The Severed Hand
Domains: Downtown & Financial District.
Color: Blue
Symbol: Hand of Glory
Spheres of Influence: Finance, Legal, Politics, High Society.
Tenets: Never kill the innocent. - Be your own, never submit. - Without a cause, you are nothing.
Sect: Camarilla Only.
Clans: All Camarilla Clans ( Primarily Banu Haqim, Lasombra, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, Ventrue. Some exceptions may be made for other Clans if aligned with the Camarilla. ).
Favored Candidates: Leaders, Politicians, Lawyers, Financiers, Tacticians, Philosophers, Mediators, Artists, Socialites, Nepo Babies.
Structure: The Severed Hand's structure is quite simple. Based on the principle of equality, each member of the Pack gets one vote when it comes to making administrative decisions, in the case of a tie, the Baron's vote will instead count for 2 votes to break the tie. Other positions in the pack are administrative in purpose, and each of them grants additional benefits;
The Keeper of Elysium is in charge of managing the city's official Elysium, there is always only one Keeper of Elysium at a time. The Keeper of Elysium benefits from 5 dots of resources independent from their own resources that should only be used to manage security and maintenance of the Elysium, as well as any supplies or entertainment costs it may incur. Also, within the halls of the Elysium, the words of the Keeper is law, kindred who disobey the laws of Elysium may see themselves permanently blocked access or even expelled from the city altogether.
The Heralds are responsible to not only ensure that important news and announcements make it to the rest of the local community, but they also manage the recording and trading of boons, they also handle litigious conflicts when it comes to Kindred trying to cash-in on said boons. While boon records are kept public, the Heralds are the only Kindred who may modify them. Due to the importance of their work, Heralds benefit from cyber protection provided by the Iris of the Eyes of Argus himself. Any attempts to hack or dig dirt on the Heralds are always made at +2 difficulty, even by members of the Eyes of Argus themselves.
Purpose: The Severed Hand are widely considered to be the de-facto lead pack in Montreal. Not only are they led by the Baron, Ezekiel, but they also have a firm grip on local politicians and the political spheres in general. They are the puppeteers who pull the strings behind the scene and ensure that the city officials dance to the Barony's tune.
Pre-Requisites: 2 dots in Retainer, see The Blood Provides under Rites.
The Severed Hand was formed by Ezekiel, after he and the other now ex-Sabbat members of Montreal decided to turn their back on their former sect and struck a deal with the Anarchs of the East Coast to seize the city of Montreal for themselves. The name of the pack was chosen to symbolize the severance of all ties to the Black Hand, or as Ezekiel puts it, a final fuck off to the sect that he felt led them astray for so long. At first, the Severed Hand was not a pack, but consisted of the entire population of Montreal's kindred; a mish-mash of ex-Sabbat, Anarchs and hopeful Unbound, attempting desperately to regain control of a city that had been left in shambles for so long by the Sabbat.
As the local Kindred's efforts began to bear fruit and the Sabbat presence was wiped from the city, whispers of a potential Camarilla incursion began to spread. It quickly became clear that the city needed structure. And thus, the Severed Hand splintered; the Eyes of Argus and the Keepers of the Gate were born from it's bowels. The Barony was established with Ezekiel as it's leader and the Severed Hand became the political arm of the local Senate.
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. This said Proxy must be gifted to the Severed Hand's collective Proxy pools 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
Full members of the Severed Hand benefit from extra resources and powers, as long as they remain as members of the Severed Hand, members benefit from the following; +1 to the Resources background ( Cannot take it over 5 ), and a full 2 dot Mask identity that grants them Diplomatic Immunity when faced with political or law related issues.
Giving Back
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. Most of the members of the pack are expected to pick a cause to sponsor from the shadows. This is often achieved through political proxies, ensuring that their puppets cultivate a positive public image. In turn, these initiatives often help to cultivate the herds and influences of the pack.
Blythe
Marie-Helene
