Forbidden Relics: Sky-stone of the Fallen

Taken at the accident site, collapse of Pride Plaza. 

[Transcript starts]

“I understand your regrets, but they have called it on themselves, Beatha. There is nothing you could do now. I have tried as well. I have failed just as you are…”

“But Romulus. So many lives, so many lives lost in just one second, what could of done that?! Such merciless and cold power, I still feel the chill on my skin. I’m still afraid to close my eyes as I see that man. This lone man, walking through the streets of our city that night. He stopped, than chanted… and… ”

“He called for retribution and he got it, my love. For vengeance of their sins and treachery, for arrogance and bliss. For vows to be forgotten. This… this happened well before. You should remember. When Tower fell last time, there have been all the same damned mess of crumble, confusion and decay that left. Except one thing that shined. That one thing left. Do you remember?”

“That stone.”

“They call it “Sky-stone of the Fallen”. A sign. A warning. A sigil. Covenant, that took so many forms and it considered to be lost. But it has always reappears and find its way where House Divided cannot stand and so should fall. It takes it’s bearer. It does the job, Beatha.”

“But Romulus…”

“Don’t, please, my love. Oh don’t look back. There is nothing there but salt and sulphur and angry demons of a bitter vengeance crawling. Let’s go. We go ahead. We go.”

[Transcript ends]

Personal Case Inquiry: Kara Jensen

*** Confidential, Order of Unknown Saint Archives personal case extract

… Kara descends from proud, but poor heritage of military elite of REDACTED and have been raised in quite spartan environment.  She always been quite a tomboy and had well, temper to go forward and get what she wants, like it happened with REDACTED PASSAGE. Kara got out of the poverty, had decent education and joined suffragettes movement. In one of the incidents – REDACTED – she was detained by the police. The Chalice have noticed young woman passion, character and determination. 

She was initiated, trained and very soon turned out to be the best candidate for new Champion for REDACTED the House have been in preparation for. Plan was quite perfect and she was good to go, but Hour of the Wolf mixed all cards and her training had to be postponed until better times, as all of the Grail Knights and Operatives were enrolled in action against Adolf Hitler.

War matured Kara and became her journey from adolescence to grown up life. She have bravely fought at few war theaters, including REDACTED, where she helped Allies forces, took part in multiple sabotage and raid operations and saw humans from both, good and bad sides. War made her even stronger believer in REDACTED and that people should not determine their own destiny, but rather controlled by Houses of Blood will.

Kara finished war at Eastern front and have stayed there for some time assisting British Intelligence Service working against REDACTED. After the collapse of USSR, which Jensen embraced (as she never trusted a regime run by humans), she went back to London and continued her preparation for REDACTED. Just recently, when Kara heard about assassination attempt on one of the Champions in preparation, she engaged into her own investigation… 

*** Confidential, Order of Unknown Saint Archives personal case extract

Profile Record: Hermitage

… Hermitage is one of the strategically important locations to House of Ark and sometimes is refereed to as Northern Star Keep, or Northern Keep in casual conversations. Holding one of the entrances to Underground City of Athos it also serves as major base of operations  in the region and probably, the biggest fraction relic storage.

The reason for latter is quite peculiar. Being built in the center of an old necropolis, structure is surrounded by the veil of convoluted and chaotic energy hardly penetrable by an eye of even the most skillful enemy.  This advantage has it’s drawback though as internal practices held in the Keep are often resulted in outbursts of disruptive energy attracting Children of Mixed Blood. To repel constant attacks, Hermitage is guarded day and night by vigilant members of Hermitage Guards trained to fight specifically cults abominations that may happen as frequent as couple of times a week.

Another specific bit of information to know about Hermitage is while Kremlin serves an administrative center of Ark and Athos Mountain is the seat of the Patriarch and Faceless Council, St. Petersburg have always been a major think tank and Intelligence center. Northern Keep is run from House Grand Library by Keeper of Hermitage, blind old man from allegedly, royal bloodline, who is known to be there for at least couple of centuries, without leaving it even once. Being often referred as simply as “Grandpa” by House spy and agents under his command, Keeper is a separate force to recon with and anyone who ever underestimated his, payed dearly.

