Misty Gates Chantry
Purpose
The desire to learn and learn safely occupies the hearts and minds of the Awakened in San Francisco. Some seek, some teach, and some fight together to protect their joined interests. Many have found security and joy allied together. And the City by the Bay, with its diverse and liberal mentality, attracts quite a number of mysticks.
Most congregate at Misty Gates, a general chantry of Tradition magi bent on digging up as much lore as possible and rejoicing in the enlightenment of knowledge and wisdom. The Waydown may be the most powerful chantry for the Hollow Ones in all the world. And in the heart of Chinatown, Akashayana and Wu Lung set aside ancient differences to fight together at the Twin Dragons temple.
With much influence and potential at their fingertips, these mages know that this city will yield much to the enterprising Awakened. Some try to unravel the mystery of San Francisco's destiny, or perhaps the destiny of those that dwell here. Others gobble up opportunities for lore, Quintessence, wealth, and power. And some just pursue Ascension itself, whether through sensual joy or austere meditation. For the Awakened of this town, "to each his own" is an obligatory phrase.
Unfortunately, their enemies do not agree. The Technocracy stripped the local Traditions of their previous out-of-town chantry and powerful Node during the early 1950s. Now the Awakened do what they can to survive and enjoy their gifts.
Chantries' Policies
Both the Misty Gates and Twin Dragons chantries follow most of the protocols set down by the Council of Nine Traditions. The Hollowers at the Waydown follow only the ones that make common sense, such as the Rule of Shade. Some powerful Masters of all three chantries enforce these and what few other local laws exist. Some of those other rules regard only the "no touching" constraints on other supernatural creatures, such as the Misty Gates' protocol regarding Garou.
Special Events
Special events are annual (or more frequent) holidays or special ritual days that the main group or groups observe as a whole community. Attendance and participation is often expected of all members, and sometimes required.
San Francisco International Arts Gala (SFIAG)
The San Francisco International Arts Gala has existed since 2002 and takes place at a variety of major venues from September 3rd to the 18th. The Misty Gates Chantry has been involved from the very beginning as an opportunity to showcase symbolic and traditional forms of folk and ethnic art, increasing popular acceptance of these non-sterile aesthetics, connecting with potential Custos (or even latent willworkers), and generating Sleeper society influence. At least a few mages are actual contributors to the gala, while the chantry leaders annually patronize and help subsidize the affair.
The Rave
Not just a rave: The Rave. Fitting for the Waydown Chantry, possibly the most important Hollow One circle in the world. The Rave lasts nearly a week, held typically from December 17-23, at the biggest unused warehouse that the Hollowers can find and rent/crash. Tens of thousands Sleepers participate.
Delights of the Far East
The “Delights of the Far East” is not so much an event as it is a campaign. The event it mirrors is Chinese New Year (which takes place over two weeks, starting on the new moon that falls in January or February), when the greatest advertising and marketing drive takes place, but the campaign carries on all year. Started in 2008 by enterprising immigrant shen of San Francisco’s traditional Chinatown district, the “Delights” effort hooks Americans by appealing to their ethnocentric expectations, and then bombards the tourists with cultural honesty. Nothing is watered down, not even the spicy food. Every country and culture of East Asia is represented, especially China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philipines, and India, and many more. Representation has been effected through a general clean-up of Chinatown’s appearance, modernizing some of the more rundown sections, as well as a clamping down of tong and other rougher elements of organized crime. (It’s still there, just more urbane now.) Advanced tourism hubs play up East Asia’s burgeoning technology revolution with even more talented tour guides. The purpose, of course, is to broaden acceptance of genuine East Asian immigrants and culture in America. For the chi’n ta, this helps spread Mythic Threads beyond Chinatown while improving overall prosperity to their “home away from home”, which now is simply home.
“Don’t get me wrong, this city has a lot to offer. But there are some things you just don’t want to know.”
-- Neville Sinclair, Master of the Waydown
