The Bill Sworn
The Bill Sworn are what happens when the undead decide to build a civilization. A clan of Semper Mort controlling the Estate in the Northern Clime, the Sworn distinguish themselves from their feral kin through organized society, cooperative trade with other Strains, and a dedication to preserving pre-Fall artifacts that borders on the religious. They dress simply, mark themselves with a small eagle-shaped tattoo on their wrists, and conduct business with a politeness that makes visitors forget, briefly, that they are negotiating with people who drink blood to survive.
The blood economy is the Sworn's most uncomfortable feature. They purchase individuals from other Strains to serve as blood sources, housing them in the Estate Village with food, shelter, hooch, and amenities. The Sworn cycle through their blood bags rather than draining any single person, allowing recovery time between feedings. This "honey rather than vinegar" approach keeps most blood bags compliant. Those who attempt escape are confined in the Estate Cellars: first offenses earn roughly a week of imprisonment, while repeat offenders may spend years chained and caged in wretched conditions, still being fed upon. Lila Gail serves as the Estate's specialist in psychological torture for the recalcitrant. Because the Sworn buy rather than kidnap, some traders are still willing to do business with them despite the moral implications.
Their true purpose extends beyond survival. The Sworn believe they are caretakers of pre-Fall artifacts found within the Estate. They are dedicated to preserving these items, discovering more about the Fall of Humanity, and learning about their own history as Semper Mort. They remember nothing of the world before, but they are determined to save what remains of it. They sell pre-Fall artifacts, produce, and crafts at the Estate Village market, and some members venture beyond the Estate to gather more relics and intelligence. The eagle tattoo marks them as Sworn wherever they travel, a signal to those who know what it means: these particular undead will deal with you fairly, so long as you do not end up on the wrong side of a purchase agreement.
The blood economy is the Sworn's most uncomfortable feature. They purchase individuals from other Strains to serve as blood sources, housing them in the Estate Village with food, shelter, hooch, and amenities. The Sworn cycle through their blood bags rather than draining any single person, allowing recovery time between feedings. This "honey rather than vinegar" approach keeps most blood bags compliant. Those who attempt escape are confined in the Estate Cellars: first offenses earn roughly a week of imprisonment, while repeat offenders may spend years chained and caged in wretched conditions, still being fed upon. Lila Gail serves as the Estate's specialist in psychological torture for the recalcitrant. Because the Sworn buy rather than kidnap, some traders are still willing to do business with them despite the moral implications.
Their true purpose extends beyond survival. The Sworn believe they are caretakers of pre-Fall artifacts found within the Estate. They are dedicated to preserving these items, discovering more about the Fall of Humanity, and learning about their own history as Semper Mort. They remember nothing of the world before, but they are determined to save what remains of it. They sell pre-Fall artifacts, produce, and crafts at the Estate Village market, and some members venture beyond the Estate to gather more relics and intelligence. The eagle tattoo marks them as Sworn wherever they travel, a signal to those who know what it means: these particular undead will deal with you fairly, so long as you do not end up on the wrong side of a purchase agreement.
Structure
The Bill Sworn are an exclusively Semper Mort clan. Members mark themselves with a small eagle-shaped tattoo on their wrists. They dress simply and conduct themselves with a civility uncommon among their Strain. The clan maintains a self-sustaining operation within the Estate: farmland for food production, a market for trade, and a system of purchased blood bags for sustenance. The Sworn cycle through their blood sources rather than draining any individual, allowing recovery time between feedings.
Those who attempt escape are confined in the Estate Cellars. First offenses result in roughly a week of imprisonment. Repeat offenders may face years of confinement, chained and caged in wretched conditions while still being fed upon. Lila Gail serves as the specialist in psychological enforcement for recalcitrant blood bags.
Those who attempt escape are confined in the Estate Cellars. First offenses result in roughly a week of imprisonment. Repeat offenders may face years of confinement, chained and caged in wretched conditions while still being fed upon. Lila Gail serves as the specialist in psychological enforcement for recalcitrant blood bags.
Public Agenda
Preserve and study pre-Fall artifacts found within the Estate, discover more about the Fall, and uncover the history of the Semper Mort Strain. The Sworn present themselves as caretakers and scholars, maintaining a functioning settlement through farming, trade, and a managed blood economy.
History
The Bill Sworn established themselves in the Estate in the Northern Clime as a clan of Semper Mort who chose civilization over feral predation. Where other Semper Mort hunt and take, the Sworn buy and trade. They purchase individuals from other Strains to serve as blood sources, housing them in the Estate Village with food, shelter, hooch, and amenities. This approach, while morally complicated, made them acceptable trading partners for those willing to overlook the transaction's nature.
Their true purpose extends beyond sustenance. The Sworn believe themselves to be caretakers of the pre-Fall artifacts found within the Estate. They are dedicated to discovering more about the Fall and learning about their own history as Semper Mort. Some members venture beyond the Estate to gather artifacts and information. The clan's motivations are preservation and understanding, funded and sustained by a blood economy that makes their scholarly mission possible.
Their true purpose extends beyond sustenance. The Sworn believe themselves to be caretakers of the pre-Fall artifacts found within the Estate. They are dedicated to discovering more about the Fall and learning about their own history as Semper Mort. Some members venture beyond the Estate to gather artifacts and information. The clan's motivations are preservation and understanding, funded and sustained by a blood economy that makes their scholarly mission possible.
Civilized undead preservationists who buy their dinner.
