Spirit History

From Gothpoodle

Revision as of 05:32, 5 August 2006

See also: San Francisco History, Vampire History, Mage History, Werewolf History

Native Period (pre-1776)

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, through a long ago battle, 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.

Spanish Period (1776-1822)

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.

Mexican Period (1822-1847)

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.

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 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.

Reconstruction (1906-1950)

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.

Counterculture (1950-1980)

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.

Decline (1980-1990)

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.

Dot-Com Boom (1990-2000)

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.

Present (post-2000)

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.