Page 25 - Hunter - The Vigil

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C CHAPTER ONE: SHADOWS CAST BY FIRELIGHT
more than a passing fancy, he drew the attention of the Ab- tion a hunter takes, each line he crosses and each sin he com-
bey’s London cell. mits bring him closer to being a monster himself. Every step
Intrigued, the club set out to do what the police could he takes into the darkness to protect others from the things
not — catch the Whitechapel killer. And it did. In Decem- that dwell there is one step closer to never coming back, to
ber of the same year, Jack was apprehended by members of losing his light and becoming part of the shadows.
the Abbey shortly after he had strangled a prostitute by the The Vigil is desperation. It’s knowing that no matter how
name of Rose Mylett. The Abbey subjected the serial killer many things you kill, there will always be more. No matter
to extensive cross-examination to ascertain it had found the how many secrets you uncover, you can never know every-
true killer — and then recruited him into its midst, where he thing you need. No matter how many lights you shine into
remained an active member for a number of years. Most mem- the darkness, it will always be there, just waiting for your
bers of the Abbey insist that the group intended for the Vigil torch to go out, for your light to fade.

to fulfill Jack’s darker needs in a more positive manner. The But the Vigil is also triumph. Despite the costs, despite

official records, available only to high-ranking members of the sacrifices, despite the danger, you and yours do make a

the organization, state that the leaders of the cell at the time difference. You might never rid the world of monsters, but
claimed it was doing society a service in offering him another you can stop one killer, one predator, one force of evil and, in
outlet for his “needs,” and remark on Saucy Jack having taken doing so, make the world a little safer, a little better, a little
to the Abbey’s particular brand of entertainment with an un- lighter for those who remain unaware of the truth.
equaled enthusiasm. Within a few months, however, even the
Abbey’s activities began to pale and Jack continued his predi- A Thousand Points
lection for murdering prostitutes. Although the Abbey’s up- of Light…
per crust had no particular empathy for the street whores, in The Vigil is not one thing. It has many faces, many hands.
time it became clear that his hobby would eventually lead the Many truths, many lies. With every individual hunter comes
mundane authorities to the Abbey itself. They cautioned him an individual approach to the hunt.
to end his activities, and for a time he did, but in February of Some are warriors, solders, killers. A redneck tracking

1891, temptation became too great, and Jack struck again. a strange alligator-human hybrid through the swamps fires his
Shortly thereafter, the Abbey organized its own hunt, father’s shotgun as he seeks vengeance for the old man’s death.
bringing down its former member and thus putting an end Street punks chase winged, living statues through the back al-
to the Whitechapel murders. Saucy Jack, a.k.a. Jack the Rip- leys of their city, brandishing knives, pistols and lengths of

per, thus had the honor of being the first (but not the last) of chain. Called by God to fight demons, a cell pitches cobbled-

the Abbey’s members to also end up as their quarry. Abbey together bombs made from holy water at a fleeing demon. One
records suggest that the London cell voted on Jack’s fate after hunter immobilizes and “neuters” the threat. Another might
capture. Its leader had suggested that, considering its spring- instead torture it for information. A third hunter would rather
heeled companion’s penchant for evisceration (and, accord- cut its fucking head off and move on to the next wretch. For
ing to rumors, consumption of the organs of his victims), it these hunters, violence is always the answer.
would only be appropriate that he end his existence by serv- Some are scholars, investigators, builders. A techni-
ing the cell in the same (literal) fashion. The official vote was cian creates a cage that shudders with electromagnetic pulses,

four to two against the suggestion, however, with the leading counteracting the supernatural abilities to any beast thrown
argument against being that it was inappropriate to consume inside. A scholar researches ancient means of detecting and
the sweetbreads of one who had formerly been one of their casting out restless spirits, spending nights in the deepest li-

own. “We are many things,” the records state, “but cannibals brary archives, popping pills to stay awake. A barfly chats up
we are not.” slimeballs, contract killers and the slaves of an undead men-
ace in hopes of gathering information on things even worse.
One Endless One hunter believes the answer lies in his books or on the
web. Another thinks the truth lurks in his lab, staring back at
Vigil him from behind the lens of a microscope. A different hunter
knows he can get what he needs with a silver tongue and a
fake ID badge.
The Vigil is the long, dark night waiting for the enemy’s Some are healers, rehabilitators, visionaries. A nurse
footsteps and the knowledge that, while the dawn will come run ragged stays up late, patching the wounds of a fellow
again, it’s a long way off and you’ve got no guarantees that you hunter and trying to use humor to help him forget the pain.
and those you love will be around to see it. Three hunters in dark suits tie a howling fiend to a chair,

The Vigil is seeing into hidden places that most men knowing that this time, the “deprogramming” efforts will be
do not acknowledge, let alone explore. It is uncovering se- successful. An alcoholic architect has a moment of clarity and
crets, both amazing and awful, that humanity would prefer knows that he can not only use the monsters, but he can even
remained hidden. work with some of them to find peace, prosperity and, most

The Vigil is remaining eternally watchful, not only for important of all, power. One hunter thinks he can save the
the monster without, but the one within. Each act of despera- world one patient at a time. Another knows the demons can
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