The Devlin Family
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Contents |
Overview
The town's founding family, they remain patrons of Devilshire and Devilshire University. The Devlins are also the driving force behind the Seekers of Biblical Truth church. Nearly every family with deep roots in Devilshire has a drop of Devlin blood in them. Even the Swanns, much to their chagrin!
Traditionally, Devlin children have been sent to private schools such as the nearby Groton Academy. In the past few generations, however, they have begun in enrolling in the Devilshire public school system in greater numbers in order to keep close ties to the community. Not close enough to attend every birthday party, of course, but enough that these later generations are relatively well known to those who grew up in the town. Almost all Devlins maintain tight ties with the family, though there are a few black sheep.
To much of the local population, the Devlins are a benevolent if somewhat emotionally distant family with their own unique brand of Christianity. They throw lavish benefit parties and can be seen attending soirees which benefit the community.
The truth behind the benevolent facade is much more sinister. The Seekers of the Biblical Truth church, which the Devlins are most prominent members of, is really a front for a sect of demon worshipers. Originally founding Devilshire in order to freely worship, they were forced underground once more by the arrival of additional colonists. Today the Devlins await a prophesied apocalypse during which they believe their goddess will rise and devour all that is holy, doing everything in their power to help this vision along. Groundwork laid in place by founding members of the family is still coming to light today. The most notable example being the Devilshire Library, which serves as a powerful ghost magnet and is known only to the Devlin family. There are quiet hopes that in time enough power will be collected to open a Hellmouth which will only strength the goddess and hasten her descent into the world.
Children are not told the truth behind the Seekers but are carefully indoctrinated through subtle education making prominent use of the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. On a child's sixteenth birthday, so long as they are deemed ready, the truth is revealed. The indoctrination process is so well planned and thorough that few have problems making the transition from Christian to demon worshiper. People who marry into the family or convert to the church go through a similar process, though they are more closely watched for signs of betrayal. Those who are thought to be unready or unwilling to enter into the truth of the church are either killed or sent elsewhere to further the family's pursuits in the world, unaware of the devious nature of their relatives. These people are unwelcome in Devilshire and usually make due settling down in whatever normal life they are able to carve for themselves far, far away from Massachusetts. Luckily in recent generations these people have been few and far between.
All adult members of the church and the Devlin family are trained in ritual magic to some degree or another. True magical talent (the Sorcery trait) does not run in the Devlin family, so those occasional members who do possess it are treasured and destined for the priesthood.
History
The history of the Devlin family can pretty much be found in the History and the Swann-Devlin Conflict articles. They sailed, they settled, they secretly worshiped demons. It happens.
Major Family Relations
- Hargets
The Devlins believe the Hargets to be a nice, normal, and boring family. They are essential to maintaining the veil of normalcy that surrounds Devilshire. Therefore, the Devlins will help a Harget out when it isn't to their disadvantage. Not help them so much that they'll be able to climb that little social ladder they're always on about. Oh, no. No.
- Moores
The Devlins have something of a working relationship with the Moores. They are aware of the family's criminal activities and allow it to go on in their town in exchange for a discount on goods and services needed for their black worship, though they are always careful to keep such things as vague as possible. Devlins often attend Moore parties and vice-versa. So far the Moores have proven themselves to be valuable assets to the Devlin Family and their seeming disinterest in the town makes them the perfect business partners, both helpful and non-threatening.
- Swanns
Obviously the Devlins and the Swanns are enemies, although the Devlins have always been careful to make it look like the 'feud' is mostly one sided with Swann aggression in the public eye. The Devlins are aware of the Swanns' demon hunting activities, but they don't interfere unless it suits their interests. Still, the Devlins can't help but stick it to the Swanns when they can. It is something of a right of passage for Devlin children to mess with Swann children in various subtle ways throughout the school years. While the Devlins wouldn't mind the Swanns being driven out of their town (or worse), they realize the Swanns serve an important purpose: keeping powerful demonic and supernatural entities that might challenge the Devlins' power out of Devilshire.
Notable Devlins
- August Devlin is the patriarch of the Devlin family.
- Melanie Devlin is Reginald Devlin's wife and the mother of Judith and Jewel Devlin.
- Reginald Devlin is a Selectman on the town council, the owner of RDD Trust, the husband of Melanie Devlin, and the father of Judith, Jewel, and Zach Devlin.
| The Devlin Family | ||
| Patriarch | August Devlin | |
| Second Generation | Melanie • Reginald • Victoria | |
| Third Generation | Amber • Danielle • Don • Eliza • Jewel • Judith • Lily • Magda • Rose • Saint • Seth • Sylvia • Zach | |
| Everything the Hell Else | Devlin Manor • Devlin-Swann Conflict • The Amber Rose Pub | |
| Devilshire News File Topics | ||
| News Files | Building Guide • Copyright • Policy • Resources • Staff | |
| New Player Information | Application Procedure • Census • Character Types • Playing Villains • Restricted Concepts • Sample Character Background | |
| Game System | Attributes • Combat • Drama Points • Drawbacks • Fear • Global Commands • Experience Points • Human Qualities • Human Drawbacks • LP & Healing • Magic • Magic Spells A • Magic Spells B • Note • Package Qualities • Rolling • Skills • Supernatural Qualities • Supernatural Drawbacks • Superscience | |
| Setting and Theme | Overview • History • Folktales • Speech • The Four Families • Town • Conflict • Theme | |
| Characters | Casting • NPC Casting • The Devlin Family • The Harget Family • The Moore Family • The Swann Family | |
