(hAPTER*CHREE: ChE BEOOD WILL CELL I would rather be tied tothe soils another man’s serf even a poor man’s, who hadi much to live on hi than be King of all these dead and destroyed, — Homer, The Odyssey Playing a character on the Road of Kings can be an opportunity for great ded, powerful ambitions, nd epic deame, Tecan also lead problems if you don't take the other facets of the ch ticularly the other unt. The nature oftheir S. it's important to ght and when to give € up to character Vampire stores arent bout anyone character but © coteri a igh events may focus on one character oranotherduring astory, allarc of thestory should include all characters equally. Otherwise, some players are likely to feel frustrated and left out, Like the followers of the Road of Kings, players of Scion characters need to balance their goals with theit duties and responsibilities to their fellows. This chapter offers some advice on how to do that.Storytelling Scions Sire ernie te cling ha Ago ok oe tellers should consider the advice in this section when dealing with Scion characters in a story or chronicle. Setting Goals The Road of Kings is a particularly goal-oriented one. Not just focused on the distant goal of Golconda and peace with the Curse of Caine, ifat all, Scions also concentrate on short-term goals, such as personal power and excellence. Therefore, it’s helpful if the players of Scion characters define their characters’ short- and long-term goals before the game begins to give the Storyteller and idea of how to include them in the chronicle, and how the characters’ goals may converge or conflict at some point As Storyteller, once you have aclear description of the characters’ goals, consider how best to fitthem into your chronicle. If a particular goal is something you don’t think you can deal with in the context of the story, ask the player if it would be possible tochange the character's goal rosomething moresuicable. Betterthat than having the player become frustrated and lose interest in the game because the character's goals aren't being addressed. Scion Chronicles A number of possibilities exist for chronicles focus ing primarily on Scion characters, their ambitions, and their conflicts. These are by no means the only ones, but they are some of the most easily run with a group of characters, and can include vampires who follow differ: ent roads, As always, the Storyteller should discuss the typeofchronicle with the playersin advance and outline the guidelines for it as clearly as possible. Snitiates The characters may start out as initiates, newly come to the Road of Kings. They may have only recently been Embraced, or they may be apostates of other roads, seeking a new path to follow. They might share the same mentor or teacher who is helping to guide them toward a deeper understanding of the road, and they may share some common experiences, per haps including the moment of truth that sets them on the Road of Kings. The primary goal of the characters is to become adherents of the Road of Kings and table positions for themselves. They may have rivals among themselves. They have to overcome the challenges laid before them by their mentor, as well as by their liege: lord, ta prove themse deal’ with the schemes of rivals or enemies of their patron(s), plans that may try to use the characters as pawns in a plot against their lord. An initiate chronicle can be played out for its own sake or asa prelude to a different sort of chronicle. One ve become adherents and achie some success, the chronicle can switch to a differ type, or it may even skip forward to when the charac are established and influential figures in Cainite soe ing their old ties during the War of Princes, hey mayalsohavew Knights in Arms The characters are all knights in this chronicle They may be members of a particular order of knight- hhood (see Orders of Knighthood, page 48) or they may 1 (or both). The chronicles prelude may include the characters’ winning their pus and being knighted (perhaps following a short initiate story like that described in the previous ection). Some or all ofthe characters may follow the Path of Chivalry described on page 68. simply serve the same I As knights, the characters will see battle against enemies of their liege, including rival prinees. They can also become involved in courtly intrigue. Perh: are courted by a usurper to support a rebellion agains heir they their lord, or targeted by such rebels because 0 They may spend time roaming the countryside as errant knights, doing good deeds and righting wrongs, but always forced to indulge theie un holy appetites. This chronicle also affords op} for knightly quests, stories of tragic courtly romance (particularly fora Caine taken with a mortal paramour) extreme loyalty ortunities ysades 10 the Holy Land, and Servants of the Crown Characters in this chronicle are all servants of a particular liege-lord (perhaps even a powerful prince or monarch). They can serve in various capacities; one character may be sheriff, another the prince’s warmaster, seneschal, vizier, and so forth. The key is that the characters are all close to the court and in positions of power and influence. Those positions not filled by the characters can be played by the Storyteller, and may be allies, rivals, or even enemies of the characters. The characters need to work together to further the cause