Editing LeviathanTempest:ChapterTwo (section)

== The Schools ==
=== '''The School of the Abyss''' ===
''(Tehom’s Devotion, The Sunken School)'' 

[Picture: The Symbol of Tehom’s Devotion: An Anglerfish underwater. The light from the anglerfish illuminates hazy shapes of ziggurats and spiraling towers, just at the edge of vision. This serves as a watermark]

[Picture: Central. A young and pale woman, blonde and distressingly thin, sits cross-legged on the floor in a simple white shift. Her eyes are closed and cosmetically blackened, and her hands are in a meditative position in her lap. Eight tentacles extend from her back and shoulders, each holding an old-style oil lantern, but deliberately coiled around it to cut off most of the light. A coiling shape of black water rises unnaturally from a bowl in front of her.] 

Leviathans don't belong in this world. Those members of the Tribe that ascribe to the School of the Abyss understand this on a level that their fellows do not. So they seek answers elsewhere – they return to the waters that spawned them. The foremost scholars of the Deep, they are explorers and mystics, seeking out Tranquility in the vast and silent vistas of the remnants of the Primordial ocean.

The Devotees of the School of the Abyss focus their energies towards exploring their history and place in the world in terms of the Deep, which they understand as the closest specimen to pre-disruption life that is still accessible. They concern themselves with understanding the Deep both as a physical location – they spend a lot of time there, compared to other Devotees – and as a state of mind. Some practice meditation or turn to earthly spiritualism as a stepping-stone to perfecting a system that can place the mind of the Devotee in touch with their past. 

The School claims its philosophical underpinning in the recognition that the Leviathan are, for all intents and purposes, alien to the human world. For all that they can maintain a strained connection and stave off corruption with great effort, they are ultimately unsuited for the world in which they are placed. The average Devotee of the Abyss comes to the conclusion, then, that they need to find a space in which they are not alien – even if that “space” is a state of mind. Exploration of the Deep allows a fuller understanding of the self and the ability to come to terms with one’s true lineage; from this flows Tranquility.

===='''Membership'''====
Most Tribe members that find themselves in Tehom’s Devotion were inquisitive and introverted even before they became aware of their true nature. Others were almost the complete opposite. The only key factor in following the Sunken School is a feeling of alienation and isolation, one that drives the Tribe member to look for a place where they do belong. While other Devotees might locate that place in an action or a role, the School of the Abyss seeks to return to what they were. 

Poets and philosophers are remarkably common among the School, as are former nature enthusiasts and artists. The School of the Abyss privileges an understanding of historical relics as clues to peace of mind, and so Devotees tend to be among those that look at an object and see it for its emotional or symbolic effect, rather than hard data. 

There is a prejudiced assumption that Tananim, seen as an aggressive “martial” lineage, are under-represented in the introverted School of the Abyss. There is no proof of this claim, however, but those making the claim are generally uninterested in that in any case.

===='''Transformation'''====
The School of the Abyss is a school of stillness, patience, and receptivity. This manifests as dark forms and soft lines, as well as large, aware eyes. As scholars of the Depths and seekers in quiet places, they tend towards forms that suggest the spineless life that exists in the ocean’s farthest reaches – markers of the squid, the octopus, and startling deep-sea fish are common. However, their final goal is the illumination of these depths – like most deep-sea life, patches of bioluminescence are also common, or pools of light shining out from great, staring eyes. 

===='''Character Creation'''====
The nature of the explorations undertaken by members of Tehom’s Devotion leans them primarily in the direction of Resistance Attributes. They delve deeply into both their own minds and the reaches of the Deep, and this takes patience and resolve. Composure is usually staggering.

The primary focus, as much as any develops, leans towards Social Skills. While the average, reserved member of the Sunken School is not themselves a social dynamo, they are perceptive, self-aware, and in touch with emotions – most have a high level of Empathy and are capable at Subterfuge. Mental Skills such as Investigation and Occult are a close second, and most have, by necessity, developed some competence at Survival – those that travel rarely do so with companions, and often have to fend for themselves. 

Most Devotees of the Abyss maintain small, quiet Cults, with little focus on blood-rites and reverential fanaticism and more direction towards quiet reserve and meditation on small, key facts. Their Cults are often Resolute, as their master must often disappear for months at a time, following some obscure clue or impulse. Their Social Merits are similarly reserved – enough to get by, but not much beyond it. This is both effect and cause – most members of the Sunken School feel that they simply “don’t fit” in the mortal world. It’s why they joined the Sunken School to begin with.

