Shangri-La: Heaven on Earth

By Ricky and Alex Marin (rickdog86@aol.com)

Statistics for the Head of the Clan

Name: Job (Though he will certainly go by others when taking the form of a clan)

Nature/Demeanor: Saint/Saint

Generation: 3

Haven: Varies

Concept: Catholic Angel

Physical: Strength 10, Dexterity 10, Stamina 10

Social: Charisma 5, Manipulation 3, Appearance 4

Mental: Perception 10, Intelligence 10, Wits 10

Talents: Acting 3, Alertness 10, Athletics 2, Brawl 10, Dodge 10, Empathy 5, Intimidation 3, Leadership 10, Streetwise 4, Subterfuge 5

Skills: Animal Ken 10, Drive 2, Etiquette 5, Firearms 1, Melee 10, Music 1, Repair 3, Security 5, Stealth 10, Survival 10

Knowledge: Bureaucracy 0, Computer 1, Finance 2, Investigation 5, Law (Biblical) 10, Linguistics 10, Medicine 5, Occult 5, Politics 4, Science 5

Disciplines: Animalism 10, Auspex 10, Celerity 10, Fortitude 10, Obfuscate 10, Potence 10, Presence 10 (All of the prior disciplines work as follows: 6 is the equivalent of 1, simply doubling in power and effectiveness), All Rituals, All Paths, Heaven's Touch 5

Backgrounds: Allies 5, Contacts 5, Generation 10, Herd 5, Mentor 5 (Exception), Retainers 50, Status (By others of Sect) 5

Virtues: Conscience 9, Self-Control 10, Courage 10

Humanity: 10

Willpower: 10

Blood Pool: 60

Faith: 99

Health Levels: OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -5, -5, -5, -5, -5, -5, -5, -5, -5, Incapacitated, Resurrection (See Below)

Resurrection: Job is an Antediluvian, and a saintly one at that. Needless to say, he cannot die. The only sure way of killing him is in the Far Shores of the Shadowlands where you can find him once his body has been extinguished. Therefore, once he has died and returned to Heaven, his body will re-appear within seconds in the physical world with his soul inside, and his health will be completely restored.

History: Job (After The Biblical One) began as a regular, God-loving man in the few thousand years A.C. (After Caine), when his life was changed upside down when a Second-Generation vampire sired him, ending his possibility of entering Heaven, or so it seemed. Listening to the Beast within tempting him to satisfy the Hunger, he refused to drink the blood of mortals and so died a martyr, keeping God's words in his mind. Because of his good deeds he was taken straight to Heaven, skipping the process of entering the Shadowlands, but the angels there would not accept him because of his vampiric state. He argued that it was not his will to become a vampire and that he died retaining his beliefs, and a court at Purgatory was called. He was found to be not guilty of charges and admitted into Heaven, though others still felt uneasy around him. To alter their opinions, God offered Job the chance to take back any misdeeds that he had made whilst a vampire (though God and Job both knew he hadn't) by having him lead all faithful and charitable vampires to salvation, and once he had done so, execute the remaining heretics. Job agreed, wanting to do everything in his power to please God, and has since then gathered over 2,000 people who actively serve him in the destruction of all the Kindred whilst converting the few good ones to the Faith and clan. He is an active enemy of the Camarilla and the Sabbat, as they (in his opinion) encourage wrongful deeds and heresy. His battles and ambushes have already escalated to the destruction of all the Kindred in 200 cities and towns, and elders fear that a war will be declared and the Jyhad will climax. . . .

