ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Fortress of Mt. St. Alban

It sits in the center of Technocratic and Kindred power, a fortress of faith and hope in the midst of urban sprawl, arrogant uncaring power and blatant corruption. Created in full view of the public and in the teeth of Technocratic might, is has lost many battles but triumphed in those that truly mattered and stands ready to continue the fight. Though dedicated to the Celestial Chorus, it welcomes mages of all the Traditions and crafts. Seeking in unity of purpose the strength to carry on the fight and to use the diversity of its members to reach out and help all while continuing towards victory in the Ascension War.

Cabals of the Chantry

Six Cabals with some 32 mages serve the Cathedral Chantry (the two terms are functionally interchangeable to the mages) and its interests. Ranging from powerful Masters to stumbling Apprentices; from prayerful priests to irreverent and rather determined sinners. The Cathedral protects and nurtures them all. In turn, they defend and serve the Cathedral.

Paladins of St. George Most Subtle (5)

Father Thomas O'Malley (Celestial Chorus, Master)
Father Adrian Mendsk (Celestial Chorus, Adept)
Sir Jonathan Whyte (Order of Hermes, Adept)
Sister Annie Brock (Virtual Adept, Adept)
Sara Brant (Celestial Chorus, Disciple)

One of the two original Cabals that tapped and tamed the Nodes that created the Chantry, the Paladins of St. George Most Subtle are both its Primary defenders and main weapons in the fight against the enemies that surround them. It's a bit much of a job for five mage, especially with the Technocracy and Kindred jealous of the Cathderal's power. Early on mages of the Paladins of St. George have been slowly building a force of Consors and Acolytes both as an intelligence network and as a fighting force. Referred to as the Knights and Squires respectively they are under the exclusive control of the Paladins of St. George and beyond that little is know about them, though the Masters of the Keepers of the Manifold Keys of Knowledge have been known use them on occasion.

Communicants of the Sisters of Gabrielle (3)

Sister Bernadette Veyieves (Celestial Chorus, Master)
Sister Liane Winthrop (Celestial Chorus, Adept)
Jane "Cloudwalker" Whitefeather (Dreamspeaker, Disciple)

While the Paladins of St. George focus on the physical defenses of the Chantry, the Communicants of the Sisters of Gabrielle focus on the defense of the Chantry in the Umbra. They maintain the small but well protected Horizon realm and tend to the spirits and angels in and around the Chantry as well. Though currently weak, they have established a Portal directly to their namesake's Chantry of New Delos and have an informal agreement of assistance in times of need. It is also rumored they have contact with various other supernatural creatures in and about the community and have aided them in the past.

Followers of St. Francis (4)

Father Lamont Reeves (Celestial Chorus, Disciple)
Nana Carter (Verbena, Disciple)
Dr. Elane Smith (Euthanatos, Disciple)
Jim Banks (Akashic Brotherhood, Disciple)

Formed shortly after the actual building of the Cathedral proper had begun, the original intent of the cabal's founders had been to radicalize the surrounding population as protection for the Cathedral. One trip into the slums and other lower class dwellings of the city changed that completely. Today the cabal and its members are dedicated to helping there Sleeping brethren throughout the surrounding community. In a sense, however, the cabal has succeeded in the original intent of its founders though, so interwoven into the community is the Cathedral at the direction of the Followers of St. Francis that nothing short of an Act of God could harm it now.

Seekers of the Path of Harmony (5)

Wyatt James (Akashic Brotherhood, Adept)
Professor Carl Madox, Phd (Son of Ether, Adept)
Jennifer Loo (Cult of Ecstasy, Disciple)
Andrew Stouffer (Hollow One, Disciple)
Marus Grimes (Verbena, Disciple)

When the Technocracy realized that they could neither co-opt nor seize the Cathedral outright they embarked on a truly vicious application of the Pogrom and managed to capture a number of Tradition mages in the region in under a day. Fortunately for both the captured mages and the Cathedral the Paladins of St. George were able to rescue them. That was the beginning of the Seekers of the Path of Harmony as the rescued mages formed a Cabal of their own in association with the Cathedral. Since that time the mages of the Cabal have acted as a liaison of sorts with other Chantries and the Traditions in general.

