Page 134 - Hunter - The Vigil

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A ASCENDING ONES (CONSPIRACY)
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When your brother was shot in a drive-by, you swore of Jewish hunters, to boot. For them, the fight against the

you’d never get into dealing, and you’d get out of the old monsters is a holy one, and they consider themselves Shurat,
neighborhood. You’re still here, and you’re dealing, just like or “having sold their souls to god.” They do not reject the
your brother did, but you’ve got a reason to stay. They tell Egyptian mysticism, nor do they waste time squabbling about
you that if you’re a dealer, you’re a parasite. Maybe you ruin religious conflicts within the conspiracy, instead forming a

the lives of the kids, but it’s the only way you can get togeth- syncretism where appropriate. Gnostic beliefs are not uncom-
er enough time and money to save them from other things. mon.
There are worse things than drugs and gangs and dealers. The Jagged Crescent fund their efforts through drug traf-

You met her in rehab. Rehab wasn’t working for you, and ficking and gang crime. They’re predominantly urban in style
she knew that. She said she had another way. A way to turn and attitude, and are mostly concerned with funding the ef-
your body into a crucible, and in it your will could transform forts of their brothers. (Many end up using what they sell,
your addictions into a secret strength. Of course, she didn’t too.) Of course, working the underworld is also a good way
tell you the cost. The first time you battled the demons in that to take care of the monsters — society’s darkest underbelly is

warehouse, you were high as a kite. It would take practice, she home to a whole host of inhuman parasites.
said, even as she stitched up the gash in your side.
Status
Factions Among the Ascending Ones, a hunter gains Status
The Ascending Ones are so ancient and so widespread through displaying endurance in the hunt, discipline and
that members of its various factions probably wouldn’t even strength of will. Willpower is a precious commodity among
recognize each other as being part of the same notional or- those whose prowess depends on drugs.
ganization. There are many factions of Ascending Ones, but • Y ou h ave bee n ini t i ated in to o n e ve r s i o n o f t h e cu l t
• You have been initiated into one version of the cult
•
most are sub-groups or splinters of the three largest groups. o r another , and now know how to control your bo dy
or another, and now know how to control your body
o
The Order of the Southern Temple, for example, grew c h emistry so t h at you can transform t h e poisonous e l ix
chemistry so that you can transform the poisonous elix--
into, and out of, a Western mystical tradition. They use the i irs of the Ascending ones into powerful drugs. You have
r
r
s of the Ascending ones into powerful drugs. Y
ou have
purported writings of Hermes Trismegistus as the trappings the option of spending Merit dots on the ability to im--
ending Merit dots on the ability to im
p
e o
h
th
p
tion of s
surrounding the ritual creation of their elixirs, and adopt the b i b e E l ixirs.
bibe Elixirs.
b
strictly hierarchical order of one of the traditional Western
occult groups, with its odd rituals and near-impenetrable ••• You have access to some of the organization’s not-in-
rites. considerable funds, equivalent to two extra dots of Resourc-
On the other hand, many of the Knife of Paradise main- es, limited to use in the Vigil, however you conceive it.
tain a strong militaristic and religious bent. Most are Chris- ••••• You gain the services of an initiate in the cult, ain the services of an initiate in the cult,
g
•••• Y
•
•
ou
tians or Muslims, through it features a strong contingent equivalent to a three-dot Retainer.
uivalent to a three-dot Retainer
.
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