Shangri-La Scholars/Intelligence

(A division of the sect/clan that plans movements and attacks)

Nature/Demeanor: Thinker/Thinker

Concept: Tactical Expert

Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 3

Social: Charisma 3, Manipulation 2, Appearance 3

Mental: Perception 5, Intelligence 5, Wits 5

Talents: Acting 3, Alertness 3, Athletics 1, Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Empathy 5, Intimidation 1, Leadership 4, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 5

Skills: Animal Ken 4, Drive 2, Etiquette 4, Firearms 3, Melee 2, Music 2, Repair 4, Security 4, Stealth 4, Survival 5

Knowledge: Bureaucracy 2, Computer 2, Finance 3, Investigation 5, Law (Biblical) 5, Linguistics 5, Medicine 5, Occult 5, Politics 4, Science 5

Disciplines: Heaven's Touch 3, Animalism 3, Obfuscate 5, Path - Movement of the Mind

Backgrounds: Allies 5, Contacts 5, Herd 2, Retainers 3

Virtues: Conscience 5, Self-Control 5, Courage 3

Humanity: 10

Initial Willpower: 5

Blood Pool: 30

Faith: 10

Health Levels: OK, OK, OK, -1, -1, -2, -2, -2, -5, Incapacitated

Shangri-La Scouts/Spies

(A division of the clan/sect that helps Scholars to plot attacks by spying and finding worthy Kindred -- also the rear line in battle)

Nature/Demeanor: Spy/Extrovert

Concept: ____

Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 4

Social: Charisma 5, Manipulation 5, Appearance 5

Mental: Perception 3, Intelligence 5, Wits 5

Talents: Acting 4, Alertness 4, Athletics 4, Brawl 3, Dodge 4, Empathy 3, Intimidation 3, Leadership 2, Streetwise 5, Subterfuge 5

Skills: Animal Ken 5, Drive 2, Etiquette 5, Firearms 4, Melee 3, Music 1, Repair 1, Security 5, Stealth 5, Survival 5

Knowledge: Bureaucracy 2, Computer 4, Finance 2, Investigation 5, Law (Biblical) 3, Linguistics 5, Medicine 5, Occult 5, Politics 4, Science 5

Disciplines: Heaven's Touch 5, Animalism 3, Auspex 5, Celerity 5, Obfuscate 5, Potence 3, Protean 3, Paths - Weather Control

Backgrounds: Allies 5, Contacts 5, Herd 3, Retainers 3

Virtues: Conscience 5, Self-Control 4, Courage 5

Humanity: 9

Initial Willpower: 7

Blood Pool: 45

Faith: 10

Health Levels: OK, OK, OK, -1, -1, -1, -1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -5, -5, Incapacitated

Archangel Warrior

(The high warrior of the division that commands the battle)

Nature/Demeanor: Warrior/Warrior

Concept: ____

Physical: Strength 7, Dexterity 7, Stamina 7

Social: Charisma 2, Manipulation 2, Appearance 2

Mental: Perception 4, Intelligence 4, Wits (Strategy) 6

Talents: Acting 2, Alertness 6, Athletics 6, Brawl 6, Dodge 6, Empathy 2, Intimidation 5, Leadership 4, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 3

Skills: Animal Ken 3, Drive 2, Etiquette 3, Firearms 4, Melee 5, Music 1, Repair 3, Security 6, Stealth 5, Survival 6

Knowledge: Bureaucracy 1, Computer 1, Finance 1, Investigation 3, Law (Biblical) 3, Linguistics 2, Medicine 2, Occult 3, Politics 1, Science 2

Disciplines: Celerity 5, Fortitude 5, Obfuscate 5, Potence 5, Protean 5, All Paths

Backgrounds: Allies 5, Contacts 5, Herd 4, Retainers 5

Virtues: Conscience 4, Self-Control 4, Courage 5

Humanity: 8

Initial Willpower: 9

Blood Pool: 53

Faith: 10

Health Levels: OK, OK, OK, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -5, -5, -5, -5, Incapacitated

Shangri-La Warriors

(The attacking division of the clan/sect)

Nature/Demeanor: Warrior/Warrior

Concept: ____

Physical: Strength 5, Dexterity 5, Stamina 5

Social: Charisma 3, Manipulation 2, Appearance 2

Mental: Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits (Strategy) 4

Talents: Acting 2, Alertness 5, Athletics 5, Brawl 5, Dodge 5, Empathy 2, Intimidation 5, Leadership 3, Streetwise 1, Subterfuge 3

