Posted on behalf of David Bounds (AMST Masquerade) and Julian Dillard (US AANST Cam/Anarch)

The purpose for this document is to educate and aid the Storytellers at the Venue, Domain & Regional levels. Its design is to bring to light some of the Do’s and Don’ts for both ST’s on the OOC side of things as well as preparing their players for what is called in the World of Darkness, a “Cleansing”. If the characters, or more often, the players are frightened of the concept of giant Elder characters sweeping in and leveling a city…. they should. Archons and Justicars are not your allies, they aren’t your poker buddies, they’re the chosen seats of Justice by the Inner Council of the Camarilla, and their Archons are the Arbiters of their justice. At this level of the Jyhad, local PC’s are witness to truly monumental movements of the Jyhad, with creatures capable of destroying a local chronicle.

Though it seems obvious to many, on the surface, that the Archons are angels of death from the Justicars, they also serve as Heralds and Harbingers of the Justicariate’s edicts. Though they are given the status Feared & Empowered, and are next to impossible to call in for justice should something have gone wrong, if an Archon is in your city, chances are, your city or its kindred did something to bring him or her there.

I will first address the OOC side of things for the ST. This will also include contact information for the AANST ~ Cam/Anarch. It will also provide some answers to questions your players may have.

Involvement with the Justicars and their Archons is typically begun in one of two fashions. OOCly, an ST sends an email to the ANST and says something like, “I’d like for you to send some Archons to my game to put some heat on the players who are running amuck.” The second avenue for this is purely IC and your city has caught the attention of an Archon, or someone has ratted your cities kindred out, or, in a worst case scenario, the Justicar himself has either witnessed it, or caught wind of it.

Type One

If you, the ST, have contacted the ANST for this purpose, you are in more control that you might think. You know what you’d like to have accomplished, and can request that aide to further whatever local plotline you’re running, or simply to put the fear that “Big Brother” is always watching.

Type Two

The less pleasant scenario is when you start getting emails and/or players of Archons coming to your games ready to turn your city into beaded glass. If this should occur, hopefully, you’ve at least got an idea as to why they are here. As said above, Archons don’t just show up to gatherings looking for fights. If they’re in your city, there’s a reason for it. Remain calm; no one wants to destroy your game.

Some Do’s and Don’ts for Type One:

Do ~ Make sure to contact everyone in the chain of command that would be required to know what is going on in your emails. Communication is the first tool of this game. Follow the chain of command and include any CST, DST, and Venue Leads. Perhaps even the RST, if necessary.

Do ~ Explain what it is that you’re wanting to accomplish. Depending on the location, it may be possible for the actual player of the Archon to show up to the game.

Do ~ Make sure and inform the ANST of what occurred after the scene or gathering, preferably within 24 to 48 hours. As this is a global game, the Archons are often moving about or needed elsewhere.

Do ~ Attempt, while in play, to keep an air of mystery while the Archon is there. Archons watch and listen more than attack or torture. Subtlety is the greatest tool one can wield here.

Do Not ~ Display or otherwise discuss the Archons abilities, stats, powers or motives with anyone other than those expressed by the NST, ANST ~ Masquerade or the AANST ~ Cam/Anarch. If the Archon is entrusted to you to further your game and give it a global feel, make sure that level of trust is not violated by accidentally setting down the sheet for the Ripper Archon at the sign in table.

Do Not ~ Take the Archon character and use it for whatever local muscle needs to be taken down a notch. While and Archon is hired muscle…that Muscle belongs to a Justicar…not the Nosferatu Primogen of Sheboygan.

Some Do’s and Don’ts for Type Two:

Do ~ Remain calm. Again, communication is the greatest tool you have. It can be difficult to remember that, but do your best.

Do ~ Make sure to get the names, Cam #’s and email addresses of those involved.

Do ~Listen to the Archon player/RST/Etc. side of the story…why they’re here, what they plan to do. It could be simple observation or a full on extraction of a member of your city.

Do ~ Realize that actions from one, or a group, have consequences to those actions. If your Prince is seen breaking the masquerade on Hard Copy, and no one covers it up…expect a heavy rapping, rapping at your chamber door.

Do ~ Remember that though it is your local game, with cooperation, the situation can be dealt with professionally and with as little stress as possible. Though the AANST is typically empowered to run these scenes, as he is required to, it’s always nicer to have cooperation from all sides.

Do Not ~ Fly of the handle without knowing what’s going on.

Do Not ~ Make things difficult ICly for the players of the Archons or the AANST. They’re just trying to do their jobs. Even though their Archons may be dead set on laying waste to your city, the players want to be sure there’s no ill feelings garnered from the situation.

Do Not ~ though this one should probably be labeled “Try not”…Try not to deny the entry of the characters. If the situation is bad enough that Archons or a Justicar has come…and the ST wont allow them in, the AANST will likely be forced to have his boss, the NST, deal with the situation. Try to be as respectful, as respected, at the same time. If you seriously have issues with the entry of these characters, explain your reasons why.

Do Not ~ Again, perhaps better labeled “Try Not”…Try not to demand to see the character sheets of the Justicar and/or Archons. These are privy to the ANST, his office and the NST & MST. By his or her decision, others may be allowed to see them. If, for whatever reason, you feel the ANST or his staff is being unethical in their duties, a complaint may always be written.

Questions & Comments from your players:

Q: How do I get to be an Archon?

A: Just like any other approval.

Q: This isn’t fair. All we did was break the Masquerade in 32 places and Compound Fractured the Traditions of the Camarilla. Why are all these high MC people bullying us around?

A: As stated before, if an Archon or Justicar is even uttering your cities name, there’s a reason for it. Either someone has messed up, or someone who knows someone who has more status and owes a hefty boon says you messed up…welcome to the Jyhad. Also, this is not a playground where those with High MC like to show it off and bully people around. These people have been in longer and have worked their way to where they are.

Q: They’re just doing this to ruin our game!

A: The thought of dozens of domains crying havoc because the IC chosen arbiters of the Justicars are meting out justice is not a pleasant one. This is a global game, with a global story. Things happen in stories that not everyone likes, but, typically, you keep reading…

Q: I met the Justicar at ICC and talked to him for 15 minutes, now I want to summon him here to our city.

A: Inform your player that if this is the course they wish to take, that they should send a full proxy to the AANST ~ Cam/Anarch at AANSTCAM@gmail.com … and should perhaps begin thinking of a new concept to play… (That’s like picking up the “Bat Phone,” just to ask Bat Man what his favorite color is…)

Q: My character was taken by the Archons for Diablerie/Treason/pick a crime…when do I get him/her back?

A: Quite frankly, you might not get your PC back. If it has gotten to the point where the Justicar is involved, you’ve already jumped off the board to the deep end of the Jyhad pool…wearing concrete shoes. Though this is written humorously, the fact is, when a PC comes before a Justicar, the player should assume that their PC is no longer alive. Should a PC come before the Justicar, and survived, consider yourself to have seen deaths face, and lived. But don’t count on it.

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