Also known as werewolves or Lupines, they have a feud with the Kindred since time immemorial. The Garou consider the Kindred bloodsuckers, leeches, and servants of the Wyrm, the evil force of the world that controls spirits and humans (Pentex), while they are Gaia's blessed. Furthermore, most tribes are “together” in the Garou Nation.
When they duke it out, mortals generally flee the area because of Garou turning from their normal mortal shape into their war form, instantly forgetting what truly happened: this is called Delirium. In a few domains, the Kindred and Garou have forged truces and temporary non-aggression pacts, but what is concerning is the alliance between the Black Spiral Dancers and the Sabbat, as to destroy their respective enemies…
The Garou have five forms they can take: Homid (human form); Glabro (a mix of mortal and beastly features); Crinos (the “warform”); Hispo (dire beast) and Lupus (animal form). Some Garou families can take forms of other creatures, and become werebears and the like.
Glyph of the Garou Nation, the Black Spiral Dancers and the logo of Pentex
Sorcerers are the wielders of mysterious magic, something that puts them above the rest of mortality. They gather in covens, groups or schools where they teach one another. The three largest groups are the Arcanum, the Nothians and the Network are between those who employ those of a sorcerous persuasion.
Among the mortals, however, something called “the Project” has been rumored to capture, and employ psychics for some nefarious purpose, unknown to most.
What is known, however, is that the Project has a kill-on-sight policy on sorcerers, and sorcerers have pretty much the same on the agents of the Project…
Glyphs of the Sorcerers and of the Project
Many creatures roam the Earth, with little known about it: from wendigos all the way to djinns, krakens golems, elementals, tulpas, yetis…
Most of these creatures are threats, or barely understood beings. Do not dwell to much on their provenance, as that may be a burden too heavy on your psyche.
Furthermore, the fae, the changelings and the weirdlings have stepped from the realm of the Fables to reality, and their Mayhem is a dangerous power for good and bad alike. They are barely understood or known, and nobody knows much else about them.
There are also rumors of Exalted, but nothing has been confirmed.
The Cappadocians and Giovanni are heavily involved with them; the spirits shouldn't be involved with the Quick (mortals and other supernaturals), since they are Dead. Some do so anyways, hoping to reach Transcendence. Poltergeists, wraiths, ghosts: a long list of suchlike spirits are included. They can be found anywhere, from abandoned, condemned buildings to ancient catacombs. They dwell where death is most felt.
Glyph of the Wraiths
Small groups or cells of hunters will try to hunt supernatural creatures, for any possible reason under the sun: vengeance, divine guidance, penance. They are rarely successful, for the power they wield is close to none.
The few who are fueled by what some call Numina are a bit more powerful, but that pales in comparison with True Faith. Something so overwhelmingly powerful that whomever can wield it is usually inducted into the Second Inquisition.
Cross used by Hunters, especially those of a Christian bent
Among the larger groups dedicated to the hunt, the most effective is the Inquisition, who are still alive in the XXI century.
They are, however, underfunded and divided in how to conduct the holy war, since the last big wave of the Inquisition. Extremists clamor for active war, moderates desire to keep the hunt still a secret, while redemptionists are interested in converting supernatural creatures into loyal servants of the Church. The two main groups are the Sant’Uffizio proper, and the militant wing, the Gladius Dei.
The Second Inquisition has ghouls and vampires among them, acting as spies and infiltrators for the Camarilla. The Inquisition as a whole is extremely interested in dhampirs, especially after they have managed to create two knightly orders of “daywalkers”: the Order of Saint Longinus, and the Forsworn Knights of Saint Jude. These dhampirs have a lot of respect for being living creatures bound to serve the Sant’Uffizio, but also scorn and derision by some, being called “mongrels”, or “spawn of the undead”.
Furthermore, there are some Theurges (clergy and laymen with True Faith and “good gifts of the Holy Ghost”) and Judas Witchers and Witches (laymen with Numina, tasked to aid the Vatican). While Theurges are begrudgingly tolerated, Judas Witches are called abominations, and rarely trusted.
As strong as it is, it is also mired with conflicts. The current Grand Inquisitor, Gabrielle du Valmont, is arguing with Abbess Margarethe Elsbeth over the way to conduct God’s Crusade on Earth; the Condottiero of the Gladius Dei, Victor Kovacs, has decided to investigate Judas Witches for possible “infiltration of the Unholy”, something that Hierophant Rafael Medina is vehemently opposing. Finally, Knight-Commander Lucia Aurelian of the Order of Longinus is no longer on speaking terms with Rodrigo Valente, the Grandmaster of the Forsworn Knights of Saint Jude.
Cross used by the Sant’Uffizio (top), Gladius Dei (center) and the Dhampir Orders (bottom)
PROJECT NIGHTFALL has been the foundation on which the BSI, and then FEDRA and S-TAC, grew. Tasked to protect the United States from supernatural threats, they take their oath as agents extremely seriously; they have had ups and downs, and are currently rebuilding after the events of 2007. Some say “the Project” is also tied to them, but no definitive proof has been brought forward.
Right now, the BSI and Second Inquisition are in a cautious alliance of convenience, especially due to the fact that the Sant'Uffizio and the Vatican Archives are a trove of millennia of research on those whom they are at war with. FEDRA’s laboratories are too a vast trove of cutting edge research that the Second Inquisition greatly needs.
S-TAC and Gladius Dei units also have training exercises together, and Inquisitor-Clerics prepare the BSI agents in interrogation and tracking techniques.
The current leadership is made up of Director Nathaniel “Nate” McGregor for the BSI, Colonel Mara Linwood-Thorpe for S-TAC, and Dr. Felix Reinhardt, Head Researcher for FEDRA: they are locked into a large dispute about authority and the ultimate goal of the Agency.