River Feeders
Let the Bodies Hit the Floor!
The city of New Orleans is rife with supernatural creatures…and plenty of supernatural misconduct. Most of the monsters in the Big Easy treat humans as chattel or cattle. But some brave mortals aren’t about to lie down and die for some would-be demonic masters. They’re ready to fight and protect their own! Others refuse to bow down or lash out, instead demanding to uncover the secrets of the damned, no matter the cost.
And then there are some that need guidance and information, and deep in the pits of their souls know something isn’t quite right in the world around them. There are a number of freelance hunters, government agents, or just regular folk doing their best to get by. But some band together in an organization, and some of those groups are well established indeed.
Arcanum
The Arcanum came to New Orleans 150 years ago to study the unusual number of “manifestations”. This chapter isn’t entirely devoted to ghost-hunting, however, and has opened a number of studies into vampires and voodoo practitioners, too. From a privately owned public access library in the central Milan District does the Arcanum operate.
Inquisition
In the Saint Anthony District, found in northern New Orleans, stands the Church of the Hallowed Martyrs, a Catholic Cathedral built over two hundred years ago. It no longer serves as a church to the masses of faithful today. It was changed instead into a public library and Catholic education center for the city. However, it is also the home base for the Society of Leopold’s Inquisition operations in the Big Easy! The cenacles here lean towards the extreme, and know they have their work cut out for them.
The Sons of Tertullian and Children of Lazarus are some of the moving forces behind the local Inquisition, and the undead are most prominently on the Society’s mind here in New Orleans. The plight of the common folk of New Orleans could not be ignored after Hurricane Katrina, and the local cenacles purposely diverted their own resources to charity efforts. They know this sets back their crusade a few months, but are prepared to go only forward.
Orphic Circle
As in other cities, the Orphic Circle maintains casual and friendly relations with the Restless Dead, who view these mediums as an old-banner society of spirit truckers. Their knowledge is appreciated, though the Restless watch them warily all the same. They meet regularly at a “séance house” in the Hollygrove neighborhood, located to the western edge of town (conveniently close to the Underworld Byway). Most mistake the Orphics for weird rich people and nothing more, which is the way the Orphic Circle has always liked it.
Romani
A number of Gypsy kumpaniyi wend their way around and through New Orleans and the area. Only one stays in the area permanently. They move camp frequently, of course, and are quite adept at living in and moving through the swampy bayous. Once a year, this kumpania stays in town for about a month (in fall usually), occupying (by legal permit) part of the Fairgrounds District (near the centrally located City Park). They are a Phuri Dae clan, and include many talented seers and Romani magicians. They are called Baxt Ando (“the Voice of Fortune”) and offer benevolent services to whoever overcomes their bigotry and trusts their talents. Of course, there are few gaje who would do that in earnest.
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.
Epiphany
This holy day on the Christian calendar falls on January 6th – approximately two weeks after Christmas. Epiphany is a holiday that celebrates theophany (the appearance of God to mortal man) and revelation, and it corresponds to the Three Wise Men (or Three Kings) element of the Nativity story. In New Orleans, the Church commands this day to be a day of reflection or witness, and witch-hunters honoring those commands cease from their bloodshed to meditate or even spread the Gospel to anyone who will listen. Over time, this has famously become a daring effort of Inquisitors attempting to win demons and vampires over with faith and the Gospel – the monsters’ one chance every year to accept redemption instead of destruction. Obviously, this event is not universally observed. Many hunters in Kansas City are not affiliated with the Church. But as the dominant organization, it nevertheless bears note.
“Revel in life while you have it, because it shall not be for long, and merriment is available only in limited quatity on the Other Side.”
-- Leah Constantine, Outer Orphic Circle, Senior Sister of the New Orleans Chapter
