Portrait of a Vampire

This story has two main characters that your players need to assume. Other players can be added in to follow along in the story and assist in combat.

Elise is a painter and Sebastien the mysterious love interest, both will have decisions that will change the consclusion of the story. 

Enjoy!

Recommended Storyline

1. Mysterious Stranger

 

 

Setting

 

A smoky, late-night bar in a quiet quarter of Paris. Elise, a struggling painter, nurses a deep red cocktail, her mood a blend of melancholy and anticipation.

 

Plot

 

While sketching, Elise is approached by Sebastien, a man whose captivating gaze and anachronistic charm leave her enchanted. He speaks of Paris as if he has known it for centuries. Later, as Elise walks home, two muggers emerge. Before they can react, Sebastien appears.

 

Conflict Opportunity

 

Sebastien's Choice:

  • Escort Elise Home (Love Token): Sebastien offers to walk her home, putting her safety before his hunger. This choice demonstrates his struggle against his base instincts and earns him a Love Token.

  • Send Her Away and Feed (Lust Token): Sebastien tells Elise to run, his eyes briefly flickering with hunger as he preys on the muggers. This choice shows his darker side and earns him a Lust Token.

 

2. First Date

 

 

Setting

 

A charming, bustling Parisian coffee shop. The sunlight and the aroma of roasted coffee beans contrast with the dark alley where Sebastien's nature was first revealed.

 

Plot

 

Haunted by the previous night, Elise seeks refuge in a coffee shop. Sebastien appears and approaches her, his movements a conscious effort to appear normal. Their conversation focuses on a shared passion for art. He tells her a story about an ancient painting he knows of, one that reflects his lost humanity.

 

Player Choices

 

Sebastien's Choice:

  • Pull Away and Focus on the Art (Love Token): When he catches the scent of her blood, Sebastien fights his instincts and focuses on an art book. This demonstrates his commitment to Elise and his struggle for control, earning him a Love Token.

  • Let the Hunger Linger (Lust Token): Sebastien's eyes linger on her a moment too long, a flicker of predatory hunger passing across his face. This choice hints at the danger he represents, earning him a Lust Token.

Elise's Choice:

  • Confront Him Gently (Love Token): Elise, choosing to trust her instincts, asks him a soft question about his strange look. This shows her compassion and bravery, earning her a Love Token.

  • Ignore It and Change the Subject (Lust Token): Unnerved, Elise avoids eye contact and changes the subject. This action shows her fear and creates a barrier between them, earning her a Lust Token.

 

3. Vampire's Lust

 

 

Setting

 

Elise's cozy art studio late at night, filled with unfinished paintings and the scent of turpentine. A glass of cherry merlot glints in the warm lamplight.

 

Plot

 

After their coffee shop meeting, their connection deepens. On his way to her studio, Sebastien is confronted by two members of the vampire elder council. They warn him that his fascination with a mortal is a dangerous betrayal of their kind. Shaken, Sebastien arrives at the studio. As Elise sips her wine, he pulls away, visibly distressed. He reveals a veiled portrait of his former self and confesses his true nature: a vampire tormented by monstrous lust and a profound connection to her.

 

Player Choices

 

Sebastien's Choice:

  • Avert His Gaze and Focus on the Portrait (Love Token): Sebastien focuses on the portrait, speaking of his profound loss of humanity and the elders' threat. This demonstrates his active fight against his lust, earning him a Love Token.

  • Gaze at the Wine, Then at Her (Lust Token): Sebastien's eyes linger on the wine, then on Elise. A dark flicker of lust passes through them, a raw and honest look at his monstrous side. This shows the constant battle he fights, earning him a Lust Token.

Elise's Choice:

  • Move Closer to Him (Love Token): Elise, seeing the tortured soul, moves closer and gently places her hand on his arm, a gesture of acceptance. This demonstrates her incredible bravery, earning her a Love Token.

  • Pull Away from Him (Lust Token): Overwhelmed, Elise pulls away, clutching her glass of wine. Her fear is stark and real. This action puts an emotional distance between them, earning her a Lust Token.

 

4. Restraints

 

 

Setting

 

Sebastien’s grand yet desolate mansion. In a secluded chamber, a heavy wooden chair with leather straps faces a large, veiled painting.

