There is too much violence in the World Below, too much Blood in the Dirt, and Far too much Blood in The Skies. The Church stands for united peace, and offers it's Endless Hand out to help, promoting healing, tranquility and support. However, many Coteries see the White Hand as meddlers, idiots and archaic traditionalists unwilling to accept that Winged Survival and progression has been built on conflict. Still, The Cloistered Church keep going with their messages of unity, an end to destruction and a new age of perfection, and grow stronger every day.
The Choral Bird Song of The White Hand is especially revered above all other Coteries - as the Cloistered Church's sole weapon against those that would "Walk The Path" , Bird Song is cultivated and perfected amongst the Doves to such a level that entire Chorusses sing as one perfect, beautiful many mouthed being.
Traditionalist Doves believe that those that should be united together are "Us All" - all the Winged. To this end, Traditionalists eschew much else other than names and roles, letting their actions to save, heal, sing and stop other Winged define them rather than belongings or History.
If pushed, The White Hand will accept that conflict is inevitable, but suffering can be avoided: it takes two parties to go to war, so why should one, if any, walk away scarred, if at all?
How the White Hand deals with pacifism is different depending on the Winged: Doves spread Peace & Understanding, Quails & Chickens through hard work, Partridges through intervening and martyrdom, and Nightengales through Beauty and appreciation.
Dove Eyries resemble huge, ornate but simple white marble temples, sometimes enshrouded in ivy or flowers, sometimes marked with esoteric symbols. More Radical Eyries resemble rescued-but-unkempt churches, appropriated bunkers and colourful gardens.
Following the new Century's Parliaments, a schism has erupted between the Radical & Traditionalist Doves: The Traditionalist Doves are angered that the Church has failed to influence or intervene with the Parliament, or prevent the creation of the Red, a force even more despisable to the Peace-seeking Hand than the Green. The Radical Doves are sickened that the Hand seems to be whining about not controlling everything, and more importantly, want to choke out the Parliament's free will.
This has resulted in the Radicals breaking away to form their own faction, The Cult Of the Pillars Of Light, apparently aided by both Dreamers and new Patrons. Needless to say, relations between the patient Church & the Free Cult are... strained.
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Principles of the White Hand
- Purity
- Peace
- Patience
- Understanding
- Purification
Dove Bird-Song is, in my head, a mix of choral singing, hymns, throat singing, and call and response.
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Doves
Doves are the head representatives of the White Hand. Ascetic, tranquil, hopeful and forgiving, dressed in simple robes, beads and sashes, Doves simply want the Coteries to agree - one step at a time. Dove Birdsong is beautiful, and a full Chorus of hand-linked Doves casting their Birdsong can be utterly enchanting. Doves believe in the Chorus - the voice of The Many which outweighs the few. Rumours of Doves being able to empower another with the full power of The Chorus have been noted, though many simply believe this is the effect of mystifying Dove Birdsong.
Visually indistinct except for their mannerisms and perhaps (in the Case of self-identifying Radicals) in their dress sense, Doves of specific roles are difficult to spot. The Chosen are the Deacons and Defenders, those that tend and care for their Brothers and sisters less fortunate to prove themselves. The Ascendant are the Psychopomps and Voices, Leaders whose calming or firey words can motivate entire Dove Coteries to accept or deny aid to allies as quickly as the will of The Chorus changes.
Traditionalist Doves wear simple robes in a uniform colour, with simple jewelry as focus items and gifts from Brothers to Sisters. Chosen and Ascendant are distinguished perhaps by different jewelry or more silks.
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Dove Believer
Type: Pawn
Plumage: White
FacePaint: White Brows. Uniform Religous Symbol on forehead - Same on all Doves in same House.
Beak: White Small.
Emotion: Bliss
Oppurtunities: Religous Fanatic, Wandering Healer, Choir Singer, Good Samaritan, Hippy Activist, Cultist, Flagellant
Qualities: Quick, Quicker, Barbrisier
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Dove Chosen
Type: Bishop
Plumage: White
FacePaint: White Brows. Uniform Religous Symbol on forehead - Same on all Doves in same House.
Beak: White Small.
Emotion: Bliss
Qualities: Oratorism, Emotionallist
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Dove Ascendant
Type: King
Plumage: White
FacePaint: White Brows. Uniform Religous Symbol on forehead - Same on all Doves in same House.
Beak: White Small.
Emotion: BlissQualities: Oratorism, Fancy, Quick
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Pigeons (White)
"She was an odd investment, the White Pigeon, but ze had never once regretted backing her cause. And she was a Pigeon - an oddity, born with plumage white as a Dove, with pale grey fingers. That had raised no few eyebrows, but she had taken it as a sign, a reminder of the heritage of the Pigeons who had once, in the mists of time, been Doves of the White Hand. A divine message that the future of peace and unity, of the Chorus itself, lay in progress, in innovation - in the Dirt.
