck by fever, too weak to move even as they waste away, these will stick with you until you join your departed family and friends.
Everything fell apart. The secret messages, the safehouses, the secret society meetings in halls and backrooms... Gone. As everyone perished or fled Ireland, so too did the leaders of the Seomra Cognaraí. Now only the servants and the managers remain, scattered and confused. Crows are circling as the secret societies of Britain and the continent prepare to divide up Ireland amongst themselves.
You wandered the county to the workhouses, cajoled and begged for a job. You built roads to nowhere and walls dividing nothing from nothing, all for a few pennies and a handful of cornmeal. Now the workhouse is closing. They say the soup kitchens will be open in a few months; you'll be long dead by then. You hear there's still work in Castlebar: you even hear there's food.
You've heard whispers down the pub and read runes on the ancient stones. There's a freehold at Castlebar, run by a changeling tinker called Aoife Ward, that still bares the crest of the Seomra Cognaraí. You heard rumors too that there's a vampire by the name of Verity Black sent by a secret society named the Invictus. Even stranger stories tell of a peculiar girl named Mary Moore, resurrected by the dead and directed by dark forces. You'll see where your allegiances fall when you get there.
Across the bogs and the hills of Ireland, three of the horsemen ride. Famine with his Scales, Death with her Scythe, Conquest with his Crown. The only horseman we wait for is War, with her sword.
Something tells me we won't have to wait long.

Spoiler: Rules (click to show/hide)

Here's a summary of the rule by the wonderful DayDreamer of the SurrealityRP forums.

Dice: WoD uses only 10-sided dice. Various skills and effects will determine how many 10-sided dice you get to roll to determine various outcomes.
Traits: Traits represent your character's capabilities, and come under two headings:
Attributes: These are the facets of a character's general capabilities: the equivalent of strength, intelligence, dexterity, etc in other RPGs.
Skills: These cover various tasks and talents, and are used to show your character's capabilities in various fields.

The contents of both fields are rated with dots (*), ranging from 1 to 5. Whenever you perform an action requiring a dice roll, usually the amount of dice you roll is determined by adding your dots in the relevant attribute to your dots in the relevant skill.

For example, to shoot a gun, you add your Dexterity (***) attribute dots to your Firearms (**) skill dots, resulting in a value of five dots (*****). So, you would roll five 10-sided dice; 1 die per dot.

Modifiers: These represent case-by-case variables for actions taken. Attempting to repair an item with quality tools may yield you a bonus modifier, while a thunderstorm may yield a negative modifier for any attempts at driving. Generally, you will get modifiers based on your equipment or tools, as well as any GM-imposed conditions.

Dice Pool: So simply put, your pool of dice you roll is made up of:

Attribute + Skill + equipment modifier +/- story/situational modifiers (if any)

Rolling Dice: Rolling works a little differently in WoD than in other RPGs. Any result that is an 8, 9, or 10 is classified as a single success. Anything less is a failure. This is after adding your modifiers. To successfully perform an action, you will be given an amount of successes you need to achieve. There may be bonus effects for achieving extra successes, or detriments for failing particularly epically. Additionally, when you roll a 10, you may count that success then reroll that die: essentially, each 10 you get gives you an extra dice roll in addition to counting as a success itself. You can keep rolling as many times as you get 10s.

Exceptional Successes are awarded when you roll 5 or more Successes, and typically represents a result better than what you were aiming for.

When your dice pool has been reduced to 0 or less, you get to roll a “chance†dice roll. In a chance dice roll, 10 is a Success and you get to re-roll. Any result from 9 to 2 is a Failure. Rolling a 1 is a Dramatic Failure and typically results in such negative consequences that it can only be regarded as bad luck.

Example: You try to shoot a target. As the example above, you add your Dexterity (*—*—â—) to your Firearms (â—â—), as well as an extra bonus modifier for being quite close to the target (â—). Your resulting dice pool is thus 6 (â—â—â—â—â—â—). You roll six 10-sided dice. Your results are 4, 7, 1, 1, 8, 10. That's 2 successes, however, you get to roll the 10 again, and get another 8 – leaving you with 3 successes instead.

Action Types: There are three kinds of actions:

Instant: Classified as anything that could take place within the span of 3 seconds, such as shooting at someone. These require only one roll of your dice pool to determine their outcome.

Example: You try to shoot at someone. If you were to roll only a single success (8, 9, or 10), you would hit the target. If you rolled no successes, you would miss. If you happened to roll several excess successes, the shot may hit a vital spot and do extra damage.

