Spirit History

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''See also:'' [[San Francisco History]], [[Vampire History]], [[Mage History]], [[Werewolf History]]
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[[Category:History]]
== Native Period (pre-1776) ==
== Native Period (pre-1776) ==
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Hisil was dominated by the [[Court of the Mist]], a brood of spirit connected to the bay and its environs, which had several factions. The foremost were the ''Spirits of the Bay'' (water and fish), the ''Spirits of the Hills'' (land and animals), and the ''Spirits of the Sky'' (air and birds). These last, after a long-forgotten war, had established small fiefs around the bay, leading to the diverse microclimates of the region. The few abstract spirits tended to be consumed by other spirits and the handful of artificial spirits clustered around human settlements and tried not to get eaten. The [[Earth Dragon]] was a slumbering leviathan, whom all spirits along the West Coast feared when it awoke.
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The spirits of nature and the elements formed into small broods warring with each other for dominance, forming the many microclimes of the region. On the peninsula, the spirits of sand and fog held dominance and were allied strongly with the Predator King pack there. Abstract and artificial spirits were rare and tended to keep to the small settlements.
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== Spanish Period (1776-1822) ==
== Spanish Period (1776-1822) ==
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This period saw an increase in the number of artificial and abstract spirits on the peninsula and they began to cluster together into their own informal brood in order to defend themselves from the spirits of the [[Court of the Mist]]. The presence of more humans in greater concentration also led to the formation of more loci, which were primarily exploited by the ''Spirits of the Settlements''. The ''Spirits of the Hills'' were the most concerned by these new inhabitants, but were able to gather little support from the other two factions.
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The arrival of the Spanish brought with it a rise in the number of abstract spirits as well as a new Uratha pack and the next half a century saw the peninsula altered as trees were cut, grasses depleted by grazing, and new, foreign nature spirits introduced to compete with the native ones. In addition, the decimation of the local tribes produced new loci, spirits, and wounds.
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== Mexican Period (1822-1847) ==
== Mexican Period (1822-1847) ==
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Little changed in the spirit world during this period except for the gradual growth of animosity between the ''Spirits of the Hills'' and the ''Spirits of the Settlements'' and the increase in the number of the latter. The changes being enacted upon the land by ranching and growing settlements also began to convince the other factions of the [[Court of the Mist]] that there might be reason for concern. Natural animal populations were being decimated and deforestation and pollution occurring.
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By the time of the Mexican War of Independence, the spirits of nature and the elements began to see the value in alliance against the intruders. The various small factions began to rally under the spirit of the Bay, one of the older, more powerful elementals and one of the few who was convinced of the need for action. By the start of the Gold Rush, the [[:Category:Court of the Bay|Court of the Bay]] was established and had begun to coordinate efforts, as much as the nature of the spirits involved allowed, in fighting the incursions.
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== Barbary Coast (1847-1906) ==
== Barbary Coast (1847-1906) ==
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The Gold Rush changed everything. New spirits and loci appeared daily of disease, greed, gold, violence, and fire, not to mention those of new structures, vehicles, tools, and other artificial constructs. The earthquakes and numerous fires awoke these spirits as soon as they formed and the loci allowed them to flood across the Gauntlet in great numbers. In Hisil, it was war. The [[Court of the Mist]] attempted to stem the tide, but were overwhelmed at the voracity and numbers. The spirit of the new city consumed several of the ''Spirits of the Hills'' and quickly grew to power, battling spirits of fire and disease which threatened its existence by directing the flood of Essence towards waking the [[Earth Dragon]], resulting in four major earthquakes before the Great Earthquake of 1906.
