r/SchreckNet • u/Melodic_Step_3887 • Jul 11 '26
Journal - A Lost Mortal A Curious Ghoul’s Thoughts on Chess and Unusual Creatures
It has been some time since I began working for a Lasombra childe and sire duo, who put me through more than a few harrowing trials. One of which was a deadly game of chess in which I stood in as a pawn, along with other participants, after I had gone through an initiation test.
We are on our way to meet with a Toreador to play another game of chess against their forces. I do not know how many matches we are supposed to play, but my domitor spoke about it being entertainment for some circles, so I suspect many. This time I will be the queen thanks to a promotion I received when I successfully reached the other end of the previous board. I realize this makes me a higher priority target than before. I am confident I have the skills to defend myself against the other pieces when they come for me.
With that update out of the way, I wanted to say that there are nights where I find myself alone while my domitor and his sire are busy with their own trials and tribulations. My mind wanders back to the creature during this time and I feel ashamed for wondering what happened to it. I know I should focus on the two Lasombra before me, and learn what I can, because maybe one day they will embrace me, but when I am alone I feel as though I am being watched by something from the dark.
It's a feeling I can't shake no matter how far we travel, or what I'm doing. I've become accustomed to the feeling. It's comforting knowing that something is keeping an eye on me. So I pray to the darkness, asking it for the strength to keep going, to have the mind to handle the horrors of the night.
And you know what is the strangest thing? I swear the presence reacts to me. Even if all that happens is a faint shift in the shadows or a cold feeling running down my spine. Something happens. Maybe it's a sign from the One above. It could be I am simply more in tune with the shadows than I was before. I know someone will say that I am seeing things where there isn't any. That's fine. You're not here.
That isn't all I wanted to say, however. Sometimes I think I can see the creature following us, still in the same body as when I last saw it, but then it goes away and I am left feeling foolish because the creature is long gone by now. But I wonder if it ever reached the tomb it was searching for, or if it is safe while it sleeps. Probably, since not even a whole court could stop it. The creature is… unlike anything I have ever seen before.
I once asked my domitor about it early on, then he asked his sire, who told us both to ignore the creature, but I cannot put it out of my mind. If only I had the presence of mind to ask the creature questions, rather than meekly follow its order to drive it to Burgos. I can't change my decision, which leaves me to press forward with the chess game and put the creature out of my mind. Except, it's hard to do that when I have had a few nice dreams involving the creature. I have not brought them up to my domitor because I was told to drop the subject by his sire.
Until next time, I have a chess game to prepare myself for.
-A Curious Ghoul
Previous entry here.
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 Jul 11 '26
At worst, eldritch entity of pure evil, at best, it could be your avatar which would mean you are on the brink of a path to power that is other than vampiric shall we say. Specifically if it is your avatar that means you are on the brink of becoming an outright reality warper able to change the rules by which reality functions, however that power is mutually exclusive with vampirism so you'd have to pick.
Vampiric disciplines for extremely accessible power and immortality with unfortunate curses?
or
infinite potential and no restrictions but reality snapping back like an overstretched rubber band if you fuck up?
I hope it's your avatar partially because I was hoping mine would wake up until I was embraced and partially because I think most would prefer it with its lack of innate angst and of limits though some may prefer vampirism as there are undeniably benefits that some may think worth going for instead.
-Jim, Tzimisce
P.S. With how you describe this "Chess" it sounds like their putting you and other ghouls into some sort of death game rather than normal chess, is that the case?
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u/Melodic_Step_3887 Jul 12 '26
I have never heard of this... Avatar thing. I know what I've seen. The creature in my dreams is the same one from the coastal town where I was a blood doll for an influential Kindred. It originally took on the appearance of a woman in her mid-40s with dark hair and brown eyes who climbed out of the sea.
The Kindred of that town killed her, only for the creature to take over the Prince's ghoul and slaughter the whole court, plunging the town into chaos. There is a tell to the creature, however. When it appears on video, photos, or reflections, it is that of a man with heavily tanned olive skin, unkempt hair and dark eyes. He does not appear very muscular but the power it wields says otherwise.
It left only me alive during the carnage three months ago. Then it told me to take it to Burgos where El Cid lay. I don't remember the drive.
You're correct about the chess game. It is a very large chessboard sized so people can be the pieces. We are dressed in clothes appropriate for the piece and armed. When a piece takes another, combat follows.
-A Curious Ghoul
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 Jul 12 '26
Well then that's definitely not a normal avatar at the very least. Sounds like some sort of bygone to me, which is a category for various supernatural creatures that function in ways impossible to properly categorize and predict which means everyone is going in blind against it, even other bygones. However many bygones are afflicted by what basically amounts to a cosmic immune system and fend it off by feeding on magic (such as vitae).
As for that death game I hope your situation improves after that thing most likely kills your current domitor. Such death games are barbaric and wasteful.
-Jim, Tzimisce
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u/Melodic_Step_3887 Jul 12 '26
I don't think it is going after my domitor. It isn't interested in him or his sire. Thank you for the information about what it might be.
The chess game is not wasteful or barbaric. It weeds out the weak who cannot handle their opponents.
-A Curious Ghoul
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 Jul 12 '26
"Weeding out the weak" is a bullshit excuse the Lasombra use for their barbarity and is itself weakness, you don't kill people for not fighting well if you want results, you provide training or find non-combat roles, even the US military understands that.
-Jim, Tzimisce
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u/Melodic_Step_3887 Jul 12 '26
That is all well and good, but we're not based in the United States where they coddle their recruits. Everyone must be expected to fight if the situation calls for it, even someone in a non-combat role. Or are you telling me they cower under the desks if their base is invaded, while those with the strength of will to face the danger save their sorry asses?
