Indlu Yemimoya
House of Spirits Chantry
Since the end of apartheid, the Traditions in Durban have worked together hand in hand. Their goal has been to reclaim lost heritage sites, many of which may contain troves of Tass or deactivated Nodes. Their opposition once was one another, but racism and imperialism was abandoned for the fraternal spirit that the Council of Traditions was based on in the first place. Now, the House of Spirits primarily considers their foe to be the Technocracy in South Africa. The end of apartheid sent the Union reeling, for they foolishly backed the status quo out of fear that native Africans would “regress” to “tribal superstitions”. Dislodged from the levers of power in Sleeper society, the mages pushed the offensive and reclaimed a twin Node system and have embraced, encouraged, and facilitated a South African appreciation for native cultures through education and good works.
Chantryhouse
Seventy miles west of the city proper lies the small town of Howick. It rests along the Umgeni River. At a key point, the river plummets 310 feet, creating an impressive waterfall that the Zulu people call KwaNogqaza (“Place of the Tall One”). Since its “discovery” by colonists in the early 1800s, numerous people have been recorded as killed by the falls accidentally (or occasionally, deliberately—suicide most frequently) by being swept over the edge. Tourists are frequently drawn to the spectacular waterfall for this notoriety.
However, the chantryhouse proper is safely hidden behind the waterfall. Accessible by hidden paths (which are blocked to the public) only, a cave opens and broadens into a grand and multi-chambered cavernous system inside the Howick cliff. Over the years since the Howick Falls were reclaimed by the Tradition mages (since 1992), many of those chambers have been well-furnished and carefully ventilated. Despite the earthen walls, the KwaNogqaza Chantryhouse proves quite cozy and serene. The steady thunder of the waterfall is forever audible inside the cave, where moisture gathers on the tips of stalagmites and stalactites.
Nodes
The chantry is blessed with two small but potent Nodes. The first of note lies deep within the caves. In the rearmost chamber, the stalactites and stalgmites group together so tightly, and extend so tall in both directions, that the room is nearly impossible to navigate. Nor must one do so to benefit: the tips of the stone formations ooze humidity laced with supercharged mineral compounds that may be safely consumed or otherwise gathered and used as Tass.
The other Node is heavily restricted, especially since it lies in plain sight of the public. The pool in which the Umgeni flows from the waterfall reputedly possesses a powerful spirit. Inkanyamba, a great serpent spirit with a horse-like head, does inhabit the pool. Entering the pool will surely cause one to drown (Awakened or not) unless a Dreamspeaker sangoma (“witch doctor”) placates Inkanyamba first with the proper rituals and offerings. The sangomas themselves are not so bound, so long as they’ve already announced themselves to and befriended Inkanyamba. Those blessed enough to enjoy the cool and refreshing waterfall pool with a good soak will find themselves restored, absorbing the Quintessence. Unlike most Nodes, including the one in the cave here, Tass may not be gathered from this Node. Or perhaps the case may be that Inkanyamba does not permit its harvest, not even by native sangomas.
Both are Level 2 Nodes.
Defenses
Inkanyama is a Preceptor-level spirit who has little patience for trespassers, despite that he appreciates all the mages of the chantry reawakening him during their reclamation of both Nodes. He’s on par with a werewolf’s pack totem spirit (in fact, use the stats for a pack totem based off Uktena), and so can readily handle most invaders. Otherwise, the chantryhouse itself depends on its secret paths and entrances, and its members’ discretion in keeping those secrets.
A horrifying secret of these Nodes is as follows, which has yet to be discovered or at least exploited by the mages. Every person who goes over the falls and is drowned in the pool at the base feeds Inkanyama, growing his power. This would sharpen a double-edged sword (making him a mightier guardian but also more strong-willed about who’s in charge). Inkanyama is linked to this pool more than any other body of water in South Africa. The stronger he becomes, so do the superstitions about him grow—and the Gauntlet gradually drops at KwaNogqaza. (It currently stands at 5 and may soon shift downward to 4 as the murder rate in the country rises and at least one more victim is fed to the waterfall every other year or so…)
Backgrounds & Characters
All members gain the Chantry Background at ***. The chantry commands two communal Level 2 Nodes (with restrictions noted above). The cavern Node represents the Entropic force of Distillation while the pool Node offers the Dynamic force of Sorrow. It is thought it once served as a primordial Node of Tranquility, but so many waterfall suicides over the years have altered the pool’s Resonance permanently.
Custos
This chantry keeps no custos at all (except Inkanyama, who would rank as a powerful Consor). Individual mages may gather Acolytes or Consors, of course. Many well-established sangomas have multiple wives, or are one of multiple wives, and their unAwakened spouses serve as Acolytes or even hedge mage Consors. (It should be noted that women may certainly become sangomas, and this has always been true. Unfortunately, when the witch-smellers are about, the female sangomas are at higher risk of “detection” as “evil wizards” than their male counterparts. Being married to a respected male sangoma is often the only saving grace for such women.)