Keepers of the Manifold Keys of Knowledge (4)

Sir Gordon Chen (Order of Hermes, Master)
Dr. Mentubo Kwatzumi (Son of Ether, Master)
Mammud al-Alkar (Ahl-i-Batin, Master)
Kakishita, Sonoko (Akashic Brotherhood, Master)

When the Technocracy seized Cantistel College Chantry shortly before the First World War the surviving Masters, including Sir Gordon Chen, went Errant. In the horrific chaos that was the First World War, Sir Gordon Chen fought bravely but when the War was over, he was one of the near broken survivors. Still Masters, no matter what their Tradition, are rare enough so a place was made for him at the Cathedral. The First World War had created a new generation of fresh Apprentices as well and it was with them that Sir Gordon Chen managed to heal his wounds — mental, physical and spiritual. Seeing a need, he created the Keepers of the Manifold Keys of Knowledge and with his fellow Masters has retired to a life of mentoring and teaching younger mages the mystic arts and the necessary skill to fight the Ascension War.

The Masters of this Cabal have settled into a very comfortable retirement of sorts, teaching and mentoring the various mages of the Chantry. They find their various students, by turns, to be rather agreeably difficult, quarrelsome and problematic; and woe unto the fool, Technocrat, Kindred or otherwise, who seeks to harm them while under their keeping. The members of the cabal have privately agreed amongst themselves to step in and protect the Chantry if need arises.

Students of the Mystic Arts (11)

Dame Penelope Wilkenson (Celestial Chorus, Apprentice)
David Carter (Akashic Brotherhood, Apprentice)
Rashid Hajhassen (Ali-i-Batin, Apprentice)
Dianna Greene (Order of Hermes, Apprentice)
Christine Merson (Verbena, Apprentice)
Ahmad Binaie (Order of Hermes, Apprentice)
Robert Monahan (Son of Ether, Apprentice)
Kenneth Sylvestri (Virtual Adepts, Apprentice)
Vasilis Panoutsopolos (Akashic Brotherhood, Apprentice)
Michael Gobell (Son of Ether, Apprentice)
Randall Knepp (Hollow One, Apprentice)

The most transitory of all the Cabals, it's also the least powerful and largest. Once a member of this cabal reaches the abilities of a Disciple of any Sphere they are moved to another cabal within the Cathedral or to another Chantry entirely.

Nodes of the Chantry

Four Nodes, two within the grounds of the Cathedral, provide the power required to sustain the small Horizon Realm of the Chantry and protect the Cathedral itself.

The Bishop's Garden

Statterlee enjoyed working in the garden as a respite from the problems besetting him and the struggling young Chantry. A small medieval stone gazebo, the Shadow House, built in the garden, became the focus of the Node as the years passed. Quite early on the Technocracy scored a victory over the struggling Chantry by using government authority to insist that the Bishop's Garden be made accessible to the public. It backfired quite badly, however, as the faithful poured in to the garden each day after mass. Accomplishing with their devotion what the desperate mages could not. The sheer dedication of all those Sleeper prayers has actually chased off a number of Qui La Machinae in the past. Today hundreds tour the garden daily and the Technocracy still wonders how they can fail so dramatically in all their attempts to sterilize such a public and open node.

The atmosphere of the garden is very peaceful, almost holy. Invariably, during the hottest of Washington summers there is a cooling breeze blowing through the garden. During the coldest winters there is a certain warmth to sustain those who walk the paths. The Shallowing of the Node is very powerful here when few people are present. At both noon and midnight the Gauntlet practically disappears and yet it is extremely difficult for anyone to wander out of the garden into the Umbra unless they are aware that they can and wish to do so.

The guardian of this Node is known only to the members of the Paladins of St. George and the Communicants of the Sisters of Gabrielle and appears to serve voluntarily. It appears as a Throne, an angel of the innermost circle of the First Rank. Eight pairs of golden wings cover a body of eyes, fire and pure white smoke. It might be ranked as a Preceptor, however that may be underestimating it. It is present in the Umbra at all times and occasionally manifests physically to select Sleepers, a fact the mages of the Chantry have gone to great pains to conceal.

Washington's Statue

In a little triangular park between Massachusetts Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue that is technically on Cathedral grounds is the heavily gilded bronze statue of the young lieutenant general astride a graceful, well-muscled horse. According to rumor the sculptor Herbert Hazeltine crafted the horse to be the spitting image of the famous racehorse Man O' War and the statue was given to the Cathedral as a gift.

