Bureaucracy The organizational aspects of the local, state and even federal government fall within the character's sphere of control. She can bend and twist the tangle of rules and regulations that seem necessary to run our society as she sees fit. The character may have contacts or allies among government clerks, supervisors, utility workers, road crews, surveyors and numerous other civil servants. Locations: City buildings, Registries, etc. Cost Desired Effect 1 Trace utility bills* Fake a birth certificate or driver's license Disconnect a small residence's utilities Close a small road or park Get public aid ($250) Fake a death certificate, passport or green card Close a public school for a single day Turn a single utility on a block on or off Shut down a minor business on a violation 2 Initiate a phone tap Initiate a department-wide investigation Fake land deeds Start, stop or alter a city-wide program or policy Shut down a big business on a violation Rezone areas Obliterate records of a person on a city and county level 3 Arrange a fixed audit of a person or business Church Even churches are not without politics and intrigue that an opportunistic Kindred may capitalize upon. Church Influence usually only applies to mainstream faiths, such as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and the Islamic faith. Sometimes other practices fall under the Occult Influence. Contacts and allies affected by Church Influence include: ministers, bishops, priests, activists, evangelists, witch-hunters, nuns and various church attendees and assistants. Locations: Churches, Archdiocese Cost Desired Effect 1 Identity most secular members of a given faith in the local area Pass as a minister * Peruse general church records (baptism, marriage, burial, etc.) Identify higher church members Track regular congregation members Suspend lay members Open or close a single church Dip into the collection plate ($250) Find the average church associated hunter Access to private information and archives of church 2 Discredit or suspend higher-level members Manipulate regional branches Organize major protests Access ancient church lore and knowledge 3 Borrow or access church relics or sacred items Utilize the resources of a Diocese Finance The world is bristling with trappings of money and those who make it. Kindred with the Finance Influence know the language of money and its haunts. They have a degree of access with banks, megacorporations and the truly rich denizens of the world. The character has a wide variety of servants to draw upon, such as CEOs, bankers, corporate yes-men, bank tellers, stock brokers and loan agents. Locations: Banks, Insurance firms, Stock Exchange Cost Desired Effect 1 Earn money; learn about major transac tions and financial events Raise capital ($1,000) Learn about general economic trends* Learn real motivations for many financial actions of others Trace an unsecured small account Raise capital to purchase a small business (single, small store) Purchase a large business (a few small branches or a single large store or service) 2 Manipulate local banking (delay deposits, some credit rating alterations) Ruin a small business Control an aspect of citywide banking (shut off ATMs, arrange a bank "holiday") Ruin a large business Purchase a major company 3 Spark an economic trend Instigate widespread layoffs Health In our modern world, a myriad of organizations and resources exist to deal with every mortal ache and ill, at least in theory. The network of health agencies, hospitals, asylums and medical groups is subject to exploitation by a Kindred with Health Influence. Nurses, doctors, specialist, lab workers, therapists, counselors and pharmacists are just a few of the inhabitants of the health field. Locations: Hospitals, Health Insurance Organizations, Mental Health Institutes, Pharmaceutical Research Companies, MIT, Harvard Labs Cost Desired Effect 1 Access a person's health records* Utilize public functions of health centers at your leisure Fake vaccination records and the like Get a Blood Trait Access to some medical research records Have minor lab work done Get a copy of coroner's report Instigate minor quarantines Corrupt results of tests or inspections Alter medical records 2 Acquire a body Completely rewrite medical records Abuse grants for personal use ($250) Have minor medical research performed on a subject Institute large-scale quarantines Shut down businesses for "health code violations" 3 Have special research projects performed Have people institutionalized or released High Society Above the head of the common masses exist an elite clique of mortals that by virtue of birth, possessions, talent or quirks of fate hold themselves above the great unwashed masses. High Society allows the character to direct and utilize the energies and actions of this exceptional mass of mortals. Among their ranks one can find dilettantes, the old rich, movie and rock stars, artists of all sorts, wannabes, fashion models and trendsetters. Locations: Clubs, Opera, Conservatories, ??? Cost Desired Effect 1 Learn what is trendy * Learn about concerts, shows or plays well before they are made public * Obtain "hard to get" tickets for shows Track most