Page 199 - Hunter - The Vigil

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:
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H
O
H
I
A
C CHAPTER THREE: HUNTER ORGANIZATIONS
I
H
Lellis, the patron saint of hospitals, should not be ascribed to
Benedictions R&D a rite that brings fiery retribution, and instead would likely be

The power does not come from your hands; it is not yours bound to a rite of healing.
by right or rite. The power does not come from the bell, the Mortifi cation
book or the candle. Those are the trappings of the mortal
hose are the trappings of the mortal
he Malleus Malefi
T

n

carum does

Church, and though they are precious and sacred beyond The Malleus Maleficarum does not approve of mortifica-
hey are precious and sacred beyond
s

t

ion of the fl
esh. The secret article
ower. The power is God’s and God’s
measure, they are not power. The power is God’s and God’s tion of the flesh. The secret articles that govern the Ham-
y
l
e practic
enounce t
l
e
d
m
h
er exp
icit
guides it through you. Other organi-
alone, and it is He who guides it through you. Other organi- mer explicitly denounce the practice. The Hammer was es-
ablished to fi
g
ainst mo
t
n
ht a war a

g

Malefi
carum in action, and they see
zations see the Malleus Maleficarum in action, and they see tablished to fight a war against monsters that are not only
eternaturall
y
pr
l
d, but a
aware of bloo
They misunderstand. God grants His
“miracles on demand.” They misunderstand. God grants His preternaturally aware of blood, but also physically superior to
bl
e to s
uman so
mp
iers. V
h
n

a
ires a
ld
children miracles because they do His work, and because of human soldiers. Vampires able to sniff out a flagellant and
se they do His work, and because of
t
hen crush his wrist within his ow
n
Lady and the other saints.
the intercession of Our Lady and the other saints. then crush his wrist within his own spiked bracelet were a

si
c

gn
cant concern. Nonetheless, ac
ifi
The one true God’s been performing miracles as long as significant concern. Nonetheless, acceptance of mortification
been performing miracles as long as
s
as
ie
it
om
m

fr
on
ti
c
th
un
wi
mm
co
in
anyone’s been keeping track. Miracles like those of the Malle- within monastic communities from which the Malleus Ma-
rack. Miracles like those of the Malle-

efi
carum recruited meant that the pr

l
us Maleficarum appear briefly in the Acts of the Apostles and leficarum recruited meant that the practice was never banned
y in the Acts of the Apostles and

riefl
outright.
n Apocrypha. However, it’s not until
extensively in Christian Apocrypha. However, it’s not until outright.
h
A c
R&

aracter w
m
D:
h
o uses
the Middle Ages that any of the specific rites in use by the R&D: A character who uses mortification to gain en-
ny of the specifi
c rites in use by the

a new
i
gh
B
g
tenment in devel
l
op
in
of them incorporate Coptic tradition,
Hammer appear. Many of them incorporate Coptic tradition, lightenment in developing a new Benediction must cause
himself a number of wounds e
ual
t
q
suggesting they were influenced by Christian rites brought himself a number of wounds equal to twice the Merit dots
nfl uenced by Christian rites brought

d
h
y
h
owment over t
e En
n
ecessar
for t
om Rhodes and Thebes.
back by the Crusaders from Rhodes and Thebes. necessary for the Endowment over the course of a story. Giv-
g
g
himself all bashin
in
h
e nets
dama
g
radox of Benediction. For all that the
Therein lies the paradox of Benediction. For all that the ing himself all bashing damage nets him a -1 discount to the
Endowment E
uation, while scourg
i

q
miracles of the Malleus Maleficarum are alleged not to rely on Endowment Equation, while scourging his flesh with lethal
carum are alleged not to rely on

Malefi
d
arns a -3
iscount
e
iscount. T
ap
d
e
p
h
magic, tradition, or even faith in the modern sense, the Ham- earns a -3 discount. The discount applies as soon as all dam-
n faith in the modern sense, the Ham-
g
e is received (and i
a
pu
st
t
mu
be
r
umenting its history and training mem-
mer is zealous about documenting its history and training mem- age is received (and it must be purposefully caused by the
s own willful hand — runn
character’
bers in the proper forms. The Malleus Maleficarum also has character’s own willful hand — running headlong into a nest

s. The Malleus Malefi carum also has
res an
d
ge
ama

sufferin
d
of vam
g
do
pi
ism of the modern Church, combined
something of the skepticism of the modern Church, combined of vampires and suffering damage does not count). Some do
, but d
ot mortif

