Page 189 - Hunter - The Vigil

H
U
H
:

U
T
E
T
N
N
T
E
T
A
P
E
E
E
R
R
R
Z
A
Z
I
I
T
N
S
O
I
I
O
O
R
E
R
R
N
N
A
G
A
H
C CHAPTER THREE: HUNTER ORGANIZATIONS
After the hunter comes out of recovery, he’s given

a small, black satchel that contains five syringes SWARMS
of an extremely diluted solution of a substance
rumored to be wrung from the organs of unnatu-
Animals of Size 1 or 2 are generally
rally animated corpses. Whatever that substance
best recorded in swarms, fl ocks and other
is, those little ball bearings feed on it. For lack of a
groupings of the animals, as they are
better word, they hatch. When the hunter opens
most effective in such groupings. This
that valve in his wrist, a swarm of tiny, angry in-
includes not just insects, but also most
sects come boiling out and attack whatever the
birds and smaller creatures such as
hunter’s mad at. The bugs look like little yellow
rats.
jackets — except for the fact that each one has
Swarms are measured by their size in
the exact same human face.
yards radius. A swarm generally infl icts
Benefi t: Activating requires only a drop from
one die of bashing damage to anyone
the prodigious syringe, and it takes a while for the
within its radius. A swarm can infl ict
hunter to run dry. Assume each syringe is good for
more damage by condensing. Every time
five activations (for a total of 25 activations per

the swarm condenses to cover half its
satchel). Cheiron will resupply syringes, but it can
full area, it infl icts one additional die
take up to two weeks (less for those with Status 3
of damage per turn.
or more in the conspiracy).
Therefore, a swarm of eight yards in
The swarm of insect-creatures spawned by this
radius infl icts 2 bashing damage per
implant has a rudimentary connection to their host’s
turn if it constricts down to a four-
neurological systems. While they cannot be com-
yard radius, 3 bashing if it halves
municated with or controlled directly, they recognize
that again to a two-yard radius, and 4
their host’s feelings of anger and hostility, and will at-
bashing damage per turn it if condenses
tack targets that trigger those emotions. (It’s best to
itself down to a one-yard radius. Though
be careful with this. One story making the Cheiron
condensing doesn’t usually happen all
rounds tells of a hunter who found out his partner
that often in nature (save in the case of
was having an affair with his wife. Their cell faced off
creatures such as killer bees), it is an
against some shambling thing made of tatters and rags
easy enough thing for most supernatural
and grief given form, and our cuckolded lover let loose
powers that command animals to bid them
his PDS — which promptly killed the hell out of his
to do so.
cheating partner while the monster mopped up the
Armor is effective against a swarm only
rest of the cell.) The swarm only retains this connec-
if it covers one’s full body, but even
tion while it is inert and implanted in the host; thus,
then, it provides only half its rating.

it’s wisest to wait until a fight begins to activate this
In addition, targets are distracted by
Endowment. The swarm attacks creatures in order
the swarm, suffering -2 dice on all rolls
of the intensity of the aggression they provoke in the
while they are within the radius, even
host, and focuses its attack on one enemy at a time
if they’re not specifi cally attacked.
until its target is dead or driven off. The swarm never
The swarm cannot be attacked with fi sts,
strays more than 10 yards from its host.
clubs, swords or guns. Only area-affect
The swarm has a radius of four yards (see the
attacks such as a torch affect it. Each
sidebar on this page) and infl icts bashing damage.
point of damage infl icted by a fl ame or
It moves at a Speed of 10. The swarm remains ac-
other applicable attack halves the swarm’s
tive for 10 turns, then immediately returns to its
size. Once the swarm is reduced below a
host and squeezes back into the valve before fall-
one-yard radius, either all insects are
ing inert again. If the swarm is unable to return
dead or the few remaining disperse.
to its host, it returns to its inert state and falls to
the ground. Provided at least three quarters of the
ball bearings can be recovered, they can be re-
this Merit) to increase a depleted swarm’s size by one yard radi-
implanted with no roll (simply plug the bearings back into
us. The swarm can be activated at less than full size, if desired.
the shunt).

Should the swarm take damage sufficient to reduce it to Quick-Step (•••)
less than one yard in radius, the remaining insects fl ee back to
The Cheiron Group expects nothing less than success
their host. Cheiron Group doctors insist that once the swarm
from its field agents. The Group’s continued research success

goes inert, it falls completely lifeless, but that doesn’t explain
relies on monsters being brought in alive (well, intact, at any
the fact that the things can repopulate themselves. It takes one
rate) for study and harvest. But science is a pragmatic study,
full day of remaining inert (i.e., the hunter does not activate
and the Cheiron board of directors knows that sometimes
188
188