AN INTRODUCTION TO PLAYING A HARPY 3 WHAT …prophet/lock/OWoD/A Harpy's Primer.pdf · An Introduction to Playing a Harpy ... should read the Laws of the Night: Camarilla Guide and

OKC BY NIGHT: MARK IV – A HARPY'S PRIMER Revision: 1.00 Last Updated: Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Section: An Introduction to Playing a Harpy

1

By:

Erik Randall, Julian Dillard (Appendix I: Negative Status Traits) and Kat Schonheyder (More Things

A New Harpy Player Should Know)

Additional Thanks:

The Author of the Boon Scale Description: Renee Hawthorne

Contents AN INTRODUCTION TO PLAYING A HARPY 3 WHAT EVERY HARPY PLAYER NEEDS TO KNOW 4 Every Tradition 4 Every Status Rule 4 A Private Scandal Isn't a Scandal 4 You Have a Duty 4

THE DUTIES OF A HARPY 5 Reputation 5 The Nature of Status 5 The Harpy Report 6 Reporting Boons 6

TYPES OF HARPY 7 Court Harpy 7 Lesser Harpy 7 Royal Harpy 7 The Position 7 Duties 7 Status Notes 8

NIGHTS IN COURT 9 Attention 9 Courtesy 9 Conflict 9 Accusations and Guilt 9 Chaos 10

THE GUIDE TO SCANDAL 11 Scandals of Behavior 11 Airing Dirty Laundry 11 Behavior Not Befitting One's Station 11 Disrespecting the Standing of Other Camarilla Kindred 11 Frenzying 11 Infiltrating Another Clan 11 Minor Violations of the Traditions 12 Questioning the Sect 12

OKC By Night: Mark IV – A Harpy's Primer Revision: 1.00


2

Reneging On A Boon 12 Spreading Heresy 12 Supporting Scandalous Kindred 12 Violence 12

Scandals of Court 13 Disrespecting Elysium 13 Interfering With the Duties of a Court Officer 13 Violation of Domain Protocols 13

Scandals of Praxis 13 An Elected Prince 13 Announcing an Attempted Praxis Seizure 13 Bloodhunting During A Praxis Seizure 13 Publicly Challenging a Praxis 13

HARPIES AND BOONS 14 What is a Boon? 14 Uncommon Boon Habits 14 Boon Compensation 14 Wills and Boon Auctions 14

The Boon Scale 15 Trivial Boon 15 Minor Boon 15 Major Boon 15 Blood Boon 15 Life Boon 15

ADVANCED CONCERNS 16 The Global Camarilla 16 Working with Others 16 When the Harpy is the Scandal 16

MORE THINGS A NEW HARPY PLAYER SHOULD KNOW 17 You're a harpy now. They all belong to you. 17 Love your Primogen Council. 17 You've got stats. I mean, status! Use it! 17 Cultivate your harpy contacts. 17 Find the loopholes before they do. 18 Little black books aren't just for "playas". 18 Variety is the spice of life! 18 Tact. Get some. Keep it. 18

APPENDIX I: NEGATIVE STATUS TRAITS 19 APPENDIX II: A SAMPLE HARPY REPORT 20 APPENDIX III: REFERENCES 22 Harpies 22 Additional Resources 22



3

An Introduction to Playing a Harpy Prelude

In the Modern Nights, anyone can be a harpy. Some of the people who play harpies have done it before, others are new to the experience, This primer is meant for both groups. No one should assume that just because they played a harpy in the past that there isn't new or relevant information available in this document. The first topic of this primer certainly applies to all harpy players, regardless of experience.

The Greatest Misconception

It is assumed by many that harpies must be elected by the primogen. This is false. There is no requirement that harpies be selected by the primogen, that they serve the primogen, or that a domain even needs a Primogen Council to have a harpy. None of the written material on harpies suggests that the Primogen Council selects the harpy, or that the Council can vote to remove a harpy.

Some players point out that primogen gives the harpy Status Traits to show their support, and use that as cause to believe that harpies are elected by the Primogen Council, or that only the Council can select a harpy. But, the Status rules don't say that. The Status rules say that each primogen automatically gives the harpy a loaned Status Trait to show their support for the harpies. The loan is automatic; it is not by choice - which contradicts the idea that the primogen have a choice of whom serves as harpy. The rules also say that the loan is to show support for the harpies. It's plural: The primogen are showing support for the position, not the individual in that position. This is the reason the loan of Status is automatic.

This doesn't mean a primogen couldn't remove support by withdrawing the Status Trait. Indeed, this sends a clear message that a primogen believes the current harpy's actions are blemishing the position as a whole. This type of action should not be taken lightly. A primogen who removes support for the harpies simply because the local harpy caught him in a scandal is telling the sect that he doesn't believe in the responsibilities or authority of the position. The circumstances when a primogen removes support should only come when the position of harpy itself is being diminished by the acts of the office holder. Usually, this would only happen if a harpy was found in a scandal or wasn't doing his job at all.