celebrities and luminaries Be a local voice in the entertainment field "Borrow" $1,000 as idle cash from rich friends Crush promising careers 2 Hobnob well above your station * Minor celebrity status Get a brief appearance on MTV 3 Ruin a new club, gallery, festival or other high society gathering Industry The dark world of the Gothic Punk milieu is built by pumping and grinding machinery and the toil of endless laborers. A character with the Industry Influence has her ashen fingers in this field. Industry is composed of union workers, foremen, engineers, contractors, construction workers and manual laborers. Locations: lower harbor (Gilette, etc), ??? Cost Desired Effect 1 Learn about industrial projects and move- ments * 2 Have minor projects performed Arrange small accidents or sabotage Dip into union funds or embezzle petty cash for $500 3 Organize minor strikes Appropriate machinery for a short time 4 Close down a small plant Revitalize a small plant 5 Manipulate large local industry 6 Cut off production of a single resource in a small region Legal The Kindred presence is even present in the hallowed halls of justice and the courts, law schools, law firms and justice bureaus within them. Inhabiting these halls are lawyers, judges, bailiffs, clerks, DAs and attorneys. Locations: Courts, DA's office, Harvard Law School Cost Desired Effect 1 Get free representation for small cases Avoid bail for some charges Have minor charges dropped Manipulate legal procedures - small wills - minor contracts - court dates Access public or court funds for $250 Get representation in most court cases 2 Issue subpoenas Tie up court cases Have most legal charges dropped Cancel or arrange parole 3 Close down all but the most serious investigations Have deportation proceedings held against someone Media The media serves as the eyes and ears of the world. While few in this day and age doubt that the news is not corrupted, many would be surprised at who closes these eyes and covers these ears from time to time. The media entity is composed of station directions, editors, reporters, anchormen, cameramen, photographers and radio personalities. Locations: Newspapers, TV stations (UPN 38, Channel 4, etc) Cost Desired Effect 1 Learn about breaking stories early * Submit small articles (within reason) 2 Suppress (but not stop) small articles or reports Get hold of investigative reporting infor mation 3 Initiate news investigations and reports Get project funding and waste it, $250 Access media production resources Ground stories and projects 4 Broadcast fake stories (local only) Occult Most people are curious about the supernatural world and the various groups and beliefs that make up the Occult world, but few consider it anything but a hoax, a diversion or a curiosity. They could not be farther from the truth. This Influence more than any other hits the Kindred close to home and could very well bring humanity to its senses about just who and what shares this world with them. Among the Occult community are cult leaders, alternative religious groups, charlatans, would-be occultists and New Agers. Locations: Bookstores, Harvard Square, Central Square Cost Desired Effect 1 Contact and utilize common occult groups, practices Know some of the more visible occult figures * Know and contact some of the more obscure occult figures * Access resources for most rituals and rites 2 Know the general vicinity of certain super natural entities and possibly contact them (Kindred,Garou,mages,mummies,wraiths,etc.) Can access vital or very rare material components Milk impressionable wannabes for bucks ($250) Access occult tomes and writings (part of an alleged Book of Nod) Research a Basic Ritual Research an Intermediate Ritual 3 Access minor magic items Unearth an Advanced Ritual 4 Research to find a new or unheard of ritual or rite from tomes or mentors Police "To protect and to serve" is a popular motto among the chosen enforcers of the law of the land. But in these days, even those ignorant to the presence of the Kindred have reason to doubt the ability of the people who put their lives on the line daily on the common man's behalf. Perhaps they should wonder who they protect, who they serve and why. The Police Influence encompasses the likes of beat cops, desk jockeys, prison guards, special divisions (such as SWAT and homicide), detectives and various clerical positions. Locations: scattered throughout city, Boston Police HQ Cost Desired Effect 1 Learn about of police procedures * Police information and rumors Avoid traffic tickets Have license plates checked Avoid minor violations (first conviction) Get "inside information" Find bureau secrets Get copies of an investigation report Have police hassle, detain or harass someone 2 Access confiscated weapons or contraband Start an investigation Get money, either from evidence room or as an appropriation ($1,000) Have some serious charges dropped Institute major investigations Arrange set ups Instigate bureau investigations Have officers fired 3 Paralyze departments for a time Have a major investigation closed down Politics It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If this is so, the movers and shakers among the Kindred should