by Aral Bereux
Council, the Old
The Council is a body who governs traditional values for the preternatural community in general, and consists of twelve members, plus the head of the table. They are responsible for the correct conduct of each member of their community; for such things as ordering an initiation or Rites, and have the power to arrest those who do not subscribe to their teachings. Each member represents a race of preternatural and has a vote on all matters presented, with three of the seats reserved for Senate members only. The Council can influence other factions, such as the Senate, who are more political, than philosophical and religious, and hold much power. Saying this, the Senate have the ability to sway all votes with their seats since 2001, if they so please. Caden Madison was Head of the Old Council between August 1995 and April 2013. See also Cain Madison; Senate, The.
Coven, The
The Coven is related directly to The Guild. It is where decisions are made by the Guild during discussion, and vote pertaining to anything of concern, such as the Seer, or political entities. The Coven is equal to the Ancient High Order in age and held in high regard. They are rumored to be feared by all those who are aware of their existence. The Ancient High Order imparted their wisdoms upon the Coven in hope to establish a neutral player in any difficult situation for the underworld; however they will never interfere in war. See also Guild, The.
Crypt
A form of email siphoned and decrypted from other sources, via a Communiqué plate. It is a form of stolen intelligence. See also Comms.
D
Daniel Rae
Daniel Rae is Julianna Rae’s brother, and Caden Madison’s last student. He is also the Commander of his own created army who is based at the Gatehouse location, known as the Berserkers, a group of Rebel who are willing to go into situations that others aren’t. Daniel is known for his reckless, gun-ho nature. See also Gatehouse, The.
Devo
Younger sister of Katherine Deveaux, Sarah Deveaux is a normal, affectionately nicknamed Devo by the Madison brothers, for her outbursts of deviant behavior. Devo is a passionate supporter of the Rebellion. See also Katherine Deveaux.
Douglas Cathan
Douglas Cathan is the last standing walker of the Senate. He holds the balance of vote when the Senate and Council are in session. Douglas Cathan is Julianna Rae’s Uncle, raising her from childhood until she ran away. See also Old Council; Senate; Walker.
E
Elizbeth Cathan
Mother of Julianna Rae, she is one of the few who can bare Seers to the population. Elizbeth disappeared at the beginning of the war, when the Senate was growing in power and was rediscovered in Central Command by Julianna Rae in 2018.
F
Family, The
The Family is the largest of the clans within the preternatural community, on the West Coast. They stand for Tradition, Honor, Family, and Obedience. They are traditionalists by nature, opposing all new thought, which they meet with swift punishment. They have sway on a large number of issues within the economic and political agendas, and were the founding fathers of the Militia, via the Old Council and Senate influence. The Family consists of the Rae, Madison and Cathan bloodlines. See also Bastiaan Madison; Cain Madison; Daniel Rae; Doug Cathan; Julianna Rae; Peter Rae; Taris Madison.
Family Estate, The
The Family Estate is the location where Julianna Rae was raised by the Family. The Family Estate is a sprawling ranch, renowned for breeding purebred racing stock. The Family Estate is one of many across the country and well secured behind large impenetrable walls.
Full-blood
Any preternatural who can trace their bloodlines purity through four or more generations, where breeding with a different species has not occurred. See also Half-caste.
G
Gatehouse, The
The Gatehouse is a meeting point for Rebels and the like, who have broken away from the traditional fighting, to join Daniel’s army. They are normally frowned upon for their nature, but many a time has been asked for their assistance in more intense situations that require their attitude and expertise. The Gatehouse is located in Sector Four.
Guild, The
The Guild is an impartial but powerful coven that hides themselves, both in the sectors and in the countryside. They offer Julianna Rae and others guidance, and also assist in collecting intelligence for the Rebellion – though are said not to take action in the course of war. They are in the belief that it is time to make way for a new path to follow. They don’t say much, preferring to whisper, and consist of watcher half breeds who have been around as long as the Ancient High Order.
H
Hal Cathan
Father of Douglas Cathan and Elizbeth Cathan, grandfather of Daniel and Julianna Rae. Hal is a full-blood watcher with great sway over the High Order, though in his old age, he keeps to himself. Hal manages the Gatehouse; a meeting point for the Rebels. See also Ancients High Order; Full-blood; Douglas Cathan; Daniel Rae; Julianna Rae.
Half-caste
Any preternatural who has mixed bloodlines, specifically those of a normal, which leads to dormant abilities. See also Full-blood.
Healing
Healing is the most common ability possessed by watchers, and allows the watcher to take away injury, or illness from themselves or another, once the object is removed completely from the wound. See also Abilities.
