Die Nachteulen
Blood magic, bizarre mystical practices and miracles may be the province of rival covenants, but that doesn’t mean The Invictus shouldn’t know anything about them. One enigmatic faction within The Invictus makes investigation of esoteric technique and the limits of its practice their mission. “Die Nachteulen,” as they call themselves, are twisted, shadowy investigators, spies and consultants, delivering crucial support against magical foes in times of conflict.
It is believed that Die Nachteulen were originally a small, secret coterie of Invictus occult specialists, making their home in Hanover, Prussia, during the nights of the mid-17th century. Slowly, the teachings of the group were passed to a number of students who were sent forth with instructions to found their own, similar coteries wherever they chose to dwell. Communication was maintained between groups via a long series of enciphered letters, and a network across Europe was eventually formed. Eventually, many of the coteries broke away from the network, isolating themselves to minimize potential breaches of security. Just before the complete rending of the messaging system, the mysterious leader of the faction is said to have sent out a final instruction: “Above all things, turn your attentions to the preservation of Invictus and the dilution of any and all supernatural opposition.” The assumption is that the founder perished or entered Torpor soon after, and since then, no voice has successfully risen to claim supremacy over Die Nachteulen.
Each unit of the faction continues now, as it has for hundreds of years, to follow the final instructions of the founder by application of the skills the unit members learn when joining: intelligence gathering, construction of carefully detailed hoaxes to confound the enemy and the manipulation of true occult secrets. In times of conflict, Die Nachteulen act as spoilers, working to turn the strengths of the outsider Kindred against them. Die Nachteulen labor constantly to trick enemies into expending Resources fruitlessly in pursuit of forged artifacts, false phenomena and nonexistent texts as a means of undermining the focus and power of the mystical forces arrayed against The Invictus.
Several of the great hoaxes in Kindred history have been attributed to Die Nachteulen over the centuries. One of the most notorious involved the apparent reanimation of a mummy and his retinue in an Egyptian domain early in the 20th century. The members of The Ordo Dracul in the domain, who were in the habit of boldly displaying their growing power at the time, were drawn to the phenomenon. So well constructed were the sightings that the Dragons hardly suspected the trap that waited: within a matter of months, The Ordo Dracul lost several key members to Final Death in the twisted corridors of a counterfeit tomb in pursuit of an illusion, while The Invictus managed to push them out of significant territories and strengthen its own foothold in the domain. Only after the activities of the “mummy” came to a sudden, inexplicable end did the remaining members of The Ordo Dracul understand what had befallen them. Whispers arose thereafter: that Die Nachteulen had arranged the affair and that The Invictus was not to be challenged in the domain.
Spirits, hauntings and mystic abnormalities to attract The Ordo Dracul. Artifacts, texts and miraculous manifestations to draw The Lancea Sanctum. And strange energies, blood-hungry glens and rumblings of ancient power to pull The Circle of the Crone. All can be faked. All can be arranged to best effect for the covenant in question, while genuinely powerful truths are located and hidden (or destroyed) to prevent the empowerment of the enemy. Therein lays the expertise of Die Nachteulen, as has been demonstrated time and again.
Rumors that certain cells are almost completely without scruple or shame do seem to be upheld by unverified reports in several domains. One particular Heirophant of The Circle of the Crone in China has accused Die Nachteulen of carrying out a program of location and assassination of mortals with psychic talent. Die Nachteulen’s sole purpose, she claims, is to prevent the Circle from making contact with these people and determining whether their talents are gifts of the gods, meant to aid in the delivery of Heavenly insight. Die Nachteulen have never answered these claims. In fact, members of the faction have never officially acknowledged that they even dwell in the domain in question.
One of the striking features of Die Nachteulen is the faction’s members’ practice of masking: no member of the faction may reveal any part of the top half of his head to outsiders when appearing “without Disguise.” Some members prepare elaborately detailed visors, while other members tie simple cloth blindfolds and bandannas. These same Kindred may walk about unmasked in ordinary dealings, but as soon as a message from Die Nachteulen is to be delivered, they must cover themselves. The tradition is, in most cases, nothing but misdirection, sparking fearful rumors of mutilation, unnatural senses and bizarre ritual telepathy. In truth, it’s done to feed those rumors and to help differentiate Die Nachteulen from ordinary spies.