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The Gold Rush changed everything. New spirits and loci appeared daily of disease, greed, gold, violence, and fire, not to mention those of new structures, vehicles, tools, and other artificial constructs. The Bay Court stepped up efforts, bribing elementals, leading to several earthquakes and fires which had the opposite of their intended effect, waking the spirits of the things they damaged and forming more loci to allow them to flood across the Gauntlet. East of the city, a war began between the sand spirits and newly planted tree spirits, each side backed by one side of the vicious struggle between Pure and Forsaken, with the sand spirits engulfing any new construction and the tree spirits taming them to allow the city to spread. By the end of the century, the Shadow was stained in blood from one end of the peninsula to the other and the Predator Kings made a pact with the spirit of earthquakes which lay slumbering beneath the city, feeding it Essence so it might waken and destroy it.
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== Reconstruction (1906-1950) ==
== Reconstruction (1906-1950) ==
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The Great Earthquake and resultant fires destroyed the spirit of the city and lay waste to Hisil, unleashing a flood of spirits of death, fire, and despair and awakening the Shadow of every major building in the city. In the aftermath, though, the city spirit rose up from the ashes and rallied these newly awakened spirits to it. A massive battle ensued and when the dust settled, two new broods remained. The [[Court of the Phoenix]] consisted of the urban spirits led by the spirit of the city, while the [[Court of the Dragon]] was composed of its enemies. While neither side could claim complete victory, for the time being the spirits of the city had resisted the attempt to destroy it. The [[Court of the Mist]], which had hoped to regain control in the days following the quake, was forced to concede defeat. Its remaining members disavowed their previous factions and agreed to cooperate on mutual defense.
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The Great Earthquake and resultant fires destroyed the young spirit of the city and lay waste to Hisil, unleashing a flood of spirits of death, fire, and despair and awakening the Shadow of every major building in the city. In the aftermath, though, the city spirit rose up from the ashes and rallied these newly awakened spirits to it. A massive battle ensued and when the dust settled, two new broods emerged. The [[:Category:Court of the Phoenix|Court of the Phoenix]] consisted of the urban spirits led by the reborn city spirit, while the [[:Category:Court of the Dragon|Court of the Dragon]] was composed of those members of the Bay Court who refused to admit defeat and dedicated themselves to the destruction of the city, by any means necessary. While neither side could claim complete victory, for the time being the spirits of the city had resisted the attempt to destroy it. The Bay Court, which had hoped to regain control in the days following the quake, was forced to concede defeat. Its remaining members disavowed their previous factions and agreed to cooperate on mutual defense. During Prohibition, the spirits of wine, madness, and intoxication broke off from the Phoenix Court to form the [[:Category:Court of the Vine|Court of the Vine]].
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== Counterculture (1950-1980) ==
== Counterculture (1950-1980) ==
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This period saw a cold war between the two new courts as well as consolidation of power. Lesser spirits were consumed and great spirits rose up on both sides. Battles were quick and vicious, with no clear victor, though the city remained. The proliferation of urban spirits pushed the [[Court of the Mist]] further and further afield, its members forced to adapt to the new environment or live in the pockets of wilderness which remained. The Elemental spirits occasionally whipped up attacks on the urban spirits in fits of pique, but little came of it. Meanwhile, the [[Court of the Dragon]] quietly fed the great beast and bided their time.
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The various counterculture movements after the Second World War introduced new spirits to the urban court as well as its enemy. The Dragon Court, formerly populated mostly by spirits of nature and the elements, now gained abstract and artificial spirits born of the destructive urges of the Cold War and the various movements hostile to civilization and its trappings. The war between the courts entered its own sort of Cold War, with each side inducting its new members and trying to appear stronger than its opponent. The turmoil of the 60s and 70s also increased the formation of loci, wounds, and verges, giving more opportunities for spirits to cross the Gauntlet and meddle in human affairs than there had been since the Barbary Coast days.
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== Decline (1980-1990) ==
== Decline (1980-1990) ==
