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World: The Fifth World
FIFTH WORLD FACTBOOK:
COUNTRIES & OTHER LOCATIONS OF INTEREST IN 2066
Not a single place on Earth remained untouched by the upheaval that came with the mass awakenings of the Fifth World. The acknowledgment of the existence of magic and of supernatural powers was a double-edged sword: while it made, in many ways, the impossible possible, it also gave birth to a whole new set of problems, the first and foremost being a propensity to upset the delicate balance of the “natural order” of the World of Light.
Here’s a short list of notable locations that either appeared as a result of the events between Waking the Dead 2.0 and Welcome to the New Age, are relevant to the “main plot” of this campaign, or went through particularly noticeable changes.
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ARCIS FORTRESS CITY
An ambitious pet project of Pax Deorum and the Wiseman's Committee since 2022, Arcis Fortress City went live back in 2063 after years of war between the World of Light and the World of Darkness and several considerable setbacks. Its a technologically advanced powerhouse of a metropolis with sectors that are built into the Hawaiian Islands, over the ocean, and up in the air.
Arcis is the first city-state within the Fifth World that is truly a home to all supernaturals and their relatives, and to anyone - mortal or otherwise - who considers supernaturals as their friends or kinsmen. The Wiseman's Committee studied the models of Shin-Yamatai and New Atlantis, and secured Pax Deorum's permission in making all supernaturals citizens of Arcis: all they have to do is pass the screening, and put in a request to live permanently in Arcis. The idea was not to draw more lines between mortals and supernaturals, but to acknowledge the reality that supernaturals will still minorities that required their own safe place to be themselves in. Granted, because of this thrust, Arcis is also a city of the Vigil with strict laws and regulations designed to be as "culturally sensitive" as possible while catering towards the greater good and the needs of the many, not the needs of the few. Many believed that this was not possible, but it's been smooth for the past three years so far. It only looks like it'll get better for Arcis - and, by extension, supernaturals in general - from hereon. |
SECONDARY CONSPIRACIES: All
GENERAL CONDITIONS: STABLE
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: All
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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AUSTRALIA
One of Australia’s distinguishing factors in the World of Darkness is the unusual amount of “Hedge growth” within the country – that is, there are a startling number of portals into the Hedge, which separates the Prime Material Plane from Arcadia, the realm of Faerie. Once supernaturals surfaced into the World of Light, the Australian government attempted to take advantage of the situation by tailoring its pro-supernatural policies to suit Changeling. It is now the “retirement destination of choice” for the Lost. A bi-product of this is the fact that Australian hunters, in general, tend to be some of the best Jack Ketches in the Hunting scene, topped only by the Irish and the Scottish.
Something that helped the country immensely was its staunchly neutral position during the Darkest Vigil, and then - once the country was in a better position - its timely decision to support the status quo of Pax Deorum in full a little before the Armistice at Blaece. The government cracked down heavily on any sign of intolerance or discrimination, and the Australian government involved itself only minimally with the concerns of its allies, preferring to focus on keeping its own people safe and mediating between the diverse interest groups within their borders. The only real threat they faced were the Fae themselves, as the Gentry were frighteningly active during the Darkest Vigil: they were attracted to the turbulence of the mortal realm, and Australia’s Hedge growth made it easy for the Fae to interact with mortal beings. Thankfully, while Australia still gets more than the “usual” number of Fae-related cases on a yearly basis, it appears as though things have settled down considerably since the end of the Darkest Vigil. A brief spike occurred during the events of 2063, but that appears to have been taken care of. |
SECONDARY CONSPIRACIES: the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, Order of the Mani dello Spirito Santo, Aegis Kai Doru
GENERAL CONDITION: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Current
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: Changelings
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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BLAECE
Located right in the middle of Antarctica, Blaece is the seat of the Pax Deorum world government, and a fantastic colony whose sole purpose revolves around housing the “headquarters” of every administrative arm under the world government. Suffice to say, this is also where researchers affiliated with Pax Deorum can conduct all manner of experiments in peace, and where researchers test new methods of Terraformation and other life-changing scientific techniques before they are released into the rest of the Fifth World.
Every compact and conspiracy within the Vigil has a power base on Blaece, and the only civilians who live on the colony are the personnel who have been assigned to its offices (inclusive, of course, of their families provided that they are interested in following their loved ones to the colony). Its remote location, the harsh weather conditions of its surroundings and the defenses provided by the Keepers in the area stands as an assurance that if all else fails, the world government will remain functional. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: All
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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CANADA
Originally noted for its large stretches of untouched (or, at least, well-preserved forests) and for being the richest source of fresh water in the world, Canada is now home to the largest number of Werewolf reserves concentrated within a single country. One of the moves that the Canadian government made after the mass awakenings of 2012 was reach out to the Great Tribe of the People, revising its federal laws in order to provide for the “special needs” of Father Wolf’s different tribes. The Canadian Rockies, in fact, has been completely converted into a Werewolf settlement, as the Canadian government – acting on advice from Netsach – learned that the Rockies were seen as sacred ground for Werewolves, and had been contested territory between the Pure and the Uratha for almost a century. In fact, the borders of nearly all Canadian cities are open towards Werewolves who wish to live peacefully among human beings.
