Page 84 - Hunter the Vigil - Mortal Remains

COnSPiRACiES

While hunters figure out just what to do with the haunted, Malleus Maleficarum
the Lady is thought to be conducting her own investigation.
If she can safely travel to and from an otherworldly realm, While the conspiracy has examined ghostly phenomena in
then surely her hunters can, too. For that reason, the Lady is the past, the Malleus Maleficarum are more concerned about
carefully reaching out to the haunted, in her own way. the bargain the haunted has struck. The conspiracy believes
that arrangement represents a deal with a demon, one that al-
The Response lows a human being to return from the dead — like a minor
The conspiracy’s response to ghostwalker activity varies. Most demon, zombie, or witch.
Lucifuge don’t regard them to be a big deal, provided they’re not Some Malleus notes that the haunted seem to carry a
causing too much trouble. The haunted are just another weird second presence with them. For them, this spiritual essence is
thing that’s out there, and only impact the Lucifuge’s mission a clear sign that ghostwalkers are witches as opposed to other
when they cross paths. Still, the Lucifuge are on a mission of undead creatures, and that these people are innocent victims
righteousness, and if a group of ghostwalkers is actively stirring being controlled or influenced by a powerful demonic entity.
up ghosts or killing innocents, most Lucifuge will not hesitate Thus, the conspiracy has instructed its hunters not to be
to intervene if necessary. The conspiracy has figured out that the fooled by the haunted’s appearance or actions. To them, what
haunted’s actions are often directly tied to ghost activity, too. So, if ghostwalkers do is not magic-related, but is due to demonic
the dead are restless, a group of ghostwalkers won’t be far behind. powers that flow through the person’s body. No matter how
Some hunters, especially those in the Denial, have benign the haunted may seem, the conspiracy is convinced that
recognized that ghostwalkers could be useful. After all, Satan’s all ghostwalkers are, in fact, agents of evil.
unrepentant children tend to create a lot of ghosts as a result of Unfortunately, the conspiracy hasn’t determined how
their dark and deadly acts, and the haunted can help to quell to excise the entity from the haunted, willing or not. While
some examination suggests that the person possesses two
angry spirits. Cooperating with the haunted, however, may minds instead of one, Malleus hasn’t discovered a way to
be a shaky alliance. Though ghostwalkers can make the walls directly communicate with the other entity. All their years of
bleed on command, they may be afraid to watch the Lucifuge in hunting witches, using exorcisms, and staking bloodsuckers
action, especially when the hunters use their infernal powers. has not prepared the conspiracy to deal with the haunted.
As always, Lucifuge hunters should study any potential allies, to Even techniques that hunters have used to successfully banish
identify common goals before revealing who they are. major demons in the past have failed to separate the haunted’s
Some Lucifuge, especially those within The Reconcilia- possessing entity from its host.
tion, have no interest in dealing with the haunted. They’re con- Some Malleus hunters believe that certain ghostwalkers
cerned that ghostwalker beliefs should be taken more seriously aren’t really possessed, but do have the means to communicate
than they are. Sure, a ghostwalker who thinks she’s communing with the necromantic demon they call master. While some
with Beelzebub doesn’t really align herself with any demon, but hunters continue to press the idea that the haunted are
this belief means she’s ripe for demonic manipulation. With a possessed and need to be exorcised, in general the conspiracy
little urging from a true demon, a ghostwalker’s power could be believes that all ghostwalkers are witches in disguise.
turned against her — or other humans. As such, some hunters
believe that it’s safer to deal with ghostwalkers permanently. The Response
What’s more, a small number of the Lucifuge have aligned As with witches, ghostwalkers are less the focus of the Mal-
with the Malleus Maleficarum, and think the difference leus Maleficarum, but are still very much a target. The haunted
between the haunted and witches is academic. Witches fall into are not given special treatment, and they’re not considered to
a broad classification, and ghostwalkers seem to essentially be a be much different from any other force of darkness. As a gen-
specialized type of witch. Sometimes, the powers a ghostwalker eral goal, the conspiracy will force the haunted to confess, to re-
nounce Satan, and to remain dead. The Malleus Maleficarum
has may be identical to that of a witch. And, like many witches, is not above torture — should the situation call for it — and,
the haunted do identify a specific patron; the ghostwalkers as with witches, ghostwalkers are thought to hold secrets that
made a deal, and they received supernatural powers as a result. would be of use to the conspiracy.
These Children of Lucifer feel that hunters should deal with Of course, the question of what to do with a ghostwalker
the haunted like they do any other witch, often summarily. who does confess remains tricky, even more so than when a
Overall, though, the Lady of Milan’s general approach is run-of-the-mill witch divulges all her sins. Killing a ghostwalker
that ghostwalkers are not a major concern for the Lucifuge. If as an act of mercy isn’t a feasible option for them, given the fact
anything, they are something of a distraction or red herring, that most will return. Worse, some Malleus understands that
given how easily the haunted’s activities can be mistaken for the haunted may be justified in their actions, and when they are
other monsters — real threats that actively hurt the living. the entire conspiracy is thrown into a moral dilemma. When a
Should any ghostwalker start attacking humans, however, the ghostwalker identifies a slasher, for example, the Malleus may
Lady will instruct the Lucifuge to hunt them down, too, to pro- be content to leave the actual hunt to the police. But, when
tect humankind. the haunted can clearly spot a vampire? What then? Can the

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