At a time never quite defined, the streets of San Cortia began to crowd after dusk. And though the population of the day never changed, the nights only grew darker. There was a tension not felt before that arose in the alleys, down the bi-ways and under the bridges, in the deepest night that no one expected. But as the years passed, it became the norm of the region; there were the people of the day, civil and corrupt, and there were the creatures of the night, also civil and corrupt. Each had their own motives and goals, moving together in the shadows.

Years went by like this and the night dwellers developed their masque for comfort and efficiency. They burrowed tunnels underground to hide from the daylight; they took places in powerful businesses; they began to pull the strings in the day walkers government. They became powerful. They became comfortable. They became too comfortable. There were corrupters in the shadows that they did not inhabit. Their contentment was at an end, and as the Year of the Reckoning crept by, they knew what was meant by reckoning.

San Cortia has a history older than most of the United States. It was settled by Spaniards uncomfortable with Florida's climate and terrain. Moving north a short distance, they found a more solid land with a cooler climate and founded the colony of San Cortia. The colony never truly prospered and for the most part struggled for survival in competition with others like it. As wars and disputes raged on around the colony, it was bounced around but never dismounted from it's coastal seat. The residents were enduring. No matter who or what washed over the colony, they always ended up on top in the end.

As the ever expanding United States started knitting together and unifying, San Cortia was swallowed up into the budding country, but yet, it still retained its individuality. The country grew, and gained it's independence and San Cortia bobbed along as a cork on the river delta to it's north. San Cortia, now considered a decent providence, remained a minimal footnote on the east coast and yet, the tradition and lineage was pure.

In the late 1800's though, things went a bit amiss. Some newcomers arrived one late evening, by steamer, and moved into a rather modest home on the south end of town. The small town of San Cortia began seeing some changes at that time. More investors were interested in their seaboard and delta property. Trade routes bent to include San Cortia and the community income began rising. The town was growing at an alarming rate. With beautiful upper class living on some of the outer islands, deserted all this time, and massive harbors and ports building up in the north east end of town, the population and job market were climbing. Not only did the population on the streets in the day grow, but also that in the night. The night life in San Cortia was booming, night clubs and dance bars started popping up all over, late night theatres and opera houses became a common sight and an art district, unheard of in San Cortia previously, fleshed out just inside of downtown.

Growth was good, income was better, and the state of living was increasing. At least until the Great Depression. Even through that, as through everything else, San Cortia hung on. But, the night population began to outnumber the day, or so it would seem. Businesses closed, factories shut down, almost the entire harbor district was left for abandon. Even through this, San Cortia survived, but she came through with a few scars. The old harbor never reopened. Too much ruin and money funded a new district built on the southern point of the southern most island. San Cortia was in regeneration, but there were dark shadows lurking in her alleys. And to this day, even in night, she is trying to shake the darkness off and it is only getting worse.

Marwood rules the city with a velvet glove, "Rather that than an Iron Fist." he has been heard to say, and has for the last fifty years or more. Marwood, through many contacts and connections throughout the city, however, does keep a very close eye on the ongoings above ground without even, in his ideal, approaching violation of the Masquerade. He reigns as prince from an underground systems of tunnels and canals, skilfuly engineered yet amost completely forgotten by this day.

When Marwood first became prince, he was already a Kindred of some respectable power, and he knew that he would need a place to hide, where he could gather together many Kindred without the fear of discovery. He implemented and funded, through contacts and resources, the construction of a new subway system. Unfortunately (or due to Marwood's planning) the tunnels for the subway flood and prove to be unstable for the system desired. They are sealed off and left vacant. And thus "The Undercity" is born.

It is from here that James Marwood rules San Cortia with his velvet glove. He is a man of power, lurking in the shadows. There are influences above that have obvious power, but how many are puppets at the ends of Marwood's strings?

Controling most crime in the mainland of the city is Don Vincenzo, an Italian Mafia boss, expelled from his homeland and sent to find new ground. In fifteen years he has made quite a name for himself, but not enough to warrant being imprissoned. He keeps a clean record, and has friends in high enough places. On the islands, and primarily Rijel is Mr. Ido, a Chinese ganster with more ettiquette and charm than most saints. He and Vincenzo are almost in constant flux for power with Vincenzo almost always standing on top. Where Vincenzo controls most extotion and "protection," Ido deals more in opium and drug import. Their varied interests keep them only minimally in conflict, but there is enough competition for the two of them to spark fights occasionally.

In more recent years, San Cortia has becom renewed. The older, deteriorated sections of town are being forgotten, and some remodeled in to luxury homes. But there is a new and bright future in store. It seems that the U.S. has found an interest in San Cortia and has started funding some money to them. In 1995 a new Science and Technology research center was built in downtown San Cortia, co-funded by Semmon's Industries. Dubbed the Cedar Building, the center is a hub of research in the Eastern United States, serving as a meeting ground and vast library of information for visitors and researchers alike. Everything from medical breakthroughs to environmental science is covered somewhere within the Cedar Building.

Also, the city hall has been rebuilt with a new neo-classical archetecture. The stone columns and hard rock exteriors meld gently with huge windows and vast open spaces. Like a monument to the strength of the city alone, it stands just off of the old Center-Green. The Center Green, one may note, has been standing since San Cortia's orginal founding in the early 1500's when the first settlers stood on the same ground to plan out a new community. The fountain there still runs with water from the well dug there to water the horses.

History is rich in San Cortia, and hopefully, the future holds much excitement as well...

 

 

 

From the opening of the Chronicle, the details are sketchy, time has passed and records were not clearly kept. The information that follows is a best recollection of those involved in an attempt to get the logs up to date. Updates and changes will not only be made to the most recent articles, but also to the older postings as more information is made available. And as always, the Story continues...