Heralds of Shadow
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The Heralds of Shadow
A faction of Clan Mekhet, the Heralds of Shadows are a diverse and public network of information gatherers and trafficers spread throughout the western world. Claimed to have originated in ancient Egypt and survived the tests of time, the society has adapted to the changing needs of Kindred society over it's many centuries.
OOC Contact: Tom O'Neill or Steven Black . Mailing List : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mekhetinfonetwork
History
The Heralds of Shadow claim to have originated in ancient Egypt. The most popular theory is that they began as an extended lineage that spread into neighbouring countries and regions, but remained in regular contact through the medium of Twilight projection. As they became more geographically spread out the advantages of the speed of communication allowed by Twilight Projection become more apparent. They could learn of trade opportunities, wars and natural disasters long before the news arrived by conventional means.
No records or actual memories of this lineage survive but it is still considered the the most likely beginnings of the society. There was perhaps some association of this lineage with the ancient religion of the Egyptian god known to the Greeks as Thoth, in his aspect as god of heralds and writing.
As time passed Mekhet not of the original lineage attempted to join the Heralds, and eventually were permitted to join. Nowadays the society may be joined by any Mekhet willing to accept the guiding principles of the Heralds.
The formal gathering of the Heralds of Shadow in Twilight, known as the Twilight Assembly, is at locations known as Chambers of Shadow.
Originally, the Heralds of Shadow primarily acted as heralds, conveying messages and announcements for other Kindred via a Twilight projection relay in return for payment of some kind. Some say that the Camarilla made regular use of the Heralds of Shadow network to facilitate their rule.
Members also traded for news and information between themselves and on behalf of customers. In latter years as faster means of travel and communication have become available this business has largely taken over from the conveyance of messages. Still, the messenger service remains available for those who wish it.
Of late a division has emerged between those members who prefer to meet and communicate via Twilight Projection, and those who think it an archaic affectation in the modern world of telecommunications and rapid transit.
Philosophy
The Heralds of Shadow have a small number of guiding principles, which are intended to facilitate neutrality and the avoidance of conflict with the Covenants.
The Rules of the Heralds of Shadow
1. Information only - no goods or other services provided.
2. Clients pay for confidentiality and are not referred to by name
3. Neutrality - individual members may have their own alliegances, but should not allow them to interfere with the integrity of the network. If there is a conflict of interest with a prospective client pass them onto another member.
4. Exclusivity costs extra.
By the nature of their business and interests the Heralds keep in regular contact with each other, and often come up with purely local or ad hoc rulings of various sorts.
For instance, the Heralds forbid accepting contracts that would obviously facilitate the breaking of the three Traditions of the Kindred.
Tradition and The Modern Way
In the past there would have been those members of the HoS who were able using Twilight to meet across the greater distances... while other mekhet notaries, runners, messengers, negotiators, intelligence gatherers and spies made up the bulk of the loose organisation.
While the twilight aspect would have been more of a necessity in ages past, the onset of modern communication and the ability of the young to master it has meant that some perhaps see Twilight Gatherings as more of a simple matter of continuing a tradition. Retaining the old heart of what actually made the HoS. Some of the young or cynical may scoff and think that the Twilight meetings they have heard about are surely pointless when a secure email can be sent out to countless contacts in seconds... The survivial and success of the Heralds of Shadows inherently depends on the quality of information it gathers as well as their means of disseminating it. In this, the young and cynical would do well to remember that those too old to be savvy or care about modern communication means 'are more often than not' quite accomplished at aquiring key information and providing insightful information bourne of experience, power and contacts of ages ... and so they still claim to provide the very core of the Faction.
Some members of the HoS are unable to use modern comms. Some members of the HoS are unable to use Twilight Projection. So you can call it two tier organisation if you like, in that regard, and working together they ensure the continued worth of the HoS as a Faction. Beyond that, in terms of hierarchy, perhaps those masters of the internet or telecoms feel they are the elite, perhaps the court diplomats and negotiators who deal with those who want to use the HoS's services believe they are the heart of the organisation, or perhaps the Twilight folk think they are it ...
There are lots of angles.
