Buck Wilmington + Many (1978-present) = 239 children and counting.
Author's Note: This is a massive AU that has been in the making since January 2005. Two stories have been planned and will be written soon.
Summary: A war between the powers that be has been brewing for all eternity. The end of that war is upon us and these final nights grow darker. In the world of man, technology is the new religion, and they have forgotten the old ways, the old ones. Luckily, for them, a few still remember and have established a force to stand between them and the ancient jihad.
The United States Marshalls: Special Interest Division.
Team Seven.
In the Beginning.
By: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not own Magnificent 7, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, World of Darkness, Kindred: the Embraced, or Wolf Lake.
Warning: AU Information.
Summary: Before Man, there were the Gods of Old. _____________________________________________________
In the earliest known beginning, there was fire and blackness. What came before is unknown, they did not keep records that far back.
Before man, there were the old gods. Not the fools that came after whom man worshiped, in the beginning, there were beings so terrible their mere presence could destroy the souls of all they beheld. Awesome forces controlled the universe roaming, doing as they pleased.
Then came the gods of man. They brought with them war.
These beings were ignored by the old gods, seen as little more than dirt under their feet. As their wars spread across the cosmos, the old gods' territory became their battle ground. They began to divide the universe, separate it in to dimensions, claiming it as their own domain. This brought about the acknowledgement of the old gods upon them and their wrath.
War came among the old gods as they were awakened to the realm of the younger beings. The old gods began to understand ownership, to claim these beings for themselves. With these claims came greed, they wished to control more. One act of violence committed to gain more beget another and another until all was at war.
One by one they slew each other, killing that which had ruled unchallenged, unacknowledged for so long. One by one, the younger beings rose to ascension. As the old gods died, so did their power. In this lack of brilliance from the old gods' presence, the younger beings were the brightest stars. They began to create armies, followers to do their biddings.
The old gods saw this. The old gods knew they had been laid low by these beings. The old gods grew angry and planned even as they laid dying.
As the bodies of the old gods were locked one by one in to their sarcophagi to be placed in the 'deeper well', the place were all old gods laid buried, they infected the creations of these new beings with parts of their own essence. These infected creations changed, evolved, became demons.
To prevent the further infection, the new beings, the gods of man, further fractured the universe, creating more dimensions to lock away their dark creations. But the taint could not be stopped. Those who had sided with the old gods rose to the ranks of gods themselves, destroying those who destroyed their masters. They spread the infection further through the creations of their enemies, through men. They in turn were destroyed by men who worshiped their creators.
War erupted between them. So great is their hatred we still fight for them to this very night. Both sides will continue to wage this war until only one is left or neither. This is the Jihad, this is the world, this is life.
The end of wars is upon us.
Where do you stand?
The End....................
U.S. Marshalls: Case Files
By: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not own Magnificent 7, World of Darkness, Kindred: The Embraced, Wolf Lake, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.
Warning: AU Information. Ezra's POV.
Summary: From the case files of Ezra Standish. _________________________________________________________
The following is, to the best of my knowledge, an accurate assessment of the races my team and I encounter. Not all information will be contained within, merely the facts necessary for an average understanding. Do not accept these to be completely true for every being you encounter, there are many who are constantly changing, ever shifting towards the unknown. However, at this point in time, as far as I know, these are the way things are.
Ezra Standish.
---------------------------------
The Children of Caine
First of all is their creation. Caine is the son of the first Hebrew people. He slew his brother out of rage and jealousy, he is an abomination that must be hunted down and destroyed. After slaughtering his brother, he wandered into the wilderness and met Lilith, the dark mother. There he was cursed by the combination of a fallen angel, a demon, and the mage power of the dark mother. He in turn embraced her and cast her from the world.
When noticing the acts of the one man, the Powers That Be, decided to split the world and created the veils of creation. This was long after the dimensional shifts that locked most non humans in other worlds. The veils separated the world of man from the world of the dead, the world of fey, and the umbra, a world of spirits and mages.
The side effect of this was the slow leeching of all magic from the world and the lingering death of all mages. In order to spare themselves from the ravages of aging and time, the mages divided in to three groups; however, that will be told on later.
Caine traveled what is known as the Middle East for many nights til he came upon a city of man. He embraced the king, queen, and their son. Their palace guard, Haquim, killed the king and queen, but Caine fled with their son before Haquim could destroy them too. Haquim embraced himself on their blood and created the assassin clan known as Assamita. They will forever hunt the other Children of Caine until they are no more, drinking their blood to increase their own strength.
Fear the Assamites, they are assassins of the highest order, blood mages and shape shifters. Some even have the ability to disappear in shadows like the Nosferatu. Be ware all who cross their paths, no one is beyond their reach.
Later, Caine brought his curse to another place, to a city of which he himself built. From there he embraced others, they would become known as the second generation, once removed from the source. They in turn embraced others who would become the founders of modern day clans, the Antediluvians. So great did their numbers swell, the city of vampires could no longer support them. They fell upon each other and the third generation destroyed the second.
Caine cursed those childer of his childer, they would forever fight amongst themselves until the end of nights, Gehenna. The Jihad continues to this very night. He fled in to the night and some believe he still wonders the world to this day.
The clans have formed civilization after civilization, destroying it each time in their greed. They have learned that their blood can be used to bond mortals to them, Ghouls, and they can influence the world through their ghouls. Over time, some ghouls were born that way, not blood bonded in to it, they became known as Revnants, or Ghoul Families. Very little of them remain after recent nights, the Jihad is very thorough.
~*~
The Antediluvian for the oldest clan is Abisimiliard, the founder of the Nictuku and by his childe, Baba Yaga, the Nosferatu. They are hideous in appearance, looking like rotting bags of flesh. They glorify their appearance. Abisimiliard is under the Urals in his maze awaiting the Toreador Antediluvian to return that he may destroy her. His Nictuku, or blood bonded childer, are all fourth generation. They fight the Nosferatu, seeing them as abominations.