Skills: Animal Ken 2, Drive 2, Etiquette 3, Firearms 4, Melee 5, Music 1, Repair 3, Security 5, Stealth 4, Survival 5

Knowledge: Bureaucracy 1, Computer 1, Finance 1, Investigation 3, Law (Biblical) 3, Linguistics 2, Medicine 2, Occult 3, Politics 1, Science 2

Disciplines: Celerity 5, Fortitude 5, Obfuscate 2, Potence 5, Protean 5, All Paths

Backgrounds: Allies 5, Contacts 2, Herd 4, Retainers 4

Virtues: Conscience 4, Self-Control 4, Courage 5

Humanity: 8

Initial Willpower: 9

Blood Pool: 53

Faith: 10

Health Levels: OK, OK, OK, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -5, -5, -5, Incapacitated

Organization

In case you hadn't noticed the Shangri-La clan is made up of 5 groups and its leader, Job. These are (in order of rank) the Scholars/Intelligence, Archangel Warrior, Scouts/Spies, and the Warriors. If an attack is decided upon by Job, then the first people he will notify will be the Scholars. Though they are not as privileged as the other two, they are more respected. They will do what they can in terms of plotting, but will need to inform the Archangel Warrior. He will inform the Scouts of the area so that they can survey it, bring details of its organization, who should be salvaged or taken into the clan, and the kinds of opponents they will face. Once they have reported their finds to the Scholars, they will then plan some more this time with the aid of the Archangel Warrior and when the plans are finished, brief the Scouts and the Warriors on their mission. Mission layout tends to be as follows:
1. Have Scouts trick Prince of town into believing that they are other Princes of more power that demand a Kindred Meeting to be called, knowing ahead of time the Kindred who were good in their previous life and could serve them well.
2. Position ten Scouts outside the place where Kindred meetings are passed on night of meeting.
3. Have sufficient Warrior/other Scout back-up positioned outside meeting area, on rooftops surrounding meeting area, and around general area of town, the Archangel Warrior around the general area of town.
4. Have the first group of Scouts rush in and use the Heaven's touch discipline of Light of God, causing everyone in the hall to be blinded.
5. Have the same group of Scouts stake the Kindred who were good in their previous life and could serve them well, dragging them outside as they do.
6. Immediately have the Scouts drag the captured Kindred behind the first line, converting them to the clan using the Heaven's Touch discipline of conversion to the Holy Order, making them Shangri-La.
7. By this point the captured Kindred should be Shangri-La recruits will have the first two levels of Heaven's Touch, and will ready themselves to fight.
8. At this point all of the blinded Kindred in the Meeting Hall will have their sight returned, and will proceed to exit the Hall and figure out what just happened.
9. They will find their comrades on the opposition's side, and will see the Warriors and Scouts frenzied and ready to fight.
10. Before the gathered Kindred from the Meeting Hall attack, the front line will produce the Heaven's Touch discipline of Soul-Strike, knocking down the lines and killing a few.
11. The newly-transformed will begin to flee towards the outer perimeter of the Shangri-La attack with their Scout sires, whilst the Warriors on the rooftops jump down and initiate battle with those that were just knocked down.
12. As the battle rages on, the backup outside the general area of town will close in.
13. The backup will surround the battle, engaging combat and allowing the injured ones to leave with the newly-transformed.
14. The backup will close in from all sides, changing the tide of battle to their side (if it was ever on the other) by attacking unexpectedly with all they've got.
15. Indeed by this point most of the opposition will now lie dead, and the prince will undoubtedly still be alive, being a tough enemy, and so he will be torn to pieces by the Archangel Warrior who was inactive for this reason.
16. To leave no evidence of this and to please God, all of the dead bodies, Kindred or Shangri-La, will be placed inside the Meeting Hall. A cross of ashes will be placed on the foreheads of those of Shangri-La, and a Rosary prayer will be said as the Hall is be burnt down.
17. The Shangri-La will leave to their Domain, where they will report the mission and any problems that occurred.