Their friendliness (originally grounded in reluctant tolerance) towards Werewolves has weathered much of the damage that Canada could have taken from the Darkest Vigil and the Second Rise of Grendal in spite of the fact that some of the largest battles were fought on Canadian soil. Nevertheless, this country is not without its problems: its favoring of the Werewolf community makes it incredibly difficult for Changing Breeds to establish their own communities within Canadian borders, and has, in fact, scared off a large number from settling in Canadian provinces. On another note, the United States of America was forced to give the state of Alaska up to Canada as part of the terms outlined for the country during the Armistice at Blaece. Alaska is now one of Canada’s provinces, and the States does not appear to be lobbying for a restoration of its sovereignty over the state. |
SECONDARY CONSPIRACIES: Netsach, Zangyaku, the Midnight Riders, Aegis Kai Doru, Taskforce Valkyrie
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Current
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: Werewolves
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None, although Changing Breeds tend to avoid Canada on principle
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FRANCE
France’s long history with the Mage Orders served it well after 2013, ensuring the nation’s survival. It was the five Mage Orders that actually orchestrated the alliance between France, the United Kingdom and Germany, in tandem with Netsach and the Methuselah. This only increased France’s influence within the EU even further, and – by extension – kept the EU intact during the Darkest Vigil.
At the moment, France is home to the largest Mage “academies” outside of New Atlantis. In fact, prior to the establishment of New Atlantis, France was the refuge of choice for Magekind, and for anyone who happened to be related to a Mage. The Awakened community as a whole has provided France with a lot of support, although some dissident elements within the country believe that France should not be beholden to the Orders, and should attempt to stay afloat “on their own steam”: an impossible task premised on a rather misguided viewpoint, given France’s personal heritage with Magekind as a whole. These dissident elements nearly jeopardized France during the Second Rise of Grendal, something that forced the French government to change some of its shakier policies that made things a bit too easy for Awakened to abuse their rights within the country’s borders. |
SECONDARY CONSPIRACIES: the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, the Brotherhood in Violence, Aegis Kai Doru
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: Mages
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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GERMANY
Although the EU acknowledges three major superpowers as the “leading nations” of the union, Germany is clearly the strongest and wealthiest among the three. Its position, in fact, was only cemented by the Darkest Vigil instead of threatened by it, as – prior to the mass supernatural awakenings of 2013 and the first reforms that took place before the Darkest Vigil – Germany was already the economic superpower of Europe, and the “leader” of the EU with regard to determining policy for the union as a whole.
Germany is currently the leading nation on Magience research – that is, research involving the study and mass production of technology from the Fourth World. This is due to a deal brokered between the German government and Vice Enterprises, as Jessiah Vice was out to find a country whose research and intellectual capital best matched the demands of extensively studying Fourth World technology. Their scientists are also the leading researchers on alien technology. All of this was nearly jeopardized by the Second Rise of Grendal, as the Hungry Ghosts took advantage of the disturbing strain of Neo Nazism that had plagued the country after 2060. Thankfully, the Keepers of the Vigil managed to handle the situation before things got out of hand. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, Taskforce Valkyrie, Zangyaku
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: any supernaturals who specialize in handling advanced technology; they don't discriminate
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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GETHSEMANE
PAX DEORUM
N/A
N/A
In this New Age that recognizes the existence of alien life and the right of all creatures to live provided that their actions adhere to the Code of the Fifth World’s Vigil, Gethsemane exists for three reasons: to be a refugee camp for aliens who are out to request for asylum on the Fifth World, to be a “neutral” venue for negotiations between the delegates of the Fifth World and delegates from alien races, and to provide alien races with a museum that showcases what the Fifth World is. It is exclusively manned by Stormwatch and Taskforce Valkyrie operatives. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: N/A
GENERAL CONDITIONS: N/A
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: N/A
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: N/A
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: N/A
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GREECE
Greece’s precarious economic position – a fallback from the recession it was suffering at the time of the mass supernatural awakenings – ironically save the country from a lot of heartache during the Darkest Vigil. It was understandably focused upon its own survival, with its government busying itself with implementing the reforms and keeping public opinion towards the supernatural as favorable as possible. Something that jumpstarted its recovery was the deal brokered between the Greek government and Aegis Kai Doru, as Aegis was similarly interested in its archaeological ruins as it was in Italy’s.
At present, Greece is the center of Relic research in Europe. They have recently acknowledged Aegis Kai Doru as its conspiracy of choice, thus providing the conspiracy with a remarkable amount of mobility and support in exchange for any backup that the conspiracy may be able to offer. As such, while there were some natural setbacks during the Darkest Vigil, Greece has finally managed to rise out of its recession, and may very well end up with a much more stable economy within the next decade. They were also one of the few countries with an "old soul" that were spared from the ravages of the Armistice Tragedy that occurred in 2063. Many chalk this up to the fact that Aegis operatives based in Greece had flagged the problem within Greece's Gauntlets long before anyone had actually noticed that it was serious, and had handled it before it could grow worse. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, Netsach, the Thrones, Zangyaku
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Current
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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INDIA
Reception towards the “new world order” after 2013 and the presence of the supernatural was as diverse in India as their cultural background is. While there has generally been an attitude of acceptance since the beginning, very real pockets of resistance exist, most especially outside of the country’s major city centers. Unsurprisingly, implementation of the reforms suggested by mankind’s difference conspiracies was a nearly impossible task beyond the borders of the capital and similarly influential cities, which inadvertently created “safe zones” dotting a generally “hostile”, often ridiculously backward landscape. Perhaps it is also not surprising to note that, on more than a few occasions, the presence of the supernatural only aggravated already present social and political conflict between India’s various ethnic and religious groups.