Die Nachteulen make use of complicated coded gestures, intentionally accented languages and nonsense words or phrases to communicate with one another, often employing three or four different identification techniques in a single city. Members are, as a rule, extremely paranoid. And well they should be — infiltration is their hallmark, but they are never so proud as to assume the enemy cannot strike back.
The education of Die Nachteulen is exhaustive, carried out under conditions of intense secrecy. Almost every member of the faction is encouraged to construct a false front concurrent with her actual schooling. Often, the recruits will enroll in ordinary Guilds, dedicating themselves to the pursuit of legitimate professions while fitting in the studies of Die Nachteulen on the side. Recruits are required to familiarize themselves with the various types of Kindred magic, general supernatural phenomena and the identities and personalities of local outsider vampires. The recruits must also learn at least one of the accented languages of the faction and are well advised to learn three or four.
Most of Die Nachteulen are, as a matter of policy, contemptuous of magical practice. They do understand, however, that mystery empowers belief and, thus, are not above using it to their advantage. Many surround themselves with the trappings of believers — astrological charts, numerological texts and the like are common accessories — but employ them in a strictly mundane fashion.
Because of the longtime isolation of the cells, many have grown to interpret the policies of the founder in widely different terms. One particular cell in the Middle East has reversed upon itself, actually encouraging the practice of outsider magic, so long as it serves the ends of The Invictus. One in Australia, on the other hand, has gone to the opposite extreme: actively seeking to eliminate all foreign magics in their home domain as they wage unrelenting war on Kindred of The Lancea Sanctum and The Circle of the Crone.
One thing is true of all cells: they know that there will be no reunification of the faction. Even if the founder were to arise again and make himself known, it would be nearly impossible to re-establish communications with the dispersed units of Die Nachteulen — and convincing those units of the veracity of such a claim would be absolutely unfeasible. The nights of consultation between domains are long past for Die Nachteulen, who are now far more widespread than in the decades of their inception. But then again, the agents have no need to wish for the founder’s return. They are more adaptable in small units, more effectively hidden and unlikely to receive orders that require undue sacrifice of territory.
Die Nachteulen are not above manipulating the politics and leaders of The Invictus to ensure their own safety and the protection of the covenant. The faction has the benefit of an advanced understanding of the capabilities of the enemy, after all, and is often better informed than the ostensible leaders. Most faction members restrict their influence to consultation with Princes and Primogen, but some members actively engage in conspiracy to ensure that the leadership is either composed of members of the faction or is simply in thrall to them. As a result, some Princes have actually outlawed Die Nachteulen, preferring to deal with outsider covenants on even ground instead of relying on the scheming “little birds.” One who does so had best be careful, though; he may suddenly find the powerful Kindred in the local Invictus unexpectedly placing support in favor of the faction.
Because Die Nachteulen take an aggressive, underhanded approach to dealing with outsider Kindred, faction members are reviled by the outsider covenants. Most Invictus Kindred will never openly admit to the presence of Die Nachteulen in a city, as doing so may invoke the wrath of outsiders (who tend, correctly or not, to blame personal failures on the activities of Die Nachteulen when the outsiders know the faction is around). Die Nachteulen are not usually bothered by their reputation. They are not a diplomatic organization, and they see no need to pretend otherwise. Of course, in ideal circumstances, nobody can say for sure whether or not Die Nachteulen actually dwell in a domain until a member chooses to identify himself. Until then, the outsiders are free to strike out against innocent (or apparently innocent) Kindred as much as the outsiders like — it only makes them look worse.
Despite the unpopularity, Die Nachteulen is growing steadily. There have been more recruits in the last 50 years than in each century previous, and many recruits are moving into new domains and founding chapters of their own. Areas of rapid recent expansion include Russia, West Africa and the Canadian Maritime provinces. Since there is no real communication between chapters, it is difficult to explain the relative jump in membership, except to suggest that increased demand is necessitating an increase in spies.
