geistnet | Conspiracy: Aegis Kai Doru

The Spear, The Scroll, The Shield, and The Legion.

Mankind’s obsession with the marvels of the past has always been best characterized by treasure hunters, and the tales of adventure and wonder that were usually blown up narratives of their discoveries. Prior to the breaking of the Veil, though, only one organization knew the truth behind many of the historical mysteries of the Fifth World, along with how they were connected to the World Darkness. This organization was Aegis Kai Doru, the so-called “Guardians of the Labyrinth”.

The Aegis Kai Doru of tonight’s Vigil is an incredibly different creature from what it used to be for thousands of years, and this is due to the fact that the conspiracy is actually a combination of two groups of Keepers that remained apart for centuries: the “original” Aegis Kai Doru, and the Ascending Ones. The two organizations united under one standard after members from both conspiracies discovered the shared history of their groups during the Darkest Vigil. At present, the entirety of the conspiracy devotes itself to the recovery, study, creation, and use of Relics, Magience, and other “marvels” of the Fifth World’s collective past between the World of Light and the World of Darkness.

Aegis Kai Doru is the only conspiracy in tonight’s Vigil that doesn’t have a uniform: their operatives can be picked out by the fact that all of them wear the crest of their conspiracy on their person at all times. Traditionally, the crest came in the form of a pendant hanging from a bronze chain. These days, however, Aegis operatives wear it however they like. Their insignia is a large, round shield with a spear and a scroll crossed at the back. The shield bears the design of a fiery phoenix in flight.

A QUICK HISTORY OF AEGIS KAI DORU

The story of both Aegis Kai Doru and the Cult of the Phoenix actually goes back farther than the Methuselah’s, all the way back to the time when the Realms Supernal and the “Fallen World” – that is, the Fifth World as tonight’s Vigil knows it – were one. They are the inheritors of the legacy of Iunu, the only Hume city whose glory rivalled the majesty of the Arces of the Awakened. Historical accounts recovered from Voidsong have recently revealed that the people of Iunu were divided solidly into two groups: the Children of Fire and the Children of Water. The Fire Children reputedly placed fragments of their souls into inanimate objects; the Children of Water, on the other hand, chose to place their essence into concoctions they had developed through an extensive research of the flora and fauna of the Fifth World. They worked harmoniously, making up for each other’s weaknesses, and built Iunu autonomously from the control of the Awakened, as they did not need to rely on their protection to keep them safe from the other Great Races.

Something that remains unclear to this day is how Iunu disappeared – their story was already ancient history by the time a young Mage named Aidan Clayce became the Voidseeker of the Adamantine Arrows. What Aidan, Riley and Orin remember is the fact that the Children of Fire became the artisans and craftsmen of the Awakened, using their unique connection with Relics in order to safeguard the Mysteries of the Arces. The Children of Water, on the other hand, retreated into the Wastes, and used their abilities to commune with the precursors of the Created. Interestingly enough, the fragmented records of Aegis Kai Doru allude to the story of Iunu from the perspective of the Fire Children while fragmented records of the Ascending Ones allude to the story of Iunu from the perspective of the Water Children. The commonality that both accounts have is that internal strife tore the groups apart after a familial dispute between the two brothers who headed each tribe turned against each other through the machinations of their third and youngest sibling.

Fast forward to millennia after the Fall from Grace and to a time that mortals actually recognize. Old records from the Methuselah state that Aegis Kai Doru – the protectors of the legacy of the Children of Fire – formed as a conspiracy during the Aegean Bronze Age, on the island of Crete. Aegis started because the first Guardians of the Labyrinth rediscovered the secrets of the Children of Fire underneath Crete. Aegis then followed the spread of Western civilization, moving beyond the Veil throughout the Greek civilization, the Roman Empire, and beyond.

On the other hand, the Ascending Ones – the Children of Water – could trace their roots to Africa, specifically in Egypt. They rediscovered the secrets of the Children of Water through their initial contact with Osiris, the Progenitor of the Osiran line and the oldest among the original Created. Osiris was the only Progenitor that has existed since the Fall from Grace, and he shared the secrets of the Water Children with them. The Ascending Ones then followed the spread of civilization throughout Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
The animosity between the two conspiracies started early, especially since both sides had the tendency to manipulate factors within the World of Light in order to further their own agendas. Furthermore, their own members naturally had their particular cultural inclinations and religious beliefs. Constant meditation from the Methuselah initially kept both sides from attempting to eliminate each other completely, but things came to a head during the Crusades. The Crusades saw massive casualties on both sides, and – in an attempt at preventing such a thing from ever happening again – Aidan Clayce intervened. The Voidseeker strictly forbade the two conspiracies from fighting each other, and promised to have the Methuselah hunt down and kill any Hunter from either side who violated this rule. Whoever the Methuselah could not handle, he would take care of himself.

After the Crusades, things between Aegis and the Ascending Ones were tense but generally uneventful. Aegis made it a point to reform itself according to the vision that the Methuselah had for the Vigil: a conspiracy that fought to preserve the Balance between the World of Light and the World of Darkness, and viewed all entities with an equal amount of respect. The Ascending Ones took a different approach: while they no longer destroyed denizens of the Darkness completely, they did make it a habit of retaliating whenever they were provoked, regardless of whom the other party happened to be. They only started to change in the 16th Century, due to the influence of the Blade King of Zangyaku. One of the original members of the Searing Wind – Akbar, the Philosopher King – was an Ascending One.