Membership
Membership of the Heralds of Shadow is open to all Mekhet who will agree to abide by the rules of the society. A sponsor who is an existing member is generally required, who is willing to vouch for the prospective candidate and state that the they would be an asset to the community. The ability to use the Twilight Projection power of Auspex is not required of new members, but there is an expectation amongst older members that it be acquired by those who are ambitious. However, there have always been members who chose not to develop this power, focussing their efforts on other abilities useful to the society, such as mundane intelligence networks, diplomacy or IT skills.
Membership is traditionally a matter of public record, as the original message courier service required members to announce themselves as such. Also, public membership helps in marketing services to prospective clients. Small numbers of members do need to keep their membership a secret due to the nature of their activities, but keeping membership secret is generally discouraged.
Benefits of Membership
The major benefit of membership remains as it has always been, contact with a now worldwide network of information gatherers and brokers. This facilitates both the acquisition of information and expands the available market for information.
The Heralds of Shadow have a long history of valuable service to customers, and membership can facitilate gaining customer acceptance and hence help the businesses of individual Heralds.
Also membership of a cartel can act to discourage third parties from taking hostile action, or at least mitigate it. Members can leave post-mortem messages with other far-flung members and can make this precaution public. If this tactic doesn't work they can at least gain a measure of revenge from beyond the grave.
Crime and Punishment
For those who are discovered breaking the rules of the order, the traditional penalties are fines, ostracisation for a fixed or indefinite term, or in severe cases expulsion. Heralds are forbidden to do business with those who are being ostracised or have been expelled, and any contact at all is frowned upon (except as necessary if as part of the duties of a city or covenant office).
The zeroth rule always applies - "Don't Get Caught". Keeping infractions secret is easier said than done in a society of paranoid Mekhet who specialise in gathering secrets, but it is possible, and can be lucrative to do so.
Chamber of Shadows
The traditionally formal gatherings of the Heralds of Shadow in Twilight were held at particular secret locations known as Chambers of Shadow. Note : Members are free to designate more convenient locations for local congregations so long as they are secure. If such a local meeting place becomes more popular it may be later formally adopted as an official Chamber of Shadow.
Transcript of a conversation between Sire and Childe, relating to the History Chamber of Shadows. London, England. 1924
"As far as I have been able to determine, Mister Creed, there have been four significant Chambers of Shadows used for the Assembly. It is not altogether unlikely that there have been more, probable even, I would certainly put a fair wager on it. However much has been lost over ages since those initial herald factions put differences aside to better fulfill their duties across the old family lines.
The first recorded Chamber was established in Thebes, Egypt and I have yet to determine exactly why it was abandoned. There are some stories of course, there always are, but I do believe the truth to be lost to us. That Chamber is completely collapsed now regardless.
I have recently managed to find scraps of records pertaining to a second Chamber in Greece. I could not tell you it's exact location, as I am not myself privy to such information, however, it was said to be it was in use for seemingly a little over eight hundred years... before I am told the darkness truly did overtake the continent.
The third Chamber I know of was hidden away within Iberian territory. Exquisite and I may indeed take you there one night, should the others agree to it. I have it on good merit that it was abandoned due to an internal dispute, Shadow politics which may have been warranted or maybe not, a shame never the less. Mostly before my time.
Leading to the fourth and current, which is situated in Prussia. I will say that the choice surprised me, initially, but you will soon see it's glory.
[[Note - This transcript was recorded prior to the atrocious battering the Prussian Chamber received from the allied bombing in 1943-1945. Acceptable repairs have been undertaken, but it is not the same.]]
There are a number of what I'd call 'lesser chambers' now of course, which have sprung up over the past two hundred years. 'Against the damned spirit of the Heralds' I argued initially ... however the talks moved on to the simple and undeniable movement of night across this wonderous spinning globe of ours, and the logistics of covering such a mass. Ultimately myself and the others had to hold our tongues and simply allow the splits to happen.
So we are left with lesser chambers existing now in northern America and even somewhere within the Australasian territories. I have even heard that there are intentions to form a number of 'local' assemblies spread around those continents ... Pah! I have only the time and the inclination to maintain my contacts with the prime Chambers..."
Requiem Venue Information
For more information on the Heralds of Shadow, email list, ties, or even PC Sires please email Heralds of Shadow Point of Contact.
