Exalted

The pagan gods of old, known to most Adepts as the False Gods, were powerful spirits who masqueraded among men as pagan deities, incorporating native religions into the worship of themselves, all the better to assimilate the people. In time, the 'gods' chose willing humans to use as hosts, bonding with them to become the Exalted.
For ages the Exalted ruled over primitive humanity, battling the ancient Nephilim and the Titans who ruled the world in the prehistoric past. But the Exalted themselves proved little better, they were capricious and fickle, often using humans as little more than playthings and livestock. Creating armies of supernaturally empowered warriors called Callistari, the Exalted would send them out to die in their name for as petty a thing as a passing insult from a rival Exalted.
The Exalted had grown powerful but their days were numbered. When the first modern Adepts began to arise in the Middle-East and spread out from there, they gained power and numbers quickly, soon they formed armies of their own, battling the forces of the Darkness (Exalted included). With time, one by one, Exalted were slain in combat by the rising Adept Orders (especially the Destroyers). 
Today, those few Exalted left are a refugee population. They live in hiding, often in out of the way places where they can form small religious groups to dominate, once again beguiling people into believing they are gods (the modern New Age movement has given them something of a recent uplift in power and influence). 
== Facts: ==
-Callistari are human followers of Exalted who are gifted with minor supernatural powers like strength and improved healing. Often, they are trained in various martial arts.
-During the latter years of the Roman Empire, the Adepts embarked on the Midnight Crusade, one of the largest and most far-reaching Crusades on record. The purpose of the Midnight Crusade: the eradication of every last Exalted. 
-While the Midnight Crusade did not kill every Exalted, it did manage to wipe most of them out, paving the way for the modern era.
== Primordial Knowledge: ==
Because the Exalted are beings who have existed for ages, their level of understanding of how the world works and how to manipulate physical laws is extraordinary. Many Exalted have built for themselves secret technologies which rival even the hi-tech, cutting edge sophistication of the modern era. 
This effectively means that facing off against an Exalted may require a Squad of Adepts to overcome powerful future-tech. 
Of course, it also paints a bulls eye on every Exalted still in existence. As sources of incredible knowledge, there are plenty of Supernaturals out there, Adepts among them, who would love to get their hands on such a vast reservoir of information.