It is believed that Die Nachteulen were originally a small, secret coterie of Invictus occult specialists, making their home in Hanover, Prussia, during the nights of the mid-17th century. Slowly, the teachings of the group were passed to a number of students who were sent forth with instructions to found their own, similar coteries wherever they chose to dwell. Communication was maintained between groups via a long series of enciphered letters, and a network across Europe was eventually formed. Eventually, many of the coteries broke away from the network, isolating themselves to minimize potential breaches of security. Just before the complete rending of the messaging system, the mysterious leader of the faction is said to have sent out a final instruction: “Above all things, turn your attentions to the preservation of Invictus and the dilution of any and all supernatural opposition.” The assumption is that the founder perished or entered Torpor soon after, and since then, no voice has successfully risen to claim supremacy over Die Nachteulen.
Each unit of the faction continues now, as it has for hundreds of years, to follow the final instructions of the founder by application of the skills the unit members learn when joining: intelligence gathering, construction of carefully detailed hoaxes to confound the enemy and the manipulation of true occult secrets. In times of conflict, Die Nachteulen act as spoilers, working to turn the strengths of the outsider Kindred against them. Die Nachteulen labor constantly to trick enemies into expending Resources fruitlessly in pursuit of forged artifacts, false phenomena and nonexistent texts as a means of undermining the focus and power of the mystical forces arrayed against The Invictus.
Several of the great hoaxes in Kindred history have been attributed to Die Nachteulen over the centuries. One of the most notorious involved the apparent reanimation of a mummy and his retinue in an Egyptian domain early in the 20th century. The members of The Ordo Dracul in the domain, who were in the habit of boldly displaying their growing power at the time, were drawn to the phenomenon. So well constructed were the sightings that the Dragons hardly suspected the trap that waited: within a matter of months, The Ordo Dracul lost several key members to Final Death in the twisted corridors of a counterfeit tomb in pursuit of an illusion, while The Invictus managed to push them out of significant territories and strengthen its own foothold in the domain. Only after the activities of the “mummy” came to a sudden, inexplicable end did the remaining members of The Ordo Dracul understand what had befallen them. Whispers arose thereafter: that Die Nachteulen had arranged the affair and that The Invictus was not to be challenged in the domain.
Spirits, hauntings and mystic abnormalities to attract The Ordo Dracul. Artifacts, texts and miraculous manifestations to draw The Lancea Sanctum. And strange energies, blood-hungry glens and rumblings of ancient power to pull The Circle of the Crone. All can be faked. All can be arranged to best effect for the covenant in question, while genuinely powerful truths are located and hidden (or destroyed) to prevent the empowerment of the enemy. Therein lays the expertise of Die Nachteulen, as has been demonstrated time and again.
Rumors that certain cells are almost completely without scruple or shame do seem to be upheld by unverified reports in several domains. One particular Heirophant of The Circle of the Crone in China has accused Die Nachteulen of carrying out a program of location and assassination of mortals with psychic talent. Die Nachteulen’s sole purpose, she claims, is to prevent the Circle from making contact with these people and determining whether their talents are gifts of the gods, meant to aid in the delivery of Heavenly insight. Die Nachteulen have never answered these claims. In fact, members of the faction have never officially acknowledged that they even dwell in the domain in question.
One of the striking features of Die Nachteulen is the faction’s members’ practice of masking: no member of the faction may reveal any part of the top half of his head to outsiders when appearing “without Disguise.” Some members prepare elaborately detailed visors, while other members tie simple cloth blindfolds and bandannas. These same Kindred may walk about unmasked in ordinary dealings, but as soon as a message from Die Nachteulen is to be delivered, they must cover themselves. The tradition is, in most cases, nothing but misdirection, sparking fearful rumors of mutilation, unnatural senses and bizarre ritual telepathy. In truth, it’s done to feed those rumors and to help differentiate Die Nachteulen from ordinary spies.
Die Nachteulen make use of complicated coded gestures, intentionally accented languages and nonsense words or phrases to communicate with one another, often employing three or four different identification techniques in a single city. Members are, as a rule, extremely paranoid. And well they should be — infiltration is their hallmark, but they are never so proud as to assume the enemy cannot strike back.
The education of Die Nachteulen is exhaustive, carried out under conditions of intense secrecy. Almost every member of the faction is encouraged to construct a false front concurrent with her actual schooling. Often, the recruits will enroll in ordinary Guilds, dedicating themselves to the pursuit of legitimate professions while fitting in the studies of Die Nachteulen on the side. Recruits are required to familiarize themselves with the various types of Kindred magic, general supernatural phenomena and the identities and personalities of local outsider vampires. The recruits must also learn at least one of the accented languages of the faction and are well advised to learn three or four.