 

Plot

 

Elise, determined to see past the monster, insists on staying. To protect her from his darker impulses, Sebastien straps himself into the chair. He reveals the veiled painting, a portrait of his vibrant former self, and stares at it with envy. He explains that the chair and painting are symbols of his internal war between love and monstrous lust. While in restraints, he confesses his true nature as a vampire, the existence of the elder council, and their strict laws against fraternizing with mortals.

 

Player Choices

 

Elise's Choice:

  • Offer Comfort (Love Token): Elise chooses to see the man in pain and gently places a hand on his arm. This reinforces her commitment to him, earning her a Love Token.

  • Step Back in Fear (Lust Token): Overwhelmed, Elise steps back, terrified by the revelations. This action shows her instinct for self-preservation, earning her a Lust Token.

Sebastien's Choice:

  • Reassure Her (Love Token): Despite his pain, Sebastien reassures Elise that she is his only light, and his love for her gives him the strength to endure the restraints. This demonstrates his profound commitment, earning him a Love Token.

  • Emphasize the Danger (Lust Token): Sebastien lets the hunger flicker in his eyes and warns her to leave for her own safety, but the look in his eyes suggests a part of him wants her to stay. This forces Elise to confront the full reality of who he is, earning him a Lust Token.

 

5. Second Chance

 

 

Setting

 

The grand, desolate estate of Sebastien at night. A full moon casts stark shadows across the cobblestone courtyard.

 

Plot

 

After a long night, Sebastien and Elise have decided to be together. They step out of the mansion, ready to begin their perilous journey to the cathedral to reclaim his humanity. Suddenly, three ancient vampire elders emerge from the shadows. The leader, a cold and powerful woman, accuses Sebastien of betraying their kind and threatens to make an example of him. The confrontation is a test of their resolve, a baptism by fire that will determine the course of their future.

 

Player Choices

 

Sebastien's Choice:

  • Distract and Protect (Love Token): Sebastien pushes Elise behind him, a shield to protect her. He speaks to the elders, buying time with words and trying to find a way out without a direct fight. This choice demonstrates his commitment to their love, earning him a Love Token.

  • Go on the Offensive (Lust Token): Sebastien attacks the elders with predatory hunger, using his vampire powers to create an opening for Elise to escape. This brutal violence reminds her of who he truly is, earning him a Lust Token.

Elise's Choice:

  • Stand and Fight (Love Token): Elise refuses to hide and stands by his side, ready to help in any way she can. This choice reinforces her commitment to him and shows her incredible bravery, earning her a Love Token.

  • Flee as Instructed (Lust Token): Overwhelmed and scared, Elise runs as Sebastien instructs. This action shows her instinct for self-preservation, creating a significant emotional and physical distance between them, earning her a Lust Token.

 

6. Amour Parisien

 

 

Setting

 

A sunrise view from the top of Montmartre, overlooking Paris. The city, bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun, is a symbol of new beginnings and hope.

 

Plot

 

After a successful ritual at the cathedral, Sebastien is mortal again, physically weakened but emotionally free. His love for Elise is now pure and unshackled. As they watch the sunrise from Montmartre, their fate is determined by the balance of Love and Lust Tokens they earned throughout their journey.

 

Endings

 

  • Path of Unconditional Love (Majority of Love Tokens): Their journey ends in pure love. They stand hand in hand on Montmartre as the sun rises. Their love story is not one of a monster and a mortal, but of two people who chose to fight for a life together. The end of the game is their new beginning.

  • Path of Sacrifice (Sebastien has Love, Elise has Lust): Sebastien is free, but Elise is still haunted by the monster he was. She loves him, but her fear has created a distance. Their future is uncertain, a blend of love and fear they must now navigate.

  • Path of Regret (Sebastien has Lust, Elise has Love): Sebastien is a man again, but he is riddled with regret. Elise loves him, but the monster she saw has tainted her view. Their love story is a tragedy, a lesson in what happens when love isn't enough to conquer the monster within.

  • Path of Damnation (Majority of Lust Tokens): The ritual fails, and Sebastien's vampiric lust overpowers him. The final scene is not a sunrise, but a dark and lonely night. Sebastien feeds on Elise under the portrait of his former self, which burns in the background. Their story is a final, desperate warning of the dangers of a love not built on trust and sacrifice.