HIBAKUSHA DRUKPA

By Jenny Parr (j.l.parr@bradford.ac.uk)

Description

Of all the Hibakusha bloodlines, the Drukpa was the one to suffer most at the hands of the clan it took its powers from. The founder was an old priest of the ancient Bhutanese worship of the divine madman. A Child of Set decided to impersonate this legendary figure of Bhutanese Buddhist mythology in the hope of tricking the local people into serving him. Unknown to him, the leader of the local temple, Harai, was a vampire himself -- a Hibakusha who became enraged at the sight of his followers prostrating themselves in front of this false madman from the west. In a fury Harai threw himself upon the stranger and slew him, draining all his blood and devouring his spirit. So overwhelmed was Harai by the potent blood of the Follower of Set that he fell into a frenzy. When he finally awoke from the red haze he was surrounded by the bodies of his beloved followers and covered from head to foot in their blood.

Rejected by his people, Harai travelled to Gaza Dzong on the summit of a small mountain to the north of the region. Here he built a shrine and was sustained by the blood of animals that were drawn to him. He spent all his time meditating, hoping to find a way of absolving his guilt and avenging himself on the stranger's clan. It was at this time he received a vision of a dragon hovering over a pit of snakes. The dragon raised its head and gave a loud cry, then a flock of dragons came flying from the east to help destroy the snakes. Through this vision and many like it the discipline of Druk Gyalpo was developed. Harai received a chance to use it much earlier than he would have liked. A small group of novice monks had travelled to the shrine to seek his help. The Followers of Set had destroyed several monasteries and temples in revenge for the death of their clansman. Saddened, but not surprised, at the news Harai embraced the novitiates and began to teach them the secrets of Druk Gyalpo in order that they should seek out the Followers of Set and destroy them.

Today the Drukpa are still recruited from the ranks of novitiates in the Buddhist monasteries of Bhutan and Tibet. As a result of this selection procedure there are few female Drukpa, but those who have been embraced were Buddhist nuns in their life. All Drukpa believe that it is their duty to seek out and destroy the Followers of Set wherever they are, and to this aim they have even travelled to Europe and America to root out evil there as well.

Quote

"We must do what we can to light up the darkness, for in the darkness the snakes are stirring and will soon rise to destroy us all."

Nickname

Dragonlords

Origins

Bhutan

Appearance

The Drukpa are all of Tibetan appearance with very short hair (if any). Most are male.

Haven

As they can be claustrophobic the Drukpa like to have flats on the 2nd floor upwards so they have escape routes in emergencies. Their havens are usually known as their monasteries.

Background

In their first lives all Drukpa were devout Buddhists, mainly monks and nuns who had given themselves to their faith and proved their worthiness. In recent years many Shaolin students have been embraced in order to carry their fight to new shores.

Character Creation

Social attributes and knowledges are usually primary except among the Shaolin students who usually have talents as primary. They need at least two dots in theology (Drukpa Buddhism) due to the rigours of their faith and the Shaolin usually have brawl at very high levels, specializing first in Shaolin Kung Fu and often forms of Shianzi boxing.

Clan Disciplines

Druk Gyalpo, Obfuscate, Presence.

The Drukpa's disciplines are regarded as a blessing from Buddha in the fight against corruption and shadows. Most do not even consider the similarity between their powers and those of the Setites. Both their Presence and Obfuscate abilities allow them to live in mortal society with little discomfort. The Thunder Society often learn Serpentis from their 'acquaintances' but Auspex is also highly regarded among them. The One Hundred and Eight Swords value Celerity and Potence to help them in their fight.

Weaknesses

The Drukpa can have a maximum of three dots in conscience due to their devout belief that they are being punished for the crimes of their founder.

Geography

The Drukpa elders are mainly concentrated around Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. Other members have spread to the far ends of the earth to face the approaching darkness. Most have stayed in the East to prevent the spread of corruption to the lands of the faithful, settling in major population areas such as Tokyo, Singapore and Seoul. A few have set up in America with the majority of these in the West coast cities. Some have travelled to Africa and Europe but have had to keep a very low profile. The only Drukpa in North Africa and the Middle East are members of the Thunder Society.

Structure

The structure of the bloodline is surprisingly loose with respect being paid to the elders but no real power is held over the younger members. When a Drukpa settles in a place he often creates a monastery where prayers are said by the locals and plans can be made in private without fear of being overheard by the Setites.

Gaining Power

Gaining power among the Drukpa is no easy thing. In order to gain the highest respect from their bloodline they must foil the plans of the Followers of Set. If this is achieved with the minimum of fuss, loss of life and innocence the Drukpa can be sure that his name will be praised for years to come.

Gathering Days

The Drukpa have no set meeting days. If there is a holy day, the local Drukpa will go to the largest nearby monastery to celebrate and exchange news. The elders of the bloodline meet at the feast of the Divine Madman at Gaza Dzong Monastery in the northern Bhutanese Himalayas to discuss the progress of the bloodline over the past year.