Almost within days of the statute's unveiling the mages in the Cathedral knew something odd was happening. It drew many admirers and mages who were not members of the Chantry and approached the statue felt themselves gaining paradox the closer they came. Deciding to simply observe the statue, about three years passed until one stormy night the statue strode in through the West entrance into the Narthex to behold all the seals of the States of the Union inset on the floor before it. As this was in the midst of a midnight Mass there was some understandable astonishment on the part of the Sleepers present.

According to Urban Legend and Cathedral records, the statue spoke, asking Statterlee a number of questions about the Cathedral and the country. Then the Statue drew its sword and swore to aid, defend and protect the Cathedral and the country before returning to resume its place. No one believed the astonished witnesses and the one Technocracy attempt to destroy the statue resulted in the disappearance of the Technomancers.

Since that night a ley line has run directly from the pedestal to the central Nave, infusing the massive four central pillars and pulpit with Quintessence. Every time a new state seal has been added to the Narthex the statue enters to behold the seal, question the mages present about the new state and then return to the pedestal. The flow of Quintessence then increases. Ever since the first of these nightly excursions, the missing presence of the statue has been "covered" by either the Communicants of the Sisters of Gabrielle or the Paladins of St. George, both of whom are the only mages who can approach the statue and speak to it in the Umbra or to whom the statue will speak when active.

Mostly ignored in the rush of traffic, there appears to be a form of active Arcane at work. When tourists or others step off of the sidewalks on to the brick walkways or grass they immediately notice the statue or, perhaps more appropriately, the statue notices them. Each person then feels as if they are being judged before being allowed to either come closer or move on. The one Nephandus the Chantry knows of who spray painted something on the pedestal was run over by a metrobus within a block of the statue.

The Cornerstone of Congress

Though the Cornerstone of the building was officially laid in 1793 by George Washington, its actual location has since been lost. It is, however, the mystical focus for the enormous powers loosed within the building and the grounds. Statterlee found the Cornerstone during one of his frequent visits to Congress and negotiated an agreement with the Guardian of the Cornerstone to tap into its power. Beyond that little is known about the Node, though supposedly the Guardianship of the Cornerstone, as well as its location, is known to the Paladins of St. George and is a closely guarded secret.

The impact of having a powerful Node in the Congress of the United States makes an already strange building even stranger. The Technocracy knows there is a Node here and that it has been tapped but finding it is impossible. Time does some fairly strange things here. Yet this in an arena of political power and little can be done without drawing undue attention.

The Dog Fighting House

Located in Western Loudon County, Virginia, it was seized quite by accident from a Nephandus who was attempting to utterly corrupt the ancient node. At the time it was used as a weekly meeting place for dog fighting. It was the murder of a priest attempting to stop the dog fights which drew the attention of the Paladins of St. George to the house and into instant conflict with the Nephandus.

Once the Nephandus was destroyed the fight to bring the Node back from corruption began. In the end the task was so great that the Communicants of the Sisters of Gabrielle eventually had to appeal to Masters of Prime from other Traditions to assist them in the cleansing. Eventually, with the help of many additional Masters, the Node was cleansed and became available to the Chantry.

Since that time the House and grounds have been used as a religious retreat of sorts, a safe house where Tradition mages can convalesce in calm serenity. If a person meditates too deeply and too long it is possible to awaken in the Umbra, the Shallowing is so great. With all of the traffic to and from the house it should be suspected that the Technocracy has divined the location. However, the Technocracy has never appeared to notice.

The Horizon Realm

Until recently, the Cathedral had no Horizon Realm. In 1990 83 years of construction completed and ceremonies were held. Shortly after the ceremonies an Apprentice noticed a door in the Wilson Vault where none was before. She stared through the doorway at a wind-swept plain with clouds beyond the edge. The members of the Chantry were delighted and began immediately to make use of the new space. The Council of Nine was pleased to see a new resource of such value appear. Debate still continues on whether this new space is a Horizon Realm or a portal to an umbral realm that connected of its own accord. There are several mages well-versed in Cosmology who wonder nervously what it could mean.