By 2012 there were factions within both conspiracies that questioned the bad blood between Aegis and the Ascending Ones, and took every opportunity they had to quietly voice their disapproval. These factions grew in power following the Breaking of the Veil in 2013, and the First Reforms. Before any real headway could be made, however, all hell broke loose in the form of the Darkest Vigil, and “purist” camps within both conspiracies took control of their organizations yet again.

2022 marked the beginning of the Phoenix War, the first full-scale conflict between Aegis Kai Doru and the Ascending Ones using World of Light nations as “proxies”. Even if the leaders of both conspiracies were exhausted by the conflict and wanted nothing more than to end the war between their organizations, both of them were powerless to stop it. The only way to get both sides to heel was to find proof of the “rumored” shared legacy that Aegis and the Ascending Ones had.

Claire Anders – Head Keeper of the Labyrinth – placed a blade of her finest Scrolls, Shields and Spears in contact with some of her secret allies within the moderates of the Ascending Ones. This combined blade was led by Inquisitor Kaizen Tempesta, and the entire group discovered the location of Ra’s Shadow underneath what used to be the ancient Greco-Egyptian city of Heliopolis. Their mission was to descend into Ra’s Shadow, and recover the Thirteen Songs of the Children. These Songs were reputedly magience devices from Iunu that had recorded, in full, the history of the Children of Fire and the Children of Water.

The exploration team came back in 2042; their numbers had been greatly reduced, but they had managed to recover the Thirteen Songs. Both factions within Aegis and the Ascending Ones then used their existence in order to silence radical individuals within their purview. Within a week, the conspiracies declared a cease fire and – with the Wiseman’s Committee in attendance – hit the negotiation table, and declared an end to what had now been revealed to be a near pointless war between their conspiracies. A month after that, the Ascending Ones were absorbed into Aegis Kai Doru.

AEGIS KAI DORU TODAY'S VIGIL

For a conspiracy with a long history of conflict between its two main factions, Aegis Kai Doru has managed to adjust to the demands of the so-called “New Age” with notable ease. They have integrated, with varying degrees of success, into the World of Light due to what they can offer to the mundanes, especially the international academic community.

While the majority of the Keepers of the Vigil are occupied with the politics between supernatural communities and Pax Deorum, Aegis Kai Doru finds itself increasingly busy with improving the intellectual capital of the Fifth World with its intimate knowledge of what was traditionally viewed as historical mysteries within the World of Light. They are also busy the acquisition, research and recovery of Relics all around the globe. Many Relics were lost during the Darkest Vigil, and many Labyrinths were compromised by Grendal. There is no other conspiracy in the Fifth World that is better suited to handle the situation than Aegis.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.

In a fashion similar to Zangyaku, Aegis Kai Doru breaks its operatives down into three roles: Spear, Shield and Scroll. The Spears are the muscle of the conspiracy, and they tend to be the closest equivalent that their organization has to more “traditional” Keepers of the Vigil. The Shields are charged with the responsibility of defending the conspiracy as a whole from external and internal conflict. The Scrolls are the researchers, informants, spies and the archivists of Aegis.

Furthermore, Aegis Hunters are ranked according to their advancement within the roles they have chosen. The three levels are Novice, Praxis and Master. Like Netsach, advancement in one’s rank also determines an operative’s overall rank within the conspiracy. An Aegis operative is only allowed to pursue another role for himself after he has become a Master in his original role.

A “special” rank exists for the upper echelons of Aegis: the Keepers. Keepers are operatives who have mostly shelved field work and active duty in favor of administrative work for the conspiracy, such as the maintenance of a Labyrinth. An Aegis operative can only become a Keeper after she has mastered at least two of the conspiracy’s three roles.
Beyond having to choose a role for themselves, Aegis Hunters have to decide which Legion they belong to. The Legion of the Sphinx represents the “original” Aegis Kai Doru: operatives under the Sphinx are the Tomb Raiders of the conspiracy. The Legion of the Phoenix represents the “original” Ascending Ones: operatives under the Phoenix are the Keepers of the conspiracy.

Aegis operatives can become a member of both Legions, provided that they have already mastered their original role.

JURISDICTION.

Aegis Kai Doru is officially responsible for all matters, World of Light and World of Darkness, that deal with Relics, Magience and other “magical” or otherwise anomalous objects and places within the Fifth World. As such, Pax Deorum has given them international jurisdiction within the Fifth World in order to make sure that Aegis operatives have the mobility that they need.

While their numbers might not be as many as the likes of the Methuselah and the Midnight Riders, Aegis Kai Doru actually has a Labyrinth within every major city of the world that is controlled by Pax Deorum, and they also possess Labyrinths in areas that have particular historical significance. They have “secret” Labyrinths in “renegade” areas, although no high-ranking Aegis operative will admit this on the record.

The headquarters of Aegis Kai Doru is The Labyrinth of the Shield and Legion, situated in an undisclosed location within the Middle East. The Labyrinth in Athens, the Labyrinth in Blaece, the Labyrinth in Cairo, the Labyrinth in Davao, the Labyrinth in Chicago, the Labyrinth in Nara and the Labyrinth in Turkey are all viewed as the “mini-headquarters” of the conspiracy.

THE DIVISIONS OF AEGIS KAI DORU.

Because of Aegis Kai Doru’s structure, the divisions of the conspiracy are more contingents of soldiers whose different members work towards accomplishing one other particular function for the organization beyond combat. Most operatives will spend their entire careers in one division, or end up leaving one division for another. Traditionally, the diversification comes in the roles that an operative chooses, and whether they decide to focus on being a member of one Legion or of both.

