ELPIS

**ELPIS** is a terrorist organization operating in Signum. It rose out from the defeated Ophiuchus after the Reservoir War. Although its original members consisted of the original Ophiuchians, it has expanded to incorporated members throughout Signum.

It consists of different sects with different goals. Despite these differences, all sects of ELPIS hold a hatred for conductors and the vitae reservoirs and perform acts of terrorism against these things such as blowing up generator conductors and destroy reservoirs. True members of ELPIS have bleached white vitae.

## ELPIS Leaders

It is revealed in Part II: The Illusionary Six that there are certain members of ELPIS that are ELPIS leaders. These ELPIS leaders are actually centuries old and were the second generation of Ophiuchians after Signum's founding. They store their vitae and memories in items called resistors and inject them into individuals who are on their death bed to pass themselves into them. This original ELPIS's goal is to stop the syzygy. They are differentiated from normal ELPIS members by a white snake tattoo on their bodies.

Their enemy are the saint candidates.

### Known ELPIS Leaders

#### Theta

*Theta was the ELPIS leader chosen as the official 'leader' of the ELPIS leaders during the Twin Cities arc in Part II. Their goal was to reveal the corruption in the city to the public eye. Their tattoo is located on the right side of their face. They are a* Specialist. *Theta is currently initiated into* Francis Foxman.

#### Omicron

*Omicron was an ELPIS leader active during Part I and Part II of the story. They were initiated into a Capricornian named Charite Haussman. Their tattoo is located on the left side of their face. They are a* Manipulator*. For more information, see* Omicron.

#### Omega

*Omega was an ELPIS leader known to be active during Part II. Their tattoo is located at the back of their neck. They are a* Manipulator*. For more information, see* Omega.

#### Gamma

*Gamma is the current head ELPIS leader. Their tattoo location is unknown. They are a* Conjuror*. They are described as 'very conservative.' They are currently initiated into* Wtorek Izsak.

#### Beta

*Beta is an ELPIS leader made active during Part II. Their tattoo location is unknown. They seem to be a* Projector*. They are currently initiated into* Conta.

#### Tau

*Tau is an active ELPIS leader. Their tattoo is located at the roof of their mouth. They are a Conjuror. They are currently initiated into the Geminian police commissioner* Vincente Giustizia.

#### Iota

*Iota was an ELPIS leader active during Part II and Part III of the story. Their tattoo is located at the back of their hand. They are a* Manipulator*. They were initiated into a war criminal named* Iris McKillop.

#### Zu

*Zu is an active ELPIS leader. Their vitae is a mint green. They are currently initiated into Capricornian soldier* Alwin Brandt.

#### Epsilon

*Epsilon is an active ELPIS leader. They are a Specialist, and are currently initiated into* Ambrose Campana.

## Initiation

The initiation of an ELPIS leader is done through a device called a resistor which stores the vitae of the ELPIS leader. The resistor is described as a "knife-shaped pendant with a glass handle." The first step in the initiation process involves stabbing the resistor into the body of someone who is recently deceased. Once the vitae is transferred, the newly initiated ELPIS member goes through a ceremony where the tattoo is imprinted on their body by another member.

Using the resistor on a person who is still alive can lead to mental and psychological complications, identity confusion, and dissociation as seen with Francis Foxman, Iota, and Omicron.

### (Resistors)

> Resistors are an item utilized by ELPIS and carried by the designated leaders of the organization. They are knife-shaped pendants, appearing to be almost like conductors. Their purpose is unknown but may be used in their initiation process. Verga, a member of the Romano Family, was contacted by Tau (ID: Commissario Vincente Giustizia) to ship these items into Ophiuchus.
>
>

> Add note: 15.07.1941 | Verga’s death has resulted in the loss of the shipment of resistors.
>
>

> Add note: 30.07.1941 | ELPIS leader Omicron (ID: Charite Haussman) requested information on location of resistors. None available.
>
>

> Add note: 16.08.1941 | The resistors have been discovered to be in the hands of ⬛⬛⬛. Omicron not to be contacted.
>
>

> *- Information card #456, Category E,  Astante’s Brokering Files*
>
>

## Beliefs

Most ELPIS members believe that conductors and reservoirs are inherently evil. Different members and different sects believe they’re evil for differs reasons.

## Culture

### Reversus Oratio

> The Reversus Oratio is an ELPIS (original Ophiuchian) prayer often directed towards a person one has strong feelings for. A Prayer of parting. Sometimes said in memory of one who has passed away
>
>
>
> - Part II | 10.5: Jericho’s Cycling (Vendetta)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

The prayer has been said by Theta , Jericho, Gamma, Tau, and Beta so far. It goes as follows:

>
>
>
>  “There is no beginning,
>
>
>
>
> There is only a cycle.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Whether enemy, whether friend,
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Whether family, whether stranger,
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Whether on land, whether on sea, whether in sky,
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Whether alone, whether in company,
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Whether in peace, whether in war,
>
>
> May all return to where all began.”
>
>
>
>

### Itero Recino

The Itero Recino is an original Ophiuchian game that the ELPIS leader plays. It’s an never-ending game that involves capturing enemy playing pieces. Pieces are marked with a star and set up on a checker-board like game board.