Page 104 - World of Darkness

Example: For five years Malcolm watched the bastard Your character regains all spent Willpower when he resists
parade into court, smiling through appeal after appeal. His a temptation to indulge in an excess of any behavior, whether
gold-plated lawyers ran circles around the district attorney. good or bad, despite the obvious rewards it might offer.
Then they settled the class-action suit at such a ridiculously Example: Michael pressed Ravera to the pavement and
low payment that Malcolm had to wonder how far the bribes cuffed him. For half his years on the force, Michael had been
went. And the bastard was going free. trying to bring Douglas Ravera to justice.
Hundreds had been driven insane by the drug he How many kids had died from Ravera’s peddled junk?
distributed. It made him rich even while it made Malcolm’s How many times had Michael’s family received death
sister a corpse… and then a ghost. It was only then that threats? How many times had Ravera been collared only to
Malcolm realized why she always appeared outside his hall walk on a technicality?
closet. That’s where he kept his gun.
Michael’s mind kept turning back to the unregistered
If Malcolm takes the law into his own hands and makes .38 stashed in his patrol car. He could fire some rounds into
himself a criminal as a result, he acts in a way that validates the car door and put Ravera’s prints on the weapon. Who
his defining Virtue and he regains any spent Willpower. would doubt that Michael had to kill him in self-defense?
Other Names: Condemnatory, righteous “No,” Michael muttered to himself. He couldn’t lower
Possessed by: Critics, judges, parents, role models himself to the same level as this criminal, no matter how
tempting. He’d be no better. Instead, he hauled Ravera into
Prudence the back of the car and slammed the door.
The Virtue of Prudence places wisdom and restraint By refusing to give in to extreme and compelling
above rash action and thoughtless behavior. One maintains impulses, remaining centered instead, Michael acts in a way
integrity and principles by moderating actions and avoiding that validates his defining Virtue and he regains any spent
unnecessary risks. While that means a prudent person might Willpower.
never take big gambles that bring huge rewards, neither is Other Names: Chastity, even-temperament, frugality
his life ruined by a bad roll of the dice. By choosing wisely Possessed by: Clergy, police officers, social workers
and avoiding the easy road he prospers slowly but surely.
Your character regains all spent Willpower points
whenever he refuses a tempting course of action by which Vices
he could gain significantly. The “temptation” must involve When creating your character, choose one of the
some reward that, by refusing it, might cost him later on. seven Vices detailed below as her defining one. This is
Example: “Miss Hernandez, you’re an intelligent not to say that your character may not have other weak-
woman — and a beautiful one, I might add. There are so nesses or base impulses, but her defining Vice is the one
many benefits available to the people who contribute to our that most clearly evokes her basic behavior.
family business. The least of them is the considerable fee
we’re offering for your services in this matter.” Envy
“Your offer is generous,” Louise replied, “and I thank you for An envious person is never satisfied with what she has.
it. But the types of offshore transactions you propose are tanta- No matter her wealth, status or accomplishments, there is
mount to money laundering and tax evasion. It wouldn’t be prudent always someone else who seems to have more, and it’s cov-
for me to jeopardize my legal career by being party to this.” eted. Envious characters are never secure or content with
“You think you know, Miss Hernandez, but I assure their place in life. They always measure themselves against
you, you have no idea what you’re passing up.” their rivals and look for ways to get what they deserve. They
might be considered paranoid or just consumed by a self-
If Louise passes on the possibility of riches to preserve
her job and name, she acts in a way that validates her loathing that they project onto others.
defining Virtue and regains any spent Willpower. Your character regains one Willpower point when-
ever she gains something important from a rival or has a
Other Names: Patience, vigilance hand in harming that rival’s wellbeing.
Possessed by: Businessmen, doctors, priests, scientists Example: Hughes watched the reporters, sponsors and
women flock to Montgomery like moths to a flame. One-tenth
Temperance of a second in the 40 meter and a couple slick moves on the
Moderation in all things is the secret to happiness, so field were all that made Hughes the low-paid fullback and
says the doctrine of Temperance. It’s all about balance. Montgomery the star tailback. Now it was the big Monday-
Everything has its place in a person’s life, from anger to night game and the attention was all on Montgomery.
forgiveness, lust to chastity. The temperate do not believe “Drink this and you’ll be MVP tonight.”
in denying their urges, as none of it is unnatural or un-
holy. The trouble comes when things are taken to excess, At first, the voice seemed to come out of nowhere, but then
whether it’s a noble or base impulse. Too much righteous- there he was, one of the ugliest guys Hughes had ever seen, sitting
ness can be just as bad as too much wickedness. right there in the locker room, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

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