KYUKETSUKI

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

Victory at all costs,
Victory in spite of all terror,
Victory however long and hard the road may be;
For without victory there is no survival.

-- Winston Churchill

We shall fight against the Enemy until the Last Days come

-- Ameritsu Chisa, Hibakusha Kyuketsuki

Description

If any of the bloodlines could unite the Hibakusha against the Western threat it would be a safe bet that it would be the Kyuketsuki. Their founder was one of the eldest Hibakush, probably fourth generation although many Hibakush claim that she was, in fact, the third generation founder of the Hibakush. This claim has brought them into conflict with other Hibakusha bloodlines and the Hibakush clan itself. According to legend the founder of the Kyuketsuki, Ameritsu, was so beautiful that daemons and Shinma were drawn to her, forever following her causing misfortune and sadness for all who she encountered. Not wishing to do people harm Ameritsu fled into the caves of a nearby mountain. Inside the mountain she came across a shining warrior dressed in the armour of those over the sea of storms. The shining warrior defeated the Shinma that followed her and invited her to share the warmth of his fire. Ameritsu asked the shining warrior why he was so far from home. "I am mourning for my brothers for they have forsaken the path of the faithful. Only the people of blood are left to ensure the laws of my father are kept. Ameritsu's beauty lit up the caves like the rays of the sun that the warrior had so desperately wished to see again and he made her his childe to preserve her beauty forever.

When the shining warrior (his name was never given) left the beautiful lands, Ameritsu would not leave the lands of her birth. Instead she hunted down Shinma that had escaped from the Deep Umbra and had once mad her life so miserable. She also encountered creatures that the Kitsune named '-of the Wyrm' and which the people from across the seas named daemons. Enraged when the Kitsune told her that the daemons were trying to destroy the beautiful lands, Ameritsu vowed that neither she nor her descendants would rest until their country was free of infernal influences. The first infernal tainted Kindred Ameritsu encountered was a fourth generation Lasombra who had travelled East in the hope of making contact with the Shinma. Ameritsu took his life and his soul in one fell swoop and so the Kyuketsuki were born.

In the past the Kyuketsuki were mainly concerned with chasing daemons and Shinma from their homeland of Japan as well as killing those Kindred and Kine tainted by the infernal. Now, however, they have discovered several new threats in the form of the Western Sabbat, many of whom follow the path of Evil Revelations, and the Black Spiral Dancers who are attempting to create a hive under Tokyo. To combat this the Kyuketsuki were trying to enforce a racial policy so that no Westerners are welcome in Japan but this fell apart when the Kasa controlled army lost WWII. The Daughters of Ameritsu faction is the most vocal bloodline in calling for all-out war on the Camarilla and especially the Sabbat but so far only the Kuei and the Hantu are ready to back them.

Quote

"If you are not tainted by Shinma you have nothing to fear. However, if you are you will soon be reaching a different plane of existence."

Nickname

Entrancers

Origins

Japan

Appearance

All Kyuketsuki are female and oriental or pacific. Most elders are Japanese and the majority of the bloodline are very beautiful.

Haven

Kyuketsuki usually go from place to place in search of Shinma. They have no pattern of havens, personal preference varies from one to another.

Background

The Kyuketsuki are fanatical about their task and pick any who are able to help them. Occultists, warriors, industrialists -- anyone who will give the bloodline an advantage over the Shinma and the approaching Last Days.

Character Creation

A Kyuketsuki may be of any concept. Social attributes and Talents are usually primary but many other combinations are found. Common natures are Perfectionist, Caregiver and Fanatic. It is rare for a Kyuketsuki not to have at least two dots in Occult and Shinma Lore. Due to their belief in confronting any Shinma they find, most would also have high combat abilities.

Clan Disciplines

Ginkaku-no-Machi, Obtenebration, Fatshu (Thaumaturgy) NB: The primary thaumaturgical path for all Kyuketsuki is Movement of Mind. Other paths that they may use are Geomancy, Weather Control, the Path of Conjuring, the Path of Spirit, Elemental Mastery, the Path of Morpheus and Neptune's Might.

Though the Kyuketsuki value their clan-disciplines highly, they set great importance on the development of personal disciplines, and especially on the development of new thaumaturgical paths. The Daughters of Ameritsu are eager to learn the physical disciplines -- Celerity being the most prized among them. The Komichi No Tenchi often have Obfuscate and Auspex as secondary disciplines and occasionally travel great lengths to find Sazan to learn Ososhiki. The Ran No Shimai regard Presence and Dominate highly but frequently attempt to develop new Fatshu Thaumaturgy. The Hi'ona Dogai have been copying their allies -- the Giovanni -- and learning Necromancy.

Weakness

All those the Kyuketsuki feed from become listless and dreamy. They are unable to see reality and try to seek out the Kiss again going to ridiculous lengths to find the Kyuketsuki.

Geography

Kyuketsuki can be found across the East searching for Shinma or Faithless. Few Oriental princes would dare forbid them in his domain and most are quite content to let them search out any taint in their lands. The Hi'ona Dogai are usually found around the Pacific Islands and New Zealand, and rarely move from this area.

Structure

The Kyuketsuki may be few but they are a closely knit bloodline with links to all it's members. Most use the prefix Ameritsu- before their own name to proudly indicate their line. Elders command respect and few will tolerate insolence or disobedience from the childer or students.

Gaining Power

The easiest and most favoured way to gain power among the Kyuketsuki is to destroy as many Shinma as possible. However this is by no means the only way to increase prestige among their sisters. The discovery of new magical items or enchantments is regarded highly as is the of researching of new thaumaturgical paths.

