Page 54 - Hunter the Vigil - Mortal Remains

THE RESPOnSE

the next morning, the egg will be gone, and a key that unlocks of them, at least — are sometimes necessary ingredients for a
the realm of the fairies will have been left in its place. These valued Phoenix elixir. The body parts of a supernatural creature
keys, handed down from one believer to the next, will only are often considered to hold some of their power, and it is not
open a given doorway one time. And there is no guarantee unusual for a recipe to require such ingredients. And, while
what the wielder will find on the other side of the opening. tears, hair, or nail clippings might be bargained for without too
The Silver Key appears to be an antique, tarnished silver much difficulty, negotiating for a Changeling’s blood, bile, or
skeleton key with an oval head. When used to trace the edges brain is a more challenging matter — at least when dealing with
of any open doorway, window, or gate, the key can open a gate the Lost directly. There are privateer groups, however, who are
into the Hedge. more than happy to sell their fellow Changelings’ anatomical
Benefit: The Silver Key only works for normal, non-su- inventory off to the highest bidder.
pernatural humans, and can only be activated with the expen- From the Archives: Yo, Deej, it’s Aker. Listen, somethin’s up.
diture of a Willpower point. The doorway will remain open I got a situation down here.
for approximately one minute, whether or not someone passes It’s the big guy. You know the one? Crazy pale cracker boy, built
through it. After the doorway closes, however, it cannot be like a Buick? The one that’s been buying up the Molly like it’s going
opened again with the key; other means must be used to enter out of style?
the Hedge from that location in the future. At first I thought I’d let something slip. I mean, you know, I’m
The Silver Key also can be used from within the Hedge to careful... I’m always careful. But things happen, talk gets overheard,
open a doorway out into the mortal world. The same single-use people get a hunch and start listening extra careful.
per location restriction applies. Turns out it wasn’t me at all. Dude knows stuff. Stuff I know he
didn’t pick up from me, or you, or any of the Phoenix.
Ascending Ones He started talkin’ about special recipes and this stuff he’d tried
While this conspiracy rarely hunts Changelings directly, once that let him talk to animals and shit. Said it took some crazy
many of the Ascending Ones have interactions with the Lost ingredients, though — werewolf blood and all that.
and never realize it. The Order of the Phoenix focuses its vio- And then he looked at me, like he knew, ya know? I’m not sure
lent efforts toward taking down vampires, werewolves, and how he knew, but... he knew.
other supernatural creatures that prey upon humankind — in- Anyway, I’m thinking he might be... not real, if you know what
cluding the True Fae. If something is abducting people using I’m sayin’. I’m brewing up a batch of the Hound, and I’m going to
supernatural means, it is likely to eventually come to the atten- give Mountain Man a good look over when it’s done. I’ll let you know
tion of the Ascending Ones, who would be duty-bound to stop what’s up, when it’s all over.
the disappearances by any means necessary. This might well — Voicemail message from Aker Two-Time to DJ Ed, members of
bring them to the attention of the Lost, who — if the attempts the Jagged Crescent
were not fatal for the hunters — would surely hold the hunter
in high regard in the future. New Elixir: Hound Mark ( or )
Unfortunately, at least for the hunters, being famous The Mask may hide Changelings’ true nature from human
among the Lost as a slayer of True Fae might well mean that perception, but Hound Mark ferrets out the Lost’s true form.
future attacks from the same source would be directed back Those who consume this elixir are able to perceive Changelings
to the Ascending Ones’ doorstep. A single successful defense and other fae creatures through sensory clues, regardless of how
against the True Fae might turn into a full-time job protecting well their visages may be hidden.
a freehold against their Keepers, without the hunter ever know- Hound Mark is a viscous, dark green draught that tastes
ing that they were defending the Lost. like anise and hints of lichen. It appears to have small granules
More commonly, hunters deal with Changelings as sup- in it, which crunch and pop when ground between the teeth.
pliers for ingredients that would be difficult or impossible to The one dot version only works with fae creatures. But, with
obtain otherwise. The ingredients for potions and elixirs are the three dot version, the Hunter’s awareness extends to all hid-
often exotic and difficult to obtain, and there are entire groups den monsters.
of Changelings dedicated to growing, hunting out, or other- Action: Instant
wise procuring exactly the sorts of components the Order of Roll Results
the Phoenix needs. Dramatic Failure: The hunter gains the Blind Condition
Lost farmers risk the dangers of the Hedge to cultivate fae (Persistent) until he earns three successes on an extended Stam-
produce that can only be raised in the supernatural soil there. ina + Resolve roll. Each roll represents a full hour of attempting
Changeling hunters track down elusive and potentially lethal to overcome the elixir’s effects.
hedgebeasts for sport or profit, and the alchemists of the As- Failure: The hunter is affected as though he had consumed
cending Ones are a perfect market for their prey. Fae occult spe- a moderate dose of ecstasy (-2 to all dice pools and traits).
cialists may uncover or develop recipes that Phoenix alchemists Success: The character gains the ability to perceive fae crea-
have yet to try, bartering back and forth without either party tures in his immediate area (5 foot radius). This perception will
realizing fully the supernatural nature of the other side. manifest differently for different individuals: some may smell
The unfortunate other side of the Ascending Ones’ rela- the cloying scent of overripe fruit on the Changeling, while oth-
tionship with the Lost is that the fae themselves — or portions ers may sense a golden aura around her, or hear whispers just

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