The Burning Bridge Set in modern day England in the city of Guildford. England is an ancient land with a rich history. The Elders have long ruled with an iron grip. The power of the royal family has depleted as has the ability of one iron fisted prince to maintain power. The British crown is little more than a tradition however a recently surfaced prophecy has gained a cult following within the Vampiric community. It is believed by these kindred that should the British monarchy fall turmoil and strife would tear the country apart and anarchy would reign supreme. The old Fiefdoms set up by the legendary Ventrue ruler Mithras have now been replaced by Princes domains. Instead of each city having one prince, each Prince controls the entire county, which can consist of more than one large city and hundreds of small towns and villages. This is a lot of territory allowing clans to poses greater domains. This gives the Primogen much more power and increases the importance of their position. This however also allows the Camarilla’s enemies more room for maneuvering This chronicle is set in the City of Guildford in the County of Surrey. Prince Richard Kerrich of Clan Ventrue has ruled for nearly a century. Much unlike any other Prince his territory includes three counties, that of London, Surrey and Herts. His rule has been a bloody but successful one. He has repelled the Sabbat and a multitude of other forces trying to gain control of this magnificent city. For whoever controls London has at their disposal an enormous quantity of resources. Should London fall into the hands of the Princes enemies the repercussions will be felt far across the land. In recent nights the London’s council of elders have grown nevus, despite them remaining tight lipped it hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Prince has ordered that the counties of Herts and Surrey be ruled by a Seneschal along with a council of Whips. Each Seneschal reports only to the Prince and each Whip reports to their Elder Primogen. Each area was given a sheriff and a scourge, their orders are to run the territory under the laws of the Prince. Other than this they are to defend and treat it as if it were their own. Is this a test to see if further splits of power are necessary or are the Elders gearing up for something to come?... 
The City of Guildford and the County of Surrey – a brief history The Surrey town of Guildford is situated 43km/27 miles form London. The town has Saxon roots which grew to importance in 978 and soon became the center of waterways which aided its prosperity. Guildford castle was built as a key point for military control as it looked across the river as well as over looking the pass through the hill an important East-West route across the country. Important events In the years of 1820-1865 Guildford was the scene of severe semi-organized rioting happening every year on November 5th. Wearing masks and costumes the men would gather at nightfall and enter the town, the mob would damage property and assault any who had wronged them in the previous year. It was thought that the Anarchist Ryan Wilks started this trend after the Prince discovered and had his haven burn on November 5th 1819. He disappeared in 1865 after the Prince set a series of traps for him making it increasingly difficult to make it into the area. In 1974 two pubs in Guildford were bombed by the IRA targeting off duty soldiers. In 2007 Surrey was the center of a foot and mouth outbreak amongst its live stock. To stop the spread the live stock were slaughtered and the area underwent major procedures including sterilization of infected areas. Modern day Today Guildford remains one of the most expensive places to live outside of London and is the cultural center of the county. It houses a multitude of historical sites, museums, galleries, festivals including the Guilfest musical festival and numerous concerts through out the year. The town is privy to a major university as well as a The College of Law, the Guildford School of Acting and the Academy of Contemporary Music. Guildford is a thriving commercial town listing four major businesses with a significant presence in the town- includes Vodafone, Mitsubishi, Electronic Arts, and Colgate-Palmolive. Electronic Arts (formerly Bullfrog Productions), Media Molecule and Lionhead Studios have helped the town become a center for computer game production . The fire engine manufacturer Dennis Specialist Vehicles and bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis are also located in the town as well as military vehicle builders Automotive Technique. The Surrey Research Park, contains a number of world leading companies including satellite manufacturers Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. A global gas and engineering company. Understandable why the Prince and council are looking to protect it with a more stable supporting council. The resources in this town are enough to finance any Princedom well and maintain heavy influence across the board. Guildford transport Train - The main station is located near the original town bridge on the west side of the River Wey and serves the main line between London Waterloo and Portsmouth. There are also lines to Reading, Epsom, Gatwick airport, London Bridge and occasional long distance services, operated by CrossCountry, connect Guildford with Birmingham and Newcastle. It only takes 15 minuets to get to London by Train. Last Train out of London is 2.30am lines restart at 5am. Roads – The A3 is known as the Guildford Bypass and is busy at peak times since the A3 trunk road links Guildford to Portsmouth, London and the M25. The M3 and M4 motorways are within short distance. Guildford has a notorious one-way system in the town center. There are other numerous minor A-Roads linking Guildford to various other places.
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Places of interest and entertainment *Guildford House Gallery – 17th Century town house, it’s the biggest most known in the area. Known well for its craft ware, ceramics and jewelery available to buy. *Guildford Castle – Built by the Normans in 1066, it now stands as a tourist attraction and park land, it is the only castle in the county. Many strange and unidentified incidents and unusual sitings have left the public with the idea that the Castle is haunted. *Guildford Cathedral – Built in 1961 from its commanding position on Stag Hill, so named because the Kings of England used to hunt here, the cathedral is an imposing landmark which is a popular venue for many concerts outside of the church and choir. *Guildford Spectrum – A massive leisure complex the largest in the country. Facilities include: 4 swimming pools including a great leisure pool, an Olympic sized ice rink and a 32-lane Tenpin Bowling Center. For the youngsters a soft play area. There is free parking, two bars and four restaurants. *The Boat House – Main area for boating on the River Wey, hiring boats etc. *The Electric Theater – considered the best in the area for upbeat entertainment. *Yvanne Arnaud Theater – A cultural center showing Ballets, Operas, West End productions and musical concerts. Owned by the Toreador Primogen Angela Watson. *North Street Market – Over 30 stalls selling everything imaginable at cheap prices and if you know where to ask the right questions. This is the center for a small time Black market trade. Also known for its Ravnos and gypsy elements so best watch your back. Here work the small timers with potential connections to the underground of the area. |
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