Power Rumours

Rumours have started over the past few years that the new Shaolin initiates may be planning a major offensive against the Setites, by manipulating the drug dealers to turn against their masters. By using intimidation and force they are acting with the Kuei in taking control of the Triads. The elders have become very concerned with the number of innocent death caused by the Shaolin terror tactics and may soon take actions to stop their plans.

Internal Orders

There are three definable internal orders among the Drukpa: Elders, the Thunder Society and the One Hundred and Eight Swords. The Thunder Society is a group of initiates whose major goal is to infiltrate the Followers of Set. So confident in their invulnerability are the Setites that they have not yet discovered the existence of these few brave (or foolish) souls. The Thunder Society are few but have a powerful say in matters of the bloodline, as they have spread misinformation to the Setites for nearly ten years. The Thunder Society is also leading the call to embrace more Westerners into the Drukpa, rightly pointing out that this would make it easier to find suitable candidates for infiltrating the hated Snakes. Many Thunder Society are of Western origin although all are believers in Shaolin Buddhism.

The One Hundred and Eight Swords are the Shaolin fanatics. Named after the Chinese revolutionaries who led the futile uprising against the corrupt Sung dynasty c.1120 AD. They steadfastly believe that the only way to be rid of the Setites is to fight them with everything they can get their hands on. They also believe that the diablerising of Setites is the natural progression of their duty, bringing them into conflict with other Faithful. Most Drukpa use the term 'a sword of the revolution' as an insult meaning someone who rushes headstrong into anything without thinking of the consequences.

Allies

The Drukpa have few allies among mortal society, wanting to keep the mortal population out of the war between the Faithful and the Faithless. The Shaolin have allies in their former sparring partners and friends but usually these are protected by ignorance as well.

Contacts

The Drukpa have contacts in many law enforcement agencies and also in religious circles. Health organisations are also consulted.

Influence

The Drukpa hold influence only among the people they lived their first life with. Occasionally one will hold some sway over the local police and vice squads, but petty politics does not concern them.

Military Force

The Drukpa hold sway only over the peaceful fighters for Tibetan freedom. They never have any type of military resources and often frown on their use by any of the Faithful. They especially hate the occupying Red Army.

Resources

Material possessions are not valued highly by the Drukpa, but the Thunder Society and the One Hundred and Eight Swords are famed for their use of resources to turn the Setites' allies against each other. Many drug rehabilitation centres are anonymously funded by Drukpa.

Status

The Drukpa hold great status among the Faithful. Rare is a Prince of the Orient who does not have a Drukpa in attendance at his court, to give the value of wisdom and to restrain the impulsiveness of the youth with wise words. Most Drukpa, excepting only the One Hundred and Eight Swords, have at least one point in Status.

Supernatural

Supernatural allies of the Drukpa include the spirits of those innocents killed by the Setites and these have been of great help taking revenge on the Snakes. The Stargazer tribe of the Lupines is also friendly with some members of the bloodline, sharing as they do the quest for Nirvana and enlightenment.

Merits

Among the Drukpa, Drug Resistance is a very common merit as well as Code of Honour and Church Ties (Buddhist). They are also among the few bloodlines who can take the Poisonous Bite merit.

Flaws

Common flaws include Clan Enmity-Setite, Driving Goal and Prey Exclusion-Priests. They can take the special flaw Scales, but those who do can never take Clan Prestige as it is seen as a sign of corruption among the Drukpa.

Skills

Clan Knowledge-Drukpa. Dragon Lore.

Stereotypes

Hantu: Allies in the drug wars. They are truly noble in spirit.

Hibakush: I doubt if they still exist.

Ju: They are too obsessed with material power, and expanding their borders. Their isolation will be their downfall.

Kasa: They think only of their personal honour not of the consequences of their actions.

Kuei: The tigers have long been our allies. Maybe this expansion will benefit us both.

Kyuketsuki: Beautiful in their anger but unseeing in their rage.

Onyudu: We must watch them should they wish to take our enemy's business concerns.

Sanatan: Unjustly punished for the sins of their elders. We forgive them.

Bushi: They are wise to temper their fighting spirit with the arts and learning.

Gaki: Are they truly Faithful or something more sinister?

Sazan: Never trust a demon, or those that spend too much time around them.

Shreh Ren: Are they really our ancestors in blood? My heart does not tell me that this is so.

Faithless: They must pay for their unnumbered crimes.

Camarilla: They do not realise the harm that is being done to them by the snakes. They are slowly being poisoned.

Sabbat: Another target for corruption by the Snakes. Here it seems they have succeeded.

Assamites: The snakes often send these warriors against us. Are they a match for the Kasa or the Kyuketsuki? I think not.

Setites: For their sacrilege they shall all die, even if it takes every last drop of blood in our bodies

Yei: Powerful if they wished to expand their territories. Why do they not join our war against the Faithless? Do they know things that we do not?

Lupines: Their fight against the 'Wyrm' has resulted in the death of many Followers of Set. For this we are thankful.

Mages: Some share our quest for enlightenment; some believe they have already found it...

Wraiths: The dead have helped our cause; we will help them any way we can.

Fae: Strange creatures.

Gehenna: Should Set awaken the end would be upon us all.