Their curse was forced upon them before the fall of the first city. No one aside from Abisimiliard knows why. At the time he had one childe, this childe was spared the curse as he was already created before the curse. All Nosferatu created after the curse carry it in their blood. They have developed the ability to hide in the shadows, disappear completely from sight, take damage that would kill most beings, and summon animals.
Nosferatu are the underground communications net of the world. They hide in the shadows, are the flies on the wall, know the unknowable. Fear them, but be polite, they may become useful.
~*~
The Antediluvian for the Tzimisce has gone insane. It has only one goal, the destruction of the world of man. It secretly awaits beneath the streets of New York City controlling the Sabbat. Fear the day it realizes its goals.
The Tzimisce were once a proud clan of nobles. They once ruled most of Eurasia. However, the inquisition led by the catholic church brought on by the in-fighting of the younger generations with the elders did away with any nobility these monsters once possessed. Few of their truly ancients remain. Those that do, are secular, territorial, and follow a strict code. Do not seek them out unless you have something of value to trade.
The younger, manipulated by the founder, run the Sabbat, an orgy of blood and destruction. Their abilities are to call animals, dominate the will of others, and flesh crafting. The older they are, the better they are at it. Flesh crafting is the ability to shape the flesh of others to whatever the crafter wills. It involves skin contact, so don't let them touch you. Another bit of information, all changes done by them are permanent, unless you are Nosferatu. Some say the oldest can shape their own flesh by will alone. Another reason to avoid them.
Their appearance ranges from extremely beautiful, to hideous monsters. They can be trusted to follow their own set of twisted rules. Heaven help those caught in their web.
Addendum: Four of the Clan's founder's Childer have been found, they are by far the oldest of their clan still sane. They do not have the flesh crafting ability as this came about after the time they were cast from Its presence for unknown reasons. Little is known of them, they have killed those representatives of ours who approached them. Avoid the small town of Meridac in Northern California along the great forest of Red Woods if you value your life.
~*~
The Setites, or Children of Set, are snake like in appearance. They destroyed the temple of Ennoia at Ur, they will die. They travel in nests like snakes. They have a forked tongue and slitted eyes. Wherever they go, they breed evil and foulness.
It is said their hiss can cause others to flee in fear. I have heard it and felt nothing but hatred. Do not trust them. They can also remove their own hearts without killing them. They will do it for you too, but watch it very carefully.
Destroy them wherever encountered.
Addendum: The last confirmed Setite has been hunted down and executed. Trouble yourself not with them any further.
~*~
Inanna, the morning star, Childe of Arikel. The eldest of the Toreador, embraced by Arikel of the second generation. Arikel was the only second generation childe of Caine to survive the destruction of the city of Enoch, the first city. She was hunted for nearly two thousand years before being caught in the city of Ur by Set, Abisimiliard, Tzimisce and their assorted childer. Set and Abisimiliard ate her heart while Tzimisce watched on. I know, I was there.
Inanna was embraced only shortly before Arikel fled for the final time. She fled to the city of Ur with her sire and fought with Ennoia, the great mother. In rage, she left the city. It was most fortuitous she did, as two days later Arikel was dead and Ur was in ashes. Along the way, Inanna sired many childer, each of them useless, beauty seekers.
The weakness of this clan is to be struck dumb by beauty, entranced until they have overcome it. This has been a special delight for certain Tzimisce as their appearance alone is enough to set these vapid creatures in a catatonic state. When they awaken from the self induced trance, they usually find themselves twisted, nightmarish creatures of Tzimisce flesh crafting fantasies.
Who knows what their abilities are, who cares. They serve no purpose but to pander and seek more beauty. They will do anything to see art continued, anything.
Beware Inanna, she was awoke on the Island of Minos, known as Crete. Her resting chamber, hidden by the Tsunami in thirteen hundred BCE by the destruction of Thera, was excavated in the early to mid twentieth century by archeologists. Her madness and abilities have grown in the three thousand years. She actively seeks to destroy all things not beautiful.
~*~
The Antediluvian of the Ventrue is truly dead. Tzimisce saw to this before it went in to hiding during the inquisition. Having hidden among the people of Rome for nearly two thousand years, this bastard was finally executed by what he thought the easiest of targets. He sicked the Roman Catholic Church on his enemies, the Tzimisce being stationary, were easy targets. They adapted, but not before most of the elders were dead from either holy flames or glutenous childer.
Tzimisce exposed itself and brought about diablerists to its door. Taking on the guise of one attempted Diablerist, it swiftly went to Spain, the heart of the inquisition, only to find they were under orders from Rome. Knowing the ancient in that city was none other than Ventrue, it began a campaign that ended in the destruction of the inquisition, the Holy Roman Empire, and Ventrue itself. All hail our master, Tzimisce.
The Ventrue themselves, are the bureaucrats, politicians, money makers, and basically the source of government/corruption. They are self centered and greedy. Be wary all who seek the supposed benign support of this clan. True blue bloods, they rule the world, or like to think so.
Their weakness is their need to feed only on certain types of people. Heaven help the leech among their number who develops a craving for certain specialty groups. Their, much like their food source's, days are numbered.
~*~
Brujah. Your basic white trash family. Yell, scream, fight over nothing. They rage at the smallest things, wear whatever makes them appear punk or rebel. However, they are the first to scream foul when something doesn't go their way.
Their founder, Triole, is not Brujah. She diablerized him. The True Brujah, or childer of Brujah, are emotionless knowledge seekers. Think of them as computers with a thirst for vengeance against the Childer of Triole. Good riddance.
Want a good time? Dig up the bitch under the ruins of Carthage where Ventrue had her buried for defying him. Diablerize her and her lover, then pretend you are the Antediluvian. Why not, she did it?
Better to kill them than deal with them.
~*~
In the late centuries of the first millennium AD, a group of mages decided they would become vampires without giving up their souls. They screwed up by picking the Tzimisce as their host clan, and became Tzimisce in the process. These bastards then diablerized every one they could get their hands on. They then dug up an Antediluvian (see, it can be done), diablerized him, and then declared themselves a clan.
