150 Chapter Three: The Thousand Courts the fetch’s throat and let it fall into its constituent parts of monkey tails and pigeon bones.) One interesting factor regarding new members it that, if the knights are able to extract a confession of treason from a changeling, they might offer that traitor a second life within the group. Traitors aren’t given a free pass, of course, and unlike other knights, traitors are scrutinized for many years to ensure that their duplicitous ways are burned out of them, but it allows them to forestall their executions. And, many such “second-chance” changelings end up being the Knighthood’s most zealous members. Mien: The changes brought on by joining the Knighthood of the Dragonslayer are subtle, and to some, almost unnoticeable. The first change is in the eyes: pupils shrink, and the whites of the eyes become stark and bloodless. (Those who don’t note this change specifically still feel the amped intensity from a Knight’s unblinking stare.) The second change is in the appearance of minor draconic features: a few black scales on the back of a hand, a few teeth turned to curved needles, a tongue starting to split at the tip like that of a snake. Why is this? The party line explanation is that the founder was splashed with the blood of the True Fae “dragon” he destroyed, and this blood contaminated his mien with elements of that rough beast. Others, though, suggest that it is a sign of the corruption within the very heart of the order, a callous and reptilian leaning. Background: The Knighthood of the Dragonslayer values talents across the entire spectrum, but is particularly interested in keen-eyed, sharp-minded Lost (i.e., those with higher-than-average Mental scores, and high Perception, as well). The key, according to the order’s basic doctrines, is that one must be able to sense subversion, preferably before it manifests (hence, one is actually trying to guess at the potential for subversion, which many changelings fear is a rather reactionary stance). Of course, one must also possess the talents to extract information and the confessions of subversion. Torture is “frowned upon,” but is accepted as an unfortunate necessity (again, the idea of the “greater good” rears its head, for one innocent may have to suffer so that the masses are protected). This might mean strong Physical and Social Attributes and Skills that can work in tandem (for instance, a combination of Strength and Intimidation for purposes of causing physical pain). Organization: Oddly, the order does not give itself over to central leadership. The order simply abides by the tenets laid forth in the journals of São Jorge, and beyond that, the knights are almost rudderless in their authority. They may do as they wish provided they strive to expose the deceit and inequity within the freehold. If ever there are disagreements between knights that cannot be mediated with words, then a duel is sometimes necessary. Two rapiers, two pistols or a bare-knuckled boxing match: any kind of duel works, provided both participants can agree (and if they cannot, someone will choose for them). Death is not the intended consequence of a duel, only dominance of one’s point of view. The Knighthood has a central meeting place that it calls its Tower (Torre), where knights gather to eat, drink, sometimes sleep — and to extract information out of other Lost. While the Tower usually has the homey atmosphere of a barracks (with similar camaraderie among those present), it also has separate side rooms and cells where the treasonous are kept, starved, tortured. In many ways, being a Dragonslayer is a full-time job, though the group also
151 encourages its noble knights to find work in the mortal world that will help them do their work within the Knighthood. Curiously, too, many within the Knighthood are devout Catholics. They allow no dissonance between the world of the Lost and the doctrines of the Church. God is still Almighty, and one must confess his sins to a priest to gain entrance into Heaven. Many believe that Faerie and the Hedge are clearly Hell, and escaping that place was akin to squirming free from Lucifer’s grip. Those who dare to still brook with the True Fae are in fact those who would dare dine with devils and dragons. Concepts: Bail bondsman, federal policeman, fencing school instructor, government interrogator, nun, reformed favela thug, street vendor who sees all Privileges Below is a token available only to those knights or cavaleiros of the Dragonslayer. The Grand Cross of Saint George Many knights of the order wear this cross — cobbled together from gems, seeds, bits of glass and other debris found in the Hedge — as part of a sash badge worn across the chest, though many simply pin it to a shirt or jacket. When activated and pressed against the skin of another, the cross is said to sense the sin within that person’s heart. The cross burns the skin provided that the target’s Morality score (or its equivalent, be it Clarity, Harmony, Humanity or Wisdom) is at 5 or below. For every one below 5, the cross does an additional point of lethal damage (Morality 5 causes one lethal, Morality 4 causes two lethal and so forth to a maximum of five lethal damage). In addition, one can heal the injury, but the cross leaves a permanent plus-shaped scar upon the flesh. If pressed against the flesh of someone with Morality 6 or higher, the cross has no effect (other than to tell the wielder that the victim may not be quite the sinner one suspected). Action: Instant Mien: The cross appears like an ugly, poorly crafted badge of flawed stones and bits of smooth glass (hemmed in by rings of dirty pewter). When active, though, the badge glows and throbs with an inner light that shines out through the multi-faceted stones and bits of glass to create a colorful display. When pressed upon the flesh of a sinner, the cross smolders and hisses. Drawback: If used on a target with a Mortality (or equivalent) score of 6 or 7, the knight feels dizzied and fatigued for the remainder of the scene, suffering a –1 penalty to all rolls. If the target had a Morality of 8 or 9, the penalty increases to –2, and if the target had a rare Morality 10, the penalty jumps to a dangerous –5 (penance, apparently, for testing the faith of someone who is clearly sacrosanct). Catch: The token burns the hand of the user as well as (potentially) the flesh of the victim. This causes one point of lethal damage to the wielder. It doesn’t, however, cause a permanent scar — once the wound is healed, the scar will fade. Rumors of the Dragon slayer Rumors swirl about the Knighthood of the Dragonslayer, and characters may encounter such tales during the course of the story: • The Knighthood is said to have a grand Hollow in the Hedge — a massive Torre of blood-colored brick swaddled in biting vines. Not only is this a major meeting place for the noble cavelos, but it is said to have a labyrinthine prison beneath it, home to a number of “disappeared” Lost. The knights claim that such missing Lost were taken by their Keepers, but in reality, the rumors suggest that the Dragonslayers have the Lost. • Whispers among the changelings of the Knighthood claim that their greatest enemy is one Keeper whom they believe is quite literally the Devil himself. Lucifer lingers in the deepest, darkest heart of the Thorns, beneath a spot on the horizon that supposedly sits beneath a constantly roiling storm. • Of course, the biggest rumor is that the Knighthood hunts corruption to divert attention away from its own vile treacheries, and these treacheries form a laundry list of possible betrayals: they nurse at the teat of some True Fae overlord, they secretly want to control the Courts and so they remove any who would stand in their way, they have made so many nefarious bargains and pledges over the years that soon the dark debt will come calling, etc. One of the most worrying rumors for some, though, is that they’re not corrupted at all, and in fact have found a way to stave off the madness of lost Clarity in the face of torture and murder.
WW70200 9 781588 465320 w w w. w o r l d o f d a r k n e s s . c o m 5 2 6 9 9 978-1-58846-532-0 WW70200 $26.99 US For use with the World of Darkness Rulebook PRINTED IN CANADA This book includes : • Extended information on the seemings, from their durance to new Contract lists • Greater detail on roleplaying the core kiths, and guidelines for crafting or customizing more • A look at changelings around the world, customizing their appearance and abilities to match culture or myth • 41 new kiths, 6 new Courts, three new Entitlements and more he winter light is pale and bright And so the s erpent basks, The Beast i s bowed beneath the plow, The djinn rest in their flasks, The craftsman ’s made to fit his trade, The workers match their tasks, On snowy floor, we waltz the score, We masquers are our masks. — Galganvogel