Post by Puck on Apr 21, 2015 21:17:39 GMT
THE I.A.C.S.B.
The origins of the organization are unclear. But the earliest and most reliable records seems to suggest that the I.A.C.S.B. was founded by an restless Magician and Clergy duo who both loathed the Church and the Magician's Guild. The former hated the political intrigue and stiffness of the Magician's Guild. The latter loathed the misuse of the Church's authority. They both worked together in the early English colonies to protect their new home with other supernatural volunteers. Thus dubbing their group as the Night Wolves at that time. Activity was bustling as they dealt with marauding forces of inhuman nature as the Revolutionary War with Britain came by.
The Night Wolves then started to accept all sorts of members as the time passed. However, their growing size was becoming ever noticeable to politicians and other government officials of the United States by the 1800s. There were signs of destruction and casualties that sometimes were hard to conceal at the time. As a result, there had been increasing government involvement which led to a rise of even higher undocumented casualties that had been listed as part of fending off invading Native Americans in government records. The Church made things worse as they were hostile to their existence as "an infestation of heretical Protestant scum pretending to be heroes." Casualties skyrocketed as they had their disagreements with the Clergymen and their Apostles over whose jurisdiction was it to deal with the supernatural on American soil. But, despite this, there exists documents stating that there were rare situations where they worked together out of necessity.
What hurt the Wolves the most was the disorganization between factions within their group as they disagreed on numerous policies. It was tearing them apart as well as discrediting them of being capable of protecting American lands from supernatural forces. Coming to a grudging agreement that this can no longer continue, they gave themselves to the American government to lead them. Soon, it became part of the U.S. government as its own clandestine division to deal with the supernatural under the public's noses to maintain calm. They now became known as the Department of Supernatural Affairs, the D.S.A. This helped give the Night Wolves the very right that they can police supernatural forces in the country as they became even more efficient. With this, the Church's numbers decided to dwindle in America as they had bigger fish to fry in South America, Asia, and Europe.
The American Civil War is when the D.S.A. faced a schism between the North and South. Various members of the organization fought against each other and mostly ended up ignoring the fact the casualties were attracting Demons and Horrors to battlefields. At the zenith of their conflict, dangerous demons, Marquis Leraje and Duke Eligos of King Solomon's Seventy-Two Demons have arrived into the physical realm from all the death and destruction in the South attracting them. Putting aside their differences, the Crows' divisions of North and South worked together to seal it away back to the spiritual realm as it was impossible to kill at the time. It was around this time that the creation of the Spiritual Armaments allowed more humans to join the fight and swell the Crows' numbers by a magician who continues to live on today in 2008.
It is after this conflict, that the Civil War has ended and the D.S.A. became one again during the Reconstruction. They then dealt with more demons in the aftermath of the Civil War and during the Reconstruction period as the frenzy of White Supremacy has brought in more demons to American soil. The war-torn path of the deceased Indians who were wronged by the American government served as a cesspool of Horrors and Demons to be eliminated for the good of society. With the Crows' weakened from being too involved with the government before the Civil War, there was a movement within the organization to become independent of the government again like in the days of the D.S.A. However, that would not be realized for a long time as they lacked numbers and strength. It is only recently in the 1905 that they changed the name to the National Supernatural Defense Agency, N.S.D.A., after an enterprising new Head Chairman wanted to rename it for various of reasons.
Like in the Civil War and old American-Indian Wars, they worked to clean up old battlefields in World War One with the Church. Because of the events of that war, it led to the N.S.D.A. to expanding outside of the States and increasing its influence subtly in the world, at the annoyance of the Church and the Guild. It is only on World War Two as they continued to work together with the Church and the Magician's Guild to fend off German Supernatural Forces and the Thule Society, a rogue Magician's Guild University, from coming out as the dominant force in the war. It served as the intermediary between the Church and the Guild to promote peace between both sides to some success as they signed an armistice. During their war in Europe, they also were involved in the Pacific Theater in a conflict with Japan and its supernatural forces. It is not surprising that many Asian supernatural forces (including many Ki Arts Clans), such as Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, and China, have increasingly supported the I.A.C.S.B.
However, Germany's Hitler, the Nazi Party, and the Thule Society have become increasingly desperate as they were finally losing. They took one last gambit by activating a ritual to summon demons all over the world, starting with Germany. This did not work out for them as these newcomers shred them to ribbons and made them into a hearty good lunch. There was chaos, but World War Two came to a stop as all forces on Earth had to deal with this new threat. Japan took the biggest hit from this Outbreak, which helped to end the war and even made it easier for the U.S. to implement their Occupation policies.
However, the Masquerade has completely been blown over to the fears of many non-humans. And they were right to fear it as humans now are in a frenzy to kill them all to protect itself. U.S.A and Russia would call for a truce to deal with this common threat they now shared, despite the Capitalism and Communism. The N.S.D.A., in this case, would not be pleased by these series of events. But, the international governments needed a force to counterbalance the Church that was growing immense political power that was threatening to usurp their rightful place as native politicians in their own countries. Management was forcibly changed and many of the non-human and Magician members of the organization were now detained. With great reluctance, the N.S.D.A. joined the mass hysteria to purge the World of non-humans under the control of the United Nations that now included the Soviet Union.