To add insult to injury, they grabbed Gangrel, Tzimisce, and Nosferatu Get, the young ones, and turned them in to a race of slaves through blood magic. This, as you can imagine, did not sit well with them. The Gangrel, a normally non denominational clan, joined forces with the Tzimisce and sought the active destruction of all Tremere. That is the name of the clan, after their leader of course.
After nearly a thousand years of blood wars, the Gangrel called off their active hunts and left the Tzimisce because the inquisition was moving in. That does not, by any means, say their grudge is over. Even to this night the Gangrel hunt down the Tremere.
Beware, Tremere is not Tremere. We do not know who he is, but Tremere he is not. The being inhabiting that body is not the being who created a clan named after himself. They have blood magic, so be careful.
~*~
Lasombra, these demon fuckers have little respect for anything not truly vile. Their leader could control shadows, was rumored to be the child of a woman and a demon. His entire clan can control shadows as if it were clay to be molded by their will alone.
Their weakness is bright lights, mirrors and videos. They can not appear in the latter two. Bright lights dispell their shadows. All I can say is carry a big flash light.
~*~
Malkav the mad, was a childe of the second generation driven insane in his quest to divine the future. Caine did not like what Malkav saw/foretold, so he pushed him past the line of no return. When he did come back, wherever he had gone still held parts of his mind. All of his clan shares the madness, their minds never completely theirs alone, but shared by all in the clan. This, many can not handle, drives them to bouts of insanity so strong it can kill. All are linked to Malkav, though they will deny any knowledge of this.
If you wish to converse with Malkav, just walk up to one and whisper the words of source divination. No telling if you will understand him. His dual reality has damaged his mind and he can only speak in riddles. It is believed that his human descendants are seers, be ware them.
~*~
The Giovanni are the childer of another Antediluvian diablerized by his childe. They are all of the same blood, incest is best I guess. They have ties with the human Mafia, dealing in gold and souls. Necromancy is not only an ability, it is an art. They love the dead, in more ways than one. Never turn your back on these beings, they might reach through it for your soul.
~*~
Salubri and Cappadocians are the clans of two diablerized Antediluvians. They are unaligned, though some choose to. Neither is very numerous, however, be careful. The Salubri are ignorant bastards to the core. Their founder created the Baali, a race of demon worshiping kindred that revel in destruction dedicated to their demon god. In his supposed wisdom, Saulot sought to rid the world of their kind by destroying them and the pit they worshiped at. He took it upon himself to purify them in the name of god. Look and listen, learn well the mistakes of man in the name of your god.
The Baali (see Samedi) are driven by the power of the Pit, the remains of a child of the night, to seek out other types of children of the night. We call these beings Remnants, demon human hybrids. There are many out there, but that is further in the story.
~*~
The Ravnos are a clan of liars, right down to their Antediluvian. They claim that property belongs to no one, so they may claim it. They have the power of illusion. Kill them on sight.
Update: The Antediluvian is dead and fewer than one hundred remain. Long live the Technocracy.
------------------------------------------
Childer of Lilith
The Dark Mother was the founder of few clans. Her own children are the Mages, the Fey, the Garou, the Were Clans, and the Gangrel. Her daughter, embraced by Dracian of the second generation, childe of Caine, is also a goddess. In times before man, Lilith was among the ancient Gods. She is a goddess no more, having been embraced by Caine. For taking from her the life blood of her people, she actively seeks his destruction.
The Dark Mother is mad.
~*~
Ennoia is the child of Lilith and a wolf. She is a demigoddess that was embraced in to being an Antediluvian. Her childer were the guardians, a race of half animal, have human beings created by her embrace. Before she was embraced, she gave birth to several children who would later become Magi, like her mother.
The Gangrel are specially selected humans, survivors. They have the most abilities and are quick to learn others. Numbering among those passed on from sire to childe is animalism, shape shifting, and the ability to take incredible amounts of damage. Thus, we are the perfect warriors.
Once numbering in the double digits, the Guardians are now only three. One of which has fallen to the beast, another is hunting the Set, and the final is sitting here writing a report.
The Gangrel must fight every night not to submit to our inner beast, to become an animal. If we lose that battle, we have the potential to never return. Those who fall to the beast must be destroyed for they are no longer able to continue the battle.
The battle the Gangrel fight every night is not one of good versus evil. We do not recognize either one, they are concepts native only to those of Caine decent. Adam and Eve were not the first humans, merely those chosen by the Hebrew god to be his. All Humans have been chosen by gods and goddesses, even I. I was chosen by the dark mother, however, I do not worship her. All with my blood are also her chosen, that can not be helped.
What this entails: We are animals. Civilization is the abomination. To build cities is to invite decay. Death is a natural function of existence. Demons are real. Caine must die.
We have only one weakness, our rage. At the world, at the children of Caine, at life in general. We control it or we die.
Confusing? Try living it.
~*~
Dannae was the childe of Lilith and another God. Her children are the Tuatha De Dannon, or The Little People. Little is known of their life, they choose to keep it that way. When the powers separated them from the real world, they protested very little. These beings are snobbish and prefer to only cause mischief among mortals and immortals alike. Avoid them.
~*~
Gaia is the child of Lilith and the Wolf, she is twin sister to Ennoia. All Garou are descendant of her. Most garou are born, however some clans are increasing their numbers by infection. Gaia is now an Earth Spirit, or PTB. All who pray to her are blessed by her presence. In the age of man, she has very little blessings to give.
The Garou seek the reforestation of the Earth and the Destruction of the Wyrm. The Wyrm is a demon that infests all it touches in the form of corruption. Many believe it is only a sign of decay, but they do not know that the Wyrm is very real, and it is hungry.
The Weaver is a being of ancient power, one of the old gods that seeks to control the world. Her minions are corporations and civilization. The Children of Caine and Man do not understand they are at her whims, her pawns.