Large areas of India were devastated by the internal strife that the country experienced as a result of the mass supernatural awakenings, the Phoenix War, and Grendal-related conflicts that were fought on Indian soil during the Darkest Vigil and the Second Rise of Grendal. The regions bordering Pakistan, for one, are nearly uninhabitable because of India and Pakistan’s violent exchange of nuclear warheads during the early half of the conflict. In fact, while India was originally on the road to recovery, the nation has, as a whole, slipped down a few notches with regard to development due to the negative influence of Grendal remnants and the Hungry Ghosts. Thankfully, interest in the archaeological artifacts of the country, particularly the ruins of the many ancient civilizations present within Indian borders, has generated a substantial amount of income for the Indian government. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: Netsach, Aegis Kai Doru, the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, the Brotherhood in Violence
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Mildly turbulent
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: ranges from Backward to Current depending on the area
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: Mages, Riskbreakers, Touched
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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ISRAEL & PALESTINE
When the Luminous Apocrypha began to appear in broadcasts all around the world, the intelligence services of Israel and Palestine were listening and already debating on what to do while the majority of the Fifth World was still too busy trying to determine if they were real or not. By the time the Breaking of the Veil occurred, the two nations had resolved to quietly set their own differences aside, and pool together in order to protect their native lands. By the time the Darkest Vigil threatened to destroy everything, the Walls of the One had encircled Israel and Palestine completely, and its people were safe.
The walled nations of Israel and Palestine stayed strong throughout the Darkest Vigil, supporting a community that was still reeling from their own ethno-religious conflicts, and from the “sudden” emergence of the denizens beyond the Veil. Strict policies, however, and a very real sense that the world was going to end kept things from going completely out of hand. Aegis Kai Doru’s own presence also contributed greatly to making sure the nations survived and did not end up killing each other. The entire region also became the safe haven of choice for supernaturals coming from Africa and the Middle East, and one of the main bases of operations for compacts and conspiracies that were fighting to end Grendal. The stability within the walls had faced its first real threat during the Armistice Tragedy, as the Hungry Ghosts fanned the flames of the extremism that had caused the years of conflict between Israel and Palestine in the first place. While these extremist groups have been taken care of, the terror they had left in their wake remains fresh in the memories of the people of both nations. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, Netsach, the Brotherhood of Violence, Zangyaku
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Recovering
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Current
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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ITALY
The Christian faith, like many other major religions in the world, saw a renewal of sorts following the mass supernatural awakenings and first reforms, a movement that only gained strength following the dark times of the Darkest Vigil. The most significant shift, in fact, was the consolidation of Judaism, Catholicism, the Eastern Orthodox Church and Christianity as a whole under the One Church of the Lady, and the reported appearance of the Lady herself to her flock. Nevertheless, several mishaps – particularly the presence of a staunchly anti-supernatural Pope – nearly did lasting damage upon Italy, a country that was already knee deep within a recession in the early part of the 21st Century. Granted, it is difficult for many to imagine how things could have gone any other way for Italy: the mass awakenings revealed the depth of vampiric influence within the country, particularly within the Vatican. Furthermore, the exposure of Malleus Maleficarum’s own dark secrets only aggravated the situation for them. The Lucifuge has also traditionally considered Italy its home, which did not help things much either. The last and greatest blow that was dealt to the country was the fall of Vatican City to Grendal forces midway through the Darkest Vigil.
The most visible remnants of Malleus Maleficarum and the Lucifuge were cleared out a little after the Armistice at Blaece, and the establishment of the Order of the Mani dello Spirito Santo as the Vatican’s “official” hunting conspiracy happened soon after. A female Pope – Pope Joan II – has also become the Holy See, and she appears to be keen on picking up the good work of her predecessor Pope Francis II, a man with a deep love for the supernatural and a keen interest in promoting a church of humility and healing. These are important milestones in Italy’s rehabilitation, together with the country’s sponsorship from Aegis Kai Doru. The notable interest that groups like Aegis have in the archaeological ruins dotting the countryside also continues the Italian government with a hefty amount of income. All of these factors mitigated the negative impact that the Armistice Tragedy could have had on the country as a whole, as the Hungry Ghosts had hoped to use the “old soul” of Italy as leverage for their own forces to infiltrate Europe. As such, Italy is on much better footing now than it was right after the Darkest Vigil. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Brotherhood of Violence, the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, Aegis Kai Doru, the Thrones
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Current
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None, although there is a cultural bias against Kindred, Demon Born, and Possessed
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JAPAN
It is important to note that Japan’s history is intimately tied with Zangyaku’s. The Wolf’s conspiracy, through careful negotiation and a little force applied in the right places, solidly placed Japan under their control, on the pretense of developing the nation’s social climate as a country receptive to supernaturals. As such, Japan had one of the easiest transitions after the Breaking of the Veil, and – in spite of the wars that threatened their borders, and because of China – was one of the safe harbors of the world during the Darkest Vigil. In fact, its status as a world power only grew more stable over the past fifty years, making them the richest and most influential nation in Asia. They were, in fact, an active participant during the Darkest Vigil, both because of Zangyaku’s presence and because Pax Deorum had ruled in favor of lifting post-World War II restrictions upon Japan, thus allowing the country to develop a formal military force of their own.