Nevertheless, an Aegis operative that belongs to several different divisions is not unheard of. The conspiracy does not mind what their operatives choose to do at the end of it all, provided that they do their work well.

THE KEEPERS OF THE LABYRINTH
The Keepers of the Labyrinth are the “commanding officers” of Aegis Kai Doru. They consist of all of the administrative heads of the conspiracy. Aegis functions much like a democracy when it comes to issues that affect the conspiracy as a whole, and every Keeper’s vote has equal weight right down to the individuals who are currently viewed as the “heads” of the entire organization.

KISMET
The “elite taskforce” of Aegis Kai Doru, similar, in many ways, to the Searing Wind of Zangyaku. Kismet traditionally functions as the ultimate fixers and problem solvers of the conspiracy, as they are often assigned to swoop in and handle situations that the rest of their comrades were unable to.

Kismet is the only division that has its own initiation rites beyond the initiation that an initiate must undergo to join Aegis Kai Doru in the first place. One already has to be a “veteran” within Aegis for Kismet to consider them, and they still have to pass the Trials.

ARISTAEUS
Members of Aristaeus are the guardian angels of the Labyrinths. They handle the construction, security and maintenance of all Aegis Labyrinths and outposts, and they are also the operatives that their comrades turn to for their daily needs. Field agents of Artistaeus are also constantly on the lookout for viable locations that might serve as future Labyrinths, and are charged with the sanctity of the secret Labyrinths that Aegis maintains in the Fifth World.

CERAON
This division is also known as “the Apothecary” for a reason: Ceraon handles the creation, development, acquisition and release of Elixirs to Aegis Kai Doru operatives. Individual Ceraon divisions throughout the Labyrinths coordinate with the “main” Apothecary in the conspiracy’s HQ and “mini-HQs”, and its operatives are also in charge of acquiring the materials that the Potion Masters of Aegis need in order to make Elixirs in the first place.

ENYO
Enyo is the Human Resources-cum-Talents division of Enyo, responsible for the training, processing and recruitment of Aegis Kai Doru operatives. As such, they are also assigned to handle the individual concerns of Aegis personnel, and serve as something of an internal police for Kismet and the Keepers.

HORME
Horme is Aegis Kai Doru’s equivalent of a Research & Development division with a corporation, or another conspiracy within the Vigil. Its operatives are in charge of conceptualizing new gear specific to the needs of the two Legions. They are also in charge of handling the logistical concerns of Aegis, making them directly responsible for the distribution of weapons and equipment to the conspiracy’s other members.

IRIS
The Iris division are the researchers, archivists, technicians and communications staff of Aegis Kai Doru. They maintain HOPLITE, the conspiracy’s network. They also serve as the CIC and the so-called “eyes in the sky” for Aegis operatives on the field.

THRASOS
Thrasos has two basic functions: handling Public Relations work for Aegis (a significant part of which is devoted to maintaining friendly ties with academic institutions and maintaining a positive image of the conspiracy in the eyes of the intelligentsia of the Fifth World) and organizing expeditions and exploration teams for Aegis Kai Doru. They work closely with Enyo, as Enyo is capable of giving them insight on who they might be able to take in order to answer the specific needs of an expedition.

PLUTUS
Where Ceraon is the Apothecary of Aegis, Plutus is “the Reliquary”. Plutus operatives handle the creation, development, acquisition and release of Relics to Aegis Kai Doru operatives. Individual Plutus divisions throughout the Labyrinths coordinate with the “main” Reliquary in the conspiracy’s HQ and “mini-HQs”, and its operatives are also in charge of acquiring the materials that the Relic Makers of Aegis need in order to make Relics in the first plac.

RANKS, DESIGNATIONS, AND WHATNOT.

All Aegis Kai Doru operatives start out as initiates. After their initial screening, initiates are first asked to rank the three roles of the conspiracy according to their level of interest in them, and this is cross-checked with an assessment of their skill set and personality by Enyo operatives. Enyo has the final word on what an initiate’s first role in the conspiracy will be.
After that, they are allowed to choose a Division that they want to start training in.

The training period for an initiate tends to range between six months to a year depending on their level of skill. They spend this period mentoring under a Master of their chosen role, and doing field work with their division. Suffice to say, it is not unheard of for an initiate to be training for much shorter or longer periods – much of it is really contingent on their own conviction, and on the standards of the mentor that they find themselves under. Once their mentor has determined that they are ready to take their initiation, the initiates are sent to the Labyrinth of the Shield and Phoenix.

It should be noted that no initiate is allowed to retake the initiation. Once they have failed, they are asked to leave Aegis Kai Doru, and they will not be considered for a position with the conspiracy again. If they successfully navigate through the Labyrinth Below, they are welcomed into the conspiracy as a full-fledged Novice of their role.

The new Novice is asked, at that point, to choose the Legion that they wish to be a part of. Once they have made their decision, Enyo then assigns them to a blade that seems to need someone with their skill set and/or temperament.

The Keeper of a Labyrinth is in charge of assessing an operative’s level of readiness if said operative is worthy of a promotion to the next level of their chosen role, if the operative wishes to pursue another role, if the operative wants to join another division, or if the operative wants to join the second Legion of their choice. The denial of such requests often has to do with a lack of skill and not with overall worthiness. Aegis believes in hard work, and rewards hard workers. If you’re rejected once, all you have to do is try again and show your superiors that you’ve improved. And you’re welcome to try as many times as you like until upper command says that you’re good to go.

