Vampire: The Masquerade - Parliament of Knives

About

Vampire: The Masquerade - Parliament of Knives is a text-based RPG where you navigate undead politics in Ottawa’s vampire hierarchy. Play as a newly Embraced vampire torn between loyalty to your sire and ambitions for power after the Prince vanishes. Your choices determine alliances, betrayals, and survival in a court where clans feud and the Masquerade teeters. Use clan-specific abilities like hypnotic persuasion or shadowy stealth to manipulate rivals, gather intel, or orchestrate coups. The story unfolds through dialogue and decisions, with consequences stacking as alliances fracture and enemies circle. The game leans into social strategy as much as stealthy schemes. Three clans offer distinct playstyles, while branching paths let you crush rebel Anarchs or aid their uprising. Options for romance, ghoul management, and blood politics add depth. With release on PC, Mac, Linux, and mobile, it’s a portable but dense narrative experience. Players on Choice of Games’ forums often highlight its intricate dialogue trees and the tension of balancing multiple schemes. No graphics mean the focus stays on writing, which leans into the World of Darkness’ gothic tone. At 2021 release, it remains a niche pick for fans of branching political thrillers.

Storyline

Vampire: The Masquerade — Parliament of Knives is an interactive horror novel by Jeffrey Dean, based on Vampire: The Masquerade and set in the World of Darkness shared story universe. Your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based—without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination. The undead Prince of Canada's capital city has disappeared, and his second-in-command, Eden Corliss, wants you to find out why. You’ve been loyal to Corliss since she Embraced you and made you a vampire, but this could be your chance to take her place. Will you defend your sire from the accusations flying, or join forces with her rivals to bring her down? Ottawa’s court of immortals is tight-knit and merciless, with tensions between clans that go back centuries. The Prince has been missing for four days, and old alliances are starting to crumble. How will you leverage the political chaos to your advantage? The authorities are already on high alert against a new group of Anarchs in the city, who have been breaching the Masquerade by revealing their true nature. You’ll have to gather evidence to demonstrate which suspects deserve punishment, and you can’t afford to guess wrong. One careless word could get you stabbed in the back—staked through the heart, and left to burn in the sun. Who will you save when the knives are out? - Choose from three clans, each with different gifts. - Flaunt your coercive dominance as a Ventrue, your dark stealth as a Nosferatu, or your heightened senses as a Toreador. - Master the social scene and ensnare the weak in your thrall. - Command your own manservant and ghoul. - Attack the Anarchs in the city, or help them take over. - Uncover the lies at the heart of Ottawa’s immortal court. - Romance a sheriff or a seer. - Feast on the blood dolls of your charismatic ally. - Play as male, female, or nonbinary; gay, straight, or bi.