The Severed Hand

Backstory: The Severed Hand was the second of the five Coteries to be created, like two sides of the same coin, the Hand was born out of a need to balance out Axis Mundi. While Axis Mundi was meant to handle relations, finances and politics from high up in their glass towers, the Severed Hand would handle everything street level. In truth, the Severed Hand like to think of themselves as the true representatives and architects of the Anarch Movement's interests in Montreal. They keep their thumb firmly pressed against the pulse of the city, ensuring that they have eyes and ears in the mortal spheres that other Coteries would look down upon.

To lead the Coterie, Baron Ward of Ottawa called upon one of his many contacts among the Milwaukee Anarchs; a Brujah biker by the name of Stavros. A former career criminal and breakneck driver, Stavros had spent countless years as a member of the Psychopomps, a group of Kindred roadsters who's primary charge was to smuggle kindred ( and their contraband ) in and out of the city, along the horrors and lupine infested roads of the Wisconsin wilderness. The prospect of establishing a new Free State, and being able to put his skills to the test without interference from Milwaukee's Camarilla was more than enough to entice Stavros to answer the call. Along with him, he brought Kier, a mysterious Ravnos ally of his with a knack for finding the most obscure contraband, and representative of the Circulatory System. Lastly, to the complete the original roster, Baron Ward assigned one of his own henchmen, Corbin, a Toreador mechanic, union worker militant and blue collar activist.

After making the move to Montreal in early 2025, the trio and the rest of their Coterie got to work laying the groundwork for their operation. Stavros focused on infiltrating the ranks of notable criminal organizations, as well as the maritime and road transportation industry. Meanwhile, Corbin nurtured relations with the forgotten and destitute mortals on the streets, and digging his fingers into the many blue collar industries and unions in the city. Lastly, Kier set up the Circulatory System's base of operation in the city, securing an alliance between the blood smugglers and the budding Anarch state. Now, over 9 months later, the Coterie readies itself to ramp up and official claim the city as an Anarch Free State.

Purpose and goals:

• Assist the Baron of Montreal in seeing to the Anarchs' interests in the city.
• Assist the sister Coteries in upholding the Traditions, as well as keeping the city free of threats.
• Assume and maintain control over the Underworld, Transport & Industry spheres of mortal influence.
• Assist and protect the Circulatory System and their operations in the city.
• Keep an eye on Camarilla representatives and potential spies and infiltrators.
  

Style & Symbolism

• The Coterie's chosen crest is the Hand of Glory.
• The Coterie's chosen color is Green.
• Coterie members tend to favor alternative fashions, whether it's streetwear, goth, punk, hobo chic, bohemian, or even biker attire. Tattoos, piercing and other body modifications are common among members of the Coterie.
  
  

Spheres of Influence: Industry, Transportation ( Ground & Maritime ), Street, Underworld, Circulatory System.

Clans: All Clans are allowed.

Favored Candidates: Rebels, Blue Collars, Idealists, Philosophers, Activists, Anti-Conformists, Thugs, Mafiosi, Outsiders, Weirdos, Bikers.

Domains: After the Eyes of Argus, The Severed Hand's domain is the largest as far as acreage go. While it is a collection of several neighborhoods and boroughs, it can be divided in two distinct areas; Northern Montreal, and Eastern Montreal. Both domains are renowned for being heavily middle to lower class in terms of population and wealth, and this suits the Coterie just fine, as most Anarchs like to be closer to the people than the elite. The vast majority of both domains' layouts consist of small to moderately sized apartment buildings and complexes along the main arteries, with small townhouses, duplexes and triplexes cramped along narrow, often one way streets.

Eastern Montreal was, until recent years, demographically renowned for being predominantly white and french, but this has become less and less of a fact in recent decades as the country welcomes more and more immigrants every year, creating small pocket communities all around the domain's limits, bringing with it more diversity and vibrant cultures.

Northern Montreal, however, is renowned to be the complete opposite, with several large, multi generational immigrant communities calling it's neighborhoods home.

Both domains vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood when it comes to safety, cleanliness and appearance; some neighborhoods are clearly upper to lower middle class, generally well maintained, but there's usually always something to remind the locals that they're not living the high life: Maybe it's a run down apartment building surrounded by piles of trash, or perhaps sketchy pawn shops & dive bars with a even sketchier patrons, maybe a screaming drunk or drug addict, or a few destitutes congregating around a filthy corner store or metro station. There's also a handful of more run down neighborhoods with buildings so run down and pest infested one can't help but wonder how they manage to hold up. Trash and debris littering the streets as weary locals shuffle about trying to make ends meet, or looking for their next fix. You can also find a handful of mostly industrial district in Eastern and Northern Montreal, especially the closer you get to the island's extremities. These areas are defined by a number of large factories, warehouses and shipping facilities that were built on their territories.

