The Newcastle Refugees

Note

This story was used as a plot device in our original game.

Introduction

A group of five Kindred leave Newcastle. After the invasion they were kept prisoner by the Sabbat who tried to convert them to the sect. Eventually they managed to escape, although some are wounded in the process. They consist of:

• Yelyana Anitra Karlovitch - Ventrue Elder.
• Jo Marsden - Brujah ancilla
• Jessie - Ventrue anarch
• Snake - Malkvian anarch
• Tommo - Nosferatu anarch
• Sammy - Brujah anarch

Yelyana is a Russian countess who left Russia after the Revolution. Her ship docked at Newcastle and she decided to stay there. She has remained in Newcastle ever since, despite it's anarch reputation. She personally loaths anarchs. However, having been driven out of her home once, she stayed on with grim determination not to let the Brujah 'win' Newcastle too. She doesn't love Newcastle enough to die for it though and she certainly wasn't staying once the Sabbat were in charge.

Jo Marsden ran away to sea when she was 10, dressed as a boy. Eventually, always concealing her sex, she rose to Captain her own ship. When she eventually retired from the sea in her 50s, she was Embraced by a Newcastle Brujah, who didn't want to see her rebellious nature go to waste. Since then, Jo has always remained on the side of the oppressed and the anarchs, even as she became influential in the fief. She protects the wilder fledglings from the wrath of the Elders. However, during her life she discovered the value of guile and patience, even though it is against her nature. She was a supporter of the strange alliance between Brujah and Ventrue in Newcastle.

Jessie, Snake, Tommo and Sammy are the performers in a theater group of some repute amongst northern anarch Kindred. The Steelworks write songs about northern life and history and perform around the north and as far south as Birmingham (like Mikron). Because they are devout anarchs and many of their 'Kindred' songs are about overthrowing the Elders, their performances are sometimes rather clandestine. However, they have too much of a mortal following to be simply disappeared, so the Elders of most fiefs tolerate them.

Tommo and Snake are the founders of the group, which has had several different members over the years. Tommo, surprisingly, is the main writer and performer. Obviously, he uses Obfucate to hide his Nosferatu deformities when performing to mortals. However, when performing in Kindred venues, he usually doesn't, mostly because it annoys the Hell out of the Toreador.

Tommo met Snake in Glasgow. Snake told him that he was a Caitiff, all alone with no Clan to protect him. He wanted to become a Nosferatu, like Tommo. It didn't take long for Tommo to guess Snake's real Clan, but the idea amused him, so he accepted. Now Snake uses Obfuscate to look look like a Nosferatu, except when they are performing, when he uses Obfuscate to look like himself. Although a bit erratic, Snake has written some of the Steelsworks best pieces, althgough most are not suitable for performance befor mortals.

Sammy. Umm...just your typical Newcastle Brujah anarch really. Very fond of Jessica (see below). I can't really think of anything especially defining about her other than that.

Jessie is the newest member of the band. She joined when the rest of the band helped her escape from Brimingham, which was in the throws of yet another crack-down on the anarchs of the city. She doesn't get a big write up 'cos she's dead (see below).

The Escape from Newcastle

The Kindred didn't split up because they were worried about Sabbat and Garou. After the escape from where they were being held by the Sabbat they managed to get to Jo's haven. There she had weapons and a van with lightproofing in the back. They started travelling south, although they made slow progress because they were frightened to sticking to the motorway but many of the backroads were difficult because of the weather. In addition, the two Ventrue were quite badly hurt in the escape and needed to feed.

Because of the Ventrue's Clan feeding restriction, the group waited until they reached a busy service station, then stoped there. They spilt up and the two Ventrue went off to try and feed. After a few minutes, Snake heard a commotion and Yelyana's cries for help. Tommo and Snake rushed to find the source. They discovered a frenzying werewolf attacking Yelyana and Jessie. Jessie had been killed and although the Garou had been injured, it looked like it would soon finish of Yelyana too. Tommo attacked with his shotgun, using silver shot. He killed the frenzying Garou, just as another two Garou appeared. The other Kindred arrrived and between them managed to drive off the other Garou, although they were all injured in the process.

Fleeing the scene before more Garou or humans arrived, the party continued towards Leeds. Just as they arrived on the outskirts, they were stopped by another party of Garou, accompanied by Sean Connor. The Garou demanded to know what happened and why they killed the young Garou, the son of the Fianna alpha of one of the northern packs. Yelyana said that she and Jessie were looking for blood when the Garou approached them and began acting agressively. Yelyana told it that they were seeking shelter in York, but the Garou refused to believe them and said that they must be Sabbat. While Yelyana tried to calm the Garou, Jessie pulled out the gun Jo had given her and shot at it. The Garou then frenzied and Yelyana was trying to defend herself when Jo arrived.

Sammy declared that that was lies. Jessica would never do such a thing and Yelyana must have started the fight. Yelyana told Sammy to keep her mouth shut in the presence of her Elders and betters - anarch scum like her should be grateful that they were helped to escape the Sabbat and not speak out of turn. Sammy frenzied and attacked Yelyana. Things then got a bit exciting as some of the Garou tried to intervene. When the dust settled, Yelyana lay in Torpor. Panicking, the remaining anarchs dove into Jo's van and fled the scene.

What really happenened

Yelyana Dominated the Garou and tried to feed from it. It frenzied and attacked her. Yelyana then used Dominate to force Jessie to get between her and the Garou while she called for help. Jessica was killed by the Garou before help could arrive. However, Yelyana knows about the treaty between Garou and Kindred in York and doesn't want to admit she attacked a Werewolf.

The aftermath

The anarchs go to ground in Leeds. They are too scared to try and flee the fief because they know they are surrounded by Garou. Equally, they are not keen to emerge and face the wrath of the Elders.

Sir John is (at least publically) expressing outrage that:-

• - the Garou killed one Ventrue and may have been instrumental in putting another in Torpor. They should be made to account for it. At the very least, an apology and suitable compensation should be paid. Preferably, the Garou responsible should be brought before the Council for punishment.
• - the anarch scum attacked Yelyana, a friend of his. They must be found at once and brought to justice.
• - the account Yelyana gave of the incident is being doubted. Surely her word is worth more than that of anarch rabble who weren't even present?

Naturally, Marie is supporting him in his calls that the anarchs be found and punished.

The Garou are furious about the death of the Fianna at the service station. He was the son of the leader of one of the Northern packs. He had only recently changed and had volunteered to help watch for Sabbat. They refuse to belive that he could have started the trouble. He knew his duty was to watch and report, not to challenge. If there was any trouble, it was started by the Kindred. They want an explanation and recompense for his death. Most of all, they want those responisble for his death punished. Otherwise, the northern Fianna may feel they can no longer trust the Kindred of York.

Jo is refusing to try and get hold of the remaining Steelworks members. She doesn't believe they will get a fair hearing before the Council. She would prefer to believe that the whole incident was the fault of Yelyana, whom she has never liked anyway. Jo is owed a life debt by Thorolf, whose life she saved when they were both fighting against Spiral Dancers in the North and she is demanding that he help her protect the Steelworks. She wants a guarantee of their safety and a promise that they won't be punished.

Thorolf is torn between his debt of honour to Jo and his loyalty to the Garou. He is pretty certain that something more than has been described went on. He feels that the best thing all round would be if the anarchs could be found and the truth discovered. However, Jo is dead set against it and refuses to help him find them. Failing that, he hopes that Yleyana might come out of Torpor soon so she can give her account again. However, he realises she is unlikely to wake up in time to settle the situation.