be quite taken by the artful and cutthroat antics of their mortal counterparts in the field of politics. Some of these individuals include statesmen, pollsters, activists, party members, lobbyists, candidates and the politicians themselves. Locations: State Congress, local government Cost Desired Effect 1 Minor lobbying Identify real platforms of politicians and parties * Be in the know * Meet small time politicians Have a forewarning of processes, laws and the like Utilize a slush fund or fund raiser, $1,000 Sway or alter political projects (local parks, renovations, small construction) 2 Enact minor legislation Dash careers of minor politicians Get your candidate in a minor office Enact more encompassing legislature 3 Block the passage of major bills Suspend major laws, temporarily Utilize state bureaus or subcommittees Usurp county-wide politics Subvert, to a moderate degree, statewide powers 4 Call out a local division of the National Guard Declare a state of emergency in a region Street Disenchanted, disenfranchised and ignored by their "betters", an undercurrent of humanity has made its own culture and lifestyle to deal with the harsh lot life has dealt them. In the dark alleys and slums, one will find gang members, the homeless, street performers, petty criminals, prostitutes and the forgotten. Locations: all over the place, mainly in seedier areas, though Cost Desired Effect 1 Has an ear open for the word on the street Identify most gangs and know their turfs and habits Can live without fear for the most part on the underside of society Has a contact or two in most aspects of street life Can access small-time contraband Often gets insight on other areas of influence Can arrange some services from street people or gangs Can get pistols or uncommon melee weapons 2 Can mobilize groups of homeless Panhandle or hold a "collection" ($250) Respected among gangs, can have a word in almost all aspects of their organization Can get hold of a shotgun, rifle or SMG Can control a single medium sized gang 3 Arrange impressive protests by street people Transportation The world is in constant motion. It's apparent that prosperity is greatly based on the fact that people and productions fly, float or roll to and from every corner of the planet. Without the means to perform this monumental task, our "small" world quickly returns to a daunting orb with large, isolated stretches. The forces that keep this circulation in motion include: cab and bus drivers, pilots, air traffic control lers, travel firms, sea captains, conductors, border guards and untold others. Locations: Logan Airport, Harbor, Transit Authority - the T, Port Authority, North and South Station, Mass Pike. Cost Desired Effect 1 A wizard at what goes where, when and why Can travel locally quickly and freely * Can track an unwary target if they use non-personal transportation Arrange safe (or at least concealed) pas sage against mundane threats (sunlight, robbery, etc.) Seriously hamper an individual's ability to travel Avoid most supernatural dangers when travelling (such as hunters and Garou) 2 Temporarily shut down one form of transportation (bus lines, ship, plane, train, etc.) Route money your way ($500) Reroute major modes of travel Engage in smuggling with impunity 3 Extend control to nearby areas Isolate small or remote regions for a short period Underworld Even in the most cosmopolitan of ages, society has found some needs and services too questionable or simply unacceptable. In every age, some organized effort has stepped in to provide for this demand regardless of the risks. Among this often ruthless and dangerous crowd are the likes of hitmen, Mafia, Yakuza, bookies, fencers and launderers. Location: North End, Chinatown, Beacon Hill, scattered over city in small areas. Cost Desired Effect 1 Locate minor contraband (knives, small time drugs, petty gambling, scalped tickets, etc.) Can get hold of pistols, serious drugs, stolen cars, etc. Can hire muscle to ruff someone up Fence minor loot Prove that crime pays (and score $1,000) Get hold of rifle, shotgun or SMG Arrange a minor "hit" Know someone in the Family 2 White-collar crime connections Arrange gangland assassinations Get the service of a demolition man or firebug 3 Supply local drug needs University We live in an information age, and the quest for learning and knowledge begins in schools, colleges and universities. University Influence represents a certain degree of control and perhaps involvement in these institutions. Within this sphere of Influence, one will find the teachers, professors, deans, students of all ages and levels, Greek orders and many young and impressionable minds. Locations: Boston's many universities Cost Desired Effect 1 Know layout and policy of local schools * Get records up to the high school level Know a contact or two with useful knowl edge or skills Minor access to facilities Fake high school records Obtain college records Faculty favors Cancel a class Fix grades Discredit a student 2 Organize student protests and rallies Discredit faculty members Acquire money through a grant ($1,000) Falsify an undergraduate degree 3 Arrange major projects Alter curriculum institution-wide Free run of facilities