Friends *clap clap clap clap*

[Lt. Low Self Esteem]

I'm certainly not the first to bring up the emails from a friend. But I don't care who sent them, I just want to understand all of their meanings:

The opening
The game begins. A pawn is moved.

(You, the player being sent to Santa Monica)

The first move
The white king moves to protect his pawn.

(Nines saves you in Downtown)

A sacrifice
A bishop is sacrificed for the king.

(I assume this to be Dr. Grout)

A gambit
A gambit has been played. The king leaves himself open.

(I dunno)

The cost
The cost of an attack is often paid later.

(I dunno, I'm not even sure when this one was sent)

The queen
Beware the black queen.

(Ming Xiao, obviously)

The campaign
The success of a campaign is weighed by the commitment of your opponent.

(Not specific to one person or another, just how willing each faction is to do anything for victory)

The white bishop
The white bishop falls.

(I dunno, same as The Cost)

The endgame
The position of your pieces is the key to the endgame.

(You in relation to all the other characters and factions)

The master
A true master has played the entire game before the first move.

(Jyhad)

Some advice
Don't open it.

(Ankaran Sarchophagus)

Something to note, just because Nines (presumably) is the White King, it doesn't mean he's a good guy. The color of the piece doesn't determine goodness, only what team it's on.

Anybody better at deciphering these riddles?

[Vepar]

A gambit
Nines was sacrificed alongside Grout to achieve a greater goal later.

The white bishop
Isn't that Bach?

Cool analisys.

[Lt. Low Self Esteem]

Originally posted by Vepar:

A gambit
Nines was sacrificed alongside Grout to achieve a greater goal later.

The white bishop
Isn't that Bach?

Cool analisys.

Now that I think about it, Bach as the White Bishop does make sense. Of course that means Grout probably has to be the Black Bishop even though yhr email never stated his team color.

[Vepar]

It would help if you kept track of when exactly they arrive, but that would mean getting back to your heaven after every quest.

[Wesp5]

You can do that by compare the story states mentioned in the UP readme with the haven computer file conditions. When I do that, I get the following additional info:
- The white king could be both LaCroix or Nines.
- The bishop sacrifice is Grout, the color is not mentioned.
- The gambit is the sarcophagus info sold by Gary.
- The cost is probably the stuff you do to get Gary's info.
- The white bishop falls is after you killed Bach.

[Lt. Low Self Esteem]

Originally posted by wesp5:

You can do that by compare the story states mentioned in the UP readme with the haven computer file conditions. When I do that, I get the following additional info:
- The white king could be both LaCroix or Nines.
- The bishop sacrifice is Grout, the color is not mentioned.
- The gambit is the sarcophagus info sold by Gary.
- The cost is probably the stuff you do to get Gary's info.
- The white bishop falls is after you killed Bach.

That all sounds right. But I'd say Lacroix probably isn't the White King because he really makes no move to protect you. In fact, he really only uses you for several Uriah's Gambits.

[Bloodartist]

White bishop is Nines I think. To say he was sacrificed, refers to the bloodhunt that was called on him to get him out of the picture imo. Lets not forget that on the chess board there are two white bishops....

I always thought White king is definitely LaCroix. It would make sense for him to be one of the pieces since he is a major player. White king moving to protect his pawn imo refers to LaCroix pardoning the player in the beginning of the game. Ofc its not "truly" protecting, its just a chess move.

Gambit having been played, typically means sacrificing a pawn to gain a fleeting advantage.
So this should refer to something involving the player, or another small-time character. I thought this referred to LaCroix sending the player to a risky mission he/she is not expected to return from, such as the sabbat warehouse.

[Cryptic]

For what it's worth, though, I always figured the "Black Queen" was the Sheriff, since he's certainly the most powerful piece that LaCroix has on the board. But then, LaCroix's just a pawn in someone else's game.

The chess metaphors are inevitably strained because, after all, there are only two sides in a chess game, whereas the Sabbat, Camarilla, Anarchs, 'neutral' Clans like the Giovanni, Hunters, Kuei-jin, and various other supernatural forces (and natural ones meddling in the game, like the Mandarin) aren't so much diametrically opposed or neatly aligned as they are overlapping and vying against one another in something more like a battle royale.