Knowledge of the Last Days is highly sought after by the Kyuketsuki elders and rewards are high for any fragments of the Book of Nod or the Chronicles of the Mora.

Gathering Days

The Kyuketsuki meet as often as possible in order to spread the latest news of Shinma and the coming Last Days. Their meetings are usually highly formal, resembling the meetings of an ancient war-council or, among the younger faithful, a high powered board meeting. Meetings of local Kyuketsuki are convened at least once a month or whenever a newly arrived Kyuketsuki enters the area.

Power Rumours

The Ran No Shimai have held the balance of power among the Kyuketsuki for many centuries, and will for many more. The rulership of their sisters is seen as a duty rather than an honour.

Internal Orders

All Kyuketsuki belong to one of four orders - the Daughters of Ameritsu, the Komichi No Tenchi, the Ran No Shimai or the Hi'ona Dogai.

The Daughters of Ameritsu make up the majority of Kyuketsuki, these are the fanatics and warriors spreading out around Asia to protect the Faithful from both the Shinma and the Faithless. They believe in following the broadest possible interpretation of the Shining Lord's orders and slaughtering the Faithless wholesale but have been stopped from doing so by the other factions who advise caution.

The Komichi No Tenchi are the searchers and messengers of the Kyuketsuki. They travel to cities and villages looking for local legends and recent happenings which may indicate Shinma activity. They are friendly with the Kuei as they often have to travel across the great jungles to reach the centre of infernal influence.

The Ran No Shimai, the searchers for knowledge about the Last Days and the decision makers for the Kyuketsuki are mainly made up of elders whose bloodlust for Shinma has waned. They make decisions based on the Chronicles of the Mora in an attempt to ensure the survival of the Faithful.

The Hi'ona Dogai are the most cautious and secretive of all the factions of the Kyuketsuki. They are mainly Polynesian or Maori and are the discoverers of the Jiwamencuri. They are currently enlisting the help of the Giovanni in an attempt to find a final solution to the Soul Stealers.

Allies

Allies of the Kyuketsuki tend to be researchers into the occult or fighters against the Shinma such as priests and shamans.

Contacts

Contacts come from all walks of life for the Kyuketsuki. The recognition of Shinma in various cities by a contact has often led to a strike force being sent to deal with the problem before it can get out of hand.

Influence

The Kyuketsuki see no reason to affect the politics of the mortal population. They do not see influence as playing a role in the destruction of Shinma and the subtleties of mortal affairs are seen only as a distraction.

Military Force

Although preferring to work alone, some Kyuketsuki do employ small cadres of idealistic mercenaries, usually ones who have encountered Shinma before and are driven by revenge more than money. They also have a grip on several influential generals in many countries, waiting for when they need to take command in the Last Days.

Resources

Money is not usually a problem for the Kyuketsuki. They make large research donations to many universities and private r+d foundations to fund unusual projects.

Status

Status among their bloodline is prized far more than status among the Hibakusha, however status among the kine is discouraged. Visibility to the mortal population is seen as a weakness.

Supernatural

The most common allies the Kyuketsuki have in their quest are other supernatural creatures. Most have some form of supernatural friend, if not many. The Stargazer and Uktena Lupines are vaguely friendly to them. The restless dead are often found with them and the Fae are often drawn to Kyuketsuki. The Hi'ona Dogai have allies among the Giovanni and many Komichi No Tenchi and Daughters of Ameritsu have allies among the Yei.

Merits

Common merits among the Kyuketsuki include Higher Purpose and Guardian Angel, as well as Magic Sensitivity and all other 'Supernatural' merits due to their relationships with other supernatural beings.

Flaws

Common flaws include Driving Goal (elimination of all Shinma and their followers), Dark Fate and Nightmares. Cast No Reflection is also common due to their ancestry. Short Fuse or Over-confident are very risky flaws for a Kyuketsuki.

Skills

Clan Knowledge - Kyuketsuki, Shinma Lore.

Stereotypes

Drukpa: They guide our brothers through the darkness by the purity of their souls.

Hantu: They waste their natural talents on trivial matters.

Hibakush: They will return. Watch and see.

Jiwamencuri: No one yet believes our warnings about these children of the impure but soon they will...

Ju: Destruction was too good for them.

Kasa: Useful, but not overly welcome.

Kuei: We fight the same fight.

Onyudu: Brothers against the rise of the Last Days.

Sanatan: The others would do well to watch and learn from how the Sanatan have survived.

Bushi: Ignore them and they may go away.

Gaki: Stupid. We have been here longer than them.

Sazan: (Smiles enigmatically.)

Shreh Ren: They are waiting for something...

Faithless: Tainted. They should all be destroyed.

Camarilla: They have tried to take the Beautiful Land from us. They will die.

Sabbat: If they set foot anywhere near us they will soon learn of the wrath of the Daughters of Ameritsu.

Baali: These Faithless admit to serving Shinma! Are they mad?

Giovanni: Allies of a sort... maybe.

Lasombra: Corrupt, tainted, dead on sight. Need any more information?

Yei: Betrayal has made them turn from the way of heaven to the way of war.

Lupines: Their 'Wyrm' may be the source of all evil. Maybe they can help...

Mages: They are blind. They believe that the Last Days will be glorious.

Wraiths: The dead are our most trusted friends.

Changelings: They have spread so much happiness but now they are dying.

Gehenna: The Last Days... the prophesies are being fulfilled daily.

Author's note

I graduate soon and loose my e-mail account. All e-mail up til the end of June 96 should reach me at j.l.parr@bradford.ac.uk, after that mail should be sent to C.Plaice1@bradford.ac.uk with 'For Jenny' or 'Hibakusha' in the subject heading. Arigato.