From Changeling Venue

Contents 1 Brief Overview 2 History of the Order 3 Philosophy 4 Necessary Sinners 5 Laws, Tenets, Teachings & Koans 5.1 Laws 5.2 Tenets 5.3 Teachings 5.4 Koans 6 Regions of Activity 7 Acceptance 7.1 Induction 7.2 The Oath 7.3 Ornamentation 7.4 Stepping Back, Banishment and Death 8 Status and Structure 9 Members 10 Holy Days and Customs 11 Ceremonies 12 Favored Magic 13 Custom Ideas 13.1 Tokens 13.2 Contracts 14 Allegiances 15 Lexicon 16 OOC Information

Brief Overview

The Dharmic Order of Devils is an enigmatic and frightening order that is bent on punishing the wicked and scaring the innocent into proper accord. In this the Devils understand that their role in this world is to be evil, yet, this evil must always have a purpose.

History of the Order

No one knows when the Dharmic Order of Devils was created yet it is known when the order finally was shown officially to the Lost of Japan and the rest of the world. It was during the late 700’s that the Dharmic Order of Devils officially gained notice when they showed their very presence to the High Lords. This meeting where the Devils were officially given notice went rather well, other then the very fact that the ceremony they performed after words was ghastly and left many members of mainland Japans Lost Court a bit wary of the Devils and in many cases afraid of them. Dai Komoko Tenno saw the value of the Devils and understood their role on fear, in this he openly welcomed the Devils among the Autumn Court.

Within the next six to a year’s time as the Order officially operated within Japan, the Devils gained a reputation of being wicked creatures just like their name sake. Yet, what the Court would notice the most, besides their acts of rape, torture and death, is that most of all who were rape, tormented and or killed were sinners, those who had done the same acts upon other mortals or supernatural creatures alike. While the acts that were performed were not looked well upon by Dai Jikoku Tenno Lord of the Spring Court and Dai Bishamon Tenno Lord of the Winter Court, the Lords of the Summer, Dai Zocho Tenno and Autumn, Dai Komoko Tenno, could not disregard the very nature of the Devils as a needed one. Because of the deaths those who divine punishment was sent out into the wind had decreased some of the sinners acts and in some cases caused those closely aligned to the sinner, who where sinners themselves, to repent their sins and turn to a wholesome life style. The Dai Zocho Tenno Lord of the Summer Court very much enjoyed the fervor that the Devils performed their tasks and in this gave them open acknowledgment to let those of the Devil welcomed to any of the Summer Courts Holdings and Ceremonies.

Yet, those Lost who were of the Christian Aligned groups who were of the new barbarian religion that came over from the west, found the Devils as evil creatures that were a front to God and needed to be put down. With this the Devils were marked by these groups as heretics and were to be hunted. For the next ten years the Christian groups did what they could to try and wipe out the Devils, yet do to their split effort as they also tried to suppress other religious anomalies within Japan, Shinto and other Buddhist sects, they could not keep an accurate eye upon the Devils who were very crafty and wise. They become hidden in the background, faded from open sight and did what they could behind the scenes, their open violence still was apparent, but their very presence was not.

Finally upon March 11th 810 the Bodhisattva of the Devils met with the head of the Christian influenced Lost in Japan and with great social tact was able to sell the very nature of the Devils to the Christian Leader as a necessary, that if the innocents of Japan do not understand that there is something much greater then them at work, then why would they need to find a God who is moral to follow? This is why the innocents must be scared while the sinners will find Judgement in hopes to get the people of the world to follow a wholesome life.

The Christian Leader, finding truth in the Bodhisattva’s words agreed to a truce between the Devils and his Holy Order. In this he promised that none of his Order will cause harm to the Devils so long as the Devils do not cause harm to the Holy Order. The Devils Bodhisattva agreed to the terms and the pledge was formed a this pledge has last up to this very day.

Time marches on and the Devils very existence became more and more of a dark one as the Lords of the Seasons change to younger creatures who morals seem to be aligned to a more humanist aspect. Granted, this is a good thing for the Devils now see that their hard work is slowly starting to spread, but, it’s a bad thing for now they are becoming alienated from the very courts they have served for ages.