When it comes to Crime, Biker and Street Gangs, as well as Mafias tend to run amok in these boroughs, further aggravating rampant poverty, violence and addiction issues. The most notorious and powerful of these criminal organizations are the Hell's Angels who operate primarily out of Eastern Montreal, while the Belangers, a Haitian Street gang operate out of Northern Montreal. The Coterie also nurtures ties with the Sicilian Mafia that tends to operate in the downtown area.

Democratic Communism: The structure of the Severed Hand is simple; those who contribute get a voice. Whether that is through providing resources, influence, manpower or anything that helps strengthen the Coterie, and the city's Barony. Whenever it comes to making important decisions ( Such as calling for a change of leadership, as well as political or administrative decisions ), a debate is usually held, followed by a public democratic vote. The Coterie's leader is usually a trustworthy individual chosen by vote that takes day to day administrative decisions and enforces order within the Coterie. However, the Coterie's leader holds no true political power, as the one true political representative of the Anarchs in Montreal is the Baron.

The Coterie is also tasked with assigning a number of it's members as Sweepers. The role of a Sweeper is simple; in most Anarch domains, they are to keep track of all local Kindred, as well as those coming and going into the city in an attempt to sniff out Camarilla moles & spies. However, the situation in Montreal being what it is, their focus is instead on sniffing out any activity from outsider threat ( such as the Sabbat activity, Unsanctioned or Infernalist cult presence ) but also, unbeknownst to their Camarilla allies, Sweepers should keep an eye on Camarilla agents and allies within the city to find out any hint of betrayal or foul play. Characters who are lifted to the office of Sweeper benefit from a one dot bonus of Status: Anarch background ( Maximum of 5 ), granting them a +1 to social rolls when dealing with Anarch NPCs.

The Blood Provides
As a form of initiation, each member of the Severed Hand is expected to provide what they call a Proxy. A proxy is a ghoul who has either a position of power or strategic authority/access within one of the Severed Hand's fields of influence ( Finance, Legal, Politics or Bureaucracy ). For example, an influential lawyer in one of the city's leading firms, a high ranking government employee with the clearance to expedite or approve immigration applications, a foreign diplomat or ambassador or the political deputy of a given district. The retainer is expected to be gifted to the Severed Hand's collective in order to empower the pack's influence. Once per month, members of the pack must maintain the Proxy via the blood bond. ( Rouse the Blood once per month ). As an added bonus, the Sphere of Influence in which the character's Proxy operates grants them full access to the level 5 dots without the requirement for leadership clearance.

The Hand Provides
It is very important within the culture of the Severed Hand to remember to give back to the community in some way. Whether that is out of the kindness of their dead hearts, to atone for past sins, or to attempt to stave off the beast and cling to their fading humanity is unclear and likely unique to each individual member. Once per season, each member of the Coterie is expected to pick a cause to sponsor from the shadows. Examples include, but are not limited to; charitable donations, the organization of charity events or bals, paid or vigilante protection, artistic patronage or even volunteering one's retainers.

Pre-Requisites:

• Only members of the Camarilla are allowed in the Coterie.
• Potential players should favor official Camarilla clans ( Banu Haqim, Lasombra, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, Ventrue ). Non Camarilla Clans can join the Severed Hand, but they must have 1 dot in the Status ( Camarilla ) background.
  
• The character must provide a 2 dots in Retainer as per the The Blood Provides tradition mentioned above. The retainer must occupy a strategic position within one of the Coterie's preferred spheres of influence ( Finance, Legal, Politics or High Society ).
• Your character should have at least a rudimentary social or mental focus that serves the Coterie's goals.
  

Merits and Advantages:

• Characters who are part of the Severed Hand and are among the 7 official Camarilla clans automatically gain the advantage: Status 1 with the Camarilla.
• Members of the Severed Hand benefit from +1 dot to their Resources background. ( Cannot take it over 5 )
• Members of the severed Hand benefit from a full 2 dot Mask secret identity that grants them diplomatic immunity + 2 to social rolls when faced with the Coterie's favored spheres of influence or law related issues. ( Such as using their 'name' to gain access to a VIP room, get the best table at a restaurant, schedule a meeting with important members of the political elite, being accepted for a loan or getting out of a speeding ticket )
  

Backstory tips

• Founding members will usually have been recruited by Marie-Helene herself and most should come from either the Camarilla court of Quebec City or Ottawa. Other canonical cities of origins could include Vancouver, Milwaukee or Chicago as they are all well geographically situated.
• Think of your character's motivations for joining the local Camarilla; Are they eager for social climbing and attracted to the potential provided by a newly claimed city? Are they perhaps seeking a city where their skills and talents will be recognized? Are they a pariah in their former home city, attempting to run from past indiscretions or nasty rumors and start a new life? Maybe one of the major players behind the initiative to take back Montreal called upon a boon they owed? ( Such as Prince Blythe, Marie-Helene, or Prince Arundel? )
• Make sure to think your character's lineage through. Who is their sire? Grand sire(s)? Are they their sire's only childe? What kind of reputation did they inherit, if any?

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  Blythe
  

  
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  Marie-Helene
  

  
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