Extended: These lengthier tasks require multiple rolls of your dice pool to resolve. The time spent between each roll is determined by the GM – it may be 30 minutes or a few hours. You will be required to achieve a certain number of successes within the multiple rolls in order to succeed. Depending on the nature of the task, you may be required to keep rolling until you get the number of successful rolls, and the amount of rolls you make will determine how long it took your character to complete the task.

Example: You're trying to fix a car. It is determined you need to roll 10 successes to rebuild the transmission, and each roll will span 30 minutes. Even if your dice pool is only one, you could potentially achieve the successes within a single “roll†by getting a 10 then rerolling it 10 times – although that is absurdly unlikely. You may take 5 rolls to achieve 10 successes, resulting in it taking you 150 minutes of in-game time to complete.

If you were trying to defuse a bomb and had to get 4 successes, with each roll taking up 1 minute, and 5 minutes left on the bomb timer, you would thus have to get all 4 successes within 5 rolls, or else you would fail and the bomb would explode.

Contested: These are actions where two or more characters compete to accomplish a feat first or better than the others. They can be instant (eg arm wrestling) or extended (marathon race). In the case of instant tasks, whoever gets the most successes on their roll wins, and in the case of an extended task, whoever reaches the target amount of successes first (ie in the least amount of rolls) wins.

Combat: Simple - Roll to attack. If you get at least one success, you hit. Then, each of your total successes is one point of damage done to the enemy.

However, modifiers make things more complicated. You may start off with a dice pool of 6 (â—â—â—â—â—â—) based on your skills and equipment, but then the enemy statistics may deduct from your pool. Enemy Defense trait is deducted from your dice pool for instance, and if they are in cover or there are other adverse conditions, more dots may be deducted from your pool.

Additionally, there are 3 types of damage:

Bashing: Blunt weapon damage, such as fists or clubs. These wounds heal quickly.
Lethal: Sharp weapon damage, such as knives or bullets. These wounds heal slowly.
Aggravated: Caused by supernatural attacks. These wounds take a very long time to heal.

The rules can get more in-depth, with specific rules for supernatural creatures and special situations, but this is the rock on which we shall build our church.

Spoiler: Character Creation (click to show/hide)

So, you want in on this action? Well, let's walk you through it.

Let me direct you to a tool for creating characters and a step-by-step guide on making said characters, for I am nothing if not a lazy GM. Here is a few notes to remember, however.

The only restrictions on your characters in terms of concept is that they have to be poor. Very poor. They can be anything from Irish peasants to impoverished nobility to kings of foreign and now non-existent lands, but for the central conflict of this roleplay to work they have to be living hand-to-mouth at the time that it begins. Apart from that, go nuts; as long as it makes sense in a 19th century setting where the supernatural is not scientifically proven it is acceptable.

An important part of the game that is not mentioned in the step-by-step guide is Aspirations, Anchors, and Breaking Points. Let's detail them right now.
Aspirations
Aspirations are how your character advances in the game and learns new skills. They are the goals of your character, from the short-term ('see a ghost', 'put myself in mortal danger', 'mug someone') to the long-term ('become a parent', 'destroy the beast that killed my pa', 'take over the company'). These are not necessarily things your character wants; they're signals to me, the GM, on what direction to take your story in. So if you want your character's house to burn down, put it as an aspiration even though they don't want that.

You have four aspiration slots at the start, but you can leave some of them blank. If you're not sure what to pick, don't sweat it. You can change your aspirations with my approval. Go with basic ones at the start then change them if they aren't going anywhere. Don't use it as an excuse to ditch Aspirations you can't accomplish; use it to alter your character in ways that suit how the story is evolving.

Anchors
Anchors are your primary way of recovering Willpower, a limited resource of your character which represents their will to go above and beyond, giving an extra three die to a roll. You can recover one point of Willpower by having a full night's rest. However, you can recover more with Anchors.

Anchors are the central foundations of your character, their good side and their bad side. The Virtue and the Vice. These can be anything you like; the seven deadly sins/seven heavenly virtues are a good place to start, but any character flaw/quality is acceptable. Try to make sure that your Anchors are different enough from other players and make sure your Vice doesn't make anyone uncomfortable and obeys forum guidelines.

By indulging your Virtue, you can recover all your Willpower. Acting on a Virtue is difficult, however, and it may cost you.

By acting on your Vice, you can recover one point of Willpower. Acting on a Vice almost always hurts someone, even if it's just yourself, but it's a comfortable place for your character.