~*~
Bastet is the child of Lilith and the Great Tiger. She has spread her ability through the violent sex of a cat's mating. All who mate with one of her children will become one of her children. Through time she has spread her ability to shape shift to other species, most notably rats, bears, and hyenas. These beings do not require sex to spread the ability, a simple scratch or bite while in animal form is enough.
~*~
The Magi are the Children of Lilith, Ennoia, and several gods. Lilith bore sets of twins. These beings went out among man and mingled their blood. So many have been born that no one can trace what lineage they come from until they are awakened. To become Awakened is to be brought in to the knowledge that Magic does exist. The Technocracy believe magic is science, and creates things accordingly so.
-------------------------------------------
The Cathayans
Or Kindred of the East, are beings cursed by either actions of their past lives, or by birth to become vampires. They have fancy names and reasons for their existence, but it all boils down to they are Oriental Blood Suckers.
Don't trust them, don't accept anything from them, and most importantly, do not eat them. They do strange things to you.
---------------------------------------------
Remnants.
These are your average, ordinary, run of the mill demons. Millions of years ago Demons ran the world. Something happened and the Powers separated the world into dimensions, or so the story goes. Before they left, they gave their blood to human beings and they became the remnants. No true Demon remains in this dimension, alive that is. There are still bodies out there, most in a mass graveyard, however a few still are out there, waiting.
~*~
Vampires. These annoying blood suckers have formed clans much like the Children of Caine. Their faces change appearance and their eyes turn yellow, and they grow fangs. They are evil, use a sword to cut off their heads, use a stake to drive through their hearts, use holy water to burn them, use a cross to ward them off, or shove them in sun light to burn them to death. They can not enter without your permission.
They have a slayer after them, so don't expect too much from them.
~*~
Demons. There are many kinds of demons.
Earth movers who are basically giant underground octopuses, are the oldest.
Others come in a variety of shapes and flavors.
Important ones:
The Rel. Communications demons, they broker in information like the Nosferatu, only they actually don't have an agenda. They know everything. White people with white horns. Friendly lot.
The Vosorans. Blood colored with black eyes, no hair. Fighters, every one of them female. They reproduce through sex with human females. I do not care how. Violent bastards.
Olrham Elders. A clan of sexual deviants. They either fight or fuck, some times both.
Vorex. These slug shaped symbiotic demons shared knowledge with their hosts. Their number were small back when they were first created to be the translators of Gods. Hosts were specially bred for them, their presence enough to kill normal humans. The Vorex were implicated in a plot by the High Council to control the Rel information net. They were all assassinated before their innocence could be proven. Only one host remains alive.
Special Note: Vorex Hosts are sexual beings. They were created by Eros to function as breeders, driving all who touch them to become sexually addicted in order to secure a new generation of hosts. This has proven extremely effective, but also detrimental to their clans with the rise of Christianity. See "Conservative Bastards of the Modern Era, a report by Ezra Standish."
Pgum. Their skin is yellow tinted while their eyes, lips, and hair are purple. Little is known about their motives, but they despise churches almost as much as the Remnant Vampires.
The Sylene. A race of blood thirsty Hominids. They look like human ancestors with cat like teeth. Very amusing, I've had a few as pets. Only about the size of a house cat. Get one if you enjoy laughing at pint sized dictators who talk a lot. Careful, they bite.
The Felion. Demonized Roaches. They look like human shaped roaches. Disgusting creatures that feed off rubbish. If you venture near a dump, you might find one there. They don't always eat rubbish. Ever wonder what happened to that old junk yard dog or those annoying sea gulls that used to dive bomb you when you walked by?
The Nyngau. Oriental demons, shape shifters. Every story you've heard of Japanese, Chinese, Malay demons, yeah, that is them.
Sky Spirits. These demons are native to Australia and North America. They are not demons so much as, well, spirits. They do everything they can to restore balance in nature. Be nice to them.
Felish. Extinct, led to the first ever inner Council civil war. Cousins of the Felion, they were once brokers of knowledge like the Rel. Revenge for their destruction was said to be behind the blaming and extinction of the Vorex and Vorex Hosts. This rumor is unconfirmed and those behind it still number among the Council.
-----------------------------------------------
The Samedi.
Once thought to be a blood line of the Children of Caine, it has only been recently known that they are in fact not a blood line at all, but an entirely new sect. Blood from an Antediluvian (he who created the Baali), thousands of humans and the blood of a demon Revnant mixed with the earth and produced these demons.
Today, the Children of Night, Children of the Pit, or Samedi as they are more widely known for the god their power comes from, are one of the most influential and destructive forces on the planet. Numbering in as much as a third world nation, but wielding the political support of every super power on the planet, the Children of Night have very few enemies. Fewer allies.
Do not mistake their political support for true power. They have their own abilities. Most appearing as little more than corpses, there is also among their number the very beautiful. They are truly dead. During the day, they are fall back to death and their bodies are just that.
Despite the incredible abilities they have, from necromancy and mental disciplines, they are one of the weakest sects.
They have created religions among their kind, recruiting humans as perishers. They have also gone main stream, allowing humans to know of their existence. This forces other races to deal with them very carefully. Another mistake they have made, their religion does little to confront the true issue of what they are, choosing instead to portray the grandiose image of unholy beings. This lack of acceptance of their true nature has lead to mistakes by their Church that have caused many deaths.
Editorial Note: It is recommended the Vondoon or Church of the Samedi be wiped from the face of the Earth and its founders be executed publicly as an example for all.
-----------------------------------------
Political Structures.
Among the many races there is very little doubt that politicians are purely human contrivances. Though in this day and age, their existence is a necessity if you wish to survive. What a sad state of affairs we have come to.
~*~
Garou Political structure is Wolfe in nature. They are very pack oriented, the older, more powerful being the leaders. The weaker or meeker you are, the lower you are. Most ancients too weak to contribute are eaten by their pack mates that their spirits might join them. Cannibalism at its finest.
~*~
Were Packs are lead by strongest, like the Garou. They have a single Alpha, several dominants, and a whole slew of submissives. Were Felines are normally ruled by female/Male combinations. Were Hyenas are Matriarchal while Were Rats are Patriarchal. Most others are too little to have a single entity to represent them, or they simply do not care.
