🧛Empire of Ashes (Elder) 🦇| V20

Creating your character

In Empire of Ashes, you will create an Elder vampire, one of the city’s power brokers who has shaped New York, or carried influence here from abroad, for centuries. Characters should be of 7th–9th generation, placing you well above neonates and ancillae but not so ancient as to overshadow the chronicle’s politics with Methuselah level power. Your Elder should be at least 200 years undead, giving you time to have built dynasties, forged bitter rivalries, and gathered webs of obligations that tie you to the city. The Camarilla clans are the most natural fit for this story, though characters from outside the Sect, Giovanni, Assamite Viziers, or even Lasombra defectors, may be considered if tied deeply into New York’s political and espionage landscape. When building your character, place emphasis on Backgrounds like Influence, Resources, Retainers, Herd, and Allies, as these represent the foundation of your power. Your Disciplines should reflect not just personal strength, but the subtle dominance Elders wield: Presence at court, Auspex in salons, Obfuscate in espionage, and Dominate in the boardroom. Each Elder will also begin the chronicle tied into the city’s web of obligations: you will have one major boon owed to you by another Kindred, and one major boon you owe to someone else. These debts are the lifeblood of Elder politics, ensuring every player begins enmeshed in the intrigue. Finally, think carefully about your legacy, what you have built, preserved, or sacrificed to stand where you are tonight. In this chronicle, you are not a survivor clawing for scraps. You are a monarch of the night, and the choices you make will reshape New York’s future.

Preparing for the session

To step into Empire of Ashes, come ready to think like an Elder, a figure of influence, wealth, and legacy rather than a soldier in the streets. Your tools are secrets, allies, and the power you’ve cultivated across centuries, so consider what empire your character has built and what ambitions drive them forward. On the practical side, you will need a Roll20 account for the virtual table and Discord for voice and coordination, along with a reliable microphone to ensure smooth communication. Before play, take some time to imagine the personal legacy your Elder carries into New York’s political arena: a dynasty, a cultural empire, a loyal bloodline, or something more esoteric. The more your character is anchored in history and purpose, the richer the intrigue becomes.

What Silas the Endless brings to the table

I will bring a fully realized vision of New York by Night, built as a living, breathing city of Kindred power. You’ll have access to detailed lore on the political landscape, maps of Elysia and domains, and a web of NPCs ranging from rival Elders to spies, allies, and pawns. I’ll provide faction dossiers that outline the city’s power struggles, portraits and write ups for major figures you’ll encounter, and influence maps showing how each borough fits into the larger struggle for control. Beyond the setting itself, I’ll maintain the shifting network of boons, debts, and reputations that forms the backbone of Elder politics, ensuring your choices ripple out and reshape the story. From intrigue at glittering salons to whispers in forgotten tunnels, I will equip you with the tools and details needed to immerse yourself in a chronicle where every move carries weight.

Homebrew rules

Custom Elder creation for the nature of this chronicle.

How Silas the Endless creates a safe table

Your safety and comfort are the foundation of this chronicle. Before play begins, we will hold a Session 0 to align expectations, discuss tone, and establish character connections, ensuring everyone enters the story on the same page. An Open Door policy will always be in place, meaning you can step away at any time, for any reason, without explanation or judgment. To support pacing and well-being, we will take breaks during each session so players can reset and return refreshed. Finally, we will use Lines and Veils to set clear boundaries around sensitive topics, with Lines representing subjects we will not include and Veils representing moments where we fade to black. These tools are here to make sure intrigue and betrayal stay thrilling within the story, while keeping every player safe and respected at the table.