High Priest
An advisor appointed by the Old Council to those families who request it. The High Priest is responsible for several rituals, including initiation, some Rites of Passage, and mentoring, training and general guidance.
Hover Drone
Also known as a drone; hover; or craft. The Hover Drone is used as a mechanical patrol in the Sectors to keep crowds under control, by the Militia. They are capable of random scanning, detaining, and killing. Their infamous triangular eye is linked to Central Command, and acts as a camera to survey the populations of the Sectors. See also Central Command.
High Security Division
Better known as the HSD by the residents of the sectors, this special division within the Militia are notorious for their heavy-handedness with those who are branded difficult cases, or repeat offenders. This squad is also used for interrogation cases; and reprogramming when the subject is particularly resistant to indoctrination. The HSD perform their training at the decommissioned camp 4.5.2. See also, Camp 4.5.2.
I
Identification Marker, IDM
A microchip inserted beneath the skin in one’s waist by the Militia. All Militia personnel and prisoners receive one upon entering Command Central, or a processing camp. It is inserted via Identification Marker inoculation, and is reputably a painful process for its duration of inoculation. The microchip can be scanned by hover drone anywhere in the country, or by scanner in any processing station. The Identification Marker, also known as an IDM, can only be removed surgically, and if a person is fortunate enough to stumble upon a scrambler, the IDM will cease to function for approximately a week, until it can reset itself to a new frequency. See also Scrambler.
In-country
In-country is a slang term used during the War of Rebellion, to refer to any country side which remained outside the borders of the city limits, that was not within the Sectors. See also Sectors.
Incubus
The Incubus is a highly attractive male demon, which seduces and tempts. Once they took form in dreams, this demon is now able to form as a solid entity, to seduce women through sexual intrigue. They are blood drinkers, and drain women of blood following intercourse. Their female counterpart is the Succubus. See also Club Star; Succubus.
Initiation, ceremony – watcher
The marks of a pre-Tulpas watcher entering into their
Tulpas phase, after a year of instruction is taken from a High Priest, or Councilor. Initiation provides the watcher their Tulpas if they are a full-blood. Without initiation, one risks turning Wild, becoming a creature completely separated from the community, usuall
y to run in packs to hunt down prey. No law can govern the wild, and usually the Guild will hunt these packs down to kill them, if the Council cannot control them. See also Council, the Old; High Priest; Guild, the; Pounce; Tulpas; watcher; Julianna Rae.
Invocations
An invocation is a chant, spell or incantation which can serve several purposes. One of the stronger spells is the Preclusion Hex. See also Preclusion Hex.
Isis
The Rebellion’s coordinator, and contact for all. He keeps his eyes between the black borders of a screen to keep his identity a mystery. He assists in the Rebellion cause, relaying gathered intelligence to relevant parties, coordinating attacks and recruiting. Only select few know where he is based, and his real identity. See also Rebellion
J
Julianna Rae
Also known as "J Rae." Julianna Elizbeth Rae is the daughter of Peter Rae and Elizbeth Cathan, a member of the Ancients High Order. She has connections to the Guild, where she completes courier runs for them throughout the sectors, and she also recruits for the Rebellion during her dancing stints at Club Star. Julianna ran from the Family in retaliation to her initiation, and was found by the Guild and taken in by them, where she was taught some ability. She was then directed to Isis (with the help of Caden Madison’s mind manipulation) and the safe house, in turn to assist with the Rebellion. See also Club Star; Guild, the; Peter Rae; Seer, The.
K
Katherine Deveaux
Katherine Deveaux is a Militia informant working for the Rebellion, providing critical information, specifically for the West camp run by Caden and Bas Madison. She is also Bas Madison’s one true love. See also Devo.
L
Levitation
Levitation is an ability held by a watcher where they can command objects to their grasp without touching them, or command objects to certain dispositions, such as closing and locking a door. Levitation is one of the more rare abilities, and is usually bestowed upon a watcher by the Council or Senate. Very rarely are they born with this ability. Levitation can only be achieved at very close range, and the larger the object levitated, the more powerful the watcher. See also Abilities.
M
Militia, The
A large organization who believes in the New World Order, and that the best way to serve the order, is to depopulate it either by cleansing camps, or reprogramming camps. Those who can be reprogrammed will be – the rest will be exterminated. The Militias are traditionalists who support the notions of the Old Council, and are against any of those who are half-castes, with no ability.
