Thursday Fright Day | Senior Explorations

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Shadow Cultures
June 19th Preview of Monte Cook’s World of Darkness
Posted: 2007-06-19Together, vampires, mages, werewolves, demons, and even the Awakened are called the Shadow Cultures. We exist among humanity, but most of humanity is not aware of us. We fight our battles in the shadows — both literally and figuratively. People don’t realize that clashes that determine whether they live or die — whether this reality survives or crumbles — took place last night, and will the next.The Shadow Cultures don’t trust each other. Sure, a few exceptions exist, but even my cronies in the IDA don’t see eye to eye. A lot of them have their own agendas, and we find ourselves on the same side because we all want to be free of the Inconnu so that we can do something else. If this all ever comes to some sort of resolution (and I don’t see how that’s possible), Sylvia and I will be on opposite sides. I doubt Gareth and I will get along with a common enemy, and I certainly don’t trust Mephistopheles — or whatever he wants to call himself — any farther than I can throw him. Yet for now, we need each other.

The fact that the Shadow Cultures don’t get along is probably one of the few things that’s keeping our world intact. Werewolves, vampires, and demons (and those bastard Stranger mages) have similar goals, but they don’t work together to achieve them. Thank God. They rarely share resources or information. They work with others of their own kind, but only to a degree.

Let’s say a vampire discovers the location of an Awakened. The Awakened is inside a military compound and shows no sign of coming out. The vampire certainly doesn’t go tell the werewolves or demons or mages what he knows, even though these guys could help him. He probably talks to his fellow vampires, and they figure out a way to get in there and eighty-six the Awakened. Maybe. They would be better off if they all worked together — but that’s something that humans do. (Sometimes.) Maybe that’s how we’ll win this thing.

The Shadow Cultures’ distrust stems from certain prejudices they have about each other. These prejudices are based on stereotypes formed in the space of a year, and they often have a degree of truth to them.

Vampires: Vampires see werewolves as simple, animalistic brutes with none of the savvy of their own kind. They see mages as dangerous boys with toys, and demons as utterly untrustworthy. To a vampire, humans of all types are nothing more than cattle. The Awakened are particularly satisfying cattle to slaughter.

Werewolves: Werewolves see everyone else as schemers and liars, using their words and intellect to hide their weakness.

Mages: Mages see demons, werewolves, and vampires as creatures of magic. Since mages control magic, they should be able to control these creatures. Most mages — aside from the Strangers — respect an Awakened who is aware of the truth, even if she does not attempt to learn the arts of sorcery.

Demons: Demons see vampires and werewolves as clumsy and reckless, often taking needless risks that could alert the world to their presence. Humans are tools to be used and manipulated, even if they have the power of a mage or an Awakened.

Awakened: If the Awakened know much of the truth, they know that everyone else is out to get them. They quickly learn not to trust them, or they die.

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Monte Cook’s World of Darkness