Page 77 - Hunter - The Vigil

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C CHAPTER TWO: CHARACTER CREATION
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to interpret the old texts pored over by agents of the Luci-
Artist fuge (and more than one Artist has found that his “work” has

Claws and teeth and fury. I’d say it was inspiring, but you been reflecting his supposedly infernal lineage all along). The
wouldn’t understand. I create, when all you do is destroy. Ashwood Abbey gladly acts as art patrons, letting Artists ex-
Artists create. That’s what defines them more than any- plore whatever “creative” urges they desire. Network Zero is,

thing: the act of picking a perfect feeling or emotion and pin- of course, home to a large number of technically able Artists:
ning it to a page or locking it into a sculpture so that other editors, directors, writers and so forth.
people can experience the same thing they do. Some Artists Background: Artists have a desire to share feelings,
work in one form exclusively, writing music or sculpting or ideas, images and stories. Some come from abusive or broken
painting. Others can work in many forms. They’re as talented homes, while others emerge from creatively spirited and “free”
writers as they are movie directors and comic artists. What- households, representing two extremes that stir the creative
ever her fields of choice, an Artist often goes to a range of mind: authoritarian rules and environments where no rules

extremes for new inspiration. apply. Many grow up and end up having a wide network of
Some use drugs, believing that the only way they can get contacts and friends, from galley owners to publishers to fel-
proper inspiration is through a heroin kiss or the wonderful low creatives, and they know how to play to those networks.
crackle of psilocybin across their brain. Some writers can only Most Artists have Social Attributes as primary, though a

spin words into coherent fictions with a glass of bourbon in sculptor may favor Strength and a musician may require high
front of them (and the hunt only draws them closer to al- Dexterity. Writers and painters instead focus on Intelligence
cohol, not away from it). Others keep themselves straight, and Resolve. Most Artists have dots in Academics, Crafts (for
preferring to condense their view of the world through only physical forms of art), Empathy, Expression (for writing, mu-

their perceptions. Several Artists dive into the occult for in- sic or film), Occult, Socialize and Survival. Common Merits

spiration, researching and even joining modern hellfire clubs. include Barfly, Contacts among other artists, occultists, and

Those who don’t throw themselves into the underbelly may her target market, and Fame. Addiction and Derangements

still find themselves embroiled in its plots. A painter exhib- such as Depression, Irrationality and Vocalization are com-
ited in a vampire’s gallery attracts admirers who can’t walk in mon problems.
the sunlight. They want to make sure that time never steals Concepts: artistic savant, blues musician, crime scene
their precious painter away, but she’s got other plans. A musi- photographer, method actor, horror writer, occult-addicted rock
cian’s latest tune summons ghostly birds with human faces. star, police sketch artist, tortured painter, web TV director
The creatures don’t stay long, but people around him start Asset Skills: Crafts and Expression
to die. A sculptor’s tools turn up at the scene of a number of Professional Training:
Critic
brutal murders, though she was nowhere near the scene. • • Critic
Art can help a weaker human hide from the truths of the •• Amateur
•••
Artist
World of Darkness, but for a hunter, art helps her examine it, ••• Artist
helps her get close to it. Artists provide many functions within •••• Gallery Regular
•••••
Warhol
a cell. Maybe she’s a crime scene artist or can paint portraits ••••• Warhol
of monsters she’s seen (since photographic or video media do
not always accurately catch such creatures). Maybe she writes Athlete

field guides or cobbles together propaganda. The Artist may Go ahead, demon. Run. I trained for the Olympics, so I’m
also bring a wide social network as an opportunity: many artists ready to race the Devil.
know how to talk to people, forming those connections to get Athletes devote themselves to perfecting action. Osten-
paying commissions. Often enough, she throws herself into re- sibly, an Athlete is out to prove that she is the best in her
searching the occult and the weird, using her “latest project” as field. She can’t be the best at everything, but she damn well

a useful cover for fi nding whatever information her cell needs. can be the best distance runner, the best soccer player, the
An Artist’s work turns darker as she brings her Vigil in to best martial artist. As a competitor, she needs to win. That
her creations. Some do so intentionally, channeling the hunt to drive and that desire push her forwards. A few really are the
cleanse her soul and warn the world about the things that lurk best, displaying a potent combination of training and genetics
beneath. Only a lucky few ever pick up on the hints, but the ma- that puts them near the peak of human ability. Others aren’t
jority remains ignorant. This isn’t without danger. Her art changes. champions, but remain solid contenders in whatever sport or
Her fans drift away, thinking she’s lost her focus (or has gotten physical art they choose. Certainly the Athlete’s goal is to
“too dark”). A few creators give up their work entirely, plunging turn professional, but some compete as amateurs and still earn
headfirst into occult practices and drug use, possibly even dragging whatever belt or trophy goes with their fi eld.

the whole cell into it. The Artist starts treating old friends as infor- How does an Athlete get drawn into the Vigil? Maybe he
mants. Her social networks dissolve as people lose their respect for sees how gambling wizards use their strange rituals to twist the
her. Art and insanity are sometimes bound together. For hunters outcome of a race or how ghosts turn aside blows in a haunted
who are Artists, these two elements are all too easily joined. boxing ring. Maybe out running and training on a lonely city
Artists join all manner of hunter organizations. An art street, he sees something flit down a dark alley, leaving behind

historian does well in the Aegis Kai Doru, or may be used the smoldering (even though it’s winter) corpse of a dead
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