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The AIDS epidemic provided the [[Court of the Dragon]] with just the boost it needed. A flood of new spirits of fear, death, disease, and hatred were born and the Essence they produced was fed to the [[Earth Dragon]], waking it for a brief moment in 1989. The urban spirits, bickering among themselves for power and influence, were taken by surprise and found themselves unable to combat the new threats effectively. The city waned and its denizens were weakened. New wounds formed and loci attuned to the enemy court allowed them to cause more damage across the Gauntlet and feed more Essence to their patron. They grew heady and even began to attack the spirits of the [[Court of the Mist]], forcing them into a brief and unlikely alliance with the urban spirits to try and stop the spirits of corruption.  
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The AIDS and homelessness epidemics provided the Dragon Court with just the boost it needed to pull ahead. A flood of new spirits of fear, death, disease, and hatred were born and the spirits of the city weakened under the weight of San Francisco's decline. The Castro became a stronghold for the Dragon Court and their Pure allies. While the urban spirits worked to halt the decline, these allies began to channel the tainted Essence produced by the plague to The Big One. In 1989, they woke the slumbering spirit only briefly, stopped by the Tribes of the Moon before the plan could reach its fruition. However, they did repay their Dragon Court allies by razing the Shadow of the Castro with fire before they were slain. The end of the 80s left the Shadow of the city crippled, bleeding, and infested with new wounds and barrens.
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== Dot-Com Boom (1990-2000) ==
== Dot-Com Boom (1990-2000) ==
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The urban and natural spirits were dealt another blow just as they were beginning to regroup. In the course of a decade, the city was flooded with virtual and information spirits which quickly established themselves in a new court, the [[Silicon Court]]. Plans were put aside as areas of influence shifted with the boom and rush of people whom it brought and spirits attempted to deal with the changes. Ironically, the new arrivals helped to remedy some of the damage the previous decade had brought and the [[Court of the Dragon]] was held in check. The city began to prosper again and its spiritual inhabitants with it. New spirits of wealth, hope, and greed bolstered the ranks of the [[Court of the Phoenix]] just as the [[Court of the Mist]] returned to its formerly adversarial role.
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While the dot-com boom helped revitalize the city and give a much needed boost to the Phoenix Court, it brought with it the threat of a new adversary: the [[:Category:Silicon Court|Silicon Court]]. Originally the small brood of an inexplicably powerful spirit which appeared in the 70s, they had seen steadily and significant growth throughout the 70s and 80s into an international grouping of spirits connected virtually. Then, almost overnight, they achieved massive power and prominence. With the boom, they flooded into San Francisco, becoming ubiquitous. For the moment, they seemed minimally interested in anything but their virtual world. However, most of the spirits of all three courts worried about their significance and it was undeniable that a fair amount of the city's Essence began to flow through their networks. At any rate, new spirits of wealth, hope, and greed bolstered the ranks of the Phoenix Court, who even managed to come to an accord with their old enemy the Bay Court as environmentalism spread throughout the city's popular culture.
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== Present (post-2000) ==
== Present (post-2000) ==
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The Dot-Com Bust did little to check the growth of the [[Silicon Court]], which was already established. The prevalance of computers and high-technology meant that it was thriving and had a reach that was global, unlike most of the other spirits in the city and its environs. Of the other courts, they had the most in common with the [[Court of the Phoenix]] and tentative alliances were formed in the aftermath of the battle with the [[Court of the Dragon]]. The Bust did, however, birth new spirits of despair, poverty, and decay which have given new allies to their enemy. At the moment, though, things are calm as everyone regroups in the wake of the dawn of the Information Age.
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The Dot-Com Bust did little to check the growth of the Silicon Court, but it did birth new spirits of despair, poverty, and decay as well as weaken the Phoenix Court. With the rise in prominence of San Jose, where the Silicon Court is based, many spirits are starting to urge San Francisco to go to war with the impetuous youngster and put this new court in its place. For the moment, though, the city spirit seems focused on its known enemy, the Dragon Court, almost to the exclusion of other concerns. This has allowed two strong factions to emerge to take up the slack: one led by [[Chinatown]] and the other by [[Haight-Ashbury]]. These two powerful Jaggling both represent interests within the city and they have taken to trying to gather allies within the court to push things their way.

