nephandi

   The Nephandi are almost unique among the Awakened, in that they choose to serve a greater force in their drive towards Ascension. They are also unique among the Traditions in that they are perfectly willing to make sacrifices -- both human and Awakened -- to the greater glory of their masters. None can truly say exactly what their masters are, save that the Nephandi-Lord personify corruption and all that is fould in human society. Some among the Nephandi claim that they serve Satan. Other speak of more nebulous creatures, things best not mentioned by name. Even those who have served the Nephandi-Lords for thousands of years cannot agree on the nature of their masters, save to say that they are growing more powerful all the time. Most Nephandi simply claim that they serve "Darkness, Corruption and Oblivion."
     The Nephandi have long accepted that their role in the scheme of reality is twofold. First, they must serve their masters, the dark forces that corrupt the universe. Second, they provide a dark reflection of reality for the other Traditions. Many of the Traditions understand the Nephandi philosophy, but feel that the twisted Nephandi serve no true purpose beyond the corruption of all that is worthwhile in the world. Most Traditions would simply rather see them destroyed than risk the darkness of the Nephandi spreading further.
     The Nephandi often draw others to their beliefs from other Traditions, seducing them with promises of power, material wealth and eternal life. Normally they focus on the newly Awakened, those who have only started to taste the powers of magick, those who desperately seek more knowledge and ability, impatient with the ways of their Traditions. These renunciates, known as the barabbi, are a cause of great unrest among the mages.
     The Nephandi have long since learned a special language all their own, called the Dragon's Tongue. The Dragon's Tongue is used in rituals to speak within their cabals (called ahriman) and commine with their masters. Unless one has gone through the proper rituals, no power can allow a person to understand the symbols and words. Additionally, the vast majority of Nephandi have learned the Pictish tongue, assuring easier communications with the Black Spiral Dancers, their werewolf counterparts, in servitude to all that is corrupt.
     The Nephandi make full use of the communications networks provided by the Technocracy, providing many television ministries with the necessary funds to start their programs and to expand at a later time. The Nephandi use these pawn ministers to ectend the general populace's discontent and fundamental lack of belief in the established religions, sending doubts that can later be used to better their own position within the ranks of Awakened. The Nephandi also work well along side the Black Spiral Dancers and with the most corrupt of the vampires, some among the Sabbat and with the Baali. The Nephandi claim that the Baali were created using members of their own following. The Baali refuse to speak of such matters.
     Much like the Black Spiral Dancers of the Grou, the Nephandi use special rituals in locations held as sacred to promote unity among the servitors of their masters. These rituals are called by many names, but the end result is always the same; in the end, the initiate comes to understand the ways of the Nephandi and willing sacrifices a substantial portion of his free will in exchange for power and personal gratification. In many cases, the followers of the Nephandi Path go through these rituals regularly, reinforcing their beliefs upon themselves. Many claim that the rituals are actually addictive, while others claim them to be the foremost way for Nephandi to reach a greater level of understanding, a greater knowledge of power and its uses. The rituals place the Nephandi in direct communication with their masters. The first time a Nephandi initiate takes place in these rituals is reffered to as the "Rebirth." Subsequent visits into the ritual areas are most often called "Regenerations."