of their liege and domain while adva their own personal agendas (whatever they may be The chi an be played with the characters as3 fairly close-knit group, or they may be rivals plotting against each other (or at least willing to sacrifice each other if it furthers their own machinations). They may be loyal to their lord or conspiring against him, orsome characters may be loyal, while others are poten The characters can face challenges from outside their domain, such as the agents of a rival noble, the arival of inquisicors seeking to root out any vampires hey may find, or trouble within the mortal herd that reatens the stability and success of the domain. y can also deal with challenges from within, in- cluding rivalries and conspiracies within the court (or en their own ranks), the plots of their lie nay or may not have their best interests at heart), or ps the characters’ liege lord, and the characters, evenan attempted coup. P tums traitor against his leg aust choose between loyalty to their immediate h AMlicd Princes Fis Kgsipowsned Vicotle hut chorerée aot I rlers of their own domains, perhaps barons who owe a to the same prince, or even princes under the sumelord or monarch. They're likely more capable than. he average starting character if they have such signifi- tant domains. The Storyteller may want to give the players extra bonus points to round out their characters, selecting this extra experience. Alternatively, this type dfchronicle may take place some time after another hroniclefleshing out the earlier unlives of the charac ‘en Forexample, characters fromaDark Ageschronicle inthe 12th century may be powerful nobles some forty or fity years later during the War of Princes (in which case he information on Maturation and elder chronicles given in the Dark Ages Storytellers Companion might we useful) cerns of their The characters have the co wn domains to look after, along with issues that unite them ide forces. For example, the characters may teullied against the aggressive and powerful prince of a searhy domain with designs on their territory, or they be allied in order to conquer nearby domains and aid them to their own (or to theit overlord’s greater domain) The chronicle can focus on the fairly high level events concerning the characters, Ieaving the minor events in their domain for background material, can switch from one domain to another. chaps the players even run multiple characters, play ds in turn while the other players portray supporting characters in the domain Foal Brinces The characters are rulers of domains in this sort of Iyonicle aswell, hue they're notso friendly toward each athe, Instead they're nv arggle against each other for control of their domains and possibly against other Scions run by the Storyteller oe ay ete eras ala This type of chronicle is best suited for troupes that can enjoy the competition between the characters and the potential drama of it without things becoming too personal. It may be suited for online or Live Action sgnines, particularly for playing out things like parleysand negotiations between the rivals. It’s definitely not for beginning players (or Storytellers) or troupes thot prefer ‘working together and don’t enjoy competition. Rebels Against the Lord In this chronicle, the characters are all allied in defiance of a particular liege-lord, prince, or even mon: arch, They may be vassals of that overlord, working in secret against him, or openly in rebellion, They may also be outsiders or commoners with good reason to rebel against the poor treatment of an overlord. The charac- ters have to work together to survive and find a way to overthrow their enemy. The chronicle can range from courtly intrigue and conspiracies to open warfare between the rebels and the overlord. Rebel characters may survive as bandits or brigands on the outskirts of the lord’s domain, striking where they can, evading (or perhaps even attempting to ally with) the local Lupines, and waiting for the opportunity to strike a telling blow ‘They may find allies among the lord’s rivals, although at least some of those allies are likely to have designs on the domain themselves. ‘Once the rebellion succeeds, there also comes the question of what todo with the domain. Do the charac: terstry to claim it themselves, either puttingoneof them in charge (with the othersas trusted advisors) orrunning it as a cabal, sharing power? Can they do so without 0 fighting among themselves? Can they effec tively rule the domain and protect it from outside forces that see an opportunity, now that the overlord has been disposed of? This can easily spin off into another sort of chronicle entirely Agents of Justice The characters are a group of Justicars (page 73). special agents appointed by the hierarchy of the Road ‘of Kings and empowered by the ashen priests to inves: tigate crimes on the part of the Cainite nobility particularly to determine ifa prince is worthy of his or her domain. They can travel widely carrying out their duties, and are certain to face considerable intrigue along the way. This chronicle offers the opportunity to involve the characters in many different conflicts in the War of Princes. It can be run investigations, with the characters piecing together clues and testimony tounravel the liesof unfit lordsand determine the truth. It can also have elements of 6 a series of mysteries and