(( OOC Note: This is the thread for characters to play/post visiting the museum. Since there may be changes to the exhibit, please refer to the exhibit thread for updates/additional information since this exhibit is supposed to have some of the displays rotate out every week. Thank you!))
The museum's opening night had come. There were strings of red lights along the front of the museum and wrapped around the sign, some flashing so that they drew in a bit more attention.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr28/CorrenLaine/exhibitpromo.jpg
On the porch of the museum was A folding table with a black cloth and disposable wine glasses. There was a complimentary selection of wine. One was a red wine called "Drunk Mermaid", the white was a fae blend called "A taste of Beltane" while he had also acquired what was rumored to be a tasty bloodwyne titled "Damien's Bloodwyne." Between he and Delphine, there was always a someone there to pour a glass for guests, though Delphine was often elbowing him to go mingle with the others.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr28/CorrenLaine/ExhibitDrinks.jpg
Robert was fairly easy to spot. He had the uneasy manner of a scholar about him coupled in a clean, black suit. He normally wore clothes that looked more "worn in" and not so crisp. His wiry hair was combed into submission and away from his face and, of course, there was no smoking in the museum, not even the porch. Usually he didn't wear glasses, but there had been so much to read and as he guided people along tours of the exhibit, he would take them from the breast pocket of his suit to squint to make sure of some of the information before he spoke it aloud. Delphine had gotten festive with the vampire 'theme' of opening night and wore a long gown that had the look of a countess and was color coordinated in reds and blacks.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr28/CorrenLaine/Robertexhibit.jpg
(Image above: Hugh Dancy)
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr28/CorrenLaine/delphine.jpg
Delphine's polyvore image
The Vampire Exhibit was on the first floor of the museum, with the second floor being roped off and unused for the exhibit so that guests would not be going up and down the stairs with glasses of wine. The "permanent collection" in the small room on the first floor featured items which had been donated and largely had to do with the history of Rhy'Din and how it came to be such a cultural and racial mixing pot and how the Otherworld Museum strove to highlight the variety and beauty of the city's inhabitants and where they came from.
THE EXHIBIT
(( player contributions posted separately below this post))
In the small exhibit room was a collection of coffins, some of which looked old or poorly constructed. There were brief explanations about how some vampires, not all, were so sensitive to light that they required almost complete darkness to properly sleep. While some vampires might at most be cranky, others could have severe reactions to the sun, including, but not limited to, death. One was a donation to the museum, likely to be included in some of its more permanent exhibits.
Upon stepping into the large exhibit room downstairs, there was a divide in the room since it required that the wall not be entirely removed for structural support. This meant a half-wall was present, which was useful in increasing wallspace for some exhibits. On the back wall of the left hand part of the exhibit was a sign that read "Vampire Bloodlines and Clans." For opening night, there were images of known vampires adhering to the "Vampire The Masquerade" Clans. They 'masqueraded" or hid their existence from humans in oppressive areas. Underneath the images of their crests, families, or pictures taken from gatherings were explanations of them in greater detail.
There was also the note that "Different Vampire Clans and Bloodlines of other areas will rotate out every Week"
Each Clan and Bloodline has a unique set of powers called Disciplines, and their own set of weaknesses, also unique to that particular branch of vampire.
Assamite: A cult of undead assassins based in the middle east. They kill for hire, and are paid in Vitae for use in special rituals that bring the clan's members closer to Caine. They possess a specialized Discipline called Quietus, which aids in stealth and killing. In the ancient past, the Tremere placed a curse on the entire clan in order to curb their rampant Diablerie. As a result, the clan could not consume Vitae without suffering terrible wounds and is unable to benefit from Diablerie. (This curse was broken in the game's third edition, and the "Antitribu" faction in the Sabbat was never affected by it; un-cursed Assamites are instead highly susceptible to "blood addiction", and may be driven to compulsively attack other vampires for their Vitae). Assamites are largely independent of sects.
Brujah: In ancient times, the Brujah were a clan of noble philosophers and warriors-poets. Since the loss of their city of Carthage, which was their crowning achievement, they have become a clan of malcontents, rebels, rogues, and anti-authoritarians. Brujah possess great passion, but this same passion makes it harder for them to resist the Beast. Brujah are one of the seven founding clans of the Camarilla.
