CoLA -- Vampire Hunters

The Devaki

Execution

Missions

Devaki "target missions" hunt down specific vampires. Scouts and Provocateurs locate the vampires (through their usual haunts) and track them down to their havens. A team is dispatched to attack the vampire(s). The more vampires to be attacked, the more Devaki sent. In the best circumstances, one Squad is deployed per target vampire. The attacks are usually timed during the day despite the dangers of witnesses. Vampires are much weaker in the day. Since many vampires use ghouls to protect them in the day, of course, an entire Squad per vampire delivers better premise of security during the attack.

On specific missions, even if only one Squad is dispatched, at least one officer (usually the Platoon Lieutenant) accompanies the attack. Planning is mandatory to carry out missions swiftly and efficiently. The commanding officer forms the battle plan with the team involved the day before. Communications are vital during these attacks as well, and everyone stays linked by ear-piece radio communication. The commanding officer usually coordinates from nearby (such as the back of a van that the team uses to transport to the site). The radio communication also links back to the Devaki base, where one Captain and often the Commander overhear and sometimes coordinate tactical troop movements. They can also dispatch back-up Squads. However, a standing order in the Devaki is to never deploy too few troops. It's better to send more than less. If an emergency occurs where a team is overwhelmed by enemies (and this happens only during set-ups by vampires too clever for their own good), the dispatch officer is to immediately contact Nekoko on her emergency line. She (and/or her Reito) immediately react, as they are able to instantly arrive at the scene of distress and hopefully rescue the overwhelmed Crusaders. The dispatch officer can also intervene on a fielded team's behalf if trouble with the human authorities occurs. Here, too, the officer is to contact Nekoko. Through her various influences and allies, she's able to get the police off her Crusaders' backs -- or at least intervene to get them out of the situation.

Missions were once very commonplace. Now, however, they are carried out perhaps once a month at the most. Individual vampires are the main targets now, and their havens raided, ghouls slaughtered, and their hearts staked in a matter of a few minutes.

Patrols

Nightly "patrol routes" are much more regular than target missions. Of course, they are not as effective because they are reactive instead of proactive. A single Squad patrols a targeted sector of the city, particularly one with more common vampiric activity (such as the slums). Almost all patrol routes are executed by car or pick-up truck (and the Dragoons by their motorcycles). As during missions, the Devaki patrols are linked by ear-piece radio communications. The dispatch officer operates on the same rules as during a target mission.

A Squad's route is traveled from dusk to dawn. Every Squad has one night per month that they must undertake this tiring (and often uneventful) duty. As there are only 25 Squads, other teams (such as Sappers or Dragoons) handle the (average) five other evenings. Some team covers every night. The knowledge that the Crusaders are always on patrol is a major deterrent to foolish vampiric activity in the city. Some Kindred remain brash despite the threat, but most of these fools end up on the ends of Crusader spears. Other Kindred think they can "punish these foolish mortals" and try to lead patrolling Squads into ambushes. Even when they're successful, the Reito arrive in moments to salvage the patrol and punish the vampires. So far, even during Cainite set-ups that cost the lives of Crusaders, no Kindred that the Devaki tangled with won the skirmish. The vampires either managed to flee or were destroyed. There has never been an exception. And despite the occasional set-up, the Reito have not intervened all that much. The Devaki are proving more and more self-sufficient.

Tools for the Job

The following describes the weapons and equipment issued at no cost to every Crusader. None of these weapons or equipment are allowed to be taken home as personal possessions. They are carried and used only during training, missions, and patrols. They're then returned to the warehouse base along with any unspent munitions. Unsurprisingly, because of this policy, most Devaki invest in their own personal weapons for home defense. Just in case.

Firearms

For normal missions and patrols, Devaki are issued a light pistol sidearm (Heckler & Koch P7M13) with standard ammunition, 2 extra clips, and a hip holster. However, the main weapons employed are assault rifles (M-16A2) with standard ammunition and 2 extra clips or autoloader shotguns (Remington 1100) with 12 extra shells. Occasionally, special munitions will be issued (incendiary ammunition or grenades), but only under special circumstances. Although incendiary ammunition is highly effective against vampires, its quantity is very limited. Besides, almost a half-dozen assault rifles trained on one or two targets is quite effective enough.

On patrols, Sappers carry the weapons listed above. But during their own unique missions, they carry whatever weapons are appropriate to the mission archetype. Dragoons carry the light pistols, but instead of assault rifles or shotguns, they employ compact submachine guns (Heckler & Koch MP-5K). Lancers rarely carry any firearms besides a light pistol.

Melee

In addition to the firearms, all Devaki are issued double-edged steel combat knives and three foot wooden stakes (one of each per Crusader). The team's Lancer(s) will usually carry a knife, 3 three foot wooden stakes, and a Dragon Spear. The Dragon Spear is a specially designed polearm weapon. It is six feet long and resembles a glaive. However, it can twist apart into two three foot long weapons. The upper half is a serviceable blade similar to a short sword. The lower half reveals a sharp wooden shaft, serving as an effective stake. Some Dragon Spears are also equipped with a taser installed at the spear's base. Only Lancers who prove especially skilled with the polearms are issued these "electrified" Dragon Spears. The carrying of the Dragon Spears is how the Lancers get their names, and the Dragon Spear has become a symbol of the Devaki.

