Tremere Chantry

### **The Chantry**

There are few things more important to the Tremere than their chantry. It is a home, a base, a stronghold, and an archive. The chantry is the first thing the Tremere establish when they establish a presence in a city, and they will defend it to their last blood.

It is rare for any two chantries to look alike. Not only do the buildings themselves vary, but they also reflect the personality and goals of the members of the Clan in that city. Some are city skyscrapers, while others are ancient manors on the edge of the city. Some are modern, whereas others have seen centuries. A few have remained as they are for years, but many have been redecorated several times at the whim of their masters. A few of the ancient ones are actually systems of caves, and there are stories of young Tremere creating virtual chantries online.

A chantry is described using a series of traits. The appearance can be almost anything, and sometimes the smallest and weakest-looking chantries are the most ancient and powerful. The Storyteller should pick ratings for the chantry in their city for each of the traits listed below. While each trait goes from 1 to 5, Storytellers might grant ratings up to 10 for truly ancient and impressive chantries. As a rule of thumb, the total number of points should be around twice the amount of Tremere living in the city. While the chantry is for the Storyteller to decide upon, they should take into account the needs and desires of their Tremere players and work with them to create something their characters can be proud of.

#### Guardians

While each chantry has magical defenses, it often needs mercenaries to run its mundane defenses, such as with Gargoyles. Such military strength has often proved useful outside the chantry in the service of the Tremere.

For each point the Storyteller assigns to this Trait, the chantry has one supernatural guardian (such as a Gargoyle or a mystical construct) or five ghouls. They will all be loyal to the Tremere Clan and ready to die to defend the chantry.

#### **Library**

It is a poor chantry that has no library. While each may have a powerful collection of rituals and magical lore, the best libraries contain a wealth of mundane knowledge as well. For many Tremere, the library is the most important place in the chantry. A chantry with an extensive library will never want for members.

A Library may not contain any rituals of a higher level than its rating, although how many rituals the Library contains at each level is up to Storyteller discretion. When allowed to do occult research in the Library, a character may add the Library’s rating to their dice pool.

#### **Research**

As well as a library, many chantries offer facilities for magical research and experimentation. In some cases, these laboratories resemble Frankenstein’s lair, while others are covered in occult symbols with great pentagrams inlaid in the floor in silver. When a Tremere is able to use their chantry’s facilities, they may add the Research rating to any dice pool used to create new rituals or thaumaturgical powers.

• The chantry has little or no room for any laboratories. Members must build their own.

•• Those looking for lab space might easily find an unused room with some basic supplies, but all it really offers is peace and quiet.

••• There is a properly equipped laboratory in the chantry, but you will need to share its resources and time.

•••• The chantry has several laboratories, but not enough for everyone. Each member has the use of one until they have completed a project, at which point they must wait their turn again.

••••• Every Tremere in this chantry has a basic laboratory, and there are several well-equipped research centers for more advanced projects.

#### **Sanctity**

The Tremere guard their secrets carefully, and a chantry is a tempting target, but many contain a wide variety of defenses, both mundane and mystical. This rating shows how hard any assault of the chantry might be. In general, the difficulty of any Security or related rolls attackers make while infiltrating the chantry are increased by the Sanctity rating. This represents the quality of the defense they must overcome.

• A few guards are pretty much the building’s only defenses.

•• All the guards are well trained and professional, and several basic wards are placed and maintained around the building.

••• The building itself has also been augmented with toughened glass, steel layers in the walls, and security stations.

•••• The chantry is a fortress, inside and out. It has been designed to survive a siege.

••••• There are so many magical protections in place it is hard to even find this chantry, let alone attack it. Inside the building itself works against the attackers, changing corridors and shifting like a maze.

#### **Stores**

The Tremere recognize the need for resources beyond magic. Many Chantries keep a stock of mundane items, such as weapons, computer equipment, medical supplies, and even stationary. This rating also details the amount of money the chantry has to spend at its members’ request, which grants a level of Resources for the chantry (not its members!) equal to this rating. However, all expenses must be in the service of the Clan, and just because the Clan has the money, it doesn’t mean it will bankroll just anyone for any reason.

• The chantry doesn’t have any equipment of its own, but may be able to offer a little financial assistance.

•• The stores of the chantry stock a good variety of items commonly found in any store. Its weapons are restricted to melee weapons and small caliber pistols and rifles.

••• This chantry has an extensive collection of items found only in specialist stores. It also has a variety of non-military grade weapons and explosives.

•••• The stores here are very extensive, and the chantry will often buy items on request. Its arsenal contains military-issue weapons and ordinance. There are also several black market and illegal items kept here.

••••• There is little you can imagine that cannot be found here or sourced by its caretakers. It is also the repository for some extremely valuable and unique items, such as paintings by the old masters. It may even be the place several dangerous and powerful magical items are held for safekeeping.