bluegargantua

Hi,

Some background stuff for the Lions and Hyenas game I'm planning:

This is a story that the Ghul tell:

Our founders are called Apostles, but in truth, they were initiates. While the Teacher spoke of love and redemption, to the Apostles he taught the deeper mysteries, the things that simple farmers and merchants could not and would not understand. For these were not but sheep and we would keep them happy and content until the day arrived when the Teacher's dark gods would arrive to claim us all. We, the initiates of these greater mysteries would be given a high place over the lambs we led to slaughter.

The Teacher sat us down to show how the ritual meal of our ancestors clouded and obscured the deeper mysteries he was trying to show us. He picked up the cup of wine and bade each of us drink from it. Then he spoke words of power at once we were enraptured.

"Through this incantation, this wine is my blood. By this ritual you will honor and remember me and taste of the divine power to be yours when my masters come."

Then John rose up with the other Apostates and fell upon the Teacher baying like hounds and shouting "We shall not be servant to you. We will drink your blood and take your place and your power!" And they opened great wounds upon the Teacher and drank deep of his blood before the true Apostles could drive them out from the room and into the streets.

We gathered around our fallen Teacher full of dread and fear. But though near to death, the Teacher whispered one last command to his faithful followers.

"Take, eat, this is my body, which I give unto you that you may avenge me and make the secret ways open for our masters."

With tears in their eyes, the true Apostles did as they were told. We devoured the corpse of our Teacher and have gained great power.

This is a story the Vampires tell:

On the mountain, the Teacher revealed many mysteries and performed many wonders before his three favorites. James was entranced, but Peter and John saw beyond the illusions to the deeper darkness that lay beneath. They were troubled and afraid. In their hearts they did not wish to see mankind descend into oblivion.

So slowly, secretly they whispered quietly to other Apostles who were of like mind to them. And they carefully watched and took note of all the Teacher said and did, hoping to find some way to put an end to him. When the ritual feast was given, James saw their great opportunity and with his fellows he stole the Teacher's power.

But there was power in Body as well as Blood. The Apostles thought the matter settled, but in the garden, the Ghul confronted them and in the midst of their argument, Judas led in some soldiers and with twisted words, he proclaimed John as the Teacher. The soldiers believed his enchanted words and they brought him before the governor, who had him put to death.

Three days later, the full measure of our power became evident when John left his tomb and joined us once again. He appeared before the Ghul and even Thomas affirmed our might. Judas sought to prove the Ghul still mightier and found only death.

After these demonstrations, we cursed the Ghul and drove them away to the dark places of the Earth. The Apostles were still uncertain of their power and feared retribution by the Teacher's masters. In our confusion we let the Ghul slip away and it has ever been our greatest sin.

Note -- I like this origin story for Vampires and Ghouls (and it pretty much popped into my head fully-formed), but it's really just background. The game itself isn't likely to focus heavily on Judeo-Christian symbolism/imagery unless the players have a real yen for it. For the most part, Vampires are the ultimate Athiests ("there is no god, because we killed him -- and we'll do it again if we have to") and ghouls know that all human religions are just shams to fool people while they have the one true faith ("our god is real because we have magical powers"). Various NPCs on both sides of the fence may use religion to further their plans, but for the PCs, rooting out the schemes of the ghouls and putting a stop to them are all that's required.

Oh, which reminds me that sometimes PCs may be asked to help out in some Vampire project designed to help improve humanity. Mostly their job will be to prevent Ghoul disruption, but there could be other tasks. Ambitious PCs might have a pet project of their own to work on between investigations.

fun stuff
Tom