Page 81 - Hunter the Vigil - Mortal Remains

CHAPTER THREE: GHOSTWALKERS

local Union cells, though hunters conceal the truth about Of course, sometimes there are problems the Aegis Kai
the compact and the Vigil from their gifted “friends.” Some Doru can’t ignore. When a group of ghostwalkers wants to
Union members fear that hunters will get lazy and rely on the dole out vigilante justice for a ghost who was murdered, the
ghostwalkers too much. It’s only a matter of time before a local conspiracy is aware that the Fog Men will ignore human laws
chapter winds up recruiting ghostwalkers into their ranks. and hunt the living. Since the Aegis Kai Doru has their own
Then, the Union will be in for one hell of a fight. moral code, most times a little cosmic justice isn’t a big deal.
As with fighting witches, the Union’s greatest weapon The problem, though, is when that vengeance gets out of
is their local communities. Every community has tales of hand; an entire neighborhood is affected, a whole family line
haunted houses and strange, unearthly screams that emanate is in danger of being wiped out. Ghosts, tragic as they may be,
from dilapidated warehouses. Local citizens are acutely aware weren’t always innocent in real life, and they may not always
of which places (and what people) to steer clear of. Indeed, ask the haunted for benevolent forms of justice. On the other
Union engagements often lead to more deaths, not only hand, the Aegis Kai Doru does understand grudges.
from combat, but from ghostwalker resurrections leading to Despite the conspiracy’s lack of concern, however,
someone else’s death nearby. A ghostwalker who comes back ghostwalkers may interest hunters. Fog Men tend to have their
once can take out several hunters when she goes down and own relics; these items of power are connected to death or the
one innocent victim when she comes back. Five coming back, Underworld, and are kept hidden from human eyes. Most of
however, means a lot of deaths. Five who come back twice can these relics would be useless in a hunter’s hands. Some, however,
wipe out entire families. like stolen masks from the Underworld, hold power that can
This approach leads to friction between Home First and be wielded by mortals. For this reason, the Aegis Kai Doru has
General Strike. The compact’s mentality that hunters should instructed their hunters to be on the lookout for these rare relics.
only make an enemy out of ghostwalkers if they have to
frustrates those who see them as walking menaces. Some within The Response
the General Strike believe that Home First is going too easy on The Aegis Kai Doru understands that ghostwalkers can
the haunted, and every minute they waste gives ghostwalkers be very useful sometimes. The conspiracy has noted that
time to gather their forces and attack. Though, both groups ghostwalkers seem to have an affinity for magic. They don’t
understand that attacking a ghostwalker is a major undertaking. believe that these people steal or borrow powers from interactions
The presence of the haunted can also throw the Union with ghosts, but think their abilities are ritual-based. To them,
into a moral dilemma, though, especially if the ghostwalkers the Fog Men use low-level magic; little rituals to find lost objects,
turn out to be someone they know. Do dead members of the locate spirits, or spy through mirrors. Though the conspiracy
community deserve the Union’s protection? If ghostwalkers are doesn’t understand the nature of the haunted’s power, the fact
messing with a house haunted by loved ones of living members that some ghostwalkers are benign, even friendly, means that a
of the community, how should that situation be handled? mutually-beneficial allegiance can be sought.
What if the ghostwalkers are breaking their connections and Sometimes, outright alliances can be useful for both
are trying to redeem themselves? Should they be defended if groups. In general, the conspiracy thinks that ghostwalkers
that’s the case? are myopic, and their goals don’t typically conflict with the
Ghostwalkers are a tricky subject, and one that won’t be Vigil. Hunters who are interested in the Underworld, who’ve
settled anytime soon. Indeed, bringing up the fact that some verified that the lands of the dead are a real place, may seek a
people can affect ghosts better than the Union will cause a lot connection simply to visit the libraries and lore hidden in its
of hurt and confusion. But, if the Union ever unifies their view depths. And, more importantly, who knows what relics may be
on how to deal with ghostwalkers — then the their days may be found in an underground necropolis as well? Any expedition
numbered. planned in cooperation with the haunted has a higher chance
of success for all involved. Still, that doesn’t automatically
Conspiracies guarantee hunters will partner with a ghostwalker. After all, the
knowledge the Fog Men can offer the living is a specific kind of
magic, and may be too gruesome for hunters to bear.
Aegis Kai Doru eyeing the haunted as tools to harvest relics, either from the
That doesn’t stop some Aegis Kai Doru members from
While ghostwalkers can potentially be an immense threat, Underworld or the dead. After all, just because hunters can’t
the conspiracy believes their actual threat level is low and almost currently use what relics the ghostwalkers possess doesn’t
insignificant. As a whole, the Fog Men seem to be an anomaly necessarily mean they never will. For example, it’s commonly
that messes with the dead, for virtuous or questionable reasons, thought that masks removed from the Underworld can’t remain
and fights amongst themselves. While the haunted spend most in the land of the living for too long. Other base relics, like
of their time seeking out and dealing with ghosts, the Aegis Kai murder weapons which may repeatedly turn up at the scene of
Doru feel their hunters’ time is better spent acquiring and using a crime, might be more useful and accessible. Either way, those
relics to fight more prevalent threats like witches, bloodsuckers, claims have yet to be verified simply because the haunted’s
demons, and zombies. relics are even more rare than they are.

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