New York Unveiled

Aftermath of the Feast

New York. The Big Apple. Easily one of the largest cities on Earth, and one of the oldest in the United States.

New York has always had more than its fair share of secrets and shadowy business. It also has an impressive occult history. Both of these things mean that the Awakened can be found in New York in abundance, and with good reasons. Found in abundance, that is, until Midsummer of 2005.

Something strange happened. No one really knows what. Research indicates that a couple of strange things happened that evening, but weird things happen all the time in that city. A shooting star appeared overhead bright enough to be seen even through the city-glare of New York. A number of water mains broke all over the city, flooding the streets of parts of Manhattan. There were also a higher-than-average number of the usual murders and suicides that evening.

But the true mystery is not in any official documents or reports anywhere. The entire Awakened population of Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx simple disappeared. Without a trace. Residents and visitors alike. Those who came afterwards to investigate and try and find contacts and friends suddenly gone silent were mystified. Sanctums, libraries and Hallows lay open, unlocked and unprotected, their artifacts, tools and magical contents bare for the taking.

In the time since, almost none of the Awakened have come to New York, out of fear of what caused this appearance. In time, however, they have come, for one reason or another: to find loved ones gone missing, to investigate the reasons behind the disappearance, to raid the Hallows and magical items left ownerless. Many have come, taken what they could (whether out of greed or a desire to preserve), and fled.

But now, there is a vacuum of power in New York, and the Awakened are being drawn toward it, rushing into fill it. Young mages, hungry for the opportunity New York offers, have arrived. Independents, outcasts, young Turks of every stripe, they are here to set up a new Consilium, though none of them can agree how this should be done.

But still the event haunts them, and a term to refer to the sudden disappearance of the Awakened has entered the common terminology for the event: Epulae Consilium. The Feast of Wisdom. No one really knows who coined the phrase, or why they did so, but the term has stuck.

Now, you have come to New York. For some of you, it is a chance for a new life; for others of you, it is to settle old scores. Opportunity lies ahead of you, but so does danger. You have the chance to make your mark on the developing culture of the Awakened in New York, or you can be swept aside and forgotten as others lay claim to the glory here – the choice is yours.

Manhattan Unveiled: The Phoenix Nest

Awakened Manhattan

• Cabal Et Astrum: The Hierarch's cabal, Cabal Et Astrum is known to have actually been put together by no less than three Hierarchs of different cities, with the express purpose of moving into New York and setting up their power base their. It is generally believed that Cabal Et Astrum maintains its links to these Hierarchs, and may very well continue to take orders from them. Cabal Et Astrum has suffered some infighting of late.
• The Evangelists: Originally from the Buffalo/Rochester Consilium, the Evangelists are strong magicians, with a particularly martial aptitude. They gained a reputation for confronting Seers of the Throne in Rochester/Buffalo, and have carried that reputation over into fighting vampires locally.
• Krewe of Pan: A group of mages from New Orleans, the Krewe of Pan have recently claimed a Hallow and territory in Harlem. They have offered their services to Taboo, though she has hesitations: research reveals that the Krewe of Pan were real trouble-makers in New Orleans, and likely responsible for a lot of violence and mob wars there.
• Midnight Cantata: An up-and-coming goth band from California, Midnight Cantata has become quite well-known among the Awakened; not entirely surprising, considering the fact that they are Awakened themselves. A trio made up of Free Council mages, Midnight Cantata’s first album is entitled “Watchtower,” and contains ten songs, one for each of the Arcana. Though some elements of the Orders who know about them claim that they endanger the Awakened with such antics, Midnight Cantata is quick to point out that they actually use symbolism that is meaningful in a variety of occult contexts, not simply that of the Atlantean Orders. Midnight Cantata recently moved their operations to New York.
• Summer Lotus Court: The Summer Lotus Court is the household of Sifu Xia He (Summer Lotus), a Perfected Adept sifu and powerful Obrimos mage from mainland China. The woman she considered a sister was once part of the New York Consilium before the Epulae Consilium, and she has come to investigate and find out what has happened to her. Her household is made up of Xia He's apprentices, Chan Juan (Graceful Moon) and Shu Fang (Gentle Kindness), as well as Lung Sying (Star Dragon), her son, a revered geomancer and Taoist sorcerer, plus Zhi (Orchid), the young Crippled Lotus witch whom the cabal rescued from slavery to vampires in Hong Kong. The Summer Lotus Court intends to act as the wardens of Chinatown here, helping to keep its cultural occult traditions alive and prospering in New York.
• Independent Magi: These are the individual magicians in Manhattan, who do not belong to any cabals at the current time.

Locations in Awakened Manhattan

• Inwood
• Washington Heights & Fort George Washington
  • Villa of the Wandering Star (Cabal of the Wandering Star): Cabal Sanctum; Hallow •••• [Serenity]
• East/Spanish Harlem
  • Blue River Apartments (Krewe of Pan): A run-down tenement apartment, claimed as Cabal Sanctum. Hallow •• [Desperation].
• Harlem
  • First Baptist Congregation of Christ Nazarene (?): A Baptist Church in Harlem; Hallow •• [Fanaticism]
• Morningside Heights
  • The Karl Ornenberg Memorial Library (?): An old library in the German-Jewish neighborhood, dedicated to the memory of a Holocaust victim who spent great deals of money sending his precious books to the United States, but was never able to escape himself; Hallow • [Melancholy]
• Roosevelt Island
• Upper East Side & Yorkville
  • Good Tidings Manor (Consilium of the Phoenix): Meeting place for the Consilium of the Phoenix. Hallow • [Nobility]
• Central Park
  • Conservatory Garden (?): A unique, formal six-acre garden in Central Park, designed along occult architecture to take advantage of the verdancy nearby. Hallow ••• [Growth].
• Upper West Side
  • Ironrose Hall: The New York Athenaeum.
  • Valdus' Townhouse: Sanctum of Valdus and Liz Edwards.
  • St. Brighid's Hospital (?): A hospital known for its pleasant atmosphere and excellent recovery. Hallow • [Healing].
• Midtown & Theater District
• Murray Hill
• Garment District
• Stuyvesant Town
• Flatiron & Union Station
• Chelsea
• Greenwich Village
  • Sun & Steel (?): A body modification and body art shop in the East Village, this shop use dto belong to Phinia and Heliophilus. Hallow •• [Rebellion].
• SoHo
• Little Italy
• Lower East Side
  • Sacred Page (Evangelists): The bookshop claimed as a Sanctum by the Evangelists, though owned by Jonathan. He runs his book-repair and rare book sales business from here. Hallow •• [Learning].
• Chinatown
  • Ling Mei Temple (Summer Lotus Court): A Buddhist shrine in Chinatown; its name means "Jade Plum." Hallow •••• [Contemplation].
• TriBeCa
• Financial District & Battery Park City
  • Van Haeltur Building (Cabal Et Astrum): A large building with offices on the lower levels and apartments on the upper, the Van Haeltur Building's penthouse is made up of two of its topmost floors, all entirely owned by Cabal Et Astrum as a gift from the Hierarchs who sent them here. Hallow ••• [Luxury].