The Historical Exchange

The Exchange
General information
Founder(s)	British Crown
Headquarters	Erasmus Cross
Locations	Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania
Historical information
Founding	1688
Fragmentation	1786
Reorganisation	1880s
Other information
Affiliation	Easthaven Exchange, American Exchange, Indian Exchange, Hong Kong Exchange, Australasian Exchange

The Exchange was founded in 1688 in Erasmus Cross on the east coast of England. As a refuge for the supernatural, Erasmus Cross needed an organisation that policed and protected its streets. Their influence expanded as the years went by, and soon they were granted a royal charter, becoming the sole official body in charge of dealing with magic and the supernatural in Great Britain. While the true character of Erasmus Cross has passed into legend and myths, the Exchange is still a quietly influential organization in the present era.

The Exchange and Erasmus Cross

Their original mission was controlling currency in Erasmus Cross, changing the innumerable varieties of world money to the Cross' coin, which allowed there to be a common language between the merchants in the city that came from all over the world. At the behest of Dr. Bloodworth, the man who pioneered research into the supernatural and de facto mayor of the city, the Exchange's duties expanded to controlling travel into and out of the city. The policy change followed after a royal decree declared that the supernatural presence in Erasmus Cross would need to remain a closely guarded secret beyond its borders.

Even after discontinuing the city's unique coinage, their influence grew and expanded beyond the city borders. As they grew, the Exchange swallowed up the local police service, adopting martial ranks to enforce their laws. Their presence precluded a local branch of the Metropolitan Police in later years, resulting in unspoken resentment between the branches. That is not to say the Exchange Office did not work closely with the Met beyond Erasmus Cross' boundaries. Often, when a supernatural threat reared its head, and the local constabulary was unable to combat it, the higher-ups who were in the know would call upon the Exchange agents.

Women and Half-Breeds

Back in this era, women or supernatural beings were not openly members of the Exchange's ranks. Half-bloods were especially looked down on, while those shifters and undying who were known were shunned outside of their own kind. Humans who were unlucky enough to be cursed or possessed lost their jobs unless they could hide it. A woman would need to push hard to see any of the more dangerous assignments. Often they were trained differently - often in the gentler arts of etiquette and high society or other subjects which may give them an advantage undercover. These days, there is a more egalitarian and meritocratic approach, a change that happened during Queen Victoria's reign for the British Exchange, while the American Exchange had a "don't ask, don't tell" policy since the time of frontier justice. Today, if someone has the inclination and the dedication, they can take on whatever assignment or receive whatever training they choose, regardless of gender or supernatural status.

The Exchange in the Americas

Before and after the Revolutionary war, the Exchange was present in the Americas. They expanded alongside the country as land to the west was settled, cities founded, and American expansionism picked up steam. In this time, the organisation went through several changes, becoming quite unlike its English counterpart. Rather than a centralised hierarchy, complete with a legal system and containment, the size of the country necessitated granting each agent the powers of judge, jury, and executioner. Exchange officers began to take on cohorts of specialists to support their efforts and training apprentices in their work. Each group developed its unique hierarchy and culture, allowing them to function independently, but all with the same goal of holding the line at the barrier between the supernatural and the natural world.

For the past few centuries, they have worked in the shadows, hunting down cults, keeping supernatural entities quiet or appeased, killing or trapping dangerous monsters, and helping the friendlier elements of the supernatural community blend into the human world. Like the old Exchange, the organisation still employs both humans and metahumans, with a deeply ingrained meritocratic culture. As they moved into the modern world, some groups put down roots, becoming a little closer to the English branches, if with a few quirks of their own. The Exchange Cohort in Easthaven is one of these groups that settled down, originally in Boston before shifting to Easthaven in the 1840s. The Exchange works within the city combating supernatural threats on its own and in conjunction with the local police department.

Although they are a small organisation, they are heavily involved with the supernatural community. The Easthaven Exchange has garnered a great deal of trust for having a fair and steady hand in their dealings. Having many supernaturals in their number, they care for the community as much as they police it, and many supernaturals go to them first when they are in need, having established the Lethe Hostel for community outreach. That isn't to say they are strictly good and gentle; they do not give much quarter to those who endanger the human or supernatural communities and are more than capable of using lethal force when necessary.

Quick Summary

• In America, the Exchange divided into mobile cohorts to best facilitate the rapidly expanding borders.
• With a close connection to the supernatural community, the Exchange draws its recruits from both humans and metahumans, functioning as a meritocratic organisation.
• As America industrialised and big cities began growing, some Exchange cohorts set down roots, settling in cities to define their area of responsibility and making connections with the local law enforcement.
• The Easthaven Exchange is an offshoot of the Boston Exchange, having moved to Easthaven in the 1840s.
• The Easthaven Exchange has been heavily involved with the supernatural community since the 1840s and has gained their trust for having a fair and steady hand.
• Many supernaturals and metahumans come to them first if they have a problem.
• The Easthaven Exchange offices are warded against divination and other scrying magics.

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