Vampire: the Masquerade - solo RP - Brujah Primogen schools Neonate on the meaning of knowing a city

In this episode we're donning the mask of Johanna, an up-and-coming Neonate who viciously and loudly voices her opinions in Elysium, for all the Elders to hear, regarding their practice of ghouling, which she believes is pure evil, and by extension, the elders who engage in this practice are also evil. Her Primogen invites her for a short drive down a memory lane that has been constructed from centuries of experiences, victories, losses, trauma and wisdom, asking Johanna a few "simple" questions. Johanna comes to understand her perspective on history, culture, morality, law, and especially the beliefs of this particular Elder Primogen is severely limited and nuanceless, though her intensions and ideas are obviously good and humane. The drive ends with a little Christmas gift Johanna receives from her Primogen.
Sooo, what do you think? Is the Elder being genuine? Or is this just a means of manipulating the Neonate rising star of his Clan?
Finally, how well do you know your hometown?
Happy Winter Holidays to all my dear roleplaying people! 🥰

[@joncooke158]

"This could've been an email" -Last words of a Brujah neonate.

[@theoldcountry]

🤣 Excellent!

[@Kanuui-]

What a beautiful solo roleplay video. I love these the most on this channel I think. It was very soothing and enlightening I would say. Hearing an Elder speak is always a delight. I would love to hear more of these. A Merry Christmas to you.

[@theoldcountry]

I'm glad you enjoyed it and that you found my elder's perspectives and knowledge interesting. I did quite a bit of research for this (monologue?) conversation between what are, otherwise, fictional characters😋 Indeed, the only thing I'm not very certain about is the Dracula house - that one is shrouded in urban legend and hearsay, so I added my own spin on it, how this Brujah elder knows exactly where it was. But everything else, from gates and streets to the witch trials and natural disasters is documented fact. I keep staring at my map of 17th century Brasov and I try to fight off the urge to play Vampire: the Masquerade - Redemption for the hundredth time 🤣 Well, I guess I'll make more in-character episodes, then 😉 Merry Christmas and a happy, happy New Year! 🥰

[@Starborne398]

...and a Merry Christmas to you too! Our beloved benefactor 🙇‍♂️

[@Starborne398]

Oh...the flavour ❤️ Thanks again, I love those fluff pieces and you are so good at donning the mask of an interesting, nuanced character.

[@theoldcountry]

Glad you enjoyed! 😁A pitty my voice acting skills really aren't what they used to be, and in recent years I haven't done too distinct voices and accents for my characters at all 😮‍💨 But, when performing the character isn't too great, I can still enjoy the research, the writing, and portrayal of a character 🥰

[@Starborne398]

What are you talking about, you did absolutely great! ❤️ Maybe sometime, the Tzimisce elder or the Malkavian elder could have a comeback...😏😊

[@DominusDiabolik]

I very much enjoyed this. Even as I find myself agreeing with the elder, all my mind can say is "That's a manipulative undead monster that is definitely gaslighting you for political gain". I wonder if you ever have any intentions to make direct connections between the RPs in the future. I can see the utility in them being isolated stories to allow more versatility, as well as the potential for more complex tales. Thanks for all your hard work! 🦇🦇🦇

[@theoldcountry]

I'm glad you enjoyed, and that is a wonderful idea 😈

[@hasturdrone]

he might be gaslighting a bit but hes so interesting i can forgive it

[@chm877]

I went through all of these solo RPs, they're amazing, massively helpful for understanding the archetypes of the World of Darkness. Would love to see more!

[@theoldcountry]

I'm super happy to hear you enjoyed them! Mwhahahaha. I WILL be making more 😈

[@Kholan95]

By the end, I could feel the elder's words bringing a tear to my eye. Very well portrayed and performed. I liked the occasional siren in the background, and I feel like a lot of time was spent writing and researching. 🖤

[@theoldcountry]

🥲Thank you kindly! As much as I'd wish I could say "oh yeah, I knew all of that, it's off the top of my head", the truth is I researched my butt off, looking at old maps and documents, checking out timelines and historical sources on the internet, asking my parents 😜It's funny because I could remember the stores but I couldn't remember exactly what was there. And to my surprise, they knew! They remembered the places from their childhood so well, because, at least from my father's side, they lived right smack downtown, in the old center/ historical part. Well, I'm really happy you enjoyed! 🥰

[@Kholan95]

@@theoldcountry that's so cool. I think it honestly makes it all the more meaningful. I figured that you were using real history as well, and having family history tie to it makes it all the better. WoD has honestly impacted my life, providing me another lens in which I have been able to listen to the histories that family and friends have shared with me. It hits different, when I can connect it to notions of "play." And each game line is able to incorporate history in different ways, from the wacky to the somber. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@cantoraman]

Again, amazing content that reflects the essence of WoD and VTM

[@theoldcountry]

Heeey! Good to hear from you and I'm glad you enjoyed! 🥰

[@nefarioussagittarius8906]

My Toreador Neonate would have listened to this with rapt attention even if the Brujah Elder had decided to outright throw shade and not even cared due to her love of hearing stories.