The only secrets that an Aegis operative keeps are secrets that need to be kept from people outside of their conspiracy. Aegis believes in near-total transparency with regard to all matters, and sharing whatever you know with your comrades; if an operative didn’t know something, it’s probably because he didn’t bother asking or checking things out for herself.

A HUNTER’S LIFE WITHIN AEGIS KAI DORU.

The Raiders of the Perpetually Lost Arks in the Fifth World
What people often forget about exploring so-called ancient ruins, diving deep into the abandoned legacies of entire civilizations for treasure and making startling discoveries about the shared histories of the denizens of the Fifth World is that getting anywhere in those directions often requires a near Herculean amount of effort and an indescribable amount of tedious, repetitive work. Furthermore, in spite of all of this hard work and effort, “new” things don’t pop up as often as people think. There is also that not-so-small issue of people thinking that Relics and other artifacts can solve all of their problems. Aegis operatives are the ones who have to go through every misdemeanor report that lands on their doorsteps, and the experience of every step that goes into solving these cases – confirming the discovery, tracking the artifact down, handling the culprit, cleaning up whatever mess the artifact left behind – can range from anywhere between Really Fucking Boring to Almost Absolutely Fatal.

Keeping the Vigil is an integral part of the work that Aegis Kai Doru does, but the Hunting portion of it is ultimately secondary to the research and preservation of historical legacies, most especially Relics, Elixirs, and other artifacts of the past. Fortunately, “real life” isn’t meant to be secondary to the good work that an operative must do for the conspiracy. Aegis operatives are, in fact, strongly encouraged to occupy themselves with whatever they like in their spare time, and engaging in professional or personal endeavors together with their role as an Aegis Hunter is not frowned upon in the slightest. Granted, given the profile of the kinds of people that enter Aegis, scholarship is so integral to their existence that it still becomes the one thing that they really end up doing until they retire.

Aegis is an incredibly lenient organization that believes in equal rights and democracy, and they are strong believers in the saying that goes “whatever you do outside of work is not our business, and never really will be” – unless, of course, it affects an operative’s output. They also don’t discriminate an operative for their race, gender, ethnicity, class, or whether they happen to be mundane or supernatural. None of these things matter if you can get the job done. Hence, it should not be too surprising to see that Aegis has some geriatric operatives in their ranks handling things on the backend while their younger, spry folk handle expeditions and Hunting.

It should be noted that the organization is less a military conspiracy (like, let’s say, Netsach or Zangyaku) and it is definitely not corporate (like the Methuselah or the Rhiannon Group). Many operatives, in fact, will get the sense that being with Aegis is more like being with an academic Society with a keen interest in history and a whole lot of field work to go around for everybody.

Granted, this kind of setup breeds its own kind of politics, specifically the politics of academic ownership and intellectual capital. Professional jealousy can run high between two operatives, especially since Aegis makes it a point to reward a member who has managed to come up with something new or interesting. Enyo and Kismet try their best to foster an environment of transparency that is geared towards being a fair playing field for all of its operatives, but nasty fallouts do happen, and they do, on occasion, compromise the conspiracy’s work.

Notable Aegis Kai Doru Practices.
Here is a list of rituals that Aegis Kai Doru, as a conspiracy, practices at present. Many of them have been in existence since the conspiracy began. Of course, it is also important to note the multi-cultural nature of Aegis Kai Doru; operatives of Aegis, regardless of nationality, tend to be ritualistic, and – beyond observing the traditions of their own conspiracy – they also observe the traditions of their own cultures.

CELL NAMING
The name of a particular Aegis cell often alludes to the first big engagement that the cell had, or they take the name of the boat, ship, plane or vehicle that they end up taking out on expeditions. Many senior operatives view this as symbolic: an Aegis operative is only worth noticing when they do something of great value to the cause of the conspiracy.

EASTER EGGS
Aegis Kai Doru operatives frown upon the outright desecration of Labyrinths, Relics, Elixirs, and other artifacts from the past – but they’re not past leaving their mark somewhere harmless, and only discoverable by people who know how to look. Finding these Easter Eggs is often turned into a game for initiates.

GREETING THE FIRST DAWN
As Aegis Kai Doru recognizes no specific date for the end of the Phoenix War, the conspiracy now places a lot of personal stock on the celebration of New Year’s – only their festivities don’t end after midnight. The countdown does not matter as much as the first sunrise does.

The entirety of New Year’s Eve is celebrated in darkness with nothing but natural light or the light provided by fire to illuminate anything. After the merrymaking finishes up, all Aegis operatives in their respective Labyrinths gather together for a solemn ceremony that displays the content of the Thirteen Songs of Iunu, and – in tandem with the first sunrise of the New Year – the Labyrinths are lit up with magical fire. The power is only restored after breakfast.

INITIATION RITES
At the end of their training period, an initiate of Aegis is brought to the Labyrinth of the Shield and Phoenix, and are left within the Labyrinth Below with a simple instruction: reach the top before sunrise. People outside of Aegis have no idea what happens during an Aegis Kai Doru initiation precisely because the Labyrinth Below changes itself to suit the initiate who is trapped within its depths. No two stories of an initiation are exactly the same.

AEGIS KAI DORU AND EVERYONE ELSE.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF VIOLENCE
Aegis operatives run into Brothers and Sisters in Violence a lot more often than people would think for a good reason: the Brotherhood considers it their duty to destroy any threat to the Faith and its legacy, and part of this legacy does include guarding places and artifacts that Christians view as sacred. The two organizations do have a policy of non-interference at work, but neither side is past offering assistance when an engagement touches upon something that matters to both parties.