Aside of his obvious value to the House, Keeper bases his political power on both his immense knowledge and experience and the fact that without his Guard, one of the key strategic locations of the House would be overrides by Children of Mixed Blood in a month, maybe two. It is also rumored, that Keeper is in family blood relationships with Patriarch, prefers not to intervene in his decisions most of the time, but in case of the crises have leverage to insist on his own opinion and directly influence High Orders…

//From Archives of The Order of Unknown Saint

Profile Record: House of David

//From Archives of The Order of Unknown Saint

… House of David is united Great House of Judaism Bloodlines. House has tragic history through the ages, but survived though all of the trials and challenges under the guidance of wisdom and faith. Particularly in Hour of the Wolf, many of its members have been massacred by Adolf Hitler, the Child of the Mixed Blood driven by the revenge and mad mania to destroy all the world bloodlines, but House of David particularly.

After these events, House of David have managed to return most of the influence and territories under its control.  They are probably most conservative and contained in their actions, but that is easily explained by their history. House of David is in constant conflict with House of the Crescent Moon over one of their territories that suppose to contain some of the key relics of great importance for both of the parties. The rumor is it is determined to solve this situation in the course of upcoming Aemulatio.

Headquarters is located in Jerusalem and is hidden by powerful illusion from human eyes under the Temple Mount. House of David is governed by Council of Twelve, where each of them inherited their power from one of the legendary tribes. Council determines all internal and external affairs of the House, chooses and breed champions and solves all of the House internal conflicts.

House of the David actually has its small military force that can be supported by mercenary force of Tree of Life. House also runs an international network of agents and spies, including powerful Mystics, who are rumored to be able to create fearful Golems to punish House enemies…

//From Archives of The Order of Unknown Saint

Personal Case Inquiry: Sergey Rostov

*** Confidential, Order of Unknown Saint Archives personal case extract

… Sergey enrolled to Ark agents by “accident”. Russian Police homicide detective was following one of his leads and was able to solve loud REDACTED and murder case faster than any of trained specialist House appointed.  That immediately drawn a lot of the attention from REDACTED and Patriarch himself. Through the inquiry, it turned out Sergei was a descendant of an old bloodline, that was considered vanished for good couple of hundred years.

Sergei was initiated to behind the Velvet Curtain and while awakening revealed his quite rare REDACTED qualities that in conjunction with natural observation and deduction skills defined his position in the house – infiltration specialist of highest class.

His ability of being able to get to even most protected places and get information from almost anybody is in great service for Ark of Athos. There are dozens of successful worldwide operations behind Sergey back (materials are classified under REDACTED access) that were performed with excellence without one shot fired and couple of dozen of REDACTED found and delivered to secret archives of Underground City.

Currently Sergey is in investigation of assassinations chain that took place around Eastern Europe and  lead him to the contractor, who is associated with Daughters of Hecate and Fortress of Humans. Being able to infiltrate and REDACTED, Rostov is emergently returning to St. Petersburg to meet with Keeper of Hermitage and consult him on his further actions.

*** Confidential, Order of Unknown Saint Archives personal case extract

Whistleblower Interview Record #1

[Transcript Starts]

“… look, mister Doe, whatever you name is, this is just doesn’t add up. We know from SFPD reports that in the course of the chase, young woman, a little bit over thirty years, ginger, red dress fled in direction of China Town district and probably lost her persuaders in district alleys. What do you mean check CCTV footage one minute later here, at the 6th, here in Tenderloin or here at the Moscone?”

“It means exactly what I’m saying. Person you are looking obtain, well, lets say definite set of quite extraordinary skills. People like her don’t have to look for alleys to get lost, missy.”

“People like who for God sake? Is this is some government agencies bullshit? is she CIA? NSA? Third-fucking-echelon? Who is she working for? How on the earth one person could infiltrate one of the most guarded places in the whole Bay Area, take the package and vanish in thin air with all of the king’s man on her tail?”