Or in other words, there isn't just one chess game going on, there's more like eight or nine chessboards, partially overlapping with each other, and some of the pieces are two-colored and may be a King in one match and a pawn in another. Which is why it helps to be a millenia-old demigod, if you're playing to win.

[Scythia]

Originally posted by CrypticReference:

For what it's worth, though, I always figured the "Black Queen" was the Sheriff, since he's certainly the most powerful piece that LaCroix has on the board. But then, LaCroix's just a pawn in someone else's game.

The chess metaphors are inevitably strained because, after all, there are only two sides in a chess game, whereas the Sabbat, Camarilla, Anarchs, 'neutral' Clans like the Giovanni, Hunters, Kuei-jin, and various other supernatural forces (and natural ones meddling in the game, like the Mandarin) aren't so much diametrically opposed or neatly aligned as they are overlapping and vying against one another in something more like a battle royale.

Or in other words, there isn't just one chess game going on, there's more like eight or nine chessboards, partially overlapping with each other, and some of the pieces are two-colored and may be a King in one match and a pawn in another. Which is why it helps to be a millenia-old demigod, if you're playing to win.

Still, chess has been used to represent the shadow war (the conflict of elders, usually played out via proxies) in the series for a long time. In the tabletop book, the section on geneations had images of descending chess pieces by each generational category.

[Flamazide]

I assume the black queen has to be Ming which would make Lacroix the black king since they had an alliance. The only other person that could be the black queen would be the sheriff but that wouldn't make sense to get an email about him at that time.

We assume Nines has to be the white king because he protected you early on, but Jack also protects you in the tutorial which could be what this is referring to. Jack is also the one behind most of the actions in this game so it makes more sense for him to be the king and not Nines. Nines may be the leader of the Anarchs but this is Jack's plot which is the focus of the chess metaphor. The only problem is that it doesn't make sense if you skip the tutorial which is an option. Nines saving you is not optional.

A Gambit
Pretty sure this occurs right when the sarcophagus is stolen. Either that or it was after the completion of the museum mission. If it is the former then the king leaving himself open is Lacroix putting so much effort into getting the sarcophagus in the first place. Because it contains explosives Lacroix is leaving himself open (potential check) by trying to have this in his possession. Once he gets it is checkmate. Also, while typing this I just remembered that while talking to Jack he actually pushes you very hard to get the sarcophagus to Lacroix anyway. His reasoning was "Well at least with Lacroix we will know where it is" which made zero sense at the time haha.

The cost
I think this was sent after meeting Gary. The attack could have been interpreted as coming in contact with Andrei but there wasn't much of cost there so I think this is unlikely. If this means Gary selling the sarcophagus to the Giovanni family then I guess the cost would be you and Ming's agents showing up there to take it from them. Hmmm neither one of these seem right...

I think I'm wrong and that email was about Gary stealing the sarcophagus at the museum. Didn't Gary stealing that lead to one of the Nosferatu getting kidnapped? Pretty sure something bad happened to them as a result of that. This one makes more sense than the above paragraph even though I can't recall exactly what happened.

The campaign
The campaign is Jack's plan. Its success is entirely dependent on how much Lacroix wants the Ankaran Sarcophagus. If at any point Lacroix decided it wasn't worth it anymore or didn't put himself in a position to get it then Jack's entire plan falls apart.

The white bishop
If we assume the black king is Lacroix and the white king is Jack then it follows that Nines has to be the white bishop. So this could refer to the werewolf attack or the bloodhunt. Pretty sure the timing of this email makes both of those awkward. The only important person that died at this time was Bach I think who definitely wasn't on anyone's side. Nines also didn't fall and should be seen as a higher role than bishop.

Oh! The uh, the archaeologist. Johanson or whatever his name was. He can be the white bishop. Because Jack gave him the information anyway and regardless of what you do he dies in the explosion. He is definitely being used by Jack so he would be one of his pieces and he was pretty pivotal so he was more than a pawn. He makes the most sense.

