Page 172 - Hunter - The Vigil

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SHACKLES OF PANDEMONIUM|TONGUE OF BABEL|ELIXIR
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A binding circle can be used like a trap, drawn in a place thing was Lucifer’s idea, one of the Fallen One’s more overt
the demon is likely to cross, or it can be prepared in advance of attempts to reopen the War in Heaven. Whether that’s true or
a summoning (see Calling Forth the Pit, above) to ensure that
a summoning (see Calling Forth the Pit, above) to ensure that not, the Lucifuge has carefully collected the scattered remnants
not, the Lucifuge has carefully collected the scattered remnants
a called demon can’t go anywhere once it arrives. A circle can
a called demon can’t go anywhere once it arrives. A circle can of that lost primordial tongue, and through the power of its
of that lost primordial tongue, and through the power of its
even be concealed (for example, drawn onto the fl oorboards members’ semi-divine blood, they can learn to speak it.
even be concealed (for example, drawn onto the fl oorboards members’ semi-divine blood, they can learn to speak it.
under a carpet or marked in the dirt and loosely covered with
u nder a ca rp et or marked in the dirt and loose ly covered with Cost: None.
Cost: None.
brush), although this incurs a -1 penalty on the activation roll. Action: None.
brush), although this incurs a -1 penalty on the activation roll.
Action: None.
Some Lucifuge mark the entrances of their homes with perma- Dice Pool: None.
Some Lucifuge mark the entrances of their homes with perma-
Dice Pool: None.
nent circles — carved, etched or inlaid on the fl oor, walls, or As long as the Lucifuge knows this ritual, he can speak and
As long as the Lucifuge knows this ritual, he can speak and

nent circles — carved, etched or inlaid on the floor, walls, or
understand every human language on earth. He actually speaks
even ceiling — to trap infernal intruders. A permanent circle understand every human language on earth. He actually speaks
even ceiling — to trap infernal intruders. A permanent circle
is harder to break, but it must still be “reset” by performing the words in the ancient tongue of the tower-builders, but a vestige
is harder to break, but it must still be “reset” by performing the words in the ancient tongue of the tower-builders, but a vestige
a 10-minute ritual after a bound demon is released. A single of racial memory coupled with his angelic blood causes listeners to
a 10-minute ritual after a bound demon is released. A single of racial memory coupled with his angelic blood causes listeners to
hear him speaking a language they understand. Even if he address-
binding circle can only bind one demon at a time. hear him speaking a language they understand. Even if he address-
binding circle can only bind one demon at a time.
Cost: The Lucifuge must anoint the binding circle with es multiple people with no common language, each understands
Cost: The Lucifuge must anoint the binding circle with es multiple people with no common language, each understands
her own blood. This infl icts 1 point of lethal damage. him clearly, and he understands them. This ritual gives the hunter
her own blood. This infl icts 1 point of lethal damage.
him clearly, and he understands them. This ritual gives the hunter
Action: Instant (once circle has been prepared, which no facility with secret codes or encryptions, nor does it allow him
no facility with secret codes or encryptions, nor does it allow him
Action: Instant (once circle has been prepared, which
to understand the written form of any language he cannot already
may require a Wits + Expression roll if the Storyteller consid-
may require a Wits + Expression roll if the Storyteller consid- to understand the written form of any language he cannot already
read. The words must be spoken by someone who understands
ers it suitably complex). read. The words must be spoken by someone who understands
ers it suitably complex).
them, not just read out phonetically. For example, a character who
ation versus s
d
:
s Resistance.
Presence + Intimi
p
irit’
l
Dice Pool: Presence + Intimidation versus spirit’s Resistance. them, not just read out phonetically. For example, a character who
Dice Poo
doesn’t speak Spanish cannot use this ritual to read a note written
Roll Results
Ro ll R es u l ts doesn’t speak Spanish cannot use this ritual to read a note written
Dramatic Failure: The binding circle is broken, and the in Spanish, nor could he sound it out himself and gain understand-
Dramatic Failure: The binding circle is broken, and the in Spanish, nor could he sound it out himself and gain understand-
demon gains an extra point of Resistance for the duration of ing. He could, however, have a Spanish-speaker read it aloud and
demon gains an extra point of Resistance for the duration of ing. He could, however, have a Spanish-speaker read it aloud and
th e sc en e. understand it that way. Finally, this ritual does not allow him to
the scene.
understand it that way. Finally, this ritual does not allow him to
translate mystical languages, such as the tongue of spirits or the
Failure: An equal number or the most successes are translate mystical languages, such as the tongue of spirits or the
Failure: An equal number or the most successes are
rolled for the demon. The binding circle is broken, and the
rolled for the demon. The binding circle is broken, and the magical tongue witches sometimes use to enhance their magic.
magical tongue witches sometimes use to enhance their magic.
sp irit m ay esc ap
spirit may escape.e.
Success: The most successes are rolled for the Lucifuge. Elixir
The demon is successfully bound and cannot break free ex-
The mystery cultists of the Ascending Ones draw their
cept under a few circumstances:
power not from modern science or from the inexplicable mys-
t
e
t
ds
he
h
• If
in
w
e
n r

