Brotherhood of Midnight Ravens

From Changeling Venue

Overview

Theme

Bereft of family, left with an imposter in their identity, having spent years apart from human contact, Changelings have little use for the laws of man. Or at least, that is the view of the Brotherhood. Changelings must exist as a secret kept from mankind, in order to be free to do what they must and be protected from the Gentry. The Brotherhood believes it must exist as a secret kept from Changeling society, in order to be free to do what they must and be protected from their enemies. The Brotherhood is the classical thief's guild, updated to thrive in a modern world, mixing fantasy novel with 21st century in a way only the Changelings can. From street thuggery to extortion, drugs to guns, seduction to intimidation, even information peddling to hired assassinations, no matter what your persuasive or money-making method of choice is the Brotherhood is sure to have space for you.

A Word On Secrecy

Information about the Brotherhood

History

There once was a young man in a small village in Japan, shortly after World War II. This young man was the descendant of a family of Yakuza who --- well, that is another story. After this man's stint in Arcadia, he became obsessed with the idea of cheating the system of the mortal world for personal benefit, and so it seemed only fitting that he fell into America at a time when the Mafia's influence was waning. Modeling himself off of the famous thieves of fantasy novels and the shadowy guild he had been forced to work for in Arcadia, he sought out others of a similar mindset, Changelings who understood that the rules no longer applied to them in quite the same way. After all, if you have no identity, you don't exist to the legal system, and laws don't pertain to people who don't exist. This small, original group featured a pair of pickpockets, a professional con man, a trained ninja, and an ex-mafia bruiser looking to ply their trade. Still, under the leadership of a former Yakuza, the group believed in a form of honor, sick as it was. This small, rag-tag Motley eventually decided that the world at large needed a well-organized Shadow Council among Changelings, and so the dream of the Brotherhood of the Midnight Ravens started. The Motley disbanded, allowing their Pledge to lapse, and spread across the world seeking out the darker elements of Changeling society. Then, amid the cold winter, in a well-hidden Hollow the shadows gathered, and forged the Pledge of the Brotherhood of the Midnight Ravens. The Brotherhood took a life-long pledge of secrecy and mutual protection, proclaiming themselves a bond tighter than any Motley, and set down plans to meet four times each year for business and the initiation of new members.

Joining

Backgrounds
All kiths and courts are welcome, as are Courtless.

Joining the Brotherhood is a very interesting proposition, because the potential member cannot even be told the Brotherhood exists until he has been accepted and is being offered the Pledge. In short, you cannot choose to join the Brotherhood, but rather by catching the eye of a member of the Brotherhood, you can be chosen by the Brotherhood. At each meeting, the Brotherhood proposes new members to watch over the next season, selecting no more than 5 people to be considered for initiation at the next season's meeting, called Fledgelings. Then they will vote shortly before the formal gathering on no more than 3 to initiate at the next meeting. Each prospective member requires a 2/3 majority vote to be initiated, in addition to being one of the top 3 in his season's watch-group. Once chosen, the prospective member is asked by the member who proposed his membership to come to a gathering, and is offered the Pledge of Membership before the rest of the Brotherhood. During these initiation ceremonies, the prospective is blind-folded and every member of the Brotherhood wears a mask, until all candidates have been initiated.

Titles

Leadership:

Masque of Shadow - the five-person head of the Brotherhood, symbolically commemorative of the five founders. By tradition, these five remain masked at all times during Brotherhood functions, not out of lack of trust for the others but for security; their ensorcelled bodyguards also wear the same masks.

Raven's Eyes - The ensorcelled and pledge-sworn bodyguards of the Masque of Shadow, mortals who have sworn to protect the heads of the Brotherhood with their lives. They are always masked at Brotherhood functions, so that potential attackers do not know who is guarded and who is guardian.

Raven's Beak - The 'speakers' of the Brotherhood, those who excel at social manipulation, persuasions, and so forth. Especially used to talk about those particularly adept at cultivating ties in the mortal world.

Raven's Wings - Those whose particular area of interest falls in line with the procuring of goods, be they mundane or magical.

Raven's Talons - This Flight consists of those who remove problems, be it through smear tactics or more violent means.

Safehouse: The Nest

The Brotherhood maintains a Hollow, heavy with wards and with doors to different major metropolitan areas across the globe, but none within the Hedge as this would only make it more accessible to the Gentry. The Hollow takes the form of a medieval castle inside, with stone walls and torches to provide light. The Nest is spacious and well-protected by a web of wards and obfuscations, and serves as safehouse and storehouse, as well as providing a place for the Brotherhood to hold their clandestine meetings. The Nest contains a number of sleeping chambers, hidden passageways, training rooms, and even a meditation room to assist oneiromancers with their workings.

