Georgetown and Alexandria
Two Camarilla Domains and More
This is a homebrew setting. I enjoyed . . . even loved . . . the D.C. by Night book by White Wolf, but I wanted to come up with my own thing, so just ignore that book if you want to play this game. Many other things in lore still hold up in this setting though: Chicago is just as it is in the books, as are a number of other cities. We will be taking the best from different versions of VtM from v1 all the way to v5. I will explain in far more detail when we start. No books are necessary, but core books are encouraged. You don’t have to be overly familiar with real-life D.C. This game version is closer to the D.C. of the movies anyway: bigger, dirtier, more populous and overall in the World of Darkness.
This is a dynamic game, and the political winds shift quickly. Below is a guide to the societies of the Kindred of Washington, D.C. as in the beginning of Book I.
The D.C. Metro Area is largely a Camarilla territory. However, predating the District of Columbia are the Domains of Georgetown and Alexandria. They have retained their names (and having separate Princes), though their territories have expanded to now become one contiguous metropolitan area, separated by the Potomac River. The Domain of Georgetown now includes all of Washington, D.C. as well as contested parts of suburban Maryland reaching into the cities of College Park, Beltsville, Bowie and Laurel. The Domain of Alexandria now includes all of the City of Alexandria, Arlington County (which includes the City of Arlington), Fairfax City, Fairfax County and the smaller towns therein. A third Camarilla “Domain” of sorts exists as the CEZ: the Camarilla Exclusion Zone. The CEZ is off-limits to local Kindred upon risk of final death or worse. It is tightly controlled by the ghouls and intermediaries of the Inner Council to maintain the global Masquerade. The CEZ only comprises a small parcel of land in Southwest D.C. and on specific government buildings spread throughout both Domains.
The Camarilla enclave is surrounded by enemies on all sides, however.
There is no safe route to the south or west. The closest Camarilla city is Richmond, Virginia. However, a nighttime car ride through miles and miles of thick forest is a death sentence for Kindred. The Lupines keep watch over the main roads sniffing out any “corruption” from the city encroaching upon their territory.
To the north, there is only Sabbat. The Archdiocese of Baltimore is a Sabbat stronghold from its founding with deep roots in the Black Hand. Fresh troops from Sabbat-held New York and Philadelphia are constantly harrying Georgetown’s most northeastern domains. The areas around Metro Maryland are some of the hottest locations in the Night War between the Sabbat and Camarilla. Millions of dollars and loads of resources are poured in by both sects to fuel the flames.
The Principality of Alexandria
The Tremere Prince Elaine Montcomb claims the Domain of Northern Virginia from her seat of power in Old Town Alexandria.
The entrance to Elysium is in the Torpedo Factory in Old Town and is a labyrinthine work of art to behold - if you have passed the heavy security.
Northern Virginia (NOVA) has bloomed over the years to become a major metropolitan center rivaling the District of Columbia itself. And certainly, the mortal residents are far richer than those across the Potomac River. In fact, Northern Virginians are some of the richest and most powerful people in the world. It is no wonder the Kindred are drawn to the area.
Alexandria itself is an old city by U.S. standards, predating the American Revolution. The city has always been in Camarilla hands, but has changed Princes twice. The Tremere have held sway with the tacit support of the Ventrue for over a half century.
The Brujah maintain some territory around the sprawling George Mason University campus and a few spots dotted throughout the region. Primogen Jeremiah Banks is often the bane of the Prince’s existence in constant political squabbles.
The Gangrel are very involved in the security apparatus of the Domain and many have territory in the shrinking wilds of Fairfax County. The Sheriff of Alexandria is a gruff Gangrel named Sampson.
Clan Malkavian has almost no presence in the Domain, save for a scant two or three who are tolerated as long as they keep to themselves and never make uppity calls for a seat on the Primogen.
It is well known that Clan Nosferatu has tunnels running under the river and alongside the Metro to connect the two Domains. The “sewer rats” see no distiction between “Alexandria” or “Georgetown,” but go where they please. They have their own “Prince” of the Undercity who never ventures to the surface. Whoever he or she (or they? or it?) chooses to represent them sits on the Primogen of Alexandria, though this representative changes at the whim of the true leader of the Undercity. Not even the powerful Tremere would dare to dislodge the festering boil that is rumored to be a Methuselah (or at the very least, a powerful Elder) and thus leave the Nosferatu to their own devices as long as they stay in their lane.
Clan Toreador is well represented by true “Southern Belle” Melisand Granger as Keeper of Elysium as well as a strong presence in Del Ray.
Clan Tremere have the greatest control in Alexandria, claiming much of Old Town and Alexandria City proper as their domain. They have the main Chantry, called the “Lighthouse Chantry” at the Masonic Washington Monument as well as other satellite chantries rumored throughout the Domain . . . though only the Clan knows of the whereabouts of these enclaves.
Clan Ventrue has their seat of power in Rosslyn as well as much of Arlington, Reston and Tysons Corner. While the Camarilla does not allow locals to control the federal government, several local Ventrue of the VenCorps Directorate have their hands all over the lucrative (and deadly) weapons contracting industry that supplies the mighty United States military. Primogen Jordan Bingham is a genteel Southerner with a calming charm.
No other Clan or Bloodline is permitted residence in the Domain. Prince Elaine has given a Caitiff or two permission to live, as long as they stay out of mischief, but such individuals are offered no real protection by the state.