It is only after around two decades after the war, starting by 1965, that humans were increasingly becoming aware that these non-humans hated these demons just as well. In fact, they now knew there was a difference between the monsters that belonged to their world and the outsiders that kept coming in here. This can be easily attributed to the N.S.D.A.'s growing power and even the political outmaneuvering of the Church. It does help to say that the Church increasingly became known for sexual and financial scandals which undermined their role and even brought into question of their trustworthiness as even many innocent human lives were killed for even speaking a single word of dissent.
They 70's and 80's were a better time for all native inhabitants of the Earth as civil rights for all were increasingly becoming implemented and all races were becoming accepted for who they are. It is by this time that the N.S.D.A. became known as the International Association for the Coexistence of Supernatural Beings, the I.A.C.S.B. Needless to say, the I.A.C.S.B. was enjoying this increase of power and used it for the sake of coexistence between humans and non-humans. The Soviet Union came to fall apart in time, thus the United States had the most power over it. Yet, the I.A.C.S.B. has grown fairly powerful to the point that government oversight now became lacking. In fact the I.A.C.S.B. has become an international faction which lacks so much oversight from the international governments that seems no different than an independent organization. By 2008, the I.A.C.S.B. would remain being a significant supernatural faction with international influence all over the world.
The Night Wolves then started to accept all sorts of members as the time passed. However, their growing size was becoming ever noticeable to politicians and other government officials of the United States by the 1800s. There were signs of destruction and casualties that sometimes were hard to conceal at the time. As a result, there had been increasing government involvement which led to a rise of even higher undocumented casualties that had been listed as part of fending off invading Native Americans in government records. The Church made things worse as they were hostile to their existence as "an infestation of heretical Protestant scum pretending to be heroes." Casualties skyrocketed as they had their disagreements with the Clergymen and their Apostles over whose jurisdiction was it to deal with the supernatural on American soil. But, despite this, there exists documents stating that there were rare situations where they worked together out of necessity.
What hurt the Wolves the most was the disorganization between factions within their group as they disagreed on numerous policies. It was tearing them apart as well as discrediting them of being capable of protecting American lands from supernatural forces. Coming to a grudging agreement that this can no longer continue, they gave themselves to the American government to lead them. Soon, it became part of the U.S. government as its own clandestine division to deal with the supernatural under the public's noses to maintain calm. They now became known as the Department of Supernatural Affairs, the D.S.A. This helped give the Night Wolves the very right that they can police supernatural forces in the country as they became even more efficient. With this, the Church's numbers decided to dwindle in America as they had bigger fish to fry in South America, Asia, and Europe.
The American Civil War is when the D.S.A. faced a schism between the North and South. Various members of the organization fought against each other and mostly ended up ignoring the fact the casualties were attracting Demons and Horrors to battlefields. At the zenith of their conflict, dangerous demons, Marquis Leraje and Duke Eligos of King Solomon's Seventy-Two Demons have arrived into the physical realm from all the death and destruction in the South attracting them. Putting aside their differences, the Crows' divisions of North and South worked together to seal it away back to the spiritual realm as it was impossible to kill at the time. It was around this time that the creation of the Spiritual Armaments allowed more humans to join the fight and swell the Crows' numbers by a magician who continues to live on today in 2008.
It is after this conflict, that the Civil War has ended and the D.S.A. became one again during the Reconstruction. They then dealt with more demons in the aftermath of the Civil War and during the Reconstruction period as the frenzy of White Supremacy has brought in more demons to American soil. The war-torn path of the deceased Indians who were wronged by the American government served as a cesspool of Horrors and Demons to be eliminated for the good of society. With the Crows' weakened from being too involved with the government before the Civil War, there was a movement within the organization to become independent of the government again like in the days of the D.S.A. However, that would not be realized for a long time as they lacked numbers and strength. It is only recently in the 1905 that they changed the name to the National Supernatural Defense Agency, N.S.D.A., after an enterprising new Head Chairman wanted to rename it for various of reasons.
Like in the Civil War and old American-Indian Wars, they worked to clean up old battlefields in World War One with the Church. Because of the events of that war, it led to the N.S.D.A. to expanding outside of the States and increasing its influence subtly in the world, at the annoyance of the Church and the Guild. It is only on World War Two as they continued to work together with the Church and the Magician's Guild to fend off German Supernatural Forces and the Thule Society, a rogue Magician's Guild University, from coming out as the dominant force in the war. It served as the intermediary between the Church and the Guild to promote peace between both sides to some success as they signed an armistice. During their war in Europe, they also were involved in the Pacific Theater in a conflict with Japan and its supernatural forces. It is not surprising that many Asian supernatural forces (including many Ki Arts Clans), such as Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, and China, have increasingly supported the I.A.C.S.B.