[@theoldcountry]

Huh, almost missed your comment. Donno why I didn't get notified 🤔 Yeeees, those Elder have a lot of tales to tell. A pity so few of them actually share... 😮‍💨

[@M-CH_]

He seems to have spent too many lifetimes among the Ventrue.

[@theoldcountry]

It's fascinating that you picked up on that 🤯 You know, I was pondering making the character Ventrue, initially, and then I thought, neah, he's just this really old school, laid back, wise-beyond-years Brujah philosopher/historian, who took the mantle of Primogen because he can quite easily manipulate the younger Ventrue Prince of the city (younger by almost 400 years) to treat the Brujah well here, despite some strong competition from the others on the Council (some even older than he is). As expected, this Primogen doesn't want the Neonates of his clan straying too much, politically, because if they can be "taught" the wisdom of the Camarilla and seduced into joining his side through gifts of information and resources, they become valuable pieces under his control. Humane? Yes. Manipulative and sneaky? Absolutely 😈

[@M-CH_]

@@theoldcountry In my headcanon it were the Bruja with whom the dynasty responsible for the unification of Polish lands (where I'm from) threw their lots, in opposition to the Ventrue influence from the Holy Roman Empire, as well as both local and Czech Tzimisce, who had ruled over divided tribes of the land. This goes well with the unruly and anarchic nature of later Polish nobility and with the development of "noble democracy" in which the Parlament dominated over the king.

[@theoldcountry]

@@M-CH_ Sounds awesome and makes sense 😁It fits very well with the canon information as well, since the Tzimisce Voivodates as a whole were home to (and were influenced by) the other Clans from the neighboring regions, from the German/Hungarian Ventrue, to Gangrel nomads from the East (the elusive Anda Gangrel, maybe, who tried taking the lands by force?), Ravnos (also nomadic, arrived from multiple places), the Tremere (with their High Chantry in Vienna), the Greek Brujah in the South and so on. And history shows these clans were very much able to take the reigns of at least a few cities, if not an entire region/land (a few non-Tzimisce Princes come to mind) What you mentioned about Poland is very interesting since, in Wallachia and Moldova, during the Middle Ages, the throne was hereditary, but also elective. This meant the local boyars had the power to choose which legitimate (and sometimes illegitimate) heir to place on the throne, regardless of the heir's age 😁The backstabbing and power-grabs were ridiculously frequent, and this meant the council of boyars frequently removed and reinstated voivodes like someone changes their socks 😆They had considerably more power than the actual, supposed ruler, which is why Vlad the Impaler, having seen what a bunch of bastards they were, was so pissed he decided to, ahm... stake them 😆 Camarilla influence? Turbulent Brujah politics? Or just the Tzimisce Revenant families taking each other for every bit of power and privilege they can squeeze? All versions can make sense 🥰

[@eccoeco3454]

Excellent as always

[@theoldcountry]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, my friend ☺

[@rudolphantler6309]

Todays' "thin bloods" are gonna be mad about this! XD (I know I'm months late.) You must be a really ancient Brujah to be so eloquent, wise, and refined. Those of today cannot hold a candle to Christof Romuald, Ecatherina the Wise, and the mighty Cosmas!!!

[@theoldcountry]

@@rudolphantler6309 Characters like these, worthy of being nicknamed "The Learned Clan" or "Philosophers", beautifully contrast the nicknames "Punks" or "Rabble" which seem to refer predominantly to the newer generations. I so love to play with these 2 aspects of the Brujah 🥰

[@rudolphantler6309]

@@theoldcountry Me personally I do honestly love the old ones very much but the new ones I literally hate outside of being a physical offensive obstacle rabble. Hits too close to home I guess. When the Assamite Abdul Al-Hazim chose his Brujah disguise and mannerisms, he was sadly spot on.

[@HoriaMarchean]

Wouldn't be a complete discussion of the city without mentioning prostitution, would it?

[@theoldcountry]

🤣 You know it

[@palomaf8755]

We get it. You're old. Slavery's still bad tho, old man. I feel gaslit. Like, does he buy into his own B.S or is he aware of it? I mean, it's easier to recruit if you see potential. And if the youngling are listening, well things are about to get dicy for the elders, right?

[@theoldcountry]

"Does he buy into his own b.s. or is he aware of it?" - Exactly! Good question! Is ghouling a form of slavery? Is it always that, or is there an instance in which it's fine? Does it become less wrong if every elder in this community engages in such practices, making it an acceptable convention that is not against the Traditions or other forms of Kindred law? Is it less harmful and dehumanizing for the ghoul if they receive something in return for their... ahm, "service"? Or because for Kindred it's necessary for survival and safety - it's the only safe way to control assets while respecting the Masquerade? "I feel gaslit" - yup, that's how the wise elders work, and they're bloody good at it, since they've been doing it for centuries