During World War II the Devils would find a calling to answer as the United States Military invaded Japan. The Western Influence was a nasty one as many US Military members began to commit sins left and right within Japan and in this the Devils could not act fast enough to keep up with the very nature of punishment. Yet, after a serious of mysterious and gruesome deaths occurred the American Military began to crack down upon the issues, increasing their policing patrols. Eventually Dai Zocho Tenno and the other Three Tennos convened and announced that the Americans are not to be killed or harmed physically. This arose do to the fact that as military members died the Americans leadership became increasingly agitated and began to crack down upon Japan an the Tenno did not want the Mask to become endangered.

As this would cause issues with trying to punish the Americans sins, the Devils found new indirect ways to let the Dharmic balance be fulfilled. They used tactics of what would look like bad luck, as a means to fulfill their duties to the Balance. Now the incidents of self agony within the US military was starting to rise as the Devils indirectly harmed sinners within its ranks through the use of their magic and extensive connection with the Japanese.

Finally as the situation settled and the Americans became accepted the Devils still continued their indirect methods of dealing with the American sinners and in this, the same methods were also used to deal with Japanese sinners who were of petty sins. Yet, Murders and Rapists were still dealt with directly.

Now in current times the Dharmic Order of Devils as spread out side the East and has found some roots in Europe, Russia an America. Yet changes were made in significant to reflect the religious background of the cultures. As much in the older days this would anger the Bodhisattva’s they understood that this variation was needed if they wish to spread to other parts of the world. So they accepted the changes in their Order in the other parts of the world.

Philosophy

The Philosophy of the Dharmic Order of Devils is that in order for those to achieve to peaceful afterlife the must live a wholesome life. So long as they do not stray to far from the core aspects of this Philosophy the innocence will find their after life rewarding. Yet those classified as sinners, Rapists, Molesters, and Molesters are seen as the worse of the kind and need to be punished accordingly. In this the Devils punish the sinners through the same means the sinners had committed their crimes. A Rapist is raped violently but made sure they will survive, a Molester is molested and possible raped (Not violently) to try and drive them to understand their sin. A Murderer is often tortured, which this torture could include rape and molestation. A Devil does have the right to remove the life from a murderer if they feel that the torment provided to the murderer is not enough to persuade them to a more wholesome life. In this, the death bestowed upon the murderer is often times a slow and agonizing one in which the devil feels will teach the soul of the murderer that in their next life to live a more wholesome life.

Other sins that Devils might punish sinners are Adulterers and thieves. Granted these are sins and should always been seen as bad, these are the least serious of sins and should never be taken to drastic measures such as physical torment, rape or death. Usually an Adulterer’s significant other or whoever they care for is seduced and the scene of explicit sex is caught on video for the adulterer to see with their own eyes. A thief’s punishment is being caught when they seem to slip up during a very simple task of theft.

On a more personal view of all of this the Devil is seen as one of the few among many who is free of Dharmic retribution so long as the acts committed are upon sinners and are in accordance with heavenly punishment. So long as all acts are in accord to the Dharmic Balance a Devil should never have to fear spiritual decay of their clarity or mind.

Necessary Sinners

Though the Devils main purpose is to up hold the Dharmic balance by punishing the wicked and placing fear in the hearts of the innocents to follow the Right Path, the Devils understand that some sinners and group of sinners are needed in order to help keep the Dharmic Balance in place. With such cults of fear, Organized Crime and Gangs are seen as tools that the Devil can manipulate to their own purpose. Granted this does place them in a peculiar spot, but so long as they understand how to balance out their duties to the Heavens and the Mask they need to up hold, these type of Devils can be the best resource and allies or worst enemy you can have.

Laws, Tenets, Teachings & Koans

What are detailed below are the Laws, Tenets, Teachings & Koans of the Devils.

Laws

• 1: A Devil must always show Respect and Honor to other Devils within the Order both Domestic and Foreign alike.