However, Germany's Hitler, the Nazi Party, and the Thule Society have become increasingly desperate as they were finally losing. They took one last gambit by activating a ritual to summon demons all over the world, starting with Germany. This did not work out for them as these newcomers shred them to ribbons and made them into a hearty good lunch. There was chaos, but World War Two came to a stop as all forces on Earth had to deal with this new threat. Japan took the biggest hit from this Outbreak, which helped to end the war and even made it easier for the U.S. to implement their Occupation policies.
However, the Masquerade has completely been blown over to the fears of many non-humans. And they were right to fear it as humans now are in a frenzy to kill them all to protect itself. U.S.A and Russia would call for a truce to deal with this common threat they now shared, despite the Capitalism and Communism. The N.S.D.A., in this case, would not be pleased by these series of events. But, the international governments needed a force to counterbalance the Church that was growing immense political power that was threatening to usurp their rightful place as native politicians in their own countries. Management was forcibly changed and many of the non-human and Magician members of the organization were now detained. With great reluctance, the N.S.D.A. joined the mass hysteria to purge the World of non-humans under the control of the United Nations that now included the Soviet Union.
It is only after around two decades after the war, starting by 1965, that humans were increasingly becoming aware that these non-humans hated these demons just as well. In fact, they now knew there was a difference between the monsters that belonged to their world and the outsiders that kept coming in here. This can be easily attributed to the N.S.D.A.'s growing power and even the political outmaneuvering of the Church. It does help to say that the Church increasingly became known for sexual and financial scandals which undermined their role and even brought into question of their trustworthiness as even many innocent human lives were killed for even speaking a single word of dissent.
They 70's and 80's were a better time for all native inhabitants of the Earth as civil rights for all were increasingly becoming implemented and all races were becoming accepted for who they are. It is by this time that the N.S.D.A. became known as the International Association for the Coexistence of Supernatural Beings, the I.A.C.S.B. Needless to say, the I.A.C.S.B. was enjoying this increase of power and used it for the sake of coexistence between humans and non-humans. The Soviet Union came to fall apart in time, thus the United States had the most power over it. Yet, the I.A.C.S.B. has grown fairly powerful to the point that government oversight now became lacking. In fact the I.A.C.S.B. has become an international faction which lacks so much oversight from the international governments that seems no different than an independent organization. By 2008, the I.A.C.S.B. would remain being a significant supernatural faction with international influence all over the world.
THE CHURCH
It's been claimed that the Church's hidden supernatural arm was established not very long after Jesus Christ's death and has been managed by his remaining Twelve Apostles. Many sources inside and outside of the Church seems to verify this at the moment. It seems ever likely the Church played a hand in convincing Constantine the Great into allowing Christianity in his empire. But the sources for it seems to be kept tightly within the Church's archives away from prying eyes.
As time wore on, the Church increased in influence thanks to their God looking out for them as it seems. They were considerably active in the Great Crusades with the Knights Templar. Even after the end of the Crusades, they absorbed the remaining Templar into their ranks and as well as any holy relics they recovered from the war.
Other crusades were held such as the Albigensian Crusades, the Aragonese Crusades, and so forth. Especially the Spanish Reconquista. Though the Babylonian Captivity of the Popes has led to internal dissent within the Church's supernatural forces between mostly the French, English, and Italians and the other countries supporting their choice in Pope candidates. It took the end of the Great Schism to bring them together again under the election of Martin V.
Renaissance was full of mixed feelings for the Church. While business was as usual, a rise in Magicians unnerved them. But they were able to nearly lead them to near extinction. Technology was advancing in those times and that always helped the Church. The theology written by intellectuals like Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas had nearly always served the Church's purposes regardless.
Reformation was the era that changed the Church forever. Dissent of the Church's practices had led schisms all over the European continent and the birth of new denominations and churches separate from the Catholic Church. The Church would lose many a Clergy and Apostle as they warred against each other. Eventually the fighting faded away as countries finally established themselves as either Catholic or Protestant. However, there has always been a few clashes here and there throughout the years as rivalry continued to be in the air, especially in the Colonial Era.
Such rivalry had eventually led to the creation of the Night Wolves in the United States, that would later become the future I.A.C.S.B. where they later ruled supreme in the giant continent. Despite this loss, the Church and the other sects that abandoned it, continued to dominate in South America and Mexico.
Later on, the global World Wars have cased the Church to be busy. The First World War was a joint-operation with the I.A.C.S.B. to clean up the battlefields full of enticed supernaturals. Though the latter organization only came after the war to clean up the remains. The Second World War forced the Church to work with not only the I.A.C.S.B., but with the Magician's Guild to eliminate the Thule Society and Germany's supernatural forces. However, things have become drastic as Hitler, the Nazi Party, and the Thule Society made a failed last ditch attempt for a reversal by opening the floodgates of Demons into the world through a ritual. They were ripped to shreds by the monstrosities they summoned and have caused the World War to halt and the Masquerade to be blown open to pieces as every human on Earth knew the existence of the supernatural.