The mages of the Cathedral insist it's a Horizon Realm and its grounds are currently around 157 acres on top of a granite mesa thrust upwards into the sky, surrounded by a virtual sea of clouds. In the distance, usually requiring a telescope or binoculars to see, there are other mesas with nearly flat surfaces poking out from the clouds that stretch in all directions.

The Masters of the Chantry found the new realm unexpectedly amenable to their magick and within hours the unforgiving granite had been changed to fertile soil covered in grass. Trees and other plants began to grow at an astonishing rate. Within a few weeks an Etherite Scientist assembled a crude but serviceable Cloudship and sailed to nearby mesas to discovered vast quantities of stone for building.

The task of assembling skilled and trustworthy Acolytes to build on the mesa took time. During the process relations with other Council Chantries were strengthened. The leaders of Washington Cathedral were welcomed into the small economy that has developed over centuries among the larger Council Chantries. When the team at last arrived they set to work building. In the years that have followed the basic structure of a replica cathedral has been assembled. Around the cathedral a small village has been established with dressed stone buildings for the craftsmen who have happily moved in. Beyond the village a forest of fruit and nut trees and other vegetation grows in abundance. Compasses do not function in the realm so a northern edge of the mesa was declared. Before moving on the Etherite Scientist oversaw the construction of a larger and better appointed cloudship. The original cloudship docks on the south of the mesa while the newer one calls the northern dock home. The two ships' crews consider themselves the luckiest of acolytes. There is fierce competition to be chosen as sailors. The ships ply the skies carrying stone and trying to map the realm's boundaries. Both ships were named after controversial Sons of Ether that the Scientist insists were misunderstood.

Two expeditions have scaled down the steep sides of the granite mesa. The first descended into thickening clouds before a lack of rope forced them to return. The second penetrated the clouds to emerge in a dim world of constant rains with a sea tossing several hundred feet below them. The sea is brackish and closer to fresh water than sea water. Enormous creatures in the waves threatened the group and forced them to turn back.

The sun shines down with a burnished golden light and at night a trio of large and luminescent moons wax and wane in their travels across the sky. There is a Polestar of sorts in the night sky but the patterns of stars are totally new and unrecognizable from those of Earth. The weather is always warm and mildly breezy during the day, though occasionally a higher then usual cloud bank will sweep across the top of the mesa. When that happens the rains fall gently and everything is washed clean and bright. Within weeks it was discovered that the sun rises and travels across the sky at a slightly different angle from the previous day's course (it rises a little to the right of yesterday's point). The compass rose inscribed in stone in the village square has become the subject of many jokes.

Denizens of the Horizon Realm

When the first cloudship made its maiden voyage to another mesa a startling discovery was made. A huge dragon rose up from a cave in the ground and confronted the small delegation from the Chantry. Although clearly angered, the fearsome creature listened to the desperate pleas for parley. A council with far-reaching consequences was held that day. Upon returning, the delegation could only recall vague impressions from the conference. They pointed to mesas on the survey map where humans were allowed to go but not settle. They also pointed to mesas that were "forbidden". They named the date of the next meeting with the dragons, only a few months from the current time, but could remember no more.

The Dragons have not spoken to anyone since the first conference. Some of the sailers have reported seeing the dragons dive into the clouds and it is speculated that they hunt in the clouds or in the dark seas beneath. There are also reports of dragons pacing sailors as they strike out across the clouds to chart the realm.

In addition to the Dragons there appears to be an ecology of some sort active in the clouds. Sailers have reported strange balloon-like creatures rising slightly above the tops of the clouds and long, elongated, sinuous creatures with fins as well. Occasionally, cloudships will be bumped from below in their journeys but thus far nothing more serious has happened. The human inhabitants of the realm are too busy to investigate further.

Currently there are perhaps eighty people in the Realm, though this number is certain to grow as the Chantry accepts more refugees from other Horizon Chantries the Technocracy has attacked. Magick is mostly coincidental in the Realm, save for cutting edge technology and technomagick. Interestingly, computers seem to be immune to this difficulty, though there are only a handful in the realm.

The Chantry Proper

The Cathedral in the Horizon Realm has only recently managed to put a roof over the buttresses and curtain walls. For a classically styled Gothic Cathedral this is extraordinarily swift, of course with magick involved it is not terribly surprising. Already it is becoming apparent that the Horizon Realm cathedral is going to surpass the Cathedral in Washington, though they resemble each other at the moment.