THE METHUSELAH
Even when the Methuselah was at its darkest point, Aegis Kai Doru made it a point to retain as cordial of a relationship with the conspiracy as possible. The two conspiracies are the oldest Keepers of the Fifth World’s Vigil, and the Methuselah has greatly aided Aegis in the past, even if it occasionally meant going against the Ascending Ones – the precursors of Aegis Kai Doru’s Legion of the Phoenix.

At present, Aegis Kai Doru is fully aware of its position as one of the Methuselah’s biggest allies, but the conspiracy, as a whole, is not interested in using this to their advantage. The Methuselah provides them with the means to do their work in peace, and backup when there are things that they cannot handle. That’s enough for most of its operatives.

THE MIDNIGHT RIDERS
Due to the natures of their respective jurisdictions, many an Aegis operative have found that they can often rely upon the quick response time and steady report of the nearest blade of Midnight Riders when they’re in a pinch and out in the middle of nowhere. As a result, Aegis operatives and Midnight Riders tend to form steady friendships among themselves, ones that stretch on for the entirety of these operatives’ careers.

NETSACH
Netsach has not forgotten the services that Aegis Kai Doru provided for them back when they were still starting out, and Aegis Kai Doru has not forgotten the amazing amount of support that Netsach provided them with during the Phoenix Wars. The two conspiracies are tight on a professional level, and continue to treat each other with a generosity and understanding that is only rivaled by the closeness between Netsach and Zangyaku.

THE ORDER OF THE MANI DELLO SPIRITO SANTO
Admittedly, Aegis Kai Doru and the Order of the Mani dello Spirito Santo got off to an incredibly rocky start. Prior to their own internal reformations, Guardians of the Labyrinths used to indiscriminately steal recognized Christian relics (something that also used to put Aegis at odds with the Brotherhood of Violence, especially when Aegis operatives got too close to the Well of Souls). Furthermore, the Ascending Ones used to be at the forefront of the conflict between Christian and Islamic communities throughout European and Middle Eastern history. Suffice to say, much has changed with the reforms, and the two conspiracies now enjoy an excellent working relationship.

THE RHIANNON GROUP
Aegis Kai Doru operatives are dependent on their Relics and Elixirs more than anything else, and don’t often have to cross paths on the field with agents of the Rhiannon Group. Both organizations tend to respect each other’s boundaries, on call for aid on a case-to-case basis.

TASKFORCE VALKYRIE
Taskforce Valkyrie is a constant source of stress for Aegis operatives based within North and South America, especially since Valkyrie operatives have the tendency to use government jurisdiction to confiscate “dangerous items” regardless of who they actually belong to. As a result, many of Aegis Kai Doru’s operatives work undercover within the two continents, and they almost exclusively field mundane agents in order to prevent their supernatural operatives from being targeted. Things have improved a little since the Armistice, but Aegis isn’t quite ready to step out into the open in America just yet.

THE THRONES
Admittedly, Aegis Kai Doru offered their support to the Thrones upon their conception not because it would provide them with any sort of advantage, but because it was the right thing to do. Nevertheless, the Thrones have been wonderful about giving whatever assistance they can to Aegis operatives in need, especially when something demonic happens on their purview.

ZANGYAKU
Given the fact that Zangyaku is headed by the one man who used to haunt the dreams of Aegis operatives due to his ruthlessness and indiscriminate “collecting” of ancient Relics, one might be surprised to see how tight the two conspiracies appeared to have become. The truth of the matter is, Zangyaku has close ties with at least one half of Aegis due to Hikaru’s friendship with an Ascending One in the distant past.

The Blade King is a very different person now, right down to the “favors” he asks from Aegis operatives in exchange for Relics that they are eyeing within his collection. Furthermore, his oni-tsukai are apparently under strict instructions to inform Aegis immediately about any of their own findings while they’re on the job. Many senior operatives of Aegis strongly believe that without Zangyaku’s backing, they wouldn’t have been able to recover nearly as many Relics as they do at present.

OUTTAKES FROM THE DOWNLOW;

THE BROTHERHOOD OF VIOLENCE -- “Just gotta say: I would love to go to the Well of Souls someday. Or maybe I could just look at it, you know, from a distance. …Please?”
THE METHUSELAH -- “In some ways, what they do is a lot riskier than what we do.”
THE MIDNIGHT RIDERS -- “These guys are so cool.”
NETSACH -- “I’m just happy that they don’t break anything when we’re on engagements together.”
THE ORDER OF THE MANI DELLO SPIRITO SANTO -- “How do their Sacred Relics work? I NEED to know, man!”
THE RHIANNON GROUP -- “So what do these guys do for fun?”
TASKFORCE VALKYRIE -- “If only they knew how many agents we actually have down there…”
THE THRONES -- “Kids who can kill you with their brains? Scary!”
ZANGYAKU -- “I thought these guys were all about the fight once. Then one of their Senshi – their Senshi – destroyed me in a quiz app. Five times. In a row”

GAINING HUNTING LICENSES & CROSS-CONSPIRACY JURISDICTION.

Operatives of Aegis Kai Doru must possess Status 3 or higher within their own conspiracy before they can pursue Hunting Licenses with other organizations. Furthermore, they must possess a minimum rank of Master within their primary role.