Breaking Points
Rest assured, your character is going to see some terrible sights and do some awful things. Sights that will make them gouge out their eyes and bury them deep in the earth, actions that will scar their brain and send their moral compass all-a-spinning. These parts of the story will be called Breaking Points, and they will affect your character in various ways as they descend into madness. I do need information on what makes your character scared, however, so please fill out this quiz (An Irish word, funnily enough) along with your sheet.

What's the worst thing your character has ever done? This doesn't have too be too dastardly. If the worst thing your character ever did was steal money from their mother's purse and lie to cover it up, that's fine.
What is the worst thing your character can imagine themselves doing? What can your character reasonably see themselves doing, but still know that it would be wrong? Can they imagining killing in self-defence, torturing for information, holding up a stagecoach?
What is the worst thing your character can imagine someone doing? Of course, we all know that people are capable of atrocities. What tops your character's list? Murder, rape, torture? Maybe something more abstract or cerebral, like dishonor or betrayal.
What is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to your character? No one goes through life without trauma, especially back in the old days. The goal here isn't to make a traumatized character. It is to set a bar.

In some games, you're restricted to playing mortals or a specific type of monster. However, I'm opening up the gates because A. one of my favorite Chronicles of Darkness games allowed any monster and it was one of my favorite roleplays of all time, B. a diverse range of people were thrust together during the Famine and I'd like to reflect this and C. I'm a glutton for punishment. I will place restrictions, however. There's a list of 100% allowed monsters with links to their page on Subnet/TV Tropes and a note on how advisable it would be to play below this spoiler.
Remember, if you're familiar with the fluff/rules of the particular monster, I may need you to coach me on it. I don't know everything, so some assistance would be excellent.

With all that in mind, fill out your character sheet (With aspirations and answers to your quiz) and link it here. That's it, you're done!

Spoiler: Authorized Beings of the Night (click to show/hide)

• Vampire the Requiem (Subnet Tropes) (Advisability: I know the basics and some of the powers but I couldn't tell you too much about the fluff. You might have to coach me on some things if you know.)
• Werewolf the Forsaken (Subnet TV Tropes) (Advisability: One of the first books I finished. I know the fluff and the rules pretty well.)
• Changeling the Lost (Subnet TV Tropes) (Advisability: My favorite book, so I know much about it, and really appropriate for the setting.)
• Geist The Sin-Eaters  (Subnet TV Tropes) (Advisability: My other favorite book! Also appropriate, considering the absurd amount of death happening in the setting.
• Genius The Transgression (Book! TV Tropes) (Advisability: The first Chronicles book I read cover to cover; I love mad scientists. This may be leaning on too complex but I think I can handle it. Also, this is a fan-made supplement and thus 100% free!)
• Hunter The Vigil (Subnet TV Tropes) (Advisability: Basically Mortals. May need to be modified to fit the setting but it should be okay.)
• Mage the Awakening: (Subnet TV Tropes) (Advisability: Yeeeees, you're going to need to really persuade me to use this. Nothing against the game itself but it is very complicated and I'm not the kind of GM who likes complicated rules. Besides, the power-levels can get a little silly when in play with other supernaturals.)
• Everything past Gesist the Sin-Eaters is unfamilar to me. That includes Beast: The Primordial, Mummy: The Curse, and Demon: The Descent, though I do have the book.
• Not including Promethean the Created. While it is fantastic, the nature of it means that it doesn't play well with other supernaturals. It's really a whole 'nother trip than the usual World of Darkness. Play it sometime, it's unique.

By the way, I'm playing this pretty vanilla. Fan-made supplements are allowed if they aren't too game-breaky or mood-breaky; I even suggested one in the spoiler below.
However, I am changing a few things to suit the setting.

• First and foremost, the Computer and Drive skills are altered. Obviously, no cars or computers in the mid-19th century. In their place we shall have Abstract (Working with systems be they mechanical, bureaucratic, or psychological in nature) and Ride (Riding horses and other things, but mainly horses). I'm fairly certain Ride is useful but Abstract is on unsteady ground. If you have any good replacements for Abstract, do suggest them.
• Equipment, especially weapons and electronic ones, is going to be restricted. Again, due to the setting. Guns are restricted to Rifles, Revolvers, Shotguns, and Mounted Machine Guns (Good luck getting those ones). Nothing automatic, and considering you're peasants in Ireland, you're going to have trouble finding guns. Electronics are limited to lights, and inefficient ones at that.
• Vampires can go out in the day provided they're wrapped in really thick clothing. They'll get negative modifiers to their rolls and be severely stressed if they're in direct sunlight, and their Disciplines suffer if fail entirely. The reason for this is simple; in modern urban areas there's plenty to do at night. In 19th century rural Ireland, once the pubs close it's boring as hell. Vampires have enough trouble, let's give them a break.

