01 / Getting started
Start with the person
Choose an adult character with a reason to be in Gravesend. An archetype describes a background or supernatural nature. It does not replace a personality or decide every allegiance. A Civil Servant is an important exception: that archetype has mandatory Cortex membership.
Use the choices offered during character creation. Human backgrounds and supernatural bloodlines have different starting requirements. Higher tiers and guest characters have separate eligibility rules.
02 / Getting started
Read the room
Look before moving. Check the local map and the descriptions of the people around you. Public streets are not a guarantee of safety. The Cortex can intervene in some public encounters.
look- Read your surroundings.
map- Show the local map outside combat.
directory all- Find places reachable from public streets.
who- Check the player list.
score- Inspect your character.
affect- Inspect lifeforce and active modifiers.
03 / Getting started
Find the next scene
A useful first scene gives another person something to respond to. Ask for directions. Introduce yourself to a neighbour. Seek work or approach a society. Keep what you know as a player separate from what your character has learned.
Read help rules and the help for your chosen archetype before committing to its restrictions. Website character biographies are not automatic in-character knowledge.
help <topic>- Read an in-game help entry.
commands- List game commands.
newbie <question>- Ask a question on the newcomer help channel.
Source notes c5dfe60
Repository edition reviewed 2026-09-19. The running game may differ.