Earthly Manifestations of the Chantry

The Cathedral is built in the shape of a cross, with twin towers in the west and a Gloria in Excelsis Tower in the center. Ninety-six carved angels, each with a different face, pose in a frieze around the tower, which holds a 10-bells peal, and a 53-bell carillon. The bells are rung on special occasions, to mark the passage of time and after each mass is celebrated.

A tour of the Cathedral shows that in Gothic architecture, structure and symbol merge. The design communicates as much as the hymnals, but often without words. Look closely and this can be seen everywhere. As an example, there are narratives and references in the intricate carvings and luminous stained glass windows placed everywhere to give the feeling of a building made of and filled with light. A hallmark of the Gothic Cathedral.

Entrance to the Cathedral is at the North or South transepts, or through the doors at the west end. When entering from the west you will find yourself in the narthex (an enclosed porch). Laid into the mosaic floor are the 50 state seals to which the statue of George Washington is drawn each time a new seal is added or to communicate to the mages of the Chantry.

In the nave above the Warren Bay is the Space Window, which commemorates the scientists and astronauts of Apollo XI. An actual piece of moon rock is embedded in the glass. When the light of day shines through this window any Changeling who is touched by this light gains a bit of glamour for every hour they remain here. In the Dreaming this area is so magnificent that Changelings have been known to descend into Bedlam if they are not careful. The stone carved angels in the dreaming guard this area, though any Changeling is welcome. Attempts to harm it will be met with force.

Farther down is the Wilson Bay, containing the tomb of the only president buried in the district of Columbia. Carvings symbolize aspects of Woodrow Wilson's life. A crusader's sword on the sarcophagus symbolizes Wilson's quest for peace through the League of Nations. Look for a thistle (representing his Scottish heritage) and for the seal of Princeton University (Wilson was once its president). This is Haunt and Memorium of Woodrow Wilson himself. Unable to achieve what he attempted in life, he is bound to attempt to try to fulfill his goals in death. Dr. Elane Smith, the only Euthanatos in the Chantry, is aware of Wilson's presence here and has spoken to him once or twice. Wilson in turn considers her, and by extension the other mages of the Chantry, to be his allies in his crusade. Wilson is a powerful wraith and considers the entire Cathedral his Haunt and has the power to back up his beliefs.

A few steps towards the center of the Cathedral should place you in the crossing, a magnificent space where the transepts bisect the nave. Four massive stone piers soar 98 feet to meet the vaulted ceiling. In the midst of this is a powerful flow of raw Quintessence from the floor and piers into this central area. Anyone who meditates here will feel the flow through them, for mages however meditating or prayers will replenish their Quintessence. Many a mage has felt the call to begin a Seeking or experienced an Epiphany here while in meditation or prayer.

The pulpit is made of stones from Canterbury Cathedral and it was here that Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his last sermon before his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. Entering the Umbra before the Pulpit reveals the stone carvings of saints and angels to be alive, standing vigil with each person praying in the material world.

Walking along the center of the aisles allows one to admire the nave. Part of the genius of Gothic architecture was the flying buttress, which, by transferring the weight of the roof from the walls, allowed them to be opened with stained-glass windows and flooding the building with light. Scores of windows on either side of the nave depict biblical themes as well as artists who have glorified God in their works: Dante, Milton, Bach, and Christopher Wren. Those who stand before the windows of each of these people in turn and open their minds to them, will see their works flood their minds and make for some interesting ideas.

The western end of the Cathedral holds the West Rose Window, a fiery wheel (25 feet, 11 inches in diameter) that burns with kaleidoscopic color, particularly as it catches the last rays of the setting sun. It is rumored that shortly after this Window was completed an ancient Kindred stepped before it at sunset and was granted the gift of mortality. Those with chronic illnesses whisper that the sunset light filtered through this window will cure the faithful, which may be true as mages using Life magick to help the worse of those who come here report that it appears the most vulgar Life magick is coincidental within certain conditions.

On the lower floor, or crypt, are four more chapels, burial vaults, a gift shop/bookstore and a visitors center. The gift shop was originally an attempt by the Syndicate to begin the conquest of the Cathedral and Chantry for the Technocracy. It failed and the revenue goes directly to the Cathedral's public service and welfare funds.

