The Cursed West: The Nightdwellers
Excerpt from "Cults, Covens, and Communes of Expanse #75 [ Southern Arizona]," p. 45:
"The Night Dwellers are a loose coalition of solo Ritualists, Walkers, and Bondspeakers reporting to Order of the Dark Sun's Courtland, Arizona field office. They are a relatively new addition to the supernatural scene in Expanse #75, only coming into prominence in the past few decades. The Night Dwellers are a disparate group, united by a shared belief in the power of the night, and their dedication to the propagation of that power.
They are also united by their belief in the power of blood magic. The Night Dwellers believe that blood—specifically, their blood—is the key to unlocking the power of the night, and that it must be used sparingly and with great care. They see it as a sacred substance, and use it in their rituals and spells to commune with the spirits of the dead. This has led them to be considered a cult by many in their local Expanse, and they are often (usually unfairly) associated with dark and evil deeds. Despite this, the Night Dwellers see themselves as proponents of Stability, and use their powers to contain the spread of Unstable Zones. They are especially active in the regional fight against Warrington’s Blight [Entity code Ω-335; Fungal-type], and have worked alongside the broader Order of the Dark Sun on more than one occasion.
As the Night Dwellers are not a formal organization, they have no centralized structure or hierarchy. This lack of formal organization makes them difficult to track or monitor, and their activities are often shrouded in secrecy. What little is known about them comes from the testimony of former members, all of whom report being initiated into the group through a shared dream. In this dream, they are contacted by a being known only as “Her Voice,” which offers them a place in its "family." Once initiated, members find themselves becoming more nocturnal. They also become more attuned to the magical energies of the Expanse, and begin to develop supernatural abilities. These abilities vary from individual to individual, but all of them involve some connection to the power of blood.
The Night Dwellers are not a violent group, and they do not condone the use of force or coercion. However, they are thought to be peripherally involved in the trafficking of narcotics, unapproved potions, and other illegal substances via grants of Nighttime to smugglers in exchange for money or information. Additionally, some individuals have been known to engage in criminal activity, such as petty theft and vandalism."
