Washington D.C.
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Prior (Active) Residents
Washington D.C. End: 2017
2015-01-01T00:00:00
Mage
- Written by: Jag
The capital of the United States; some would argue it is the capital of the world due to the political power that lies within the city. It is also a huge melting pot of different cultures, and host to many members of the high society. Formally, the District of Columbia, but commonly referred to as "Washington," "DC" or "the District." However, to the Awakened it holds much more than political power; for the city itself was designed by employing powerful ley lines, which makes the District a very powerful place for the willworkers. Unfortunately, this has also made it a city at war...
History
Before Washington, D.C. became an official Consilium in 1871, the city was inhabited by a number of powerful Cabals. There was a pact amongst them to keep things reasonably peaceful. However, Pylons of Seers also moved into the city, which created complications for the locals. A variety of hostile encounters between the local Diamond Orders and the Seers of the Throne drove the local Cabals to strengthen their pact and formalize it into a true alliance; empowered by Fate oaths to ensure they would work together towards their common goal.
As a result of this new alliance, and the fragmented nature of the Seer Ministries, the local Cabals were able to drive their enemies out of the District in 1871. This not only marked a great victory for the local Diamond Orders, it also marked a new beginning as the DC Consillium was officially established that year. With the turning of the century, the Free Council was finally welcomed as a legitimate Order in the capital, making the year 1901 a very important year for the Awakened residing in Washington, D.C. for they were no longer the Diamond; now they were the Pentacle.
The year 1930 saw a large influx of Awakenings in the city, as well as will-workers moving to DC from other Consillia around the United States and the rest of the world. Some say the large number of Awakenings occurred as a result in a shift of the ancient ley lines, and possibly the creation of some new ones. Whatever it was that caused it, the District became to grow in power, which of course attracted many newcomers.
However, this much activity in the Awakened community attracted the attention of the Seers of the Throne yet again. The 40s and the 50s were witness to the resurgence of Seer activity in the area, as many Pylons moved to DC and established their own Sanctums within the city limits. The influence of the Seer Ministries grew even further during the 60s and the 70s, as the local Pylons made use of their resources to grow their influence amongst a variety of Sleeper organizations; many of which were even tied to the Federal Government.
The Pentacle had been lost in their own activities as they failed to notice how much power the Seers had accumulated. However, in the late 80s, early 90s, local Guardians finally brought the amount of influence the Seers had to light. The Silver Ladder decided to put up a fight, as the local Thearchs began to grow their own influence amongst the Sleepers. So as one Cold War ended in 1991, another began behind the Veil.
During the next ten to fifteen years, the District saw constant fighting between the Pentacle and the Seers of the Throne. Most of the battles were fought in the background, through seedy political moves and the like. However, there were a few instances were actual fighting did occur out in the open, which created a massive threat to the Veil. The local Guardians became very upset as a result, driving their Epopt to actually collaborate with the leaders of the Panopticon Ministry in hopes of putting a stop to this.
However, the corrupted Epopt's actions eventually lead to the defeat of the local Pentacle. The information he had been sharing with the Panopticon was in turn shared by them to all other Ministries in preparation for a final attempt at a full takeover of the District. In 2008, Seer activity seemed to quiet down, but as usual, its always quiet before the storm.
The lack of Seer activity lead the Pentacle to let their guards down, as they never saw what was coming to them. On January 20, 2009 the District saw a massive influx of people come from all over the United States to attend President Barack Obama's Inauguration. Millions gathered to witness the beginning of what they believed to be a new era in the country's history; and millions fueled the spirits of change that the Seers had secretely made a pact with. And as the Court of Change grew in power from this event, all four Seer Ministries lead highly coordinated strike against the local Pentacle.
Since all eyes were on the presidential inauguration, this made their guerrilla warfare tactics much more effective. Pylons of Seers attacked different Sanctums and other important locations for the Pentacle at the same time, making the attack almost impossible to defend. While the local Guardians and Arrows came together in an attempt to rebuke the strike, most of them were slaughtered in the process. The local Mystagogues made a run for it, with a few of them staying behind to protect their Athenaeums and dying in the process. The Thearchs and Libertines did what they could, but those that stayed fell victims to the same fate as the others.
After the bloodbath, only about a dozen or so of local Pentacle mages survived. The handful of willworkers were able to hide during the attack, and managed to make their way out of the city and establish secret Sanctums in the outskirts of DC. This small group became the resistance, but with their small numbers they could do nothing but wait until the time to reclaim the city comes again.
The year now is 2012, and the once great Consilium of Washington D.C. is but a dark entry in the city's history. The District has become a painful reminder that the Seers have won; and that the Pentacle continues to fight a losing battle. However, in the outskirts of the city, the resistance continues to grow. The Pentacle, while exiled from their once beloved city, has not lost all hope yet as their numbers are slowly growing and they continue to rebuild the influence and power they once had.
The Pentacle resistance is patiently waiting for the Seers to let their guards down, as they focus on one goal only...
