St. Louis by Night Vampire Requiem

City Status Rules

Status is the term that defines the level of trustworthiness or respect within Kindred Society. It determines the weight with which a Kindred's word should be regarded, as well as the "pecking order" within Kindred society. Simply put, those with more status can demand respect from, or even ignore, those with less. Conversely, those with lesser or no Status should never insult or ignore one with higher Status or else face the immediate consequences of being regarded as a criminal in the eyes of all. In cases where there is a dispute between Kindred and the evidence is lacking, Status, and who has more of it, is always the deciding factor in who is right.

(excerpt from Vampire: the Requiem page 102)

City Status represents a vested responsibility and according acknowledgment in the affairs of a domain. Regardless of clan and covenant, certain individuals rise to the top of the social or feudal strata, exemplary because of their efforts in the name of the domain as a whole. Princes, Regents, Primogen, Harpies, and other "officers" of a given domain fit this description.

Additionally, city Status represents those Kindred who aren't part of the prevailing social structure, but who nonetheless have significant esteem, sway or reputation among the Kindred. Examples include bosses of powerful gangs, Kindred who have considerable influence in specialized areas (prominent businessmen, city government, health care and hospitals, religious communities), or even just those who are powerful in their own right but largely apolitical, as with a potent elder who abstains from city responsibilities but whose territory is respected by all other local Kindred.

In some cases, City Status is very much a chicken-and-egg situation - does Prince Maxwell have City Status 5 because he's Prince, or did his accumulated City Status result in his claiming praxis? In other cases, City Status obviously reflects accomplishment, as with a political activist who has many mortal supporters - but those supporters obviously didn't join his cause because they knew he was a vampire. Harpies, in particular, make much of these distinctions, but some speculate that that's because their own Status falls under the definition of City Status.

***** True Paragon (Prince)
**** Cornerstone of Kindred Society (Regent, Primogen, Herald)
*** Much Deserved Reputation (Harpy, Seneschal, Master of Elysium)
** Accomplished Individual (Sheriff)
* Rising Star (Hound)

City Status on St Louis by Night

Taking the above into consideration, City Status in St Louis by Night works the following way.

Awarding and Removing City Status does not fall under the singular purview of the Prince - every Kindred in the City has a say in which Kindred are more or less respected at any given time. The above dot system is taken directly from Requiem, and on St Louis by Night is to be considered the norm for most cities, and the measuring stick by which other Kindred are looked at. This means that in most cities, for example, the Prince would have five dots of City Status and be a True Paragon. In St Louis this might not be the case. In most other cities, the Seneschal would have three dots of City Status and have a Much Deserved Reputation. However, not necessarily so in St Louis. Perhaps in St Louis at any given time, the Seneschal has one dot and some other apolitical Kindred showed herself to be loyal without fault or question to the Prince and her city by risking her unlife to fight the Brood. The general consensus of the St Louis Kindred gives her a Much Deserved Reputation - she has become more important than the Seneschals of most other cities.

Players of Kindred in St Louis have three ways in which to have their character's thoughts on City Status known.

In character scenes in chat - interaction is the best way to determine how your character feels about the other Kindred in the City. Once opinions are formed, start talking up, or talking down, these Kindred to other Kindred. In Kindred society, word gets around quick.

Use of Presentations & City Status forum - This is an extension of the above. Once your character has formed opinions of other Kindred, post them to this forum. Two or more concurring views will raise or lower another Kindred's City Status.
Make certain that the title of the thread includes the character's name. Then proceed to give your character's views of this Kindred and why it is believed City Status should rise or fall.
Here are some specific examples of why your character might want to talk up or down another Kindred, but there are tons more. This is not the end all be all for ways in which to gain Status. It is just a jumpstart to get the creativity flowing:

She has performed a major service for the City (killed Brood, protected the Prince)
She has made herself well known to the Cainites in the city (elysium regular)
She has achieved a position (primogen, keeper, sheriff)
She has provided resources or aid
She has shown good etiquette
She has imparted wisdom and knowledge about the Kindred to others (lores)
She has assisted other Kindred with introductions or getting settled.
She has been shown favor by those of high status (prince, primogen)

And again, the flipside, how Status can be lowered:

She has argued with elders, failure to defer to your betters
She has expressed a lack of knowledge about Kindred
She has shown a lack of etiquette in elysium
She has failed to cooperate with elders
She has badmouthed or disrespected those of status
Her childer or ghouls have misbehaved (yes, you are responsible for them).
She has exercised "bad judgement"
She has broken the Masquerade or "bent" other Traditions
She has failed to honor a boon.

Keep in mind that your character's reasons for another's City Status to raise or fall might not be exactly the same as the next, but speak up. The more views, the more others will be swayed and perhaps convinced to speak up too.

You may not start a thread about your own character!

The Prince of the City is not exempt. The Prince might do things that warrants a raise or lowering of City Status, and since the Kindred WoD is a big political machine this is the best time to take advantage.

On the flipside, if and when the Prince speaks up about another Kindred all should pay heed. You might not agree with what the Prince says and it is your decision whether you post accordingly. Perhaps your character wants to side with the Prince, and ride her coat tails. This might help your own character get a little more City Status. Or, your character might want to see the downfall of the present Prince and therefore, you post an opposite view hoping to gain momentum and entice others to post similar views. If this happens, likely a Prince thread would immediately start which speaks of how she doesn't have Kindred support, and her City Status falls.

Use of the Rumors forum - For whatever reason there might come a time when your character doesn't want it publicly known that he or she is either supporting or not supporting another Kindred. So your character starts a rumor, hoping for it to take hold and spread. Keeping in mind that rumors are not always the complete truth and tend to get distorted the more they're spread, the Rule for St Louis by Night is that the Rumor must have some basis in truth, however minuscule it might be.

Finally, a word about Harpies.

(excerpt from Vampire: the Requiem page 35)

Harpy
Unusual in that it is both an official and unofficial position, the Harpy is, at its simplest level, a member of the "Kindred elite." Harpies represent a who's who of Kindred affairs, the celebrities and fad-starters. Other Kindred look to Harpies to see who's in and who's out, and what positions and opinions are popular this season. A well-known Harpy can sway public opinion faster with a biting comment than some Princes can with a solid decree.
Harpies who attained their influence and position unofficially, through nothing more than personal power and charisma, are often more respected than those who are appointed by Prince or Primogen. An unofficial Harpy probably calls things as he truly sees them, whereas an appointed Harpy is usually believed (accurately or not) to be a shill or even propagandist for the Prince.

On St Louis by Night, a natural extension of spreading rumors and in-chat talking up or talking down other Kindred might very well lead to creating a Harpy, either officially or unofficially.

Please see the following Forum thread for additional information: Status House Rules