Most of Die Nachteulen are, as a matter of policy, contemptuous of magical practice. They do understand, however, that mystery empowers belief and, thus, are not above using it to their advantage. Many surround themselves with the trappings of believers — astrological charts, numerological texts and the like are common accessories — but employ them in a strictly mundane fashion.
Because of the longtime isolation of the cells, many have grown to interpret the policies of the founder in widely different terms. One particular cell in the Middle East has reversed upon itself, actually encouraging the practice of outsider magic, so long as it serves the ends of The Invictus. One in Australia, on the other hand, has gone to the opposite extreme: actively seeking to eliminate all foreign magics in their home domain as they wage unrelenting war on Kindred of The Lancea Sanctum and The Circle of the Crone.
One thing is true of all cells: they know that there will be no reunification of the faction. Even if the founder were to arise again and make himself known, it would be nearly impossible to re-establish communications with the dispersed units of Die Nachteulen — and convincing those units of the veracity of such a claim would be absolutely unfeasible. The nights of consultation between domains are long past for Die Nachteulen, who are now far more widespread than in the decades of their inception. But then again, the agents have no need to wish for the founder’s return. They are more adaptable in small units, more effectively hidden and unlikely to receive orders that require undue sacrifice of territory.
Die Nachteulen are not above manipulating the politics and leaders of The Invictus to ensure their own safety and the protection of the covenant. The faction has the benefit of an advanced understanding of the capabilities of the enemy, after all, and is often better informed than the ostensible leaders. Most faction members restrict their influence to consultation with Princes and Primogen, but some members actively engage in conspiracy to ensure that the leadership is either composed of members of the faction or is simply in thrall to them. As a result, some Princes have actually outlawed Die Nachteulen, preferring to deal with outsider covenants on even ground instead of relying on the scheming “little birds.” One who does so had best be careful, though; he may suddenly find the powerful Kindred in the local Invictus unexpectedly placing support in favor of the faction.
Because Die Nachteulen take an aggressive, underhanded approach to dealing with outsider Kindred, faction members are reviled by the outsider covenants. Most Invictus Kindred will never openly admit to the presence of Die Nachteulen in a city, as doing so may invoke the wrath of outsiders (who tend, correctly or not, to blame personal failures on the activities of Die Nachteulen when the outsiders know the faction is around). Die Nachteulen are not usually bothered by their reputation. They are not a diplomatic organization, and they see no need to pretend otherwise. Of course, in ideal circumstances, nobody can say for sure whether or not Die Nachteulen actually dwell in a domain until a member chooses to identify himself. Until then, the outsiders are free to strike out against innocent (or apparently innocent) Kindred as much as the outsiders like — it only makes them look worse.
Despite the unpopularity, Die Nachteulen is growing steadily. There have been more recruits in the last 50 years than in each century previous, and many recruits are moving into new domains and founding chapters of their own. Areas of rapid recent expansion include Russia, West Africa and the Canadian Maritime provinces. Since there is no real communication between chapters, it is difficult to explain the relative jump in membership, except to suggest that increased demand is necessitating an increase in spies.
Structure
Covenant: All of Die Nachteulen are loyal Invictus Kindred, but a not insignificant number of them have ostensibly belonged to another covenant at one time or another. Some still do, risking their unlives every night to learn more about the outsiders and their secret powers. Those who once counted themselves among the Circle of the Crone, Lancea Sanctum or Ordo Dracul bring the experience of their former instruction with them, using it to better inform the Invictus with regards to occult practices. They never teach the actual practice of magics to their Invictus brethren, though. To do so would be to tempt the faction away from its directive.
It must be said, however, that some cells operate in such secrecy and deep cover that they may as well be considered members of another covenant. If they spend decades or even centuries serving the opposition to establish a trustworthy front, one must accept that they are, for all intents and purposes, no longer members of the Invictus. They will return to the fold one night — no doubt — but for now they are outsiders.
Indeed, although many would rather not consider the possibility, it may be that some of the members have lost their way completely, assuming their false identities and making them true. If this is the case, it would be very difficult indeed to identify a rogue cell until it actually strikes against the Invictus.
