Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Who’s to blame
Writers
Jamie Chambers, Brian Clements, Jimmy McMichael, Matt Vancil, Nathan Rice, Nathan Rockwood, Andy Vetromile
Additional Design
Cam Banks, Ben Dobyns, Chris Duppenthaler, Don Early, Steve Wolbrecht
Editing and Development
Cam Banks
Proofreading
Liz Wilhelm
Graphic Design / Layout and Typesetting
Digger Hayes
Art Direction
Renae Chambers
Interrior Illustration / Photography
Jason Engle, Cornelia D. Moore, Marc Studer
Special Thanks
Leila Aram-Panahi, Lizz Baldwin, Tony Becerra, Scott C. Brown, Stacy Chambers, Chris Clark, Jessica Clements, Cobbler’s
Crystals, Matt DeMille, Tamia Diaz, Andy Dotson, Christian Doyle, Jason Doyle, Shawn Franklin, Mike Gallagher,
Jennifer Gilbert, HeadGames Podcast, Tracy Hickman, Kevin Inouye, Kirk Isaacson, Matt Jay, Barry Johnson, Dirk Kahler,
Anne Kennedy, Brian Lewis, Patrick Levad, Tish Lopez, Jaime Mastromonica, Cindy Messler-Early, Milton Eng, Phil Misner,
Bill Murray, Emily Olson, Jen Page, Kristen Paulson, Steve Payne, Kevin Pitman, Phil M. Price, Cindi Rice, Aaron Rose,
John Frank Rosenblum, John Schock, Shawn Shelton, Matt Shimkus, Jeremy Spray, Jesse Stratton, Wayne Tapia, Tree,
Adam Utley, Margaret Weis, Katy Williams, TJ Williams, Airan Sea Wilson, Kat Wood, Phil Woodard,
Camille Vancil, Greg Vancil, Dom Zook, and the Purple Ninja
Dedication
To each and every teacher, friend, supporter, and fan that we’ve worked, played, and laughed with over these many years:
You’re too numerous to name, and you are reading this due-in-part to, well, you. Remember to not take yourselves too
seriously. From all of us: Thanks, Love, and Butt Kicks

Margaret Weis Productions, the MW Logo, Cortex System, and the Cortex System logo are trademarks owned by Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd. Demon
Hunters Characters and World created by Matt Vancil. Used with permission. © 2008 Dead Gentlemen Productions, LLC. All rights reserved.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Table of Contents
Introduction......................................... 4 Nationality, Ethnicity, and Origin–icity......................... 25
Attributes . ................................................................ 25
Dice....................................................... 4 Traits......................................................................... 27
Warning for Noobs. ............................. 4 Skills.......................................................................... 28
Skill Rolls.................................................................... 29
Chapter One: A World of . Derived Attributes..................................................... 30
Dark … er … dimness............................ 5 Gear ........................................................................ 30
Plot Points................................................................. 31
JOIN THE WAR ON HORROR!........... 6 Character Development............................................ 31
Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch.... 6 Advancement Points.................................................. 32
Mission of the Brotherhood......................................... 7 Example of Demon Hunter Creation......................... 33
Brotherhood Training and Recruitment......................... 7
The Order of the Infernal Scepter........ 8 Chapter Omega Fifteen.......................36
Mission of the Order.................................................... 8
Order Recruitment and Training................................... 8
Chapter Three: What It Takes.............. 42
The Earthwalkers.................................. 9
The World of Dimness. ......................... 9 Traits.................................................. 43
Vampires, Werewolves, and Assets........................................................................ 43
Demons—Oh, My!..................................................... 9 Complications . ......................................................... 44
Scaling Traits.............................................................. 44
The Good Guys. .................................. 11
Clueless Mortals........................................................ 12 The Big-Ass List Of Traits.................. 45
Assets........................................................................ 46
History................................................ 12 Complications............................................................ 66
Mythic History.................................... 12 Skills................................................... 73
Ancient History.................................. 13 Benchmarks of Proficiency......................................... 74
Pretty Damn Old History................... 14 Skill Descriptions........................................................ 74
20th Century History......................... 15
Recent History.................................... 16 Chapter Four: We Ride.......................80
Terrestrial Geography. ....................... 17 Playing the Game................................. 81
Africa......................................................................... 17 Using the Dice........................................................... 81
America, North......................................................... 17 When to Roll............................................................. 82
America, South.......................................................... 18 Unopposed Rolls....................................................... 82
Antarctica................................................................... 18 Opposed Rolls . ........................................................ 83
Asia........................................................................... 18 Attribute Rolls............................................................ 83
Australia..................................................................... 19 Skilled Rolls................................................................ 84
Europe...................................................................... 19 Unskilled Rolls .......................................................... 84
Celestial Geography............................ 19 Complex Actions....................................................... 84
Hell........................................................................... 19 Modifiers................................................................... 85
Heaven..................................................................... 20 Assistance.................................................................. 86
Mad Science and Mystic Arts............. 20 Plot Points. ........................................ 86
Technology................................................................ 20 Gaining Plot Points..................................................... 87
Quantum Magic......................................................... 21 Spending Plot Points................................................... 88
Ritual Magic............................................................... 21 Spellcasting 101: The Mystic Arts..... 90
Mystic Arts Requirements........................................... 91
Chapter Two: Recruitment.................... 22 Rituals........................................................................ 91
Sacrifice..................................................................... 91
Characters and Story ........................ 23 Playing it Out............................................................. 92
Creating a New Chapter. .................... 23 Getting Distracted...................................................... 93
Recruit . .................................................................... 23 Getting Kicked in the Junk by the Universe................. 93
Veteran...................................................................... 23 Ritual Threshold Guidelines........................................ 93
Seasoned Veteran...................................................... 23 Cheating the Universe............................................... 95
Concept ................................................................... 24 Combat................................................ 96

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 The Turn................................................................... 96
Movement................................................................. 99
Attacking.................................................................. 100
Defense ................................................................. 103
Special Situations...................................................... 105
Getting Hurt..................................... 106
Damage Types......................................................... 107
Fallout...................................................................... 107
Other Injury............................................................ 107
Conditions............................................................... 108
How it All Plays Out: A Tactical .
Example. ............................................ 109 Brotherhood of the .
Healing and Recovery. ...................... 110 Celestial Torch................................. 160
Recovering Stun Damage......................................... 111
Recovering Wound Damage.................................... 111
Medical Assistance................................................... 111
Vehicles............................................. 113
Hazardous Conditions............................................. 113
Getting Wrecked..................................................... 114
Vehicle Weapons..................................................... 115
Brotherhood Vehicles.............................................. 115
Chase Scenes ......................................................... 115
Types of Vehicles...................................................... 115
Chapter Five: The Warehouse.............. 116
The Warehouse.................................. 117
Doors ............................................... 117
Equipping Your Chapter.................... 117
Bureaucracy............................................................. 117
Availability................................................................ 118
Cash Money............................................................ 118
The Black Market..................................................... 118
General Gear.......................................................... 119
Omega–class Standard Gear.................................... 119
Clothes................................................................... 120
Weapons and Armor............................................... 122
Specialty Equipment................................................. 128
Holy Relics.............................................................. 131
Upgrading Your Equipment...................................... 132
Services................................................................... 134
Chapter Six: How Not to Die.............136
Chapter Seven: Playing God. ..............137
Role of the Game Master. ................. 138
Running a Game...................................................... 139
Portraying the World................................................ 140
Demon Hunter Conventions .
and Themes........................................ 140
Random Supernats. ........................... 173
Campaign Styles. ............................... 140 Half-Demon............................................................ 173
Serious.................................................................... 140
Dead Gentlemen Style............................................. 141
Goofy...................................................................... 141
Missions. ........................................... 141
Designing Adventures. ...................... 142
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Adventure Concepts................................................ 143
Adventure Structure................................................. 143
Scenes . .................................................................. 146
Events, Adventures, and Campaigns......................... 147
Playing the Parts....................................................... 149
Game Mechanics and Storytelling............................. 151
Technology and Magic.............................................. 153
Game Mastering Tips............................................... 154
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels, .
and Innocent bystanders..................... 159
Anti-Tank Sally.......................................................... 160
Brotherhood Recruit................................................ 161
Cipher (Standard).................................................... 161
Cipher (Glitchy)....................................................... 161
Cipher (Human)...................................................... 162
Grizzled Veteran...................................................... 162
Kincaid..................................................................... 162
Purple Ninja............................................................. 163
St. Peter.................................................................. 163
Tree........................................................................ 164
Order of the Infernal Scepter........... 164
The Amazing Velma................................................. 164
Demon of the Order............................................... 165
Sam Hell.................................................................. 165
Missy....................................................................... 165
Order Recruit.......................................................... 166
Johnny “The Demon” Ossesso................................. 167
Clan of the Golden Fang.................. 167
Master Wu............................................................... 167
Ninja Vampire.......................................................... 168
Syphilitic Ninja Vampire............................................ 168
The Pound......................................... 168
Pound Agent............................................................ 169
Sisters of Divine Retribution. ........... 169
Sister Mary Dillinger................................................. 169
Nun with a Gun....................................................... 170
Revout.................................................................... 170
Foolish Mortals................................ 170
Frightened Teenager................................................. 170
High School Witch................................................... 170
Local Sheriff............................................................. 171
Mad Scientist........................................................... 171
Overzealous Hunter................................................ 171
Tabloid Reporter...................................................... 172
Tourist with a Camera.............................................. 172
Tweedy Academic.................................................... 172
Chris Weiner........................................................... 173
Vampire................................................................... 173
Werewolf................................................................ 174
Zombie................................................................... 174
 Introduction
Greetings, recruit! Welcome to the Brotherhood
of the Celestial Torch. You’ve joined the war on
horror, and you’re ready to fight for heaven to track
down demons, monsters, and prevent Hell on Earth.
 Read the tome you now hold very carefully, as it
may hold the keys to survival—though careless use of
this knowledge might well lead to your own doom.
You’ve seen the orientation film—er, you have
watched the film, haven’t you? If not, you might want
to do that right away as it contains the basics—so
now you’re ready to dive into the deep and
dangerous waters of Demon Hunter lore.
This volume contains information on the
Brotherhood and the many terrifying, evil,
supernatural villains that will most likely rip your
entrails out through your eyesockets. Everything
from our history, standard procedures, information
on both high-level Hunters and the most notorious
bad guys, the Warehouse and the most important
Hunting gear, and other stuff that would make this
sentence far too long, will all be found within these
pages.
Another purpose this book serves is to hold
the rules for one of our most important training
tools: Tabletop Simulations. Using the information
in this book, a Demon Hunter team can undertake
a simulated mission and practice tactics and strategy
while honing teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Pay attention during these sessions and you might
last an extra day out in the field. Of course, you could
just use the rules to play a ridiculously fun game
while eating pizza and drinking high-caffeine soda all
night—but that would be a complete waste of your
time and ours.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Dice Nothing is certain in life except death and taxes,
unless you’re a vampire or an accountant. The
randomness is represented in our simulations by the
use of polyhedral dice. We use everything except
d20s, because they are too random even for us. I
mean, seriously. Here’s what you need, at least one
of each—though things’ll go much faster if every
team member brings their own dice.
d2 •  d 4 • d 6 • d 8 • d 10 • d 12
Warning for Noobs
We’re not going to hold your hand or wipe
your ass for you. You’re going to be thrown into the
deep end of the pool—and it’s probably infested
with radioactive sharks. If you don’t know what a
role playing game is, or think you need an easier
introduction, we’ve got one for you. Go to
www.margaretweis.com and look for the
Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch Recruitment
Manual. It’s free, and may even be available from
your favorite online hobby vendor. Maybe you
know a fellow recruit who has a copy of the thing
lying conveniently on his nightstand with the trashy
romance novel he pretends he reads just for the sex
parts. It doesn’t matter how you get it—you should
make use of this resource. Just remember, there’s
no crying in the Brotherhood (except when you get
junked).
Flip the page, and you’ll be ready to learn about
the world we live in, which should provide enough
nightmare fuel to last you a month.
  Junked means “kicked in the ‘nads.”
 Chapter one:
A World of Dark...
...er, Dimness

A
t the end of the day, it’s easy enough to lay your head down to rest knowing the toughest things
you likely have to face tomorrow are assholes at work, family problems, or a swift death via an
overturned semi-truck. But while any of these things could ruin your day, they leave you more or
less fit and in a state of good mental health. Well, except for the whole semi thing.

Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness

What if there were something else, though? What if the world you see isn’t all there is? What if
other things exist, darker things just beyond your perception—things so nasty, so terrifying, so brutal and
dangerous that knowledge of their existence would leave you in a catatonic stupor, drooling into your bowl
of Tard-O’s, while Aunt Lisa changes your Depends?
That is the world you are entering, Meat. Take my advice: Close this book. Turn away. Go back to
whatever it is you normals do during the day—find daycare for your children, file reports, take pop-quizzes
in chem class, remove those Cheez-Bomb stains from your khakis.
You haven’t closed it, eh? Wonderful. Foolish meat tastes so much better. Especially with a nice lemon
béarnaise, a little tarragon … damn it, now I’m hungry.
You are choosing to enter a world of supernatural horrors, where the unspeakable lurks around every
corner. This world is kept out of the public’s sight by the Demon Hunters. This world is less vibrant than
the one you know, less kind, and less forgiving. It is a world of Dark—er, rather, a World of DIM-ness.
Yes, dimness. That’s because you’d pretty much have to be a total dim-bulb to take a job as a Demon
Hunter. The benefits and the pay are crap, and don’t even start to make up for the long workday, ruined
weekends, and frequent dismemberment. Plus, no overtime—you’re salaried.
In this World of Dimness, it’s all real. All of it. Demons, devils, angels; werewolves, zombies,
vampires; ghosts, ghouls, guys in hockey masks who haunt lakeside camps; mad scientists, robots, brains
that live in jars; nuns with martial arts skills and covert-ops training; nameless, unknowable terrors
from beyond that have way, way too many tentacles (Seriously, I ain’t shitting you—WAY too many
tentacles. And you know what’s underneath them? More tentacles); anything that results in sleep loss and
ammonia-soaked bedsheets. Yeah. It’s all real.
So, then. If this whole “safe and mundane life” thing isn’t working out for you, by all means read on.
And if you’re having trouble finding daycare for your kid, I could totally watch it. Them babies is some good
eats. Damn, am I hungry …

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 JOIN THE WAR ON
HORROR!
Listen up, Stains. This world is a battlefield.
What’s that? You know? Really. Tell me what you
know. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Interesting. According to
Stain here, the world is a battlefield where—what
was it? No, don’t tell me—global corporations,
fascist religions, and imperialistic nations are fighting
for dominance. That’s cute. I wish all we had to
worry about was a few of those bush league groups.
Hmm? I’ll tell you how I can dismiss them that easily.
‘Cause if we lose the war, it don’t matter what any of
 those happy slap-clubs are up to—they’ll be as dead
as the rest of us. So excuse me if I don’t crap my
pants when I hear a bunch of wingnuts railing about
Wal*Mart™.
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
No, Stains, the enemy we’re facing is more
twisted and vile than anything mankind could
organize itself. I won’t beat around the bush: Our
adversary is the Adversary. The Adversary. Capital
“A.” Who? Seriously? Seriously. Satan,
choad-brain. Guy whose name means
enemy. Yeah. Him. And all his
unfriendly associates. Bet you wish
you paid more attention in Sunday
School instead of drawing dicks on
all the disciples in your Picture Bible,
huh? That’s what I thought. How’d I
know about that? How do you think?
Surveillance from On High.
So get it into your
heads: We’re facing
the Devil. And his
minions. They’ve
got this world pretty
well infiltrated, and
they’re doing what
they can to drag
it down. That’s
where we come
in. We’re the good
guys, in charge of
dropping the hammer
on the Boys Downstairs.
We are the Brotherhood of
the Celestial Torch—better
known as Demon Hunters. The
name kinda sums up what we do.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
What? No, we don’t torch things. The second name.
“Demon Hunters.” Oy. Don’t need to worry about
you stickin around long, Stain.
Why do I keep calling you that? That’s what most
of you will wind up as.
Now, I know you all got here in different ways.
Some of you are just out of the Academy, and know
what I’ve been talking about. Others of you got
drafted. Sorry about that. But once you’ve been
involved in the war—even as a spectator, like most
of you Stains were—the Beast has you marked. So
it’s either come with us, or take your chances eluding
Satan’s infernal dance club. No. It’s not really a dance
club. But we can help. We’ve got therapists and the
like to help you adjust to the mental strains of the
War on Horror. Like that one guy—Cliff? Yeah, Cliff.
Guy who saw the Deep Evil splatter-hack his family.
He turned out okay. Come again? He did what, now?
Ate his own face? Well. Damn.
Okay, so, welcome to the Brotherhood. Your
training will begin once we reach Brotherhood
Headquarters. Unfortunately,
there’s a horde of flayers between
us and the safehouse across town,
but don’t worry—there’s room
and provisions there for 20. We’ll
be totally safe. So gear up, keep your
head down, and pray to God. What’s
that? Yes, I know there’s over a hundred
of you. No. I don’t think we’ll run out
of room.
Brotherhood of
the Celestial
Torch
How is it that the majority of
the population is unaware of the
world of supernatural horrors all
around them? The answer is very
simple: They’re idiots. People
are astoundingly capable of
convincing themselves of just
about anything so long as it
lets them feel safe and secure.
No matter how far-fetched or
    The legitimacy of certain recent elections, for example.
 illogical, people are willing to explain away anything if
it means they can continue with life as they know it.
(“A ghost sucked the life outta Ted? Hell, no, it warn’t
no ghost. It war a teenager wearin’ a sheet. Musta
had one a them tasers. A real powerful one, killed
Ted dead. It war the electricity what left that look on
his face. Yeah. Kid in a sheet usin’ a taser. That makes
way more sense.”)
However, willful ignorance goes only so far. If
it weren’t for a group of paramilitary heroes who
have dedicated their lives to fighting the evil and
supernatural, people would have no choice but to
accept the horrors lurking around them. These
heroes belong to an elite fraternity: the Brotherhood
of the Celestial Torch—the Demon Hunters.
Mission of the Brotherhood
Upon assuming command of the Brotherhood
of the Celestial Torch, St. Peter codified its mission.
It is threefold, straight-forward, and simple:
. Hunt and destroy servants of Hell on Earth,
be they demons, the demon-touched or
possessed, or those who willfully consort
with demons.
2. Protect the mass of humanity from
malevolent supernatural influences.
. Hide the presence of the supernatural
from the mass of humanity.
In 1447 A.D., the Brotherhood enacted
the Doctrine of the Temporal Threat, expressly
expanding the mission of Demon Hunters to include
all threats to the world that are not of a purely
mundane source.
Brotherhood Training and
Recruitment
R ecruitment
The Brotherhood will take any and all human
recruits who meet its exacting standards. The
Brotherhood prefers to watch potential recruits for
months before approaching and offering a position.
The Brotherhood also recruits anyone who
happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Despite the Brotherhood’s best efforts, normal
people sometimes end up witnessing supernatural
horrors. The Brotherhood offers various counseling
    One of G.W.’s abandoned campaign slogans.
    I.e., being devoured by a giant walking tree.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
services to these survivors, as well as protection
programs for the witnesses’ friends and families
to help keep them safe from such things. These
survivors make up the bulk of the Brotherhood’s
administrative staff, though a few of them have
shown the mental fortitude to become Hunters
themselves.
Supernatural recruitment is rather new to
the Brotherhood. Due to in large part to intense
advocacy by Kincaid McHarg, a Brotherhood
Tribune, select Demon Hunter Chapters have begun
recruiting supernatural members. These include
typically evil supernaturals such as lycanthropes,
vampires, half-demons, and any form of undead.
Such Hunters enter the Brotherhood on probation
and must submit to vigorous psychological testing
and screening to ensure that they are fit for

duty. Some Chapter leaders refuse to use any
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
supernaturals not of divine descent, while others find
that “supernats” are very effective and formidable
Hunters.
The Brotherhood has one very powerful
recruiting tool: redemption. The Brotherhood
offers the chance for redemption to all of its agents,
regardless of their past. The potential for acceptance
and forgiveness can sometimes turn even the most
hardened of individuals to the cause of goodness and
light.
T r aining
All Brotherhood agents go through an intensive
basic training course of tabletop combat scenario
simulations, extensive weapons and combat training,
and a live hunt in the field. Many Brotherhood agents
already have some particular skill or specialized
training prior to joining the Brotherhood. For those
who do not, the Brotherhood Academy offers
ongoing training courses for any who wish to take
them.
Some agents—particularly those born with
a divine connection, spotted as having potential
as youths, or who are children of Brotherhood
members—have been groomed to be Demon
Hunters all their lives. These agents have received
all of their schooling and training through the
Brotherhood’s extensive and exhaustive Academy
courses. Over two-thirds of all Brotherhood
Chapter leaders are Academy graduates.
 The Order of the
Infernal Scepter
They are Satan’s answer to Demon Hunters:
the Order of the Infernal Scepter, the Angel Killers.
They are the Brotherhood’s evil twin. Where the
Brotherhood strives to eradicate demon influences
and protect the innocent, the Order remains busy
summoning demons and targeting the innocent. They
are the barbed knife that Satan hides under the table,
lying in wait to stab humanity in the gonads.
The Order is loosely organized into guerilla
cells, much like a terrorist organization. Each Order
 Chapter operates entirely independently of the
others. Few members are aware of other agents
outside of their own Chapter. Satan passes missions
to Order Chapters via the demon princes who
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
sponsor the Chapters. It’s not unheard of
for Order Chapters to attack each other
to gain Satan’s favor for their sponsor.
It’s also not unheard of for a mistreated
Order unit to kill the demon prince
sponsoring them.
The Order has the Mandate of
Hell. They have official sanction
from Satan to operate in his name
on Earth. Every member of the
Order goes to Hell when he
dies. However, they won’t be
tormented when they get there.
As Satan himself said, “Better
to reign in Hell than serve in
Heaven.” Power will be theirs in
the mortal life, and in the afterlife.
Of course, Satan retains the
option to renege this at any time.
Mission of the
Order
The mission of the
Order is quite simple:
Cause destruction. Spread
corruption. Wreak havoc.
Initiate chaos. Undermine
civilization. Bring evil into
the world. Tempt and
corrupt humanity, the most
beloved of God’s creations.
Make a mockery of
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
the works of goodness. Rot away the foundations of
faith in all religions and works of human hope. Make
might equal right. Promote daytime television. Grant
absolute power to the weak of spirit.
Make … ah, to Hell with it. You get the picture.
The Order really has no limitation on how this
is accomplished. All cells are free to interpret this
mission in their own way, and to carry it out however
they wish. The most successful (and ultimately
long-lived) cells are careful, precise, and plan their
strikes and operations to perfection, using subtlety
and misdirection. Many cells, however, simply raise
a few Hell-beasts, grab a monster or two, and hit
the Manhattan nightlife for some fun with buds and
brews. Each serves the Order well.
Order Recruitment and
Training
R ecruitment
The Order will recruit anyone.
Absolutely anyone. The Order can find a
use for anyone willing to work. Chaos serves
the Order’s purposes. The skilled and
wise perform the greatest of the
Order’s tasks, while the reckless
and unintelligent are sent to cause
fantastic messes. This distracts
the Brotherhood from the more
dangerous operations that the
Order undertakes.
The Order’s recruiting
methods are not that different
from those of the Brotherhood.
They keep tabs on anyone they
think has the potential to perform
great evil and approach them when the
time is right. They also recruit those
who witness their activities, though
this type of recruitment is often at the
metaphorical point of the sword.
Supernaturals are much easier
for the Order to recruit; the Order
boasts at least as many supernats
as human agents. The Order is a
good deal for supernats, as quite
a few of them can’t fit into
human society for one reason
or another. Though many
could find a place in the
 Brotherhood, the Order offers them much, much
more. The Order encourages the urges and desires
of its supernats, urges that the Brotherhood would
suppress or ban. The Brotherhood also carefully
monitors supernatural Hunters, which has led to
a great deal of animosity and distrust among some
Brotherhood agents. These same supernaturals
are openly welcomed and praised in the Order’s
numbers. Sure, the supernats don’t gain salvation
with the Order, but then … is salvation really worth
all that crap?
T r aining
The Order of the Infernal Scepter doesn’t do
much training. The Order expects its agents to be
self-sufficient. They are very much on their own,
working to advance the Order’s agenda as they
see fit. So long as an Order cell pulls its weight, the
Order doesn’t care how they do it.
The Earthwalkers
The Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch and
the Order of the Infernal Scepter are the two most
prominent and influential supernatural organizations
in the world. But there are many, many other
organizations out there, including the Sisters of
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Divine Retribution, the Mad Science Monitor, the
Pound, Necromancers for a Better Tomorrow, and
the Promise Keepers, to name a few.
Most threats that the Brotherhood responds
to are unrelated to these groups. A lone werewolf,
cabals of vampires, or elder evils forgotten until
disturbed, are all adversaries that are likely operating
without affiliation. The most harrowing of enemies
the Brotherhood ever faced were factionless: the
Earthwalkers.
Exiled from Hell after a failed attempt to oust
Satan, these demon princes roamed the world
unmolested and unchallenged. Each was vulnerable
only to a single substance: an element, a plant, an
idea—there was no pattern. Early Demon Hunters
spent their careers trying to discover the different
Earthwalkers’ allergies. It took the Brotherhood a

thousand years and many more thousand lives to
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
eradicate the Earthwalkers. Officially, Brotherhood
records state that the Earthwalkers are history.
However, closer inspection reveals that the
Brotherhood could only confirm 12 kills. The 13th
Earthwalker—Duamerthrax the Indestructible—
simply dropped off the map. His allergy, like the
demon himself, has been lost to time.
The World of Dimness
“In the beginning was the Word. And the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. He was
in the beginning with God; all things were made
through Him, and without Him was not anything
made that was made. In Him was life, and the life
was the Light of all people. The Light shines in the
Darkness, and the Darkness has not overcome it.
But the Darkness has fought the Light before, and
many times. The Darkness will fight the Light again.
The Darkness has not given up the War. The time of
Darkness is near…”
First of all, it’s all true. Every horror story, every
campfire tale, every bit of myth, legend, and holy
scripture—it’s real, it’s dangerous, and it’s probably
right behind you. Sasquatch roam the forests of the
Pacific Northwest, a bokor down in the swamps of
Louisiana is raising an army of zombies, and toe-
hungry monsters do, in fact, live under your bed.
    Text from John 1:1-5 and “Unsubstantiated:
Autobiography of the Holy Spirit”
 In your time with the Brotherhood, you’re likely “Demon Hunters” isn’t just a catchy nickname.
to come across any number of supernatural creatures It’s what we are. The Brotherhood was founded,
that could kill you. Each species has its own particular first and foremost, to protect the mortal world from
quirks and oddities. Know how to kill a basilisk? No? the agents of Hell. In that regard, the Brotherhood
Why should you? I mean, how often does a rooster has no equal. You can thank the generations of
hatch a snake egg anyway? And if you do come across Hunters that came before you that you’ll never
one, that’s why we give you a Cipher. The have to face the nastiest evil ever shat out
Brotherhood Database is filled with handy of the Pit: Earthwalkers. Demon princes
tips for identifying and obliterating every so powerful and nasty that Satan didn’t
possible form of evil, so don’t feel safe with them hanging
sweat the small stuff. around. Banished from Hell,
That said, you can’t go P urple Ninja say: “Footnotes are like the Earthwalkers were well
running to the Database every ninjas lurking quietly in the text, waiting on their way to making
time you encounter an enemy. to pounce with information. Except instead humanity their bitch. Over the
10 A working knowledge of
your most common foes is a
necessity in the demon hunting
of ‘text,’ it is ‘shadows,’ and instead of next 13 centuries, countless
‘information,’ it is ‘agonizing death.’” Brotherhood soldiers gave
their lives to spare mankind
business. Which brings us to the from the scourge of the
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness

Big Three: Earthwalkers. Thanks to their valiant sacrifices, the

V ampires ,W erewolves and , years ago, so you’ll never have to worry about
D emons —O , M !h y meeting one of them. Ever.
The great thing about the classics is that there’s
very little left to teach. If you’ve walked past a
television in the last 50 years, chances are good that
you know how to kill a vampire. Say it with me now:
stake, fire, sunlight, beheading. Those all definitely
work, but most people neglect to include “high
explosives” and “massive trauma to the head” in the
short list. Do enough damage, and even the strongest
bloodsucker will stop twitching. Garlic and holy stuff
pisses them off pretty good, too, but before you
go buying crucifixes in bulk, make sure you actually
believe in the symbol. A Jewish Hunter bearing a
crucifix is a tasty treat for a vamp, but switch the
cross for a Star of David, and that leech is one crispy
critter.
Werewolves are slightly trickier. First of all,
“Lycanthrope” is the preferred term around the
Brotherhood, seeing as they aren’t always wolves.
In fact, any mammal can carry the werevirus. The
Brotherhood Database holds records of infections
ranging from your standard werewolves and
werebears, to the more exotic werejaguars and
werechimps, to the downright cuddly werehamsters
and werepandas. In any case, the strategy is the
same. Shoot it, stab it, blow it up, but make sure
silver’s involved somewhere, because lycanthropes
regenerate like nobody’s business.
 Yeah, it’s still half. Those demon genes are crazy
last of the Earthwalkers was killed over a thousand
Demonic influence is alive and well in the world
today. While the Treaty of Acheron forbids Celestial
or Infernal representatives from direct action in the
human world, leave it to Satan to find loopholes. Your
main demonic threats will be in the form of either
half-breeds or possessions. If you’re really, really
lucky, you’ll never come across an actual demon.
Don’t count on being that lucky.
While half-demons aren’t entirely human,
they aren’t considered a power of Hell either, so
they’re free to act in the mortal world. Human in
appearance, they usually exhibit some demonic traits,
such as discolored skin, vestigial tails or horn buds.
HDs tend to be stronger than most humans, and
they’re completely fireproof. Although these guys are
aggressively recruited by the Order, there’s nothing
inherently evil about them. Some half-demons live
completely normal lives: nine to five job, house in the
suburbs, loving wife and two half-demon kids. There
are even a few HDs in the Brotherhood, though like
any supernat agent, they deal with a fair amount of
mistrust from other Hunters.
Possessions are tricky. A demon can exert
its control over any living creature, and they get
away with it due to a technicality. Since they aren’t
 This is a literary device known as “foreshadowing.”
dominant.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 becoming corporeal, it isn’t considered “direct
action” according to the strict terms of the treaty.
Bullshit, you say? We tend to agree, but our hands
are tied. As long as the demon’s riding a meat-
puppet, he can raise all kinds of hell. At the core,
they’re still human, so you can’t just kill them. Better
to restrain the victim and call in a Brotherhood
mystic for an exorcism.
Every now and then, some crazed sorcerer or
deranged megalomaniac gets his hands on the rituals
for demonic summoning. We try to keep those
things out of circulation, but as hard as we try, the
Order is working just as hard to distribute them.
One or two are bound to slip through the cracks,
and when that happens, you’ve got a full-blooded,
honest-to-badness demon on your hands. Once
that demon is called to earth, it can pretty much
do whatever it wants, and it isn’t in violation of
the treaty. If your team should ever come across a
summoning, call in backup. Then have your backup
call in backup, because there will be casualties.
R efor med B ad G uys
Now don’t get us wrong. Vampires,
werewolves, even demons, they aren’t inherently
evil. Evil isn’t something you can be born with or
infected by. It’s a choice, plain and simple. And it’s
not the supernatural creatures that we’re opposed
to. The Brotherhood exists to fight evil in all its
forms, not to commit genocide against entire
species. Evil is a choice, and the Brotherhood
welcomes all who choose otherwise.
The Brotherhood has a large number of non-
human field agents who use their unique talents
to battle the forces of Hell. Demon Hunters with
special needs are well cared for. Brotherhood
scientists have developed a cure for the werevirus.
While it won’t reverse any changes that have already
been made, it will halt the progression of the virus.
Lycanthropic agents tend to be excellent trackers,
with stamina that can’t be beat.
Our vampiric agents are not neglected either.
While there is no cure for Vampirism, and the
drinking of human blood will not be tolerated by
the Brotherhood, we can help combat the Thirst.
Vitamin V, an artificial blood substitute, provides our
hemovore hunters with all the nutritional benefits
of human blood, without that pesky cannibalistic
stigma. Also, special full-body uniforms are standard
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
issue to vampire agents. These sunsuits will keep
you pleasantly not-on-fire in even the brightest
sunlight.
At the Brotherhood, we believe it’s never too
late to make amends.
The Good Guys
The dearly departed only make up a small
portion of Heaven’s population. Apart from the
work of few key saints, all of the day-to-day business
of Heaven is taken care of by the Angels. Be thankful
you’ll never encounter these guys during your mortal
lives. Sure, the Archangels are gorgeous. Sort of like
a hair band with wings. But the rest of these
guys … you thought demons were weird looking?
How about the Ophanim? Four giant wheels covered
11
in eyes that never blink? Or the Cherubim? Forget
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that Renaissance crap with the fat, winged babies.
We’ve got no idea where those things came from.
The real cherubim look like someone stepped on
a petting zoo, with all kinds of animal faces sticking
out of a big ol’ ball of wings. Heaven can be a weird
place. Thankfully, once you get there, those sorts of
things won’t bother you anymore.
Of course, thanks to the Treaty of Acheron,
the Angels are bound to the same limitations as the
Demons regarding earth. No direct intervention in
the affairs of mortals is allowed. Like the demons
though, Heaven found a way around the rules.
Every now and then, one of the less savory
elements of Angelic society will head down to
Earth on a day pass, hit the bars, and end up
shtupping some poor, unsuspecting mortal woman.
Nine months later, out pops a Nephilim, and the
deadbeat dad is nowhere to be found. Officially, the
Brotherhood top brass has to condemn this sort of
behavior, but secretly, they love it.
A Nephilim is like a bottomless vessel for divine
energy. Their halos, though invisible to the naked
eye, shine like the sun in the ultraviolet spectrum. A
halo directs the flow of divine energy into the body,
allowing a Nephilim to perform holy feats impossible
for normal warriors. Healing, regeneration, even
resurrection are possible for a Nephilim. On the
downside, the halo does release constant low levels
 Which Brotherhood vampires have derisively
nicknamed “battle burqas.”

12
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Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
of radiation. It’s not enough to cause problems, but it
does mean that all Nephilim suffer from early onset
male pattern baldness. Even the women.
T r aitors
Every war has its turncoats, and this one is
no exception. Hell has its fair share
of Angels who have fallen from grace.
Azazel, Sammael, even Satan himself
were all, at one time,
members of the Heavenly
Choir. Falls are rare these P urple Ninja say: “Those who
days. The Angels have seen do not know history are doomed to
what happens to those who
repeat it. Those who do not know
rebel against Heaven, and are
all the wiser for it.
are doomed to low-paying jobs.”
No, the real danger these days is that of traitors
within the Brotherhood. It wouldn’t be the first
time such a thing has happened either. Remember
Pompeii? That is the sort of thing that can happen
when an agent of the Order successfully infiltrates
the Brotherhood. Other attempts at infiltration
haven’t been so successful. The discovery of a double
agent among the ranks of Chapter Alpha One during
World War II prevented the Nazis from releasing an
Elder God from its transdimensional prison. You can
never be too paranoid.
Clueless Mortals
Lord, what fools these mortals be. Going about
their everyday lives like they aren’t surrounded
on all sides by the foulest of nightmares. They say
ignorance is bliss, but passing through the belly
of a bugbear isn’t exactly what I’d call a blissful
experience. Still, orders from Brotherhood HQ are
quite clear on the matter. The general public will
remain clueless to the fact that we, or the horrors
we battle, even exist. Agents of the Brotherhood
have saved the world from total annihilation dozens
of times, and the world at large remains none the
wiser.
That’s not to say that accidents don’t happen.
Occasionally a member of the public will get himself
tangled up in some nasty supernatural business. If he
manages to survive the encounter, we’ve got several
ways of dealing with the situation.
Ideally, the victim will simply reason away what
he’s experienced. The human mind is very resistant
to change. It can go to great lengths to keep the
status quo. “Since vampires can’t exist, that obviously
wasn’t a vampire that just attacked me. Must have
been a trick of the light that made me think I saw
fangs.” And so, the victim gets back to his normal,
boring life, free from worry about the things that go
bump in the night. It’s really amazing how resilient
the brain can be.
You can’t always count on these things
to take care of themselves though. Enter the
cover-up. Convincing the victim that what he
saw wasn’t really what he saw. All
the old standbys are represented
here. “It was only a dream,” “I
didn’t see anything, you must be
math crazy,” “We’re just headed to a
costume party,” “Hey lady, get off
the movie set, you’re blocking the
shot.” Each one’s a classic.
Since wetworks are off the table (what with
us being the good guys and all) the final option
available is recruitment. The Brotherhood is a
big organization, and there are always positions
open somewhere. Some of the most decorated
Brotherhood soldiers have been normals who
stumbled into this world unknowingly. Of course,
most of those people either end up in the steno pool
or staring down the wrong end of a werewolf, but
hey, at least we gave them a chance.
History
So most everything you know about the world
is wrong, or at least incomplete. History looks pretty
different when you look at it through the prism of
the Celestial War. Here’s some details you probably
missed:
Mythic History
A Lot B.C.—Lucifer, favored among the angels,
refuses God’s command to bow down before Man.
God exiles Lucifer from Heaven. Lucifer organizes
one-third of the angelic Host in open rebellion against
God. He and the other angel revolutionaries are, in
the immortal words of the First Testament prophet
Isaiah, “pwned and disowned.” The Archangel
Michael tosses Lucifer out of Heaven. Lucifer falls
down, down, down to Hell, and face-plants into the
 Lake of Fire at roughly 800 miles per hour. Despite
having lost the War, Lucifer and the rebel Host
remain quite dangerous.
A Little Less B.C.—Lucifer sneaks into the
Garden of Eden, assumes the form of a snake, and
manipulates Eve into eating the fruit of the Tree of
Knowledge. God casts Adam and Eve out of the
Garden, and seeks to destroy Lucifer, who hides
from the Lord.
Even Less B.C.—It is God’s plan that mankind
be able to make decisions for itself, outside of the
influence of divine beings. God and Lucifer come
to an accord; Michael and Lucifer sign the Treaty of
Acheron on the banks of the River Acheron. This
accord states that neither the Heavenly Host nor
the armies of Hell may directly interfere with the
progress of mortal development. The Archangel
Michael sneaks a clause into the Treaty allowing
God to send angels as messengers to mortals, and
thereby to give mortals powers as God
sees fit. Lucifer is enraged, and to this
day continues to recruit lawyers to
prevent himself from being taken
advantage of in the future.
Ancient
History
~990–985 B.C.—The
armies of the Hebrews and
the Philistines meet in the
valley of Elah. The Philistines
present a champion to face a
Hebrew in single combat. Their
champion, Goliath, is quite obviously
not human—he stands nine feet tall
and carries over 600 pounds of armor.
He is clearly at least half-demon. This
directly violates the Treaty of Acheron.
The Archangel Michael confronts
Lucifer. Lucifer testifies that he has not
given permission to his demons to
father mortal children, and hence
cannot be held responsible.
    The anniversary of this date is known as “Tossover,”
and is celebrated throughout Hell despite Lucifer’s
repeated banning of the holiday.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
On the battlefield, the Israelite army faces
slavery or obliteration if no one answers Goliath’s
challenge. With the safety of his people in jeopardy,
a young man named David, son of Jesse, confronts
Goliath. Goliath smashes him with a boulder. Luckily,
David was never conscripted, and thus did not
represent their army in an official capacity. Michael
hires a dimension-and-time-hopping mercenary,
calls him “David”, and sends him in to fight Goliath.
“David” Nukes Goliath.
With the Treaty of Acheron broken, the hosts
of Heaven and armies of Hell are now free to act
directly in human affairs.
~935–800 B.C.—The first real test of the state
of earthly affairs without the Treaty occurs during
the confrontation between the prophet Elijah and
the priests of the Archdemon Habab, also known as
13
Ba’al.
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
At Mount Carmel, the priests of Habab attempt
to invoke Habab’s power. However, Michael had
assigned an angel to seduce Habab. Habab did not
respond to his followers, as he was busy “visiting the
Valley of Milk and Honey10.” Elijah petitions the
Lord to manifest His power. The
Lord complies. The Israelites
abandon Habab and kill his
priests.
~300 B.C.—After roughly five
hundred years of guerilla warfare, Lucifer
surrenders to Heaven. Michael and Lucifer meet
to sign the Second Treaty of Acheron, which states
that angels and demons may not directly interfere
in the affairs of Man. This Treaty remains in effect
to this day. There is a caveat that each side may
recruit mortal agents to work on their behalf.
Lucifer interprets this to mean that demons
may enter the world if invited—either
directly, through summonings, or indirectly,
through possession. Lucifer adopts the name
Satan, which means “enemy.” The Lord
is displeased that Michael did not foresee
Lucifer’s interpretation of the treaty. Michael
begins drinking.
    It is unknown whether the real David survived the
boulder attack to become King David. Scholars
speculate that another son of Jesse assumed his
name. It is unlikely that the mercenary replacement
became king.
10    9th Century B.C. slang for “getting one’s freak on.”
Another was “anointing my head with oil.”

14
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Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
299 B.C.—In order to protect Man, God
mandates the creation of a brotherhood of mortal
agents. He commands Michael to recruit mortals
to their cause. This organization is dubbed the
Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch, named after the
beacon that guides worthy souls to the afterlife11.
The Brotherhood agents—most commonly referred
to as “Demon Hunters”—are tasked with protecting
humanity from, and keeping humanity unaware of,
supernatural dangers.
299 B.C.–88 A.D.—The Brotherhood has
no central command, and no clear mission. The
Archangel Michael begins neglecting his duties. The
mortal operatives of the Brotherhood are essentially
left to fend for themselves. With no clear direction
or leadership, Brotherhood Chapters undertake
whichever missions their members see fit, and
separate Chapters often wind up operating at cross-
purposes.
298 B.C.—Enraged that Satan signed a treaty
with Heaven, thirteen of the most powerful Demon
Princes attempt a coup in Hell. They are ultimately
unsuccessful. Satan ejects the conspirators from
Hell and severs all formal ties to them. These
exiled demons become known as the Earthwalkers.
Because they had no affiliation with Hell, they were
not bound by the Treaty of Acheron and were free
to interfere with mortal affairs. The Brotherhood
hunted down and killed the Earthwalkers before
the end of the first millennium A.D.12. All but one
Earthwalker is accounted for. That last one has been
off the radar for a thousand years and is presumed
dead.
Pretty Damn Old History
~ 4 B.C.—Because the Second Treaty allows
for mortal agents, God is able to manifest his
full divinity in mortal form. God commands the
Archangel Michael to appear before Mary, a Jewish
virgin, and tell her that she will bear in her womb
the Christ. Michael, quite drunk, appears before a
fishwife in Japan, and tells her that her womb will
bear carp. Michael is sued for sexual harassment.
11    Many people who have near-death experiences
recall seeing a bright light in the distance, and feel
compelled to “walk towards the light.” That light is the
Celestial Torch.
12    There is compelling evidence to suggest that Satan
gave the Brotherhood vital intelligence that helped
them track down and eradicate the Earthwalkers.
~1 B.C.—God gives the same assignment to
Gabriel, one of Michael’s officers and a veteran of the
Celestial Wars. Gabriel succeeds after inflicting only
minor mental trauma on a group of shepherds.
Attributed 0 B.C.–33 A.D.—Jesus happens.
~67 A.D.—Peter, formerly Simon, brother
of Andrew and son of Jonah, and disciple of Jesus,
is crucified by Nero’s Rome. Upon his arrival in
Heaven, he is given the Keys to the Kingdom of
Heaven, a powerful holy artifact.
~75 A.D.—The Archangel Michael, on a super-
bender, relieves himself in Moses’ beard. God grows
concerned.
88 A.D.—Thieves hired by the demon prince
Blathk steal a piece of the Celestial Torch. Michael—
who had been passed out in a puddle of his own
vomit during the theft—is sacked. God sends Michael
to rehab and appoints St. Peter Director-General of
the Brotherhood. Peter sets the Brotherhood’s affairs
in order, and clarifies its mission: As a demon hunting
organization, they will fight not only the supernatural
agents of Hell, but also those mortals operating with
Hell’s mandate. The Brotherhood begins functioning
as an effective organization, and flourishes under
Pete’s administration.
157 A.D.—Satan makes Blathk his main advisor
for mortal affairs, and appoints him to the task of
forming a group of mortal agents to oppose the
Brotherhood. Satan imbues the stolen piece of
the Celestial Torch with his power. It becomes the
Infernal Scepter, a powerful artifact of evil and symbol
of Satan’s mandate. This marks the foundation of the
Order of the Infernal Scepter.
157–299 A.D.—The Order of the Infernal
Scepter is well organized, well funded, and well on
its way to kicking the ever-loving crap out of the
Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch. With only minor
effort, the Order is able to keep all Brotherhood
activity occupied while the Order insinuates itself into
existing governments, and helps to arrange war and
destruction across the world.
~299 A.D.—During the reign of the Emperor
Diocletian, a Roman Tribune named George—
secretly a Demon Hunter—travels through Libya.
Word reaches him of a terrible beast plaguing
the nearby village of Cyrene. Though the precise
details of the battle are lost, it is known that George
discovers this beast’s weakness by accident, and slays
it. The beast, later referred to as a dragon, is actually
the outcast demon prince Abraxas. George becomes
 the first Brotherhood agent to slay an Earthwalker.
Diocletian later has him beheaded, and he becomes
the martyr known as St. George, patron saint of
herpes.13
313 A.D.—Brotherhood mystics “create”
the Well of Knowledge, the precursor to the
Brotherhood Database. Through complicated
mystical rituals, the Well—which contains the
accumulated memories and knowledge of thousands
of Brotherhood agents—allows Brotherhood-trained
mystics to tap into and share the information stored
inside it. Well-users can also add or alter existing
information to adjust its accuracy.14 However, after
several alterations made by Order agents lead to
Brotherhood fatalities, an oversight committee is
established to review all additions and changes to the
Well.
~ 999 A.D.—During the reign of Byzantine
Emperor Basil II, prince of the Macedonian
dynasty, the last of the Earthwalkers is defeated by
Brotherhood agents outside Constantinople. None
of the Demon Hunters survive the battle, so no
official record of a kill exists.
999–1700 A.D.—With the death of the final
Earthwalker, the Brotherhood is free to focus more
of its forces on fighting the Order of the Infernal
Scepter. The Order finds itself outmatched and
retreats to the shadows. The Order begins to
operate more clandestinely, infiltrating Brotherhood
Chapters and disrupting their operations. Despite
their efforts, the Brotherhood flourishes, and
gradually expands its focus to include all manner of
supernatural threats to humanity, not just those that
originate in Hell.
1835 A.D.—Early Brotherhood Mad Scientists,
modifying some of the Golem-creation rituals, create
the first proto-Ciphers. These semi-human savants
can directly access the Well of Knowledge without
need of the ritual, no matter where their location.
20th Century History
1898—After bargaining with the demon Glasya-
Labolas, the Order sets in motion events that allow
many of their agents to secretly come together in
China, forming a Central Command from which all
Order operations can be conducted. Glasya-Labolas
13    It’s true. Look it up.
14    Much like the modern Wikipedia.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
possesses the Empress Dowager of China’s Ch’ing
Dynasty. Under his influence, the Empress backs the
Righteous and Harmonious Fists, a secret society
called “the Boxers” by the West.
1900 A.D.—The Empress Dowager orders
all foreigners in China killed, sparking the Boxer
Rebellion. Order is restored when international
forces from many countries take Peking. The influx
of international forces gives the Order of the Infernal
Scepter an easy way to unite many of its agents
without attracting Brotherhood attention. Thus
begins the dark time known as the Era Infernalis, the
height of the Order’s influence and reach, when the
Order inflicts crippling damage on the Brotherhood’s
numbers and resources.
1914 A.D.—Archduke Franz Ferdinand is
assassinated by Gavrilo Princip of The Black Hand, a
15
secret society dedicated to the unification of Slavic
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
territories under the rule of Austria-Hungary. In
truth, covert Brotherhood agents of the faction
that would later become the Sisters of Divine
Retribution dupe Princip and the Black Hand into
killing the Archduke. The agents target Ferdinand
because he is of demonic descent, despite his efforts
to live a normal mortal life free of the influences of
his ancestry. Most of the other supernatural secret
organizations consider the Sisters to be responsible
for the Great War.
1914–1947 A.D.—The height of the Era
Infernalis. With the multitudes of wars raging around
the world at this time, combined with access to
modern travel and communication technology, the
Order of the Infernal Scepter is more organized and
coordinated than ever before. The Brotherhood
of the Celestial Torch spends most of its time
concealing the presence of Order activity from the
world at large. The Order uses the chaos to destroy
much of the Brotherhood’s structure, resources,
and personnel. Eventually, a werewolf is convinced
to defect from the Order to the Brotherhood, and
with his information, the Brotherhood attacks and
destroys Order Central Command. This marks the
end of the Era Infernalis.
1945 A.D.—St. Peter decides that turnabout is
fair play, and attempts to broker angelic possession.
He succeeds, infusing an angel’s spirit into a
newborn child.
1947 A.D.–present—As the Brotherhood
rebuilds, so does the Order. The Order reorganizes
itself into independent cells, so no single strike by

16
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
the Demon Hunters can shut down their operations.
Though the Order had suffered dramatic losses, the
damage it wrought undermining the Brotherhood
during the Era Infernalis has left its agents on more or
less equal footing with the Demon Hunters.
1947—Brotherhood mystics and Mad Scientists
collaborate to create the Brotherhood Database,
a central technological/mystical repository that
replaces the Well of Knowledge. Ciphers—each one
built with a hard uplink to the Database—become
standard issue equipment to all Chapters. Later
Ciphers are outfitted with Wi-Fi, a GPS system, and
satellite radio.
1964—As part of its rebuilding efforts, the
Brotherhood approves the controversial practice
of incorporating supernatural Hunters into their
ranks. This policy meets fierce resistance and causes
a schism. Several all-female Chapters secede from
the Brotherhood and form the Sisters of Divine
Retribution,15 an organization dedicated to hunting
down all supernaturals, not just those who pose an
active threat—and that includes supernatural Demon
Hunters. The Sisters and the Brotherhood have
occasionally worked jointly on missions, though a
great deal of mistrust remains between the groups.
The Sisters do not have the Mandate of Heaven.
1965 A.D.—The angel-child, now a young man,
hits the London music scene, and soon becomes
very popular. Agents of the Order fear that the man
may unite humanity through his music. The Order
threatens to possess countless mortals if the angelic
presence is not revoked. The Accord of London
is negotiated between the demon Blathk and St.
Peter, agreeing that neither side will engage in divine
possession. The angelic spirit is removed, leaving the
young man entirely mortal, though still the cream of
the musical crop.
Recent History
1980–1989—The 80s. No one in the
supernatural world likes to discuss the 80s. No one.
Move along.
1991—A nuclear power plant in Takaimura,
Japan accidentally releases an alarming amount of
radioactive water into the surrounding environment.
The Mad Science Monitor collects much of the
15    Known in Brotherhood circles as the “Nuns with
Guns,” but NEVER let them hear you call them that…
substance, providing them with enough material to
energize Mad Science experiments for at least three
decades.
1994—Using the newly refined science of
cloning, the Mad Science Monitor creates a half-
lizard/half-robot which they name There-Is-No-God-
zilla. The Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch and
Sisters of Divine Retribution work together to stop
the creation before it destroys the Kii Peninsula, site
of many temples and religious centers in Japan.
1996—The French government manages the
first recorded secular authority termination of a
supernatural being of great power (threat level three
or greater). At the Muroroa Atoll, site of over 30
years of French nuclear testing, they manage to kill
Scylla, the Greek beast of legend. The creature,
having relocated to the Pacific shortly after World
War II, apparently receives greater sustenance
from nuclear energy than regular food. The French
bomb it until it bursts from over-indulgence. The
French government believes they have destroyed
a genetically mutated colossal squid, a supposed
product of the nuclear detonations at Hiroshima and
Nagasaki.
1997—Two bodies of the dead members of
the Heaven’s Gate cult go missing; residual mystical
energies are detected at the site of the body
snatching. An investigation reveals that the mystic
power used to sneak into and out of the facility was
mild, suggesting a dabbler in mysticism rather than a
full-blown warlock.
1998—The largest disaster in modern
Brotherhood history occurs when most of the
members of the Brotherhood’s top Chapter, Alpha
One, are killed in a fight with a sea demon off the
coast of Vancouver, British Columbia. Only four
members survive, one with permanent mental
trauma. Though the exact details are unknown, the
brunt of the blame falls on Alpha One’s leader, who
has since been shamed and demoted. This event
becomes known as the Vancouver Disaster, and is the
disaster that all Brotherhood failures are measured
against.
2003—An unknown operative uses mystic
powers to steal pieces of a newly discovered flying-
dinosaur fossil in northeast China. Psychic imprint
evidence suggests this crime to be perpetrated by
the same culprit behind the body theft in California
six years prior.
 Now—A few key ley lines in North America
are shifting their positions at an alarming rate. They
appear to be set to form a three way nexus in the
Puget Sound region of Washington State, which
would create an area of immense mystic power.
Terrestrial Geography
Africa
The earliest evidence of the Brotherhood’s
influence in Africa continent can be found in the
22nd dynasty of Ancient Egypt. One of the first
major Chapters outside of the territory of the
Roman Empire was founded under the reign of
Pharaoh Shoshenq I16. Shoshenq’s campaign through
Palestine brought opportunity for the fledgling
Brotherhood to expand its borders beyond the
Jordan River basin. Assimilating quickly into the
polytheistic Egyptian society, the Brotherhood
gained influence over both Egyptian politics and
religion. The agents of Egypt led the fight against
the demon prince Set, his servant Aphoph, and his
throngs of human worshippers. In legends told much
later, the leader of the Egyptian Chapter and his
wife, both murdered by Set, were granted status as
gods among the Egyptians. The tale of Osiris and Isis
is still told today. After the Romans conquered Egypt
in the first century B.C. under Octavian,
the Chapter was absorbed into the
Roman-controlled Brotherhood. Despite
its support of the Egyptian
people, the Chapter was in
direct opposition to both P u r p l e N i n j a s a y: “The
Cleopatra and Mark Antony. you and peels off your skin. You die.”
This allowed the Roman
Brotherhood to peacefully
integrate their North African counterparts into the
thriving system.
Later Chapters in Africa had little success against
the vast demonic forces of the Dark Continent. They
were sent with missionaries into deepest Africa to
investigate the presence of great mythic creatures
reported by previous visitors. Acting with the
arrogance of those who believe they know what’s
best for others, the Demon Hunters were not
accepted by most African cultures and found little
help from native tribes. Mutual indifference persisted
16    Identified as Shishaq in the Torah.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
until the establishment of a native African Chapter in
Kenya in the 19th Century by Sayid Samoei. Blending
with local culture, the Chapter grew quickly and
found itself with many allies against the great demons
of Africa.
After the end of European colonization, African
Chapters were the most stable entities on the
continent. Many looked to them for leadership,
but were disappointed by the lack of response.
The Brotherhood’s aim has never been to govern
or rule, only to protect. The current seat of
Brotherhood leadership in Africa is still in Kenya,
with headquarters sitting at the base of Mount
Kilimanjaro. Much of the focus remains on hidden
demons all over the continent that have been
awakened by several ongoing civil wars. But the
Egyptian Chapters remain intent on keeping curious
17
archaeologists from accidentally resurrecting Set or
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
his demon servants.
A merica ,N orth
The discovery of the New World was a blessing
in disguise for the Brotherhood. Long bogged
down by the politics and endless petty struggles
of European royalty, they were happy to hunt
outside of the Old World’s sphere of influence.
Demon Hunters were among the colonists at the
first settlements in America in the 1600s. The new
American Brotherhood sought out the native
peoples and learned their legends and the
dark truths about the land that stretched
out far to the west. Despite
the complete annihilation
demon catches of the Brotherhood’s first
North American base at the
Roanoke Colony by a tribe
of hungry Wendigos, the
Demon Hunters endured. The New World held
many secrets that the Brotherhood was anxious to
explore. Throughout the development and growth
of the United States, the Brotherhood watched and
encouraged its evolution into a powerful nation.
The Brotherhood’s modern base of operations
in North America is a giant underground bunker
beneath the city of Rugby, North Dakota. Rugby is
located almost directly between Bismark, North
Dakota and Winnipeg, Manitoba17. Why does
17    Right past the sign that says “Welcome to Nowhere.
Now Entering the Middle.”

18
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
such a small town house the largest contingent of
Brotherhood power on the planet? Because it sits
in the exact geographical center of North America.
From this point, Chapters are dispatched to mete out
pain upon the evils that pop up all over the continent,
from the Chupacabra in Mexico to Canada’s
Ogopogo.
The Brotherhood maintains major Chapters
in Washington D.C., Mexico City, Ottawa, and has
a significant presence in any very highly-populated
area. The political arm of the Brotherhood lobbies
the three major governments of North America
to work in subtle ways for the forces of good. The
Order keeps lobbyists for the same purpose. The
current political state is seen as an even draw. Both
organizations have faltered recently due to a third,
unexpected group: big corporations who are more
ambitious than the Brotherhood and more devious
than the Order. Both sides have called a minor
political truce to try and deal with the situation.
America, South
Much like Brotherhood Chapters in Africa,
Demon Hunters first came to South America with
Spanish missionaries to unlock the secrets of the new
continent. Exploration into the native cultures of the
Incas gave the Brotherhood great insight into the
creatures dwelling in the dark of the Amazon.
An early discovery by the Brotherhood was a
spiritual abscess located deep in the Amazon Basin.
Called Uca Pacha by the Incans, this dark place held
the horrors of myth and legend. A half-demon
named Supay commanded a force of evil creatures
that constantly tormented the native population and
the new arrivals alike. The Brotherhood mobilized
its forces within the Spanish fleet and battled
Supay’s minions. The horde of naga and giants,
complacent after hundreds of years of oppressing
defenseless locals, were completely unprepared for
the Brotherhood assault. The Demon Hunters rolled
over them and destroyed Supay, sending him back to
Hell.
In recent years, the Brotherhood’s efforts in
South America have focused on conservation of the
land itself. While demons and denizens of the dark
places of the world make their home in the Amazon,
they respect the power of the rain forest and treat
it with due reverence. The same cannot be said for
man. The clear cutting of the Amazon rain forest
has mobilized the Brotherhood to a different type of
action. They have found strange bedfellows in some
of the Amazon’s evil inhabitants in an attempt to save
everyone’s home.
Antarctica
Like the rest of the world, the Brotherhood
paid little attention to the vast Antarctic wasteland
prior to the 20th Century. It wasn’t until the R’lyeh
emergence of 1925 that the importance of the
southernmost continent became apparent. With no
Brotherhood members stationed within 3,000 miles
of the sunken city, the human race might have been
wiped out completely, had the dread lord Cthulhu
not decided to hit his cosmic snooze button and
sleep for a few more centuries. Consequently, a
permanent Brotherhood garrison, equipped with
seismic monitoring and rapid-deployment air strike
capabilities, was established on Siple Island off the
Antarctic coast.
Antarctica is also home to one of the
Brotherhood’s longest ongoing battles. In the final
days of World War II, the Thule Society—a branch
of the Order comprised of 60 of Hitler’s top mystics
and occult scholars—escaped Germany aboard an
experimental U-boat, bound for the Nazi’s Antarctic
base at Neuschwabenland. Their goal: Drill through
the Earth’s crust into the inner-earth land of Agartha,
unite with the Agarthan master race, and together
conquer the earth in the name of the Fourth Reich.
Though the U.S. Navy attempted to capture the base
during Operation Highjump in 1946, they succeeded
only in destroying the Nazi’s drilling equipment. Since
then, the Thule Society has attempted multiple raids
on the Agarthan entrance caverns at the South Pole,
but Brotherhood soldiers stationed at the Amundsen-
Scott Station have fought them back every time.
Asia
In the first century B.C., the first Brotherhood
Chapter assigned to Asia trekked across the Silk
Road for India and China. The presence of demons
in the Asian mythos was too great a temptation for
the Euro-central Brotherhood to ignore. A bevy of
Demon Hunters were sent out to discover the truth
behind the myth.
The advent of Buddhism and Taoism in
Asia supplanted earlier religions and aided the
Brotherhood in establishing a foothold with the
people of Central Asia. Hunters mixed with the
populations in the great cities of Beijing and Delhi,
 working as monks in the temples of the Shao Lin.
Soon, the Brotherhood’s focus changed from
traditional European-style fighting to a martial arts
approach to demon hunting.
The presence of demons (or Yaoguai) was
evident throughout Central and East Asia. During the
Tang Dynasty, eight Brotherhood agents in Asia were
called to defeat a trio of powerful demons. Immortal
Woman He Xiangu, Royal Uncle Cao Guojiu, Iron-
Crutch Li Tieguai, Lan Caihe, Philosopher Han Xiang
Zi, Elder Zhang Guo Lao, Zhongli Quan, and Lu
Dongbin—their leader—did battle with the White
Bone Spirit (Bai Gu Jing), the Bull Demon King (Niu
Mo Wang) and Lady White Snake18. Today, only
legends exist of the battle in mainland China, but
tales of the Eight Immortals and the divine powers
held by each are still written in Chinese literature.
The current Brotherhood stronghold in
Asia is in the bustling city of Hong Kong. Major
Chapters operate throughout the region and help
maintain spiritual order in the area. Much of the
Brotherhood’s technological advances in the last
50 years came from Chapter Zeta Six, stationed in
Tokyo. Their unique precision in combining magic
and technology aided in the invention of Portable
Pocket Dimensions and the current Cipher.
Australia
The Brotherhood’s forays into the Outback
began with British colonization in the late 1700s. The
Brotherhood had been aware of the existence of the
continent for some time prior to its “discovery” in
the 1600s, but had little information concerning the
new continent’s secrets. At that point, interference
seemed untimely. With the arrival of a large number
of Europeans, however, the Brotherhood had a
perfect cover to explore the continent and learn of
its indigenous people.
The first Chapter to arrive learned learned of a
menace to the Gunai tribe of Aborigines. They called
this creature the Nargun. It was a creature made
of stone that resembled a woman, and would lure
unsuspecting men to their deaths. The men of the
tribe had attacked the creature; it routed them. The
Chapter moved in immediately, knowing a Gorgon
when they heard of one. They killed the Nargun and
earned the respect of the native peoples of Australia.
18    Remember these names. You will be tested.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Over the next centuries, the Brotherhood
worked closely with Aboriginal shamans to become
closer to the natural order of the world. Many
Demon Hunters visiting Australia expect to meet
some dashing blonde agent wearing crocodile
skin and carrying a large knife. Today’s Australian
Brotherhood remains a more spiritually driven force,
relying heavily on shamanistic magic to aid in battle.
Europe
Despite beginning in Asia Minor, the
Brotherhood found its strongest base in Europe.
The foundation of the Catholic Church in Rome led
to wide-sweeping changes across the continent.
From as far back as stories go, ancient evil resided
in the cold reaches of the dark European forests and
mountains. After defeating the monster Grendel,
19
the creatures of the Black Forest catalogued by the
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
Brothers Grimm, the Dragon of Silene, and many,
many others, the Brotherhood established a firm
foothold in Europe.
After the end of World War II, the Brotherhood
eradicated what was left of the Order’s bases in
Europe. Modern Europe is loosely united under the
European Union—an invention of the Brotherhood’s
political arm—allowing for much easier travel for
Demon Hunters. The Order’s presence remains
low, but the constant threat of monsters and ancient
creatures bubbling up through modern cities keeps
the Chapters on their toes.
Celestial Geography
Hell
Hades, Neraka, Gehenna, Xibalba—call it
what you will, it all comes down to the same thing.
Hell. Literally, it’s all the same thing. Over the past
several millennia, via mergers, buyouts, and hostile
takeovers, Hell has taken over the underworlds
of nearly every world religion, past, present, and
future. Eternal suffering and damnation is a growing
business, and Hell holds the monopoly. Fire, ice,
darkness, light, solitude, multitudes, Hell’s got it
all. From Hell’s capital, Lake of Fire City, the Prince
of Darkness manages the afterlives of billions of
damned souls.

