The Deep Urban Caern
It is not a normal story to speak of a Bonegnawer 'Stronghold'. But that is exactly what The Deep truly is. A hardened fortress under the depths and inner workings of the vast city of Houston in Texas, in the south of the United States of America.
The Deep is a paradise amongst the Bonegnawers and also the Glasswalkers who reside there. To which they result in many. The Caern is built into part of an old and very much forgotten rail system, which the Gnawers and Walkers have put see to sealing off and shutting out the outside world of civilians and temptations of veil breaking through their many contacts and allies. Kinfolk in the best of places within the city to provide for the vast caern that is settled so close to the Wyrm and the Weaver that other tribes and Caerns have raised their eyebrows.
The Gnawers especially here at The Deep are deemed amongst the most fearless of the Nation and they give every reason for the Nation to think them so. Famed for their Mech Armored Warriors and Blast Troops, The Deep is a terrifying foe to have, and a glorious ally.
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It was held in the Thompson family for three generations, notably by the massive mountain of a Homid Gnawer known as 'Nails' and protected by a wild and thrill seeking Metis Gnawer called 'Killswitch' who would later take over the Alphaship of the Caern after Nails passed away in it's protection.
The two have provided the tribe's children with many a legend and tale of the ferocious and fearless duo who have done nothing but wonders at this place. Holding it in favoured stead and respected by the rest of the Nation. A rare feat for the Gnawers and only held higher with their Glasswalker companions.
The Deep's entrance is situated on the 5th basement level of a multistory parking lot. Behind a set of thick and rugged steel Blast Doors that all but those of the supernatural seem to ignore quite basically. A charm no doubt by one of the Gnawer or Walker Theurges who resides within.
Working your way down into the Caern is no easy task unless invited by the occupants. The Blast Doors open to a vast lowering ramp that leads down another half mile into the earth and opens out into a level of the Caern that most will store their vehicles and other belongings that are not needed inside the vast place.
The ramp is protected by no less than 35 mech armored Warders all of whom now follow the lead of their new Head Warder. Hounds of Hell Houston Charter President, Logan Killdare. Killdare having taken up the position as Killswitch ascended to the Alphaship. Killdare himself one of the Rat's Garou.
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The Mech Warders are all fully loaded with mechanical weaponry, also a long blade that differs for each Warder. Every single one of the Mech's is made with reclaimed metals and other items that the Gnawers and Walkers have been able to get their hands on over the years of building up such a vast and protected area of Gaian territory.
To be one of the Mech Warders is to take some kind of hero status within the Caern and each of them are as respected as some Caerns treat their Warbans. They are often thought of as first priority with the food rations and other facilities on the Caern of the Deep. But also to be married to one or provide one with children brings it's own status on the Caern.
The Mech Warders are of course headed up by Logan Killdare as previous stated, but with him the Mech's have all over the years become members of the Biker group, The Hounds of Hell. The Alpha Killswitch being a Metis and War-born has afflictions from his birth that are obvious, both of his legs twisted and mangled, he sometimes is seen to use a wheelchair. However most of the time and especially during his hours amongst his people, his legs are consistantly coated in heavy mechanical braces that are powered with Gnosis and fetishes in their own right, making him appear as terrifying as some of the harshest Fenrir.
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However as much as Killswitch is a terrifying enemy, he also has a heart of gold and now being married to a Child of Gaia kinfolk named Meg, he takes in and fathers orphaned Metis children with his wife. Providing them a caring and loving home within the Caern that is second to none to these of the most unfortunate.
Within the living quarters of the Deep there is a highly active Security Office which is headed up by two Kinfolk, rather than Garou. Kobe Thompson, a nephew to Nails the former Alpha and Felicia Dalca, the only Shadowlord presence on the Sept, known as 'Flik's The Switch' herself a paraplegic after almost dying in defence of the Caern some years before. Both of them are accomplished and talented Hackers who not only protect the Caern with multiple computerized security systems but also are massive activists through their computer connections, even having been linked with organizations such as 'Anonymous'.
The Deep is a double leveled Caern that holds everything to which it has become it's own underworld settlement, even, thanks to Meg, Killswitch's beloved and adored wife, it holds a bio-garden providing the Caern and it's people with fresh vegetables and food that otherwise they would find extremely difficult to access.
With it's multiple weaponized security systems and the quality of life that the Garou and Kinfolk have strived with blood, sweat and tears to make the best possible, The Deep is in fact one of the best and strongest Caerns to be found within today's Nation. Ironic some may say that such a place of Gaian strength is found within the backyard of the Wyrm and Weaver who by all attempts so far have failed to conquer it's territory.