===='''Role'''====
In any given Cohort, the role of the Devotee of the Abyss is usually that of the world traveler and authority on the Deep. While every Leviathan travels into the Deep from time to time, Tehom’s Devotion is made up of those that truly live there. They know the shortcuts and the hazards. Their other function is as watchdogs. The degree to which they perceive the state of their own and others’ minds means that, if any member of a local community is starting to spiral out of control, the School of the Abyss will know first. If the problem case is the Devotee of the Abyss, it usually goes unknown until it’s far too late. 

What the Devotee of the Abyss gets, in return for her advice, is somewhat less concrete. For all that they claim to be escaping the world, the School of the Abyss is mostly about fleeing from something that makes them uncomfortable. Socialization is necessary even for the Wicked Tribe, and an isolated member of the Sunken School usually loses all connection to themselves well before they find "inner peace."

===='''Vestige'''====
The School of the Abyss has a focus on the pursuit of exploration and introspection. As such, they develop gifts that permit them to swim farther and deeper, see with more precision, and perceive inner truths.

The School of the Abyss grants a discount on purchasing Adaptations of the Vestiges of Vitality and Awareness.

===='''Traditions'''====
Members of the School of the Abyss may select a free specialization for one of the following Skills: Investigation, Survival, or Empathy.

===='''Concepts'''====
Frustrated artist, park ranger, antiques dealer, isolated biologist, adventurous anthropologist, surfing guru, modern primitve 

===='''Quote'''====
''"We don't fit in this world. Nothing's our size, nothing's strong enough, nothing can give us the truth. If you want to figure things out, you've got to shut your eyes and listen to the small traces of wisdom that still linger, out where no-one's trod them over yet."''

===='''Stereotypes'''====
* School of the Sun: ''"Talking about how great Mom and Dad are isn’t going to make them come visit."''
* School of Clay: ''"Did you know that some whales beach themselves – repeatedly? I don’t know why I just thought of that."''
* School of the Reef: ''"You’re wasting your strength fighting on the wrong battlefield."''
* School of Fog: ''"You wait here. I can swim farther by myself."'' 

* Typhons: ''"A tragic reminder of the sort of fight we have to avoid having."'' 
* Hybrids: ''"Abominations – but pitiable. They exist in a world that doesn't suit them. Not unlike us."'' 
* Other Creatures: ''"I have seen them, but they haven't seen me. Let's keep it that way. I don't plan on staying long."''
* Mortals: ''"Let them have their world, as long as they stay out of mine."''

=== '''The School of the Sun''' ===
''(Emunah's Devotion, The Celestial School)'' 

[Picture: The Symbol of Emunah's Devotion: The image of an ornate chapel with a high tower. A line of waves marks the water's surface, from which only the very top of the tower emerges. The sun sits in the sky, directly above the tower. This serves as a watermark]

[Picture: Central. An older man with stern features and a strong, flat nose, wearing priestly vestments marked with cuneiform. He is up to his knees in water. In front of him, head bowed, is another man in a white robe. The older man is clearly speaking, and has one hand on his own chest, while the other pours a handful of water onto the supplicant's head. The preacher's hands are webbed, and there is the suggestion of a dorsal fin rising from his back beneath the robes.] 

The Tribe have always been intermediaries, straddling the boundaries between two worlds - the divine realm of the Primordials, and the inferior world of dirt and flesh. The School of the Sun alone remembers this charge, and sees in the recreation of their ancient relationship with the progenitors the way towards reclaiming their birthright. The only beings capable of correcting the imbalance and disorder of the Deep, the Celestial School reasons, are the primordial entities that first created the Tribe.

The Devotees of the School of the Sun turn their attentions heavenward, in a sense. They seek out the lost truths of old modes of prayer and supplication, and attempt to reforge a fulfilling model of life that incorporates their lineage and the progenitors. The Celestial School is primarily interested in sanctified relics and lost temples; these places offer the greatest connection to what was lost. Some practice in solace, while others attempt to codify their beliefs and lead mortal cults (or groups of like-minded Leviathans) towards religious devotion.

