Page 117 - World of Darkness

afford the item on his disposable income. That doesn’t dom of thought. Two dots indicate an ordinary person over
mean he has a blank check with which to buy everything whom your character has sway. The servant is completely
he sees. He might be able to afford one or two items with mundane and has no particular training above the human
a cost equal to his Resources dots in a single month. Items norm (he has two dots in all of his Attributes and Skills).
with lower costs can be acquired more often. The Story- Three dots represent a capable employee with a range of
teller has final say on what’s too much or what’s too often. training at his disposal (three or four of his traits have three
Your character’s Resources dots aren’t spent and don’t dots). Four dots represent a valued and irreplaceable assis-
go away. They represent available cash at any given mo- tant (someone with a handful of traits with four dots each).
ment. The only means by which your character’s Resource Five dots indicate an extraordinary follower. He is excep-
dots might decrease is if story events conspire against them. tional in many ways (five dots in a couple traits, and four in
Perhaps your character’s fortune is wiped out, he loses his many others) or he may be capable of supernatural feats.
job or his company is subjected to a hostile takeover. The Retainer is different from Allies in that no roll is ever made
Storyteller therefore influences how your character’s dots to get results from an aide. He performs the task requested, un-
might decrease, and whether they can be salvaged. less subjected to repeated abuse or an utterly intolerable assign-
ment (as decided by the Sto-
Retainer ryteller based on the assistant’s
personality).
(• to •••••) Drawback: If your re-
Effects: Your character tainer is ever hurt he may
has an assistant, aide, inden- be incapable of service
tured servant or fanatical while recovering. If he is
follower on whom she can killed, he’s lost forever un-
rely. You need to establish less supernatural in origin.
how this trusty companion A retainer who possesses
was acquired. He may be his own will and who is
paid exorbitant amounts of forced to perform a duty
money that buy his unwa- that offends his sensibilities
vering loyalty. He might or defies his morals may
owe his life to your charac- abandon your character,
ter (or to your character’s temporarily or perma-
predecessors). Your charac- nently. Points spent to ac-
ter might blackmail this per- quire a retainer who is
son or threaten his family killed or driven off are lost.
with harm if services are not
rendered. Or your character Status
might have a supernatural
hold over this poor person. (• to •••••)
Regardless of the circum- Prerequisites: Varies
stances, this person is con- (see below)
stantly loyal and follows al- Effects: Your character
most any order without has standing, credentials, au-
question. thority or respect within an
A retainer can be organization, group, com-
called upon to perform many duties without fail. A body- pany or social body. He might have an official position or
guard might be willing to hurt other people on a mere title, or might simply be revered and honored within the
command. A dedicated street kid might hang on your group and therefore accorded a degree of authority. Your
character’s every word and get her information or con- character might be a company vice president, a police ser-
tacts without being asked. Unless your character has di- geant or lieutenant, an army corporal or a nurse at a hospi-
rect control over a retainer’s mind, however, this person tal. Or he could be a lowly member of the group whom ev-
can’t be made to perform any task. He might not risk his eryone likes or who has won some acclaim and is allowed
own life unduly or perform a task that violates his own more standing than he is officially entitled.
morals. You or the Storyteller should detail your retainer Each acquisition of this Merit is dedicated to one type
with an identity, background and character sheet of his of authority, whether in an organization, society or circle.
own. The Storyteller usually plays your character’s retainer. Examples include police, City Hall, criminals, unions, banks,
Each acquisition of this Merit grants your character one a university faculty and hospital staff. In order to have au-
follower. Dots spent in the trait indicate the training, capa- thority in more than one venue, you need to purchase this
bility or flexibility of the aide. One dot suggests a child, an Merit multiple times, each trait with its own dots. Thus,
automaton or a madman with limited capabilities and free- your character might have Status (Police) ••, Status (Crimi-

116
Chapter 5- MERITS