However, FACTA isn't into this for neither the power, nor the glory. The members of this group originally founded the group to help less-fortunate Hengeyokai that had come to or had been born in Seattle, and aid them in any way appropriate - even violent extractions when the Hengeyokai was being held captive. After a while, as there aren't many Hengeyokai around, the group also decided that a general betterment of the living conditions in their own "back yard", i.e. the Redmond Barrens and so on also was their mandate. They usually, but not always limit themselves to aid in finding jobs and to fix up old, condemned buildings, in addition to the obiquitous soup stations.
The funding of the group does not allow overly much activity on the
part of their group, so they usually have more good causes than they have
means. The group have also been known to (or rather, not exactly been
known to, if you know what I mean) eliminate or discourage go-gangs
and other gangs to continue terrorizing given neighborhoods and so on. There
have even been open fights with such gangs, but so far FACTA have been
victorious.
Fireflight, a female Phoenix Hengeyokai Physical Magician.
She's an
exotic dancer at a club called The Lady and the Walrus,
situated in Everett. She uses some illusion and fire spells to aid her
performances, but still does have a little Physical ability in
hand-to-hand combat,
and is far from a pushover. Her Martial Arts style is Capoeira, a
martial art reminiscent of a very acrobatic dance. She usually visits
Mad Prince every few days, to read in the library, and to chat with Mad
Prince. She really likes the old monkey.
Mad Prince, a male Monkey Hengeyokai Physical Magician with
a particular love of dancing. This often leads him to The Lady and
the Walrus, where he monkeys about, as he says. Though usually
conducting himself with a regal air - thus the Prince-part of his
name, he sometimes goes on revels where nothing's sacred, though he has so
far mainly embarassed only himself, and not FACTA. He is also the
accountant and librarian of FACTA, which may explain the somewhat
incomprehensible library system, and goes a long way to explain the totally
arcane budgets he makes (often in eight different currencies, with some
bartering thrown in). But the budgets and the library usually works -
after a
fashion. Mad Prince actually lives in the apartment that the group has
rented, keeping an eye on the equipment stored there.
King Cobra, a homosexual male Cobra Hengeyokai Physical
Magician, and
the current leader of the group, is large, black, and perhaps the most
charismatic of all in the group. As a Cobra Hengeyokai, he has a propensity
for staring, and is totally hairless (though a small, small - almost tattooed
pattern of teensy weensy scales can be seen in his neck and a few other,
choice parts of him), though he has yellow eyes with vertical slits. He is
usually very self-conscious about his eyes, and continually wears shades or
contacts to repair on his appearance. As he is very energetic, King Cobra
often initiates the projects which FACTA commit themselves to.
Green Ring, another male Cobra Hengeyokai Physical Magician,
is
specializing in acid spells and some detox spells. He has very little
Physical ability, though the potential is of course there. King Cobra has
been cozying
up to him lately, and Green Ring's uncertain on how to respond to the
advances King Cobra has made - not least of which is the reason that he's
unsure of his own feelings in this. Green Ring is the youngest of the
members, appearing to be about 16 years old. He is totally in love with old
HK movies, even the ones in 2D, and is usually watching some obscure movie.
He regrets having to leave Hong Kong, though the situation was becoming
intolerable for him, and prefers to speak Cantonese as his English is halting
and poor. The fact that he's living with King Cobra until he has accumulated
enough money to get a place of his own is not helping the situation
much.
White Queen, a female White Tiger Hengeyokai Physical
Magician, has
very good abilities in Stealth and Athletics, and knows a couple of
spells aiding in
the art of non-detection. She usually runs around stalking people (for a few
good laughs), when she's not working as a tracker in Salish-Shidhe for the
Tourist Agency there. She's one of the two SINners in the group, King
Cobra being the other. White Queen is actually a citizen of Salish-Shidhe,
not Seattle, and as such is usually somewhat difficult to reach.
Exclusive Membership: Members of this initiatory group can not be
members of any other magical group. Thus, they earn the Exclusive
Membership stricture.
Fraternity: The group's higher-ranked are expected to try to help
the lower-ranked as best they can. This can get a little complicated,
especially when this group was established partly as a initiatory group,
partly to help Hengeyokai in trouble of some sort. Thus, they get the
Fraternity stricture, but only as specified. This does not exclude
the higher-ranked asking the help of the lower-ranked, but it is not a
stricture - even though one usually gives the aid one can.
Oath: In order to make it more solemn, and to more focus the wandering
minds of its members, the Oath stricture is required of any joining
Hengeyokai or Hengeyokai-sympathizer.
Secret handshake: As any group with respect for themselves, the group
has a secret handshake. The handshake usually goes together with a whispered
or soft-spoken word designating their own Hengeyokai nature, for
instance "Tiger", "Mungoose", "Eagle" or "Cobra".
Partial secrecy: Though there is no Stricture governing it, members of
the magical group are expected not to run around Seattle bragging about their
membership in the initiatory group. In the same manner, members of the group
and other associated people are expected to conceal their Hengeyokai
nature as long as possible, though the group does not condone murder
or other violent crimes done to conceal the true nature of one of the group.
Dues: Even though there are currently six members of the group,
every member pays 1000 nuyen per month (at least) in dues, often more, as any
proceedings over and above maintaining their apartment is funneled into
projects to help the poor, and particularly help any newcomers of a
Hengeyokai nature that have come to Seattle. If there's a problem with
the dues, the group usually allows someone to postpone payment until their
financial troubles are over, and may indeed become the new project of the
group.
The changes are quite simply as follows: The Physical
Magician no longer can conjure anything. He no longer gets any geasa
for allocating points to Physical Adept powers, either. Quite easy.
Current Roster:
Mystic, a male Siberian Tiger Hengeyokai Physical Magician.
He is mainly concerned with fighting ability, and even have a little
bioware installed, disgusting King Cobra, the current leader.
Mystic
is something
of a bleeding heart, and even though his occupation is as a
shadowrunner, he may decide to aid a cause both or either for free or
without anyone hiring him.Strictures:
Attendance: The group meets twice a year, with attendance mandatory.
Thus, they earn the Attendance stricture.
Customs:
Face mask: It is customary for all members to paint their faces when
they are meeting anywhere, usually with a simple, stylistic design that
emphasizes their various natures, and is perhaps an indication of their
psyche or state of mind at the time they apply the face mask. The designs of
the face masks can be reminiscent of Cherokee war-paint, or perhaps even
KISS' face masks. Some even wear their face masks all the time, and may even
have a geas associated with their face masks - they can only do magic
and meet the geas when they are wearing their face masks. Some refer to the
face masks as their true faces, and refer to the face mask as "wearing
the face".
Group Resources:
Middle Resources: Though the group has rented a nice apartment in
Tacoma, it hasn't bothered with much in the way of Ritual apparel. As
they are all Physical Magicians, it doesn't concern them much.
However, the group have invested in Hermetic Libraries, and is very
proud of their extensive library.
Conventions:
I must admit that I have taken the liberty of redefining the
Physical Magician from what it was presented like in
Awakenings, the other magic sourcebook for Shadowrun.
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Taken from the pages of Jens-Arthur Leirbakk |