World of Darkness: Vampire - The Masquerade: Anarchs Unbound

136 Pages·2014·14.5 MB·English

by  Onyx Path Publishing

Credits Special Thanks
Justin “Powerhucks” Achilli for extreme 2 AM
Authors: Justin Achilli, Alan Alexander, Jason ab workouts.
Andrew, Sarah Roark, and Matthew Sanderson
Rich “Stretch Goal Armstrong” Thomas for knowing
Developer: Justin Achilli what people want after giving it to them. Sometimes.
In general.
Associate Developer: Ryan Merritt
Mike “The Revivisectionist” Chaney for three proofs
Editor: Genevieve Podleski
and then some.
Creative Director: Rich Thomas
Alan “LAMAR!” Alexander for being more Anarch
Art Direction and Design: Mike Chaney than he may have initially believed.
Cover Art: Mike Gaydos Matt “Tweet and Retweet” McElroy for getting the
word out.
Interior Art: Mike Gaydos, Sam Araya, James
Denton, Cathy Wilkins, Borja Puig Linares, Tyler Ian “The Aberration” Watson for Erupting with
Windham, Marco Mazzoni and Stephen Stahlberg Taint.
Rich “Wet Socks” Dansky for finding the stinky
thing by touch instead of smell.
Ryan “Count Word Count” Macklin for
recombobulating the Paizotron.
Ryan “Twice Damned” Merritt for seeing how the
sausage is made.
© 2014 CCP hf. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is expressly
forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and for blank character sheets, which may be reproduced for
personal use only. White Wolf, Vampire, World of Darkness, Vampire the Masquerade, and Mage the Ascension
are registered trademarks of CCP hf. All rights reserved. Vampire the Requiem, Werewolf the Apocalypse,
Werewolf the Forsaken, Mage the Awakening, Promethean the Created, Changeling the Lost, Hunter the Vigil,
Geist the Sin-Eaters, V20, Anarchs Unbound, Storyteller System, and Storytelling System are trademarks of
CCP hf.
All rights reserved. All characters, names, places and text herein are copyrighted by CCP hf.
CCP North America Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CCP hf.
This book uses the supernatural for settings, characters and themes. All mystical and supernatural elements
are fiction and intended for entertainment purposes only. This book contains mature content. Reader
discretion is advised.
Check out White Wolf online at http://www.white-wolf.com/
Keep up to date with Onyx Path Publishing at http://theonyxpath.com/
2
Introduction 7 Modern Nights Domain 30
(1989-Present) 19
Anarch Mobility 31
Theme and Mood 7
9/11 and
Progeny 32
How to Use this Book 8
Its Impact on
Order without
Glossary 8 the Movement 20
Tradition 32
Anarchs In
Chapter One:
Accounting 33
The Digital Age 20
The History of the
Hospitality 34
Anarch Movement 11 The Tech Boom
and Bust 21 Destruction 34
And So It Begins… 11
Anarchs Unbound 21 The Diablerie 35
The Anarch Revolt 12
The Crash of 2007 Prestation 36
Toward the
Revolution by
New World 14 Clout by Any
Other Means 23
Other Name 37
The Second Revolt
Here and Now 25
(1900-1990) 15 Clans in a
The Rise of Chapter Two: Post-Clan Society 39
Soviet Vampirism 16 The City Upon the Hill 27 Caitiff 39
The L.A. Revolts Brujah 40
Anarchs and
and the Anarch
the Traditions 28 Gangrel 40
Free States 17
Masquerade 28 Gargoyles 41
Enter MacNeil 18
The Heretics 28 Lasombra 41
The Birth of the
Anarch Free States 19 The Orthodox 30 Malkavian 41
ANARCHS UNBOUND 3
Nosferatu 42 Even the Odds 68 Getting Started 95
Toreador 42 Why You? Why Now? 68 Concept 95
Tremere 42 Edge Cases 68 Motivation 96
Tzimisce 43 We Resume 68 New Archetypes 96
Ventrue 43 Anarchy and Anarchist 96
How to Spread It 69
The Independents 43 Critic 97
Anarchs and the Tyrant Prince:
Trouble in Paradise 44 Nihilist 97
The Insurgency Campaign 70
The Generation Gap 44 Backgrounds 97
The Prince Who Cried Wolf 72
Cyberspace 44 New Backgrounds 98
Anarchs and the Weak Prince:
The Cleavers 46 Anarch Information Exchange 98
The Art of the Deal 72
The Good Shepherds 46 Anarch Status 98
Anarchs and the Besieged Prince:
The Leadership We Deserve 47 Ripe for the Taking 74 Armory 99
Status Perfectus 47 Anarchs and the Sabbat: Communal Haven 100
Navigating in Hell 75
Free States 48 Humanity 101
In the Spider’s Den 76
Baronies 48 Merits and Flaws 101
Anarchs and Free States:
Dynasties 49 New Social Merits and Flaws 102
Long Live the Revolution 77
Communes 49 Peacemaker (2-pt. Merit) 102
Anarchs Elsewhere:
Frontier Territories 50 Prized Patch (2-pt. Merit) 102
Life Among the Cathayans,
Anocracies 50 the Laibon, the Jati & Ashirra Soapbox (3-pt. Merit) 102
78
Cults 50 Sugar Daddy (3-pt. Merit) 102
The Bleeding Edge:
Islands 50 Expiration Date (2-pt. Flaw) 102
Technology and the
Squadrismo 51 Black Sheep (5-pt. Flaw) 102
Anarch Movement 79
Fifth Columns 51 Alternative Bonus Experience
Innovations Among
Award System 102
Anarch Territories Worldwide 52 the Kindred 80
Boston 52 Shrecknet 2.0 81 Chapter Five:
The California Free State(s) 52 Fangster 81 Anarch Disciplines 105
Madison, Wisconsin 54 Bloodspot 82
Combination