Organization: In each city, Die Nachteulen is organized into a strict linear hierarchy, placed in order of the date of each member’s acceptance into the faction. The active member who has been with the group for the longest is known as the “Solitary,” and presides over all meetings and rituals, examines and approves new members and holds the authority to issue orders on matters that affect the faction. All disputes within Die Nachteulen are settled by judgment of the Solitary, who cannot be questioned. There is no recourse within the faction beyond the Solitary. Disobedience meets with swift punishment.
Die Nachteulen meet at least twice a year in caucus to discuss the goings-on in their home city, co-ordination of plans and concerns for the future. These meetings are held irregularly, and almost never in the same place twice. Predictability is the death of covert operation, and is avoided at all costs. Meetings are often called off as close to the last moment as possible, and multiple switching of times, locations and the requested manner of approach is common.
The faction is in the habit of choosing its new members, and rarely accepts one who approaches them. (Although any vampire who can accurately identify the members and is brave enough to demonstrate that fact may make a promising candidate.) If a member of the faction wishes to present a vampire as a candidate for membership, she must notify the Solitary, who will then prepare an anonymous interview and/or test. If the prospective member satisfies the Solitary, he will be invited to caucus and there be named a “full member.” However, the initiation is only beginning. For a full year, the new recruit is fed disinformation and subjected to a number of pseudo-magical rituals, constructed to convince the credulous that the faction is, in fact, an extremely superstitious group. The recruit is observed carefully by agents of Die Nachteulen while being constantly tested to assess his loyalty, intelligence and gullibility. If, at the end of the year of “full membership,” the candidate has proven steadfast and resistant to misdirection, all tricks are revealed to him and he is truly accepted.
Strangely, this mode of recruitment has backfired on more than one occasion. A couple of unsuitable recruits, convinced that they had learned the true path of Die Nachteulen before the end of the year, rushed off to found their own chapters, operating them as mystical branch societies. The existence of these deluded chapters is alternately an embarrassing accident or a beneficial cover for legitimate operations, depending on whom you ask.
Once a year, on a night of the new moon, the Solitary of a chapter organizes a ritual known as “the Chord.” Once the local members of the faction are all gathered into a well-insulated room, they stand in a circle at arm’s length from one another as the Solitary extinguishes all light, beginning the recitation of a monotonous, rhythmic script designed to lull the listeners into a trance state. Once the trance takes hold, the Solitary allows her voice to fade to silence, leaving the members of the faction without sight or sound to interrupt their meditations. Die Nachteulen stand in silence for an hour without speaking a word or moving an inch. As they do, a sensation of dread begins to grow (whether or not this sensation is artificial, fueled by the Discipline of Nightmare, is a matter of personal belief), but the vampires must remain still, undaunted, for as long as they can. Eventually, the sensation becomes intolerable to at least one member, and he throws out his arm, placing it on the shoulder of the closest member. The others all do likewise in turn, laying hands on their neighbors’ shoulders as a silent comfort. When all have done so, the Solitary lights the room once more and Die Nachteulen all exchange looks, acknowledging that they were all there together in the dark, and that all lent a hand to the next when fear overtook just one member. Afterwards, they withdraw in silence.
Much of the symbolism of Die Nachteulen focuses on operating in darkness, representing the reliance on personal strength and intelligence in the face of superstition and myth. Hence, the blindfolds and the ritual immersion of the Chord. Some chapters extend the symbolism to their members, demanding that they operate blind for a portion of their nights or that they live without artificial light.
In accord with the symbolism of the faction and its tendency to use cryptic language, the magics of outside covenants are almost always referred to in oblique terms: shadows, shadow play, dark arts, the stain and dusk arts are just a few of the euphemisms applied in faction ritual and discussion. Likewise, the activities of the faction will often be encoded: light, awakening, illumination, pure arts and cleansing, for example.
When a vampire of Die Nachteulen travels to a new domain and establishes herself as the Solitary, she must perform a private version of the Chord herself. Of course, there is no one else to reach out to when she finds the darkness closing in, and so she must endure on her own, eventually ending the ritual by returning light to the chamber and vowing to create a chapter of the faction so that no Invictus Kindred need face the terror of ignorance alone, as she has.
All meetings of Die Nachteulen are guarded so as to prevent accidental interruption (or worse, willful intrusion). The guards are most often ghoul servants, and will fight to the death, if necessary, to prevent outsiders from gaining access.
