THE LONDON TIMES
July 18 1874

It is to be believed that London's Metropolitan Police have made a connection between the grisly murders of Lord Stevenson of Winchester, Miss Mary Stevens, a Drone of the Westminster Coven, Edward Hopkins, a local merchant and a fallen woman, whose name has remained undisclosed. While Lord Stevenson's death was initially believed to be connected to tensions within or between the local werewolf packs, Detective Inspector Walter Moore today announced that it was no longer the case, due to the uncovering of new evidence. A shady character, believed to be a man of average height, slight build and with a distinct lower class accent is now wanted for questioning. The Head of the Westminster Coven, Countess Evelyn Riche offered a reward of £100 to anyone who provides adequate evidence to hang the killer of Miss Stevens.

The public are encouraged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity involving anti-supernatural sects.

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SOCIETY COLUMN
While Society may still be a-flutter over Lady Kingsley's marvellous garden party last week, but her long-term rival, the Countess of Knightsbridge, is set to host what is building to be the highlight of this season. Famed for her delicacies, humbled manner and exemplary hosting skills, the Countess's guest list is said to include not only the cream of Society, but her generosity also stretches to members of the Metropolitan Police. She is quoted to say that she wishes to thank them for their efforts to make the city a more pleasant place to live. One does wonder, however, if she is trying to emulate Countess Riche's recent generous offer.


In a world filled with steam-powered wonders, dirigibles, supernatural creates and cream tea, a grave conspiracy is stirring beneath the carefully composed, refined face of the British Empire. Werewolves and vampires have long been accepted as part of everyday society; many form integral parts of the intricate social structure. However, there are still those who believe that the supernatural set remain a danger. Many believe still that they are without a soul, and are 'undead', and therefore a moral threat to society.

Attacks on human servants and companions of vampires, referred to Drones, and werewolves, called Clavigers, are increasing.
One werewolf Alpha has been murdered, and his former Beta has received death threats from a mysterious source, along with the Head of the Westminster Coven.
Take your part as a member of high society and a guest [or servant] of the gracious Countess, and help solve the mystery, dodge scandal, or perhaps just enjoy tea and cake in good, fashionable company.

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Wᴇʀᴇᴡᴏʟғ

Werewolves are immortal creatures, the aging process freezing at the time of transformation. Like legend says, werewolves are highly sensitive to silver; to touch it causes pain. Their moods are also affected by the phases of the moon, and are forced to shift into wolf form during the full moon. Younger, less experienced werewolves often transform several days before the moon. During the full moon transformation, werewolves lose all sense of humanity, and are possessed with the instinctive urge to kill and maim. To prevent causing death and destruction, all modern werewolves now lock themselves up with the help of their human staff, Clavigers, during the full moon.
Despite this, werewolves are actually more integrated into society than vampires or ghosts.

Werewolves possess the ability to shape shift into wolf form outside of the moon's influence. They retain all humanity, memory and decorum. The werewolf will resemble their human self in their four legged wolf form in some way or another, and retain birth marks ect. as patterns on their fur.

Wolves live in packs, with the Alpha and their Beta in charge of Pack affairs. In order to become Alpha, one must defeat the old Alpha in combat. If in the unlikely event that the Alpha is killed by accident, the Beta will take charge. The Alpha has unique abilities, when combined with experience. As a general rule, Packs do not exceed six or seven members. The largest pack in England consists of eleven individuals, plus their clavigers. Werewolves may choose mates, but they cannot reproduce. The decision to mate with a human is strictly taboo, unions of any kind with vampires are strictly forbidden.
Female werewolves are rare, and as such, choose their mate, not the other way around. Jealousy is not tolerated, and the female's decision is final.

Transformation into a werewolf must be a willing process. A bite to transform can only be administered by an Alpha Wolf. The odds of surviving are low; 40% for a healthy, young man, and little over 10% for a woman


Vᴀᴍᴘɪʀᴇs

Vampires are also immortals, the aging process completely halted at transformation. Vampires cannot tolerate any sunlight at all; the older they get, the faster they die. Unlike werewolves, vampires are not affected at all by the moon, and tend to flaunt this fact by throwing lush parties during the full moon. Vampires may eat human food, but receive no nourishment from it. They only receive nutrition from the consumption of human blood. Vampires may only drink from willing donors; typically these are Drones, a Coven's human servants. If no Drone is available, a vampire may pay for a 'blood-whore', though if part of a Coven, this is deemed a last resort.
Vampires are notoriously aloof and generally prefer the company of other vampires to humans and especially werewolves.

Vampires exist mainly in Covens, although if they have a strong enough will, they can separate from it. Known as Rogue Vampires, they are few and far in between. The structure of the Coven lends support, company and a sense of place to vampires, to break away from this is an incredible difficult task.
The head of the Coven tends to be a female, despite the low amounts of female vampires created. They are never challenged; a new head is chosen only if the current head steps down or dies.

Transformation into a vampire must be a willing process. A bite to transform can only be administered by a female vampire, usually the coven leader. The odds are surviving are low; 40% for a healthy young man, and about 15% for a woman.

Code: Select all


Name: [Full Name, include title if any!]

Age: [18+ Please!]

Date of Birth:

Marital Status: [Single, courting, engaged, married. You may change this as you plot with others or as the RP develops.]

Social Status: [How does society see you? In favor, or social outcast? May change due to IC events!]

Species: [Human, werewolf, or vampire?]

Rank: [Alpha, Beta, Pack Member for werewolves, Coven Leader, Advisor, Coven Member for vampires. Claviger or Drone for humans.]

Physical Description: [Describe with words please, but feel free to include reference links/pictures. If werewolf please describe your four-legged form.]

Personality: [Please don't make every character a simpering wallflower or boisterous and fiery. The unique characters are always the best to play!]



Victorian Etiquette Reference 1
Etiquette Reference 2
Pretty clothing for women <3
Men's clothing, with further links to clothing in general <3