20
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Heaven
Ah, the Celestial City. The most exclusive
gated community in the universe. Its golden
streets and crystal spires play host not only to the
heavenly choirs, but also to Brotherhood Command
Central. It’s truly a marvel of celestial engineering,
and the words of mere mortals could
never do it justice. If you’re ever in the
neighborhood, you should really stop
by for a visit. Of course, if
you’re in the neighborhood,
you’re probably close to the P urple Ninja say: “She blinded me idea how scientists in the “real”
end of your career with the with science! Ho-ha, ho ho, ha ho!”
Brotherhood. Sorry about
that, hope you had a good run.
Regardless, the most impressive part of the building
is the view. High upon its promontory, the eternal
flame of the Celestial Torch shines out as a beacon of
goodness and hope, illuminating all of Heaven. It’s the
light at the end of the tunnel, calling wayward souls
home to bask in its radiant glow. The Torch is the
reason we fight and the reason we gladly lay down
our lives for the cause. We fight to keep that flame
burning bright, so that one day, when our part in this
battle is at an end, we can follow it home to rest in
the warmth of its glorious Light.
Mad Science and
Mystic Arts
As far as the general public is concerned, the
world makes sense. And for the most part, they’re
right. Earth’s dimension is firmly based in science.
Physical laws control the way we interact with the
world around us. You can’t fly, you can’t turn invisible,
and you can’t pull a live rabbit out of your tiny hat.
Can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t!
What are you talking about? Of course you can!
Though, to be fair, there are disagreements as to the
exact methods one should use to accomplish these
things. The Brotherhood’s scientists would argue
that anything can fly if you strap a big enough engine
to it, invisibility is easy if your clothing is made of a
metamaterial with a refractive index equal to that of
the surrounding air, and fitting your hat with a portal
to a pocket storage dimension means you can pull as
many rabbits out of your hat as you could possibly
want, as long as you don’t forget to hose out the
portal every now and then. Brotherhood mystics
on the other hand would feed you some lines about
channeling their chakras or becoming one with the
universe, or something, but the answers pretty much
boil down to one thing: magic. Magicians like to seem
all mysterious, but the fact is, they’re probably not
really sure how it works either. Not Ritual Magicians
anyway, but more on that in a moment. First:
science!
T echnology
Honestly, we’ve got no
world get anything done at all,
what with their control groups
and their ethics boards and their
peer-reviewed publications. No thank you! Whatever
happened to sewing a guy’s head onto a monkey’s
back to see what would happen? That’s why we at
the Brotherhood fully support the efforts of the Mad
Science community.
Thanks to Mad Science, Brotherhood technology
has remained 20 to 30 years ahead of the rest of
the world for the past two centuries. Our latest
Cipher models are fully lifelike cybernetic androids
with an assortment of protective technologies that
would put the military to shame. Each one comes
preprogrammed with a variety of fighting styles—
both armed and unarmed—and is a fully capable,
independent member of a Brotherhood Chapter.
Thanks to medical advances made by our
science team, Brotherhood agents remain an active
part of the team post-injury, or even post-mortem.
Gene therapy and therapeutic cloning techniques
are used to replace everything from damaged tissue
to entire organs. More extensive damage can be
repaired bionically. And, if worst comes to worst,
our top scientist Herr Doktor’s Reanimate program
is showing incredible promise. Even if you can’t
live on, part of you might go into building the next
Brotherhood supersoldier.
On the weaponry front, the Brotherhood can’t
be beat. From pulsed energy projectile cannons to
EMP hand grenades to portable prison dimensions,
our R&D department works night and day turning
out the latest in demon hunting gear. And for the
Luddites out there, we manufacture plenty of blades,
blunt instruments, and good old gunpowder-based
weapons to whet your appetite for old-fashioned
destruction. All of these weapons and more are
 available from the Warehouse, an extradimensional
storage space, accessible via doors hidden all over
the world. More on that later.
And now on to Science’s distant and estranged
cousin, Magic.
Quantum Magic
First of all, put down the wand, Dumbledork;
the mystic arts don’t work that way. We live in a
world of science. Quarks and leptons make up
atoms, which make up molecules, which make up air
and rocks and tapirs and cheese sandwiches. There’s
no room for magic in our physics.
There are, however, ways around this rule. You
can bend it, or you can punch a big gaping hole right
through it. Surprisingly, bending it is the hard one.
It’s called Quantum Magic, and technically it’s
not magic at all. It’s more like probability shifting. At
a quantum level, there’s no reason why you couldn’t
manifest a dragon or shoot lawn darts out of your
eyes. It’s just that the likelihood of that sort of thing
happening is almost infinitely improbable. Almost.
You can’t learn Quantum Magic; it’s just
something you’re born with. Practitioners are
somehow built differently, specially attuned to the
quantum state of their surroundings. With time
and training, a Quantum Magician can learn to
manipulate the elementary particles of reality. With
nearly unlimited powers of creation and destruction,
a quantum magician is a formidable foe.
Thankfully, quantum magicians are rare. Since
the dawn of mankind, there have been a couple
thousand at most. For the most part, quantum
magicians have tended towards benevolence. The
Indian siddhar Bhogar used his powers to create
medicine for all the people of Chennai. A bloodline
of holy men living at the base of Uluru in the
Australian Outback have used the gift of creation
song to provide for their village for thousands of
years. And a guy named Jesus made fish sandwiches
for a bunch of people one time. On rare occasions,
when a quantum magician chooses to use his powers
in the aid of evil, the results can be cataclysmic. Just
ask the Atlanteans.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Ritual Magic
And then there’s the easy way: Ritual Magic,
better known as brute force! If you want liquid
lightning, or a skeleton army, just make it happen!
Sure, the natural order of the universe might
resist, but screw it, just muscle through! Whereas
Quantum Magic focuses on making the improbable
probable, Ritual Magic has the benefit of making the
impossible possible. If you can dream it, you can do
it with Ritual Magic.
Of course, there’s a down side. Cramming
that kind of “shouldn’t exist” into the world takes
a lot of energy, energy that has to come from
somewhere. The “somewhere” in question tends to
be an extradimensional source. Demons, dark gods,
and ancient forgotten evils are the usual suspects.
21
These sorts of characters are always out there,
Chapter One: A World of Dark...er, Dimness
drifting through the space between worlds, listening,
waiting to be summoned. Call up the right one, and
limitless dark energy can be yours for the taking …
for a price. And this sort of energy doesn’t come
cheap. Whether it’s power, riches, or blood, it will
always cost something. Additionally, Ritual Magic
isn’t a quick fix. Those dark gods can be extremely
picky about the details. The pentagram has to be
in a perfect circle! Did you bless that salt? No,
ironwood isn’t an appropriate substitute for witch
hazel, dumbass! Proper Ritual Magic takes time
and preparation. Field agents tend to half-ass their
way through it, but that sort of thing can have dire
consequences.
Yes, the Brotherhood employs its fair share of
mystics, wizards, shamans, and sorcerers. And yeah,
some of them draw from some pretty dark power
sources. There’s even a necromancer or two in
the ranks. We admit, it’s a bit of a tricky, gray area,
but as long as their powers are being used for the
forces of Good, we tend to look the other way. The
exception to the rule is human sacrifice. No mystic
arts in support of Good could ever require the death
of a human being. On this rule, we do not bend.
 Chapter Two:

Recruitment
I
t’s not as dark as it should be. I blew all the overhead lights when I came to, but the soft, blue

22 glow of my eyes is bright enough to show me where I am. Concrete room, about 10 square feet,
one door, no windows. My wrists and ankles ache where zip-ties bind me to a heavy plastic chair. I
wiggle my fingers, trying to call up a spark. Nothing. They’ve got me grounded. This is bad.
I sense them behind the walls. It’s been so long since I’ve been in civilization; I’ve forgotten the feeling. Buzzing.
Humming. Calling out to me. Power lines. Phone. TV. Internet. Security system? Now it’s getting interesting. I close
my eyes and follow the call of the wiring.
I travel through the system, getting a feel for the shape of it. This is quite a setup. The whole facility is wired for
surveillance. I scan through the streams, trying to figure out who these people are.
“—you ever tried to get zombie guts out of upholstery? I tried baking soda and—”
“—croMoniComSat is picking up a massive release of orgone energy coming from—”
“—finally caught Faraday, sir; the Ohio electrokinetic.” Whoa, that’s me. Better stay with it.
“The lad who caused the blackout in 2003?” A new voice; a raspy, Scottish brogue. “That’s excellent!”
“Yes sir, unfortunately he didn’t go down easy. The kid put on quite a light show. I’ve got one man in critical
condition, and a few others with minor burns and shocks.” The voices are fading, they must be on the move. I feel
around, find them coming up on a security camera. The image fills my mind. Looks like soldier boy hasn’t had a
chance to change clothes. Scorch marks mar the otherwise clean lines of his Kevlar vest.
“You think it was intentional?” The Scotsman isn’t what I expected. The wild shock of graying hair and unkempt
beard don’t jibe with the tailored business suit. He walks with a cane, but doesn’t seem to need it.
“I don’t think so, sir. It looked like he was shooting to miss. My man only got hurt when he tried to grab him.” He
passes the Scotsman a thick folder. “We’ve got his medical workup here, sir.”
“Fascinating.” The older man flips through the folder. “Dendritic response off the charts, electrolytes way out of
balance. Incredible!”
“Check out the EKG, sir. That’s his activity level when he’s unconscious. The boys in the lab are baffled.” They’ve
passed out of camera range again, but I don’t need it anymore. They’re almost at the door.
Snap decision time. The tranquilizer has left me with a serious case of dry mouth, but I think I can get a shot
off. There’s only going to be one chance at this. The door swings open. It’s the Scotsman. I reach deep inside for the
spark, charge up the saliva in my mouth, just enough to stun. I let it fly.
With a wave of his cane the electro-loogie stops in midair, less than an inch from his face, and falls to the ground
sputtering. Creases form at the edges of his eyes as the old man roars with laughter. “Expectrocution? Brilliant! You’re
a fighter, lad. That I can respect.” He pulls up a chair, sits down across from me.
“Mister Faraday, my name is Kincaid McHarg. How’d you like to save the world?”

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 All right recruits—listen up! If you’re going to
fight demons, vampires, dark sorcerers and Elder
Things, you’re going to need a Demon Hunter. This
chapter will teach you everything you need to know
to dive right into the waiting jaws of fieldwork
with your Chapter! The actual rules here are easy,
but if you want to survive long enough to get your
first mission, think on this a bit. Demon hunting is
dangerous business. The type of people who get
involved here are stupid, reckless and probably
shanghaied into it brave, talented, and willing to die
for their cause.
Sometimes several times.
Characters & Story
Brotherhood archives are packed with case
details about Demon Hunters engaging
with the enemy, and in every one of those
cases, the Demon Hunters in question
have their own strengths, weaknesses, and
quirks. Just as their personal
backgrounds, experiences,
and attitudes decided how P u r p l e N i n j a s a y : “The early bird get the as long-timers, people with
those missions turned out, worm. But second mouse get the cheese.”
the same is true of the
training simulation you’re
about to play.
Whether you and your colleagues take on the
roles of Harkadian, Silent Jim, and their companions
or come together to represent your own Chapter of
the Brotherhood will set the course for your story.
Think of the training simulation as a “role playing
game” in which your Demon Hunters are the central
characters. What Demon Hunter you put together
is entirely up to you, and this role playing game gives
you the freedom to let your imagination grab the
reins and drive for a bit.
Of course, there’s some back-and-forth here,
too—Demon Hunters isn’t a game about star ships
or dragons or stuff like that. That won’t help you
out there against the enemy, now will it? No, this is
a groundbreaking, full-on training simulation. Talk
to the group, especially the Game Master who’ll be
running your game, before you start making a Demon
Hunter. What type of story does everyone want to
play in? If the Game Master is plotting out something
about a group of mortals who get sucked into a hunt,
  I.e. death
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
then you probably should consider making a mostly-
normal character. If the group as a whole seems to
want to hunt vamps, then you probably shouldn’t
make your Demon Hunter an amateur bloodsucker.
When it comes down to it, noob, this is going
to be about you. Make sure you’re playing a Demon
Hunter you think is fun—and that the whole group
can live with.
Creating a New Chapter
When a Chapter forms, they’re likely to be
a group of raw noobs thrown together for their
first trial mission. Think of it like throwing a bunch
of ingredients into a food processor: A good mix
will produce nice, smooth results. A bad mix, or
someone forgetting to put the lid on, and you get
23
splattered over the landscape, a pulpy mass
of unrecognizable … stuff. So make sure
everyone is on the same page—you’ll all be
Chapter Two: Recruitment
learning together!
Of course, it’s possible
you might be starting out
some experience and a few
scars. This is their starting
level, which the Game
Master sets at one of three options: Recruit, Veteran,
or Seasoned Veteran.
R ecruit
This is the default starting level. You’re hopefully
competent within your field of specialty, or at least
have the sense to keep your head down until you
can get your bearings. New Demon Hunters, most
regular mortals, and very minor supernatural folk
usually qualify for this level—you’re just cutting your
eyeteeth, possibly on those around you.
A Recruit starts with 42 Attribute Points, 62 Skill
Points, and 0 Trait Points (read on to see how these
work).
V eteran
Ok, if you’ve lived this long, you might actually
have a shot at something big someday. You’ve seen
some field work, busted some demonic skulls here
and there, and maybe stapled a vamp to the back of
his coffin with a handy table leg. True expertise at
what you do is possible, and you can probably claim
minor training in several fields.
 Demon Hunter Creation
If you’re an old hand when it comes to training simulations (or, if you like, role playing games), here’s a quick
rundown of how to create a Demon Hunter, without the lengthy explanations:
1. Set Starting Level: The Game Master chooses what level of power the Demon Hunters start with. If they
are Recruits, they get 42 Attribute Points, 62 Skill Points, and 0 Trait Points. If they are Veterans, they get
48 Attribute Points, 68 Skill Points, and 4 Trait Points. If they are Seasoned Veterans, they get 54 Attribute
Points, 74 Skill Points, and 8 Trait Points.
2. Buy Attributes: All characters have six Attributes: Agility, Strength, Vitality, Alertness, Intelligence, and
Willpower. Each Attribute is given a rating of a die type, from d4 to d12. These are the minimum and
maximum for starting Demon Hunters—later on, they can advance to higher ratings or through accident fall
to lower ones. During Demon Hunter creation, the cost in Attribute Points matches the die type, so a d6
Agility costs 6 Attribute Points, and a d10 Strength costs 10.
3. Buy Traits: Players spend their Trait Points on Assets, and can gain more Trait Points by taking
Complications. Each Demon Hunter must have at least one Complication and one Asset. Assets are listed

24 with a set of possible die types, and can only be purchased at those ratings (see Chapter Three: What
It Takes for details). Complications give players more Trait Points to spend, equal to the number of points
their die type would cost (so a Complication with a rating of d4 would give the player 4 Trait Points to spend
on Assets). Demon Hunters cannot start with more than 30 Trait Points gained from Complications.
4. Buy Skills: Players spend their Skill Points in almost the same way as they did their Attribute Points.
However, they start out at d0, and can be purchased at d2. General Skills (like Guns or Athletics) can only
be raised to a maximum of d6. After a General Skill hits d6, Specialties can be purchased under that General
Skill. Essentially, a Specialty continues the General Skill advancement, beginning at d8. Starting Demon
Chapter Two: Recruitment

Hunters cannot have more than d12 in any one Specialty. A General Skill of d6 in Guns costs 6 Skill Points,
and it would cost 2 Skill Points to have a Specialty in Pistols of d8, and another 6 to have a second Specialty
in Rifles of d12.
5. Calculate Derived Attributes: Find your total Life Points by adding together the maximum result of your
Vitality and Willpower dice, and include the effects of any Traits that alter Life Points. Record that on your
Demon Hunter sheet. Then find and record your Initiative as Agility + Alertness + Traits that alter it. Keep
in mind that Initiative, unlike Life Points, uses the dice, and is not just a static number.
6. Finishing Touches: You may need to “acquire,” “find,” or purchase gear, depending on the game you are
playing in. Then flesh out your Demon Hunter with personal details: What does he look like? Does he have
any family? Where are they from? Have they been killed yet? Go as deep as you like into his background and
history—the more detailed he is, the easier it can be to get to know and play him.
Once you’ve got your Demon Hunter, there’s no reason to hang around here all day. The adventure begins.
We ride!

A Veteran starts with 48 Attribute Points, 68 Skill Concept

Points, and 4 Trait Points.
Seasoned Veteran
By now you’ve actually made a name for
yourself. This can be good, this can be bad—you
know what you’re doing, but you probably pissed off
some people learning it. Hopefully your advanced
knowledge will keep you alive long enough to get
them before they get you.
A Seasoned Veteran starts with 54 Attribute
Points, 74 Skill Points, and 8 Trait Points.
Once you’ve got a starting level, you need a
concept. The starting level gives you the beginning
of the game’s mechanics and numbers to describe
your Demon Hunter, but the concept gives you some
flesh to hang on that skeleton—and whether it is
mortal, Hunter, or undead flesh makes a whole lot of
difference.
Once you’ve decided on a general type of
Demon Hunter, which might be decided by the
nature of the simulation or the consensus, then
you get to the real meat of it (to continue the flesh
metaphor). So you’re a Demon Hunter! Do you
specialize in werewolves? Do you want to be a
badass with serious authority problems, or maybe
you think it’d be fun to be a coward with some good

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 tricks for running and hiding? Does your Demon
Hunter have some affinity with certain supernatural
creatures that hunting them has caused, like RM does
with vampires or Albrecht does with shape-shifters?
Thinking in these terms will help sharpen your
mind and focus your goals as you prepare for real
fieldwork.
The concept doesn’t have to be really detailed.
Just try to nail down a basic idea, something you
can describe in one or two sentences. It can change
later if you get a better idea, but it’ll help if you have
something to work with when you move on from this
point.
Nationality, Ethnicity, and
Origin–icity
Since most Hunters are more or less human,
you might not have much to decide here, but you
should give some thought to where you came from.
The good ol’ U.S. of A, Great Britain, the Australian
Outback—a Hunter could be from (and be based)
almost anywhere.
However, if you have a very unusual origin,
talk it over with the Game Master. Humans aren’t
necessarily the only option—but this is a game about
people, so they’re the baseline. If you want to play
a wisecracking, smarmy little gnome who’s a foot
high but good with a lockpick, maybe the Game
Master will allow it, but you have to build the Demon
Hunter just like any other: by taking the appropriate
Attributes, Traits, and Skills.
For a non-human Hunter, your best bet is to
choose Traits very carefully—think about what
bonuses and penalties you should have, and clear
them with the Game Master. Completely inhuman
Hunters are much, much more rare than Hunters
who are just partly supernatural. It’ll be easier to
make a Demon Hunter who’s picked up some wolf-
like tendencies, or an unhealthy fixation on blood,
then it would be to play a leprechaun or carnivorous
space fungus—those characters are often best left to
the Game Master to control as supporting characters.
Attributes
Harkadian is smart, fast, and strong-willed
enough to resist the call of the Darkness; Ned is
easily frightened, uncoordinated and not the most
observant. They’re both humans (more or less … )
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
of about the same age, height, weight, and so on—so
what makes them so different from one another?
Their Attributes.
Attributes are the game terms that describe the
basic physical and mental makeup of the character.
They are used in almost every roll of the game, and
represent fairly broad categories of natural ability.
The physical Attributes are Agility, Strength, and
Vitality. The mental ones are Alertness, Intelligence,
and Willpower. Each Attribute is given a rating
of a die-type—the larger the dice, the better the
Attribute. Humans average out at around d6 in
everything. Someone with an Intelligence of d4 might
go off alone to investigate that strange noise they
heard; someone with a d10 Intelligence would be
more likely to send a henchman first.
Normally, there are limits to how high
25
a single Attribute can be when your Demon
Hunter is created (see below), but it is possible
for experienced Hunters to grow beyond those
Chapter Two: Recruitment
limitations. Once the game begins, Attributes can be
raised indefinitely. Also, Attributes cannot start at a
level below d4. It might sound harsh, but people that
inept won’t last.
When creating a Demon Hunter, you start out
with a number of Attribute Points determined by
your starting level (which the Game Master should
have picked by now). To keep things simple, buying
an Attribute die costs Attribute Points equal to the
die type you want to purchase.
For example, you’ll likely be starting off at the
level of Recruits—better than the average person
on the street, but with plenty of room to grow, and
a lot left to learn. That gives you 42 Attribute Points
to spend, so you won’t be able to make all your
Attributes exceptionally high; you’ll have to pick and
choose. If you’re dead set on playing the brains of the
Table 2.1: .
Attribute Die Costs
Die Type Point Cost
d4 4
d6 6
d8 8
d10 10
d12 12
d12+d2 14
d12+d4 16
 Random Attribute Generation
Sometimes a little chaos can be fun—and sometimes you might have trouble coming up with character concept
you like. In case you want to start with randomly assigned Attributes, possibly so you can then try to fit a
concept to them, here’s how to do it:
1. Find your Starting Level: You start with the same numbers of points, just like everyone else. However,
here the dice types are already assigned. Go to the appropriate list on the table below.
2. Roll to Assign Values: Grab a d6. Starting with Agility, assign one of the die values from your list to each
Attribute, rolling randomly on the list to choose the value each time. If you roll a number you’ve already
assigned, roll again. When you’ve assigned values to all but one Attribute, simply assign the last die value,
since rolling is unnecessary at that point.
3. Roll to Modify: Roll the d6 once more, and find the corresponding Attribute. The choose one of the
following options: 1) do nothing, 2) increase the chosen Attribute by 1 Step, while reducing another
Attribute by 1 Step, or 3) reduce the chosen Attribute by 1 Step, while increasing another Attribute by 1
Step. In no case can you modify an Attribute to be higher or lower than Attributes are normally allowed to

26 start.
4. Reject or Accept: This is an optional set of rules! You should never be forced to accept a character you
think you won’t have any fun playing. You can decide to accept these randomly generated Attributes, re-
randomize, or choose them manually.

Table 2.2: Random Attribute Generation

Chapter Two: Recruitment

d6 Roll Recruit (42) Veteran (48) Seasoned (54)

1 d10 d12 d12
2 d8 d10 d10
3 d8 d8 d10
4 d6 d6 d8
5 d6 d6 d8
6 d4 d6 d6

operation, you might want to go ahead and set aside

10 points to buy an Intelligence of d10 right away,
before starting on the rest. And don’t be a wise-
ass—you can’t buy a type of die that doesn’t exist, so
no d7s or d5s!
As a raw Recruit, you can’t start with any
Attribute higher than d12. However, to reflect
their greater experience, Veterans can start with
Attributes that run as high as d12+d2, and Seasoned
Veterans can go as high as d12+d4. Don’t worry,
though. Regardless of what your Attributes look
like when you start, they can all improve later.
Unfortunately, they could also be (temporarily or
permanently) reduced through accident, even below
a d4!
P hysical A t t ributes
Take a moment to review your Demon Hunter
concept and think about how he operates. If he’s
better with his body than his brain, then physical
Attributes are what he needs most.
Agility covers quickness and physical
coordination, both in terms of balance and hand-eye
work. A high Agility lets your Demon Hunter shoot
a vampire bat out of the air before it can escape
out the window. A low Agility means he might fall
through that window when he trips on his own feet.
Strength represents the physical brawn of your
Demon Hunter, how much muscle he has and how
well toned it is. A high Strength lets him kick down
doors, throw a solid punch, or bench press more

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 than the other guy. A low Strength might give him
trouble with the kickback of even a small pistol, and
make it difficult to carry luggage.
Vitality measures general toughness and health.
A Demon Hunter with high Vitality will be hard to
take down, and even harder to keep down; he can
drink all night, work all day, and take hits that would
put down a lesser person. If he’s got low Vitality,
though, he needs to watch himself near sick people,
and probably avoid highly dangerous work.
M ental A t t ributes
All right, then, if you think you’re so
smart, you’ll want good mental Attributes
instead of physical. Keeping your
mind on the job and having that
actually help things will be difficult
P u r p l e N i n j a say: “Use dark do help bring some of those
if you don’t put any points here. dice with dark numbers so Game
Alertness represents Master cannot read them. Then lie into play. They also let otherwise
your Demon Hunter’s ability to like you are running for office!” human Demon Hunters tap into
observe, understand, and intuit
what is going on around him. A
high Alertness score lets him hear someone sneaking
up on him, detect the lies in a politician’s speech, and
pick up on the subtle cues that someone around him
isn’t entirely human. A low score might let him miss
the bite marks on his own neck.
Intelligence gives a measure of simple
brainpower—your Demon Hunter’s ability to think,
reason, and remember. A high Intelligence makes him
bright, inventive, and capable of dealing with complex
information. A Demon Hunter with a low Intelligence
score might need to consult a dictionary on a regular
basis, and will probably make an ass of himself most
of the time.
Willpower represents your Demon Hunter’s
determination, how forceful his personality and
will are. If he has a high score in Willpower he can
more easily resist intimidation, torture and hardship,
convince someone to do what he wants through
sheer charisma, and push himself further than most
would expect. A low Willpower would make it easier
to take advantage of him, push him around, and even
kill him.
T raits
A list of Attributes can give you a rough idea
about your Demon Hunter, but they don’t really give
him any more personality than a diploma or Katana
Wielding Certification. You may find some basis for
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
comparison, get some idea as to who is qualified for
what job, but that’s nothing more than numbers. A
real Demon Hunter needs more than that. Without
his whiny, incomprehensibly useless nature, Ned
would be just a boring accountant. If he didn’t have
a desire to do the right thing, Harkadian would
probably just give up—but instead he has the will to
keep going and leadership ability to put up with Ned.
In the Demon Hunters Role Playing Game, these
qualities are called Traits.
Traits help define some of the more important
aspects of your Demon Hunter’s personality,
personal history and background, friends
and enemies, and secrets. They aren’t a
replacement for a character
concept or description, but they
27
more nebulous personal qualities
Chapter Two: Recruitment
some aspects of the supernatural
world—be careful to review what
Traits you choose with your Game Master, because
he might not want you using some of the more shady,
unreal ones … at least, not right away.
Traits come in two types: Assets, which are
primarily positive and grant you some assistance or
edge, and Complications, which make life a little
harder most of the time. Both can help define your
Demon Hunter, give you some guidance on how to
role play him, and make game play more fun! Like
Attributes, Assets (but not Complications) can be
bought in a variety of die types, but many of them
have a more limited range. Some Traits can be
purchased in die types of d2+, making them available
at any level—these would be purchased just like your
Attributes, but using Trait Points instead of Attribute
Points. However, other Traits can only be purchased
within a smaller range, like d6–d12, (which could
be bought at the levels d6, d8, d10, or d12) or only
at certain specific levels, such as d2/d6/d10. These
differences are explained again in Chapter Three:
What It Takes, where you can see all the available
Traits defined and explained.
You may not start with any Trait Points, and in
fact Recruits start with 0 by default. That’s where
Complications come in. While Complications also
provide you with a key method for earning Plot
Points later (see Chapter Four: We Ride for more
details), during Demon Hunter creation they also
 provide you with more Trait Points. A Complication
provides you with Trait Points equal to the die type
it is listed as, so a Complication rated at d8 gives you
8 points to spend on Assets. However, be sure to
keep in mind that Complications aren’t just a way to
get more Assets; they’ll have a heavy impact on the
Demon Hunter during game play, and can get him
killed if he isn’t careful! Choose your Traits wisely,
keeping your character concept in mind and using the
Traits to flesh it out and inspire more of it.
All Demon Hunters must start with at least one
Asset and one Complication, and can’t start with any
Trait rated higher than d12. You can’t gain more than
30 Trait Points from Complications.
Like Attributes and Traits, Skills are rated as die
types, starting with a d2 and progressing upward.
Like Attributes, Skills theoretically have no upper
limit—but there is one hitch in the progression.
Skills are divided into two types: General Skills and
Specialty Skills.
General Skills represent broad bases of
knowledge. They cover many individual activities,
and let Demon Hunters be competent in a field
without being particularly gifted at any one thing.
However, because they are so broad in scope, they
are also limited in depth: General Skills can’t advance
beyond d6. Demon Hunters can purchase General
Skills normally from d2–d6, but if they want to

28 Skills
You’ve got your Attributes and Traits, now,
so you probably have a pretty good idea of what
your Demon Hunter is capable of and what you
want him to be able to do. His know-how and
Chapter Two: Recruitment
progress beyond that boundary, they have to pick
individual Specialties. Guns, Athletics, and Drive are
good examples of General Skills.
Specialty Skills are much more narrow and
focused. ‘Guns’ is a General Skill, and lets you pick
up, fire, and handle any small arms. However, the

experience could be from a classroom, time in the
field, apprenticeship in an industry, or sheer natural
talent—but however they got it, it all gets used the
same way. Knowledge and practice are given their
form in Skills.
Harkadian is an agile and strong person,
compared to the average, but his abilities with a
sword are well honed as well. Natural ability is
great—and is often crucial—but even someone with
high Attributes doesn’t stand a chance against an
average-joe who happens to have a much higher level
of training. Pay attention to what Skills are available,
think about what your Demon Hunter would have
picked up over the years (or days, depending) of
training.
Pistol Specialty only covers pistols, not shotguns,
rifles and waterguns. The benefit of Specialties is
that, in game terms, they pick up where General
Skills leave off—they start at d8 and progress
upwards from there, letting you keep improving.
Each Specialty you purchase has to be assigned
to an appropriate General Skill, and you can’t
purchase Specialties under a General Skill until it
has reached the d6 level. For example, Ned can’t
have the General Skill Athletics d4 and purchase
the Specialty Skill Running Away d8. He would first
have to advance his Athletics to d6, then he could
then buy any Specialties under Athletics—there is
no limit to the number of Specialties you can have
under a given General Skill. Also, Specialties have
no upper limit, save that Demon Hunters can’t start

Table 2.3: Skill Costs

Die Type General Cost Specialty Cost
d2 2 -
d4 4 -
d6 6 -
d8 - 2
d10 - 4
d12 - 6
d12 + d2 - 8
d12 + d4 - 10

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 with any above d12. So, to continue that example,
Ned could eventually learn enough about Athletics
to achieve the skills Athletics d6/Running Away
d12+d6/Climbing Trees d10/Dodge d10, given time
and determination.
To buy your Skills, spend your starting Skill
Points like you did your Attribute and Trait Points.
Just remember: You only need to pay for the General
Skill once, but the additional cost required by a
Specialty under it needs to be paid for individually.
For example, RM’s d6 in Melee Weapons costs 6 Skill
Points—but the Specialty of d10 in Bullwhip only
costs an additional 4 Skill Points, since she’s already
paid for the first d6. Adding in other Specialties
would work the same way: A d8 in Knife would cost
2 more Skill Points, and a d12 in Clubs would cost
6. General Skill of d6 (6 Points) + Specialty d10 (4
Points) + Specialty d8 (2 Points) + Specialty d12
(6 Points) = 18 Skill Points total—things would be
much different if she had to pay for the whole die for
While Recruits can’t start with any Skills higher
than d12, because of their experience Veterans can
start with Skills as high as d12+d2, and Seasoned
Veterans can start with Skills at the d12+d4 level.
Skill Rolls
You won’t be using your Skills by themselves;
Skills complement your natural abilities. When you
roll a Skill die, you’ll always be rolling an Attribute die
as well (and sometimes a Trait die), adding together
the results, and hoping to beat the Difficulty number.
However, no one Attribute is married to a given
Skill; which combination you roll depends upon the
situation. The Game Master might ask a doctor to
roll Alertness + Medicine to diagnose a patient, and
then Intelligence + Medicine to treat him properly.
If he gets involved in tricky surgery, he might start
29
rolling Agility + Medicine. The details are all in
Chapter Four: We Ride.

Chapter Two: Recruitment

Specialties!

Interpret the Numbers

So you’ve got a Strength of d6. Your Chapter Head doesn’t want to hear about dice—he wants to hear what the
dice mean.
A d6 in something is more or less average. For your Attributes, that means that you can expect most people to
have d6s in almost everything—Demon Hunters and major supporting characters are exceptions to that, but
most other people are pretty easy to peg. Having a d6 doesn’t make you bad at something, but it doesn’t
give you much of an edge, either. For Attributes, since you aren’t likely to have anything below a d4, that d4
represents something a fair bit below average. A d4 Intelligence doesn’t stop you from talking properly, but
it might make it difficult to follow a complex argument or give a coherent report to The Powers That Be. A
d4 Strength doesn’t mean you can’t lift yourself up, but it might make you a 90-pound weakling who looks
scrawny, gets his girlfriend hideously decapitated, and can barely carry a weapon, let alone use it. On the
other end of the spectrum, d12 represents the maximum that most people could achieve—not the extreme
end of human possibility, but the most common end of it, and a d12 is damn good. We’re a versatile lot,
especially when you take into account the type of people who survive as Demon Hunters. Never assume
you’re the best there can be. You might never see a tree with d12 + d4 Agility, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t
possible.
When it comes to Skills, the d6 average represents what the common working man who uses that Skill might
have. However, that does assume he should have one or two Specialties in the areas he personally works
in—a soldier might have Guns d6/Pistol d8/Rifle d10, for example, and a medic (even a poorly trained one)
probably has at least Medical Expertise d6/First Aid d8. The d6 is the base competency for a professional;
expert-level or professional-level ability means having a few Specialties above that as well.
In terms of Traits, these numbers become a little more abstract. There isn’t really a professional or average
level for Traits as a whole, especially for Demon Hunters. As the stars of the show, they tend to have more
resources (Assets) and problems (Complications) than most people! However, it’s a safe bet to assume that
almost every character, no matter how minor, has at least one Asset and one Complication. For supporting
characters, most will have about d6 worth of Assets and d6 worth of Complications.
Keep these things in mind when you make your Demon Hunter—don’t be afraid to have a d4 in something, and
don’t be afraid to push your limits, drive yourself above and beyond what others expect of you.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 U nskilled R olls
No matter how hard you try to plan and
prepare, you won’t always have all the Skills you need
to get a job done—or even survive. Hand Ned a gun
and you’ll see what I mean. In situations where this
happens to you, hope like hell that your Attributes
alone are enough, because that’s what you’ll be
rolling.
Of course, sometimes you might not be allowed
to roll at all—Ned can try firing that gun,
but he would just faint if given a scalpel
and told to perform surgery. Some Skills
require training to use, and are
marked in their descriptions.
30 When it comes to these, you
can’t even attempt it without at
least a d2 of training. Common
P urple Ninja say:“The demon
sees through your ruse and rips
out your spine. You die.”
sense should be enough to see
that anyone could attempt most
of the other Skills—you can be a bad liar, or a terrible
Chapter Two: Recruitment
driver, and still try it.
D A
erived ttributes
You have already made most of the choices
about your Demon Hunter by assigning his six main
Attributes. Derived Attributes are created directly
from those choices, and don’t actually require you to
make any more decisions. Essentially, what we have
here are two things: Your Demon Hunter’s Initiative,
which determines how quickly he reacts to danger,
and his Life Points, which tell you how much physical
punishment he can take. You can see examples of
these on the Demon Hunter sheets for Gabriel’s
Chapter, Omega Fifteen, and for Harkadian’s
Chapter, Sigma Thirteen.
I nitiative
This is a roll that decides who goes first, or
whether or not you can react in time. Do you make
the first wisecrack, or does the Earthwalker get
the drop on you and leave you groping for a witty
comeback? You make Initiative rolls at the start of
combat or similar time-constrained situations. When
the Game Master asks for an Initiative roll, he wants
you to roll your Agility + Alertness dice and total
the results. Higher is better—you want to go first as
often as possible! You might also make Initiative rolls
to determine your reaction time: Do you dive behind
  Not that you should ever encounter an Earthwalker
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
cover before the grenade goes off? If it’s possible,
you’d likely be rolling your Initiative against the
grenade thrower’s attack roll, and hoping you win.
Record your Agility + Alertness dice, along with any
modifications from Traits, as your Initiative.
L ife P oints
These are a measure of how much damage
you can take before falling unconscious or dying.
Whenever you get fried by hellfire, punched
in the junk, or fall down the stairs, you
accumulate points of Stun (nonlethal or
temporary damage) and
Wound (lethal or long-term
damage). When these equal or
exceed your Life Points, you
probably go down. You can find
your Life Points by adding up
the maximum values of your
Vitality and Willpower dice, along with any modifiers
from Traits. For example, a Demon Hunter with d10
Vitality and d6 Willpower would have 16 Life Points.
See Chapter Four: We Ride for detailed rules
on injury and healing—it might take time, but your
Demon Hunter can eventually recover from most
injuries.
G ear
As a starting Demon Hunter, you are assumed
to have the very basics—the clothes on your back,
the tools you need, and a few small personal effects,
along with a little cash. You might not even have
those tools or personal belongings if your simulation
is starting in a more restrictive setting, like the middle
of a battle in the charred plains of some demonic
dimension ….
Discuss with the Game Master what he thinks
Demon Hunters should start with. When you have
a general idea of what is acceptable, look through
Chapter Five: The Warehouse, make a list, and
check it over with the Game Master. Here are some
guidelines to represent how much money your
starting gear might be worth:
Recruits can start the game with up to $2000
in large gear (used car, computer, rented apartment)
and personal effects; not more than $200 can be in
personal effects or cash.
Veterans can start the game with up to $4000 in
large gear and personal effects; not more than $400
can be in personal effects or cash.
 Focus
on Character,
Not Numbers
So there’s all these little numbers and different
types of dice listed on your Demon Hunter
sheet—you have your Attributes and your Skills
and so on, and you know you’re going to be
rolling dice at some point. But before you do,
take a bit to think about your Demon Hunter.
Don’t think about him as “my Demon Hunter
with d10 Willpower” or other collections of
these game mechanics—think about him as
“Harkadian’s got what it takes—he can do
what he has to, and good luck shaking his
faith!”
The numbers are useful for keeping things fair, but
what’s more important is the reasoning behind
those numbers. Why does your Demon Hunter
have those Attributes, Traits and Skills? The
game’s rules are there to help you represent
the Demon Hunter who has sprung up in your
imagination—and they probably have a lot
more life to them than a collection of numbers
on a sheet. Have fun role playing them, and
don’t worry if the numbers don’t make you the
best at what you do in every single instance;
attitude is a lot more important. The story is
the key—this is a role playing game meant to
help build a story, and that’s a bigger deal than
the dice.
Seasoned Veterans can start the game with up
to $8000 in large gear and personal effects; not more
than $800 can be in personal effects or cash.
This isn’t a game about number-crunching or
making money, so players shouldn’t have to try
and track down real-world prices for comparison
or spend a lot of time trying to work out how
much money they have left—that will only detract
from the group’s fun. Use the numbers above as
approximations, and (with Game Master approval on
large purchases) use approximations of real-world
prices! These specific numbers are just guidelines.
The Game Master should be sure that each Demon
Hunter (and each Chapter or group) has appropriate
gear based on their level of experience. He should
adjust both the equipment available and starting cash
to match the background and story he has in mind.
For more details on gear, see Chapter Five: The
Warehouse.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Plot Points
In the Demon Hunters Role Playing Game, Plot
Points are the game’s primary reward for good role
playing, and represent the interaction of the Demon
Hunter and player with the story. Each Demon
Hunter starts the game with 6 Plot Points; at any one
time, he can have up to a maximum of 12, earning
them for a variety of things. They can be spent at
almost any time during play, and can add bonus dice
to rolls, reduce the damage the Demon Hunter
suffers from an attack, or even be used to directly
alter or add elements to the story. See Chapter
Four: We Ride for details on how Plot Points work.
Plot Points are a vital element of the training
simulation, and as you play you’ll see more and more
opportunities to spend and earn them. Ideally, you,
31
the other players, and the Game Master should
be trading Plot Points back and forth as often as a
Sister of Divine Retribution unloads her Glock. Plot
Chapter Two: Recruitment
Points are there to make the game more fun for the
players, especially at times when the Demon Hunters
are having a hard time of it, and having an ample
supply of them and opportunities to spend them will
improve the game for everyone. Oh, and it’s worth
noting that Plot Points, especially when well spent
and used by the whole group, can lead to bonuses for
Demon Hunter advancement.
Plot Points are saved between sessions. Record
how many you have left at the end of each session,
and start off with that many next time.
For more details on how Plot Points work, see
Chapter Four: We Ride.
Character Development
You may be building your first Demon Hunter
as a raw Recruit, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be a
Recruit forever. Just as you’ll discover in the field,
your Demon Hunter will have the opportunity to
learn new Skills, discover or acquire new Traits,
and improve his Attributes. Hopefully you’ll also be
learning more about your hunter as you go along;
this is a role playing game, after all, and getting into
your role is what makes things interesting. You may
not survive—you might be slaughtered horribly by
creatures of the night—but at least you’ll have the
chance to do better the next time! Out there in the
world, once a stain, always a stain.
 Advancement in the Demon Hunters Role
Playing Game usually occurs fairly slowly, but it
happens steadily, over time. From attending sessions,
role playing well, and completing goals in the game,
you will earn Advancement Points which you can
spend to buy more Attribute, Trait, and Skill Points.
Spending these Points is, basically, the same as
Demon Hunter creation—but now you only need
to add to or increase things, rather than start from
scratch, so there are a few differences:
Between sessions you can increase one of your
dice (a single Attribute, Trait, or Skill) by one Step.
The Game Master may decide that, if there’s a long
downtime between sessions (or during a session,
32 even) you can buy more than one increase, but
there usually isn’t time for that except during
extensive training. So, for example, if you have
an Agility of d6, you could increase it to d8—
but not immediately to d10, and
nor could you simultaneously
P urple Ninja say:“Save Plot Points for would cost 6 Trait Points
Chapter Two: Recruitment
increase your Guns Skill from d4
Dramatically Appropriate Situations. If your to remove.
to d6. Choose one, and do the
Game Master is fair, he will reward good
other next time.
storytelling. If he is not, call him a douche.”
For Attributes and Skills,
you pay the difference in Points
between your current Step and the Step you are
buying. During Demon Hunter creation, buying an
Agility of d8 would cost 8 Attribute Points; when
advancing the Demon Hunter, if you have an Agility
of d6 (6 Attribute Points during Demon Hunter
generation), it would cost 2 Attribute Points to
increase it to a d8. The total cost is the same either
way, and so any increase of +1 Step should always
cost 2 of the appropriate type of Points.
For Assets, you may buy them at any level the
Game Master agrees is appropriate, even if that
means skipping a Step or two (or three). Some
Traits are only available at high die types, so this is
absolutely necessary when buying those. Also, even
for Traits that scale like Attributes, you and the Game
Master should decide whether or not it makes the
most sense to gain it at the high level right away, or
to start out at a lower die type. Here, the game and
the situation should help decide. Then, simply pay the
appropriate cost in Trait Points.
A dvanced R ule : E xceeding d 12
Dice above d12 cost double the difference—to
go from d10 to d12 always costs 2 Points, but to go
from d12 to d12+d2 costs 4 Points. This covers the
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
extraordinary level of ability that dice higher than
d12 represent. If the Game Master feels this is too
complicated, he can dispense with this rule.
D ealing with A ssets and
C omplications
Complications can be gained (sometimes
voluntarily), but they do not give you Trait Points
after Demon Hunter creation. Once your Demon
Hunter is created, new Complications don’t provide
automatic bonuses like that; however, they do
provide you with more opportunities to earn Plot
Points, and otherwise work just like Complications
chosen during Demon Hunter creation.
A Complication can be taken off your
Demon Hunter sheet by spending its die
type maximum in Trait Points, just as much
it would cost to purchase an Asset of the
same Step. For example,
a Complication rated d6
When gaining or
losing any Traits (or
even increasing your
Attributes and Skills), you should try to role play
the change, thinking carefully about how and why
the change happened. Sometimes the Game Master
might require you to play out the increase in the
game; perhaps you can’t increase your Unarmed
Combat Skill without finding a Tibetan master of
martial arts during play. Maybe you can’t buy an Asset
for your Demon Hunter without first arranging for it
during the course of the training simulation, or you
can’t get rid of a Complication without first wrestling
with it. Of course, the game is about having fun;
Game Masters should be open to the idea of letting
players buy the changes they want, and then working
them into the game as soon as possible—however,
the Game Master’s word is final.
A dvancement oints P
You can spend Attribute, Trait, and Skill Points to
buy dice. And you can spend Advancement Points to
buy those other Points with. But how do you do that?
And where the do the Advancement Points (or AP)
come from?
 Table 2.4: Advancement Point Costs
This...
1 Attribute Point
1 Trait Point
1 Skill Point
G aining AP
Advancement Points are awarded to players at
the end of each game session. Each Demon Hunter
in the group earns the same number after a session,
and the amount gained can vary from 1 to 4 AP. This
keeps advancement to a reasonable rate, and also
both keeps things ‘fair’ and encourages teamwork
and group role playing, since the AP gained are
dependent upon all the players.
The Game Master awards AP for the following
things:
Evolution: This is the basic award for playing
the game. Nothing stays the same forever, and so
Demon Hunters always earn at least 1 AP.
Good Role Playing: If, by and large, the role
playing, attitudes, and interactions of the players (and
Game Master) let everyone have fun, and included
at least some appropriate in-character ideas and
role playing from everyone, add 1 AP to the session
award
Plot Interaction: Plot Points represent the
major way that players can interact with the world
of the game and influence the story, whether they
are spending them to change the story or are earning
them (possibly from being changed by the story,
through their Complications). If the entire group
had a part in shaping the story this way—whether
through use of Plot Points to shape the story or just
through good play—add 1 AP to the session award.
The Story: If the players managed to move the
story along, either by following the action or finding
their own, add 1 AP to the session award. They don’t
necessarily have to have been successful or doing
the right thing to earn this bonus. Where’s the fun in
that?
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
...Costs This many AP
8
7
3
S pending AP
Spending AP is easy. Between sessions, AP can
be spent to buy Attribute Points, Trait Points, and
Skill Points according to Table 2.4. Any unspent
Advancement Points are saved, and should be noted
on your Demon Hunter sheet.
Example of Demon Hunter
Creation
33
(An ordinary-looking office, with a table, a
laptop, scratch paper, and a copy of the Demon
Hunters RPG rulebook. Gabriel, Head of Chapter
Chapter Two: Recruitment
Omega Fifteen, is sitting across from a somewhat
ordinary looking man in track clothing.)
Gabriel: All right, Recruit. What’s your name?
Fisk: Fisk, Sir.
Gabriel: All right, Fisk. It says here that I’ve
been assigned to help you prepare your Demon
Hunter for the Tabletop Combat Simulation. Have
you done one of these before?
Fisk: No, Sir.
Gabriel: That’s fine. There’s a first time for
everybody. So let me see. We’re supposed to start
with a concept. This is you, so what’s your concept?
How would you summarize it?
Fisk: I’m not sure what you mean, Sir.
Gabriel: A general idea of who you are. Helps
us work out where to assign all of your points
and so forth. For instance, Harkadian’s an Occult
Expert, Sparky’s a Tech Savant, Ned’s … well. He
was an accountant, once.
Fisk: Well, Sir, I did grow up on a farm in
Nebraska.
Gabriel: Nebraskan Farmboy. There we go.
Good start.
Fisk: Yes, Sir.
Gabriel: So, Fisk, since you’re a Recruit,
that’s going to be your starting level for the
Simulation. That gives us 42 points to assign to
Attributes. Nebraskan Farmboy’s going to be pretty
brawny, right? You look like you work out.
Fisk: Yes, Sir.
Gabriel: Work with me here, Fisk. Each die in
an Attribute costs a number of points equal to the
maximum result on the die, and d6 is the average,
so take a look here at these six Attributes and tell
me which ones you’re going to be above average in.
Got it?
 Fisk: (Thinks about it for five minutes)
Alertness, Intelligence, and Willpower, Sir.
Gabriel: What about them?
Fisk: Above average, Sir. I think I would make
those d8.
Gabriel: But those are all …
Fisk: (Stares blankly)
Gabriel: … sure, that works. So, three
Attributes at d8 costs 24 points, leaving you with
18. Shall we say, hmm. A d8 in Strength or Vitality?
Fisk: I think d6 in all three, Sir.
Gabriel: If you say so, Fisk. Very well. So
that’s all 42 points spent, and your Attributes look
like this:
Agility d6
Strength d6
Vitality d6
Gabriel: Right. So. Anything stand out?
Fisk: (Looks at the list for another five
minutes) Lightning Reflexes and Branded by the
Infernal, Sir.
Gabriel: Excuse me?
Fisk: Looks like they come in various degrees,
Sir. I’d say Lightning Reflexes d4 and Branded by the
Infernal d4.
Gabriel: (Looks at Fisk’s dossier) You’re half-
demon?
Fisk: Yes, Sir.
Gabriel: And you didn’t see fit to mention this
earlier?
Fisk: All cleared during the Psychiatric
Assessment, Sir.
Gabriel: (Clears his throat.) I see. Well. Yes,
you can choose any die type you want for Lightning

34 Alertness d8
Intelligence d8
Willpower d8
Fisk: That looks right, Sir.
Reflexes, and Branded by the Infernal has various
set levels you can choose that provide a number of
… benefits … d4 in each? Fine. So, let’s take a
look at your Trait selection.
Gabriel: I’m not sure this really suits Branded by the Infernal d4 (includes Eerie
Nebraskan Farmboy, but I’m assuming you’re going Presence d4, Memorable d4, Allergy [holy] d2, add
to cover that base more in Traits and Skills. So let’s d4 to Strength and Immune [fire] d8)
move on. Lightning Reflexes d4 (adds Trait die to
Chapter Two: Recruitment

Fisk: Yes, Sir. Initiative and related rolls)

Gabriel: As a Recruit, you’ve got no points Pyro d8 (likes to start fires, a lot)
in Traits, so if you want to pick up any Assets Fisk: That ‘s right, Sir.
you’ll need to take an equivalent amount in Gabriel: (Shifts in his
Complications. Okay? seat.) Next up, Skills. Here
Fisk: Yes, Sir. you have 62 points to assign.
Gabriel: Let’s start off with You can put as many as 6
Complications, since those can give you into a General Skill, but to
points to assign to Assets. What sort get any more than that you’ll
of things do you imagine make your have to take Specialties.
life difficult? Nebraskan Farmboys Okay?
probably don’t have much to worry
about, although with the current
economic climate in the
Midwest, I’m thinking …
Fisk: Pyro looks good for
8 points, Sir.
Gabriel: Pyro? You like
to start fires?
Fisk: Seems like a good
fit, Sir.
Gabriel: Did you go
through Psychiatric Assessment
yet, Fisk?
Fisk: Herr Doktor said I was
just fine, Sir.
Gabriel: Well, all right. So,
Pyro d8. Anything else?
Fisk: No, Sir.
Gabriel: Moving on, then.
You have eight points in Assets.
There’s a whole lot here that
would suit your concept as a
… Nebraskan Farmboy. Are we
still with Nebraskan Farmboy?
Fisk: Yes, Sir.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Fisk: Yes, Sir.
Gabriel: Good. So, think more about your
… pyromaniac half-demon Nebraskan Farmboy
concept, and pick out the Skills you think make the
most sense. I’d suggest Animals, maybe Drive and
Mechanic?
Fisk: (Flips through rulebook, writes down a
list of Skills, hands the paper to Gabriel.) Here’s
the list, Sir.
Gabriel: Covert, with Specialties in Forgery,
Sabotage, and Stealth?
Fisk: That’s right, Sir.
Gabriel: How does any of this relate to your
concept? I strongly advise putting some points into
Animals, Fisk. That’s not even on this list.
Fisk: Very well, Sir. I’ll make the changes.
(Five minutes later.)
Fisk: Revised list, Sir.
Gabriel: (Shakes his head) So, in summary,
your Skills are as follows:
Animals d4 (4 points)
Athletics d6/Dodge d10 (6 + 4 = 10 points)
Covert d6/Forgery d10/Sabotage d10/Stealth
d10 (6 +4 + 4 + 4 = 18 points)
Guns d6/Assault Rifles d10 (6 + 4 = 10
Gabriel: Huh. Well. Anyway, last few details.
Initiative is Agility + Alertness, so that’s d6 + d8,
plus d4 for the Lightning Reflexes. Life Points is
the maximum of your Vitality + Willpower dice,
so that’s 6 + 8, or 14. Endurance is Vitality +
Willpower, so that’s d6 + d8, and Resistance is
Vitality + Vitality … wait, where are you going,
Fisk?
Fisk: (Gets up out of his seat.) I’m expected in
my Brotherhood Secrets That Should Be Protected
At All Costs class, Sir.
Gabriel: They have a class on that?
Fisk: So I’m told, Sir. It’s on my schedule …
Gabriel: All right. Well, I hope this has been
a useful exercise, Fisk. We’ll see you in Tabletop
Combat Simulations soon, I hope. Send the next
one in, will you?
Fisk: Yes, Sir.
(Fisk leaves. Enter a huge, hairy, tusked
monstrosity)
Gabriel: … you are shitting me.
35
Hairy Monster: Hello, Sir. I’m Bob. My
Demon Hunter concept is “Surfer Dude with Heart
of Gold.”
Gabriel: (Exhales) All right, Bob. Take a seat,

Chapter Two: Recruitment

points) and let’s get to work …
Melee Weapons d6/Knives d10 (6
+ 4 = 10 points)
Unarmed Combat d6/Brawling d10
(6 + 4 = 10 points)
Fisk: I think that’s it, Sir.
Gabriel: Fisk, this doesn’t
look anything like a Nebraskan
Farmboy. In fact, I’m not even
sure this is the kind of thing
we’re looking for.
Fisk: Ichabod
said I was exactly
what he was
looking for, Sir.
Gabriel:
… He did?
Fisk: Yes,
Sir. Right on the
money, Sir.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Gabriel Chapter Leader
Agility: d8 Skills &
Strength: d8 Specialties
Vitality: Athletics: d6
d8 Covert: d6
Alertness: d6 Stealth: d8
Intelligence: Discipline: d6
d8 Resistance: d10
Willpower: d10 Drive: d4
Guns: d6
Influence: d6
Life Points: 18 Leadership: d10
Initiative: d8+d6 Persuasion: d8
Knowledge: d6
Endurance: d8+d10 Religion: d8
Resistance: Melee Weapons: d6
d8+d8 Sword: d12
Perception: d2
Summary
From birth, the Brotherhood marked Gabriel for greatness. The child of an unnamed angel and Assets &
a mortal woman, Gabriel is Nephilim—half-angel. The Brotherhood whisked him away during his
childhood, right after he started learning how to tap into the divine energies that flow through him.
Complications
At the Academy, he shined. Every instructor cited his potential, his relentless drive toward perfection. Blessed: d4
Kincaid took him on as a private pupil and groomed him for command. And, at 21, Gabriel took his first Duty (Brotherhood): d8
assignment as Chapter Head of Gamma Three. Two years later, with a perfect service record (and the Friends in “High” Places: d4
fact that Gamma Three had been outshining most of the Alpha Chapters), Gabriel assumed command of
Idealist: d6
Alpha One. He had arrived. The boy the Brotherhood identified as one of its greatest had reached the
top tier. From here, he would write his legacy. And, unfortunately, he did. Infamy: d6
The Vancouver Disaster. Gabriel will never be associated with anything else. It doesn’t matter that Leadership: d4
he was the youngest Hunter ever to head Alpha One. It doesn’t matter that under his leadership, Alpha Marked by the Divine: d8
One destroyed more Infernal Scepter cells than the Brotherhood had since the end of the Era Infernalis. Reputation: d4
No, none of that matters. Prior to the Vancouver Disaster, Alpha One had never lost more than a single Rival (Ichabod): d6
Hunter in three years. On that fateful day, they lost five. And with those five died over a half-century of
elite demon hunting experience.
Stubborn SOB: d6
That Gabriel would lose his command was a given. The only question was what the Brotherhood
would do to him after the court martial. The Brotherhood rarely executes its own, but even though exile was the likeliest outcome, capital
punishment was on the table. When the decision came down, it shocked everyone. Gabriel was at fault. His negligence lead to Alpha One’s near-
annihilation. But rather than dishonorably discharging him or worse, they gave him another command—the command of an Omega Chapter:
Omega Fifteen, based in western Washington state, a region of zero paranormal activity.
This is worse than exile. The Brotherhood decided to keep him around as a reminder, an example, a warning to young Chapter Heads about
how far and how fast one can fall. For Gabriel, the shame is unbearable. He’ll do whatever he must to resurrect his name and put himself back in
good standing with the Brotherhood. He longs for a chance to prove his legacy wrong. And when that chance arises, nothing—not common sense,
not his own safety, nor the lives of his team—will keep him from his redemption.

Gear
Gabriel’s Chapter sword is a katana (d8 W). He wears a do-rag on his head to keep in the powerful radiation of his Nephilim halo, and his
Leather Jacket features conveniently placed duct tape for additional Nephilim restraint. Gabriel makes sure to keep his Communicross handy
at all times. Also on his person at any given moment are a 9mm pistol (d6 W, ranged increment 50 feet), a bullwhip (d2 B, range 10 feet, make
grapple actions at range), a utility knife (d2 W), and a faded menu from Dave’s Heavenly Cheesecake Delicatessen and Celestial Kenjutsu School.

Chapter Omega Fifteen

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
 Silent Jim
Enigmatic Chronomancer
Agility:
Skills & d10
Specialties Strength: d6
Athletics: d4 Vitality: d6
Covert: d6
Alertness: d8
Stealth: d10
Discipline: d6 Intelligence: d10
Concentration: d10
Willpower: d8
Guns: d6
Submachine Guns: d10
Pistols: d12 Life Points: 14
Influence: d6
Intimidation: d12 Initiative: d10+d8
Knowledge: d4 Endurance:
Perception: d6
d6+d8
Unarmed Combat: d6 Resistance: d6+d6
Assets &
Complications Summary
“Enigma” is stamped at the top of Silent Jim’s dossier. He’s the only Hunter with that on his
Dead Inside: d6 file—the stamp’s usually used for monsters. Where he comes from, nobody can rightly say; he just
Duty (Brotherhood): d12 showed up at the Academy some 20 years ago, applied, and completed his coursework. In a day.
Exists Outside of Time: d8 Which should have been—and by all accounts still is—impossible.
Fluid Character History: d8 The Brotherhood census has him down as a chronomancer—a time wizard. And there’s
compelling evidence for that—he can move in bursts of superhuman speed, freeze in perfect stasis,
Mystic Vortex: d6 and seems able to pull anything he needs out of his pockets. There was that time, as has already
Rival (Jim): d10 been mentioned, that he did five years of course work in a single day. Oh, and there was also the
Second Sight: d4 time he died.
Shadow: d10 Silent Jim made Alpha One a year after joining the Brotherhood. He was actually a member
Signature Item (Shades): d2 of the team before even Gabriel—that’s where they met. Silent Jim served with unnerving,
laconic distinction until he died during the Vancouver Disaster. Angel and Ichabod—the only other
Spooky Mystique: d6
surviving members besides Gabriel—saw Jim die. They saw the sea demon snatch him from the
deck, saw him vanish down its throat. Yet, a month later, right after Gabriel’s court martial, Jim just
showed up, looking somehow younger than when he joined the Brotherhood. Impossible? Very. But there it is. That’s Silent Jim.
He came back changed, though. He had much less control over his powers. Unbalanced, they called him. Broken. For Ichabod, who took
command of Alpha One after Gabriel, Silent Jim became a liability—though that might have had something to do with that incident involving
Silent Jim, a vat of bleach, and Ichabod’s cat, Blackie. With the stigma of being dismissed from the Brotherhood’s premier Chapter, and most
Hunters still pretty weirded out by his miraculous non-death, no offers came for Silent Jim to join Chapters—except for one: Omega Fifteen,
Gabriel’s new group. Silent Jim joined without hesitation.
Silent Jim never talks about himself, or anything else—his name’s not just a clever handle. He’s especially tight-lipped about his past, so
Demon Hunters have come up with their own theories. Some Hunters figure he’s the result of genetic engineering. Others swear he’s an
alien. But only one thing is certain about Silent Jim—he has never taken off his sunglasses. Word is, if he does, something very bad will happen.

Gear
Silent Jim’s Bottomless Trench Coat not only looks cool, it boasts superior encumbrance management. Within its many pockets, Silent Jim
keeps a pair of silver-plated Desert Eagle semi-automatic pistols (d8 W, ranged increment 60 feet), a shotgun (d10 W, ranged increment
60 feet), and much more. He’s never seen without his signature Black Fedora and Shades.

Note: These are what we merely assume Silent Jim’s statistics are. Last time a proper assessment was conducted, all of our instruments failed. Feel
free to use these as written, but remember, we warned you.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

Chapter Omega Fifteen
 AlbrechtHousebroken Werewolf
Agility: d8 Skills &
Strength: d10 Specialties
Vitality: d8 Animals: d4
Athletics: d6
Alertness: d8 Covert: d4
Intelligence: d6 Discipline: d6
Guns: d6
Willpower: d8 Pistols: d8
Influence: d4
Life Points: Knowledge: d4
16 Melee Weapons: d6
Initiative: d8+d8 Perception: d6
Smell: d8
Endurance: d8+d8 Survival: d6
Resistance: d8+d8 Foraging: d10
Tracking: d10
Unarmed Combat: d6
Summary
Ethan Albrecht has always deserved better. The Albrechts are Demon Hunters, a family Assets &
tradition going nine generations back, ever since William “Mad Dog” Albrecht single handedly
saved the New South Wales penal colony during the Great Bunyip Migration of 1790. Since then, Complications
every male Albrecht has trained from birth to track and eradicate anything higher than humans in Focused Hunter
the food chain. They’re among the Brotherhood’s premiere scouts, and many of the Chapters in (Lycanthropes): d4
the top three tiers—Alpha, Beta, and Gamma—have boasted of an Albrecht in their ranks.
This was the legacy promised to Ethan Albrecht: a career of honorable service, the only
Glory Hound: d4
career worthy of an Albrecht. The youngest in his family, Albrecht’s brothers—all twelve of Lycanthrope: d8
them—had already served for years by the time he graduated and was insultingly assigned to a Rebellious: d4
Delta Chapter. No worries, though. He could bear that indignity. Give him a month, and he’d be
promoted out of the bush leagues and wind up where he belonged.
That never happened. Albrecht’s life changed during a Drop Bear hunt with Chapter Delta Four in the Australian outback. The group was
so focused on the treetops, they failed to notice signs of werewolf activity in the area. Two of the team died in the attack, and Albrecht sustained
horrible injuries. The bites poisoned his blood, and the werevirus raged through his body. Soon, he would start to change. Ethan reloaded his
gun with silver bullets—better to die with dignity as a man, not a monster. Albrecht’s Chapter leader disarmed him and knocked him out until
transport arrived to airlift the team out of the area. Albrecht was taken back to Brotherhood HQ where he began the long and painful series of
treatments to halt the spread of the werevirus.
Upon his recovery, Albrecht found himself treated as an outcast. His former Chapter wouldn’t take him back, fearing his were-tainted blood
made him a security risk. His own family disowned him in disgrace. Months he waited for an assignment, for a chance to prove his worth. And
slowly, it sunk in—he would never make an elite Chapter. The first Albrecht in a century to serve in a mid-range Chapter, or worse. This was not
the legacy he deserved. He’d be damned if a brush with lycanthropy was gonna keep him from what was rightfully his.
An offer eventually came. Albrecht grudgingly accepted a position in Chapter Omega Fifteen. It’s not a good fit. He’s working under Gabriel,
the disgraced former leader of Alpha One, whose reckless disregard for standard procedure resulted in the death of most of his team. Albrecht
knows that if he were in command, he’d have this Chapter running like a well-oiled machine, moving quickly back up the ranks to where he
belongs. That’d be a good way to start, heading his own Chapter. That would get him promoted pretty quickly, as he deserves. But for now, he’ll
just have to wait. Sooner or later, Gabriel will screw things up again. When that happens, Albrecht will be ready to take his place.

Gear
Albrechet holsters a well-maintained pistol, a Colt .45 Peacemaker (d6 W, ranged increment 50 feet) loaded with silver bullets. He’s also
commonly seen with a Bowie knife (d4 W) and a handful of Baco-Snacks.

Chapter Omega Fifteen

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
 R.M.
Reformed Vampire
Agility: d8+d6
Skills &
Specialties Strength: d8+d6
Athletics: d6 Vitality: d10
Climbing: d8
Alertness: d8
Jumping: d8
Covert: d6 Intelligence: d6
Discipline: d4
Willpower: d8
Guns: d4
Influence: d4
Knowledge: d4 Life Points: 18
Mechanic: d4
Melee Weapons: d4 Initiative: d8+d6+d8
Perception: d6 Endurance:
Empathy: d10
d10+d8
Survival: d6 Resistance: d10+d10
Tech: d6
Unarmed Combat: d6
Summary
Assets & The Demon Hunter who would become R.M. died at Woodstock. She doesn’t remember
much: The Who on stage, her screams drowned by the deafening chords of “Pinball Wizard.”
Complications The man in black, the blood … oh God, the blood. They call it being “held in thrall.” It sounds
Duty: d8 pleasant, poetic even. Lies. It’s mind rape. The Master is in control, making her do horrible,
Focused Hunter (Animates): d2 unspeakable things. She watches uncountable atrocities committed by her own hands, feels the
bones crush between her fingers. She tastes the sweet, copper tang of blood. And the screams.
Focusted Hunter (Vampires): d4 Years pass. She wakes with a start. A searing bolt of pain shoots through her heart.
Vampire: d6 Inside her head, she hears the Master screaming. And then he’s gone. For the first time in 20
years, she is alone inside her head. She looks up to find herself surrounded by figures in black,
weapons aimed at her from all sides—her saviors. Her arms and legs are shackled, and a hood is tied over her head, but beneath the hood she
smiles. She’s finally free.
When the hood is removed, she’s sitting at a table in a concrete room. Across from her sits a man with wildly unkempt grey hair. He smiles at
her and introduces himself as Kincaid, from the Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch. She’s heard of these people. They’re Demon Hunters.
He offers her a drink, pouring a glass of thin brown liquid from a pitcher on the table. She sips it cautiously, and is surprised. Not by the taste,
which is oddly reminiscent of Tang, but by the fact that it quiets the Thirst—the constant gnawing desire that, until now, could only be calmed
with fresh blood. It’s not gone, but it’s better. Kincaid calls it Vitamin V, an artificial blood substitute. A vamp could go her entire life without ever
touching a drop of blood, as long as she drank this stuff, he tells her. Then he gives her something she hasn’t had in years: a choice.
She never had a choice. So Kincaid makes her an offer. He’ll take her under his wing, coach her through her recovery, and guide her through
training to become the first vampiric agent of the Brotherhood. There’s not a single doubt in her mind. She accepts.
The training is hard, but the rehab is worse. Vitamin V takes care of the physiological need for blood, but the craving is still there. It always
will be. She’ll never get rid of the craving, but in time she will learn to control it.
The hatred and mistrust from the other agents is palpable. They’ve trained all their lives to kill her kind, and now they are expected to work
with her. Yesterday they nailed a rubber bat to the door of her room. Her vampiric hearing ensures that she never misses a slur. Bloodsucker.
Parasite. Tick. Rigor Mortis.
Rigor Mortis. She’s keeping that one, taking it back. She knows who she is, and she’s proud of it. She’s a person with a disease, and she’s
working to make the world a better place. There’s not a damn thing wrong with that. If they want to call her names, they’re going to have to do it
to her face from now on.

Gear
When she’s on a mission, R.M. typically dresses in her UV-resistant sunsuit (Armor Rating 2 S) and carries a Moroccan scimitar (d6W).
Crucial drac-hunting equipment includes a stake and mallet and a bottle of Vitamin V to keep the Thirst at bay.

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Chapter Omega Fifteen
 The Cipher
Database Liason
Agility: d6 Skills &
Strength: d8 Specialties
Vitality: d10 Covert: d6
Disable Device: d10
Alertness: d6 Sabotage: d8
Intelligence: d10 Discipline: d4
Knowledge: d4
Willpower: d8 Culture: d8
History: d10
Life Points: Religion: d10
18 Mechanic: d6
Initiative: d6+d6 Perception: d6
Science: d6
Endurance: d10+d8 Math: d10
Resistance: d10+d10 Tech: d6
Hacking: d12
Repair: d8
Summary
He lives to serve. He doesn’t actually have a choice in the matter. His base programming is Assets &
hardcoded into the neural net of his positronic brain. Above all else, follow any direct order from
a superior officer. Unless that order would put the life of another superior officer at risk. Unless Complications
the officer being put at risk has defied a direct order from his superior officer. Unless – well, it’s a Attuned to Technology: d6
complicated program. But it all comes down to the same basic rule: he lives to serve. Whether it’s Cipher: d10
hacking into the city power grid to shut down enemy fortifications, accessing the Brotherhood’s
NecroMoniComSat system to scan the area for evidence of dark magic, or consulting the
Duty: d8
Brotherhood Database to determine the best method for defeating a Gorgon, The Cipher is the go- Wise Ass: d4
to-guy for all matters technological. He’s also pretty damn bulletproof.

Gear
The Omega Fifteen Cipher typically carries his Brotherhood-issued laptop, and of course wears his Cipher goggles,
since without them he’s just a handsome artificial dude in black.

Chapter Omega Fifteen

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
 Wolf
Immortal Mercenary
Agility:
Skills & d6
Specialties Strength: d12
Athletics: d6 Vitality: d12
Guns: d6
Influence: d6 Alertness: d6
Intimidation: d12 Intelligence: d4
Medicine: d4
Melee Weapons: d6 Willpower: d8
Perception: d6
Survival: d6 Life Points:
Camouflage: d8 20
First Aid: d8 Initiative: d6+d6
Tracking: d10
Endurance: d12+d8
Unarmed Combat: d6
Brawling: d12 Resistance: d12+d12
Wrestling: d12

Assets & Summary

Complications Lupus Wolf first came to the Brotherhood’s attention after he beat the crap out of the
Archangel Raphael in a bar fight. Well, “fight” isn’t the most accurate word to use. “Fight” implies two
Anger Issues: d4 participants. What transpired, according to onlookers, was this: while delivering a message (like angels
Crude: d8 do) to the bar’s waitress, Raphael accidentally knocked over Wolf’s beer. By way of apology, Raphael
Explosive Plausibility: d4 said, “God loves you,” to which Wolf replied, “I ain’t no queer!” Wolf body-slammed Raph through
Heavy Tolerance: d10 the jukebox, broke both his wings off, and shaved his head with a broken beer bottle. Then Wolf ate
Raph’s wings. Raw.
Marked by the Divine: d12 Raphael demanded swift justice. The man was obviously a half-demon to have beaten him so
(includes Brawler d6, Mystic badly. Brotherhood Command sent a Chapter to investigate. The Chapter returned with four of its
Vortex d6, Old-Timer d12, Rival Hunters in traction, and three of them pregnant. But they had completed their mission and gotten a
d8, and Tough Sunnava … d8), blood sample. To everyone’s surprise, Wolf had no demon blood. He did, however, have a drop of
So Damn Macho: d10 godly blood in him—he was a godling, with a bloodline going all the way back to Hercules. He is a
concrete slab of Grade-A red-blooded American Badassitude. The Brotherhood put him on their “Do
Not Approach” list.
Upon closer review, Wolf’s Herc blood seems obvious. The ultimate mercenary, there’s been almost no armed conflict in the last quarter-
century that Wolf did not participate in, prolong, or instigate. His bloodlust and total lack of fear have made him a legend of the modern battlefield.
But after so much ceaseless combat, even Wolf grew bored. He found he was losing his love for battle, and spiraled into a cycle of depression.
It was at the bottom of this cycle, in a bar in Tangiers, when a Gabriel approached him and offered Wolf something he hadn’t had in years—a
challenge.
Wolf enthusiastically joined Omega Fifteen. Though he’s already set the Brotherhood record for kills by a rookie, his membership is still
pending. That might be because Wolf broke St. Peter’s collarbone when he suggested Wolf had a kind heart. Everything Wolf throws explodes.
Before he joined the Brotherhood, his motto was “Kill ‘em all, and let God sort ‘em out!” He has since amended the motto to simply “Kill ‘em all!”