N
Nocturno, Noc
Nocturno are known also as “night creatures”. Nocturno’s are pale complexioned by nature, due to their affection for the night; are large in build, and have superior night vision. The night creatures are also known for their pack mentality, with an alpha male in the lead. They rarely play nice with other kinds and are in fact, known for their violent natures. They are the world’s version of the mythical vampire, dwelling in darkness searching for prey to rip apart, or taunt. It is rumored that the watcher is an offshoot of this preternatural from thousands of years ago.
Normals, Norms
Normals are those which hold no powers, or knowledge of the realms. A normal human being is considered vermin by some preternatural communities, and the New World Order, specifically Taris Madison. See also New World Order; Realm; Taris Madison.
New World Order
An economy created, where a universal dollar drives most factories to failure while others thrive with the help of New World sponsorship, from the Militia. This in turn isolates all those businesses which the NWO do not approve of, for what reasons may be, and thus gain more control over the country. Industry affected by this includes mass production companies, education systems, pharmaceutical companies, and hospitals. On a separate level, the NWO start date is arguable in crowds, as the same date the Senate received their third vote on the Council.
O
Old World
The world before the New World Order came into place, considered pre 2001.
Oregon
Oregon is where the Family Estate is located, where Julianna Rae grew up. See also Family Estate, The
P
Passage of Rites
The Passage of Rites is specifically for the watcher to take, as they grow in power, and complete their initiation. The Passage of Rites extends over centuries for those who live long enough to complete them, granting them abilities and knowledge with each one complete. Most watchers who have completed these become accepted into the Ancient’s High Order, upon recommendation of a peer. Each Rites taken, results in a symbol of rites burnt into the body closely resembling a black tattoo, and by the time the entire Rites is completed the entire body is covered with these symbols. See also Ancient’s High Order
Peter Rae
Julianna Rae’s missing father, also a watcher of high standing, with seniority in the Ancients High Order. Peter Rae is rumored to be a key member of the Rebellion, with huge influence on decisive factors within the War.
Pounce Trait
When a watcher is demonstrating their change in being, or displaying their Tulpas, a watcher is known to ‘pounce’ upon their prey like a cat before physically ripping them apart. Once in the pounce like state, they rarely retract until the prey has been successfully killed. See also Tulpas.
Preclusion Hex
One of the strongest spells, a preclusion hex is largely used to bind buildings or a specific large environment, making a watcher’s abilities defunct.
Preternatural
A preternatural is considered to be anything outside the normal definition of natural, and exceeding what is regular. It is a general term to describe watchers, walkers, succubus, and the nocturno. Also known in slang terms, as prets. See also Nocturno; Succubus; walker; watcher.
R
Rebellion, The
The Rebellion is the alliance against the Militia. Their agenda is to overthrow the Militia, and establish their own New World Order, and overthrow the Senate for a new government.
Reading
Similar to whispering, reading is the ability by a watcher to penetrate one’s thoughts and read what that person is thinking, unhindered. There are few in the preternatural community who can hinder this process, and with some, such as the succubus/incubus, hindering can lead to death through seizure, as the mind overloads with the strain it causes. See also Abilities.
Realm
A Realm can be created by those watchers powerful enough, in order to keep hidden within a conjured world created through their high abilities. Once conjured, the Realm can be physically draining. It is impossible to trace by others, unless equivalent to the powers possessed by the one responsible for the Realm.
Reprogramming
An approach used by the Militia to “turn” those who fit the criteria into loyal, New World Order servants, by means of torture, drug therapy and psychological strategy.
Revenants
Revenants are those that rise from the dead, to cause more grief to the living.
Rites Training
Rites Training involves a succession of exams which a watcher will take, in order to reach the next level of enlightenment. With each level, abilities are gained, titles are given, and respect is granted. See also Passage of Rites.
S
Safe House
The Safe House is located in Sector three, and is the strong hold for the Rebellion. It is controlled by Isis, and the General. It is based in a large, old hotel that provides a safe location for basic training to its soldiers upon recruitment, before they are sent to the outlying camps, to provide Guerrilla defense against the reprogramming camps.
Sarah Deveaux See also Devo
Scrambler
A scrambler is a silver round pendant worn around the neck of a person who has had an Identification Marker Microchip implanted. It serves to scramble the frequency of the IDM so that it cannot be traced, but can
only do so for approximately six to seven days, before the IDM resets itself to be traced again. Then the scrambler becomes defunct. See also Identification Marker.
Sectors, The
There are eight sectors within the city. Each one is marked by large perimeter fences covered by razor wire, troops, and drones. There are four points of entry to each sector: north, south east and west points. Without a sector pass specific to the zone, entrance or exit is not permitted to these points. The sectors are as such: