Awakening Venue Style Sheet: CAiNE 2010
It is required that all members attending CAiNE 2010 and portraying their Awakening characters AT ANY TIME during the weekend read, understand, and comply with the guidelines detailed below. Attendance and portrayal at CAiNE 2009 Awakening constitutes understanding and acceptance of the guidelines.
Lead Storyteller: Stephen Near, CCFC ANST: Awakening
Contact: ccfc.anst.awakening@gmail.com
TITLE:
The Beginning and the End
THEME:
Facing new discoveries and confronting old ghosts offers a measure of hope
MOOD: THEME SONG(s)
Space – James
Black Milk – Massive Attack
Silence – Delerium (with Sarah Mclachlin)
PART 1: SETTING
- Local Setting
Trois-Rivières is a city of veiled mysteries surrounded by rumours of dark and sinister portents. According to recently unearthed histories, the city was once host to a strong consilium but no one has seen or heard from anyone here since Dominion's destruction over 40 years ago. Confirmed to have been one of the hardest hit cities by the Abyss, the city now remains locked in a shroud of secrecy and fear. But now Trois Rivieres finds itself at the centre of mystic scrutiny and the past is coming back to haunt the present. Stories of an ancient Silver Ladder Cryptopoly overseen by an elder lineage tied to the land, itself, are rumored to be known to Canada's Magisterium. Does this mean that Trois-Rivières is one of the legendary "Consilii Primus" lost after the Fall? Or might it be a one of the first gathering places of the Free Council's historic Great Refusal? As well, stories persist of a powerful artifact and a terrifying, Awakened adversary who seeks it's power for a terrible plan. But, most tantalizing of all, are the eerie prophecies of an alleged archmistress of terrible power worshipped by the Seers who has also sent ominous messages to those of the Pentacle. Many suspect that the secrets that have haunted Canada's Awakened past, and the unsettling lies that have thus far been unveiled, will come to a finale in this city on the banks of the St. Laurence.
- National Setting
Canada's Awakened communities exist now as separate city states where each Consilium make their own laws, sets their own charters as approved only by its members, and generally keep to themselves. Some Consilii enjoy a formalized alliance of sorts but most simply go about their business refusing to communicate with other Awakened outside their regional borders. But it was not always this way. Once there was a Dominion of Awakened that spanned the country linking disparate Consilii through an enigmatic network of ley lines. The Dominion was a governmental and occult framework for influencing the country from behind the scenes. Working for a common goal, the Pentacle established a shadow parliament of sorcerers that served the Lex Magica and shaped the destiny of the country. But Hubris inevitably lashed out and tore down the Dominion as it did ancient Atlantis. As an Abyssal storm swept across the country, countless Awakened died and many more secrets and artifacts were lost. With the truth of Dominion now revealed as a grand conspiracy by the Seers, and the mystic future of the country in the hands of a select few isolated sorcerers, this Awakened nation stands at a crossroads with only one choice ahead.
PART 2: PLAY STYLE
Action (Combat and challenges): 3
Character Development (Personal dilemmas and choices) 5
Darkness (PC death or corruption) 4
Drama (Ceremony and grand story) 4
Intrigue (Politics and negotiation) 3
Manners (Social etiquette and peer pressure) 4
Mystery (Enigmas and investigation) 4
Rating Description
1 - Never present
2 - Sometimes present
3 - Often present
4 - Usually present
5 - Always present
PART 3: RULES
CAiNE Awakening uses all White Wolf books and secondary resources described as sanctioned within both the most recent Canadian Camarilla Addendum and the Camarilla Global Addenda. Any alterations, additions, or removals from this addendum will be detailed below.
A) CHARACTER RECORDS
Players are required to bring two printed copies (neatly handwritten ink is acceptable, but pencil is not) of all Awakening character sheets with them. One of these will be given to the In Character Check-in Team and the other is for player use during the event. Character Sheets are required to have the following:
- Players name, Camarilla membership number, storyteller name, email address, and Camarilla membership number on the title section
- A complete Experience log that includes a creation log, Experience awards, and all required approval numbers required by your affiliate. Approvals must include any approval requirements as well as relevant comments by approving officers.
- Detailed listing of all mechanics applicable to their character from sources not found in the MET Mage: the Awakening (green) or World of Darkness (blue) books. If you do not have these mechanics on hand, they will not be accessible to your character. This includes all Rotes not found in the core Awakening MET book and all Legacy Attainments
- CAiNE Awakening Lead Approval numbers for:
- All custom items (items not found in a published White Wolf Awakening Source book)
- All items not native to the Awakening Genre.
- All Artifacts
- Level 5 or higher Imbued and/or Enhanced items
- All off site locations (including Chantries)
- Imperial effects and all Quintessence
Anything requiring an CAINE Awakening Lead Approval number that does not have one by March 4th, 2009 may be denied due to tardiness.
Approval Restrictions
- Non Player Characters (NPCs) on site must be approved with the Lead Storyteller (and must have an CAINE Awakening Lead approval number) in advance of the event. This includes having Retainers on site, Dominated "skin-suits", Tulpa, Homonculi and other merit-based NPC's. If these are not approved prior to the event, they will not be allowed. Exceptions will not be made to this rule.