Taking advantage of this, the Church became the biggest player in the next decades as a "force of good and God" while they exterminate anything not human. In other words, this was their golden age as they dragged along the I.A.C.S.B. with them to participate in the extermination of the Mystic Kind, Demons, and even the Magicians. However, they have made a few crucial political blunders that has led to the I.A.C.S.B. outmaneuvering them and thus ending their reign.
Now came the age of Civil Rights for both human and non-human as they both had a common goal in combating the invading demons. While the Church lost much of its power in the previous post-World War II era, it still has potent strength as they still provide an invaluable service to keep unruly supernaturals in check while the I.A.C.S.B. puts limits on them as well. By 2008, they are one of the main factions of the World.
As time wore on, the Church increased in influence thanks to their God looking out for them as it seems. They were considerably active in the Great Crusades with the Knights Templar. Even after the end of the Crusades, they absorbed the remaining Templar into their ranks and as well as any holy relics they recovered from the war.
Other crusades were held such as the Albigensian Crusades, the Aragonese Crusades, and so forth. Especially the Spanish Reconquista. Though the Babylonian Captivity of the Popes has led to internal dissent within the Church's supernatural forces between mostly the French, English, and Italians and the other countries supporting their choice in Pope candidates. It took the end of the Great Schism to bring them together again under the election of Martin V.
Renaissance was full of mixed feelings for the Church. While business was as usual, a rise in Magicians unnerved them. But they were able to nearly lead them to near extinction. Technology was advancing in those times and that always helped the Church. The theology written by intellectuals like Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas had nearly always served the Church's purposes regardless.
Reformation was the era that changed the Church forever. Dissent of the Church's practices had led schisms all over the European continent and the birth of new denominations and churches separate from the Catholic Church. The Church would lose many a Clergy and Apostle as they warred against each other. Eventually the fighting faded away as countries finally established themselves as either Catholic or Protestant. However, there has always been a few clashes here and there throughout the years as rivalry continued to be in the air, especially in the Colonial Era.
Such rivalry had eventually led to the creation of the Night Wolves in the United States, that would later become the future I.A.C.S.B. where they later ruled supreme in the giant continent. Despite this loss, the Church and the other sects that abandoned it, continued to dominate in South America and Mexico.
Later on, the global World Wars have cased the Church to be busy. The First World War was a joint-operation with the I.A.C.S.B. to clean up the battlefields full of enticed supernaturals. Though the latter organization only came after the war to clean up the remains. The Second World War forced the Church to work with not only the I.A.C.S.B., but with the Magician's Guild to eliminate the Thule Society and Germany's supernatural forces. However, things have become drastic as Hitler, the Nazi Party, and the Thule Society made a failed last ditch attempt for a reversal by opening the floodgates of Demons into the world through a ritual. They were ripped to shreds by the monstrosities they summoned and have caused the World War to halt and the Masquerade to be blown open to pieces as every human on Earth knew the existence of the supernatural.
Taking advantage of this, the Church became the biggest player in the next decades as a "force of good and God" while they exterminate anything not human. In other words, this was their golden age as they dragged along the I.A.C.S.B. with them to participate in the extermination of the Mystic Kind, Demons, and even the Magicians. However, they have made a few crucial political blunders that has led to the I.A.C.S.B. outmaneuvering them and thus ending their reign.
Now came the age of Civil Rights for both human and non-human as they both had a common goal in combating the invading demons. While the Church lost much of its power in the previous post-World War II era, it still has potent strength as they still provide an invaluable service to keep unruly supernaturals in check while the I.A.C.S.B. puts limits on them as well. By 2008, they are one of the main factions of the World.
THE MARTIAL FOREST COALITION
Unlike the other factions, the Coalition really lacks any trustworthy sources to rely on. But many of them do seem to point out that the Ki Arts were founded by a group of sages meditating in a forest in China. Through this newfound power, they used it to protect themselves from predatory animals and marauding non-humans. This eventually led to its dissemination to martial artists who then later developed techniques of their own and eventually formed clans, styles, and even sects.
This wouldn't stop in China as it eventually spread to the rest of Asia most likely through commercial trade routes of the time. As the Arts was passed on to other countries, so were the rules and traditions that came with it. The rule that they must not share them to anyone freely and to conceal these techniques from the public and even the government. The tradition to be loyal to one's own clan/style/sect and its members. These sentiments allowed each country to have their own Ki Arts societies separate from other countries' Ki Arts societies.
There had been times when government became aware of its existence. A "live performance" is demonstrated by the nearby members of the Martial Arts Coalition to those with political power. As the Coalition is an extremely secluded society, those with that power do not like them. As such, they end up trying to use the police and military to incorporate them into normal society.
But these attempts provoke the Coalition to send a member into that political leader's bedroom and leave a sword stabbed into their pillow. In other words, it is the Coalition's message that they can kill him at any time they desired. Even today, it has been very persuasive. However, by World War 2, Japan's Coalitions have started to become more integrated with the government. A clear violation of tradition and rules that have been kept together for many years.
