Places

Beneath the city of Paris sprawls a vast ossuary dat­ ing back to the 19th century, in which more than six million of the deceased take their final rest. Partially open to the public, the catacomb is a labyrinth of twisting tunnels, hidden vestibules, and secret cham­ bers. Indeed, the catacombs that the Kindred frequent span more than 300 kilometers, while those made available to the public consist of only two kilometers’ length. Unsurprisingly, the ossuary is popular among local and visiting Kindred, much to the chagrin of Paris’ undead elite, who see the cemetery and its os­ tentatious ars moriendi as affected and obvious.

Hauteur notwithstanding, the catacombs provide the backdrop for many Kindred affairs, from secret deals to midnight performances in the Grand Guignol

style to elaborate masquerade fêtes. Prince Francois Villon considers the catacombs both Elysium and one of the City of Lights’ most arresting locations, and even the Anarchs who despise the Prince and his iron-fisted Ivory Tower policies respect the catacombs.

The problem is that something dwells in the cata­ combs that doesn’t seem to care much for either mor­ tal intrusion or Kindred pretensions to control of the subterranean tomb. A recent closure of the ossuary due to vandalism actually covered up a joint police and Kindred investigation of the grisly discovery of an entire tourist group exsanguinated and arranged in horrific poses in one of the more remote mausoleums, in obvious reference to the courts and habits of the Kindred. A tragedy for the city and an embarrassment to Villon’s court, the gruesome mystery has yet to be solved, but its elaborate staging suggests an intelligent, malevolent enemy of both mortals and the Damned.