Organization: The Half-Life Society

The Half-Life Society

"Leading them, Amaybeth, He alone has made a pilgrimage to the gates of the underworld and returned a different being, stronger, stranger, half dead and half...something else."

    The Half-Life Society has existed long enough that few remember it's exact formation, save perhaps the most ancient of undead who number the primogenitors of S'vara. Originally a performance troupe of actors and dramatist, the society has always been famous for it's occult imagery and gimmicks that imitate true life. They paint their decaying flesh in various melanin tones or wear elaborate 'flesh masks' when their own is too skeletal. They pantomime strange behaviors of eating, sleeping, and other social aspects long alien to their kind and uncharacteristically dress in bright, bold colored clothing.

   Their behavior has long been seen as a sensationalist cult movement and a treading fad that is always popular with the newly risen. The Half-Life society are viewed with suspicion by the majority of the conservative undead. Not for them are the dark, damp graveyard towns or misty cryptums. Instead the socialites get their thrills from sunny glades, brightly built homes and well groomed appearances.

   The society earned it's name and position of renown after the Ynneon Heresy following his creation of the Parthenogenicon and subsequent execution. His pupils, seeking to remain undetected, naturally hid among the current generation of life-imitators. From within they began to recruit those already fascinated by localized fiction. Time would see the organization transform and segment into two distinct entities; the same pop-culture that young undead seem attracted to and eventually grow out of, and the true inner cabal who have discovered and refined the secret arts of the Vitamancers and Lifeshapers.


Organization
     The Half-LIfe Society uses a cell structure to ensure that no member outside the core leadership knows much about the inner organization, and cannot betray much under interrogation.

    A cell typically holds three to six members, occasionally more. The cells are linked to the central leadership and each other by lines of communication. Cells pass messages back and forth through a long chain of cells in a bucket‐brigade fashion. The leadership ranks cells according to how far from the oldest disciple they are along the chain. These do not represent military rank, power, or seniority, merely location. First‐rank cells link directly to the central leadership. Second‐rank cells link to first‐rank, and so on. The link structure resembles a three‐sided pyramid, with the prime disciple at the apex, three first‐rank cells just below it, and the rest arranged in ranks down the sides.

     There is one major drawback to belonging to a Half-Life society. Membership is permanent. When someone joins, he pledges to uphold its charter until true death. Anyone failing in this pledge is cast out, and the society assigns one of its members to assassinate the outcast.

NPC Reactions
     Most know of the Half-Life society from it's front as a cultural phenomena and most conservative undead find their affection for bright colors, festive themes, and constant maintenance strange and disappointing. Few know of the existence of the true inner cabal and would most likely be unfriendly or hostile if they discovered the truth. Undying Legionnaires will always be hostile, as well as any true servant of the blight lords.