[✦]

You did great job, guys

[Levianne]

Originally posted by Flamazide:

I assume the black queen has to be Ming which would make Lacroix the black king since they had an alliance. The only other person that could be the black queen would be the sheriff but that wouldn't make sense to get an email about him at that time.

We assume Nines has to be the white king because he protected you early on, but Jack also protects you in the tutorial which could be what this is referring to. Jack is also the one behind most of the actions in this game so it makes more sense for him to be the king and not Nines. Nines may be the leader of the Anarchs but this is Jack's plot which is the focus of the chess metaphor. The only problem is that it doesn't make sense if you skip the tutorial which is an option. Nines saving you is not optional.

A Gambit
Pretty sure this occurs right when the sarcophagus is stolen. Either that or it was after the completion of the museum mission. If it is the former then the king leaving himself open is Lacroix putting so much effort into getting the sarcophagus in the first place. Because it contains explosives Lacroix is leaving himself open (potential check) by trying to have this in his possession. Once he gets it is checkmate. Also, while typing this I just remembered that while talking to Jack he actually pushes you very hard to get the sarcophagus to Lacroix anyway. His reasoning was "Well at least with Lacroix we will know where it is" which made zero sense at the time haha.

The cost
I think this was sent after meeting Gary. The attack could have been interpreted as coming in contact with Andrei but there wasn't much of cost there so I think this is unlikely. If this means Gary selling the sarcophagus to the Giovanni family then I guess the cost would be you and Ming's agents showing up there to take it from them. Hmmm neither one of these seem right...

I think I'm wrong and that email was about Gary stealing the sarcophagus at the museum. Didn't Gary stealing that lead to one of the Nosferatu getting kidnapped? Pretty sure something bad happened to them as a result of that. This one makes more sense than the above paragraph even though I can't recall exactly what happened.

The campaign
The campaign is Jack's plan. Its success is entirely dependent on how much Lacroix wants the Ankaran Sarcophagus. If at any point Lacroix decided it wasn't worth it anymore or didn't put himself in a position to get it then Jack's entire plan falls apart.

The white bishop
If we assume the black king is Lacroix and the white king is Jack then it follows that Nines has to be the white bishop. So this could refer to the werewolf attack or the bloodhunt. Pretty sure the timing of this email makes both of those awkward. The only important person that died at this time was Bach I think who definitely wasn't on anyone's side. Nines also didn't fall and should be seen as a higher role than bishop.

Oh! The uh, the archaeologist. Johanson or whatever his name was. He can be the white bishop. Because Jack gave him the information anyway and regardless of what you do he dies in the explosion. He is definitely being used by Jack so he would be one of his pieces and he was pretty pivotal so he was more than a pawn. He makes the most sense.

Sorry for necroing, but I just found this topic. Anyway LaCroix is definitely the white king,, not black, despite having an alliance with Ming (the black queen). Their truce is fragile and in the end she can go (and will go) against him. So they aren't in the same team. Also bear in mind, that this "friend" is Strauss (the Tremere primogen and regent of the chantry), who's with the Camarilla and a big supporter of LaCroix, all his chess riddles make perfect sense when you think of who sent them to you. You have to look at them from his point of view.

[Woofy]

Who is sending the emails Presumably, it's Jack but it could be Rosa from the beach. She is a little Malked in the head. Possibly Mercurio? He's pretty tuned in or it's in Gary's character.

I was hoping Beckitt would be part of the convo, but he seems pretty straightforward, unlike everyone else.

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Lt. Low Self Esteem:

Something to note, just because Nines (presumably) is the White King, it doesn't mean he's a good guy. The color of the piece doesn't determine goodness, only what team it's on.

Anybody better at deciphering these riddles?

His quote at the end of the Artakis route "we could USE someone like you" is very important to make note of. For all their ♥♥♥♥ talking about the Camarilla and the Sabbat being slaves to hierarchy, the Anarchs are not really any different.

In fact, they could arguably be worse, because neither the Camarilla nor the Sabbat make any pretense to conceal what they are. The Anarchs on the other hand, are utter hypocrites, who have been forced to implement many systems that parallel the Camarilla in order to keep their movement functioning properly.

Because it's almost as if total anarchy is not a sustainable system. Not among Humans, and sure as hell not among Vampires.