h
t
de

i
h
• If the ritualist who binds the demon releases it with the teries of the occult, but from the ancient and revered practice
m
o
b
st
h
i

e
tua
t
li
ri
o
t

l

eases
w
h
m
rase, “I re
phrase, “I release you” or something similar. . of alchemy. By breathing in exotic incense, imbibing potions
ph
et
ar
om
l
h
ease you” or s
ing simi
l
• If the binding circle is broken by an outside force. The with bizarre hallucinatory effects, and even injecting potent
bound demon cannot break the circle itself. narcotics into their veins, they unlock the higher powers of
the human mind and body in order to make war on the crea-
h
er wa
h
at t
t
y
ate one ot
• T
h
• The Lucifuge must designate one other way that the tures of the night.
gn
esi
e Lucifuge must
h
d
e
n
h
d emon can b e free d , an d sh e must express t h is met h o d All Elixirs utilize the same dice pool of Stamina + Elixir to ac-
demon can be freed, and she must express this method
ot

h
r
f
e
to
at
e
east
l
r
o
s
two
ou

e
i
t
hin
e
t
w

i
i
t
n
a
to at least two other entities within an hour of the de- - tivate successfully. Most Elixirs, by themselves, are extraordinarily
n h
de
h
t
emon,
b
ut
e
os
h

y
two ma
ing. One of t
s
mon’
mon’s binding. One of those two may be the demon, but virulent poisons. It takes physical fortitude (represented by Stam-
d
in
b
h
e t
e
d
b
it does n’ t h ave to be . If t h e co n d i t i o n i s a tas k t h e de m o n ina) and the enlightened will that comes from the training of an
it doesn’t have to be. If the condition is a task the demon
o
erform, it must be a
erformed
must
must perform, it must be a task that can be performed Ascending One (represented by dots in the Elixir Merit) to trans-
p
p

task that can be
h
o
pl
e
r exam
wit
within the binding circle. For example, the demon could form the poison into the mind-elevating Elixir that gives a hunter
d
in t
h
ld
l
ing circ
h
e, t
o
e. F
in
b
e
d
emon cou
be ordered to answer three questions truthfully if it wish-
be ordered to answer three q u estions truthfully if it wish- power. Dramatic failures usually affect the character as though she
u
es to be freed, but not to kill someone in another city. .
l
someone in another city
e
s to be freed, but not to kil
had been poisoned (see The World of Darkness Rulebook, p.

Exceptional Success: The most successes — five or more 181), while failures usually function like a dose of some form of
— are rolled for the Lucifuge. When the demon is freed by drug (see The World of Darkness Rulebook, p. 176).
any means, it is immediately returned to the netherworld In order to use an Elixir safely, an Ascending One must pos-
from whence it came; it cannot linger to, for example, inflict sess the Elixir Merit at the same dot rating or higher as the Elixir

revenge on the hunter. she wishes to use. A character may attempt to use an Elixir with
a higher rating than she possesses, but she suffers a -2 penalty on
Tongue of Babel the activation roll per difference in the ratings. A character with
Once, the stories say, all humanity was united in a single no dots in Elixir may attempt to gain the benefits of an Elixir,

language; any man could speak freely with any other, no matter but in addition to suffering the -2 penalty per dot difference, any
how foreign. But when humankind came together to build a failed activation is treated as a dramatic failure, even if the dice
tower that would reach Heaven, God threw down that tower pool was not reduced to a chance die.
and cursed humankind to speak a multitude of tongues that di- A character begins play with a number of Elixirs whose
vided them into nations and peoples and tribes and prevented total dot ratings equal her Elixir dots, plus her dots in Status
such unity from recurring. The Lucifuge holds that the whole (Ascending Ones). She may choose to purchase several low-
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