What makes or breaks it?: A Look at Vampire the Masquerade

After another long hiatus, it is time now for the continuation of Mark Flavian's story in my look at Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines. I am near the late game portions though not quite there yet.

We cut back to LaCroix's office where we see Beckett examining the coffin and LaCroix standing about expectantly. My guess is he is excited.

And thrilled too. He must love ancient doorstops seeing how he is referring to Mark as a wunderkind.

However recalling what Ming Xiao said about an alliance, Mark brings this topic up in the most subtle and understated manner...

Or he directly says it to his face seeing as he is a madman.

On one hand, LaCroix has every reason to lie here but on the other hand, so does Ming Xiao. One hypothesis, both are lying to the player or more accurately, they are telling half truths at the moment. That or Ming is being honest and LaCroix is being duplicitous.

So in other words, Mark ought to never trust whoever has been trying to kill him? Because you have tried to kill him before.

LaCroix has a valid point though it is more than likely that he did have an alliance with the Kuei Jin.

Either ways, it does not matter. LaCroix is more focused on opening the sarcophagus.

So much for Gehenna right now.

But of course, LaCroix is more obsessed with opening the sarcophagus.

So he gets started on his attempt to open it.

*Cue complementary "Do you even lift, bro?" line here.

Keyword is 'attempt'.

Mark did see the sarcophagus through a camera rather than actual sight so Mark's account should not have been taken so seriously then.

I guess he must want to use the lid as a second doorstop desperately.

Such desperation. One would assume nefarious schemes.

So it is time to comb the sarcophagus over with a fine-tooth comb, seeking clues and symbols to uncover the method of unlocking the sarcophagus.

Or Mark could simply talk to the legendary vampire historian and archaeologist standing in the room.

Seeing how Mark was able to transport the sarcophagus from the Giovanni crypt to that truck by himself, I would not put it past Beckett to be able to do so.

Indeed, he does. Yet I always miss his show.

That ended that line of conversation.

Ah... so an interrogation. I wonder how would Mark be able to converse with an esteemed professor.

Of course, he was kidnapped. Any clues.

I will take the book. I doubt Mark would look great in a bikini with his pale complexion, lack of hair and being excessively skinny. Oh and instant disintegration when exposed to sunlight, cannot forget that too.

So that is where that Bach's storyline went!

Vampire hunting does seem like the kind of profession that prevents one from enjoying their free tim.

Seeing how Mark was a turtle once (Samantha), Mark will obviously go for option 1.

Ah... committing crimes and justifying them by claiming such acts were done in the name of some deity. Why am I not surprised?

That and the game does not handle companion A.I that well. Unless you get good mods.

Good point. Plus Beckett may make the encounter too easy.

Perfect, LaCroix will cover Mark's cab fee! I wonder what he will think if Mark takes the cab to Vegas and back?

Now for more questions!

Good advice... Especially since Mark already has Obfuscate. Also, what is that about powers?

So the fate of the world is dependent on a coin toss? Alright then...

Revolution... Interesting. The rising numbers could mean a case of overwhelming numbers.

Seeing how there is an option to persuade Beckett, Mark proceeds to convince Beckett to divulge more about himself.

I am not sure if this is part of the established Vampire the Masquerade table-top lore or not but it is an interesting fact to note.

Right, almost forgot about that.

Uphold the Masquerade? Got it.

Now to speak to LaCroix but due to a sudden crick in Mark's neck, he is unable to look at LaCroix properly as he proceeds to convince LaCroix to get more money. Or rather my first person view was acting up on me here.

Time to get some more money.

Alright, now to give LaCroix the news.

After questions, of course.

No Masquerade adherence? That cannot be good, especially with all the potential exposure in mind.

Ah... I see- ...Wolves?

That and lousy supernatural romance novels. One quick read and the werewolf dies.

Perhaps there is a mummy in the sarcophagus rather than an Antediluvian? Of course, the next question would then be, is the mummy a normal one or a supernatural one?

Let us hope that the Antediluvians are jokes rather than reality. Of course with this setting in mind, they are probably reality.

Well, Mark would if he had not finished asking Beckett everything he could think of.

Hey, Chunk. Good to see you still have a job.

Seeing how Mark got that Giovanni book from their mansion, it is finally time to turn it in to Pisha and complete her quest..

Good to see you are still here after all this time.

Well it turns out if you can look like a normal person and manage to swipe an invite from a drunken guest, you can waltz around the place without any problems.

Cool, what is it?

A key that makes it harder for other to harm Mark? Perfect. The game is getting combat heavy at this point.

Final nights? Sounds serious and also a catchy name for an end-game scenario.

Well, thanks for the warning then. Too bad Mark has miles to go before he can rest.

And here is the Key of Alamut. Useful for combat situations. Now... Mark has not been to his Haven for a while now so let us head over there now.

Inside, this happens.

Reader, if you have not already done so, go look up videos on Malkavians from this game now. An online journal post (and in writing to boot) are unable do these gags justice.

Yeah... Heather has been doing a decent job taking care of the Haven but every now and then, she misses out on something.

I think so. Hit me.

Go on.

And that got dark rather quickly.