• 2: A Devil must always Speak the Truth when being question by those of Higher Status withers they’re of a Domestic Order or of a Foreign Order.

• 3: A Devil must Never Reveal the Inner Teachings or Gifts of the Order to those Out Side the Order.

• 4: A Devil must Never Betray the Order or Any Devils within the Order both Domestic and or Foreign.

Tenets

The Tenets of Accordance

• 1: The Right Actions
  • A Devil must refrain from removing innocents from this Dharmic Cycle unless the death of an innocent is to further a specific purpose or to punish a sinner. To remove the soul of an innocent from the Dharmic Cycle without a purpose will incur the mighty wrath of Heaven.

• 2: The Right Property
  • A Devil must not steal from others unless stealing will serve a purpose that is not to give the Devil wealth or items they do not have. Those who steal from innocents that do not have a purpose to their theft will only incur the wrath of Heaven.

• 3: The Right Sexuality
  • A Devil must not rape or molest anyone unless such acts have a specific purpose or goal they are to achieve, such as defiling an innocent to punish a sinner who has done such to others. To rape and or molest innocence without proper cause only incurs the mighty wrath of Heaven.

The Tenets of Punishment

• 1: Right of Removal
  • A Devil has the right to remove those who have murdered or intend to murder those who are of innocence from this Dharmic cycle so the souls of such sinners are reborn in a lesser form.

• 2: Right of Confiscation
  • A Devil may steal items from others that are sinners of theft. The items and wealth gained from stealing from sinners may be kept for personal gain.

• 3: Right of Sexual Misconduct
  • A Devil has the right to rape and molest those who have raped and or molested or others. Also if a Devil feels so inclined to punish Adulterers (not other Devils though) the Devil may Seduce an Adulterers lover and may record the act for the Adulterer to find at a later time, perhaps a series of these tapings so that the Adulterer may understand the pain it causes when they see the enjoyment their other gains from the Devils company.
    

Teachings

• 1: The Teaching of Effort and Exercise
  • A Devil must make efforts to improve their selves always, for there is always room to improve to become more then what you were, more then what you are.

• 2: The Teaching of Mindfulness and Awareness
  • A Devil must cultivate their mental acuity to see things for what they are with clear consciousness.

• 3: The Teaching of Concentration and Meditation
  • A Devil must be aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion.

• 4: The Teaching of Understanding
  • A Devil must have an understanding of reality as it is, not just as it appears to be.

• 5: The Teaching of Thoughts
  • A Devil must understand and have a change in the pattern of thinking.

Koans

Koans are types of meditations that are used by the Devils to understand the impact of their duties upon the world and in this the impact it has upon the Heavens and Hells. Each Devil uses these Koans to help progress their understanding of the Universe and in this, their standing.

• Koan of Heavenly Anger

• Koan of Pure Ecstasy

• Koan of Sublime Misery

• Koan of Glorious Pain

• Koan of Divine Purpose

• Koan of Blessed Suffering

Regions of Activity

For the most part the Dharmic Order of Devil’s main activity is Japan, China, Korea and India, while they have small holdings all through the Middle East to some small locations in Africa. Of course each region has its own variation of the Devils look and teachings, yet the core teachings remain the same and tenets.

In American and other Christian Dominated Countries the Dharmic Order of Devils have taken on a more Christian view as they act as the necessary evils to get people to believe in God or to at least act in a more morally accepted attitude.

Acceptance

Prerequisites

• Wyrd: 3
• Attribute: Resolve 3
• Skill: Intimidation: 3
• Contract: Darkness 1
• Court Mantle: Summer: 1 or Autumn: 1
• Or Court Goodwill: Summer: 2 or Autumn: 2

Induction

A member should hold to an ideal of possible heavenly balance, in this, they seek to right wrongs with, even if this means damning themselves. Once a person is found that goes to such extents they are then watched and followed for some time, the time can be anywhere from days to possibly years depending on the Devil who stalks the potential member. Once the Silent Devil finds that the person they silently watch is worthy to be among the Order the Silent Devil presents to (Name Here) their information collected. If the (Name Here) find the unenlightened worthy to be given a chance to be among the Order then the Silent Devil is given the permission to give an invitation of initiation to the Order. Which is always in the form of a Lotus flower upon a white card, wither this is an actual Lotus Flower upon a white card or the imprinted image of a Lotus upon a white card it does not matter. Upon the card is a simple direction to a location where the Silent Devil wishes to confront the stalked. Once the stalked makes it to this location, the Silent Devil presents itself and in this gives basic but detailed enough details of the Order to the unenlightened and presents the offer to be brought among them.