Gear
Wolf considers his Beer-Mug-Out-Of-Nowhere (d2 B if used as a weapon, either in melee or thrown, and filled with delicious lager) to be
sufficient preparation for any mission. He can be convinced to take along a BFG (d4 W, Vehicle scale), especially if he can borrow one from
Anti-Tank Sally.

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Chapter Omega Fifteen
 Chapter three:

What It Takes
H
arkadian winced as he tightened the straps of his harness. He’d rather it was too tight than have
it fall off. The sound of screeching metal came from the tunnel ahead. “We’ve only got one shot
at this one. Let’s make it count. Ned, how are the new arms holding up?”
Ned stretched his three-fingered hands, extending the razor sharp claws at the tips. “They feel fine, but I’m not

42 too sure about this, guys.” His voice cracked with worry. “I think maybe we should go with plan B.”
Behind him, Gator laughed as he hefted Ned into the air with one meaty hand. “Sorry little fella,” he drawled,
“we are Plan B.”
“You’re going to be fine, Ned. Just remember what we practiced. Claws out. Spread Eagle. And so help me
Guédé, if you pop those stitches I’ll sew on little girl arms next time.” Harkadian fastened the carabiner to the back
of Ned’s vest. “Alright Gator, show time!” With a rush of stale air, the 7 o’clock to Coney Island came blasting past
Chapter Three: What It Takes

the platform, just like it had on this day every year since 1955; the year Eddie Luciano died.
Gator spun the little accountant over his head and let fly with deadly aim. Ned’s girly screeching gave way to an
equally girly battle cry of “Spread Eagle Striiiiiiiiiike!” and was only silenced by his tiny form colliding with the side of
the ghost train. Amazingly, Ned remembered to extend his claws, and he stuck fast, the bungee cord that tethered
him to Harkadian rapidly spooling out behind him.
“Meet you back at HQ.” The cord reached its limit and Harkadian rocketed off the subway platform in Ned’s
direction. His aim was fortunately true, and the impact sent both him and Ned crashing through the window of the
ancient car. Most of Ned anyway. The accountant’s legs burst into flame as they bounced off the third rail.
“Sorry, Boss.”
Harkadian patted the half-nerd on the shoulder as he stood up. “You did good, Ned. I’ll be back for you.” He
brushed broken glass from his jacket and set off towards the front of the train, pulling out his radio as he went.
“Sparky, how are we looking on your end?”
Sparky’s voice crackled through the radio. “Not too good, Hark.” A dull thump sounded in the background.
“Was that an explosion?”
“Yeah. Apparently the cops don’t like people breaking into the old City Hall Station. Armageddon’s taking care of
it. Don’t worry, I told him no killing. I’m more worried about the pentacle. There’s no way it has enough juice to stop
a train.”
“Well figure it out girlie, we’re heading your way fast. I’ll try to talk the guy down.”
“See you on the other side!”
Harkadian slid open the door to the motorman’s cabin. The spectral form of Eddie Luciano floated at the
controls. “Hey Eddie, how’s it going?”
“Gotta make the stops. Gotta make the stops.” The ghost’s eyes stared blankly out the front of the car. Clearly,
nobody was home.
“You’ve got to stop this, man. You can’t bring those people back. It’s been 90 years Eddie! They’d all be dead by
now anyway. You’ve got to let go.”
“Gotta make the stops. Keep the trains running.” As the train entered a straightaway, a tiny blue light shone in
the distance. Sparky’s pentacle. She was right, there was no way that thing was going to stop a train.
“Eddie, buddy, you’ve lost it. The BRT’s gone, man. Hell, you aren’t even in Brooklyn anymore! It stops here,
Eddie. We’re not letting you pick up any passengers this year.”
“Gottamakethestopsgottamakethestopsgottamakethestops—” The ghost’s chanting grew faster. Harkadian
was out of ideas. He was trying to calculate just how much damage he’d do by jumping off the train at this speed
when brilliant, blue-silver light flooded the cabin. The pentacle ahead had grown to a massive size, and its brilliance
revealed Sparky, technodreads still smoking, standing next to a set of jumper cables attached to the third rail.
Harkadian smiled.
“Go home, Eddie. End of the line.”
The train collided with the pentacle, and Eddie Luciano disappeared in a splash of ectoplasm.
Unfortunately, so did the train.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 What makes you human?
No, that’s a bad way to start. For one thing, you
might not be human—or be one for much longer, at
any rate. What makes you a person, then? Someone
worth keeping around, rather then someone the
Brotherhood takes to the cleaners? For that matter,
what might put you up against the wrong end of a
gun-toting Nun or get you splattered by a crazed,
homicidal, but reformed werebeast?
Attributes are all well and good, but they don’t
tell you much about what a Demon Hunter knows
or who a Demon Hunter really is. For that, you need
Traits and Skills. This chapter details both.
Traits
A character’s Attributes and Skills tell you some
basics about his makeup. How much he can lift,
how fast he can work numbers in his head, that kind
of thing. But they don’t tell you what makes that
character special, and that’s what Traits are for. They
give you special qualities, abilities, and problems
to make you more unique. In game terms, they’re
rated in die types, and come in two flavors: Assets,
which provide benefits, and Complications, which
cause problems.
When first creating a Demon Hunter for the
Tabletop Combat Simulation, you have to have at
least one Complication and one Asset. You buy
Assets with Trait Points, which during Demon
Hunter creation you gain by taking Complications,
since you don’t usually start with any. You can’t gain
more than 30 Trait Points from Complications at this
point—so any others you want you’ll have to earn by
playing the game.
Since Assets and Complications frequently
oppose each other, make your choices carefully—
you can’t have two Traits that directly contradict
each other, like making yourself ugly and pretty at
the same time. Also, the type of game you’re playing
or the Game Master’s call might ban certain Traits
or combinations of Traits. Not every Game Master
will want to let you make up your own Supernatural
Taint, for example, and Demon Hunters that Exist
Outside of Time might be a bit too much.
And a word of advice, noob: Don’t go spending
hours agonizing over what Traits to pick. Your best
bet is to think about your character concept, and
then look for a couple Traits that support your ideas.
Sure, maybe you’ll see one that inspires you to
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
change your concept, but if you go into this section
without any idea what you’re building, you may
end up with a random grab bag of stuff that looked
good at the time. And trust me, after seeing some
of the bodies Herr Doktor has put together on that
basis—not a great plan.
Assets are rated with a die type just as
Attributes are, but not all Assets are used in the
same manner. Some are straightforward: the
die they grant is rolled as a bonus on actions the
Asset might benefit. For others, the die type is
simply a means to price the Asset and is not rolled.
These Traits have other beneficial effects, possibly
modifying the way you may spend Plot Points, letting
you re-roll failed attempts, or granting you role
playing advantages. Some Assets combine these
types of benefits.
43
Assets
Chapter Three: What It Takes
When choosing Assets, note the die types
available. Some Assets can be purchased at any level
from d2 upward. These bear a “d2+” designation;
they work like Attributes, and have no cap. Others
are only available at certain die types. An Asset that
ranges from d2 to d6 is noted as “d2–d6.” An Asset
only available in d2, d6, or d12 lists “d2/d6/d12.”
More than one Asset may apply to certain
attempts or situations. In general, both should be
accounted for; Asset benefits stack. Of course, your
Game Master may decide that only one applies
for some reason, or that neither of them does.
He makes the call about what Assets can be used
when, and whether two specific Assets can be used
simultaneously. You can only have one instance of
a given Asset or Complication (unless the Game
Master rules the situation is unusual enough to
warrant it).
Assets, like Attributes, may be temporarily
damaged or lowered. This is usually in response to a
twist of the story—hopefully the Demon Hunter will
have the chance to recoup his losses, but he might
have to buy them all over again if the damage is
permanent. Likewise, Assets may be awarded as part
of a storyline. A mystical revelation or act of great
piety might bring you great satisfaction, and maybe
you Got Religion. These Assets don’t cost points;
they arise at the Game Master’s discretion based on
events in the campaign.

44
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Complications
Complications define you in the opposite
way—by giving you faults. No one is perfect, not
even those who serve He Who Is Really In Charge.
Complications create trouble for your Demon
Hunter and his allies. So why would you want them?
First, Complications give you points to buy
Assets. More importantly, they provide meaty hooks
for drama, rendering characters more believable
and interesting. Finally, they allow you to earn Plot
Points. Complications encourage you to act a certain
way, and this enhances the game and story. For
example, a Demon Hunter who is Too Damn Macho
might bite off more than he can chew, even though
he knows that it’s a bad move. Indeed, it’s just at
the point when you, as a player, realize that your
Demon Hunter is overreaching and that he should
jump in with a boot to the head! When this happens,
your Game Master should award you Plot Points for
abiding by the Complication.
You should play out your
Complications regularly. When it spurs
particularly good role playing or is fun
for the group, even minor instances
of problems caused by
Complications might be worth
P urple Ninja say: “To err is human. out.
a Plot Point. A Lustful Demon
To wet your pants and hide under table is
Hunter, for instance, drops also human. Try not to be too human.”
bad pick-up lines all the time,
and sometimes gets slapped or
worse. Even more Plot Points should be forthcoming
when a Complication causes serious problems. For
example, a Lustful guy with his eye on the dame at
the bar might miss the fact that the guy next to her
(the one who looks like a bear?) is her date, and wind
up getting the snot knocked out of him. He’d get
several Plot Points for his trouble, but it might not
always feel worth it.
Mechanically, Complications work much like
Assets. They are bought as die ratings, some with
a broad range and some with only a few levels
available. Multiple Complications may affect the same
action. However, Complications either penalize the
Demon Hunter directly, or add a bonus die to the
opposing Difficulty (which would be rolled either
by the Game Master or an opposing player) or an
opponent’s action. Often, the Complication is just a
matter for role playing and no die is rolled.
Your Game Master may impose Complications
during the game, based on events in the story. You
might annoy someone important, earning a Rival for
your troubles. You might suffer a blow that gains an
Extraordinary success, losing a leg and becoming
an Amputee. These Complications do not generate
points for purchasing more Assets, but they do give
you more opportunities to earn Plot Points.
In general, Complications disappear only when
bought off using points earned during play. This might
require some appropriate role playing and should
always have a dramatic story rationale. Demon
Hunters don’t just wake up one morning with their
hearing restored. And then, some Complications
cannot be overcome—though there should be an
equally compelling story rationale behind this, too.
S T
caling raits
Many Traits—primarily Complications—are
almost entirely behavioral or role playing based.
Greed, lust, cowardice—these are all things that
hinder your Demon Hunter and provide
excellent hooks for role playing, but only very
rarely apply a mechanical penalty. Even then,
they come up only then when you’ve brought
them to life by playing them
Because of this, you’re
expected to portray them,
and the Game Master is
expected to factor them into
the storyline. These Complications almost all have
a set die cost, or a very small range of available
die types. This results from your control over the
Complication—it is never more of a problem than
you want it to be, so if you don’t make it a problem
very often, you shouldn’t be getting many points for
it. However, it also assumes that, for the Demon
Hunter, these behaviors are something that can be
resisted when necessary—you’re expected to bring
the Complication up, but you’re not expected to get
your Demon Hunter killed on purpose. A coward can
still be brave, an amorous Demon Hunter can choose
to behave himself, and so on.
You might want to create a Demon Hunter who
is more defined by these Complications (or other
Traits, if he can make a case for an Asset) than most.
This character might be so greedy that he’d sell out
the Brotherhood for personal gain, or so bent on
glory that he’ll bargain off the Chapter’s newbie to
 Supernatural Traits
Ø Some of the Assets and Complications listed here have a certain … unnatural aspect to
them. However, in the world of Demon Hunters, there are plenty of slightly unusual, vaguely
supernatural people who don’t really qualify as monstrous, divine, or demonic—so the majority
of these Traits are handled as normal, generally available to anyone unless the Game Master
rules otherwise (for example, he might limit his players to totally mundane Traits at the start of
a game). On the other hand, sometimes that nice man with the canines really is a vampire—and
that ain’t just any old Trait.
Ø The vast majority of Assets and Complications are clearly defined, being entirely beneficial
or detrimental as appropriate. However, the supernatural Traits that define these non-human
individuals are a special case. They are all listed as Assets, and all carry a variety of benefits—
however, they also include a variety of weaknesses, problems, or detriments. Because of this,
their die types (and, therefore, their costs) are lower than one would expect based solely on
the powers they grant.
There are a few special rules to deal with these:
45
Ø Ask the Game Master before taking one of them. They might not be appropriate for the
game you’re starting, and even if they are will likely require some explaining in your backstory.

Chapter Three: What It Takes

Also, the exact level at which you take the Asset matters a great deal, so be sure to check with
your Game Master about that, too.
Ø You can only have one of them at a time. Your Demon Hunter can’t be a vampire and a
werewolf, or an animated Nephilim. If for some reason in the training simulation your Demon
Hunter shifts from one to another, he loses the old one—though he may still think or act based
on what he once was, he doesn’t gain any special powers from it any longer.
Ø They might be killed, but get better. This isn’t an automatic thing, and it doesn’t necessarily
apply to all (or any) of the supernatural beings, but these unusual creatures have a tendency to
come back from the dead—especially when they’re Demon Hunters.
Ø And, of course, there’s one of these supernatural Traits that behaves in an even more unusual
manner: Initiate of the Mystic Arts. This Asset allows your Demon Hunter to take the special
General Skill Mystic Arts, and any appropriate Specialties—and it can, at the Game Master’s
discretion, be combined with another of the Supernatural Assets. See the Trait description for
the details.

a demon for a taste of power. You should discuss
this with the Game Master. If the Game Master
approves, you can scale up the Complication,
effectively giving it a range of d2+. You should also
review your Demon Hunter’s actions periodically.
If the Game Master doesn’t feel that you have
been adhering sufficiently to your Demon Hunter’s
Complications, the extra points gained (and any
Assets purchased with them) are lost.
Again, though this is mostly a factor for
the more limited Complications, scaling can be
applied to Assets if necessary. Even so, care is
recommended—some Traits are limited in order to
prevent abuse. The Game Master should disallow
any changes that simply further the goal of being the
“best.” When you or the other players have an idea
for something interesting, fun, and reasonable—
that’s what the Game Master should be facilitating.
The Big-Ass
List Of Traits
A variety of Traits and their costs follow. When
a Trait has a range of possible levels, abilities or
restrictions of the lower levels usually stack with
those at higher levels. Unless the new feature, by
its nature, replaces the lower level one, you assume
both.

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46
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
For example, Allure [d2+] may be taken at
any level of d2 or higher, and you add its Trait die
to certain rolls. However, at the d6 level or higher,
it also grants a bonus to Plot Points spent on those
rolls. It still adds the Trait’s die, but now has a new
ability as well.
On the other hand, Tough Sunnuva … [d4/
d8/d12] only exists at three specific levels. At each
level it adds the Trait die to certain rolls, and adds a
certain number of Life Points to your total (2, 4, or 8
Life Points, specifically). These bonuses don’t stack,
since they simply replace each other. You can’t have
Tough Sunnuva … at more than one level at a time,
or have multiple copies of it—that goes for all Traits,
unless the Game Master sees fit to give you special
clearance.
Assets
A llure ( d 2+)
You’re hot. Those who could be attracted to you
almost always are—though if you aren’t careful, you
might attract some jealousy, too. Add your Allure die
to any Influence or appearance-based rolls against
someone who might find you attractive, though he
has to be able to see or sense you directly to gain this
bonus. Phone calls don’t count.
d6+: If your Allure Trait die is d6 or higher,
you gain a bonus to Plot Point expenditures on rolls
that include this Trait. If you spend any Plot Points
on these rolls, count the total spent as if it were 2
higher; spending 1 Plot Point nets you a d6 bonus die,
3 would net you a d10, and so on. This Trait bonus
only benefits Plot Points spent before the roll, not
those spent after.
d12+: If your Allure Trait die is d12 or higher,
you may even add your Trait die to rolls against
people or sentient beings who would not normally be
attracted to you, as long as the situation otherwise
warrants it. This level of unearthly beauty is normally
only found in angels or socially-minded demons.
A nim ate ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12)
You’re about as real as the average target
dummy. In fact, you might be a target dummy
brought to life (probably by accident). “Animate” is a
general term for creatures that have been made or
animated through unnatural means—usually through
some application of mystic power, but possibly by
Mad Science or Mad Medicine instead.
Animates could be almost anything that walks
around when it shouldn’t be able to: zombies,
golems, Karloffs (a Karloff is an animate brought back
to life by Mad Science, through the direct application
of electricity to a dead body, or the sewn-together
remains of several dead bodies), homunculi, or so
on. Other possibilities may exist, at the discretion of
the Game Master. The specifics of each level listed
below may be altered to suit the type of animate a
player chooses to create, if the Game Master feels
it’s suitable.
Animates that are “killed” can often be brought
back to life through a partial application of the
process that originally animated them. Karloffs,
for example, might be jolted back to life by a Mad
Scientist with a car battery and nothing better to do.
However, the process will take at least an hour to
set up, and the corpse may need to be sewn back
together first.
Universally, animates require no sleep or food,
but most are especially vulnerable to either fire or
cold (depending on the type of animate), suffering
double damage from any source of the chosen
element.
d4: At this level, the animate is a very basic type
of zombie-like being, and has almost no intelligence
or free will, possessing a maximum of d2 Intelligence,
and likely very little personality. It is also highly
uncoordinated and slow moving. Its base movement
speed is 5 feet, it cannot Sprint, and it has an Agility
maximum of d6. Oh, and it can attract mobs with
pitchforks bent on destroying it, since animates of
this level are very obviously unnatural.
However, because of the non-living nature of the
being, it has many advantages over a mortal when
in combat. It is entirely immune to Stun damage
and unconsciousness. It feels no pain, and suffers no
Wound penalty for being reduced to half of its Life
Points. Being composed of tough, nonliving matter
lets it add the maximum result of its Trait die as a
bonus to its Life Point total. Also, because of its
superhuman strength and possible taste for brains,
it deals Basic damage in unarmed combat, and adds
its Trait die as a bonus to both the attack and the
damage rolls of any unarmed or melee attack.
d8: This level of animate represents a functional
or free-willed zombie, or a Karloff which retains
the majority of the required brain functions to have
a personality, with an Intelligence capped at d10.
Likely still a little slower-moving than most normal
 creatures, it has a base movement speed of 10 feet,
though it can Sprint if it tries, and has an Agility cap
of d12. Fortunately for the poor beast, it may even
look mostly human—a functional zombie, raised
very shortly after death, will just be a bit pale and
clammy, rather than missing bits and oozing. On
the other hand, it may opt for unnecessary surgery
that adds to its inhuman appearance, especially
when Mad Doc Brown offers to try and graft new,
improved! bits on.
In terms of benefits, animates at the d8 level are
just as resistant to Stun damage as the d4 version,
and they likewise feel no pain. Their construction
adds their Trait die’s maximum result as a bonus
to their Life Point total. Also, while they aren’t as
mindlessly bloodthirsty, they can hit like a truck (or
with a small car): They add their Trait die as a bonus
to their Strength (as an additional die, not as an
increase to their old one).
d12: Animates of the d12 level are almost
entirely superhuman and have very few physical
drawbacks. The only known human-type animate
of this kind is Victoria, a creation of Herr Doktor’s
experiments with the Karloff method of animation.
This category also includes large, well-constructed
golems.. They have no penalties to movement,
Agility, or Intelligence—but they do suffer some
psychological side effects. No matter how human
they seem to be, their inhuman nature makes
them feel (or think, if they don’t feel) that they are
inherently superior to normal people. They suffer
from the effects of being So Damn Macho (at the
d6 level) and Too Mean for Hell (at the d4 level),
without gaining any bonus points for them. See the
descriptions of these Complications for the specifics.
Because of this, and their appearance, which is at
least slightly inhuman, these animates quickly attract
the suspicion of those they interact with, and may be
reviled—not that they’d care.
Animates of this level are immune to Stun
damage and unconsciousness, and have the added
benefit of being Immune to something of their
choice (equivalent to the d8 level—for example,
Bullets) as per the Asset. They have a bonus to their
Life Points equal to their Trait die’s maximum result,
they deal Basic damage in unarmed combat, and they
add their Trait die as a bonus to their strength (as
an additional die, not as an increase to their normal
die). They may have even more bonuses, depending
on the exact type of creature.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
A thlete ( d 2+)
Even if running away isn’t your thing, it isn’t a
problem, either. You’re well conditioned, and have
spent enough time training to know your limits and
how to break them. Add your Athlete die to any
roll involving endurance, conditioning, or long-term
physical activity: swimming, climbing, staying on your
feet while running or marching for a day, or playing
a sport. This doesn’t help you in short-term burst
actions (sudden feats of strength, an attack), but it
does help fight fatigue in extended combat, and does
help you stay alive or conscious when wounds risk
putting you down. Also, you may choose to Exhaust
yourself in order to perform above your normal
levels; you may voluntarily suffer Stun damage to add
Plot Points to rolls this Trait benefits. Each point of
Stun damage you choose to suffer adds a Plot Point
47
to the roll. You cannot choose to suffer more Stun
than it takes to knock you out.
Chapter Three: What It Takes
d6+: If your Athlete Trait die is d6 or higher,
you gain a bonus to Plot Point expenditures on rolls
that include this Trait. If you spend any Plot Points
on these rolls, count the total spent as if it were 2
higher; spending 1 Plot Point nets you a d6 bonus
die, 3 would net you a d10, and so on. This stacks
with the Exhaustion bonus above. This Trait bonus
only benefits Plot Points spent before the roll, not
those spent after.
d12+: If your Athlete Trait die is d12 or higher,
you may make one additional Second Wind roll per
day. Only the most conditioned people in the world
have your level of stamina.
A t tuned to N ature ( d 2+)
Some say you have a green thumb—others call
you a dirty, whining, tree-hugging hippy. Whether
you choose to hammer spikes into trees to screw
up chainsaws, or dig in a little garden and grow
vegetables, you know your way around plants,
animals, and the great outdoors. Add your Trait
die to rolls to identify animals living in a natural
area; rolls for tracking, hunting, or foraging; rolls
for growing crops or navigating at sea, and so on.
Coming up against the supernatural will leave you
stumped, however. Also, when you need supplies
in a natural environment you may automatically
find food and water to supply you for a short time:
Roll your Trait die (modified by up to –2 Steps in
 Assets
Allure (d2+) Human Cipher (d6)

Animate (d4/d8/d12) Immune (d4/d8/d12/d12+d6)

Athlete (d2+) Initiate of the Mystic Arts (d2)

Attuned to Nature (d2+) Intuitive Leaps (d4/d8)

Attuned to Technology (d2+) Leadership (d2+)

Blessed (d4/d8/d12) Lightning Reflexes (d2+)

Branded by the Infernal (d4/d6/d10) Lycanthropy (d6/d8/d10)

48 Brawler (d2–d6)

Bureaucratic Mind (d6)

Mad Skillz (d4/d8/d12)

Marked by the Divine (d4/d8/d12)

Can Run, Can Hide (d4/d8) Meta-Game Awareness (d10)

Chapter Three: What It Takes

Cipher (d6/d10) Not Left-Handed Either (d4)

Damsel in Distress (d4) Old-Timer (d2+)

Exists Outside of Time (d8) Personal Dimensional Pocket (d8)

Explosive Plausibility (d4/d8) Quick Learner (d2+)

Fades Out (d2+) Reputation (d2+)

Fast Healer (d6/d12) Second Sight (d4/d8)

Fast On Your Feet (d2/d6) Shadow (d2/d6/d10)

Fluid Character History (d8) Sharp Sense (d2–d6)

Focused Hunter (d2–d6) Signature Item (d2)

Formidable Presence (d2+) Spooky Mystique (d6)

For the Cause! (d6) Steady Calm (d2+)

Friends in “High” Places (d2+) Stubborn S.O.B. (d2+)

Friends in “Low” Places (d2+) Tough Sunnava … (d4/d8/d12)

Friends in Strange Places (d2+) Trusty Sidekick (d2/d6/d12)

Get Out of Death Free Pass (d6+) Uncommon Knowledge (d6–d10)

Good-Natured (d2+) Vampire (d6)

Got Religion (d10) Walking Armory (d4/d8/d12)

Heavy Tolerance (d4/d10) Wealthy (d4/d8)

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Complications
Addiction (d4–d10) Lightweight (d2+)

Allergy (d2/d8) Loose Grasp On Reality (d4+)

Amorous (d4–d8) Memorable (d2+)

Anger Issues (d2–d4) Movie Villain Tendencies (d6)

Blind/Deaf (d8/d12) Mute (d8)

Can’t Ever Hide the Bodies (d6) Mystic Vortex (d6/d12)

Comfort Object (d2+) Obscure Body Odor (d2)

Contrary Samaritan (d4)

Crude (d4–d8)
On the Run (d4/d8/d12)

Out For Blood (d4/d8)

49
Coward (d4–d8) Overweight (d2–d6)

Chapter Three: What It Takes

Damned (d4/d8/d12) Pacifist (d6/d12)

Dead Broke (d4/d8) Paralyzed (d8)

Dead Inside (d4–d6) Paranoid (d4)

Dull Sense (d2–d6) Phobia (d2+)

Duty (d4/d8/d12) Pyro (d8)

Eerie Presence (d2+) Rebellious (d4)

Extremely Sane (d10) Rival (d2+)

Forked Tongue (d6) Shy (d6)

Glory Hound (d2–d4) Shorty (d2)

Greedy (d4–d8) So Damn Macho (d4–d10)

Idealist (d2–d6) Superstitious (d2/d6)

Inconsequential (d2–d8) Toe the Line (d4)

Infamy (d2+) Too Mean For Hell (d4/d12)

Klepto (d2/d6/d10) Ugly as Sin (d2–d6)

Klutz (d8) Unintentionally Erotic (d6)

Lame (d4) Wimpitude (d2–d6)

Lazy (d4) Wise-Ass (d4)

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)


50
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
a harsh environment or up to +2 Steps in a lush
environment). The result is the number of days for
which you can automatically supply one person.
d6+: If your Attuned to Nature Trait die is d6 or
higher, you gain a bonus to Plot Point expenditures
on rolls that include this Trait. If you spend any Plot
Points on these rolls, count the total spent as if it
were 2 higher; spending 1 Plot Point nets you a d6
bonus die, 3 would net you a d10, and so on. This
Trait bonus only benefits Plot Points spent before the
roll, not those spent after.
d12+: If your Attuned to Nature Trait die is d12
or higher, you cannot be lost in the wild, you can
always find food and water in a natural environment
(if it exists), and you can calm even outright hostile
animals—you seem more a part of Mother Earth
than the human race.
A t tuned to T echnology ( d 2+)
You have an easy time with machines and
electronics. Technology just comes naturally to you,
it seems. Add your Trait die to any rolls to repair,
design, analyze, create, or find (in a machine shop or
other appropriate place) technological gadgetry. You
also have an intuitive understanding of machines and
devices. With an Average (7) Alertness + Intelligence
+ Attuned to Technology roll, you can identify any
mundane device and learn to operate basic functions
(though not skilled functions, like landing an aircraft).
This Difficulty increases to Hard (11) for devices
created with Mad Tech (Tech with the Mad Skillz
Asset applied). In either case, you can also identify
any fundamental flaws in the design or repairs
needed to be made that are currently preventing it
from operating—however, you must be examining
the machine itself to get this roll, not just the plans or
designs.
d6+: If your Attuned to Technology Trait
die is d6 or higher, you gain a bonus to Plot Point
expenditures on rolls that include this Trait. If you
spend any Plot Points on these rolls, count the total
spent as if it were 2 higher; spending 1 Plot Point
nets you a d6 bonus die, 3 would net you a d10, and
so on. This Trait bonus only benefits Plot Points spent
before the roll, not those spent after.
d12+: If your Attuned to Technology Trait die
is d12 or higher, you almost always have a myriad of
small parts, tools, and resources available to you—or
you can jury-rig them from your surroundings—
allowing you to build small gadgets in the field.
You may also create, repair, alter, or sabotage
devices much more quickly than usual. Normally,
constructing or altering a device is a Complex action
which could require anywhere from 10–60 minutes
per roll. When working on a device smaller than a
car, you may reduce the time requirement per roll to
one combat turn (three seconds).
B lessed ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12)
You’re luckier than the average mortal.
Sometimes, you can scrape by when others would
have failed.
d4: Once per session, you may reroll all the dice
on any non-botched roll, and use the better of the
two results.
d8: Twice per session, you may reroll all the dice
of any roll, including botches, and use the better of
the two results.
d12: Three times per session, you may reroll all
the dice of any roll, including botches, and use the
better of the two results.
B r anded by the I nfernal ( d 4/ d 6/ d 10)
Those tainted by demonic energies develop
strange powers and abilities—and this can be some
seriously heavy stuff. Not recommended for Demon
Hunters.
d4: Word is you’re a half-demon. Unfortunately
for you, modern humans suck compared to what you
used to find back in the day—you know, when most
of the crap still got sifted out of the gene pool. The
end result is that while you’ve definitely got some
infernal taint, it doesn’t have all that much to work
with in the first place. Also, you’re not automatically
evil—but people will likely assume you are, and evil
powers may have taken a hand to ensure you are
brought up that way, but your moral compass is built
like any human’s.
Most half-demons these days are very similar
to your average human, with one or two apparent
demonic traits: reddish skin, sulphuric B.O., stubby
horns, cat-slit eyes, etc. You functionally have the
Eerie Presence and Memorable Complications at
the d4 level, without gaining extra points for them
(see the descriptions of these Complications for
details). Unfortunately, they also have the equivalent
of Allergy (d2) to holiness—an annoyance, but also
another dead giveaway.
 Physically, even though you’re mostly a puny
human, the demon blood does help things a bit. You
add your Trait die as a bonus to your Strength (as an
additional die, not an increase to your normal die),
and gain the benefits of having the Asset Immune
(d8) to protect you from fire. And, while it’s a
tenuous connection, the fire in your soul
keeps you vital and fighting long after
death—it is easier to resurrect you, by any
means, than it is to bring back
a normal human. The Game
Master adjudicates the details, P u r p l e Ni n j a say: “If you want
but a Mad Scientist or a trait for your Demon Hunter that is
miracle worker shouldn’t have not on list, consult with Game Master. requiring medication.
too much trouble bringing you
back.
d6: You’re possessed by
Use patented Purple Ninja Methods of
Persuasion. If that fail, use
Purple Ninja Meat Tenderizer.”
a demon. This is one of the
few ways a demon can directly
manifest power on the material plane. As a result,
he likes to make as much out of it as he can. As long
as the demon possesses you, he’s in total control,
doing as much evil as he wants—which is both pretty
obvious and very likely to attract the attentions of a
Chapter of the Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch,
who will try to capture and exorcize the demon or,
failing that, kill you. The biggest drawback here is
you cannot enter sanctified areas willingly—it doesn’t
cause you pain to be brought in, but you just cannot
force your body to step over the threshold into a
church. As an added problem, in such areas, you heal
like a normal human (very, very slowly).
However, killing you would be a bit of a stretch.
The host body gains the Trait’s die as a bonus to their
Strength and Vitality—so a Strength of d8 becomes
a Strength of d8 + d6. This counts as a normal part
of these Attributes in every way, increasing your Life
Points and all appropriate rolls. You regenerate fairly
quickly: You recover 1 Life Point every turn, first
removing Wound damage and then Stun when no
Wound remains. Also, you automatically heal Shock
Points, and remove one every half hour. And if life
sucks for the Brotherhood, you possess the ability to
use hell-fueled Mystic Arts Skills, even if you didn’t
possess them.
d10: You’re a serious, old-school demon. Eight
to 10 feet tall, smelling of sulphur, glowing eyes,
maybe horns and a tail—you get the idea; they don’t
all look the same, but it’s not too hard to peg one.
Like a less powerful half-demon, you’re still not
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
necessarily evil, but it’s more likely in your case since
you were likely reviled and scorned by every normal
person you’ve ever met. This results in automatically
experiencing the effects of the Complications Eerie
Presence and Memorable, both at the d10 level (see
their descriptions for details. You also suffer from a
severe issue with belief, gaining an effective
Allergy (d8) to holiness. A church that serves
a fervent congregation, or a religious symbol
held by a true believer, might
actually kill you—though you
automatically recover when
the source is taken away, not
patented
However, the physical
side effects of being a demon
can be highly advantageous.
51
You gain your Trait die as a
bonus to Strength and Vitality
Chapter Three: What It Takes
(and all things that would benefit from this increase,
like your Life Points), and you are totally immune
to natural or demonic fire as if you had the Asset
Immune (d8). Your lifespan increases as you gain the
longevity of someone with the Asset Old-Timer at
the d6 level. And even when you die, the fiery vitality
of your soul makes it easier to resurrect you (by any
means); the Game Master may adjudicate the exact
benefits of this, but either medicine or mysticism
could bring you back from the dead.
B r awler ( d 2— d 6)
You hit like a truck, and can cause actual damage
in unarmed combat. When making an unarmed
attack, use your Brawler Trait die as a damage die
that inflicts Basic (instead of Stun) damage. The Initial
Damage of your attack is still entirely Stun.
B ureaucr atic M ind ( d 6)
You think like a machine—you can store massive
amounts of information, recall it with perfect clarity,
and get on everyone’s nerves without even trying.
If you once learned a piece of information, you
never have to roll to recall it; if there is a reasonable
chance you might have once learned something
obscure, the Game Master may either rule that
you do know it, or call for a Hard (11) Intelligence
+ Intelligence + Bureaucratic Mind roll—if you
succeed, you did learn it. This can’t reveal secret
information you would never have learned, but may
well let you have extremely unusual knowledge.

52
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
C an R un , C an H ide ( d 4/ d 8)
You have an uncanny ability to run away from
trouble—at least for a short time. Add your Trait
die to any rolls you make to camouflage your
location from enemy detection, usually an Alertness
+ Survival/Camouflage roll which would set the
Difficulty for searching enemies.
d4: Once per session, you may automatically
find, stumble into, or lead your friends to a safe
location. When using this, suggest what you’re
looking for to the Game Master, but he may decide
the specifics of your hideout based on the situation.
The hideout will give you a place to rest safely for
up to six hours, at which point it becomes possible
for the enemy to find it or break in (or whatever,
depending on the nature of the hideout and the foes).
d8: As above, but the hideout can protect you
and your allies for up to 24 hours, and may have
rudimentary first aid supplies or very minor pieces
of gear (short-wave radio, etc) at the Game Master’s
option.
C ipher ( d 6/ d 10)
You’re not a “him” or a “her,” you’re an “it.”
That’s right. You’re a robot.
Ciphers are the primary link a Chapter of the
Brotherhood has to the Brotherhood Database,
and they’re probably the fastest link to updates and
information from High Command. While most are
completely loyal, dependable, and generally machine-
like, many of those produced at the new Mexican
plant are demonstrating some … unusual quirks.
Ciphers all share a lack for any need to eat or
sleep. They can run for three days on a full battery
and recharge in 12 hours from any standard outlet.
Alternately, they can shut down for six hours a day
to passively recharge on etheric energies, and if
they do, their battery lasts a full two weeks before
it needs a normal charging. They also share a high
level of training in computers and programming, and
a lack of emotion that registers as the equivalent of
the Dead Inside (d6) Complication. Their ingrained
sense of Duty (d12) to their Chapter is total; they
can’t go against their Chapter leader’s orders, though
their abilities beyond research and information
handling are usually fairly limited. And, they have
trouble fighting in the traditional sense, as they are
programmed to avoid engaging in combat, even to
defend themselves, the very definition of a Pacifist
(d6). Supposedly, this is because some kook sci-fi
writer decided robots should be programmed not
be able to harm humans, but most Brotherhood
members figure that the real reason is that the
Ciphers are expensive to replace.
All Ciphers store their memory and
programming inside their visors—as long as the visor
is recovered, the Cipher can later be uploaded into a
new chassis, preventing permanent loss of a valuable
and experienced team member. However, the visor
is also their Achilles’ heel. Their chassis consists of
a titanium skeleton sheathed in a complex series
of layers of ceramic plating, Kevlar, and self-sealing
rubberized skin, rendering them Immune (d12) to
bladed weapons, small arms fire, normal unarmed
attacks, and minor destructive magics. This grants
them an Armor Rating of 4W, which reduces the
damage they receive even from the sources that can
hurt them. Comparatively, the goggles are fragile;
they have an Armor Rating of 2, but if they take 3 or
more points of Wound damage they are destroyed.
Also, the goggles can be removed fairly easily. In
either case—destruction or disconnection—the
effect is similar to ripping the brain out of a human.
They stop moving, and can’t really do much more at
that point.
Ciphers are extremely intelligent and
determined. The Trait Die is added to their
Intelligence and Willpower for all purposes (as an
additional die, not as an increase to the normal die),
and they gain the abilities of the Bureaucratic Mind
(d6) Asset. Also, when plugged into the Brotherhood
Database via their laptop terminal, they gain access
to untold stores of knowledge and information,
making research on arcane and obscure topics
fast and easy (though the Game Master should put
reasonable limits on what can be found). Effectively,
they gain a bonus d12 on any Knowledge roll on any
topic the Database might cover, any research into
said information, and any mathematical, navigational,
or occult calculations made. They may also, if
the timing is right, have access to a Brotherhood
scanning satellite, which they can use to monitor for
supernatural activity of various kinds. Unfortunately,
access time is in high demand on these, so they are
not always available (Game Master’s discretion).
Once, all Ciphers were human, but that practice
has long since been abandoned. Humans who place
a set of goggles on their heads, for some reason, find
the experience highly unsettling. The Human Cipher
Asset covers this particular instance.

d6: Some of the newer model Ciphers have a
tendency to develop personality quirks that make
them seem almost lifelike—you’re one of them.
Your personality is likely focused around some
particular theme, depending on what the quirk in
your programming is. You should discuss your …
unusual mental focus with your Game Master and
decide how it fits into the effects of the Loose Grasp
on Reality Complication (at the d8 level). Also, your
personality includes at least 8 Trait points worth of
Complications related to the specifics. For example,
you could be a Klutz (d8), or Memorable (d4) and
a Glory Hound (d4), because you think you’re a
Samurai and are determined to demonstrate your
abilities, despite your lack of any real combat skills.
d10: The majority of Ciphers posses no
personality to speak of. Because of this basic lack of
responsiveness and connection with their Chapter
members, they’re not useful in any capacity save
research, information gathering, and so on. Ciphers
at this level don’t function as Demon Hunters.
D amsel in D ist ress ( d 4)
At the expense of your last remaining shreds of
dignity, you have an easy time getting rescued. When
spending Plot Points to arrange a coincidental rescue
via story manipulation, this Trait adds two to the
total you generate.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
53
Chapter Three: What It Takes
E xists O utside of T ime ( d 8)
Unless the Game Master lets you in on
something big, you cannot start out with this Trait.
However, you may be allowed to take it post-
mortem; if you do, you are alive. Inexplicably, you
show up to join the action when most (or least,
depending) appropriate. Once you have this Trait, it
may potentially save you in the future. Roll your Trait
die against an Easy (3) Difficulty when killed. If you
succeed, you resurrect next session. If not, you lose
this Trait, and must find some other way to come
back from the dead.
E xplosive P lausibilit y ( d 4/ d 8)
Things tend to blow up around you, though it
isn’t clear whether this is intentional or not. When
you toss something away nonchalantly and “off-
screen,” there may be an explosion. Roll your Trait
die against an Easy (3) Difficulty. If you succeed,
there’s an explosion. If the roll beats an Average (7)
Difficulty, the explosion may actually be helpful, at
the Game Master’s discretion.
F ades O ut ( d 2+)
You have a tendency to fade into the
background; either you’re really, really boring, or
unusually “average” to the human eye. Add your

54
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Trait die to rolls to avoid notice when hiding “in plain
sight,” to disguise yourself as another (nonspecific)
person, and so on.
d6+: If your Fades Out Trait die is d6 or higher,
you gain a bonus to Plot Point expenditures on rolls
that include this Trait. If you spend any Plot Points
on these rolls, count the total spent as if it were 2
higher; spending 1 Plot Point nets you a d6 bonus die,
3 would net you a d10, and so on. This Trait bonus
only benefits Plot Points spent before the roll, not
those spent after.
d12+: If your Fades Out Trait die is d12 or
higher, you can appear so inconsequential as to avoid
notice in an empty room simply by leaning casually
against the wall and holding still, or doing anything so
as to appear to “belong.” You can be a janitor simply
by grabbing a uniform cap and pulling it down over
your eyes, a reporter simply by having a notepad,
and so on. Mechanically, you make a disguise roll as
normal (including all the benefits of using this Trait on
the roll), but can do so with almost no preparation,
and you can make rolls to hide even when you should
be obvious.
F ast H ealer ( d 6/ d 12)
You get up and about more quickly than most.
Add your Trait die to rolls to begin recovery.
d6: You recover from Wound damage at twice
the normal rate (1 per day of rest).
d12: You recover from Wound damage at four
times the normal rate (2 per day of rest).
F ast on your F eet ( d 2/ d 6)
You move fast, even towards danger.
d2: Increase your base movement speed by five feet.
d6: Increase your base movement speed by 10 feet.
F luid C har acter H istor y ( d 8)
No one—not even the Game Master—knows
all the details of your past. In fact, they often seem to
contradict each other. Once per session, if you can
make up a convincing enough story about how it fits
your past (which you can also make up at the time),
you may temporarily adopt an Asset of the level d6
or below. You retain its benefit for the remainder of
the session or until the Game Master feels it should
wear off. However, the Game Master is final arbiter
of both the quality of the story and what Assets are
available at what times, and the quality of the story
needs to match the usefulness of the Asset. Having
been on the cross-country team in high school
might be enough to grant you Fast On Your Feet
for a scene, but you’ll need a damn good reason to
suddenly acquire Fast Healer.
F ocused H unter ( d 2– d 6)
Pick a type of supernatural creature—vampires,
lycanthropes, animate corpses, gnomes, talking TV
geckos, or similar. You have spent so much time
preparing and studying to hunt these creatures
that you can add your Trait die to any rolls to know
unusual facts about them (most of which it should
be assumed you do know, without needing to roll),
identify signs of them or notice them, or to attack
them (directly or indirectly). However, because
there are limits to the use of studies, this Trait can’t
progress beyond d6, and may not be available at all
in regards to certain types of creatures, depending
on whether or not enough information on them is
available.
F or midable P resence ( d 2+)
You project an aura of authority, or maybe your
face got stuck in that scowl when you were five,
like your mom warned you it would. Add your Trait
die to rolls when bullying people into doing what
you want, making people back down, or generally
intimidating people. This does not work against
beings that already feel completely above your
league. Most supernatural creatures (though certainly
not all) will simply fail to be any more intimidated by
a mortal than they would be otherwise. Also, non-
sentient creatures will normally fail to be intimidated
by humans.
d6+: If your Formidable Presence Trait die is d6
or higher, you gain a bonus to Plot Point expenditures
on rolls that include this Trait. If you spend any Plot
Points on these rolls, count the total spent as if it
were 2 higher; spending 1 Plot Point nets you a d6
bonus die, 3 would net you a d10, and so on. This
Trait bonus only benefits Plot Points spent before the
roll, not those spent after.
d12+: If your Formidable Presence Trait die is
d12 or higher, you can frighten any creature capable
of feeling fear; although a roll may still be required,
your Formidable Presence will help you terrorize
demons, angels, and grizzly bears alike.
 F or the C ause ! ( d 6)
You support a cause, duty, or goal. Whether
you’re raised to it or programmed for it, you find it
just and worthy. If you can reasonably justify your
actions as directly supporting Your Cause (heavy
on the directly there), you may gain a bonus to
Plot Point expenditures on rolls For the Cause. If
you spend any Plot Points on these rolls, count the
total spent as if it were 2 higher; spending 1 Plot
Point nets you a d6 bonus die, 3 would net you a
d10, and so on. This Trait bonus only benefits Plot
Points spent before the roll, not those spent after.
However, you do not also add this Trait die to these
rolls, since it represents fervor—not talent.
F riends in “H igh ” P laces ( d 2+)
You have some Divine connections, be they
high up in the Brotherhood or with individuals of a
Higher nature. They can’t usually interfere directly,
but you can sometimes get a favor out of them.
Once per session, you may gain help from your
friends—request help from them as if spending Plot
Points to alter the story or create a coincidence,
but instead of spending your own Plot Points, this
Trait creates an expenditure of Plot Points equal to
the maximum value of the Trait die. For example, if
you have Friends in “High” Places (d6), 6 Plot Points
are spent to gain assistance. The Game Master is,
as always, the arbiter of exactly what happens and
when your friends can help you, but you also can
only request help that fits the nature of your allies.
Because of this, be sure to consult with your Game
Master about the nature of your friends when you
take this Trait.
Friends in “High” Places are most likely to help
you through indirect support—offering you advice,
guidance, or placing a hidden cache of supplies in
your near future, or causing some literally miraculous
coincidence or circumstance to help you.
F riends in “L ow ” P laces ( d 2+)
You have Infernal connections, which could
be members of the Order of the Sceptre, minor
demons, or even stranger dark powers. They can’t
interfere directly, but you can sometimes get a favor
out of them. Once per session, you may gain help
from these friends by requesting help from them as
if spending Plot Points to alter the story or create
a coincidence. Instead of spending your own Plot
Points, this Trait creates an expenditure of Plot
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Points equal to the maximum value of the Trait die.
For example, if you have Friends in “Low” Places at
(d6), 6 Plot Points are spent to gain assistance. The
Game Master is, as always, the arbiter of exactly
what happens and when your friends can help you,
but you also can only request help that fits the
nature of your allies. Because of this, be sure to
consult with your Game Master about the nature of
your friends when you take this Trait.
Friends in “Low” Places are most likely to help
you by indirectly hampering your foes or causing
negative coincidences for someone else, though they
might theoretically be able to provide support to
you. Causing a group of malicious-minded gangsters
to try and mug your foes is more their style than
giving you something, however. 55
F riends in S t r ange P laces ( d 2+)
You have some interesting mortal connections.
Chapter Three: What It Takes
They could be the police, the press, criminals,
airport security, hotdog vendors … pretty much
anyone, so be sure to discuss who and what they are
with your Game Master when you take this Trait.
Mortal friends are more likely to be able to offer
direct help, unlike more powerful Divine or Infernal
allies. Once per session, you may gain help from
your friends—request help from them as if spending
Plot Points to alter the story or create a coincidence,
but instead of spending your own Plot Points, this
Trait creates an expenditure of Plot Points equal to
the maximum value of the Trait die. For example, if
you have Friends in Strange Places (d6), 6 Plot Points
are spent to gain assistance. The Game Master is,
as always, the arbiter of exactly what happens and
when your friends can help you, but you also can
only request help that fits the nature of your allies.
Because of this, be sure to consult with your Game
Master about the nature of your friends when you
take this Trait.
Friends in Strange Places can only provide
assistance that fits within their scope of influence—
compared to Divine and Infernal beings, they are
much more limited, but when available can usually
offer more direct assistance, such as hiding the
Demon Hunters, fighting alongside them, or helping
them track down information while the Demon
Hunters recuperate or prepare a plan.

56
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
G et O ut of D eath F ree P ass ( d 6+)
You don’t die. Or stay dead. You can even start
with this Trait as a shield against mortality, or you can
purchase it once dead.
When you would otherwise be killed, you
survive. If a gunshot would kill you, the gun jams. If
a fall would kill you, you land on a cart full of hay. If
you’re already dead … it turns out you’re not. Once
you’ve been saved by this Trait, you can’t be killed for
one full combat turn (or until the end of the current
scene, if the Game Master is being generous).
However, whenever this Trait saves you, it
degrades. If you have it at the d6 level, it disappears;
if it is at a higher level, it is reduced by one die Step.
You can buy it again, or buy it up normally, between
deaths—but relying heavily on it will eat up your
Advancement Points.
G ood -N atured ( d 2+)
You’re a suck up. Or maybe you
actually like being nice to
people. Whatever—the point
is, you’re always cheerful and P urple Ninja say: “Ciphers seriously poisons.
good-natured, and so people weird me out, like so. Ha-ho, hu hu hu-
are often nice back. Whenever ha, ho ho. Understand? Now you try.” much as most people your size
dealing socially with people in
a casual manner or in non-
threatening and non-intimate settings, your jovial
manner helps you persuade or otherwise Influence
them. Add your Trait die to rolls where your cheerful
nature makes things go smoothly. Unfortunately, this
doesn’t help if the situation is stressful and everyone
is already on edge, or if the target already distrusts
you—things like that prevent you from putting folks
at ease.
d6+: If your Good-Natured Trait die is d6 or
higher, you gain a bonus to Plot Point expenditures
on rolls that include this Trait. If you spend any Plot
Points on these rolls, count the total spent as if it
were 2 higher; spending 1 Plot Point nets you a d6
bonus die, 3 would net you a d10, and so on. This
Trait bonus only benefits Plot Points spent before the
roll, not those spent after.
d12+: If your Good-Natured Trait die is d12 or
higher, people always feel more relaxed around you,
even if they know they should be on their guard.
You’re just so damn friendly that they feel like being
friendly back—they might kick themselves for it
later, but your good-naturedness can even help you
persuade hostile foes to let you live.
G ot R eligion ( d 10)
Okay, it isn’t necessarily a recognized religion—
but you believe in something, very, very strongly.
It might be a higher power, the good of mankind, a
football team, or even yourself, but whatever it is,
your faith bolsters you when you need it most. If you
can find some way to draw upon your faith, once
per session you may replenish some of your Plot
Points—as long as you have 6 or fewer current Plot
Points, gain 4 more! However, you do have to draw
upon your faith genuinely for this Asset to activate:
You might need to pray for guidance, tell your Game
Master what your Demon Hunter is thinking to
reaffirm his goals to himself, or witness a “miracle” or
some victory for your side or goals.
H eav y T oler ance ( d 4/ d 10)
You have the constitution of an ox, and
probably the breath of one, too. You can eat
and drink almost anything with no ill effects.
Add your Trait die to rolls to
resist the effects of drugs and
d4: You can drink twice as
and build before it starts getting
to you; likewise, most drugs
and poisons require a double dose to do their job,
and may even be completely ineffective in normal
amounts. Unfortunately, this does make getting
smashed more expensive.
d10: You are almost completely unaffected
by alcohol and most weak- to moderate-strength
drugs. When things do start to get to you, it usually
takes enough to floor three or four big men before it
makes you dizzy—you won’t have to roll until then.
The down side is that it is practically impossible for
you to get drunk.
H um an C ipher ( d 6)
You’re a Cipher, but you’re not a robot. Either
by accident or design, you placed a set of Cipher
goggles on your head and they sent cortical interface
cables deep into your brain, painfully creating a
human/Cipher interface. While this provides you with
some of the benefits of wearing the Cipher goggles,
you are not as resistant to injury because your chassis
is, well, flesh and blood. In addition, the human brain
was not meant to handle the highly advanced uplink
 to the Brotherhood Database. Even on the best of
days, the mad rush of voices in your head is enough
to drive you batshit crazy.
Like standard Ciphers, a Human Cipher adds
his Trait Die to his Intelligence and Willpower
for all purposes (as an additional die, not as an
increase to the normal die), and gains the abilities
of the Bureaucratic Mind (d6) Asset. Also, when
plugged into the Brotherhood Database via a
laptop terminal, he gains the same access to the
Database’s accumulated knowledge and information.
Effectively, he gains a bonus d8 to any Knowledge
roll drawing on this research for calculations and
deductive conclusions. Note that this is not as
large a bonus as standard Ciphers; the human
brain places certain limits on the bandwidth. Like
standard Ciphers, Human Ciphers have access to
Brotherhood scanning satellites when the Game
Master determines one is available.
The downside to being a Human Cipher include:
at least one Dull Sense (d2) Complication, usually
eyesight; the effects of the Loose Grasp on Reality
(d4) Complication, as your brain constantly tries to
sort out what’s real and what’s the data feed; and 4
points of other Complications, as determined by you
and your concept of how messed up your Human
Cipher is. Good suggestions here include Paranoid
(d4), Dead Inside (d4), or Eerie Presence (d4).
The good news is that it’s harder to remove
the goggles from a human than the standard robot
chassis. This is treated like a grapple, with the
Cipher’s Agility + Unarmed Combat/Grappling
opposed by the opponent’s Strength + Unarmed
Combat/Grappling. The bad news is that removing
them immediately causes 3 Wound and 3 Stun, and
having them reattach causes another 2 Wound and 2
Stun. It’s assumed that the initial attachment damage
has been healed for any Demon Hunter with this
Trait.
I m mune ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12/ d 12+ d 6)
Immunity is exactly that—complete immunity to
something specific. Most normal people can’t have
this Trait, so discuss with the Game Master what
type of Immunity you want and why you qualify for
it. What you’re immune to determines at what level
you have to buy the Trait.
d4: Immunities to individual natural threats—
non-mystical diseases and poisons, or natural fire,
or extreme cold, and so on. You do not suffer harm
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
from the selected source, though secondary effects
might cause problems (being Immune to fire doesn’t
make you Immune to smoke inhalation as well).
Immunities do not apply to weapons types or very
broad categories at this level—so you could be
“Immune to pistol fire” but not bullets in general,
and you could be “Immune to swords” but not
bladed weapons in general, or “Immune to iron” but
not to all metals.
d8: This level allows you Immunity to broader
categories of mundane things—harsh environmental
conditions, poisons and diseases (mystical ones
included), bladed weapons, fire and heat (mystical or
otherwise), bullets, metal, and so on.
d12: Immunities of this rank are against whole
categories of things: weapons, magic, creature
attacks, debilitating conditions and effects, time, and
57
so on. Be warned—these are very powerful abilities,
and should not be given lightly into the hands of
Chapter Three: What It Takes
players!
d12+d6: This level of Immunity is actually
called Invulnerability, and represents immunity to
all physical harm, regardless of the source. It does
not necessarily mean that attacks or spells have no
effect at all—but they can’t kill the being that has
this Trait! Severed limbs grow back within seconds,
and the character effectively “heals” at whatever
rate he chooses. However, he may still feel pain or
suffering, depending on his nature. Creatures with
this level of immunity don’t even have to choose
what they are Immune to—though they do have to
choose one thing to which they are vulnerable. The
substance can be as specific as a particular chemical
(rock salt’s always a popular choice), type of plant or
artificial flavoring (wintergreen), or object (used beer
tankard). Contact with the substance causes normal
damage if it is used as a weapon, and continual
contact causes continual damage, even if the contact
would not normally be harmful; the substance is
caustic to the creature. The Game Master should
decide exactly how much and how quickly the
substance deals damage, keeping in mind that it will
not be instantaneously lethal despite causing much
more damage than it would in normal circumstances.
I nitiate of the M ystic A r ts ( d 2)
For some reason, you have the ability to
learn the mystic arts via the Mystic Arts General
Skill. It might be natural aptitude, or it might be
special training, or the unique kind of stupidity it
 takes to think summoning demons is a good idea,
but whatever it is, you may now put points into
the General Skill Mystic Arts and any appropriate
Specialties.
These Skills let you perform the ritual spells
of whatever particular form of the art you know.
For example, you might be a necromancer, who
raises skeletons and zombies from corpses, or a
Brotherhood-trained exorcist who specializes in
detecting and repelling evil spirits. For specifics
on the General Skill and Skill Specialties, see the
description of the Mystic Arts in the Skills section of
this chapter; for rules on using these Skills, see The
Mystic Arts in Chapter Four: We Ride.
58 I ntuitive L eaps ( d 4/ d 8)
You have trustworthy hunches, and often make
good decisions even without any information. Also,
you have an easy time telling when someone is lying
Chapter Three: What It Takes
to you. Add your Trait die to any rolls to determine
the truth of someone’s statements.
d4: Once per session, you may ask the Game
Master a question which he must answer as truthfully
as possible with “yes,” “no,” or “maybe/it depends.”
He need not elaborate on the reasoning behind the
answer.
d8: As above, but you may ask twice per
session—and you may spend Plot Points to “buy”
additional questions. Each extra question costs 1 Plot
Point.
L eadership ( d 2+)
You are a natural-born leader—when you
yell “Jump!” at least one idiot hits his head on the
ceiling. Add your Trait die to any rolls to persuade or
intimidate your followers or those who believe they
are under your command into following your orders.
d6+: If your Leadership Trait die is d6 or
higher, your persuasive abilities allow you to inspire
your followers to greater heights. You may spend
Plot Points to add bonus dice to any roll made by
a character under your command, as long as he is
acting under your orders or is trying to act in direct
accord with your goals. These combine with any Plot
Points they spent on the action.
d12+: If your Leadership Trait die is d12 or
higher, you can inspire people to legendary heights.
When spending Plot Points on your follower’s
actions, Leadership increases the total spent by
+2 Plot Points—so if you spend 1 Plot Point on
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
a follower’s action, he gains a d6, and so on. This
bonus only applies to Plot Points spent before a roll,
not those spent afterwards.
L ightning R eflexes ( d 2+)
You’re lightning fast. Add your Trait die to all
Initiative rolls and rolls to react quickly to danger
(getting out of the way of a grenade, for example). It
may also apply to other rolls at the Game Master’s
discretion, but only when the roll is a measure of
speed, not just one that benefits from speed.
L ycanthrop y ( d 6/ d 8/ d 10)
Lycanthropes are shape-changing werebeasts.
The most common are werewolves, but other
varieties exist, and may have slightly altered powers.
Lycanthropy is a disease, which progresses
through three distinct stages—the third stage, full-
blown lycanthropy, is irreversible and results in a
horrible, violent killing machine. Before it reaches
that point, the Brotherhood can halt the progression
of the disease at one of the first two stages.
d6: At the first stage of the disease, there is little
or no alteration to the infected’s mind or personality.
They do, however, have a slightly Eerie Presence (d4)
as if they had that Complication, causing animals to
feel uneasy with them around. Also, they experience
rapid hair growth on their faces and the backs of
their hands. At this point, their senses become
heightened, and they gain the equivalent of the Asset
Sharp Sense (d6) for Smell/Taste and Hearing. They
also gain an unnatural ability to regenerate—as long
as they’re alive, damage from non-silver weapons
is recovered at a rate of 1 point per turn. Wound
damage is healed first, and then Stun when no
Wound remains.
d8: At the second stage of the disease, the
lycanthropic infection causes them to gain the
Eerie Presence listed above, and to develop the
Complication Anger Issues (d4) as their personality
is twisted toward a violent nature. When under
extreme stress, they may undergo a partial
transformation, developing thick hair all over their
bodies, elongated canines, and a protruding, muzzle-
like nose. They may also respond in predictably
canine fashion to certain stimulus—thrown sticks,
baths, and so on.
Stage two lycanthropes gain all the benefits of
those at Stage one, but also gain the benefits of the
Asset Athlete (d6).
 d10: Stage three lycanthropes are the real
deal—capable of transforming at will into a huge,
cunning, lethal combination of man and beast. Their
mind is twisted by the disease, replacing their Anger
Issues with the effects of Out for Blood (d8) and Too
Mean for Hell (d12).
Stage three lycanthropes gain all the benefits
of those at Stage two, but can also shape shift into
the manbeast that makes them so fearsome; the
transformation takes one full combat turn. The
hybrid form walks on two legs or runs on four,
moving twice as fast as a normal person (base
movement of 30 feet on all fours). Its claws and
teeth count as weapons that deal Basic damage and
have a d6 Wound damage die, and its bite transfers
the werevirus to a human if they fail an Average (7)
Resistance roll (Vitality + Vitality).
At this point, the Brotherhood has no way of
saving the victim—Stage III werewolves are twisted,
d12: Choose three Skills. Each must have at
least some relationship to one of the other two,
although at this level you can come up whatever
crazy thematic justification you like. Write “Mad” in
front of all three of them on your Demon Hunter
sheet.
M arked by the D ivine ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12)
Some people are—let’s just face it—that much
better than you. You can’t possibly measure up
to them, and they can practically do no wrong.
And though many of these people might simply be
humans who can be described as competent or
useful, some have a bit more going for them.
Like, being descended from gods. Or angels,
depending. Either way, these people are very rare,
and very powerful; not usually the type for Demon
59
Hunters, especially when it comes to the d12 level.
d4: You’re a Nephilim, a half-angel with some

Chapter Three: What It Takes

inside and out, into something that is no longer measure of holy power. Most Nephilim appear
human. entirely human to the naked eye, but someone who
knows how to look could spot your halo. There are
M ad S killz ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12) very few downsides to this, save the characteristic
Mua ah hahahahahaha! early-onset male-pattern baldness caused by the
… er, well, that basically sums it up. If you have halo’s radiation, and the possibility that you might
Mad Skillz, there is at least one field of study for earn the special ire of someone who doesn’t like
which the usual and mundane limits do not apply angels.
to you. You have chosen to do away with normal
methods of operation, or patterns of thought, and
conventional morality. Mad Skillz are essential when
trying to accomplish certain feats of engineering,
scientific achievement, or world-shattering works of
art.
When using a Mad Skill, such as Mad Science
or Mad Artistry, the Game Master should expand
the field of potential accomplishment to include the
supernatural, supernormal, far-fetched, or simply
bizarre. You gain a +2 bonus when
spending Plot Points on any action
or story edit that you can justifiably
apply your Mad Skillz to. Thus,
spending 1 Plot Point counts as 3, 2
Plot Points counts as 4, and so on.
d4: Choose one Skill. On your
Demon Hunter sheet, write “Mad” in front
of it.
d8: Choose two Skills. They must be at
least somewhat related to each other. Write
“Mad” in front of each of them on your Demon
Hunter sheet.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)


60
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
However, the benefits can be considerable.
Nephilim are direct channels of divine energy, which
can allow them to perform amazing feats of healing.
Well, ok, only sort of. See, at this level, you’re an
untrained Nephilim, unable to fully grasp your divine
heritage. You don’t often get sick—add your Trait die
to all rolls to resist poison, disease, infection, drugs,
and so on—and you can sometimes manage to heal
yourself. Once per session, you may roll your Trait
die to reduce your current Wound damage by the
indicated amount (if you have no Wound or roll more
than your injury, the remainder heals Stun damage, if
any).
d8: Some Nephilim meditate on their nature,
take a hand in the fight against evil, and manage to
better integrate their mystical and mundane halves.
Their halo is still invisible, but they do develop angel
wings—though never entirely white ones, since they
are, after all, mortal. Their wings must stand out
as a dead giveaway, or be voluntarily suppressed,
made invisible by a symbolic effort to tie them down
(it could be as simple as a cross of duct-tape on the
back of their jacket, or an elaborate bodice, or a
cord or belt around their waist). If the wings are left
revealed, the Nephilim has to deal with the effects of
the Memorable (d10) Complication. Unfortunately,
he can’t fly, though a Nephilim who jumps out of the
zombie-Nazi-controlled zeppelin he just blew up
might find that a lenient Game Master allows him to
glide.
Nephilim of this level have, for the most part,
the same abilities they always did, save that their
potential to heal is considerably improved. Replacing
the ability to heal themselves is the ability to heal
anyone, and possibly even resurrect fallen comrades.
Once per session, the Nephilim may heal someone
through a laying-on of hands and a small prayer (the
exact prayer and ceremony doesn’t matter, though
Saint Peter has banned all Brotherhood-recruited
Nephilim from performing what has been dubbed
“the Holy Grope”). You roll his Trait die, and the
target is healed, recovering a number of Life Points
equal to the result (Wound damage is healed first,
and any leftover healing removes Stun).
If the result would bring someone who was
recently killed (within the past half hour) back to
life, he is revived. If the victim is to be healed, but
has been dead for longer than half an hour, your
Nephilim feels his power being resisted by the
clutches of death. He can let the soul go, or he can
choose to give up a portion of his own to bring the
victim back to life. Your Nephilim lets some of his
divinity slip away in this process, and falls back to the
d4 level of this Trait—losing his wings and the ability
to heal others. Someday, he might be able to regain
his lost power, through meditation, self-improvement
methods, or binge drinking (and buying the
advancement like any other Trait increase), but until
then he is … less than he should be, and that hurts.
Your Nephilim may perform his healing feat
more than once per session, but each extra healing
costs 2 Plot Points.
d12: Godlings are even more rare than
Nephilim, even though they aren’t as direct a line to
holy powers. Godlings are literally the descendants
of gods, but far enough removed by the mortal line
to no longer count as under their divine ancestor’s
direct control.
As with Nephilim, there aren’t a whole lot of
direct drawbacks to being part god, but because
of your intensely powerful aura you tend to attract
weird events. You have all the effects of the
Complication Mystic Vortex (d6). And, unfortunately,
being this powerful tends to attract enemies, ones
that are just as powerful but bent on taking you
down. This gives you a Rival (d4).
The benefits of being a Godling vary greatly and
depend on the nature of the god you are related
to. The common ones are long life (Old Time d12),
the ability to be damn impressive when you choose
(Spooky Mystique d6), and an unnatural dose of good
luck (Blessed d12). Beyond those, the exact benefits
are entirely variable—the Game Master should select
up to 12 Trait Points worth of bonus Assets to add to
your list.
M eta -G ame A wareness ( d 10)
Your Demon Hunter is aware that he exists in a
Tabletop Combat Simulation. The consequences of
this can be far-reaching, but most directly it allows
you to use that coveted resource, “Out-of-Game
Knowledge.” If you know it, your Demon Hunter
knows it, and if he can persuade the other characters
to listen to him, they can plan accordingly.
N ot L eft -H anded E ither ! ( d 4/ d 6)
You are trained to fight with either hand. At
d4 level you do not suffer any attack penalty when
fighting with your primary hand, and suffer only a
–1 step penalty with your off-hand. At d6 level you
 do not suffer any penalties for two-hand fighting.
Remember that multiple action penalties still apply.
This doesn’t actually make you ambidextrous,
though. For example, you might be able to fight
with either hand, but only write with your right
hand. Natural ambidexterity is a character choice
with no mechanical benefit or penalty. That kind of
fine dexterity with both hands doesn’t help combat,
which involves kinesthetic sense, training, and many
muscle groups.
O ld -T imer ( d 2+)
You might not be old yet, but you will be—for
some reason, your lifespan has been extended far
beyond natural expectations. Barring accident,
illness, or injury, you can expect to live a number
of years equal to your species’ average lifetime,
multiplied by the maximum of your Old-Timer Trait
die (so if you have a d4 in this Trait, multiply your
lifespan by 4, and so on).
d12+: If your Old-Timer Trait die is equal
to d12 or greater, this trait becomes “Apparent
Immortality” Which barrs accident, illness, or injury,
you can expect to live forever.
P ersonal D imensional P ocket ( d 8)
You have access to a Personal Dimensional
Pocket (or PDP). You might have had it issued to you
by the Brotherhood (whose scientists produce them
for certain field agents), have a natural talent that
lets you access it, or have found it—work out the
specifics with the Game Master.
A PDP allows you to carry large, bulky, heavy,
dangerous, or obvious gear in an invisible fashion.
Each can hold a total of mass about the size of a
large bus, but is more directly limited by the size of
the opening. A PDP follows its owner ethereally, but
must be accessed through some opening: a pocket,
the inside of a trench coat, or your mouth, for
instance. To put something into it, the object must
fit through whatever opening the PDP is attached to
at the moment (it takes one turn of concentration
to open or move the PDP). To remove something,
you must reach into it and think about what item
you want; only one item can be removed per turn,
though that item could be a container with other
objects in it. Of course, you can only take out what
you already put into it.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
As a side benefit, people with PDPs develop a
tendency to carry around almost anything they think
they might need, called “Text Adventure Syndrome.”
If you need something that you could have put into
the PDP if you had thought of it or remembered to
(for example, something you own or had access to),
it never costs more than 2 Plot Points to alter the
story so that you happen to have the object.
Unfortunately, living creatures never survive
being put inside a PDP. It is dark inside, and they will
probably be eaten by a grue.
Q uick L earner ( d 2+)
You pick things up pretty quickly. Once per
session, you may use your Quick Learner Trait die
instead of a Skill you do not have. Once you have
chosen the Skill (pick a General Skill and, if you have
61
d8+, a single Specialty), it remains that combination
for the remainder of the session or until the Game
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Master decides the effect should wear off; it can’t
last for more than 24 hours in-game. You must either
have another character (who has the desired Skill at
any level) spend one minute instructing you in the
Skill, or have 10 minutes to practice, to put this Trait
into effect.
You may use Quick Learner to substitute for
a Skill you already have, but unless Quick Learner
is higher than the Skill/Specialty combination you
select, it provides no benefit.
R eputation ( d 2+)
You have a reputation that benefits you. People
are more likely to trust, fear, love, or believe in you,
depending on the type of Reputation you would have
generated. Discuss with the Game Master what you
are known for and what groups of people would
have heard of you: When dealing with these people,
add your Reputation Trait die to all Influence rolls
(except when using inappropriate Specialties, like
Intimidate rolls when the Reputation is for kindness),
unless the particular group has been given reason to
doubt your reputation.
S econd S ight ( d 4/ d 8)
You have eyes in the back of your head, and
one right in the middle of your forehead. Well, not
literally. You seem to always know when danger is
coming, and are very difficult to surprise.