I get it... I don't get it...

Do not worry, I will remember to tip my waitress even though you did not say so.

There are some new mail. One from V.V and the other from Mark's mysterious friend.

Now to check in on Venus. Spare cash is always good.

On the way to The Last Round though... this happens.

Mark engages in verbal battle... against a stop sign.

The sign seems to at an advantage here.

And Mark loses to the stop sign. Tune in next time as Mark engages a 'No Entry' sign.

Now to check in with Jack at the Last Round.

Yeah... a sane Malkavian would be dead quick with all of their insight at their disposal. Anyway, how does Jack know about all of this?

Makes sense.

Based on Beckett's wiki page, he probably has experience with upstart vampire princes.

Sounds like an upstanding guy.

Will do.

That is true. Though since this is an RPG, they will probably screw up and leave me to do it anyways.

Would tunneling into the Earth count as a way?

Now to ask about the Kuei-jin.

Luckily, the one Mark faced in Foxy Boxes seemed to be a weak one.

Quite true. The wiki page is thorough on detailing the Kuei-jin and how different they are.

Now to ask about the Sabbat.

Looks like even Jack can be unsettled. Makes you wonder what else the Tzimisce do.

Now to check on Skelter.

Regarding the Sarcophagus.

That would explain LaCroix's statement.

Knowing how powerful vampire elders can be, it probably has tentacles made of blood instead of hands.

Yeah, hard to be Antediluvian hunters when most of your group in LA seem to be incapable of handling Fledglings like Mark.

Now for Kuei-jin.

Interesting... so who would be worse? Camarilla or Kuei-jin?

Fair enough.

Now to report to Damsel.

Problem now is that I have no way of proving it. I wonder what her reaction will be.

And of course, she goes straight to be furious at a verbal and unverified statement.

Yes. Somewhere important.

Santa Monica, of course.

To Mercurio, to be precise. Remember him, reader?

He sells weapons. Like flamethrowers!

Expensive, yes. But you never know when that entire can of flamethrower fuel could save your life from vampires.

Now to purchase a single bag of Elder Vitae.

And level up Melee for emergencies.

Now, we are ready.

To sneak up to the monastery housing the Society of Leopold.

Past these trees and rocks, Mark can see the top of the aforementioned monastery.

Well, here is a lookout with a weapon. Looks like Mark found the place.

The reader may be wondering why a kindly mad vampire like Mark would resort to lethal methods, like Vision of Death. to deal with the vampire hunters here.

Here is how I have justified it, these hunters have actively sought to harm vampires and even though such zeal is justifiable given how heinous vampires can be, the fact that they have chosen to kidnap an innocent man here in order to lure vampires to them and can justify such an act as perfectly reasonable does not grant them the moral high ground.

It is not much but based on their zealousness (recall how the hunter back in Hollywood immediately staked Ash's look-a-like without any investigation or hesitance), it is more than likely that they are willing to harm innocents to accomplish their tasks.

Also it is because it is a bit of a hassle to sneak around and there is no real reward to sneaking around here so may as well cut loose.

Now to deal wit these two.

As much as I like Vision of Death, I prefer the Tremere's Blood Theft (the level 4 ability of Thaumaturgy from the Plus version of the Unofficial Patch). You can instantly kill a target and then get some blood back.

Now for the other.

As for this guy, Mark needs to replenish his supply.

This lady has a torch so it would be difficult to sneak up to her. Luckily Mark has Vision of Death.

Note that the torch is a usable weapon.

Nearby are these stairs.

Presumably, they are used to sneak into the monastery if the player wishes to avoid fighting.

On the other side from where Mark started from are these guards.

First is to remove the lookout.

Now for the rest. Incidentally, check out that texture fail.

And now to drain this guy.

For this person, Mark decides to get creative.

It is fun to make enemies turn on one another.

Now for the rest.

As for this guy, he spotted Mark so a gun was needed to take care of him.

Along with this guy.

Since stealth was out the window and this lady was shooting Mark with a Desert Eagle, he finishes her off by draining her directly.

With the coast clear, it is time to pick the locks to the back doors.

Behind the left door is this hall.

Here is a hunter praying. Little does he realize how futile his prayers will be.

But before that, time to hack this laptop.

As an aside, which genius thought that a three word password would make for a great password?

Also why would vampire hunters allow for their mines to be set to target humans? Unless they expect ghouls and vampire thralls...?

With the mines armed for humans, Mark is able to sneak up to the hunter and drain him dry.

This hunter drops this new rifle.

Exploring the rooms in the hallway past the dead hunter, Mark finds this journal.

Bach's journal to be precise.

The journal presents Bach's perspective on vampires.

As long as your god does not start Gehenna early...

As one can tell, Grout can only guess at the circumstances and make up unverified hypothesizes. As if Mark would be Grout's servant.

At least he picked up on how most do not care for LaCroix.

If it is, Mark would have to hope that he can find a place to hide.

An inferno? You may be overly imaginative there. Unless LaCroix's tower is made out of flammable materials.

As one can also see, the hunters do not seem to get that there are factions among the vampires. They do get that there is plenty of fighting among the vampires.