"Then came the fear, the awful nameless panic, the mortal horror that guards the confines of the world we see not, neither know of as we know of other things, but which we feel when its icy chill freezes our bones and stirs our hair with the touch of a ghostly hand."

F. Marion Crawford

Cast of Active Players: (None at this time)

Non-player Characters -

WRAITH - Not a direct vassal to Stygia, the hierarchy of Santa Cruz owes allegiance to the great Citadel of the Dead at Colma. From the daunting walls of the old Mission on the hill overlooking town, the seething Anacreons look down upon a Necropolis divided. On one side of the San Lorenzo river lie the haunts and holdings of thralls of the Mission. On the other side, in which was once the old town of Branciforte, lawlessness and disorder run rampant, or so the Anacreons see it. To the locals of Branciforte it is freedom and the ability to exist in death or seek transcendence that they struggle to keep. Once there was war, as one side sought to bring down the other. Exhausted by a Maelstrom that struck in 1982, both sides reached an accord and from that came theLottery. As long as the requisite number of souls reached Colma, the hierarchy of that place did not seem to care what happened in Santa Cruz. Neither side was strong enough to win out against the other; but neither side wanted to see the Legions of Colma visit Santa Cruz. So, both sides of the river agreed to give up a certain number of wraiths as tribute to Colma, and thence to the Deathlords of Stygia. On the Mission side of the river, the Anacreons appoint whatever hapless thrall pleases them, drawn from souls dead on the mountain highway or from their fiefs at the hospital and nursing homes. On the Branciforte side, the unfortunates were chosen by lottery, though some wraiths claimed the lottery was fixed. However, this is all past as Colma has since demanded double tribute. The dead of Branciforte refuse to doom any more of their number then has been allotted, and the Mission, unwilling to find the surplus amongst its own ranks, threatens to unleash the Barghests to round up wraiths to fuel the appetite of Colma. New word comes that the Mission seeks to bring human death Magi to its aid to defeat once and for all the upstart freesouls who have made them the laughing stock of the hereafter. As a larva, newly come into the Shadowlands, what kind of world have you come into? Can you exist long enough to find transcendence or will the soul forges of Stygia, or perhaps your own Shadow find you?

The spectral denizens of Santa Cruz actually exist in a community of remarkable diversity and interaction. Regrettably, it is not a harmonious one. Strife, greed and conflict cast their darkness over wraiths just trying to exist. In death, there has come peace for only a few. For others, it is unceasing torment and the ever lurking taunt of one own dark shadow.

Though the two main camps of the Mission and the League of Branciforte are the most obvious organizations evident, both staring at each other across the San Lorenzo River like two armed camps, there are as many different kind of philosophies as there are different wraiths, but there has arisen within all the communities of Santa Cruz several distinct groups who have bonded together, or are merely associated with each other. This mailer alludes to much that was omited from the general description of the chronicle, as is befitting for a world that is not well known among those who do not dwell there.

The Acropolites - Calling their fief the Acropolis, these wraiths have laid claim to the buildings and lands around the University. Originally part of the Mission, these wraiths have realized a form of semi-independence, mostly because they create useful artifacts for the Mission, and also by their ability to predict Maelstroms with some degree of success. Because they predicted the Maelstrom of 82, many Heirachy Anacreons were able to save themselves, though many lesser wraiths were destroyed. The Acropolis made no attempt to warn Branciforte or its allies, the citizens of which were devastated.

Oracles: Not to be confused with Ascended Mages, the oracles are spectral sages whose mystic abilities are both feared and respected. Their main purpose is to watch for the signs of another Maelstrom.

Artificers: Drawing members from many of the former guilds, these wraiths create artifacts, mostly of temporary life, to aid the Mission in its wars against Branciforte, Monterey and Seaside. It is rumored that some artificers have found a way to create Stygian steel. Bound wraiths that are delivered, not to Colma, but to the Acropolis by the Mission lend credibility to these rumors.

Bashkar: The most feared warriors in the Necropolis, the Bashkar are entirely equipped in Stygian steel armour, masques and weapons. Fortunately, they are very few in number. They are accompanied by ghosthounds, a variant of Barghests,. whose rending bite it is said can even be felt by the quick. It is believed that the Oracles of the Acropolis, not entirely trusting the Anacreons of the Mission, created the Bashkar corps to ensure that the Mission leaves them alone. Some fear the Acropolites intend to unleash their Bashkar on both the Mission and Branciforte, creating a new Necropolis independent of Colma and vassaled directly to the Deathlords. Perhaps it is fortunate that others rumors have arisen that the Bashkar are busy battling some ancient power in the mountains above the University, distracting them from other purposes.

