Like you, of a Mother I was born.
For you, I rose from Her ashes.
You call me but a child but I am more, much more.
The world is mine to discover.
Won't you join me?
- From the Word of Anges

Agnes, the Child, the only Fatima never to see the camps. Born from the death of Mary The Forgiver who died in the camps shortly after Joshua's death and the Liberation of humanity. She is an innocent in a way, not tainted by the horror of the Z'bri and her tribe reflects that. She has the eminences of Capriciousness and Inspiration.

She is capricious and playful, a child many decades old. She watches over her children in the playground and, like a any child, has her cliques and her favourites and her fickle fashions. Her form is that of a giant teddy bear and doll who wander around the Playground together.

In recent times, however, many things have changed for Agnes. Thanks to the intervention of the Fallen and a Marian Artefact, Agnes has begun the process of growing up, as have her Tribe. Much of the Tribal information below is out of date, as new norms start to establish themselves. Most importantly, Agnites no longer have the Eminence of Capriciousness. Instead, they have both Inspiration and Recognition.

Agnes the Child loves her children and has her favourites. Those chosen to wield her power instead of formal priesthoods, to play with Anges most above all others.

Their settlement is known as Playground and is fairly small, 700 people all told, and in a difference to the other tribes is not organised by family units but by caste which in turn are decided by age.

The Young Ones are those still in the creche. The Children, Barren and Breeders all help take care of them and they spend their time playing.

The Children are the heart and soul of the tribe. They are all younger than 17 but older than 7 summers and are Agnes' main playmates and Leaders of the tribe. They run the farms, guard the tribe, and while they're not really comparable to the Joanite forces they're not to be underestimated. They never have children of their own - not while they're still Children themselves - that's what Breeders are for.

When the children grow up they make become a Breeder. Breeders make more children for Anges so she always has new playmates. Breeders average out at 3 children every five years and are unusually fertile compared to the rest of the tribes. When children are born they're taken to the Creche and brought up by the whole of the tribe.

If a grown Child don't become a breeder then they become a Barren - those unable to bear children for Agnes. They're the bottom of the pecking order and are mostly lave labour, doing the hard work that the Children direct them too. Many barren's instead go off to join Dhalian caravans to serve Anges and live perhaps a little bit longer.

Every year there is a celebration of the birth of Agnes. 12 Barrens are nominated as 'Forgivers' reminding the tribe of their ties to Mary. It is a great honor to be chosen and goes to the oldest and most dedicated. At the height of the Festival of Rebirth the 12 Forgivers climb into a wicker lady before it is set alight. It is said that not one of the twelve ever cries out in pain, such is their devotion. From the ashes Agnes then arises and the celebrations reach their peak.

The Children deny that anyone gets banished from Agnes' playground but that's not true - their names are never mentioned and a hush falls if anyone brings them up. Banishments are perhaps fewer than in the other tribes but they still happen.

Nothing is really taboo in Agnes' Playground but her mood can change from day to day, and what is fun and what is not (which is pretty much the same as what is the law) can shift as easily as the wind. Get on her wrong side, do something to ruin her fun and a Child may find themselves banished.

By definition getting old makes a child boring as well and many chose to leave rather than suffer getting old in a world of kids.

The Evan's are mothers to all but in the world of Agnes they see no need of mothers and find the Evan influence stifling. Yagans pride themselves on age but the older you are the more boring you get and so the Agnites tend to ignore them. Dhalian's are perhaps the closest the Agnites have to kindred spirits - enjoying a similar sense of playfulness and often letting Agnites accompany them on their caravan journies, taking one on as a mascot. The Tereshebans and Joanites tend to try and curtail the games of the children and there is little love lost between them. Magdalen and her people share the wonder of the world and the desire to explore it but their focus is inwards while the Agnites look outwards however they often welcome Agnite visitors to their lands.

Agnites pity the Fallen and profess that Agnes still loves them regardless. The excitement and energy of the Fallen can seem like a new game to the Children who perhaps don't notice, or don't wish to notice, the darkness at the core.

• Bullies: famous for their use of intimidation, teasing, beatings and even torture, these Agnites are generally larger and older than other Children.
• Tattletales/Squealers: Younger and smaller Children who spy on and report other Children (and anyone else!) to whomever can get their target in the most trouble.
• Loners: Refusing to join the other Cliques, these Children are often picked on. Some have the smarts and strength to avoid being the bottom rung on the social ladder.
• Victims: They found a kind of freedom in rolling over and playing punching bag for every Bully. They survive by learning to take a hit, and in becoming a powerful figure’s favourite.
• Babysitters: On the fast-track to becoming Breeders when they’re old enough, the Babysitters took care of the Littles and the Young Ones. They suffered relatively little from the Playground politics, and tend to be gentle and kind, with a ready ear.
• Golden Kids: The Golden Kids gain their power through charisma and natural leadership ability. Leaders of these Cliques tend to be physically attractive, dynamic and fearless enough to stand up to Bullies, Tattletales and even adults from other Tribes.
• Scouts: Questioning, thieving, irresponsible children most often found outside Playground. Obsessed with lurking, searching, finding and exploring, they tend to have the best toys to trade and thus did very well in Playground.
• Favourites: The undisputed rulers of Playground, these are as close as Agnites get to priests – they are trained in Synthesis by Agnes Herself, and when teams are chosen, the Favourites are always on Agnes’ side.
• Breeders: Wilful, self-centred and petulant, the Breeders try to use their special status as the makers of the Children to compensate for the freedom they lost when they became “adults.”
• Nursemaids: They might have trouble giving birth, but they are good at raising Children, so they are put into the Crèche in order to free up the Breeders.
• Barren: Virtual slaves to the Children and Breeders, the Barren are the refuse of Agnes’ Tribe. They are little more than living toys for the rest of the Tribe. Many former Agnites among the Fallen are Barren who fled Playground.
• Dahlian Mascot: Instead of becoming a Barren, an Agnite may instead take up with a Caravan, who keep them around for good luck until they formally become a Dahlian.

• Peter Pan
• Lord of the Flies

Photo by Tom Garnett