The Box of Lies:

By Reverend K.

This is kind of a home-brew,Check-with-your-Narrator, sort of system. It requires quite a bit of work from your Storyteller so it is entirely optional.

If your character is one that makes information his meat and drink your ST may allow you to purchase a new stat called Lies. This stat is appropriate for nearly all Nosferatu, Most Setites, Malkavians subject to visions, Giovanni and Tremere vampires with many ghostly and spiritual contacts,Sabbat deep cover spies,Toreador rumor mongers and any kind of vampire with a high Investigation score or serious investigative resources (High Police or Underworld influences)

Lies works something like an Influence and is purchased the same way and can be lost in some of the same ways. Lies functions a bit like play money. Each game session, the PC goes to the Storyteller in charge of Lies and shows him how much he is entitled to. Then the player has a number of possibilities:

-For the cost of (1) Lie the player gleans a random piece of information about a random person involved in the LARP.(this is called the "shotgun" option)

-For the cost of (2) Lies. The player may request information about a specific vampire.

-For the cost of (3) Lies. The player may request specific information about a specific vampire.

-For the cost of (4) Lies, the player may request specific information about a specific vampire and receive proof of some sort. (though this may require additional hoops to jump through like prestation debt at the ST evil whim.)

It should be noted, that the ST is under no injunction to reveal truthful information. at least 1 in 5 pieces of data should be an actual fabrication,rumor,wishful thinking or plain bullcrap. Even at the expenditure of 4 Lies, there is a possibility of faked evidence and disinformation. That's why we call them Lies.

This serves 2 purposes. it gives investigator characters something to do and think about. and it gives them leverage they didn't have before.

Modifiers:

Vampire in question has an appropriate influence (-1 to cost) Example: a Tremere occultist wants to find out something about another occultist and has the Occult influence. since he travels in the same circle gathering intel is easier.

Vampire is cut off from his information sources (+2-4 to cost, depending on severity)

No downtime between sessions (+2 to cost)

Creating Lies:

A character who has Lies as an influence may in fact create and distort information for a price. for the cost of 3 Lies, the PC may create a total falsehood about himself or another vampire. With the expenditure of 4 Lies, the PC may create proof that may or may not stand up to scrutiny at the ST's discretion. (Other skills may figure into this. Computer and Subterfuge leaps to mind.)

Characters with appropriate influences may also attempt to create lies about themselves in order to muddy the tracks.

Example: a Ventrue creates an entirely spurious paper trail of his finances with the use of 4 dots of business influences. or perhaps a Toreador Harpy uses status to create horrific lies about a rival.

It should be noted that while a PC is free to create spurious information, he cannot eradicate truthful information without in-character effort. If a PC works hard and moves fast he might convince the ST to remove certain information from the box..But then again he might not.

The Box:

A simple 3" x 5" card file should do for this. Each vampire has entries and they can of course be stored alphabetically. The ST ought to go through the PC's with a fine tooth comb and find all of the information below that fits and makes a separate card for each. Then, you should make up at least one terrible Lie that can seriously damage them. Or at least damage the vampire foolish enough to believe it without checking it out. It might be a good idea to create a database file for all the information and who knows what.

The List of Lies:

Vampire X is in love with...

Vampire X is the Thrall of...

Vampire X is the Regnant of...

Vampire X is the enemy of...

Vampire X is hated by...

Vampire X is has secret friends among...

Vampire X is has secret masters among...

Vampire X is Sabbat

Vampire X is an Archon

Vampire X is older than he/she appears

Vampire X is younger than he/she appears

Vampire X is deeply in prestation debt.(list)

Vampire X has many prestation markers(list)

Vampire X has Methuselah's thirst

Vampire X has sired a secret childe

Vampire X has broken the masquerade

Vampire X is a refugee from...

Vampire X is a survivor of...

Vampire X is Inconnu

Vampire X works for the Inconnu

Vampire X is secretly the childe of...

This is Vampire X's main power base (list influences)

Vampire X is an infernalist

Vampire X has a haven at...

Vampire X's feeding preference is...(especially useful against Ventrue.)

Vampire X knows where (something valuable) is...

Vampire X has used the Inquisition to get rid of enemies.

Vampire X's mortal family is still living

Vampire X's sire hates him.

Vampire X is a diabolist

Vampire X is secretly working for...

Vampire X is secretly (other clan)

Vampire X is angling for the office of...

Vampire X's retainer complement consists of...(list ghouls)

Vampire X has a supernatural vulnerabilities.

Vampire X has a supernatural trump card ( misplaced heart...that sort of thing.)

Vampire X belongs to a Gehenna cult.

The Cassandra Complex:

This is an interesting variation for Malkavians and other similarly prophetic vampires. These sorts of vampires may possess a score in Lies but they may also be approached by the ST at any time with information from the box which appears in visions. Since this sort of information tend to be more metaphorical it may need to be cloaked in some sort of bizarre imagery.

Example: a Malkavian is seeking information about a particular Ventrue. In a rush of fevered revelations, the Malkavian starts jabbering about "A prince in purple,trusted and sought, with a strangers eyes. tainted with rot..." Naturally, the Malkavian can interpret this a dozen different ways but you know that he has learned that the Princes Childe has committed diablerie. Some improvisational skill is recommended.

A Seer of this sort can actually ask the keeper of the box for information that is higher than his score in Lies. This comes at a price. The Seer must agree to a Stunt. At any later time, he may be approached by a ST and handed a Stunt card. The Seer then must perform whatever the card says at that moment. ( usually some sort of psychotic episode, or maybe a derangement comes out to play.)

Additionally, An ST can offer a seer a piece of information for a Stunt as a straight trade.

The player has the option to fight this with willpower but he runs the risk of his prophetic powers deserting him.( I.E. the ST getting pissed off and not giving him any intel anymore.)

Saving Lies:

A PC who has Lies may save up his Lies from session to session in order to obtain greater secrets than his current score can give him. this simulates a long ongoing investigation. Thus, a Nosferatu who has his spies out trying to pick intel can save up 6 Lie dots and purchase 3 Lies about a particular vampire hoping to find the one lever he needs. You MUST inform your ST that you are doing this (in writing would not be a bad idea) because unspent Lies are considered unused. It's also possible to save the Lies that you have coming this game session until later in the game. (Thus enabling you to find out what kind of information is hotly desired first.)

A Final Note:

Cards from the Box should be given to the player and then recollected when the vampire has digested the knowledge (the Player can write the information down if they please.) Under no circumstances should the player be allowed to keep the card. The card constitutes proof of the information in the eyes of some and also shows where they got the information. it also shows other players that the player is not merely guessing. Not to mention, you the Narrator will have to make a new card.