<sounds of laughter>

“What is so funny?!”

“Not funny. It’s ironic. First of all, its you using this exact saying, and second, both of your questions, who she is and how was she able to fool your men have one answer.”

“Which is?”

“She is a witch. Very strong one and a part of an organisation that highly outranks yours or any of those you have just mentioned”

“Oh, for God sake! I don’t have to listen to this crap here. You know what, fuck this, what I gonna do now… ”

“What you gonna do now is, Mrs. Rogers, you will take this map, check the CCTV footage from those three areas and will find the trace of the witch blink in one of them. You will be surprised, but this will shatter the sceptics I have to deal here now loosing my time and we will continue this conversation.”

“How do you know my… ”

“You overestimate your judgement, but underestimate your importance to this situation, aren’t you? I’m not gonna say a word until you do exactly what I just said and than, we have a lot to discuss.”

[Transcript Ends]

Profile Record: House of Dawn

… House of Dawn is the minor House of Blood united followers of The Fallen and is following the ideology of almost absurd liberty and anarchism. Initially, a part of Society of Grail, but in the course of the discord in ideology at the time of Dark Ages departed and formed their own organisation. Due to the strong advocacy of individualism, independence and freedom Dawn went in conflict with almost every House of Blood through many reasons, but biggest point of disagreement is still their initiative in suggesting re-elevation of the Velvet Curtain Code.

House of Dawn doesn’t have any on-shore headquarters and is based on super carrier known as “Cradle” that is drifting in neutral waters of Atlantic Ocean. Ship is packed with latest tech equipment, well defended both in military and extra human powers meanings of that word and contains all Relics. House controls its European and US operations from the bridge of that ship.  

Dawn is ruled by Gathering of the Captains who appoint in voting so called Enablers, temporary leaders of initiatives and operations who report directly to the Gathering. That principle works for everything, from supertanker course to military insurgences. After Enabler performs the plan, he is moved to new initiative or downgraded back to his usual rank. While being ridiculously hybrid, this structure proved to be quite effective. 

For a long time now, House of Dawn is welcoming all refugees, rioters and revolutionaries from all of the other Houses of Blood. In military operations, Dawn is using it’s own members and hired specialists, being supervised by Enablers. Organisation is as well, quite well known for its talented agents and extreme mastery in political intrigue, sabotage, diplomacy, extortion, intimidation and manipulation.

//From Archives of The Order of Unknown Saint

Personal Case Inquiry: Juliette Le Grange

*** Confidential, Order of Unknown Saint Archives personal case extract

… Juliette was born in Louisiana in beginning of 20-ies and before realizing her REDACTED had to go through all of the hardships and trials in French Quarter. That period of time was harsh for people of her ethnicity and that have left it’s reflection in her personality – to this day, civil rights and equality principles protection and strong sense of social justice is what she is known for. When Le Grange got to her full age, she was noticed and initiated at REDACTED and passed through Velvet Curtain into the world of Bloodlines. Obviously, to the House of Daughters of Hecate.

Curious and ambitious girl found herself in new amazing world of knowledge and power and probably, for the first time in her life felt the real purpose. Despite of natural affinity to world of intrigue, power play and political schemes, Juliette just and strong nature allowed her to preserve her inner self, choose right allies like REDACTED PASSAGE and get quite high in the hierarchy of the House. Her influence grew, though, have been compromised by Selena Lewis after her admission to the Daughters of Hecate.

There are controversial relationships between those two. Yes, Selena manipulations corrupted the House and diminished Juliette political position, but at the same time, it revealed some House practices like REDACTED, REDACTED and REDACTED, Juliette was not aware about and those got her terrified.

The latter made her come of with serious decision to rally friendly significant house figures internally and come up with opposite to Eve Firstborn fraction, Children of Ishtar. Agenda of the fraction is based on taking the power from existing Coven and prevent terrible potential consequences of current Daughters of Hecate politics such as REDACTED PASSAGE. Another important principle they are standing at is finding peaceful compromise with other Houses of Blood to solve hundreds of years of grudge and mistrust.  

