01 / World and lore
The place on the map
Gravesend is a fictional coastal Massachusetts town. Its importance to supernatural groups comes from connections between worlds and the resources and dangers those connections create. Familiar streets and houses exist alongside a much larger struggle over access.
The current setting includes Cortex enforcement and an Academy built around its rule. Older inherited descriptions of three equally active factions or an impartial Institute do not describe the current faction and school records.
02 / World and lore
Worlds and territory
Current operation and encounter documentation names the Other and the Wilds as well as the Godrealm and Hell. These are not decorative travel destinations. Territorial footholds and operations connect them to society resources and to higher-power claims.
Cortex members in dangerous rooms of these worlds can face a separate ambush check. A lost operation can sometimes produce a breach back in Gravesend. Crossing the boundary does not leave consequences neatly on the other side.
03 / World and lore
Dreams are not an archetype list
The nightmare is a darker parallel space used by supernatural conflict. Ordinary dream invasion remains available even though dream snares are disabled. New legacy nightmare-character creation is also disabled. Those are different systems and should not be collapsed into "the nightmare has been removed".
Dreamchild and Fantasy are special race-table entries. They are not additional standard bloodlines alongside Vampire or Demigod.
Source notes c5dfe60
Repository edition reviewed 2026-09-19. The running game may differ.