Emunah's Devotion claims vehemently that their interest in religious life is meant not only to provide solace and direction in an uncomfortable world, but also to reconnect with the beings of the Primordial world. The degree to which each member hopes for some sort of revelatory event differs, but many hold out hope for a return to the old world in their own lifetimes. The average Devotee, however, focuses on following formal doctrine, making those beliefs and history a part of his or her daily life, and uncovering more elements and relics of the Tribe's lost faith. These, the Celestial School argues, will provide direction towards attaining Tranquility. 

===='''Membership'''====
The stereotype of the membership of Emunah's Devotion is that it is composed of those that were devout well before they discovered the truth of their bloodline. For all that this is often framed in terms of judgment on the "subservience" and "fanaticism" of the School, the case has some merit. Many Devotees were people of deep religious conviction, or from a home that was, in their lives before. Still others led unsatisfying, unprincipled lives, only "finding religion" after they have discovered themselves as members of the Tribe.

The primary factor in membership, however, is a distrust of chaos and a desire for some sort of role. This need for sense and direction is what draws the average Devotee to the Celestial School - the ability to place oneself in a role and fulfill it. Still others are lured by the powerful drive to venerate their awesome monstrous ancestry - these members of the School tend towards more private expressions of their faith. 

===='''Transformation'''====
The School of the Sun is a school of expression, devotion, and the display of faith. This manifests as forms with remarkable symmetry and regularity - expressions that hint at a greater, purer form. Lighter colors are common, as the Devotee's form suits itself for a life near the surface. Soaring, elegant back fins or spines are common, and the greatest of these forms might well be mistaken for a steepled church resting on the horizon. The tendency towards regularity leads to a trend towards the more recognized of the ocean's greater dwellers - there is generally more of the whale, the shark, or the sea serpent in a Devotee of the Sun's form then there are markers of more complex forms. 

===='''Character Creation'''====
There is a notable division in the membership of Emunah's Devotion between those that present themselves as supplicants and those that attempt to spread their faith to others. The quiet, devotional type keeps to themselves, and tend towards high Composure. The proselytizing sort favors Presence. Regardless of the divide, however, high Intelligence and Resolve are common features of both - it takes strong faith and a keen intellect to comprehend the secrets of a sundered faith.

The Celestial School favors Mental and Social Skills in roughly equal proportion, but few members are lacking some amount of knowledge of Academics and Occult - the discipline of researching and interpreting the fragmented texts that they have access to straddles the boundary between those skills. Expression and Persuasion are common Social Skills. Additional Languages are also common - usually those ancient tongues most conductive to illuminating the mysteries of dead civilizations, but not always. The Celestial School's members are among the likeliest Leviathans to have Resources and Status stemming from a role in a community - especially if they've already converted much of the populace.

On average, the followers of Emunah's Devotion have larger Cults than their fellows. Their direct interest in the veneration of their progenitors, and the history of structures of worship, make them naturals at initiating others. These Cults often fluctuate in size - a younger Devotee, fresh in his new faith, tends to end up with a larger Cult than they can comfortably manage, which eventually dwindles to a strong core of devout followers only to grow again with their abilities. The School of the Sun is the most involved with their Cults on a day to day level, devotees take their role as divine beings seriously. If the Tribe cannot be equals with humanity then they must find a sense of belonging and satisfaction through the Wake, so sayath The School of the Sun.

===='''Role'''====
The Devotees of the Sun see themselves as the religious conscience and inspiration of their Cohorts. The sense of security that faith lends them can be offered to others as a place of shelter, or directed to scourge transgressions. When corruption is aired, the Celestial School is usually the best suited to levy appropriate punishment - or at least, the first to offer options. Members of Emunah's Devotion also concern themselves with the facts of lost and ancient religions - if a relic is to be identified, they are the ones their fellows turn to. 

The Cohort in turn offers a place of expression for the Devotee of the Sun. Even among their Cults, the Leviathans that follow this School cannot truly relax and simply consider their faith. Unlike a Cultist, fellow Leviathans don't expect the Devotee to be a paragon of religious action, allowing them to make missteps or have doubts without affecting others. The Tribe is also unlikely to be frightened by a Devotee's beliefs - they may find proselytizing tedious, but they won't lynch or ostracize someone for it. Few commuities could be said to be as accepting.