Japan’s current political model is considered by critics to be the “perfect” model for governments in light of the mass awakenings and the Darkest Vigil. The country does not seem to favor any one side, working, instead, towards perfect co-existence between mundanes and supernaturals in a very real attempt to protect both from each other and from themselves. Granted, Zangyaku’s constant presence helps keep people in line. If there are any problems that Japan could face within the next few years, it will likely be from other countries, and that in itself is a very distant possibility. Where Japan used to be called “The Land of the Rising Sun”, many have taken to calling Japan “The Wolf’s Country”, “The Land of the Twilight Sun” and other similar monikers all in reference to Hikaru Shinta, the Blade King of Zangyaku. Hikaru himself occupies a rather significant position in Japanese society, playing an important role in the government because of the fact that he is the leader of the country’s conspiracy. However, he has refused all of the government positions that have been offered to him, he also turned down the Emperor’s attempt at offering the hand of Satsuki, the Crown Princess, to Hikaru in marriage. On a related note, Satsuki is one of the first nobles of today’s Vigil who decided to train as a hunter. She is, at present, a licensed oni-tsukai of Zangyaku, and is working towards getting licenses with other compacts and conspiracies. She has set a healthy precedent for the citizens of Japan, and more civilians – supernatural and mundane – appear to be interested in becoming Hunters. |
Netsach, the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, the Brotherhood of Violence, the Rhiannon Group, the Thrones
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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KOREA
Prior to the First Reforms, the North Korean government was fond of attempting to threaten world governments with their overt show of hostilities towards nations whom they perceived to be their enemies, but did not appear to be capable of doing any real harm. However, one of the events that actually led to all-out war during the Darkest Vigil was North Korea’s sudden attack against South Korea, its neighbor. This led to an exchange of nuclear warheads, which – while small in comparison to the nuclear conflagration between India and Pakistan – practically destroyed North Korea and drove South Korea to its knees.
At present, the South Korean government remains a government “in exile”, operating from Japan: the country was being rehabilitated by Zangyaku with the cooperation of some powerful local spirits between 2060-2062, and the rehabilitation efforts suffered from some devastating setbacks during the Second Rise of Grendal. It did not help, of course, that the Hungry Ghosts manipulated the North Korean government into attacking South Korea and its other neighbors yet again in 2063, forcing Keepers of the Vigil to dismantle the country almost completely. As for North Korea, the remnants of its government have, once again, retreated underground. Pax Deorum, however, has increased its surveillance in the area. Zangyaku has also permanently stationed personnel there with strict instructions to destroy any threat, perceived or otherwise, that catches their attention. Things have been quiet again, but many wonder how long that’s going to last. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: The Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, the Brotherhood of Violence (S); Netsach (N)
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stabilizing (S); Chaotic (N)
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Current (S); Backward (N)
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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LANGRISSER
PAX DEORUM
N/A
N/A
The Langrisser is manned exclusively by members of Stormwatch and by operatives of Taskforce Valkyrie. There has been talk on the table about creating other space stations within the Langrisser’s orbit, but their function will likely be geared towards self-defense. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: N/A
GENERAL CONDITIONS: N/A
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: N/A
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: N/A
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: N/A
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THE NECROPOLIS OF SHIN YAMATAI
Located in the Devil’s Triangle, protected by powerful magically generated storms and cloaked eternally in preternatural twilight, Shin Yamatai is the so-called “Necropolis” of the Fifth World, a nation run by Kindred for Kindred. The City-State was officially recognized by Pax Deorum in 2014, and was a fully functioning city-state by 2019, making it the first “fully supernatural” city in the Fifth World. A large part of its fast rise could be attributed to the amount of funding that Vice Enterprises, Ordo Daywalker, Aegis Kai Doru, and Japan invested in its development; another large part can be attributed to the large amount of natural resources within the Devil’s Triangle, and the fact that the area was more than capable of sustaining itself.
Shin Yamatai is governed by Marrigan Crowe, the Storm Queen – she once ruled the entire region in ancient Japan, when the Devil’s Triangle was the seat of the Kingdom of Yamatai. Her laws for Kindred who wish to live in her Necropolis were simpler: Follow the Golden Hand of the Daywalker or Else. “Or Else”, in her terms, meant suffering the Final Death rather painfully at the hands of Marrigan’s famed Stormguard, or – even worse – at Marrigan’s hands. In fact, the running joke that no arrests happen in the Necropolis because criminals are simply killed on the spot has more than a grain of truth in it. Because of the success of Shin Yamatai, Pax Deorum passed the resolutions that would allow the construction of New Atlantis, and later inspired the world government to push for Arcis Fortress City. Together, the three City-States are the only fully supernatural nations in the Fifth World, and are about as equally prosperous in spite of their differences in inclination and government policies. Since its establishment, Shin Yamatai has become a sanctuary for Kindred who wished to flee from persecution and embark upon their journey towards Golconda in peace, and an ideal place to live in for members of Ordo Daywalker, or mortal families with Ordo Daywalker “sponsors”. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: Aegis Kai Doru, the Rhiannon Group
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: Vampires, Bladians
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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NERIEUS
Constructed in 2064, Nerieus is the so-called “summer capital” of the Atlanteans, a Terran race of supernatural beings who dwell beneath the ocean and possess sovereignty over all creatures beneath the waves. Arthur, their King, is a member of the Justice League, and when he and his comrades arrived on the Fifth World, he was astonished not just by the cleanliness of the Fifth World’s oceans, but by the discrepancy between how mundanes of the Fifth World treated supernaturals versus how mundanes within Terra viewed his own people. Pax Deorum later struck a generous deal with the Atlanteans: in exchange for resources and support, the Atlanteans were to be granted exclusive territorial rights over the oceans of the Fifth World, and recognized as a sovereign race within Fifth World borders in spite of the fact that they hailed from Terra. That also meant that they gained exclusive trade rights to any natural resource that came from the oceans of the Fifth World. It was an offer that Arthur could not bring himself to refuse.