The Amphissians - This secret group of heretics have taken their name from a painting by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. The philosophy of the Amphissians is to better the lives of the quick. Many had strong fetters in the loved ones from their living days, or still do, but as these dear ones depart to Transcendence, these wraiths now bind themselves to others of the quick that strike their fancy or to the community of the quick in general. They see themselves as guardian angels, trying to aid the quick in their daily lives or protecting them against the forces of darkness or even from other quick. (Reference the character of Sam in "Ghost.") Because of their interference with the quick, the Amphissians are hunted by both the Legionnaires of the mission and the hoplites of the League.

The Bryce House - A notorious haunt in Capitola, Bryce House was built in 1924 by a Hollywood movie producer who used it as a getaway for himself and a number of famous actors of the day are reputed to have visited it. It is a large imposing mansion built with a elegant Mediterranean influence in mind. It also has a quirky number of features including secret passages and rooms, reputed to have been for spying on guests. However, after 1935, it remained long unoccupied and was eventually acquired in 1949 by a group of nuns. Their troubled occupancy ended in 1972, after a tragedy took the lives of three of their novices. These deaths brought to seven of the number of nuns who died by "accident" in the house. The place is on the books to be turned into a college or school, but currently there is no activity to further this goal. The quick avoid the place and grounds, especially at night. Among the dead, Bryn House is known to be a location filled with malevolent specters. No sane wraith will visit the place ever.

The Cads - The general local term referring to renegades. Nevertheless, the Cads who make up the majority of the Branciforte spectral populace will band together in mutual defence, especially against the incursions of the Mission. Due to the pressure of outside forces, all Cads have to give at least lip service to the alternative government of Branciforte and of Santa Cruz in general. The Cads are the ones usually chosen for the lottery, though the Archons of the League don't mind throwing in a few heretics when they can get a hold of one.

The Eaters of Sin - This secret group of heretics believe that their existence is the ultimate embodiment of fulfillment. Wraithdom is the reward and paradise promised in life. Like Vampires, the Eaters believe that the quick are theirs to feed from. They enjoy tormenting and haunting their victims, often to death. Because of their talents, the Eaters are despised and hunted by the dead community but they are also feared. Because of their violation of Charon's laws, they are outlawed in the territories of both the Mission and the League.

The Hierarchy - Occupying the ground of the old Santa Cruz Mission, the heirarcy lives in spectral buildings resembling the Mission, now long destroyed by an earthquake. Originally inhabited by wraiths who served the mission, soldiers, priests and converted indians Strangely none of the population of pagan Costanoan and Esalen Indians of the region can be found existing as wraiths. There is speculation that they have gone to serve the perhaps not so destroyed Kingdom of Obsidian or had all achieved Transcendence at death. With the arrival of Hierarchy Legions from Colma, this dead community was subverted from within by some of the shades of the soldiers. Those who did not swear allegiance to the hierarchy were burned with soulfire, or, as what happened with the most, were converted to barghests. The wraiths of Branciforte, ever free souls, resisted this change and thus was born the Mission and the League of Branciforte. The Chief Anacreon of the Mission is Carlos de la Marcha, who arrived at the mission in 1771 as a soldier volunteer from Catalonia. Carlos is currently hard pressed to find enough wraiths to fill the quota from Colma. The last time around, he had to make up the debit from his own vassals, since the League of Branciforte refused to increase their portion. Carlos is afraid that if he fails, it will be his corpus that will feed the Stygian forges.
All the lands of the city on the west side of the San Lorenzo River belong to the Mission. The haunts on this side of the Necropolis are reserved for those who give fealty to the Mission.
Once curious note is that the new bell at the Holy Cross Church, which is a cast replica of the original, when sounded, will drive all wraiths at least three hundred yards from the vicinity. Since the current church, built on the mission grounds, is in the heart of Hierarchy Territory, this is a disaster of epic proportions when it happens, disrupting every wraith taking shelter within the mission walls and driving all off the hill. Carlos has taken great pains to influence the quick priests of Holy Cross to use a recorded bell chime instead of the real bell. This recorded chime is heard through amplifiers every hour, ringing once for each hour passed. The chief priest of the parish is Father Antonio and it was he who commissioned the new casting of the bell.