Followers of Set: A clan of cultists who worship their Antediluvian progenitor, the Egyptian snake god Set. They are masters of secret and forbidden lore and foster corruption and desperation in the world as part of their worship of their god. Their signature Discipline is Serpentis which allows them to take on aspects of snakes. Setites are especially sensitive to light and take twice as much damage from sunlight as other Kindred. Followers of Set independent of the sects considering themselves a sect unto themselves.
Gangrel: A clan of animalistic shape-shifters who shun the cities for the wilderness beyond. Independent and more interested in their own survival the Gangrel prefer to run with wild animals rather than play politics with others of their kind. Gangrel are masters of the Discipline Protean which allows them to change their bodies into bestial shapes. When Gangrel frenzy they begin to resemble the Beast taking on animal features and disfigurements. Gangrel are one of the seven founding clans of the Camarilla, although they broke from it close to the end of the game line.
Giovanni: The Giovanni originate from a wealthy Venetian merchant family of necromancers whose patriarch, Augustus Giovanni, was embraced into clan Cappodocian. Giovanni exterminated the parent clan, Diablerized its founder, and founded a new clan but in doing so gained the enmity of the larger Kindred community. Branded "Devil Kindred" the Giovanni were able to make peace with the rest of the clan by swearing to remain neutral in the Jyhad. The Giovanni are tight-knit, highly organized, and embrace only within certain mortal families. The Giovanni appear to be only interested in wealth and necromancy but these are simply a means to an end. The clan's founder wishes to remove the barrier between the living world and the dead in order to reign supreme. The clan's weakness is that their bite (which in other vampires is normally pleasurable to the victim) causes excruciating pain. The Giovanni are independent.
Lasombra: Darkly aristocratic vampires who see power over others and self-mastery as their noblesse oblige. As one of the two founding clans of the Sabbat they gained notoriety for allegedly destroying their Antediluvian founder. The Lasombra practice a Discipline known as Obtenebration that allows them to manipulate shadows and darkness. Perhaps as a result of their signature Discipline they do not appear in mirrors or on film.:20, 58-59
Malkavian: A clan of lunatics whose madness grants them strange insight. Their Discipline of Dementation allows them to spread their insanity like a plague (prior to the third edition, knowledge of this Discipline was suppressed within the Camarilla). All members of this clan are insane in one manner or another. They are one of the seven founding clans of the Camarilla.
Nosferatu: Clan Nosferatu are doomed to wear their bestial nature on the outside. The Embrace turns its victims into hideous and deformed monsters who are marginalized by their appearance and forced to dwell in the shadows of the sewers. Their lives on the fringes and their stealthy abilities allow them to learn secrets others would rather keep hidden; and as a result, they often traffic in information. All Nosferatu are hideously ugly and obviously monsters to the point that appearing openly would break the Masquerade. They are one of the founding members of the Camarilla.
Ravnos: Clan Ravnos have reputations as outcasts and troublesome thieves and charlatans. While some among them follow Indian spiritual beliefs of cycles of incarnation others are simple opportunists taking advantage of whatever chaos can be had. Ravnos rarely embrace those not of Eastern European Romani backgrounds. They practice a special Discipline known as Chimestry which allows them to create illusions. All Ravnos indulge in a particular vice as their clan weakness. The Ravnos are independent.
Toreador: A clan of sensitive, artistic, and sometimes debauched hedonists fascinated by the mortal world and its artistic creations. The Toreador are enthralled by the ever changing mortal world and are one of the few clans, as a whole, to seek to keep up with it. Toreador often Embrace for beauty or to preserve some artistic talent. Beauty can utterly captivate them causing them to become immobilized and unable to act for a period of time. They are one of the founding seven clans of the Camarilla.