Juliette is playing dangerous game now as her activities create a lot of internal and external enemies, but in case she prevails, she can clean her House of corruption and get it to completely different level… 

*** Confidential, Order of Unknown Saint Archives personal case extract

From Selena Lewis Correspondence

Dear Ms. Lewis,

I got your message where you asking for my expertise (yet again) about recent tragedy in Providence. While (and you perfectly know that) I’m typically not into Houses of Blood little boring intrigues and power plays, you got my interest here (which I’m sure IS precisely what you have expected to happen) with those couple of clues that have been provided to my humble attention.

Here is what I have to say.  I’m sure you already now that site have been attacked by Coven elite forces. I see definite signature of New Orleans witchery on Exhibit A, but what you should pay extra attention here is this violet-red field trace that can originate only from Eve Firstborn, there is no other person with the same signature. Another peculiar thought, amount of effort to create this ward is above significant. I mean, I’m talking here months of rituals, my dear. Last time I saw something similar it was back in 1859 and when it got a little bit out of control we had Carrington Event to deal with.

With “Exhibit B”, this tissue sample. It definitely belongs to diabolus pupa scriptor or as you, young people call them, Reapers. Not a usual one as well, our naughty boys were enhanced to a point of almost complete indestructibility and THAT ritus was forbidden back from the last century. It’s a barbaric, disgusting, savage practice that ties dead to the life force of the operator and literally creates a symbiote which I should remark is extremely capable in killing and destruction. In the end, operator dies in truly horrific manner and trust me, you don’t want to know the details.

Now, I would like to draw a couple of conclusions for you here, Selena. First, given the amount of risk and effort of this operation, whatever was hiddden at this Lighthouse was of a huge matter of life and dead importance to The Coven.

Second, while practices New Orleans Mansion is resorting here are heavily prohibited by the Convention, for some reason, I don’t see any investigations initiated by Fortress…

Being a smart girl, I think you can add up those two and two and find a lead to follow.

PS. Thanks for the wine, love. You definitely know how to bribe an old man and I remember it to be the same Richebourg we drank together in Italy when Hour of the Wolf was over. Good memories.

With best regards from retirement,

– Arthur

Profile Record: Society Of Grail

… Society of Grail, commonly referred to as Chalice,  is united Great House of Blood that have combined bloodlines of Western Ritual emerged after the collapse of Grand House of Jupiter. Society of Grail was the initial force behind Magna Carta and Pactus Aequilībrium coming with this proposal after Dark Ages. Being supported by Ark of Athos and House of David, honestly, what choice others had and due to actions of these three houses peace was established.

Headquarters of Society of Grail is located in London and exists in artificially created “dimensional pocket” in House of Parliament. Ghost Parliament was created soon after Powder Conspiracy, when it became apparent that place of such importance being present in physical realm could be destroyed due to human related affair. Time flows differently in Ghost Parliament and Bloodline Lords may spent as much effort and argument as they need in this place to solve complicated issues at hands.

Bloodline Lords are initiated to their position due to their lineages in complex ritual involving The Cornerstone of the House and Grail, which are the two most important relics of the House. Number of Lords in Ghost Parliament is correspondent to number of bloodlines in the House and being quite stable through ages. Internally, it’s a complex and sometimes convoluted political structure with different episodic fractions and alliances who are in constant struggle for power. It should be considered as well, that when it comes down to serious house interests Lords tend to unite and can be quite quick on effective decisions.

Main military force of the house are conjunct groups of mercenaries and Society Knights, who are known for their discipline, skill and ferocity in battle. Special Forces of the Order are few hundreds of so called Crusaders of Temple, who are literally almost impossible to kill on the battlefield. They haven’t been seen for quite a long time in action, but few of them are always around current Society Champion in training Kara Jensen as her lifeguard.

//From Archives of The Order of Unknown Saint