Page 80 - Hunter - The Vigil

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marijuana thinks he’s just a guy doing business, but his money spread between Larceny and Streetwise, with other skills
filters up and down the chain and somewhere it gets into the depending on their precise role: Firearms, Intimidation and

hands of some mob, some gang, some underworld network. Weaponry for a tough; Athletics, Investigation and Stealth
And that network has a far reach and a menu of crimes at its for cat burglars; Empathy, Persuasion and Subterfuge for con

disposal: drugs, prostitution, leg-breaking, people-trafficking. men; and so on. Most have Contacts, Fast Reflexes and some

(That said, some crimes are too vile for most criminals. The form of Fighting Style among their Merits. Several Criminals
majority of muggers aren’t rapists, and only the lowest have sacrifi ce one or two points of Morality.
anything to do with child pornography or other disturbing Concepts: Career low-life, cat burglar, drug dealer, forger,
crimes. They require a level of detachment from the human gun runner, high-rolling con artist, hired gun, hustler, reluc-
norm that puts normal people on edge, no matter what those tant leg-breaker, safecracker, worn-out fence
people do. At that point, being a Criminal has nothing to do Asset Skills: Larceny and Streetwise
with a Profession; it’s a perverse predilection.) Professional Training:
Of course, Criminals often travel in the same circles as • • Mook
Mook
h
the monsters who prey on society (in a way, Criminals prey •• Thug
•••
Criminal
on society, too, making them unwitting allies half the time). ••• Criminal
A burglar who breaks into the wrong place uncovers the lair •••• Made Man
Boss
of an opium-addled demon cult. A loan shark who needs his ••••• Boss
•••••
money back from a down-on-his-luck fi end almost ends up as
a midnight snack. A mob boss is killed by a vampire and his Detective
bodyguards are offered a chance to work for the new boss — if
Uniform found him in four dumpsters, no prints or signs of
they drink some of their new lord’s blood. However they en-

a weapon. The guys in the precinct were baffled. They gave it to
counter the supernatural, some Criminals join groups of other
me. They always do.
monster hunters, providing valuable talents — though many
Whether working on the police force, as part of a private
lie about their pasts. A few see the hunt as their chance to

office or on the staff of a global corporation, the Detective’s
break back into the law-abiding world. Others hope to elimi-
job is to get to the truth. Some rely on forensic analysis; others
nate the competition or maybe make a little extra money out

eschew (or can’t afford) scientific backup and instead use their
of the deal.
knowledge of people. However he does it, truth is king. And in
After a time on the Vigil, many Criminals become even
the World of Darkness, that’s not a healthy ambition.
more paranoid. Everyone they deal with could be a cultist or
Detectives take up the Vigil for any number of reasons.
in thrall to an inhuman creature. They become security con-
Some are assigned to investigate strange crimes — bloodless
scious, and some refuse to deal with people they haven’t per-
corpses, violent poltergeist activity, a trail of ciphers left by
sonally vetted. A hunter who goes that far sees the members
code-talking cultists. Others don’t wait for life to lead them
of her group as the only ones she can really trust — for as long
to the supernatural. The mark of a good Detective is that she’s
as she can trust them.
never off duty. Every word, every strange noise, every weird
Task Force: VALKYRIE often recruits Criminals, some-
feeling is a clue to something that’s not right. Maybe that
times using a “suicide squad” deal for lawbreakers facing over-
something is supernatural in origin. If she goes looking, she’ll
whelming charges. They make the charges vanish, and in re-
soon find others who know of the dark secrets hiding in the

turn, the lawbreaker works for them now. Ashwood Abbey uses
shadows. However she discovers the world’s supernatural side,
Criminals in much the same way. Some of the strange rituals
she has a valuable role to play. The last thing a monster wants
in use by organized crime families tie back to the Malleus Ma-

is a smart human digging into his business, finding where the
leficarum or the Lucifuge, and a felon displaying knowledge of

bodies are buried and perhaps uncovering a weakness.
these rituals may be made an offer he can’t refuse. Finally, the
Private dicks are free to go after whatever cases strike
Ascending Ones run an incredible amount of drugs, and need
their fancy — but unless someone offers to pay him for the
people to push for them.
time he spends hunting, a PI still has to chase cheating spouses
Background: Anyone could end up a Criminal. Some
and track down missing kids. Investigating strange creatures
choose to make drugs and sell pirate DVDs rather than get a
may keep humanity safe, but it doesn’t pay the bills (unless it
real job when they get out of college. Some make enough of a
intersects with an existing case). Even small offices cost rent.

profit fencing stolen goods that a real job looks like a chump’s

Plus, a guy’s gotta buy coffee for the morning, booze for the
game. Many just can’t get a break and have to steal purses or
night — or is it the other way around?
starve. Whatever their initial reason for becoming Criminals,
Even if she has a precinct house supporting her, a detec-
they either decide to carry on, or some outside force convinc-
tive can fall prey to isolation. The people around her don’t
es them that a life on the wrong side of the law is the only way
know what she’s seen — and would laugh at her if she told
forward they have.
them. Working with other hunters is the only help. She needs
In game terms, Physical Attributes are very useful.
someone she can open up to; someone she can trust keeps her
Strength is useful for violent criminals and Dexterity for those
grounded in the mundane even as her world’s turned upside
with a lighter touch. Forgery and confidence tricks rely on

down. When watching over the sleeping city, she needs some-
Wits and Intelligence. Almost all criminals have two dots
one to remind her who she’s fi ghting for.
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