The method by which a harpy comes to power is different for each domain. In some, the Kindred may be happy allowing the primogen to select a harpy. In others, the prince may do it - as is allowed by the Second Tradition. In still others, a harpy may rise from among the ranks of her peers and be recognized by default as the most insightful among them. For more on the harpy and how they come to power, one should read the Laws of the Night: Camarilla Guide and the tabletop Guide to the Camarilla. Both give insight into the position with a depth that the Laws of the Night: Revised can not match.


Section: W

hat Every Harpy Player Needs To Know

4

What Every Harpy Player Needs To Know

Every Tradition Memorize both the title and content. There is no point in knowing that the Fifth Tradition is Hospitality, but not knowing what precisely what that means.

Every Status Rule You need to know every nuance of the Status rules. You should know exactly when anyone could do anything with Status. That means knowing every rule in the Laws of the Night: Revised and Camarilla Guide as well as those that appear in the sanctioned rules supplements.

Not all the Status rules are under the Status section of the Laws of the Night. There are rules hidden in other sections of the Systems chapter, and even at the end of the book in the entry for Anarchy. In a perfect world, every player should know these rules, but more often than not, they will simply expect you to know them.

A Private Scandal Isn't a Scandal Your job is to gossip and spread information. That means sharing information with other harpies and the rest of the Camarilla. Send reports. Keep lines of communication open.

You Have a Duty You have job to do, and nobody is above you when it comes to this job. There is a reason a harpy can remove Status during a scandal for free. A prince can't do that. Even an archon can only do it to those who interfere with their official work. You have the power to judge any scandal; even those committed by primogen and princes. You have that power because the sect recognizes the power of reputation and the need for scandals to be caught and judged. Not everything is a killing offense, but many things will murder a reputation.

Anyone who tries to stop you from doing your job - without evidence to remove the scandal - is as guilty as the Kindred you are targeting. Even princes are subject to your gossip and scorn. Of course, a prince may not look kindly on the harpy condemning someone that he wishes to remain untainted, which is why a smart harpy may confer privately with the prince before publicizing a scandal.


Section: The Duties of a Harpy

5

The Duties of a Harpy The two main duties of a harpy are to track reputation and boons. The first requires making public every scandal and success and seeing that all involved are properly recognized for their behavior - for good or for ill. The second requires keeping meticulous records. Both require sharing the information with - at the least - other harpies.

Reputation One of the most important tasks of a harpy is to ensure that everyone acts in manner befitting their station. To do so requires knowing the standing of every Kindred in the city, and many of the important Kindred who live in other cities. A harpy doesn't need to worry about those who know their place and act in an appropriate manner. They do need to act against those who fall out of line.

Harpies are rarely patient with fools. Those who act in a shameful manner need to be dealt with at once, or they set a bad example for others. A harpy who doesn't act swiftly is providing an invitation for others to misbehave. This doesn't mean a harpy shouldn't be sure they know all the facts before acting; it's equally shameful for a harpy to scold someone who is working with the permission of those of high standing.

Harpies are not in the business of praising anyone. That would seem like bias, and it would tarnish the reputation of both the individual harpy and the position itself. Harpies only report the praise give by others. They only report the good deeds and appropriate behavior that is noted by others - usually with Status Traits attached. A harpy should never look like she is showing favoritism or being swayed by another. A harpy needs to look pristine, even if they are not.

The Nature of Status Status is a difficult Trait to manage in the chronicle. It is the Trait that most affects In Character social interaction among Camarilla Kindred. The effect of other Traits are felt in game, such as the effect of Physical Traits in combat, or Social Traits in Discipline use, but Status Traits have a direct impact on how characters perceive others in the society. This fact often makes players want to treat Status Traits as In Character Traits. That is, having their characters refer to numbers of Traits or make statements such as "Bob lost half his Status." This is incorrect. Status - as a Trait - is something that exists only out of character. It is just like a Brawny Trait or a Gorgeous Trait. All it does is tell us as players something we need to know about a character. We interpret that information and apply it to what our characters know. Our characters know that someone is brawny or gorgeous because they have experienced it, not because they know that character has the Brawny Trait. Characters also know that a Kindred is more respected than his peers because they have experience with that character, not because there are seven Status Traits on his character sheet. (High school social dynamics are similar. The popular kids haven't been given Status Traits by their peers or society, but they would have them if we created character sheets for them.)

Status is not something Camarilla Kindred question. They just know who is more important. There is no question of why; there is no demand for proof. Just like in real life, we don't expect to see proof of status in a social group. It's obvious. Characters may resent it, or not want to recognize it, but that doesn't change the reputation of Kindred. However, if a Kindred doesn't deserve their reputation, it is up to the court officers - especially the harpy - to let the world know. This includes the Out of Character act of


Section: The Duties of a Harpy

6

removing Status from a character, and the In Character act of making that Kindred's shortcomings a matter of public record.