- Storytellers may petition to incorporate their plotlines and/or NPCs into CAiNE Awakening by contacting the Canadian ANST: Awakening. If approval is not obtained, plot effects and items are considered out of play or "switched off" for the duration of CAINE Awakening.
B) OFF SITE LIMITATIONS
Players who are on the physical location of the game site yet "off-site" in terms of play represent a breakdown in the continuity of the game and will be limited as much as possible. Those events that have been designated as off-site will be clearly marked on the schedule or by storyteller announcement. In some cases participating in these events may limit your ability to participate in the regular venue. IC locations will be clearly marked on the entrance to each room.
'Daycare' style home defensive locations from which to Co-Locate, Possess, Project, or Manifold etc. are permitted as the sole exception to the off site limitation restrictions. All magical and mundane defenses for these locations must be represented by dots on the sheet of someone checked into CAiNE Awakening or drawn from pre-cast spells as defined in this VSS. All such registered locations fall under the CAINE VSS and CAINE Awakening Storyteller jurisdiction for the duration of CAINE and any follow up and related scenes.
C) PROXY RULES
Though proxy play is permitted by the Camarilla rules supplements, proxy characters are not allowed for CAINE ’09 Awakening
D) EXPERIENCE AWARDS
The standard experience award for CAiNE Awakening will be 4 Experience per full session played. Characters will be awarded 2 Experience potential over cap for each session.
E) STORYTELLER EMPOWERMENT
Combat and scenes with over six participants, because of their tendency to escalate quickly into time freezes that will tie up characters, will be carefully monitored. The Storyteller is empowered to determine when and how other characters are allowed to enter such scenes. If any players argue with any of the Storytellers, or otherwise disrupt the flow of the scene, that player can be asked by a Storyteller to hand their character sheet over to the them and leave the game, at which point the PC will be scripted out of game in a manner fully at the discretion of the Lead Storyteller. The Storyteller staff's main priority is to get through the entirety of the game with as little time consuming challenges as possible and there will be little tolerance for disruption of game flow. Any and all ST's or narrators have authority over how the game is run and on-site rules calls. Any arguing or disruption of game will not be tolerated.
F) VENUE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS
Actions, effects, and mass destruction effects have the potential to end the In-Character reason for the gathering prematurely. Any effect that could result in the mass exodus of characters from the area, or items that have the potential of doing so must be approved though the Venue Lead before they are taken.
G) CAINE AWAKENING ERRATA
CAINE Awakening makes use of all rules and errata found in both the most recent Canadian Camarilla Addendum and the Camarilla Global Addenda. The following are rules that will be in effect at CAINE Awakening that are not found in the Global Addenda:
- If a PC attempts to land a blow that will result in the death of another PC the target will be given an option to die or allow an ongoing plot effect to save them at a cost.
- Pre-cast spells will run as per Awakening MET in accordance with Spell Control with the following additional restrictions:
- No effects cast by characters not attending the event are permitted.
- Characters may not enter play with more spells affecting them than their Spell Tolerance, regardless of who cast them.
- Any Vulgar effects will be assumed to have enough Mana spent to reduce the paradox draw to a 2+ success.
- If you do not have enough Mana to cover the Mana cost of the spell (see Mana and Tass below) then you may not cast the effect as a pre-cast spell.
- Starting Mana for all characters is one half your Mana pool plus any Hallow merits plus the character’s Wisdom and minus Mana Leak any Mana used in the Pre-cast effects. Characters belonging to a Legacy may add an additional point of Mana per level of Attainment they have achieved.
- Characters may carry Tass with them, but Tass must be listed on the character sheet separately from the Mana pools and may not be used in the Pre-cast effects calculations. Characters are limited to no more than their Wisdom in available Tass at the start of game. Acquiring more Tass (through magic or otherwise) is possible during the convention, but must be supervised and approved by an approved Storyteller.
H) APPEALS
Appeals resulting from CAINE Awakening will be accepted via email up to 30 days after the last session of Awakening by emailing the Lead Venue Storyteller. If the ruling was made by the Lead Venue Storyteller, notification of an appeal will be made to the CAINE Lead and CAINE Lead Storyteller. The appeal, investigation, and resulting actions will also be handled by the CAINE Storytelling and Event Team.
I) PLAYER ADVISORY
The World of Darkness is not a happy place. From time to time, the Lead Storytellers in a venue may use adult themes, vivid descriptions, and contentious social issues to bring the World of Darkness to life. For those familiar with the White Wolf tabletop material, some plot elements or themes could be considered "Black Dog" material. Such themes and issues may include racism, sexism, bigotry, prejudice, sexual assault, and extreme violence. If, at any time, a player feels uncomfortable with a scene, the player should immediately inform the Storyteller running the scene. The Storyteller will either tone down scene so that the player is once again comfortable participating in it, or will excuse the player from the scene and hand the PC to a Narrator or other designated representative to finish out the scene without breaking continuity.