Hunters from other conspiracies are eligible for a Hunting License with Aegis Kai Doru if they possess Status 3 or higher within their own conspiracy. They must also possess a Skill Specialization in Relics or Elixirs, and at least three other Specializations in any of the following: Academics, Crafts, Occult, Science and Survival. They must have either a Conviction Rating of 3 or higher, or a Supernatural Advantage rating (i.e. Gnosis, Primal Urge, Blood Potency) of 3 or higher. Furthermore, they need to pass Aegis Kai Doru’s initiation, as if they had trained to be a part of Aegis from the beginning.

Once the Hunter in question has succeeded and has been given his license with Aegis Kai Doru, he is asked to choose his initial Division and Legion. Enyo determines their rank according to the skills and experience that they already possess: multi-licensed operatives, especially those with experience, don’t necessarily start at the bottom rung..

PLAYING AN AEGIS KAI DORU HUNTER IN WAKING THE DEAD.

Background.
Aegis Kai Doru favors adventurous spirits, explorers and individuals with a love for travel and discovery, but they want people who possess these qualities to have an excellent head on their shoulders. As such, Aegis usually doesn’t recruit “special cases” whom they encounter on the job: they tend to pick folks who are straight out of a proper stay at a Hunting School, and scout out potentials from colleges and universities. In the eyes of many Enyo operatives, physical prowess and things that you can do with your hands are things that you can practice being better at, but if you starting out with the wrong mentality towards scholarly work or coming in a little dull in the head are much harder to correct.

Suffice to say, given the way that Aegis Kai Doru is built and the kind of work that they do, it takes a particular sort of person to be interested in joining the conspiracy, especially since Keeping the Vigil just happens to be something they end up doing in pursuit of their actual goals. Is your character into history, oddities and other old things? Are they so interested that they’re willing to make studying these things their life? Why are they interested in the first place?
Furthermore, how do they view the Vigil as a whole? Are they really capable of occasionally being responsible for the death or arrest of another in pursuit of Aegis’ goals?

Aegis is an incredibly friendly organization to its operatives regardless of how young they start out at or how old they end up being at the end of their career. The pay isn’t bad when one compares it to other conspiracies, and while it would not be true to say that the work isn’t dangerous, it is fair to say that it has the tendency to be milder than the kind of work one might be doing in conspiracies like Netsach or Zangyaku. Aegis also makes it a point to take care of the loved ones of their own as best as they can.

Stat Building.
Mental Attributes and Skills are rarely second or third pick for Aegis Kai Doru operatives, and it is not uncommon for many of them to start out with Merits like Ingratiating Wanderer, Well-Traveled, Territorial Knowledge, Encyclopedic Knowledge, Technophile, Relic Analyst, Relic Creator, Vision, or Brilliant. Aegis operatives are the default think tanks of the conspiracy, as their work entails a lot of research and problem solving before the “real fun” can begin. Physical

Attributes and Skills tend to be secondary because of the rigors of field work.

Fortitude, Faith and Temperance are common Virtues among Aegis Kai Doru operatives; Charity and Justice are rare. Greed, Envy and Gluttony tend to be common Vices while Sloth and Wrath are rare.

STARTING BONUSES FOR AEGIS KAI DORU INITIATES.

All Aegis Kai Doru initiates gain the one-dot version of the following Merits.

HENRY’S ABUBOT (• TO •••••)
Where Vice Enterprises provides the tech, Henry’s Abubot provides Relics on call as long as supplies hold. All compacts and conspiracies that have ties with the Abubot can avail of Mr. Lim’s stock.

The number of dots that the character possesses in this Merit corresponds to the kind of equipment that the character can get. Note, however, that he has to “buy” the items individually. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, Relics from Henry’s Abubot cannot be modified.

RESOURCES [AEGIS KAI DORU] (• TO •••••)
Because Hunting is a profession, operatives of the different compacts and conspiracies are paid for every successful operation, have a monthly allowance to compensate for living expenses, and gain benefits like health insurance and tax shields.

Novices/initiates automatically gain the one-dot version of this Merit. Purchasing the rest of the dots in this Merit, however, are completely dependent on the character. For example, an Inquisitor may not necessarily have 5 Dots in Resources. He may be notoriously bad at saving, or have a lot of dependents, or might happen to have a thing for giving all of his money away to charity.

It is also possible for a Hunter to lose this Merit, either permanently or temporarily. For example, if an operative has been performing poorly for the past month, his conspiracy has every right to freeze his assets.

VICE ARMORY (• TO •••••)
The Vice Conglomerate, in exchange for generous dole-outs from Pax Deorum, is in charge of funding the compacts and conspiracies of today’s Vigil, providing them with cutting edge technology and high-quality weapons. Their research teams aren’t just devoted towards making the best products in the market for the World of Light: they want to make equipment that’s specifically geared towards helping Hunters preserve the Balance.

The number of dots that the character possesses in this Merit corresponds to the kind of equipment that the character can get. Note, however, that he has to “buy” the items individually. Standard rules apply for modifying equipment.

STARTING BONUSES FOR LEGIONNAIRES OF THE PHOENIX.

All starting Legionnaires of the Phoenix gain the one-dot version of the following Merits. Network, however, stays at 5.

ALLIES [AEGIS KAI DORU] (• TO •••••)
EFFECT: Allies are people who are willing to help your character from time to time. They may be associates, friends of convenience or people who owe your character a favor. Each acquisition of this Merit is dedicated to one type of ally within the compact or conspiracy that the character belongs to, or allies who have connections with his compact or conspiracy. Note, of course, that this Merit generally applies to NPCs. The player must purchase the corresponding Allies merit for every group that he is a part of. For example, if his character is dual-licensed between two different conspiracies, he must by the Allies Merit for his second conspiracy in order to gain in-game benefits from it.