Saskatchewan 55 The Anarch Free Press 82 Disciplines 105
Venezuela 55 Stranger Things 83 Call Upon the Blood 105
Kraków 57 Why We Fight: The Humberside Panic 106
Perspectives from
Scandinavia 58 Internet Famous 106
Recruits New and Old 84
Liverpool and Manchester 59 Quickshift 106
Thomasina Payne 84
Perth 61 Remote Access Buffer 107
Andy Sullivan 87
Mombasa 61 Retain the Quick Blood 108
Monica “Lady_Hemlocke”
Slenderman 108
Chapter Three: Chang 88
Smiling Jack’s Trick 108
Spreading the Movement 65 Hector Juarez 92
Stonesight 109
Why Do You Obey? 66 Chapter Four:
Suck It Up 109
Trial and Error 67 Character and Traits 95
Tenebrous Veil 110
4
Elder Disciplines 110 Sheep Among Wolves 118 Sect Infiltrator 126
Alabastard 110 Morality and Old Volunteer 127
the Anarchs 118
Oathbreaker 111 Hacktivist 128
The Religious Anarch 119
Scourging the Instinct 111 Legate 128
Anarchs and Paths
Turnabout 112 Elder Anarch 129
of Enlightenment 120
Vengeance of the Baron 130
Storyteller Option: Ability Com-
Martyr’s Legacy 112
munities 120 Appendix II:
Chapter Six: The Accords of the
Appendix:
The Storyteller’s Toolbox 115 Anarch Movement 132
Antagonists and Allies 122
A Distinct Voice 115 The Convention
Anarch Futurist 122
Story Elements 115 of Thorns 132
Gang Leader 123
The Value of Symbols 115 Excerpt from the Treaty of Tyre
Molotov 124 133
The Intelligentsia 116
Cleaver 125 The Status Perfectus 134
The Loyal Opposition 117
ANARCHS UNBOUND 5

Introduction
Societies in decline have no use for visionaries.
— Anaïs Nin
Embraced into the War of Ages, the Anarchs are those The Anarchs are all of these things and more, forcing a
vampires with the bottle to take what’s theirs, or at least reluctant and venerable aristocracy kicking and screaming
to raise the issue of the Jyhad’s inequity in the halls of into a modern context. Anarchs thrill to the paradoxes of
the Princes, Archbishops, and other tyrants who build their condition, because they are the agents of change. Theirs
personal empires on the backs of their subjects. is a glorious history of throwing off the shackles of oppression,
and likewise is theirs an ignominious litany of squandered
Filthy to the last, the Anarchs are a truculent rabble who
potential and auctioned-off principle. As revolutionaries
fail to understand that power equals privilege among the
and gangbangers, criminals and crusaders, the Anarchs are
Damned, and their ceaseless agitation to be given what
ultimately what they want to be — individually or collectively.
they haven’t earned makes them an adolescent blight
upon otherwise stable domains. Theme and Mood
The Anarchs are cagey guerrillas in a conflict they
The theme of Anarchs Unbound is the hypocrisy of
inherited from those who dragged them into damnation,
change. Among the society of the Damned, affairs remain
but they retain the wits to turn the tools of the modern
static, and the presence of the Anarchs challenges the
world against elders still dancing to a symphony centuries
power of tradition. Up until the Anarch Revolt, the existing
dead. Computers, subcultures, and wars of ideas are the
gerontocracy worked fine — for the Kindred power players
weapons of the modern Anarch, because the other sects
who benefited from it. But then these young vampires
are too stupid to realize their potential.
got the notion to make a stand for their own rights, and
The Anarchs have respect neither for tradition nor the they’ve challenged the time-honored pillars of Kindred
Traditions, and they exult in the vulgar fads and fashions of society every night since. When those rebellions occur,
the kine, keeping the company of mortals and using their the result is often the replacement of one tyrant with
technological toys to cheapen the long and distinguished history another, throwing down a hated Prince or Archbishop
of the race of Caine. They are charlatans and demagogues, and replacing her with a Baron whose ways are equally
peddling a cheap philosophy of equality when the very nature autocratic, but without the sanction or oversight of the
of the Blood demonstrates the falsity of their wishes. Camarilla or Sabbat. Certainly, some domains that uphold
ANARCHS UNBOUND 7
the true ideals of the Anarch Revolt — egalitarianism, a Chapter Six offers a host of ideas to Storytellers looking
reasonable opportunity for every Kindred to make his way to give a distinctly Anarch flavor to their chronicles, from
and stake a claim to domain — but these are the exception story elements to new game systems.
rather than the rule. All too often the Movement eats its
The Appendices present additional useful information,
childer or watches them as they compromise their ideals for
including Storyteller characters who might make an
privilege. It seems to be endemic to the Kindred condition.
appearance in a chronicle and historical documents that
Anticipation and suspicion are the bywords of the helped forge the Anarchs into the sect they are tonight.