If you're interested in joining, post a character sheet and your preferred times for roleplaying.
Images courtesy of Maggie Land Blanck.

[Fniff]

Miscellaneous

Spoiler: Players (click to show/hide)

Liam Mitchel, optimistic medic
Brother Walsh, wondermaking monk
Darach Granger, vampire-hunting priest
Thady Fitzpatrick, murderhobo with a knife

Spoiler: Story Kit (click to show/hide)

What's this?
This is the Storykit. It contains some basic plot information, the major characters you'll encounter, and the factions in play. This is to give you an idea of what to expect in this game - I'm trying not to be one of those GMs that obscure things needlessly.
If you see an element you like, however, I encourage you to slot it into your character's backstory. For instance, if you have a gang of thugs beat your sisters to death in your character's backstory, you could make it that it's a gang of the Boys out after a long day's pillaging. This will make the heavy lifting of storytelling a little easier for me, add a sense of reality to the world, and make things more interesting. I can't wait to see what you guys come up with.

What's A Seomra?
The characters of Verity Black and Aoife Ward are based off the rules of Vampire the Requiem and Changeling the Lost respectively. Their backstory and character sheets reference this. Basically, all you need to know to understand them is as follows:
Verity Black: The Invicitus is the nobility of the vampiric underworld, at least as close as you get to it among bloodsucking predators. It is ostensibly an meritocracy but really an elitist club based on nepotism and murder.
Aoife Ward: Changelings (Which is what Aoife is) are humans kidnapped by faeries of godlike power, called (variously) the Gentry, Keepers, or the True Fae. They serve a time in Arcadia, the home of the True Fae, and are transformed by it. Most of them manage to escape, forming communities of changelings known as freeholds ruled over by the various courts, arranged by the seasons. i.e. Spring Court, Winter Court, etc.
Seomra Cognaraí: Is something I made up. It's an ancient alliance between all the supernatural groups in Ireland which is now collapsing due to most of the members dying or fleeing. The name is Irish for Whispering Gallery.

Your Motive
So, why does your character care? Why shouldn't they just walk away from all this desperation?

Well, simple. You're poor and stuck on an island. These are the days before chartering jets and motorcars. Only the rich can afford horses and ferries. Before you think about leaving Mayo, it's not as if the rest of the island is doing any better. You can walk all the way to Dublin but you'll only find more heartbreak and cruelty. Remember too that your character is almost certainly weak from hunger; no state for foot travel. At least Castlebar is within walking distance and you know you'll find something when you get there.

Besides, I've researched Mayo and Castlebar a whole lot. I don't mind if you want to venture outside it, but I'd rather not move the entire chronicle and throw out all these beautiful highly-detailed plans* for the sake of your wanderlust.
_{*Hah, that's a laugh. I have no long term plans for this chronicle - that's what you guys are for.}

Here's a few examples of motives your character could have to keep you in and around Castlebar.
* Your daughter's sick. If this Mary Moore rose from the dead, maybe she can fix your girl.
* If you can just get enough money, you can charter a ship to New York. A fresh start.
* Verity Black has the right idea: if you secure English reign and bring the Irish to heel, the starvation will end.
* All but the runts of your pack starved, leaving you the alpha. Perhaps you can find new territory in Castlebar.
* You're Seomra Cognaraí, through and through. You will swear fealty to Aoife Ward as long as you can serve it still.
* A Royal Irish Constable shot down your father. You know he's stationed in Castlebar and you hunger for vengeance.
* Whatever you come up with, as long as it's interesting.