The Harpy Report For the harpy's gossip to be effective, others have to hear it. To this end, harpies are encouraged and expected to report the goings-on in their city to other Kindred. In our chronicle - where players and characters all over the globe interact on a daily basis - this usually is done in the form of a harpy report. These reports can be made any time, although the most common time is shortly after a court gathering. The report usually consists of an In Character section that details the important events of the evening, and any boons that are owed by Kindred. There is also an Out of Character section that covers any changes in Status and the exact size of any boons which were owed. This report is normally sent to the harpies email list, although it can also be sent to regional or national lists for the Camarilla sect.

Reporting Boons Most harpies report boons to the peers and the rest of the world. The format is simple: all the harpy need do is note who is in debt and who is now owed. The reason for the debt is usually kept between the parties involved, but may be made public in cases where the debt is the result of a scandal.

A sample harpy report can be found in Appendix II.


Section: Types of Harpy

7

Types of Harpy

Court Harpy The court harpy is what most people mean when they discuss harpies. They are the chief harpy of any domain and oversee the selection of lesser harpies, should such be desired.

Lesser Harpy The lesser harpies serve the court harpy and share in some of the power of that position. In most situations the lesser harpies act as coterie, unless the court harpy has intentionally appointed Kindred who hate each other.

Lesser harpies become most fearsome when the court harpy falls from grace. In such situations, the lesser harpies rapidly destroy the remaining reputation of their former mistress and then fight to take her place.

Royal Harpy

The Position Symposiums are large, complex events that benefit from the presence of a harpy who has the support and respect of the princes attending. While this could be the domain's local harpy, it has become customary to select a special harpy from a pool of applicants specifically for the event.

That Kindred is the royal harpy. At the beginning of the symposium, any that wish to petition to be royal harpy make their desire known to the princes. The first order of business at the symposium if for the princes to vote on who should be the royal harpy. Many Kindred consider this the highest honor a harpy can receive (especially if the position is attained in a city that is also hosting a conclave).

Traditionally, the only Kindred who may not request to be royal harpy are princes and clan heads.

At any time, the symposium can remove support for the royal harpy. Such an action is rare and extremely shameful to the fallen harpy.

There is no requirement of a symposium to elect a royal harpy, and many do not. After a royal harpy is given the post they may, with the permission of the princes, retain the title - in name only - until the next regional or national symposium. The Royal Harpy of Albion, for example, is elected yearly at the National Assembly of the Kindred of Great Britain. Even after they no longer hold the position, many harpies include the honor in their titles - to have once been a royal harpy shows you as a Kindred to whom respect should be given.

Duties During a symposium, the princes hide away in a separate room discussing the affairs of the symposium, leaving everyone else at the event effectively without a chaperone. The royal harpy is - during the meeting of the symposium - the eyes, ears and social arbiter of the event. The event is her domain, and she has all the powers and authority ofa harpy in that domain. In some cases, the symposium goes further in their trust of the royal harpy and she is given all the powers of a prince while the symposium meets. This power can put the royal harpy and the domain's seneschal at odds, as it would normally be the latter who would rule in the local prince's absence.


Section: Types of Harpy

8

The other duty of the royal harpy is to be the voice of the symposium. It is the royal harpy who makes all the important announcements and who presents the final decisions of the symposium.

If a symposium is held during a conclave, the royal harpy may have additional responsibilities or powers if the justicar so desires. Often the royal harpy will be given the duty of reporting on the events of the conclave to the rest of the sect after the event has closed.

Status Notes When a royal harpy is selected, each prince gives the harpy a temporary Status Trait for the duration of the event. The local prince may even grant permanent Status, although those Traits would remain after the event.


Section: Nights in Court

9

Nights in Court Harpies are most at home in the court and at Elysium - which may or may not be the same thing. It is important as the player of a harpy to understand how to interact in those environments, and what features of these events are of interest to her.

Attention Harpies have to be attentive to the goings-on in the court. They have to be aware of who owes whom, who is likely to cause trouble, and who is above reproach. Harpies are always looking for the next scandal, and playing a harpy means being attentive to what happens in the court.

Courtesy Kindred are predators and monsters, with the Beast always pushing to get out. The Camarilla doesn't like to dwell on that. In fact, the sect is devoted to the idea that structure and civility are the controls that keep Kindred from becoming monsters. Camarilla gatherings are meant to reflect that. Kindred are expected to be polite, orderly and well mannered. They don't speak out of turn, they respect those above them and they are attentive to the needs of the court. When the expectation of courtesy is not met, the harpy must act. For examples of what may constitute a breech of courtesy, see The Guide to Scandal.

Conflict Conflict is more than violence or arguments. Conflict is Camarilla society is meant to be subtle: it is snubs and wit and carefully worded observations. It is also disagreements and accusations that arise when Kindred struggle over resources and respect. The harpy and the prince are the arbiters of such disagreements. The prince makes the decisions and the harpy makes sure the appropriate protocols are followed.