===='''Vestiges'''====
The School of the Celestial turns itself to contemplation of the veneration of the Primordials and revelation of strictures of the Tribe's lost religious role. They develop gifts that emulate the power and glory of their former positions.

The School of the Sun grants a discount on purchasing Evolutions to Vestiges of Vitality and Sanctity.

===='''Traditions'''====
Members of the School of the Sun may select a free specialization for one of the following Skills: Academics, Weaponry, or Persuasion.

===='''Concepts'''====
Small town preacher, televangelist, fringe historian, gang leader, assistant district attorney, street prophet, reformed convict 

===='''Quote'''====
''"Maybe there are some people who can live without faith. Good for them. But we've always been the representatives of physical gods, incontrovertible proof that there is something greater out there. If you find yourself in doubt, look to your kin. Their faith will lift you up."'' 

===='''Stereotypes'''====
* School of the Abyss: ''"You admit that we're lost, but you expect to find yourself."''
* School of Clay: ''"The shepherd rarely finds answers among the flock."''
* School of the Reef: ''"While we search for our God, you run yourself ragged pursuing our demons."''
* School of Fog: ''"Who we are is less important than what we're meant to do."'' 

* Typhons: ''"Without duty, only the monster remains."'' 
* Hybrids: ''"Tools and acolytes, turned from their purpose. Convert them or cleanse them, each according to merit."'' 
* Other Creatures: ''"Wolves among our flock."''
* Mortals: ''"Our charge and our distraction. Teach them what they ought to know, but pursue your own understanding first and foremost."''

=== '''The School of Clay''' ===
''(Malkut’s Devotion, The Coastal School)'' 

[Picture: The Symbol of Malkut’s Devotion: The shape of a gear with an ouroborous on its face. A bald humanoid form, curled in the fetal position, is in the center of both figures. Gills mark its neck. This serves as a watermark]

[Picture: Central. A man in his mid-20s sits in a dark room, at a table. He dresses like someone's accountant - white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow, tie, and glasses. His hair is short but slightly wild. With his right hand he is writing on a piece of paper on the table, which is covered in open books, bundles of paper, and clay tablets. His other arm, resting on the table, is chitinous and terminates in a crab's claw. The wall behind him is covered with posterboard depicting a colossal and convoluted family tree. The uppermost branches are average names in English, but the lower branches are in cuneiform. The lowest visible branches are merely marked by pictures of sinuous shapes. Certain names or symbols are circled, with no apparent pattern.]

The Tribe finds itself in the unenviable position of existing in the world of humanity without, for all intents and purposes, being human themselves. Where others despise this apparent imprisonment, the School of Clay attacks this assumption. Studying human culture and the place of Leviathans in it, they attempt to create a mode of living in this new world. 

This study turns many of the Coastal School towards studies of their personal history, following family genealogies or the legacies of communities that have produced Leviathans. They cultivate contacts in the world at large both to discern the place of the Tribe in human history and to stave off the dangers of isolation. Their historical interests come to rest in human history, then, trying to find the hidden clues to their own backgrounds inside relics of lost civilizations and yellowing photo albums.

Malkut's Devotion believes that the only way to exist in the modern world is to adapt, and that humanity, for all of its faults, is the model to follow. They overcame the progenitors, after all, and it's not like they're going to disappear. The ability to sustain a life in human society, and easier access to Atolls, is a source of calm and security in the otherwise trying life of a Leviathan. Adaptation and integration are methods towards Tranquility.

===='''Membership'''====
The members of the School of Clay are primarily those that are accustomed to think about others, especially in terms of scientific survey. Many are historians or psychologists, or at least individuals that studied those subjects. While they are occasionally stereotyped as extroverts and socialites, the Coastal School has its share of scientific observers - those that deeply desire human contact, but will not or can not fully participate in it. The wallflower is as present at the party as the host.

The only unifying factor in membership of the School of Clay is an interest in humanity and human history. Most members are, if not on the cutting edge themselves, at least not too put out by technology, and few concern themselves with the modes of life or strictures of the lost Leviathan society. They are the sort of people that live in the now and experience their history through people, not places, ideas, or objects. Most feel uncomfortable if isolated against their wishes - contact with others gives them a place to be.