If the unenlightened accepts the offers then they are accepted among the Order as an Initiate. The Initiate will remain in this title until the start of the next season, which within that week a ceremony will be held to initiate the Initiate to become a Devil. During this time period before the Initiate is brought to the Devil status this period can be used as a means to watch the Initiate to make sure they do not overstep and fall to out of Dharmic balance.

Usually a ceremony consists of a large party of those of the Order to be present to watch as the Initiate is given their tattoo that marks them as a Devil. Yet, during the off seasons of winter and spring these Ceremonies are usually held with just a couple Devils with a few members of the Initiates closest allies and or friends invited to be present for the initiation. During the prime seasons of summer and autumn however, many Devils Travel to Japan to watch the initiations of the Initiates who are to become Devils. In some cases some Initiates are willing to wait until the summer or autumn Ceremonies so they can be presented to the rest of the Order, both as a move to show their dedication to the Order and a means to gain connections to other more powerful then themselves. The Ceremonies are held once each season except in the Summer when the Hyakki Yako occurs and then its once each month for as long as Summer continues and twice in Autumn, once at the start of the Season and Once upon the 31st of October when its said the Monsters of Japan are allowed to openly show themselves to the world without the Mask being broken.

Those who do not accept the invitation, either throw it away or confront the Silent Devil and speak to them about not ready or wanting to join, they are given another card that hold three phone numbers upon it. These numbers are access to three different Devils all over the region who is willing to listen to the call of the stalked and in this, the possibility of being initiated later on in the future if they find that their true calling among the Devils.

The Oath

The Oath detailed below is what the Initiate must recite at their Ceremony of Initiation.

Ornamentation

(Start)

Stepping Back, Banishment and Death

(start)

Status and Structure

Bodhisattva - The Head of the Order within a Region (Can only be One per Region)
(more to come)

Members

• Benares

Holy Days and Customs

Hyakki Yako (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) - It is a belief that during the summer this Parade or Party is held by the Demons of Japan. Those who are unlucky enough to wander into the location in which the Parade is being held are never heard from again, usually because they are taken away to be used for some sort of gastly meal. The truth behind this story is that originally it was just a normal little party that was held by the Dai Zocho Tenno upon the middle of each summer month. When the Devils finally showed their existence and were seen as worthy members to Japan and the Summer Court they were invited to participate in the events. Well it’s said that the Devils took the party to a whole new level that the Summer Lord himself was pleased about and from then on gave the right for the Devils to start the Ceremony off from then on. As for the Legend being spread about Japan is unsure, many Devils believe that one wise Devil spread this rumor about to keep people weary during the summer nights, while others feel that a mortal some how over watched one of the events and then passed on the information. The Location of where the event happen changes every year and each month so this way no grouping of mortals can ever truly locate the procession of One Hundred Demons. The Ceremony is best described as an Orgy of singing, dancing, drinking, sex, violence and the like.

Ceremonies

(Note: All Ceremonies below are just fluff that adds depth to the Dharmic Order and the Game. )

