Page 161 - Hunter - The Vigil

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C CHAPTER THREE: HUNTER ORGANIZATIONS
T
one against all monsters over the same area, or several sepa- acters who have been subject to this Benediction repeatedly going
rate blessings against different specific creatures. For example, a completely mad. Some don’t see the Kingdom of God; they see the

Malleus Maleficarum cell actively engaged in hunting down a fiery Pit. Some kill themselves for good. Others become slashers —

particular cabal of witches might well maintain a separate ward or, if the stories are to be believed, something even worse.
against each member of the cabal, in addition to a general ward
against all monsters, around its headquarters. An individual Fortitude of St. George
hunter may only have a single protection active at a time, thus, Best known for his slaying of the dragon in the city of Silene,
the example above requires the cooperation of the entire cell. St. George was also a Christian martyr slain by the Roman Em-
Although a monster may convince a mortal to remove or peror Diocletian. He endured tremendous torments and suffering,
damage the physical markers that keep a blessing in place, such and the stoicism with which he bore it convinced the Empress Al-
entities are completely incapable of affecting these physical mark- exandra to convert to Christianity as well. The hunters of the Mal-

ers directly, even if they could normally move or destroy them. leus Maleficarum venerate St. George as one of the first of their
A spirit affected by a Blessed Protection of St. Agrippina cannot order in spirit, if not in formal membership, and they pray to him
make the area into an anchor while the protection is in place. A for the courage and strength to endure the torments of their own
ward does not undo the connection between an entity and its an- struggles with the Dragon. Hunters invoking this ritual sometimes
chor if the rite is performed on such an object, however. The spirit report feeling a presence hanging over them, watching and silently
or ghost’s Power is still reduced by the blessing, but it remains in judging. Tradition holds this to be the gaze of St. George, but some
proximity to its anchor. Such a being whose Power is reduced to have described the presence as vaguely...other.
zero is forced into a sort of hibernation while the blessing is active, Cost: None.
becoming dormant and inaccessible. Action: Instant.
Suggested Modifi ers Dice Pool: Composure + Benediction.
Roll Results
Modifier
Situation
Modifier Situation
Dramatic Failure: The hunter’s prayers go unheeded.
-1
The area being blessed is
-1 The area being blessed is
devoted to some profane
devoted to some profane The spiritual shock of such a blow to her faith causes her to
purpose (such as a strip
purpose (such as a strip lose one Willpower. If she has no Willpower points left, she
club or crack house)
club or crack house) suffers a -1 to all dice pools for the rest of the scene.
+1 The area being blessed is Failure: The hunter’s prayers fail to balm her soul.
g
consecrated ground Success: St. George answers the hunter’s prayers, fi lling her
with zeal and inner strength. She gains a dot of Stamina (which
+5 Benediction performed on
i
+5
Benediction performed on
June 23rd (Feast Day of St. increases her Health trait by one, as well). This dot remains for
June 23rd (Feast Day of St.
d
Agrippinaa) one scene. She can also go a number of days equal to her Benedic-
Agrippina)
tions score without eating or sleeping, though she still must supply
The Boon of Lazarus her body with water. During this time, she suffers no ill effects at
The greatest miracle Christ performed was the raising of the hands of fatigue or deprivation. At the end of this period, she
Lazarus from his tomb after four days, showing himself to be will fall into a deep 12-hour slumber from which she sleeps like the
the king of all life. By invoking the Apostolic right to raise dead and cannot be awakened. A character cannot benefi t from
the dead in Christ’s name, a righteous hunter can restore life the Fortitude of St. George more than once per 24 hours.
to those who have recently died. Exceptional Success: The hunter gains one additional
Cost: 1 Willpower dot. dot of Stamina, even if that would take her above fi ve dots.
Action: Instant. Suggested Modifi ers
Dice Pool: None. Modifier Situation
Situation
Modifier
No roll is required to activate this Benediction; the hunter +5 Benediction is performed on
+5
Benediction is performed on
merely touches the body of a fallen ally and commands him in April 23rd (feast day of St.
April 23rd (
feast day of St.
the name of Christ to rise again. The hunter may only revive a George)
George)
character who has been dead a number of minutes equal to his
Benediction rating. This Benediction has no effect on supernatu- The Hands of St. Luke
ral beings, and it cannot restore the undead to life. This resurrec- Grievous wounds are all too common in the hunt, and
tion restores all lost Health, returning the character to full Health, often the injured warrior cannot be taken to a hospital. The
but the ritual cannot reattach missing body parts, and thus cannot soldier-priests of the Hammer of Witches know that the power
be used on a body that has been decapitated or chopped in half; of faith to heal the wounded is a greater tool than the scalpels
there must be enough of the target intact to maintain life. and drugs of the modern doctor, and so they call on St. Luke
The sheer spiritual effort of invoking this miracle costs a dot the Evangelist to restore life and vigor.
of Willpower; even then, the resurrection is imperfect. Those who Cost: 1 Willpower.
are brought back return just a little bit...off. Any character who Action: Extended; each roll represents one minute of
is resurrected by this Benediction automatically gains a major de- prayer and laying-on of hands.

rangement. The Malleus Maleficarum attributes this to the shock Dice Pool: Intelligence + Benediction.
of witnessing the Kingdom of God, but dark rumors spread of char-
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