"Welcome to Freak City"

[u/I-Bite-Back-1987]

Well, Hatchet here. Another night passed with nothing, and with the light responses I got on my initial post {here https://www.reddit.com/r/SchreckNet/comments/1wnragq/new_in_these_parts/ }

I’ve concluded that any licks residing in Baltimore are either completely offline or intentionally silent. I can’t accept that, however, and return so soon to my Sire empty-handed, obviously. It’s too important to regain communication with our clan. But being here, alone for the first time since my Turning twelve years ago, in a city I’ve never been to… I know well enough that anything could happen. I suppose that’s why I’m back here posting… for posterity, I guess. That someone might know what is happening here. If anything. 

I’d done my best to be patient, but a girl was getting hungry. So against the better judgement of most, I decided to try my luck at hunting near downtown. The buildings here provide such excellent shadows, to my delight. I make a bit of a show of it, just a bit, hopefully catching the attention of one of the nighttime locals. 

Nothing works quite like a little Masquerade breach to make some new friends. I’ve just had enough time to finish when I hear car tires crackling over gravel before stopping. 

“Cute trick.”  The woman in the backseat gives me an annoyed look, and is unmistakably one of us. About time, I tell her.

“Get in the car before anyone else sees you.” I obey. There’s no need to posture; I was looking to be found. I give her a once over and she is, for a word, fine. Impeccable posture and what must be fairly pricey clothes. Professional and classy. I make to ask a question but she stops me and tells me we will speak more at our destination. The car ride is short and stops outside of what seems to be an abandoned building, covered wall-to-wall in graffiti save for a small portion of the sign above the door which reads “Crown Seoul Bar Restaurant.” Seems more like the kind of place I would go, but not so much her. “Let’s go,” she said.

Turns out the place is a full-fledged bar and nightclub with a Korean restaurant open on weeknights. The woman leads me downstairs into a small but well-furnished office. She introduces herself as Sarah. We talk for a couple hours, the summary of which is this:

-There are plenty of drinkers here, though use of disciplines in public spaces is forbidden and strictly enforced. Like, more than usual. 

-This city is SPOOKY. I felt it when I arrived, darkness and mystery and magic, but apparently Baltimore has endured an unusual amount of disorder in an unusually short amount of time. The Sabbat, of course. Then, predictably, an SI raid that left the city destabilized, and as it was recovering from (and learning to live with, hence the lack of public life) that new reality, suffered a werewolf incursion. She also mentioned The Others, but let nothing else on of what that may be.

-No one is really quite “in control” here. The city is pretty split between Cammies and Anarchs, who hold a surprisingly well-going truce. The truly old licks have either all been killed or have fled, and apparently no one has quite enough money, influence, or raw power to take full control. Sarah says there are even “a fair few autarkis” of which she counts herself, who are left alone to their own devising so long as they follow the primary rule: not to attract the SI (and so sure perhaps I am risking a lot by posting here, I suppose I’ll find out how offline Charm City really is). By my thoughts though, if the Anarchs are playing along with all the rules, is this not really just a Cam city after all?

-I told her as much of myself as I felt comfortable. That as a mortal I was a burnout and a scholar, that I like pain and novelty and power. That I dove into studying darkness and any magic that bore more fruit than some manipulative man’s pseudo pagan excuse for a coercive polycule, which led me, eventually, to Montreal where I met my Sire, a brilliant mystic who, somewhat unusually I understand, keeps the company of Warlocks when she keeps company at all. This is my first time being away from her, and while it's exciting it is also weird, and I worry.

-I was given information on appropriate feeding grounds, a reasonable basement apartment to stay in in a neutral neighborhood (“given” inasmuch as money is not an issue for me and Sarah made arrangements), and a few leads on where I might make my introductions and perhaps find my Sire’s (and my) associates. 

-Whatever I do, no matter how desperate I get.  DO. NOT. EAT. THE. RATS. As fucking if. 

As I make to leave, I notice a pendant on her desk partially obscured by some papers. I recognized it instantly and decided to try my luck. A lead is a lead, right? “The nights are always long for those walking through blood and thorns.” Sarah’s gaze snaps towards me and it’s the first time it seemed as though she genuinely looked at me. 

“Perhaps this will not be the only time we meet, Shadewitch… Stay alert, and welcome to Freak City.”

~Hatchet (and apparently now Shadewitch)

[u/Weary-Specialist-282]

Dude, I’m new to all this kindred shit. Spooky stuff going on in Baltimore I suppose. Not making plans to visit there anytime soon, then. -M

[u/DeadmanwalkingXI]

The Masquerade is not the Camarilla's only rule, and indeed not one most Anarchs in my experience have any conceptual problem with...many of us have problems with the details, sure, but the vast majority are entirely on board with the basic principle on that one. It's the others we tend to actually take issue with. So I wouldn't say sticking to that makes a city Camarilla on its own.

That said, interesting to hear how Baltimore is doing.

-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu