Alternate New Orleans IV

Chapter Four: The Caitiff

          Susan (D)                    Dolores (12th)
              |                              |
Amanda (11th)---(Raymond) (11th)    Black Francis (13th)

There are not many Caitiff in the city any longer. All of those who remain are Anarchs. There were more Caitiff in New Orleans before the Anarch wars, but they were all killed or driven away by the Justicar Alexis.

Susan

Unknown to anyone, Susan was the progeny of the Brujah Pinch, but she escaped him in the chaos of her embrace. She made her way West, and found a home in the Anarch Free States. She was one of the first Anarchs to come to New Orleans in the late '50s, as a precursor to the Anarch wars. She survived the fighting, though many of her friends did not. After the war, she chose to stay in her native city, and formed a small gang called the Lost Angels. They are successful for a time, but Susan went too far when she helped Raymond, the murderer of the Ventrue clan head. She was killed shortly thereafter.

Age: Embraced 1942 by Pinch, arrived 1958, killed 1986 by Ventrue for Raymond

Amanda

Amanda was a street-hardened young woman embraced by the Anarchs during their fight against the Justicar Alexis. Her early years were filled with terror, fighting ancient Gangrel Archons of the Camarilla. After the Anarchs were beaten, her sire Susan chose to stay in Louisiana. Amanda doted on her strong and courageous sire, and would not think of leaving her. Before her embrace, she had been poor white city trash, but Susan gave her a reason to live. Together with other West Coast Anarchs who also chose to stay in New Orleans, they formed a small gang of "Lost Angels".

Shortly after the end of the war, the gang was approached by powerful Anarchs from the Free States and Europe, and asked to help run an Underground railroad, smuggling Anarchs into the U.S. from Europe, and from the East Coast to the West Coast. The "railroad" was to focus on ocean transport because the land journey through the Rocky Mountains was dangerous given the extreme hostility of the Camarilla princes in that area. Susan was hesitant, not being well suited to the careful manipulations needed to control such a network, but Amanda was enthusiastic. She convinced Susan that she could develop and maintain the necessary contacts in the shipping industry. With the help of Didi and the non-New Orleans Anarchs, Amanda got the railroad up and running.

Amanda and her sire had just begun to make a new place for themselves when Susan made a fatal mistake. Susan took in Raymond, the murderer of the Ventrue clan head, Francesca. She embraced him out of admiration for his deed, and helped him escape through the railroad. The Ventrue came down on the game hard and fast. Susan and the gangrel Angel Jack Skokie were both killed, and Amanda and Didi were forced into hiding.

Several West Coast friends came calling to help the Angels with the mess, but everyone looked to Amanda for leadership. Amanda was distraught over Susan's death, and ached for revenge. Unfortunately, she also had a responsibility to a greater cause, and could not 'abandon the railroad, or risk its discovery. Amanda made the heart-rending decision to dig in rather than fight, to make sure no one and nothing else would be lost.

At the time, the other Angels respected Amanda's decision, but years have passed and there has been little more in the way of Ventrue retaliation. If the truth be told, after the initial rush to catch Francesca's murderer, the Ventrue fell to internal squabbling, and forgot all about the Lost Angels. The ribbings from the KLF over the gang's timidity really grate, especially considering the tough attitude some of the other gang members. Amanda is beginning to question her decision herself. Was she being excessively paranoid? Should she have done more to avenge Susan? Was she just afraid of having more friends die? As Amanda's resolve falters, the other Angels whet their blades for revenge.

Age: "25", 11th Generation, born 1941, embraced 1965 by Susan

Image: Amanda dresses simply, in T-shirts and Jeans. She keeps her auburn hair cropped short. Amanda has a "worried" air about her, and is concerned for the safety of her Coterie-mates more than anything else. She prefers to err on the side of caution.

Influence: Amanda has a few contacts in the Anarchs out west, and her work on the railroad has earned her a lot of favors from other Anarchs around the world.

Secrets: C-

Habitat: In her years of hiding from the Ventrue, Amanda has established numerous hidey-holes for use. She shares them with other members of the Lost Angels, and sometimes other Anarchs in need. She has a circle of people she regularly feeds on, mostly while they are sleeping.