Each dot that your character has indicates how deep his influence runs in that group. One dot might mean he can ask for minor favors, such doctoring minor details on a Hunter’s assessment report. Three dots garner considerable favors, such as calling for backup on a mission. Five dots usually pertains to high-quality, near-instantaneous results, like sudden drop-ins from friends that end up spelling the difference between life or death for the Hunter in question. It may also reflect the quality of the NPCs’ response. Someone with one dot may only be able to summon a Hunter of his rank to help him on an operation; somebody with five dots could end up calling an Inquisitor who owes them a favor.

The Storyteller has final say over what is an acceptable request and what is not. If there’s any doubt, the Storyteller could call for a Manipulation + Persuasion roll, with a bonus equal to your character’s Allies dots. Penalties might also apply based on the importance or danger of the request. Asking someone to do something already in the bounds of their role imposes no modifier, while asking them to do something that could get them suspended imposes a -3 penalty, and asking for something that could get them jailed or killed is -5. Frequent favors asked of the same group also imposes a penalty as group members grow tired of being called upon. Similarly, a roll of Manipulation + Persuasion + Allies dots could determine how many Hunters answer your character’s call for help (one per success rolled).

Drawback: Allies are not automatons, waiting for your character to ask for help. They have their own lives and needs. An alliance is a two-way relationship. Calling for favors makes your character indebted to his friends, and they are sure to call such favors in when they need help. The Storyteller can use such debts as inspiration for future stories.

NETWORK [HOPLITE] (•••••)
EFFECT: Information is the name of the game in the new age, and an informed Hunter is just as good (or, at times, even better) than a Hunter that happens to be armed to the teeth. Being connected to a network also helps Hunters stay on top of things, and get a better feel of what’s going on outside of one’s own area of jurisdiction.

Hunter characters automatically gain the five-dot version of the Network Merit of their home conspiracy. For example, upon initiation, a Seventh Circle Hunter automatically gains Network (GeistNET) •••••. Purchasing the network of another conspiracy, however, requires in-game justification. Is your character, for example, dual-licensed with Zangyaku? Does your character happen to have a friend in the Brotherhood of Violence who’s in charge of monitoring SERAPH?

STATUS [AEGIS KAI DORU] (• TO •••••)
A Hunter’s standing with his comrades is always determined by his prowess in his chosen field of expertise, his dedication to the cause, and his solid recognition of his place in this strange, not-so-new world.

Status within the Brotherhood of Violence is usually measured by one’s consistency, and the depth of the devotion that their selected division is geared towards. It also has a lot to do with one’s knowledge of the Benedictions.

STATUS •: By hook or by crook, you managed to get out of the Labyrinth Below, and you’ve been welcomed into the conspiracy. Gain one Merit dot to spend on an Elixir of choice. This dot cannot be “saved” for future use, but they can be combined with experience points in order to purchase a higher-level Elixir.
STATUS ••: You’ve done some pretty good work for Aegis so far, and you’re really getting into the swing of things. Your character now benefits from a +2 bonus to all Academics and Occult rolls related to relics, artifacts ancient history, and archaeology.
STATUS •••:The Keeper and local Kismet operatives know you by name or by reputation. Gain three Merit dots to spend on an Elixir of choice. These dots cannot be “saved” for future use, but they can be combined with experience points in order to purchase a higher-level Elixir.
STATUS ••••: Several high-profile expeditions are under your belt now, and you’re sometimes called in by Enyo divisions of other Labyrinths to lend your expertise to their own projects for Aegis Kai Doru. Your character now counts 6-10 as a success and 1-4 as failures in all Academics and Occult rolls related to relics, artifacts, ancient history, and archaeology.
STATUS •••••: If you’re not a Keeper of the Labyrinth by now, it’s probably because you love the field work too damned much. Gain five Merit dots to spend on an Elixir of choice. This dot cannot be “saved” for future use, but they can be combined with experience points in order to purchase a higher-level Elixir.

STARTING BONUSES FOR LEGIONNAIRES OF THE SPHINX.

All starting Legionnaires of the Sphinx gain the one-dot version of the following Merits. Network, however, stays at 5.

ALLIES [AEGIS KAI DORU] (• TO •••••)
EFFECT: Allies are people who are willing to help your character from time to time. They may be associates, friends of convenience or people who owe your character a favor. Each acquisition of this Merit is dedicated to one type of ally within the compact or conspiracy that the character belongs to, or allies who have connections with his compact or conspiracy. Note, of course, that this Merit generally applies to NPCs. The player must purchase the corresponding Allies merit for every group that he is a part of. For example, if his character is dual-licensed between two different conspiracies, he must by the Allies Merit for his second conspiracy in order to gain in-game benefits from it.

Each dot that your character has indicates how deep his influence runs in that group. One dot might mean he can ask for minor favors, such doctoring minor details on a Hunter’s assessment report. Three dots garner considerable favors, such as calling for backup on a mission. Five dots usually pertains to high-quality, near-instantaneous results, like sudden drop-ins from friends that end up spelling the difference between life or death for the Hunter in question. It may also reflect the quality of the NPCs’ response. Someone with one dot may only be able to summon a Hunter of his rank to help him on an operation; somebody with five dots could end up calling an Inquisitor who owes them a favor.

