The Black Regalia
You are what you wear...
The Black Betties
They are more than mere hunters of horrors. Killing monsters is nothing compared to their skills in storytelling. The Black Betties are an organization of women who build legends around themselves. The more people who believe them, the more real they become. It doesn't matter how impossible it seems. If enough people believe you can hit like a truck or dodge a bullet, then maybe you can. This is The Gift of Tall Tales at work.
Since the 1950s, when the organization began, The Black Betties learned how to use this gift. Upon joining, each member adopts a new name, a persona. They become someone else. They adopt the legend left behind by those who retire or fall, despite their gifts. This change is quite literal. If Daisy is known for being left-handed, you will soon find yourself a southpaw after accepting her name. If Lucy is known for being heavyset, you will gain weight regardless of your metabolism and workout routine.
Once you fully adopt the persona, and learn its legend, the black regalia is at your disposal. After all, personas are technically just another accessory in The Black Regalia. It's the first you learn to wield. This mask you wear is just another bit of fashion for those unaware of the truth. They know nothing about the price you pay, nor the benefits of paying it.
The Regalia
The Regalia begins with the general aesthetic of The Black Betties, their "uniform." Tapping into their heritage, The Betties chose a vintage style. They dress in button down shirts, heels, high-waist jean's, pencil dresses, and poodle skirts. They dress in all colors, though black is always prominent. The Black Regalia highlights their rockabilly style. It includes jewelry, bandanas, and even their tattoos.
The style is more than a preference. It has many uses. They use it as a cover, an easy way to elude those who refuse to look away. A quick Google search will take care of the rest. The style was also chosen to call back to their origins, a way to keep the first legends alive. Without them, the new legends would lack foundation. More importantly, especially concerning The Black Regalia, it is a reminder of stories that were lost
Sometimes a legend dies. Sometimes no one is left alive to retell the story. It takes decades to get results when using The Gift of Tall Tales. When a legend dies, the gift dies with it. These legends can still exist in the unconscious mind of those who bear the right persona. The legend becomes instinctive, a form of primal knowledge. This is why The Regalia exists. Some things shouldn't be forgotten.
Adopting Regalia
Every member feels deeply connected to their regalia. The stories hidden inside these relics are anecdotes from someone else's life, but now, they are the stories of your life. Whether it be a tattoo commemorating a life event, a wedding band, or a deceased father's jacket. Each relic has weight and each item will bring the same emotions.
Due to the emotional strain, each item in a member's regalia is adopted individually. Adopting a persona is the easy part. Coming to terms with the rest of your regalia is significantly more taxing. It can be a traumatizing affair and one that sometimes requires multiple attempts to be successful.
While The Betties are known for their optimistic attitude and high energy, the road they walk to get there is long and tragic. There are exceptions, however. Some personas are considerably newer than others. In recent years, the betties included male names to accommodate members of the organization during gender transition. These members are still steadily building their regalia.
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Such a crazy, cool concept! Oh, and I'm totally stealing those artifacts for my TTRPG sessions :-)
Thanks for the kind words! Doooo it! I really want to dig into each persona and their regalia. May do that soon.