Because of Japan's imperialistic drive, its Coalition has been invading upon other country's Coalition groups. All of Korea were sent in hiding or found themselves on boats to America as they could no longer endure Japan's assault. They have lost many important clans, styles, and sects which leaves them nearly scarce even today. China stood steadfast on an almost losing battle alongside with the Filipinos and the Vietnamese on the other side of the planet. It was only until the I.A.C.S.B.'s involvement that they were able to drive them back.
Many Coalition individual groups were lost in the bloody conflict. Korea suffered the most as they are left with only a handful of styles and clans. China continued to harbor the most Ki Art groups, but many of them were lost. Japan only lost a small number, but would become the most hated and loathed within the Coalition for decades. However, the whole society of the Ki Arts lost its secrecy thanks to the 1945 Demon Outbreaks. Yet the war halted.
Japan suffered tremendously from the Outbreaks, they surrendered to the I.A.C.S.B. and the United States. Thus leading to the American Occupation. McArthur and others attempted to keep things in control and to reform the country as best as they could. Yet, the hysteria of killing anything not human was strong. Many of the Ki Arts styles and clans hunted down their Guild brethren or some helped them secretly. Nevertheless, the Emperor continued to have power. Yet, his standing as a divine being declined due to the Outbreaks. At best people do not take him as seriously as they did in pre-World War Two. That said, the Ki Arts clans are now part of the government, but were given the right to keep their teachings and training to themselves.
Korea was ultimately left alone to its own fate as the rest of the world was too busy recovering. But the previous clans and countrymen that once fled the peninsula, now have returned with numerous aid to help get back on its feet. While some dictatorships, corruption, and coups flourished in the first few years, the country was able to attain democratic governments and capitalist societies as the next presidents proved themselves to be capable. Thus, the country maintained a mostly capitalist stance all throughout the country and continued to be united. The Clans and Styles now started to become more part of the government to help protect its people from the supernatural. It comes to no surprise that they too faced a similar fate as to Japan when dealing with their Guild members.
China was the most turbulent as conflict between the Communists and the Nationalists continued. With the chaos, the Ki Arts society decided to plant Pu Yi as a choice to end the conflict. Working together with regional warlords, they propped up the Manchurian Emperor to again reestablish the Qing Empire. Thus, establishing these warlords as the new court politicians while still having the Ki Arts Clan answering only to the Emperor so that it helps retain most of its traditions of not being involved with the government. At least not so much. But, of course, they would have to rise up to protect the Emperor and even the populace from supernatural threats. Thus this political faction would be known as the Imperialists in this chaos as they rise up using Puyi who now has political power.
This brought conflict from both the Nationalists and the Communists at first. Until the Nationalists were finally routed out towards Taiwan by the Imperialists and the Communists. Eventually more chaos ensued between the Imperialists and the Communists. But given the nature of the Demon Outbreaks, the fighting stopped and an armistice was signed between the Northern Imperialists and the Southern Communists. Many Ki Artists and supernaturals left Southern China due to the oppressive nature of Communism. Northern China was only slightly better and worse depending in the area. But nevertheless, times have changed and both countries eventually became successful in their own ways as they increasingly adopted capitalism while the Qing Empire also took on more of a constitutional democracy.
By the 70's and 80's the hysteria has died down and better times lay ahead for supernaturals through civil rights legislation. Now many of the Ki Arts clans have become more part of the government, but at least retaining their traditions to keep their techniques and training a secret between themselves. Due to the growing globalism reaching the world and the Demon Outbreaks, the Ki Arts societies in each Asian country started to reach out towards other Ki Arts groups to establish connections. Eventually by 1994, this became the Coalition as each part of its society had newcomers replace old veterans of the grudge-filled World War Two. Thus allowing Ki Arts societies of many countries come together as the Martial Forest Coalition, a federation of said societies that would come to assist other societies when needed. It is by 2008, they are another of the factions of the world.
This wouldn't stop in China as it eventually spread to the rest of Asia most likely through commercial trade routes of the time. As the Arts was passed on to other countries, so were the rules and traditions that came with it. The rule that they must not share them to anyone freely and to conceal these techniques from the public and even the government. The tradition to be loyal to one's own clan/style/sect and its members. These sentiments allowed each country to have their own Ki Arts societies separate from other countries' Ki Arts societies.
There had been times when government became aware of its existence. A "live performance" is demonstrated by the nearby members of the Martial Arts Coalition to those with political power. As the Coalition is an extremely secluded society, those with that power do not like them. As such, they end up trying to use the police and military to incorporate them into normal society.
But these attempts provoke the Coalition to send a member into that political leader's bedroom and leave a sword stabbed into their pillow. In other words, it is the Coalition's message that they can kill him at any time they desired. Even today, it has been very persuasive. However, by World War 2, Japan's Coalitions have started to become more integrated with the government. A clear violation of tradition and rules that have been kept together for many years.
Because of Japan's imperialistic drive, its Coalition has been invading upon other country's Coalition groups. All of Korea were sent in hiding or found themselves on boats to America as they could no longer endure Japan's assault. They have lost many important clans, styles, and sects which leaves them nearly scarce even today. China stood steadfast on an almost losing battle alongside with the Filipinos and the Vietnamese on the other side of the planet. It was only until the I.A.C.S.B.'s involvement that they were able to drive them back.