The Storyteller has final say over what is an acceptable request and what is not. If there’s any doubt, the Storyteller could call for a Manipulation + Persuasion roll, with a bonus equal to your character’s Allies dots. Penalties might also apply based on the importance or danger of the request. Asking someone to do something already in the bounds of their role imposes no modifier, while asking them to do something that could get them suspended imposes a -3 penalty, and asking for something that could get them jailed or killed is -5. Frequent favors asked of the same group also imposes a penalty as group members grow tired of being called upon. Similarly, a roll of Manipulation + Persuasion + Allies dots could determine how many Hunters answer your character’s call for help (one per success rolled).

Drawback: Allies are not automatons, waiting for your character to ask for help. They have their own lives and needs. An alliance is a two-way relationship. Calling for favors makes your character indebted to his friends, and they are sure to call such favors in when they need help. The Storyteller can use such debts as inspiration for future stories.

NETWORK [HOPLITE] (•••••)
EFFECT: Information is the name of the game in the new age, and an informed Hunter is just as good (or, at times, even better) than a Hunter that happens to be armed to the teeth. Being connected to a network also helps Hunters stay on top of things, and get a better feel of what’s going on outside of one’s own area of jurisdiction.

Hunter characters automatically gain the five-dot version of the Network Merit of their home conspiracy. For example, upon initiation, a Seventh Circle Hunter automatically gains Network (GeistNET) •••••. Purchasing the network of another conspiracy, however, requires in-game justification. Is your character, for example, dual-licensed with Zangyaku? Does your character happen to have a friend in the Brotherhood of Violence who’s in charge of monitoring SERAPH?

STATUS [AEGIS KAI DORU] (• TO •••••)
A Hunter’s standing with his comrades is always determined by his prowess in his chosen field of expertise, his dedication to the cause, and his solid recognition of his place in this strange, not-so-new world.

Status within the Brotherhood of Violence is usually measured by one’s consistency, and the depth of the devotion that their selected division is geared towards. It also has a lot to do with one’s knowledge of the Benedictions.

STATUS •: By hook or by crook, you managed to get out of the Labyrinth Below, and you’ve been welcomed into the conspiracy. Gain one Merit dot to spend on an Elixir of choice. This dot cannot be “saved” for future use, but they can be combined with experience points in order to purchase a higher-level Elixir.
STATUS ••: You’ve done some pretty good work for Aegis so far, and you’re really getting into the swing of things. Your character now benefits from a +2 bonus to all Academics and Occult rolls related to relics, artifacts ancient history, and archaeology.
STATUS •••:The Keeper and local Kismet operatives know you by name or by reputation. Gain three Merit dots to spend on an Elixir of choice. These dots cannot be “saved” for future use, but they can be combined with experience points in order to purchase a higher-level Elixir.
STATUS ••••: Several high-profile expeditions are under your belt now, and you’re sometimes called in by Enyo divisions of other Labyrinths to lend your expertise to their own projects for Aegis Kai Doru. Your character now counts 6-10 as a success and 1-4 as failures in all Academics and Occult rolls related to relics, artifacts, ancient history, and archaeology.
STATUS •••••: If you’re not a Keeper of the Labyrinth by now, it’s probably because you love the field work too damned much. Gain five Merit dots to spend on an Elixir of choice. This dot cannot be “saved” for future use, but they can be combined with experience points in order to purchase a higher-level Elixir.

STANDARD ISSUE EQUIPMENT FOR AEGIS KAI DORU INITIATES.

Vice Smartphone.
Because Vice Enterprises tech is the only equipment that works regardless of the time or location, all Hunters are required to have a smartphone developed by the corporation on their person at all times. Hunters automatically get an upgrade to their smartphones every time the corporation comes up with a new model.

Vice Tablet.
A smartphone isn’t always enough to serve a Hunter’s needs on the field. All Hunters are given the latest tablet on the market the moment they complete their initiation rites. Hunters automatically get an upgrade to their machines every time the corporation comes up with a new model.

Universal Credit Card.
This card appears to be a credit card with nothing but Aegis Kai Doru’s symbol and Hunter’s full name, rank and designation printed on it – the information magically updates itself every year. They work at any establishment, and on any ATM machine.

STANDARD ISSUE EQUIPMENT FOR AEGIS KAI DORU OPERATIVES.

The Keeper's Pendant.
A pendant that appears to be rendered in bronze, done in the shape of the insignia of Aegis Kai Doru. The pendant, however, shines gold under certain lights, and closer observation will reveal that the flames of the phoenix emblazoned upon the shield are actually moving.

The Keeper’s Pendant has a starting Armor Rating of +3. It cannot break, it reflexively returns to its owner, and its Rating can be improved with upgrades. Furthermore, the Keeper’s Pendant records the personal information and biometrics of their owners; all of this information is sent back, in real time, to the operatives of Iris. It also teleports the initiate to the nearest Aegis Kai Doru Labyrinth in the region once per day, and will always find its way back to its owner regardless of the situation or the distance.

Aegis Kai Doru Melee Weapon.
Operatives can choose the weapon that best suits them, and their stats will always follow the normal weapon ratings of their mundane equivalents. Aegis Kai Doru melee weapons usually have the insignia of the conspiracy somewhere on its frame.

Aegis Kai Doru Sidearm.
This card appears to be a credit card with nothing but the Brotherhood of Violence’s symbol and Hunter’s full name, rank and designation printed on it – the information magically updates itself every year. They work at any establishment, and on any ATM machine.

Rhiannon Tablet
A handgun that bears the insignia of Aegis Kai Doru on its handle, and appears to be crafted from mundane materials. It has a weapon rating of 3(L), and a clip of 10+1.