Page 158 - Hunter - The Vigil

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B BENEDICTION|THE APOSTLE’S TEACHINGS
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REALITY IS SCARY he may, theoretically, learn any and all
rituals by investing the time and experi-
The weapons and devices found as a part of ence points. At character creation, he
Advanced Armory may seem far-fetched or lingering learns one ritual per dot of the Benedic-
too long in the realm of sci-fi . tion Merit.
The reality, however, is that the items listed New Benediction rites may be pur-
here are far less fi ctional than we might believe. chased at a cost of fi ve experience points
Ever see a show like Futureweapons or talk to per ritual. It takes one week to acquire a
somebody who’s been designing weapons for the new Benediction, and the rite can only
last 10 years? Plasma cannons exist. Sonic be gained through intense teaching and
weapons are real. Stuff exists in the hands prayer.
of the military that is nowhere near public — The activation of Benedictions
and that’s the kind of stuff that Task Force: varies from ritual to ritual, but all
VALKYRIE gets its hands on. have the following common modi-
fiers:
Suggested Modifi ers
Suggested Mod
man-portable version of the Mjolnir Cannon can be set to
Modifier Situation

one of three settings, inflicting either 6 or 8 points of bashing Modifier Situation
damage, or 4 points of lethal damage. -3 Ritualist’s Morali ty is 3
-3
Ritualist’s Morality is 3
or less
Exceptional Success: In addition to taking bashing dam- or less
age, the target loses its next turn. -1 Ritual incorporates no
Special: A Mjolnir Cannon has a battery rated for 16 overt shows of faith
Ritualist is an ordained
+1
shots before depletion. The more damaging settings consume +1 Ritualist is an or dained
priest, monk or nun
un
more power; inflicting 6 bashing counts as 2 shots, and 8 bash- priest, monk or nu

ing damage or 4 lethal costs 4 shots. +1 Ritualist’s Morality is 8
or higher
The Mjolnir Cannon has a range of 100/200/400. or higher
Ritual incorporate
+2
s the
A larger, vehicle-mounted version of the Mjolnir Cannon +2 Ritual incorporates the
sacraments
also exists, costing 5 Merit dots. The vehicle-mounted cannon is sacraments
seldom issued to urban strike teams, due to its lack of concealment, +5 Ritual is performed on
but in rural areas or regions already gripped by war, it can provide the appropriate saint’s
feast day (see individual
vital tactical support. The vehicle-mounted version works just Benedictions)
like its smaller cousin, with the following exceptions: the weapon
has two additional settings, inflicting 10 bashing or 5 lethal dam- The Apostle’s Teachings

age, respectively. The range of the vehicle-mounted cannon is According to the Bible, Jesus told his Apostles to go forth
300/600/1,200, and its battery holds the capacity for 50 shots. The and spread the word of the faith, teaching not by forced con-
10 bashing setting counts as 8 shots, while 5 lethal counts as 16. version or sermonizing, but by example: the Apostles, much
The Mjolnir Cannon is essentially man-made lightning; like hunters, cured the sick, drove out demons and minis-

while that makes it a potent tool on the battlefield, it can interact tered to the people. Today, the Malleus Maleficarum holds

dangerously when actual lightning is brought into the mix. The to those same teachings. By invoking the favor of the Twelve
plasma channel created by the cannon attracts lightning; when- Apostles, a hunter may inspire others through her own good
ever the weapon is used in a thunderstorm, treat any failed attack works, showing the spiritual rewards of virtue and rightness.
roll as a dramatic failure to represent an errant bolt fi nding the Cost: None.
plasma channel and following it back to the hapless hunter. Action: Refl exive.
Dice Pool: Composure + Benediction.
Benediction Roll Results

Drawn from ancient Catholic rites that predate the Dramatic Failure: The hunter gains no benefit from

Council of Nicea and from secret invocations encoded into fulfilling her Virtue. She regains no Willpower and cannot
the New Testament, Benedictions give the witch-hunters of bestow Willpower on others.

the Malleus Maleficarum the righteous might to strike down Failure: The hunter regains Willpower for fulfilling her
the servants of Satan that lurk in the darkness. By invoking Virtue but cannot bestow those points on others.
the name of the One True God and His Son Jesus Christ, Success: Instead of regaining Willpower herself when she ful-

and by pleading for the intercession of the saints, the Mal- fills her Virtue, the hunter gains a pool of Willpower points equal

leus Maleficarum can call down fire from heaven, steel their to her maximum Willpower, which she may allocate to any mortal
hearts against the terrors of the night and draw the poison of characters in line of sight. She may give as many points as she likes
demonic possession from the souls of the righteous. to one character, or may spread the points out to many characters,
Benediction rituals have no levels associated with them; but she cannot take any points for herself and she cannot increase
as long as a character has at least one dot of Benediction, a character’s current Willpower total beyond its maximum.
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