Union Congregation

The Secret Flock

History:

The Union Congregation was formed in 2005 by Pastor Joseph Chole, after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. The Pastor claims he was returned from the dead by God in order to free the city from the enemies of Man, that hold New Bourbon in their hands. Rumors of his resurrection, after three days in the Morgue, and sightings of "Miracles" he performed in the poor neighborhoods of the city, helped to cement his status as a Living Saint amongst the masses of New Bourbon.

After his resurrection, Pastor Chole built a simple church, called New Eden, in the middle of the Bayou district of the city. From there he gave sermons every day, attracting more and more people each day that passed. Eventually, his congregation numbered in the hundreds, then in the thousands, mostly from the lower classes, but there are rumors that more than a few members of City Council attend Saint Joseph's sermons.

Joseph, after acquiring enough followers, then began to preach about the creatures of the Night, the vampires, the werewolves, the specters and the demons, and how they held our society by the throat. He then encouraged his Flock to go out and exterminate these enemies of Man, with Fire and Sword. And he began to direct his followers to specific targets in the city, always small enough that the Big Fish wouldn't notice too quickly. After a few successive hunts, Joseph started to train some of his followers as proper soldiers, kinda like a Millitia, dividing them in squads and sending them out in specific missions against the creatures of the night.

Age of Inquisition:

After the Formation of the Second Inquisition, a cabal of intelligence agencies and other hunter groups, the activities of the Congregation began to up their game, with deadlier attacks on Supernaturals all thru out the city. The Swords of the Union even began to use Military-Grade equipment, provided by third parties and deniable assets, and their training also reflects a refinement in their hunting techniques.

Now each Sword is armed with military-grade equipment, from firearms to kevlar vests and NVGs, and there are several personel of a PMC that have been sighted giving training and instruction to the Knights of St. Joseph's Army. Modern intelligence techniques have also been implemented, with the FBI supposedly giving assistance with tracking and surveillance in a Spy Plane above the skies of New Bourbon.

Structure

The Union is organized in several sub-divisions:

• The Doves: They are the information collectors and "spies" of the Congregation, hiding in plain sight, looking any sign of their enemies in the city, which they then relay to Joseph and the militant arm of the Union
• The Sheep: The most common type, the usual men and women who partake in the sermons. They are the more public face, using their lives to arrange rallies, recruit new followers and attend charity events.
• The Knights: The Militant Arm of the Congregation, and the reason some call the congregation St. Joseph's Army. They are the hunters that strike out against the enemies of Man. They are divided intro squads called "Swords", all lead by a a Deacon, one of Joseph's Lieutenants and spiritual leader of the Sword, thanks to their usage of True Faith. The rest are trained and armed in military grade fashion. When on a mission the group hides their faces, lest they be recognized by the fiend-payed Police Force.
• The Deacons: Joseph's Lieutenants, spread all across the city, each responsible for a parish, and headquartered in their respective churches. They each preside over a Parish, being responsible for spreading the word about the Congregation to the masses, and helping Pastor Joseph to aid humanity and the city. They also organize and lead the hunting parties, or Swords, of the Knights in hunts against the Supernaturals, keeping their souls safe and their mission clear. Each of the Deacons is a user of True Faith, having each been discovered and trained by Joseph in its use.

Assets

While not a rich organization by any stretch of the imagination, the Union Congregation has substantial assets at their disposal. The rogue nature of this cult, backed by the lack of governmental oversight after the Katrina in 2005, has allowed the Congregation to grow and expand in ways that wouldn't be possible otherwise. The Unionites have access to a wide array of safe-houses, in the form of the many churches all across the city, which are used as a safe haven for converts and even stockpiles for Knights equipment and weapons.

Of such equipment, Saint Joseph's Army has recently gained access to Military-Grade weaponry and equipment, equipping their Knights and Deacons with state of the art weaponry and technology, tho they still prefer some things done the old fashioned way. These include Assault Rifles, LMGs, SMGs, Grenades, NVGs and armored cars to name a few, in addition to any guns and weapons that the Unionists have at home, this is America after all. The Congregation also has access to "consultors" and tech support from their Second Inquisition and Hammer Response partners, the first are elite trained fighters who help with training and do some ops themselves, the second is made of surveillance tech and intel that allows the Union to strike against the right targets.

Outside of this, the Congregation also has access to hundreds of thousands in donations from the highest members of society, some of them members of the Flock themselves, and the willing masses that believe they donate to a good cause, which they are not wrong. 

Repent With the Blood of Man's Enemies

Numbers: 2000-3000 (Allegedly)
Sect: Protestant Baptist

Founding Date

2005

Type

Religious, Sect

Alternative Names

The Union, The Congregation, Saint Joseph's Army

Training Level

Trained

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Demonym

Unionites

Location

New Bourbon

Cooperation

Union Congregation

50

Second Inquisition

50

Cold War

Mongrels MC

-90

Union Congregation

-90

At War

Union Congregation

-100

Clan Hecata

-100