The Coven of Widows
- A thousand desires
- Each one worth dying for
- And many such desires
- Are indeed fulfilled.
- And yet
- The sum of them all
- Remains the same.
- For no matter how many are fulfilled
- The myriad desires still remain.
- - Ghalib (18th century Urdu and Persian poet who lived in India)
- Background
- The Widows are one of the oldest Sabbat covens in Montreal. It was founded in the early 1800s by an enigmatic Toreador Antitribu known as "Lylia." She operated one of the most successful and prestigious brothels in the city, catering to both mortal and vampiric desires. After the "official" declaration of Montreal as a Sabbat enclave, the Widows remained apolitical, more interested in their pursuits of pleasure and corruption. In 1907, a fire swept throughout the Widow's lair, killing a number of coven members and influential businessmen. No one ever claimed responsibility for the act, but it is believed that a religious zealot set the blaze in an attempt to rid Montreal of the Devil's handiwork. The sole survivor of the fire was Lylia's only childe, Veronique La Cruelle (who would later become Archbishop of Montreal). For the next 50 years, Montreal prospered, but Veronique made no attempt to re-establish the Widows. The pack was eventually forgotten.
- However, all this changed in the late 1950s, when The Rose stumbled across the burned-out lair of the Widows and made it her haven. Her heightened senses allowed her to glimpse into the past, and she admired what Lylia had done. She rebuilt the lair using the flesh and bodies of victims whom she lured in with promises of sexual favors. In the 1970s, with the arrival of Monique Kim (a.k.a. "Creamy Jade"), the Widows were reborn.
- By the late 1970s, the pack lair, now known as "The Heart," attracted those whose desires were too dark for the bedrooms of Montreal's elite. It was during this time that the reformed Widows - who called each other the "Dark Sisters" - made advancements along the Path of Cathari. The Widows offered their services as mistresses and dominatrices not only to Montreal's leaders, but also to their fellow Sabbat. A number of locals and visiting Sabbat solicited the Widows' services, including certain Shepherds on their dark cycles. The Widows always granted their clients privacy, never divulging identities or secrets (it's incredible what one mutters when taken to new heights of ecstasy or pain).
- As the Widow's reputation spread, so did rumors of missing clients. The Widows, however, always maintained that some customers, after realizing their deepest desires, were too disturbed by what they experienced and chose Final Death in favor of confronting their sins.
- In the 1980s, Sangris named The Rose as Montreal's third bishop. Knowing that the title would mean the Widows could no longer brush off accusations and would have to accept responsibility for their actions, Sangris hoped to loosen their subtle hold on the city. The Widows were initially careful to use the title ceremonially - not for political leverage - and steered clear of the halls of power. However, since Sangris' death and the appointment of Carolina Valez, the Widows have been tempted to use their influence and once more weave their web across Montreal.
- Lair: - The Heart
- The Widows maintain their lair in the macabre inner sanctum of The Heart. They greet all Cainite visitors here. All coven-mates are expected to "behave" themselves in the presence of guests. The Rose's private lair is a dimly lit chamber. In the center is a bed / examination table that is covered in dark velvet, complete with leather straps and iron manacles. To the rear of the lair is small mirrored vanity containing torture devices and numerous jars of embalming liquids. Creamy Jade's studio is sparsely decorated, containing her current works of art. Black Lotus' chamber contains a large four-poster bed and an extensive library of journals that detail her exploits.
- Rites and Practices
- The Widows, being the Cathari leaders in Montreal, observe the traditional rites of their Path.
- Membership
Bishop Rose -- The Mistress of Montreal
- Appearance: The Rose uses Vicissitude upon itself to look inhumanly beautiful and constantly changes its' appearance in subtle ways. It never looks quite the same way, twice in a row. The Rose always dresses in fetish gear that is sculpted from human leather and in ivory chains made from human bone.
- Behavior: The Rose is neither a man nor a woman, but something inbetween, and it uses its' androgyny to keep others off balance. The Rose's voice is haunting and fluctuates from base to alto and back again. It has been known to keep Toreador antitribu transfixed and passive as they explore their twisted pleasures together. But to the Rose, only passion, desire, experience and degradation are important.
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Creamy Jade
- Appearance: Creamy Jade resembles a delicate marble statue. Her extremely pale skin is cold, yet soft as silk. Jade's Chinese features, narrow green eyes, luscious lips and short jet-black hair, combine with her use of Vicissitude to give her a delicate - yet childlike beauty. Creamy Jade nearly always wears finely silk robes and dresses with silver and jade jewelry.
- Behavior: Like all the Widows, Jade is seductive. She hides her face behind silken fans and uses her eyes to attract potential lovers. Jade hardly ever speaks, usually she prefers to let her two attendants speak in unison for her. She is an artist of the first order, and as such, has little patience for anything except creation and passion.
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Black Lotus
- Appearance: Nina has retained her youthful and innocent appearance. She looks much younger than she is in reality. He delicate frame is deceiving, hiding the cruel monster that lurks within.
- Behavior: Nina is best described as cunning. Her eyes, though seductive and alluring, are those of a predator; they search coldly for her next victim. Nina takes great pleasure in seducing older gentlemen and women.
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