Leeds

British Isles / England / Yorkshire

City Device

Economy

The legitimate economy of Leeds is primarily tertiary industry: Call centers serving more affluent English-speaking countries are, collectively, the single largest source of employment in the city. Third-world style piece work manufacturing plays a large role as well. The region boasts a large and poorly paid service sector, as everyone else tries to eke out a living, leeching what little those lucky enough to have a job can spare.

Illegal, unregulated and untaxed industries far outperform the legitimate economy of Leeds, however. Designer drugs originate here, bound for countries around the world. At least two factories run by night only, turning out illegal, unmarked and unregistered arms and ammunition, bound for every active war zone and crime capita. The unfortunates who provide the labor, of course, are desperate individuals indeed.

History

The history of the Yorkshire region stretches back far beyond the rise of Leeds. For centuries, York stood as a bastion against Scotish marauders, only to be sacked and re-fortified anew. With the unification of Scotland and England in 1603, York's importance diminished. Over the next few centuries, it stagnated, its population disappearing to more prominent cities. With the rise of Leeds as an industrial power, York itself has become a town of 150,000, boasting culture and history, but no real importance.

Leeds is the product of industrial expansion and lasiez-faire economic policies, unchecked by any sense of social justice or moderation. The city rose from nowhere during the industrial revolution, replacing ancient York as the center of population on the Scottish frontier. As quickly as it rose, Leeds's industry faltered and fell to urban blight. In the early 21st century, it stands a smog-filled industrial wasteland, its declining population barely served by a crumbling infrastructure that was never truly able to support the population. Crumbling factories sit amid fields of toxic waste, and most residential blocks host two or three houses stripped of all valuables (particularly plumbing pipes and electrical wires), and occupied only by the homeless and desperate. Still, Leeds remains the core of England's third largest Urban Area, with an uncounted urban population that may push 1 million.

Vampiric History

Yohanus of Eboracum (known in later eras as John of York) was the first to rally to Mithras's side against the triumverate. In his view, he was never properly rewarded for this act of trust and faith. In a letter coppied to all kindred of note in the isles, John accused Mithras of failing to properly honor his liegemen, and declared his alliance with Robert the Scot and the Courts of Love. John and his followers were crushed and the Barrony of York passed to the warlike Gangrel Willem Dowd.

Dowd survived the destruction of his sire Aethelwulf by the Toreador of Edinburgh during the first decade of the 17th century. He remained a strong threat against Scotish intrasigence for more than two centuries. As his eyes remained focused north, however, he ignored the changes happening within his own domain. Anarchs and Sabbat streamed into the growing population center of Leeds. The Sabbat laid siege to York from their defacto stronghold in Leeds in 1883. Dowd survived long enough to lay the blame squarely at the feet of Edinburgh, then succumbed to the hordes of the Black Hand.

The powers that be in London panicked (and Lady Anne dearly wanted to rid the city of a number of rivals and troublemakers). Mithras himself directed the Camarilla response. Aldous Tope, a childe and strong supporter of former seneschal Valerius, became Baron of York and Prince of Leeds. The new Baron ruled with the support of a large cohort of relatively young Londoners and their recently embraced local childer.

From 2029 to 2041, the Sabbat, using recently occupied London as a base, attacked several cities in Britain. While some fared better than others, none fared so badly as Leeds. Sensing an opportunity, Sabbat refugees from London and their reinforcements from around the world flocked to the crime-ridden industrial wasteland not unlike the cities, such as Detroit, they were used to. It wasn't until refugees began trickling into London that the powers of Avalon realized that the Prince had fallen and the Sabbat occupied Leeds. The northern Baronies, seeing a wolf in their midst, protested, but lacked the strength to dislodge the Sabbat themselves.

In 2042, Brian O'Reilly rallied support from Avalon and the northern Baronies. He and his Knights of the World Tree provided the brunt of the manpower, and drove the disorganized Sabbat from their new strongholds in Leeds. Baron Brian chose to return the seat of Yorkshire to York, placing a Reve in power in Leeds. Thorton Bryant now administers Leeds in O'Reilly's name.

Population

2040 Statistical Estimate.

• -- City: 800,000 (town borders)
• -- West Yorkshire Urban Area: 2.4 Million (3rd largest in England after London and Birmingham).

The population of Leeds and the West Yorkshire Urban Area (as it is known to the UN) is generally poorer less well nourished than the average citizen of war-torn England. A small gentrified section has begun growing on the east end, populated largely by more affluent refugees from the more violent forms of gang violence in London.