It must be said, however, that some cells operate in such secrecy and deep cover that they may as well be considered members of another covenant. If they spend decades or even centuries serving the opposition to establish a trustworthy front, one must accept that they are, for all intents and purposes, no longer members of the Invictus. They will return to the fold one night — no doubt — but for now they are outsiders.
Indeed, although many would rather not consider the possibility, it may be that some of the members have lost their way completely, assuming their false identities and making them true. If this is the case, it would be very difficult indeed to identify a rogue cell until it actually strikes against the Invictus.
Organization: In each city, Die Nachteulen is organized into a strict linear hierarchy, placed in order of the date of each member’s acceptance into the faction. The active member who has been with the group for the longest is known as the “Solitary,” and presides over all meetings and rituals, examines and approves new members and holds the authority to issue orders on matters that affect the faction. All disputes within Die Nachteulen are settled by judgment of the Solitary, who cannot be questioned. There is no recourse within the faction beyond the Solitary. Disobedience meets with swift punishment.
Die Nachteulen meet at least twice a year in caucus to discuss the goings-on in their home city, co-ordination of plans and concerns for the future. These meetings are held irregularly, and almost never in the same place twice. Predictability is the death of covert operation, and is avoided at all costs. Meetings are often called off as close to the last moment as possible, and multiple switching of times, locations and the requested manner of approach is common.
The faction is in the habit of choosing its new members, and rarely accepts one who approaches them. (Although any vampire who can accurately identify the members and is brave enough to demonstrate that fact may make a promising candidate.) If a member of the faction wishes to present a vampire as a candidate for membership, she must notify the Solitary, who will then prepare an anonymous interview and/or test. If the prospective member satisfies the Solitary, he will be invited to caucus and there be named a “full member.” However, the initiation is only beginning. For a full year, the new recruit is fed disinformation and subjected to a number of pseudo-magical rituals, constructed to convince the credulous that the faction is, in fact, an extremely superstitious group. The recruit is observed carefully by agents of Die Nachteulen while being constantly tested to assess his loyalty, intelligence and gullibility. If, at the end of the year of “full membership,” the candidate has proven steadfast and resistant to misdirection, all tricks are revealed to him and he is truly accepted.
Strangely, this mode of recruitment has backfired on more than one occasion. A couple of unsuitable recruits, convinced that they had learned the true path of Die Nachteulen before the end of the year, rushed off to found their own chapters, operating them as mystical branch societies. The existence of these deluded chapters is alternately an embarrassing accident or a beneficial cover for legitimate operations, depending on whom you ask.
Once a year, on a night of the new moon, the Solitary of a chapter organizes a ritual known as “the Chord.” Once the local members of the faction are all gathered into a well-insulated room, they stand in a circle at arm’s length from one another as the Solitary extinguishes all light, beginning the recitation of a monotonous, rhythmic script designed to lull the listeners into a trance state. Once the trance takes hold, the Solitary allows her voice to fade to silence, leaving the members of the faction without sight or sound to interrupt their meditations. Die Nachteulen stand in silence for an hour without speaking a word or moving an inch. As they do, a sensation of dread begins to grow (whether or not this sensation is artificial, fueled by the Discipline of Nightmare, is a matter of personal belief), but the vampires must remain still, undaunted, for as long as they can. Eventually, the sensation becomes intolerable to at least one member, and he throws out his arm, placing it on the shoulder of the closest member. The others all do likewise in turn, laying hands on their neighbors’ shoulders as a silent comfort. When all have done so, the Solitary lights the room once more and Die Nachteulen all exchange looks, acknowledging that they were all there together in the dark, and that all lent a hand to the next when fear overtook just one member. Afterwards, they withdraw in silence.
Much of the symbolism of Die Nachteulen focuses on operating in darkness, representing the reliance on personal strength and intelligence in the face of superstition and myth. Hence, the blindfolds and the ritual immersion of the Chord. Some chapters extend the symbolism to their members, demanding that they operate blind for a portion of their nights or that they live without artificial light.
In accord with the symbolism of the faction and its tendency to use cryptic language, the magics of outside covenants are almost always referred to in oblique terms: shadows, shadow play, dark arts, the stain and dusk arts are just a few of the euphemisms applied in faction ritual and discussion. Likewise, the activities of the faction will often be encoded: light, awakening, illumination, pure arts and cleansing, for example.
