Brotherhood of Luath
From Changeling Venue
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Note: This is not an Entitlement. It follows the format for convenience only.
Overview
"It's all you can eat and drink, a soft bed, and there'll be gambling and women all through the night, " is what the smiling man told us. He lied, but what we hound brothers got on the other side is so much the better."
The Brotherhood of Luath are former hounds from the kennels of Lord Luath. Members of the Brotherhood were the most fierce and loyal of their kennels, distinguishing themselves such that Luath offered them freedom in his lands as his personal hounds. These most prized hounds would become briarwolves, protecting Luath's holdings and running free in the hedge, but first they were pledged to return to the mortal lands to tempt wayward boys and girls across the hedge to become new hounds in Luath's kennels.
Each Brother is oathed to secrecy before being sent across the hedge. To speak of one's mission means death or, worse, reclamation by Lord Luath.
History
Those hounds that distinguish themselves above and beyond the others during their training are taken aside and given a special offer: become a briarwolf, defend Luath's estate, and run free in all other matters.
To these brutal, savage animals no offer could be better than the opportunity to run free and serve the master. There quickly comes a catch, however. The chosen few must return to the mortal realm and seek out new candidates to become hounds. No timeframe nor number of catches are given. Serve the master and send back mortal children. Do well, and eventually become a briarwolf.
Those that agree are made to swear an oath to their keeper. In exchange for Lord Luath's blessing of brutality and instinct, the chosen swear to never reveal their mission to anyone not already in the know. To break the secrecy means death or worse.
Prerequisites
All members of the Brotherhood become Beasts, and most of those are Hunterhearts of a canine variety. In some rare cases a Windwing may emerge when a falcon from Luath's stable is offered a place in the Brotherhood.
Joining
Luath's hounds must have originally entered the hedge voluntarily for the contracts to work properly. Those that are forced across or stumble into Luath's lands by accident have difficulty integrating into Luath's contracts. Some of these are placed in River Kennel and become prey for the hunt.
Hounds in Luath's kennels are trained for endurance, tracking and survival, and brutality. Brotherhood members should have high Strength and Stamina attributes. They focus on physical skills, most noteably Brawl and Survival. Melee and Firearms are unlikely unless picked up in the mortal world. Hounds have no need (and no hands) for such things, and Beasts are capable of significant damage without the aid of weapons.
The Fang & Talon contracts are often at high levels and associated with canines before any other animal.
OOC, joining the Brotherhood is strictly between you and your ST. You will need an application to be a loyalist and an application for the pledge. No other notifications are necessary and you are not required to post your character's name on this page.
Note: The pledge is still in flux. Once it is approved for the first time the approval number will be listed here for reference.
Background
In many ways, Lord Luath's operation is like an organized crime syndicate. His halfway houses on the mortal side act as sorting grounds for his training program and the operations of other fae. Those that don't make the cut to be hounds may find themselves as servants to other keepers. Those truly unlucky children may end up as a delicacy on some noble's plate.
Lord Luath needs loyal, trustworthy minions to bring new humans into his estate to keep business running and to provide resources to those fae he conspires with. Offering the reward of briarwolf provides a dual benefit: workers on the mortal side, and, eventually, guards for his estate.
Organization
There is no organization for the Brotherhood. Most find themselves alone and on their own once they return to the mortal world. Those that do meet only rarely recognize each other since there is no sign or signal to indicate membership, and no easy way to broach the subject of their mission on this side of the hedge. It is possible that two or more Brothers are working in the same area. In these cases they may cross paths or know each other from their local halfway house.
When two Brothers do find each other the outcome is a toss-up. Bloodshed or death is likely if the two were from rival kennels. Even between kennel mates violence is often the outcome as the trained-in need to dominate other hounds resurfaces. If the dominance instinct can be settled or avoided without the death of one or the other then any amicable arrangement is possible thereafter.
Privileges
Oath of the Brotherhood (Lifelong)
My loyal hound, this mission I give you must remain between my estate and thee. Never reveal your true purpose to those outside my service else the very sustenance of the world turn against you. For as long as you serve me faithfully, secretly, you will find safety with my servants, your tongue shall be as honey, and your claws shall be as knives. Pledge to me now, and join my Brotherhood.
I pledge my service in your name, great Luath, Lord of Hounds, for as long as I live.
Type: Name of the Keeper Oath
Tasks: Medial Forbiddance (Never talk about Brotherhood) -2; Endeavor (serve Luath) -2
Boon: Adroitness (Persuasion and Brawl) +2; Blessing (halfway house allies) +2
Sanction: Death (food and water turn to ash on the tongue) -3
Duration: Lifelong +3
Invocation: 3 Willpower (1 base, +1 sanction, +1 duration)
Members of the Brotherhood are sworn to secrecy. Luath knows that if his minions are discovered it could be trouble for his operations in the mortal world. By swearing on the keeper's true name, Luath will know immediately if the oath is broken. He can try to reclaim the Brother if it is worth his time, or he can let the oath draw new contracts with food and water that deny all sustenance and eventually dehydrate and starve the changeling to death.
In exchange, the changeling gets +1 to all Brawl and Persuasion challenges for keeping his mouth shut and bringing Luath new children. He also gets a two point Merit, Allies: Halfway House. These allies represent the workers at the nearest halfway house or farm in service to Luath. They are aware of the Brother and his mission, and may provide aid as long as their work is not compromised.
Rumors
There are no rumors. The Brotherhood keeps its secrets.