Latest revision as of 15:39, 3 July 2007

Contents

Native Period (pre-1776)

The spirits of nature and the elements formed into small broods warring with each other for dominance, forming the many microclimes of the region. On the peninsula, the spirits of sand and fog held dominance and were allied strongly with the Predator King pack there. Abstract and artificial spirits were rare and tended to keep to the small settlements.

Spanish Period (1776-1822)

The arrival of the Spanish brought with it a rise in the number of abstract spirits as well as a new Uratha pack and the next half a century saw the peninsula altered as trees were cut, grasses depleted by grazing, and new, foreign nature spirits introduced to compete with the native ones. In addition, the decimation of the local tribes produced new loci, spirits, and wounds.

Mexican Period (1822-1847)

By the time of the Mexican War of Independence, the spirits of nature and the elements began to see the value in alliance against the intruders. The various small factions began to rally under the spirit of the Bay, one of the older, more powerful elementals and one of the few who was convinced of the need for action. By the start of the Gold Rush, the Court of the Bay was established and had begun to coordinate efforts, as much as the nature of the spirits involved allowed, in fighting the incursions.

Barbary Coast (1847-1906)

The Gold Rush changed everything. New spirits and loci appeared daily of disease, greed, gold, violence, and fire, not to mention those of new structures, vehicles, tools, and other artificial constructs. The Bay Court stepped up efforts, bribing elementals, leading to several earthquakes and fires which had the opposite of their intended effect, waking the spirits of the things they damaged and forming more loci to allow them to flood across the Gauntlet. East of the city, a war began between the sand spirits and newly planted tree spirits, each side backed by one side of the vicious struggle between Pure and Forsaken, with the sand spirits engulfing any new construction and the tree spirits taming them to allow the city to spread. By the end of the century, the Shadow was stained in blood from one end of the peninsula to the other and the Predator Kings made a pact with the spirit of earthquakes which lay slumbering beneath the city, feeding it Essence so it might waken and destroy it.

Reconstruction (1906-1950)

The Great Earthquake and resultant fires destroyed the young spirit of the city and lay waste to Hisil, unleashing a flood of spirits of death, fire, and despair and awakening the Shadow of every major building in the city. In the aftermath, though, the city spirit rose up from the ashes and rallied these newly awakened spirits to it. A massive battle ensued and when the dust settled, two new broods emerged. The Court of the Phoenix consisted of the urban spirits led by the reborn city spirit, while the Court of the Dragon was composed of those members of the Bay Court who refused to admit defeat and dedicated themselves to the destruction of the city, by any means necessary. While neither side could claim complete victory, for the time being the spirits of the city had resisted the attempt to destroy it. The Bay Court, which had hoped to regain control in the days following the quake, was forced to concede defeat. Its remaining members disavowed their previous factions and agreed to cooperate on mutual defense. During Prohibition, the spirits of wine, madness, and intoxication broke off from the Phoenix Court to form the Court of the Vine.

Counterculture (1950-1980)

The various counterculture movements after the Second World War introduced new spirits to the urban court as well as its enemy. The Dragon Court, formerly populated mostly by spirits of nature and the elements, now gained abstract and artificial spirits born of the destructive urges of the Cold War and the various movements hostile to civilization and its trappings. The war between the courts entered its own sort of Cold War, with each side inducting its new members and trying to appear stronger than its opponent. The turmoil of the 60s and 70s also increased the formation of loci, wounds, and verges, giving more opportunities for spirits to cross the Gauntlet and meddle in human affairs than there had been since the Barbary Coast days.

Decline (1980-1990)

The AIDS and homelessness epidemics provided the Dragon Court with just the boost it needed to pull ahead. A flood of new spirits of fear, death, disease, and hatred were born and the spirits of the city weakened under the weight of San Francisco's decline. The Castro became a stronghold for the Dragon Court and their Pure allies. While the urban spirits worked to halt the decline, these allies began to channel the tainted Essence produced by the plague to The Big One. In 1989, they woke the slumbering spirit only briefly, stopped by the Tribes of the Moon before the plan could reach its fruition. However, they did repay their Dragon Court allies by razing the Shadow of the Castro with fire before they were slain. The end of the 80s left the Shadow of the city crippled, bleeding, and infested with new wounds and barrens.

Dot-Com Boom (1990-2000)

While the dot-com boom helped revitalize the city and give a much needed boost to the Phoenix Court, it brought with it the threat of a new adversary: the Silicon Court. Originally the small brood of an inexplicably powerful spirit which appeared in the 70s, they had seen steadily and significant growth throughout the 70s and 80s into an international grouping of spirits connected virtually. Then, almost overnight, they achieved massive power and prominence. With the boom, they flooded into San Francisco, becoming ubiquitous. For the moment, they seemed minimally interested in anything but their virtual world. However, most of the spirits of all three courts worried about their significance and it was undeniable that a fair amount of the city's Essence began to flow through their networks. At any rate, new spirits of wealth, hope, and greed bolstered the ranks of the Phoenix Court, who even managed to come to an accord with their old enemy the Bay Court as environmentalism spread throughout the city's popular culture.

Present (post-2000)

The Dot-Com Bust did little to check the growth of the Silicon Court, but it did birth new spirits of despair, poverty, and decay as well as weaken the Phoenix Court. With the rise in prominence of San Jose, where the Silicon Court is based, many spirits are starting to urge San Francisco to go to war with the impetuous youngster and put this new court in its place. For the moment, though, the city spirit seems focused on its known enemy, the Dragon Court, almost to the exclusion of other concerns. This has allowed two strong factions to emerge to take up the slack: one led by Chinatown and the other by Haight-Ashbury. These two powerful Jaggling both represent interests within the city and they have taken to trying to gather allies within the court to push things their way.

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