By Jason C. Marshall (JCMarshall@sympatico.ca) for the Celestial Court.
"Welcome, cousin." Came a quiet voice.
Ortega turned and peered into the darkness. He could just barely make out a dim shape leaning against a wall.
"I've brought the money."
The shape walked towards him and Ortega took a step backwards.
The kindred before him was of average height and Asian stock, but its skin was a deep blue-black color and its eyes were a emerald eye, lidless and resembled that of an insect.
"Good, good. I've the information on the Jen Lung right here."
The strange kindred reached into a pocket and drew out a small CD-ROM case.
Ortega handed over the cash and took the CD-ROM case.
"Thanks, pleasure doing --."
Ortega looked about the room, but it was empty.
He left, quickly.
This new bloodline sought independence from its father line and succeeded, called themselves the Ch'i chu and disappeared into the Chinese cities.
The Ch'i chu stayed pretty much in hiding for close to 200 years, watching the other bloodlines of China before they came out into the open and presented themselves to the Dragon Council T'angs.
The Dragon Council sought to admit them to the Jen Pao, where their abilities would be best suited. The Ch'i chu rejected the offer and so were placed within the Jen Shu, until they proved their worth.
The Ch'i chu worked with the Shu bloodline in the beginning of their time in the Jen Shu. They provided information, spied and carried out assassinations for the Shu.
In the early 1800s the Ch'i chu broke their agreements and alliances with the Shu. They retreated back into the shadows and waited. For what is unknown, and the Ch'i chu are not saying. Many say that the Ch'i chu are hiding from agents of the Inconnu. Some say that the Atargia are hunting them.
No one is sure.
"Strange creatures, these crawlers. They have yet to prove their worth and until they show an inclination to help us, Jen Shu they will remain."
Jian: These warriors have long aided the Lung, but why? Soon we will know their secrets.
"We've watched you in your shadows. You think you know it all, don't you? I think not."
Pao Yu: Assassins and soldiers. Fanatics and terrorists. Almost the same thing, except in name.
"They are the only line of the Jen Shu that we ever considered for our House. That they rejected our offer is still remembered."
Men Hu: Half of these strange kindred seek enlightenment, the other seek death, a strange mix.
"What knowledge do you hold in your havens, hmmm? And who shall reap of it."
Kwai Tao: The remenants of a fallen house, now existing on the sufferance of their conquerors.
"You know the route back to glory and you will tell us, come hell or high water, we will get from you."
Tong Chu: Fierce and savage.
"Of all the bloodlines only you are close to the truth of the way it should be."
Shu: They are the worst of our house. That the house is named after them is an embarrassment to all.
"They lie. They hoard information and sell it for a price. They aren't all good and peaceful as they say."
Yu: Of all the bloodlines, these kindred are the most serene and down to earth.
"We have seen the Ch'i chu about their business. We know the secrets they seek."
Mui Tsai: They are truly damned. We know of their secrets and of their dilemma.
"We live to serve and so we shall. Our lot is cast --for now."
Camarilla: From these noble kindred we were spawned. Perhaps in the future it is to them that we should throw our allegiance.
"Our brothers. We will stand beside you when the time comes."
Shogun te: We have been within their cities, watching them move. We have watched as the dead have risen and the Gauntlet has died. We will not enter the mystical kingdoms of Nippon again.
"They're as silent as night itself. We watched them as they watched us and we are confident that they saw only what was needed."
Sabbat: A curse upon these murderers. They are the bane of all kindred's existence. We will destroy all that we find.
"Hah. Crawling about walls and spying on all. These kindred are no better than their Camarilla counterparts."