Page 341 - Hunter - The Vigil

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A APPENDIX TWO: PHILADELPHIA,
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M M
M MONSTER HUNTING IN THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE
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housing and abandoned, unusable industrial wastelands.
Affluent residents began moving to the suburbs; those At a Glance: The
lacking in economic resources had to contend with Philadelphia Vigil
substandard housing that had barely been upgraded since
the 19 century. The 1960s and 1970s brought riots, drug Philadelphia represents a curious specimen of hunter
th
addiction and rising crime that further demoralized the culture. First, as both the birthplace of the American
population and degraded the city’s reputation. The 1980s Revolution and the famed Chestnut Street Compact, it
added mob warfare and near bankruptcy to the city’s woes. stands as a theoretical “shining example,” even when that
As always, monsters that saw human beings as their prey doesn’t hold true in reality. Second, Philadelphia is a crowded

or playthings were quick to take advantage of the rising confluence of cells, organizations and agencies. It’s rare that
violence and despair. Many hunters fell to vampires and any one group fails to claim some kind of dominance. In Philly,
mages who manipulated the criminal element for their though, while they aren’t always so keen to work together
own purposes. Others lost their free will or sanity to ghosts (and sometimes violently clash with one another as much as
and spirits attracted by the discord. Hunters of today who they do with the stalkers and feeders of the night), they have
are survivors from that time, or were taught by those managed a kind of “rough around the edges” coexistence.
survivors, tend to be particularly strident in their Vigil. Below is a snapshot of Philadelphia orgs and agencies in their
They carry physical and psychic scars and always have one balance of power. Note that a Storyteller needn’t utilize all of
last nasty trick up their sleeves. these, and may instead choose to represent a city that is easily
As often happens, the direst moments also contained in the grip of one group or another.
seeds of hope. Restoration and revitalization projects begun Ascending Ones: On the rise. With the shifts in
in the 1970s and 1980s began to attract more visitors to Philadelphia’s immigrant population over the last decade,

the city in the 1990s. That decade also saw a boom in it’s becoming easier for the Ascending Ones to find support
hotel construction, as well as the construction of a new and resources to stage operations in the city. Whether the
convention center. More recently, the city’s population group can carve out a lasting territory of its own remains to
decline has slowed, as condominiums and rejuvenated be seen.
neighborhoods make Philadelphia a more popular residence Ashwood Abbey: In transition. After a long history of
for working professionals. Today Philadelphia is a city in indolence and passivity, new members work to exploit the
the process of reinventing itself, with an interesting mix monsters in all new heights of hedonism. That said, the Abbey
of struggles and success stories. It has a lively arts scene, has never been big on doing any dirty work that doesn’t bring

countless tourist-friendly museums and historical sites, instant gratification and will likely rely on more industrious
many distinguished colleges and universities, and a unique hunters to help it lay the groundwork for its mysterious
assortment of appealing neighborhoods with lots of allure goals.
for visitors or permanent residents. It’s also burdened by Aegis Kai Doru: Frustrated. Time and time again, the
one of the highest murder rates in the country, rough racial Guardians have tried to impress upon other Philadelphia
tensions and a steady stream of political scandals. hunters that dangerous Relics found in the city belong to
them. It never seems to sink in. As a result several, important
artifacts have slipped through their fi ngers over the years and
Shadows of fallen into the hands of other unworthy hunter groups, as well
as into the hands of enterprising sorcerers. Recovering them
Philadelphia remains a primary goal.
Cheiron Group: Growing stronger. Having spent the last
Today’s Philadelphia is the sixth most populous city in the decade establishing economic dominance over the city’s many
United States, with an estimated population of 1.4 million. competing pharmaceutical concerns, Cheiron’s Philadelphia
Air travelers are served by Philadelphia International Airport, sub-corp is now highly profi table and poised for greater
which handles both domestic and international flights. Train success. With a new director hungry to impress her superiors,

schedules include service from New York City and Washington, TCG Philly is bent on identifying and harvesting any unique
DC, with high speed and commuter lines for fast travel to supernatural phenomena it can get its hands on. If that means
major northeastern cities. Several major interstate highways pushing some other hunter group out of its way, so be it.
converge in the Philadelphia area, allowing easy access by car The Long Night: Persistent. The Long Night operates
— except for the congestion and jammed traffic, especially several mission-style community centers in North Philadelphia

during peak commuter hours. In town, many residents and and elsewhere throughout the city’s poor and working class
visitors make use of the extensive public transportation neighborhoods. Its hell-in-a-handbasket outlook resonates
system operated by SEPTA (the Southeastern Pennsylvania well with the disenfranchised and economically disadvantaged
Transportation Authority), consisting of commuter rail, of Philadelphia. The centers offer genuine charitable services.
subway, elevated train, streetcar and bus routes. Philadelphia But they also attract potential recruits, and give the Long
is very walkable and bikeable, with many of its most famous Night an ear to the street.
attractions concentrated in or near the Center City area. The Loyalists of Thule: Scattered. The Loyalists have
not had good luck in Philadelphia. Early on, they ignored the
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