Page 21 - Hunter - The Vigil

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C CHAPTER ONE: SHADOWS CAST BY FIRELIGHT
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While the inherently clandestine nature of
RFID CHIPS
RFID CHIPS the Vigil means that no overall records of each
and every hunter throughout history exist, many
The offi cial records of Task Force:
The offi

cial records of Task Force:

conspiracies and compacts keep their own rolls.
VALKYRIE state that the RFID chips
VALKYRIE state that the RFID chips
The Lucifuge, for example, is rumored to have
implanted in each soldier to operate
implanted in each soldier to operate
an archive containing the names and histories
the agency’s Advanced Armory are short
the agency’s Advanced Armory are short
of every hunter who has joined their conspiracy
range and act only to identify each
range and act only to identify each
since its inception. Even stranger, rumors per-
hunter to his equipment. Rumors suggest,
hunter to his equipment. Rumors suggest,
sist that this archive also includes clandestinely
however, that in recent years, additional
however, that in recent years, additional
gathered samples of every member’s hair, blood
technology added to the microchip allows
technology added to the microchip allows
and other personal articles (family photos, an art
the organization to track each hunter’s
the organization to track each hunter’s
project from elementary school, the desiccated
moves down to a matter of feet, through
moves down to a matter of feet, through

ear of a beloved family pet). No member of the
a series of global satellites that can
a series of global satellites that can
Lucifuge has ever confirmed the existence of this

ping the implanted data chips.

ping the implanted data chips.
archive, believed by some to be located in the
In 1995, part of the VALKYRIE cell was
In 1995, part of the VALKYRIE cell was
Syrian peaks of Mount Hermon, where Jesus was
lost while assigned to investigate the
lost while assigned to investigate the
reportedly tempted by the Devil. This region was
sighting of a “draconic ENE” (extra-
sighting of a “draconic ENE” (extra-
one of the most hotly disputed during the 1967
normal entity) in a remote mountain range
normal entity) in a remote mountain range
Six-Day War, although to this day, the Lucifuge
in Papua, New Guinea. Separated from
in Papua, New Guinea. Separated from
insists that to be entirely coincidental. Similar ar-
their base camp by a severe earthquake
their base camp by a severe earthquake
chives (although without the rumors of supernat-
and stranded without supplies, the rest
and stranded without supplies, the rest
ural blackmail material) are accredited to many
of the cell feared the worst for the
of the cell feared the worst for the
hunter organizations. Modern groups, such as the
lost hunters. Within hours, however, the
lost hunters. Within hours, however, the
Union, are often more public about their records
organization had forwarded the stranded
organization had forwarded the stranded
(at least to other members of the compact). Task
group’s coordinates to the base camp. The
group’s coordinates to the base camp. The
Force: VALKYRIE reportedly uses highly encoded
hunters were rescued, exactly where the
hunters were rescued, exactly where the
computer databases to keep track of its members’
coordinates claimed they would be found.
coordinates claimed they would be found.
training and assignment history.

Inquiries as to how the organization
Inquiries as to how the organization
For those who have access to these histor-
had located the missing hunters went
had located the missing hunters went
ic fi les, hunters are credited with innumerable
ed,” but popular

unanswered as “classifi ed,” but popular
unanswered as “classifi
small and large victories against the monsters of
conjecture stated the situation was
conjecture stated the situation was
the past centuries. According to the Aegis Kai
proof of the unadvertised homing ability
proof of the unadvertised homing ability
Doru, one of its hunter cells stopped the sadistic
of the RFID chips. Offi cial statements
of the RFID chips. Offi cial statements
rampages of the bloodthirsty Countess Elizabeth
deny that the chips can be used for
deny that the chips can be used for
Bathory in the late 1500s. Bathory is an interest-
such purposes, but they also claim
such purposes, but they also claim
ing case in hunter history, as she was rumored to
the RFIDs are hackproof — a claim some
the RFIDs are hackproof — a claim some
be in possession of an artifact that, when activat-
enterprising individuals have proved is
enterprising individuals have proved is
ed with certain types of human blood, was able
not entirely accurate.
not entirely accurate.
to renew her youthful appearance. Paranoid (and
rightfully so), the Countess had the relic spirited
to everyone (including those who had appointed him to the away to an unknown location. Rather than sacrifi ce her and
directorship) that whatever drew Oudemans to the far ends lose track of the relic (said by some to be a spear, others a
of the earth, it was not his appointed duties. The fi nal straw wretched mask), the hunter cell assigned to her proved her
came in 1892 when, against the advice of his cellmates, Ou- sadism and had her imprisoned in a tower. The group then
demans published a dissertation about his studies. The Great spent the next several years alternately bribing, threatening
Sea Serpents of the World was a popular read, but unfortu- and occasionally torturing the noblewoman in an attempt
nately for Oudemans, it was not seen as the scientifi c trea- to gain the secret of the item’s location. Offi cial agency re-
tise he imagined. Instead, readers treated it with the same ports claim the group was successful, although they are less
sense of amusement they did the “Penny Dreadfuls” and clear on the fate of the magical relic itself. Records suggest
other works of gothic horror and occult fi ction that swept that Bathory, separated from the relic, died of advanced age
Victorian culture. When Oudemans, in an effort to be taken as her purloined years caught up with her.
seriously, presented the work at a conference of his peers, Others hunters, however, believe that the Aegis Kai
he was ridiculed, and resigned his position as director soon Doru was less than pure of motive in its investigation of
thereafter. Oudemans’ public career ends there, but his cell Bathory’s practices. Rumors among members of the Loy-
was rumored to have captured some of the fi rst photographic alists of Thule claim that Bathory was not a monster, but
evidence of lake monsters, one of the earliest recorded uses instead a hunter whose victims were not innocent noble-
of cameras and fi lm for the Vigil. women as the group professed, but members of a profane
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