Tremere: A clan of blood sorcerers and mages originally belonging to the Order of Hermes. The Tremere gained their immortal status by experimenting with Tzimisce Vitae. Their ambitious founder Diablerized the Antediluvian of the former clan Salubri, solidifying the Tremere's status as a clan. Their Discipline of Thaumaturgy allow them to use the power of their blood to cast spells but their dependency on Vitae makes them more easily susceptible to Blood Bonds. The clan is highly organized and its members are all partially Blood Bound to the ruling seven Elders of the clan. They are one of the founding seven clans of the Camarilla.
Tzimisce: Otherworldly and scholarly, the Tzimisce ruled over their lands in Eastern Europe for centuries. Like the Lasombra, the Tzimisce also claim to have destroyed their founder and are pillars of the Sabbat. Alien but mystical, the Tzimisce use their unique flesh and bone shaping Discipline of Vicissitude to transform themselves into superior beings. The Tzimisce are deeply tied to the lands where they were Embraced. If they do not rest within proximity of at least two handfuls of the land where they were born or Embraced they become increasingly debilitated.
Ventrue: The Ventrue are the aristocrats and kings of vampires having historically played a leadership role among the clans. Clan Ventrue seek power and wealth to support their legacy of rulership over Kindred and Kine. Ventrue, as a clan, may only feed from a specific kind of vessel (e.g. virgins, blondes, youngest siblings) which the player selects at character creation.
(Information on VTM taken from wikipedia, various sources cited, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire:_The_Masquerade)
On the small divider wall of the left hand side of the room were plastic tags with strings and numbers. They looked to be similar to the fobs of hotel room keys except that there was no key attached. There were also framed receipts. On a small platform was an explanation that was printed.
"Where I came from there was none of the vampire-nonvampire tension. Blood was merchandise, plan and simple. People could keep making it and we would keep on drinking it. There were bars at my planet where people would sit on one side and vampires on the other. If a vampire liked what he saw he'd order the number, get the tag and enjoy his evening. The vampire had a meal and the human got a paycheck. No one got hurt and it was just never as big of a deal there as it was here."
-- Quote and items donated by Thomas Cross.
At the right hand portion of the large exhibit room downstairs were more items. Against the divider wall was a finaly carved wooden table with a series of bloodwine/bloodwynes featured and a cork screw for added decoration. A folded card read: Quote and Bottles Donated by Bloodlust Brewery and Wine
The quote was mounted on the wall over the decorative display of bottles:
"Bloodwine, or Bloodwyne, has an unclear history dating back about a hundred years on Earth and even further back for other planets and cities. Many vampires can find their urges sated by the wine, though it is no guarantee. For the non-vampires, you will he happy to know that bloodwine is safe to drink (if not an acquired taste to do so!). We recommend nonvampires try a brand that has a higher alcohol content since that usually indicates that there is more wine than blood in the mixture. For wine, we will ferment a red or white as we would with any of our other brands, adding the blood afterwards. Our economically priced bottles get their blood from slaughterhouses while our more expensive brands come from selectively screened donors who are compensated for their gift and time.
Always remember to drink responsibly! Bloodwyne/Bloodwine contains anticoagulants to prevent it from clotting in the bottle. Some vampires report having trouble with scratches and wounds healing more slowly and bleeding more profusely after heavy consumption of wine.
Along the outside wall of the right hand section, opposite the doors were other items that fell unto the category of "Vampires in Pop Culture."
It was there that original images of Bela Lugosi were mounted in a case. Underneath it read "Donated by a Friend of the Exhibit" ((Roach / LostSoulsInc)). They were, in fact, more than a donation to the museum but a gift from her to him that was available for him to display.
Beyond Bela Lugosi was a copy of the book Dracula, along with an explanation about how it represented more than just vampires, but a fear of immigration.
Several DVD cases were there as well, showing images of Vampire Dairies, True Blood, Dark Shadows Remake, Interview with the Vampire. It went on an on, showing the complexity of interpretation and feeling on vampires from different areas. The quote at the bottom of the case read:
"Depending on the time period and location, vampires have ranged as a species from being seen as akin to monsters and also as sex icons. This is, in part, due to the many different "races" and "cultures" of vampires that exist."
