Politics

[Azraeth]

I think you might be misunderstanding me. I think you should play your characters however you like. If they are pro-secrecy, more power to them. In fact, that's some of the juicy side of the roleplay that could play out.

However, you have the mindset that sets you up to believe that secrecy is the key to vampiric survival, and that comes from the other games. I say that because this topic has come up before numerous times, and every time viable alternative views are brought up, you essentially clam up and say 'Nope, my way!'

As the storyteller, I'm saying that secrecy (the masquerade) is not and never really was a viable long term solution to protecting vampires.

For example: The Holocaust happened largely due to the circumstances. There were vampires attempting to basically enslave humanity, and the only real intersection between vampires and humans were: Those being fed on and hunters. It was a vastly different time as well. There are numerous reasons why the Holocaust may not happen again.

However, like I said, you can play your character however you want. I'm not (nor would I ever) attempt to convince you or another player to go all anti-secrecy (at least not seriously). I just want to make it very clear that your viewpoint is one out of several, and that there are numerous ways the end of secrecy can be played out. As long as players are aware of that and play their characters only with the IC knowledge available to them, I don't really care how it turns out. I will write the story either way, and I get paid either way.

That being said, there is a LOT more on the table than just secrecy.

[Pi dArtois]

If I wasn't on an RP break Id volunteer Pi to lead something for Masq-Nuetral / Masq-Free. right away:).

We will see how this looks after the degree is done. I've been invited to do honours/post grad by the faculty so.... Eer studies may not be done as I thought, :) but it won't be as crazy .. So I can still bring her out, dust her off and write her story fully at the end of the year.

Over the last couple years Pi has gravitated more and more towards thinking the masq is a bit useless. :) So I would love to see her fully embrace being completely known as a vampire. >.> That could be seriously good RP. She is not going to be the same person she was when she went to Paris.

[Pi dArtois]

The more I think about, the more I like it. I go on a three week semester break in two days, I was always going to spend that time plotting with Chloe Pi's return, but with these changes maybe we can bring her back in a different way.

With that chapter story, it seems like the perfect time for her to ... Do something. :)

[Scarlett Boucher (DELETED 8394)]

Would be interesting if, with her new change in attitude, she looked up Robert. Especially knowing his ties to humans, his history and the things he's done, and the plans he always held for the future. She could join in his plans, bring in her own ones, and further the whole cause of vampires and humans working and living together. :)

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

I didn't suggest anti-masquerade plots because it's what all my characters want.

I have a few who'd be stolidly against it, but that's what makes things interesting, and fun. If it is the way that Path is going, then I envisioned there'd be people on both sides - there'd be leaders who want to abolish the masquerade and there'd be leaders who don't, and the fun thing is when they come head to head. And when the dust finally settles and it's either one or the other, it'll be interesting to see how the opposing parties react and/or adapt.

The story is an organic creature that's affected by the atmosphere around it, and it's not up to any one person to decide the outcome. It's up to several, and we'd have to put in the work and work together to achieve the outcomes we'd like to see. Getting rid of the masquerade would shake things up a bit, which I think is what Path needs. In saying that, I would be playing characters on both sides.

And I agree with Josh - if I were to toss Alaric into the ring as a leader, for example, he wouldn't be looking to enslave humans (and he was there in the holocaust, too). Given his connection to humans, he'd know they're not all hunters, and that vampires have just been given a bad rep. He'd be looking to work with humans, to help them understand one at a time that vampires are not all bad. At the same time, I think he'd also be of the mindset that if you are a vampire, and you go out and kill people every night and generally ACT like the monster the hunters think you are, then you should be hunted, or punished, or re-educated.

In regards to Claire's question -

• 1. A forming of factions - anti, pro, or neutral masquerade. They could even work together, after they're formed.
  2. I don't see war - I see political intrigue. The fate of the masquerade decided not by a massacre on the streets, but by who has the most persuasive power.

[Levi DAmico]

Solace is there as an 'already set up and with history' group of people and set of buildings where they teach humans about vampires and how to defend themselves against them and their powers. Robert is and always has been smooshing the masquerade, but in a more intelligent manner than standing in a square and using powers/going on a feeding rampage.

So as I say, as a place to start bringing the masquerade down fully, your start has already been made. Just need some folks to get on board and we can go whole hog on it.

If I wasn't on an RP break Id volunteer Pi to lead something for Masq-Nuetral / Masq-Free. right away:).

We will see how this looks after the degree is done. I've been invited to do honours/post grad by the faculty so.... Eer studies may not be done as I thought, :) but it won't be as crazy .. So I can still bring her out, dust her off and write her story fully at the end of the year.

Over the last couple years Pi has gravitated more and more towards thinking the masq is a bit useless. :) So I would love to see her fully embrace being completely known as a vampire. >.> That could be seriously good RP. She is not going to be the same person she was when she went to Paris.

Would be interesting if, with her new change in attitude, she looked up Robert. Especially knowing his ties to humans, his history and the things he's done, and the plans he always held for the future. She could join in his plans, bring in her own ones, and further the whole cause of vampires and humans working and living together. :)

If I were to toss Alaric into the ring as a leader, for example, he wouldn't be looking to enslave humans (and he was there in the holocaust, too). Given his connection to humans, he'd know they're not all hunters, and that vampires have just been given a bad rep. He'd be looking to work with humans, to help them understand one at a time that vampires are not all bad. At the same time, I think he'd also be of the mindset that if you are a vampire, and you go out and kill people every night and generally ACT like the monster the hunters think you are, then you should be hunted, or punished, or re-educated.

So… why not work together?

You three have expressed the same desires, so why not join forces and create a real Anit-Masque impact group with your Human contacts, your same motivations, and your strength?

[Robert Pratt]

I'm up for it. I've already posted he whole 'what Solace is' on another thread for people to read up on. So hopefully it'll spark some ideas and creativity.

Sounds like Alaric would have heard of the whole Solace and Lux thing back in his time, as it seems he stood for and followed the same thing they did - and do now with Robert. So while he might not have believed in it, he'd at least recognise it for what it is.

[Enzo Dragomir]

We already have entire factions devoted to just this issue, the possible and now inevitable fall of the masquerade and showing a good face for when it happens. Not only that but actively seeking out secrets of vampiric pasts, histories and powers. Trying to find a way to be able to move from harpers rock, spread out so that this increasingly large population of supernaturals doesn't explode all over the place.

Poised and ready to go so to speak. Important thralls in place, RP'd out, regular thralls, connections, entire groups of sorcs even.

I've been told that I'm trying to do too much, and that you can't just have what older characters have, and that I should mind my place as a new player.

Seems to me if you just game it, it will happen and Dragonal and Dragomir are ready for it now ;)

[Pi dArtois]

I have six months before doing anything, and alas I'm not always comfortable RPing with Chloe's other characters. So the likelihood is super high that Pi and Elliot will work together, not so high that Pi will work with Alaric.

Although I would if I could. But that's lifes.

Go Dragonal! :) I say totally go for it, and tell those people telling you that to go jump.. Quite frankly I think it's awesome, I think Dragonal is awesome :) I'd love to see that well constrcuted and RP'd group do something like that. Could be great.

[Enzo Dragomir]

I'm really excited to begin this new chapter under Dragonal. Everything I've done as a character and family member has been to move toward this, because its been so stagnant since I've joined. To be a part of game history is just too delicious and I'm going to be playing it to the hilt.