Rouen is a large city in northern France, and the Medieval-era capital of the province Normandy.
History[]
The city was originally the local capital of the Véliocasse gaulish tribe , named Ratumacos, getting its importance from being on the Seine river since 900BCE.
Then under the roman domination it became Rotomagus , second city in population of the Gallia Lugdunensis, second only to Lugdunum (the actual Lyon). The city was prosperous, even owning its large amphitheater until the barbarian invasion of the third century.
Since then the area is an important battlefield between Lupine and kindred, and was given to the viking leader Rollo in exchange of protecting the main way to Paris.
In the middle of the 12th century the long dated ventrue domain put in place the Échiquier de Rouen to administer the area. Around the same time the Normandie area became a Baronies of Avalon, centered on the city of Caen, and the two were in a polite cold war. In 1175 , Mithras came to the city of Rouen to make an agreement with Melusine d'Anjou, and the toreador became vassal of the Baronnies of Avalon, responsible of Anjou, Poitou and Guyenne, while being recognised as Queen of Anjou.By this political move the Prince of London could concentrate his focus on the British islands and the north of France.
But the barony fell in 1204. The french king Phillipe-Auguste then built a great castle atop a proeminount hill, with the hidden amphitheater beneath, domain of the Echiquier.
Despite the Hundred Years War , the city continue to prosper and is the fourth city of France in population (behind Lyon, Paris and Marseilles). During this period the city pass multiple time from french to english dominance , and the city is mostly reknown for being the place were Joan of Arc was burnt alive, becoming a symbol for a lot of different mortal or supernatural beings.
In 2000 the kindred population of the city, around 15 vampires, was wiped out by a concerted effort of knight-templars , the Inquisition and some Hunter, dismanteling any organisation in favour of the kindred and keeping since then the city from their influence.
Some rumours say that only half a dozen kindred might live, probably in the University area. In fact they are seven of them :
- Hespéride , a gargoyle, only survivor of the tremere chantry.
- Nicholas, a nosferatu elder, roaming in the city as a spy for his clan and the Camarilla.
- Alphonse Boulangié, nickname Al a brujah, autoproclaimed anarch baron of the city.
- Camille, a toreador anarch.
- Jay, a gangrel anarch and ecological activist.
- Dorian, the childe of Al, who spent most of his time with the students' unions.
- Gregoire Drouet, a 12th generation Sethite who came to the town following the trail of dark legends and prophecies.
References[]
- VTDA: Wolves of the Sea
- DAV: France by Night
- Rouen Brûle-t-elle?: [[{{{2}}}]], p. 6-13,36
- DAV: Dark Ages Europe, p. 13