Purpose

Originally founded to protect the node on which it was placed, the Chantry has grown and diversified as the Cathedral itself has grown. It is now in the midst of a powerful early Summer which the discovery of the Horizon Realm has thus far prevented from fading. A teaching Chantry as well, it protects and defends mages of all Traditions and Crafts, though notably some with more enthusiasm than others.

It opposes the excesses of the Technocracy but the occasional truce is understandable when facing the Nephandi or the rare Marauder. The destruction of Nephandi is a holy mission which the mages of the Chantry take very seriously. Marauders, however, are mages in need of help. It is in how to help them that no one can agree.

The Chantry is determined to help the community surrounding them and provide moral and spiritual support as the premier cathedral of the nation. The sleeping population is relatively easy in one way, nigh unto impossible in others, yet the Chantry is committed to the task. The supernatural population is a much more difficult task, yet the mages pursue the goal of helping them as well.

History

When Bishop Henry Yates Slatterlee found the sleeping Node of Mount St. Alban he first called a young Thomas O'Malley to help him keep watch over the land. From the discovery of the Node until the Congressional approval of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Act of 1893 the fight to protect the node from the Technocracy was brutal. Although the location was too observable by the public, Slatterlee received a vision telling him it was his mission to foster a chantry there for the Celestial Chorus. Slatterlee was gifted not only in organization, a task used to its fullest as he raised funds and secured the surrounding land, but also in inspiring others to join his vision. A cabal soon formed around him to advance his plans.

As the Cathedral building began in earnest, the Technocracy intensified the Pogrom in the city. The best efforts of the five conventions could not crush the growing chantry. The Paladins of St. George mounted a daring rescue and grateful Tradition mages swelled the Cathedral's membership to four cabals. Events of that era soon directed the Technocracy's focus elsewhere and the exhausted mages of Washington Cathedral were allowed years to recover and plan.

In the early years of the first World War the mages found themselves embroiled in a savage confrontation with vampires. What began as a defense of their neighborhood became an unwilling involvement in one of the undead beings' wars. When the week of terrifying night time battles was over a letter arrived in the hands of a weak and pale girl informing them they had earned the regard of the Kindred's leader. The letter acknowledged a debt to the mages but warned them against trying to contact the vampires.

In the final years of the first World War the Technocracy struck the chantry directly. New members Sir Gorden Chen and Mammud al-Alkar lead the defense. Although successful, it was a close fight and several mages were lost. In 1919 a Son of Ether named Philip Frohman was brought in to take over the position of Chief Architect and bolster the magickal might of the Chantry. As the Jazz Age took off the Cathedral began to regroup and regather its strength.

During the second World War the Technocracy's interest was focused on the nation's capital. In 1941 a new assault on the Cathedral was mounted. Just when it seemed like hope was lost a Nephandus among the technomancers was revealed and the chaos broke the siege. One Technocrat even came to the chantry begging for refuge. He was not denied.

In the aftermath of the magickal conflict an accord was created between the chantry leader and the grateful Technocrat. No direct challenges came from the technomancers for decades. Some say the fact that the chantry was not used in any significant way in the Ascension War during that time helped the matter but they don't say it within earshot of the chantry leadership. In the 1970s the Technocracy interfered and managed to shut down the George A. Fuller Company that was continuing the Cathedral's construction. The Tradition mages withstood the financial trouble that accompanied the attack and even managed to directly hire the construction workers. Iteration X mounted direct assaults in the 1980s but found stiff resistance, along with Paradox effects on their new equipment, that made them rethink their stategy. Around this time a move was made against one of the chantry's nodes in the Umbra. In the report, the Void Engineers mention an "angel" warning them and then complete system failure. The Void Engineer's new leadership after the operation listed numerous concerns discovered in a Dimensional Sciences survey of the area and then made no further mention of the matter.

Chantry Inhabitants

Aside from the people in the Horizon Realm, the Cathedral and the surrounding grounds with some five schools and programs for the community bring thousands into the Chantry's purview daily. Most of the staff is blissfully unaware of even a hint of the supernatural. Of those that do occasionally see something, most dismiss it since the Cathedral is a house of God and that sort of thing is supposed to happen here.

