The Lost Pups Hive
Black Spiral Dancers in Northern California by Night
by Corey Alambar

The Bay Area has long held a mystique, a mystical presence.  Many of those
who have lived there remark on the strange, almost timeless presence of the
entire area, the almost mystical feel as they walk the streets and look
across the fog-shrouded Cities by the Bay.

The minions of the Wyrm, too, know of this place, and they have fought from
the beginning to find the heart of the Maze of Dreams, and to awaken
Andromalek, the spirit that lies asleep here, a relic of an age long, long
ago.

History

The Lost Pups Hive was created in the early centuries AD, at a time when the
Roman centurions were sweeping across Europe and Britain.  This was the time
of the beginning of the corruption of the White Howler tribe, and the birth
of the Balck Spiral Dancers.

Among the first converts to the way of the Wyrm was a small clan of White
Howlers and their kinfolk, seduced by the awesome power of the Wyrm, and
believing that they could stand against its corruption while taking its
gifts. It was most definitely not to be so.

The entire clan, to a man, walked the Black Spiral Labyrinth, at the heart of
Malfeas.  As they walked the dance of insanity, they slowly began to twist,
and reform, until they became the horrid parodies of what they once were.
 And they acquired a shared purpose.

For the forces of the Wyrm were active in the lands of the Pure Ones.  They
knew of the potential of a particular place on the western shores of this
great continent, most undefilesd by the Wyrm's touch.  And it was here to
which the entire clan was transported, as servants of the Wyrm.

The other members of the White Howler tribe cried out i anguish as they
searched the high and low places for signs of their lost kin, and in lament
they named their missing brothers the Lost Pups, for that was truly what they
were.

Once over the madness of the Spiral, the Lost Pups began establishing a small
settlement in what is currently Oakland, and established trade with the
neighboring tribes.  They made hints of their great power, and the local
tribes were mostly cowed.

This went on for almost a century, before Claws-at-Madness, an Uktena
Theurge, and Alanda Morningmist, a Dreamspeaker magi, came to know of this
blight on their land.  Together they forged the great Starspear, and went to
the heart of the camp.

Blood and madness spilled about them, as they cut toward the pit the Lost
Pups had constructed at the center of their village.  Sparing no one, men,
women, and children equally fell under the magics of the pair, and the great
Starspear.

In desperation, Howararu, an Ahroun of the Lost Pups, fled deep into the
physical labyrinth that lay underneath the entire Bay Area, seeking the heart
of the being known as Andromalek, to awaken him.  CLaws and Alanda pursued,
the brilliant light of the Starspear illuminating their way.

They found Howararu at the side of a sleeping spirit, too great to be a mere
bane.  He was calling out, cajolling and begging for mercy, but the being
would not awaken.  Claws at Madness struck with the Starspear, and Howararu
cried out his last breath in a curse to the Wyrm that had betrayed him.

THe brilliant power of the Starspear, and the death-cry of Howararu, caused
Andromalek to stir.  The caverns began to shudder and shake, forcing Claws at
Madness and Alanda to flee, dropping the Starspear in the process.  THey tore
their way from the bowels of the earth as the tunnels collapsed behind them,
and they looked upon the ruins of the former Black Spiral village.

Deeming the threat purged, the two went their seperate ways, to look into the
nature of the being that slumbered below this beautiful land.  Neither of
them found the answers they sought, and they died fitfully, unable to divine
what this great spirit was.

They did not, however, complete their first task.  A pair of Black Spiral
kinfolk had escaped into the local population, and they had a shard of the
original pit they had constructed, carried in the form of a flawed quartz
crystal.  They married into the tribe, and were gifted with a single Shifting
child.

This child they taught everything, and Ashagra was the new founder of the
Lost Pups.  She was entrusted with the lore of the Wyrm, and began tunneling,
looking for the heart of the old creature they had originally sought.

Since this time, the Lost Pups have been growing in strength, though they
have never numbered more than 10 members throughout history.  THey remain
hidden, knowing that as long as they are unknown they are a great asset to
the Wyrm.  THey have stil not rediscovered Andromalek,. though they know he
is there.  THey do not know of the Starspear, which has been presumed lost in
history by the Tribes and the Traditions of the magi.

Society

There is no society, per se, to the Lost Pups.  They exist in tunnels of
their own design and those made by man, digging for a being they do not
understand.  They are occasionally responsible for some attacks on the
nighttime streets of San Francisco and the Oakland/Berkeley area, leading to
some colorful local tales about the half-man who dines on human flesh.

They have no contact with the outside world, and only the Beast of War knows
of their existence.  They are considered Lost Pups even to the forces of the
Wyrm, something the Beast of War wishes to continue.

They have recently become aware of the supernatural forces in the city above,
and have been working with the Sabbat in an attempt to overthrow Eric Tollier
(qv), the new Prince of Oakland, and at least one Kinfolk works for the
drug-smuiggling operations of the Scarlet Mansion (qv).

Items

The Starspear

The Starspear was forged, legend has it, by Alanda Morningmist and
Claws-at-Madness to drive off an ancient evil that threatened the land of
California.  It is thought lost in the destruction of the pit that was at the
center of these evil forces, though in truth it lies next to the slumbering
Andromalek, awaiting someone brave enough (or foolish enough) to find it.

It is forged of metal fallen from the heavens, and infused with silver and
the power of the moon.  At its heart lies a manifestation of the Incarna of
Purity, giving this spear incredible power, including the ability to open or
close holes in the gauntlet, or to cleanse a section of the Umbra.

(Game note:  This item is a legend, of near artifact quality.  It should
under NO circumstance be allowed to fall into the hands of the players
without some kind of plan to take it away.)

(Plot note:  References to the Starspear may be found, though they are
well-hidden in history.  THis weapon may actually harm Andromalek, though it
lacks the power to kill him outright.)

Any comments, questions, etc., please direct them to me, at
nettiger@netcom.com