Page 76 - Hunter - The Vigil

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ACADEMIC
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him. An Artist writes and illustrates a fi eld guide to the unknown somehow: perhaps they gain funding from it, have colleagues on
occult mysteries and monsters that plague his proud city. staff, or are even allowed to borrow the labs or libraries for their
See, that’s what one’s Profession is: not just a job, not own use (especially as alumni).
just something a hunter does for a quick paycheck, but some- In addition to any groups of hunters who operate out of
thing she does because that’s who she is. Hell, sometimes a her university, local groups often have at least one Academic
paycheck isn’t even involved. A hunter who is a Soldier may as a member. She has free time and access to a lot of resources,
no longer be on his tour of duty. Maybe he’s a sales clerk or which can be a massive boon. It’s often hard for these groups
a counter jockey at the local gas station, but his Profession to remember that their most useful member must also teach
remains that of Soldier. Because that’s what he is, it’s what he classes or get thrown out — and most hunter groups can’t af-

does. A Doctor may have had his license to practice medicine ford to float a member rent for a couple of months. Everyone
revoked for risky operations, but he’s still a doctor, he swore involved has to be realistic.
an oath and now he takes his gauze and scalpel into the field Some Academics live in a desensitized state. Once they

to patch up hunters or even monstrous allies. get over their visceral reaction to a man made of brass and
The Professions below are for Hunter: The Vigil char- skin grafts, the hunt becomes a damning puzzle. Werewolves
acters. They function potentially as a way to make money, are interesting biological anomalies. Hauntings may inspire

as well as a way for the hunter to approach the Vigil her way. fear, but they also spawn a near-obsessive desire to find out
(Note that professions are made more robust by dots pur- more. It’s a dangerous path to walk, with the hunter exposing
chased in the Professional Training Merit, found on p. 67.) herself to incredible peril for just a bit more knowledge.
Several hunter compacts and conspiracies, most notably
Academic the Aegis Kai Doru, Null Mysteriis and the Loyalists of Thule,
recruit Academics right out of college. (Though sometimes
Wolfmen? I wonder what else freshman biology neglected
“recruiting” is done at the point of gun or sword.) As with any
to mention.
large group, they look for the best and the brightest, especially
Academics live a life that, on the surface, is perfect for
those who have found a way to put their major to good use.
the Vigil. Nobody expects a student to show up to every class,
Background: Academics can come from any back-
professors have an incredible amount of free time, and re-
ground, and any point on the academic curve. Some are stu-
searchers have access to fantastic resources. Campus main-
dents, young, foolish, working their way through school, hav-

stays can shrug off weird behavior as a film project or high-
ing come from a disadvantaged background, or freewheeling
spirited frat boys.
through college with Mommy and Daddy’s money footing all
All Academics are nominally in it for learning or teaching.
the bills. Some are grad students or teaching/research assis-
Even students who spend their time drunk or hungover still have
tants, given a little more freedom and a small stipend. Many
a major. It’s bad enough when hunters encounter a vampire in
are professors, scholars, writers, researchers, lecturers. The
their favorite bar. Some universities have demon-possessed auto-
drive for more knowledge is the main factor tying Academics
crats in the campus police, otherworldly drugs cooked up in lo-
together, no matter what their subject of study.
cal nightclubs, and cults among poets and professors. Academics
Attributes often depend on the Academic’s major. Most
who know the hidden truths often live close to those monsters
will have Mental primary, especially Intelligence or Resolve,

who hold positions of power and influence over them.
though sports-inclined academics might have Physical prima-

Some Academics find it tricky balancing the Vigil with the
ry, while lecturers could have Social as predominant. Resolve
world of academia: tracking down some ax-wielding lunatic is
and Composure are commonly high — dedicated students
certainly more demanding than C++ compiler internals or 17 -
th

sacrifice when completing assignments, and that helps with
century French literature. A hunter who makes his living going on
staking out monster lairs. Most Academics have at least one
the lecture circuit or writing theses on operant conditioning fi nds
dot in, well, Academics, along with Computer, Science and
his time (and sanity) damaged by the needs of the hunt.
Streetwise. Depending on subject, an Academic can justify
Whatever her specialty, an Academic can apply it to
almost any spread of Skills. Likewise, possible Merits run the
her hunt, however. Computer science gives her tremendous
gamut. Contacts, Encyclopedic Knowledge and Mentor are
resources for image recognition or distributed tracking, re-
the most common.
searchers have well-stocked workshops at their disposal, and
Concepts: Community college adjunct professor, de-
literature students have access to collections of books that
tached researcher, frat boy, Ivy League student, lab techni-
few outside of a university could hope to see. Lazy undergrads
cian, lecturer on Forteana, musty old professor, overworked
who chose a party college for the hell of it soon become a lot
research assistant, teaching assistant

more dedicated when a cult figures them for a sacrifice in the
Asset Skills: Academics and Science
middle of a frat party, and even the oldest professor still has a
Professional Training:
hell of a lot to learn — but is well placed to do so.
Undergrad
• • Undergrad
Her university says a lot about an Academic. An Ivy League
•• Postgrad
or Oxbridge institution has a whole set of customs and mindsets,
••• Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
•••
and may house a group of hunters made up of students and facul-
•••• Professor
ty who integrate the Vigil with university traditions. Even those
•••••
Doctor
••••• Doctor
hunters who are not a part of the university life are often tied to it
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