This leaves a small core of dedicated Acolytes and the rare Consor. Also, the Paladins of St. George Most Subtle maintain an intelligence network known as the Knights and Squires. There are exactly eight Consors to the Chantry, mostly helping specific mages, and they have complete access to the entire Chantry and Horizon Realm.

The mages themselves have quarters throughout the buildings of the Cathedral complex. Mages ranked at Disciple and higher have their choice as to where they wish their quarters to be. Apprentices are housed in a dormitory exclusively set aside for them. Note that some of the fiercest Wards and Guardians are defending the Apprentices and their dormitory. The senior mages of the Chantry realize they are training the future of the Traditions and take the responsibility seriously.

Internal Structure and Relations

The Cathedral is organized along the Deacon, Master, Associate, Colleague and Student/Apprentice line of authority. Consors and senior Apprentices are referred to as Colleagues while all other mage of Disciple or better are at least Associates. Since Slatterlee's death the Bishop of the Cathedral has been a Sleeper but is aware of the mages and is the nominal head of the counsel of Deacons.

Each of the Cabals of the Chantry appoints a senior member who acts as the Deacon for the Cabal and a council of Deacons oversees the operations of the the Chantry. Each Cabal specializes in a specific aspect of the Cathedral and, aside from the Apprentice's Cabal, all Cabals votes are counted twice. The current Bishop of the Cathedral has a single vote as does a representative of the Servants of the Chantry who elect one of their number to serve on the Council of Deacons annually at Easter. Given the importance the Cathedral places on education any Student may call upon the Council of Deacons to plea for access to resources or tutelage. All Council meetings are open to mages, Consors and Acolytes and not once in its history has the Council of Deacons ever held a secret meeting.

Since 1895 the Cathedral's magickal community has been bound to a code of conduct referred to as The Articles. These are revised and voted on every thirty one years. Currently comprising some four hundred hand written pages, it outlines the various offices and status of the mages of the Cathedral. Also their duties and responsibilities as well as rights and privileges. It covers magickal tutelage and the responsibilities and rights of the servants, Acolytes and Consors as well. Learning it is easy, Mastering it is a much harder task.

External Relations

Although there have been several suspicious events, there has been no contact between chantry mages and the Kindred for years. The mysterious letter that was brought long ago remains in the chantry's records and is generally considered useful if any negotiations occur in future. It is said in the society of the undead the letter is proof of a favor owed.

The Garou don't take particular notice of the Cathedral. Although they don't know it, the mages have earned the respect of a Bone Gnawer pack in the city for their work among the poor.

The Changeling Duke of Washington doesn't know what to make of the Cathedral. On the one hand there is the magnificent Children's Chapel which fairly drips with Glamour. On the other is the fact that not many changelings want to congregate there.

With the nominal Void Engineer Construct of the Naval Observatory a few blocks away watching over the Cathedral, things have been relatively quiet the past few years. If this is a prelude to something more violent or simply business as usual only time will tell. The Void Engineers are happy with the current state of affairs, thought the rest of the Technocracy is not.

Status and Reputation

The Washington Cathedral has an outstanding reputation as a powerful and determined Chantry in the face of Technocratic opposition. The proximity to the Sleeper halls of power in Washington DC have made the Chantry a stopping point for Tradition mages who have business in the city. As a magickal college they are very well regarded, noted for the fine quality of the mages they graduate and the number as well.

Research Capacities

The libraries of the Cathedral are superb. The magickal libraries are separated from the mundane one. There is an extensive Cosmological library along with historical works that keep a flow of Tradition mages visiting. The Cathedral maintains a small publishing press and creates limited print runs of books by other mages and reprints of older works.

A computer network has been set up but is poorly maintained. Chantry leadership would be pleased to gain a technical lead that is also a trusted mage.

Currently the Deacons are contemplating consolidating the magickal libraries into one central location in the Horizon Realm. Such a massive undertaking would require more construction and proper oversight. Until then the collection remains scattered in various locations throughout the Cathedral complex.

Tass for research and learning is under the strict control of the Keepers of the Keys. The Keepers of the Keys also have unrestricted access to the sanctums and facilities of everyone within the Chantry. As a courtesy they maintain open sanctums and facilities to everyone else but it is only brave and foolhardy students who will intrude upon them in the midst of their experiments.

Further Reading

Washington Cathedral's Web site