Ankou

by Randy D'Amore

Once, there where the White Howlers. A strong, pure tribe of noble Garou.
Clean and pure, they fought the Wyrm. But the Wyrm won. In the Wyrm's
infinite corruption, the White Howlers became the Black Spiral Dancers.
Powerful, deadly, and insanely loyal to their master.

But the Wyrm was not satisfied with the disgusting beasts he had created.
So, on thoughts that they believed their own, a pack of the Black Spiral
Dancers left their Tribe. Never to be seen again.

The pack traveled across the face of Europe, arriving deep in the in the
land that would be France in years to come. In this realm, they hunted.
Seeking power.

When they came across it, it was in the form of a vampire. Caitiff, and a
Diabolist as well. The pack was quick and strong, capturing the vampire and
imprisoning him. The vampire, a weak willed fool, pleaded for his unlife. It
was agreed that if he would Embrace the entire pack, then he would be
allowed to survive. Of course, the Black Spiral Dancers killed him. After
the Embrace of course.

These abominations roamed the land for many centuries, becoming powerful and
tainted beyond belief. They had also created a small following.

Selecting and kidnapping young Black Spiral Dancers, of metis birth, the
Pack had created a strong following of Abominations. These Metis, having
never known any better, all believed themselves to be serving the purpose of
the Wyrm. Which they where. Their numbers where small, but powerful.

When the Inquisition raged across Europe, the Pack, having taken on the name
of the Ankou, fled to Russia. Moving deep into the dark land.

What happened to them in that land is unknown, even to them. But when they
emerged after the Inquisition, thier numbers had swelled dramatically. The
original members of the pack, the founders of the Ankou, looked upon their
Dark Tribe. Seeing that the powers of vampirism need be learned, they sought
out the Sabbat.

The Sabbat, seeing the immense power this group held, quickly took them in
as one of the Sabbat Clans.

The Ankou have been among the Sabbat for some time now. Hundreds of years
actually. In this time they have learned complete mastery over their
Vampiric abilities. Making them a very powerful group.

The Ankou decided that a city was needed, and planned an attack on London.
The Veil and the Masquerade would be shattered, the hideous clan would run
through the streets, massacring the kine and kindred alike. In this, they
would be able to break thier ties to the Sabbat, and serve the Wyrm more
fully.

The force that the Ankou did not expect, was the resistance of Garou. Both
the Glass Walkers and Bone Gnawers learned of thier plan, and went about
stopping it. The Ankou where attacked en masse outside of London, far from
where any kine eyes could witness the battle. At the end of the battle,
hundreds of Garou littered the burnt ground, their dead bodies reeking of
Wyrm taint. The Ankou had destroyed nearly 200 of Europeans Garou. The Ankou
themselves however, had also suffered greatly. With no where near enough
survivors left to conquer london, they returned to the Sabbat.

Within a few years, the Sabbat had carefully manipulated the Ankou, taking
complete control of the Dark Tribe, and regulating their use carefully.

Now that the Sabbat has control of them, they are used in only dire
situations. Used to kill and to kill again, the Ankou have all been warped
even further than before.

The Ankou now sit and wait, hoping for a time when they will be powerful
enough to take London. Although New Orleans has also fallen under their
dreaded attentions.

Many Ankou have taken to studying the forbidden arts. Satanism are demon
worship are important among the Ankou Theurges, although this secret is kept
carefully hidden.

Nickname: Pit Bulls.

Appearence: Some Ankou are attractive, but this is a rarity. Most are
hideously ugly, with an average appearence of 1. Black mangy hair, and
yellow-red eyes are common. In all forms. Their human forms are hairy and
muscular. Crinos forms being huge (10'-11') and powerful. Wolf forms tend to
look like dire wolves, only black and putrid.

Haven: Ankou are watched carefully by the packs they travel with, and are
kept in the communal haven.

Background: All are stolen metis from other Garou tribes, while once
exclusivley of Black Spiral Dancer stock, Glass Walkers and Bone Gnawers are
also a favorite to work the Change on.

Character creation: Physical are primary, with mental and social tying in
close behind. Talents are primary, followed by skills and knowledges.

Disciplines: Potence, Fortitude, (Dark) Thaumaturgy.

Weakness: All Ankou have at least two derangements. They also have no
starting point in appearance.

Organization: The Ankou are kept on a tight leash by the Sabbat. It is
allowed that only one Ankou may travel with a pack at any time, and then
only with Nomadic Packs. Of course, this is a bit ignored during crusades.

The Ankou also have a secret connection link of Theurges and Philodoxes.
Those that know of this link, are all infernalists and powerful. Player
characters should not be able to know about this link yet. Having to find it
for themselves.

Preferred paths: Most Ankou either follow the path of Death and the Soul, or
are Infernalists pretending to be on the Path of Death and the Soul.

Starting willpower: 3

Starting backgrounds: 1. No Resources, Past Life, Fetish, Contacts, or
Retainers.

Common Wyrm Totems: Totems of power and cunning are highly respected.