Many Coalition individual groups were lost in the bloody conflict. Korea suffered the most as they are left with only a handful of styles and clans. China continued to harbor the most Ki Art groups, but many of them were lost. Japan only lost a small number, but would become the most hated and loathed within the Coalition for decades. However, the whole society of the Ki Arts lost its secrecy thanks to the 1945 Demon Outbreaks. Yet the war halted.
Japan suffered tremendously from the Outbreaks, they surrendered to the I.A.C.S.B. and the United States. Thus leading to the American Occupation. McArthur and others attempted to keep things in control and to reform the country as best as they could. Yet, the hysteria of killing anything not human was strong. Many of the Ki Arts styles and clans hunted down their Guild brethren or some helped them secretly. Nevertheless, the Emperor continued to have power. Yet, his standing as a divine being declined due to the Outbreaks. At best people do not take him as seriously as they did in pre-World War Two. That said, the Ki Arts clans are now part of the government, but were given the right to keep their teachings and training to themselves.
Korea was ultimately left alone to its own fate as the rest of the world was too busy recovering. But the previous clans and countrymen that once fled the peninsula, now have returned with numerous aid to help get back on its feet. While some dictatorships, corruption, and coups flourished in the first few years, the country was able to attain democratic governments and capitalist societies as the next presidents proved themselves to be capable. Thus, the country maintained a mostly capitalist stance all throughout the country and continued to be united. The Clans and Styles now started to become more part of the government to help protect its people from the supernatural. It comes to no surprise that they too faced a similar fate as to Japan when dealing with their Guild members.
China was the most turbulent as conflict between the Communists and the Nationalists continued. With the chaos, the Ki Arts society decided to plant Pu Yi as a choice to end the conflict. Working together with regional warlords, they propped up the Manchurian Emperor to again reestablish the Qing Empire. Thus, establishing these warlords as the new court politicians while still having the Ki Arts Clan answering only to the Emperor so that it helps retain most of its traditions of not being involved with the government. At least not so much. But, of course, they would have to rise up to protect the Emperor and even the populace from supernatural threats. Thus this political faction would be known as the Imperialists in this chaos as they rise up using Puyi who now has political power.
This brought conflict from both the Nationalists and the Communists at first. Until the Nationalists were finally routed out towards Taiwan by the Imperialists and the Communists. Eventually more chaos ensued between the Imperialists and the Communists. But given the nature of the Demon Outbreaks, the fighting stopped and an armistice was signed between the Northern Imperialists and the Southern Communists. Many Ki Artists and supernaturals left Southern China due to the oppressive nature of Communism. Northern China was only slightly better and worse depending in the area. But nevertheless, times have changed and both countries eventually became successful in their own ways as they increasingly adopted capitalism while the Qing Empire also took on more of a constitutional democracy.
By the 70's and 80's the hysteria has died down and better times lay ahead for supernaturals through civil rights legislation. Now many of the Ki Arts clans have become more part of the government, but at least retaining their traditions to keep their techniques and training a secret between themselves. Due to the growing globalism reaching the world and the Demon Outbreaks, the Ki Arts societies in each Asian country started to reach out towards other Ki Arts groups to establish connections. Eventually by 1994, this became the Coalition as each part of its society had newcomers replace old veterans of the grudge-filled World War Two. Thus allowing Ki Arts societies of many countries come together as the Martial Forest Coalition, a federation of said societies that would come to assist other societies when needed. It is by 2008, they are another of the factions of the world.
THE MAGICIAN'S GUILD
Magic has been around for as long as humans can remember through folklore and other stories of mystical and supernatural nature. A Magician has been regarded with much fear and respect by many humans in olden times. Mysticism surrounds a magician as it is their bread and butter of their craft. Surprisingly, the records for the Guild are well-kept. If a few dusted books can be considered "well-kept" by general standards. But, the sources appear to be validated by supernatural entities that have lived during those times. However, it is not known when Magic came to be in the world.
Magicians generally did not come together as a group before the Black Death. Magic was their craft that was handed down by a single line through careful tutelage and diligent recording in tomes and grimoires. As such they jealously kept their respective works to themselves. In fact, this attitude is common today. However, Christianity was gaining in strength. The Magicians knew the existence of God's human agents as they found themselves tangled in conflict with them. Magicians, according to these Christians, were heretics as they were seen "partaking in the acts of the Devil". They needed to be eradicated. However, they lacked the power to do so as the Magicians tried their hand in politics and led society against them in horrid and brutal persecutions as seen in Roman and Byzantine times.
However, this was going to flip back towards them once Constantine the Great acknowledged Christianity. Magicians, even to this day, have no idea what had happened at the time. But questionable sources claim that Jesus Christ has allowed him to win a vital battle in war, which is why the Byzantine Emperor decided to switch religions. The quote, "turnabout is fair play" heavily applies to the Church and the Magicians. As persecutions of these magic users were becoming common, they started forming groups out of necessity to survive these persecutions and to ensure their accumulated knowledge would continue to be passed down to the next generation.