Goals: Amanda is not comfortable with being the leader of the Lost Angels, but is determined to do the best job she can. She wants the gang to survive and thrive. She tends to lean heavily on Dolores for support on leadership issues.

Dolores

Dolores was a free-riding Hell's Angel, with no cares other than her loyalty to the other bikers in her gang. One evening in a California truck stop, the bikers took on the wrong group of people. Most of them had the sense to run when their opponents sprouted fangs and claws, but Dolores didn't like running from a fight. The Anarchs she was fighting admired her tenacity, and decided to embrace her.

Dolores treated the Anarchs like her new gang, though she kept some quiet ties to the Hells Angels as well. In the '60s when there were Anarch uprisings all over the country, Dolores ended up in New Orleans. Though she liked to scrap, she didn't really have her heart in the cause. She couldn't care less of all the stuffy elders were alive or not, so long as they left her alone. She fell in with another Anarch named Susan who had more defined goals. Susan led the group, and Dolores taught them how to have fun.

After things went bad, Dolores decided to head back to the west coast. She tried to talk Susan into coming with her, but Susan was determined to stay in New Orleans. Dolores went back to the free states, but the in-fighting and posturing of the more powerful Anarchs was starting to get on her nerves. It was too much like the elders getting on her case. The rhetoric was a little to thick for Dolores's tastes. When she heard that Susan was in trouble, she winged back to New Orleans to help her friend.

She didn't get there in time to save Susan, but was ready to avenge her. Amanda talked her down though, revealing the existence of the railroad, and its importance. Dolores reluctantly agreed not to knock heads, and satisfied herself with trashing the occasional ghoul the Ventrue sent after them. She sees shades of Susan in Amanda, but Amanda has none of the passion of Susan. Still, Amanda is level-headed and motivated, things Dolores has always been weak on, so she supports Amanda's leadership.

Dolores fell in love with New Orleans. The elders here seem to busy with each other to mess with the little ones. It was even better than the Free States, with no Anarch higher-ups to pester her. Dolores settled in happily. After a while, though, the ribbing of the KLF about their running from the Ventrue began to hurt. Dolores has always prized her reputation as a fighter. She's going to have to do something, even if it means going against Amanda's careful plans.

Age: "20", 12th Generation, born 1933, embraced 1951 by Robin, arrived 1987

Image: Dolores is a hell-raising, beer-guzzling wench from hell who doesn't much care what other people think of her. Her medium length dark brown hair is not well kept. She has a propensity for wearing black leather. She is loud and opinionated, but will defer to Amanda, whom she secretly realizes has more sense. Dolores loves to fight, but isn't really a killer. Her reputation is important to her, though, and she hates to back down.

Influence: Dolores still has a few contacts with the Hell's Angels; in fact there is one group that actually knows what she is, and thinks its cool. She might be able to get their help in really sticky situations

Secrets: D (she's too busy to be bothered with that stuff).

Habitat: Dolores and Francis have a flat in the ghetto's they've outfitted for sleeping. They rely on Amanda for emergency hide-outs. They generally hunt as a pair, either seducing people in clubs, or working them over on the streets.

Goals: Dolores wants to keep the gang safe, and for the other Anarchs to admit she is the toughest one around. Other than that she is out to enjoy herself.

Black Francis

Francis Carver was a Crip in L.A., making his way up through the ranks, always yearning for the "big time". Francis didn't know that his gang were foot soldiers in secret Anarch war until he finally met the enemy. Most of his companions were killed by the rival Anarch gang, but Francis put up a good fight, enough to get himself noticed. Dolores, an Anarch on his side, decided to embrace the handsome young black.

Dolores took to calling him Black Francis, something he resents. Other than that, Dolores was an indulgent sire, and strong enough to protect him from the depredations of other Anarchs. Francis began to see the opportunities in the situation. After all, if the vampires were behind the gang, then Francis was a step closer to the big time. Francis began to cultivate contacts and earn favors. Dolores, who didn't want to take time for that sort of thing, seemed to approve.
Then Dolores decided to head for New Orleans to help a friend. Francis was upset at being uprooted, but wasn't strong enough to make it in L.A. alone, so he went with her. Francis was secretly pleased when Amanda decided not to go after the Ventrue, because he was loathed to get into a fight in a strange city with no back-up. He was fascinated to learn about the railroad, and saw some real potential there.