~*~
Mages are ruled by the more powerful, who are generally the older ones. They have no single ruler, but a Council of powerful members. This Council is usually formed up of leaders from several houses or chantries. A Chantry is a home of Mages grouped around a node or power source for their magic.
The Technocracy is formed around the person with the most intelligence. Apprentices are taken until they are no longer useful. Then they are given their diplomas and kicked out of the nest.
~*~
Fey are ruled by Queens and Kings. The royal court is Feudal in nature. The Unseelie, or non Royals, are treated as scum. If looking for a friend, look towards the Unseelie.
~*~
Children of Caine are more complicated. They have two major groups and several smaller groups. The Camarilla is the Civilized version of the blood suckers. The Sabbat are your basic clan driven war mongers. Neither is worth the shit a monkey would toss their way.
The Inconnu are a class of vampires believed to have discovered Galconda, or the true enlightenment. To be above the pettiness of the Jihad as cursed them by Caine. These are the most dangerous of all Children of Caine. They have no loyalty but to themselves. Their Agenda is unknown outside their number, but look to avoid dealing with them.
The Independent clans each have their own agendas, usually to just collect money and goods for services rendered. Unless you are an Assamite and then it is to suck the blood from as many vamps as possible. All Hail Haquim.
~*~
The Kindred. In the past two thousand, five hundred years there have been more and more of these beings created. They are descended from the Children of Caine, however they have one main difference. They are untouched by the Wyrm, which means they can walk in the day light.
Taking over few of the Camarilla cities, the Kindred are less powerful than their Children ancestors. They also maintain more human characteristics. The Nosferatu merely appeared to be disfigured, not the hideous beasts they were. The Toreador can control the urge to become transfixed. And the Ventrue do not suffer from the need to feed only on certain types of humans.
Gangrel among their number are no different. We are still fighting the touch of wylde in each of us.
And Brujah are just as arrogant, but choose to operate more like the Giovanni than Brujah. Mobsters, who needs them.
~*~
Gangrel. The Gangrel have never been truly organized, anarchy being the only life we accept. However, some of us chose sides in the great anarch revolt. When the younger leeches fought against the elders, allowing the inquisition to grow in strength. These confused few are still with the Camarilla or Sabbat. Recently, I had the chance to, ahem, deal with their big boss among the Camarilla, and he left with a greater understanding. Of course, he didn't know I was who I am.
The Gangrel have since left the Camarilla and become the independent once more. Those who have remained faithful to our roots of warriors number among the Kindred. We can walk during the day, however, we have lost none of the abilities that the other clans have. In fact, we are stronger than our dark brotheren.
Ennoia is among us once more.
So is Lilith.
~*~
Remnants, they are ruled by the older, the more powerful. It works like any feudal society, the eldest holding the titles. Worthless demon spawn.
~*~
Demons, each have their own leaders, some like humans, some with ancient power struggles, some with complete anarchy. Either way, it makes no difference to me.
~*~
The Samedi have a ruling Council of gods. To become a member, you must defeat a previous member by absorbing them completely. There is rumors that there is no new members only new bodies for the Loas, as the gods are called.
The Samedi have their own independents as well. One blood sucker even calling himself Baron Samedi who slaughtered a hundred people in New Orleans before being hacked to pieces by the federal slayers. These are posers, but there is also a reason no one has disabused them of their notions.
P. S. Don't fuck with these guys unless you have a death wish.
~*~
The High Council.
Human Diplomacy at its best. Though it amuses me, I shall stick around long enough to watch your numbers fall to the flames of the very weapons you seek to control. Good luck.
*SNORTS*
The Council is made up of thirty-four individuals who represent the largest, most powerful groups on the planet. Our legal Council is provided by a group of demon worshiping lawyers known as WolfRam and Hart. There is no chairman, but Orrin Travis, a former Judge, is the voice we deal with.
There are twenty-five teams of seven individuals. These teams are U.S. Marshalls by law. We have the ability to hunt down and execute supernatural criminals. We are appointed by the Council, after being nominated by the team members of whom we are petitioning to join. You have to like who you are working with in order to be successful.
The U.S. Marshalls: Special Interests Division is who we are, solving crimes and keeping the peace is our job. We are the strongest, the least susceptible to corruption, and the most diplomatic of our kinds. We comprise a collective of individuals from the thirty-four races we serve. Diversity is our greatest achievement, Racism our biggest enemy.
We Serve To Protect.
Ezra Standish.
THE END...................
United States Federal Marshals: Follow-up Case File.
By: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not own Kindred: The Embraced, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, World of Darkness, Magnificent Seven, or Wolf Lake.
Warning: AU Information. Vin's POV.
Summary: Information file for dealing with Humans for the USM: SID. _______________________________________________________
The following is the Human Factor in our world. Where most people are completely normal, there are a few who are special. Listed here are the known people that must you must be made aware of when on the job.
To the best of my knowledge, the following is completely truthful.
The Slayer is a being chosen by predetermined destiny and birth to be a demonically enhanced human killer. She will be born with the potential abilities. When one slayer dies, another is called or her abilities activated to take her place. Not all slayers will be called.
The slayer is doomed to live a short life of violence. She will fight the forces of the night until she eventually falls in battle. So it is written, so it has always been.
Her abilities are increased strength, endurance, stamina, and healing factor. If you ever super charged them with a witch's power, they turn in to a friggen demigod. Don't ask.
These are the guardians of the Slayer and protectors of her knowledge. They are an old organization that has corrupted the true purpose of the slayer by training her to be a discriminating killer. The original slayer was a balance of nature, not a tool for either good or evil.
Watchers train the slayers as potentials, preparing them for the day they will be called. Usually starting as a child when they are discovered through mystical means. A Watcher will play father/mother to the slayer until their death.