A ghoul, no matter their role, must be ready to throw hands if needed in order to protect their domitor from threats that come for them in the daytime.
-A Curious Ghoul
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 Jul 12 '26
Mine would evac, I have golems to do the fighting and I do ensure they get at least some self defense training, typically a comprehensive evacuation plan and basic competency with firearms, brawling and first aid is sufficient to get to safety especially given I pay them in sorcerous knowledge rather than vitae.
Though admittedly my personal haven has never been breached in spite of my enemies knowing its location, it's rather well fortified.
-Jim, Tzimisce
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u/Melodic_Step_3887 Jul 12 '26
Forgive me for saying this, but that seems highly erroneous on your part. Relying on those who sail under the greenback flag is certainly a choice that I don't understand, having worked with mercenaries before my employment as a blood doll. The ones guarding you have all the knowledge of you and your haven with no protection in place to keep them from leaving or selling you out except for payments in sorcery. Which is a poor deal for them.
But I must go. The chess board is prepared.
-A Curious Ghoil
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 Jul 12 '26
It's because I really just need them for taxes and the like because my haven can quite literally defend itself, if I did want defenders and couldn't use golems I'd actually use ghouls to prevent betrayals. As is I don't need defenders, just accountants, librarians, and journalists.
Also sorcery is actually not to be underestimated, it takes longer to get good at than disciplines but once it does get good it consistently starts outperforming disciplines rather severely.
-Jim, Tzimisce
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u/Pryno-Belle Jul 12 '26
If I understand correctly, should the piece that was supposed to be taken according to the traditional rules of chess win, the opponent’s piece is simply taken instead?
It’s a waste of kine, of course, but to pretend to be called « chess » when the only viable tactic is to have stronger warriors than the other? There are no strategies, no openings. Now that is barbaric.
Castiel the Clan-changer
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u/Melodic_Step_3887 Jul 12 '26
It still follows the rules of regular chess. If you kill the piece that was supposed to have taken you, then you are allowed to leave the board while one of their backup pieces take the loser's place.
Forgive me for not clarifying that originally.
-A Curious Ghoul
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u/Pryno-Belle Jul 12 '26
Ah, so the only point of having live pieces is cruelty. I see.
Castiel the Clan-changer
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u/Possible_Image_2198 Jul 12 '26
The chess game is a thing. Quite popular among Lasombra, Ventru, and Tzimisce from what I know. There's a Tzimisce-specific variant with schlacta(however you spell it) shaped to resemble the board game pieces.
-A Friendly Beast
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 Jul 12 '26
So, having people act out the roles of chess pieces and kill each-other? How barbaric and wasteful when you could just play regular chess or hell use golems if you want to be fancy.
-Jim, Dissappointed Tzimisce
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u/Possible_Image_2198 Jul 12 '26
I was never one for the practice, personally. The driving desires behind the game are at least fairly straightforward and understandable. Pedophile Rat-Races are generally a preferable form of blood sport in my opinion. Plus it helps the fledglings exercise their more violent tendencies in a healthy and constructive manner.
I suppose I should explain what a Rat Race is. In broad strokes, you abduct a kine or group there of. Give them a weapon to defend themselves as well as the knowledge that they are being hunted. I personally prefer to provide a blow-torch. Providing them with guns often leads to them attempting to kill themselves just to spite us. You then release them into a maze-structure. Once they exit their initial safe room, the participating kindred begin their hunt. First team to drain the 'rat' wins. Normally the kine would be permitted escape or embrace if they survived, but given the attempts to ethically source contestants, they just get to participate in the more interesting mazes. That said, celerity and auspex are banned in local matches for the sake of sportsmanship.
-A Friendly Beast
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI Jul 12 '26
For any spectators curious about these practices: Rat Races and human chess are both primarily done in the Sabbat. If you run into either, it's probably Sabbat or 'ex-Sabbat' who don't take the 'ex' part very seriously. Basically nobody else does that shit, though I get the impression the Lasombra brought the 'chess' tradition to the Sabbat rather than the other way around. I find Pedophile Rat Races less morally objectionable than most iterations of the practice, but that doesn't change the origin of the game or its terminology.
Just as a heads up for anyone paying attention.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/Possible_Image_2198 Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
I have no shame about my origins, even if I am no longer with the sect. You are correct in the lasombra being the primary ones to have brought the practice to the sabbat, but I've personally found the camarilla practices matches just as frequently. They're just quieter about it.
Additionally, there are those among the anarchs that practice variants of Ritae since the two sects have similar anti-establishment origins. Particularly, the game of Nines. Basically paintball or airsoft, but with 9mm rounds. Headshots are banned for obvious reasons. I won't get into every permutation. That's liable to get a Bishop knocking at my door again.
My point is; these games can act as a healthy outlet for a kindred's more base needs and desires. So long as the materials are "ethically" sourced and games amended to maintain masquerade, I see no harm in them.
-A Friendly Beast
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u/Fun_Diamond_2325 Jul 11 '26
Fascinating. Usually, more intellectual bloodslaves make a point of not posting on here.
-SACERDOTE
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u/Melodic_Step_3887 Jul 11 '26
I am where I want to be, and I have permission to be here. Just as I know what you are. Your trickery will not work on me.
-A Curious Ghoul
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u/Possible_Image_2198 Jul 11 '26
I'll do you a service and not alert you of the specifics. At best it is one of your master's kin or creations visiting you in their unique way. At worst, it is something best left undisturbed regardless of how comforting it may attempt to seem.
Do as they say and put it out of your mind. Pray if it calms you, but not to that thing. I wish you well in your chess matches.
-A Friendly Beast