esh, however
e
the fl
y

n
g years on the Vigil. Spontaneous mir-
with the cynicism of long years on the Vigil. Spontaneous mir- not mortify the flesh, however, but deny themselves food, wa-
u
p
h to acc
t
for lo
eno
er and slee
ng
ug
viewed simultaneously with suspicion.
acles are welcomed, but viewed simultaneously with suspicion. ter and sleep for long enough to accumulate bashing damage.
Cell members who manifest new miracles frequently and freely The Offi ces of Cryptotheology
fest new miracles frequently and freely
Cr
of
The Offi
ces
for inquisition, and even ecclesiastical
are likely to be targeted for inquisition, and even ecclesiastical Cryptotheology bitterly divides the Malleus Malefi carum,
bitterl
yp
r
divides t
y
gy
totheolo
C
h
trial (the Hammer’s equivalent of a court martial). and has since at least the 18 century. However, apparent codes
valent of a court martial).
nc
ea
e
l
si
at
an
1
he
st
t
8
ry
. H
centu
th th
h
s
d
ha
Successful Benediction requires piety, humility, and an
tion requires piety, humility, and an
in t
h
e, t
h
rew Bi
e
b
e New T
s
w
h
it
e He
bl
you’re asking of God. Developing a
understanding of what you’re asking of God. Developing a within the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, apocryphal texts
y
and even theological treatises have
and even theological treatises have yielded rituals commonly
new rite sometimes appears as a fl ash of inspiration — literal, practiced in Benediction. The bleeding edge of the art is cryp-
ears as a fl ash of inspiration — literal,
in Bene
pr
d
h
i
d
iction. T
bl
actice
n
e
ee
d
t it is more often a process of gradual
divine revelation — but it is more often a process of gradual torevelation: the idea that God’s ongoing revelation to human-
d
d
at Go
ea t
h
g
o
n
’s
o
ation: t
h
l
t
oreve
e i
understanding and acceptance of your vocation as a hunter.
ptance of your vocation as a hunter.
n
kind may include messages meant only for those who can de-
kind may include messages meant o
e
d
d
co
ate is
b
em. T
eart of t
e
h
e
h
e t
h
h
y
Saintly Intercession code them. The heart of the debate is the American northeast,
aintl
S
Intercession
ome to some of t
’s
y

ne
at countr
h
h
s
fi
l
,
The saints who dwell with Christ in Heaven, and who are home to some of that country’s finest theological and math-
l with Christ in Heaven
e
and who ar
ematical institutions. The Hammer of
ie
ith Him
have
sometimes said to reign with Him, have greater piety and wis- and wis- ematical institutions. The Hammer of Boston has funded a for-
p
,
w
reater
ty
g

mal Offi ce of Cryptotheology; the Ham
. T
Hammer on Eart
h
t t
o
gh
e
dom than members of the Hammer on Earth. Thus, it is right to mal Office of Cryptotheology; the Hammer of Philadelphia has
h
us, it is ri
done the same, but also established a
pray to those saints, not as gods but as human beings who may done the same, but also established a Devil’s Advocate to in-
ds but as human beings who ma
y
a
s go
vestigate all fi ndings before disseminat
d. Intercession is a critical
plead a member’s case before God. Intercession is a critical part vestigate all fi ndings before dissemination outside the diocese.
f
ore Go
p
t
ar
R&D: Performing homespun Cry
um’

r
s t
of the Malleus Maleficarum’s theology — most rites of Bene- — most rites of Bene- R&D: Performing homespun Cryptotheology isn’t enough
eo
l
o
h
gy
on its own: a hunter is as likely to fi nd

o
diction are addressed to or at least named for particular saints. . on its own: a hunter is as likely to find a cipher or “truth” that
r at least named for particular saints
somebody has already discovered. The
Many members of the Hammer, as well as many faithful in gen-, as well as many faithful in gen- somebody has already discovered. The key lies in going to one
mmer
a

of the Offi ces of Cryptotheology and p
t
b
eral, feel a particular relationship with a saint, often beginning of the Offices of Cryptotheology and perusing their records and
ng
eg
inni
often
h
a sain
ions
wit
h
ip
t,

then trying to fi
ll in the gaps or discov
with a feeling of sympathy for a saint’s life. Sympathy is not then trying to fill in the gaps or discover something that hasn’t
hy for a saint’
s life. Sympathy is n
ot
t
been done. (Better still to cozy up to
gained easily. Often, the hunter must go to the places where been done. (Better still to cozy up to the odd obsessives who
places
must
go
whe
to
re
the
hunter
e

the saint has been (the village center where she was stoned, the often run such offices.) Utilizing cryptotheology in such a way

house in which he mortified his flesh, the reliquary that holds earns the character a -1 discount to the Endowment Equation.

his finger bones). Some hunters use this to mean enduring the Utilizing cryptotheology in such a way earns the character a -1
trials and tribulations of that particular saint. discount to the Endowment Equation.)
R&D: Developing a relationship with a saint over the Works over Faith
course of a story allows a -2 discount to be applied to the En- Serving the Lord is more than just slaying vampires, and
dowment Equation. The subsequent rite must be geared to- the Malleus Maleficarum knows it, even if the fact tends to

ward and named after that particular saint. Saint Camillus de
get lost in the meeting minutes and the endless nights of the
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