Previews - Fiction - Scenarios - Cults - Miscellany

The Snapdragons

by Rebecca Tavares

The Snapdragons are an elite organization. Infamous for their unparalleled beauty and grace, only the finest women are selected for, and bred into, their ranks. Snapdragons are the preferred escorts for the wealthiest, most powerful men of Erebus. They are intelligent women with grace and poise beyond compare. While it is rumored that Snapdragons have been involved in some "unfortunate incidents" over the years, none have ever been directly linked to them.

Faith

The Snapdragons believe in the power of beauty--to hypnotize, to dominate, to uplift, and to destroy.  Snapdragons are loyal to their very last drop of blood.  You live for the order, and you die for the order.   The art of pleasure is beautiful; master it for the sake of the order.  The Empress is the inspired leader--the embodiment of Shonogun (the goddess/courtesan of the creator god Azrael).  Her word is law--those who disobey the law shall be crushed by the hand of righteousness (wielded by the Snapdragons, of course ).

Boons

Expertise - All things beautiful are within the realm of the Snapdragons. They can enhance their allure, appearance, and other "skills" to supernatural degrees. They can also slip into the background, never stealing center stage from their clients. Some Snapdragons appear to possess unusually keen memory and phenomenal... flexibility.

Wraithwalk - Upon praying to the courtesan Goddess Shonogun, a Snapdragon can move silently and unnoticed with uncommon grace.

Though no other Boons are admitted by the Cult, there are persistent rumors of Snapdragons employing "darker powers" against their enemies. In addition, v-shaped, stone-edged razors have been found near murdered Snapdragons. The origin, ownership, and purpose of these strange items has yet to be discovered.

Anathema

Honor the laws put forth by the Empress and defend the Snapdragons with your life.  Anything less than complete loyalty to those who cared for and nurtured you would be blasphemous.  Disobeying the direct orders of the Empress would call down the Hunt.  When a Snapdragon is hunted by her kin, she cannot hide.  In fact, once the rights are performed, she will emit a scent by which she can be tracked and brought down.  Her powers will cease to exist (as soon shall she).

History

Unknown. Some experts speculate that the Empress is a refugee from the Order of the Moth. However, since she has never been seen in public, such theories are hard to prove.

Allies

The Snapdragons have found allies in the Society of Bliss, an organization that often provides the tools of a Snapdragon's trade.  Though little is known of the Naga, the Snapdragons respect their areas of influence and try to avoid unpleasantness.  The Naga are not those one would wish for enemies.

Enemies

Purifiers, while not aggressive enemies, sometimes compete with Snapdragons for business. They are often jealous of the Snapdragon's pristine grace and exquisite beauty.

Previews - Fiction - Scenarios - Cults - Miscellany