some newbie questions [with SPOILERS]

[Santoza]

First little question is, at hollywood outside the convenience store where you initially get dropped off, who is calling on the telephone that says "The Moon is a mysterious mistress", and then hangs up? The voice sounded like Isaac to me, but he didn't seem like the type of character to say that kind of thing.

One thing I'd really like to know is why the vampire taxi driver gets so upset when you choose the Kuei Jin. It certainly made me really eager to choose it, and despite the other less desirable parts of the ending, it is my favorite because of this. The 'cabbie' was kind of annoying me with the "The blood of Caine makes our fate", and the whole idea of destiny being out of your hands kind of thing. Choosing this path seemed to kind of disprove it, imo, and that is why he is so startled. I was hoping that in this quest I would find out more about who the Kuei-Jin are and why the driver was against it, but I didn't. Can anyone here tell why? I'd be grateful for info that just explains why kindred can't get along with them, and their origins.

I also wonder if the character we play can have a hand in Gehenna, even though it had nothing to do with the Sarcophagus. I read in some other post that in a book or something Gehenna is supposed to be coming around the time of the game play, and the character has special blood in him (as noted by Andrei, Strauss, and Caine or whoever the cabbie is seems to think so too).

Lastly, VB:TM was my first venture into the white wolf world. I was surprised to hear there were books on this and previous games. It seems like a huge amount of info that I am missing, so it'd be cool if anyone could tell or direct me to the backround of the important things that I am missing, and any other interesting details. I was lost when the game tips talked about 'methesulahs' who claim to have met Caine. Methesulah (sp?) I remember as someone from the Old Testament whose name is thought to be a synonym with longevity, but I know nothing of "Methuselahs".

[Dreysander]

I can field the first two questions for you. In holywood you will find out who the person on the phone is when you come to the prelude to the warrens quest. I won't tell you any more but rest assured all will reveal itself.

The second thing - with the taxi driver and this is a huge spoiler. The Taxi driver is Caine (I believe at least) and if you choose the La Croix ending or the Kuei Jin (sp) ending then he'll get .. not upset but sort of perturbed about it. It's because in those two endings you end up dead. Make no mistake, those gentle orientals will turn on you.

Also they are enemies of all of the other Vampires in the city, by choosing them you seal your fate and can never return to the other sects in the future.. which doesn't matter I suppose because you get dumped in the Ocean heh..

[Celacena]

Most Orientals I met were psychopaths - at least the Kuei-Jin ones were. Wong and Hseng were OK, the girl after the Hokey-Cokey monster was sweet in an Azumi kind of way, but most people I met in Chinatown wanted me dead, so I reciprocated.


Whilst on this topic - why have Japanese and Chinese culture got so mixed up in the game? Sushi and Kamikaze Zen is Japanese, the girl with the sword seems so too and there are a mixture of Japanese and Chinese logos etc.
the Tong seem more like Yakuza than Tong and the who ambiance is like the 88s from "Kill Bill" or other organised-crime films. Not so much like "Enter the Dragon" (actually filemd in an Hong Kong Park & if you watch the film carefully, you can see the tennis court markings on the ground in the outside scenes)

"You like your crime organised, huh?" (great line)

I have never seen Japanese mixed into any Chinatown I have been to anywhere in Europe and bearing in mind the history of the two countries over the last few centuries, you would not expect to lump them together any more than you would consider Britain and France - in fact they are rather less together than the Anglo-French entente cordiale.

Ming is Minging.

[pennypincher]

SPOLIERS AHOY!


The person on the phone is prolly one of the crew of Death Mask Productions, as the Tzimisce clearly states "It wasn't meant to fall into mortal hands"... And would have little to no reason to want to sell such a thing. No doubt this is DM's way of selling the item while retaining anominity to some degree.

The vampire taxi driver, like all sane and intelligent vampires... Which clearly you weren't... Understands that the KoE are vampires from a time when east was east and west was west and never the two should meet. They hate 90% of western culture and 110% of western people and 155% of western Vampires... Seeking only ways to undermind, destory and just generaly hurt them in some manner. The poor guy was prolly trying to hold back peeling laughter as you said to him "No no, please, I'd LOVE to be killed in new and interesting ways by the Asian blood drinkers."... Either that or he had some hope that you'd do something clever with your unlife and instead you chose to spend the better part of it underwater tied to a box... Sure, eventualy you'd get free when you either found enough blood to pump or the things holding you in place decayed away, but by then who cares about you any more? Definatly not the KoE who are in charge.
Because of that all KoE are trying to kill them all the time, and vis versa, no vampire likes the KoE, and thats why they are all against the idea of you sidding with them. It's just plain dumb... And the game rewards you in a fitting way for being dumb. Hopefuly the schools of fish can teach you how to make better life choices from then on.

The character that is the main character in the game never gets mentioned, to the best of my knowladge, in Gehenna. I understand the events in the game get a passing paragraph or something, nothing important.

The term "Methuselahs" is used to suggest any vampire whos lived for a VERY long time. Older then "Elders", "Methuselahs" are equivilent to dirty nuke bombs... You never know what dammage one is doing or when it's going to go off. Most of them sleep the modern age away in secret havens, weary of the world, but those that are active are some of the most powerful creatures to grace the globe.
As for "more information".. There are a couple posts on here talking about White Wolf lore and such, but ultimatly you'd have to go out and get a copy of "Vampire: The Masquerade".. Which is now no longer in print. Try http://www.white-wolf.com or driverthruRPG where you might still be able to order a copy.. Or hunt down and kill and geek and steal his copy... But not my copy... Um.. Another geek.
Oh, and my lawyer tells me that what I meant when I said "Kill" was "negotiate for purcahse"

[Faust]

You might check out the Vampire the Masquerade Quick Start Kit. It's still freely available at White Wolf and contains a great deal of information on the setting.