These individuals maintain journals of their existence and encounters which is the basis of all their knowledge. To come in to possession of one is to know their secrets. Several copies of each journal are floating around, this is the foundation of their organization. Despite appearances, Watchers are a very secretive group that keeps only those within their inner circle completely informed.
Special Note: Watchers are racist bigots. Anything they consider not Human enough is exterminated. Also of note is the Crucimaem Ritual which they perform on a slayer for her eighteenth birthday.
Death lovers. These people are usually completely insane by the time we meet them. Most necromancers are of very little power and are taught their abilities are sinful, evil. The greater their power, the more unstable they are mentally, with the rare exception. A necromancer has the ability to raise the dead by calling upon a part of their own soul. Most necromancers are unaware they have the ability. Those who can't ignore it for obvious reasons, usually must drain off their abilities regularly by raising zombies.
Powerful Necromancer: Can suck the life from someone by touch, can restore it by touch, can summon the dead without a blood sacrifice, can deform people and reshape their flesh by touch. Key word, touch. Avoid all contact with a powerful necromancer if able.
Creations of: Zombies, IE the shambling dead. Ghouls, IE le Chubracabra. Resurrections, IE the Lazarus.
Samedi embrace them for their abilities. Most are Samedi Priests or Vondoons. Kill them on sight.
Unintended by product of raising a necromancer from the grave. Are under the control of resurrected necromancer. Appearance is raptor like, with claws and bony protrusions. Burn them or blow their heads off.
In Caine Fashion: Ghouls are the blood bonded human servants. They taste their master's blood and take on similarities of their master. Are unaging and immortal if blood bound (IE, they have tasted their master's blood on three separate occasions.)
Immortal Humans who were resurrected by a necromancer. Usually brought in to service of the necromancer as an eternal slave. If the necromancer is killed after the resurrection but before she can enslave the resurrected, the Lazarus is a free agent that can not be killed by anything less than a god.
Can heal any wound, including complete incineration and dismemberment. Can reproduce, but children are completely human.
Humans that practice magic. Can range from wiccas to full blown blood magicians. These false Mages have no divine spark unless their souls are in possession of a deity. Their magic comes at the cost of their life force, not soul magic like a mage. If too drained, a witch will be consumed by their own spell.
Kill like any normal human, if you can get through their wards.
Assassins for higher. If the contract is called, they will continue to come until completed or the contract is withdrawn. Only one being has survived the assassins and they are not pleased.
Holy crusaders who's belief in the divine leads them through what they consider the darkness. Their power of faith is strong enough to kill the Children of Caine in close proximity. They seek out evil wherever it may occur and stamp it out with the power of the inquisition.
Branches:
The Order of Leopold. Sponsored by the Vatican, they are vampire hunters of the first degree.
Daughters of the Lilith. A group of new age virgins who believe their spiritual nature is enough to give them power. They hunt down anything they consider not pure enough, even humans. Several are wanted for questioning in Murders.
Humans Rite. Exactly as their name implies, bigots who hunt down nothing human and those that they believe conspire with them.
The Human League. It is believed they are driven by a demon with mind control powers. They are a religious cult driven insane by their beliefs. The last of their members disappeared through a portal twenty years ago. New ritual killings with their signature have been reported in Montana.
Independents. These are the most dangerous. Since they are not bound to any one group, there is no easy way to tell them from a normal person until they strike.
Groups of humans that gather for the sole purpose of having a good time at the expense of a super natural being. Usually involves the murder of several were animals and those of dark skin.
Council Edict: We do not tolerate lynch mobs. When seen, terminate with extreme prejudice. Justice is our job, not theirs.
Lawyers who work for and with Demons. Never sign anything without looking at it first. They are the legal Council of the Council.
That is all.
Vin Tanner.
High Council Missives.
By: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not own Kindred: The Embraced, World of Darkness, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, and Magnificent 7.
Warning: AU Information.
Summary: The official recordings of the High Council. ________________________________________________________
Spring - 1997.
"The super-natural community has grown increasingly violent resulting in questionable activities. The most recent involving a group of vampires murdering prostitutes in West Virginia. Though the case was officially listed as solved and closed, sources claim that those killed in the final battle were merely a decoy and the true vampires behind these gruesome atrocities are still at large. Can we truly be sure of our safety when confronted by the enormity of what the demonic community represents?" Slamming the newspaper down on the circular table, Judge Orrin Travis glanced about at the assembled beings. "It gets worse from there, we have to find a way to stop this."
"What do you suggest?" A female being with red skin, black eyes, and no hair leaned back in her chair. "All your government's attempts at controlling our communities have met with failure."
"Because your people do not try. Either they ignore the laws or they break them out of spite," he charged the assembly.
A pale vampire with golden hair dressed in a silk negligee puffed up her chest. "If they made sense, we would not be involved in this bother. Humans should simply accept that they cannot regulate what they do not understand and let us live in peace."
"You don't want peace, you want domination."
A Brachin demon slammed his green hand on the table. "Your people are the same way!"
"So says the representative of the dregs of demon society. Your people are an embarrassment to all who walk the night." The golden haired Vampire tossed it over her shoulder in a gesture of boredom. "Perhaps it would be best if you did us all a favor and simply ceased to exist."
A red headed woman with blood colored nails grabbed the blonde by the curls and slammed her face first into the black marble table. "Listen closely, you peroxided little whore," she said in a pleasant tone as if it were a compliment. "If there is any species that is an embarrassment, it is your kind. You can't even walk in the sun without turning into dust moments later."
"You squabble like children amongst yourselves, it is no wonder the vampires are losing in their war against the shape shifters." Folding his manicured fingers into an arch, a pale skinned demon with large white eyes and two horns at his temples sat forward and leaned over the table. "We watch your kind mutate like viruses, spreading among the humans and creating more of yourselves. If it were not for your natural predators, your numbers would have swelled much like insects from which the Felion are spawned."
Hissing, the black exoskeleton covered demon belched out a curse in a screeching language.
"I did not mean to insult you by comparing you to them. Merely suggesting your ancestors were extremely virile. The Rel have no quarrel with the Felion and wish it to remain that way." Tilting his head in a gesture of respect, he bowed once.