Nerieus is located within the Marianas Trench, and is ruled by Garth, alias “Aqualad”. It has its own Waygate that connects it to Atlantis back in Terra, and also serves as a “resting spot” for the Argonauts of the Midnight Riders. The Riders, in fact, are the only conspiracy that operates within Nerieus at present, although the Methuselah does have token representation in its borders. The Keepers of the Vigil are content with letting the Atlanteans handle their own business, even if they’re willing to help out whenever they’re needed. On another note, Nerieus is a nice tourist destination for anybody who can afford to go down there, but strict screening procedures make it difficult for just anyone to come to the Atlantean City. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Methuselah
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly Advanced/Alien
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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NEW ATLANTIS
PAX DEORUM
N/A
PRO-SUPERNATURAL
The primary function of New Atlantis is to serve as a headquarters for Pleiades and the five Mage Orders of the Fifth World, as a training ground for Awakened, and a third option for any Awakened who feel as though they cannot live safely in their own respective countries. It is, in effect, a city-state of its own with its own government and its own rules, recognized by Pax Deorum as a sovereign nation unto itself. This does, of course, put New Atlantis in a position of considerable power, enabling them to lobby for “Awakened rights” on the basis that every Mage is both a citizen of New Atlantis and a citizen of their home country. That is not to say that other supernaturals are barred from living in New Atlantis – the Mage City of Earth, in fact, is incredibly receptive towards allowing all interested mortals into their borders, provided that they abide by New Atlantis’ laws and don’t cause trouble. Nevertheless, most other supernaturals avoid staying in New Atlantis simply because it can be incredibly disconcerting, being surrounded almost totally by Mages and Sleepwalkers. New Atlantis is governed by the Conclave, whose members consist of the five Archmages who lead the respective Mage Orders, and Archmage representatives from each of the conspiracies. People attribute the founding of New Atlantis to four figures: Aidan Clayce, former Kaiser of Netsach, Elias Tagabigay, Head of the Wiseman’s Committee, Aria Skye, a member of the Searing Wind of Zangyaku, and 108, one of the Eight of the Thrones. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: N/A
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: Mages
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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PAKISTAN
Pakistan has been veritably torn apart by ethno-religious conflict, the Phoenix War, a renewal of hostilities between the Pakistani government and India and the large amount of internal strife that came about as a result of the emergence of the supernatural all around the world. Furthermore, it is currently one of the most uninhabitable countries in the world because of the fatal levels of radiation ravaging its land area. The Indo-Pakistani War that took place within the Darkest Vigil drove the country into the ground, and – unlike India – Pakistan as a nation has been unable to recover in the slightest.
Granted, one of the main reasons why Pakistan is having an exceptionally difficult time recovering is because of its political position. Like many other countries within the Middle East, Pakistan adopted a hostile stance towards the supernatural, and fails to recognize supernaturals in general as mortals with “mortal rights”. Furthermore, unlike some of the other nations in the area, Pakistan did not change its policies, and continues to exist as a “renegade” nation that stands contrary to Pax Deorum’s agenda. Suffice to say, the Pakistani people have suffered greatly as a result of their government’s decisions: that became horrifically obvious during the later half of 2063, when the Hungry Ghosts razed the nation. The Pakistani government continues to coldly rebuff any kind of aid extended to them by supernatural hands, and have been known to persecute supernatural individuals within their borders. Aegis Kai Doru, in fact, is tolerated only because of their deep cultural heritage within Pakistani culture. All of members of the Pakistani division of the conspiracy, in fact, are human on principle: Pakistani supernaturals, after all, do not have the right to hold any sort of job. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: None
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Chaotic
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Backward
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: All
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RUSSIA
Russia continues to be the “Bad Lands” of Earth following the Darkest Vigil and the Second Rise of Grendal, as the sub-continent was completely ravaged by Grendal from 2035 all the way until 2060, and apparently harbored interest groups that were friendly to the Watcher’s cause from 2060 to 2063. Parts of Russia also received the brunt of supernatural and environmental damage that came as a result of conflicts between its neighboring countries, something that the different conspiracies of Earth have only recently started to rehabilitate.
While the Russian government has declared itself friendly towards supernaturals, many of these policies are not implemented across the board. Furthermore, some of their directives are rather questionable, leaving some to wonder if the country is as tolerant towards supernaturals as it claims to be. The fact that several supernatural groups integrated themselves rather deeply into traditionally anti-government establishments (i.e. the Russian mafia) does not help things in the slightest. Fortunately, the country is not in nearly as bad of a position as they could have been, since they are still the largest producer of natural gas in the world – something that continues to be an excellent source of income for the Russian government, even with the advent of so much new technology and of the use of supernatural powers towards improving the quality of mortal life. There were some serious setbacks in this direction following the Second Rise of Grendal, but the Keepers are working hard, at present, to undo the damage of that. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Midnight Riders, Netsach, the Brotherhood of Violence, Zangyaku
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Semi-turbulent
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Circa 1990-2000s
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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SINGAPORE
Two major shifts in policy marked Singapore’s success during the First Reforms, and ensured the nation’s stability during the Darkest Vigil. First, they became one of Shin Yamatai’s major trading partners. Second, they established friendly ties with the Mage City of New Atlantis. These moves, coupled with the fact that the Singaporean government made it a point to make their policies incredibly friendly towards supernaturals, won the country the approval of Pax Deorum and provided the city-state with a whole lot of support when things started spinning out of control all around the world.
