The Family
An intergenerational secret organization founded just before the American Revolutionary War by four households: Amsel, Blackburne, Chism, and Dawson. While other historic groups like the Sons of Liberty and Freemasons operated publicly or became known, the Families remained hidden, working behind the scenes to influence events and maintain control. Each household developed a unique role:
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Amsels: Political influencers, public-facing.
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Blackburnes: Spies, infiltrators, intelligence gatherers.
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Chisms: Enforcers, cleaners, specialists in dark operations.
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Dawsons: Formerly involved in the slave trade; eliminated in a civil war within the Family over their refusal to follow ethical rules.
The Family believes in order through bloodline. Children of members, called “Bloodborne,” must be of direct descent and are recognized by a ceremonial ring once earned, signifying loyalty, service, and access.
They enforce their own laws, including:
• Vendettas for wrongful killings of Bloodborne.
• The protection and education of their
descendants.
• Strict silence about their operations.
While some see them as tyrants or manipulators, the Family views itself as a stabilizing force — surviving past collapses, and preparing for the next.
They are not a mafia, cult, or government — but a shadow society whose influence extends worldwide, with members embedded across territories, maintaining their control in the modern world through espionage, training, and survival expertise.
Associates may work with them, but only are afforded protections and compensation for their services. They also don't often speak in front o. Their influence spans continents and centuries, with embedded members across governments, territories, and institutions.
By the time of We're Alive: Descendants, with the Dawsons eliminated, the Family operates as three distinct, secretive households:
- The Amsels (including Scratch, aka Claire Amsel, and Latch) -- the political branch, traditionally responsible for managing "optics," influence, and the power structures of the old world, a role maintained through the transition into the new one. They are "the ones in the light" and serve as the Family's public face.
- The Blackburnes (including Durai, Jeremy (Oliver Blackburn), Fingers, and Vera) -- the central intelligence and information-gathering branch, specializing in anonymity, infiltration, and the acquisition of secrets. According to Oliver Blackburne, the lineage traces back to Mary-Beth Blackburne and the Culper Spy Ring of the American Revolutionary War. They are "the ones in the shadows," trained from birth in tactical transportation, advanced lock picking, and psychological manipulation.
- The Chisms (including Vince Tunudo, Angel Tunudo Sr., and Angel Tunudo Jr. -- note that people can be part of a household without sharing the bloodline name through marriage) -- the tactical branch, functioning as the primary enforcers and guardians of the households, historically tasked with the "physical labor" and "darker duties." They are the "teeth" of the organization. The household is increasingly defined by the Tunudo lineage, which married into the Chism line, producing high-level enforcers like Alister Chism and Angel Tunudo Senior, feared as the "Angel of Death."
Tension often arises from the generational gap: the old guard wants to maintain the quiet, hidden power and legitimacy it once held, while some in the new generation want to use the apocalypse to finally step out of the shadows and assert direct control.
Members are identified by unique family rings, serving as markers of status and belonging. The organization operates on a strict rule of retribution -- a Vendetta -- if a family member is killed, they must be avenged, a cycle of blood-debt that drives significant portions of the conflict in Descendants. Still, the Family maintains power by doing favors for politicians, police, judges, and other institutions, because influence is stronger than weapons -- and once entangled, those who owe favors become untouchable.
