From the works of
Anne Rice, the world-wide secret society that investigates
paranormal activity. The Talamasca has "motherhouses" (headquarters) in
Amsterdam,
London, and
Rome. The group's motto is "We watch. And we are always there."
The Talamasca arose during the
Dark Ages, in around 738 AD. In the
13th century, the Talamasca gained its financial base by seizing the assets of the
Knights Templar when they were destroyed.
The Talamasca first appeared in
The Queen of the Damned, with the young
witch Jesse being recruited by a senior agent, Aaron Lightner. The former director, David Talbot, is a major character in later novels of
The Vampire Chronicles. The Talamasca takes much more of a role in
Anne Rice's witch books. The organization is shown to be fractious and not as
objective as it claims to be. Some members actively involve themselves in the lives of the people they investigate, and other young members
conspire against their seniors.