significant npcs in wtd 1.0r :: the brotherhood in violence

[geistnet]

THE BROTHERHOOD IN VIOLENCE, SOLDIERS OF GOD IN THE DARK Through human history, religious fervor has determined the directions that the world ends up taking. Divine inspiration sparks human progress and sets fire to the soul just as often as it drives men to rise above the rest and commit acts of unspeakable horror. In light of this, it may not be too much of a stretch to say that Christianity – perhaps one of the most pervasive religious beliefs in the Fifth World – is responsible for all of that and then some. While most believers are harmless and much prefer to let bygones be bygones in order to assure their ability to worship their God in peace, there are always those strange (and sometimes noisy) few who – in the name of the Lord – will do interesting things. The Brotherhood of Violence is, perhaps, the best example of pure, unapologetic religious zeal directed towards a singular target: threats to the Balance. Through a mix of grit, good fortune (or misfortune, depending on who you ask), focused homicidal tendencies and solid belief, this compact has grown from a cell somewhere in Ireland to a powerful Christian congregation within the Vigil. There’s a thin line between a zealot and a fanatic, and Brothers and Sisters in Violence are constantly walking it just in the same way that they constantly walk between the tenants of God (or, more accurately, the tenants of Her Church) and their solemn mandate as Hunters. Operatives of the Brotherhood of Violence wear tailored, form-fitting habit underneath a long, high-collared coat with folded sleeves reminiscent of the uniforms of French or English soldiers in the 17th Century. Brothers in Violence wear black and crimson; Sisters in Violence wear dark violet and gold, and have a veil. Both kinds of uniforms have metal inlays and ornamentation. All members have chains around their waists, from which they hang their Cross. The Brotherhood of Violence uses the base of the traditional Celtic Cross as their insignia. The inner circle of the cross, however, depicts a kingfisher whose length nearly encompasses the circle. The intricate designs show a network of rays of sunlight, vines, flowers, and blades; the rays and the blades are always directed outward, from the center. Furthermore, the bottom of their cross tapers downward, as though the base of the cross itself ended in the tip of a sword.