62
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
d4: The Game Master may secretly make a Hard
(11) Alertness + Perception/Intuition + Second Sight
roll for you when danger threatens, usually a turn or
two before it strikes. If you succeed, you get a bad
feeling about the situation that provides a warning,
giving you the chance to get on guard, or waking you
up if you’re asleep. Sometimes this might happen
further ahead of time—for example, if an unknown
enemy is preparing to launch a major offensive later
in the day, you might wake up feeling uneasy in a
more vague way.
d8: As above, but additionally you can’t be
attacked completely by surprise. You are always alert
to danger, if only just a moment before the attack.
Even a sniper can’t be sure you won’t suddenly duck
out of the way; you can only be deprived of your
Innate Defense if physically restrained.
S hadow ( d 2/ d 6/ d 10)
You try to keep off the radar. It can be nearly
impossible to find any dirt on you, and if you’re
careful enough, things will stay that way.
d2: You have kept a clean record. A background
check can find out the basics: birth date, full legal
name, and so on, but no suspicious or illegal activity
can be traced to you by records, and there is little
to no information on purchases, jobs, awards,
education, and so on available, though place of
residence and current employment will be findable.
d6: The only available information on you
consists of your birth certificate, location of birth, and
perhaps your current location; no information about
what you have been up to can be found.
d10: You don’t exist. There are no records of
you, anywhere. Your name isn’t on file with anyone,
no one can find out where you came from, and there
isn’t anything they can do about it save question you
or those who know you directly.
S har p S ense ( d 2– d 6)
You have heightened senses. Choose one of
the following: Sight, Touch, Smell/Taste, or Hearing.
Whenever making a roll that relies primarily on
that sense, add your Trait die to the roll. Also, you
have the chance to detect things that others likely
wouldn’t notice: the faint scent of a particular
animal or a perfume someone wore here, the subtle
electronic hum of a hidden device, and so on. This
can be particularly useful when searching for clues
left in a crime scene or other significant locale.
S ignature I tem ( d 2)
There’s a particular otherwise non-useful
item (a hat, sunglasses, jacket, cape, or similar, but
not a sword or medical kit) that really completes
your outfit. Without the item, you just wouldn’t be
yourself. Fortunately, you can’t be deprived of it; if
you lose it somehow, it reappears or is replaced at
the first opportunity—for example, if your Signature
Item is a hat, and you get killed and lose it, the next
time you show up you’ll be found rummaging around
in a bin, having just found a new one. Your Signature
Item, of course, is spelled out in Title Case; see
Upgrades in Chapter Five: The Warehouse.
S pooky M ystique ( d 6)
You are spooky in an undeniably cool way. This
can’t save you in desperate situations, but it can be
damn impressive. Depending on the nature of your
spookiness, you might be able to vanish completely
when someone looks away for an instant; cause
flowers to wilt with a touch; be accompanied into
a room by a slight chill wind; cause candles or
lights to flicker; make a sudden entrance while the
light flickers for a moment, so you appear silently
and mysteriously in the instant of darkness; cause
animals to shy away in fright or appear momentarily
hypnotized; make the hair on the backs of peoples’
necks stand up … the list goes on.
If you invoke this for purely cosmetic effects,
there is no cost or roll required. If you wish to use
it to your advantage, the Game Master may let you
spend 1 Plot Point to cause a spooky effect that
lets you add your Trait die to a roll to intimidate or
impress someone, make a stealthy or sudden escape,
sneak up behind someone for a surprise attack, and
so on. It can’t be used more than once every other
combat turn, and even that would be pushing it—and
drain the player’s Plot Points very rapidly.
S teady C alm ( d 2+)
You are hard to shake. You always seem to keep
your wits about you. Add your Trait die to all rolls
to resist being frightened, intimidated, shaken, or
otherwise mentally unbalanced. This Trait also aids
you in resisting torture or coercion.
d6+: If your Steady Calm Trait die is d6 or
higher, you gain a bonus to Plot Point expenditures
on rolls that include this Trait. If you spend any Plot
Points on these rolls, count the total spent as if it
were 2 higher; spending 1 Plot Point nets you a d6
 bonus die, 3 would net you a d10, and so on. This
Trait bonus only benefits Plot Points spent before the
roll, not those spent after.
d12+: If your Steady Calm Trait die is d12 or
higher, you can’t normally be surprised, frightened,
or affected by anything that this Trait would help you
resist. Only the most extreme situations warrant a
roll.
S tubborn S.O.B. ( d 2+)
You’re hard to influence mystically, psychically,
or through drug-induced hypnosis (or any similar
methods). Whether that’s because you have special
powers or are simply as stubborn as a mule, the
result is the same: Add your Trait die to all rolls to
resist being controlled by outside powers.
d6+: If your Stubborn S.O.B. Trait die is d6 or
higher, you gain a bonus to Plot Point expenditures
on rolls that include this Trait. If you spend any Plot
Points on these rolls, count the total spent as if it
were 2 higher; spending 1 Plot Point nets you a d6
bonus die, 3 would net you a d10, and so on. This
Trait bonus only benefits Plot Points spent before the
roll, not those spent after.
d12+: If your Stubborn S.O.B. Trait die is d12
or higher, your mind is a veritable fortress of sheer
bloody-mindedness. You can’t be controlled, no roll
required, by anything short of the most powerful
Divine or Infernal compulsion—and even in those
cases, you always get a roll.
T ough S unnava … ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12)
You’re hard to take down. Add your Trait die
to rolls to resist poison, disease, unconsciousness,
death, and the like.
d4: Gain 2 bonus Life Points.
d8: Gain 4 bonus Life Points.
d12: Gain 8 bonus Life Points.
T rust y S idekick ( d 2/ d 6/ d 12)
There’s safety in numbers, even if Number
two is a small robotic fowl. You have a companion,
follower, helper, or familiar of some kind. Regardless
of the level of your Trait, your follower has the
following qualities:
Is a loyal NPC: The Game Master controls your
companion directly, though it will generally act in
your favor.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Is slightly intelligent: Your companion is
somewhat brighter than a dog (and most high
school students). It can understand most speech in
your native language, take simple instructions, and
perform minor tasks based on the level of the Trait.
Can be killed: It is possible for you to lose your
companion, though how it can be injured/banished/
killed/destroyed depends upon its nature. If you lose
the companion in a permanent fashion, the Trait
goes dormant—you still have it, but have no benefit.
You may either choose to lose it (and gain back ½
the number of Trait Points it cost you, to spend
as you wish), or to spend 1 extra Trait Point on it
to reactivate it, in which case you either get your
companion back or receive a new one soon.
d2: Your follower is largely a cosmetic feature of
the character. It can’t be larger or more useful than a
63
weasel; it might be able to fetch a key for you, but if
caught would be easily prevented from reaching you,
Chapter Three: What It Takes
captured, or killed. Build its stats with 20 Attribute
Points, 0 Trait Points, and 10 Skill Points. It can’t have
an Intelligence higher than d2, and is only slightly
brighter than a dog (its ability to understand your
wishes is usually sufficient, but not very detailed).
It can’t effectively fight—it can’t inflict more than 1
Stun damage per turn, and can’t Wound enemies.
d6: Your follower is slightly more intelligent
and useful. It can’t have an Intelligence higher than
d6, and can obey moderately complex commands
(hide until dark, find the key in the desk, and let me
out when the guards change). Build its stats with 26
Attribute Points, 0 Trait Points, and 16 Skill Points. It
can fight normally.
d12: Your follower can understand any
command, even if it can’t or will not obey; it can’t
have an Intelligence of higher than d10. Build its stats
with 32 Attribute Points, 0 Trait Points, and 22 Skill
Points. It can fight normally.
U ncom mon K nowledge ( d 6– d 10)
You know something they don’t know!
And whatever it is, it is a seriously rare tidbit of
information. You possess knowledge of some topic
or field that almost no one else does; it might be
secret, or it may simply be very obscure. Discuss
with the Game Master what kind of knowledge it
might be, if this Trait is appropriate or not, and if so,
ask them what level it would need to be. This Trait is
highly subjective, so be sure it covers something that
will actually add to your character!
 V ampire ( d 6)
Bloodsuckers. Creatures of the Night. The
Damned. Those Damned Goth Punks. They’ve been
called many names, but it all basically comes down to
the same thing.
Vampires come from almost every corner of the
world, and they serve different masters and act in
different ways. Unlike lycanthropy, vampirism does
not automatically break the mind of the victim. While
exposure to horrific things and harming humans
in the course of feeding may drive them over the
brink, this can be prevented. The Brotherhood has
developed Vitamin V, a blood-substituting beverage
that satisfies the Thirst for human blood without
well, they’re pretty much whiny, spike-wearing
goth-toast, taking 1 Wound and 1 Stun damage every
combat turn.
So Vitamin V is all well and good—it keeps them
alive and able to stand daylight. But the Chill sets in
one day after they last fed from a human, and will not
go away until they feed from a human again, which
puts them on the Brotherhood’s black list. Vitamin
V, even warmed up, does nothing to push back the
Chill. Because of this, Brotherhood vampires are
always cold, shivering, to the point of numbness. It’s
not unusual for the discomfort to mount, causing
a mental strain that leads to an eventual cold snap
during which the vampire is overcome by their Thirst

64 causing harm to humans.

Of course, being a vampire does cause some
other problems that have to be dealt with. Vampires
are mildly Allergic (d2) to garlic, and severely
Allergic (d8) to holiness, such as that of active sites
Chapter Three: What It Takes
and feeds from a human. Once a vampire starts
living on Vitamin V, he has to make a Willpower +
Discipline/Concentration roll once a month, against a
Hard (11) Difficulty. If he fails the roll, they can’t help
but feed from a human at some point that month—

of worship or a religious icon held by a true believer. and if his slip is discovered by the Brotherhood, he’ll
However, those problems pale in comparison to the be killed. Because of this danger—not to mention the
true bane of their undead condition: The Thirst, and comfort even a little warmth brings—Brotherhood
the accompanying Chill. The Thirst is, essentially, a bloodsuckers seek out ways to warm up whenever
powerful Addiction (d10) to human blood, which possible, to push the Chill back a little. Saunas, steam
must be satisfied regularly. Because vampires are baths, warm clothing, clingy significant others are
undead, they receive their sustenance from the options. If the vamp can find ways to keep a little
living—but the Chill is what makes feeding more than warmer most of the time, and can get at least one
just a necessity.
Vampiric bodies generate no heat at all. They’re
dead, so in truth no measure of cold will actually hurt
them—but they still feel the Chill, the lack of warmth
in their bodies. And the only way to push back the
Chill is to feed directly from a human.
Vampires only need to feed once every three
days—if they don’t, they shut down, like a lizard
in hibernation, waiting for blood. Vitamin V can
prevent this; it feeds them, and keeps them going.
It also pushes back their tendency to spontaneously
combust in daylight. An unfed vampire’s aversion to
sunlight is more than the psychological aspect most
basement-bred gamers develop; sunlight causes
serious harm if more than a few square inches of skin
are exposed to it. If the vamp has fed within a 24
hours, the exposure is harmless—just irritating, as
if they’re feeling a bad sunburn. However, if they’ve
gone between 24 and 48 hours since feeding, they
start to singe, taking 1 Wound and 1 Stun damage
every 30 seconds that they’re exposed. If they’ve
gone more than 48 hours since their last feeding—

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 big jolt a month, the psychological effect reduces the
Difficulty of his roll to resist snapping to Average (7),
or even Easy (3) if things have been really good and
he hasn’t been under any other stress.
So being a vamp generally sucks—a pun too
obvious to avoid. On the plus side, though, vampires
are strong, fast, and hard to take down. They add
their Trait die as a bonus to their Strength and
Agility (as an additional die, not as an increase to
the original dice), which affects all rolls (including
Initiative) accordingly. They also gain the benefits of
Fast Healer (d12)—and they don’t usually die when
they should. Unless the damage is to their head or
neck (decapitation), caused by sunlight or fire, or
includes a stake through the heart, a vampire will
simply fall unconscious when they fail a roll to “stay
alive.” Unless whatever hurt them inflicts enough
damage to double their Life Points in Wounds (which
kills them instantly, regardless), the vamp will simply
heal at their usual rate, and regain consciousness
when their injury no longer exceeds their Life Point
total.
Vampires, if caught before they commit too
many crimes or otherwise earn irredeemable
status, can be considered for membership in the
Brotherhood. They are offered a choice: a life of
shivering while their numb fingers scrabble with their
next bottle of Vitamin V, or death.
W alking A r mor y ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12)
Why reload when you can switch weapons? Not
that you don’t have extra ammo—on the contrary,
you could supply an entire lobby scene from your
double cartridge bandoliers alone—but you always
seem to have one more shotgun or another pair
of Uzis hidden on your person. Or some knives
and a hatchet. Or a pickaxe. Chainsaw. Whatever.
However, keep in mind that the Game Master may
disallow a specific use of this Asset, if it would ruin
the story.
d4: Once per session, you can do one of
the following: Supply one load of normal ammo
to everyone in your immediate vicinity; draw a
previously unseen normal melee weapon of up to d6
damage die; or produce a pair of small firearms with
no more than a d6 damage die each. You may repeat
this multiple times for 1 Plot Point per extra use of
the Asset.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
d8: As d4 above, but you may also: produce
unusual types of ammunition; produce melee
weapons of up to d10 damage dice or several with
no more than d6; produce shotguns or rifles with up
to d10 damage dice or four small firearms; produce
one grenade or other small explosive.
d12: As d8 above, but you may also: produce
a low-yield Brotherhood energy weapon; produce
several grenades or small explosives; produce man-
portable antitank weapons and rocket-propelled
grenades (no reloads); produce other weapons of
Mad Tech. This level of Walking Armory may be
restricted to NPCs.
W ealthy ( d 4/ d 8)
You may not have funky tech or weird
dimensional rifts, but you do have plenty of good,
65
old-fashioned cash. Add your Trait die to any
negotiation or bartering roll on which you are
Chapter Three: What It Takes
spending some of your excess cash to sweeten the
deal—either directly, or by buying drinks, giving gifts,
and so on.
d4: If you are keeping careful track of numbers,
start with twice the normal cash, and receive a
monthly stipend of $1000 without needing to
work—maybe from a fund or rich parents. If
numbers aren’t important to your Game Master,
always remember that you have a fair number of
minor luxuries and a decent amount of spending
cash.
d8: As above, but multiply starting cash by
4, the monthly stipend would be $4000, and you
always have the most lavish versions of everything
and a large chunk of cash on hand.
Complications
A ddiction ( d 4– d 10)
You’re hooked. It might be cigarettes, alcohol,
caffeine (sorry—we mean, “enhancing ingredient”),
painkillers, demonic sacrifices, or almost anything—
but you need it, and if you can’t get it, you go into
withdrawal. The level of this Complication depends
on the nature of the addiction: Something legal,
with few immediate risks and nonfatal withdrawal
symptoms (being a smoker or a functioning
alcoholic) would be rated d4 or d6; addictions to
substances that cause more problems, have worse
withdrawal symptoms, or are illegal (or supernatural)
likely have a higher die rating.
 Depending on the addiction, the time between
required fixes could vary from 8 hours to a week.
Minor symptoms include headaches (–1 Attribute
step to all rolls from inability to concentrate),
the shakes (inability to perform delicate actions),
frequent nausea and vomiting, or confusion that
manifests on and off constantly. Severe symptoms
can cause dire problems, like blacking out randomly,
violent rages, bleeding, cardiac arrest, and so on.
Also, you may experience social side effects from
indulging your addiction (the Game Master may add
your Trait die to the Difficulty of social rolls, or have
66 6
supporting characters respond unfavorably upon
meeting you), your health may degrade, or you may
be incapacitated while fixing.
n A llergy ( d 2/ d 8)
ata
sw
uz You get watery-eyed around kittens, and not
h e r e because you think they’re cute. It might not be
Chapter Three: What It Takes
cats; it could be dogs, your in-laws, or ketchup, but
whatever it is, you’re allergic to something fairly
common.
d2: Your allergy isn’t life threatening, but it can
set you to sneezing, getting a bit dizzy, feeling sick,
and so on. Whenever you encounter
the allergen, you suffer two points of
Stun damage on initial contact. This
damage can’t be healed until
the allergen is removed or
you receive medication, at P urple Ninja say: “Remember wisdom largely compensate for your
which point it begins healing of Avril Lavigne: Why did you have to
normally. Symptoms continue go and make things so complicated?”
until this Stun damage is
gone—you sneeze, cough,
and the Game Master adds your Trait die to the
Difficulty of all actions you take.
d8: Your allergy could kill you; whenever you
encounter the allergen, make a Resistance (Vitality
+ Vitality) roll against a Difficulty of 7 + your Trait
die; an Average Difficulty, but the Game Master rolls
and adds the Complication’s die against you. If you
succeed, treat the exposure as above, adding your
Trait die to the Difficulty of all your actions until the
Stun damage heals. If you fail the Resistance roll, you
go into shock and begin convulsing. Unless properly
medicated, you suffer your Trait die in Basic damage
every two minutes until you die, whether or not the
allergen is removed.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
A morous ( d 4– d 8)
You think of yourself as suave and sexy; other
people probably think you’re some kind of pervert.
You can’t pass up a chance to score, even when you
know it’s a bad idea. While this is principally up to
you to role play, your predilections could garner you
a bad name. When trying to Influence those you hurt
or offend, add your Trait die to all Difficulties. If they
haven’t already called the authorities or pulled out a
shotgun, that is.
You can’t possess this Complication and
Unintentionally Erotic simultaneously.
A nger I ssues ( d 2– d 4)
Your temper often gets the better of you. While
this doesn’t mean you go berserk, or even show
it outwardly, you are easily offended or put off by
others, and frequently make bad or rash decisions.
While this is principally up to you to role play, those
who know about your temper may be less likely
to trust you. Add your Trait die to the Difficulty
of convincing such a person to rely on you to do
the right thing or keep your cool, and don’t expect
leaders to be too happy about your outbursts.
B lind /D eaf ( d 8/ d 12)
Being blind or deaf alters the way you
interact drastically. If you are
either Blind or Deaf, and can
disability, this Trait is rated d8 for
you. If you are both Blind and
Deaf, and/or have little ability
to make do, this Trait is worth
d12. Unless some supernatural sense or device
compensates for their inability to communicate, most
Demon Hunters should not start out both Blind and
Deaf.
Blind: You can’t see. Ranged combat is
impossible, and actions hindered by a lack of sight
have your Trait die added to the Difficulty.
Deaf: You can’t hear. If you can see, a
Specialty in Perception/Lip Reading of d10 lets you
automatically understand normal speech within a
reasonable distance. If you can’t see, you may be
almost entirely unable to communicate.
 C an ’ t E ver H ide the B odies ( d 6)
For some reason, you suffer from a chronic
inability to get away with anything secretly. You just
can’t hide the evidence; either immediately or very
quickly, you are linked inextricably to any crime
scene you’ve been anywhere near. The baddies
always know when you’re involved in attempting to
foil their schemes, and trying to infiltrate a secret
base is difficult when you accidentally wind up on
security footage because you stepped out from
behind the wrong corner—people are quickly
alerted to your presence, though not necessarily to
your exact location.
both obvious and far-reaching. Add your Trait die to
the Difficulty of all social interactions in situations
where being Crude could be a problem.
C owar d ( d 4– d 8)
You’re a yeller-bellied, lily-livered, sniveling little
toad, and proud of it. You don’t want to get hurt, and
you don’t want to die. This is primarily a role playing
Trait, but it may affect your ability to withstand
interrogation, intimidation, torture, and the like, as
well as making other people look down on you. In
these situations, add your Trait die to the Difficulty of
the appropriate rolls.

C omfor t O bject ( d 2+)

It might be a blanket, a cross, or the broken
hilt of your father’s sword that you wear around
your neck, but you require some object to feel
complete. The object can be anything that you can
D amned ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12)
When everything is looking up, you can expect it
to come crashing down around your ears. The Game
67
Master can force you to reroll all the dice from an
action and use the lower of the two results. This is

Chapter Three: What It Takes

carry on your person, serves no useful function, is especially likely if you’ve spent a Plot Point on your
often displayed proudly, and can be lost or stolen. last turn.
Therefore it can’t be a tattoo or an impossibly small d4: You can be forced to reroll once per
object that never comes out of your pocket. And session.
whenever you don’t have it, you become agitated d8: You can be forced to reroll twice per
(read: cry like a little girl). You get so upset that session.
you have to add your Complication’s Trait die to d12: You can be forced to reroll thrice per
the Difficulty of all actions you take, and if possible, session.
should do your best to act for the immediate
retrieval of the object.

C ont r ar y S am aritan ( d 4)
You might feel sorry for them, or maybe you
just never outgrew being 12, but you tend to find
the underdog in any situation and put yourself firmly
alongside them—until someone else becomes the
underdog, anyway. While this is principally up to
you to role play, it can also lead to being thought of
as wishy-washy, juvenile, or immature—or it might
make someone feel betrayed. When interacting with
people who might dislike you because of this Trait,
add the Trait die to the Difficulties of all social rolls.

C rude ( d 4– d 8)
If you can add a four-letter word to a sentence,
you might as well add two. You probably still think
“your mom” jokes are funny, and instead of learning
what the second fork is for, you opt to eat with you
fingers. While this is principally up to you to role
play, the social consequences can quickly become

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)


68
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
D ead B roke ( d 4/ d 8)
You’ve got nothing but lint in your pockets.
d4: If you’re keeping careful track of cash, you
start with half the normal amount, and whenever you
get a big score, you lose half of it without any benefit
(get ripped off on a deal, get mugged, drop it down
a drain, whatever). If you’re less worked up about
penny-pinching, you might have some raggedy gear,
and you rarely have enough money for more than
lunch.
d8: As above, but divide starting cash by four,
and lose all but a quarter of any money earned. You
have patched clothing, almost no equipment that isn’t
vital to your survival, and usually have to go without
lunch.
D ead I nside ( d 4– d 6)
You just don’t get it. And by that, we mean
anything—at least, anything related to emotion,
humor, or the like. Maybe you can’t, because your
mind is really a positronic network that doesn’t do
emotion, or maybe you’re just a grim, stoic individual
with no sense of humor. You also probably fail to
pick up on any tension, comments, humor, or hints
related to emotional issues or sex.
D ull S ense ( d 2– d 6)
One of your senses (sight, hearing, smell/taste,
touch) is less keen than it should be. Whenever that
sense is the primary factor behind a roll to notice
something, add your Trait die to the Difficulty of the
roll.
D ut y ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12)
There’s something you have to do, whether you
like it or not. Depending on what this Duty is the
consequences for shirking it could be pretty bad …
but then again, sticking to it might be dangerous, too.
Your Duty could represent a number of
things: the requirements of your job, a personal
code of honor, a family or clan responsibility, or a
supernatural compulsion.
d4: If your Duty is relatively safe most of the
time (“always help old ladies cross the street or flee
from demons,” “never miss a day at work or you let
down the bus driver community”), or is solely self-
imposed with no direct consequences for breaking it,
this is the level for it.
d8: If your Duty puts you in the line of danger
sometimes (“never leave a man behind,” “defend
your country,” “always obey your superiors or
be kicked from the Brotherhood”), carries some
important but nonlethal consequences for breaking it,
or is essentially completely unavoidable but not too
dangerous (compulsory military service during peace
time), this is the level for it.
d12: If your Duty is likely to be extremely
dangerous, carries life-threatening consequences for
breaking it, or is unavoidable and probably risky (a
magical compulsion to go on a dangerous quest, for
example), this is the level for it.
E erie P resence ( d 2+)
There’s something … off about you that puts
people on edge. Add your Trait die to the Difficulty
of any rolls to interact with mortals (except when
Intimidating them, though this Trait doesn’t provide a
bonus to that). The exact effects change depending
on the severity of your condition, and could result in
extremely ill-mannered behavior, like trying to ram
a stake through your heart, light you on fire, or stick
dirty socks in your mouth (superstitions run to all
sorts of oddities).
At a very minor level, there aren’t any extremely
obvious things people can point out as being the
problem—they just get a bit of an odd feeling about
you. At slightly higher levels, like d6–d8, people
might notice odd things out of the corner of their
eyes, such as your reflection appearing monstrous,
your shadow behaving oddly, and so on. You also
might appear too pale, or too gaunt, or strange in
some other way that is still potentially normal. At
extremely high levels, you cause a definite chill up
people’s spines, smell like death, or behave oddly
enough that people are genuinely afraid of you.
E xt remely S ane ( d 10)
You are absolutely convinced of your own sanity
and rationality. Obviously, the supernatural is no
more than a pack of myths and lies trumped up with
special effects; you don’t acknowledge the existence
of anything outside the mortal, and will usually
assume that unnatural threats are non-dangerous
pranks. Even when presented with a dead body, you
will assume the supernatural is merely a cover story
for your average run-of-the-mill murder.
 This can make interacting with you extremely
irritating for anyone with half a brain. You almost
certainly aren’t a Demon Hunter, and you probably
have very few friends since your lack of imagination
makes for boring conversations.
F orked T ongue ( d 6)
You lie compulsively; people very quickly realize
that you can’t be trusted. While this is principally up
to you to role play, lying at the wrong time or being
a known liar can have serious consequences. Once
somebody has caught on, add your Trait die to the
Difficulty of all rolls to convince them you’re telling
the truth; this Trait compels you to lie, but it doesn’t
mean you’re any good at it.
G lor y H ound ( d 2– d 4)
You hog the spotlight, even if you don’t deserve
it or won’t survive in it for long. You want everyone
to know how impressive you are, and you’ll do
stupid stuff to make sure they do. While this is
principally up to you to role play, you may wind up
pissing people off or overlooking the consequences
of your actions. When appropriate, add your Trait
die to the Difficulty of rolls this Trait might interfere
with.
G reedy ( d 4– d 8)
Money is, in fact, the root of all happiness.
You could always use a little more, even if you
have to sell out your friends to get it. While this is
principally up to you to role play, others might find
your desperate, money-grubbing behavior more
than a little off-putting, or you may make decisions
so ill considered that you wind up getting yourself in
trouble.
I dealist ( d 2– d 6)
You honestly believe that people are basically
good, everything will work out for the best, and the
universe is a more-or-less nice place. In regard to at
least one part of your life, you have an unrealistically
optimistic outlook. While this is principally up to you
to role play, you may have to add your Trait die to
the Difficulty of rolls when your optimism clouds
your judgment.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
I nconsequential ( d 2– d 8)
There may be hope for you yet—oh, who
are you kidding? There’s no way you could ever
amount to anything! You suffer from bouts of minor
depression that make you feel ineffective and
inconsequential. Whenever you fail a roll to actively
do something (so defenses, reactions, and rolls for
passive things like noticing something unusual don’t
count), add your Trait die to the Difficulties of all
related actions for the remainder of the session or
until your Demon Hunter can sleep on it, have a cup
of tea, or somehing similar.
I nfamy ( d 2+)
You have an extremely negative reputation that
can make it difficult to deal with people. Discuss
with the Game Master who will have heard of you
69
and what garnered you this Infamy when setting the
Trait die. When dealing with people who would have
Chapter Three: What It Takes
a negative reaction to you, add your Trait die to the
Difficulties of all social rolls. Your Infamy doesn’t
make you fearsome—just hated.
It is possible to have both Infamy and a
Reputation, if they represent the attitudes of
different groups of people towards you.
K lep to ( d 2/ d 6/ d 10)
You steal compulsively. This can annoy people,
get you in trouble, and makes you the first suspect
even when you didn’t do anything wrong. Since you
steal out of compulsion, and not out of necessity, you
don’t even have a self-justification to back you up.
The die rating of the Trait represents what level of
theft you are compelled to commit.
d2: You shoplift candy from drug stores, grab
the change from someone’s jacket pocket, and take
the silverware from restaurants. Not likely to get
you shot, but you never know.
d6: You like to live dangerously—you might
break into cars, rob a house just to see if you can, or
try to pick the pocket of a rich-looking guy because
he might have a big chunk of dough on him.
d10: It’s a surprise you’re still alive—you can’t
go very long with out committing serious theft.
Jewelry stores, car theft, and strings of major
pickpocketings—you can’t let it go at just the one.
 K lut z ( d 8)
You have four or five left feet. For some
reason, you can’t seem to get the hang of balance,
coordination, and kinesthetic sense—though since
you do move rather chaotically, at least this doesn’t
make you any more likely to get hit in combat. Add
your Trait die to the Difficulties of all rolls to move,
catch something, throw something, or do anything
else requiring coordination, other than defensive
rolls. Also, you botch these rolls if all your dice come
up showing either 1 or 2 (instead of botching if they
all come up 1).
L ame ( d 4)
70 You’re slowed down by a bum leg. It might
actually have been lost, or maybe is stuck in a
brace—or maybe something else keeps you moving
slowly, like arthritis. Reduce your base
movement speed by five feet.
Chapter Three: What It Takes
L azy ( d 4)
You don’t have enough
time to do it—you’re too P urple N inja say: “Purple
busy relaxing. If at all possible, Ninja really like Avril Lavigne.”
you avoid any active work.
While this is principally up to
you to role play, you may have to add your Trait die
to the Difficulty of rolls when your attitude causes
problems.
L ight weight ( d 2+)
Your grandmother could drink you under the
table. Add your Trait die to the Difficulty of all rolls to is a factor, rolls may be required to deliver the
resist drugs, disease, poisons, and so on.
L oose G r asp on R ealit y ( d 4+)
You always manage to look on the psychedelic
side of things—I mean, is there any other way to
live? This Complication could represent any number
of mental imbalances—hallucinations at random, an
imaginary friend, multiple personalities, or anything
else. Frequently, side effects include an inability to
communicate with others (or difficulty doing so,
adding your Trait die to the Difficulty of rolls your
insanity could interfere with). Discuss the nature of
your issues with your Game Master, and decide what
die level is most appropriate for you.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
M emor able ( d 2+)
You stick out in a crowd, and in peoples’ minds.
You might have a particularly striking feature, or
a very loud demeanor, or a vivacious attitude that
people remember easily, but it makes it easier for
them to find you. Add your Trait die to the Difficulty
of any roll to avoid being identified, or as a bonus to
the die roll of anyone trying to notice or remember
you.
M ovie V illain T endencies ( d 6)
You act like you just walked off the set of an
‘80s sci-fi action movie. Your appearance, demeanor,
actions, and name all scream, “poorly scripted super
villain!” You have an unfortunate tendency to laugh
maniacally (add your Trait die to the Difficulty of
perception rolls, since you’re distracted by the urge
to cackle), can be goaded into monologueing
about your plan to your captive foes, wear a
goatee, and generally act in ways detrimental
to your success as an evil
overlord.
M ute ( d 8)
You can’t speak. Whether
you were born this way, or
stricken dumb later in life, you can’t talk, though
depending on the reason, you might be able to
make unintelligible verbal sounds. During calm,
normal situations where you have ample time to
communicate, the player may simply describe or
speak for the Demon Hunter. However, if time
information, decipher it, or both; the Difficulty
is always Average + a roll of the Trait’s die (7 +
d8), but the roll required to beat it is based on the
situation. For example, signing something while being
bounced around a moving vehicle might require an
Agility + Intelligence roll.
M ystic V or tex ( d 6/ d 12)
Strange happenings seem to follow you. The
used car you just bought is haunted; gremlins bother
the plane you’re flying on; it rains live, flaming dogs
on your town. Once per session, something bizarre
and inexplicable plagues you.
d6: At this level, the happenings are weird, but
not directly dangerous. However, they do cause
problems: For example, they might get you noticed
 while you’re trying to be stealthy, make you lose so
much sleep you become fatigued, or scare off your
date.
d12: Things aren’t just weird—they’re
downright scary. Poltergeists try to injure you with
falling bricks; a werewolf just happens to attack the
bus you’re on; someone else’s spell misfires and risks
blowing you up. The events shouldn’t be instantly
lethal, but do risk damage if the Demon Hunter isn’t
careful or lucky when they do occur.
O bscure B ody O dor ( d 2)
You smell funny. This could be a consequence
of some supernatural nature or event, your place
of work, a hobby, or something else. Fortunately,
it’s weak enough not to be a serious problem, but
it does make you easier to track by scent, identify
when disguised, and may upset or alarm people (add
your Trait die to rolls or Difficulties against you for
these purposes). Be sure to discuss with the Game
Master exactly what it is that you smell like.
On the R un ( d 4/ d 8/ d 12)
You’re on the lam—running from the law.
Exactly why or which law is between you and the
Game Master—you might not actually be guilty of
what you’re accused of—but also be sure to clarify
who will be looking for you, whether there’s a
publicly known manhunt on, or what.
d4: The consequences of being caught include
jail time, fines, confiscation of goods, loss of status,
or similar—you aren’t likely to be injured.
d8: If caught, you might be locked up for life,
beaten black and blue by the mob, lose everything
you own, or similar. If you’re really unlucky, you
could be sentenced to death—better hope your
buddies can break you out!
d12: You’re looking down the wrong end of
police sniper rifles. Orders are to kill you on sight, so
keep your head down or have it taken off.
O ut F or B lood ( d 4/ d 8)
You don’t forgive and forget—you reduce and
recycle, though. When something gets on your
nerves, you have a tendency to blow a fuse and take
things a bit to far in retaliation. This is real bloodlust,
not your normal Anger Issues.
d4: Your rage rises only in cases of serious
offenses. In combat or other extremely heated
cases, you may succumb to frenzy, beating those you
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
don’t like into a bloody pulp. You may be howling
and foaming, or cold and silent, but either way you
don’t suffer the enemy to live if you can help it, and
you don’t give too much thought to tactics. If things
are getting to the edge of violence, you must make
Average (7) Willpower + Discipline/Concentration
roll to restrain yourself, with the Difficulty increased
by your Trait die.
d8: You frenzy over even small offenses,
regardless of the situation or actual intent. When
something bothers you even a little, you must roll
to restrain yourself. If you fail, you start a fight. In
situations where violence is totally unacceptable or
suicidal, your Trait die is not added to the Difficulty.
O verweight ( d 2– d 6)
Polite people say you’re big-boned, but only
71
your mother believes it. Add your Trait die to the
Difficulty of all athletic actions. Fatass.
Chapter Three: What It Takes
P acifist ( d 6/ d 12)
You abhor violence.
d6: You won’t fight; you firmly believe that
violence is wrong, and defend yourself only as a last
resort. If you wind up in a fight you don’t believe
is absolutely necessary, add your Trait die to the
Difficulty of all offensive actions.
d12: You can’t fight or engage in violence; it
might be a mental compulsion, mystical curse, or
part of your programming, but you simply can’t fight,
no matter how badly you need to. This is extremely
dangerous for a Demon Hunter in a game, so the
Game Master must approve this carefully.
P ar aly zed ( d 8)
You’re paralyzed from the waist down, either
since birth or as a result of some condition. You can’t
run, jump, or perform many athletic actions; given
the right circumstances, using a wheelchair permits
movement as normal, or a powered wheelchair may
increase movement speed, but crawling is half your
normal speed and prevents you from taking other
actions. If you want to try something that is hindered
but not prevented by your inability to use your legs,
add your Trait die to the Difficulty.
P ar anoid ( d 4)
You know they’re after you. Demons, the IRS,
your mother-in-law—it’s a conspiracy! You trust no
one, and make sure never to take your medication,
 because they always put mind control drugs in it!
While this is principally up to you to role play, you
may have to add your Trait die to the Difficulty of
certain rolls where your paranoia reveals the truth
that others wish to hide!
P hobia ( d 2+)
You have a fear of something common: spiders,
cats, werewolves, needles, or the like.
Whenever the object of your phobia
is present, add your Trait die to the
Difficulty of all rolls.
P y ro ( d 8)
72 Everything looks better
when you set it on fire!
Unfortunately, indulging in this
P urple Ninja say: “If you know
Avril Lavigne, could you give her
Purple Ninja’s phone number?”
can get you in a lot of trouble,
with pretty much anyone—and you may still feel
Chapter Three: What It Takes
the guilt if someone dies from one of your blazes.
This doesn’t just mean you like to use fire on your
enemies, it’s a serious compulsion; you may even
spend so much time staring into the flames that they
consume you, and you won’t mind.
R ebellious ( d 4)
You have serious problems with authority. If
possible, you find a way to avoid following orders
without getting shot—it’s all about the attitude.
Sometimes this gets you yelled at, sometimes it might
get you locked up or executed for mutiny. While this
is principally up to you to role play, it will also have
repercussions within your command structure, and
you may have to add your Trait die to the Difficulty
of certain actions, particularly when interacting with
your superiors.
R ival ( d 2+)
There’s someone out to get you. Maybe
they want you dead, or maybe they just want
you discredited, but they’ll do whatever it takes.
Your Rival is approximately the same power level
as you, but the animosity they feel gives them an
advantage—whenever acting directly against you,
they add this Trait’s die as a bonus to their roll.
S hy ( d 6)
You’re a wallflower. You become uncomfortable
when you get to be the center of attention. While
this is principally up to you to role play, you become
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
so agitated that when your Shyness becomes
a problem you must add your Trait die to the
Difficulties of all your actions.
S hor t y ( d 2)
You’re little—probably not young, just short,
like 3 or 4-feet-high short. This is an unusual
Complication, since it has some benefits to go along
with the problems. Your base movement
speed is reduced by two feet, you must halve
the distances you can jump, and there might
be social consequences, depending on who
you’re talking to. On the flip
side, it’s harder to hit you with
a ranged attack or to spot you
when you’re hiding—add your
Trait die in your favor in those
situations. There might be
other consequences, both positive and negative, as
determined by the Game Master.
S o D amn M acho ( d 4– d 10)
You’re overconfident. It isn’t just a desire to
show off—you actually believe you can handle almost
anything. This is primarily a Trait for you to role play,
but once per situation, the Game Master may add
your Trait die to any Difficulty or opposing roll, to
represent that moment when you realize you just bit
off more than you can chew.
S uperstitious ( d 2/ d 6)
You actually believe that?
d2: You behave oddly—avoiding stepping on
cracks, talking about how breaking a mirror is seven
years’ bad luck, and so. It doesn’t interfere with
your actions most of the time, but sometimes makes
people feel awkward around you—they are less likely
to take you seriously, enjoy your company, or want
to spend time with you.
d6: You believe so firmly that your superstitions
interfere with your everyday life. If you perceive a
negative omen, you must add your Trait die to the
Difficulty of all your actions for the remainder of
the scene, or until the omen is negated by another
superstition. There may also be other consequences,
if you perceive specific instructions in the omens you
see.
 T oe the L ine ( d 4)
You do it by the book, no matter what. You
won’t break regs, you always obey your superiors,
and you try to make sure everything is as instructed.
This can cause all sorts of havoc. While this is
principally up to you to role play, you may have to
add your Trait die to the Difficulties of rolls to get
people to do things your way if they think your way
sucks.
T oo M ean for H ell ( d 4/ d 12)
You have no problem hurting people. Hey, they
probably deserve it, anyway.
d4: You aren’t a true sadist; you don’t actually
seek to cause pain solely for it’s own sake. However,
you don’t think twice about executing prisoners,
killing in combat, or torturing people to get what you
need. This opens up some options for you, but also
makes it difficult to keep people’s trust—only those
who share your tendencies are comfortable working
with a person as cold and callous as you.
d12: You’re little short of a monster—no anti-
hero or angst-driven good guy could ever reach this
level of evil. No Demon Hunter should ever have
this Trait; if he does acquire it, he becomes an NPC
until it is removed.
U nintentionally E rotic ( d 6)
You don’t do it on purpose—but for some
reason, almost every word you speak or gesture
you make can be easily interpreted as suggestive.
This can cause a variety of problems—some people
may accept your advances at awkward times, but
more often you’ll be slapped by the offended targets
of your accidental attentions, or decked by their
significant others, or clapped in irons for unbecoming
conduct. While this is principally up to you to role
play, you will almost always have to add your Trait
die to the Difficulties of rolls to interact with people.
A Demon Hunter can’t be Unintentionally Erotic
and Amorous simultaneously.
U gly as S in ( d 2– d 6)
You’re just plain ugly. Add your Trait die to
the Difficulty of any action where being physically
unappealing makes life harder.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
W impitude ( d 2– d 6)
You can’t deal with the sight of blood, even
a little, whether it’s yours or not. When in the
presence of blood, gore, bodies, or similar, add your
Trait die to the Difficulties of all actions as you begin
to feel nauseous.
W ise -A ss ( d 4)
You can’t pass up an opportunity to play some
practical joke or prank, or just to make some nasty
comment. While this is principally up to you to
role play, you may have to add your Trait die to the
Difficulties of rolls to deal with people you’ve just
blatantly offended.
Skills 73
Attributes form your basic makeup. Traits make
you different, unusual, or unexpected. Your learning,
Chapter Three: What It Takes
practice, and training are represented by your Skills.
A Demon Hunter’s Skills reveal a lot: profession,
hobbies, background, or upbringing. Long story
short, they’re what you need when you want to get
shit done.
Skills are grouped into two related types.
General Skills represent broad bases of knowledge
or training. Athletics, a General Skill, can be used
for anything from running to swimming to dodging
an attack. General Skill can only be improved to a
maximum of d6, however. After that, Specialties take
over.
Specialties focus on a particular aspect of a
General Skill, allowing you a die higher than a d6—
but only within that field. For example, a Demon
Hunter with Athletics d6 might have a Specialty
in Running and thus use a d10 when that activity
comes up. Once a General Skill rises to d6, you may
purchase Specialties, which start at d8 and can then
be improved normally, just like Attributes. There is
no limit to the number of Specialties you can have
under a given General Skill.
If a roll calls for a Specialty that you don’t have,
roll the General Skill die. If even that is missing, the
Attribute is rolled by itself, except in special cases—
some Skills, marked “Skilled Only” can’t be used
unless you have at least a d2 in them. Your Game
Master might let you get away with spending a Plot
Point to fake it, but that’d be a big stretch.
 Table 3.1: Skill Level
Die Type Proficiency Comment (based on Athletics and various Specialties)
none (d0) Untrained Don’t try to walk and chew gum—you’ll kill yourself.
d2 Incompetent They had a Phys Ed class at your high school.
You used to play softball, and didn’t get knocked out very
d4 Novice often.
d6 Competent You can jog a mile without collapsing.
d8 Professional You could compete in the high-school gymnastics circuit.
d10 Expert Scaling a cliff freestyle? Easy!
d12 Master The Olympics await!
You’ve swum the English Channel while being chased by

74
d12+ Supreme sea-demons. Only the greatest achieve this level.

want a Specialty not listed, or want to place it under

Benchmarks of Proficiency a different General Skill be sure to clear it with your
To give you an idea of how well trained your Game Master first.
Chapter Three: What It Takes

Demon Hunter is, and what he might be capable

of in general, see the Skill Level Table. It lists each
die type, and gives an appraisal of Skills rated at that
level.
Skill Descriptions
Each description lists the name of the General
Skill (along with a note if it can’t be used untrained),
sample Specialties, and several examples of actions
with that Skill that would take an Average Difficulty
(7) roll to beat.
Note that Specialties may fall under more than
one General Skill. For example, a dancer could train
the Dancing Specialty under Athletics if he competes
professionally, or under Perform if he is practicing
for a ballet performance. Once you choose to train
a Specialty under a certain General Skill, it can’t
be moved to another, and you can’t take the same
specialty more than once.
N ew S pecialties
Because Specialties have such a narrow focus,
it would be impossible to list all possible Specialties
under each General Skill. The lists here are
suggestions covering the most common Specialties.
They should not be considered a complete listing.
It is even possible that your Game Master may wish
to remove some, making them unavailable under a
certain General Skill or nonexistent period. If you
A nim als
You have a way with animals—or, at least,
they’re easier to deal with than people. This Skill
covers training, caring for, breeding, or raising
animals of all kinds—for a Brotherhood member, this
might include some rather unusual beasts.
Specialties: Animal Care, Animal Training,
Riding, Veterinary medicine, Zoology, Mythological
Beast Identification.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Teach domesticated animals to perform moderately
difficult tricks; herd cattle; ride through a forest
during the day; identify a basilisk lair by the
distinctive, lifelike statuary garden surrounding it.
A r tist r y
You have no money and probably never will,
but at least you can express those burning feelings in
your soul—oh, go take some antacids, hippy! Artistry
lets you paint, design role playing games, write
novels, or do most things that are based on creativity
rather than practicality.
Specialties: Appraisal, Cooking, Forgery, Game
Design, Painting, Photography, Poetry, Sculpture,
Writing.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Cook dinner for a family and guests; write a polite
thank-you note; pad a resume application for
Brotherhood field agent training.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 A thletics
Working out, staying in shape, and moving out
of harm’s way usually all involve Athletics. Physical
coordination, distance running, and other major
activities make frequent use of this Skill. You might
have a hope of surviving, after all.
Specialties: Climbing, Contortion, Dodge,
Juggling, Jumping, Gymnastics, Parachuting, Riding,
Running, Sports (pick one, like hacky sack),
Swimming, Weight Lifting.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Run a mile for a fitness test; play a pick-up game of
basketball with some buddies; throw yourself to
the ground behind cover when someone shouts
“Grenade,” climb a tree with handy low branches;
swim across a still, small pond.
C over t
You’re good at infiltration and covert ops. Hell,
you are downright sneaky, illusive, and most likely
illegal. Hey, if you survive until backup comes, maybe
you can sneak away while the demon eats your
reinforcements!
Specialties: Camouflage, Disable Devices,
Forgery, Open Locks, Sabotage, Sleight Of Hand,
Stealth, Streetwise.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Open the lock on a suitcase or piece of luggage;
pickpocket a drunk; sneak past a campus safety
officer; cut the brake line on a parked car with no
one around.
C r aft
You can take a pile of trash or spare parts and
make it a thing a beauty, or at least something useful.
This Skill involves creating or modifying items,
usually for commercial purposes as opposed to
artistic value. If you need to make something that is
more sturdy than pretty, this is the Skill. At least, in
low-tech, mortal terms.
Specialties: Architecture, Carpentry, Cooking,
Gunsmithing, Leatherworking, Metalworking,
Pottery, Ship Design, Sewing, Weapon Design.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Sew a new pair of pants; repair the broken leg on a
chair; sculpt a crude bowl out of clay; fashion a club-
with-nail-in out of only a piece of wood and a nail.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
D iscipline
You got the steel to stay focused in the face of
danger. You are determined and avoid distractions.
You probably annoy the pants off anyone with
a sense of humor. This Skill is used to resist
temptation, torture, and fear—and possibly to scare
others in the manner you’ve been taught to resist.
By yelling or coaxing, you can try to keep others on
a focused path.
Specialties: Concentration, Interrogation,
Intimidation, Leadership, Morale, Resistance.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Keep the newbies in line during a briefing; memorize
jargon for a test tomorrow; resist spilling the beans
when confronted with the good cop/bad cop
routine. 75
D rive
Cars, buses, tanks, motorcycles; Drive lets you
Chapter Three: What It Takes
control these craft in bad conditions and perform
basic maintenance. Serious problems require
Mechanic.
Specialties: Bus, Car, Heavy Armor, Industrial
Vehicle, Military Combat Vehicles, Motorcycle.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Maneuver at moderately high speeds; navigate
difficult terrain; examine a vehicle for combat
damage.
G uns
You’ve spent time on the firing range, and are
proficient with any number of personal firearms,
from pistols to sniper rifles. For mortals, this only
covers standard firearms—but as a Brotherhood
member, you have also received training in any
number of weapons that are the product of Mad
Tech!
Specialties: Assault Rifles, Machine Guns,
Pistols, Repair, Rifles, Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, Energy
Weapons, Spray/Flame Weapons
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Clear a jammed weapon; hit a small, stationary
target at point blank range; hit a man-sized target
on the practice field at close range; identify the basic
type of a weapon; determine the right ammunition
from among several similar varieties.

76
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
H eav y W eapons
If you have to fight, it never hurts to bring the
biggest gun. Victory through heavy ordnance, that’s
the ticket. This Skill covers the largest weapons that
can be fired by a person, including field artillery that
might require several people to fire, and being the
forward observer for long-range artillery.
Specialties: Artillery, Demolitions, Forward
Observation, Repair, Rocket Launchers, Ship’s
Cannons, Siege Machines, Vehicle Mounted Guns.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Hit a slow-moving transport; properly demolish a
building; relay the targeting data for hitting a very
large building with an artillery shell on a day with no
wind.
I nfluence
Anyone who listens to a fast talker gets what
he deserves. Still, it’s nice to have a competent
mouthpiece on hand when you can’t just blow your
way through a problem. Influence lets you win
friends, lie to enemies, and persuade potential allies
to join your cause. This can be especially important
in a political situation, where the right words can
escalate or diffuse a problem in moments. Also helps
when the other guy has all the guns, or when you
need to deal with social bureaucracy.
Specialties: Administration, Barter,
Bureaucracy, Conversation, Interrogation,
Intimidation, Leadership, Persuasion, Politics,
Seduction.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Deal with daily paperwork; negotiate an exchange of
goods with a willing merchant; seduce someone who
already finds you attractive; mingle well at a fancy
party.
K nowledge
Hard to hear as it is, sometimes a professor
type is more useful than a bunch of grunts with big
guns. He knows stuff you can’t even imagine, and
that could be the only way out of a tight situation,
especially when what he knows is how to kill it or
which button not to push!
Be careful to distinguish between book learning
and practical ability—the Knowledge General Skill
won’t allow you to perform actions covered by
other Skills. For example, a Demon Hunter with
Knowledge d6/Guns d10 knows how guns work,
who makes them, what kinds there are, and so
on—but it won’t help him fire one accurately.
Specialties: Appraisal, Culture, History, Law,
Literature, Philosophy, Religion, Sports.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Remember the names of all the players on a
champion football team; name the major exports
of the U.S. and Great Britain; figure out where an
ancient manuscript came from.
M echanic (S killed O nly )
A Brotherhood Chapter makes use of many
different mechanical devices, ranging from cars
and tools to more unusual gadgetry. Some of it is
relatively simple, but most of it is not. None of that
trips you up, though. You know your way around the
machines and can make them stand tall and salute, if
that’s what’s needed. This Skill might let you build an
engine from scratch, redesign a machine, or perform
other feats involving mechanical devices. However,
this Skill focuses on mundane mechanics—the
 things the unenlightened masses might understand.
To work on super-secret reality-bending devices,
you’ll need the Mad Skillz Asset.
Specialties: Create Mechanical Devices,
Mechanical Repairs, Plumbing, Vehicle Repairs.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Repair damaged plumbing; operate complex
machinery and equipment; disable or repair
relatively simple gadgets and devices; change the oil
and check the tires.
M edicine (S killed O nly )
A Brotherhood doc can put the broken bodies
back together so they can get shot up again. None
of its pretty, but it’s got to get done. And when you
have decent guarantee of getting back up again, and
again, and again—well, the doc is a pretty valuable
team member!
You have been trained to patch people back
together, treat disease, or work in a medical lab. You
might not be a doctor, officially—but with the levels
of casualties these days, quite a few people have
picked up a bunch of first aid. Brotherhood medicine
is quite advanced, so your training lets you operate
in poor conditions and treat problems that modern
medicine can’t tackle—but this Skill doesn’t cover
reanimating the thoroughly dead or cloning a new
body for a dying soldier. For that, you’ll need the
Mad Skillz Asset to get Mad Medicine.
Specialties: Dentistry, First Aid, Forensics,
General Practice, Genetics, Internal Medicine,
Neurology, Pharmaceuticals, Physiology, Psychiatry,
Rehabilitation, Surgery, Toxicology, Veterinary
Medicine.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Diagnose a cold or disease properly; prescribe the
correct dosage of common medicines; administer
first aid for a common poison.
M elee W eapons
Some folks prefer their combat up close and
personal. Others don’t look for a fight, but know
how to handle themselves if one comes looking for
them. This Skill makes you proficient with knives,
clubs, swords, and anything else you can swing,
poke, or bash with in a fight.
Specialties: Chains, Clubs, Knives, Polearms,
Repair, Swords, Whips.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Twirl a knife impressively; deflect a slow thrust;
make a simple club; sharpen a blade. Note that
deflecting an attack is an opposed roll—however,
a slow attack might be about a 7, especially in a
training excersize where it isn’t really an attack at all.
M ystic A r ts .
(Special: Requires the Initiate of the
Mystic Arts Asset)
Whether through training or natural talent,
you’ve picked up on the techniques required to
make use of the rituals of the Mystic Arts. You may
only have one copy of this General Skill, which
applies only to the particular style of Mystic Arts you
and the Game Master agreed upon when you took
the Asset (see the description of the Asset Initiate of
77
the Mystic Arts for details).
This Skill lets you cast ritual spells. It may also
Chapter Three: What It Takes
be used to identify or understand the effects of such
spells cast by others, if the Game Master allows.
Specialties: Offensive, Defensive, Alteration,
Detection, Obscuring, Creation, Summoning
For examples of all Difficulty levels of tasks this
Skill might perform, see Spellcasting 101: The Mystic
Arts in Chapter Four: We Ride.
P ercep tion
You’ve trained yourself to be aware of your
circumstances. Clueless, you are not. This Skill lets
you notice someone sneaking around, find a hidden
clue, or spot the tell when your opponent is bluffing.
It can be vital in a day and age when few people can
be trusted, and the Order of the Infernal Scepter has
agents everywhere—be oblivious to nothing!
Specialties: Deduction, Empathy, Gambling,
Hearing, Intuition, Investigation, Read Lips, Search,
Sight, Smell/Taste, Tactics, Tracking.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Gather basic forensic evidence; spot movement in
light undergrowth; realize that the nice man with
candy doesn’t have your best interests at heart.
P erfor m ance
On the dance floor, you’ve got the moves. In
the concert hall, you can belt it. When you need to,
you can be someone you’re not. This Skill covers
dancing, singing, acting, playing an instrument, and

78
Chapter Three: What It Takes
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
other performed arts. It’s also what you use to tell
a convincing lie, which can go a hell of a long way
toward getting you out of a tight spot.
Specialties: Acting, Dancing, Costuming,
Impersonation, Instrument (pick one), Oratory,
Singing, Sleight of Hand, Stage Magic.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Act in amateur productions; star in a local band;
mask surface emotions; dance at a high school prom
without looking stupid (well, more stupid than the
others there).
P ilot (S killed O nly )
If it’s a flying vehicle, you’ve got it covered.
Unfortunately, even the Brotherhood doesn’t often
supply its troops with that kind of support.
Pilot lets you control a craft under adverse
conditions and deal with small problems. Serious
mechanical trouble requires Mechanical Engineering.
Specialties: Airplane (Heavy), Airplane (Light),
Fighter Plane, Helicopter (Light), Helicopter
(Transport), Hovercraft
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include: Fly
through mild turbulence; land or take off quickly;
refuel a large craft.
R anged W eapons
Guns are useful, but there’re times when you
don’t have one. That doesn’t worry you. If it can be
thrown, aimed, or released, you can use it. These are
not generally accepted military weapons, but they
can hurt people all the same … and since when was
anything in the Brotherhood generally acceptable,
anyway?
Specialties: Blowguns, Bolos, Bows,
Crossbows, Darts, Grenades, Javelins, Repair, Slings,
Throwing Knives.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Hit a man-sized, stationary target across the room;
replace a bow string; locate a good-sized throwing
rock in the field.
S cience (S killed O nly )
Studying history, politics, and human emotions is
all well and good, but in today’s technology-oriented
fleet, science is king—well, so you claim. You possess
advanced scientific knowledge, understanding
complex processes and concepts. Chemists,
physicists, and botanists, among others, use this
Skill. Specialties are broad categories of study—for
example, Earth Sciences includes both chemistry and
geology.
This Skill only covers the scientific understanding
of the normal world—though the Brotherhood does
use advanced applications in plenty of their work,
making it invaluable to them. For that sort of thing,
you’ll need the Mad Skillz Asset, and pick up Mad
Science.
Specialties: Earth Sciences, Environment,
Historical Sciences, Life Sciences, Math, Physics.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Operate most laboratory equipment; translate
scientific jargon into everyday prose; remember
Newton’s Laws.
S ur vival
Modern living is all about convenience. Houses,
fluffy beds, hot showers—you don’t need all that. You
can find food, water, shelter, and your way around
when civilization isn’t available. This Skill can even
keep you alive in the face of extremes of weather or
when hindered by minor injuries.
Specialties: Camouflage, Find Shelter, First
Aid, Foraging, Outdoor Life, Specific Environment,
Tracking, Trapping, Woodcraft.
An Average (71) Difficulty task might include:
Hunt or trap small game; identify the signs of
habitation, animals, or events; perform first aid on
cuts or broken bones.
T ech (S killed O nly )
Complicated electronics, computer systems,
and programming don’t scare you. You’re up to snuff
in hacking through a database, rewiring a security
system, creating a computer network, or even
working on electronic sentience. Without the Mad
Skillz Asset applied, the Tech Skill alone isn’t quite
capable of achieving A.I. or other truly amazing feats.
Specialties: Communications Systems,
Computer Programming, Create Technical Devices,
Electronics, Hacking, Jury-Rigging, Repair Electrical
Systems.
Average (7): Operate most advanced computer
equipment; override standard directive protocols
and basic computer security; write a simple program;
repair moderate system damage; disable a cheap
home security alarm.
 U nar med C ombat
You are a brawler—a good man to have around
in a bar fight. You might have a bunch of fancy moves
or you might just slog ahead until the other guy
throws in the towel. However you do it, you are
good with your fists, elbows, knees, feet, or even a
headbutt. Or claws, fangs, and other supernatural
weapons you grow out of your body—unlike
mortals, some supernatural creatures have the
benefit of unarmed weapons that let them do real
damage.
Specialties represent different styles of combat.
They are used the same way most of the time,
but your Game Master may wish to differentiate
between different martial styles. For example,
boxing might not be used when kicking or grappling.
Specialties: Boxing, Brawling, Clawing,
Grappling, Ninjitsu, Wrestling.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Identify a specific style of martial arts; secure prize
money in a small-time contest that is not played out
in detail; break a board with your hand.
W atercr aft
On or under the water, you can make it move.
This might not always be helpful, but when you’ve
tracked a villain and defeated him on his Death Sub,
it’ll be nice if you can get home again! Some types
of vessel will require more than a one-man crew,
though.
Specialties: Canoe, Rowboat, Powerboat,
Yacht, Tanker, Submarine, Sailboat.
An Average (7) Difficulty task might include:
Plotting a course from charts, estimating the length
of a voyage, navigating hazardous shallows at slow
79
speeds, canoeing through small rapids.
Chapter Three: What It Takes
 Chapter Four:

We Ride
L
athien tunes out the distractions—the fog of cigarette smoke, the cloying aroma of buffalo wings,
the rhythmic thumping of the drunk couple mating in the supply closet—and scans the bar for his
target.
There, at the bar. A petite elfin beauty with hair like golden silk. Already giggling, well over her limit.

