Omaha Nights

The world is not as we think we know it. Supernatural creatures abound and live, walk, and even work among us. Normal humans with their iron, technology and fecundity have forced them into the shadows, resulting in the one absolute rule: Thou shalt not turn humans against us. Which has largely been interpreted as not scaring the humans with things they don’t understand.

Fae, werecreatures, witches, and vampires are the top of the food chain, though there are many other creatures and supernatural beings around, mostly lesser, or at least less organized, though there are some truly incredible creatures out there that nobody wants to awaken or attract the attention of: demons, sleeping gods, the greater elementals that make up the earth, Mother Earth herself, etc.

The powerful in the old world fought, allied, and conspired, from the earliest days until a detente was reached. Boundaries have been established, treaties formed, and machinations, plots, and dynasties take centuries. Creatures that can’t fit in are driven into hiding or destroyed. Iron and the Church forced most into the shadows, but not out of power. Most nations in the old world have some ancient being pulling strings, usually the vampires who live, or died, for power.

The new world created a new opportunity. A place for those who don’t fit in, or needed their own territories to go and carve out from the natives there. Between the influx of the supernatural, the mass migrations of Europeans, and the diseases they brought. The native powers were forced into a retreat, holding on to their meager territories with desperation and guile. The first, bold and desperate, supernaturals were exiled to the other side of the world, or hitched along with the vikings. When Columbus and others “discovered” the new world, many were already here, but the colonies saw that number increase immensely.

When the first explorers and settlers made it to Nebraska, they found that a wealthy man and his retainers had beat them there. These people had driven off the natives and established a home. This man has used many names through the years, but has always worked in the shadows, building, acquiring, and controlling as much as he could. This prosperity drew other supernatural creatures: weres and vampires in particular. These creatures have formed an uneasy peace, dividing up the surrounding lands among them. Nobody really knows who and what this man really is, but all fear him. He is known to the world at large by his most recent human name, Warren.

Modern technology, especially the pervasiveness of surveillance and forensic science is starting to make it very difficult for the supernatural to remain in hiding. Carefully placed people in law enforcement, government, and research areas watch for trouble, Groups and organizations are ruthless with people that excessively risk exposure. Witches and others are contracted as cleaners, and more. Though even that is proving to not be enough. So the Fae decided to have a trial exposure and selected Thomas Little, a Fae of no great power to come out to the public 8 years ago. Thomas was the gardener for a rich accountant and was framed for killing the accountant by the wife. The accountant was killed with Iron garden shears. In the courtroom, Thomas showed that he physically couldn’t hold the iron without it burning him.

Most people believe that the Fae are similarly powerless and harmless, but some in the government believe that there may be more to the story, especially those that have read tales like those of Grimm, and formed a new agency to monitor and handle supernatural issues. This agency is the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, or BSA. The BSA is still largely ignorant of the real goings on in the world, but recent events have caused them to step up their efforts to learn.

Possible Roles:

1. Physical combat expert
2. Ranged combat expert
3. Rogue
4. Investigator
5. Healer
6. Inventor
7. Face/Fixer (social, contacts)
8. Scholar
9. Transportation specialist
10. Defender/Bodyguard
11. Hacker
12. Communications
13. Scientist
14. Forensics expert
15. Survivalist
16. Historian

Common Races:

Humans-

- Humans do only what actual humans do. Exceptions: see Witch, below.

Were-creatures-

- Vulnerable to silver; causes physical damage
- Must change during the full moon
- Heightened senses- hearing, smell, taste, night vision
- Usually larger and stronger in animal form
- Must answer to pack leadership/hierarchy
- Weres are made, not born
  - Generally takes a near fatal attack

Fae-

- Vulnerable to iron (common) or other as approved by GM
- Cannot directly tell a lie
- Powers vary by type
- Powers tied to nature
- Use Glamour to blend in
- Must answer to Gray Lords

Vampires-

- Vulnerable to sunlight and holy symbols (provided the bearer truly believes)
- Must answer to creator and/or the seethe
- Must drink blood
- Undead- does not need to breathe, eat (other than blood,) etc.
- Vampires are made, not born
  - Takes many blood exchanges over a long time
  - Humans get partial abilities from the exchange
  - Must be killed and hope to rise

Witches-

- Generally human, others at GM discretion
- Power comes from sacrifice
  - White witches’ power comes from self sacrifice- self inflicted pain, for example
  - Black witches’ sacrifice other living things for power - torture and suffering produce more power than mere death. Black witches are not well tolerated by the other races.