===='''Transformation'''====
The School of Clay is about observation, exploration, and adaptation. Their transformed shapes tend to be suited to both land and sea, armored against attackers but also with prevalent methods of communicating - sweeping antennae or boisterous, shifting hides. Their forms resemble crabs, lobsters, or swarming reef fish - the aquatic tenants of the beaches and reefs, teeming with life. Eyes are often prevalent and unblinking, while some develop forms that can adapt, chameleon-like, to suit any background.

===='''Character Creation'''====
Social Attributes are the primary focus of most members of the Coastal School, with Presence and Manipulation having equal showings. Composure and Stamina are favored over Resolve - it's less about persistence and more about remaining functional. Those members that observe others or delve into their own histories tend towards above-average Intelligence.

Socialize and Politics are the favored Skills of Malkut's Devotion, allowing them to participate in and direct human life. Academics, especially the study of history or psychology, is also common, but Computer knowledge is rapidly becoming more widespread - the ability to operate in the modern world. While most of Malkut's Devotion would rather run than fight, their participation in human life means that they tend to fight like humans, when necessary - they've adopted the gun as their chosen weapon, scoffing at questions of "honor" or "tradition." Natural observers, they share the Sunken School's affinity for Investigation and Empathy.  

The School of Clay places a great emphasis on Social Merits; they are the likeliest Devotees to have Contacts and Allies. Their Cults are, surprisingly, usually modest affairs - the level of intimacy that surrounds a Cult compromises the School's perspective of themselves as infiltrating or observing human society. A Cult is likely to be composed of relatives, either close or distant, that have been uncovered as "in the know" by the Devotee. (Malkut's Devotion is deeply interested in Atolls, and they are the most likely to be in peaceful contact with one for a sustained period of time.)

===='''Role'''====
The Devotees of Clay serve an important function as a bridge between their less social fellows and the human world. While they feel the same sense of alienation and isolation when moving through social circles, their perspective permits them some degree of isolation from this discomfort - they're ambassadors or researchers, they'll argue, operating on foreign soil. They're also the most likely to have access to money and resources that come as the perks of this social life - and the ability to get your hands on a gun on short notice has some considerable allure for most of the Tribe.

The Cohort in turn offers a place where the researcher can loosen his tie and take off his glasses - he doesn't have to ''act'' around them. With the rigors of social contact causing as much discomfort and irritation as they do, this safety valve is extremely important to most of Malkut's Devotion, even if they're not aware of it. Without contact with the Tribe, most of the Devotees of Clay would be heading for a disastrous meltdown. 

===='''Vestiges'''====
The School of Clay is interested in integrating itself into groups and considering the nature of bloodlines and birthrights. They master those gifts that let them work with these tools - bending wills, blending in, and expressing their lineage. 

The School of Clay grants a discount on purchasing Evolutions to the Vestiges of Sanctity and Fecundity.

===='''Traditions'''====
Members of the School of Clay may select a free specialization for one of the following Skills: Politics, Firearms, and Socialize.

===='''Concepts'''====
Drug dealer, "urban" anthropologist, psychotherapist, market researcher, club regular, fraternity or sorority leader, chairman of the Homeowner's Association 

===='''Quote'''====
''"We've always looked down on humans. It's easy, when you see them looking at you with those big moony eyes. But they've built this world, while anything our people did is long buried in silt and rotting algae. If I was you, I'd shut up and listen to them more often."'' 

===='''Stereotypes'''====
* School of the Abyss: ''"Who would leave a world teeming with life to skulk around a dead one?"''
* School of the Sun: ''"Chanting and preaching - way to keep a low profile, buddy."''
* School of the Reef: ''"You ever notice how Rambo just can't seem to get a break? Stop looking for trouble, and you'll stop finding it."''
* School of Fog: ''"Dredging up our history will only tell you that we lost. I'm sitting at the winner's table, and I'm taking notes."'' 

* Typhons: ''"If you can't go with the flow, you're doomed to obsolesence. Like these guys."'' 
* Hybrids: ''"There are better ways to coexist with humanity than trying to make them more like us."'' 
* Other Creatures: ''"If they keep their hands off, let 'em be - otherwise, well, it's always good to let off some steam."''
* Mortals: ''"We came from here, and we've never left."''