When a vampire of Die Nachteulen travels to a new domain and establishes herself as the Solitary, she must perform a private version of the Chord herself. Of course, there is no one else to reach out to when she finds the darkness closing in, and so she must endure on her own, eventually ending the ritual by returning light to the chamber and vowing to create a chapter of the faction so that no Invictus Kindred need face the terror of ignorance alone, as she has.
All meetings of Die Nachteulen are guarded so as to prevent accidental interruption (or worse, willful intrusion). The guards are most often ghoul servants, and will fight to the death, if necessary, to prevent outsiders from gaining access.
Culture
Appearance: Secrecy and surprise are the cloak and dagger of Die Nachteulen, so they tend to dress and carry themselves in the manner that is most likely to provide camouflage. They work to blend in with their fellow Kindred, often doing their best to appear inferior or addle-headed in public. A lame, muddled or otherwise disabled vampire may seem incongruous among the general population, but it is surprising how many Kindred retain the mortal tendency to overlook such “unfortunate” souls.
In private consultation, “sans disguise,” they prefer to wear dark clothing and always employ some kind of covering on the eyes and top of the head. Low hoods, large sunglasses, even gauze blindfolds and baseball caps are worn, often to disconcerting effect. Rumors that Die Nachteulen bear bizarre ocular scars are popular as a result, and the faction does what it can to promote these fearful stories. Some members go so far as to actually bear self-inflicted scars (or even remove their own eyes) in preparation for “accidental” unmaskings.
In private consultation, “sans disguise,” they prefer to wear dark clothing and always employ some kind of covering on the eyes and top of the head. Low hoods, large sunglasses, even gauze blindfolds and baseball caps are worn, often to disconcerting effect. Rumors that Die Nachteulen bear bizarre ocular scars are popular as a result, and the faction does what it can to promote these fearful stories. Some members go so far as to actually bear self-inflicted scars (or even remove their own eyes) in preparation for “accidental” unmaskings.
Assets
Haven: Where do you dwell when you know the truth about the limits of magic? Nowhere special, on the face of it – but Die Nachteulen work to combat any potential mystic assault by apparently amateur or ordinary means that can prove to be surprisingly effective. Their havens are usually cluttered with piles of useless trinkets (meant to distract observers), positioned on or near sites of strong electro-magnetic activity (causing discomfort to psychics) and shored up with materials that help confound concentration. The domiciles of Die Nachteulen are unwelcoming, to say the least: hydroelectric pumping stations, handmade shacks in subway tunnels and junkpiles in rented storage facilities could all provide suitable homes, so long as everything is carefully arranged to make the protective qualities appear at least partly unintentional.
Of course, an assumed identity can make it impossible to live in such a well-defended haven. Members of the faction pretending to be dilettantes or clean-freaks have to choose homes that seem appropriate to their facades, so as to allay the suspicions of observers. Faction members who work undercover from within the other covenants may even arrange to share havens with their enemies so as to escape notice.
Of course, an assumed identity can make it impossible to live in such a well-defended haven. Members of the faction pretending to be dilettantes or clean-freaks have to choose homes that seem appropriate to their facades, so as to allay the suspicions of observers. Faction members who work undercover from within the other covenants may even arrange to share havens with their enemies so as to escape notice.
History
Background: The selection of childer for the “little birds” often goes to reinforcing the apparent identities of the agents rather than empowering the faction directly. A member pretending to be a thoughtless romantic will Embrace a beautiful lover even if he proves unlikely to become a proper member of the faction. Die Nachteulen all hope that their progeny will prove astute enough to learn their secret ways one night, but faction members trust that any benefit done to the faction, however small, is service enough.
Some childer, strangely enough, are Embraced just because Die Nachteulen have reason to believe that the mortals will naturally gravitate towards the enemies of the faction once they are Kindred. Any mortal chosen for this reason is subjected to a careful campaign of misinformation all through his training to ensure that he is incapable of providing the enemy with any useful knowledge. He will, however, provide a link of blood sympathy to the enemy, creating an option of access for his sire. The practice of Embracing a childe for this reason alone can prove risky, but when it pays off it is rarely discovered until the plans of the sire are well underway.