Seeing as how he was stuck in New Orleans, Francis decided to make the best of it, and called his Anarch contacts back in L.A. They were also interested to learn about the railroad, and New Orleans in general. Francis began to carefully dredge up information about the city and the railroad, and secretly passes it back to L.A. He hopes this is earning him favors he can use later.
Recently, Francis has decided he could run the railroad better than Amanda could, and is itching to get a better grip on it. Amanda is happy to have his help on little things, but insists on keeping the major contacts in her hands. Francis tries whittle away at Amanda's leadership, with some success. He thinks Dolores will follow anyone with a solid idea of what to do, but doesn't know what motivates Didi. He is beginning to wonder what the New Orleans Camarilla might offer for knowledge about the railroad.

Age: "20", 13th Generation, born 1961, embraced 1982 by Dolores, arrived 1987

Image: Most of the time, Francis is a quiet, thoughtful young man, who speaks only when he has something useful to say. In dangerous situations, though, he slips back into the style of "tough black gang member".

Influence: Francis has the ear of some Anarch leaders in LA. Whether or not they would do anything if he asked is another story. He has also cultivate contacts amongst the younger vampires of New Orleans, to pump them for information.

Secrets: C (he's been busy finding stuff out).

Habitat: He hunts and sleeps with Dolores. See her description. Francis still relies heavily on Dolores for many of the practical aspects of vampiric life.

Goals: Francis wants to advance in the Anarch community, and feeding them info about New Orleans seems to be a good way to do it. He is constantly searching for new sources and contacts.

Simon

Simon Jones claims to be Caitiff from Savannah Georgia, attracted to the city during the Anarch wars. He made a good accounting for himself, and joined the KLF after the battle. Over the years he has earned their trust, and is now considered a loyal, though quiet, member of that Anarch Gang.

Unfortunately, Simon has a secret. Simon is actually a Ventrue antitribu, a member of the Sabbat. He regularly meets with Manuel's pack, passing on information, and renewing his Viniculum bonds to the Sabbat. To this end, he is generally friendly with the Lost Angels, another Anarch gang. He hopes someday to convince the KLF to join his Sect, but is waiting for the right time to turn them.

Simon has had his ups and downs as a Sabbat spy. He was nearly discovered in the 1970s by the Brujah Jonah. Fortunately, his pack was able to blood bond and Dominate Jonah, so rather than blowing Simon's cover, Jonah strengthened it. The pack eventually lost control of Jonah, but he was sufficiently muddled by Domination and blood that he was no longer a threat.

Simon has kept an eye on the Brujah over the years. Given Jonah's odd behavior, Simon is about the only member of the KLF willing to trust him anymore. Over time, Simon has found himself attracted to the growing passion and spirituality of the Brujah. Perhaps Simon is drawn to Jonah's loneliness and needs. Whatever the cause, Simon's loyalties to both his Anarch gang and his sect are becoming confused.

Age: "25", 12th Generation, born 1929, embraced 1953 by Terry, arrived 1962

Image: Simon maintains something of a Beatnik's image, and is fond of quoting Allen Ginsberg and Ken Kesey. He defers to the more powerful members of the gang, and acts in a scouting role when the KLF gets into conflicts.

Influence: Simon doesn't have much mortal influence, for fear he will enter an elder's area be closely scrutinized. The KLF will fight for him, though, and Manuel's pack can help him out in emergencies.

Secrets: C+ (his job is finding stuff out).

Habitat: Simon keeps a small apartment south of the river, and can stay with any other members of the KLF if needed. Simon has several male lovers, whom he regularly feeds on, and genuinely cares for. The KLF knows about it, and doesn't care, but Simon worries that Sabbat would not approve of his association with mortals.

Goals: Simon wants to find out as much as he can about the Camarilla while keeping his Sabbat origins secret. When the Sabbat moves to take over the city, he will sincerely try to convert the KLF, but if it comes down to it, would kill them to further his sect. Jonah, on the other hand, is a wild card. Simon is no longer certain which way he will jump if Jonah is threatened.

Joey Stern

This quiet young Anarch keeps to the edges of kindred society. He is liked by both the KLF and the Lost Angels, but has yet to join either. In truth, he is the powerful and ancient Ventrue Alejandro, who adopted this persona to move amongst kindred society.