=== '''The School of the Reef''' ===
''(Natsar’s Devotion, The Blazing School)'' 

[Picture: The Symbol of Natsar’s Devotion: A rock rises from tempestuous seas. Broken chains hang off of it. Three tablets are chained to its face. The skies are black. This serves as a watermark]

[Picture: Central. A muscular Caribbean woman in a white tank top, camo pants, and boots, back half-turned from the viewer. A bandana holds her hair out of her face. She is standing in front of a stone pillar like a totem pole, depicting the faces of monstrous beings with wide maws, protruding tongues, and bulging eyes. She is looking at one of the faces. Held up as a comparison in her left hand is a severed head, matching the one she is looking at. Her hand and forearm are coated in gore. Her right hand rests at her hip, where a long obsidian dagger is shoved through her belt. Both arms are covered in sharkskin, with the hint of fins at the elbow. Her exposed back is parted by a shark's maw, which rests between her shoulderblades. At her feet is a blood-covered empty sack.]

The Leviathans have always been beset by enemies, and the severing of the world from its primordial state has done nothing to prevent that. The School of the Reef embraces the role of the Tribe as the soldiers and tacticians of the struggles that led to the Tempest, ever-vigilant in the destruction and observation of the Tribe's enemies. Knowing their enemies and protecting their Cohorts, Natsar's Devotion finds purpose in conflict and an outlet for their simmering rage.

The primary interest that the Blazing School has in the relics of their past, as a result, are the catalogues of their military triumphs and the identities of their enemies. They see knowledge as a valuable currency in an ongoing war, and ruthlessly pursue the edge that it gives them, reclaiming their predecessor's warrior legacy. 

Natsar's Devotion places survival and self-preservation foremost among their concerns, but they also have a philosophy. They have experienced the barely submerged fury that their bloodline instills in them, fueled by the restraints and annoyances of everyday existence, and have found an outlet for that energy - the annihilation of their foes. Through triumph and activity, they seek Tranquility.

===='''Membership'''====
The School of the Reef is, unsurprisingly perhaps, composed of those individuals for whom self-defense, war, or violence were parts of everyday life. Gang members, former soldiers, or career criminals are all common - but they do not form the whole of the Devotion. The beliefs of the Devotion extend to the defense and protection of their fellows, after all - you are as likely to find an ambulance technician or fireman in the Devotion's ranks as you are a mob legbreaker.

What the School of the Reef does share is a certain degree of personal energy. This is the Devotion of people that can't sit still or hold back - adrenaline junkies or the deeply principled. The Blazing School is about doing things, standing up, striking back. Even the sagest and most reserved tactician won't hesitate to throw herself into the fray if that's what's necessary. 

===='''Transformation'''====
Natsar's Devotion is interested in strength, protection, and victory. Their transformations lead them towards forms that emphasize these traits - great rows of ivory teeth, thick, armored hides, and rippling muscles. They take on predator's forms, and have the aesthetic of a bunker or fighter jet - there's no mistaking their purpose and power. Some of the Blazing School actually blaze - their eyes burn with inner light, or scales ripple with stark, strong colors. 

===='''Character Creation'''====
Even if it is not their primary focus, the members of Natsar's Devotion do not neglect their Physical Attributes. In particular, their interests across all groups lie with Power Attributes - they measure virtue by effect. The average Devotee of the Rock has a sharp analytic mind in an athletic body. They're not afraid to give orders, and shun restraint - Presence is usually higher than Composure.

Each member of the Devotion develops at least some of the Physical Skills necessary for combat. By tradition, they favor the natural weapons provided to them by their lineage, and practice Brawl to make best use of them. Tacticians and the biologists that plan against the Tribe's enemies develop Academics, Occult, and Science. Naturally disposed towards command, the Blazing School tends to favor Intimidate over other Social Skills.  

Physical Merits are obviously prevalent, but Mental Merits aren't shunned, either - the Devotion is about knowing your fight as much as it is about winning. Devotees of the Reef tend to have small Cults with devout members, especially those with some sort of military background - soldiers in the war. Social Merits provide assets, but Devotees rarely stay in one place for long - they're always trying to stay one step ahead of a counterattack. 

===='''Role'''====
Natsar's Devotion finds its service to a Cohort in its strength and preparedness. Driven to survive and to defend the Tribe, the Devotees of the Reef devastate threats, plan for eventualities, and keep escape routes in mind - they are the soldiers and bodyguards of their kin. This has given them a bit of a reputation for aggression and bossiness, but they know it's all for their Cohort's own good. The war never takes a break, after all.

