Page 55 - Hunter the Vigil - Mortal Remains

CHAPTER TWO: ALL IS LOST

below the range of true understanding while in a fae presence. ate visual areas of a Changeling’s cortex is surgically layered
Exceptional Success: As above, but the range is increased into the same area of another individual’s brain. This gives the
to 20 feet in radius, and the perception allows the hunter to patient a temporary ability to mimic the Lost’s ability to enter
detect supernaturally hidden fae creatures. While an invisible and manipulate others’ dreams.
Changeling will still remain invisible, the hunter will be able to This augmentation procedure requires surgery on the re-
suss out his location by following his supernatural senses. cipient’s brain (including lifting a flap of the patient’s skull to
The Cheiron Group access the rear cortex region) and often leaves scars. The “do-
nor” must possess the Dread Powers: Dream Seeing, Dream
Early on, the Cheiron Group wasn’t sure the Lost existed Shaping, and Dream Walking at a minimum of 3 dots each,
and, at first, it was virtually impossible for the conspiracy to or the procedure fails. A single donor may contribute tissue to
differentiate Changelings from normal human beings. Even augment several dozen recipients; only a thin slice of the neu-
when sleeping, unconscious, or killed, the human Mask pro- ral material is necessary for each augmentation. Because of the
tected Lost from detection — for a time. Fetches, however, were nature of the tissue transfer, removing the material from the
easier for the Group to detect since most revert to their origi- donor is always a fatal process.
nal components after death or loss of limb. Many early TCG Benefit: The Cranial Cortex Augmentation gives the
experiments were actually performed on fetches, rather than hunter the following Dread Powers: Dream Seeing (•••),
Changelings, for that reason. Dream Shaping (•••), and Dream Walking (•••).
Because of their diversity, it has taken the Cheiron Group Cranial Cortex Augmentation only lasts for a short time,
a few centuries to suspect that different Changeling Seemings and the more robust the patient’s natural system, the more
are all part of the same supernatural group. Even now, there quickly the effects fade. After a number of weeks equal to
are Lost specimens being held in protective custody that are 8-Stamina, the patient’s body absorbs the implanted material
mis-designated as hematophagic anomalies (pseudo-vampires), and the process loses its effectiveness. Subsequent augmenta-
therianthropic mutations (faux werewolves), etc. Others have tions after the first have a progressive 10% chance of not work-
been classified as an unknown species, because the combina- ing (i.e. 10% failure rate for the second augmentation, 20% for
tion of their unique physical appearances, abilities, and behav- the third, and so on). After a failed augmentation, no further
iors doesn’t mesh with any profiles in TCG’s databases. Cranial Cortex Augmentations will succeed for that recipient.
Recently, the TCG has discovered the Lost’s ability to en-
ter another’s dream state, one that allows them to telepathically The Lucifuge
communicate with and influence the subject. This ability came Changelings usually aren’t the Lucifuge’s concern. Fae
to the conspiracy’s attention in the early 1970s; they have spent creatures tend to cross the Lucifuge’s radar when they manifest
decades (and countless dollars) perfecting a technique that tem- demonic or angelic appearances or powers, or if they take ac-
porarily allows a human agent to use this ability. tions that might mistakenly cause other compacts and conspira-
Organic components from hobgoblins and hedgebeasts cies to label them as such.
have been utilized in a broad array of TCG experiments as well. And, while the Lost may see it differently, the Hedge may
While it’s uncertain how the conspiracy is attaining a steady not be the human world, but it is no Hell — at least not in the
supply of Hedge-based components to successfully experiment, Lucifuge’s eyes. Conspiracy members who stumble across this
the fact remains that the tests are happening — often with unex- alien landscape and report their findings to the cadre in Milan
pected and profitable results. — or, for those with sufficient standing in the conspiracy, to the
From the Archives: Dick, we’ve been over this a thousand Lucifuge herself — are quickly reminded that their duties are to
times. I need a separate Purchase Order filled out for each resource work against the forces of evil in the human world and to not
that’s acquired, regardless of how many or few individual lots are concern themselves with hobgoblins, hedgebeasts, or other fae
bought. I understand that some contact agents are less excited about ilk.
entering P.O.’s than others, but if the supplier isn’t willing, it falls on There is one exception to this rule, however — the True
you to make certain the appropriate forms are filled out. If nothing else, Fae.
if you could at least get a semblance of a signature from this “Boss” To the Lucifuge, the Keepers are something else entirely.
individual, that would make my job a lot easier. Supernatural beings who reign as gods over nearly impossible-
Also, can I get address confirmation? It looks like “Stall 51”, but to-reach realms? Amoral and nearly omnipotent individuals
is Goblin Market the name of a retail outlet or a village? Do we have who prey upon humanity, kidnapping innocents so that they
a postcode for our records? can physically, emotionally, and mentally defile them? It doesn’t
— From a response to the submitted expense report of Dr. Rich- take much for a Lucifuge hunter who has stumbled across ru-
ard Sabre, head of the Research Procurements Department, Cornwall mors of one of the True Fae to wonder how these creatures fit
Branch. into the grand cosmic design.
If the frequency of assignments related to investigating

New Thaumatechnology: human kidnappings and disappearances are any indicator, the
Cranial Cortex Augmentation ( ) Lucifuge herself may also have a personal vested interest in the
Cranial Cortex Augmentation is a thaumatechnological True Fae. Rumors behind her intent vary wildly. Some hunt-
process whereby thin tissue slices extracted from the extrastri- ers believe the Lucifuge isn’t a demon after all, but one of the

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