Anarch experience, and thus its most prevalent moods.
Glossary
The Anarchs are ever on the verge of achieving their next
change. Even in their own domains, stasis equals the peril Baron: A leader of an Anarch domain who exercises
of becoming like the Camarilla (or perhaps like the other more or less absolute power, whether officially or by
sects, in less frequent circumstances). Anarch coups are common acknowledgment.
like the French Revolution — they ignite at a key event
Chancellor: Executive of a parliamentary democracy,
or time and then continue becoming more and more
usually chosen by the prevailing faction in the latest election.
radical until some reaction among the Anarchs stabilizes
Similar to a mortal prime minister, though a domain may
the chaos. And of course, Anarchs who are agents of
have multiple Chancellors. (Not to be confused with the
this order garner the suspicion of their still-radical peers
Camarilla Chancellor, who makes official record of boons.)
for wanting to establish that order, because order is the
Enemy, the construct of the corrupt powers the Anarchs Compact: A randomly chosen group of citizens who
overthrow. Anarchs are the ultimate political opportunists, stand collective surety for each other in civic matters.
championing the “purity” of whatever suits them best and This system is most often used in domains with a weak
despising the tyranny of anyone other than themselves. central law enforcement, or in those where leaders are
trying to integrate rival clans, factions, age groups, etc.
How to Use this Book
Also called frankpledge, cumann, circle, posse, krew.
Anarchs Unbound is a resource for both players
Free State: An inconsistently applied term, “Free State”
and Storytellers. It contains background information
in general simply implies an Anarch domain. Depending
and setting details for those who wish to create and
upon the user, it may also indicate an Anarch domain
portray these turbulent revolutionaries in their troupe’s
without a Baron, the Anarch Free State of California,
chronicles. It also contains secrets, advice, plot seeds,
or the sum of every Anarch domain worldwide. The
and cultural observations for Storytellers who wish to set
term’s lack of specificity attests to the decentralized
their stories or whole chronicles in Anarch domains, or
nature of the Movement itself, and is the source of no
to use them as allies or antagonists in the eternal Jyhad.
little consternation to many Kindred.
Chapter One examines the history of the Anarchs,
La Libertad: A domain’s anniversary celebration. In
from their birth amid the hallowed diableries of centuries
most of California, these are held on Cinco de Mayo, but
long past to the constant change of the modern nights.
in other places may correspond to the date of the local
Chapter Two looks at how Anarch domains function revolution. In free states, Baronies, and communes, a
and the internal politics and external conflicts that swearing-in of new citizens is often part of the festivities,
characterize them. and rewards for brave exploits may be doled out as well.
Chapter Three explores how Anarchs destabilize the Legate: An agent of a powerful Anarch domain, especially
domains of their rivals, with the intention of eventually those of the major cities in California, sent openly or secretly
bringing those domains under praxis of the Movement. to allied domains to serve as liaison, spy and strongarm.
The less polite term is Cheka, after Lenin’s secret police.
Chapter Four details customization options for Anarch
characters, including new Backgrounds that capitalize on Molotov: A traveling agent provocateur for hire, employed
the strengths of the Movement. by some Anarch domains to harass neighboring Camarilla
or Sabbat domains into negotiations while denying
Chapter Five presents a host of new Disciplines and
responsibility for the upheavals.
powers that, while not the sole purview of the Anarchs,
take advantage of Anarch ideology and their propensity President: Head of the executive branch of a democracy
to share survival tricks, including some unorthodox uses in which there’s strict separation of powers between
of Tremere blood magic. executive branch and legislators.
8 INTRODUCTION
Reeve: A head of law enforcement, loosely equivalent to Old Volunteer: A term of respect for one who’s
the Camarilla Sheriff, except that in democratic Anarch distinguished himself in a revolt or a war with the sects.
domains her powers are far less summary, and she must In martially minded or Sabbat-influenced domains they
seek warrants or permits for searches, seizures and arrests. may form an additional (or only) voting body.
Rule of Law: A core tenet of most Anarch domains, Warlord: Usually simply refers to a domain’s top
though not mentioned in the Status Perfectus — the military strategist, but there are also domains where
idea that even a domain’s ruling figures are subordinate different leaders serve in wartime and peacetime, and
to the law, which itself is validated by popular consent. in those domains the former is called warlord while the
latter is called the old man/old woman. (They may also be
Sweeper: A Kindred charged with scouring a domain
called “red chiefs” and “white chiefs,” respectively, in
to find new arrivals and inform the leadership of their
imitation of old Cherokee government.)
presence. Often ill-regarded.
ANARCHS UNBOUND 9