Singapore was one of the main safe harbors of Vigil operatives during the Darkest Vigil. The city-state, aided by Zangyaku, managed to greatly expand its territory by constructing underwater districts. These districts were later used as refugee and supply camps, as droves upon droves of mortals and supernaturals were fleeing from the persecution they faced in their home lands. Interestingly enough, the presence of supernaturals helped Singapore on a cultural level, as many Singaporeans started to come to terms with the diverse nature of their nation and began to be less hypocritical with regard to accepting their own ethnic groups. They’re currently one of the major players in world politics, and a staunch supporter of all of Pax Deorum’s policies. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Methuselah, Netsach, the Rhiannon Group
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is one of the few African nations that have emerged intact from the Darkest Vigil, and did not suffer too greatly during the Armistice Tragedy and other Grendal-related incidents that took place during 2063. The continent, in general, has always been ravaged by ethnic and religious conflict, with a populace constantly beleaguered by war lords, drugs, rampant disease and crushing poverty. All of these issues were only aggravated by the Breaking of the Veil and the First Reforms. They then proceeded to spiral completely out of control during the Darkest Vigil, especially after Grendal overran the continent. South Africa, however, has always thrived upon the idea that diversity actually breeds unity, and it was this mindset that allowed the nation to pull together during the crises and stave off a lot of the potential damage. Furthermore, it was the only country on the continent that Grendal was unable to take over, thus making it the one foothold that the conspiracies had in a region that had been taken over by their common enemy.
The three capitals of South Africa are the centers of international humanitarian efforts directed towards rehabilitating the broken continent, and protecting supernatural rights. Supernaturals face the greatest amount of resistance and discrimination, and are often targeted by hate crimes very similar to what is still faced by members of the LGBT community and smaller ethnic groups. South Africa’s success story and clear slant towards recovery have inspired a number of other African nations to follow in its footsteps, but progress in that direction has been incredibly slow. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, Netsach, the Order of the Mani dello Spirito Santo, Aegis Kai Doru, Zangyaku
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: Changing Breeds
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None, although there is a cultural bias against the Created
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SPAIN
Spain’s transition into the New Age was rather uneven. While its city centers were quick to implement new policies, the provincial areas of the country remained conservative to the core, and many groups on both sides – mundane and supernatural – took advantage of the situation in order to forward personal agendas, resulting in periodic outbursts of violence or heavy discrimination beyond the borders of more progressive urban centers. Conservative Catholic groups, for example, made the spreading of the new and “proper” faith difficult, especially since a number of groups refused to recognize Elaine in favor of continuing to worship Yahweh. Dissident compacts also fled from countries like France and Germany, and took root within the hinterlands of Spain in order to continue keeping their own breed of the Vigil.
Grendal took advantage of this situation in the Darkest Vigil, and that effectively made Spain its “sleeper country” during the later parts of the war. 2060 to 2063 was not nearly enough for the country to recover in the aftermath of the damage, and some serious setbacks in 2063 only made things worse. Nevertheless, Pax Deorum is confident that Spain will recover within the next decade, especially in light of the entrance of a fresh and supernatural-friendly Cabinet. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: Aegis Kai Doru, the Brotherhood of Violence, the Midnight Riders
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Semi-stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Current
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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TAIWAN
Taiwan’s close proximity to China coupled with its strained relations to the other country due to the Chinese government’s One China Policy placed Taiwan in a precarious situation a little before the Darkest Vigil. Furthermore, a large number of supernatural refugees – displaced by internal conflict or attempting to flee from the Chinese government’s crackdown on supernaturals – chose to flee to Taiwan first, as it was comparatively “familiar ground” versus any other option overseas. Thus, when hostilities flared within the Southeast Asian area, many feared that Taiwan would be crushed by China’s armies. What ended up saving them, however, was an outpouring of international support, particularly from Zangyaku.
After witnessing the Chinese government’s brazen disregard of their advice during the initial years of the Darkest Vigil, Hikaru Shinta had Zangyaku withdraw its support from China completely. The conspiracy then chose to settle in two places that were much more receptive to their cause: Tibet (the country had, at this point, declared its independence and broken away from the Republic) and Taiwan. The presence of Zangyaku’s oni-tsukai, together with some supporting forces from Japan’s own allies, enabled Tibet and Taiwan to fend off the brunt of the hostile forces from China throughout the Darkest Vigil. While the Darkest Vigil dealt a considerable blow to Taiwan’s economy, the nation is on the road to a near-miraculous recovery that was not set back, in any way, by the events of 2063. Its political climate is much friendlier towards supernaturals, which is part of the reason why Taiwan is recovering so quickly. The Taiwanese government has consistently tried to do the exact opposite of the Republic of China, developing regulations that favored supernatural communities. There is, in fact, a pervasive cultural narrative of “One Taiwan”, similar to Singapore’s own development as an independent city-state from Malaysia during the 20th Century. Nevertheless, China’s presence is a constant threat on the horizon. This point was only driven home in 2063, when the Chinese government rallied its armed forces in the later half of 2063 and attempted to invade Taiwan yet again. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Methuselah, Netsach, the Rhiannon Group
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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THE FREE NATION OF TIBET
One of the most significant events that occurred during the Darkest Vigil was Tibet’s declaration of independence, and its secession from the People’s Republic of China – a move that the region made after the Chinese government assassinated the Dalai Lama. China then took this as an excuse to use force to attempt to get Tibet back under control, tightening their hold on the region by harassing its people. Such actions caught the attention of the international community and ran contrary to the advice offered by Zangyaku, the conspiracy that handled the supernatural business of nearly all of the countries in Asia. It was, in fact, the wholesale massacre of thousands of Tibetans by Chinese soldiers during the Darkest Vigil that led to Zangyaku withdrawing its support completely.