Accusations and Guilt When two or more Kindred descend to blame and finger pointing, the issue is usually brought before the prince (or the Kindred acting in his place). The prince will likely hear the arguments made by each party and decide who is right. In cases where no evidence is available, the prince is expected to side with the Kindred who is most respected in the sect. If he doesn't, he has committed a scandal in the eyes of the sect. That is when the harpy acts. Similarly, if the Kindred who loses the argument continues to push the issue, he is not only violating the expectations of the sect, but he is also questioning the ruling of the prince. That's a double scandal.

It needs to be noted that accusations and disagreements are not the same thing. No Kindred in a friendly discussion of the application of Kindred law - for example - should be expected to automatically agree with those of higher station. Discussions are just that: talk. Deferring to the word of those of higher standing should be reserved for when there are actual stakes riding on the outcome. These may include reputation, sect stability or a defense against the Sabbat.

An example: If a criminal - Jack - somehow manages to gain the support of the prince and then makes that support public, then Jack is innocent - regardless of the truth, and even if the whole of the Primogen Council believes that the criminal is just that. The prince may not want to support him in the face of a united Council, since if she pisses the primogen off enough, they may try to force her from office. Now,


Section: Nights in Court

10

say one elder - Alex - supports the neonate Jack, and two elders with equal weight to Alex oppose Jack. The sum of each side's Status Traits is not compared. Rather, it is the fact that there are two men of the same standing as one that makes the elders right. If the voices of either Alex or Jack held less weight than a single elder, but their voices combined held more, they would still have lost. The Camarilla doesn't bow to the will of the mob.

On a final note: Alex should probably go down with Jack. After all, Alex was supporting a criminal, and that is scandalous behavior. Not everything is quite as cut and dry - but refer to The Guide to Scandal.

Chaos Every court has its bad nights. These are the nights when ancilla raise their voices, weak-willed Brujah frenzy, and two neonates try to kill each other on Elysium. No one wants these nights, not even the harpy, whose job would be all too dull without them. Kindred who become violent are the worst of the scandalous Kindred, because they have completely rejected the civility and society offered by the Camarilla. A Kindred who speaks disrespectfully deserves to be shamed, a Kindred who has tossed aside all social order must be driven to the ground. Violence - especially in court - is inexcusable, because it is the tool of the Beast.


Section: The Guide to Scandal

11

The Guide to Scandal What follows is a list of obvious, and not so obvious, behaviors that a harpy - or other Kindred - may find to be scandalous. Most of these are likely to been seen as scandalous in all but the most liberal of domains.

Scandals of Behavior

Airing Dirty Laundry Only a Kindred who is in a position to be judging others for scandalous behavior should be airing their domain's problems and scandals. This usually means the harpy or prince.

Announcing to the world that a local elder frenzied - when it isn't one's place - is itself scandalous.

Behavior Not Befitting One's Station This includes elders or princes throwing tantrums, Kindred of high standing making off-color jokes in public, or any behavior that is infantile or in poor taste. The greater one's standing, the more civil and thoughtful they are expected to behave. When such Kindred act in such a fashion in public, the harpy is expected to censure them.

Disrespecting the Standing of Other Camarilla Kindred This includes email lists, IRC, and other non-physical locales. Even in those digital arenas, disrespecting those of higher station casts a dark cloud over a Kindred's home domain. Note that disagreeing and disrespecting are not the same thing. There is nothing shameful about disagreeing with anyone, so long as it is done in a polite and deferential manner. Telling an archon that he is an idiot is disrespectful - although those with more Status than the archon can get away with it - politely disagreeing with his interpretation of a Tradition is not disrespectful.

But if a Kindred of high standing firmly refutes the opposing view again, in a manner suggesting no

discussion is desired, the lower status Kindred is expected to let the matter drop.

Faking One's Reputation

Claiming to have the support or respect of Kindred who have not given it is a scandal. This one isn't

too hard to catch, since harpies have a good memory for who supports whom.

Falsely Claiming A Boon

Those who falsely claim to be owed boons are as low as those who renege on their debts.

Frenzying The Camarilla presents the facade of an ordered and civil society. Frenzying in the presence of other Kindred is therefore considered a shameful (i.e., scandalous) act.

Infiltrating Another Clan The sect really doesn't care that much about clan matters, but it has little tolerance for those who have infiltrated other clans. This act is scandalous not only because some clans are better regarded than others,



12

but also because a Kindred willing to lie about his clan may be lying about his sect loyalties as well. Kindred who choose to lie to the sect had best be sure they are never caught in their deception.

Minor Violations of the Traditions These are small violations, such as easily concealed Masquerade violations, attempting to breach the right of destruction, or violating the domain or haven of another Camarilla Kindred.

Questioning the Sect This is usually only a scandal in more conservative domains. In such places, publicly debating the validity of the sect's ideology, or the right of the sect to rule all Kindred, is scandalous.

Debating such things suggests that there is some question as to the validity of the sect's position. That sort of thinking is left for the Anarchs; to loyal Camarilla Kindred, the truth is obvious. This does not proscribe discussion of how policy is enforced, or how ideology manifests, but there should never be any question as to whether the Camarilla has a right to power. (At least, those questions aren't raised in public.)