Some childer, strangely enough, are Embraced just because Die Nachteulen have reason to believe that the mortals will naturally gravitate towards the enemies of the faction once they are Kindred. Any mortal chosen for this reason is subjected to a careful campaign of misinformation all through his training to ensure that he is incapable of providing the enemy with any useful knowledge. He will, however, provide a link of blood sympathy to the enemy, creating an option of access for his sire. The practice of Embracing a childe for this reason alone can prove risky, but when it pays off it is rarely discovered until the plans of the sire are well underway.
“I care not for the claims of that Sanctified Bishop. Your nightmares are perfectly natural and have nothing to do with his so-called miracles. I’ve watched him closely as he performs them. The man has a piddling magical talent and is not capable of influencing you or any of us this way. If you so desire it, I can make this fact as clear to him as it is to me.”
Type
Political, Faction / Party
Alternative Names
Among those who are willing to speak of them, Die Nachteulen are known by several euphemistic terms. Most commonly, they are called “little birds” or “the whispers.”
Ruling Organization
Parent Organization
Disciplines: Die Nachteulen appreciate schooling and application of all “natural” Disciplines (i.e., all except or Theban Sorcery, Crúac and the Coils of the Dragon), but none is more valuable to the faction than Obfuscate. Those members who do not already possess Obfuscate when they join Die Nachteulen are encouraged to learn it sooner or later.
While Auspex is valued, it is not as popular among members of the faction as one might assume. Its use is too easily detected by outsiders with the Discipline, most especially at the higher levels of the power. All it takes to reveal a spy is to notice her looking where she shouldn’t. For this reason, those members of the faction who possess Auspex are warned to be careful with its use and avoid directing it at the targets of a mission, if possible.
Weakness: Due to the sensitive nature of all faction messages and the constant danger of discovery, members of Die Nachteulen are suspicious characters. They are not likely to take anything anyone says on faith, and may require that an individual communicating with them prove his trustworthiness again and again (possibly even every time the two meet). Because of this, the communications of Die Nachteulen tend to be slower than normal. They are delivered quickly enough, but must then be verified before one of the “little birds” is willing to take the contents at face value. Each member of the faction has a ritual of verification (exchange of code phrases, gestures or complicated methods of delivery) that must be satisfied before he will receive any official message from his organization. This habitual screening can, of course, prove damaging in time-sensitive situations, but the powerful security it helps to maintain is considered well worth the price.
Character Creation: Mental Attributes and Skills are most appreciated, with attention best paid to Academics, Investigation and Occult. Priority for the rest of the character’s Attributes and Skills should be applied based on the preferred method for information gathering: skullduggery suggests a more Physical approach, while espionage would lead to Social development. Mental Merits often benefit maintaining an appearance of ignorance while the character is anything but. Someone with an Eidetic Memory or Encyclopedic Knowledge need not keep incriminating records of her discoveries close at hand, for example, and a healthy Danger Sense never hurts when delving into the fiercely protected secrets of rival covenants. Members of Die Nachteulen must also speak and write at least one obscure (or completely artificial) language for the purpose of coded communication.
Concepts: Blind oracle, credulous new recruit, deepcover faux moron, esoteric cryptographer, expert hoaxer, ex-Sanctified heretic, mutilated spy, professional debunker, scandalously experimental dilettante, skeptical veteran vampire, staunch agnostic
Other Scholastic Societies
Die Nachteulen is neither the most widespread or most well-known scholastic society among the Invictus. Just as universities, think tanks and institutions of art and learning have been used, assimilated and secretly directed by governments forever, so too have Kindred academic coteries been adopted by the Invictus. In some cases, these are little more than small clubs or casual collections of voluntary tutors and students. In other cases, they are vocational organizations which Society vampires are compelled to take part in for their own growth and betterment (typically so that the student may serve a better use to the local covenant).It’s not wise to assume that most academic and investigative societies associated with the Invictus are bodies used to further its politics or internecine intrigues. Neither is it safe to assume that individual Kindred within all such scholastic groups aren’t there to further their own schemes. Some Society vampires seek to make themselves smarter, more educated and more capable of contributing to the culture and society of the domain. Certainly plenty of other Kindred participate in academic circles only enough to make themselves seem smarter and more capable.