Nightborn Lineage: Strix

[p]Several revelers hypnotically dance and chant in mirthful delight to the beat of an eerie drum. A Nightborn Inquisitor carefully observes their peculiar behavior, noting the precision of their movements and light red glow to their eyes. “Fae Bewitchments”, the Vampire of the Strix Lineage concludes. Tracking this Fae creature, possibly of the Goblin sub-variety, has not been easy, yet this strange party is a tell-tale sign the target is near.[/p][p]“Excuse me”, the Inquisitor starts, “What are you…!” Caught unaware, the Vampire is simultaneously stabbed by flashing blades, previously concealed, as the dancers motions went from grace to deadly precision without skipping a beat. However, these daggers barely scratch the surface of the Nightborn’s skin which hardened to granite with the power of Strix blood.[/p][p]“No, this won’t do.” With a wave of the hand, the Nightborn rolled back time and the drum beat and dancing resumed. The Strix Prophesy revealed that engaging the merrymakers in this way would end in bloodshed. “How else could I approach this?”, thought the Inquisitor. Then, realization struck, “their song: it is a riddle. I simply gave the wrong answer…”, the Vampire slyly smirked.[/p][p][/p][p]“Civility is an illusion. Savagery is the default state of humanity.”[/p][p]― Quinlan, The Strain[/p][p][/p][p]The Strix Lineage is known as Otherworldly Sages among Nightborn, Mad Prophets Doomsaying from desecrated temples, and Spiritual Scholars Will-Working with the Esoteric.[/p][p]Strix tend to be withdrawn yet inquisitive.[/p][p]Strix often assume academic positions in Nightborn courts, since they are seen as more focused than Bruxo Nightborn and less unsettling than Marra Nightborn, which also tend to vie for these roles.[/p][p][/p][p]Strix Entitlements are Dominion, Power over Nature, and Eternity, Power over Time.[/p][p]The Dominion tree includes defensive powers, such as hardening the body or discorporating into Mist, control over animals and the land, and Elemental Magic.[/p][p]The Eternity tree includes Preternatural Speed, Prophesy, Time Manipulation, and Necromancy Magic.[/p][p][/p][p]The Strix of the New Orleans Vampire Court largely support the Nightborn Establishment faction in the Central Business District. This allows them the stability and order conducive for their inquiries and research.[/p][p]Their greatest competition in the city are the Marra who lurk in Orthodoxy haunts  in The French Quarter and the Bruxo who hang with the Libertines in the Arts District.[/p][p]While most other Nightborn focus on Vampire Politics, the Strix study all types of Supernatural creatures and occurrences.[/p][p]Only the Lamia match the Strix with non-Nightborn Supernatural contact, but they are more focused on deal-making rather than studying their unique natures which concern the Strix’s research.[/p]