Individuals who have either composed or are currently composing a ‘By Night’ book, I would like to connect with you! How did you structure your book, manage your time and resources during the construction process? What were the main themes of your book? Did you conduct extensive research, or did you go with the flow? These are questions that interest me, as I am eager to share my own experiences here. Please feel free to do the same.

Firstly, I conducted extensive research, delving into both the World of Darkness lore and real-world history. Given my interest in history, it was not a chore but a pleasure. Exploring Brussels and Belgium’s history was particularly fascinating and enriching.

I meticulously documented everything (or at least I believe so) related to the city and its surroundings in the World of Darkness. I aimed to leverage the work of my predecessors, even when I didn’t entirely agree with their choices, especially in Flanders as portrayed in ‘France By Night – Dark Age.’ While I understood the perspective of depicting Flanders as rebels in Medieval France, I felt that, in a more nuanced approach, Flemish people could be more aligned with Ventrue than Brujah. Thus, I had to navigate and reconcile these differences.

One invaluable and captivating resource about Brussels came from the Victorian Age Vampire, where we are provided with half a page dedicated to the city. This source revealed the city’s uniqueness, showcasing characters like The Peace and Ludmilla van der Holst, the Malkavian Methuselah, who predates the first Gallic-Roman settlement. Although Ludmilla is not mentioned in ‘France By Night – Dark Age,’ I found a way to incorporate her. Building on the Victorian Age text, I assumed that Ludmilla never left her home, emphasizing her territorial nature, likely connected to her Malkavian psyche. I then crafted a narrative around this, envisioning her preparing a lair and fortress in Brussels to withstand the impending Gehenna.

Additionally, a valuable snippet in the V5 book ‘Guide to the Camarilla’ provides information about the Prince of Brussels in the V5 era, identified as Nikolaus Vermeulen.

Official Timeline

For Brussels or Belgium, there hasn’t been much explored, and that’s an advantage as it provides ample space for creative development. The objective was to construct a captivating intrigue and plotline set between 2000 and 2008, coinciding with the fall of the pyramid in Vienna. While I typically adopt a sandbox approach as a narrator, there’s an acknowledgment that a proposed scenario is necessary, establishing Nikolaus Vermeulen as the Prince of Brussels in the V5 timeline. However, it’s essential to highlight that you, as the storyteller, have the flexibility and authority to diverge from this narrative. In your game, Nikolaus Vermeulen might not ascend to the position of Prince or climb the ladder of power in the same way.

My structure follows a relatively common approach; I drew inspiration from the formats used in V20 and V5, infusing my own creative touch. In crafting character backgrounds, I opted for a first-person narrative, akin to the style employed in the V20 book, rather than utilizing third-person text. What approach did you choose for your narrative structure?

1. Table of Content
2. Introduction
   1. Gary’s Notes
   2. Not for delicate souls, content warning
   3. From V20 to V5
3. History of the city
   1. A Historian’s Observation
   2. Particularity of the city
4. Domains & Havens
   1. Communes
   2. Location
5. Cainites of Brussels
   1. Clan descriptions
   2. Characters
6. Coterie or Faction
7. Loresheet
8. Scenario