Page 33 - Hunter - The Vigil

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C CHAPTER ONE: SHADOWS CAST BY FIRELIGHT
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Alliances would-be scholar may find herself drawn to Null Mysteriis,
Cooperation is key to survival in the pursuit of the Vigil, while another cell member may prefer the informal, blue-
and hunters recognize the value of alliances when faced with a collar camaraderie of the Union. Still another may be ap-
proached by the Long Night, appealing to the hunter’s deep
common foe. This is especially true among hunter cells, many sense of faith. When these situations occur, most cells will
of which find themselves outnumbered and outgunned by their either hash out their differences and go with a group that

foes and glad of help wherever they can find it. Even larger all the members can agree on, or they will splinter apart and
compacts or conspiracies are not above forging short-term alli- the hunters will go their own ways. Occasionally, however,
ances, often trading information or other resources in exchange a very tight-knit or exceptionally idealistic hunter cell will
for crucial support during the course of a mission. In many ways, try to have it both ways, allowing each hunter to pursue his
the forging of alliances and the sharing of support is the glue or her own affiliations while still working together in pursuit

that bonds the disparate elements of hunter society together. of the Vigil. These collective cells have the potential to be
The longest and most durable alliances are typically
formed between hunter cells; indeed, these ties are often the extremely effective, drawing upon a wide spectrum of assets
and resources to combat the enemy, but they are also prone
first steps toward forming a larger compact of linked hunter to immense internal pressures and conflicts of interest that

groups. By combining their resources and focusing their efforts threaten their survival on a nightly basis.
on one threat at a time, the cells can achieve far more collec- Every member of a collective cell must walk a knife-edge,
tively than they could ever accomplish alone. Over time, these balancing his commitment to his chosen hunter group against
bonds become complex networks involving multiple hunter his loyalty to his cellmates. This degree of pressure largely de-
cells, each with its own informal rules of operation. pends on the groups involved; the Ashwood Abbey affects a
Alliances between cells and hunter compacts are also
commonplace, although such arrangements typically favor degree of disdain toward members who insist on “consorting
with the rabble,” but doesn’t attempt to actually punish its
the compact. Sometimes a cell needs information or special members for such activities. The Long Night, on the other
resources it can’t get anywhere else, and a compact will pro- hand, actively fears for the souls of its members who interact
vide them for a price. This usually involves sharing informa- with hunters who don’t see the spiritual imperative of their
tion or performing a task in return at a later date, which can mission. In one famous case, a member of the compact named
sometimes be more difficult and dangerous than the cell’s Raul Gonsalves was declared anathema and attempts were

original mission. Some compacts, such as the scholarly Null actually made on his life after local leaders of the group dis-

Mysteriis, will frequently seek out unaffiliated hunter cells to covered his wife was secretly affiliated with the Lucifuge. Still

perform fi eldwork for them, in exchange for information that other groups are reluctant to share information or resources
will benefi t the cell’s own activities. with members whose commitment is less than 100%. Hunters
By contrast, alliances between hunter compacts tend to be

short-term affairs where the interests of both parties temporar- affiliated with Null Mysteriis are informed at the outset that
they will never gain access to the compact’s higher levels if
ily intersect, or to form a united front against a much larger there is even the slightest chance the knowledge could find

threat. These are typically nervous and mistrustful affairs, even its way into the hands of non-members.
at the best of times, as neither compact wishes to yield any As serious as these external pressures are, often the inter-
more of its power or infl uence than absolutely necessary. nal pressures of conflicting ideologies pose a far greater risk to

Hunter conspiracies are generally less likely to form alli-
ances than other groups; few instances present themselves where a cell’s survival. A hunter devoted to the Long Night or the
Malleus Maleficarum must fight the forces of darkness with her

a smaller compact can provide assets that they don’t already pos- last breath; what then is she to do when another member of
sess, and sharing their own resources for limited gain isn’t profi t- her cell is intent on capturing a monster and delivering it to
able to them. Exceptions have been known to occur, of course; his masters at the Cheiron Group for study? If the cell is well
the Loyalists of Thule have been known to provide crucial data to led or its members are willing to sort out their differences, they
everyone from the Cheiron Group to the Malleus Malefi carum, might work out a compromise, but sometimes these differences
and Task Force: VALKYRIE reputedly sought a temporary alli- of belief can lead to tragedy. The scholars of the Indebted often
ance with the papal-sanctioned hunters in an operation against relate a cautionary story to new members regarding a cell in
a group of vampires operating within the Atlanta diocese. Con- London in the 1950s. This cell discovered a rare and infamous
spiracies pursue these arrangements within carefully proscribed magical grimoire at a book dealer’s shop in Kensington, and im-
boundaries, often drawing up actual documents that detail the mediately the members of the group began to quarrel over what
specifics of what support they will provide and the length of such must be done with the book. One member, who was closely

joint operations. affiliated with the Malleus Maleficarum, was determined to de-

The rarest alliances of all occur not between compacts
and conspiracies, but between individuals with differing al- liver the book to the Vatican’s secret archives. Another, who
was part of the Long Night, intended to seize the book and
legiances who are also members of the same cell. As unaffili- burn it. A third member, who sought entry into the Lucifuge,

ated cells become aware of the greater community of hunt- was determined to plumb the book for its awful secrets. The
ers within their home city, they are drawn (or in some cases, conflict ultimately tore the cell apart, just as the hunters at-

actively courted) to join one group or the other. Sometimes tempted a botched robbery of the bookshop. The book dealer
the members of the cell are drawn in different directions; a
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