She had declared herself a prophetess - no, more, a manifestation of the Chorus itself. She abandoned her name, in a move which rather endeared her to the Mockingbird who, like many others of hir kind, had done the same, and went only by the epithet of White Pigeon. And when she spoke, you could truly believe that in science and progress lay the way to eternal peace. There is always a buyer for peace, and so Mr Sparks took her under hir wing, ensured she had every resource she needed, and watched with fascination as the Dreamer she selected as her personal project began to change the world. A fine investment indeed."
White Pigeons are a link between the religious purity of the White Hand, and the scientific endeavors of the Dirt. They are Prophets & Utopians. They often base their names on variations of the word White, or it's Synonyms. They feel a deep connection to Dreamer Scientists, and the many attempts to end war... even if an ultimate weapon needs to be built to do that.
Type: Bishop
Plumage: White
FacePaint: Grey on Some Extremeties (Choices of Forehead, feet, fingertips, etc)
Beak: Small White
Emotion: Love
Qualities: Emotionalist, Loving
Qualities: Emotionalist, Loving
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Quail
Caught between the hard-working Chickens, the furious Grouse and gregarious Partridges, the fast and defensive Quails are the best of all worlds. Mostly hard-working farmers, Quails believe in enjoying the fruits of their toil. Honest, caring believers of the White Hand, Quails will drop all hospitality once their family, faith or friends are threatened.
Quails often wear practical wear: shirts, shifts, hardy trews, boots, aprons.
Quails often carry practical Spears, and other long tools.
Type: Pawn
Plumage: Blue
FacePaint: Blue Freckles on Cheeks, Black Wode
Emotion: Bliss
Qualities: Quick, Quicker, Spearsman
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Convertee
Winged that have sworn off their Cotery's traditions and adopted the pacifism and Peace of the White Hand. Agents of Bliss, and Reborn as Pure Souls, Convertees hope to achieve enlightenment and ascension through good acts and scouring off the sins of their past lives.
Convertees wear religious garb: sometimes silks, sometimes just robes.
Type: Pawn
Plumage: See Previous Winged
FacePaint: See Previous Winged
Emotion: Bliss
Qualities: Emotionallist, Quick, One more from Previous Winged
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Chicken
Chickens are resourceful, reliable, and incredibly hard workers. Recently recruited into the Riverstates by promise of home & employment, Chickens more commonly find themselves as the unseen, unheard underclass in every other cotery. While work is bliss, they do require adulation, payment and fair respect. Chickens are at home working, but enjoy a good fight, and will often fight just to solve an argument, or end an awkward silence.
Some Chickens have recently rejoined the White Hand, seeking hard-work without the perversion of Desire.
Chickens often wear practical wear: shirts, shifts, hardy trews, boots, aprons.
Chickens often carry practical Knives. Some more martial, angry Chickens grow Talons.
Type: Pawn
Plumage: White or Brown
FacePaint: Red or Green on Forehead
Emotion: Bliss
Inspirations: Farmers, Yeoman, Factory Workers, Navvies
Opportunities: Fighting Champ, Trade Unionist, Heavy
Qualities: Quick, Hardy, Knifeman
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Partridge
Gregarious and full of life, Partridges preach the wonderful ways of the White Hand over a good slap up meal and a nice home brewed ale. Monks and Friars, cousins of the Chickens, Grouse and Quails. Unlike other White Hand, are willing to get their hands bloody (as long as they get a good purification and a bottle of wine afterwards) - believers in achieving Strength through Faith. A Healthy Soul has a Healthy Body!
Partridges often wear robes; sometimes plain and covering, sometimes bright and open.
Partridges are often either unarmed (to take the beating, rather than dish it out), or have the Monk's favourite, the Stick.
Type: Knight
Plumage: Red-Brown
FacePaint: Red Nose
Emotion: Bliss
Qualities: Hardy, Hardier, Hardiest, Numb, Stalwart
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Nightengale
Beautiful voiced oracles and seers, everybody ever respects the perfect singing of The Nightengales. Even Rabble. They are considred pure and dislike physical contact in any way, believing sin will blemish their perfect Soul's place in the Heart of The Chorus. Commonly trusted as Psychopomps and Oracles.
Nightengales wear beautiful Robes, sometimes with shawls or blindfolds, to protect their eyes from the imperfection of the world.
Type: Bishop
Plumage: Red-Brown
FacePaint: Red-Brown Stripe across eyes
Emotion: Bliss
Qualities: Fancy, Oratorism
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