Favored Magic

• Vainglory

• Darkness

• Fleeting Autumn

Custom Ideas

Below are the possible Bonus ideas I have for the Entitlement

Tokens

Dharmic Prayer Beads: 00000
While wearing these Prayer Beads around the neck, the Devil receives an extra dice to all clarity degeneration rolls whenever they perform a heavenly punishment to a sinner and receive a + 2 Bonus to all rolls made to resist derangements. The normal + 2 bonus gained from Meditation Merit stake with the + 2 bonus receive from this token.
Action: Reflexive
Mien: No longer look like some old beads made from wood as they become black, smooth and stone like with light blue Japanese characters engraved upon each prayer bead.
Drawback: The character has access to this bonus for 12 hours. After 12 hours have passed and the Devil has not punished a sinner in that time then they must wait 24 hours before they are given the protection of their Purpose once more. Also, the Devil can feel if they have the blessings of Heaven for they will feel gifted for the 12 hours that the beads are active.
Catch: Requires the offering of blood from the user (Having to do at least 1 point of lethal to the character) and infuse the beads with 1 point of Glamour. If the blood and Glamour is not given within the first three hours of awakening then in the next 12 hours some how Karma will conspire to punish the character for not fulfilling their personal obligation to the Heavens. The character will suffer a failure during some sort of task that will cause bodily harm to the character. If a drop of the user blood touches the beads before Karma catches up with them, then harmonic balance is restored to the beads, but the character will not gain the benefits of the Beads until a full 24 hours has passed since the drop of blood was placed on the beads. If a drop of the users’ blood does not touch the beads before Karma backlashes then expect the rest of the day until physical rest, to be unforgiving as the user suffers from one incident to another. (Note: this should not get a character killed, just should give them a bad day). Once the user sleeps the beads rest as well, but once the user awakens they have best offer a bit of blood and pray with the beads before they have another incident like the day before.

Sinners Sense: 00
This smaller set of prayer beads are made of black stone with Japanese character engraved upon each prayer bead. Unlike the larger set of prayer beads this set is worn around the wrist or ankle is used to sense sinners. When their being used in a passive manner, as in just being worn, a character has the ability to sense a sinner when physical contact or social contact is made with a sinner. Yet, if the character wishes to sense sinners in an area the character must infuse the prayer beads with 1 point of glamour and made a Wits + Wyrd roll. Each success reveals one sinner within a 50 foot radius to the character. The character can then follow the sinner if they wish and socialize with them. To sense the sinners’ sin, the character must socially interact with the sinner and 1 point of glamour must be spent to infuse the beads with power. A Wits + Wyrd – Resolve + Trait are made. 1 success gives the character the sense of the most potent weight of the sin the sinner has committed the most within the characters mind. It won’t detail who was the victim or when this occurred, but just gives general detail on the ‘Weight’ of the sin and what the sin was.
Action: Reflexive
Mien: Everyone time glamour is spent to infuse them with power the beads gain a slight shine.
Drawback: Once the Devil senses the type of Sin the sinner has committed they feel the weight of the sinners defilement upon them and suffers a – 2 on Empathy, Expression and Socialize rolls for the rest of the scene and in some cases might act hostile like towards the sinner until the scene ends, they leave or the sinner leaves the area for the rest of the scene.
Catch: The Character must pray each day with the beads worn on the body or held in the hand. If the prayer is not done within 3 hours of the character awakening to the next day for the rest of the day any time they try to sense a sinner they get inaccurate readings. For an innocent nun might end up being classified as a Rapist while a child a lowly killer. If the Character wishes to nullify the inaccurate readings the character must pray with the beads and then cut themselves 10 times (maybe doing 1 point of lethal total to their selves). If this condition is then met later on in the day the beads will become inactive for the rest of the day. Upon awakening the next day the character best pray with the beads or the same vicious cycle will continue

Contracts

Contract of Karma
The ability to manipulate Karma came around during World War II when the Devils had to find indirect ways to punish sinners. In this they learned how to manipulate someone’s karma to hinder them drastically. Because of the dramatic effects of the Karma Manipulation this contract began to spread like wild fire through out the Order. As the Devils began to mess with the very nature of Karma they have learned specific rituals that drastically change the effects of Karma giving different results with the rituals. In order to curse a subject the Devil must touch the target. To determine if the character had successfully touched the target; see “Touching an Opponent” on p. 157 of the World of Darkness Rulebook.
The Contract of Karma is still relatively a new contract which is still being understood, because of this it takes a bit more concentration and dedication to learn how to manipulate the flow of someone’s Karma. In this it costs New Rating X 6 to learn each new level of Contract of Karma.
Cost: 1 Point of Glamour
Dice Pool: Manipulation + Wyrd – the subject’s Resolve + Trait
Action: Instant
Catch: The Devil must have seen the target perform some act of sin, either major or minor within the last five hours.

