THE SOTTO VOCE BROTHERHOOD

By Kenneth Madsen (94944@udd.aalborgspsem.dk)

Description

Although the creed of the Inconnu in general is "Watch!Remember!Wait!", there are those who believe that the sect is far too reticent, and should act when the information gathered by the various Monitors indicate that action is (or should be) the only way in which to act. Although this brotherhood is still a minority, it is a growing faction, and has been growing steadily for the past 300 years. Its voice is no longer as muffled as it once was, and it is growing in strength as an increasing number of the sect's members take up its cause.

The 12 have been reluctant to deal with the issue, and have made an effort to avoid forbidding various opinions held by the Inconnu members -- believing that freedom of speech and thought should be of paramount importance in a sect consisting of the eldest, most powerful and (hopefully) the most wise of the World's Cainites. If such freedom was not allowed, the Inconnu might as well dissolve itself, and its members choose between Camarilla, Sabbat or the existence of Autarkis. However, reluctant as the 12 may be to deal with the Sotto Voce Brotherhood, their hands will soon be forced to do so; rumours have begun to surface which indicate that the members of this sect within the sect have begun to take action beyond that of mere speech -- that they have once again plunged themselves into the cesspool of the Jyhad, the Jyhad that all members of the Inconnu swear to abandon upon entering the sect. The rumours suggest that beings unknown have interfered in matters of the Clans and Sect, and although unknown, the efficiency displayed by the "unknown beings" suggest power far beyond that of mere Ancilla, and thus the rumours point possibly at members of the Inconnu -- or perhaps these "unknown beings" are agents of the Antediluvians? These are speculations that have still to be be answered to the satisfaction of the 12.

Rumours of Sotto Voce Involvment

What exactly the members of the Sotto Voce have done, and what they are falsely accused of having done, is difficult to say, but a selection of the intra-Inconnu rumours is presented below to give you an idea:
• The Sotto Voce have taken action in Mexico against the Sabbat! They have destroyed many Sabbat and broken into ancient tombs in order to rob them of magickal artifacts!

• Members of the Sotto Voce have removed a Camarilla Ventrue Elder and his Childer because they were trading in bodies and vitae of other Cainites!

• Certain members of the Sotto Voce have destroyed a Chantry in the Carpathians and killed all the Tremere found there! In the dungeon beneath the Chantry, they found a Salubri who had been held captive there for use in experimentation ever since the Period of Shame (a term used to refer to Tremere's Diablerie of Saulot)

• A Monitor in the Northern U.S.A. called in a group of Sotto Voce to help him and the city's Cainites deflect a Sabbat Invasion! More than 70 True Sabbat were killed, an unknown number of Mass-Embraced Fledglings were destroyed and the Masquerade was severely threatened!

• A group of Sotto Voce has settled in the Caribbean and pose alternately as Sabbat and Setites in order to make the two sects attack each other with increasingly greater feriocity and strength -- ultimately resulting in freedom of the region and the destruction of its Sabbat and Setite parasites!

• The Sotto Voce is behind the increasing number of Eastern Vampires which appear in Europe and the American Continent! They have made a pact with them, and the Eastern Vampires will destroy certain Sabbat and Camarilla Cainites in return for secrets promised to them by the Sotto Voce.

Consequences of Involvment

These are just some of the rumours surfacing within the Inconnu which members of the sect has brought forth. But what is the truth? Are the Sotto Voce behind these activities? Or are they just coincidences? Are there more powerful creatures on the prowl -- creatures which make even the powerful members of the Inconnu look like children? Are the Antediluvians awakening, and sending out their probes to test the strength of the Inconnu?

Either way, the 12 will have to act. They must discover the truth behind the rumours, and decide what to do if it is proven that the Sotto Voce has indeed become involved in the Jyhad once again, and thereby breaking the solemn vow all Cainites desiring to join the Inconnu must take. If the 12 decides to ratify the Law of Old, and forbid any and all involvment in the Jyhad by members of the Inconnu, they might also face a disruption of the sect, and a consequential weakening of the Inconnu. If the 12 decide that the time has indeed come to act on the information gathered by the world-wide net of Monitors, the sect will be dragged into the Jyhad which it has been trying to avoid for so long -- the time for Monitoring will come to an end! And how will Camarilla and Sabbat react when they discover that their Elders have returned to the scene of the world? Ahh, now there is a question for the future...

Who are the Sotto Voce?