...to take their city back.
The Pentacle
While their numbers are limited, members of all five Pentacle Orders are still represented in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The vast majority of them have establish Sancta in the surroundings areas of Maryland and Northern Virginia, with a few brave mages who have moved back into the city as the first step of taking it back.
The Adamantine Arrow
The Adamantine Arrow once held their headquarters within the Pentagon itself, but that all came to an end with the Pentacle's defeat at the hand of the Seers. Now the Ungala mostly congregate in a couple of Army and Navy bases in the areas of Maryland that surround the District. They also have a strong presence in "Walter Reed Army Medical Center;" the only tactical outpost they have inside DC. Lately, they have been growing their influence with the local law enforcement agencies, hoping that this will prove useful in the impending showdown.
The Free Council
The Free Council once had the luxury of having its very own Lorehouse within the walls of the Library of Congress. A great monument to their beliefs, it was all lost to the Seer incursion of 2009. Now the Libertines are scattered amongst Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia. The local Free Council does not currently have a Lorehouse, but they hope to rebuild the one that was lost to them at some point in the future. The Minutemen of the Order lend their hands to the Adamantine Arrow in the defense of the Pentacle, and continue to fight the Lie in their own way.
The Guardians of the Veil
The Guardians of the Veil once held outposts within the walls of the CIA, FBI and NSA headquarters, but that is no longer the case. Most of the Guardians that survived the Seer incursion of 2009 left the area when they found out about their Epopt's betrayal. Feelings of guilt weigh heavily on the shoulders of those that remain. There are only a handful of Guardians that remain in the area, contributing to the resistance effort by making sure that the Veil isn't threatened, and gathering information on Seer activities and reporting to the local heads of the Adamantine Arrow.
The Mysterium
The Mysterium once held a large number of Athenaeums hidden within the walls of the Smithsonian museums in downton DC. However, these locations had to be abandoned when the Seer incursion began. Rumors claim that most of the Athenaeums actually survived the incursion due to being magically hidden. However, Mystagogues have yet to find out whether those rumors are true or not. The remaining members of the Alae Draconis mostly keep to themselves, hidden away in local universities in parts of Maryland and Northern Virginia.
The Silver Ladder
The Silver Ladder once enjoyed much power amongst the political and high society scenes in the District. Those times have changed. The few remaining Therarchs in the area work closely with the other Orders in establishing the resistance movement. Their use the connections they have left to garner supplies and information that the Pentacle troops can use to defend themselves and to prepare for the imminent conflict with the Seers. If anything they provide the other Orders with hope, encouraging them to fight the enemies of the Pentacle and to restore the rightful order of things to the District.
The Seers of the Throne
After their successul incursion in 2009, the Seers have managed to keep a tight grip on Washington, D.C. with all four Ministries enjoying much power within the city. However, the rivalries between the Ministries have resurfaced now that the Pentacle are no longer a problem for them; making them as fragmented as they were before they came together for the coordinated takeover.
The Hegemonic Ministry
The Hegemonic Ministry has their hands in pretty much every political pie in DC. Their leaders are heavily connected with the local politicians, and this influence even extends to most areas in the Hill. The most prominent members of this Ministry actually hold some political positions, but in general they prefer to act in the background and be the puppet masters behind the Sleeper politicians instead.
The Panopticon Ministry
The Panopticon Ministry prides itself in orchestrating the downfall of the Pentacle in the District. If it wasn't for the information they obtained from the local Epopt, the coordinated attack may not have been possible. Thus, they are both highly respected and envied by all other Ministries. The Panopticon observes all; such as the way of the "all seeing eye." They took over all the old Guardian outposts, enjoying the resources available to them from inside the CIA, FBI and NSA headquarters.
The Paternoster Ministry
The Paternoster Ministry are also fighting a losing battle, due to the fact that many modern Sleepers shun religion nowadays. At one point they had thought about setting up their headquarters at the National Cathedral, but realizing that it would be of no help to their cause, they have turned to more cult-like activities. Members of this Ministry work on setting up a variety of cults locally, many revolving around all the conspiracy theories dealing with the involvement of the Illuminati and the Freemasons in Washington, D.C. However, they have also managed to grow their influence through the likes of Scientology, but even then they remain the weakest of all four Seer Ministries.
The Praetorian Ministry
The Praetorian Ministry enjoy a great deal of power in DC. They stole the headquarters the Adamantine Arrow once had within the Pentagon, among many other things. Members of this Ministry have a low of influence in all branches of the military, while others are high ranking officers themselves. The Praetorians are also involved with the local law enforcement, with many of their members running the show at local precincts around DC. Some would say, that they are the Ministry that enjoys the largest amount of power in the Capital.
Vampire
the Dark Capital
- Written by: Jag
The capital of the United States; some would argue it is the capital of the world due to the political power that lies within the city. It is also a huge melting pot of different cultures, and host to many members of the high society. Formally, the District of Columbia, but commonly referred to as "Washington," "DC" or "the District." Yet, a more unsavory, yet perhaps more accurate moniker has been given to it by Kindred that roam its streets during these modern nights...