Dramatis Personae (Major Characters)
Verity Black
"So your family is starving; how is your failure my problem?"
Concept: Violent vampiric representative of British Rule.
No-one in Castlebar is quite sure what to make of the woman wrapped head to toe in black velvet. She sounds English and certainly acts like it. However, she wields the chain of command like a whip, answering to no-one and demanding total respect. The people would cry foul on this absurdity if she hadn't shown her strength already.
Verity Black was a handmaiden, born in the year of the Boston Tea Party. She learnt not to speak up and to make herself scarce. When a highway robbery gone horribly bad turned her into a vampire, she was unbound from the shackles of submission. She learnt that it was not her place to serve but to rule. Traveling with the brigand who transformed her, she learnt the ways of weaponry and secrets; the twin tools for her conquest.
What she neglected was her social skills. A lifetime of staying quiet meant her speaking skills could be described as laconic at best and tactless at worst. However, careful use of violence and intrigue secured her position within the aristocracy of the underworld. She wanted more - she wished for a domain of her own to rule over. When the task of conquering the west of Ireland for the Invictus arose, she was the first to volunteer.
If only she knew what she was getting into.
Now she's stuck in Castlebar, locked in a petty dispute with some worthless tinker changeling and struggling with collapsing infrastructure. Even the blood in this blasted berg tastes awful, like the blighted potatoes rotting in the fields.
Verity is a terrifying foe to fight face to face, but there is only one of her. If you can avoid or bargain with her, you can run rings around her so-called 'law'. However, if she can hold the line long enough for the Invictus comrades to arrive with reinforcements of ghouls, she'll be sure to mark you out to them as a troublemaker to be 'pulled up by the root'.

Clan: Mekhet
Covenant: The Invictus
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 4
Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 5, Stamina 3
Social Attributes: Presence 1, Manipulation 2, Composure 2
Mental Skills: Politics 4 (Vampire Society), Investigation 3
Physical Skills: Weapons 5 (Swordfighting), Firearms 4, Ride 1
Social Skills: Intimidation 3, Expression 2 (Poetry)
Merits: Allies (British Government) 3, Haven 5 (Loc:1, Sec:2, Size:2)
Health: 8
Willpower: 6
Initiative: +7
Defense: 3
Blood Potency: 2
Humanity: 7
Disciplines: Auspex 2, Celerity 3
Aspiration: Uphold the laws of the Invictus, defeat Aoife Ward, size up the newcomers.
Virtue: Just
Vice: Selfish

Mary Moore, The Castlebar Lazarus
"The Holy Father is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-consuming."
Concept: Undying waif following an eerie vision of God.
Mary Moore froze to death on the side of the road. There was no kin to ease her passing or mourn her death; she passed with the knowledge that she had died alone. A dozen walked past her corpse without looking; there was a  thousand more like her behind them. A story told over and over again, with a different ending.
She stood up and took breath.
In any other circumstance she would be a medical curiosity, a sign that the reaper can stay his blade. But in these hopeless times she turned into a saint. Why? Because everyone sees their lost daughter or sister or niece in her, and that gives them the promise that they will be returned.
Mary Moore claims that she was resurrected by God. She was branded the Castlebar Lazarus. But if you dig deeper into her story, one finds significant differences between her vision of God and anyone else's. Her God is a thing of many eyes, many tongues, and many teeth. One gets the sense that she considers it God because she has no idea what else to call it.
A movement is developing around her: not quite a cult but getting there. Anything she says, no matter how vague or mundane, they hold up as gospel. They preach that death is not the end, that we can beat it if we become truly one with the Lord. They end each prayer with a cry of "Together, we can live forever!"
The irony is, Mary only wants to die. She is terrified of the power she holds and the entity she has made contact with. The dead fill her with envy; they have escaped their torment and joined with God in Heaven, why was she exempt? But no matter how much she tries to end herself, she still fears the time she was dead. What did she see?
Darkness. Endless darkness.

Mental Attributes: Presence 5, Manipulation 3, Composure 5
Physical Attributes: Strength 1, Dexterity 1, Stamina 1
Social Attributes: Intelligence 1, Wits 3, Resolve 5
Mental Skills: Occult 1, Medicine 3
Physical Skills: Survival 1
Social Skills: Persuasion 4, Socialize 4
Merits: Status (Parish) 3
Health: 5
Potency: 1
Willpower: 9
Size: 4
Initiative: 4
Defense: +6
Speed: 7
Bane: Well, you'll have to find that out by yourself.
Dread Powers: Miracle, Reality Stutter, Immortal
Aspirations: Spread the Word, make sure everyone gets what they deserve, find a way to die.
Virtue: Faith
Vice: Envy