Reneging On A Boon A scandal so noteworthy that it is described specifically among the harpy's Status powers. No Kindred should reject a boon they owe without punishment.

Spreading Heresy The Camarilla party line is clear on certain facts: Caine, the Antediluvians, and all legends surrounding them are myths. They are convenient marker points to define one's place with regard to age and standing in one's clan. They are not going to rise up and eat their young. They are not going to judge those found wanting. They will not be around when Gehenna comes, because there is no Gehenna. There is also no Golconda, no Lilith, and we are not in the Time of Thin Blood (which is just another myth). Quoting the Book of Nod is scandalous - and those knowledgeable of the Sabbat may even suspect you of being a sympathizer. In summary, suggesting publicly that any part of the party line is false is scandalous and should attract the harpy. It may also be seen as treason.

Supporting Scandalous Kindred Kindred have to be careful whom they support. If a Kindred does something scandalous, all who supported them - whether by word or deed - are seen as guilty be association. Once a scandal is revealed, it is too late to remove support, so it is in the best interest to be the one to discover the scandal and either hide it, or withdraw support before the scandal is discovered. A smart harpy or prince will target anyone who publicly supported a scandalous Kindred. Those who showed private support may be able to keep their names out of the mess - if they are willing to pay the price of silence.

Violence Just like frenzy, violence is a feature of the Beast, and is frowned up in Camarilla society. Like all societies, violence is more acceptable in times of war and is generally accepted when committed in self-defense. Good harpies take these situational factors into account and may strike hard against those who incite other Kindred to violence.



13

Scandals of Court

Disrespecting Elysium Violence on Elysium, destruction of property, or the violation of domain-specific rules of Elysium are all scandalous.

Interfering With the Duties of a Court Officer Trying to stop a sheriff from removing a Kindred for questioning, questioning the decision of a prince (unless the decision is also scandalous), or contradicting a harpy's analysis of a scandal, without proof that the scandal is false.

Violation of Domain Protocols Ignorance of domain-specific laws is no protection from punishment. A Kindred who doesn't learn local customs and laws is showing disrespect to the local Kindred - especially the prince - and disrespect to the institutions of the sect itself.

Scandals of Praxis

An Elected Prince This is a scandal on great proportion. It can affect a prince and whole Primogen Councils. There are domains where a prince is selected by vote of the primogen and it is best that such things stay quiet. Declaring publicly that a prince was elected is admitting that a prince is a puppet of the primogen or the masses, and thus unworthy of his own power (and incapable of possessing power). That is bad for a domain and bad for a prince.

Announcing an Attempted Praxis Seizure It doesn't matter who makes the announcement. Any announcement of an effort to overthrow the prince before the attempt is successful - or ended - can be scandalous. One is, after all, declaring that the prince cannot control her domain. If the Kindred making the announcement is also the one attempting to overthrow the prince, that is also scandalous, as they are showing they have no claim other than hubris. Anything less than a complete success or a complete failure is nobody's business but those directly involved.

Bloodhunting During A Praxis Seizure Bloodhunts during a Praxis seizure are possible, but they are also bad form. If the prince in power does it, he is telling the world that his only weapon for maintaining power is telling everyone else to kill his enemies. If the one trying to seize Praxis does it, it is even more shameful, as they haven't even secured their rule before trying to act as a prince.

Publicly Challenging a Praxis Until a Kindred has replaced the sitting prince - by death, abdication or similar means - said Kindred is not a prince, and publicly declaring otherwise is scandalous. Until he is a prince, there is nothing to declare.


Section: Harpies and Boons

14

Harpies and Boons Harpies are often trusted to track and report boons. No Kindred is required to inform the harpies of a boon for the debt to be owed, however, it is usually in the best interest of all the parties involved to make their boons well known. It gives the creditor some security, as well as a public presentation of their power over another. It also lets other Kindred know who may be angered, should the debtor meet an untimely end - thus offering a measure of protection to those who owe debts.

What is a Boon? Boons are an agreement between two Kindred to the exchange of services at a later date. Typically, one owes a boon in response to a favor or service performed by another. Holding others in debt is the trait of a strong player in the Jyhad, while owing boons is seen as foolish. Despite this, some younger Kindred treat owing a debt as a safety net, as the creditor will often work to protect what they see as an investment.

Boons cannot be exchanged in the same manner as one might give another a dollar bill, nor can they be willed to others. As they are an agreement between two Kindred, they are not transferable (as the debtor has an agreement with his creditor, not another Kindred). This does not mean elders haven't found ways to create the same effect as an exchange - by calling in debts to aid another Kindred, in exchange for a boon or the calling in of a boon. While the effect may be the same as a simple transfer, this roundabout method preserves the idea of a boon as an agreement between two specific Kindred, and reminds all involved that these are social - not economic - contracts.

As boons are an agreement between two Kindred, those Kindred can - if they so wish - allow for further boons between the two of them to combine into a larger single boon.

Reneging on a boon is a scandalous action that attracts the ire of the sect as a whole and is guaranteed to invoke the wrath of the harpies. Killing one's creditor is a far worse crime, for which the minimum penalty is blood hunt or death.