((Other areas, the lefthand wall of the lefthand section of the room, and the right hand wall of the righthand section of the room, will feature player donations, etc. If you are interested in your char/you donating, please PM me with the image/information prior to posting. Thank you!))
The museum's opening night had come. There were strings of red lights along the front of the museum and wrapped around the sign, some flashing so that they drew in a bit more attention.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr28/CorrenLaine/exhibitpromo.jpg
On the porch of the museum was A folding table with a black cloth and disposable wine glasses. There was a complimentary selection of wine. One was a red wine called "Drunk Mermaid", the white was a fae blend called "A taste of Beltane" while he had also acquired what was rumored to be a tasty bloodwyne titled "Damien's Bloodwyne." Between he and Delphine, there was always a someone there to pour a glass for guests, though Delphine was often elbowing him to go mingle with the others.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr28/CorrenLaine/ExhibitDrinks.jpg
Robert was fairly easy to spot. He had the uneasy manner of a scholar about him coupled in a clean, black suit. He normally wore clothes that looked more "worn in" and not so crisp. His wiry hair was combed into submission and away from his face and, of course, there was no smoking in the museum, not even the porch. Usually he didn't wear glasses, but there had been so much to read and as he guided people along tours of the exhibit, he would take them from the breast pocket of his suit to squint to make sure of some of the information before he spoke it aloud. Delphine had gotten festive with the vampire 'theme' of opening night and wore a long gown that had the look of a countess and was color coordinated in reds and blacks.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr28/CorrenLaine/Robertexhibit.jpg
(Image above: Hugh Dancy)
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr28/CorrenLaine/delphine.jpg
Delphine's polyvore image
The Vampire Exhibit was on the first floor of the museum, with the second floor being roped off and unused for the exhibit so that guests would not be going up and down the stairs with glasses of wine. The "permanent collection" in the small room on the first floor featured items which had been donated and largely had to do with the history of Rhy'Din and how it came to be such a cultural and racial mixing pot and how the Otherworld Museum strove to highlight the variety and beauty of the city's inhabitants and where they came from.
THE EXHIBIT
(( player contributions posted separately below this post))
In the small exhibit room was a collection of coffins, some of which looked old or poorly constructed. There were brief explanations about how some vampires, not all, were so sensitive to light that they required almost complete darkness to properly sleep. While some vampires might at most be cranky, others could have severe reactions to the sun, including, but not limited to, death. One was a donation to the museum, likely to be included in some of its more permanent exhibits.
Upon stepping into the large exhibit room downstairs, there was a divide in the room since it required that the wall not be entirely removed for structural support. This meant a half-wall was present, which was useful in increasing wallspace for some exhibits. On the back wall of the left hand part of the exhibit was a sign that read "Vampire Bloodlines and Clans." For opening night, there were images of known vampires adhering to the "Vampire The Masquerade" Clans. They 'masqueraded" or hid their existence from humans in oppressive areas. Underneath the images of their crests, families, or pictures taken from gatherings were explanations of them in greater detail.
There was also the note that "Different Vampire Clans and Bloodlines of other areas will rotate out every Week"
Each Clan and Bloodline has a unique set of powers called Disciplines, and their own set of weaknesses, also unique to that particular branch of vampire.
Assamite: A cult of undead assassins based in the middle east. They kill for hire, and are paid in Vitae for use in special rituals that bring the clan's members closer to Caine. They possess a specialized Discipline called Quietus, which aids in stealth and killing. In the ancient past, the Tremere placed a curse on the entire clan in order to curb their rampant Diablerie. As a result, the clan could not consume Vitae without suffering terrible wounds and is unable to benefit from Diablerie. (This curse was broken in the game's third edition, and the "Antitribu" faction in the Sabbat was never affected by it; un-cursed Assamites are instead highly susceptible to "blood addiction", and may be driven to compulsively attack other vampires for their Vitae). Assamites are largely independent of sects.
Brujah: In ancient times, the Brujah were a clan of noble philosophers and warriors-poets. Since the loss of their city of Carthage, which was their crowning achievement, they have become a clan of malcontents, rebels, rogues, and anti-authoritarians. Brujah possess great passion, but this same passion makes it harder for them to resist the Beast. Brujah are one of the seven founding clans of the Camarilla.