...welcome to the Dark Capital.
History
DC was actually split into two separate domains shortly after the Kine established it as the nation's capital. The Domain of Georgetown, which was run under a traditional Invictus Praxis, and the Domain of Washington, which was run under a democratic government of sorts, which was established by a powerful Carthian. As is only natural, these two domains found themselves at odds with each other for much of the late 1700s and early 1800s.
With the "Organic Act of 1871," the Praxis holder of the Domain of Washington decided to follow in the footsteps of the Kine and attempted to bring the Domain of Georgetown under the same Praxis. However, his attempt was thwarted by the Invictus Domain, who were supported by the Lancea Sanctum--who had a stronghold near the National Cathedral--during the battle. After the long and bloody war between both domains, the Domain of Washington fell prey to the superior power of the Domain of Georgetown, which resulted in both domains being brought under one Praxis led by the Invictus Prince of Georgetown; officially forming the Domain of Washington, D.C. in 1890.
Since becoming one domain, the District has seen its share of both Invictus and Carthian Praxis holders. Both Covenants hold much power within the city and its metropolitan area, which keeps them in an eternal struggle for control of the domain. During the Civil Rights era, the domain saw not only much growth within the local Carthian Movement, but it also witnessed an influx of new Acolytes in the city. This raised many red flags amongst the local Sanctified, who had held a tight grip over the city's religious community.
However, to avoid another bloody war, the Invictus and the Carthians came to an agreement and lead a series of meetings with both the Lancea Sanctum and the Circle of the Crone, which had very positive results and prevented the possibility of a large scale conflict between both Covenants.
Throughout all of this, members of the Ordo Dracul have mostly kept to themselves and have managed to avoid the bloody affairs of local politics in the domain. Instead they have focused their time on their studies, and growing their influence within the many local academic institutions found within the city and its surrounding areas.
Demographics
The Dark Capital prides itself in its diversity, both amongst Kindred and the Kine. All five Clans are represented in the Domain of Washington, D.C. and appear to have a reasonably equal amount of power. The Prisci Council has in many cases rose up against unreasonable and/or unstable Praxis holders when necessary. The most populous of the Clans happens to be the Gangrel; but Clan Ventrue seems to have the largest amount of influence and political power, with many of the domain's Princes coming from their ranks. Both the Mekhet and Daeva have equal numbers in the domain's population. The Nosferatu, while being the smallest group, are also the most tight-knit of all the Clans, and rule in their own right from their massive Necropolis found in DC's underground tunnels.
The Carthian Movement has a great amount of influence in the Domain, with its numbers constantly growing during these modern nights. They have their hands in many mortal organizations, and use the influence they have with the local Kine population to their advantage in keeping the First of State at bay. Even though the Domain is currently under an Invictus Praxis, there have been many Carthian Praxis-holders in the past, and the Movement is successfully running their own sociopolitical experiment--based on a democratic-style government--in the Regency of Anacostia (Southeast DC).
The Circle of the Crone saw an influx of new members in the past few decades, and while they do not hold much political power within the Domain, they have established many independent Temples in the outskirts of the city. Acolytes have had much successes in forming many blood cults amongst the local Kine population due to a resurgence of paganism, and interest in ancient and foreign religions amongst the mortals during these modern nights.
The Invictus has had much power within the Domain, being the Covenant to formally establish it in the first place. Even though their numbers are not as great as they used to be, they have many elder Kindred amongst their ranks, who also happen to be very well-connected amongst the local Kine population. Regardless of the constant struggle for power they have going on with the Carthians, the members of the Covenant have pledged to remain Unconquered, and granted their rivals the Regency of Anacostia in the early 1970s, to keep them from meddling further in the Domain's political affairs. Surprisingly enough, this tactic has proven successful, and the Praxis of Washington, D.C. has remained in the hands of the Invictus since then.
The Lancea Sanctum still has a strong presence in the Domain, even though their influence amongst the Kine population has seen a massive decline over the past couple of decades. However, they remain strong supporters of the First of State, and thus they keep a decent amount of political power within the Domain due to this alliance. Their largest stronghold remains the National Cathedral, but they also hold some power in Georgetown University in Southwest DC and Catholic University in Northeast DC.
The Ordo Dracul has mostly kept to themselves and their studies since the early history of the Domain. No one but themselves know how many members they actually have amongst them, which sometimes is a cause of concern for the other Covenants. However, the Dragons have managed to keep their neutrality when it comes to the domain's political affairs; focusing their efforts in growing their influence amongst the several universities found in the area, and other academic or more esoteric organizations. Rumor has it that they have been spending much of their time studying the ley lines of the city, and that they plan to use this knowledge at some point in the near future. For what purpose? No one really knows but them; but those are only rumors of course...
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