The Church's influence has gotten large enough to actually threaten the existence of all magicians in Europe by the time of the Renaissance. Matters were even made worse as the spread of "logic and reason" started to deteriorate the contemporary magecraft. Something had to be done. Various small magician groups decided to get together to form "guilds" as a means for protection and for furthering their research in ways that doesn't betray their own findings while still benefiting from the exchange of knowledge. As other guilds also met each other, it soon led to even bigger ones until most of Europe has become a huge force known as the "Magician's Guild" to protect themselves from the Church.
To address the issues of their deteriorating mystical art, Magicians began reforming their systems to match the ideologies of the time which would now recently become Modern Magecraft or Modern Magic. The massive difference is that this is magic that addresses the physical realm while also lacking any interference with spiritual matters. Any form of magic that includes any involvement in the latter has now become Traditional Magic or Traditional Magecraft. Such craft is not forgotten as there are practitioners dedicated to prevent its complete loss even after the creation of Modern Magic. However, the grimoires and tomes of the past has become no better than something that merely fills a library's shelves.
The Reformation era granted them their only reprieve as the Church faced schisms among their members. Taking full advantage of this, the Magicians took this time to increase defenses and even lick their wounds. No need to get involved in this conflict, let them cut down their own numbers. As the fanatical members of the Church cut each other down, the Guild praised Martin Luther. Though, witch hunts became more of a social institution due to the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics that were widespread in Europe. As a result of this, many Magicians have fled their countries and established the Guild's center in the Netherlands where the decentralized state of the country provided economic opportunities and even learning.
The Colonial Age came about as the Americas were found. However, only Magicians, who didn't have any ties to their homeland and wished to see what the new frontier could offer, ended up there. Communications between the Guild and themselves in the Americas were rather infrequent due to the distance. Of course, the Guild did make some territory of their own over there and didn't have much business there unlike the Church. Shamans and soothsayers in the Americas found themselves devoured by the influence of Western Magicians as they slowly encroached upon their territories. Their numbers dwindled because of the colonist expansion in their lands and the rejection of their "inferior" magecraft that eventually deteriorated thanks to the spreading "logic and reasoning" spawned from the Renaissance and Reformation eras.
Magicians in Asia, Daoist/Buddhist priests, shamans, and Onmyouji, worked together with practitioners of the Ki Arts since ancient times. However, Westerners also encroached upon their lands which soon led to the dwindling of their numbers and the decline of their mystical craft as well for the same reasons as Native Americans. But for Japan, the 19th Century Tokugawa prohibition on superstition has forced many to go deeper underground and even suffered tremendously as a result. This also meant the Ki Artists became the dominant human supernatural force at the time, but even then they had to follow their own laws of never exposing the community to the public sphere.
The Magicians did not have much involvement in later wars. At least until the Second World War as a cabal of magicians under the belief of Aryan superiority, the Thule Society, have decided to delve into the forbidden traditional magics through the sacrifice of innocent people of Jewish descent. Seeing that the Thule Society is becoming too noticeable and even extremely unethical of their actions, the Guild had to stop them. The Society turned out to be too much of a potent force to fight alone, surprisingly enough thanks to the forbidden thaumaturgy they studied.
The Church eventually needed to get involved because of the heresy and even the I.A.C.S.B. once after they are dragged into it by Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor. However, Nazi Germany's release of demons by 1945 spelled horrendous times ahead for the Guild. Because the Thule Society was once a Guild-aligned organization, now the rest of the Magician's Guild must bear the brunt of the blame. With the mass hysteria in the world to slay all that is non-human, this does not bode well. Especially when the Church is at the forefront of this global frenzy. In fact, this was unlike the witch hunts of earlier eras. This was complete near genocide within twenty years. Many Guilds have fled to the Spiritual Realm due to their connections with the Fae Courts. Others could not afford such transition for various reasons and have devoted themselves to hiding and even keeping pent up horrendous fury and sorrow for the future to come.
Their break came once the I.A.C.S.B. outmaneuvered the Church and the decades of Civil Rights legislation rose to protect them. Now the Guild could breath a sigh of relief and still foster even great enmity against the Church. However, for the Asian sphere of the Guild, many have lost the close relationship they once had with a number of Coalition Clans and Schools because of the betrayal. Though there are some that continue to foster a close relationship as some helped these Guilds to survive. Years later, the Coalition slowly grew back to power while their number continues to be small compared to older times. By 2008, by their usefulness and the amount of political power stemming from the former, they are able to become a main faction in the world.
Magicians generally did not come together as a group before the Black Death. Magic was their craft that was handed down by a single line through careful tutelage and diligent recording in tomes and grimoires. As such they jealously kept their respective works to themselves. In fact, this attitude is common today. However, Christianity was gaining in strength. The Magicians knew the existence of God's human agents as they found themselves tangled in conflict with them. Magicians, according to these Christians, were heretics as they were seen "partaking in the acts of the Devil". They needed to be eradicated. However, they lacked the power to do so as the Magicians tried their hand in politics and led society against them in horrid and brutal persecutions as seen in Roman and Byzantine times.