Roll Results
Dramatic Failure: The Devil screwed up the Mantra and loses control of his focus and for the rest of the scene the Devil receives a – 1 per level of Karma the Devil possess on all actions.
Failure: The Devil fails to invoke the curse, and knows it. The Glamour spent to try and manipulate the Karma of another is wasted.
Success: The Devil achieves one or more success on the activation roll and successfully invokes Bad Karma. The Heavens acknowledge that the one cursed is to be punished and needs to atone for their sins. The subject of the Bad Karma suffers a penalty equal to the successes achieved on the activation roll to all dice pools involving a single set of actions for a number of days equal to the Devils level in the Karma Contract. Example: A Devil curses a Rapist and achieves 3 successes on the activation roll. The Devil curses the Rapist that any time they attempt to try and rape anyone they are cursed. In this, whenever the Rapist tries to sneak into a house, socially engineer his way try and grab someone or sneaks into a room where someone sleeps to rape them, he suffers horrible luck (the – 3) and manages to alert people to his location.
Exceptional Success: Similar to a success, the additional successes achieved on the activation roll make the curse even more difficult.

Karma Rituals
The Rituals presented below are rituals created by the Devils to exact specific types of punishment upon others or to enhance the Karma of others or themselves. To learn the Rituals however it costs 3 Experience points per ritual and the prerequisites must be met before a Devil can possess the ability to perform the ritual before they can learn it. Also those who are subject of the rituals do not need to be present for the rituals to take effect. Any Devil who has equal or more points in Karma an also possess the Ritual as well can help in the casting of any ritual. Each success gained on the other Devils assisting casting roll adds an extra dice to the Casting Devils casting roll.
Name: Paranoia
A Devil sits down in meditation with a possession of the individual they wish to curse in their hand and begins to chant out a mantra. The Devil continues to perform the mantra for thirty minutes and at the end of the Mantra the will of the heavens will take effect if the Heavens feel that the Devils desires are worthy. Any Devil who knows this ritual may perform this ritual along side the primary casting Devil to increase the weight of the heavens wrath.
Prerequisites: Karma 1 & Darkness 1
Cost: 1 Point of Glamour and 1 Point of Willpower
Reagents: A possession from the victim
Dice Pool: Manipulation + Intimidation + Karma – Targets Resolve + Trait
Exceptional Failure: For the rest the rest of the day the Devil and any other Devil who takes part in the ritual suffers a – 2 penalty to all Resolve and Composure rolls.
Failure: The ritual fails to take effect.
Success: For a number of days equal to the success gained on the casting roll the target of this ritual feels the weight of their sins boring down on them and feel as if the whole world knows that they did. With this said the target gains a – 2 to all rolls that involve Resolve and or Composure. This negative even effects perception rolls, but the – 2 does not stack when a roll requires both Resolve and Composure.
Exceptional Success: It just increases the time that the Ritual affects the target.

Allegiances

None as of yet

Lexicon

• Dai Bishamon Tenno - Heavenly Lord of the Winter Court and the Direction North

• Dai Jikoku Tenno - Heavenly Lord of the Spring Court and the Direction of East

• Dai Zocho Tenno - Heavenly Lord of the Summer Court and the Direction of South

• Dai Komoko Tenno - Heavenly Lord of the Autumn Court and the Direction of West

• Oni-Yome (Demon Wife) - this is the title given to women who marry Devils.

OOC Information

Player: Steven Stroud
Cam #: US2005033091
Approval Number: Still in Works
Location: Okinawa, Japan JP-002-D Nakagusuku Shadows
Characters: Benares, Abihiko Yamato, Tsunami & Vayne Cruxis
Retired Characters: Gabriel Sinclair Angustri & Josef Egel
Items Created: Cult of Izanami, Ama-no-Kagaseo & Ainu