When most think of the kindred they think of the ancient crypts and forgotten lairs of the old world. However, while these immortal creatures may be tethered to the past, they exist as products of the present as well. Cars, guns and even computers are used by the kindred just as surely as the swords and magic of the ancient world.
And it was the advent of the digital age that gave birth to SchreckNet.
A completely secure network created by the Nosferatu, SchreckNet was an online bastion for the insular clan of monstrous vampires. A source of community for some, and a way to share anonymous secrets for others, the network grew to a sprawling collection of file caches, document dumps, chat rooms, image boards and more as the Nos embraced modernity. Like any dark web entity, though, SchreckNet has its share of urban legends, IRC myths and whispered rumors. Some might be just speculation, but others… others are very real.
The only way to find out which is which is to log on, and see what you can find.
Using This Supplement in More Recent Additions
SchreckNet has gone through several incarnations over the various editions of Vampire: The Masquerade. In its original form it was accessible only by the Nosferatu, as that clan built the network, and they were very strict about who could log into it. In V20 the network is still used primarily by Nosferatu, but other clans may be granted some limited access to its capabilities. In the most recent editions, though, SchreckNet was compromised and shut down for being too great a liability.
If your game takes place in the post-SchreckNet parts of the setting, the rumors and resources listed here can still be used. For story considerations, however, consider the elements mentioned as fractured parts and pieces of the original SchreckNet; islands of contact or isolated locations floating somewhere in the dark web preserved by Nosferatu who continue maintaining small, secret parts of the old network. Or, for darker implications, consider that these may represent parts of SchreckNet that were unplugged or deleted, but like the kindred who first created them simply refuse to die.
To use the list, either roll d100 for a random result or select appropriate ones manually.
Here are some sample results:
25. If one is willing to dig deep into the network, they might come across the archive titled Elysium Unbound. This long-running fanfiction details the (supposedly, at least) false love lives of several powerful kindred across America and Europe alike, and even by kindred standards the tales told in this manuscript are scandalous. While the identity of the author has been speculated on, no one has managed to definitively say who is responsible for creating this sprawling work. That anonymity is one of the only things that has saved them from a blood hunt after several particularly explicit chapters came out regarding more than one Prince with particularly sensitive egos.
26. It’s well known that after the Cold War the Nosferatu began acquiring defunct bases, bomb shelter complexes and other unique locations in order to convert them into havens. What most don’t
know is the sheer size and scope of this project, or how coordinated it was across the clan. Fallouts (the name for individuals who are part of this community) maintain their own spaces on SchreckNet, trading tips and making sure that fellow clan members acquire comfortable havens. Odd even by Nosferatu standards, it’s sometimes surprising just where these Fallouts turn up.
27. There’s rumors of an app one can download off SchreckNet called Blood Drive. Similar to other ride share services, it allows ghouls (either independents or those who are given permission by their keepers) to pick up kindred in need. The vehicles used in this service are often modified for safety and anonymity as well, making them ideal for Nosferatu passengers. Payment for this service is most often in the form of vitae, though some drivers will accept alternative compensation.
Released: 11th December 2021 Pages: 21
PDF ($1.99): Storytellers Vault
100 Resources and Rumors to Find on SchreckNet Preview Video
Neal Litherland Reads from 100 Resources and Rumors to Find on SchreckNet