The Cohort, in turn, checks the rage and paranoia of the Devotee. There are fights that don't need to be fought, and only an outside perspective can check that impulse in a Devotee of the Rock. He might grumble about the Cohort's cowardice, but living in a constant state of predatory excellence isn't sustainable, even for the most stalwart of Natsar's Devotion. Countless Typhons mark the eventual fate of Leviathans that lost themselves to an endless lust for destruction. 

===='''Vestiges'''====
The Blazing School is made up of warriors, first and foremost. They manifest the gifts that give them an edge in a fight, expressing the natural weapons of the Tribe and pushing themselves to the edges of power to defend themselves.

The School of the Reef grants a discount on purchasing Evolutions to the Vestiges of Might and Predation.

===='''Traditions'''====
Members of the School of the Reef may select a free specialization for one of the following Skills: Science, Brawl, and Intimidation.

===='''Concepts'''====
Beat cop, former mafia heavy, survivalist icon, marine biologist, military historian, gun dealer, bouncer, heavyweight boxer, disgraced soldier, veteran guerilla 

===='''Quote'''====
''"If you believe we know better because we're bigger and tougher than mortals, then you've got to figure the Primordials knew best of all. Now those were big, f*ck-off critters, and so clever no human can wrap their heads around them. Don't tell me they didn't see this world coming, and don't tell me they left no clues for us."'' 

===='''Stereotypes'''====
* School of the Abyss: ''"They'd be better off if they spent less time gazing at their navels and more time listening to their gut."''
* School of the Sun: ''"I know the progenitors gave us a purpose - it's to win."''
* School of Clay: ''"Watchers rarely know when they're being watched."''
* School of Fog: ''"Cooperation's a great idea, as long as you all do what you're told."'' 

* Typhons: ''"Casualties are inevitable given the stress of our condition. Give 'em a quick death and an honorable sendoff."'' 
* Hybrids: ''"Those we can control are able soldiers. The rest of the lot are obstacles to be knocked down."'' 
* Other Creatures: ''"Anything that's a threat is going to find out the hard way how much we know about 'em."''
* Mortals: ''"We're not like these guys anymore, and that's just as well. I'd rather die on my feet with my eyes open."''

=== '''The School of Fog''' ===
''(Bet’em's Devotion, The Questioning School)'' 

[Picture: The Symbol of Bet’em's Devotion: A swirling sea, from which emerges numerous sea-serpent like forms, as if on an old map. This serves as a watermark]

[Picture: Central. View from behind and to the left - A black man with a shaved head stands in front of a high metallic table, wearing a t-shirt and jean shorts, no shoes. He rests his left arm on the table, palm up. A segment of flesh on the underside of the forearm is flayed open and held in place by surgical clamps. Blood stains the table around the arm, with crawling and writhing shapes, suggesting primitive, half-formed life, emerging from it. His other arm holds a scalpel, hovering over the flayed limb. The man's face is impassive. On either side of his head there is a curved line of white, shark-like eyes above the tips of his ears. The eyes glow slightly. A magnifying glass, pen, notebook, and camera all sit on the table, to the man's right side.] 

The bloodline of the Tribe is heavy with mysteries and hidden lore that, if revealed, would alter much of mankind's conception of history and reality. The School of Fog is composed of those Leviathans that, knowing this, seek answers and truth within the Tribe itself. Probing their lineage and observing their fellows, they attempt to recreate the Tribe's society and birthrights from the hints provided by its current incarnation.

This interest in the Tribe leads the Questioning School to do just that - question. Their primary historical interest is with cultural relics of the Tribe itself, but also records - codes of morality, edicts, and legends. They seek, by analyzing these, to find the essence of the Tribe itself - some central truth that shapes a society that fulfills them and expresses their origins. More than this, the School actively places itself in contention with the other Schools, pushing members to codify their beliefs or defend their theories - the Devotees of Fog consider themselves the lens that turns on the Tribe.

The goal of all these questions and considerations is a sense of personal history and placement - the creation of a "divine lineage" that terminates in the Tribe, whose statutes can guide actions and whose exploits can be emulated. In a sense, the project is the creation of a true Tribe, one united in thought and deed as well as by blood. In the stability of an expressed and fulfilling history, the Devotee seeks Tranquility. 