Opinions Towards the Shangri-La:

Camarilla: They must all die, for they do not follow the traditions, murder Kindred, and leave places in shambles.

Sabbat: They oppose us and, for once, we agree with the Camarilla that they must all die.

Inconnu: Though they mean to cleanse the world, they must learn that we can co-exist. If they do not wish to do so, they must die, as they kill many of our kind.

Lupines: They are the only exception to our hate of vampires, as they wish to rid the world of this kind of the Wyrm's corruption. True, we have sided many times, but a confusion of us with the Black Spiral Dancers who murder them endlessly prevents a full alliance.

Magi: They don't affect us, so we don't affect them.

Changelings: Who? Oh, them. Well, we don't much care anyway.

Wraiths: They rarely enter the Shadowlands but when they do they seek only the Heaven of the Far Shores. There are rumors that they know where Charon is, so we must be friendly if we want him to return in glory.

Opinions the Shangri-La have on Others

Camarilla: The society of these is corrupt and hold things in common with the Sabbat, so they must die or else we cannot receive the aid of so many who would join us without them.

Brujah: They are anarchs and though they oppose the Camarilla they must be killed as they wish to control the Kindred with the same purposes.

Gangrel: They are mighty warriors and mostly mean well, and though they would make great warriors for us the hatred the Lupines have on them prevents us from having any of them on our side.

Malkavian: These are all insane and cannot be purified to our beliefs, though they share some of the same ones.

Nosferatu: Their organization would be invaluable to us, though their appearance leaves much to be desired. Still, they are outcasts like us, and so we hold a kinship with them, even if they are Kindred.

Toreador: Though they pretend to seek beauty, their vision is like all the rest. Still, they have good taste, but their laziness can prove disastrous in battle.

Tremere: These wizards have mastered the Thaumaturgy powers of the Magi which could guarantee victory even more. However, they are full of lies and cannot be trusted.

Ventrue: Though they could make great Scouts, their ideas are equivalent to the Camarilla's and the Camarilla's dependence on them prevents us from making them one of us. In order for them to be used by us we would have to destroy the Camarilla, which we could only achieve with the aid of the Lupines.

Sabbat: They find pleasure in death and support all of the Camarilla's ideas (though they don't admit it), and so must be destroyed.

Inconnu: Though their strength and intelligence could be invaluable to us, they are widely spread out and difficult to find, making our typical battle plans impossible.

Lupines: They are our greatest allies in this realm and so we must be good to them. However, there are some of their kind that kill us in joy, so we must be wary around them. If they solved this problem then perhaps greater action could be made and we could end the Camarilla and all of the Kindred stronghold of Italy. From there we could proceed to destroy the Sabbat and the Inconnu, leaving only a few minor battles left underway. Alas, this cannot be until their attacks on us end.

Magi: They oppose the Kindred, like us, but still follow some of the same ways as the Tremere.

Changelings: An odd bunch, but we don't see them much.

Wraiths: We hardly ever see these as well but they can be life-savers when we get into problems in the Shadowlands. Truly, the Ferrymen are our greatest friends in the Shadowlands, and we must rescue Charon for them in order to make a perfect alliance possible. However, this could prove difficult, as we would have to destroy Oblivion, which would be as difficult as destroying the Wyrm that the Lupines despise so much. True, we could manage if we all sacrificed our lives, but Gehenna is coming and we must first take care of our priorities.

Other Notes

Though the Shangri-La are Kindred, they have reached Golconda and so have no Beast within. They still frenzy, however, and are great enemies of the Kindred as they are immune to sunlight and are overly powerful. They also have an identifiable leader, rather than Caine who is only rumored to exist. Their Blood Points are refilled by drinking the blood of mortals, as with all Kindred, but they do not need it that much and have a Herd that they drain -- if they do drain from their Herd then they do not kill, as they follow the Ten Commandments almost impeccably.