80 Lathien grins. He’ll enjoy bouncing this one around for a couple hours even after he gets the intel.
She’ll be much more pleasant than the fat lady warlock who’d summoned him. That had been unsatisfying,
but easy—a little Charm, a simple beckon, and she’d stepped right into the pentagram she’d so carefully
set up to bind him. Tonight, Miss Blonde Beauty will sing for him, and just like the warlock, her voice will
join the chorus of screams in his head.
Beauty perks up, looks over her shoulder. Careful not to open his mouth—no need to let her catch a
glint. Lathien increases his pheromones and winks back. She blushes from ears to chest, lighting up a face
already lit up by booze. Yes, he’ll enjoy this one very much. So seldom he actually gets to seduce something
Chapter Four: We Ride

sexy.
Lathien slides onto the stool beside to her—and almost hesitates when he spots the 12 empties
in front of her. She couldn’t have put all those away, could she? Frail can’t weigh more than a buck and
change. No matter, though it does take away some of the challenge. He feels her body heat rise, hears her
pulse increase.
Her eyes rest on him, wide and inviting, her mouth slightly open and her breath caught. Lathien hits
her with The Gaze, focuses his Voice so it will only reach her ears.
“Hi. What’s your name?”
She flushes, tries to look away. He gently catches her chin, steers her gaze back into his.
He smiles—again without opening his mouth. “Would you like to be mine?”
She closes her eyes, leans forward for a kiss. Lathien meets her lips and drinks deeply of her.
This is almost annoyingly easy. What secrets could this little bink possibly have that they need him to
ease out of her? It’s not much of a hunt when the prey throws itself at you. Maybe he’ll come back when
he’s done … that redhead in the corner’s pretty hot. So’s that hunky bartender—
Pain! Burning boiling pain!
She shoves him to the floor, spits something into her hand. Wiping black ichor from around her mouth,
she pulls out a pair of earplugs.
“Incubus, right?” She looks down at his tongue—his beautiful silver tongue!—in her palm.
Rage! He’ll make her dig her own hair out, burn her skin with irons! Months will it take her to die!
Lathien summons the Voice … which requires a tongue, and … uh-oh.
“Figured that out, huh?”
She kicks the stool over, and Lathien notices she’s clad in camo from the waist down. And now she’s
grabbing something from under the … is that a rocket launcher?
Sally rests the tip of a recoilless hollow discharge weapon on Lathien’s chin. “Name’s Sally,” she says,
“and you’re a lousy kisser.”
The last thing to go through Lathien’s mind is a high-velocity anti-tank warhead.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Kicking evil’s ass takes a whole lotta work.
Every adversary—sometimes, even every encounter
with the same adversary—may require completely
different tactics to handle. While this keeps the
Demon Hunters on their toes (or groping around in
the dark, hoping they figure something out before
they get eaten), it would suck if the players were
equally mystified about how to put their Demon
Hunters’ plans into action. This chapter, then,
teaches you everything you need to know to get
rolling. The Cortex engine that runs the Demon
Hunters RPG is quick, simple, and helps you tackle
pretty much any stupid plan the players come up
with.
Watch out for getting caught up in
the technical details, though—this game
is about telling stories. If the
rules get in the way of that
(or put up a fight), the Game P u r p l e N i n j a s ay: “Lather, rinse, you might spend Plot Points.
Master should do what the and repeat. Always repeat.”
Purple Ninja would want him
to do: Take ‘em out! The
Game Master has carte blanche to change, disregard,
remove, or create rules as necessary—as long as it
makes the game more fun for the group as a whole.
Not to say that the Game Master should start
removing or changing every rule that makes life
difficult (or easy) for the Demon Hunters. Rules exist
for a reason, handed down from on high (through
various fallible mortal sources) as they are. They let
different people share an imaginary world, giving
them ways to express the crazy Demon Hunters and
stories that show up in their heads as raw ideas. Part
of this game is using the rules to interact with other
people’s imaginations, so a Game Master who just
ignores them has fallen to the Enemy—don’t expect
him to last long, since a Game Master only keeps his
job so long as his players want him to.
Playing the Game
The Cortex System is designed for quick and
dramatic storytelling. Some actions are no sweat—
working out in the campus gym or walking down
the hall. There’s no need to roll anything, since it
would just slow down play. Other actions can be
screwed up—in that case, you roll dice and hope for
as high a result as possible. If you’re lucky you’ll find
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
life is usually the better for it, but against the forces
of Darkness, Fate is rarely so kind. Fortunately, you
have some influence on the outcome of the dice.
If the plan goes sour, change the game—with
Plot Points. They can alter the course of the game in
your favor in any number of ways: They can add an
extra die to difficult rolls, turn a mortal wound into a
graze, or even add characters, background elements,
and events to the world (“We’re in Sheboygan? Oh,
hey, I know a guy in Sheboygan.”) You won’t have
a lot of them all the time, and they don’t trump
the Game Master’s authority in guiding the story.
Still, Plot Points should be spent, and they give the
Demon Hunters an edge that others just don’t
have.
That’s the basics. You decide what your
Demon Hunter wants to do.
81
You might have to roll dice, and
You then tell the Game Master
the total and hope it’s equal to
or higher than the Difficulty.
Chapter Four: We Ride
U sing the ice D
Most actions involve an element of chance,
and almost all have consequences. When a Demon
Hunter really needs to get something done, he
brings together all his natural abilities, talents, and
skills to make it work. Hopefully that’s enough,
‘cause otherwise he’s screwed.
Characters all have natural Attributes, learned
Skills, and personal Traits. Each of these is assigned a
die type that represents its value. For example, a d4
Intelligence character is not the sharpest tool in the
shed; someone rolling a d12 Intelligence is a certified
genius. Of course, nobody’s great at everything.
That’s not a problem. You may not need to out-think
a genius if you can just flatten him. Each character
has his strengths and weaknesses.
Most actions call for an Attribute die and a Skill
die to be rolled and the results added together. If
your Demon Hunter doesn’t have the right Skill (but
is still allowed to try it—some actions require the
proper training), roll only the Attribute. The Demon
Hunter might have a Trait that helps out, or even
more than one Trait. And if that doesn’t seem like
it’ll be enough, don’t forget that you can spend Plot
Points to gain a bonus die.
 Game Basics
You’ll find a lot of rules in this chapter, but most of
them can be broken down into one mechanic
that runs the whole game:
Attribute + Skill = Result
When a Demon Hunter tries to do something,
roll the appropriate dice for that situation
(whatever Attribute and Skill the player and
Game Master think best apply) and add the
numbers. Higher means better. The exact
circumstances, as well as the total rolled, allow
the Game Master to imaginatively describe
the outcome—not just whether the attempt
succeeded or failed, but to what degree.
82 When to Roll
Rolling dice is part of the fun. Part of the game is
chance, just like when a Chapter of the Brotherhood
sits down to a friendly, who-can-cheat-the-hardest
game of poker. Still, too much rolling and the story
disappears. One of the first things you need to learn
Chapter Four: We Ride
is when to roll—which is often the Game Master’s
call, but it helps for the players to understand too.
Walking down the corridor, calling up your soon-
to-be-deceased loved one, packing a suitcase—none
of these actions can be messed up easily. They should
happen in the normal course of the game and be
finished with quickly; the story moves along. No need
to worry about their success.
Some actions have a chance of failure, but aren’t
meaningful to the storyline. This is especially bad
when rolling the dice and failing would only serve to
derail the plot. For example, think about a long cross-
country drive. Things can and do go wrong in even
the most routine trips, and the longer the drive, the
more likely it is. Same deal with basic maintenance
on dangerous weapons and firearms, or injecting
someone with an antidote, or debriefing a superior
after a mission. Despite the chance of failure, if
pausing to determine success, (or the consequences
of blowing it) is irrelevant to the storyline, don’t roll.
Just let it happen and move on. Hell, even if there’s
a good chance of failure, your Game Master may not
ask for a roll. Noticing a crucial clue in the ruins of
a temple is not easy, but if the plot requires it, it’s
gotta happen—the drama isn’t about players making
Demon Hunters that can roll high on certain checks,
it’s about the story they tell by making choices. Of
course, the same applies when the plot requires
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
that the Demon Hunters fail—hopefully this doesn’t
happen too often, but sometimes the story comes
first.
To sum it up, two factors must exist before any
roll is made. First, the chance of success must be
meaningful. Second, failure should not delay the game
or play havoc with the story.
Unopposed Rolls
Most actions that a character attempts are
unopposed. That means their Difficulty depends on
the situation and the goal, not some opposing force.
Jumping over a low fence while jogging through
neighborhood backyards is Easy (or might not be
rolled at all). Trying to vault a waist-high barrier of
barbed wire to escape a pursuing hellhound is Hard
or worse, even in the best of conditions.
In these cases, the Game Master sets the
Difficulty before the roll is made, depending on
his view of the innate challenge of the task under
average circumstances. If your roll is at or above the
Difficulty, you’re good to go. If not, sucks to be you.
The Difficulties Table lists the most common
settings for the Difficulties. That doesn’t mean there
can’t be other ones, though. Game Masters could
shift those numbers based on the circumstances,
and those shifts need not be in groups of four points.
Hiking up a hill might be Average (7) Difficulty most
of the time, but a light rain might bump it up to 9,
or spending a Plot Point to find a good trail might
reduce it to 5.
Some Complications negatively affect a
character’s unopposed actions. In those cases, the
Complication increases the Difficulty after the Game
Master has otherwise set it for the conditions present
at the time.
D egrees of S uccess
Sometimes the degree of success or failure is
important. In that case, look at how much ground
separates the roll result and the Difficulty. When the
result equals the Difficulty, you’ve got the barest,
razor-thin success. When the result is several points
too low, it’s not even close.
Botching represents a monumental or complete
failure. That happens when all the dice rolled show
ones. In that sorry situation, the Game Master
should be creative in describing how bad things are.
 Outcomes should be appropriate to the situation—
botching dinner shouldn’t kill a Demon Hunter, but it
Table 4.1: Difficulties
could set the place aflame. Extraordinary .
Action Difficulty
Success
Gator decides to try some of his misdirection Easy 3 10
on a big, nasty demon; he yells, “Let’s wrassle!” Average 7 14
and charges. His Willpower + Influence roll
Hard 11 18
doesn’t just fail—both dice show ones! The
Game Master describes it as a clear victory— Formidable 15 22
unfortunately for Gator, he just managed to Heroic 19 26
misdirect himself, and a moment later the demon
Incredible 23 30
fries his head like a popcorn kernel in hell.
Ridiculous 27 34
Extraordinary Success is complete victory or Impossible 31 38
an otherwise amazing result. That happens when the
sum of the dice roll is seven or more points higher
than the Difficulty. This time the Game Master gets
In some cases, both characters roll the same
Attribute and Skill. In others, different combinations
83
to be creative in a positive light—the Purple Ninja, are called for. As in all actions, the Game Master
for example, wants to demonstrate his amazing considers the situation and decides what each
speed to you. When you say “Go!” he tries to grab character has to roll.
the penny out of your hand before you can close
it—but after rolling his Agility + Ninja-Fu/Amazing Two Ciphers are dueling, each striving to

Chapter Four: We Ride

Speed (a Skill only available to the Purple Ninja), the
Game Master sees that the roll is 16 points higher
than it needs to be! You still have the penny, but you
do not have … your pants! Extraordinary indeed,
but that isn’t surprising—the Purple Ninja never
loses!
Extraordinary Success does not increase the
damage dealt in combat; a higher roll is its own
reward (read further in this Chapter for more on
combat and damage). However, such success can
inflict an injury that creates problems beyond points
of damage, such as bleeding, broken bones, and the
like.
Opposed Rolls
Sometimes, especially when you’ve had a
few, you really just need to show the world what
a chump the other guy is, and you wind up acting
directly against him (or with your fist acting against
his face). When this happens, an opposed roll
results. On an opposed roll, it doesn’t really matter
how well the participants do, as long as one does it
better than the other. No need to sweat a Difficulty
number. Each character makes an appropriate roll,
and victory goes to the one with the highest total.
Ties mean no one wins and the contest goes another
turn, unless the Game Master calls it for some other
reason.
out-hack the other. They each roll Intelligence +
Tech/Hacking. Alternatively, one Cipher is stealthily
trying to infiltrate the others database; he rolls
Intelligence + Tech/Hacking like before, but the
target Cipher rolls Alertness + Tech/Security to see
if he notices.
Some events seem like opposed rolls but really
aren’t. If the action directly pits one character against
another, use opposed rolls. If a minimum level of
success exists, however, it’s just two folks making
unopposed rolls and seeing who does better—for
example, playing darts. Each character is rolling
to hit the dartboard, so they each make separate,
unopposed rolls against a Difficulty Number.
Attribute Rolls
Some things don’t depend on training. They
use only a character’s Attributes—their personal,
physical, and mental qualities. The Game Master
might ask for two Attributes to be rolled together,
or one Attribute to be rolled twice. As usual, Traits
and Plot Points can be added to the mix.
A Strength + Strength Attribute roll could be
made when performing a brief feat of strength, such
as shoving a teammate in front of you to block the
rampaging werewolf. Strength + Vitality is rolled

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 when engaging in an extended feat of strength, such
as carrying that teammate back to the Brotherhood
hospital.
Memorizing important information could require
an Intelligence + Alertness Attribute roll. Recalling
what was memorized uses Intelligence + Intelligence.
Certain Attribute rolls are so common that they
have specific names.
E ndur ance
Vitality + Willpower: Among other things,
this roll keeps a character alive after he has suffered
Wound damage in excess of his Life Points, and
conscious when he might otherwise pass out.
84 I nitiative
Agility + Alertness: This is rolled at the
beginning of combat to determine how quickly a
character reacts. It could also be rolled in the face
of sudden danger, like poison gas, a grenade, or a
collapsing floor.
R esistance
Chapter Four: We Ride
Vitality + Vitality: This roll resists
environmental hazards, such as poison, radiation, or
disease.
Skilled Rolls
Attribute rolls are important, but most rolls
involve a Skill. Unlike Attributes, Skills are never
rolled by themselves. They are always combined with
a single Attribute. Trait and Plot Point dice are added
when applicable.
When you want your Demon Hunter to do
something skillful, the Game Master considers the
action and the situation, and decides which Attribute
and which Skill are most appropriate. If the character
doesn’t have a precisely appropriate Specialty, his
closest General Skill is used instead—you never roll
two Skills, and you never roll both a General Skill and
a Specialty Skill. Roll the dice, find the total, and see if
that beats the selected Difficulty.
Ned, an accountant, desperately wants to
attend the Star Ace Raiden Ultimate Manga
Convention. Unfortunately, he first needs to
persuade his boss to cover his weekend shift at
work! The Game Master tells Ned’s player to roll his
Willpower + Influence/Persuasion against a Hard
(11) Difficulty. Ned isn’t a terribly smooth talker,
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
so with a chance to score an autographed copy of
Rigellian Femme Fatale #8 on the line, he spends
several Plot Points to add a bonus die.
No Attribute is permanently paired with any
particular Skill—the combination rolled depends
entirely upon the situation and the task at issue. The
Game Master should keep this in mind when deciding
applicable Attributes and Skills. They won’t always
be the same, even in similar situations. While you are
free to suggest a combination you think fits, the Game
Master has final say.
The Star Ace Raiden Ultimate Manga
Convention is attacked by crazed Japanese robo-oni.
Ned doesn’t have any combat skills, but the Game
Master does inform his player that there’s a life-size
“replica” of the Star Ace Raiden battlemanga suit
nearby. Ned’s player asks if Ned could jump into
one of those and use his Agility + Knowledge/Geek
Culture in place of Unarmed Combat. The Game
Master sighs, nods, and Ned’s player picks up his
dice.
Unskilled Rolls
Some folks don’t have the right Skills for the job.
A tech-specialist might find herself in a combat-heavy
ground action. A nightclub singer might be stuck going
hand-to-hand with a vampire. Wolf might need to
read something.
When your Demon Hunter doesn’t have the
right Skill, you just roll his Attribute. General Skills are
broad, but they don’t cover everything. A kind Game
Master might allow you to use a related Skill instead
of the most appropriate one, but don’t count on it.
No Skill should become a replacement for all the
others. If things look really grim, tap into your Plot
Points.
Remember, some actions require actual
training to be attempted at all. Surgery, computer
programming, and other highly specialized fields are
examples of actions that can’t be attempted unskilled.
Chapter Three: What It Takes designates which
Skills can only be used after training.
Complex Actions
Most actions are resolved with a single roll,
usually taking only a moment or two of game-time.
They are called standard actions. Other tasks are
 longer and more involved. Complex actions require
a lengthy process or multiple stages, like extensive
surgery, rebuilding a car’s engine, or tracking down
the minor error in your 1040 tax form. These
actions take more time in-game to complete, and
require multiple rolls.
When a Demon Hunter attempts a complex
action, the Game Master sets the applicable
Attribute, Skill, and Traits as usual. He also sets a
Threshold. That’s like a Difficulty, but the number
to be reached is much higher than normal. The
Complex Actions Table presents a range of numbers
and their descriptive terms. Note that the simplest
Threshold (15) would be a Formidable standard
action. That’s because complex actions are expected
to take more than one roll.
The Game Master makes two more decisions:
How much in-game time each roll represents, and
the limit on the amount of time that can be spent.
The time per roll varies widely. Taking an exam
might require ten minutes per roll, while searching
for cryptic information in an ancient library might
require a day for each roll. The most important
thing here is the time limit, however. If you have
unbounded time and limitless supplies to let you try
over again, even botches are meaningless. You’ll get
the job done eventually. On the other hand, if you
need to figure out how to disarm the bomb before
it goes off in six hours, you’d better get a move
on! Complex actions only come into play when
the amount of time that a task takes is important.
If the Demon Hunters need to do it faster, or they
only have one shot at it (for example, life-saving
emergency surgery), then they have to roll. If they
could keep trying over again until they succeed
by random chance, the Game Master should just
determine how long it takes and move on.
Now it’s time to roll the dice. Add the result
to the total accumulated so far each time you roll.
Once the total passes the Threshold, you succeed—
well, as long as you beat the time limit. And there’s
one more consideration: botches.
Botches are a problem. Any botch during a
complex action increases the Threshold by one
category. A Hard (55) Threshold would become
a Formidable (75) one. Two botches, at any
point during the process, and the whole project
is torpedoed. Gotta start over, if there’s time.
Extraordinary Successes don’t apply to complex
actions. A character can keep working on something
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to make it better, even after the Threshold is
reached, but he risks a botch undermining his
work—whether or not successfully achieving an
unneeded Threshold does any good is up to the
Game Master.
No opposed complex actions exist. Two people
might be working on similar projects, but that’s just a
race to see who reaches the Threshold first.
Plot Points spent for bonus dice on complex
actions only apply to one roll, though more can be
spent each turn in order to keep rolling bonus dice.
Gabriel needs to put up with training a bunch
of whiny noobs if he ever wants to win back enough
favor to get a new Chapter going. Unfortunately, he
has little patience with idiots.
The Game Master tells him that the roll is
85
going to be Willpower + Discipline/Leadership.
The Threshold is Hard (55), it takes an hour per
roll, and he only has six hours of training time
per day. Gabriel is fortunate; he’s rolling d12 +
d10. He picks up his dice and squares off with the
Chapter Four: We Ride
noobs.
First hour: Gabriel rolls a 7 and a 5, for a total
of 12. Not a bad start! He manages to get them to
sit down, shut up, and watch the training video.
Second hour: This time the roll is 16—even
better! That’s a total of 28 so far. The recruits
are gathered up and working through their first
tabletop field exercise simulation.
Third Hour: Shit! Botch! Gabriel rolls two
ones! That adds 2 to the total, making it 30 … but
it pushes the Threshold up one level from Hard to
Formidable (75). None of the recruits understand
the simulation! With only three hours left, Gabriel
needs some serious good luck if he’s going to score
a total of 45 more points. Possible, but not easy.
Looks like he should spend some Plot Points ….
Modifiers
Circumstances affect the chances of success.
When it’s smooth sailing or when you’ve got help,
life is a little easier. When you’ve got a demon
breathing down your neck and it’s raining to boot,
coping is much harder. Here’s how it all works.
 Table 4.2: Thresholds
Action Threshold
Easy 15
Average 35
Hard 55
Formidable 75
Heroic 95
Incredible 115
Ridiculous 135
Impossible 155
86 C hange of C ircumstances
If the conditions surrounding a roll vary from
plain vanilla, the Difficulty should be adjusted.
Conditions are beyond the direct control of the
character: weather, lighting conditions, storms
of unholy energy, and the like. If they favor
the character—say, trying to make a report to
Chapter Four: We Ride
Brotherhood HQ while in a holy area—the Difficulty
should drop. Otherwise—trying to send that
report from the outlands of Hell—the Difficulty
goes up. The Game Master can simply push the
Difficulty up or down levels (Average to Easy; Hard
to Formidable) or he can set a specific increase or
decrease. With opposed rolls external modifiers
generally aren’t applied. The circumstances apply
equally to both sides and thus cancel each other
out. In some cases, one side gets a benefit; say,
background noise aiding a sneak thief. The Game
Master adds a bonus to one side, or a penalty to
the other, or both, as he sees fit. These adjustments
rarely should go over +4 or –4.
P ersonal E dge
If the circumstances are internal, affecting a
character’s abilities, the actual dice rolled are subject
to change. Dice are arranged in steps, and such
modifiers create step bonuses or step penalties. A
+1 step changes a d8 into a d10. A –2 step drops
a d8 to a d4, and so on. A +1 step above a d12
adds a new d2, and each step beyond that increases
the new die. If penalties reduce a die below d2, it
is eliminated completely and the extra penalty is
ignored. It’s possible that circumstances completely
eliminate all dice; the action automatically fails.
Because of this, the exact die modified should be
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
made clear. Steps due to equipment, weather, and
other external modifiers apply to the Skill die. The
effects of poisons, disease, injury, or other internal
modifiers should be applied to the Attribute die.
A circumstantial bonus or penalty to a Skill the
character doesn’t possess is ignored.
Assistance
Sometimes you can’t do the job alone. When this
happens, other characters can help out.
D irect A ssistance
When two or more can combine efforts directly,
the characters roll as usual and the totals are
combined. For example, three Demon Hunters could
try heaving an ancient stone sarcophagus out of a
crypt. Depending upon the circumstances, the Game
Master may limit the number of characters that can
combine efforts at one time.
I ndirect A ssistance
When one character can only offer aid to
another, rolls are not added together. Instead, both
characters roll, and the highest result is used. This
occurs when a nurse assists a doctor, a copilot aids a
pilot, and so on.
Plot Points
So, you wanna be a hero? A big-shot Demon
Hunter with a chance at Alpha One? That’s
admirable, kid, but it can’t be done if you don’t
survive. And it ain’t heroic to screw up when the
team’s counting on you. Plot Points help with all
that. Plot Points let major characters, usually Demon
Hunters, throw their dramatic weight around. They
give the Demon Hunters—and their players—a little
more control over the storyline.
Plot Points should be tracked by something
physical during the game. Poker chips, colored beads,
or the like work well. This allows Plot Points to be
exchanged by the Game Master and players regularly,
quickly, and in varying amounts. That makes the
game run much more smoothly; handing them out
and taking them back is much less distracting. Once
everyone knows how Plot Points work, best that
you don’t discuss them at all. Instead, concentrate on
translating their use into interesting and imaginative
game play.
 Herr Doktor is trying to complete a test of
his Reanimator—but it does not yet live!!! He’s
on the last roll of his Complex Action, and if he
doesn’t make it, his creature will be nothing! The
player tosses four Plot Point poker chips to the
Game Master—standing up, he clutches his dice
(along with the bonus d8 from the Plot Points) in
his hands. He throws his head back and cackles
maniacally, “Live, my creation! Live!!!!” He
tosses the dice down, and—still fails! His demonic
creation is without life! The player slumps down in
his seat with a heartfelt “Noooo! It can’t be!”
Amused, and seeing the player really getting
into his role, the Game Master slides him three
Plot Points to offset the failure and loss as a reward
for playing so well. The player gratefully adds them
to his pile, and play continues uninterrupted.
Gaining Plot Points
Characters start each new campaign with six
Plot Points. During play, Demon Hunters can have
no more than 12 Plot Points at any one time, but
can otherwise spend or save them as they see fit (if
they have 12, they can’t gain any more until they’ve
spent some). If they earn or spend them in a way
that makes the game more interesting, they may gain
an additional Advancement Point to increase their
abilities (see Chapter Two: Recruitment for more
details on advancement and Advancement Points).
Between sessions, record each Demon Hunter’s
current Plot Point total—they carry over.Plot Points
are a primary reward in the game. They are handed
out for good role playing, good ideas, completing
goals, and adding excitement—even if that means
the going gets tougher!
P lot P oint R ewar ds
Plot Points should be awarded throughout play.
Their allocation is by Game Master call, but don’t
be shy about nominating other players for rewards
based on good role playing or cleverness. Use these
guidelines, and suggested numbers.
Hell, yeah! (1): You came up with an awesome
idea, some superior role playing, a great line, or
something else so cool that everyone enjoyed it.
A Plot Point award encourages more of the same.
No problem if this reward comes up multiple times
during a game session, or several times in a minute,
even.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Complications in Play (1–3): More on
this shortly.
Completed a Challenge (2–4): A Demon
Hunter (or the entire group) overcomes an
important challenge. The more dangerous or
challenging the situation, the more Plot Points come
your way. All Demon Hunters involved receive
the reward.
Personal Goal (3–5): The Demon Hunter
achieves a personal goal—bringing a hated foe to
justice, gaining important information, or almost
anything else significant to him in a dramatic sense.
The numbers suggested are for smaller stories and
goals; life-long dreams, when accomplished, should
merit an even larger reward. The Demon Hunter’s
personal goal might also count as a Challenge reward
situation for the rest of the Chapter, if they were
87
somehow involved.
Team Goal (4–6): This reward should go to
each player when the team completes an important,
challenging mission. When they manage to uncover
the big baddie, stomp his ass, and get home in time
Chapter Four: We Ride
for their favorite show, everyone deserves a reward
for moving the game forward.
C omplications in P lay
A Demon Hunter’s Complications do just that—
complicate. If played well, they should be a regular
source of Plot Points. Still, suffering from problems
should give kick-backs once per situation—R.M. may
have issues with sunlight, but she doesn’t get Plot
Points every minute of every day: She gets them
when she needs to go outside but can’t. Of course,
Complications can come up in any number of ways:
Character-Initiated: Many Complications
are personality quirks, and they come up when you
roleplay your Demon Hunter’s less-than-perfect
side. When this happens, you should be rewarded.
Wolf is an idiot; when being too macho lands
him in fight he can’t win, he gets Plot Points in a
last-ditch effort by the Game Master to keep him
in the game.
Game Master-Initiated: Complications from
a Demon Hunter’s background or personal history
sound off when the Game Master chooses. If a story
arc or adventure revolves around them, Plot Points
are awarded when the root problem is revealed, not
every time the Complication pops up.
 Table 4.3: Bonus Dice
Plot Points Spent Die Type
1 d2
2 d4
3 d6
4 d8
5 d10
6 d12
7 d12+d2
8 d12+d4
Unanticipated: Sometimes, the
plotline places one Demon Hunter in a
Minimum Bonus particularly dangerous situation. Completely
1 screws him over, with no chance of escape.
2 Perhaps the Game Master decides that his
food was recently poisoned, or he was the
3 one exposed to the nearly-fatal disease. This
4 might be worth a few extra Plot Points, even
5 if no specific Complication brings on the
problems. This should be rare, reserved for
6
the extreme circumstances when the Game
7 Master feels a specific Demon Hunter has
8 been singled out for trouble, with little or
no chance to avoid it—they don’t get Plot

88 9
10
11
d12+d6
d12+d8
d12+d10
9
10
11
Points every time something bad happens to
them!

12 d12+d12 12 Spending Plot Points

Gabriel’s Rival causes him all sorts of trouble
with the Brotherhood, but he doesn’t get Plot Points
every time another goon in the service of his Rival
Chapter Four: We Ride
If you’ve got a lot of Plot Points
sitting around, things are going too well. It
probably means the lycanthrope-shit’s about to hit
the fan. Here’s how those points can help when that

gets in his way. When he realizes that his rival has
ordered the recent attacks, or he confronts the
Rival directly, then he gets them.
Situational: Some Complications require a
trigger, usually out of your direct control. Plot Points
should only be awarded if the Complication places
the Demon Hunter in direct danger, or causes him a
significant difficulty.
London’s canine tendencies make him
susceptible to certain … deceptions. When
someone figures this out and gets him out of the
way by throwing a stick and shouting “Fetch,” the
Game Master awards him some Plot Points.
happens.
I mproving A ctions
Plot Points can be spent before a roll to add
an extra die. The more points spent, the bigger the
die—a single Plot Point adds a d2, 2 Plot Points add
a d4, and so on. This die becomes part of the roll,
just like any other, and is added to the total. The
Plot Point die does have one special trait: it can’t roll
lower than the number of Plot Points expended on
It (half the maximum value of the die). If it shows a
lower number, it counts as equal to the points spent.
When two dice are added by Plot Points, their total
cost is the minimum total result, not the minimum
result on each die.

Constants: Some Complications cause ongoing
or unavoidable problems, such as being Blind or
missing a limb. In these cases, Plot Points are not
awarded in ordinary, day-to-day situations. Rather,
they are granted when the Complication becomes a
significant hindrance.
Being a Klutz doesn’t grant Ned Plot Points
when he trips over his own shoelaces, but when it
almost gets him or his friends killed, then the Game
Master might toss him some Pity—er, Plot Points.
You spend 3 Plot Points to add a d6 to your
roll. If that d6 rolls a onw or a two, the actual result
is ignored and it is counted as a three. If 6 Plot
Points are spent, and the d12 rolled comes up five
or less, it counts as six. Spending 8 points gets you
a d12 and a d4. The combined total of those two
dice can’t be less than eight.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Table 4.4: Plot Points and Story Impact
Cost Impact
Inconsequential: The security guard we
1–2 knocked out had a chocolate donut.
What? I’m hungry!
Minor: The college has an old chapel for
3–4 religious services—we’ll be safe there!
Moderate: Look! That snowman is
5–6 giving you the finger!
Significant: Hey, old buddy! Glad to see
7–8
you—we could really use your help!
Major: The adversary decides to
9–10 monologue, giving us an extra 10
11+
minutes to plot our escape!
Defining: My Demon Hunter used to
have a thing with one of the traitors—
maybe we can redem him!
S aving Y our B acon
Sometimes, you fail when you least expect it,
and often when you can least afford to. In these
situations, spend Plot Points after the die roll to
increase your final total. Hindsight has a cost, though.
Each Plot Point spent this way adds exactly one point
to the total. Not as valuable a windfall as if you spent
them before rolling (since that nets you up to twice
the value of your Plot Points), but it’s a last resort for
when you’ve already failed at everything else.
S taying A live
There’s a good chance your Demon Hunter
will take a wound that knocks him out or kills him
outright. Or maybe you just don’t want to take
damage at all! When this happens, you can spend
Plot Points to realize that it’s just a flesh wound. This
is done only when the damage is declared, not after
the fact. The plot change can’t heal anyone—it just
makes the blow less devastating than it seemed.
When Plot Points are spent this way, you buy a
bonus die just like when you try to improve actions,
but this time the result is subtracted from the
damage taken. Wound damage is reduced first; any
remaining points drop Stun damage.
A ssets
Some Assets require you to spend Plot Points
to activate them or the special abilities they grant,
or increase the total number of Plot Points counted
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Purple Ninja Survival Timer
3–5 combat turns (9–15 seconds)
6–10 combat turns (18–30 seconds)
11–20 combat turns (33–60 seconds)
2–5 minutes
6–10 minutes
30 minutes
89
when you spend them on certain rolls. See the Asset
descriptions in Chapter Three: What It Takes for
details.
Chapter Four: We Ride
S tor y M anipulation
For the most part, the Game Master sketches
out the plot and guides the action. You get in the mix
through your Demon Hunter’s actions, but that’s not
the only means you have to impact the storytelling.
Plot Points allow you to modify that story in small
ways. Mostly, you do this to help the gang. Whatever
the case, it should always be done to make the game
more interesting and fun for the players (though not
necessarily the Demon Hunters).
Don’t get cocky. The Game Master has the
power to veto plot-twisting Plot Points if they
undermine the storyline. Plot Points can’t change
core aspects of the tale, alter the very nature of a
Demon Hunter, overturn prior events, or wrap the
adventure up in a neat package.
Plot Points let you alter the story in convincing
ways, stretch things a little bit, or add or subtract
subtle details. A young reformed vamp might find
the inept but … inept … yeah … might find Ned
charming and attractive, if she was into the gawky
type. An old friend might show up at an unexpected
moment to save the day or lend a branch (hey, they
don’t have to be human).
When you want to spend Plot Points to
change the story, make a suggestion and hand
the Game Master the number of Plot Points you
 are willing to spend, based on how far you thinks
you are stretching things. If the Game Master is
agreeable, he keeps the Plot Points and incorporates
the suggestion—perhaps altered as he sees fit.
Remember, he has a better idea what’s coming, so
cut him some slack. If he likes the idea, but think the
payment is too chincy, he could reduce the impact of
it and use it that way, or ask for more Plot Points. If
the Game Master doesn’t buy it, he simply rejects the
Plot Point bribe and hands them back.
The Plot Points and Story Impact Table gives
some pointers. Keep in mind that Plot Points are
never a license to derail the story, to ruin another
player’s fun, or to destroy the adventure or an
90 important premise of the campaign.
One specific plot occurrence has special
allowance made for it here: The Purple Ninja! The
Purple Ninja can be summoned at appropriate times
of dire need in exchange for Plot Points. The more
Plot Points spent, the longer he survives—until then,
the Purple Ninja never loses! Keep in mind that
whether or not the Purple Ninja actually destroys
Chapter Four: We Ride
your enemies is up to the Game Master—he might
just keep them busy! Also, he can’t be summoned
more than once per adventure; the Game Master
decides how long it takes for him to be available
again.
Spellcasting 101:
The Mystic Arts
Magic, you’ll hear most people call it—but magic
isn’t really special. Magic is pretty much what most
humans think it is, simple illusion. The mystic arts, on
the other hand, are something much, much greater.
The mystic arts are ritualistic practices that let
normal people, with a little training or natural talent,
change the world around them. No, they can’t throw
mystical bolts at the Darkness, or suddenly melt
their foes with a glare. Those kinds of abilities are
relegated to Quantum Magicians (pray you never
need to know what one of those is)—normal humans
don’t have that kind of ability. Instead, they use the
rituals they learn to appeal to a higher power (be
it angelic, demonic, earthly, or From Beyond the
Bounds of Time and Space) to do what they want.
Don’t be fooled; even though they themselves don’t
wield the power, practitioners of these ancient rites
are dangerous opponents.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
The mystic arts is a general term, and can refer
to any one of the hundreds of practices that have
evolved over the centuries. Vodoun, necromancy,
shamanism; almost all of it can be traced back, one
way or another, to a practitioner of the mystic arts.
And for every tradition that’s been documented by
the Brotherhood’s watchful eyes, there’s a dozen
more kept secret and mysterious by cults, secret
societies, and demon-obsessed madmen.
The supernatural effects produced by the mystic
arts—known colloquially as spells—are brought
forth through a careful manipulation of the universe;
the practitioner exerts pressure on a loophole in
reality through key invocations combined in precise
ways and under specific conditions. The result is
something that defies the normal laws of cause-and-
effect. A gastromancer, for example, might sprinkle
some charcoal dust in a circle, meditate for several
minutes, and then intone the mystic phrase “Veni,
Vidi, Venti!” which translates roughly into, “I came,
I saw, I’ll have a large coffee, please!” Suddenly, he
finds that his empty coffee cup is brimming with the
bold, rich taste of Cobbler’s Crystals’ Italian Roast.
Of course, exerting the necessary pressure to
make the change you want means fueling the spell
with a lot of metaphysical mojo. Think of it as bribing
the universe to look the other way for a minute, or
paying a greater power of some kind to do the work
for you. The bigger the favor you want, the more
energy you need—and the bigger the sacrifice. A few
minutes after that gastromancer summons the coffee,
he will be glad to have it, since with a spell that fast
he must have sacrificed some of his own life force
to pay for it. The result? He has a major hangover,
without even a drop of alcohol to deserve it.
Mystic Arts Requirements
A Demon Hunter buys the Initiate of the Mystic
Arts (d2) Asset (see page 57), and talks it over with
the Game Master to define the mystic tradition
he practices. Is he a necromancer? A spirit-talking
vodoun houngan? A pyromancer? Whatever it is,
he may only ever learn that one tradition (though
the Game Master might allow him to study other
traditions in an academic manner). The types of
rituals and abilities available to him are based on
the tradition he chooses, though the Game Master
should let him broadly interpret the thematic aspects
of his tradition.
 Mary Crow O’Connell, a necromancer, can
probably apply her knowledge to raising zombies
and skeletons, creating or curing diseases, getting
a dead body to give up its secrets, locating undead
things or places where death has recently occurred,
and so on. But, she might also be able to see into
an area far away by using a spell to peer through
the eyes of a skull at the desired location, or build
a temple to a dark god by raising a crew of skeletal
workers.
Having the Initiate of the Mystic Arts Asset is
the bare minimum a Demon Hunter needs in order
to start messing with the Universe. However, spells
become immeasurably easier to create with some
training. Botching a casting is a one-way road to
certain doom, so a Demon Hunter should purchase
the General Skill Mystic Arts, together with any
desired Specialties, using the normal rules for Skills
(see Chapter Three: What It Takes). Specialties
for the Mystic Arts Skill represent different types
of spells in fairly broad categories, as opposed to
magical traditions; many practitioners will still have
similar Specialties.
Rituals
Spells are normally cast through the
performance of a ritual, a Complex Action that
can take anywhere from 30 seconds (the absolute
minimum) to a week or more. Most moderately
useful spell effects will probably take half an hour to
two hours to create, depending on the abilities of
the practitioner.
The roll the Demon Hunter makes is almost
always Alertness, Intelligence, or Willpower +
Mystic Arts/Specialty Skill, with the Attribute varying
depending on nature of the spell. Alertness would
be used for spells that extend the senses: locating
something, interpreting a portent or riddle, and so
on. Willpower would be used for spells that affect a
person or other being against their will, from mystic
assaults to protective wards barring the target from
your home. Intelligence is used when neither of the
other Attributes clearly apply, and often in cases
where the ritual is more academic or static in nature,
or has no sentient target, such as binding elemental
forces together or sifting through hundreds of years
of written knowledge in a library.
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The power or scope of the spell in question
determines the Threshold of the Complex Action,
and the amount of in-game time that each roll
represents. Very minor effects (detecting the
presence of undead beings within a few hundred
yards; creating a cup of coffee; lighting a campfire;
asking a willing spirit to answer some questions at
a seance) have low Thresholds and likewise don’t
take more than a minute or two for most people to
cast. More demanding effects require appropriately
higher Thresholds and longer casting times. Below,
you’ll find examples of the various Thresholds and
suggested levels of power at each.
Sacrifice
Unlike standard Complex Actions, casting a
spell requires one special component: a sacrifice. No
91
matter how simple the spell, it will have some kind
of cost associated with it. That cost can be paid in
a number of ways, but the options available to the
caster are linked to the Threshold level of the spell.
See the examples below for suggested sacrifices,
Chapter Four: We Ride
but keep in mind that the purpose of the sacrifice
is often the significance. Players should feel free to
suggest alternate sacrifices for a specific ritual at any
given level, but the Game Master should only allow
the ritual to work if the sacrifice is appropriately
important. If a piece of gear or something material is
being sacrificed, for example, it need not necessarily
be expensive, but it should be important to the
person sacrificing it, financially, emotionally, or
psychologically.
Some rituals may have special requirements
beyond the sacrifice. Maybe a given practitioner can
only perform them on Tuesdays, or at the full moon,
or maybe only once, ever. Particularly powerful
rituals will likely require special timing, as well as a
dedicated ritual space which may have to be built,
or found, and perhaps days of preparation. Nothing
says “price of power” like needing a week-dead
sheep slaughtered specifically for a ritual, or having
to remain in a spiritually cleansing lukewarm bubble
bath for four days prior. Shorter, easier rituals
probably don’t have any really major requirements—
maybe they need a chalk-dust circle drawn around
the caster, or perhaps they include using a quartz
crystal on a string as something to focus on while
chanting, but they tend to be the kind of thing
 Designing Ritual Spells
Considering the scores of mystic traditions known to the Brotherhood, and the varied nature of the goals and
intents of the practitioners of these arts, trying to compile a comprehensive list of known rituals would be
folly. The practitioners responsible for most rituals keep them secret from the rest of the world, even from
the broader mystical community, and hoard them in moldy old tomes or inscribe them on their skin in weird
tattoos (hey, kids these days … ). Because of this, if a player wants a specific ritual he should ask the Game
Master if his Demon Hunter already knows a good one.
The Game Master should either assume the practitioner does, or have the player roll some dice. The roll is
Intelligence + Knowledge/Occult (or other appropriate Specialty) against a Difficulty the Game Master sets,
based on the rarity of the ritual effect. Most common rituals would be Average (7); invocations to summon
an Earthwalkers would be Impossible (31). Of course, if the player wants a spell that doesn’t fit with the
theme of his Demon Hunter’s mystic training, or he’s after a flashy, zip-bang type of spell that the mystic arts
can’t do, he doesn’t get a roll.
If the Demon Hunter knows an appropriate ritual, or can find one, the Game Master needs to decide what

92
Threshold to set it at. This is more of an art than a science (no, really), so he should choose one that feels
right to him. If the Game Master thinks the spell is pretty tricky, he probably shouldn’t set it at Easy or
Average, but Hard or Heroic might do. Then comes the fun part—picking an appropriate sacrifice and any
conditions that are required to perform the ritual, and what the ritual itself looks like. The Game Master can
leave the latter part to the player, actually, since he doesn’t have a hundred other things to worry about.
Keep in mind that very difficult rituals (Heroic or harder) should come with some stringent requirements.
Maybe they need to be performed under a new moon, or in the middle of an empty baseball stadium.
Whatever—try not to get too silly about it, but keep in mind that there’s a reason these are hard. The
practitioner is trying to trick reality—that takes some serious mojo.
All of this can take time away from the game, and other players might become a tad annoyed at all of this
Chapter Four: We Ride

mystic nonsense if it’s keeping the spotlight away from them. Game Masters should consult with ritual-using
players before the game starts. What rituals do they know? Do they have a signature spell or two they rely
on most? Player and Game Master should work together to come up with a couple well-defined rituals
that the Demon Hunter knows, and note them down for use during the game. Put some flavor into it—the
description of how a ritual works can be an interesting part of a Demon Hunter, and there’s no time to get
too elaborate with rituals being created during the game.
Once a ritual has been identified for the Demon Hunter, the Game Master should decide whether or not the
practitioner’s likely to know many other spells, and if so, what kind. If he only knows the few you detailed,
the player can have fun seeking out new sources of ritual knowledge—it might provide a driving need for his
Demon Hunter to commit some time to research. However, it’s just as fine if he feels they should have the
capability of performing a number of as-yet-undefined rites; just decide what types of rituals he’d know, and
move on to the game! Enough already!

one can improvise in the field … if you’re feeling
brave. Improvising and skimping on details is a risky
business, though; see botching.
Playing it Out
Okay, so we know it’s a Complex Action
that takes time, multiple rolls, and so on. But the
important part, what is the Demon Hunter actually
doing? He’s not rolling dice—he’s performing a ritual.
That could mean any number of things. Get creative,
or ask the Game Master to define the requirements
of the ritual. They could be chanting while sitting in
some weird yoga contortion, or making geometric
calculations on the ground with a stick, or staring
at a crystal pendulum, whatever it is, it’s something
weird, probably obvious, and much more interesting
than what the player is doing. There also may be a
series of minor objects or materials required that
don’t really count as the sacrifice, such as a pinch
of grave mold, a ring of candles, or a martini (some
Dark Powers like a drink before they start work, and
some Chaotic ones never work sober).
Getting Distracted
Unfortunately, because of their length, rituals
sometimes get disrupted. If there’s a lot of noise, or
the boat the practitioner’s in is rocking, or something
like that, he has to make an Average (7) Willpower
+ Discipline/Concentration roll when the distraction
starts. No more than one Concentration roll is
needed for each casting roll on the ritual, and for a
single continued distraction the Game Master may

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 choose to have the first roll stand until circumstances
change. If the practitioner fails the roll to maintain
concentration, he botches the spell (see below).
Similarly, if he’s kicked off a roof, body slammed by
a werewolf, or suffer other major issues, either the
ritual instantly ends (with a botch), or the Game
Master can give him the chance to roll Willpower
+ Discipline/Concentration against a Hard (11) or
higher Difficulty to keep going. Good luck.
Getting Kicked in the Junk
by the Universe
Botching an attempt to alter the universe is a
really, really, really bad idea. Really bad. Say it with
me: “Reality is my friend. I will not botch reality. If I
botch reality, for any reason, reality will no longer be
my friend.”
Botching a spell roll isn’t instantly fatal in most
cases. However, the effects are probably worse than
a normal botch, which is already pretty bad. The
error may vary from a nearly complete version of
the spell going off and working wrong (for example,
targeting the practitioner instead of his opponent),
to an explosion of uncoordinated mystical energy, to
attracting the attention of some kind of Horror From
Beyond.
Not that actually succeeding at a spell is without
danger. For example: summoning a demon just
because you can doesn’t mean it won’t kill you.
Slowly. Painfully. With a yak.
Suggested botch severities accompany each
example Threshold level below. Game Masters
should feel free to improvise, and keep in mind the
attitude and theme of both the practitioner and the
ritual itself.
Game Masters should note that the specifics of
the requirements on a ritual are often vague—if a
caster tries to get around them, or half-ass them, he
still might be able to try it—but botching becomes
more likely. If the Game Master feels the Demon
Hunter is being lax or trying to find a way around
certain requirements, however necessary this may
be in the field, the practitioner will find himself
botching on rolls where all the dice show ones and
twos, rather than just ones.
Ritual Threshold Guidelines
What follows is a rough guide to ritual power
levels, rated by Threshold. Each entry includes the
length each roll represents, the sacrifices required,
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the degree of effect a ritual of that Threshold might
offer, and what happens when the practitioner
botches. Both Game Masters and players alike can
reference these guidelines; a Demon Hunter should
know how much trouble he’s in if he goes and
messes with the forces of Reality, after all. It’s in the
manual.
E asy
Ø 30 seconds per roll.
Ø The sacrifice is probably something simple,
like a demigod’s favorite candy, a large
quartz crystal, or a bottle of mayflies.
Ø Effects at this level should mostly include
detecting things relatively close to hand;
locating specific, well-known people or
things at a distance; minor conjuring (small,
93
mundane, common, and cheap things),
or the creation of minor special effects,
like lighting a normal campfire or causing
a torch to burn without using up fuel or
producing heat for its normal duration.
Chapter Four: We Ride
Ø A botch at this level is never fatal, but
could cause a small amount (d4 Basic) of
damage; knock out the caster; cause an
obvious burst of sound and light that gives
away his position; or curse him to speak in
tongues for a day.
A ver age
Ø One minute per roll.
Ø The sacrifice is a little more pronounced,
like a specially engraved necklace of human
teeth, a pocket protector once used by
Bill Gates (readily available, to be sure), or
a broken birdcage.
Ø A necromancer might be able to raise a
weak skeleton to guard his retreat for an
hour, or a pyromancer might be able to
raise a protective ring of fire around his
location; a vodoun doctor could send a
messenger spirit across the continent to
deliver a report to HQ; or a mystic healer
could cure a mild cold or a broken bone.
Ø A botch at this level will not be instantly
fatal, but could cause that skeleton to
immediately attack with intent to kill, or
the fire to spring up under the caster and
 his friends. A moderate explosion might
result (d6 Basic), or the caster might be
struck deaf or blind for a day.
H ar d
Ø 5 minutes per roll.
Ø Sacrifices at this level will frequently require
unusual, but not impossible to find, objects
that may require special construction or
preparation: A gold statue of the deity
you are imploring for help, a gun loaded
with bullets on which you have inscribed
the name of your enemy, or a well-cooked
chicken sacrificed with a particular type of
94 Ø
hatchet.
A witch doctor could curse someone to
be afflicted with a Complication of up to
the d4 level for a day; a geomancer could
map out all the ley-lines of power in a city;
or a medium could force an angry spirit to
divulge why it haunts the old mansion on
the hill.
Chapter Four: We Ride
Ø Botches become much more dangerous,
causing an even worse curse to plague
the caster, the ley-line energy to discharge
violently for an explosion of 3d4 Basic
damage (fewer dice for those farther away
from the caster), or the angry spirit to
attack outright.
F or midable
Ø 10 minutes per roll.
Ø Sacrifices will often include objects with
higher worth, or particular sentimental
value, such as the last letter a husband
wrote to his deceased wife or someone’s
beloved pet.
Ø A shaman might bless his entire Chapter
to be able to see immaterial spirits until
the next sunrise, a healer could stop major
internal bleeding (if he could cast the
spell quickly enough), or a necromancer
could bar all undead from leaving the local
graveyard for a month.
Ø Botches can cause up to 3d6 Basic damage,
destroy the contents of the room the spell
is cast in, or permanently blind the caster.
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H eroic
Ø 20 minutes per roll.
Ø Sacrifices could have several components,
or may require extremely rare objects, like
the skull of a major religious prophet, or a
reliable computer operating system.
Ø Dangerous curses could last a week, a
person might be summoned from the
other side of the world, or a vampire could
be protected from sunlight for a week.
Ø Botches can cause up to 4d6 Basic damage,
blast wholes in a major structure, or
seriously cripple the caster.
I ncredible
Ø 30 minutes per roll.
Ø Sacrifices will almost certainly include some
large or emotionally important creature
(either a sacrificial bull, or someone’s pet)
along with some valuable or rare supplies
of some kind, or could even require an
entirely unique object.
Ø Minor but permanent effects are possible,
such as blessing a beer pitcher to be
perpetually icy cold and full, or a pendant
to pulse with light in the presence of
lycanthropes, or a spirit to be bound into
a skull and forced to serve as an assistant
to the caster.
Ø Botches cause 4d6 Wound damage, might
destroy a whole building, or could place a
year-long curse upon the caster.
R idiculous
Ø One hour per roll.
Ø Sacrifices could include human or mass
animal sacrifices, or unique or mystical
artifacts of some power—the kinds of things
that might take months to track down,
and even then be difficult to acquire. The
effects, however, include the enchantment
of almost any permanent effect.
Ø A necromancer could raise a whole army
of undead, possibly bringing back the
souls and bodies of those killed on a vast
battlefield to fight for him. A witch doctor
might turn the entire town into a group of
zombie-like servants, or curse a village to
sleep for a year.
 Ø Botches might be instantly fatal, or
permanently curse the caster, or create a
fatal disease that is highly contagious.
I mpossible
Ø Two hours per roll.
Ø Sacrifices require very specific objects or
materials: A virgin sacrifice whose soul is
taken straight down to Hell, a chapter of
the Bible from the original copy, a unique
and powerful artifact of divine power, and
so on.
Ø The effects of spells like this could only be
dreamed of by most users of the mystic
arts—returning an Earthwalker to the
material plane already bound to your will;
destroying an island so it sinks beneath the
waves and becomes mere legend; locating
an honest politician. No player should start
knowing rituals of this level (or, likely, any
level very near it).
Ø Botches might curse the caster and his entire
bloodline for seven generations, destroy the
people of an island continent, blast the user
and those nearby instantly into the deepest
reaches of Inferno, or do almost anything of
a horribly destructive nature.
Cheating the Universe
Right, so you’ve finally learned how to cast the
spell to repel vampires—but it happens to have a
Formidable Threshold, meaning you’ll be entirely
exsanguinated by the time you finish casting it. Not
very helpful.
That is, as long as you play by the rules.
Table 4.5: Cheating the Universe
Spell Threshold/Difficulty
Easy
Average
Hard
Formidable
Heroic
Incredible
Ridiculous
Impossible
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If you want to keep back the vamps you do have
an option. Instead of casting that spell properly, you
can Cheat, with a capital “C.” Essentially, by forcing
extraneous eldritch power into the arcane matrix
of the ritual-construct, you increase the rate at
which—aww, hell, think about it this way. There’s a
baby with some candy inside a locked room with a
glass door, right? You want the candy. You can either
pick the lock, which is tedious and time consuming
(casting the spell as a ritual), or you can wrap your
jacket around your hand and punch the glass in
(Cheating and speeding things up). Sure, you get
cut up a bit, and maybe the baby turns out to be
a face-eating demonspawn in disguise (botching),
but otherwise you have the candy. Mmm, delicious,
analogical candy. Cheating on a spell has three
distinct effects:
95
The spell becomes a standard action
instead of a complex action. It has a Difficulty of
the same level as the Threshold; failing to meet this
Difficulty is not automatically a botch, it just wastes
the effort. However, you can’t usually take many
Chapter Four: We Ride
other actions during a turn in which you cast a spell,
even sped up this way, so Dodging or attacking is
out.
The spell exacts a price from the caster’s
vital energy. Essentially, he loses Life Points based
on the Threshold of the spell. This damage can’t
be reduced at all (even by Plot Points), but it heals
normally. He suffers the damage immediately after
they finish the casting attempt—so he can die
from the effort, whether they succeed or fail. And,
unfortunately, the most powerful spells almost
always cause the caster’s death when they are cast
through Cheating. See the Table: Cheating the
Universe.
Damage Suffered
1 Stun
d2 Basic
d4 Basic
d6 Basic
d8 Basic
d10 Basic
d12 Basic
Slays Caster

The spell is being half-assed, so botching is
more likely. If the casting roll comes up all ones and
twos, it’s a botch. However, since things are already
this grim, casters generally don’t feel so bad about
substituting ingredients and whatnot.
So, should the caster beat the Difficulty, he can
cast his spells on a moment’s notice. However, doing
this a lot can get dangerous fast.
Combat
Combat is dirty, dangerous, and chaotic—it’s not
pretty, nor is it for those with weak stomachs. For
the most part, combat involves Opposed Actions:
96 Whoever rolls higher does better. Keep that in mind,
and the rest should fall into place.
We usually jump into the combat rules when
things get violent, but not always. Whenever things
just get tense, when you need to know who acts first,
what happens before what, or how quickly someone
can respond, the combat rules help organize things—
they zoom in to moment-by-moment.
Chapter Four: We Ride
The Turn
Time during tense situations is broken down
into “combat turns” or just “turns.” Turns last
approximately three seconds, and are meant to be
just long enough for your Demon Hunter (or his
opponent) to do one, or maybe two, different things.
Combat moves fast. You may want to spend time
planning, plotting, and deciding on the best possible
action, but your Demon Hunters don’t have that
luxury. In order to keep from getting bogged down,
the Game Master should encourage players to make
snappy decisions and deal with the consequences.
Hesitate too much, and your Demon Hunter loses
the chance to act that turn. It’s the price of delaying
everybody else’s instant gratification.
I nitiative
When combat starts, the Game Master decides
who acts first. Usually, it’s the person initiating action,
hostile or otherwise. That person gets to make one
action right away. After that, all the players roll their
Demon Hunter’s Initiative (Agility + Alertness), and
the Game Master does the same for their opponents,
allies, and incidental characters. To speed things up,
the Game Master can just roll Initiative once for each
type of character: one roll for all Sisters of Divine
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Optional
Initiative
If you don’t like the way Initiative is calculated,
change it. Here’re some suggestions, subject to
the Game Master’s approval.
Static Initiative: Calculate Initiative as a static
number. Add together the maximum values of
all the dice included in your Demon Hunter’s
Initiative, and record that number on your
Demon Hunter sheet. Instead of rolling,
Demon Hunters and their adversaries always
act in this order, using dice only to break ties
when absolutely necessary. Plot Points spent
on Initiative rolls add a die as usual—the
maximum value of that die is added to your
Initiative for that combat.
Group Initiative: Rather than rolling Initiative for
each Demon Hunter, one Initiative is rolled
for each side. All the combatants on each side
act simultaneously, only rolling against each
other when order is absolutely vital. Use the
character with the best Initiative dice on each
side when rolling for his group.
Retribution, another roll for all the construction
workers, and a third roll for the demon-posessed
cocktail waitresses.
Each turn, your Demon Hunter and everybody
else acts in order of Initiative result—highest goes
first, followed by next highest, and so on down
the line. Should you wish, at the beginning of a
subsequent turn, you may spend one Plot Point to
reroll Initiative. The reroll is used for the remainder
of the fight if it is higher than your Demon Hunter’s
original Initiative; it’s ignored if it is lower.
If two characters have the same Initiative result,
they act at the same time. If a finer distinction is
needed, the tied characters roll Agility in an Opposed
Action until an order is established.
A ctions
Many types of activities are possible during
a turn. All are brief in duration, granted, but role
playing is about imagination. Your Demon Hunter
should act as he sees fit; the Game Master will rein
you in if necessary.
An important distinction in the Demon Hunters
game is whether a Demon Hunter’s activity during a
turn is an action or not. Actions take some degree of
concentration. One action is generally all a character
can perform in one turn without suffering penalties.
 Certain activities don’t amount to actions.
They are too short, automatic, or otherwise
inconsequential to occupy a character’s attention.
Shouting a brief warning or order, looking around
quickly, or anything else that doesn’t actually
interfere with a character’s ability to perform other
tasks fits in here. We call these nonactions.
When an activity doesn’t amount to an action,
it can be done at any time, even during another
character’s turn. Nonactions can be combined too,
as much as makes sense—a Game Master may
cut you short on “free” actions if you start getting
greedy. Your Demon Hunter can’t speak more than
a few seconds’ worth of words during a turn, for
instance. Common sense may be lacking in your
Demon Hunter from time to time, but the Game
Master should make sure the players keep it in mind!
Everything else a character does counts as an
action. Taking a shot or a swing, diving for cover,
steering a bus, staunching the blood oozing from
his stomach, sneaking past the vampire, sweet-
talking the bartender for a drink without paying—all
these and more are actions. They take time and
concentration.
For the most part, your Demon Hunter’s
actions take place during his turn in the Initiative
order. Some actions, also called reactions, can occur
during another character’s turn, but this usually only
applies to things like dodging an enemy’s attack or
diving for cover from a grenade blast.
Also, opposed rolls most often require actions
from both sides. Some situations—your Demon
Hunter uses an action to sneak by some guards; the
guards roll their Perception as a nonaction—vary
from that general rule. Your Game Master makes the
call, as usual.
Actions can’t be saved from one turn to another,
and you can’t hold your turn until later in the same
initiative cycle, waiting to declare your actions. Turns
happen too fast for that to be possible; any hesitation
means your Demon Hunter has to wait until the
next turn to act.
M ultiple A ctions
It’s possible for a character to take multiple
actions in one turn. Again, the watchword is
“sensible”—the Game Master should keep a close
eye on multiple actions in a turn. Combatants have
only three seconds in which to act; only so much
can be done in that time. Characters can’t divide
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
their concentration too far. If the Game Master
thinks your Demon Hunter is attempting too many
things at once, he may cut you off at an appropriate
number of actions. As a general rule of thumb,
attempting three separate actions is pushing the
limit. Certain actions almost certainly chew up an
entire turn (struggling with a half-demon who is
trying to tie you into a bow, attempting to break
down a door). In that case, multiple actions are not
possible.
When more than one action is allowed, initial
actions are more focused while later ones become
more slapshot. The first action your Demon Hunter
makes in a turn suffers no penalty. Every action after
that accumulates penalties. The second action of a
turn gets hit with a –1 Skill step. The third applies a
–2 Skill step, and so on.
97
If a multiple-action penalty, by itself, would
completely eliminate the applicable Skill die, that
action can’t be attempted. If an action doesn’t
require a roll (running, for example), it still increases
the penalty. Your Game Master then makes the
Chapter Four: We Ride
call whether it can be attempted or is somehow
hindered. Remember, activities that don’t count as
actions have no effect on multiple action penalties.
Ned has fallen behind his teammates as
they sneak through the woods. Suddenly, the
Game Master asks them all to make Alertness +
Perception rolls. Surprisingly, only Ned succeeds
in spotting the demon-spawn about to jump from
a tree and cut down Sparky! The creature hasn’t
seen him yet, so he has a chance to do something.
    Ned decides to make a run for it and see
if he can knock Sparky out of the way—that’d
be really heroic! The Game Master decides that
he’s going to have to Sprint to make it—which
counts as an action but doesn’t require a roll,
(see Movement below)—and then roll Agility
+ Athletics/Running to avoid tripping on the
undergrowth before he reaches her; the Game
Master rules that this counts as a second action.
Normally, Sprinting would disallow all other actions
during the turn, but the Game Master rules that
the effort spent to avoid tripping is necessary
anyway.
    Ned’s Sprint moves him 45 feet, which
is far enough to reach the group—this is his
first action for the turn, since the Alertness
roll he already made didn’t take any effort or
 Chases
Chases can be exciting—pounding down a deck, along a street, or through dusty corridors, one step ahead of
your foe! Oh sure, you might be the one doing the chasing, but let’s be real here. This is how these scenes
play out.
First, check to see if one person (or group) is clearly faster than the other. Unless hampered, a faster mover
will almost certainly win the chase, either escaping or catching his quarry. No rolls are necessary most of the
time, though navigating rough or dangerous terrain at full speed might require a roll of some kind—failure
would let the opponent win the chase.
However, if both opponents have the same Base Movement, the outcome is not as assured. The chase becomes
a series of standard actions that are compared (though they aren’t actually opposed actions). The distance
between the pursuer and the pursued is abstracted onto a sliding scale:

E scaped —D istant —F ar —C lose —C aught

98 When the chase begins, follow these Three Easy Steps:

1. Set starting distance (usually either Close or Far).
2. Each turn, at the same time, all characters roll for their movement. They usually make the same roll, with
the situation determining the dice they use and the Difficulty. Flat, clear terrain is Easy and uses Strength
+ Athletics/Running; a hillside or narrow ship’s corridors would be Average and use Alertness + Athletics/
Running; quickly climbing a ladder up to a catwalk would be Hard and use Agility + Athletics/Climbing.
3. If both groups succeed, fail, or gain Extraordinary Successes at their rolls, they remain at the same distance.
If one succeeds and the other fails, or one succeeds and the other achieves an Extraordinary Success,
the distance slides on the scale one level in the favor of the winner. If one fails and the other gets an
Chapter Four: We Ride

Extraordinary Success, the distance slides two levels in the favor of the winner. When the distance reaches
Caught, the two parties are close enough to engage in combat, grapple, and so on; the chase ends in favor
of the pursuer. If the distance reaches Escaped, the pursuers are left behind or lost—the pursued should be
allowed at least long enough to catch his breath before they catch up or find him again.
Each turn of one party moving faster than the other (for example, if one of the parties runs out of breath and is
forced to stop Sprinting or Running, or chooses to move more slowly), the distance automatically slides one
extra level in their favor for each speed level (standing still, Walking, Running, Sprinting) of difference.

concentration on his part. As a second action, he
rolls Agility + Athletics/Running, Normally his
Running Specialty is d10, but as his second action
it is reduced by –1 Skill Step to d8. Fortunately, the
Game Master sets the difficulty at Easy, and Ned
succeeds.
    Unfortunately, Ned didn’t realize what
unholy demonic funk could reek from the bowels of
the hellspawn he’s going up against. As he charges
under the branch the demon has climbed on to, the
stench wafts down, threatening his consciousness!
The Game Master tells Ned he has to make a
Vitality + Vitality roll to resist the effects of the
devil-smell. While doing something now would be
a third action and suffer a –2 Skill Step penalty,
the up-side here is that this kind of involuntary
reaction—like the Alertness + Perception roll
above—doesn’t count as an action, and so receives
no penalty.
    Ned succeeds, remains on his feet, and
the Game Master describes how Ned heroically
throws himself in front of the demon-spawn, which
promptly eviscerates him. Maybe, once he gets
rebuilt, he’ll at least get a thank-you.
Movement
Mostly, characters can move as they please;
there’s not much to stop them. Sometimes it’s
important to know how far a character can move in
a given amount of time. Pretty much, that happens
during tense moments or action sequences.
W alking
Characters walk their base movement in one
turn. For most, base movement is equal to 15 feet
per turn, but that might be altered by Traits. Walking
does not count as an action.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Table 4.6: Jump Difficulties
Difficulty Number Distance (Standing)
3 3’
7 5’
11 7’
15 9’
19 11’
23 — 21’
27 — 24’
31 — 27’
R unning
Running covers double a character’s base
movement (usually 30 feet) in one turn. This
expends an action.
Characters can Run for a number of minutes
equal to their Vitality dice’s maximum. After that,
they must slow to a Walk for at least 10 minutes, or
rest for 5, before they catch their breath.
S printing
Sprinting triples the character’s base movement
(usually to 45 feet per turn, or roughly 14 meters).
This costs an action, and also prevents all other
actions during the turn—shooting and reloading
become impossible when moving at this rate.
Dodging is also impossible, but it does let them use
their innate defense with a +1 step bonus.
Characters can Sprint for a number of turns
equal to their Vitality dice’s maximum. After that,
they can no longer Sprint or Run, and they must slow
to a Walk for at least 10 minutes, or rest for five,
before they catch their breath.
J umping
Adult characters can jump gaps of less than
three feet from a standing start, or five feet with
a moving start. No roll is needed. In a dangerous
situation, over longer distances, or when an action
is hindered, a roll is made, usually Strength +
Athletics/Jumping. The Jump Difficulties Table shows
how tough it is to jump a certain distance in feet,
depending on the character’s movement before the
jump (a dash means the jump ain’t gonna happen
under any circumstances). Jumping counts as an
action.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Distance (Running)
6’
9’
12’
15’
18’
C limbing
If your Demon Hunter is in a controlled
environment and using safety equipment, like the
local gym, or is tackling a particularly easy tree
or ladder, no climbing roll is needed. Otherwise,
99
use Strength + Athletics/Climbing. The Difficulty
depends on the surface being traversed—a tree with
many limbs might be Easy (3), the side of a house
would be Hard (11). The roll is made at the start
of the climb, and the climber does not need to roll
Chapter Four: We Ride
again unless conditions change (they are attacked,
harsh weather sets in, etc.) or if they are climbing for
more than a minute. If things get tense, the Game
Master may require a roll each turn, or each turn
something impedes the climber (say, a successful
attack). Climbing counts as an action.
Characters move vertically or horizontally
five feet per turn if climbing “freestyle”—on an
unprepared surface. If using a knotted rope, ladder,
or similar aid, 10 feet per turn can be covered going
up, 15 feet going down.
Climbing characters can’t dodge or perform
other actions, at the Game Master’s discretion. They
do apply their innate defense against attacks they are
aware of, as usual.
Attacking
Sometimes, you gotta plunge headlong into
the teeth of your worthy foe. Better know how to
attack before your foe bites a hole in your metaphor.
Attacks are skilled actions: roll the appropriate
combination of Attribute and Skill, and if the result
equals or exceeds the Difficulty, your attack is
successful and has painful consequences. For the
most part, a ranged attack uses Agility or Alertness
and a Skill; close combat attacks (with or without
a weapon) use Strength or Agility and a Skill. The
nature of the attack or the weapon you’re using will
 determine which Attribute your Game Master calls
for on the roll. The Difficulty of hitting an unmoving
or unaware human-sized target is Easy (3). Most
times, the target is going to bust his hump to avoid
getting hit. In that case, the Difficulty depends on the
target’s defense choice. Attacks are actions unless
otherwise stated.
The roll result determines the initial damage
of the attack. Subtract the defense Difficulty from
the attack roll result. If it’s zero, no initial damage is
done. Initial damage is almost always Basic type.
If the attack has a damage die (such as when
a weapon is used), roll that and apply it after initial
damage is done. Weapon damage type varies. There
100 is a sidebar on page 106 that provides a method of
adding weapon damage that doesn’t use a random
die roll, if you think the attack roll itself was enough.
That’s the basics, but things can, and usually do,
get complicated.
A iming
Your character can aim a ranged weapon for up
Chapter Four: We Ride
to three combat turns, as long as he does nothing
else (some nonactions, such as talking, may be
allowed; walking or hitting the dirt is not). Aiming
grants a +1 Skill step for each turn spent aiming.
If you’re distracted before you have the chance to
get off the shot, you lose your bonus unless you
make a concentration roll: Willpower + Discipline/
Concentration, Average (7) Difficulty, –1 Skill step for
each turn spent Aiming already.
C alled S hots
Called shots target a specific part of the body
or other small area or object. They suffer penalties
because of the smaller target area, but bring on a
world of hurt.
Full Target: In general, assailants target the
central body mass—or, an object about the size of a
person, doorway, etc. No penalty.
Moderate Target: This includes targeting a leg,
arm, or torso, or an object about the size of a chair.
The attacker suffers a –2 Skill step.
Small Target: Attacking a hand, foot, or head,
or an object about the size of a book, rifle, or helmet.
This imposes a –3 Skill step.
Miniscule Target: Targeting something as small
as a heart, kneecap, or eye (or doorknob, poolball,
Cipher visor, etc) entails a –4 Skill step.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Called shots to specific body parts cause greater
harm. The exact results are up to the Game Master,
but some suggestions follow.
Leg/Arm: The limb is useless, which may
reduce or eliminate movement or the ability to take
certain actions. The damage should not kill the target
outright (reduce the damage or convert it all to Stun).
Torso/Stomach/Back: Target must make a
Endurance roll against the attack roll. If failed, the
character is stunned for two turns.
Vital Area: Causes additional Wound damage.
Increase the attack’s damage die by the number
of steps the attack was reduced; The damage die
now inflicts Wound damage, and the target begins
bleeding—so if the Called Shot imposed a –2 step
Skill penalty to the attack roll, the damage die is
increased by +2 steps, or +4 if the Called Shot was
–4 steps. This can apply to shots to vital areas on the
torso (kidneys, groin—”Called shot to the nuts!”),
almost any shot to the head, and even to shots to
areas on limbs (arteries, etc). In these cases, the shot
uses the penalty for the smaller target—a shot to
an artery on a limb suffers the –4 Skill step penalty,
rather than the –2 for a limb, and can kill the target;
likewise, a kidney shot would take the –3 Skill step
penalty for the hand-sized target, rather than the –2
for the torso.
C overing
Covering an area is a good way to deny it from
your adversaries. If anyone enters that area (comes
through a doorway, comes around the corner,
stands up from behind the barricade, etc.), you start
swinging or firing. Covering is an action, and the
area covered must be declared when it starts—as
a rough guide, your Demon Hunter can’t cover
an area much larger than the width of a hallway
in a public school or the front of a convenience
store. If something happens in the area, you can act
immediately even when it’s not your turn. If nothing
happens, you lose your chance to perform any action
until your Initiative comes up again. Covering can
carry over from turn to turn as long as your Demon
Hunter performs no other action during that time
(nonactions, like talking, are possible), or moves
out of range. However, this does not accumulate an
aiming bonus.
When you declare a covering attack against a
single target, rather than a general area, it’s called
a threat. If that sucker moves or does anything
 undesirable, you can attack immediately If an attack results in an Extraordinary
even when it’s not your turn. Success, the victim must make an Average
Threatening someone for more than (7) Endurance (Vitality + Willpower) roll. If
one turn does grant aiming he succeeds, nothing unusual
bonuses. In addition, happens. If he fails the roll, he
threatening a person
P u r p l e N i n j a s a y : “Choose your own
adventure! You follow tracks through woods. takes the damage along with
adds a +2 Skill step to
Suddenly, demon leap out of undergrowth. It the following effect (based on
any attempts made by sees you and yells, “die, Demon Hunter!” Rest the type of damage the attack
your Demon Hunter to of your Chapter nowhere to be seen. Do you: did):
intimidate the target, or R o a r a n d a t t a c k ? Turn to page 174. Basic: The character
anyone who cares about T u r n a n d f l e e ? Turn to page 17. suffers a debilitating injury,
the target in a significant T r y t o o u t w i t d e m on? Turn to page 154. either a broken limb (which
way. S t a n d y o u r g r o u n d and hold until is useless until treated), or
y o u r C h a p t e r a r r i v es? Turn to page 30.” he has been rendered blind,
C rowds
Firing into a crowd
is an act of the desperate
deaf, immobile, or under some
similar condition. The Game
Master determines the exact
101
or the criminal. When firing at a target in a crowd, nature of the injury, depending on the situation.
or at someone engaged in close combat, any near Stun: If the damage is Stun-based, the character
miss is problem. Any roll that comes up with all falls unconscious immediately, taking a number of
dice showing ones or twos is considered a botch Shock Points equal to the Stun damage inflicted
(instead of just ones). Botching generates a separate, during the attack (Even if he doesn’t have enough

Chapter Four: We Ride

unintentional attack roll against a nearby target
determined either randomly or by the Game Master;
alternatively, the Game Master may just have the
whole crowd get very, very pissed at your Demon
Hunter.
Stun to put him out!).
Wounds: If the damage is Wound-based, the
character has suffered a serious injury. Without
successful treatment, the character is Bleeding (see
page 108)

D isar ming F einting

A close combat attack to disarm imposes a –2
Skill step; a ranged disarm suffers a –4 Skill step. If
the attack succeeds, no damage is inflicted but the
target must make a Hard (11) Agility + (Weapon
Skill) roll. If he fails, the target drops the weapon.
He can pick it up again on his next turn, but this will
count as one of his actions. An Extraordinary Success
on the disarm roll means the weapon, if dropped, is
either out of reach or disabled.
E xt r aor dinar y S uccess and
D am age
Injuries are always a problem, but some make
medical professionals reach for the insurance forms
or the nearest priest. A bullet might put a hole in
you, but if it pierces a lung or a kidney you’ve had
it. A club could just leave some nasty bruises, or
you could wind up with a concussion. That’s how
Extraordinary Success works with damage.
Feinting is when you pretend to punch your
opponent in the face but you junk him insted. It’s
only possible in close combat, and is based on an
opposed roll. The attacker makes an Intelligence
+ combat Skill/Specialty roll against the defender’s
Alertness + combat Skill/Specialty. If the attacker is
successful, the defender can use only innate defense
against the attacker’s next strike.
G r ap pling
Grabbing someone requires an Agility +
Unarmed Combat/Specialty roll. Instead of any of
the usual defenses available, the target can spend an
action to roll Agility + Unarmed Combat/Specialty.
If the attacker succeeds, no damage is inflicted.
In subsequent turns, the grappled opponent is an
Easy target for close combat attacks. Crushing your
foe in your vice-like grip, for instance, would be an
Easy (3) Strength + Unarmed Combat/Grappling
attack. Maintaining the grapple does not count as an
action, but the grappled person is the only target you