The Principality of Georgetown
The Toreador Prince George has held sway over Georgetown since before the American Revolution. He was a part of the force that ejected the Sabbat control of the British Colonies during the Night Wars of the 1700s. He has grown his brood and now sits fat atop a golden throne surrounded by sycophants. Many whisper that he has lost his touch and that he has gone quite insane. His enemies call him “Mad King George” after the mortal King George III. Still, no one can wrest power from him or his Arts Council.
Elysium in the Domain of Georgetown is in no specific location. Weekly Elysia move from Smithsonian to Smithsonian, and even to the National Zoo, depending upon the whim of the Arts Council.
D.C. is a city in turmoil during this time. It had been rocked by riots and unrest that the vampires used as cover (and often made worse) during the Camarilla’s unending war with the Sabbat of Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York.
The Brujah have some considerable sway in the Domain of Georgetown, but those in power tend to be the more scholarly of the clan. Unlike their counterparts on the south of the river, the Brujah of Georgetown largely support their Prince and their Primogen Aloysius is a member of the Arts Council. They have domain at Georgetown University, George Washington University and American University, feeding among the student body. There is an offshoot of the Brujah that are far more “typical” of the stereotypes of the Clan. Members of this “Anarch” faction tend to live in Southeast and vehemently oppose their ineffectual Prince, but oppose the so-called “War Council” in equal measure. Brujah rants are often raucous affairs and the Clan is near a breaking point.
The Gangrel, alongside a few willing Brujah, Nosferatu and Malkavians make up the majority of the S’eth Adar: an undead army who nightly fights the encroaching Sabbat. They must take turns on duty or their domains in the outskirts of Maryland would be completely overrun. The Gangrel Primogen named “Priest” is the strongest voice in the so-called War Council which calls for greater defense resources and less influence spent on “pointless baubles and masked balls.”
Clan Malkavian has their domain in Trinidad/Ivy City as well as the area surrounding Gallaudet University. The Malkavians of Georgetown are a diverse group, with a handfull firmly in the S’eth Adar and on the side of increased defense and yet others, like the Primogen Joan, ardent supporters of the Arts Council and Prince George. When pressed on politics, though, most will acquiesce to Joan: she is undisputed in her power, age and generation, even though she is in the body of an 11-year-old girl.
The Toreador are the masters of Georgetown. Claiming the Prince among their number, they also have the Primogen Phillipe who decides which mortal artists to support in THE National Gallery of Art and more. There are perhaps too many Toreador in D.C. and there are whispers that there should be a culling of the deadweight poseurs by sending them to claim unprotected domains on the front lines.
The Nosferatu of Georgetown make no distinction between Domains on either side of the river and travel freely between them. The Undercity is its own Domain and those topside leave the Nosferatu . . . and other creatures . . . to their own devises so long as they stay there. Cylus Pine serves on the Primogen as the mouthpiece of the One Below. He is the swing vote on the council who seems only to care about ensuring that the Metro is constantly expanded and that the sanitation department is overfunded to the Clan’s desires. He, and the Clan, takes no position on war or the acquisition of art for Elysium. Individual members of the Clan are known to sell secrets to any number of Clans and factions and some individuals belong to the Anarch cell in Southeast as well as to the S’eth Adar patrols in the north.
Clan Tremere maintains its Chantry below the Octagon House in Georgetown. Lord Cairns is a high official in the global House hierarchy, but sends a lesser appointee, Sarah Graves, to serve on the Primogen. Graves, and thus the Clan, are supporters of the War Council (so much so, that they would take the insult “War Council” and wear it as a badge of honor) and oppose the Prince’s hedonistic vulgarity and outrageous spending. Yet, their number is few in the Domain and they have little voice outside of the Chantry walls.
The Ventrue of Georgetown are scant few. While it is rumored that a few Blue Bloods make their havens in the Camarilla Exclusion Zone, they do not interact with the rest of the D.C. Kindred. There are only a handful of Ventrue presented and allowed citizens of the Domain proper from the Clan currently. Two are in the S’eth Adar as their masquerade enforcers and one sits on the Primogen as an often quiet representative of VenCorps.
Prince George is far more lenient than his counterpart to the south in allowing non-Camarilla vampires into his Domain. The Settites maintain a haven at the ramshackle cult, the “Church of Light” in Anacostia. The priestess of the Church of Light, Nebasha, even occasionally makes it to an Elysium where she flatters the Prince with honeyed words. The Giovanni have an embassy at Congressional Cemetery where Carlo Giovanni negotates on behalf of his family with the powers-that-be of American Kindred. No known members of other Clans or Bloodlines make a permanent haven in Georgetown (as far as anyone knows), though the Arts Council has invited two Daughters of Cacophony to serve as artists-in-residence for a year and a day “on tour” to the Elysium.
The Camarilla Exclusion Zone
The third Camarilla Domain of-sorts in the D.C. Metro Area is the CEZ. It is unknown who resides there and if they are permanent or rotate in to be the eyes and ears of the Camarilla Inner Council. It is whispered that powerful Ventrue make their havens here: but there are also rumors that no vampires at all live here permanently and that the CEZ is made up entirely of Ghouls (and, of course, regular kine). Whoever they might be if they exist at all, the Kindred population of the CEZ have no interaction whatsoever with Georgetown or Alexandria. However, when dread Justicars or Archons enter the city, it is here that they stay. It is well known and undisputed that a number of Ghouls maintain much of the global Masquerade from here and that they are to be left unmolested by other Kindred. Likely the scions of Haderstadt himself are perched within the alabaster government buildings. The locals are made very aware that they are never to darken the doorsteps of this zone.