Aoife 'Gaoithe Móire' Ward
"Why does Winter Court still hold the crown? Because none of the other cunts want it."
Summary: Trickster changeling on the edge of a breakdown.
Everyone sells Aoife short. They see an ugly tinker, as bitter and cruel as the north wind. A brash force incapable of handling her duties as a Winter Queen. Well, that's exactly what she wants you to think.
Aoife is good at spinning tales. She tricked her Keeper with tales of fortune on the north winds - his rage in being deceived caused the Big Wind of 1839. While other winter courtiers of Castlebar played to the stereotypes of spies, she pretended to play with her cards facing up and beat the rest of them to the crown.
While she was a good queen, the position held little importance to her. All she wanted was security for her and Martin - the fae-touched child her fetch birthed in her absence. For a while, life was good: she raised her child and kept court when it was Winter's turn in the Freehold's rotation.
Then the famine happened.
The Winter Court is meant to hand the freehold over to the Spring Court when the ash regrows its leaves but the Spring King died of fever and his courtiers are scattered to the winds. Aoife is left managing a freehold that is being torn apart by forces within and without.
Aoife was a good queen but even the finest rulers crack under this kind of pressure. She is falling into tyranny, rooting out dissident and executing troublemakers. Ostensibly she does it in the name of the freehold, but in truth her only desire is to ensure Martin lives through this.
For now, she keeps the peace. But one of these days, she'll go too far and there goes the last stronghold of the Seomra Cognaraí.

Seeming: Elemental
Kith: Windborn
Court: Winter
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 1, Wits 3, Resolve 2
Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 1, Stamina 4
Social Attributes: Presence 1, Manipulation 4, Composure 2
Mental Skills: Politics 3, Occult 5 (The True Fae)
Physical Skills: Athletics 4, Brawl 3 (Bareknuckle)
Social Skills: Empathy 4 (Detecting Lies), Persuasion 2, Socialize 3, Subterfuge 4 (Tall Tales)
Merits: Mantle (Winter) 2, Court Goodwill (Winter) 4, Allies (Seomra Cognaraí) 1
Health: 9
Wyrd: 3
Willpower: 7
Clarity: 4
Size: 5
Initiative: +3
Defense: 1
Speed: 9
Contracts: Control Elements 3, Slipknot Dreams 2
Pledges: Oath of Rose and Thorn (Martin Ward)
Aspirations: Ensure Martin survives, protect the freehold, see what these new fellas are all about.
Virtue: Protective
Vice: Sloth

Groups of Interest
The Constables
"Ye fucking taigs, get any closer to the food cart and yer all dead men... They had their chance, FIRE!"
Concept: Catholic-Hating Law Enforcement
The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), mainly Irish Protestants, Scottish Presbyterians planted in the North of Ireland by Queen Bessie back when men wore frills and women painted their skin with lead. A bloody history between them and the Catholics kindled an everlasting hatred. Despised by the Irish and neglected by the English, they're the orphans of the British Isles: unwanted, bitter, and made for killing.
The constables were respected before this madness began. They may have been Protestants but they tried to be fair, tried to do things by the law. People turned to them as often as the priest thanks to their literacy. They rarely carried guns and they only took men in for distilling or cockfighting or fighing. Then the Famine hit and the situation grew desperate for all.
The ones in Castlebar were dispatched a few months ago, straight from Belfast. Trouble's was brewing as the famine worn on. Food carts knocked over, riots outside workhouses, landlords lynched. Then all the constables were found in their beds with their throats slit: word on the street can't decide if it was the Fenians or the Boys. The new constables, paranoid and scared, have one mission: to bring order at any cost.
They've taken up residence in the army barracks; on the dot each week the windows get rocks thrown through them. Riots and robberies fallen in number thanks to their presence, but the undertaker's doing good business thanks to their brutal tactics. There's even rumors that the local church was torched by RIC in uniform. Public opinion is plunging and nobody in the town trusts them anymore.
The law's grip on Castlebar is slipping away.

Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 3, Resolve 3,
Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3,
Presence 2, Manipulation 2, Composure 2
General Dice Pools: Nowhere To Run 6, Intimidating Yells 4, Won't Back Down 3
Combat Dice Pools: Grappling 6, Guns 7, Knockout Blow 5
Initiative: +6
Defense: 6
Health: 8
Willpower: 2
Size: 5
Speed: 12
Connected To: Verity Black (When she says jump, they ask how high)