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Table 4.7: Ranges
Range Distance in Range Increments
Point Blank 15’ projectile, 5’ thrown
Short 1 –
Medium 2 –1 Skill step
Long 4 –3 Skill step
Extreme 10
can attack. In order to escape a grapple, the target
must beat the attacker in a opposed Strength +
Athletics roll.
A grapple can also be used to push or knock
102 over a target, making them prone. In that case, your
Demon Hunter can maintain the hold, falling to the
ground as well, or release the target to fall down all
by himself.
I mprovised W eapons
A good soldier always has a weapon handy, but
it doesn’t always work out that way. When your
Chapter Four: We Ride
Demon Hunter grabs a bottle, chair, stick, turkey leg,
or other improvised weapon, ask the Game Master
what rules apply. The more unwieldy the item, the
greater the penalty (–1 to –4 Skill step generally).
Most common items also have fairly small damage
dice. On the other hand, the weapon does Basic, not
just Stun damage (as fighting unarmed does).
The range increments listed in Chapter Five:
The Warehouse only apply if a weapon is used
as intended, and is designed for such use. Tossing
a pistol has nothing to do with the gun’s normal
range increment. A pointy piece of metal may cause
damage like a knife but it sure doesn’t throw like
one. Again, improvised weapon rules apply and
your Game Master decides the Skill step penalty
depending on the range and the unwieldiness of the
item.
B eing P rone
Attacking while prone incurs a –2 Attribute step
penalty while trying to attack within melee range,
since moving to deal with direction changes is much
more difficult. If the situation is appropriate, the
Game Master may rule that this doesn’t apply to
most long-ranged firearm attacks.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Modifier
+1 Skill step
–6 Skill step
R ange
If you really want to shoot someone, get as close
as possible. Point blank range is 15 feet for projectile
weapons, five feet for thrown weapons. Getting
that close grants a +1 Skill step. Beyond that range,
accuracy depends on a weapon’s range increment.
At or below the first increment, the attack is at close
range and no modifier is applied. Beyond that and up
to double the range increment is medium range. That
range imposes a –1 Skill step. Up to four times the
range increment is long range, which carries a –3 Skill
step penalty. Beyond that lies extreme range. Attacks
at that range suffer a –6 Skill step penalty. Your Game
Master may decide that anything beyond 10 times the
range increment is a waste of ammo (no chance of
hitting).
S neak A t tack
A wise man once said, “Fighting fair is fighting
stupid!” Attacks from behind or on an unaware target
have an Easy (3) Difficulty, unless the target is moving
erratically enough to warrant an innate defense roll.
This gets particularly ugly if the attacker has time to
aim. If gets even more ugly if you miss and they find
out what you were up to.
T hrowing
Hurling a weapon designed for throwing (such
as a throwing knife) is handled like any other ranged
attack. The attack might use Strength or Agility,
depending on the weapon. Chucking a grenade
or other explosive has an Average (7) Difficulty to
hit the correct area, up to 100 feet away—when
thrown, if the target is beyond 100 feet, the thrower
also has to make a Strength + Athletics/Throwing
(or other Skill) roll. The maximum distance they
can reach is (100 + roll’s result) in feet; if that isn’t
 Optional Rule:
Simplified Innate Defense
All of this rolling dice might be keeping you up
at night. In lieu of chamomile tea, here’s an
alternative for innate defense that relies on a
fixed bonus instead of a die roll. If a character
is aware of the attack, or moving about at
walking speed or faster, the attack Difficulty
is one plus half the maximum result of the
character’s Agility die. You won’t get an
outrageous result from this kind of thing, but
you won’t get below average either. Note that
if you decide to use this rule, it should apply
to all characters (i.e. replaces completely the
usual die roll method.)
Optional Defense
Die Type Defense
d2 2 roll). This will give your Demon Hunter a clue about
d4 3
d6 4
d8 5 a roll with a –6 Skill step at range, or with a –4 Skill
d10 6 step in close combat.
d12 7
enough, it falls short. If the thrower fails the Average
roll to target the right area, it lands where the Game
Master judges.
T wo –W eapon F ighting
Fighting with two hands imposes a –1 Attribute
step penalty on the primary hand and a –2 Attribute
step penalty on the off-hand attack. The main hand
attack is one action; the off-hand attack requires a
second one.
U nar med C ombat
It’s much harder to kill someone by slugging him
than it is by hitting him with something hard, sharp,
or explosive. Unarmed combat is resolved normally,
but initial damage is all Stun type, instead of Basic
type. Traits may alter the damage dealt.
When it comes to bonuses to damage dice, treat
unarmed attacks as d0 Stun—any increase raises this
to an actual die type.
V isibilit y
Smoke, fog, and dim light make tagging a target
much harder. Darkness or blindness really messes
you up.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Dim Light, Thin Smoke/Fog: Gives a –2 Skill
step to all attacks or attempts to see beyond 10 feet
(except autofire).
Dark, Thick Smoke/Fog: Gives a –4 Skill step
to all attacks or attempts to see beyond 10 feet
(except autofire spray attacks).
Pitch Black, Blinded: It’s hard to hit something
you can’t see. In these situations it’s all about finding
some other way to acquire the target. Make an
Alertness + Perception/Hearing (or other sense)
roll to attack someone under these conditions. The
Difficulty is Average (7) for a target who is shouting
or making a lot of noise, Hard (11) for anyone talking
or making a moderate amount of noise, Heroic (19)
for someone not moving or making much noise, and
Ridiculous (27) for someone making a Stealth roll
(the roll must also be higher than the target’s Stealth
103
where the target is. Hitting that target still requires
Chapter Four: We Ride
Defense
Targets don’t just stand there and take it, unless
they’re impervious to mortal weapons, unconscious,
or dead. That means the Difficulty of an attack
is rarely the default Easy (3). The defender’s
choices depend upon the situation and how much
concentration is devoted to defense. As with attacks,
most defenses combine an Attribute and a Skill.
I nnate D efense
Keep your wits about you. You’ll live longer.
If your Demon Hunter is aware of the attacker or
the attack, or is moving around at walking speed
or faster, you can roll Agility dice (unskilled, paired
only with Traits or bonus dice from Plot Points) and
substitute the result for the default attack Difficulty.
Innate defense can’t be botched, since a roll of 1
is bad enough by itself, but you also can’t spend
Plot Points to increase it. The Game Master might
choose to give you a +1 or +2 step Bonus to Agility
if your Demon Hunter is moving quickly or in an
unexpected direction, or he is moving through areas
with some cover. Innate defense rolls are nonactions.
B locking
Keep your guard up. Blocking, or parrying,
intercepts an opponent’s attack with a limb, object,
weapon, or shield. Roll Agility + close combat
 Skill/Specialty; if the character happens have a shield
of some sort, use Melee Combat/Shield with a +1 to
+4 Skill steps. The result is the attacker’s Difficulty.
Blocking is a reaction.
It’s possible to block a weapon while unarmed,
it just isn’t smart. If successful, the defender suffers
damage (minus armor, if any) from the damage die
the weapon would have inflicted on a hit. Better than
getting stabbed some place more vital, but it still
hurts like hell.
Guns and ranged attacks can’t be blocked. If
the shield is sturdy enough it might provide cover,
though.
104 D odging
You live longer if you stay out of an enemy’s line
of fire. Ducking, leaning, sidestepping, jumping to
the side—dodging includes all of that. Roll Agility +
Athletics/Dodge; the result becomes your opponent’s
attack Difficulty. Note that this is essentially the same
as innate defense, but dodging allows you to use your
Skills where innate defense does not, and dodging
Chapter Four: We Ride
may be increased with Plot Points.
Dodging usually counts as a reaction. Your
Game Master may allow Demon Hunters to throw
himself to the ground as a nonaction, but no further
movement or dodging is possible that turn. Hitting
the dirt is rolled as a regular dodge. After that, your
Demon Hunter is prone. Hitting the dirt gets you out
of the way fast, but can cause problems later.
C over
Want to keep your insides where they belong?
Find and use cover—it’s probably your best defense
short of not being there at all. Put a hard object,
as large as possible, between you and danger.
Cover doesn’t use rolls; it adds a flat number to a
character’s defense, depending upon how much
concealment exists. Hard objects also protect against
explosive damage, and operate on four levels of
usefulness (or five, if you count falling on your face as
being useful).
Light Cover: Up to half the body is covered.
This adds +4 to the defense Difficulty. Remove one
die of explosive damage.
Medium Cover: More than half the target is
safe. Add +8 to the defense Difficulty. Drop two dice
of explosive damage.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Heavy Cover: Almost all the defender is
protected. Add +12 to the defense Difficulty. Three
dice of explosive damage are left off.
Total Cover: Target can’t be hit. If a hit is
possible for some reason (defender is peeking
through a hole in a bulkhead), or might do damage
anyway (a heavy, but portable piece of metal could
push back on the target), add +16 to the defense
Difficulty. Explosive damage loses four dice. Cover
bonuses only apply if the Game Master deems the
blocking object tough enough. Substances that
conceal but don’t block fully are treated as armor.
Cover bonuses can be avoided by using a Called
Shot. That’s possible only against a body part that is
not behind cover. The defense doesn’t get the bonus
from Cover, but the attacker’s Skill dice suffer normal
Called Shot Skill step penalties.
Prone: In a firefight, being face first in the mud
is safer than being upright out in the open. Still, it’s
no picnic. You can’t dodge when you’re prone, or
even use innate defense. Being prone is generally
the equivalent of Light Cover, save for two things: it
removes 2 dice from nearby explosions instead of 1,
unless you’re on top of the explosive, in which case
you take full, maximum possible damage, but reduce
1 die for everyone else. Also, being flat on your
back sucks against close combat attacks. An attacker
gains a +2 Skill step bonus. At the Game Master’s
discretion, even blocking might not be possible. Our
advice: Get the hell up!
P rotective G ear
If you can’t stay behind large, hard objects,
strapping on Kevlar and taking your protection with
you is the way to go. Armor doesn’t stop you from
getting hit like cover does; it just makes the hurt less
bad. The heavier the armor, the more hindrance it
imposes, but thankfully the Brotherhood’s technology
still outstrips that which is available to the clueless
public.
Chapter Five: The Warehouse lists the Armor
Rating of certain types of armor. The Game Master
determines the Armor Rating of any ad hoc armor
(e.g., an object that isn’t hard enough to amount to
cover). The Armor Rating is subtracted from any
damage inflicted. Wound damage is reduced first,
then Stun damage. Called shots to areas not covered
by armor and attacks that garner an Exceptional
Success ignore armor.
 Heavier body armor interferes with movement,
range of motion, and perception. Armor like this lists
a step penalty that is applied to Agility, Alertness,
or any other rolls the Game Master deems proper.
The penalties shouldn’t be applied blindly, however.
Your Game Master should take into account the type
of armor and the circumstances. A combat helmet
might interfere with Perception rolls, but it wouldn’t
affect attacks, dodging, running, or other movement.
On the other hand, a full suit of body armor that
includes gloves makes fine manipulation, like that
required to repair something or pick a lock, much
more difficult.
Special Situations
Combat is chaotic, frightening, and impossible
to predict. And then you get the unusual situations.
Here are a few of them.
A utom atic W eapons
Some guns can fire more rapidly than one bullet
per trigger-pull. Chapter Five: The Warehouse
tells you whether a weapon can fire bursts, autofire,
or spray. If not, each shot is an action.
Burst: The attacker fires three bullets using one
attack roll against one target. The weapon’s damage
dice each gain +1 step. Extraordinary Success on a
burst attack adds an extra damage die to the total,
as if you’d fired four bullets, and this extra die is also
at +1 step. Burst fire counts as one action, but you
can’t do it more than twice each turn. Called shots
can’t be bursts.
Autofire: One autofire attack roll expends a
third of the weapon’s ammo (to a maximum of 40
bullets) against one target. The weapon’s damage die
gains a +4 step. Autofire is an action, and no other
attack action is possible that turn (either before or
after the autofire). Autofire can’t be a Called Shot.
Spray: Spray fire uses as many bullets as
autofire but directs them at an area roughly five
to 10 feet wide, not a single target. As long as the
attack roll meets an Easy (3) Difficulty, everyone
in that area must defend against the attack. Cover
bonuses to Difficulty are halved (rounding up) in
the face of spray fire. Those that are hit suffer a +1
step to the weapon’s damage die. An Extraordinary
Success on the attack roll adds an extra stepped-
up die to the weapon damage roll. Spray fire is an
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
action, and no other attack action is possible that
turn (either before or after the autofire). Like other
automatic fire, spray can’t be called.
Filling an area with lead avoids most visibility
problems. Spray fire into a dark or concealed area
imposes an Average (7) Difficulty (rather than the
usual Easy (3) Difficulty). As long as the muzzle is
pointed generally in the right area, everyone in that
area must defend as normal to avoid being hit. No
Skill step penalties are applied. This exception does
not apply to burst fire or autofire; normal visibility
penalties are applied in those cases.
B reaking O bjects
Maneuvering is great, but sometimes you just
gotta go through something. When your Demon
Hunter needs to hack through a door, smash a box
105
open, or otherwise break stuff, that attack is just
like any other. Objects have Armor Ratings and
Life Points, but are immune to Stun damage. Once
sufficient Wounds have been inflicted to overcome
the object’s Life Points, the thing is busted. Your
Chapter Four: We Ride
Game Master sets the objects specs; the following
are illustrative examples.
Handcuffs: Armor Value 6, Life Points 2.
Rope: Armor Value 2, Life Points 2.
Standard Door: Armor Value 4, Life Points 6.
Reinforced Door: Armor Value 10, Life Points 8.
Wall of Twisted Demonic Flesh: Armor Value
12, Life Points 10.
D r awing a W eapon
Unless a character has an applicable Asset,
drawing a weapon is an action. For those without
weapons at the ready, drawing and firing in the same
turn imposes a multiple action penalty.
E xplosions
Grenades, missiles, mining charges, ordnance,
summoning circles—lots of things go boom. Best to
be as far away as possible.
Explosions or explosive weapons list a number
of damage dice and a blast increment. Anyone
within one blast increment suffers the full damage
rolled. Those beyond one increment and within
two increments take one less die (the one with the
highest roll) in damage. Keep moving out one blast
increment at a time, always removing the die with
the highest result, until no more dice are left.

If circumstances create a damage step bonus
or penalty in an explosive attack, the damage die
type is affected, not the number of dice rolled. Also,
note that any attack roll with a grenade or similar
explosive is made to deliver the package, not cause
damage—there is no initial damage, unless the
grenade hits someone in the head.
The truly heroic and truly insane often choose to
sacrifice themselves for their comrades. Diving on a
small explosive, like a grenade, removes the highest
die from the damage. That only applies to others.
The hero suffers full damage.
An unlucky Chapter discovers the dangers
106
of tracking a half-demon to a fuel refinery—an
exploding tank catches them in the blast! The
Game Master decides that the damage is 5d6
Wound, and the blast increment is 15 feet. He
rolls the dice; they come up five, four, four, two,
one, for a total of 16 Wound damage. The unlucky
bastards within 15 feet of the explosion are most
likely killed outright. Those between 15 and 30
Chapter Four: We Ride
feet suffer slightly reduced damage—the Game
Master removes the die that rolled a five, leaving
11 Wound damage. Those between 30 and 45
feet take only 7 Wound; one of the dice that came
up “four” is dropped. Between 45 and 60 feet,
3 Wound damage causes some minor burns all
around, but that isn’t too bad. And finally, from 60
to 75 feet away, anyone in the area winds up with
singed eyebrows and a bad sunburn from 1 Wound
damage.
R est r aints
There’s a reason prisoners are bound,
handcuffed, or otherwise restrained. A target that
can’t move is an Easy (3) Difficulty to hit, and it’s
not like anyone minds if you hit a captured foe, do
they? If your Demon Hunter’s hands are bound, he
suffers a –2 Skill step penalty to attack rolls made
with pistols and close combat weapons. He can’t use
any form of rifle, and is extremely limited in terms
of non-combat actions—the Game Master should
exercise common sense here.
Escaping from restraints depends entirely on the
binding—handcuffs, for example, must be broken,
opened with a key, or picked. Your Demon Hunter
might wriggle out of a binding with an Agility +
Athletics/Escape Artist roll against a Difficulty set
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Optional Rule:
Simplified Weapon Damage
It’s possible that you’re into doing things really fast
and easy. While that’s perhaps something to
consider seeking professional advice about, in
combat situations you may want to just light
a fire under the rules to keep things moving.
Damage rolls might be just one more roll
you’d rather not make: After all, the attack roll
is random enough as it is, right? In that case,
consider using a flat damage rating for weapons
rather than a die type. Rather than rolling the
die on a successful hit and adding it to Stun or
Wound (or both) just add half the maximum
roll on the weapon’s damage die, rounding
down if necessary.
Optional Damage
Die Type Damage Bonus
d2 +1
d4 +2
d6 +3
d8 +4
d10 +5
d12 +6
by the competence of the person doing the binding
(Game Master discretion, but usually Hard or
Formidable).
Getting Hurt
So your Demon Hunter was stupid enough to
get shot, stabbed, poisoned, or mauled. It happens,
more often to members of the Brotherhood than to
most people. What? You expected this to be safe?
Every character has a certain number of Life
Points based upon Vitality, Willpower, and certain
Traits. Damage is subtracted from Life Points.
When the total damage taken, regardless of type, is
greater than your Demon Hunter’s Life Point total,
he probably drops unconscious. When total Wound
damage exceeds Life Points, he is dying.
Damage Types
Damage comes in two forms: Stun and Wounds.
A third type, Basic, combines the two.
 S tun
Stun damage represents light injuries—bruising,
scrapes, fatigue, shallow cuts, and so on. Stun
damage is recovered quickly, and at worst results in
nothing more than unconsciousness.
Stun damage can exceed Life Points. If your
Demon Hunter remains conscious, the extra damage
simply accumulates and is recovered normally.
Shock Points: If an unconscious character
receives Stun damage, it is recorded as Shock Points.
If Shock Points rise above your Demon Hunter’s
maximum Life Points, he falls into a coma.
W ound
Wound damage is much more dangerous than
Stun damage. Broken bones, punctured organs,
internal bleeding, and anything else that could
eventually result in death is all considered Wound
damage. That kind of hurt causes intense pain;
wounded characters suffer penalties. When Wound
damage gets high enough, death is breathing down
your neck.
B asic
Initial damage—the first part of an attack’s
damage, determined by subtracting the Defense
from the Attack roll—is almost always Basic. Basic
damage is divided between Stun and Wound types,
favoring Stun with any excess. For example, if your
Demon Hunter takes five points of Basic damage, he
suffers 3 Stun and 2 Wound.
Fallout
Getting hurt messes you up. Here’s the skinny
on no longer looking pretty.
D am age P enalties
Wound damage is the kind that really, really
hurts. When your Demon Hunter has accumulated
half his Life Point total (rounded down) in Wound
damage, he suffers a –2 Attribute step to all actions
until he recovers or is treated thoroughly enough
to stop the pain (at the Game Master’s discretion—
some injuries may not be treatable in this way).
P assing O ut
When your Demon Hunter’s damage, regardless
of type, is greater than his Life Points, he risks falling
unconscious. Roll Endurance (Vitality + Willpower)
against an Average (7) Difficulty. Success keeps him
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
on his feet—or at least awake. Every turn thereafter,
a character repeats the roll with a cumulative +4 to
Difficulty each time.
Harkadian, involved in a gunfight with
demon-possessed street punks, gets himself
shot. He suffers some Wound damage, and that
hurts like hell—literally. The immediate problem
is the additional Stun damage, which puts his
total damage over his Life Points. Harkadian has
to make an Average (7) Endurance roll to stay
conscious; he rolls a nine and manages to stay
on his feet. He spends a moment assessing the
damage—it doesn’t look good. The next turn, he
must make a Hard (11) Vitality + Willpower roll
to stay conscious. His luck runs out; he rolls a 10
and blacks out, collapsing to the ground.
107
D ying
When your Demon Hunter suffers Wound
damage equal to his Life Points, roll Endurance
Chapter Four: We Ride
(Vitality + Willpower) every minute to stay alive.
The first time, the Difficulty is Easy (3), but it
increases by four each minute. A dying character
can be treated with a Hard (11) Alertness +
Medicine/First Aid roll. This increases the time
between Endurance rolls to one hour—it requires
either a Hard Alertness + Medicine/Surgery roll,
or a Formidable (15) First Aid roll to stabilize them
completely.
If Wounds exceed double a character’s
maximum Life Points maximum, he dies
immediately—most likely in an extremely brutal
fashion.
Other Injury
Getting shot, stabbed, broken, or beaten is bad
enough, but that’s not the only way to get hurt.
D rugs and P oison
Alcohol, drugs, and poisons can cause a
variety of effects, but they are all fought off with
a Resistance (Vitality + Vitality) roll. The exact
Difficulty and effects are up the Game Master. As
a guideline, the downside of heavy drinking starts
as a Hard (11) Difficulty and gets worse as the
character drinks more. A rare poison that causes
unconsciousness and, later, death if left untreated
might be Formidable (15) to resist.
 I nclement W eather
Damage caused by (non-instantly fatal) extremes
of temperature. Every hour of exposure without
adequate protection causes d2 Stun damage.
Game Masters may also impose risks of frostbite,
heatstroke, and similar if they wish.
F alling and S top ping S uddenly
Dropping more than a few feet can cause
damage. The falling character must roll Agility +
Athletics/Gymnastics to avoid damage. The Difficulty
is Easy (3) if the fall is 10 feet or less. The Difficulty
increases by +4 for each 10 feet beyond that. If the
damage is not avoided, the fall is treated as an attack
108 with a roll result equal to its Difficulty. Damage is
Basic type.
Agility penalties from armor almost always apply
to falling. Armor Rating almost never protects the
character.
F ire
Burns are Wound damage caused by heat or
Chapter Four: We Ride
fire. They heal at half the normal rate and often leave
disfiguring scars.
P lague , P estilence , and P ox
Characters fight off disease through Resistance
(Vitality + Vitality) rolls. The Difficulty and effects
depend upon the disease. Illness effect could range
from a –1 Attribute step to all actions for a minor
cold, to almost certain death.
R adiation and T oxic W aste
Exposure to harmful radiation causes damage—
first Stun, and then Wound. Like burn damage,
radiation injury is difficult to treat. Stun does not
begin to recover until the character receives proper
medical treatment; Wound damage takes twice as
long to heal.
When exposure begins, the Game Master
determines a time increment: One day for light
radiation, one minute for heavy radiation, or even
one turn in extreme cases. Exposed characters suffer
d2 Stun damage each increment. When Stun reaches
a character’s maximum Life Points, he begins to
suffer d2 Wound damage each increment. Radiation
injury can be prevented with proper precautions,
such as inoculations or radiation-proof HAZMAT
suits. These measures increase the time increment,
or render the character immune to the radiation.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
F ailing to B reathe
Humans, animals, and other living creatures
need to breathe. When prepared, a character can
hold his breath for 30 seconds with an Easy (3)
Resistance (Vitality + Vitality) roll. Every 30 seconds
beyond that the Difficulty increases by four. Once
the character fails a roll, he begins to suffer d2 Stun
damage every turn. Once the character has passed
out, suffocation causes d2 Shock and d2 Wound
damage every turn.
If unable to prepare by drawing a quick breath, a
suffocating character’s Resistance roll Difficulty starts
at Hard (11).
Conditions
Being banged up or wounded is a problem, but
those aren’t even anywhere near as bad as death. As
a Demon Hunter, fates worse than death wait for you
around every corner. Don’t get cocky. Any one of
these nasty conditions will make life harder to hang
on to.
B leeding
Bleeding characters take d2 Basic damage every
turn that they perform strenuous activity. If they lie
still and breathe easy, they suffer the same damage
every minute. If they are able to slow the bleeding
through a tourniquet or applied pressure, the damage
is reduced to once every ten minutes. Use of the
First Aid Skill (see Recovery, on page 110) can stop
bleeding, which is generally a good course of action.
F atigued
Characters who stay awake longer than 24 hours
suffer penalties from fatigue. Every eight hours they
remain awake past 24 causes two Stun damage. As
fatigue drains their strength, they also suffer a –1
Attribute step for every 24 extra hours they remain
awake. If any Attribute is reduced to less than d2 this
way, the character passes out.
Combat causes exhausting adrenaline rushes and
often involves strenuous activity. Your Game Master
may rule that every half hour of battle-readiness,
combat, or similar activity counts as being awake for
eight hours for fatigue purposes.
Taking a nap can stave off fatigue penalties.
Sleeping for 10 to 30 minutes removes a number of
“awake” hours equal to the result of a Willpower
roll. Resting an hour or two removes a number of
 “awake” hours equal to the result of a Willpower +
Discipline/Specialty roll. A character can gain napping
benefits once every 12 hours.
A full night’s rest (eight–12 hours) zeroes out
“awake” hours and removes all fatigue damage and
penalties. Stimulants or other amphetamines can
temporarily alleviate fatigue damage and penalties.
I ntoxicated
Drugged characters are affected in various
ways based on the drug in their system. Being drunk
imposes four Stun that clears up only after sobering
up. Drunken characters also suffer a –2 Attribute
step penalty to all rolls.
S tunned
Stunned characters can’t perform actions. They
defend themselves with innate defense, if at all. A
good rule of thumb is that if your Demon Hunter
was in motion when he was stunned, he may still
draw on innate defense (largely by stumbling about
like an idiot.) If he was standing still or otherwise
involved in something static, he loses his innate
defense.
How it All Plays Out:
A Tactical Example
In a tabletop, field work simulation,
Harkadian and Gator are playing as themselves.
They have chased a couple of zombie-raising
cultists into an old barn at the edge of town, where
they stand and fight. As the two Demon Hunters
burst through the open barn door, the Game
Master asks them to roll Initiative. He notes down
that Cultist one rolled an 11, Cultist two only
managed a four. Harkadian rolls a seven and Gator
rolls nine, making the order of Initiative Cultist
one–Gator–Harkadian–Cultist two.
Game Master: “The first Cultist hurls himself
at Harkadian with a blood-curdling yell! He’s
swinging at your head with a club.” Secretly, the
Game Master knows the Cultist also plans a second
attack, but Harkadian doesn’t know that yet.
Harkadian: “I dodge to the side!”
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
The Game Master decides the Cultist will be
rolling his Strength (d6) + Melee Weapons/Club
(d8) for the attack, but the Called Shot to the
head, he sees, imposes a –3 step Skill penalty,
turning that d8 into a d2. He makes the roll, and
totals a six. Harkadian is dodging, so he rolls his
Agility + Athletics/Dodge Skill for defense; he gets
an eight. The Cultist missed! Good thing, or that
damage straight to his head might’ve knocked
Harkadian out!
Game Master: “You neatly sidestep the blow,
and the Cultist howls with frustration, bringing his
club around for another swing.”
Harkadian: “I block his attack with my sword.”
The Game Master decides his Cultist isn’t
109
trying for another Called Shot, but this is his
second action in this turn, So it receives a –1 Skill
step, making the roll d6 + d6. Luckily, he totals
a 12 on the roll! Harkadian also receives a –1
Skill step for multiple actions now, and he rolls his
Chapter Four: We Ride
Strength + Melee Weapons/Sword to block. Even
with that penalty, however, he manages to total 12
as well. Unfortunately, that’s still a hit. The Initial
Damage would be 0 (12 attack–12 defense), but
the club’s weapon damage die might still hurt.
Harkadian spends 1 Plot Point to increase his total
to 13.
Game Master: “The Cultist is almost foaming
at the mouth now, frustrated by coming so close to
victory, only to have Harkadian’s sword bat his club
away at the last second. Gator’s up next.”
Gator: “Brass knuckle time! I go for the second
cultist—Hark can take care of himself.
Harkadian: “Gee, such team spirit.”
Game Master: “Gator, you manage to cover
the distance to the second Cultist easily; roll
Strength + Unarmed/Brawl.”
The Game Master decides that the Cultist,
like Gator, is stupid. He doesn’t bother to dodge,
since he wants to save his actions for an attack
later—he rolls only his innate defense, which
doesn’t count as an action. However, that’s only a
d6 (his Agility). He rolls a four. Gator, after taking
into account the Called Shot to the head, rolls an
11, for an Initial Damage of 11–4 = 7.
 Table 4.8: Wound Recovery
Wounds Recovery Difficulty Surgical Threshold
1–2 No Check Required –
3–4 3 15
5–6 7 35
7–8 11 55
9–10 15 75
11–12 19 95
13–14 23 115
15–16 27 135

110 17–18
19–20
21–22
31
35
39
155
175
195
23–24 43 215

Game Master: “That’s an Extraordinary Game Master: “That’s a hit! Initial Damage is
Success! Gator’s brass knuckles do Basic damage, but basic, so that’s 1 Wound and 1 Stun, but the damage
only a d2, so the +3 steps increases that d2 to a d8 die is all Wound on a sword, so it adds up to a total of
Chapter Four: We Ride

(Gator rolls a d8, and gets a three)—so the Cultist
takes 3 Wound and 4 Stun from the Initial 7 damage,
and now 1 more Wound and 2 Stun from the damage
die, for a total of 4 Wound and 6 Stun. And … hmm,
let’s say he has to make a Hard Endurance roll or
pass out, because of the Extraordinary Success.”
The Game Master makes an Endurance
(Vitality + Willpower) roll against a Hard (11)
Difficulty for Cultist 2—and he fails it.
6 Wound and 1 Stun. He’s bleeding pretty badly from
a nasty cut on his left side.”
Next Cultist two would go, but he’s out, so the
turn is over. Cultist one is up next, but now he’s so
injured that he suffers a Wound penalty for having
taken half or more of his Life Points in Wound
damage: –2 steps to all Attributes. He’s not going
to last much longer!

Game Master: “The Cultist collapses to the

floor, unconscious. Harkadian, it’s your turn.”
Harkadian: “I’ve already made two actions, so
I’m just going to go for an attack on the Cultist I’ve
been fighting.”
Harkadian makes his attack roll, with a –2
Skill step for multiple actions now. He rolls an
eight, and the Cultist (also with a –2 Skill step from
acting so many times) attempts to dodge, rolling
a six (8–6 = 2). So Harkadian hits, doing 2 Initial
Damage; he rolls his sword’s d6 damage die, and
gets a five.
Healing and Recovery
Once the firing stops, it’s time to gather the
wounded and bury the dead. Healing takes time,
and sometimes Skill and resources. Serious injuries,
if left untreated, can prove fatal. If you’re lucky, only
the team members you can’t stand will have been
killed—or those who death won’t keep down.
Recovering Stun Damage
Stun damage is the easiest to recover. As long
as the character has no Shock Points and no special
conditions apply, Stun heals at the rate of one point
per hour of rest, or two hours of light activity.
Combat, high stress levels, or heavy work are not
light activity—reading, talking, and eating are.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Table 4.9: First Aid
First Aid Conditions
Improvised supplies, heavy distractions
Limited supplies, light distractions
Standard supplies, no distractions
Superior supplies, ambulance conditions
Cutting-edge supplies, hospital conditions
If your Demon Hunter is unconscious, he wakes
when enough Stun damage is recovered that total
damage drops below his maximum Life Points.
If unconscious, any Shock Points must be
removed first, before Stun damage heals. Shock
Points ensure unconsciousness for at least one hour.
After that, your Demon Hunter makes an Average
(7) Endurance (Vitality + Willpower) roll once per
hour to recover one Shock Point. Once all Shock
Points have been removed, your Demon Hunter
recovers Stun normally.
S econd W ind
Aside from Plot Points, Demon Hunters have an
extra edge here. Once per day, they can use second
wind to recover some Stun instantly. Choose either
Vitality or Willpower, roll the chosen Attribute, and
immediately reduce current Stun damage by the
result.
Recovering Wound Damage
Wound damage is much harder to cure. Nothing
is going to get better without sufficient rest and
nourishment. Light activity is possible but it must be
limited in duration.
After two days of rest, your Demon Hunter
makes an Endurance (Vitality + Willpower) roll. The
Difficulty depends on the amount of Wound damage
inflicted. The Wound Recovery Table has the details.
Major injuries (over 6 Wounds) are extremely
difficult to recovery from without medical aid. If the
Endurance roll is failed, your Demon Hunter must
wait until the next day to try again.
Once the appropriate Endurance roll succeeds,
your Demon Hunter begins recovering. From that
point on, he cures one point of Wound damage for
every two days of rest.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Skill Step Modifier
–2
–1
0
+1
+2
G et ting W orse
If you botch the Endurance roll to begin
recovery, your Demon Hunter gets worse. Every
day, he suffers d2 Wound damage, and must make
another Endurance roll, based on current Wounds,
to halt the deterioration. Once the damage is
111
stopped, another Endurance roll is needed to begin
recovery.
Medical Assistance
A medic might keep you alive on the battlefield.
Chapter Four: We Ride
Once things settle down, you should probably get
to a doctor. Listen to what the nice man says and do
what he tells you.
F irst A id
When your Demon Hunter has lost all his Life
Points to Wound damage or is bleeding, First Aid
keeps him alive until the docs arrive. The medic
must spend several turns working and make a
Hard (11) Alertness + Medicine/First Aid roll. If
successful, the time between your Endurance rolls
to stay alive increases from one minute to one hour.
An Average (7) success stops most bleeding, but that
rises to Hard (11) when treating bleeding caused
by an Extraordinary Success on an attack. It takes
a Formidable First Aid roll to stabilize the dying
completely, preventing further rolls—this can only
be attempted once per First Aid situation, though
the initial treatment to extend the time between
rolls can be attempted multiple times. First Aid rolls
assume that the treating character is in the field with
a standard First Aid kit. If no kit is available, First Aid
attempts suffer a –2 Skill step. If a field hospital or
ambulance is available, the attempts gain a +1 Skill
step. Actually medical facilities grant a +2 Skill step.
 Returning to Life!
Or, “So Now You’re Dead. Dumbass.”
Death is inevitable. Especially when you run around chasing unholy abominations against reality, or know
someone who does. Fortunately, your suffering doesn’t have to end with death! If you want to keep your
Demon Hunter in the game but don’t already have a way to get resurrected, you have two options (three, if
you count whining until the Game Master takes it back):
Choose an Asset that brings you back. No, you can’t choose one to stop you from dying—no suddenly getting
more Life Points to keep you on your feet. You have to find one that resurrects you, and the Game Master
has to approve it as fitting the story. Of course, you need to pay for this Asset like usual—if you have the
Advancement Points to do so, great. If not, to the chopping block! Death has taken something out of you,
and you sell back other Assets, Attributes, or Skills for Advancement Points, or gain more Trait Points from
a new Complication, to pay off the new Asset. Appropriate Assets might include Vampire, Lycanthropy (if
the Game Master is willing to assume that your regeneration just now kicked in), Animate (if there’s a mad
scientist around to bring you back or a necromancer who raises you as a member of the living dead), Exists

112 Outside of Time, and others at the Game Master’s discretion.

None of these options is likely to be instantaneous—just how quickly they work depends on the Trait that
brings you back to life. Reanimation in a mad scientist’s lab requires having your body dragged there first; if
you’re infected with latent vampirism, then you might just get back up in a few minutes.
Most Traits that bring you back to life can later be used as a way to revive yourself more than once, but some
will only work for certain types of fatalities, or not at all.
Get resurrected by someone. Some people or creatures might be able to raise the recently fallen. Maybe one of
your Chapter brothers is a Nephilim, or Gabriel is around with the Cross of the Archangels. Or maybe some
dark power has plans for you—however it happens, it may be possible for someone to bring you back to life
on their power rather than your own. This shouldn’t happen all the time, but Game Masters should keep it
Chapter Four: We Ride

as a possibility for cases where there aren’t many other options and permanent character death would be
inappropriate to the story or ruin everyone’s fun. However, this should also come with a cost—perhaps the
Demon Hunter is sickly for a while, permanently loses a step of Vitality, or the player has to discard all his
current Plot Points.

W aking the U nconscious
Characters who are out but have no Shock
Points can sometimes be roused with a slap, a shout,
cold water, or the like. They make an Average (7)
Endurance (Vitality + Willpower) roll to wake up.
This can be done once per turn. If the character
succeeds, his Stun damage is reduced to the point
that total damage is one less than his maximum Life
Points.
R eviving the D ead
The Brotherhood’s medical capabilities make
many things possible—including life after death.
However, the best option—before reanimation
or supernatural means are required—is simple
resuscitation. The medic performs First Aid, but the
Difficulty starts at Formidable (15) and increases
by four for every minute the character has been
clinically dead. If successful, the patient makes an
Endurance roll at the same Difficulty that caused his
death (see Dying, on page 107). If that works, the
character is alive but still dying. He can be treated or
stabilized but must still make Endurance rolls to stay
alive.
Characters who die from massive damage
(double Life Point maximum in Wounds) can’t be
revived; they require the Brotherhood’s special
treatment. See “Returning to Life,” above.
S timulants
If your Demon Hunter is on speed, he’ll spend
a few hours running around like crazy and then
take a dirt nap. Did he not watch community
service announcements on Saturday morning TV?
For six hours, he experiences a state of heightened
awareness—all fatigue penalties are eliminated
and a +1 step is granted to Alertness and Agility.
After six hours, the character crashes, and returns
to whatever fatigued state he started in. He also
suffers an additional –2 Attribute step until he gets
at least 12 hours of rest or takes another round
of stimulants. Each six-hour “up cycle” imposes
cumulative Attribute step penalties. Using stimulants

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 continuously for more than 12 hours can be
extremely dangerous. Remember, kids. This is your
Demon Hunter, and this is your Demon Hunter on
… oh, you know the drill. It’s a bad idea.
Stimulants also temporarily heal Stun damage,
but when they wear off (in about six hours), that
damage returns. Stimulants heal d2 to d12 Stun,
depending on the dosage.
S edatives
Barbiturates temporarily apply an across-the-
board Attribute step penalty, ranging from –1 to –4,
depending on the strength of the sedative. This is
accompanied quite often by a feeling of relaxation
and lowered anxiety, which makes sense given that
you’re being chemically knocked out. If the step
penalty would reduce you to d0 in any Attribute,
you’re unconscious. The sedative may last from as
little as an hour to as much as 12, again depending
on the dose and the sedative type. Most often,
your Demon Hunter will be exposed to this kind
of drug from an outside source. After all, you have
better things to do than sit in a chair and stare at the
melting wallpaper.
P ainkillers
If there’s no time for healing and you’ve gotta
push on, painkillers can at least relieve the agony.
Field painkillers temporarily relieve any damage
penalties imposed by Wounds. These drugs are
formulated for easy application by anyone; no roll is
needed. With other medicines, the user must make
an Intelligence + Medicine/Pharmaceuticals (Easy
(3) for common drugs, Hard (11) for complicated
or rare compounds) roll to determine how much
of what will be useful, rather than fatal or impotent.
Most painkillers last six hours, but some might last as
long as 12.
S urger y
Increasingly often in the War against the Enemy,
your Demon Hunter may get so badly injured that
he can’t begin recovery on his own—he needs a
bullet taken out, a heart bypass, that sort of thing.
In that case, surgery is needed. Surgery is a complex
action, usually with time increments of 10 or 30
minutes, using Agility + Medicine/Surgery. The
Threshold is based on the number of Wounds the
patient has taken—see Table 4.8, above. For badly
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
injured and dying patients, the surgery prevents the
character from having to make Endurance checks
during the operation.
If the surgery is successful, the patient begins to
heal. Particularly bad injuries might require advanced
treatment, therapy, or even more surgery to put
the character back in fighting shape. Just because
your Demon Hunter is healing from the mangling of
a limb, that doesn’t mean he gains use of that limb
back yet.
Botching surgery is a terrible thing. If the
surgeon botches twice, the complex action fails
and the patient suffers an extra d2 Wound damage.
The entire process must be started again, and the
surgeon gets slapped with a huge malpractice suit.
B rotherhood S urger y
113
Brotherhood medical mad science allows
surgeons to operate in conditions and at speeds
that put modern medicine to shame: A mad doctor
usually only requires five to15 minutes per roll (half
the usual time), and can perform his work in field
Chapter Four: We Ride
conditions, so long as he has a mad doctor’s bag
or, barring that, a razor, some rubbing alcohol, and
some twine.
Vehicles
Vehicles in the world of Demon Hunters serve
much the same purpose they do in real life: They get
you from place to place. Most of the time, this isn’t
a big deal. The plot doesn’t center around the trip
from basecamp to the creepy old building where the
Pound has a safehouse. It centers on what happens
after the Demon Hunters arrive on scene.
When this is the case, the vehicle is solely a
tool—a piece of equipment that does its job and
doesn’t require rolls to use. However, sometimes,
you might need to know a bit more about your ride.
Hazardous Conditions
Usually, driving, sailing, or even flying won’t
require a roll. Why? Remember the two basic
guidelines: You don’t roll unless there’s a chance of
failure, and you don’t roll if failure would completely
ruin the game in a way that has nothing to do with
the story. The Demon Hunters should never die in
a completely random accident before the adventure
even starts!
 However, if the Forces of Darkness are trying
to kill the Demon Hunters, then it’s no random
accident. And if there’s a good chance the Demon
Hunters can survive, then the failure of the pilot or
driver doesn’t result in unavoidable death.
When the reasons are appropriate, bad
conditions might force the driver or pilot of a
vehicle to make a roll. When this happens, only one
character rolls. In a vehicle with a multi-person crew,
others might be able to offer indirect assistance if the
Game Master rules it appropriate, but the primary
roll is made by the character most directly in charge
of steering.
The roll to control a vehicle will usually be a
114 combination of Strength (to control a bucking, pulling
wheel), Agility (to accurately make rapid adjustments
to direction or speed), or Alertness (to avoid road
hazards, know where to point the vehicle, and so
on) combined with the appropriate Skill (Watercraft/
Specialty, Pilot/Specialty, or Drive/Specialty). The
Game Master sets the Difficulty based on the
conditions, as usual. Controlling a vehicle at normal
Chapter Four: We Ride
speeds (whatever those are for the specific vehicle),
in good terrain, during calm weather and in daylight
should be Easy (3) if a roll is forced. Bad weather, bad
terrain, distractions (like a pack of demons following,
or one on the roof), high speeds, and so on all have
the chance to increase the Difficulty—each negative
factor can impact the roll by increasing the Difficulty
by up to +4. For example, driving a car at normal
speeds during a light rainstorm (+2 Difficulty) on
a dark night (+4) while a bunch of friends chatter
quietly in the back seats (+1) goes from being an
Easy task to a Difficulty of 3 + 2 + 4 + 1 = 10.
The quality of the vehicle can add a modifier to
the character’s Skill dice: This is called the vehicle’s
Maneuverability, and ranges from a penalty of –3 Skill
steps to a bonus of +3 Skill steps. Most vehicles have
a Maneuverability of zero, which has no effect on the
Demon Hunter’s roll, but damaged, old, or high-tech
or suped-up rides can change that.
Getting Wrecked
Just like characters, vehicles can be destroyed.
They follow the standard rules for Breaking Objects
(see the Special Situations section above): They are
immune to Stun damage, have an Armor Rating that
protects them, and have a certain number of Life
Points that determine how much damage they can
suffer before failing.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Vehicles that have taken half or more of their
Life Points in damage become harder to control; they
take a –2 penalty to their Maneuverability (which can
bring it down to as low as –5 Skill steps). Vehicles
that suffer all their Life Points in damage just stop
functioning, which creates additional problems.
Most boats will sink and airplanes crash at this point,
but depending on how the damage was inflicted,
this might not be an immediate, sudden affair.
Vehicles that take double their Life Points in damage,
however, are completely destroyed or totaled.
Unless that happens, most vehicles can be
repaired. This generally takes some time, money,
and a competent mechanic—not something with
being played out. However, should it be important to
the plot that the characters repair a vehicle quickly,
the Game Master may allow a character with the
appropriate skills to perform the repairs. As long
as he has the parts and equipment, repair works
in the same way as surgery (see Surgery, on page
113), save that each roll takes an hour and the final
result actually “heals” the damage to the vehicle. A
Mad Scientist using Brotherhood techniques has an
advantage here, as well, with each roll only taking 30
minutes.
C r ashes and C ollisions
Being hit by a vehicle sucks. Generally speaking,
when a vehicle hits something, it causes serious
problems. Calculate the damage based on the
speed the vehicle was moving: Up to 10 miles per
hour inflicts d4 Basic damage. Beyond that, every
10 mph increase adds +1 step to this damage die,
and it becomes Wound instead of Basic damage. If
the vehicle would take damage from the crash (for
example, it hits a tree), it takes the same damage
(after Armor reductions). If two vehicles collide,
calculate and roll damage for each separately, and
apply both results to both vehicles. If a character is
trying to use his vehicle as a weapon, the attack roll is
Alertness + Skill/Specialty, with the Skill modified by
the vehicle’s Maneuverability. Unlike normal attacks,
there is no initial damage. Beating the target’s
defense simply counts as a successful hit. The target’s
defense could be Dodging, an Initiative roll against
the attack roll, or anything else the Game Master
rules appropriate; some creatures may be able to
Block the attempt! Damage is determined as normal
for a collision. Character-type armor usually won’t
help.
 U nnecessar y D etonation
Vehicles near groups of Demon Hunters have an
unusually high chance of having been stolen off the
set of a spy/action movie. Because of this, they may
unaccountably explode when disturbed, crashed,
tampered with, or shot. Generally, if a vehicle is
likely to blow, it does so the first time it takes more
than 3 points of Wound damage from one hit.
The Game Master can determine the force of the
explosion, though these detonations rarely result
in actual injury to Demon Hunters, who are almost
always thrown clear with only minor singeing.
Vehicle Weapons
Because they are so incredibly obvious to
both mortal authorities and demons alike, most
Brotherhood Chapters don’t make use of vehicle-
mounted weapons. Evil is rarely kind enough to wait
out in the open to get shot, or so polite that they’ll
stay down when hit with bullets. However, should
characters commandeer a vehicle with mounted
weaponry, the Game Master should determine
the weapon’s statistics. For example, a mounted
machine gun is likely to have stats similar to a large
automatic weapon, with an increased damage die
and a much larger ammunition capacity.
These kinds of weapons aren’t generally
conducive to letting nearby mortals survive, or
any form of stealth, or precision work, or indoor
jobs—so, again, Game Masters are advised not to
place them into the hands of the Demon Hunters
too often. But don’t let that advice get in the way of
a good story!
Brotherhood Vehicles
The Brotherhood’s unique ability to combine
technology and mystical power in abysmally stupid
and dangerous ways knows no bounds. While
the Brotherhood rarely gives them out for use by
Chapters, there’s a research division that produces
unusually outfitted vehicles. The exact capabilities
of these vehicles are highly varied; they’re most
often tailored for a specific mission or assignment.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
The Game Master has free reign to assign these
vehicles appropriate devices and enhancements, but
players shouldn’t get their hands on a really advanced
vehicle. More likely, if the Brotherhood provides
them with something, it’ll be more along the lines
of a test-version, one with half the features and
twice the likelihood of explosion, that kind of thing.
Holographic communications systems, pollution-free
fuel systems, and similar minor upgrades are those
most likely to be allowed into the hands of anyone
but Alpha One.
Chase Scenes
Chases in vehicles work just like any other
chase—see the sidebar Chases, page 98. The
important thing to remember here is that driving
faster than is safe in a particular vehicle increases the
115
Difficulty of the rolls the driver has to make—and
that may be necessary, if one party in the chase has a
superior vehicle!
Types of Vehicles
Chapter Four: We Ride
Most vehicles have their Maneuverability (MNV,
Armor Rating (AR), and Life Points (LP) determined
by the general type of vehicle they are. However,
individual examples might vary. Below are some
suggested guidelines for the types of vehicles most
likely to be encountered in a Demon Hunters game.
Small Car: MNV +1, AR 8, LP 20.
Car: MNV 0, AR 12, LP 30
Racecar: MNV +2, AR 5, LP 15
Pickup Truck: MNV 0, AR 15, LP 35
SUV: Maneuverability –1, AR 15, LP 30
Transport Van: MNV –2, AR 12, LP 40
Semi trailer: MNV –3, AR 20, LP 60
Building Equipment: MNV –3, AR 30, LP 100
Canoe: MNV 0, AR 4, LP 8
Speedboat: MNV +1, AR 15, LP 25
Oil Tanker: MNV –3, AR 40, LP 250
News Helicopter: MNV 0, AR 8, LP 20
Boeing 747: MNV –1, AR 12, LP 65
Fighter Jet: MNV +3, AR 20, LP 45
Death Satellite: MNV –3, AR 60, LP 300
 Chapter Five:

The Warehouse
116
W
arehouse duty. It’s been 10 years since Gabriel sat behind the oversized desk in the Brotherhood’s
Warehouse. Now, here he is again, teaching a new team how not to get themselves lost or killed in this
cavernous space.
“First thing you need to know is that the Warehouse is big. Really big. Really, really, super big. If you go
wandering without your communicator, you will get lost and most likely die of starvation before anyone even knows
you’re gone. If you do happen to die here, you will be properly stored and filed as per procedure.”
The ragtag bunch look incredulous. Ned, snorting quietly in the back, stifles a chuckle.
“Um, Mr. Gabriel, sir? What exactly do you mean by lost? This place can’t be that big. I mean, it’s just a
warehouse.”
Gabriel smiles deeply. There’s always one who questions everything you ever tell him. If you’re lucky, he’ll figure
out who’s really in charge quick enough to stay alive.
“You’re right, Ned. There’s nothing to worry about. I mean, why would your team leader start off an orientation
with a ‘You’re gonna die’ warning, anyway? He couldn’t possibly mean it, could he?”
Gabriel turns towards the screen behind him. Pushing a few quick buttons a map of several shelving units
surrounding the Quartermaster’s Bunker pops up.
“Here’s us.” Gabriel smacks his hand over the map. “Here’s the most immediate items you’ll need to secure for
teams going out into the field. Here’s the Door.”
A few more button pushes and the map slowly zooms out. Time passes and the map is still zooming further and
further. Finally it stops. The Quartermaster’s Bunker is now barely visible in the center of a nonsensical jumble of
lines. Maze after maze encompass city block-sized areas. Blinking lights by the hundreds pop up all over the map
indicating various stations, vending machines, and restrooms. One large flashing light pulses on the far side of the
map. The noobs’ eyes widen at the sight.
“This is almost the entire Warehouse. We simply don’t have the memory space to hold everything at once. This
inter-dimensional space would cover New York, Boston, and Philadelphia combined. Your communicator instantly
downloads all the maps for each section as you pass through. Without it, you would never find your way back.”
Gator starts to speak, but Gabriel cuts him off quickly.
“And the Door? Well, you’d never know which one you’re going into, would you? We have the only one-way
Keys. They’re not well marked and if you plug in the wrong one you might drop out in some really, really bad places
around the world. What would happen if you opened the Door to the Antarctic station while you were in your muscle
shirt, you big redneck? I mean, you’d freeze to death in a few minutes, probably. Or if you opened a Door that has
been compromised? You’d be torn apart before you could scream. Take this place seriously and you’ll be fine. The
Warehouse isn’t all paperwork and downtime. You are here to supply field teams with what they need to survive the
mission. If you do your job, you’ll be out of here as soon as possible. Any more questions?”
Gabriel allows himself a quick smile at the silence coming from the team. They’ll do just fine.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Where did you think the Brotherhood got
their gear? Happy Mart? Well, okay, they get some
things there. Mostly, though, they get the gear they
need from the Warehouse. When things are a little
above clearance levels—or more illicit than the
Brotherhood normally approves—you need to find a
new dealer for the equipment needed to get the job
done. While normal retail outfits might actually carry
what you need, a trip to the Black Market
will probably produce anything you care to
imagine.
Doors are another MagiTech combination
allowing Demon Hunters access to the pocket
dimension containing the Warehouse. They are only
operational with the use of a Key. This prevents
unintentional access by agents of the Order or
wandering idiots who don’t read signs. Keys are
assigned to each Chapter leader and locked with
a unique code. The Key is a bit more complicated
than any normal entry device, however. At
a glance it appears to be a GPS locator with
a taser strapped to the end. If the correct
code is not entered into the Key, it doesn’t

The Warehouse do anything. Attempts to

circumvent the Key’s security
The Warehouse is an extra-
dimensional storage facility used
by the Brotherhood to outfit
P u r p l e Ni n j a say: “Never confuse measures activate failsafes
Warehouse with Werehouse. Here is
how to tell difference: Ware-house
and destroy the chips inside
it, preventing it from being
117
units in any part of the world.
have doors leading to it hidden all over used. Tampering with a Key is
world. Were-house is located at 1331
It is only accessible through
West Fillmore, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, very difficult and should only

Chapter Five: The Warehouse

specially designed Doors set up and is full of werewolves.”
worldwide in hidden locations
known only to Demon Hunters.
Omega-class units staff the Warehouse on
a rotating basis. New recruits must take a turn
learning the ins and outs of the Warehouse before
heading out into the field. After all, an ill-equipped
team is a dead team.
While items requested in the Warehouse have
no cost to the requesting Demon Hunter, there are
a number of restrictions placed on them. Weaponry,
especially, is dealt out based upon Chapter
designation, perceived need, prior experience, and
proper training. While Chapter Alpha One could
walk in and take just about anything they need with
little hesitation, Chapters with lower designations
must complete a large amount of Divine Paperwork
before dangerous equipment is assigned.
DoorsThere are Doors everywhere. There could be
one in the building next to your apartment. There
might be one in the Empire State Building. Ever
wonder where all those doors marked Restricted
Access lead to? Well, most of them lead to
maintenance closets. Some, though, lead nowhere at
all without a Key. The Key turns a door into a Door
and leads to one of the Brotherhood’s best weapons
in the War on Horror: the Warehouse.
be attempted by a master
manipulator of MagiTech.
When a team reaches a
Door, the Key is placed into the doorframe and the
code entered. What was once a door to nowhere
is now a Door to the Warehouse. Keys may also be
used to access different Doors around the world,
so for those who have the right codes, the world is
truly open to them. The Key then separates into two
parts: one stays embedded in the door frame while
the other, larger portion of the Key stays with the
Demon Hunters as a means of getting back. Once
the team is done with its business in the Warehouse,
it may return to the location of the second part of
the Key. The Portal inside the Warehouse will only
open to a Key’s location.
Equipping Your Chapter
Seems simple enough. Use your Key. Open a
Door. Get your stuff. Leave. Kick demon butt. Close,
but not quite. There are a few forms you’ll have to
fill out first.
Bureaucracy
Even in the Brotherhood, paperwork sucks.
Each team understands its place in the system and
what they are authorized to do. The Warehouse
Supervisor understands this too. Eternally trying

  And, occasionally, the person holding it.

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118
Chapter Five: The Warehouse
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
to earn his final reward, the Supervisor has run the
Warehouse with an iron fist ever since he was called
to the Great Beyond sometime in the mid-to-late
second century B.C. It has been a long time and he’s
not very keen on polite conversation. Only St. Peter
calls the Supervisor by his true name and never in
earshot of anyone else. He prefers to be known as
simply the Supervisor, or Sir, if the occasion warrants
it.
The Supervisor sits in final judgment of what
leaves the Warehouse and with whom. Omega-class
teams cannot be trusted with knowing who should
and should not have what equipment. If they could
be trusted, after all, they wouldn’t still be Omegas.
Every request list goes through the Supervisor’s
office and must be approved by him before anything
leaves the pocket dimension. Incorrectly filled-out
forms are returned and patently ridiculous requests
are routinely denied.
In fact, without direct intervention from St.
Peter, anything outside of the standard prescribed
equipment is outright denied, regardless of
extenuating circumstances. Teams will come up
with the craziest reasons to need specialized
equipment. “The Order has infiltrated our secret
base,” or “There’s a giant sea monster off the coast
of Vancouver.” Even Alpha One will say outrageous
things in an attempt to exploit the system.
Availability
Amazingly, not everything is available at the
Warehouse. You’ll find most of the equipment you
need, but not the hottest clothing trends or any
weapons above your pay grade. Retail stores might
have what you crave for that extra bit of firepower,
but you’re not exactly the least conspicuous person.
Add in the fact that different parts of the world carry
very different items and you’ve got yourself into
quite a pickle. Trading gets you good second-hand
equipment and the Black Market nets you the rest.
Whatever choices the Chapter makes, the Game
Master will need to know what can be bought or
traded for at what locations. To help the Game
Master figure all of this out, the equipment listed
here has an “Availability” rating of Warehouse (W),
Everywhere (E), or Black Market (B). Whether or
not an item is where the rating suggests is completely
up to the Game Master.
Cash Money
Do Demon Hunters collect a salary? Well, in
a manner of speaking, yes. Each Chapter gets a
monthly stipend from the Brotherhood to cover
extra expenses. You didn’t think that they had to run
to the Warehouse every time they wanted coffee, did
you? Not when there’s a Cobblers Crystals on every
corner. Each Chapter gets paid based upon rank and
prior performance. Your base Omega-level Chapter
gets a $400 stipend per member each month, in
U.S. dollars, or equivalent. As rank and experience
increase, so does pay. The Brotherhood doesn’t
really employ many auditors since they all end up in
Purgatory anyway, so how the Chapter leader doles
out the pay is up to him. Some prefer communal
pools of cash and others keep meticulous track of
spending.
That said, would we really make you waste
time spending virtual money in a tabletop combat
simulation? No, we wouldn’t! If your Game Master
cares about this kind of thing, he can take a look at a
Happy Mart Catalog. For the purposes of this training
manual, we’re going to assume your Demon Hunter
either gets the gear or he doesn’t. Where he gets it
from, of course, is the question.
The Black Market
Why would a Demon Hunter need ready cash?
To buy the things that he Supervisor won’t give them.
Did The Supervisor deny your request for the C4
charges because he thought it “excessive” for use
in taking out the Girl Troop’s headquarters? A few
phone calls will fix that problem right up. The key
is in knowing the right people and having the right
amount of ready cash.
Popular fiction imagines the Black Market as a
clandestine operation, working in the dark streets
of Paris on a late night arms deal. Mysterious men
arrive with trunk loads of ammunition met by men
with trunk loads of cash to exchange. Nothing could
be further from the truth. In fact, the Black Market
operates very similarly to the Brotherhood’s own
Warehouse, only it involves cash and a certain moral
ambiguity.
All who use it consider the Black Market to be
neutral ground. The Boss insists upon the truce in
order to do business with as many people as possible.
  That’ll teach ‘em not to skimp on the Skinny Mints!
 At any time, you might find a Brotherhood team,
an agent of the Order, a few Strays from the Pound
and plenty of Mad Scientists hanging around, trying
to decide which weapons and supplies would work
best at destroying each other.
Doors to the Black Market are static and
are well known in the various organizations that
patronize it. They can normally be found easily by
asking the right people or by persuading some of the
wrong people. The well-guarded entrances do not
require a Key since the Boss’ mad scientists have yet
to decode the inner workings of the Brotherhood’s
secret device. Once you enter the Door you are
bound by the Boss to do your business and leave as
quickly and quietly as possible. The Boss does not
approve of window shoppers. A log is kept of who’s
entered and from where. All persons must exit the
same way they came in. Unlike the Warehouse,
with its single, dynamic Door, the Black Market has
items. Omega teams are strictly forbidden from
even looking at higher-level equipment. Breathing
near a Molecular Modulator could get you a week
scrubbing toilets. They are given a set of equipment
that has been designed to keep Omegas from killing
themselves or their team members. Most of the time
the safeguards work. Each level in between Alpha
and Omega receives gear dependent on the situation
to which they have been assigned. Usually the
Supervisor determines the necessity of requested
items.
Omega–class Standard Gear
The lowest of the low, Omega Chapters
should not expect any wonderfully interesting
goodies to come in their orientation pack. Seriously,
look around. Would you trust those folks with
119
a Flamethrower? Well, guess what kiddo, they
don’t trust you either. And that’s the first smart

Chapter Five: The Warehouse

many, many static Doors, each clearly marked and thing you’ve all thought today. Stick with the gear
well guarded. Leaving by another Door is strictly you’re given and don’t overreach your limits. You’ll
prohibited. Violators are swiftly and publicly dealt get to play with the cool stuff soon enough. Any
with. general gear or tech not listed here may be taken
at the Game Master’s discretion. Remember the
General Gear Brotherhood motto: Be prepared or you’ll probably
From the lowest team to the highest, Omega die screaming. Well, it’s more of a guideline than a
Fifteen to Alpha One, each Hunter is assigned gear motto.
based upon his experience, ability, and necessity.
Alpha teams have immediate access to most of the O mega –C lass C lothes
items in the Warehouse and only have the slightest All team members are expected to provide
delays in acquiring some of the more dangerous their own clothing to fit their personal style or the
uniform dictated by the Chapter leader.
Some prefer everyone to wear the
Table 5.1: Greek T ranslations Brotherhood standard outfit. This consists
Chapter Level Symbol Chapter Level Symbol of a black T-shirt, black coat, black
Alpha Αa Beta Βb uniform pants, and black military-style
boots. Black is in this year. And every year.
Gamma Γg Delta Δd Other, less strict leaders allow members
Epsilon Ee Zeta Zz to dress as they please. This allows
Eta Hh Theta Qq expression but doesn’t look nearly as
intimidating. When one member dresses
Iota Ii Kappa Kk
in bright fuchsia it really clashes. It also
Lambda Ll Mu Mm shows up in the dark, attracting attention.
Nu Nn Xi Xx Attention attracting makes you pretty
Omicron Oo Pi Pp dead, pretty quick.