However, this was going to flip back towards them once Constantine the Great acknowledged Christianity. Magicians, even to this day, have no idea what had happened at the time. But questionable sources claim that Jesus Christ has allowed him to win a vital battle in war, which is why the Byzantine Emperor decided to switch religions. The quote, "turnabout is fair play" heavily applies to the Church and the Magicians. As persecutions of these magic users were becoming common, they started forming groups out of necessity to survive these persecutions and to ensure their accumulated knowledge would continue to be passed down to the next generation.
The Church's influence has gotten large enough to actually threaten the existence of all magicians in Europe by the time of the Renaissance. Matters were even made worse as the spread of "logic and reason" started to deteriorate the contemporary magecraft. Something had to be done. Various small magician groups decided to get together to form "guilds" as a means for protection and for furthering their research in ways that doesn't betray their own findings while still benefiting from the exchange of knowledge. As other guilds also met each other, it soon led to even bigger ones until most of Europe has become a huge force known as the "Magician's Guild" to protect themselves from the Church.
To address the issues of their deteriorating mystical art, Magicians began reforming their systems to match the ideologies of the time which would now recently become Modern Magecraft or Modern Magic. The massive difference is that this is magic that addresses the physical realm while also lacking any interference with spiritual matters. Any form of magic that includes any involvement in the latter has now become Traditional Magic or Traditional Magecraft. Such craft is not forgotten as there are practitioners dedicated to prevent its complete loss even after the creation of Modern Magic. However, the grimoires and tomes of the past has become no better than something that merely fills a library's shelves.
The Reformation era granted them their only reprieve as the Church faced schisms among their members. Taking full advantage of this, the Magicians took this time to increase defenses and even lick their wounds. No need to get involved in this conflict, let them cut down their own numbers. As the fanatical members of the Church cut each other down, the Guild praised Martin Luther. Though, witch hunts became more of a social institution due to the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics that were widespread in Europe. As a result of this, many Magicians have fled their countries and established the Guild's center in the Netherlands where the decentralized state of the country provided economic opportunities and even learning.
The Colonial Age came about as the Americas were found. However, only Magicians, who didn't have any ties to their homeland and wished to see what the new frontier could offer, ended up there. Communications between the Guild and themselves in the Americas were rather infrequent due to the distance. Of course, the Guild did make some territory of their own over there and didn't have much business there unlike the Church. Shamans and soothsayers in the Americas found themselves devoured by the influence of Western Magicians as they slowly encroached upon their territories. Their numbers dwindled because of the colonist expansion in their lands and the rejection of their "inferior" magecraft that eventually deteriorated thanks to the spreading "logic and reasoning" spawned from the Renaissance and Reformation eras.
Magicians in Asia, Daoist/Buddhist priests, shamans, and Onmyouji, worked together with practitioners of the Ki Arts since ancient times. However, Westerners also encroached upon their lands which soon led to the dwindling of their numbers and the decline of their mystical craft as well for the same reasons as Native Americans. But for Japan, the 19th Century Tokugawa prohibition on superstition has forced many to go deeper underground and even suffered tremendously as a result. This also meant the Ki Artists became the dominant human supernatural force at the time, but even then they had to follow their own laws of never exposing the community to the public sphere.
The Magicians did not have much involvement in later wars. At least until the Second World War as a cabal of magicians under the belief of Aryan superiority, the Thule Society, have decided to delve into the forbidden traditional magics through the sacrifice of innocent people of Jewish descent. Seeing that the Thule Society is becoming too noticeable and even extremely unethical of their actions, the Guild had to stop them. The Society turned out to be too much of a potent force to fight alone, surprisingly enough thanks to the forbidden thaumaturgy they studied.
The Church eventually needed to get involved because of the heresy and even the I.A.C.S.B. once after they are dragged into it by Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor. However, Nazi Germany's release of demons by 1945 spelled horrendous times ahead for the Guild. Because the Thule Society was once a Guild-aligned organization, now the rest of the Magician's Guild must bear the brunt of the blame. With the mass hysteria in the world to slay all that is non-human, this does not bode well. Especially when the Church is at the forefront of this global frenzy. In fact, this was unlike the witch hunts of earlier eras. This was complete near genocide within twenty years. Many Guilds have fled to the Spiritual Realm due to their connections with the Fae Courts. Others could not afford such transition for various reasons and have devoted themselves to hiding and even keeping pent up horrendous fury and sorrow for the future to come.
Their break came once the I.A.C.S.B. outmaneuvered the Church and the decades of Civil Rights legislation rose to protect them. Now the Guild could breath a sigh of relief and still foster even great enmity against the Church. However, for the Asian sphere of the Guild, many have lost the close relationship they once had with a number of Coalition Clans and Schools because of the betrayal. Though there are some that continue to foster a close relationship as some helped these Guilds to survive. Years later, the Coalition slowly grew back to power while their number continues to be small compared to older times. By 2008, by their usefulness and the amount of political power stemming from the former, they are able to become a main faction in the world.