Followers of Set: A clan of cultists who worship their Antediluvian progenitor, the Egyptian snake god Set. They are masters of secret and forbidden lore and foster corruption and desperation in the world as part of their worship of their god. Their signature Discipline is Serpentis which allows them to take on aspects of snakes. Setites are especially sensitive to light and take twice as much damage from sunlight as other Kindred. Followers of Set independent of the sects considering themselves a sect unto themselves.
Gangrel: A clan of animalistic shape-shifters who shun the cities for the wilderness beyond. Independent and more interested in their own survival the Gangrel prefer to run with wild animals rather than play politics with others of their kind. Gangrel are masters of the Discipline Protean which allows them to change their bodies into bestial shapes. When Gangrel frenzy they begin to resemble the Beast taking on animal features and disfigurements. Gangrel are one of the seven founding clans of the Camarilla, although they broke from it close to the end of the game line.
Giovanni: The Giovanni originate from a wealthy Venetian merchant family of necromancers whose patriarch, Augustus Giovanni, was embraced into clan Cappodocian. Giovanni exterminated the parent clan, Diablerized its founder, and founded a new clan but in doing so gained the enmity of the larger Kindred community. Branded "Devil Kindred" the Giovanni were able to make peace with the rest of the clan by swearing to remain neutral in the Jyhad. The Giovanni are tight-knit, highly organized, and embrace only within certain mortal families. The Giovanni appear to be only interested in wealth and necromancy but these are simply a means to an end. The clan's founder wishes to remove the barrier between the living world and the dead in order to reign supreme. The clan's weakness is that their bite (which in other vampires is normally pleasurable to the victim) causes excruciating pain. The Giovanni are independent.
Lasombra: Darkly aristocratic vampires who see power over others and self-mastery as their noblesse oblige. As one of the two founding clans of the Sabbat they gained notoriety for allegedly destroying their Antediluvian founder. The Lasombra practice a Discipline known as Obtenebration that allows them to manipulate shadows and darkness. Perhaps as a result of their signature Discipline they do not appear in mirrors or on film.:20, 58-59
Malkavian: A clan of lunatics whose madness grants them strange insight. Their Discipline of Dementation allows them to spread their insanity like a plague (prior to the third edition, knowledge of this Discipline was suppressed within the Camarilla). All members of this clan are insane in one manner or another. They are one of the seven founding clans of the Camarilla.
Nosferatu: Clan Nosferatu are doomed to wear their bestial nature on the outside. The Embrace turns its victims into hideous and deformed monsters who are marginalized by their appearance and forced to dwell in the shadows of the sewers. Their lives on the fringes and their stealthy abilities allow them to learn secrets others would rather keep hidden; and as a result, they often traffic in information. All Nosferatu are hideously ugly and obviously monsters to the point that appearing openly would break the Masquerade. They are one of the founding members of the Camarilla.
Ravnos: Clan Ravnos have reputations as outcasts and troublesome thieves and charlatans. While some among them follow Indian spiritual beliefs of cycles of incarnation others are simple opportunists taking advantage of whatever chaos can be had. Ravnos rarely embrace those not of Eastern European Romani backgrounds. They practice a special Discipline known as Chimestry which allows them to create illusions. All Ravnos indulge in a particular vice as their clan weakness. The Ravnos are independent.
Toreador: A clan of sensitive, artistic, and sometimes debauched hedonists fascinated by the mortal world and its artistic creations. The Toreador are enthralled by the ever changing mortal world and are one of the few clans, as a whole, to seek to keep up with it. Toreador often Embrace for beauty or to preserve some artistic talent. Beauty can utterly captivate them causing them to become immobilized and unable to act for a period of time. They are one of the founding seven clans of the Camarilla.
Tremere: A clan of blood sorcerers and mages originally belonging to the Order of Hermes. The Tremere gained their immortal status by experimenting with Tzimisce Vitae. Their ambitious founder Diablerized the Antediluvian of the former clan Salubri, solidifying the Tremere's status as a clan. Their Discipline of Thaumaturgy allow them to use the power of their blood to cast spells but their dependency on Vitae makes them more easily susceptible to Blood Bonds. The clan is highly organized and its members are all partially Blood Bound to the ruling seven Elders of the clan. They are one of the founding seven clans of the Camarilla.
