American Gothic

Detroit -x- Sabbat

American Gothic: A Sabbat Biker Gang

Background

Motorcycles and Detroit have a long and complicated history together, beginning as far back as 1913, recreational motorcycle groups began to appear. But motorcycle gangs didn't really begin to proliferate in Detroit until the 60s and 70s with the return of tens of thousands disillusioned Vietnam vets. But the pack calling itself American Gothic originated as an Anarch biker-gang at the end of World War II. The gang's rebirth in the Sabbat came during the 12th Street riot (July of 1967), which served as a cover for the Sabbat siege of Detroit. While the Gothic held their ground against the Sabbat, they made no effort to aid the Camarilla forces and as such when the preternatural dust settled, the lone survivor Tom Pasternack was offered a merciful final death or the opportunity to join the Sword of Caine. Fortunately for Pasternack and also, perhaps for the Sabbat he chose to join the sect, bringing his own unique brand of iconoclastic individuality into the fold.

The pack has a controlling interest in the all black-market munitions sold in Detroit. It took American Gothic decades to reach the pinnacle of gunrunning, and cost the lives and fortunes of numerous rivals over the last thirty years. Now the pack runs the gun trade through countless mortal proxies and pays the cops to look the other way; their business contributes directly to the quality and quantity of violent crime in Detroit. As enablers of the countless criminal enterprises and individuals who make Detroit's underworld, they are indirectly responsible for over a million assaults and the tens-of-thousands of murders that have plagued the city over the last thirty-five years.

Lair

The pack lairs in a old V.F.W. in South-West Detroit that has been re-purposed a biker bar and hangout. While the pack does lair out the V.F.W., it is in every other way, a legitimate business completely separate from and unaffiliated with their incredibly lucrative gunrunning trade. While the pack does use mortal lackeys, they are very careful to keep their living employees organized into cells which limits potentially damaging information reaching any over zealous local police or making its way into the hands of state or federal authorities. American Gothic's mortal servants are aware to one degree or another that their employers are something other than human and this awareness is entirely intentional and ensure both fear and loyalty in equal measure.

Rites and Practices

Walk of Courage: Inspired by the numerous biker gauntlet type rites of passage, the ductus and pack-priest stand about a hundred feet apart, while a third pack member pours a wide swath of gasoline between them. Once the gasoline is lit, the prospective member must remove their shoes and walk or run the hundred fiery feet from the priest to the ductus carrying a mortal. If the aspiring member manages to run or walk the one hundred feet of fire without dropping the mortal or succumbing to Rötschreck, then they are welcomed into the pack and allowed to celebrate by draining the mortal they carried through fire. The symbolic idea behind this dangerous ritae is that if need be, one pack member can and will carry an incapacitated pack-mate through fire to safety - literally.

Show your Ink: Pack members are tattooed with significant events since their Creation Rites and commemorate those deeds by revealing their tats and bragging of their brave deeds or illustrating the harsh truths of unlife to new recruits, guests or rival pack-members.

Trial by Harley-Davidson: In those cases where a pack-member is accused of breaking pack trust or the few laws of the sect, they are offered a physical trial wherein they are tied up with chains and suspended between two motorcycles which are pushed full-throttle, if the pack-member isn't ripped in half, then they are considered 'innocent' and exonerated of all wrongdoing. Of course, if they are torn apart, then their rival halves are dragged down a empty highway until nothing remains.

Membership

-- Tom Pasternack -- Ravnos Antitribu - Ductus

-- Sampson -- Malkavian Antitribu - Pack Priest

-- Lorelei -- Ventrue Antitribu

-- Delacroix -- Tzimisce tattoo artist

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Inspiration

Sons of Anarchy (TV Show 2008)