Interestingly enough, such terrible events led to the awakening of an entity known as the Shining One, the great guardian spirit of Tibet itself. The presence of this creature, coupled both with the fact that Zangyaku had moved some of its own into Tibet and with Taiwan’s support, kept Tibet from being completely annihilated by China, thus allowing Tibet to emerge properly as the Free State of Tibet after the Darkest Vigil ended. Tibet is the only nation on Earth whose entire populace is either supernatural or Sleepwalking; not a single Tibetan is mundane. Researchers from all conspiracies are baffled at how this happened; some suspect that it was due to the intervention of the Shining One. The Free Nation suffered terribly during the Darkest Vigil, and things are only starting to look remotely better for them now. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: Aegis Kai Doru, the Methuselah
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Circa 1990-2000
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: Mages, Sin-Eaters, Cards
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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TURKEY
The Methuselah’s return to Israfil, their original headquarters, ushered in a whole lot of economic growth and progress for Turkey. The conspiracy needed to have a country with the proper infrastructure, governed by a body of leaders who were willing to listen to them. As such, it was in the Methuselah’s best interests to funnel a significant amount of money and resources into developing Turkey properly. Hence, by the time the Darkest Vigil occurred, the nation was well-guarded and ready to face the challenges of the new age in spite of the fact that it was located right at the center of both ethno-religious and Vigil-related conflicts.
Turkey was one of the Vigil Panopticons of the conspiracies during the Phoenix Wars and the Hours of Grendal – that is, it was one of the most significant military bases of the Darkest Vigil as a whole, and a strategic point that monitored the transfer of manpower, supplies and resources to more distressed or war-torn areas within the vicinity. It doubled as a refugee camp, as one of the last stops for fleeing civilians before the Methuselah had them transferred to other areas. It was also hosted the “exiled” Pax Deorum between 2022 and 2060. At present, Turkey is one of the few places in the world that has a powerbase for every compact and conspiracy, along with every significant political group (mortal or supernatural) of the new age. It is a thriving center of trade, commerce and tourism, as the conspiracies – the Methuselah, especially – have made it a point to continue to ensure that the country stays stable. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: All
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stable
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA
The two superpowers and biggest generators of conflict during the Darkest Vigil were the United States of America and the Republic of China. The Chinese government, acting against Zangyaku’s advice, attempted to take advantage of the situation by forcing their claim on the rest of Asia, particularly the Southeast Asian region. Furthermore, rather than attempt to develop a spirit of co-existence between the mundane and supernatural communities, China began cracking down on supernaturals within their borders, levying incredibly unjust and sometimes downright inhumane laws and regulations on anyone upon both individuals and entire communities. One of the worst things that China did was mandatory military service for supernaturals, in an attempt to weaponize the supernaturals they had at their borders to increase their military power. This embittered the supernatural populace that were native to their country, resulting in both an internal war within China’s borders and yet another great exodus of supernaturals from China itself.
A series of terrible military losses (including their infamous failure to conquer the Philippines due to Netsach’s intervention and their next infamous failure to conquer Japan due to Zangyaku’s intervention, Taiwan’s historic counter-attack, and Tibet’s permanent secession from the Republic) gradually knocked China back down to size. Furthermore, Zangyaku’s withdrawal after China’s attempted attack on the ASEAN nations left the country without any reliable conspiracy to turn to in order to help them resolve the mortal-supernatural conflict that they had created for themselves. It was only after China ceased hostilities and returned to the negotiating table that Zangyaku returned to its borders. The Darkest Vigil left China financially crippled and bereft of the best and brightest of their people across all sectors of society, but during 2063, Grendal and the Hungry Ghosts provided the resources that the recalcitrant Chinese government needed in order to return to the very same acts of hostility that broke its back in the first place. Zangyaku has gone back to closely monitoring the situation within the country’s borders with heavy-handed tactics that seem, for the moment, to be enough of a threat to keep the more dangerous elements within the Chinese government in line. Pax Deorum has also placed even heavier sanctions upon the country, and places like Arcis are constantly keeping its doors open to refugees from the Republic. The situation China is in right now is, it seems, a terrible reversal for the country given China’s position a little over fifty years ago. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, Netsach
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Turbulent
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Circa 1990-2000
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
No one would have thought it possible for a country to be better off after a world-shaking events like the mass awakenings of 2013, much less the Darkest Vigil. Furthermore, no one would have expected a country that – prior to the changes – had been consistently flagged as one of the worst possible places for anyone to live in, burdened, as it was, by an “undisciplined” populace suffering from a corrupt government, an astronomical amount of foreign debt, gang violence, religious conflict, and then some. Nevertheless, the Republic of the Philippines is one of the few examples, and its miraculous turnaround is attributed, mostly to Netsach’s influence.
