The Chicago Federation

# Geography

**Membership:** The entirety of the Uratha population residing in the West Side of Chicago

**Specific Community Areas:** West Town, the Near West Side, Pilsen, Humboldt Park, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, Lawndale, Little Village, and Austin

**Neighborhoods within Specific Community Areas:** East Ukrainian Village, Ukrainian Village, Noble Square, Pulaski Park, The Patch, and Wicker Park within West Town; Fifth City within East Garfield Park; Heart of Chicago within the Lower West Side; The Island within Austin; University Village, Greektown, Little Italy, and Tri-Taylor within the Near West Side; Homan Square and K-Town within North Lawndale; Marshall Square within South Lawndale; and West Humboldt Park within Humboldt Park.

**Central Meeting Ground:** Humboldt Park

**Minor Meeting Grounds:** <<redacted>>

**Other Locations of Note:** Union Station,

**Uratha Population of the West Side:** 4,586

# History

The Chicago Federation, also referred to as the Illini Uratha, is the name of the Protectorate formed between the five major Uratha tribes of the Chicagoland area. The Federation was formed shortly after the Great Fire of 1871. The exact events that lead to the Fire and the formation of the Federation are widely debated among the packs, but one fact always remains the same: The Void Mother had a heavy hand in the events and the Federation was the Uratha’s response.

Throughout the years, a few prominent Bone Shadows have insisted that they had learned the true nature of the Fire. They claimed to have received this knowledge through the careful interrogation of local Spirits that they had bound and captured in Fetishes. As these Uratha have left this world, so too have these supposed Fetishes. The Federation has searched high and low, but with little in the way of rewards for their efforts. Many have accused the Mages of the Grand Consilium, arguing that they arranged for the deaths of these Uratha and made off with their powerful Fetishes. The Grand Consilium has always scoffed at such accusations.

Despite their hazy origins, the Federation was in fact formed to combat the Void Mother and her proxies in this world – more specifically Chicagoland. It was initially conceptualized as a Lodge, but as the world flocked to help Chicago rebuild, it quickly became clear that a Protectorate was what would be needed for the future generations. The Federation prowled and protected the whole of Chicago until their claim was challenged when countless Mages, Changelings, and Vampires were drawn to Chicago for The World’s Colombian Exposition of 1893.

Chicago changed both in this world and in that of the Shadow, as twenty-seven million people visited the World’s Fair between May and October of 1893. It is unknown how many of those people were in fact Mages, Changelings, Vampires, and other Uratha, but many of them planted roots in the city during those months – and as is always the case with the other Supernatural races, they began to vie for power and control of the locale. In that day, the city was ruled completely by the Uratha; even the mayor, Carter Harrison Sr, was numbered among the Forsaken.

The Federation’s control of Chicago was fractured on October 28, 1893 when Mayor Harrison was assassinated by a Vampire identified as Patrick Eugene Prendergast. As Harrison was later interred at Graceland Cemetery, the Federation’s leaders formally announced that they would be Prosecuting War against the Vampires and all who would attempt to interfere with the Federation’s territory. The Mages and the Changelings were quickly drawn into the War on both sides. In the following years, more supernatural blood was spilt than in any known prolonged conflict in history. The Shadow was out of balance, and so the world. The Federation had to end the conflicts before the city was destroyed once more.

It was due to the Grand Consilium of the Midwest that a tense truce was reached. At the turn of the 1900s, the Praeceptor of the Grand Consilium arranged for a parlay between the leaders of the Federation, the Vampire Court, and a handful of the Seasonal Rulers of the various Changeling Freeholds that once dotted the area. The parlay lasted sixty-six days and nights before the four parties had come to an agreement; an event that later became known as ‘The Summit of Storms.’ The Grand Consilium was given the north, the Changelings were given the south, the Uratha were given the west, and the Vampires were given the center. The borders were to be respected, but it was within each group’s right to challenge these borders under extremely specific circumstances. The treaty was signed by all those in attendance and the War was formally brought to an end.

The Federation continued a cold war against the other groups, one that still rages unto these very nights. Balance between the Shadow world and this world must be maintained at all costs, even ignoring the treaty. The other three groups meddle where they should not, and the effects of such meddling often brings the attention of the denizens in the Shadow. The barrier between the worlds must not be Sundered again, for if it does, the Void Mother’s hand may yet touch the worlds once more. The Federation stands ready in case that night ever comes.

# The Tribes

## Blood Talons

The Police and War Generals of the Federation. The Blood Talons hunt the criminals and undesirables in Illini Uratha society. They have played a large part in keeping the Federation’s population in line and protected from the outside forces that would wipe the Uratha out. They have also been given the responsibilities of prosecuting war against those that the Tribe Leaders have chosen. All decisions related to war must pass through Blood Talon leadership, lest the Tribe Leaders intercede. Since the Treaty, war is almost always prosecuted against Spirits, the Pure, the Hosts, and the Void.

## Bone Shadows

The Spies and Mystics of the Federation. The Bone Shadows hunt both spirits and knowledge – and the two very often seem to be intertwined with each other in Chicago. They have ensured that the Federation stays abreast of the current political landscape and the various plots, secrets, and conspiracies that grip the city. The Tribe Leaders always seem to know how to act in the best interest of the Federation thanks to the Bone Shadows. They are also largely responsible for keeping the Spirit population in check. Chicago is a very haunted city, but your average Sleeper would not notice that thanks to the Bone Shadows.

## Hunters in Darkness

The Assassins and Guardians of the Federation. The Hunters in Darkness hunt those that trespass on Federation property – largely the West Side – and those outside of the Federation that commit crimes upon Federation property. Recently, they have also been given the responsibility of eradicating any and all beings of the Void that find themselves in Chicago – no matter the territory. The Hunters often work in tandem with the Bone Shadows when it comes to the Void. The Hunters are often used in political games as well, most often employed in taking out particularly troublesome enemies of the Federation.

## Iron Masters

The Engineers and Diplomats of the Federation. The Iron Masters hunt those humans and outside supernatural groups that threaten the Federation and its mission. They have also been given the role of liaison with these various groups, a role in which they fell in to naturally. Ghost Wolves, Wolf-blooded, and many human allies on the West Side have one of the Iron Masters as their link to the Federation. Working in tandem with the Blood Talons, they have ensured that there is always a balance amongst the peoples within Federation Territory.

## Storm Lords

The Politicians and Judges of the Federation. The Storm Lords of the Federation hunt the Ridden and the Spirit-Claimed, no matter the Territory. Due to the meddling of the other groups in Chicagoland, the Ridden and Spirit-Claimed seem to appear with frightening regularity. Should that population go unchecked, the balance between worlds would quickly shift. Due to their nature, many Storm Lords find themselves in positions of power within the Federation. Indeed, it was a pack of Storm Lords that are largely credited as the architects of the Federation. Thanks to their tireless guidance, the Federation is as ready as ever to take down the Void and her many supplicants. Until that day, it is many a Storm Lord’s personal mission to see the Vampires, Mages, and Vampires brought to heel – whether as allies in this War against the Void or as unwilling subjects made to fight in this war.