Uzen Merza
The Longest Winter
Vampires in Oulu, Finland, have much to both curse and rejoice. The days can be short or long, depending on the season. At least one day a year, the sun is more or less out all night, whereas one night lasts 24 hours. The kine are oblivious. The isolation and proximity to the Arctic Circle discourages unwanted immigration of more Kindred than the city can sustain. Even conquest is dampened by the constant precipitation and churning waterways.
However, there is something troublesome lurking under the snow near Oulu. Somewhere in North Ostrobothnia lurks Louhi, one of the most infamous Methuselahs of all time. This ancient Malkavian crone, whose mastery of blood magic matches Tremere himself, maintains the terrifying ambition to actually “put out the sun”. Once the world plunges into eternal night, she and her master—the Lasombra Antediluvian—would be free to march over the Earth and crush all opposition and end the Great Jyhad. While the ancient appears to be in torpor, she is old and powerful enough to influence events from her sleep. Already her minions, including her caretaker clan of revenant ghouls, the Keskinen, spread out over the land. They have certainly infiltrated Oulu, too. The Prince has a standing order of capture and interrogation but insists he or the Primogen must conduct the interrogations. “Lesser” Kindred could be fooled by Louhi with deliberate disinformation.
Meanwhile, Oulu’s troubles continue with the Sabbat’s intent to bring all of Northern Europe under heel. Black Hand spies and saboteurs infiltrate the city. To compound it, Anarchs of the mighty and famed Gangrel raiding gang called the Valkyries roam the region. The Prince hopes to bring the Valkyries into at least an understanding to direct them against the encroaching Sabbat. In the mean time, all Cainites prepare for the Uzen Merza: Enochian for “Long Winter”.
Special Events
Special events are annual (or more frequent) holidays or special ritual days that the main group or groups observe as a whole community. Attendance and participation are often expected of all members, and sometimes required.
Day of Tuomas
The Winter Solsice is called the Day of Tuomas by the Kindred in Oulu. On this night, the sun never truly rises, keeping the whole land in perpetual twilight such that Kindred can freely move about by day. It is admittedly a delightful occasion to mark every year, and things can sometimes get out of hand, requiring the Prince and his agents to cover up a number of Masquerade breaches the next evening. Ah well. It’s worth it.
“Night without day is like going nude and forgetting the caress of silk and warmth of wool.”
-- Otto Harju, 7th-Generation Prince of Oulu
