Cryptocracy

The Cryptocracy are a Sworn faction who regard the Contagion as a form of social breakdown.

Overview[]

To Cryptocrats, human civilization has a bad habit of imploding every few decades into warfare and barbarism. The Contagion is just a metaphysical outgrowth of that destructive cycle. They regard themselves as the stewards of society, the training wheels that keep the world running until such time as mortals are able to manage their own affairs. After all, supernatural beings are mostly longer-lived than mere humans, and definitely know more about how the world actually works; it is their burden and privilege to lend a helping hand. They're here to save us, whether we like it or not.

The biggest flaws of the Cryptocracy is its obsession with secrecy and the stubbornness of its members. They tend to keep secrets from other Sworn, and even from one another. When they disagree about goals or methods, the resulting fights get ugly. And if their manipulation of mortals gets too heavy-handed, the stakes are far being personal exposure.

Origins[]

The Cryptocracy traces its origins to the destruction of Carthage in 146 BCE. From that moment of brutality, the Curse of Hasdrubal began to spread across the Roman Empire and into its neighbors. The Camarilla took the lead in investigating the cause of the bloodshed, and eventually formed an alliance with various demons, sorcerers and other beings to understand the symptoms and stop the spread.

Methods[]

When Contagion strikes, Cryptocrats can draw on money, power, and existing institutional structures to fight it. They try their best to wield their influence unseen, but if necessary they can take a more direct approach. They're the best ones to call on when dealing directly with mortals and mortal institutions, such as police, governments, or simply crowds of people in harm's way. When there's not an active outbreak to focus on, Cryptocrats try to prevent future ones by promoting social stability, whether that means opening a food bank or assassinating a budding demagogue.

Cryptocrats have access to a global communications and surveillance network called Caliber, which may or may not be connected to ECHELON. Their Vector is Authority.

Membership[]

Invictus vampires, Guardians of the Veil, Winter Courtiers, Ugallu Beasts, Maa-Kep.

References[]

• CofD: The Contagion Chronicle, p. 14-16