Uniforms

The Devaki almost always wear Crusader uniforms during missions and patrols. Despite the suspicious appearance this presents to human authorities, it also serves to further menace the undead. Without tangling with the Crusaders themselves, vampires don't know who they are, and can't target them when they're vulnerable at home. And unmasking a Crusader usually demands that the vampire kill the Crusader first. And then there's not much point to unmasking him!

The basic Crusader uniform is all black, as this is serviceable nocturnal urban camouflage. Black boots, slacks, and button-up shirt form the base uniform. The materials are mostly cotton. A black jacket is also issued, especially for colder nights. A leather pack, with the Crusader's extra munitions, equipment, and supplies, is easily carried on one's back. The Crusaders also wear black masks. These masks resemble ski masks, but are also made of cotton (instead of wool). A Crusader is best noted, however, by the special badge of honor pinned on his jacket or shirt. This pin, about the size of the palm of one's hand, is crafted of steel and shaped like a vigilant angel bearing a sword. The same design comes as a patch stitched onto the right sleeve of the jacket and shirt.

Rank is evident on the uniform by this angel badge. Privates are plain steel-colored, with no coloration. Corporals have a blue tint to their badge. Sergeants' badges are designed in green. Officers' badges get extra design. Lieutenants have laurels surrounding the angel, but they keep the natural silver of steel. Captains also have laurels surrounding the angel, while gold is the hue employed. The Commander, who rarely wears his mask since vampire hunting has always been his life, doesn't really need a specific badge. But one was issued anyway: the angel itself changes, sword and gaze raised upwards instead of straight ahead; the hue of the design is gold.

Specialists also receive unique markings. Lancers receive a second patch placed under their rank patches, the design bearing a Dragon Spear crossed over a burning torch. Sappers get a secondary patch, too. Their patch design involves a gray-colored ring design of a serpent devouring its own tail. Dragoons' secondary patches boast a simple but sharp blue-black lightning bolt shooting down at an angle. And finally, Stewards, who don't wear the standard Devaki uniforms at all, instead wear a tiny lapel pin with the Devaki angel design while "working". Stewards are expected to wear professional attire (suits, et al) to "work".

While wearing insignia is a laughable tendency of militias everywhere, there is a major difference here…

This militia has a huge and steadily climbing body count.

Bases

The Crusaders maintain bases and safehouses throughout the city. Many of them are, in fact, warehouses. But not all of them are abandoned warehouses. Many of them are emergency safehouses only, established by Crusaders who work for the warehouse owners. They camp at such sites only for temporary cover or evasion of unwanted heat. There is one such safehouse in almost every district of the city. Only Little Italy, Uptown, and Little Mexico lack these locations. Fortunately, Little Italy and Uptown seem to have few vampire problems, and Little Mexico is poorly patrolled by the police, and therefore a safehouse isn't needed as much.

However, the main Devaki base is located in Little Asia. Although the Devaki are unaware of this, the district of Little Asia has excellent defenses against Cainites. The alarm bell system, the Five Wind Wall as a simple barrier, and the regular patrols of many Kin-jin-hating shen, all protect the Devaki base well. Located in the Industrial Zone not far from the Wharves, this abandoned warehouse is vast and spacious.

The outside is layered in brick and appears weatherworn and rundown. The warehouse is actually fifty years old. But it possesses all appropriate amenities, plumbing and electricity. It has restrooms for both genders with several commodes each but no showers. The warehouse is actually only one floor but the roof rises as if it were two. There are no windows at all in the warehouse -- thankfully, it does have central air! The entrances are limited to the front doors and an emergency fire exit. Several offices are boxed off in the corners of the warehouse, in which files, books, and computers are kept (and Stewards manage). One office space is actually reserved as a med-bay, and filled with all the first aid items one might need in this dangerous business. The rest of the floor is all but bare cement.

A number of sections are covered with gymnastic padding for melee and martial arts practice. Near these sections against the walls are racks of melee weapons for training. Steel crates line the area, too, and they're filled with Dragon Spears and other melee weapons kept for mission and patrol usage. Downstairs meanwhile is where the firearms training goes on. The basement of the warehouse is as spacious as the upstairs, and no offices steal some of that space. However, over half the basement is kept clear of traffic for the firing range. Shooting targets of various shapes and designs are set up and replaced regularly. All of the firearms that the Devaki employ are kept down here in steel crates, as well as thousands upon thousands of rounds of ammunition. The range includes the standard head-phone pieces to protect the Crusaders' hearing while training.

Security for this warehouse includes silent alarms on both doors that alert the Stewards and officers in the back offices. Besides these doors, there are no routes into this warehouse without drilling or blasting through the solid brick walls or cement foundation. Video/audio surveillance keeps an eye on the first floor and basement. At least five officers and one Steward are present at the warehouse at all times, and they have no hesitation to call in back-up should the need arise.

Crusaders

This is not a full roster. This just lists PC characters involved in the Devaki Fringe Troupe. Specialists will have their corp listed in parentheses, while standard troops will have their Companies listed (like so: A, B, or C). Any shen ally that has been approved as a "guest" fighter of the Devaki will be considered a Secondary.

Commander

Captains

Lieutenants

Sergeants

Corporals

Privates

Secondaries