Rho Rr Sigma Ss O mega –C lass A r mor

Tau Tt Upsilon Uu Lucky you! The Brotherhood budget
Phi Ff Shi Cc was recently increased to allow for
Omega Chapters to wear armor. The
Psi Yy Omega Ω

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120
Chapter Five: The Warehouse
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Table 5.2: Other General Gear
Gear
Backpack
Beer-Mug-Out-of-Nowhere
Bottomless Tankard
Rope
Key
Utility Belt
cost effectiveness of replacing armor makes the
Brotherhood accountants much happier than paying
for replacing Demon Hunters. Each Hunter receives
a MicroMesh Vest and any other armor pieces she
desires. Of course, the leg guards, bracers, and
helmet are composite plastics only. Anything more
expensive than that and the accountants would
rather you just get shot. We mentioned that our
accountants are in Purgatory, right? They’re there for
a reason, you know.
O mega –C lass W eaponr y
While Demon Hunters generally may choose
weapons based upon their aptitude or specialty, most
items are severely restricted. You may be allowed to
take any weapon not placed on the restricted list. Try
not to hurt yourself.
O ther G ener al G ear
Backpack: Gotta hold the gear you’re taking?
You’re going to need a backpack. The standard
Brotherhood issue pack will comfortably fit any
Demon Hunter, regardless of size. It is weight-tested
to 200 lbs and is waterproof. Advanced versions may
contain extra pockets for an audio player or water
bottle. Ah, advanced technology.
Beer-Mug-Out-of-Nowhere: A bit of a
mystery to most, the Beer-Mug-Out-of-Nowhere is
a classic in the Out-of-Nowhere line. Brotherhood
Mad Scientists have been working on the intricacies
of it and have discovered ways to make new Out-of-
Nowhere objects. No one yet has determined where
Nowhere actually is or whose hand brings the object,
but the Pen-Out-of-Nowhere and the Car-Keys-
Out-of-Nowhere have become popular variants on
the theme.
Bottomless Tankard: Well, it’s not technically
bottomless. Agent Wolf of Omega Fifteen found
the bottom one night. It is not recommended that
Availability (Chapter Minimum)
E (Ω)
W (O)
W (O)
E Ω)
W (Ω)
E (Ω)
anyone attempt to repeat this feat. A quick whisper
into the empty vessel provides a refreshing mugful
of nearly any beverage the user desires. There are
limits, however. The mug itself finally gave up on Wolf
that one night in Seattle.
Rope: Who doesn’t need rope? Seriously. Have
you ever been on an adventure where you didn’t
need rope? You can climb things, tie people up,
climb things … well, it’s handy and comes in 50-foot
increments. We’re pretty sure that’s a multiversal
standard increment.
Key: Each Key is coded to the Chapter leader’s
DNA and will only work with the proper code.
Most Chapters only use the Key to travel to the
Warehouse, but well-traveled Chapters will learn
new codes and tricks to travel around the world.
Entering random numbers is ill-advised as several
Doors open in very, very bad places.
Utility Belt: These useful belts are not just for
superheroes anymore. They will hold anything and
everything a Demon Hunter needs to have ready
from a PDA to shark-repellent spray, so long as it’s
not very big.
Clothes
They say that the clothes make the man. They
certainly make the Demon Hunter. Each Hunter
has his signature style or schtick. From Silent Jim’s
Bottomless Trench Coat to Gabriel’s Leather Jacket
or Albrecht’s Dog Collar, each conveys the owner’s
personality to everyone who sees it. Fashion might
not seem important in the business of demon
hunting, but who wants to look like a mess while
doing some major hunting? If the vampire slayers can
look hot while doing their business, then so can the
Demon Hunters.
Aviator Sunglasses: Unlike other sunglasses,
the Aviator-style shades are not for everyone. The
overly large lenses hide features and make you look
 like a reject pilot from the 1980s. Hunters with
over-sized heads may find that Aviators fit
comfortably. Everyone else will probably find them
bulky, annoying and not cool at all.
Baby Doll Shirt: Favorite of Californian
vampire slayers, the baby doll is the female
equivalent of the muscle shirt. Meant to show off
everything, the baby doll can accentuate both the
positive and the negative. While tight shirts may
work for some Hunters, many will find a normal tee
to do the trick.
Bandanna/Doo-Rag: Depending on your style
preference, this useful piece of cloth can
keep the sweat out of your eyes, hold
back your hair, and help you bend prison
bars. While black is a very “in” color for
Hunters (and everyone else), colors
and patterns can create a signature
look. It can also alert your enemies
to who you are if you are not
careful.
Disguises: At times,
disguises are needed. Everyone
knows about Jim’s trench coat.
Everyone. There’s a guy who
lives on a mountain in eastern
Montana who knows about
Jim’s trench coat. How can a
man so known for his outfit go
undercover and be unnoticed?
All right, Jim exists outside of
time and space. I know, cool,
right? How about Ned? How
can he parlay his stealthy
talents into … yeah, I don’t
believe it either. Ichabod!
He’s good at his job. Let’s
use him. How can Ichabod
sneak around like a ninja?
Disguises! Whether cobbled
together at the local big-box
retailer or carefully chosen
from the collection in the
Warehouse, a good disguise
will more often than not
save a Hunter’s life in a tight
situation.
  Sparky
  Gator
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Fedora: The ultimate in show-off hats, the
fedora has evolved from a standard of every man’s
wardrobe to a hat used only by those who want to
be noticed. Whether made from imported wool or
beaten leather, the fedora tells people that you are
most definitely up to something. When combined
with a nice suit, the perception becomes one of
money and influence. Add a trench coat to the
fedora and one appears as a government agent. An
adventurer’s outfit complete with whip, pistol, and
dirty, button-down shirt shows the world that you
watch too many movies.
Fitted Ball Cap: A recent addition to the
Hunter’s wardrobe, the fitted ball cap has come
into fashion recently with the ousting of the trucker
cap which never, ever looked good. Hunters most
often wear unmarked, solid-color caps to avoid
121
any problems when switching cities. Navy blue
caps with red “B” logos do not play well in New
Chapter Five: The Warehouse
York. Making that mistake will assure that
demons are the least of your worries.
Karategi: Known in the US simply
as a gi, this martial arts outfit gives
freedom of movement, a uniform
look and absolutely no doubt that you
are about to proceed with some kung
fu fighting. For the fashion conscious
Hunter, the gi is not the most stylish piece of
clothing possible. It is a simple combination
of loose cloth pants and a short robe tied
together with a belt, preferably black.
Anything else makes you look like you just
left karate class at the local gym.
Kimono: Seen by outsiders as a simple
robe, the kimono is a symbol of Japanese
identity and nationality. Worn by men
and women, the traditional garb can be
as simple as a silk robe with a sash or
amazingly complicated and restrictive.
The obi, or sash, can be incredibly
expensive in formal wear. Hunters
choosing to wear kimonos must be
aware of the tradition and difficulty
involved in this garment. Trained
martial artists, however, will find
that the balance and versatility of
the kimono suits their purposes.
Leather Jacket: Second-
to-none in the coolness factor,
the leather jacket is what every
 Table 5.3: Clothes
Clothing Item
Aviator Sunglasses
Baby Doll Shirt
Bandanna/Doo Rag
Disguises
Fedora
Fitted Ball Cap
Karategi
Kimono
Leather Jacket
122 Muscle Shirt
Ridiculously Long Striped Scarf
Shades
Sombrero
Three-Peice Suit
Chapter Five: The Warehouse
Tight Leather Pants
Trench Coat
Hunter wants to wear while walking away from a
giant explosion. Unfortunately, this is not a coat for
everyone. The Research and Development lackey
doesn’t need to wear a leather jacket to work. It will
not impress the other scientists. Leather jackets are
for field use only. Duct tape is optional.
Muscle Shirt: Not for the faint of heart, the
muscle shirt leaves nothing to the imagination. Even
on the most fit Hunter, everything shows. On those
in less than top-shape, every curve is highlighted.
If one has muscles to show off, this top can be an
intimidating sight. If one does not, it may inspire fits
of laughter and pointing.
Ridiculously Long Striped Scarf: Generally
disdained by Hunters who choose mobility over
comfort, the ridiculously long striped scarf is a staple
of the science-minded Hunter. While innocent
enough by itself, the British Broadcasting Channel
frequently took issue with a Hunter seen wearing a
trench coat and large floppy hat. Luckily, this style has
been eschewed for the more movement-conscious
turtleneck sweater.
Shades: Everyone needs sunglasses. The dark
lenses hide eye movement, cloud emotion and aid in
nighttime driving when in the vicinity of Chicago. Just
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Availability (Chapter Minimum)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ψ)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ψ)
E (Ω)
make sure the pair fits and makes you look better.
Trust me, the mirror won’t help. Ask somebody you
trust.
Sombrero: Not the hat for everyone. In fact,
this hat should be avoided at all costs unless one is a
slightly defective Cipher made in Mexico. On the plus
side, the sombrero does provide shade. That would
be the only plus.
Three-Piece Suit: When one pictures modern
gangsters, one imagines the finely tailored suits. An
entire sub-section of Demon Hunters have taken to
wearing black suits with white shirts and thin black
ties. This, combined with the proper sunglasses
provides the intense look desired. Hunters more
concerned with true style than pop culture coolness
will note that a black suit does little more than show
one’s poor taste and lack of imagination. A Demon
Hunter in a wide-lapelled, plaid suit? That’s just plain
awesome.
Tight Leather Pants: Tight leather pants
should be used with extreme caution. One must have
the correct figure for these pants or serious injury
may occur. Sure, they look great on supermodel,
international jewel thieves, but is vacuum-packing
yourself into your pants really all that comfortable
or useful? Remember, less pocket space means less
concealment for your arsenal. And other things.
 Table 5.4: Melee Weaponry
Availability (Chapter
Weapon Damage
Minimum)
Beer Mug d2 B E (Ω)
Broken Bottle d2 W E (Ω)
Brass Knuckles special E (Ω)
Knife, Kris d4 W E (Ω)
Knife, Utility d2 W E (Ω)
Main-Gauche d4 W E (Ω)
Security Baton d2 B E (Ω)
Staff Weapon d6 B E (Ω)
Stun Gun d6 S E (Φ)
Sword, Long
Sword, Rapier
Sword, Scimitar
d6 W
d4 W
d6 W
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
123
Sword Cane d4 W E (Ω)

Chapter Five: The Warehouse

Trench Coat: Ah, the ubiquitous trench
coat. Coolness factor: Very High. Not only does
the trench coat conceal much of the necessary
weaponry carried by a Hunter, most repel all forms
of water, oil, blood, and demon goo. Of course,
if one is not careful, one will look less like a rebel
starship captain trying to make a living and more like
a terribly disguised government informant.
Weapons and Armor
Demon Hunters are expected to use minimal
force, only resorting to outright violence in the most
extreme circumstances. Of course, expectations
are rarely met. Clothes make the man, but weapons
make the Hunter. Each has his own favorite method
of good ol’ fashioned demon killing, ranging from the
melee weapons of the martial arts to the powerful
guns of today. Chapter leaders are each issued a
ceremonial sword, representing their call to the
Brotherhood. In a few rare cases, these
swords are actually useful in combat.
Most are little more than sharp letter
openers. In order to be effective in
the fight against evil, a Demon
Hunter must be aware of his
strengths and weaknesses and
what situations he finds himself.
Despite what Anti-Tank Sally
believes, the Equalizer is not always the most
efficient weapon. Occasionally, people need to be
questioned.
M elee W eaponr y
Beer Mug: The preferred weapon of Wolf,
member of Chapter Omega Fifteen, the beer mug
seems an odd choice for hand-to-hand combat.
Not so. Depending on the make and strength of
the vessel, the beer mug can be quite the handy
accessory to that Hunter on the town. Wolf prefers
a hardwood stein passed down in his family for
generations. At this point, the wood is most likely
petrified from time and alcohol absorption. When
Wolf uses it against an unsuspecting opponent, the
feeling is much like being hit in the face by a small
aircraft carrier with a nice, hoppy piquant. Less
sturdy materials mean dents, cracks or possible
destruction of your favorite beer mug.
Broken Bottle: Favorite of drunk
street fighters everywhere, the broken
bottle is always on hand to probably
cut the person holding it much worse
than the intended target. Let’s face
it, the movies show bottles breaking
into perfect, jagged killing machines.
In real life, you’re lucky if you’ve still
got the neck or even if it breaks at all.

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124
Chapter Five: The Warehouse
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
When it does, though, you’ll have a large, sharp
bit of glass with which to threaten the other
drunkards around you.
Brass Knuckles: More effective than a
roll of quarters, brass knuckles have been used
to unfairly win fights for hundreds of years.
Brotherhood-issue brass knucks are actually
made from a titanium alloy that would survive
re-entry from space and 10 tons of direct
pressure. A Hunter trained in martial arts will
find the brass knuckles to be a
serious addition to his arsenal of
pain-infliction.
Knife, Kris: The kris is a deadly
dagger that originated in the South Pacific.
Its asymmetrical and sinuous design acted
functionally as well as for visual effect. Often
used as a ceremonial weapon in its original
design, the kris is a brutal weapon when used
by a trained hand. The kris is not meant as
a slashing knife. The wounds opened by a
slashing kris are horrible and tattered. The kris
was designed as a weapon of assassination. A
stabbing wound from a kris is almost assuredly
a kill shot. Many ancient kris knives were forged
with a specific victim in mind. This gave rise to
legends concerning the spiritual nature of the
kris. Stories surrounded the weapon, claiming
that spirits of those killed remained within the
blade. The utter viciousness of the kris’ design
led to an outright ban on similar weaponry in
Europe due to its perceived inhumanity.
Knife, Utility: No outdoorsman would
be caught dead without his trusty utility knife.
From a single blade to 48 different gadgets and
doodads, this knife could save your life or cut that
annoying string from your stylish bandanna. The
large, gadgety version has waned in popularity
since the actual knife is quite hard to find among
the can openers, magnifying glasses, and left-
handed scissors. The standard maroon finish on
these knives is embossed with the Brotherhood
logo in a light gold.
Main-Gauche: The main-gauche is an
off-hand dagger used mainly in European sword
fighting. French for “left hand,” the weapon
resembles a miniaturized rapier and is used
primarily for blocking and defense. As European
sword fighting evolved into faster forms, the shield
fell out of use in favor of off-hand daggers. This
change aided in speedy parries and made finesse a
necessary ingredient for survival in duels.
Security Baton: The security baton is often
seen in bad cop shows or in movies where a beat
down is about to occur. Unlike its fictional depiction,
the telescoping security baton is an ideal bludgeoning
weapon. It is compact, made of high tensile steel,
and leaves welts that last for days. Quick shots
from the baton are more effective than most other
hand-to-hand weapons due to their lasting
emotional scars, but fading bruises.
Staff Weapons: Prevalent in most
world cultures, the staff weapon is a basic method
of attack and defense. In the hands of an amateur,
the staff can cause havoc in melee combat, but in
the hands of a master, it can kill as quickly as any
blade. The English variant, called the quarterstaff,
often had metal tips on each end, giving the weapon
more weight for spinning attacks. The Japanese Bo
and the Chinese Gùn are much more flexible and
can be made of hardwood, like the quarterstaff, or
of bamboo. While the English quarterstaff is rarely
elaborate, Bos and Gùns remain crafted as much
works of art as weapons of war. Staff weapons have
evolved from the simple tools of peasants into martial
weapons used by elite forces guarding emperors.
All staff weapons are used similarly, creating space
between opponents and delivering striking blows.
Disabling blows are much more likely with the staff,
giving opportunity for keeping an enemy alive.
Stun Gun: Specially designed for the
Brotherhood, the standard issue stun gun packs a
walloping 200,000 volts into its intended target at
full strength. Careful to allow its safe use on humans
as well as demons, Brotherhood scientists added a
dialing feature allowing the gun to be used safely at
50,000, 100,000, and 200,000 volts. Hitting a soft
target at the wrong voltage results in extreme pain,
death, and most likely a funny, burnt smell.
Sword, Long: The term longsword describes
both a specific type of blade and a general category
of swords. The English longsword came into
popularity during the Medieval and Early Modern
periods giving Crusaders and knights a large weapon
to use in battle. The finesse of later weapons was
virtually non-existent in the longsword. While
  Do not attempt to cook with the Stun Gun. Wolf,
we’re talking to you.
 proper technique taught the use of the crossguard
and pommel as weapons, the longsword was very
much a weapon of brute force. Much of the damage
done by early longswords came from crushing
blows rather than any slashing or thrusting. Later
incarnations of the longsword from across Europe
included larger and larger forms of the sword
culminated by the Scottish claymore.
Sword, Rapier: Shunning the gross power of
its ancestors, the rapier is an example of European
finesse in weaponry. Primarily used as a thrusting
weapon, the rapier is much thinner and lighter than
any sword seen on the continent. In France, Spain,
and Italy, the rapier was used as a dueling weapon
and status symbol among noblemen. Go ahead. Look
it up. The weapon is combat effective in the hands
of a master, but swordsmen with less finesse and
practice may see the light blade knocked from their
hands. The speed inherent in the blade gives it an
advantage over larger weapons, but less damage is
caused with each successful strike.
Sword, Scimitar: The curved blade of the
scimitar gave nightmares to Crusaders in the Middle
Ages. These Middle Eastern blades were common
over multiple centuries in Persia and their design was
functional as well as beautiful. Unlike the longswords
carried by the invading knights, the scimitars of
the Persians were a balance of power and finesse.
Mainly used as slashing weapons, the large surface
area of the blade gave a much greater success rate
for hits. Derived from the Mongol saber,
the scimitar had multiple martial arts forms
associated with its use.
Sword Cane: The weapon
of choice for gentleman
adventurers of the Victorian P u r p l e N i n j a s ay: “Remember: your is generally all you need. The
and Edwardian periods, British mind is your greatest weapon. But it is short bolts put large holes
Members of Parliament, or even greatest-er weapon if your mind
the Initiate of the Mystic Arts is aiming rocket-propelled grenade.”
on the go, the sword cane
outwardly resembles a polished
wooden walking cane with an ornamental grip. This
is in reality the sheath or scabbard for a very thin,
rapier-like blade that may be drawn swiftly in times
of derring-do or dire demonic danger. At least, that’s
what Gentleman Adventurer’s Quarterly said in
1905.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
R anged W eaponr y
Assault Rifle: When you absolutely, positively
have to kill everything in the room, accept no
substitutes. Made most famous by a Russian-made
weapon, the assault rifle can and will destroy
anything in its path. Featuring a large clip and hair
trigger, this purveyor of horribly messy death will
clear a crowd. Hunters should be aware of the
relative inaccuracy of the weapon, but the automatic
firing should render everything pretty dead anyway.
125
Compound Bow: While the longbow is a
Chapter Five: The Warehouse
great long-range weapon, its use is outdated in the
modern era. The compound bow uses a system of
pulleys attached to both ends of the bow itself to
increase firing power without increasing the physical
strength necessary to fire it. Its reinforced-plastic
build gives the bow more stability and longevity,
allowing archers to use their bow in any weather.
Historical nostalgia allows many to continue using
the longbow, but the compound bow is superior in
nearly every way.
Crossbow: Power is the operative word when
it comes to crossbows. They are difficult to
load, bulky, and nearly impossible to carry
over long distances, but pack a massive
wallop. One shot might be
all that gets off, but one shot
in anyone foolish enough
to stand in front of you.
Additional expansions for the
crossbow include a repeating
loader and interchangeable bolt heads for poison,
armor-piercing, or even explosive delivery.
The Equalizer: Few can even conceive of
carrying the Equalizer. First, you would have to pry
it away from Anti-Tank Sally. Good luck with that.
Second, you would have to be capable of holding a
300 pound piece of hot, rotating metal with relative
aim. If you can manage both of those, then whatever
you wanted dead most certainly
 Table 5.5: Ranged Weaponry
Weapon Damage Range Increment Availability (Chapter Minimum)
Assault Rifle d8 W 200 feet B (Μ)
Compound Bow d6 W 100 feet E (Ω)
Crossbow d4 W 80 feet E (Ω)
d4 W
The Equalizer 300 feet B (Δ)
Vehicle
Foam Ball Gun d2 W 75 feet E (Ω)
Longbow d4 W 90 feet E (Ω)
Pepper Spray d4 B special E (Ω)
Semiautomatic Pistol d6 W 50 feet E (Σ)
Shotgun d10 W 40 feet E (Σ)

126 Shotgun, Sawed-Off

Six-Shooter
Water Soaker
d10 W
d6 W
special
20 feet
50 feet
5 feet
E (Σ)
E (Σ)
E (Ω)

is … along with the surrounding buildings, innocent Semi-Automatic Pistol: Designers of the
Chapter Five: The Warehouse

bystanders, guilty bystanders and anything else within
500 feet.
Foam Ball Gun: Used as training weapons,
foam ball guns simulate the firing of regular semi-
automatic weapons with none of the recoil or
horrible, maiming death. Recently, the Brotherhood’s
mad scientists have added a variety of poisons to
the foam balls, creating a light and effective ranged
weapon for real combat.
Longbow: The Welsh longbow has long
been considered one of the most deadly war
weapons conceived in Britain. While the longbow is
traditionally made of yew, other modern composite
materials have simulated and even improved upon
the original design. Longbows are generally slightly
taller than six feet and have a small recurve. The
strength of the bow comes from the tension of the
wood or composite that makes the bow itself. This
creates an opportunity for striking targets at great
distance with incredible accuracy.
Pepper Spray: Usually the tool of police
officers, pepper spray has the unique ability to blind
an opponent at range. The 60-foot range aids in
disabling an opponent without doing any permanent
damage. As an added bonus for Demon Hunters,
cartridges of varying types are available to subdue
even the strangest enemy. Examples are the garlic
cartridge for vampires, liquid silver cartridges for
werewolves and the mint cartridge carried by every
careful Hunter in the Pacific Northwest. This last
cartridge also doubles as a fresh breath spray.
semi-automatic pistol learned a great deal from its
predecessor, the six-shooter. The pistol holds clips
of up to 22 rounds of ammunition, rather than the
barrel-fed six. Instead of a hammer to pull back
before firing, the pistol automatically advances the
next round to the chamber, offering quick loading
and firing. The average gun user today carries a
semi-automatic pistol of some type unless nostalgia
overcomes practicality.
Shotgun: Favorite of ice presidents everywhere,
shotguns pack a large punch at close range. The
traditional shell makeup creates scattered projectiles
with the ability to tear through most things in your
way. The limitation of the shotgun is definitely its
range. Up close it is quite deadly, but at even a
medium range its shots are almost useless. Preferred
models include the pump-action, double barreled
and lever-action. Traditionalists prefer the double-
barreled for visual effect, but the pump-action holds
more shells and reloads much faster.
Shotgun, Sawed-Off: Affectionately called
“The Wrist Breaker,” the sawed-off shotgun is
effective in close combat, but can do serious damage
to the holder with its heavy kickback. These weapons
are now manufactured with a snub nose instead of
the modification required in the past. The shortened
barrel increases the damage done to a target, but
decreases the gun’s effective range.
Six-Shooter: The classic American weapon, the
six-shooter is the gun of Western combat. Its name
comes from the six-shot chamber, but modifications

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 Table 5.6: Thrown Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Increments
Beer Mug, Thrown d2 B Str x 3 feet
Grenade, Flashbang 2d6 B 15 feet
Grenade, Gas 3d6 S 25 feet
Grenade, Shrapnel 5d6 W 30 feet
Grenade, Smoke d4 S 20 feet
Knife, Throwing d2 W Str x 3 feet
can increase this up to 10. The design has not
changed since its inception during the 19th century,
but the visual impact of the six-shooter is quite
unique. The sheer coolness of pulling out a six-
shooter occasionally outweighs the limitation caused
by long load times and limited capacity.
Water Soaker: While the Water Soaker brand
water guns seem strange weapons for an elite
fighting force, they are perfect for the Brotherhood.
Their high capacity tanks and long range allow for
various liquids to hit enemies from a great distance.
Modified by Brotherhood scientists, the Water
Soakers can carry any liquid and shoot a pressurized
stream. The usual ammunition is holy water, but
acid, poison and even Greek Fire have been used in
the past, often with disastrous results for the target
and the wielder equally.
T hrown W eaponr y
Beer Mug: While most prefer to keep beer
mugs in hand, some hurl them across the bar
willingly. Metal beer mugs work best as projectile
weapons, but glass mugs send a spray of shrapnel
across a crowd. The distinguishing beer mug tosser
carries several varieties with him at all times, but
many will hurl whatever is at hand.
Grenade (Flashbang, Gas, Smoke, Shrapnel):
Whatever kind you carry, they all work the same
way. Grenades are chemical ordinances that run
on a delay fuse. The traditional use is to throw the
grenade at the enemy, as far from your position as
possible. Flashbangs burst with a bright light and
deafening sound, confusing the targets for several
seconds. Gas grenades emit one of several different
gases depending on the user’s preferences. Smoke
grenades act much like gas grenades, but spew
out thick black smoke to hide the user’s actions.
Shrapnel grenades are the most common and most
dangerous grenades. They explode, wildly flinging
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Availability (Chapter Minimum)
E (Ω)
E (M)
E (M)
E (M)
E (Ω)
E (Ω)
bits of metal at ridiculous speeds. Shrapnel grenades
are deadly within 10 feet of an explosion and can
seriously injure at up to 45 feet.
Knife, Throwing: Thin and deadly, throwing
knives can be a great asset to a Hunter’s arsenal.
Accurate hurlers can put a throwing knife into an
enemy at a distance with amazing accuracy. Amateur
127
throwers rarely hit anything with the hilt. Technique
is the key in throwing knives and only the most
Chapter Five: The Warehouse
practiced should use them.
P rotective G ear
Ballistic Vest: Made of the toughest fabric
known to man and demon, these vests stop most
mundane projectiles and edged weaponry dead.
Ribs might crack on impact, but nothing leaves
permanent damage. Additions to the vest include
options for sleeves or an upper thigh attachment to
add further protection. Attentive Hunters will realize
that ballistic vests do not cover the head.
A ballistic vest absorbs 1 Wound point from
any attack to the torso. Against normal bullets (i.e.
not armor-piercing rounds or worse) it converts all
Wound damage to Stun damage, or Shock Points if
your Demon Hunter already has too much Stun.
Gas Mask: Infiltration of an enemy stronghold
often requires a bit of shock and awwww. I mean,
shock and awe. To accomplish this, many teams
lead the assault with a gas grenade to confuse the
defenders. Well, knock-out gas works against the
good guys as well. Throw on your trusty gas mask to
keep the bad air out and the good air in. Available in
full-masked World War II style or compact, paint-
the-house style. Gas masks apply a +3 Attribute
step to Resistance rolls made to avoid harmful gases
and airborne toxins.
Helmet, Blast Shield: No one is quite sure
where the idea for this bit of armor came from and
no one will take credit for it. Most models resemble
a fighter pilot’s helmet with one important addition:

128
Chapter Five: The Warehouse
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Table 5.7: Protective Gear
Item Armor Rating
Ballistic Vest 1W
Gas Mask — —
Helmet, Blast Shield 1W
Helmet, Projectile-Resistant 4W
Plexiglas Tower Shield 3W
An opaque blast shield that slides down to cover the
wearer’s face. Blast shield helmets are exclusively
used for training exercises to hone the trainee’s
reflexes. Most believe they are forms of hazing used
by sadistic instructors to ensure that rookies receive
a complete butt whipping as often as possible.
The blast shield, if lowered, applies a –2
Alertness step penalty on top of the one that is
figured into wearing the helmet (for a total of –3).
However, it adds a +2 Attribute step to rolls to avoid
being dazed, blinded, or otherwise harmed by visual
trauma.
Helmet, Projectile-Resistant:
Made of a Kevlar and titanium composite
material, this helmet can
withstand a direct hit from
any hand-fired munitions P urple Ninja say: “Female sea
available today. While test turtles lay between 150 and 200 eggs.” the day and all manner of gizmos
subjects were hard to find,
the few who stood under
the Projectile-Resistant Helmet were quite satisfied
with the results. Stylish and protective, the helmet
has made its way into general use among Hunters in
extreme battle conditions. Hits to a helmeted head
do not add extra damage except on an Extraordinary
Success.
Plexiglas Tower Shield: Tower shields have
been the choice of many an army since before 300
Greeks got themselves killed all those years ago.
Today, metal and wood shields have been replaced
with inch-thick Plexiglas. This reinforced shield
protects one’s entire body and allows one to see
everything in front. The shield will deflect or stop
most ballistic and melee attacks dead. The Agility
penalty counts when hauling this thing around or
hiding behind it.
Agi/Ale . Availability .
Step Penalty (Chapter Minimum)
— E (Ω)
E (Ω)
–1 Ale E (Σ)
–1 Ale E (Σ)
–1 Agi E (Σ)
S E
pecialty quipment
From high-end electronic systems to bizarre
weapons from the mysterious Orient, the following
items are considered specialty equipment. This isn’t
the kind of thing you can count on getting in the real
world, although the Internet has almost everything.
Doesn’t it?
C omputer T echnology
While the Brotherhood has used computing
technology longer than most, the true
advantages are only recently becoming
obvious. Communication has improved greatly,
Chapters have instant access
to the Brotherhood Database,
Ciphers become more useful by
and gadgets have made their
way into Brotherhood ranks.
While the Old Guard trusts in swords and letters
sent by carrier pigeons, it’s a new era in the world
and the Brotherhood itself. Technology will bring the
Brotherhood into the 21st century and firmly implant
it at the forefront of the War on Horror.
Audio Player: While they are now fairly
common, the Brotherhood has provided miniaturized
audio players for its Demon Hunters for many
years. Large hard drives and relative privacy allow
for sensitive audio files to be transferred with
secrecy. The Brotherhood devices are years ahead
of commercial technology and allow for satellite
downloads of new data files and the latest hit tunes.
Brotherhood Information Outlet for the
Celestial Torch Headquarters: Each Cipher carries
with it a portable computer that ties directly into the
Brotherhood mainframe. The B.I.O.C.T.H. works
much like a normal laptop computer, but has wireless
access to the Brotherhood only. No net surfing while
on the job. All active Ciphers have access to the
 Table 5.8: Computer Technology
Item Availability (Chapter Minimum)
Audio Player E (Ω)
B.I.O.C.T.H. W (Ω)
Fingertip Keyboard Gloves E (Λ)
FrACT W (Λ)
Molecular Modulator B (Α)
Personal Digital Assistant E (Ω)
Up-Link Glasses W (Ω)
mainframe and can call up any information at the
Chapter’s clearance level. This information can be
crucial to the survival of the team and the success
of any mission. Most of the information is extremely
accurate and painstakingly researched, but the ability
to edit the data occasionally brings mistakes to the
database.
Fingertip Keyboard Gloves: A new invention
from the Brotherhood labs, these gloves act as a
full computer keyboard. Without projecting a laser
keyboard like most devices, these gloves allow the
user to plug in to any computer terminal or PDA
and type onto the device. While not having a visible
keyboard is difficult for many, sophisticated users
and even Ciphers find them a refreshing change.
Fraternitas Accelerator to the Celestial
Torch: The FrACT is a cellular telephone with direct
access to the Brotherhood. Only those with top
clearance collect the FrACT numbers of the top
brass and even St. Peter himself. After all, members
of Omega Fifteen calling St. Peter every time a
shadow scared them would be a disaster.
Molecular Modulator: A highly unstable
device, the Molecular Modulator is the brainchild
of Alpha One’s own Herr Doktor. The Molecular
Modulator should temporarily rearrange a person’s
molecules to create a genetic disguise that cannot
be seen through. Unfortunately, it’s had continued
failures in lab experiments. It is not currently to be
used on human subjects.
Personal Digital Assistant: One of the more
useful and annoying pieces of equipment mandated
by the Brotherhood, each Chapter leader must carry
a PDA at all times. This allows headquarters to keep
in contact with the Chapter and keep instructions as
clear as possible. Behind his back, most teams call
this device “Peter’s Damn Annoyance,” but we’re
pretty sure he’s already heard the joke.
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Up-Link Glasses: These frames can be fit
to any Hunter, regardless of size. Implanted in
the bridge is a pinhole video camera that sends a
constant stream back to HQ. These glasses are
occasionally handed out without explanation or
reason. The wearer may not even know that he is
129
a seeing-eye for someone at Headquarters. Some
believe them to be a tool of the Iota Initiative,
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but others just see them as accounting tools very
popular with those who must keep track of supplies.
M ar tial A r ts W eaponr y
What is it about the martial arts of Asia that
conjures such awe and fascination in the West? Well,
we don’t know either, but their weapons are really
useful for taking out the forces of Darkness. If you
don’t believe us, next time you’re surrounded by
Syphilitic Ninja Vampires, pull out your naginata.
Have your buddy pull out his Glock. Which one are
the SNVs going to be scared of most? The Glock.
But the naginata sure looks pretty damn impressive.
Bokken: Bokken are Japanese practice swords
made from a palm species called “rattan.” Bokken
are used in a variety of martial arts training dojos to
simulate weapon combat. The solid construction and
slight curve give a more realistic feel than the similar
shinai. Bokken are also used in multiple disciplines
to enhance posture and improve balance. Even
forms that focus on the hand-to-hand utilize bokken
to further the skills of students. In actual combat,
the bokken can be used as a disabling measure. Its
form and function allow it to block bladed weapons
without breaking or splintering. The solid nature
of the rattan allows for solid blows to joints or the
skull, stunning an opponent.
Katana: The katana is a Japanese longsword
traditionally wielded by samurai. This blade is
known for its speed and deadly edge. In the hands
of a trained master, the katana can kill quickly and
 Table 5.9: Martial Arts Weaponry
Awesome Weapon Damage Range Increments Availability (Chapter Minimum)
Bokken d4 B — E (Ω)
Katana d8 W — E (Ω)
Naginata d6 W — E (Ω)
Nunchaku d4 B — E (Ω)
Sai d2 W — E (Ω)
Shinai d2 B — E (Ω)
Tessen d2 W 20 feet E (Ω)
Tonfa d4 B — E (Ω)
Yumi d6 W 90 feet E (Ω)

130 without warning. It is occasionally partnered with a

smaller sword, either a shoto or tanto to offer an off-
hand weapon more suitable for close combat. Katana
are the swords most often used in current martial
arts practice. The pop culture surrounding them has
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attack his opponent, knocking him out or—if need
be—killing him quickly. Sai are traditionally carried
in threes: two for primary combat and one extra in
case the user is disarmed. Every edge and blunt point
on the sai can be used as an effective weapon. The

given rise to their use in the Brotherhood, including
Ichabod who leads Chapter Alpha One.
Naginata: The naginata is a traditional Japanese
polearm used originally by samurai. In modern Japan,
women primarily use the weapon. It has become
a favorite of Brotherhood martial arts instructors.
A large, curved blade at the end of a wooden shaft
lends resemblance to the European glaive, but the
naginata acts much more like a sword than a pure
polearm. In addition to the added length provided
by the pole, leverage and a redistributed weight
gives much more power to each thrust and slash.
In the hands of a skilled martial artist, the naginata
can clear sections of a battlefield and keep several
adversaries at bay at the same time. Various other
bladed polearms appear in most cultures around the
world. Many lack the flexibility of the naginata, but
thick hardwood shafts make the European halberd an
effective, anti-charging, demon weapon.
Nunchaku: These classic weapons serve as
close-range blunt objects. A strong chain connects
two cylinders of hardwood or metal. The nunchaku
extend the user’s reach, allowing close combat
strength while standing just out of reach. Even one
not directly skilled in their use can cause quite a bit of
damage with the spinning cylinders. Of course, some
of that damage may be to the user.
Sai: The simplicity of the sai hides the defensive
and offensive capabilities of the handheld tridents.
A skilled weapons master can disarm opponents,
deflect hand-held and ranged attacks and successfully
hilt is a useful bludgeon in close combat and each of
the three points are used in thrusting, slashing and
blocking.
Shinai: Used primarily in kendo, the shinai is a
practice sword made of multiple canes tied together
to simulate a sword. The light-weight, wooden blade
gives opportunity for students to study the use of
the blade without injuring an unsuspecting sparring
partner. The shinai is rarely used as an offensive
weapon outside of professional wrestling.
Tessen: The iron fan is a favorite weapon
of martial artists for its beauty, grace, and deadly
accuracy. In skilled hands it can kill as quickly as the
hands can move. The tessen can be used as a hand-
to-hand weapon or a thrown weapon depending on
circumstances.
Tonfa: The basis for modern police batons,
tonfa are hand-held wooden cylinders used for direct
melee combat. They are mainly held parallel to the
forearm by specially designed handles but various
positions are used for different attack and defense
techniques. Skilled tonfa users switch effortlessly
between grips. They attack with the main shaft, twirl
by the handle, block an attack, hook an opponent’s
weapon, or any of the many unique uses for this
versatile weapon.
Yumi: The yumi is an exceptionally long bow
made of bamboo and leather. Its design originated
in early Japan as an offshoot of other Asian bows.
Unlike its European counterpart, the yumi has an
asymmetrical design, leaving the archer to grip

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 Table 5.10: Kits
Kit
Mad Scientist’s MiniLab
Medic Kit
Necromancer’s Kit
much closer to the bottom of the bow, rather than
the center. Trained archers generally treat yumis
with great respect. Legend considers each yumi to
contain the characteristics of its maker. Touching
another person’s yumi without permission is
considered equivalent to adultery.
K its
Well-equipped Demon Hunters are aware of
the substantial benefit of narrow-focus, kit-based
equipment packages. The following items, while very
specific, are crucial in the War On Horror.
Mad Scientist’s MiniLab: Every Mad Scientist
worth his salt carries a MiniLab. In the rectangular
box, every device, instrument, and chemical needed
in a pinch can be found. Modifications to the Lab
are expected from scientists and many have come
up with unique and interesting mods that the
Brotherhood routinely makes standard. The latest
modification comes in the form of an inflatable
sterile room. A quick push of a button and a
10-by-10 room of plastic explodes from the bottom
of the Lab, giving a clean room for surgery in the
field.
Medic Kit: To prevent the Necromancers
from needing to use their kits, a Medic Kit should
accompany any jaunt into dangerous grounds.
Actually, knowing most teams, a Medic Kit should
accompany them when they go grocery shopping.
More accidents happen that way. These field medical
kits contain everything save a full-blown surgery
package. Trained professionals can treat even serious
wounds with this kit. Any untrained users will be
hard pressed to find exactly what they need.
Necromancer’s Kit: Much like the Mad
Scientists, Necromancers need their equipment
on the go. Rarely is a resurrection done in the lab.
Demon Hunters just can’t seem to die in convenient
places. Until they begin to die with a Necromancer’s
needs in mind, they’ll just have to carry the Kit.
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Availability (Chapter Minimum)
W (Σ)
W (Σ)
W (Σ)
Holy Relics
Holy Relics are objects blessed with divine
powers. The most widely distributed form of Holy
Relic are bits of fabric touched to a Saint’s body.
These Minor Relics are usually sold to tourists and
have the mystical ability to seperate them from their
money. They occasionally will cause a small miracle,
but most likely will simply sit, unused, on a bookshelf
or in a drawer. Major Relics come in many shapes
131
and sizes. From weaponry to odd objects to actual
bones, Relics give heavy benefits to those who know
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how to use them. Supreme Relics are in short supply,
only a handful exist in the world. The Brotherhood
collects and secures any it finds to keep them away
from the Order of the Infernal Scepter, which would
like nothing more than to turn such a powerful
objects against the powers of good.
M ajor R elics
A number of Major Relics are in active use
throughout the Brotherhood. Some are objects, that
hail directly from saints or gods themselves. Others
are smaller objects implanted into larger reliquaries
or even weaponry. A few of the more well-known
Major Relics are:
The Sword of St. George: Used first in the
Brotherhood’s battle against the last dragon, the
Sword is imbued with the blood of both the beast
and its slayer, the beloved George of Beta Two.
In the presence of True Evil the blade glows red
and in the presence of True Good it shines with a
white-blue color. Both can be useful, but are quite
noticeable in the dark.
The Pinkie Finger of St. Michael of Alsace:
St. Michael of Alsace is the patron saint of surrender.
After his death at age 97, he was quickly canonized
under a large white flag. Relic thieves stole his
pinkie finger in the 19th Century after reported
miracles associated with Napoleon’s victories.
Brotherhood Demon Hunters recovered it shortly
before Waterloo. It has since been implanted in the
stock of a sawed-off shotgun owned by retired Beta

132
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Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Two Chapter leader Kelvin Cordarius. The gun was
made by the Brotherhood’s mad scientists for use
in defending the western territories of the United
States. It gives the bearer the uncanny ability to
negotiate with any enemy.
The Cross of the Archangels: The origins
of the Cross of the Archangels is unknown. For
centuries, it has been wielded by the leader of
Chapter Alpha One. Recently, however, the chain of
succession was broken. Gabriel, disgraced former
leader of Alpha One and current leader of Omega
Fifteen claims to have misplaced the Cross. He
promises to look around for it as soon as he gets a
chance. The only power exhibited by the Cross in
front of impartial observers is its power to raise the
recently dead. It is unknown how far reaching its
effects are or how often it may be used.
S upreme R elics
The Brotherhood keeps the existence of these
items as close to a complete secret as possible. Few
Chapters ever get to see one, let alone use one in
combat. Teams of Gamma level or lower are not
even supposed to be aware of their existence. The
only record of modern use of a Supreme Relic was
in thwarting an attack by the Order on the Vatican
two Council. Teams Gamma Two and Three used the
Crypt of St. Peter to hold off an invasion of demons
brought on by the Order of the Infernal Scepter. The
only known Supreme Relics are:
The Crypt of St. Peter: Buried under the
Vatican for centuries, the Crypt of St. Peter is a holy
object of no small significance. St. Peter himself
activated the Crypt’s powers to defeat the armies of
Hell. No mortal may open or activate the Crypt for
fear of its immense power. The Order would love to
get its hands on the Crypt, but entry into or under
the Vatican is impossible for creatures of darkness.
The Ark of the Covenant: Holder of the
Ten Commandments, gilded reliquary of Solomon’s
Temple, destroyer of Nazis. The Ark of the Covenant
has not been seen in many centuries since it was lost
following the Crusades. If the Brotherhood is aware
of its location it gives away no hint. It is rumored that
the Ark can lead armies to great victories with the
power of the divine, but no one knows how.
The Holy Grail: A simple cup made by a
carpenter’s son, the Grail is the ultimate healing
device. It has no limitations on healing those who
drink from it and grants immortality to those who
would stand guard by it. Three Knights Templar from
the Crusades still stand watch over it today. Only a
handful of people know where it actually rests, but
rumors persist. The Nazis did try and capture the
Grail at one point but were stopped by a mysterious
Demon Hunter in a leather fedora with a whip. Oh,
don’t bother looking under the Louvre. It’s not there.
That guy was way off.
U se of R elics
Team members may use relics as a way to
channel divine energy. Some have extremely specific
uses; others may be used in a variety of situations.
New relics are being cataloged by the Brotherhood
each year and most are put into immediate use.
Teams must be of classification Sigma or higher to
rate use of Relics provided by the Brotherhood.
Chapters discovering relics in the field may return
them to the Brotherhood for more study or attempt
to discover the inherent powers on their own. It is
strictly forbidden to sell relics, other than the touristy
ones, to anyone, at any time.
Upgrading Your Equipment
So, you think you deserve a better gun?
There are a few ways to go about upgrading your
equipment. You could approach the Supervisor
about it and request a formal upgrade. If you don’t
have the time, patience, or clearance for that kind
of firepower, the Boss is happy to oblige at the
Black Market for the right price. Barring that, you
could always try upgrading your gear yourself. It’s
dangerous, difficult and dangerous. That hasn’t
stopped you before, though, has it?
S elf –U pgr ading
Provided you have the necessary skills, you
can attempt to improve any bit of gear you or your
Chapter carry. A bit of clever engineering and some
duct tape can do wonders for body armor and
weaponry alike. You can attempt to create a new
item or hybrid item by making a Skill roll appropriate
to the Difficulty of what you are trying to make.
Turning a knife into a spear is not that difficult.
Combining a Water Soaker with a grenade launcher
may take some effort. It is at the Game Master’s
discretion whether the item functions as desired or is
even possible to create.
  The Sacred Snowglobe of Amun-Ra
  And the results are wildly disappointing.
 M agi T ech
Since the Industrial Revolution, the move to
integrate technology and magic has fueled a booming
marketplace for new equipment. Rather than argue
for unending years about which provides better
offense or defense, the practical Demon Hunter
will notice that both very effectively make the bad
guys dead. Therefore, mix them together and the
bad guys will be more dead. Deader. Blown to little
pieces.
Rather than list every item available in the
Warehouse or on the Black Market, the sections
below list average stats and offer a few suggestions
for making extra special MagiTech gear. If a Demon
Hunter wants a bit of mad scientist know-how
added to his trusty six-shooter or a Brotherhood
computer terminal that does a bit more than log
on and check e-mail, the Warehouse can provide
it. Unless, of course, the Chapter’s getting a bit big
for their britches. Then they might need to search
elsewhere.
Mad Science is notoriously iffy. Most things
blow up well before they reach usable status.
Brotherhood mad scientists—as well as those
working for less reputable establishments—have
worked on many items for years before they
become workable. Finding these items on the Black
Market can get quite expensive. The costs break
down into twice the cost, four times the cost, and
10 times the normal cost of the item.
Don’t use the following lists as the end all and be
all of MagiTech. New items, technologies and magics
are being discovered all the time. Much as the old
saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. If
you have a specific need, there is likely a wild-haired
madman working on that problem. The more unique
the item, however, the higher Chapter required or
the more a Hunter will have to pay to get it.
M agi T ech D esign
When developing a bit of MagiTech, first find
a normal, mundane object that could use a bit of
oomph. If you only have a basic idea of what you
want, work out details with your Game Master.
Make sure that the effects you want really
need MagiTech to accomplish them. If you are
looking for a gun that shoots fireballs, well a normal
flamethrower may do just fine. Find a good reason
that magic or technology alone cannot do the job
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
you want done. How does magic improve the
technology? What use does the tech serve for the
mystical addition?
MagiTech is remarkable in its unreliability.
While you may find that mystical weapons can
overbalance a game, remember that nothing is ever
100 percent effective and some things just never
seem to work properly. A Game Master may decide
that a particular MagiTech item does not fit into his
vision of the Demon Hunter world and disallow it.
You should not count on MagiTech being available or
entirely reliable when trying to reach a specific goal.
A dding C apital L et ters
Do you know what the difference is between
Silent Jim’s trench coat and Silent Jim’s Trench
Coat? One hangs in his closet for rainy days and the
133
other is a badass bottomless pit of coolness. After
a Demon Hunter has gained a bit of notoriety, he
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can upgrade a piece of equipment to near sidekick
status through the cunning use of Title Case. This
item becomes instantly recognizable among Demon
Hunters and the Damned alike, striking fear into the
hearts of men and making women shake their heads.
Silent Jim’s Bottomless Trench Coat:
This coat transcends normal trench coats. It is a
heavy-duty black coat with innumerable pockets.
Each pocket reaches into Jim’s personal pocket
dimension, allowing him to bring out any item he
desires. While no one has ever seen him actually
refill the coat, Jim can only pull out what has been
put in. This makes the occasional battle with the
forces of darkness awkward when Jim discovers
he has forgotten to replenish his ready supply of
ammunition. Quite the social faux pas.
Gabriel’s Leather Jacket: The most
distinguishing feature about Gabriel’s Leather
Jacket is the bit of duct tape strategically placed on
the lower back of the coat. If Gabe has divulged
the reason or need for this improvement, no one
is talking. More subtle, however, are the armor
improvements including a Kevlar lining and titanium
zippers.
Gabriel’s Do-Rag: Over the years since the
Vancouver Incident, Gabe’s choice of headgear
has evolved. Once opting for the purple bandanna
look in homage to the greatest Demon Hunter
of them all, Gabe’s position at the bottom of the
Brotherhood has led him to opt for a plain black Do-
 Rag. Much like his jacket, this head covering is lined
with micromesh armor and holds two paper-thin
daggers Gabe can use in a pinch.
Ichabod’s Belt Buckle: When one says “Beer
Me!” one does not expect the beer cap to be opened
on another man’s belt. This, however, is exactly what
Ichabod wants. He wants you uncomfortable and not
quite sure of his intentions. The fact that the bottle
opener buckle is a mere facade holding a powerful
relic passed down from generation to generation
through his family is not public knowledge. A few
Hunters have seen him use its powers to help subdue
members of the Order, but all refuse to discuss it
with the Brotherhood.
134 Angel’s Utility Belt: Designed by Milan’s most
renowned fashionista, Angel’s Utility Belt is a specially
crafted, one-of-a-kind piece of equipment. Normal
utility belts are bulky and difficult to manage. Angel
worked on the concept herself, creating a belt that
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functioned exactly as she needed. To the untrained
eye the single pocket and holster could not possibly
carry everything a Hunter like her needs, but Angel
has a few surprises in store for anyone who thinks
she is unprepared.
Herr Doktor’s Mad Scientist Lab Coat:
Herr Doktor is notorious in the Brotherhood for
his almost paranoid obsession with secrecy. Despite
many attempts, Brotherhood scientists have never
been allowed to examine his lab coat. It is assumed to
have armor implants considering Herr Doktor’s total
disregard for combat situations. While he has never
drawn a weapon in public, many believe rumors that
he carries his most experimental munitions with him.
It is known that his entire MiniLab—and perhaps
much more—seems to fit within the jacket. Whether
the coat is patterned after Jim’s is unknown at this
time.
Services
B lessings
Blessings provide protection from occult injury
and misfortune.
Blessing, Minor: A quick prayer, a wave of
the hands, and you’re just a little bit safer out in the
world against the forces of evil. Usually performed by
a member of the clergy, the minor blessing provides
a bit of protection against mystical attacks. Minor
blessings are easily given and are regularly doled
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
out to normal folks via an anointing or laying on of
hands. A minor blessing adds d4 to the Difficulty of
any mystical attack turned upon you.
Blessing, Major: In rituals not used for the
general public, members of the clergy may bless
a person, giving him a bit of divine help on his
journey. The rite is complicated and time-consuming,
using a great deal of effort and power from the
one doing the blessing. In dire circumstances, the
benefits greatly outweigh the costs and most high-
level Demon Hunters never leave home without
it. A major blessing adds d8 to the Difficulty of any
mystical attack directed at you, and d4 to anybody in
physical contact with you when the attack is made.
Blessing, Specific: While other blessings
simply aid in keeping magic from tearing a new hole
in a Hunter’s chest, there are a few very specific
blessings performed by members of the clergy. These
requests are made to protect a Hunter against a
specific enemy, a type of attack, or even falling down
the stairs. That one isn’t used so much. The more
powerful the blessing needs to be, the more energy
and time it takes to grant. While most refuse to even
attempt to bestow these blessings, rogue clergy do
exist and will try anything for the right price. Specific
blessings usually add anywhere from d2 to d8 to
the Difficulty of specific attacks directed against the
blessed individual.
C urses
Curses are the opposite of blessings. You’re not
likely to shop for one yourself, if you know what we
mean.
Curse, Minor: While men and women of the
cloth bestow blessings on their own, curses are
a way for those not involved in the line of fire to
influence the battle. Minor Curses simply make the
target more vulnerable to attacks, either mystical
or physical. The forces of good in general do not
use curses lightly, but Minor Curses are the most
frequently seen. The forces of evil, however, are not
as discriminating and often place curses on their foes.
A minor curse reduces armor by 1W or, occasionally,
the –1 Skill step to any dodge actions of the subject.
Curse, Major: Devoid of caring for all mankind,
the forces of evil will gladly sacrifice what is necessary
to drop a Major Curse on the heads of their enemies.
Major curses weaken a person’s Vitality by –1 step,
  Check ID before allowing a “laying on of hands”.
 lowering the amount of punishment a person can
take. No member of the Brotherhood has—to
anyone’s knowledge—used a Major Curse on an
enemy, but a few select Hunters do know how it is
done. Temptation is a dreadful thing.
Curse, Specific: Blood is the key ingredient to
a Specific Curse. The caster must sacrifice a bit of
himself to lay the horrible onus on another human
being. After the blood is spilled, nearly anything can
be placed upon the target. These curses can weaken
a person’s Willpower by –1 step, render them
vulnerable to mystical attacks, or simply give the
target an undesired quirk (such as a Complication of
d4 to d6 rating). These curses are difficult to remove
without the caster present and may be permanent if
time passes.
S urger y and M undane C are
Surgery, Minor: The Brotherhood provides
skilled physicians and surgeons to take care of their
Demon Hunters in the field. For wounds and injuries
that require a bit more than a band-aid, out patient
surgery is the answer. While the recovery time for
surgery is longer than that of mystical healing, the
procedure itself is quite reliable.
Surgery, Major: Occasionally, missions in the
field do not go as planned and people get hurt. Okay,
more than occasionally. You see, death is a necessary
part of the Demon Hunter’s job. When severe
injuries occur, the Brotherhood brings a Demon
Hunter in for major surgery in the hopes of mending
the wounds and setting him on the long road to
recovery. Chances of success in major surgery
depend on the severity of the injuries and the skill of
the doctors involved.
Antibiotic Course: When demons are unable
to take down a Hunter, the common cold sometimes
succeeds. Brotherhood physicians can prescribe a
standard antibiotic course to deal with the normal
bacterial infections and diseases that run wild
throughout the world. From the ‘flu to malaria, a
steady treatment can clean up the illness and get the
Hunter back onto his feet.
Detox: Detoxification treatment—the haven of
celebrities everywhere—is available for any Hunter
who finds himself addicted to one or more chemical
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
substances. With all the crazy things a Demon
Hunter sees over his career, it is a wonder why most
avoid the lure of illicit substances. For those who
need help, the Brotherhood Detox Clinic is there.
Medical Care: Need attention paid to that
slightly severed limb? The Brotherhood employs
some of the best doctors that college health
departments can spare. Virtually assured not to
diagnose you as having pink eye while you lie on the
hospice floor bleeding, these docs live to serve you,
the Demon Hunter. Assuming you’ve filled out the
proper forms and can stand waiting in crushing pain
for three hours.
Healing: A bit different than normal medical
care and a bit less reliable, mystical healing is
available for Demon Hunters with enough pull to
get it. Some of the healers contracted can even cure
135
death given the right circumstances and motivation.
Of course, it doesn’t always work and some healers
Chapter Five: The Warehouse
are better than others. While normal medical care is
consistent, mystical healing has its ups and downs.
V ehicle R epair
Not every Chapter is lucky enough to have a
mechanic on its roster. For those times when kicking
the tires is ineffective at fixing the problem, tow your
car, truck, or mini bus to your local Brotherhood
mechanic. With the benefit of having holy guidance
on his side, he will diagnose the problem and rarely
overcharge you for the work. If you’re lucky, he
might even give you the loaner car, assuming your
mission is of the utmost importance. Don’t worry
about the quilts covering the back seat. Sometimes it
is better to not ask questions.
T he H oly P ost
How better to get news from place to place
than the Holy Post? Simply call on your friendly
Purgatorial delivery spirit and it will whisk away your
letter to its intended recipient. A quick phone call
and the price of a stamp brings the messenger to
your location and discreet delivery is assured. Faster
than e-mail and safer than a phone call, the Holy Post
gets it there on time, guaranteed.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
 Chapter seven:

Playing God
R
elax,” cautioned Bledsoe, patting his partners leather-jacketed arm. “I don’t want a repeat of
Toledo.”
“Ohio or Spain?” Greg asked, foot tapping nervously on the floor.
Bledsoe thought. “Ehh, Spain. We’re still allowed in Ohio.”
The clock ticked on. Greg checked it against his own watch. “The rite is complete at …”
“… at 12:35, yes, I know.” Bledsoe walked to the secretary again. “Excuse me, miss?” The pretty
137
young woman at the desk looked up from the envelope she was slitting with an ornate silver letter-opener,
smiling regretfully.
“As I told you, Mr. Bledsoe, Mr. Pruitt …”

Chapter Seven: Playing God

“Yes, I’m sorry,” he interrupted. “I know you can’t make his conference call go faster, but perhaps you
can help us make sure we have the right office. Have you ever seen Mr. Pruitt … ah, how shall I put this?
… performing strange rituals?”
The smile left her face. “Well, why didn’t you say you were one of those Brotherhood people?” she
demanded, her voice turning to a harsh rasp. “We could have saved a world of trouble, especially if we’d
killed you in the parking garage.”
Bledsoe started to apologize but couldn’t take his eyes off her expanding chest. The blouse tore in
two across her broad, furry breast, and her nails extended three inches as they peeled away the finish on
her desk, spilling stationery everywhere.
As the Hunter went to his belt for a weapon, the letter-opener reappeared, buried in the wolf-
woman’s forehead. Greg looked smug, but only for a moment as he saw the stern disapproval on Bledsoe’s
face. “What? I saved you. You weren’t really thinking we could …”
“Question her? I would have liked to try. You know how they spew their plans. But no, it’s London all
over again, isn’t it?” He threw his hands in the air as he stepped forward and cracked the double doors to
the inner office with a well-placed kick. A sharply dressed, blond man on the phone looked up.
“I have to go,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Mr. Pruitt, I’m going to have to ask you to come with us,” Bledsoe thundered, but the skin of the thin
man before him was already rippling. As the Hunters approached, he grasped each man by the throat,
lifting them both from the floor. A powerful kick sent his desk through the plate-glass window, and wind
whipped all about the well-appointed space. Bledsoe scrabbled at the hairy arm and looked to see if Greg
had retrieved the silver letter-opener, but no go. The older agent drew a steel cord.
The werewolf marched his victims to the window like a pair of slaughtered rabbits, but as they were
both ejected into the air thirty stories above Madison Avenue, Bledsoe whipped the cord around Pruitt’s
hirsute thigh. Greg clung to his partner’s belt, and they swayed gently in the Manhattan breeze, bumping
the building tenderly.
A roar of anger drifted down from above. Greg’s fearful, watery eyes met Bledsoe’s stare; his eyes
were lidded with anger.
“Just like St. Louis,” he grumbled.

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138
Chapter Seven: Playing God
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
So you’re ready to take on the biggest challenge
in tabletop combat simulations: that of the Game
Master. Good for you. It’s a tough job, but until
someone agrees to do it you’re not going to get
much done. This chapter focuses on what the
Game Master does, and then offers advice on how
to do it well. It’s important to be able to make it all
work within the framework of the world of Demon
Hunters; if you’ve played other games before, even
other horror-themed simulations, there are still
elements of this world that need attention if you
want to capture that special Brotherhood feeling. 
Don’t worry if you’ve never run a game before.
It’s work, but it’s enjoyable. Even when
you’ve finished reading this section, the
best advice anyone can give you is to have
fun. So long as everyone at the table is
smiling, laughing, cringing at
botches, getting into character,
P urple N inja say: “Did anyone else players when their alter egos
and coming back next week for
notice there was no Chapter Six?”
more, you’re doing just fine.
Throwing sharp implements at
you or promises of death to your family? Not so fine.
One last thing. You know this role playing game
terminology is just here to throw in a little light-
heartedness in an ongoing War on Horror, right?
Right? Good. Don’t lose your steel just because we’re
talking about games, buddy.
Role of the Game Master
As Game Master, you have a lot of hats to wear,
figuratively speaking. You’re a referee, a director, an
actor, and a diplomat, among other things. You have
to make sure everyone has a good time.
Outside the game, you’re an organizer. A player
might take this role, but usually if you’re the one who
wants to run it, you secure a location, establish a
time, contact the players, and so on (but the snacks
burden shouldn’t be entirely on your shoulders ). 
You have to be a storyteller, constructing
tales that challenge the Demon Hunters without
overwhelming them. You’re not the enemy; you
only play the part. As Game Master, you set horrible
events in motion, find some way to rope the
Hunters in, and adjudicate the action when bullets
  Recommended tools for capturing that Special
Brotherhood Feeling: Net Launcher, Stun Baton,
Elephant Tranquilizers.
  Does not apply to Sherpas.
and fists start flying. You have to play the supporting
characters smart—or at least as intelligently as the
character sheet requires. You have to balance this
against knowing things your demons and cultists
wouldn’t know. If the Brotherhood is up against a
shape-shifter, that creature won’t be aware of the
Chapter leader’s deathly fear of fire unless it secreted
itself into their ranks and uncovered this data.
Once aware of it, though, the smart move for your
supporting character is to use such a disadvantage
against the Demon Hunter. If the outcome feels
satisfying, the Chapter was probably the equal of the
obstacles you set up for them.
You have to be the eyes and ears of
the players within the training simulation,
conveying what their Demon Hunters see
and hear (at a minimum). To paint a full word
picture, you should tell the
smell the must of the grave,
or feel the slickness of a blood
pool, or taste the acrid tang of
gunpowder on the air (there may even be occasional
pleasant sensations, but given a Demon Hunter’s job
description … ).
Sooner or later the rules are going to fall a bit
short, and you have to judge what happens. There’s
no hard and fast benchmark for this except fairness.
You must make a decision, right now. You’ll listen to
the players’ input, then call it like you see it. Further
discussion can occur after the game, but for now the
group has a rule to go by.
Regardless of the source of an argument, as
Game Master you have to keep the peace. If a debate
arises in play, great: Character interaction is the
heart of these training simulations, so let Chapter
members talk out how to safely retrieve a victim’s
soul. Heatedly if they like, just like a buddy-cop film.
But if the game is delayed too long, or ill will spills
into the group’s real-world dealings, that’s not good.
You should be ready to reel tempers in. You may do
this with a firm, “Okay, folks, let’s break for dinner,”
or you can use an in-game tool like having the
Chapter’s noisy altercation overheard by cops—or
the Chapter’s enemies.
This isn’t all you do in the course of an evening,
and in fact there’s no way to predict where the
job will lead, but it’s a fair overview. You, as Game

Master, are the glue that holds the game group
together, and as long as everyone has a good time
you’ve done your work well.
Running a Game
So what’s involved in this job? Some of it’s kind
of mundane but it serves your game well. Are you
ordering food during the game, or should everyone
arrive having eaten or carrying a sack lunch? Who’s
bringing the snacks and drinks? The pressure
shouldn’t all be on the Game Master to provide
this stuff, but he should make sure everyone knows
who’s expected to bring what.
Get a good spot for your game. A confined
space is good for keeping everyone’s attention
focused, but nothing so cramped everyone has to
squeeze around everyone else. Enough flat space for
everyone to lay down a character sheet and roll the
dice is important; don’t forget room in the middle
for props or maps.
Props? Sure. Don’t go overboard, but costume
pieces or other gimmicks can put the players in
the mood. It’s best if they have some practical
purpose—a real map made to look like the one
imagined in the game, perhaps, or a scrawled note
with a code on it—but even a “ceremonial dagger”
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139
Chapter Seven: Playing God
from the toy aisle can set the tone. You might even
encourage players to add their own flair to suggest
their in-game persona when they show up to play.
Get chat out of the way. Talk out sports scores
and last night’s exciting episode of The Secret Lives
of Vampires so they’re less likely to come up during
play. Shut off cell phones and get comfortable.
Now for practical advice about the game itself.
As a Game Master, you should be organized.
You don’t have to be obsessive about it, but make
the effort. A separate sheet for each character, or
index cards, or at least put everyone where you can
find them … say, all the little supporting characters
on one sheet, and bigger fish get more space on the
next page. Have paper and pencil handy, and take
notes. Did you call the sewer worker Hal? Write it
down so he remains “Hal.” A multi-subject notebook
is good, as are your own dice, and anything else you
can think of (calculator, graph paper, printouts, etc.).
Try to anticipate the needs of your players.
This doesn’t excuse them from showing up with
their own supplies, but having extra Demon Hunter
sheets and the like on hand smoothes out the rough
  We recommend the “Baby’s First Chthonian Dagger
of Czernobog” from Mattel.
 spots. The longer you run a game, the more obvious
the possible pitfalls become, and the better you can
prepare for each session.
Portraying the World
What you convey to your players, and how you
convey it, is important, because your game world is
like one of your own characters. You’re establishing
an atmosphere that best transmits how you want the
setting to feel, but a lot of things go into maintaining
it. The supporting characters act a certain way,
events play out with the same level of pessimism, and
the villains want similar things from humanity even if
they compete to get them.
140 Demon Hunter
Conventions & Themes
What makes this role playing game—sorry,
Chapter Seven: Playing God
combat simulation—different from all others is
its intentional mixing of genres. Demon Hunters is
equal parts horror, action, and comedy. That blend
offers amazing potential for interactive storytelling
and character development. You should think of
the adventures you design as movies or episodes
in an ongoing TV series. And like in movies and TV,
characters grow, change … and die. And in Demon
Hunters, they die often.
Finish them! Remember, a horror film where
everyone survives isn’t much of a horror—we call
that suspense or thriller. Which, if you’re jonesing
for, you can do in a pinch. Let your players know in
advance that character mortality is not only possible,
but in many cases likely. But also let them know that
like in a comic book or soap opera, nobody’s ever
really completely dead. There are ways for favorite
characters to cheat death and return to the mortal
coil. Death isn’t the hindrance it is in most games, and
shouldn’t be shied away from. Consider handing out
Plot Points as rewards to players who embrace that
and take their fate head-on.
One final note on the genres: Horror is about
loss of control, while action is about taking control.
And humor is about a normal situation with at
least one thing waaaaay out of whack. Keep a good
mix going in your game, and you’ll have a hugely
entertaining ambience that players will look forward
to every week.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
The following section goes into further detail
about this kind of thing. If in doubt, go with your gut
instinct. It’s why you have a gut, after all.
Campaign Styles
Although this book is set in the Demon Hunters
world and is based on storylines created by Dead
Gentlemen Productions (they’re responsible for a lot
of the training material … you know, those guys in
the black bowling shirts), it doesn’t necessarily follow
that it’s going to feel the same. You may not be able
to capture that atmosphere, or you may not want
to. That’s fine. The important thing is that you make
the world consistently your own so that when your
players sit down at the table each week, they have
some idea what to expect. Adapting to the things
they want to see is good Game Mastering, but drift
too far from your normal methods and they may
question what they’re doing there.
You can have any style of play you like and you
can vary it a bit from one adventure to the next, but
the trick is not to deviate too far from a baseline or
the players may feel they no longer know how you
want their characters to react.
Serious
The hidden world of the Brotherhood and
the Order may seem funny at times, sure, but
underneath it all is a pretty serious topic: delivering
us from evil. If you don’t think you’re up to the same
wry humor presented in the training material, drop
it. Humor creeps in whether you mean it to or not,
so feel free to concentrate on the real business of
whacking demons and allow comical moments to
come as they may.
In a serious game you should play up the dire
aspects of the fight. Demons are real, and they come
from Hell for a reason: They’re evil. Anything that
furthers their agenda is fair game. They hurt people,
usually the ones most beloved. They aren’t just
forces of nature, wreaking havoc until someone puts
them down like a mad dog. These things are smart,
savvy, and manipulative. They don’t cause damage
just because they can, they do it because it suits a
purpose, and the fact that the word “purpose” gets
used should give a Hunter a cold chill. Demons are
not above playing it subtle if it gets them what they
want. Ingratiating themselves with humans makes it
all the worse when some long-standing plot reaches
 fruition. There may be mindless soldiers in this fight,
but behind every one of them is something moving
toward humanity’s downfall.
The rest of the world is just as hard. Police
aren’t fools, and they have no truck with crazy talk.
Landing in their drunk tank is usually the best result
with them. Death is a real possibility. The demise of
loved ones is inevitable if you stay in the fight long
enough. The streets are darker, the losses more
lasting, and the circumstances less forgiving.
A word of caution, though: “Serious” doesn’t
mean the world can’t hold joy; if it doesn’t, the
Hunters will wonder what they’re fighting for (unless
your players are okay with a pervading sense of
nihilism). Make the Chapter work for their successes
so they cherish the good times. Happiness is a
payoff they must earn, but they should be aware the
consequences of failure are, literally, Hell on Earth.
Dead Gentlemen Style
Irony abounds. The Hunters are canny enough
to keep their heads above water, but the story
unfolds with wry wit. Postmodern references
punctuate every fight, and everyone is rather self-
possessed. They know how absurd their work is
in this day and age, but it’s no easier because their
enemies know how to use the system to their
advantage. Their foes are impressive demons called
Alex (because “All the cool names were taken”).
Demons still broker deals with the innocent, but
they do so first as corporate lawyers or Homeland
Security officials, which gives our heroes another
layer of perfidy to pierce.
Goofy
In this kind of campaign, you let it all hang out.
Events play out like a Keystone Cops story. The
slipshod heroes can’t field a decent offense against
their otherworldly counterparts, but that’s okay
because the demons only succeed by accident
anyway.
You may decide to give one side the benefit
over the other, depending on how your tastes
run. It’s possible the Demon Hunters are the only
capable people in the game world, and they’d have
evil wrapped up in a week if not for the comical
incompetence of everyone else they deal with.
Their bosses may not allow them to save the world
  Now THAT’S a cavity search!
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
without filling out paperwork, while the villains
snootily refuse to fight with the heroes because
“That’s a different prophecy.” On the other hand,
maybe it’s the Demon Hunters who are played
for laughs, and their superiors would fire them in a
heartbeat was it not for their stunning track record,
falling backward into success against the demons.
The action is probably fast and furious, with
characters trapped in embarrassing positions
(they have to fight from their convertible because
someone’s seatbelt is stuck) and the infernal
unable to deal the killing blow because they can’t
remember the soul-sucking sword’s magic pass-
phrase. Explaining the occult to the authorities takes
a backseat to trying to convince them there was
a good reason the hotel’s spa was ablaze, and the
only time the secret gets out is when someone uses
141
the “secret agent in the war of good versus evil” to
score a date.
Chapter Seven: Playing God
Missions
There’s no limit to the tasks you can set your
Hunters on, but a lot fall into one or more of these
categories:
Ø Enemy Action: A demon has poked its
head above ground and the heroes have
to smack it back down.
Ø Rescue: The Chapter has to save
someone, usually a teammate or other
hostage, from the forces of evil (or pull
them from a disaster area).
Ø Investigation: One can’t act against
one’s enemies without knowing their
plans. This may mean reconnaissance of
their base or delving into ancient texts,
depending on how long their plans have
been fermenting.
Ø Protection: Some item or person could
spell the difference between success
and failure against the demons, and the
Hunters have to see no harm comes.
Some missions may combine these, and the
Game Master may come up with something that
surprises his players. So long as the various elements
work together and you don’t overplay your hand
(or bury the characters in too many events), you
maintain the element of surprise.
  “Swordfish”
 Mixing It Up
Saving the world is satisfying stuff, but any campaign
that focuses on a single way of doing things can
wear thin after a while. Even if your players
are enjoying themselves, they might like it if
you throw them a curveball every so often.
You don’t even have to do it to correct some
perceived shortcoming in your game, just keep
people on their toes. Any Hunter that gets
complacent about his tactics is headed for a fall.
Don’t let every adventure be another iteration of
the Hunters versus the demon of the week. So
much more goes into uncovering infernal plots
than simply crossing swords with them. Set
the team against the Byzantine red tape that
142 has ensnarled the artifact they’re importing,
for example. Unable to get the item they need
to defeat their foes, the team may have to do
a little old-fashioned breaking and entering at
the customs warehouse before they can go any
further. They may spend the entire night facing
nothing but innocent human opposition.
Chapter Seven: Playing God
Make sure the team is up for what you’re
proposing. If they’re unwilling or unable to solve
mysteries, don’t force your heroes to spend a
session trying to puzzle out your very clever
mystic runes riddle, but if they’re open to it it’s
definitely a break from butt-kicking.
Speaking of action, it comes in many forms.
Confrontation provides plenty of drama, but
that doesn’t mean weapons must be drawn.
Suppose the police have reason to believe
there’s trouble, but the Chapter knows action
by the authorities only spells a bigger body
count. Perhaps a SWAT intervention threatens
to destroy a valuable temple, or a victim is
possessed and not responsible for the horrors
“he” is perpetrating. Then the evening’s
suspense comes from whether the Hunters can
actually prevent action from being taken, which
may mean having to keep the peace completely,
at least until they can maneuver their foes to
where they want them.
Keeping the game fresh requires thinking outside
the box. Comedic circumstances, unusual
enemies, mundane obstacles, and even actions
that occur outside the normal venues (say, while
the protagonists are visiting a team member
hospitalized for an appendectomy) demand
more from the players at the table than just
higher-caliber equipment.
For example, the Chapter is traveling on a train
through the Rocky Mountains, watching over an
expert in ancient languages whose job is to translate
demonic texts as they travel. This means there
are bits of investigation working in tandem with a
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
protection job. If the train makes a stop at a small
town along the way, having the residents ask for help
against ghouls may be laying it on a bit thick.
One mission typically leads into another before
a single story arc is done. Hunters come across bad
news, leading them to fight some monster, only to
uncover a deeper plot that must be looked into.
Another assignment follows that one. Read the
paper or watch a few spy movies and you can find
plenty of sample missions, switching “Nazis” with
“demonspawn” (or using demon-spawned neo-Nazis
… it’s all good).
Designing Adventures
This is the most daunting task to most Game
Masters, but it’s also one of the most entertaining
(and most important) and, done right, provides the
most reward when players experience it.
Don’t feel limited by what you may have seen in
the Demon Hunters training materials. They’re just
the jumping-off point, and the imagination provides
a much bigger budget. Adventures in this venue
require certain elements (all discussed below), but
boiled down to the basic components it’s an age-old
story: the fight between good and evil.
Just about anything can be the springboard that
gets your game going. The news is a good place
to start: Take a story on the TV or in the morning
paper and simply ask yourself how the Brotherhood
might be involved. Is it part of one of their missions,
or perhaps just the fallout from a failed enemy
action? You can pull the same information out of
your favorite books or comics. Maybe the setting or
genre isn’t the same, but that’s okay. A feudal king
oppressing his people could become a modern-day
politician with similar powers, plans, and demonic
backing, or you might just bring the Demon Hunters
to some small crevice of the world where such
an empire, or elements of it, still exist in some
form. Now the heroes have to make their modern
sensibilities conform to something slightly outside
their experience.
  And find a more recent newspaper for God’s sake.
That one is over 60 years old!
  Avoid the cable news networks. You can only play so
many adventures about attractive white women going
missing.