The Felion hissed again, but made no move to attack.
"Pompous ass." A vampire decked out in a nylon jogging suit and covered in gold jewelry snorted through his game face. "All you old world ass holes are the same."
"As if your backwater strain are any higher on the evolutionary ladder, le petite merde." Adjusting his mandarin collar under black curls, the New Orleans vampire sighed with disgust. "It is bad enough we have to associate with the likes of these children of caine, but your presence is an insult of the highest order!"
"Silence!" Travis slammed a large stone gavel down on the table once. "We are not here to discuss your petty jealousies and rivalries. You were summoned to represent each of your respective races on a very serious matter. I do not often consort with those outside my own species, and of my own species, very rarely do I interact with the betters. I am a judge, a magistrate of the highest order, I answer only to one person and none of you are him."
"So you keep saying, Judge Travis, but we have not gotten beyond that fact." A large, muscled demon in battle armor and leathers cleaned his claws with a silver dagger. His gray skin was covered in blood red tattoos depicting various sexual positions. "The Olrham elders have sent me to see what you have to say, do not make them regret this."
"The Samedi are also curious." Papa Juno Samedi smiled to signify a false sense of humor. His black curled hair stood out against the mandarin inspired silk shirt.
"Very well." Travis matched eyes with each of the other thirty-one beings at the table. "Each of you represent a faction powerful enough to rival the federal government of the United States of America. As the most powerful nation on the planet, we feel it is time we took a stand once and for all."
"Ah, so you have drawn a line in the sand." Papa Juno's good humor dried up and his face contorted in a controlled mask. "What are your terms, Monsieur Travis?"
"The United States is not alone, just one of several sovereign nations expressing an interest in the affairs of your species. We, quite simply, are the most overt and dangerous. Where we lack in mystical and physical properties, we make up for in technological and ingenuity. A war among the great races of our world is the last thing any of us wants." He looked at the scowling faces and amended his statement. "Well most of us."
"So far you have threatened us, pissed in the corner, and waved your prick at us. Is there anything else you wish to do before we rip your arrogant throat out," asked a blob of flesh and tentacles.
Travis nodded to a darkened corner.
Appearing from the shadows, a man dressed in fatigues held up a squirt gun. The man squeezed the trigger, spraying the blob with the liquid inside.
Shrieking in agony, the blob writhed on its bench.
"Do not make the mistake that you alone shall dictate the future of our world because you are far older than us. Your ability to burrow may have saved you from the most focused of predators in the past, but our technology has advanced. We know your weaknesses and can cleanse your infestation from this world." Travis leveled the others with his steely gaze. "The same goes for all of you," he said with a grave voice. "Now who else needs a demonstration of our effectiveness?"
A fairly Human looking being with deep purple hair, blue eyes, and yellow lips smirked. "You hold us enthralled, please, go on."
"Our terms are quite simple. We will understand that most of you view Humans as little more than food, some of you not even that. You will come to understand that we will no longer tolerate this attitude. There is little you do we consider legal by any means, but we are willing to over look that. You stay out of our business, we stay out of yours. Police your own people, make sure they know we are armed. If you wish to interact with Humanity, agreements can be met, prisoners can be exchanged."
"Are you offering yourself for our food, Mr. Travis?" Lilly chuckled at the thought.
"Far from it, when I said prisoners, I wasn't speaking figuratively. There is approximately twenty percent of our people in prison now serving time for crimes which prevent them from ever rejoining society again..."
The Rel's eyes grew wide. "You are offering us millions of your own people in exchange for Human sovereignty?"
"No. We can rule this world with or without your agreement. Think of it as consideration for our elders." His forehead crinkling at their laughter, Travis shook his head in dismay. With a bolt of anger, his hand shot out and sent the entire lot of them flying from their seats. "One forth of our population to do with as you see fit in exchange for your agreement to keep your people in line. Yes or no?"
Retaking his chair, the Felion shook his head. "Impressive, but not good enough."
Travis nodded his acceptance. He knew it wouldn't be so easy. "What else do you wish? You shall retain your freedoms to do as you please so long as it does not harm our general population."
"We wish equal rights."
"Not completely out of the question. You may not vote, hold public office, or adopt Humans, with good reason. Everything else is negotiable." He waited for the rest of the delegates to take their seats before he continued. "Those who break this agreement forfeit the protection afforded to them by being of a different race."
"Who is to decide what breaks the terms of this agreement?" The blob had collected itself in a tight wad. "Your people are particularly vicious when it comes to other species, and lethal when it concerns your own."
"That is the purpose of this Council. We will decide the laws and mete out judgements according to our rulings." He waited for them to decide knowing this was the tricky part. To get them to agree would solve most of the problems facing them.
"We do not see where this would be a problem. However, what is to be done to those who break these laws?" Lilly was intrigued by the diplomatic solution offered here. She always thought Humans were fun to play with, perhaps now would be no different.
Giving her an appraising look, Travis chose his next words carefully. "We have also thought of this and have come up with a solution. Since we acknowledged your people five years ago, executing the scum has been a capital problem. A compromise was made and the legal executioners went through the training to become federally regulated and mandated. What we are proposing is very similar, a small branch of the federal marshalls service to act as our representatives. A group of fifteen teams made up of seven members each."
"Naturally these would be completely human teams," the Brachin sneered.
"Far from it, the more diverse the team, the better chance they will be accepted by each of our races."
They seemed to think this over. Papa Juno was the first to respond by standing up. "I will take your proposal to the Council and allow them to decide."
"As shall the rest of us." Lilly stood gracefully and bowed her head towards the others. "In one week's time you will have your response."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Late Spring - 1997.
Travis looked around the table at the twenty-seven demons. It was a miracle that this many had agreed. There was no surprise in the fact that all four Vampire races had agreed almost immediately. They had the most to gain as the closest thing to Humanity in appearance and abilities. Now came the difficult part, maintaining the peace.
