BLACKSMITH

By Thom Scott (thscott@indiana.edu)

History

In ancient Scotland there was a goddess, Scatha, who commanded that all those who would be blacksmiths and truly wished to be masters of the craft come to her. She took human form and made her human home on the Isle of Skye where she was known as a prophetess and wise woman. But to the prospective blacksmiths she was far more. She taught them not only the forge, but the arts of war, healing and magic. Woe betide the foolish man or monster who dared to challenge a town whose smith had spent his youth on Skye.

When the vikings came, Skye and her Backsmiths held them and their runecasters off. When the inquisition came in the burning times, the unlucky inquisitors discovered the fires on the inside of the wickerman. When the Black Spiral Dancers tried to take Skye...well you get the picture.

The Technocracy is begining to force its way slowly into northern Scotland, and the Blacksmiths stand ready to this day. They have passed the knowledge of the forge and the fire within from master to apprentice as Scatha taught the first of them. This time they know they cannot wait for the enemy to come to them. They must strike and destroy the Technocracy while they can.

From the Isle of Skye they have prepared for the war, gathering resources and allies. The Isle, for now, gives them that freedom. They know it will be a hard fight to maintain it.

Philosophy

The Technocracy has to go and we're gonna see them to Macha's black door. Man was not meant to be turned into some massive machine for their amusement. When we get through with them they'll know how the steel feels when the hammer comes down. They think that Ascension is that!? They're fools -- each must find their own Ascension,it cannot be chosen for them.

Organization

Close knit, almost a clan. They've been sending representatives to the more promising traditions, seeking allies. They have also formed an alliance with the Fianna Eirinn, the Garou Fianna, and the Skye manes for the mutual defence of the northern Celtic lands while they carry out their various agendas.

Meetings

The eight Sabbats of the year and the new moons. They spend full moons at the forges on Skye creating powerful talismans

Initiation

Promising young craftspeople are contacted and tested, if they pass they are apprenticed to a master to learn the Craft.

Chantry

The Isle of Skye, Northern Scotland. The Island is still relatively immune to paradox due to the immense buffer of the Scottish highlands and rural Ireland, where the technomancers have had little success overcoming superstition and local folk beliefs. Some have theorized that the Technocracy primarily supports the war in Northern Ireland to reduce hope so it can better try to overcome those beliefs.

Acolytes

Sculptors, steelworkers, construction workers, engineers

Sphere

Matter

Foci

• Forge: Matter, Prime
• Weapon: Forces, Correspondence
• Tool: Mind, spirit, Entropy
• Jewelry: Time , Life

Concepts

See acolytes, blacksmith

Stereotypes

Akashic Brotherhood: They understand the value of introspection and the drive for perfection, but they need to put it to constructive use.

Celestial Chorus: Too high and mighty for my taste. Plus the idea of giving up my individuality to become part of their "one". No thanks.

Cult of Ecstasy: Poor kids. Lotsa potential, little return.

Discordians: They come in handy on occasion, but don't start talkin' politics with one.

Dreamspeakers: They're spooky as hell, but we like em. They respect the earth and its creatures. . . and the value of hard work.

Euthanatos: One of them tried to take me, heh, (lifts hammer) I got 'is good death right here.

Hollow Ones: Goddess have mercy on 'em, or better yet give em to me. I'll make 'em into someone to be proud of.

Order of Hermes: Theory is all well and good but nothing beats hands on experience.

Runecaster: Lough bastards. Glad we're on the same side this time.

Sons of Ether: Bright lady, ya gotta love a duck. Crazy arse crackpots, one and all. Wouldn't miss em for the world.

Technolibertarians: Too bookish, but their hearts are in the right place.

Verbena: We'll use 'em, but we don't gotta like 'em!

Virtual adept: Scary thing is, under the flash, they got some good ideas.

Wikka: We've lived side by side with 'em for 10,000 years, nuff said.

Wanderers: Great conversationalists, but I've just never gotten on well with drifters.

Sons of Jupiter: Some of these blokes are great. Some, Constantine in particular are real bastards.

Cerebus: Useful as long as they work against the 'Mancers. Don't care otherwise.

Necromancers: Does long jaunt, short furnace give a clue?

Fianna Eirinn: Good fighters, heads on straight, and worse bastards than us in a fight. Between us there's a chance for this Earth.