Most Camarilla Kindred register their boons with one or more harpies. While this isn't required - as Kindred are assumed to respect the system of favors and debt - it is rare to find a Kindred who doesn't register their boons for the sake of security and record keeping.

Uncommon Boon Habits

Boon Compensation When a Kindred dies, boons owed by them are lost. As such, it is in the best interests of creditors to protect those who owe them. However, destroying one who owed boons to powerful or influential people is often dangerous, and new boons or other compensation may be required to assuage the anger of the affected creditors. It has become the practice of some domains to require such compensation by those responsible for killing other Kindred.

Wills and Boon Auctions Some Kindred have also taken to making wills and allowing their boons to be auctioned after their death. This is also not a traditional practice, and a Kindred whose debt is auctioned or willed is under no obligation to acknowledge a new creditor, as they did not agree to owe a boon to that Kindred.


Section: Harpies and Boons

15

The Boon Scale The Laws of the Night: Revised has a short scale of what different levels of boons mean, and the Camarilla has expanded on that with an In Character look at the gravity of boons. These descriptions aren't set in stone, but they give an idea to what you are agreeing.

Trivial Boon "I shall do a one-time favor for the person to whom I owe this Boon. I shall aid him by protecting him when I have no reason to do that, even if it places me into conflict with people. I shall agree use a discipline for him if he requires it. I shall support his political maneuver this night even if it means I have to fly in the face of my Clan or my Prince. It is a single favor that I owe- once he has called it in, it is cancelled. I will not place myself in a position to break my word, however, nor will I betray my Clan or My Prince or any Oaths of loyalty I have taken."

Minor Boon "I shall endeavor to fulfill the dept I owe: I have inconvenienced the person who I owe this boon by asking him to do the favor for me in the first place. I understand that I may be inconvenienced by the favors he asks back in return. If need be, I will secure his safe passage into a hostile city. I shall reveal unto him secrets I know that could endanger members of my Clan or my Domain. I shall destroy his enemies, whomever they may be. I shall offer physical protection for many nights -- this I accept because I asked roughly the same of the one I owe."

Major Boon "I shall accept that I have earned a great dept to the one to whom I owe this Boon. He has given much time, effort and compromised perhaps many things he believes in to give me this favor; thus I do return it. I understand that if required I would even teach him the immortal powers that the Embrace conferred upon me. I shall aid him in whatever political goal he so desires, even if this means openly standing against my Prince or my Clan. I would, if he so wished, locate for him or give him property I own or which he would wish, even if gaining this property is taken at the expense of another."

Blood Boon "I do accept that the person to whom I owe this Boon to is one to whom I owe many thing, perhaps more than can ever be repaid. I am in the debt now- my current existence was dependant upon him. Thus, I owe him things that can never be repaid. I will place myself in danger for him; if my Blood is shed, then I care not. If this means I betray my Clan and Prince and bring him low, I care not. He has done the same for me, so I accept that I shall do it for him."

Life Boon "I owe someone a life boon; my life is his; my will is his; my body is his. The debt I owe can never be repaid, lest somehow I save his life. I am his to command; I am but a tool for his will; he rules me, and he gives me purpose. I shall do whatever is asked of me, and if this means that I am to die then so be It- I live only because of him and thus my life is his to command."


Section: Advanced Concerns

16

Advanced Concerns

The Global Camarilla A harpy must strike swiftly against those from her domain that act in a manner that brings shame to the domain. That means those who are rude on email lists and similar forums. It also means those who cause trouble while away from home. Even if the court in the city where the trouble occurred have censured the offending Kindred, it always best to shame him again upon his return - not just for the act, but for the shame it brought his home domain. Doing so also tells the rest of the sect that the offender's home domain does not tolerate or support improper behavior. In such situations, the local prince may even demand that the offender offer a boon to the prince of the offended domain.

Working with Others Being a harpy means working in concert with the rest of the court officers. The harpy must understand the role that each officer plays and how the offices can work together to maintain a strong sect.

Sometimes, it isn't enough for a harpy to scorn those who have done wrong. Sometimes, the entire court has to move against those who have acted shamefully. Normally, a Kindred has their Status stripped by the harpy, and is properly censured. However, some Kindred commit acts so shameful that the harpy's judgment isn't enough. In those situations, the harpy's announcement of scandal may be swiftly followed by the prince and the offender's primogen also removing Status.

Such Kindred have fallen a long way. Even then, they may still have to attend to the sheriff, who may take advantage of his target's shame to ask some hard questions. Some Kindred bounce back quickly from such scandals - especially elders or court officers, whose age or station requires respect. Others are not so lucky and can look forward to slowly dragging themselves from the gutter.

