Nearly nightly, there is an odd meeting of a few vampires who have an obsessive love of old movies and live theater. They gather and go about their business and when the curtain opens they sit in rapt attention watching the events unfold. How long has this been going on? No one is sure but it doesn't appear to be showing any signs of stopping...even if Gehenna is coming.

The Dynamic:

Sam is sort the patriarchal head of this little group by default. Laura is such a mouse and Punchinello is so immature that he can't lead anything. Sam loves Laura deeply (even if the some of his personalities don't) and cares for her as best he can. Sam views Punchinello in much the way an elephant might view a kitten attempting to bite his ankles. amused and unconcerned. He looks at Punch's repeated attempts to betray him as an amusement and he doesn't take them personally.

Laura loves Sam. Sam is the only one who has ever really paid any attention to her. Sometimes she gets down in the dumps about the brother she left behind but for the most part. the movies and the glass collection take up all of her time. There are times when one of Sam's other personalities takes over and she's forced into the role of the gentle mommy. Other times she's forced into the role of cowering victim. This is not usually too bad as the two of them are mutually blood bound to one another. Laura also loves Punch because he's so much fun and can do magic tricks and juggle. It should be noted though that once Punch tried to betray Laura to another vampire intent on consuming her 8th generation blood. That Vampire was driven into catatonia and then Laura turned on Punch. When he recovered some six weeks later he promised he'd never do it again and that was good enough for Laura who kept Sam from killing him.

Punch, for all of his betrayals and sneaking and conniving, thinks of Sam as a kind of father figure. (Which may be part of the problem) he still sharpens his knives on his father-surrogate from time to time but for the most part he practices on others when he can. Punch now considers Laura off-limits. after the incident described above, Punch came to understand that in her own way she is as much a child as those who aren't grown. Since Sam cares for her he has also softened his attacks on him as a result. Punch fills the role of wayward child within the group but is oddly the most able to deal with other vampires in the social arena. If there is real source of tension in the group it is that Punch has bet Sam that he can destroy his favored ghoul Ms Steranko.

The Hangers On:

Because of the nature of their mutual shared activity. They often come into contact with Toreador of various types. Experienced Toreador have discovered that pestering Sam directly or telepathically during a show is a sure way to suck up some nasty derangement's. Punch however is willing to talk with anybody as long as Sam and Laura aren't disturbed. Nosferatu also go visit Sam on business matters and to hire him and they always seem to know the rules. Nosferatu as a general rule distrust Punch. This may be because the group used to have a fourth member named Dr.Grisman who was a Nosferatu and a Sci-fi movie nut. Punch was the last person to see him alive (hint hint.)

Story Uses:

Internal conflict: Punch is trying to kill Sam again. he's fooled or dragooned the players into helping him and they are after a vampire who has powers and strengths that even Punch is underestimating. if caught, Sam will probably disable the players, shake his head at them, and then go and lecture Punch about his errant behavior. Sam generally doesn't take such things personally.

Investigation: Sam Slay is a vampire dick. as such he may be hired by the players to look into things for them. It should also be noted that the Nosferatu, the local Sheriff and the local Prince are also capable of hiring him to look into your affairs.

Save the lady : Laura has been taken by persons unknown for some nefarious misdeed. Sam is only one guy and might need help tracking her down and freeing her. Sam could be very generous afterwards. the only problem is. Punch will try to hamper you every step of the way.