League of Branciforte - All lands on the east side of the San Lorenzo River belong to the League of Branciforte. Much of this town in the Shadowlands appears as it did at the turn of the century, with clapboard houses and unpaved streets. The League also includes the towns & cities of Capitola, Scotts Valley, Felton, Ben Lomand, Watsonville, Pajaro, Felton, Ben Lomand, Boulder Creek, Soquel & Aptos.
Certain functionaries in the League are granted exemption from the lottery:

Archons: There are fourteen Archons for Santa Cruz County - 5 from Branciforte, 3 from Capitola, Soquel and Aptos, 2 from Watsonville and Pajaro, 2 from Scotts Valley, 1 from Felton, 1 from the mountain communities of Bonny Doon, Ben Lomand and Boulder Creek. Archons are the elected rulers of Branciforte and its allies. They are elected every Halloween and rule for a year. They may not be elected for consecutive years. Their rule is law. Archons however are only exempted from the lottery for the time they serve. Many Archons would like to see this exemption made permanent. All citizen wraiths from Branciforte and the territory of its allies vote for their Archons on shreds of plasma shaped for the purpose, torn from the corpi of recently captured legionnaires and heretics.

Spartiates: Are the officers and Generals of the armies of the League. They receive direction directly from the Archons and then issue orders to their subordinates. (see Hoplites) Spartiates are always exempted from the Lottery.

Hoplites: Hoplites are the basic warriour wraiths who, armed with Stygian steel and artifacts, battle the Legionnaires of the Mission and sometimes those of Monterey to protect the territories of the League. Because they risk their existence already, they are not subject to the call of the lottery. But they are required to obey the direction of the Archons without fail.

The Midnight Express - This spectral train runs parallel to the Union Pacific and Big Basin lines and thus serves many of the coastal and mountain necropoli. It is unpredictable as to when it actually arrives though.

The Mystery Spot - The Mystery Spot is a place where the shroud is always thin. However, it is a place of chaos, where an opening to the tempest can suddenly appear. A mad undead being haunts this place, infecting its fabric with the nightmares of his insanity. Like deathly spiders webs, this madness will snare the unwary soul who wanders too close.

The Sellswords - These Mercenary Reapers usually work for the Mission, and thus can usually be found on the west side of the river. These wraiths wear masques or have the ability to reshape their features to appear as someone else. They will conduct raids or sneak into League or other territory, hoping to garner souls to sell at the Mission Soulfaire.

The Watermen - In all the frequent battles between Mission and League on the bridges over the river, a number of wraiths have met their oblivion by becoming specters trapped in the waters of the river or are washed out to the ocean to mix with those pained souls who died at sea. Doomed, violent and insane, these souls are trapped in the water and will rend the plasma of any wraith who comes within their clutches, adding such to their damned host. All wraiths avoid the riverbed and coast and only cross the San Lorenzo by the guarded bridges. All Hallows Eve is one time these Watermen can leave their confine for the night, sometimes possessing hapless quick and sending such into bouts of deranged violence; or running amock on the streets of the dead. But sometimes, a strange fog strangles the coast, making the air thick and heavy with the bite of the cold sea. Then too, the Watermen come, ready to ease the pain of damnation by consuming their fellow souls.

Freesouls - These wraiths are those trained in guildcraft and who can offer some service to keep their names from the lottery. Though not exempt, they can still usually manage to bribe their way out through promises of service.

The Maelstrom: The Maelstrom of the winter of 1982 brought a peace of sorts between the Mission and League. So devastating was the Maelstrom to the Mission vassals below the hill and the denizens of Branciforte and Capitola that a truce was initiated and the system of the lottery created where six souls per solstice were given up to Colma in tribute. But now that number has doubled and, though neither side wishes to see the Legionnaires of Colma return, still both sides refuse to see that the burden of the increase should rest on their own shoulders.

Other Necropoli of note:

Monterey: Monterey is a Hierarchy bastion. Its Anacreons see Santa Cruz as a fertile fief, ready for the taking since the Mission seems unable to control things. Only distance and the steadfastness of the League hoplites makes things difficult for the lords of Monterey. Still, they have shown much interest in Watsonville and the League finds itself pressed in that quarter as well, as raids from Castroville have stepped up of late.

San Jose: Though a Hierarchy necropolis, San Jose is ruled by a strong willed enigmatic wraith who calls herself Sarah. League ambassadors sent to see her in her mazelike mansion near Campbell have sometimes returned with gifts of Stygian steel or sometimes have not returned at all.

Seaside: Seaside is home to a violent sect of renegades who claim that they are vassals to the Kingdom of Ivory. They refute the anacreons of Monterey and seek a pact of mutual assistance with the League of Branciforte.

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