===='''Membership'''====
The School of Fog is often branded as a "scholarly" pursuit, and that charge bears some weight. Many of the minds that turn towards cataloguing of the Tribe's own culture are those that would have pursued similar lines in human life - anthropologists, cultural scholars, and psychologists. The study of the Tribe's blood and the secrets it contains, however, also lures the interest of minds involved in the natural sciences. Beyond this label, though, the Questioning School is also host to those whose perspectives perhaps naturally placed them as outsiders from society - the destitute and disenfranchised. 

The driving force behind the School of Fog is an interest in origins and hidden drives - an urge to know the how and why of things. The Questioning School is made up of those that push, and seek, and pick at scabs - they're the sort of people that fling themselves at every question until they have an answer. 

===='''Transformation'''====
The School of Fog's interest lies in the Tribe's origins and traits. As such, their transformations tend to echo the fertility and oddity of the line itself - growing additional limbs, eyes, or even whole heads, or taking on constantly-shifting, flexible forms. In particular the acknowledged trait of the School is additional, unblinking eyes and the adoption of shapes that conjure up the image of confusing and alien creatures, long-dead or never-were. The greatest mysteries of the fossil record and the darkest speculations of marine biologists take shape in the manifestations of Bet'em's Devoted.

===='''Character Creation'''====
Unusual in relationship to the other Devotions, Bet’em's Devotion focuses primarily on Finesse Attributes - they approach problems with dexterity and ingenuity rather than pure force. Social Attributes are the most favored, as the School of Fog is also the primary organizing body of the Tribe. 

Fringe knowledge is the bastion of the Questioning School, and their ratings in Occult and Streetwise tend to be quite high - they are the quiet monitors of hidden corners and lost facts. Most have a strong set of Social Skills, however, in order to better deal with their fellows - different methods being needed for dealing with different Leviathans. Physical Skills, when taken, tend to focus on evasion and obfuscation.

Mental and Social Merits are quite prevalent, and Devotees of Fog are the most likely to have allies and contacts among their fellow Tribe members. Their Cults tend to be extensive but constantly fluctuating as old doctrines are considered, refuted, and revised - it takes a certain sort of mind to put faith in something that is ever changing, even if it claims to be ever improving. 

===='''Role'''====
Questions are the strength of the Questioning School. They take contrary positions to their Cohort and push them to explain themselves - trying to cause them to think about themsleves and what they do. Beyond this, they are also lynchpins in Tribe society. Their knowledge of the bloodline provides them a certain encyclopedic awareness of facts about Leviathans, but by far their greatest contribution is the ability to guide and unite their fellows. A Devotee of Fog's dedication is the element necessary to try and prod the otherwise solitary Tribe into a functioning social unit.

The School of Fog could not, in some meaningful fashion, exist without Cohorts. The School's justification and primary grounds of exploration lie with the Tribe - it is only with them that the Devotee's searches are not grounded in his own thought, and it is only his fellows that can push him to truly question his own observations.  

===='''Vestiges'''====
The Questioning School includes those that are at the forefront of the study of the nature and place of the Tribe in the universe. They push to unlock the divine nature of their bloodline and exhibit the role that they believe they are meant to hold.

The School of Fog grants a discount on purchasing Evolutions to Vestiges of Elements and Fecundity.

===='''Traditions'''====
Members of the School of Fog may select a free specialization for one of the following Skills: Occult, Stealth, and Streetwise.

===='''Concepts'''====
Avant garde poet or musician, poststructuralist lecturer, performance artist, information warfare specialist, human resources consultant, busker, genealogy buff  

===='''Quote'''====
''"There are things more clever and stronger things than us out there, but there's nobody who can take care of business like we can. In a week, I can gather ten people like you, as hard and as dedicated. Now tell me: who can stand against that?."'' 

===='''Stereotypes'''====
* School of the Abyss: ''"What are you hiding from?"''
* School of the Sun: ''"Haven't you heard? Buddha is not the Way!"''
* School of Clay ''"Take your time. We'll always be here for you."''
* School of the Reef: ''"You've got the strength, I have the vision."'' 

* Typhons: ''"How lonely they must have been!"'' 
* Hybrids: ''"What distant horrors do their bloodlines hint at?"'' 
* Other Creatures: ''"Really? Tell me more."''
* Mortals: ''"We're going to have to stand together to survive in their world."''