The new vampire representative for the gamed face remnant line glowered at his counter parts. "You have nothing to worry about, the slayer isn't wiping you out on a nightly bases!"
"If your kind simply acknowledged the fact that you have no business there, she wouldn't be killing you," Lilly Langtry replied as if it was the most natural conclusion.
"The mutation is not the only one to have problems with this slayer creature." A demon with ram horns and green splotched skin ran a hand down the side of his left horn. "One of our number was executed by her earlier this moon cycle."
"It matters little, the slayer is not regulated by this Council therefore we have no say in her existence." Travis knew it was the wrong thing to say when they turned as one to face him. A side effect of joining them into a Council made them easier to unite against a common enemy, which, it seemed, was him today. "The Watchers Council has no idea of our existence. That is, unless you wish to change that and invite that group of self centered, egotistical bigots among us, then by all means, do so."
That silenced any of them who would have protested him. Each had their own run in and tale of woe and pain from the encounter.
Lilly was the first to speak up as something occurred to her. "They will, you know. One day they will realize something is different, that more and more demons are owning business and not being harassed for that fact. Their sanctimonious masses will perceive your actions as compliance and move to infiltrate our number."
"What do you suggest we do? Since it is either us or one of your kind that they would try to place an operative in, we are the most at risk." The judge hoped she wouldn't suggest something that immediately came to his mind.
"Something quite simple really. Our contacts across the world are easily reached in this modern era of technology. We keep a tight watch on them and their precious slayer. If one wishes to avoid conflict with them you simply be where they are not." Her voice carried a tone of excitement, enthusiasm building with each word. "There will always be those who refuse to listen and thus the slayer need never know there is an entire organization working against her cause."
The game faced vampire snorted. "I suppose that is a pot shot at my kind."
"Well, you must admit your group are not known for their rational judgement."
He shrugged and nodded at Lilly's remark.
"What if your people aren't as vigilant as you claim?" Papa Juno adjusted the position of his chair so the back rest was rigidly straight. "Or may be your vigilance is purposely over looked if an enemy is going to be in the same area as the slayer? It wouldn't be your fault, no, she would have just been randomly slaying as usual, non?"
"There is more than one net of communications among this Council. I say we keep a constant update on the location of each of their members and their contacts. Then we report our findings to this Council and compare for an even more detailed warning system than before." The Rel representative's nose twitched. "That way if they are planning something big, we can move to stop them or to avoid it."
"I agree, and I nominate your people to over see this communications net. The Rel have proven they prefer to be the keepers of the peace rather than fighting for it," said Travis. There was a resounding chorus of similar acknowledgements. "Motion carried. Now, what do we do to those who have refused to join our cause?"
"Nothing. If they interfere with our business or our people, we kill them, other wise, leave them alone." Papa Juno turned the skull on the end of his cane to stare at the Council. "However, if certain knowledge of their activities fell in to the Council of Watchers hands, then who are we to say what happens."
"The assassination of one of our members has sent a clear message that we must begin to be more vigilant in those who we allow among our number. It is only a matter of time until this happens again under the current form of induction." Lilly sent a death glare to the Felion Representative. She knew he was involved with the death of the Rel, Jess Kincaid, but had no proof. If she couldn't punish him directly, she was willing to do it indirectly. "I recommend that we execute all those involved and start over."
Before the Felion could respond, Travis nodded. "I agree. It is best we get this over and done with."
"What of my team?" Chris stood in the center of the chamber, surrounded by the boxes of each Council delegation. In each box sat the representative, aids, and those of concern. This was a new forum to him and he didn't like it one bit. There were too many people for his comfort. "They are involved in it, despite their protests."
"Eli Joe is on the run and his second has been dealt with. As for the other three, life is very dangerous in their line of work." Travis banged his gavel. As much as he hated to admit it, that was all he could do.
"Due to the rise in high civilian casualties incurred by the supernatural community, it is the decision of this Council that a civilian liaison shall be assigned to each team." Travis glanced up from the proclamation to make sure all of the now thirty team leaders was paying attention. Every one of the thirty seats in the briefing room of the United States Marshalls: Special Interests Division were full. Seeing he had them angry enough to not look away, he glanced back down."You have three days to get your teams acclimated with the idea before your liaisons arrive. You will work with them in all things or else you will lose your badges. Any questions?"
"Yeah, what the hell are we here for anyways? If we are going to be working with these fucking civvies, what is the point of having us around?" The black haired vampire, leader of team twelve, glared with yellow eyes at the ancient mage.
With a wave of his hand, Travis turned the vampire to dust. "Any questions?" Silence answered his question. "Good, you are all dismissed."
Chris waited until the last of the others had shuffled from the briefing room before rising from his chair. Walking up to Orrin, he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "Is there any specific reason the Council brought in these civilians?"
"Yes, most of them are watch dogs." Rolling up the proclamation, Travis stuck it back in the tube. "What I didn't say was the civilian causalities brought about by the teams in their pursuit of so called justice. It has got to stop or someone is going to get wise to our existence."
"That's understandable. Just two questions. Who did you assign to my team and what is his mission?"
"Someone you already know." Placing the tube in his attache case, Orrin sealed it and pulled it off the podium. "As for what his mission is, you already know that too."
"I meant beside the obvious. You never do anything without at least a hundred motives." Chris straightened and followed after the man. "Why is he on my team specifically?"
Travis paused at the door before turning around and facing the man with a scowl. "When I took you as my apprentice, I told you that there were forces in this Universe that even we must bow to eventually."
"Yeah, I remember. The so called Powers That Be."
"Yes, well, there are heavenly powers, there are ancient powers, and there are powers that control both." His fist balled in anger, eyes glowing gold in suppressed rage. "I had no hand in the decision, it was forced upon me by something even more powerful than I am. Which of the powers, I have no clue, but I do know it was one of them. I want you to keep an eye on this kid, Larabee, you let me know what the hell is going on if you find out."
"All right." This time Chris let the old man go. With a half worried glance about the room, he walked out.