Society of Leopold

Introduction

The Society of Leopold (also known as the Society, or SoL for short) is one of the principal Hunter organizations in the World of Darkness, with deep historical roots dating back to medieval times of inquisition and witch-trials. Its theme is decidedly religious in nature, existing as a secret arm of the Catholic Church, waging a hidden war against the beasts of the night.

This article primarily references the V20 supplement “Hunters Hunted 2”, specifically pages 117 to 125, as well as small bits of the older V:tM: Inquisition book. Players are encouraged to check the source material themselves if they want to learn more about the Society and how to RP it.

Lore

The SoL was founded by Leopold of Murnau in 1231 by dispensation of Pope Gregory IX. Over the following centuries, the Society waxed and waned, from its peak in the midst of the original Inquisition (though the Inquisitors of today would argue they are fighting the same war as those of past eras) to falls during the 1600s to 1800s, when enlightenment and reformism clashed with the strong religious ideals of the Leopoldites.

In modern times, the Society has seen much change, allowing more laypeople to join its ranks and women to climb to higher positions. Indeed, the office of Inquisitor-General, following the death of the legendary Monsignor Amelio Vittore, is now occupied by Ingrid Bauer, or, as she is commonly called by her detractors, the Iron Maiden.

As her nickname suggests, Inquisitor-General Bauer does not shy away from brutal or sadistic tactics, reintroducing a number of antiquated torture methods and expanding on the use of incendiary weapons. Internally, she has consolidated her control by reinforcing the authority of the Office of the Censor, which she previously held.

Many Inquisitors cannot help but wonder if these changeschange, effective as they are in combatting their enemies and rooting out infiltrators, do not strike at something of even greater importance - preserving the faithfulness that stands at the very core of their fight. As more and more holy souls find themselves tainted by unspeakable atrocities committed with their very hands, many cannot help but ask themselves: “is this right?”

Organization

The Society is divided based on several different layers. A good number of Inquisitors are members of an order of the Catholic Church - the four most prominent being the Benedectines, the Dominicans, the Franciscans and the Jesuits. These are expanded upon more in Hunters Hunted 2, but don’t make much of a practical difference.

Subdivisions

What does matter more is the formal subdivisions of the SoL - these are the Condotierri, the Gladius Dei and the Office of the Censor. Not all Inquisitors are necessarily part of one of these subdivisions, since they serve more as “specialist” branches.

The Condotierri - founded in the 15th century, they are quasi-military in nature and serve as the security force of the Society. Where others strike outwards, they watch inwards, preventing infiltration attempts. They are led by a Condotierre-General and follow a parallel structure that mimics that of the wider Society but is strict in nature; when deployed on the ground, they report to the highest-ranking Inquisitor present.

The Gladius Dei - the SoL’s elite corps, composed of the best Inquisitors on offer and supplied accordingly. In their vast array of missions and deployments, the Gladius Dei has yet to fail once, displaying incredible skill and unmatched zealousness. (As they are so rare and powerful, Gladius Dei are NOT playable on the server. You’re not that guy.)

Office of the Censor - effectively the Society’s internal affairs division, the Office of the Censor is responsible for making sure Inquisitors respect the regulations of the SoL. If before they acted strictly when necessary, nowadays, Censors investigate much more frequently and often happen to admonish those disagreeing with the Inquisitor-General. (As the Censors represent a higher echelon of command, they are also NOT playable, but may appear as admin-spawned characters to enforce punishments if needed.)

Order of Saint Joan - not a proper subdivision of the SoL per-se, the Order of Saint Joan exists in parallel to the Society of Leopold, but cooperates strongly with it on the field. However, they also maintain their own safehouses and rank structure, and their leader, the Abbess of Chartres, has come to blows with Inquisitor-General Bauer. Rumours exist around their use of Theurgy, but nothing has been proven. Yet.

Sects

Additionally, many Inquisitors are also members of a sect - groups that hold and promote different beliefs in regards to the activities of the Society of Leopold. These are:

The Brethren of Albertus - following the teachings of Albertus Magnus, the Brethren recognize the dangers and evils of magic, but seek to master it in order to combat the Supernatural with it. Looked upon with suspicion, but never formally outlawed.

The Children of Lazarus - representing the majority of the Society’s membership, the Children of Lazarus see Kindred as inherently guilty by their nature, with their overcoming of death being an unholy perversion and a crime against their faith. They are singularly focused on combatting vampirism and unconcerned with other creatures.

Fathers of the Good Death - an alternative to the above beliefs, the Fathers of the Good Death see Kindred as unclean spirits dating back to the original Flood, haunting the mortal realm. It is their duty to dispatch of them so they may finally rest. They only admit ordained priests.

The Sanbenito - inspired by the thoughts of Rafaelle Renzi, the scorned “Florentine Heretic”, some Inquisitors end up wondering if supernaturals need necessarily be destroyed. Some end up, in their foolish hopes, aiding them. They are detested by the wider Society and are priority targets for Censors. No one survives being a Sanbenito.

Sisterhood of Saint Claire - largely composed of doctors and other healers, the Sisterhood of Saint Claire rejects worldly possessions and comforts. Mostly well-liked.

In-Game

As the local Cenacle (group of inquisitors), it is up to you to shepherd the people of San Francisco through the dark night and into the day, warding off the various different supernaturals that would harm them and see all that is holy snuffed out.

DOs and DON’Ts

• DO take your faction and your role seriously. Remember: you are a warrior of God, act like one. Take the faith seriously. Don’t make a mockery of the Society’s core beliefs, lest the Censors come take you. Or worse.

• DON’T play TOO much into the religious aspect. Subtlety is an important aspect of the Society’s operations. Walking around with a sword, holy cape and knight armor yelling “DEUS VULT!” is bound to draw attention. Save the monologue about salvation and faith for when the target of your hunt is cornered.

• DO interact with the rest of the server. While as a Hunter you ought to be wary of those you meet at night, you shouldn’t be a recluse. Go out into the world, speak to its citizens. Pretend to be someone else to gain information. Investigate. Fighting is only half your job - you first have to DISCOVER something to fight.

• DON’T turn buddy-buddy with the enemy. At least, not immediately. You made it into the Society in good part because of your devotion. It will take a good amount of convincing to lead you off of the path of witch-hunting. This is something that should be roleplayed out across many rounds and checked in with staff.

• DO offer other players roleplay, including your enemies. The Society often likes to capture Kindred, for reasons obvious: they are great information sources, and the fear of losing their unlives is great reason for them to confess. Executions/RRs should only be done after adequate RP for all sides.