Last time in Dev Diary 18 (“Building Our Seattle”), we walked through the streets of our Seattle, exploring its foundations and the world you’ll navigate. Tonight, we’re diving deeper into the city, its inhabitants, and the rules that keep everything in check. These rules—the Masquerade—aren’t just a suggestion; they’re the law. Break them, and you might find yourself on the wrong end of a court assassin’s stake.

Masquerade Mechanics
In the World of Darkness, the Masquerade refers to the efforts made by Kindred to conceal their existence from humanity to ensure their survival. This secrecy is vital, as widespread knowledge of their existence would likely lead to a catastrophic response from humans, ultimately resulting in the destruction of Kindred society.

The Masquerade is enforced by the Camarilla, particularly in Seattle, under the authority of the Sheriff. Violations of the Masquerade, such as using supernatural abilities in public, are met with severe punishment, including exile or final death.

In Bloodlines 2, you must maintain the Masquerade. Failure to do so will result in a swift stake through your heart. To help monitor your actions, there is a Masquerade meter at the top of the screen, consisting of two key parts:

1. The Eye Symbol: If the eye is open it indicates that someone is currently watching you. It is best to perform vampiric activities out of sight of human witnesses.
2. The Bars Around the Eye: These bars fill up when you are caught committing acts that breach the Masquerade. The progression of the bars occurs in three stages:
   • Upheld (Green): Minor infractions, such as being seen jumping abnormally high or running too fast. Avoid repeated minor breaches, or the meter will advance to the next stage.
   • Caution (Orange): Triggered by excessive actions, such as feeding, using violent abilities, or accumulating too many minor infractions. At this point, humans become suspicious. If someone witnesses your crime, they may report it to the police. You can deal with the witness directly or avoid the police. Using an ability to make witnesses forget what they saw can be an effective strategy.
   • Engaged/Broken (Red): At this stage, the police are actively pursuing you. You must break their line of sight immediately. If the meter fills completely, the Camarilla will take decisive action to end your activities swiftly and mercilessly.

Maintaining the Masquerade is critical for survival in Bloodlines 2. Stay vigilant and avoid unnecessary risks to ensure you remain under the radar.​