Page 169 - Hunter - The Vigil

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C CHAPTER THREE: HUNTER ORGANIZATIONS
that it might pass on to the next world. The tor-
ments of the Pit are not punishment, but an encour- WHAT IS A DEMON
agement to repentance. Tortures are tailored to the AND WHERE DOES
soul’s particular sins to remind the damned of what

brought them there in the first place. Whether any IT COME FROM?
soul actually escapes the iron walls of Pandemonium
Hunters, even among the Lucifuge, don’t
is a matter of philosophical debate, but Lucifuge who
make much distinction between otherworldly
know this ritual are capable of drawing on that same
creatures. Demons are generally something
affinity for the sins of an individual and laying them

altogether different from ghosts, spirits
bare, wracking mortal man and unholy monster
or other entities, but for purposes of
alike with the pain and guilt of past transgressions.
system mechanics, the term “demon” is
The Gaze of the Penitent ritual requires eye
used as a catchall for any being not
contact; if the target moves about or actively avoids
originating in the mortal, physical realm.
making eye contact, or if he wears dark glasses, the
Most hunters don’t know (or care) enough
activation roll suffers a -1 penalty. The Lucifuge must
to distinguish fallen angels of the Pit,
also possess a bit of blood, hair, or similar substance
spirits from the spirit world, unnatural
from the target. This corporal requirement is waived
blasphemies from the Abyss, or bizarre
if the Lucifuge has witnessed the target committing
nightmares from the realm of dreams.
one of the seven deadly sins in the last 24 hours.
Thus, when you see references to “demons”
Cost: 1 Willpower.
in Castigation rituals like Calling Forth
Action: Contested.
the Pit or Mandate of Hell, it refers to
Dice Pool: Wits + Empathy vs. Resolve.
any creature of otherworldly origin. When
Roll Results
such a creature is banished, it returns to
Dramatic Failure: The hunter’s power is re-
its natural home realm. More information

flected back on herself. She suffers a penalty to
on demons can be found in the Storytelling
all dice pools equal to (10 - her Morality) for the
chapter, under “Antagonists.”
rest of the scene. She may spend a Willpower
point to negate this penalty for a turn.
Failure: The ritual fails to take effect. Success: The Lucifuge conjures a bolt of unnatural, hell-
Success: The target of the ritual is wracked with guilt and

the imagined torments of Hell that will be visited upon him for ish fire that consumes her target. The Hellfire might look like

ordinary flames, or it might be an unusual color or produce
his sins. He suffers a penalty to all dice pools equal to (10 - his a sound like the roar of a wounded beast. The fire originates

Morality) for a number of turns equal to the successes rolled on from the hunter, but may manifest in any fashion — some
the activation roll. He may spend a Willpower point to negate Lucifuge project fire from their hands or eyes; others breathe

this penalty for a turn and act normally. flame like a dragon. The fire inflicts one point of lethal dam-

Exceptional Success: The guilt and pain last for an en-
tire scene. age, unless the target naturally suffers aggravated damage from
fi re (like a vampire).
Hellfi re By reaching deeper into her infernal soul, a Lucifuge may

Hell has been associated with fire and brimstone, espe- conjure searing, white-hot Hellfire that inflicts aggravated

cially in Western culture, for hundreds, if not thousands, of damage, but this fire is too hot for any mortal to contain en-
years. Lucifer himself is called the Morningstar, which has tirely. The Lucifuge herself suffers one point of aggravated
implications of fiery radiance. The Lucifuge is at home with damage as the fl ames wreathe her body.

heat and flame, and through the power of their infernal par- Exceptional Success: No additional effect beyond tre-

entage, some learn to control and conjure these hellish flames mendous damage.
to scourge their enemies. Infernal Visions
Cost: 1 Willpower or 1 Willpower and one point of ag-
The Luciferan blood that courses through the veins of
gravated damage (see below). the Lucifuge often carries with it the gift of prophecy. This
Action: Instant. “gift” is dubious at best; often the insight of this ritual comes
Dice Pool: Dexterity + Intelligence – target’s Defense. in the form of terrifying nightmares and visions of the infernal
Roll Results court of their “father.”
Dramatic Failure: The Lucifuge conjures up hellish
Whatever form the insight takes, the character has a con-
flames from the Abyss, but is unable to control them. She suf- nection to primordial forces in the world, ancient truths that

fers three points of lethal damage, as though she has stepped can be seen and comprehended only in dreams. He gains in-
into a bonfi re with the intensity of a torch. sight into secrets through reverie and visions, finding answers

Failure: The hunter fails to summon forth the fires
of the Pit. to questions he couldn’t normally get by mundane means. He
might dream of a hellish future in which all he loves is burned
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