Arenas

Leeds has a wealth of sports facilities including the 40,000 capacity Elland Road football stadium, a host stadium during the 1996 European Football Championship, 22,000 capacity Carnegie Headingley Stadium, world famous for both cricket and rugby league, South Leeds Stadium used for athletics, bowls, football, rugby league and tennis. Other facilities include the Leeds Wall (climbing), Xscape (real snow indoor ski and snowboard slope with ice climbing wall) and Yeadon Tarn, sailing center.

• -- Elland Road Stadium
• -- Headingley Stadium
• -- South Leeds Stadium
• -- Wetherby Racecourse (horse racing)

Market Places

• -- Leeds Kirkgate Market -- It is the largest covered market in Europe.

Vampires of Leeds (26)

The Small Council of Leeds (circa: 2042)

• -- Lord Blake -- Lasombra Prince of Leeds.
• -- Rikko - Nosferatu Primogen.
• -- Keller Willams - Malkavian Primogen (from his private rooms of course).
• -- Gloriana Anson -- Primogen for the Ventrue (when she awakens from torpor).
• -- Tristram Young -- Sheriff of Leeds (when he awakens from torpor).
• -- Alexander Tatum -- Keeper of Elysium.

The Clans

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Brujah

• -- Finnan Beirne Irish former mercenary with Anarch sympathies.

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Caitiff

Rod's Crew: This group of violent, some say desperate, Caitiff earned a place in Leeds by facing the Sabbat on their own terms and winning. The losses they took only add to their sense of entitlement. Of course, the last ten years of peace has given more effete vampires the chance to wonder if Leeds needs a group of armed mercenaries. This sentiment is only exacerbated by the condition of their domain; one of the most violent and poverty-stricken neighborhoods in a generally violent and poverty-stricken city.

• -- Rodrick Smith - "Iron Rod:" Leader of the Crew
• -- Sanjay Goswami
• -- Kishori Damisi
• -- Kyle MacQueen
• -- Rita Doscampos

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Followers of Set

How many are there and who leads them?

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Gangrel

• -- Bloodhardt - Mob enforcer and acknowledged spokesman for the Beasts of Leeds.
• -- Scotty Nails - Gangrel mercenary
• -- John Johnson - Street hunter

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Giovanni

• -- Taddeo Giovanni - Capo of Leeds, and a wildcard in the city's underworld struggles.
• -- Alonzo Giovanni - Don, and Chief Enforcer: Taddeo's strong right arm.
• -- Frederico Giovanni - Don and Master Reaper.
• -- John Dunscirn - Canibal Necromancer and agent of Ambrogino Giovanni.
• -- Roulo Putanesca - Leg breaker and bodyguard to Taddeo.
• -- Robert Dunscirn - Dunscirn Neonate and financial genius. Childe of Alonzo Giovanni.

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Lasombra

• -- Lord Blake -- Prince / Reeve of Leeds.
• -- Ahmal ibn Rawaid -- Yet to be released fledgling of the prince.

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Malkavian

• -- Keller Willams - Malkavian Primogen (home bound).

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Nosferatu

• -- Rikko - Nosferatu Primogen. Childe of Baron Citrine Green of Lincoln
• -- Grinchie - Childe of Rikko, and master of the sewers.
• -- Regina Horst - Mistress of the Dumps.

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Toreador

• -- Alexander Tatum - Former Toreador Primogen, premier Poseur and new Keeper of Elysium.
• -- Mer Tarrin - Androginous Pop Artist, childe of Alexander Tatum

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Tremere

• -- Lambert Bellanger - Tremere guest of the prince and "tenant" of the University of Leeds.

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Ventrue

• -- Oldman Forseby - Gangster and elder childe of the Sydney Heath
  
• -- Edgar Trigg - Mob lieutenant, younger childe of Sydney Heath
  

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Those Banished from York

Brujah

• -- Balfor Laver - Brujah Primogen and crimelord.
• -- John Jones Childe of Balfor Laver – A forgetable killer.
• -- Enoch Zephyr SE Asian religious rebel, childe of Balfor Laver.
• -- Trista Nichole Childe of John Jones: Slightly psychotic former barmaid brawler.

Ventrue

Harold Lord Reeve - Ventrue Primogen, childe of Baron Shawlands of Manchester.
Ignacius Nelson - Childe of Harold Reeve. "Nate".

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York's Dead

John of York: (Yohanus of Eboracum): Ventrue Baron of York, ? - 1425
Willem Dowd: Gangrel Baron of York, 1429 - 1877
Aldous Tope: Ventrue Baron of York and Prince of Leeds, 1890 - 2029

Websites

http://www.yorkshire-england.co.uk/Leeds.html (The history of Leeds)

http://www.leodis.net/

http://leeds-list.com/opinion/best-and-worst-places-to-live-in-leeds/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiser_Chiefs (local rock band)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g186411-Activities-Leeds_West_Yorkshire_England.html (Things to do in Leeds)