When the Harpy is the Scandal Harpies have enemies: Lesser harpies want to be them, and Kindred who have been the target of their gossip have cause to hate them. When a harpy stumbles, when she finds herself wrapped in a scandal, her enemies become hyenas, and they find every possible way to tear her apart. In cases where a scandalous of Kindred might walk away with his reputation bruised, a harpy will be torn apart. Her peers will likely be the first to strike, as it only takes the smell of a scandal for the lesser harpies to have an excuse to act. Once they make the scandal public, others will follow suit. In the end, she will likely be a harpy no longer, as the court has no tolerance for a gossip that is caught in the hands of hypocrisy.


Section: M

ore Things a New

Harpy Player Should Know

17

More Things a New Harpy Player Should Know Here is some advice from the personal experience of a harpy player.

You're a harpy now. They all belong to you. Seems a bit contradictory, doesn't it? The fact is a harpy within their home city can be one of the most powerful players in the game. Once a harpy has backing - especially the backing of most of the primogen - the harpy can come down on anyone, elder, ancillae, prince or colleague. Create a good working relationship with your prince - you'll be doing most of your grandstanding during her courts. Learn what the prince "wishes" from her harpy. It's always nice when prince and harpy work together - and it gives you more power to say what you want, and leave to sometimes even make an example of the prince.

Love your Primogen Council. That's right. The Primogen Council supports the harpies, and it's a good idea to keep them happy until you have the public backing to make them look dumb when they deserve it - or when someone pays you to. But never make them look dumb for supporting the harpies! Always watch it with your primogen. And always know which primogen you can keep in your pocket. If you want to keep your position, have at least one. It's difficult to oust a harpy when you have at least one stalwart supporter.

You've got stats. I mean, status! Use it! Playing a harpy means that you are - to use a term coined by one of my favorite players - a social conscience of sorts. It is your job to watch your prince's court with a social eye. It is your job to ensure that the prince's social will be done. If you have one of those stuffy elder princes who likes total silence during court, it is your job to watch that there is no one talking, and if there is, it's your job to make an example out of them. Negative Status exists so that you can assign colorful names to social perpetrators. Never be afraid of throwing your weight around.

Use your authority to publicly denounce the mouthy Brujah. In Character, Mr. Loud Mouth gets dressed down. Out of Character, assign something like "Lemming," since he seems to be bent on continuing the Brujah stereotype of being loud-mouthed idiots. Brujah hate being thought of as lemmings.

Cultivate your harpy contacts. Get to know the Harpies around you. Work with them, learn from them, and help them. There are a number of reasons for this. One, they will help you. Or they should - boons are always useful. Two, say someone from a nearby city does something questionable in the Domain in which you live, and it's not discovered until a few months after the face. You know their harpy, so you can still hit them. Your prince is forever grateful. And revenge is a dish best served from the deep-freeze. Three, there is nothing - I repeat - nothing more frightening to a Kindred than a gathering of harpies all bent on one thing: Bringing them down. A good harpy can be almost as frightening as an archon. Four, gathering your Harping allies can sometimes yield unexpected results. Harpies can be as frightening as a justicar, and in some cases, as powerful in the social arena. A Kindred - prince, elder or childe - getting a good, sound tongue lashing from four different harpies will probably wish you'd just declared that he wasn't worthy of being respected. He won't know what to do when your friends set in on him.


Section: M

ore Things a New

Harpy Player Should Know

18

Find the loopholes before they do. This means two things. One, you need to know the rules of the status game backwards and forwards - and your Traditions. Look to your fellow harpies for assistance - the older and wiser always have good examples to draw on. Two, when you make a public argument, try your best to know every single angle of opposition someone might take, and prepare a counter for it. Even better, don't allow the opposition. The tighter your arguments are, the more respect you'll garner. The first and simplest way to block the arguments against you.

Little black books aren't just for "playas". Keep records. If your PC has Eidetic Memory, then they don't have to be IC, but keep them all the same. It's important to log boons and to keep a current list of OC Status, especially for the denizens of your city, if not every single person you ever come across. Always try to get the records from former harpies. Why all this? First, breaking a boon is a terrible thing. Proof that the boon exists lies in your hands. Second, with the many ways Status can be used, having a current tab is extremely useful for a harpy, especially in deciding "truth." It’s also useful for ferreting out Kindred who are claiming to possess little more weight than they deserve!

Variety is the spice of life! Have fun! Playing a harpy can truly make you one of the most influential players in the game, so enjoy it! Revel in the fact that you are now a target - the most obvious target of the court, sometimes. You're the mouthpiece, you're the bearer of bad news, you sentence the socially condemned. Develop your Harping abilities, and you might even get to the point where you can push the envelope, and aspire to the greatest height a harpy can reach - Royal Harpy. For this reason, you should also cultivate your contacts among the princes. They vote for the Royal Harpy at Symposiums, and if you're selected, it's Your Show while they do their thing. But, you have to know your stuff.

Tact. Get some. Keep it. Now that you know your PC has the potential for quite a bit of power at her fingertips, it's time to learn when and how to do your Harping. If the prince comes to you and says, "I want ___," then its time to make sure that "blank" is included in your report. If an elder Toreador primogen comes to you and says, "I want ___," consider what's in it for you. If said elder can kick your ass (physically or socially), don't ask questions. If he is a wimp, see what you can get out of it. If the prince herself commits a faux pas, consider whether it's in your interests to make such a revelation known to the entire court. (If it isn't, get a boon for keeping your mouth shut.) Words are a powerful weapon. Learn when to fight your battles - and learn when to get someone to fight them for you.