The Boys
"Used to kill badgers, you know. Beat their head in with a spade, like. That was mad craic. Then the landlord gave me a six shooter and told me you were missing rent... Jaysus, the look on your face makes killing badgers look like a big heap of shite."
Concept: Intimidating Thugs on the Landlord's Pay
The landlords of Castlebar had a problem. The new poor laws meant they had to pay taxes on every tenant who was renting land for less than four pounds a year. This was bad in the west especially; the little fertile ground is crowded by people.
The landlords were already in debt and this law would ruin them. If their cotter tenants paid their rents in cash, perhaps things would have turned out better - but they paid in kind with grain in return for a plot to grow potatoes.
This is where the Boys came in. They were local ruffians, petty thieves and highwaymen. The landlords hired them all and armed them. They were ordered to evict the cotters. The landlords couldn't do it personally; most of them were absentees in England, and the few who did live in Ireland preferred to keep their hands clean.
The Boys did their jobs. When the tenants couldn't pay, they burnt down their cottages, killed their farm animals, and stole what little they had. But once their jobs were done and the cotters were out on the roads, the Boys didn't want to stop; they were making more money than ever. They robbed artisans and peasants who didn't even owe rent. The landlords didn't care - as long as they get a cut of the profits, they know nothing about it.
The Boys are a force to be reckoned with. They're not particularly clever but there's loads of them and they are well-armed. Best you be keeping your eyes to your shoes when they're walking down the town.

Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 4, Resolve 2,
Strength 4, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2,
Presence 2, Manipulation 2, Composure 3
General Dice Pools: Taunting the Cotters 4, Torture for Information/Fun 5, Stealthy Stalker 5
Combat Dice Pools: Dirty Brawling 8, Guns 7, Firebombs 6
Initiative: +7
Size: 5
Speed: 12
Connected To: Mary Moore (Their mothers and fathers are usually devout believers in Moore's powers)

The Fenians
"For Éire! *BOOM*"
Concept: Radical Irish Revolutionaries
The Fenians led a revolt in 1798. It was crushed by the might of the British Army.
The Fenians led a revolt in 1800. It was crushed by the might of the British Army.
The Fenians led a revolt in 1804. It was crushed by the might of the British Army.
It's 1846 and the Fenians want another revolt.
Now, it would be fair to assume that they're doomed to failure. However, the stars have aligned in Éire's favor. The famine has been a trainwreck for the British government and the Great Powers are aligning against England, seeing the Fenians as a pawn that is all too happy to serve.
They gave them bombs, guns, and training. Now every time a food cart's knocked over or a riot starts up by the workhouse, there's some mad bastard throwing bombs and firing into the crowd. The English are realizing that this isn't another revolt to stamp out - this is the beginnings of war.
The worst part is, these shootings and bombings are only the start. The Fenians are planning something big, something involving the monument to Major-General O'Malley down at the Holy Trinity Church of Ireland.

Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Resolve 2,
Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 2,
Presence 2, Manipulation 1, Composure 2
General Dice Pools: Homemade Explosives 6, IRB Propaganda 5, Duck and Cover 6
Combat Dice Pools: Close-Quarters Combat 5, Guns 6, Explosives 8
Initiative: +6
Defense: 7
Health: 7
Willpower: 1
Size: 5
Speed: 12
Connected To: Aoife Ward (They owe her a big favor - no-one knows what the nature of it was)

Spoiler: Quickstart/Demos (click to show/hide)

What's This Then?
So, if you don't have the books and don't want to pirate them, here's a list of all the demos for the games that I could find. These are 100% free and in PDF format, so check them out if you want to play as a supernatural character.
These will contain some basic information on the rules/settings and some examples of characters.
Demos!
Vampire the Requiem
You're a vampire, forced to contend with your fellow backstabbing kine and your inner beast.
Werewolf the Forsaken
You're a werewolf, born to police the spirit world and ensuring the silence of the herd.
Changeling the Lost
You're a changeling, a person kidnapped by godlike faeries, transformed in their alien realms, and barely managing to escape.
Hunter the Vigil
You're just a regular joe who knows there's evil things out there, and they need killing.
Geist the Sin-Eaters
You've been resurrected by a personification of death. The deal is you get to live, and they get to tag-along. Oh, and you can see ghosts.
Demon the Descent
You were an angel working for the God-Machine, an all-powerful computer. An error in your directives made you fall, turning you into a demon.
Nightmare on Hill Manor
This is a sample adventure for mortals I found, if you want to give it a look-see.