Those who are members of the Sotto Voce believes that the sect should still stay out of the Jyhad, but that such a decision does not mean that they should refrain from making surgical removals when information given by the Monitors indicate that involvment is necessary. Unlike the vast body of the Inconnu, the Sotto Voce does not feel that it will become fully involved in the Jyhad if it acts when the information gathered suggest this course of action is desirable. They call it "a policy of select involvement," and argue that instead of acting like disassociated scientists watching an experiment while it goes wrong, they should begin to adjust the experiment to achieve a more desirable result! Many of the Sotto Voce remember when Saulot was Diablerised, and indeed were friends and even pupils of his, and although they desired to avenge his Death, they observed the creed "Watch! Remember! Wait!" and they saw the Foul Tremere escape their rightful destruction. They waited and saw the Tremere accepted by the other Clans. They waited and saw Cappadocious meet his Death as well, but still they waited, and upheld the laws of the Inconnu. They waited and saw what the world became, how the Cainites grew steadily more twisted and evil in their ways, how old evil deeds were forgotten and the wrongdoers accepted because of political ambitions and desires of power. The Sotto Voce feels that they have Waited long enough, for they have Watched and they Remember more of the evil done by Cainites and other Supernatural creatures than any other group of beings. Now is the time to put the knowledge to use!

The members of the Sotto Voce do not meet in great secret gatherings. They are still a secret Brotherhood and prefer to act silently and discreetly for the time being. They are aware that the 12 have yet to reach a decision, and have no desire to force their hand more than necessary. Like many secret societies, the Sotto Voce have secret handshakes which are not noticed by non-members, but which immediately identify them to each other. These handshakes are also available in a mental variant (to those knowledgable in the ways of telepathy), and in writing, as a means of giving direction. Many of the Sotto Voce have chosen debate as the means in which to change the ways of the Inconnu, and they argue their case with the same energy they used to sport when they were still engaged in the affairs of life and the Jyhad. Having honed their ability to argue a case for centuries, sometimes even millennia, these Cainites are convincing indeed -- but then again, so are their opponents, many of whom are equally old and skilled. The Arguers (or "Sophists" as they are also called) make up the majority of the Sotto Voce; they desire to change the policy of the sect, but until they are able to convince the 12, they will continue to carry out their duties as always. The minority of the Sotto Voce are those who feel that the time for verbal conflict has come to an end, and that it is once more time to take action of a more physical and a more efficient form. These Cainites are sometimes referred to as "Activists" or "Gladiators," but only in whispers, and only by very few Inconnu, as their existence is still unconfirmed.

Currently the Sotto Voce is being led by five powerful Cainites, and their personalties and deeds of Old are fueling the rumours as more and more learn of their beliefs. These five are members of both factions of Sotto Voce, but their heart and conviction lie with the Gladiators. They are:

Valeriax: A 4th Generation Nosferatu, who has an Ancient history, and who has personally slain and Diablerized a Nicktuku. He has had a great impact on Roma and its history. Through the Centuries he has lost many friends to both Camarilla and Sabbat, and harbours no great love for either sect.

Wothrax: Warrior-king from the ancient history of Germania. With countless centuries upon centuries of bloodshed and war behind him, his Vitae has "cooled" enough to let his more philosophical side evolve; Druid and Warriror now exists side by side. He is an Immortal who has studied war for thousands of years and longs for a chance to put it to use. A 5th Generation Gangrel Elder.

Kragg: 4th Generation Tzimisce to whom the treachery of the Childer has lasted but a minute when compared to the span of his existence. His soul and mind have been at peace since he became a part of the Inconnu, and his experiments now have character of the mind rather than the flesh. But, he has not forgotten the treachery of the Young, nor that they slaughtered the few fair and wise Kolduhn of the Clan -- when they meet him, they will learn that he was the one they should have slaughtered, not the defenseless Sages!

St. Cruz: 6th Generation Toreador Swordmaster, and a True King of the Blade. He has travelled all over the planet, and is the master of the weapons of many people from many periods of history. The Art of War and the Craft of blade-making were his life's work. The rumours tell that he has acquired a certain knowledge of Sorcery and the manufacturing of magickal weapons.

Baronicus: This 6th Generation Kiasyd is the only one to enter the Inconnu -- in fact the only of his kind to ever express any desire to enter a sect. He has guided many Cainites toward Golconda, and despises oppression of both the physical and the mental sort.