Section: Appendix I: Negative Status Traits

19

Appendix I: Negative Status Traits Here is a list of potential Negative Status Traits that a harpy (or anyone else) could give to those who have acted in a scandalous or inappropriate manner.

Amateurish Barbaric Boring Brutish Callow Childish Churlish Common Condemned Corrupt Cowardly Crass Damned Despised Dirty Discourteous Disdained Disgraceful Dishonorable Disrespectful Dull Filthy Foolish Forgotten Foul Frigid Garish Graceless

Gutless Hated Heretic Hopeless Ignorant Impudent Indelicate Ineffective Inferior Insignificant Insipid Insulting Lemming Lewd Loud Mouthed Loutish Lowly Morbid Obscene Odious Offensive Pathetic Pedestrian Primitive Reprehensible Ridiculous Rude Serpentine

Shameful Substandard Tedious Thick Traitorous Trite Trivial Uncouth Uncultured Undeveloped Uneducated Ungracious Unimaginative Unimportant Unimpressive Uninspiring Unmannerly Unpolished Unprepared Unrefined Unsightly Untrustworthy Vapid Venomous Vulgar Weak Willful

OKC BY NIGHT: MARK IV – A HARPY'S PRIMER Revision: 1.00 Last Updated: Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Section: Appendix II: A Sam

ple Harpy Report

20

Appendix II: A Sample Harpy Report To My Influential Cousins,

Tonight has seen the tragic fall of an elder. He was not cut down by a sword, but by his own failures. On this night, Lucius of the Brujah showed his true colors, and the limits of his will.

The night started with Lucius introducing the court to a new occupant of our city: Kyle. This neonate was charming, but not yet ripe. Despite this, he would soon seem to be the downfall of an elder.

Less than an hour into the night, Kyle presented himself as a shield between our Exalted Prince and two warring ancilla. Kyle suffered minor injuries, and the two offenders (who had foolishly turned on the Prince) were staked and dragged from the premises. The Prince was quick to note

Kyle's resolve in this situation, as well as the speed with which the neonate rushed to aid his Prince.

Lucius seized upon this success and attempted to use his clan's moment of splendor to shine the spotlight on another of his clan: Cassie. Cassie was wise to his efforts and humbly noted that she was no more worthy than others in the domain.

From that moment, events turned against Lucius. Later in the evening, his fellow elder, Jeremiah, suggested that Lucius had been responsible for the slaying of two college students, whose bloodless bodies were found outside a drinking establishment. (It was with great effort that the incident was washed from the attention of the public.) When Sheriff Cole asked Lucius to attend a questioning, Lucius was indignant. Cole was forced to publicly reprimanded Lucius for his reluctance.

Lucius, of course, took this matter to the Prince. The Prince, in his wisdom, saw that Jeremiah's concerns were valid, especially in light of the Brujah Primogen's recent behavior. The Prince was also quick to note that the influence of Lucius in the court was waning.

Lucius, in the unfortunate fashion of many of his clan, took to berating Kyle. Clearly his own failures made Kyle's earlier success a bitter pill to take. Rhianna, of the Ventrue, was swift in chastising the behavior, and I was not slow to follow. I tell you, my peers, that his behavior highlighted how undeserving his is of our respect.

Yes, my fellow critics and arbiters, it was a bitter night for Lucius. I am afraid his reign as a Primogen may be shorter than I originally anticipated.

I must also report that Christian, of the Nosferatu, has announced that he owes a small debt to Jeremiah.

Kyle also has announced a debt owed to Rhianna.

Finally, Mr. Corman, of the Ventrue, is no longer in debt to Lucius.

Yours,

Drusilla LaMorte

Harpy of the Rose

OOC:


Section: Appendix II: A Sam

ple Harpy Report

21

Status

The Prince spent *Exalted* to make Kyle *Steadfast*.

Lucius lost *Honorable* for failing to comply with the Sheriff.

The Prince spent *Famous* to make Lucius -Powerless-.

The scandalous behavior of Lucius forced the Harpy (me!) to remove his *Respected* Trait.

Boons

Christian owes Jeremiah a Trivial Boon.

Kyle owes Rhianna a Minor Boon.

Mr. Corman has paid his Major Boon to Lucius.


Section: Appendix III: References

22

Appendix III: References

Harpies Laws of the Night: Revised

Laws of the Night: Camarilla Guide

Guide to the Camarilla (Tabletop Supplement)

Additional Resources Counsel of Primogen (Tabletop Supplement)

Documents

AN INTRODUCTION TO PLAYING A HARPY 3 WHAT …prophet/lock/OWoD/A Harpy's Primer.pdf · An Introduction to Playing a Harpy ... should read the Laws of the Night: Camarilla Guide and