Spoiler: Seomra Cognaraí Mystery Cult (click to show/hide)

What's This?
So, these are the benefits your characters get for joining the Seomra Cognaraí. This isn't required but you can spend up to five merit points to represent your character's level in the Seomra Cognaraí.
If you want to be part of them but not have to spend merit points, you're most likely a member of the many secret societies under its wing that pays respect/tithes to it.
Seomra Cognaraí
The Seomra Cognaraí (Whispering Gallery) are an alliance between the various secret societies in Ireland. It is dedicated to keeping the peace and maintaining the secrecy of its members. It is beginning to fall apart due to the crisis and sabotage by foreign secret societies, losing most of its status and resources; however, its members still remember their training.
* Colúir (Pigeons) must learn to read, write, and speak in Gaelic. It's used as a code within the group and at the end of their training they must compose a poem in it.
You gain the Language (*, Irish) merit.
** Caróga (Crows) learn how to observe and separate the useful from the irrelevant.
You gain the Trained Observer (*) merit, ignoring the prerequisite.
*** Fabhcúin (Falcons) spend a month in the wilderness, surviving off only their wits.
You gain a dot in survival.
**** Buíán (Goldfinch) know how to rally a crowd; their very presence is an inspiration.
You gain the Inspiring (***) merit.
***** An Súile De Na Éin (The Eyes of the Bird) are masters of the occult. No knowledge is hidden from them.
Once per scene, you can reroll a failed Occult roll.

[scriver]

I'm interested. Will have to look closer in the morning, very late now.

[BlitzDungeoneer]

Hm. This definitely seems interesting.

Much like scriver, though, I'm gonna more carefully look over this later because I am way too tired right now.

[My Name is Immaterial]

I'm interested. When would the game be?

[Harry Baldman]

Intriguing.

Hm. I might be able to manage Sunday evening Europe-time. Possibly not this week, but likely the next. I'll look into Genius and see if I can't think of something interesting.

[~Neri]

I'm quite tempted.

[GentlemanRaptor]

Consider me interested as well.

[Fniff]

I'm interested. When would the game be?

Most likely, after this Sunday to give time for myself and yourselves to organise your schedules. I imagine it would be the weekend, probably the evening.

[scrdest]

Quite interested, will build a char when I get home.

[My Name is Immaterial]

I'm thinking about rolling up a Catholic priest/monk, so I'm reading the Hunter TVT article.

There's a secret organization of college girls that fight vampires. I wish I could make this sort of stuff up.
I'm crying because I'm in a public place and I can't roll on the floor, laughing.

[Harry Baldman]

I'm thinking about rolling up a Catholic priest/monk, so I'm reading the Hunter TVT article.

There's a secret organization of college girls that fight vampires. I wish I could make this sort of stuff up.
I'm crying because I'm in a public place and I can't roll on the floor, laughing.

Sadly college girls weren't a thing in the 19th century for the most part.

I'm reading the Genius book, meanwhile, currently about halfway through, and it's so far the most fun I've ever had reading a rulebook.

[My Name is Immaterial]

I'm thinking about rolling up a Catholic priest/monk, so I'm reading the Hunter TVT article.

There's a secret organization of college girls that fight vampires. I wish I could make this sort of stuff up.
I'm crying because I'm in a public place and I can't roll on the floor, laughing.

Sadly college girls weren't a thing in the 19th century for the most part.

Still, it's just that I know a good number of sorority sisters, and I can't see any of them hunting down vampires after getting, as I believe the phrase is, 'hella turnt.'

[Harry Baldman]

Still, it's just that I know a good number of sorority sisters, and I can't see any of them hunting down vampires after getting, as I believe the phrase is, 'hella turnt.'

It makes more sense if you bear in mind the idea that vampires are basically diseased rapists you run into at 2 AM while incredibly drunk. Nobody needs that.

Besides, were they turned? I thought it was more like they were aware of a certain infestation of diseased rapists in the world and were taking steps to address it. Still unusually proactive for a college student, but hey.

[Fniff]

I'm thinking about rolling up a Catholic priest/monk, so I'm reading the Hunter TVT article.

There's a secret organization of college girls that fight vampires. I wish I could make this sort of stuff up.
I'm crying because I'm in a public place and I can't roll on the floor, laughing.

That's what I love about this RPG series. They make it sound like it's as serious as cancer but they come up with the silliest stuff. Changeling the Lost has a True Fae (Terrifying godlike fairy) that is basically a Transformer. Then they sucker-punch you with some really disturbing stuff when your guard is down, AKA the rest of Changeling.

Also, I like what you're thinking with the character. Can't wait to see it!

I'm reading the Genius book, meanwhile, currently about halfway through, and it's so far the most fun I've ever had reading a rulebook.

You know, I got the feeling you'd like Genius The Transgression.

I only just realised, talking about it. This is set in the 1840s, way before Lemuria (Bad genii) collapsed and the Peerage (Good genii, sorta) took over. In short, you may need to be an indepndent genius. That is, unless we move the formation of the Peerage ahead of schedule or if you want to be part of the Lemurians.