Red Rain: Valleraine Estate
Once it was the "Jewel of Annapolis," the crowning gem of a Domain marked by Toreador refinement, grace and idealism.
In early 1990, tragedy struck and the gates of the mammoth estate were barred.
Now it is the crossroads, common ground between our world and another - beguiling and filled with mysteries of its own.
Swathed in mystery and hounded by decades of scandal, society both Kindred and Kine often wonder in hushed tones just what may lie behind the iron gates... of Valleraine.
The estate was commissioned in the mid-1600's by a formidably forward-thinking Lady Katrine Valleraine, who in Cainite society shared her Prince-husband's influence and power while he was lord and master.
While Katherine lived, the estate was breathtaking to experience. Her galleries were filled with collections beyond compare: Renaissance masterpieces displayed impeccably alongside modern brilliance and the mastery of the Greek and Roman cultures. Her decor was ever-changing, her halls reflecting the march of ages and the taste of a great noblewoman. Her guest wings were filled with visitors from near and far, and the grand ballroom burst with activity and life, with grand parties almost every night as she played host to a score of dignitaries, royalty and nobility of all stations.
The tradition of hospitality and diplomacy mingled with an air of frivolous generosity and hedonistic abandon in the world of the Camarilla. Named Elysium at the turn of the 18th century by Arnaud, it stood forever after that as a prime center of Cainite politics and eccentricities: both extremes, taken beyond imagination.
In February 1993, Valleraine's first and only mistress was assassinated along with her beloved Prince and husband, and the deed fell into the hands of an unknown neonate who went by the name Silver.
By 1998, Silver's status and recognition in the art world had definitely changed, though one thing had not: Valleraine's mistress and those to whom she offered sanctuary remained as much an enigma.
Silver Carmichael
The Artiste
Valleraine's latest mistress reflects the somber seclusion and tragic beauty of the estate itself. She appeared in Detroit in 1965 and has floated in and out of Camarilla, Kithain and mortal society ever since. It's been said she has acquaintances in Los Angeles, runs with Anarchs and Gangrel, had a Giovanni lover, harbors Sabbat in the "neutral territory" of her home, has humbled Princes, Primogen and Elders alike with her moods and magic, and was gaining amazing prestige in Paris for her extraordinary artistic talent before the Darkness came. The truth of any of these rumors may never be known, but she does have an enduring quality about her: both vulnerable and dangerous, Fae-struck and often smitten, her complexity has compelled many to dance too close to the flame. Some have never recovered. Though her past is littered with details sordid and oft-times incredible (almost to the point of being ridiculous), she has persevered through trial and tribulation and remains at the heart of a genteel and nearly lost society which exists just beneath the surface.
Marko
"The Inconnu"
A character who adores being able to find a niche "just below the surface" and out of sight of most, Marko remains ever shrouded in the mystery he loves. An active and ever-progressing, ever-aggressive member of society, he arrived in Baltimore just a few decades ago. After spending time in the "abandoned" Tremere Chantry in Annapolis, Zimmerman House, Marko emerged with a new game plan all his own. Clan Tremere once had him marked for greatness, but had just branded him Rogue before the Darkness fell. He has declared himself Inconnu, and while few would dare boast such a claim, it seems that this ex-Warlock is eager to show that he's capable of backing it up.
He has been known to haunt the Cathedral of St. Michael from time to time, and it's been remarked that he's spent a good deal of time at Valleraine. Could it be the unique "independent" status of the place he enjoys? Or the company?
In any event, it is most likely that he is one of those destiny-ridden, high-stake players in the struggle for control. Will he tilt the balance of power, or become just another victim in the ultimate Jyhad?
Alexander
The Visitor
Having been Embraced elsewhere and having fled Washington, DC, Valleraine offered Alexander welcome asylum from a Clan he wished to avoid. Declaring himself Caitiff the Domain wouldn't have protected him, but Valleraine did. He's found both home and haven there, as well as a few extra perks: the libraries of the unsanctioned Tremere which are sometimes found skulking the upper-most halls of the darkest wing of the mansion.
The Coven by the Bay
Though there are no Tremere recognized in the Domain, there are nonetheless those who would fight the current and establish themselves as a new Chantry, doing the bidding of their Clan. Unsanctioned yet undaunted, these three have managed to carve themselves a niche. They claimed an old country club and renovated it to suit their purposes, but when the crises of 1998 arose Don Gregorio found them out; they'd betrayed by one of their own (Sinjin, they believe, who has now returned to Vienna); and they were forced to abandon the place. They found Valleraine a welcome bastion against the encroaching storm, and Silver must have welcomed them for it is reported that they've been there ever since.
Maximillian, the Regent
The man with the plan, he organized the chantry, hand-picking the members from the best-of-the-best of Washington, DC. To what end?
He has quite a record in the right Circles for being a tried and true Tremere, one of the best and brightest, bent on following orders and doing what he's told. He's a visionary and a shrewd leader, a dangerous combination. What plans could such a pyramid climber have though for a defunct domain and an abandoned, an allegedly possessed, chantry? You probably don't want to know...
Echo, the Prophetess
Perhaps it is her Auspex, perhaps a new strand of Thaumaturgy; perhaps it is some quality unique to Echo herself, but she has been known to see things... disturbing visions of the future? or a side-effect of too much of Dev's "special" brew? Studied in the ancient arts of the occult, she is well-versed in the Old Ways and is rather a modern-day Cassandra... though fortunately it seems that her words and warnings are often heeded, at least by her Regent Max.
Dev, who should probably be Gangrel
Max's only childe to date, it is difficult at first to understand why Dev is Tremere. He's personable, extraverted, and loves nature and all things wild and uncivilized. He gets along best with Clan Gangrel - historically voted the "Clan Least Likely to Get Along with the Tremere" - and likes Valleraine. A lot. Perhaps too much. The Fae and its mercurial mistress both hold a certain fascination with him, and he also pals around with Alexander quite a bit. That his Sire and Regent hasn't called him back should be telling...
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