During the 15th Century, extensive research on the Methuselah’s part revealed that the Philippines – then a nondescript archipelago that had fallen under the sway of Spain – was sitting solidly at the center of a powerful set of leylines, thus making it a veritable hotspot of supernatural activity. The conspiracy decided to make the country its main base of operations within Southeast Asia, hoping, as they were, to serve as a good counterbalance to Zangyaku. From that point on, terrible conditions that the country was in, ironically, made it much easier for the Methuselah to operate, serving, in a way, as a natural shield from the World of Light’s prying eyes. The fact that its people – used to, as they were, to dealing with the “otherness” of the supernatural – made finding strange allies in strange places even easier, and gave the Methuselah a steady source of recruits and independent agents to rely upon. Later on, the schism between the Methuselah and Netsach pushed Aidan Clayce to move the entirety of Netsach to the Philippines, both out of convenience and because the country’s location put it closer to Zangyaku, its largest ally. Then, following the mass awakenings and the reforms, Netsach took matters into its own hands and attempted to help the Philippines clean itself up. The old ways, ones that had once served the conspiracy’s best interests, had become detrimental to development. That, and it was about damned time. Through a combination of “sponsoring” individuals and organizations that were attempting to do real good in the country, a systematic clean-up of both the government and the (often rabidly conservative) religious institutions in place within its borders, resolving – as far as they could – internal religious and ethnic conflicts within Philippine borders, and hard-handed justice levied against the criminal elements within the Filipino underworld, Netsach put the Philippines solidly on the road to recovery in less than thirty years. Furthermore, Netsach’s presence in the Philippines saved the country from suffering heavily during the Darkest Vigil. Now, in the year 2063, the Republic of the Philippines is a major player in world politics, noted for its warm reception of supernatural communities in general. Some writers, in fact, took to calling the tiny country a “new Eden” for supernaturals during the Darkest Vigil. The Philippines still has a few crises of their own looming on their horizons. Discrimination against the Islamic community – supernatural and human alike – remains high, and diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China continue to swing towards cool/barely cordial and almost hostile, and 2063 nearly put the two nations at war again. Nevertheless, for the moment, things are looking up for them. It helps, of course, that Pax Deorum has agreed to making the country a “second Blaece” for the Keepers of the Vigil, in light of the Second Rise of Grendal. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: All
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Safe
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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THE UNITED KINGDOM OF BRITAIN
Britain, together with France and Germany, has risen as the new economic superpowers of the Western world, setting socio-economic and cultural trends for the rest of the globe to attempt to emulate. This is due to the fact that while most of Europe was crumbling under the weight of the first reforms and the Darkest Vigil, the British, French and German governments took charge of the EU, setting their economic and political rivalry aside in the hopes of creating a unified front against the many problems – old and new – in the continent. Furthermore, all three governments made it a point to approach the supernatural issue by insisting that it was not an issue at all: this proved to be easier than one might originally believe, because of the nation’s long heritage with some of the largest conspiracies in existence.
On a cultural note, Britain has become the focal point of renewed interest in Europe’s many surviving royal lineages because it was discovered that the Royal Family did, in fact, have a few powerful allies among the Fae. This has served the country immensely, but – interestingly enough – the strongest supernatural presence within Britain are the Cards. This may be attributed to Vice Enterprises (under Jessiah Vice) and the Rhiannon Group (under Ayame Rhiannon and Bart Powell). Cards continue to be viewed as the “heroes” of the nation, because of the instrumental role that the Order of the Grateful Dead played in keeping the country afloat. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: the Brotherhood of Violence, the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, Netsach, Zangyaku
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Safe
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Highly Advanced
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: Cards, Sin-Eaters
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None
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THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
America’s war-driven economy and political position already started to damage the country prior to the mass awakenings of 2012, and its stubborn resolve to continue such practices only resulted in the country, as a whole, suffering greatly during the Darkest Vigil. In fact, during the Darkest Vigil, Americans – for the first time since the Civil War – experienced having wars fought on their own soil. Most of this was because of several bad calls made on the part of Taskforce Valkyrie and a number of now-defunct compacts, including a practically state-endorsed “witch hunt” against supernaturals, particularly Kindred and Mages, whom much of the supernatural-driven hate crime was focused upon. The majority of America’s people, in fact, used to feel as though they were justified in their actions, given the fact that there is hard proof of the manipulation that Kindred and Mages alike have done behind American society. Successive setbacks, heavy sanctions, and the constant failings of their own government gradually revised this opinion.
America has only recently begun to recover from its own mistakes, and this has only been made possible through the monumental effort exerted by its new administration under President Catherine Stone (a Sin-Eater who became Bound due to an attempt on her life while she was campaigning for supernatural rights in her own country), Pax Deorum, and the Keepers of the Vigil. It helps, of course, that Taskfroce Valkyrie, America’s homegrown compact, has changed its face entirely, and is doing its best to get its own country back on track. Things are still tricky beyond the urban centers of the country, but many are hopeful that America will emerge from this as a better place. |
OTHER CONSPIRACIES PRESENT: Aegis Kai Doru, the Methuselah, the Midnight Riders, Netsach, the Order of the Mani dello Spirito Santo, Zangyaku
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Stabilizing
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Circa 1990-2000 in most areas; Current in others
FAVORED SUPERNATURALS: None
“UNDESIRABLE” SUPERNATURALS: None, although some states have particular biases against one supernatural group or another
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