Page 264 - Hunter - The Vigil

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An enemy who inspires the need for revenge has to tap notes and work, or might devote time to training replace-
directly into the characters’ fears of loss (see above), and their ments in the event of any worst-case scenarios.
past experiences with it. If the creature has harmed them in Hunters can make a difference. They leave an impact
the past, and in truly unsettling ways, they will want that through their work, both in the immediacy of the nightly
creature dead or otherwise out of the picture. If the monster hunt, and in the sense of a greater legacy. A lone cell may
has eerie and unearthly ways of threatening them each time, never topple the great vampire lord of the Big Apple, but its

their hatred will build, flavored by fear and the need to see systematic destruction of many of his subjects will bleed into
this creature fi nished with once and for all. the collective consciousness of vampire society in New York
Introducing a chronicle’s main recurring antagonist in City, and the bloodsuckers of the East Coast all start to sweat
the opening inciting incidents is a tactic used in many novels a little if they ever have to visit NYC on “business.”
and movies. Storytellers shouldn’t fear using it themselves, so An inciting incident can bring hope to the forefront,
long as the presentation is fair and doesn’t predetermine utter showing characters that they can make a difference (because
failure on the characters’ behalf. In fact, them earning an ini- if an inciting incident is too frustrating or damning, why pur-
tial success against the adversary (they destroy something of sue the Vigil at all?). Solving a small mystery or destroying
his, or put out one of his infernal eyes) gives him a reason to a lesser foe (or making a minor victory against a larger more
keep coming back for more, too, with the burgeoning hunter persistent adversary) shows a nascent cell that the Vigil is not
cell becoming his adversary as much as he is theirs. a fruitless struggle. On the other hand, too much hope goes
against the themes of the World of Darkness, and no struggle
Hope takes some of the blood and fire out of a Hunter: The Vigil

The Vigil isn’t hopeless. It’s certainly hard, and no one story. If they put a powerful foe down in the opening volley
would argue that walk away alive and happy into a healthy of the chronicle, that sets the wrong tone and steals the con-
retirement, but it’s not a path devoid of hope. For example, flict’s thunder. (Remember: in life we strive to avoid conflict,

the Aegis Kai Doru has prospered unseen for centuries now, but in fi ction we need confl ict to drive the tale’s telling.)
and those hunters have been leaving their mark (albeit a In short, no story arc should pit the hunters against foes
mark hidden from mortal eyes) on the world since its ancient they are unable (and will continue being unable) to harm in
founding. All compacts and conspiracies stir a kind of hope: any way. Through a chronicle, and even sometimes during a
hunters standing together. Even lone hunters and isolated scene, the hunters should somehow have the capacity to do
cells may establish legacies for other groups to follow their some harm to their enemies. If the antagonist is much too

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