The Sept of the Gleaming Shore
The Sept of Gleaming Shore has been in existence since before London
existed and has adapted to the times with some difficulty. The Sept
is revered in Britain as one of learning and knowledge. Its totem Salmon
has, although the Thames has dirtied over the years, been with it since
the Sept's inception and is nearly strong as ever. This due to certain
policies enacted by the Garou of the Sept, and the actions of kinfolk
well placed within the Thames Water board salmon's children have reappeared
in those murky waters to the Totem's great delight.
Gleaming Shore has passed between the hands of the Get of Fenris and
the Fianna many times in it's long history, however only recently has
the situation changed with the Glasswalker's moving in to smooth things
over, their understanding of the changes in London's social dynamic
since it's rebuilding in the late 1940's crucial to the Sept's survival.
The Glasswalker's have worked hard, hand in hand with the Get and the
Fianna to establish it once more as one of the strongest Sept's in the
United Kingdom. Blending cutting edge techniques in finance and business,
with the traditionalism and strength their partners bring to the equation.
Entrance to the Sept
Entrance to the Sept at present is in the Temple District of the Victoria
Embankment. Due to the troubled times in the area, and the burgeoning
threat from the unknown. The Sept's actual location is kept well hidden
from the Anruth entering the region. All are brought through tunnel's
older than the known Victorian works underneath London to what can only
be described as a "catchment" area. Their identities confirmed by philodoxes
before even being let into the outer bawn of the Sept. The actual route
taken never quite possible to remember as fog spirits spread confusion
in those unwary. As the caern is now dorment no one new is shown the location, and those that knew it find themselves harassed and chased off vigorously by the guardian spirits.
Recent History
The plague and the whispers from the spirits of the "Threat", for want
of a better word, have led the Garou in the area into an unprecedented
loose affiliation with the Kindred and the Mages of region. This, of
course, was not done without some careful thought and consideration
by the Elder's of the Sept. In London the hidden conflicts that wage
between them all normally, only aid the "Threat" at the moment. By removing
the conflict only then can the activities of the "Threat" be truly identified.
Before this decision was made however the Septs surrounding the London
area were informed of the situation and the decisions behind it. After
long discussion the decision the loose alliance was agreed to with one
provision. Any Garou going into the London region was not allowed out
unless on Sept business, if a Garou leaves unauthorized they will be
killed, immediately, whether tainted or not, the Septs surrounding London
having become a protective barrier against the enemy spreading further
afield. However once the "Threat" is removed the Elders plan to resume
normal activities with renewed viqour.
The "Threat" has done much over the last few years to subtly weaken
the Garou of the region. A number of garou have vanished without a trace,
acts of vandalism against works the Sept has been involved in. With
little or no hint found by theurges and others who investigate of what
the "Threat" actually is. This is why the call for Garou was put out
to come bolster the forces of the Sept. To newcomers an aura of tension and frustration fills those who have
been with the Sept for an extended period. As many have been lost in
the subtle conflict, which has, been waged against the Garou.
Harsh times have fallen on the Sept of late, diminishing numbers of Garou and the death of the Master of the Challenge and Wyrm-Foe to the disease as well as the execution of the Keeper of the Land for reasons unknown except to the Grand Elder and the acting Truth Catcher. With the leadership nearly gutted and the lack of Garou to properly defend even the well hidden cairn, it was decided that the cairn would be closed and the totem forced into dormancy until a time when the population of Garou could grow, if at all. This was done through the use of a mysterious rite that no one living seems to know of and other that have researched into it have come up empty, though some suspect that some soft of fera was involved. All that is known is that the former leadership of the Sept save the Truth Catcher all sacrificed themselves to accomplish this feat and now the cairn is now dormant awaiting Garou of sufficient number and ability to reopen it.
The other Septs on the island nation are silently outraged at the act but admit it is still more preferable to letting it fall into the hands of the Wyrm. They became calmed when Void of Compromise attended a Grand Moot and alerted them that the remaining Sept leaders had all become potent spirits that guard the site. The Shadow Lord was then tasked as the caretaker and responsible for trying to gather a Sept that could reopen the caern. This something some hoped to use as a punishment for not joining the others in their spirit vigil. For now employing varying methods Void of Compromise is contacting Garou that enter the city and has alerted the other supernaturals of his position as "leader" of the shape-shifters for now he plots and waits to satisfy his duties.
Areas related to the Sept
Botanical Gardens
A beautiful garden which was established back in 1851 at the time of
the Great Exhibition. The Gardens are an area where Garou can get back
in touch with Gaia, with different types of flowers and bushes and fruit
tree's growing. It truly is a sight to behold, and would even take the
most city loving garou's breath at the beauty of the garden. This area
is an unrestricted garden, in which all garou are required to be in
homid form to enjoy and watch over carefully. Since it's inception vampires
have known this is one place where you never ever want to feed, even
in these more testing times.
Brixton
his area is an especially popular place for Bone Gnawers to hang out,
and sometimes live. In fact, it's the largest collection of bone gnawer
homes in all of London. There are a number of card board boxes about
the dark alleys some gathered together almost in the pattern of villages
themselves. Some Gnawers are even lucky enough to find scraps and even
blankets to keep warm.
Epping Forest
As long as there have been Garou in London then they have worked hard
to protect the forest regions around London. Sadly this has been a losing
battle with only one real success in the remission of London's expansion.
That being the preservation of Epping Forest through the last 200 years
from when it stopped being land of the Crown and the purview of the
Corporation of London. Over that period the Sept has, with the aid of
Garou and kinfolk, infiltrated every aspect of the preservation of the
Forest. Even to the point where one small village in the area is made
up almost entirely of kinfolk and Garou that have lived in the region
for nearly 6 generations.
Epping Forest Information
Epping Forest is the currently the largest public open space in the
London area, measuring 19km x 4km, two-thirds of which is wooded and
the same proportion designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest
due to certain wildlife in the area, some area's actually blocked off
from the public view so that the ecological balance can be maintained.
Chingford Village
Chingford is a small village on the edge of Epping Forest in existence
for nearly 300 years. Picteresque with only the Bat and Ball Inn and
a small village shop at the crossroads, as signs of modern civilisation.
The people of the village are friendly if distant to strangers that
pass through, and the Inn is well known for it's superb Sunday lunches.
Quite a few of the Garou of the Sept have their roots within this small
community which is made up of a blending of the tribes that have come
to the region with the Silver Fang "Lord of the Manor" and his family.
The crossroads at its centre can take you to respectively Chingford
Manor, Epping Forest, London and the M6 turn off. One piece of note
as well virtually every building within Chingford is on the National
Trust listing for buildings.
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