Tzimisce: Otherworldly and scholarly, the Tzimisce ruled over their lands in Eastern Europe for centuries. Like the Lasombra, the Tzimisce also claim to have destroyed their founder and are pillars of the Sabbat. Alien but mystical, the Tzimisce use their unique flesh and bone shaping Discipline of Vicissitude to transform themselves into superior beings. The Tzimisce are deeply tied to the lands where they were Embraced. If they do not rest within proximity of at least two handfuls of the land where they were born or Embraced they become increasingly debilitated.
Ventrue: The Ventrue are the aristocrats and kings of vampires having historically played a leadership role among the clans. Clan Ventrue seek power and wealth to support their legacy of rulership over Kindred and Kine. Ventrue, as a clan, may only feed from a specific kind of vessel (e.g. virgins, blondes, youngest siblings) which the player selects at character creation.
(Information on VTM taken from wikipedia, various sources cited, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire:_The_Masquerade)
On the small divider wall of the left hand side of the room were plastic tags with strings and numbers. They looked to be similar to the fobs of hotel room keys except that there was no key attached. There were also framed receipts. On a small platform was an explanation that was printed.
"Where I came from there was none of the vampire-nonvampire tension. Blood was merchandise, plan and simple. People could keep making it and we would keep on drinking it. There were bars at my planet where people would sit on one side and vampires on the other. If a vampire liked what he saw he'd order the number, get the tag and enjoy his evening. The vampire had a meal and the human got a paycheck. No one got hurt and it was just never as big of a deal there as it was here."
-- Quote and items donated by Thomas Cross.
At the right hand portion of the large exhibit room downstairs were more items. Against the divider wall was a finaly carved wooden table with a series of bloodwine/bloodwynes featured and a cork screw for added decoration. A folded card read: Quote and Bottles Donated by Bloodlust Brewery and Wine
The quote was mounted on the wall over the decorative display of bottles:
"Bloodwine, or Bloodwyne, has an unclear history dating back about a hundred years on Earth and even further back for other planets and cities. Many vampires can find their urges sated by the wine, though it is no guarantee. For the non-vampires, you will he happy to know that bloodwine is safe to drink (if not an acquired taste to do so!). We recommend nonvampires try a brand that has a higher alcohol content since that usually indicates that there is more wine than blood in the mixture. For wine, we will ferment a red or white as we would with any of our other brands, adding the blood afterwards. Our economically priced bottles get their blood from slaughterhouses while our more expensive brands come from selectively screened donors who are compensated for their gift and time.
Always remember to drink responsibly! Bloodwyne/Bloodwine contains anticoagulants to prevent it from clotting in the bottle. Some vampires report having trouble with scratches and wounds healing more slowly and bleeding more profusely after heavy consumption of wine.
Along the outside wall of the right hand section, opposite the doors were other items that fell unto the category of "Vampires in Pop Culture."
It was there that original images of Bela Lugosi were mounted in a case. Underneath it read "Donated by a Friend of the Exhibit" ((Roach / LostSoulsInc)). They were, in fact, more than a donation to the museum but a gift from her to him that was available for him to display.
Beyond Bela Lugosi was a copy of the book Dracula, along with an explanation about how it represented more than just vampires, but a fear of immigration.
Several DVD cases were there as well, showing images of Vampire Dairies, True Blood, Dark Shadows Remake, Interview with the Vampire. It went on an on, showing the complexity of interpretation and feeling on vampires from different areas. The quote at the bottom of the case read:
"Depending on the time period and location, vampires have ranged as a species from being seen as akin to monsters and also as sex icons. This is, in part, due to the many different "races" and "cultures" of vampires that exist."
((Other areas, the lefthand wall of the lefthand section of the room, and the right hand wall of the righthand section of the room, will feature player donations, etc. If you are interested in your char/you donating, please PM me with the image/information prior to posting. Thank you!))