The Voices of Boston
The Voices of Boston
Type: Supernatural Civic Guardians
Disposition: Protective (of Boston's mundane and magical communities)
Headquarters: Distributed across the city
Nature: Each Voice embodies a fundamental spirit of Boston — passed down through bearers who carry the mantle until they choose to relinquish it
Overview
The Voices of Boston are the supernatural guardians of the Unsleeping City — eternal protectors who each embody a core aspect of Boston's identity. The Vox system is ancient, bound to the city at its founding, and operates in secret alongside the mundane world.
Each Voice operates publicly under a mundane identity while secretly fulfilling their guardian role among the awakened.
The Voices (1986)
| Title | Role |
|---|---|
| Vox Libertas — Voice of Liberty | Guardian of freedom, justice, and dissent |
| Vox Concordia — Voice of Harmony | Guardian of unity across the city's communities |
| Vox Innovatum — Voice of Innovation | Guardian of intellect, invention, and progress |
The Vox Libertas — Voice of Liberty
The eternal guardian of liberty and justice across both the magical and mundane dimensions of the city. Intervenes whenever freedom is threatened — by tyranny, coercion, supernatural domination, or the quiet erosion of civil rights. The spirit of Boston's rebellion, dissent, and independence made manifest.
The Vox Concordia — Voice of Harmony
Guardian of harmony and unity among the city's diverse communities. Maintains balance between the magical and mundane realms. Defends the city's vibrant mix of cultures and traditions, promotes integration and understanding, and fosters mutual respect among ethnic and magical groups.
The Vox Innovatum — Voice of Innovation
Embodies invention, intellect, and the relentless pursuit of progress. Represents the creative spirit that drives humanity to push beyond its limits. Deeply tied to MIT and the broader culture of intellectual achievement in Boston and Cambridge.
Rules of Succession
A Vox cannot die while bearing their title. Only by voluntarily relinquishing the role may their soul pass on — at which point another inherits the mantle. The city itself seems to guide the selection of new bearers.
GM Notes
Title True Bearer Cover Identity Vox Libertas — Voice of Liberty Benjamin Franklin Dr. Richard Sparks Vox Concordia — Voice of Harmony Leonard Nimoy Himself (celebrity / Boston native) Vox Innovatum — Voice of Innovation Buzz Aldrin Himself (MIT graduate) The Vox system was born when Benjamin Franklin tethered his soul to the city itself, making Boston the first true Unsleeping City. Other Unsleeping Cities (New York, Los Angeles) arose later through different, lesser means.
The Voices are aware of the crack in the veil opened by Boston's collective grief after the 1986 World Series. The Grief-Eater was a symptom. The Green Monster stirring represents a deeper threat. The Vox Libertas (Franklin) is most alarmed — this has echoes of something he witnessed centuries ago.