Geist Preview for July 1: On the Nature of Krewes

On the Nature of Krewes
Posted: 2009-07-01

Sin-Eaters form krewes: alliances designed for mutual protection, occult study, political power in the Twilight Network, or a mix of all of these. Time was most krewes were hallowed secret societies: groups with private drawing rooms, special handshakes and signet rings. Some of them still play with the elitist conspiracy trip but for most Sin-Eaters, the 21st Century is an age of improvised alliances and strange revelations. The modern krewe is half a street gang and half an eccentric religion, customized to fit its members’ newfound obsessions. When two krewes meet, things don’t go down according to ancient protocols because there aren’t any, save for those strong or trusted krewes impose on the area. The closest thing to a binding, universal Sin-Eater sect is the Twilight Network, but it’s not a structure that decides who the boss is.

It would be a lie to say that Sin-Eaters have no common customs at all, no strange words or symbols to tell each other apart, or say things designed or outsiders to ignore. There’s definite a scene between the krewes, and matters of etiquette that don’t have the weight of conscious traditions, but are more like basic assumptions. From time to time, amateur anthropologists among the Sin-Eaters have sketched rules out and local strongmen have tried to turn them into laws, with varying success. Here’s what a new Sin-Eater might get told.

Babaloa Luis on the Nature of Krewes
There are krewes, and there are krewes — know what I’m sayin’? You can make friends, forge a truce with some other Gs but that ain’t no deep krewe, studyin’ the Big Black together, getting the geists to spit up some of the real secrets. You’ll know those krewes when you meet ‘em. They’re the ones with money, connections and maybe a bit of madness in ‘em. They’ve got a spark in ‘em — a revelation from the Great Below that makes them.

In a real krewe, a deep krewe, you got three kinds of Gs: S-E’s who founded the krewe and their successors, Gs who are initiated, and associates. You’re an associate. I’m Babaloa — that means I’ve got the Old God in me. Wanna move up? 

“Krewe” is a general term for any group of allied Sin-Eaters, but more powerful krewes are almost always bound by ceremony. They were founded by the Krewe Binding ceremony and have superior ordinary and mystical resources at their command. Some Sin-Eaters spend their lives as lone operators or as part of loose associations. Few frown on that, but a ceremonially-bonded krewe almost always has more power and prestige.

This is particularly interesting for the mention of the Twilight Network, as it seems to be a sign for a mass Geist culture and society, or something akin to that.

To me, it seems that they combined some mechanics from Wraith, Mummy and Hunter of the oWOD.

With Wraith, it's the ghosts and the basic physical mechanics represented in Orpheus.
With Mummy, it was the Resurrection and Morality mechanics (ie Balance).
And with this spoiler they adopted the social society of Hunter.Net into Geist as the Twilight Network.

I wonder if this means that there will be an actual Twilight Network website like they did with Hunter.net.

JackalopeVegas:

And with this spoiler they adopted the social society of Hunter.Net into Geist as the Twilight Network.

I wonder if this means that there will be an actual Twilight Network website like they did with Hunter.net.

Well, now I don't see where it says the Twilight Network is a web site.  I think the Twilight Network is more likely just a name for the greater community of Geists like a Changeling Freehold or Mage Consillium.  It might even refer to the global community.  Some of it may take place on the internet but it's just as likely to take the form of the aforementioned secret handshakes, clandestine meetings, and cryptic messages.

I really like the idea of Krewes as more than just a table-top-sized group. It sounds like a fun game to play a group of people within the krewe rather than the entire krewe.

Makes it alot easier for gaming groups where you have one or three players who show up here and there while the rest play regularly that's for sure.

I agree, it all sounds good.
Though I hate the name Krewes

Sounds too gangbangery (if that's a word)

Yeah, add me in for a serious dislike of Krewe.  I'd prefer the term 'Circle' - except that's already in use in Exalted - because of its spiritualist connotations.

Cowboy Hat:

Sounds too gangbangery (if that's a word)

Don't let my relatives in New Orleans hear you say that.  The Mardi Gras Krewes are an important fixture in the city's social life, and the "old line krewes" in particular are full of upper-class types who would be horrified to hear themselves compared to a street gang.

DSPaul:

Cowboy Hat:

Sounds too gangbangery (if that's a word)

Don't let my relatives in New Orleans hear you say that.  The Mardi Gras Krewes are an important fixture in the city's social life, and the "old line krewes" in particular are full of upper-class types who would be horrified to hear themselves compared to a street gang.

no offence meant

nor to anyone who lives in Crewe

but if you're in a gangbanging Crew you may take as much or as little as you wish

Freshman:

Well, now I don't see where it says the Twilight Network is a web site.  I think the Twilight Network is more likely just a name for the greater community of Geists like a Changeling Freehold or Mage Consillium.  It might even refer to the global community.  Some of it may take place on the internet but it's just as likely to take the form of the aforementioned secret handshakes, clandestine meetings, and cryptic messages.

It seems to me that the Twilight Network is more of the global community of Sin-Eaters, not a Freehold or Consilium sized group.

Freshman:

JackalopeVegas:

And with this spoiler they adopted the social society of Hunter.Net into Geist as the Twilight Network.

I wonder if this means that there will be an actual Twilight Network website like they did with Hunter.net.

Well, now I don't see where it says the Twilight Network is a web site.  I think the Twilight Network is more likely just a name for the greater community of Geists like a Changeling Freehold or Mage Consillium.  It might even refer to the global community.  Some of it may take place on the internet but it's just as likely to take the form of the aforementioned secret handshakes, clandestine meetings, and cryptic messages.

According to BHM, communication is mostly through classified ads, as the older Sin-Eaters aren't comfortable with modern technology.

......Jesus, how old are they?

Emyunoxious:

“Krewe” is a general term for any group of allied Sin-Eaters,

Honestly, not a huge fan of the group name. New Orleans Mardi Gras reference aside (and it's obscure), 'Krewe' doesn't conjure any sort of ghostly or mystical or otherwise supernatural image. In my opinion, a 'Cabal' or 'House' or 'Order' or 'Chantry' or 'Circle' or 'League' or 'Caucus' or 'Conclave' or 'Ring' or 'Guild' (for old-world Wraith flavor) or 'Coalition' or a 'Host' (for a touch of irony) would be better names that are not yet used in other new world games, though 'Ring' is probably my favorite of these. 'A Ring of Geists' just sounds better to me than 'a Krewe of Geists'. Sounds like they're rowing a super-long kayak across the river Styx.

Boogaleeboo:

......Jesus, how old are they?

Well, if the Geist can bring the Sin-Eater back from a second (third, fourth) untimely demise, I'm betting that they don't age too fast naturally.

Or maybe they do, and the Synergy loss from multiple resurrections is inescapable if a Sin-Eater lives long enough. If that or something similar is the case, I'm curious what the hoary elders look like in the Twilight Network.