Meetings

As mentioned previously, the Brotherhood meets four times each year. These meetings take place on the longest night of the year, the shortest night of the year, and on the night of each equinox. At these meetings, the initiation of new members takes place first, as the Brotherhood is very secretive and fully masked until this is completed; there are strangers among them until that point, after all. Once this is done with, the members of the Brotherhood, rightfully feeling rather drained, partake in a massive feast during which they share stories of their exploits over the last season, plan for the next one, and so forth. Security is extremely tight at these meetings, as the group is considerably less able to defend themselves at this point.

The Charter

Never Betray a Brother - Because of what we do, we often find ourselves on the wrong side of the law. A brother should never turn over another brother to the authorities, no matter what those authorities may be. If a brother falls from the path and becomes a liability, do not allow the courts to deal with it. The Brotherhood takes care of its own, in all ways. If justice should come, it will come at the hands of another brother.

Take no actions that directly threaten the existence of the Brotherhood - The Brotherhood exists in the dark. It's existence would not be looked upon kindly by those that love the light. Therefore, a brother should take no action that would reveal or threaten the existence of the Brotherhood as a whole, for one mistake could be the last.

Do not pledge loyalty to the Gentry - Sometimes, our actions may bring us in contact with the Others. A brother should be cautious when dealing with the True Fae, but contact with them is not forbidden. However, any brother becoming a loyalist can expect to be hunted down and destroyed by the Brotherhood. Justice will be swift and final.

And if it harm none, do as thou will shall be the whole of the law - Laws are an illusion of society, created by those who need boundaries. The Brotherhood has seen through the illusion and has spread its wings and flies where it will. Save for the cardinal rules, a brother will not limit the freedom of another brother. The Brotherhood is about freedom above all else.

The Pledge

Mechanics of the Pledge

Members

Masque of Shadow

Rufus Arrowny – Darkling, Mirrorskin (Played by Travis McLaughlin US2007059925)
Train Diskenth - Elemental ,Manikin (Played by Gary McIntosh)
Ignacio Itztli – Fairest, Shadowsoul (Played by Chris DiAngelo US2002021211])
Nine Tails – Beast (Played by Andrew J Trujillo US2002076343)

Raven's Wings

Ashton Keyes - Darkling, Antiquarian (Played by Felix Drost)
Uncle Milo - Beast, Steepscrambler (Played by Wyatt Wheeler)
Scarlett - Elemental, Fireheart (Played by Helene Neale)
Dylan Connor - Darkling, Mirrorskin (Played by Alejandro Valdés)
Elijah Reve - Wizened, Chirurgeon (Played by Jamin Pursell)
Tobias Soultongue - Elemental, Airtouched (Played by James Foster)

Raven's Beaks

Shadow Rose - Fairest (Played by C.Hopkins)
Uncle Jack - Darkling, Mirrorskin (Played by Patrick Mason)

Raven's Talons

Noman - Darkling, Mirrorskin (Played by Tug Brice)
Old Hob - Ogre, Gristlegrinder (Played by Christopher Madsen)

General Members

(Feel free to add yourself once you commit to being a part of this, and join our mailing list)

Mystral - Elemental, Airtouched (Played by Michael Combs)
Adra - Darkling, Gravewight (Played by Stacey Robinson)
Jandori - Darkling, Mirrorskin (Played by Vekah McKeown)
Maze - Darkling, Mirrorskin (Played by Jeff Ninemire)
MrBlack - Ogre, Gristlegrinder (Played by Barry Reed
Silas Bottle - (Played by Mike Prettiman)
Clockwork - Elemental (Played by Luke)
Benares - Fairest, Draconic (Played by Steven Stroud)
Kyrie - Beast, Roteater (Played by Mandy Small)

Fallen Ravens

Christus Sanctus: Beast, Hunterheart - One of the original members of the Masque of Shadow and co-founder of the Brotherhood. Oathbreaker.
Slim Jim: Darkling, Leechfinger - One of newer Ravens, initiated at the Spring Equinox, 2007. Was found to be working for the Gentry. Oathbreaker.
Nasty Nick - An early Raven. Died in a firefight.

Contact Info

Contact: Travis McLaughlin US2007059925 ladylucksman at gmail dot com