Page 224 - Hunter - The Vigil

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Organizations: The Long Night and the Malleus Malefi- Hamstring functions similarly to Cripple Claws (p. 219). The

carum are the organizations that most often teach this Tactic. secondary actors present targets for the monster, while the primary

Both are more cognizant than most that the minds of men can actor flanks the beast and strikes its leg with a weapon. The pri-

be invaded and displaced by the servants of Hell, and both are mary actor needs to inflict enough damage to the creature to make
confi dent they have the power to cast out such demons. a shattered mess of the leg in order for the Tactic to work, and legs
Potential Modifi ers: Primary actor has one of the possessing aren’t exactly fragile — muscle and bone are both quite thick here.
ghost’s anchors handy (+3 to primary actor; only applicable for As such, in addition to any other applicable modifi ers, Hamstring
ghosts); form of the ritual is appropriate to the possessed individual, suffers a -5 modifier to the primary actor to compensate for specify-

such as a Catholic ritual being enacted on a Catholic or Christian ing a target (see p. 165 of the World of Darkness Rulebook) and
victim (+2 to primary actor); primary actor spends at least 10 min- for cutting through or smashing the muscles and bones.
utes instructing secondary actors in appropriate chants or prayers If a secondary actor’s roll fails, he does not get out of the
before beginning (+1 to secondary actors); loud or distracting en- way of the monster in time. When the monster’s next action
vironment (-1 to all participants); target has been possessed for arrives, it can attack that hunter without applying the hunt-
more than one day (-1 to primary actor for each day after the fi rst); er’s Defense. This does not affect the primary actor in any way
target willingly accepted the possession (-5 to primary actor). (other than not granting the player extra dice, of course).
Roll Results: Organizations: Union members often use the Hamstring

Dramatic Failure: The possessing entity appears to flee Tactic to prevent a monster from disappearing into the night,
— windows break, the bed rattles and other dramatic effects then step back and open fire with a variety of guns or surround

occur. However, the entity is still curled up in the target’s the creature and beat it to death with instruments both sharp

mind and can reassert control at any time. and blunt. The Lucifuge, on the other hand, finds it worth the
Failure: The possessing entity’s roll garners successes extra risk to prevent a creature from running so that it can
equal to or in excess of the primary actor’s. The primary actor determine if the monster is a true demon, something worthy
loses a point of Willpower. If this was the primary actor’s last of ritual sacrifi ce, or merely a lesser imp.
Willpower point, the Exorcism is over as the primary actor Potential Modifiers: Primary actor uses a bladed
collapses, drained and emotionally broken. weapon of at least Size 3 (+1 to primary actor); secondary
Success: The primary actor’s roll garners more successes actor is especially attractive to the monster, such as an
than that of the possessing entity. The possessing entity loses obviously bloodied hunter facing a vampire (+1 to pri-
a point of Willpower. If this was the entity’s last Willpower mary actor); monster is Size 6 or larger (+1 to primary ac-
point, the target is immediately free of the possession. This tor); primary actor is especially attractive to the monster
doesn’t stop the creature from attacking the hunters, but of (-1 to all participants); monster is Size 4 or smaller (-1
course, it doesn’t have any Willpower to draw on. to primary actor); primary actor’s weapon inflicts bashing
Exceptional Success: Either the possessing entity or the damage (-2 to primary actor); small, enclosed space (-3 to
primary actor rolls more successes than the other and achieves all participants); secondary actor(s) has a lower Initiative
an exceptional success. The loser loses two points of Will- than the primary actor (-3 to all participants).
power instead of one. If this event wins the Exorcism for the Roll Results:
hunters, the possessing entity is driven from the area and can- Dramatic Failure: The attack misses the monster, but
not attack the hunters (if the entity is a ghost that is bound strikes another hunter. The primary actor immediately rolls
to the area, it retreats to an anchor and lurks there for at least an attack against the nearest hunter (without applying the
a scene). dice from the secondary actors), subtracting that hunter’s ar-
To Purchase: 16 Practical Experience, 13 for the Long mor but ignoring Defense. Damage is applied normally.
Night, 11 for the Malleus Malefi carum. Failure: The primary actor either misses or loses his grip
on the weapon and doesn’t infl ict any damage.
Hamstring Success: One point of damage (type determined by the
Prerequisites: All: Dexterity 2, Athletics 2, Brawl 1. Partial weapon) is inflicted per success. In addition, the creature’s

(1): Strength 3, Weaponry 3 (primary actor). Speed is reduced by three quarters (for bipedal creatures) or
Requires: 2; 5 or more levies a -2 penalty to the primary actor. one half (for quadrupeds). This effect remains until all dam-
Dice Pool: Primary: Strength + Weaponry. Secondary: age from this attack has healed.
Presence + Athletics. Exceptional Success: No effect other than the greater
Action: Instant. amount of damage.
Description: The Hamstring Tactic is one that hunt- To Purchase: 15 Practical Experience, 12 for the Union,
ers use just before a retreat, or when they wish to prevent a 10 for the Lucifuge.

monster from fleeing. The Tactic reduces a monster’s capacity
for speed by damaging its leg, severing muscles and shattering Harvest
bone. Hamstring works by mechanical damage, rather than re- Prerequisites: All: Intelligence 2, Composure 2, Occult
lying on putting the monster in pain. Monsters don’t always 2. Partial (1): Occult 4 or Occult 3 with a Specialty in the
feel pain, but if the creature’s tibia is sticking out of its lower leg type of monster being harvested (vampires, werewolves, etc.).
at a 90º angle, it isn’t going to be sprinting any time soon. Partial (1): Medicine 2 (primary actor).
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