Adventure Concepts
Whether as one-off events or the start of a long,
arduous story arc, here are 13 ideas to help kick-
start your adventure:
Ø An OUTBREAK OF ZOMBIES erupts
in the worst place possible—on the
Hollywood set of zombie movie. Once
the Hunters get on the lot, they have to
figure out which zombies are real and
which are just extras. And there’s also all
those cameras to avoid.
Ø A senior Chapter gets LOST IN THE
WAREHOUSE, and the Hunters are
dispatched to find them. When they
arrive, the power is off in the Warehouse
and the exits are not working. A group
of strangely intelligent rats watch them
everywhere they go.
Ø The Chapter’s CIPHER GETS A
COMPUTER VIRUS and goes haywire. It
downloads every combat program from
the Brotherhood Database and starts
kicking some serious Demon Hunter ass.
Turns out the Cipher’s been possessed by
a demon—a demon that’s now got the
Cipher’s near indestructibility as well as
his own powers.
Ø In the middle of logging country, an
ANGRY FOREST animates. Animated
trees and dire animals attack an industrial
chemical plant. The Brotherhood can only
calm the forest if they discover the creek
where the factory’s been dumping its
waste.
Ø A cabal of MAD SCIENTISTS uses
their Mad Skillz to divert a ley line. The
ley line runs directly into the path of an
abandoned nuclear power plant the mads
have restarted, creating a nexus of atomic
fel energies to power their experiments.
Ø An army of CIVIL WAR GHOST
SOLDIERS who died during the Battle of
the Wilderness finds its way out of the
Wilderness and continues its mission—to
surround and destroy Atlanta.
Ø The Hunters must persuade a NEW
YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
based in New Orleans to stop releasing
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
her latest novel, which outlines how
vampires could live below the radar in any
major city without being detected.
Ø A bunch of emo goth kids SUMMON A
DEMON to help them wallow in the
crushing ennui of upper middle class
adolescence. The Hunters have to find
and banish the demon before the emo
kids annoy him to the point that he goes
berserk and kills everyone.
Ø A BANSHEE makes it to the final 12
contestants on “American Idol.” The
Hunters must infiltrate the show and kill
her before she unleashes the banshee wail
Ø
on live TV, killing millions of viewers.
There’s a reason there have been so
many Elvis sightings recently—ELVIS IS A
143
VAMPIRE. And he’s planning a comeback
tour that will sweep the nation. Long live
the king!
Chapter Seven: Playing God
Ø The Chapter is assigned to BABYSIT A
BABY GODLING while his parents are on
vacation. Of course, with the parents out
of town, it’s the best time for the godling’s
rivals to try to kill him.
Ø In the middle of suburbia, MISSY JOINS
THE GIRL SCOUTS and sells tainted
cookies that put people under the Order’s
control. The Hunters must take down the
girl scouts and avoid the neighborhood
watch in a Mayberry from Hell.
Ø Doom descends on a gaming convention
in the form of A SUCCUBUS WHO
EATS MALE VIRGINS. The Brotherhood
must track her down and terminate her
before she eats away too much of the
clientele. Of course she’s not one of those
gals wearing a succubus costume, either.
Maybe that cute girl-next-door at the info
booth? Who knows?
Adventure Structure
They say there are only a few plots in the
world, and that all stories fit into one or more of
these; everything else is just bells and whistles. Well,
they’re your bells and whistles, and you need them
to stand out from the pack.
  I knew it! And everyone called me crazy!

144
Chapter Seven: Playing God
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
D esire
Everybody wants something, and that provides
a character with his motivation. He may be a Demon
Hunter who has lost his family to the demons, in
which case he may want a little payback. It could
be a librarian whose entire facility was burned to
the ground, and she wants to reconstruct what was
lost. The players have to come up with these kinds
of background traits for their in-game personas,
otherwise the Game Master hasn’t got anything upon
which to hang a story for those Demon Hunters.
Of course, deciding what the Hunters want is their
problem—so long as they don’t choose things that
are completely inappropriate for a hero or something
that won’t fit in with the sorts of plots the Game
Master wants to throw at them, he can concentrate
on what the bad guys want.
And yes, it’s not always hard to figure out the
sorts of things a demon wants. They live to cause
suffering, they want to create chaos, and they
struggle to gain a foothold here on Earth. But even
so, providing subtle shades of meaning to their
actions isn’t out of the question. A demon doesn’t
necessarily barrel forward, simply hoping his schemes
aren’t uncovered. Why does your demon
want to open a gate to Earth? Why
not simply whisper terrible things into
an accepting ear? Perhaps he thinks a
gate that would allow many
demons to thunder through
is worth the quick, brute- P urple N inja say: “Seriously?
force time and effort, and Did anyone notice that?”
subtlety is simply a chance
for his enemies to ruin his
plots. This further suggests he thinks enough of the
Hunters or their ilk to fear their interference (not
that he’ll admit it to anyone).
Perhaps your demon answers to someone, and
that fiend has his own purview for infernal power
(that of gates, in this case). It could be the result
of a wager or the outcome of the politics of Hell
(they have them, you know). Setting your demons
or cultists at odds with the Chapter shouldn’t be
something you hand-wave out of your way. It should
be intrinsic to the villain’s master plan.
C onflict
This, too, probably seems overly simple. The
villains want to engulf the world in eternal darkness
and the heroes want not to be engulfed in darkness,
  Yet another abandoned campaign slogan.
eternal or otherwise. Even if the plot is as obvious
as “evil for evil’s sake,” the motivations and desires
of your principals on both sides make every story
different from any others.
The Hunter out for revenge against the demon
who took his family wants foremost to find that
being. He’ll probably settle for a boot up the keister
of any hellspawn he happens across, but he may
also try to wheedle or torture information about
his target from any of that demon’s “friends” before
dispatching him back to the netherworld. The
librarian whose collection was lost may discover she
had more esoteric manuals on hand than she knew,
and regaining the annals leads her deeper into the
infernal world. It may also make her a target. Now
you throw in your gate demon and it’s a raucous
party of motivations, all butting heads with one other.
Make the elements work for you. Maybe these
three have nothing whatsoever in common, but that’s
dull. If you like you can have the demon target the
former site of the library—a tastier choice before,
with all those tomes of horrors, but still pregnant
with power after the fire, and this demon doesn’t
want to wait longer than he has to. Who set the fire?
A rival demon, sabotaging a fellow’s success? Or
maybe he knows he’d be one of those sent to
Earth, and he’s the one the Hunter is after.
Even if you don’t mix the characters
together so conveniently,
confrontations as either the focus
or backdrop make players feel
there’s something to gain by
following your leads. Maybe the
connections with these faceless
nobodies are thin and don’t lead to a big showdown
yet—but down the road this little dustup leads to
the bigger plots and masterminds, and the Hunters
now feel obligated. Expanding these ideas, arguments
with (or among) one’s superiors, deceits by rogue
agents, and seemingly mundane tensions with civilian
contingents can implicate or drive the Demon
Hunters without true evil ever entering the equation.
The results are still dangerous and exciting.
R ising A ction
At the beginning of the session, the Chapter goes
about its daily routine (relatively speaking). As things
progress, the action starts to rise, and keeps rising
 until it reaches a crescendo—the Game Master’s
finale—at which point the story is resolved and
someone buys a round of drinks.
To break this down a bit more, the action
should not continue up an unbroken slope. The
Demon Hunters wouldn’t have a chance to catch
their breath and the players would become mentally
exhausted. Instead, make sure each scene elevates
the excitement for its duration, then let the pace
drop … just not back to where it started. For
example, say the Chapter is doing some menial task
like shopping for coffee for the break room. This
is interrupted by news that a troll has been raiding
homeless shelters for whatever it can find. The cops
think it’s bunk and ignore the “petty thefts of street
people,” so the heroes step up.
Once the troll is dealt with, however, the
Hunters don’t simply pick up where they left off with
the coffee. They should be wondering about a troll
deep in the city. Was it lost? Working for someone?
Abandoned by a warder? What was it doing before?
The action has slipped, but it’s no longer an ordinary
day. If they can uncover who let it loose, they can
loosen his lips10. That means another confrontation
followed by another lapse, but though the action
falls once more, the tension doesn’t let up. The team
shouldn’t feel relaxed about their plight until they’ve
finished the adventure (at which point you should let
them know it’s over—but see Resolution, below).
The staggered activity goes up a lot and down a
little until the story reaches your suitably impressive
climax and the frazzled co-workers start asking
about the damned coffee.
C lim ax
You’re going to want a memorable ending to
your adventure, so pull out all the stops. Ideally it’s
the sort of thing the players talk about long after the
session has ended. A number of things can go into
the ending, so give thought to the following when
designing it.
Your villain is the key. There’s more about
designing good characters later in this chapter,
but here you’re concerned with how he fits into
events and interacts with the heroes in their finest
hour. Make him memorable. That’s not the same
as making him invincible or having him deliver
10  Thereby sinking ships, killing hundreds of sailors. Way
to go, Brotherhood!
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
the most heart-stopping threats, though going
over the top is always welcome in the Demon
Hunters universe. A simple human cult leader
with a redoubtable intelligence who seems able to
anticipate the Chapter’s every move is annoying,
and if he acts smug and self-possessed about it as
he deflects attempts on his life, his defeat is going
to be so satisfying. Make him clever, lucky, incisive,
vicious, even viscous … each villain should be a little
different, but he should always provide a challenge.
Every confrontation should be unique, forcing
players to evolve their tactics.
The mastermind shouldn’t be the only obstacle.
For one thing, he has thugs and henchmen. You
can overwhelm the Hunters with numbers, but not
only is that not terribly creative, it’s going to draw
combat out all night. If your group wants a bloodbath
145
you can still give it to them, but chances are as long
as they have their hands full, enough is as good as a
feast. A minion with special powers is one way to
Chapter Seven: Playing God
go. Maybe the protagonists are facing a shadow wolf
with the ability to trade places with its enemies, and
the team can’t draw a bead as it appears in different
spots again and again. Hostages also slow the good
guys down, though the targets can be civilians’ lives
or even a vial with the cure to a demonic disease.
Another important factor is the location. For
one thing, the villain almost always chooses it. The
Hunters may set a trap to draw their foes into the
open, but usually they track down their quarry to his
lair where he’s ready for them and has all his best
tricks close by. You could set the scene in a cave or
a warehouse, but that’s clichéd and works better
for earlier encounters with the minions and thugs.
Up the stakes by using an old castle in Scotland or
a mountain chalet in the Rockies. Let the heroes
play around on a famous monument, or parallel the
Minotaur’s labyrinth in the twisting tunnels under
Grand Central Station or the Pentagon. If you must
use a cave, cover it with ice. This is the mastermind’s
base, after all, so there may be other unusual
features like a gate leading to who-knows-where or
trap doors.
Throw everything into the mix. The bad guys
had a scheme, right? If they stole the parts to make
a hellfire cannon, what better way to test it than on
the Chapter? The Hunters will try to commandeer
it during the fight if they’re worth their paycheck.
Events are playing out at this point. The floor shakes
as the Fiend from the Eleventh Pit crawls out of its
 hole. The SWAT team followed the Chapter here
and now they need rescuing, too. It doesn’t all have
to be combat—there could be puzzles to solve—but
whatever happens, keep the pressure up, maintain
that sense of urgency, and don’t let the players
breathe.
Don’t get too locked into your own idea of how
events “should” play out. It’s a truism in role playing
that whatever you plan to have happen, the thing you
really need to have work, is exactly what the players
won’t do. Be prepared to let things go differently.
The more thought you give to the elements discussed
above, the more flexibility you’ll have when not all of
them come into use.
146 R esolution
This part of your adventure depends a bit
on what you’re expecting to do with your overall
campaign.
If you ran your game as a one-shot, something
Chapter Seven: Playing God
you intended to do just this once for your friends
over a weekend, you’ll want to wrap up most of
the plotlines and give a sense of closure to the
characters. Make sure the group feels satisfied by
what happened and their participation in it. That
said, you can always keep a couple of avenues open
in case they loved the experience and want more at
some point: Just make sure not to leave something
unaddressed that’s going to bother the players.
Maybe some minor demon, especially one that
served as comic relief, eluded them and is trying to
make a go of it by himself in a stolen R.V.
If it’s a longer game or full campaign, “resolution”
only means a temporary cessation of hostilities. The
Chapter may have beaten this adventure’s villain,
or at least routed his forces, but the threat remains.
There may be obvious clues to follow up to get to
another adventure, or you may want to think on it
between sessions and offer a completely new angle
to start off the next leg (it may all be linked together,
but you may want to concentrate on some other bit
of the operation).
Even if the story is only in the holding pattern
that naturally sits between exploits, you still want
the players to feel as though they accomplished
something and can celebrate with a beer and a
movie11. You can work this into the actual game,
11  Might we suggest “The Gamers,” available now on
DVD!
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
just to put the point home. Have someone higher
up congratulate or berate the heroes as necessary,
outlining what they know of the results, then cut
the crew loose: “Good job on the Hades Club
investigation. Jablon is imprisoned back inside the
Rock of Ages, and Dolores has regained her sight.
Overall we’re pleased, and we’re sure the rec center
can be rebuilt. Take a week off, you’ve earned it.”
If the players didn’t do well, or if you wish to draw
their attention to some outstanding points that could
resurrect their ongoing fight against the Dark, alter
the spiel.
Your players need to know where one adventure
ends and where the next might begin while you
keep open as many plotlines as you feel comfortable
juggling at once.
Scenes
You’ve seen how the overall adventure is put
together; now think about individual moments in
the game. Keep in mind how fickle players are, and
know that they’re not going to follow everything
according to your plan. Be prepared to toss ideas
into the circular file in favor of keeping the adventure
on track.
Think about how you’d like each scene to go in
a perfect world (which this is not). If it’s important
the Hunters meet with an occultist to get information
about their target demon, consider the most
entertaining way of making that happen. Would he
phone them, contacting them through the payphone
closest to where they’re standing? (He’s psychic,
after all.) Would he invite them to his shop? Could
a fight break out there, and are there cool things to
have happen there? Maybe he has an imp imprisoned
in a lava lamp on the desk and he doesn’t want it
getting out and complicating things. If he’s paranoid,
let them meet in a parking garage. Now you have
a whole deck full of fuel-filled, explosive deadly
weapons if things get dull. Sure enough, the team
blithely leaves town before this planned encounter
goes through, so be prepared for that … the occultist
may follow, or have the foresight to put a tape in
their car’s tape deck.
Who does the Chapter meet during the
adventure? Are there visits between old friends:
Perhaps a coy give-and-take between Hunters and
their snitch: Or does an old rivalry over forgotten
grudges resurface when meeting with an ex-partner?
Where does this take place? Cemeteries are good
 Subtext And Themes
Your stories need not be works of art if everyone is happy hammering the horrific back into its hole, but it
resonates better with an underlying theme. You may take the lead from players, their characters’ concepts,
or from the story you intend to tell.
Maybe this is the team’s first full foray into the supernatural and the table talk sounds bleak. No one expects
their characters to survive, so you want to tell a story about courage. The subtext you provide determines
whether it’s subtle or obvious (and even if it’s understated, an insightful player might find it noticeable).
Perhaps their briefing agent is terribly scarred from years of combat with demons, yet here he stands.
Maybe they discover one of their contacts is fighting for his life from a different threat, like cancer, but
doesn’t let it stand in the way of the business at hand. You can subsume their character concepts into the
story, too: If the hero’s background includes a childhood encounter with a demon, maybe he goes to save a
little girl and find she’s ready with a frying pan to fight the thing that’s come to take her mother. The theme
need not color every single facet of your adventure, but if it’s used often enough it shines through.
And it comes in a variety of flavors. You could tell a story about death, but how death is used determines what

147
you want to say. Are you warning the Hunters against becoming blasé about it? Then several people in
your story have seen too much death and are like walking corpses themselves. Is the concept supposed to
be the existence of the afterlife? The heroes may encounter zombies, or find an old woman who, instead
of being terrified by the supernatural, is quite content for her life to end if it means making a difference. Is
death just a part of life? Meetings take place in graveyards, and those killed during the narrative leave the
heroes something temporal in their will.
It’s really all incidental, but when everyone reflects on the adventure later, they’ll start to draw these

Chapter Seven: Playing God

connections themselves. They’ll be impressed with the effort you put into it, and players will talk up the
stories you craft.

choices, but a demon in this setting might prefer E vents

an Internet cafe (“I see dead people in Hell all the
time during work hours. I can do without the astral
moaning.”).
Most important is: Why? Why is this scene
a key in the current mystery? A fight scene atop
the Chrysler Building is cool, but it should have
context. The opponent should be there—or lure his
opponents there—for a reason, and there should
be much to gain from the confrontation other than
bragging rights. Does it remind him of the rocky
spire he occupied in Hell? Are there ancient runes
worked into the architecture? Is he trapped there by
a pentagram? Unless you simply need the players to
blow off some steam in a scene, map out why you
need things to go the way you planned … and again,
be ready for when they don’t.
Events, Adventures, and
Campaigns
These are the building blocks of a game. You
may never get to some of the more involved ones
if you have no wish to play Demon Hunters on a
regular basis, but at least look the guidelines over.
You can still learn something from the ideas about
continuing campaigns, and who knows? You may
decide to go whole hog.
A good way to craft an adventure is to start
with a focus, a point around which everything else
revolves. This may be something mundane like an
election of city officials, or something momentous
every demon has waited a millennium for, like a gate
alignment between Earth and some hellish plane of
existence. From there you can build outward. In the
case of an election, for example, you might decide
it’s going to happen a week from now, and some
psychic has warned the Chapter that evil shall ascend
that evening. Now the Hunters have seven days to
track down forces that might try to interfere. Does
a demon subvert the election results, or possess
the lead candidate, or just use the cover of all those
people on their lunch breaks to throw the city into
chaos? Alternately, today may be the election, and
that makes the problem more pressing. Maybe the
candidate has made a deal with dark forces and is
already lost, and ruining his election-day success
is just the first step to showing his evil owners the
team is onto them.
In the case of a mystic event, the concentration
is doubtless going to be stopping it from happening,
or at least stopping enemies from making good use
of it. Closing the gate may be possible, or it may
be that the portal opens regardless and no one

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)


148
Chapter Seven: Playing God
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
can stop the dimensions from spinning, so the best
the Hunters can do is kill anything that shows what
passes for a face.
You can mine characters for good ideas as
well. If a Demon Hunter is a gun nut, he might be
intrigued by a gun show passing through town,
while his partner, the one with skills in astronomy,
might invite everyone to witness an eclipse at the
local observatory. If one of the heroes is divorced,
that opens up all kinds of drama. These all enjoy the
triple benefits of centering the action on
something, involving the team directly,
and being odd or unusual ways to get
something rolling. The right event with
good staging solves half your
adventure-planning problems
for you in one go.
P urple N inja say:
that? Purple Ninja must find Chapter Six!”
A dventures
We’ve gone over adventures extensively already,
but the most important thing to remember about
them is to mix them up. Just as you wouldn’t want
to string three events together that were more or
less the same, you don’t want to have the Demon
Hunters head off on three missions that are only
superficially different.
Some of your adventures can tie into the overall
themes and plotlines of your campaign. The others
should break up that routine, with some missions that
have nothing at all to do with the demonic influence
of your Big Bad Guy and his minions. Build on earlier
missions, with subplots coming out to the fore for an
adventure or two. Bring back supporting characters
the players loved (or hated). Kill somebody off and
make the Demon Hunters think the world’s about to
come crashing down … and then make it right in the
next scene, only to get the ball rolling again next time
they’re assigned a job.
Choosing which adventure to run and in which
order should be motivated as much by your players
as by your campaign, but don’t forget that you’re
not doing this as a charity. If you aren’t enjoying
the adventures either, you need to prepare some
missions that include supporting characters and
events that interest you. You might be surprised at
how much the players will buy into that, too.
12  Spooooooooky chili!
C ampaigns
Campaigns are about stability. Things should
enjoy a sense of continuity. With occasional play you
don’t have to mind the store so closely, but if events
are ongoing the details mean more. Mr. Mahon still
mans his newsstand, the demon Akkadius depends
on human tears for sustenance, and the Red Angel
gang is in control of everything north of 10th Street.
If the secret base is under the subway station one
week, it better be there the next.
For it to be truly satisfying, though, a
campaign’s continuity must contribute to the
group’s entertainment. If someone’s character
has no life outside a single adventure, flipping
channels on the TV could just
as easily divert him (and have
“What is up with the same level of investment).
Events in the game should be
like a running commentary on
the Demon Hunters’ lives. If an old villain reappears
seeking revenge, the players know enough to be
frightened and intrigued at the same time. A victim
saved in one adventure could become a champion in
his own right, or he might just repay the heroes by
using his talents on their behalf (A Demon Hunter
could do worse than to save the life of a good
attorney.). Nothing says you’re doing something
meaningful more than having it make you life easier
later on.
Keep in mind games don’t happen in a vacuum.
The Demon Hunters are the stars, but if you want
your world to have an organic feel, it has to have a
life outside the heroes. Wars start and stop, notable
public figures die, buildings are erected, and kids are
born. Don’t overload your players with little details,
especially since that gives the mistaken sense that
there must be something sinister about the chili
cook-off you casually mentioned,12 but let them
know the world they keep saving is doing something
worthwhile with all those reprieves.
As a rule of thumb, you can safely bring up
outside events to show the effect Hunters have had
on their world. A groundbreaking ceremony after the
Chapter quietly consecrates that tract of land renews
everyone’s sense of hope; if the event is mentioned
before the Chapter has done anything, they pull
out the guns and spend the session waiting for giant
worms to break the surface.
 B reaking the M old
Game Masters have a lot of options on how to
tell a story, and taking chances with the narrative
can pay off big. You could tell it in reverse, showing
the players a scene from their heroes’ future as
they prepare to set off on an investigation. The
demon holds a priest by the neck, dangling him
over a precipice as feral hellhounds with glowing
eyes advance on the Chapter. The demon cries out,
“I cannot thank you enough for bringing me this
sacrifice … I could not have done it without you.”
And the hellhounds charge.
Then you tell the players, “Let’s back up to 48
hours ago.” Yes, you’ve given away a lot of your
story, but that’s not how the group sees it. Now
when they meet the priest for the first time, they
draw a sharp breath. How does he come to be
victimized? Are the demon’s words to be taken
literally, or did just knowing the investigators doom
Father Whosis? They can try to protect him, but if
Tell stories from other characters’ perspectives.
Have everyone play one of their loved ones for an
evening, debating about what their mysterious kin do
in the middle of the night. Place everyone in a role
in a past life, or a previous age. Have their minds
switched with those of condemned demons, putting
evil supporting characters in their home base and the
Chapter on the run. Anything you can do to present
a new challenge or a different way of looking at the
game, kicks the group out of its complacency—and
keeps them coming back next week to find out what
else can happen.
Playing the Parts
While the players play their Demon Hunters,
you as Game Master must play the part of every
other person or creature in the entire game world
149
and any associated hells.
But hey, no pressure.
This is part of what makes the job so daunting,

Chapter Seven: Playing God

the Game Master has him go looking for trouble,
there’s not much the Hunters can do to prevent him
from finding his destiny. Any poor mutt they meet
along the way is the object of suspicion—and that’s
just the way you want it. And what’s so important to
draw everyone out to this sheer drop in the woods?
Heck, where is this precipice?
but keep in mind you don’t have to play all these
people at once, or even concern yourself with what
the majority of them are doing. What you do need to
be mindful of is the players depend on you for their
interactions with the people they meet, the demons

Unusual Scenes—Flashbacks and Dreams

Although it’s not the track you want to take with a group of fresh-faced players, you can plumb your game
for a deeper level of play with judicious use of flashbacks and dreamscapes. This kind of thing requires the
players and the Game Master to enjoy some degree of trust and to employ a certain maturity of style.
In a flashback, you convey to the players some background or context for their current or upcoming
investigations by setting for them a scene that has already taken place. This may be a static moment,
wherein the Hunters are spectators to a descriptive bit of flavor text, or they may be asked to play their
characters or even supporting characters familiar to them. For example, you might describe an incident
aboard a train, showing the crew’s final moments as the pounding on the door allows it to burst inward
under the weight of several yellow-eyed creatures; screams and tearing fill the engine, followed by a
horrific screech as the transport goes off the rails. The flashback need not be recent—a peek into some
ancient rite that’s coming back to haunt the modern age is also effective.
Someone in a Demon Hunter’s shoes is no stranger to, well, something strange, so dreams can reveal data
in a creative way as well. They might be prophetic—for a full week a man has dreamt about a woman
beckoning him to enter the woods, a woods he finally encounters in the waking world—or they could just
offer clues about things to be on the lookout for. If all his dreams involve clocks, the Hunter will find his
focus keeps falling on time. Either way, a Hunter won’t ignore such visions, and puzzling out their meaning
whets the appetite.
Note that neither of these techniques actually reveals things that spoil the action for the team (not if they’re
done right, anyway). Although you might narrate a moment in which bloody sacrifices are made to some
dark god in the old Hermes Mines, it doesn’t spill the beans as to who the cultists in dark robes are; it
doesn’t identify the evil force; and frankly the Hunters knew the mines were bad news the moment they
entered and found the inscrutable symbols carved on the walls. The timeline between the flashback and
the current investigation is still a big question mark, and all manner of things may yet slither out.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 they face, and the citizens they save (we hope). The
more realistic your supporting characters are, the
more real your world seems to the group.
This doesn’t demand that you be a great actor
(though that helps). It means you have to make the
extras in your play come to life in some way. Allowing
each persona a “hook” gives the Chapter something
memorable upon which to hang their perceptions.
Sometimes it’s as simple as a peculiar accent or way
of speaking, and other times it could be as involved
as the selection of books in the library. It depends
on who they are and how important they are to the
story.
150 “S tock ” C har acters
Most of the people a Hunter comes across
during his investigations are just window dressing.
Taking a cab means someone has to be driving the
taxi, but if all he does is get Demon Hunters across
town you don’t need a complete character sheet or
Chapter Seven: Playing God
even a full paragraph about him. Simply tell players,
“The cab pulls to the curb in a noxious cloud, and
the disheveled man behind the wheel lowers his cell
phone long enough to grunt and nod when you tell
him your destination.” If he later becomes more
important—perhaps he takes the Chapter to a
cultist-infested warehouse and is taken prisoner with
the rest of the Chapter—you can worry about his
name or statistics. The same goes for the fast-food
employee they rescue, the receptionist, the lovers in
the park, and the hapless janitor.
Other stock characters are a little more broadly
useful, though again you may not need to know
anything substantial about them. For example, in
his lifetime a Demon Hunter meets a lot of cultists.
Chances are, not coincidentally, he also kills a lot
of them. You don’t need details about the dozen
robed and chanting figures surrounding the pool at
the YWCA beyond their combat numbers. Here’s a
trick: Last session, these guys could have been the
mobster’s henchmen. Change their Guns d6/Pistols
d8 to Melee Weapons d6/Knives d8, take away
their pistols, give them wicked sacrificial knives,
and presto—instant cultist. The rest is just window
dressing. You could use the same sheet for the
average police officer by tweaking gear and adding
or subtracting a few Traits, or for that poor cabbie
by moving his Skill dice around (or at least as much
as you need to—you might decide his job entails
brawling with a lot of drunks).
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Don’t spend a lot of time on the faces in the
crowd; if they seem like nobodies, the Demon
Hunters look a little cooler. Then when a supporting
character is highlighted, it draws the proper
attention. The innocent are more important from the
storytelling perspective. When the couple from out
of town and their small daughter find they’ve taken
a bad turn down a dark alley, it reminds the heroes
why they’re in this line of work.
I mpor tant C har acters
The ones you want your players to concentrate
on are the important characters, the “named” people
in your story. These may be stock characters placed
in the spotlight when you decide they’ve got a role to
play, but usually they’re more well-rounded people
you’ve inserted while designing the plot so your
adventure has someone to hinge on.
You need not feel obligated to fully develop a
supporting character if his participation is limited.
If the Chapter has to rescue a little boy from a
sorcerer’s predations, you should know more about
the kid. How fast he can run, at the very least. If he’s
really the gateway to a greater mystery, more details
can be added. Why did the mage want this particular
child? Does the kid have a connection to other
involved supporting characters? If the Chapter is just
going to drop the urchin off at mom and dad’s house,
nothing more has to be said.
At the other end of the scale are the Really
Important People, and these should all have a good
description available. Again, it may not be vital that
you create a whole character sheet for him, but he
needs to seem like a living, breathing person. He
may not go on combat missions with them, but the
Hunters still ought to know (or be able to learn) a
lot about their immediate superior. If you have his
statistics at the ready, he can fill roles that come up.
If the base is assaulted by troglodytes he can defend
it. Also, if you develop a whole sheet for him it gives
you insight into his makeup. You’ll find yourself giving
him skills that fit elements from his background
(and vice versa), and now everything has context.
One good rule of thumb is this—if the supporting
character has a name, then he deserves at least some
statistical representation beyond an attack roll and
Life Points.
Unlike stock characters, these details are no
longer inconsequential. If the coffee-shop girl doesn’t
ring true, that’s disappointing. But the mysterious
 stranger in the ascot with the funny accent, the only
one to survive the explosion? He’s going to figure
into the current mystery; he can’t be haughty and
aloof one moment and disarmingly forthcoming the
next without good reason. He needs to behave in
a consistent manner, and you need to be able to
portray him somewhat predictably. You wouldn’t tell
players their car was green in one scene and then
yellow the next; why would you give less attention
to the personalities of your major supporting
characters?
A ntagonists
These are going to be the most important
characters you play, so make them good. They’re
the Big Bad Evil Guys and Frustratingly Competent
Rivals of your campaign. Take to heart the previous
advice about consistency, but so much more goes
into your opposition.
Note that an antagonist isn’t necessarily a villain,
but he serves much the same purpose. He hinders
the heroes in some way, so he could just as easily be
an officious government figure who doesn’t believe
all this nonsense about haunted veterans’ hospitals.
Opposition like a fundamentalist mother or a prickly
museum curator could be an obstacle far more
irritating than the demons; they’re ostensibly on the
right side, but their attitudes broker no interference.
Make sure they’re in a position to cause serious
trouble to the Hunters. The smugger they are about
it, the better. Don’t forget to give the Chapter the
satisfaction of these thorns finally seeing it’s all true
by the end of the story.
But your real antagonist is going to be something
horrible (or someone who wants to see something
horrible). Not only does he deserve a full write-up
of his powers and statistics, he needs character,
hooks, style, substance—whatever you can give him
to make the opposition live in the players’ minds. A
fallen priest who wants to bring about the end of the
world is interesting, but one who does so because
he’s so afraid of dying from AIDS is something else.
Suppose a demon doesn’t try to kill you, but rather
recruit you? What if he’s charming and enticing?
The enemy isn’t human (and those that are act
like anything but), and that should be brought to
bear in disturbing ways. The creature may seem to
know things about the Hunter no one else should
know, and it’s apologetic about bringing the subject
up. Play upon things that have shown up earlier
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in the session. Maybe the hero hasn’t any family,
and the cast of characters in the diner tugs his
heartstrings early in the session. Then something
threatens to level the diner, and the trucker who
was good enough to lend you his cell phone, and the
waitress’ little girl, and …
Game Mechanics and
Storytelling
Fun is Rule One, and to that end you can ignore
this entire book. Technically.
From a more practical standpoint, the rules are
the framework provided to give structure to your
game. Not everyone follows the system precisely,
and there are times when it’s best to simply
disregard it altogether. Most often this involves
social interaction, when all the Hunters are doing is
151
talking to someone: a contact, a suspected cultist, a
receptionist. When it comes to combat, on the other
hand, the situation is more fluid and order must be
Chapter Seven: Playing God
brought to chaos with fairly inarguable tools—hence,
rules and dice.
As long as your players are okay with it, and
everyone is comfortable with the game and each
other, you should try forgoing all the page flipping
and rule checking. If a player is at ease in his
Demon Hunter’s skin and doing a good job of role
playing the character, don’t break the moment by
demanding he roll to see if his really good lie had the
desired effect. Just give it to him. (After all, if your
major demon is at the threshold of victory, he’s not
going to simply give up evil just because the hero
makes a great roll to convince him to do so, no
matter what the rules say.)
Players do like their dice, though, and everyone
enjoys the thrill when the outcome rests on a
single result, so there will be occasions when you’ll
want them to pick up the bones. Make sure these
are important moments, and the consequences
meaningful (though perhaps not critical). For
example, no matter how much success you credit
him with during an interview with a supporting
character, you could ask the player to make a
single Alertness + Influence roll at the end just to
gauge what sort of impression he left. It gives you
something to go by should some later event depend
on that scene.
 Miniatures in Play
Some players love ‘em and some hate ‘em. You still have to make the call, but since this is Demon Hunters…
Find out what your players want. You may want a dimly lit, atmospheric den in which to play, but if you whip out
the erasable maps and miniatures it’s going to kill some of the mood. If the group sees this as just a toy to
play with, it won’t convey the right feel. If everyone wants a lot of tactics and planning in their combats, using
this setup is probably worth losing a little in other areas.
At the very least players can bring a figurine that represents their character as they see it. Even if it never moves
from the space in front of them, everyone is going to glance about at them during play and recall that your
Hunter routinely carries paired-up sawed-off shotguns. As for making the addition of the maps a more
palatable choice, there are a few options.
Ø One is to use something other than an erasable map. Sure, those are great for drawing and redrawing
things quickly, but since it amounts to a few lines on a pretty plain surface you’re probably losing more
than you’re gaining anyway. Try one of the many textured products on the market. These are designed
to actually look—and feel—like the interior of a starship or dungeon, with surfaces that suggest stone

152 and such. These are only good for a limited number of settings, however, and they could be cost-
prohibitive.
Ø Several companies have their own line of customizable cardboard corridor and room pieces, or full
sheets that show the interior of a bar, hotel, lab, etc. You’ve more variety from which to pick here, and
the cost is less, but some players may be put off by the simplicity.
Ø Finally, you can print out PDF dungeons and adventure tiles from numerous sources, and if you don’t
want to go to that expense you can create your own using dark construction paper. These, too, may
Chapter Seven: Playing God

seem simple, but if they’re black enough you convey more of an atmosphere of menace as they absorb
a lot of the light. Make sure you can still measure how far someone can move. And you only need
the miniatures for the big scenes, like the finale. Don’t make your players suffer through you fiddling
with equipment (especially if it’s in the dark) just to depict their movement through the hotel lobby. If
possible, set up the scene before the game (magnetic sets or felt cutouts work well for this), then pull it
out, ready to go, when your climax is activated.

S kill R olls
If a task seems beneath a Hunter, don’t bother
making him roll. The gun-lover shouldn’t have to
make a roll to make sure his weapons are in proper
working order; it’s the sort of thing that comes
naturally to him. A scout, trained to be stealthy,
should roll against the elite guards at the compound,
not when he’s sneaking past drunken sailors onto a
fishing vessel. If you think it could prove interesting
go ahead, but a high skill, especially if it’s one that
helps define a character, should indicate a Demon
Hunter who has moved past the easy tasks. The
Chapter comprises heroes; don’t make them sweat
the small stuff. Frankly, that’s boring.
Make it an exchange with ups and downs. If
the Chapter wants to cross a ravine, especially one
that blocks them completely from their enemy, they
should be able to cross it (otherwise the adventure
ends here). But if no one thought to bring 50 feet
of rope, ask for a good explanation of the solution
they come up with. If it’s only passable, increase the
Difficulty and demand more thinking: “Okay, the
vines are a good makeshift, but they still fall short.
Marvin is now barely clinging to a rocky outcropping
opposite … what do you do?”
C ombat
It’s harder to pull this off convincingly without
dice, but not impossible. Certainly if the opposition
is beneath contempt, you can let the players express
themselves by describing how they win the bar
brawl. Throw them a curve or two, and see how
they handle these new factors. Demand a simple
action roll if you think it adds drama (Alertness +
Unarmed Combat? Intelligence + Melee Weapons?)
or if you believe the Chapter has offered predictable
or boring tactics, but otherwise make small
skirmishes like these a chance for storytelling, not an
all-night combat confrontation.
But if it’s a big fight, important in some way, you
can still run it without the dice. If someone describes
his action creatively, interpret it with flair and let it
pay off for him. Make sure complications arise, and
wait to see how he absorbs that into the narration
of his actions. And don’t let the Big Bad Guy go

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 down with one colorful blurb; make sure everyone’s
description plays into the outcome. Not only
should the Hunters be able to dictate their deeds
dramatically, they should meld what they say with
what others have said and done. Teamwork isn’t just
a theoretical construct; it’s part of this process. If the
players can’t say it convincingly, they can’t do it, dice
rolls or no.
Technology and Magic
Since the default Demon Hunters campaign
is set in our modern world, you’re going to have
to balance these two powerful tools in the eternal
struggle, and they’re a pair of double-edged swords.
Like any instrument humanity puts to use, they
can be used for good or evil … or used by good or
evil. The Demon Hunters may not have unlimited
resources at their disposal, but they can count on
certain benefits being made available to them, and
they’re going to run them into the ground until
someone (probably you) tells them to stop.
S cience
You’d think that humanity, being the savvy,
intelligent, modern folks that they are, would have
the distinct advantage in this arena. Yeah, you’d think
that.
Demons are not ignorant of technology. They’ve
been around for millennia, and they’ve seen people
develop ever-better medicines, vehicles, and
methods of destroying each other. They’re even
responsible for some of it. Technology represents
an advantage for Hunters insofar as A) the demons
haven’t had as much experience with it as they
have with magic (faint hope indeed), and B) neither
demons nor people know entirely what effect
modern science has on mystical creatures. Humans
are just so creative at playing “I wonder what this
button does?” that it’s hard to anticipate the results.
As the threats they face get better, so ought
the Hunters’ repertoire of high-tech gadgets.
Demons shouldn’t be immune to these things
just so the heroes have a hard time of things, but
successes against the Dark by the good guys should
be bought at a price. Can a demon be sedated? Do
bullets penetrate their skin? What if they are armor
piercing? Can magic be captured on camera? The
most entertaining answer is probably yes, but the
supernatural, fickle force that it is, may not always
work the same way twice. The Hunter is the
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important factor in every adventure, not his fancy
gadgetry, so he should be just as engaging describing
its use as he is at fast-talking the night watchman at
the graveyard.
And even you may want to see the heroes rake
a demon with a copter-mounted chain gun once in a
while.
M agic
“Fight fire with fire.” Sounds good, but try
putting it into practice. Hunters walk a thin line, with
mystically inclined evil on one side and desperate
humanity on the other, so of course the temptation
is to make use of any tool no matter how laden it
is with pitfalls. Like technology, the Brotherhood
should get to play with the cool toys some of the
time, but beware opening Pandora’s Box.
153
Magic—and by that we mean the mystic
arts, since “magic” is what practitioners in the
Demon Hunters universe call sleight of hand and
Chapter Seven: Playing God
prestidigitation—differs from technology in one
major regard, and that is the cost to the inept user.
It’s one thing to shoot oneself in the foot, quite
another to banish oneself to the Fifth Circle of Hell.
One part of the effect of the mystic arts is going to
be your outlook on it. Do you see them as a tool, or
a honey trap? The players most likely want to muck
about with it at least a little, but that doesn’t mean
both sides can’t have what they want.
The heroes need to show they can use the
mystic arts responsibly. If they view them as the
solution to all their problems, they should be rudely
awakened. Their foes are almost always better at the
arts than they are, and who knows how a rite might
be turned back on the enchanter? Creative exercise
of the power is rewarded (in that the rituals work),
while dull blasts of fire are yawn-worthy efforts at
best and punishable by a reversal of fortune at worst.
Another issue is how much should be used.
Mystic forces aren’t the default contrivance of choice
in Demon Hunters, so it may make sense for its use
to be hampered by reasonable constraints. Maybe
mind-reading is possible using a spell, but if there’s
a component cost—say, human blood—the heroes
shouldn’t be dabbling with it unless they’re fortunate
enough to have justifiably eliminated an enemy with
a sword thrust during the very scene in which they
need the hex. Being able to use the whammy for
more than spoon-bending takes practice. Ask the
players how much effort their Demon Hunters are

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willing to put into learning the dark arts. Would they
travel to a guru in Tibet? Slay the right demon? What
if that’s just the gateway to learning … would they
let a mystical education occupy a major piece of the
campaign?
Another option is to dole out the mystic arts to
the heroes a little at a time, and better still, to place
the power in some kind of vessel. This is a fancy way
of saying “magic sword.” An item or device they
could get a special benefit from lets them feel like
kids on Christmas morning without empowering
them unduly; a character with a demon-slaying sword
isn’t likely to cast spells with it or use it to kill casually.
It’s something the Game Master could take away
with little fuss (it gets destroyed when it kills its 10th
demon), and he could always bump up its usefulness
in special circumstances: “They say the Gate to
Elysium opens only when that which has tasted foul
ichors is placed against it.”
T he I nfernal and D ivine
In a game dealing with demons, it’s
only a question of time before this issue
comes up.
Hopefully the players
are mature enough that P urple Ninja say: “The demon charges
they can come to some you and impales you with sharp things. Rest it’s all part of the learning
understandings about the of your team find pieces of your corpse
cosmic issues of Good and scattered over three acres. You die.”
Evil (as spelled with capital
letters). If there’s some
doubt, talk it out with players beforehand. That said,
much like the mystic arts, a lot of what holds true in
the game depends on how you see matters celestial,
tempered by what the players would like to see.
The assumption is the two sides get painted with
fairly broad strokes in Demon Hunters. There’s good
and there’s evil. Bad people are punished, perhaps
by being cast into someplace unpleasant, while good
people fight the endless fight with faith and trust. It
may be that there’s no real otherworldly significance
to the battles waged in the earthly domain, but that
lacks some sense of meaning as it reduces demons
to evil beings that have no beginning or end. Some
mythology gives the war context, and if there are
“mechanics” to how the whole thing works it lays
out some vague rules for people to obey (“Murder
is wrong, but killing demons is good,” that kind of
thing.).
If getting too mired in the Big Questions isn’t
your group’s cup of tea, satisfy yourselves by
assuming demons come from Hell (or even hell) and
get sent back there when they fail a mission. There
they are punished until the evil tries once again with
another agent for a foothold in our dimension. But
even the thinnest veneer of pseudo-philosophical,
overly romanticized morality can make the whole
arrangement seem more dramatic from the narrative
point of view. Horror should have a set of internal
rules that must be obeyed or can be exploited
depending on the circumstances, but you don’t have
to enforce a system of religiosity. A cross or Star of
David is enough to ward off vampires and maybe
some demons, blessed or holy weapons have power
over otherwise redoubtably evil fiends, and the rest
you can simply handwave (or the Hunters can debate
about at the bar afterward).
Game Mastering Tips
Becoming a good Game Master is mostly
a matter of practice. Few are just born with
the skill, and even the best can use a little
polishing. Know from the
outset that you’re going to
screw up, and badly, and that
process. Make a note of the
things you do wrong, and in
between sessions decide how
you might do that better next
time it comes up. Players might not even know you
blew it, but you know there were things that would
have looked better to the group had you done them
differently. Ask players for their review of your
performance after a game and see if they have any
useful tips (or at least suggestions on how they would
rather things went). One of the nice things about
Game Mastering is that even your mistakes can be
the stuff of table talk for years to come, and it’s all in
good fun.
Despite all of that, here are a few tips to help
you avoid some of the pitfalls others have made
before you.
P acing
At least from the classical perspective, the
pattern to stories is that of rising and falling action
(see Adventure Structure, on page 143). A normal
day suddenly sees a spike in the action—a friend’s
 apartment is firebombed—and when the criminals
are caught, the action falls, but not all the way (you
have to find who ordered the attack). It goes up a
lot and down a little until someone evil and in charge
gets his butt handed to him; then things return to
normal (whatever that means to a Demon Hunter).
You have to decide on the rhythm. Breaking
the action up not only makes it a better story, it
keeps the players from becoming bored, confused,
or overwhelmed. They should feel their characters
are being challenged, not used like punching bags. To
this end, try not to put two similar scenes back-to-
back. If they just finished a fight, the next act should
feature some other kind of action; otherwise not
only does the adventure seem homogenized, the
Chapter hasn’t had time to rest, reequip, and heal.
The same goes for puzzles—the Hunters want to
see a return on their problem-solving ability, not
a second helping of homework. Don’t forget to
add moments of discussion, too, which may not
sound interesting but getting all one’s knowledge
from making rolls in the library isn’t riveting either.
If the source they’re talking to is a truly disturbing
individual, or the information he’s passing along is
of a troubling and eye-opening nature, seeing it all
laid plain isn’t going to sound dull. Simple debates
on strategy within the Chapter can become lively as
plans evolve.
These guidelines change slightly the closer you
get to the end; the bad guys aren’t going to play fair,
so get ready for several fights in a row as you near
the demon’s observatory. Even then, pacing means
hitting them with a curve now and then. Maybe they
need to figure out a quick riddle to open the door
to the next room, but now the herd of salamanders
racing down the great hall puts a rush on things.
Having events stack up behind each other gives
the sense of urgency your finale needs. Until then,
staggering the types of story elements keeps the
players guessing and puts them on the defensive.
D evelop Y our O wn S t y le
A lot of little things go into your Game
Mastering style; it’s defined by more than we can list.
But some items you’ll have to consider:
Humor: How much, what kind? Emulate the
movies or bring your own sense of comedic timing
to the group. It’s something that should be worked
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
out early on, but if everyone enjoyed the source
material you already have common ground. See
Comedy, on page 158.
Dice Rolls: How often? Will every doubtful
moment depend on dice rolls? It may be worth
skipping an Influence Skill roll against the parking
attendant—after all, the heroes kill demons for a
living. A good rule of thumb: If it doesn’t advance
the plot or change the course of events meaningfully,
skip the dice and simply state what happens.
To Fudge or not to Fudge? If you deliberately
misread your dice or fake a result for someone
else’s roll, make sure no one sees you do it. Players
don’t like to know they’re being railroaded or
mollycoddled, or the tension is lost. But if they miss
the critical shot to close the gate to Hades or the
villain can’t generate hellfire sufficient to incinerate
155
a traitorous underling, it kills the drama (unless
you want to play it up for laughs). And if you really
have no idea how to cover up your tracks, toss the
Chapter Seven: Playing God
players a Plot Point for their troubles.
Dramatic or realistic action? Jumping off a
ramp in your car to elude pursuit, getting thrown
through a plate of glass, leaping from explosions …
all the stuff of cinema (surviving it, anyway). It’s also
a lot of fun. If you plan to use real physics, let the
players know so they can talk you out of it. If they
have to spend a Plot Point to do so, that’s fine too.
As the game proceeds, you’ll find other things.
The group needs to know this stuff so everyone’s
comfortable with your style and they have a
reasonable idea of how you’ll react in any given
situation.
L earn F rom Y our P layers , B ut R un
Y our G ame
Even if you sat down with your group to discuss
the campaign before you ever started rolling dice,
you’ll change things along the way as circumstances
dictate. That’s fine as long as everyone’s having fun.
Just make sure you don’t sacrifice the game you
meant to run or the narrative suffers. Remember the
old saw that a problem should be met with “Yes, and
…” not “No, but …”
If there’s not enough combat, add some.
There’s always another cultist who thinks he’s the
equal of a seasoned Demon Hunter, so throw him
and his buddies in there. But what if this adventure
involves ferrying little children to safety? You may
have wanted to see what the Chapter was capable of

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Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
if they couldn’t subject their charges to such brutality.
The setting allows for this—imagine a scene where
some of the Demon Hunters are loading the kids on
the bus, cooing sweetly to them, while the others
are trying to keep the motel room fight from spilling
into that parking lot. Done right, that’s part of the sly
humor inherent in Demon Hunters.
Your players aren’t going to enjoy the game if
you don’t give them some of what they want, but if
you agree to everything it’s just as bad. They want
more puzzles and mysteries? No problem. It may
have been a standup fight you were planning, and
maybe their foes aren’t subtle people, but perhaps
the Chapter has to decipher a few clues about where
to find them. It doesn’t have to be a vast conspiracy,
just something that requires some thought.
Don’t be afraid to make the players work for
the things they ask for. If they want to fight a major
demon and you were hoping to kick things off with
lower-powered problems, make it clear to the
players they have to “earn” the right to battle the
heavyweights. Every small-time thug they come
across is a small cog in the major demon’s big plan;
when they do damage enough to command attention,
send competent shock troops against the Chapter.
They’ll feel like they’re getting their money’s worth
before they ever catch sight of the big cheese. Giving
players what they want without sacrificing elements
of your schemes is an art, but one easily mastered
with the right attitude.
A ct V ersus T ell
The best stories are the ones that simply unfold
before their audience. While you are the only insight
your players have into your game, that doesn’t mean
you have to give a dry recitation of every element
in a scene. It’s okay not to spell everything out. For
example, if the Demon Hunters are standing in a
cemetery, you could run down the gravedigger’s
sheet and tell your group what he’s wearing, how
dirty he is, what smells come from the grave, and
what’s notable about him. Or …
“A figure stands over an open grave. In the
moonlight, you still notice dirt clings to his limbs.
Dressed in tatters, he wields a long pole-like
instrument as the scents of meat and soil permeate
the air.”
Omitting that the tatters are from a loose work
shirt that has seen better days and the pole is simply
his shovel may seem unfair, but in the half-light that
may be all the Chapter sees (the smell is the chicken
his wife packed for dinner). They’ll find out more if
they approach, but they might also be seized with
caution and that’s good. It means they’re drawing
their own conclusions, just as a real person would in
uncertain circumstances (“I swear I thought he had
a scythe”). The misunderstanding simply reinforces
that this is a setting in which things aren’t always what
they seem, and shadows are never your friend.
The technique has other applications. Consider
the harried diner waitress. You can just say, “Your
server looks like she’s had a long day,” or you can try:
“The woman in the rumpled uniform stalks from
the trucker’s table and marches toward your Chapter,
snatching a pencil from her unkempt hair. Glaring at
you, she seems on the verge of barking. Instead she
bites her lip and her features soften. Very quietly, she
introduces herself as Norma and asks for your order.”
People don’t come with a list of traits tattooed
to their forehead in real life, and they should be just
as inscrutable in the game. You should give them
enough to work with, but compliment your players
by allowing them to pull relevant bits of information
from their surroundings through clues. Don’t draw
them a picture or your game feels like what it is: lists
and explanations. Suggestive narration makes the
participants an involved segment of the storytelling
experience. When they must think for themselves,
they are drawn further into your fiction.
Players should be encouraged to reciprocate
with such methods as well. “I try to stab him with my
sword” is dull, but “Malcolm drops from the rock,
sword pointed downward, onto the wolf’s neck” is
cool, and his intention is no less clear.
D isrup tive P layers
What do you do if one of your players is
unsettling the flow of play? The easy answer is to
kick him to the curb, but look first for an underlying
problem.
Off-topic conversation happens a lot in role
playing—people stuck in a room for four hours are
going to joke or quote movies or something no
matter how much fun the game is. This usually means
it’s time for a break. For the player who won’t stop,
 simply pull them aside (during the downtime—don’t
argue with him at the table) and tell him how his
behavior looks from your viewpoint. He may not
realize what he’s doing. Maybe he’s having a bad
week, in which case, depending on how close a
friend he is, you can talk to him or call the game for
the evening or just let that one player go home early
with an invitation to return next week.
It could be an issue with the game itself: He
wants something the current game doesn’t offer
(like more combat scenes), or his character and
goals don’t jibe with everyone else’s (his Hunter is
the diplomatic type and everyone else wants to play
“avenging angels”). Hopefully most such questions
were answered before the campaign began; even
so, maybe the player feels what he’s getting isn’t
what was promised. If he’s the only one who feels
that way, see if you can throw a little more of what
he likes his direction without disenfranchising the
others, mixing the elements together; if he demands
more and more attention, that’s a warning sign.
Sadly, sometimes a player simply doesn’t work
out. He has issues, or he doesn’t keep problems
in and out of the game in separate boxes. If this
happens and you can’t make peace among the
members, suggest the offending person take a
sabbatical from the game and try again in a few
months. Even in the worst-case scenario, where
things go completely off the rails, be diplomatic and
remember that no one is necessarily “right.” It may
simply be that this person and the group can’t work
well together, and parting ways is the best way to
solve that (especially if no one burns any bridges).
R ules , D ebates , and A rguments
No matter how well you get along with friends,
everyone has an argument now and then. In a role
playing game, the clash of personalities can be pretty
heated. The thing to keep in mind is that it’s only a
game.
The rules can’t cover every eventuality, so
you’re going to have to make some judgment
calls. If the printed rules don’t satisfy everyone’s
expectations, you can imagine something you offer
off-the-cuff isn’t going to receive unanimous approval
either. Fun is the watchword and keeping the game
moving is the best bet to make that happen, but if
you make a controversial call don’t assume those
who disagree with you are wrong. If you have
time, let them state their case, but ask that they be
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succinct. When each player has had his say, lay down
the law, and let the others know you’re willing to
discuss it at length after the session is over.
If the players seem to be of one mind on
a potential change for the game, you’d do well
to consider it. There’s nothing in this book that
demands you do it as printed. Your opinion is as valid
as the next player’s, so don’t sabotage your own fun
by changing something just to please others, but if
the group seems to prefer an alternative it may be
worth implementing. Make sure they know how you
feel about it first.
It’s possible yours is just one of those groups
that likes picking apart a system to see how it
holds up under the strain. In that case, extended
arguments might not be a bad thing. You know your
group best. But never let an argument keep the
157
game from progressing. Someone has to make a
call, and that may mean playing the bad guy in a real
sense from time to time,13 but it’s part of a Game
Chapter Seven: Playing God
Master’s job. Make sure your decisions are fair; base
them on the best information you have; and solicit
player input lest you alienate someone. Fun is rule
number one, and that one isn’t open to debate.
H ow to L ive with D eath
If you’re playing soldiers in the war of Good
verses Evil, someone is going to die, and it’s
not likely to happen from old age. Players are
understandably upset when they lose a favored
Demon Hunter—they put a lot of work into it,
and though it’s a fictional person they play games
as an escape from real life. You can help soften
the blow by ensuring that, when it does happen, it
resulted from lousy decision-making or dramatic
circumstances. No one wants to die simply because
they went left instead of right or a gremlin got lucky
on its attack roll.
A deceased Hunter may no longer take part, but
you can make his sacrifice more real and meaningful
by giving the Demon Hunter’s actions effects that
extend beyond his demise. When the Chapter
(including the dead guy’s replacement) revisits the
scene, the victims who survived the conflagration
will make mention of the man who saved their lives.
The Chapter can tell the freshman Hunter about
the guy he’s replacing, and some of the things he
13  Try tying argumentative players to the railroad tracks,
then laugh while stroking your curly mustache.

158
Chapter Seven: Playing God
does may even remind the Chapter of their departed
comrade. A memorial may reside where he gave his
life, or there may be a street or holiday named after
him. You could delve into the person’s life to pull out
something that could reappear at a time when the
Chapter needs it … an old weapon left in the vault,
or a useful piece of research whose value has not
been exhausted.
And since this is a world steeped in supernatural
mystery, it’s always possible someone doesn’t exactly
stay dead. Overuse cheapens both the character and
the genre, so don’t give a pass to everyone gored by
a demon horn, but don’t neglect traditional elements
of the genre either. Spells, magic, and weird powers
could all call up the Hunter as a spirit guide. A rift
in time might allow him one last adventure with his
old mates, while a misguided demonic pact might
resurrect him in less-than-top form.
None of this is to say every dead ally has to
reappear. A well-played Demon Hunter makes his
presence known without gimmicks. These methods
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
ought to improve play or ease things for someone
genuinely upset at the loss, but ultimately it’s only a
game and it can continue with new blood.
And if you don’t mind the cheesy cliché, maybe
the guy had a twin brother.
C omedy
In case it wasn’t obvious, Demon Hunters isn’t
exactly heart-stopping horror. There are moments
when it is, or should be, terribly funny. The problem
is incorporating humor effectively.
You and the players might not have much trouble
cracking jokes during a session, but that’s not the
best kind of laughter to have at the table. The laughs
should be, like everything else in a Hunter’s life,
bought at a cost. The jokes are usually dry, and may
result from observations or situations. But make
the players laugh at the right moments for the right
reasons.
There’s no quick way to teach humorous
writing, but if you allow the absurdity of the moment
to wash over you, something usually suggests
itself. Being pinned down behind a rock by a herd
of charging, half-sized redcaps; depending on a
ridiculous getaway vehicle to save your life; and
misinterpreting a complicated and obtuse prophecy
all lend themselves to comedic possibilities. You
should not deliberately (or at least maliciously)
embarrass your players, but you can trap them in
laughable events.
Too much table talk is the culprit for most
serious moments gone wrong. Remember that the
players are following your lead. If you use a hushed
tone, participants feel self-conscious about breaking
the church-like silence.
When your group does joke around, listen for
when and about what. If it’s about in-game elements
and it’s during a tense scene, don’t be too mad.
It’s possible they’re just nervous, and making light
of things to break the silence. It’s the equivalent
of whistling past the graveyard, but here that’s a
phrase that holds a special and disturbing resonance.
Giddiness often accompanies the genuine fear one is
about to lose a beloved character.
 Chapter eight:
Demons, Angels, and
Innocent Bystanders
159
T
he bullet ricocheted off the fender of the truck, inches above Gabriel’s head. This was turning out
to be a bit more complicated than the standard zombie run-and-gun they’d been expecting.
“Dammit, Sister! Stop shooting at us, we’re on the same side!”

Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,

Across the parking garage, Sister Mary Dillinger, Mother Superior of the Sisters of Divine Retribution
chambered another round. “The same side? You would dare to associate our holy quest with abominations
like that creature beside you?”

and Innocent Bystanders

Silent Jim stood up, waving. “Hi Mary!” Gabriel pulled him back to the ground as a second shot took
off Jim’s hat.
Gabriel rubbed his temples, fighting off the growing headache, and turned to his team. “All right guys,
let’s talk options.”
“Well, the way I see it, we’re pretty much boned.” Wolf flicked the butt of his cigar over their
makeshift barricade. A car exploded. “We’ve got a mall full of brain-eaters surrounding us, we’re low on
ammo, I’m running out of stuff to throw, and apparently the God Squad is keeping us pinned down, which
can mean only one thing.”
Albrecht raised his lip in a growl and pointed over Wolf’s shoulder. “Nunjas!” The elevator doors
behind them opened, revealing a trio of wimple-clad warriors who wasted no time in cutting a swath
through the ranks of the undead. A Latinate battle cry echoed through the cavernous space as a fistful of
shuriken embedded themselves harmlessly in the back of the Cipher’s head.
Gabriel turned to the dark figure on his left. “R.M., think you can handle the nuns?”
A zombie chose this moment to pop his head over the barricade, and Rigor Mortis absently tore it
off. Her voice came muffled beneath the layers of her Battle Burqa. “No can do, boss, those ladies are all
kinds of holy! Just looking at them is making my skin itch.”
Gabriel’s shoulders slumped in resignation. “Well guys, it’s been an honor to fight with you all. But it
looks like we’re done for. Unless—“
In a swirling cloud of smoke, a figure appeared, standing proudly astride the smoldering wreckage of
an SUV. He crouched into a battle position, his fists forming streaks of reddish-blue as he performed an
elaborate and deadly kata. “Hut-hut-hut-huh-hut-hut-hut-hut!”
“The Purple Ninja!”

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)


160
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
and Innocent Bystanders
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
This chapter needs no introduction.
. . .sorry, what? Oh, it does need an
introduction? Fine. This is the part of the book
where all of the statistics and backgrounds and
pre-generated supporting characters have been
stowed away, the part of the book that you flip to
immediately to find out the Strength of Anti-Tank
Sally, or what Complications Sam Hell has. If that’s
what you’re doing, get a hold of yourself! You need
to read the rules first! Come back when you’ve
done that, you idiot.
Assuming you’ve read the rules, you’ll find that
this Chapter includes critical information for the
generic and not-so-generic supporting characters
you’re going to want to drop into your Demon
Hunters tabletop combat simulations. Need a High
School Witch or Syphilitic Ninja Vampire? How
about an average recruit from the Order of the
Infernal Scepter? They’re all here. You can thank
me later.
Brotherhood of the
Celestial Torch
This is us. The Good Guys. Warriors of the
Light, fighting in the eternal battle of Good versus
Evil. The work is hard, the hours are long, and the
pay sucks, but we figure an eternity in Paradise
makes up for it. Congratulations, you chose the
right side. Meet your teammates.
Anti-Tank Sally
Classification Godling
Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch
Agi d6 Str d12 Vit d10 Ale d8 Int d10
Wil d8; LP 22; Init d6+d8
Traits Mad Skillz d4 (Heavy Weapons),
Marked By The Divine d12 (includes Blessed d6,
Brawler d12, Mystic Vortex d6, Old-Timer d6,
Rival d6), Memorable d8, Out For Blood d4, Tough
Sunnava … d4
Skills Covert d4, Discipline d6/Resistance d10,
Drive d6, Guns d6, Influence d6, Mad Heavy
Weapons d6/Rocket Launchers d12/Vehicle
Mounted d12, Mechanic d6, Perception d6/Tactics
d10, Pilot d4, Unarmed Combat d4
Description Crazy strong and quick-
tempered, the God-blood runs hot in Sally’s veins.
A descendant of the thunder god Thor, Sally is
quite a bit older than she appears, and she can
soak up damage like you wouldn’t believe. Having
worked as a mercenary for most of her life, Sally
earned her nickname during the Six-Day War
when she punched a hole through a Syrian tank.
She was introduced to the Brotherhood by Wolf in
 the early ‘80s after she impressed him by kicking
his ass in a bar fight in Managua. Sally was there
to fight the Contras, Wolf was there because he’d
heard chupacabras were good eatin’. Sally’s ditzy
appearance and destructive clumsiness belie a
brilliant strategic mind. She rose quickly through
the ranks of the Brotherhood, and was soon given
command of her own Chapter, Gamma Three.
Brotherhood Recruit
Classification Human
Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch
Agi d6 Str d8 Vit d8 Ale d6 Int d6 Wil d8;
LP 16; Init d6+d6
Traits Can Run Can Hide d4, Duty d8, Quick
Learner d4
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d10, Covert d6,
Drive d4, Guns d6/Shotguns d10, Influence d4,
Melee Weapons d6/Knives d8, Perception d6,
Survival d6, Unarmed Combat d6/Brawling d8
Description The kiosk in the mall advertised
a life of adventure and excitement, and a chance
to see the world. To a small town kid from the
Midwest, it sounded like a dream come true.
Sure, the guy with the sword didn’t seem too
enthusiastic about his sales pitch, and the tall,
quiet guy was a little off-putting, but if he passed
up this chance, he’d probably end up working at
the Gas-N-Go for the rest of his life. He signed his
X on the line and headed home to pack. Turns out
packing wasn’t necessary, since they broke into
his room that night, blindfolded him, and knocked
him out. He woke up in a dormitory with 20
other groggy, confused recruits. Training passed in
a blur, with crash courses in close combat, world
religions, firearms training, folklore, and protective
relics. He’s not sure he followed everything they
were saying, but they kept telling him it didn’t
matter since he’d probably be dead soon anyway.
He doesn’t care much for their motivational
techniques. In any case, apparently monsters are
real, and he gets to keep the world safe from
them. Yeah, this is way better than the Gas-N-Go.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Cipher (Standard)
Classification Android
Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch
Agi d6 Str d4 Vit d8 Ale d6 Int d10
Wil d8; LP 16; Init d6+d6
Traits Can’t Ever Hide the Bodies d6,
Cipher d10, Toe the Line d4
Skills Covert d6/Disable Device d10/
Sabotage d8, Discipline d4, Knowledge d6/
Culture d8/History d10/Religion d10, Mechanic
d4, Perception d6, Science d6/Math d10, Tech
d6/Hacking d10
Description He lives to serve. He doesn’t
actually have a choice in the matter. His base
programming is hardcoded into the neural net
of his positronic brain. Above all else, follow any
161
direct order from a superior officer. Unless that
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
order would put the life of another superior
officer at risk. Unless the officer being put at
risk has defied a direct order from his superior
and Innocent Bystanders
officer. Unless—well, it’s a complicated program.
But it all comes down to the same basic rule: he
lives to serve. Whether it’s hacking into the city
power grid to shut down enemy fortifications,
accessing the Brotherhood’s NecroMoniComSat
system to scan the area for evidence of dark
magic, or consulting the Brotherhood Database
to determine the best method for defeating
a Gorgon, the Cipher is the go-to-guy for all
matters technological. He’s also pretty damn
bulletproof.
Cipher (Glitchy)
Classification Android
Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch
Agi d6 Str d4 Vit d8 Ale d4 Int d10
Wil d10; LP 18; Init d6+d4
Traits Cipher d6, Wimpitude d6
Skills Artistry d4, Athletics d4, Covert d6/
Disable Device d10/Sabotage d8, Knowledge d6/
Culture d10/History d10/Religion d10, Mechanic d4,
Perception d6, Science d6/Math d10/Physics d10
Description He lives to serve, too. But
sometimes, he gets these overwhelming urges to
act differently. Maybe it’s corrosion in his wiring.
Maybe he hasn’t been upgraded to the latest
service pack. Maybe, just maybe, it’s the “Hecho
en Mexico” stamped on his chassis. Whatever
the cause, something’s different about this guy.
 Usually, the glitches aren’t anything dangerous,
but even the smallest problem could jeopardize
a mission. Recently a team of hunters cleaning
out a vampire nest was compromised when their
Cipher decided it wanted to listen to some Barry
White. Mr. White‘s dulcet baritone proved a
discordant companion to the screams of bleeding
Hunters. Should your Cipher exhibit any aberrant
behavior, it should be returned to the Cipherwerks
immediately for a full diagnostic.
C ipher (H uman ) Heavy Weapons d4, Influence d6/Intimidation d8,
Classification Human
Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch
162 Agi d6 Str d6 Vit d6 Ale d8 Int d8 Wil d8;
LP 14; Init d6+d8
Traits Human Cipher d6, Obscure Body Odor d2,
Wise-Ass d4
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d8/Run d8,
Covert d4, Knowledge d6/Culture d10/
History d10/Religion d10, Perception d4,
and Innocent Bystanders
Pilot d4, Science d6/Life Science d12/
Environment d12, Unarmed
Combat d4 P urple N inja say: “Remember.
Description There’s a Like so. Ho ho, ho-ha, hu ho ho. Now,
reason they use robots for you try. No, that completely wrong.
this. The human brain just isn’t Again. Ho ho, ho-ha, hu ho ho.”
built to process the immense
volume of information that the Cipher Goggles
pump out, and the Human Ciphers of yesteryear
found that out the hard way. As if the constant
migraines and nosebleeds weren’t bad enough,
most of those poor bastards ended up either
crazy or comatose, with the occasional exploding
head. He tries not to think too hard about that last
part as he stares at the puddle of molten slag that
used to be his team’s Cipher. They need to get
a message back to the Brotherhood, and he just
drew the short straw. As he slips the goggles over
his head, he just barely has time to register the
small “BioHost Detected” message flashing in his
peripheral vision. Then he starts screaming as the
cortical interface cables burrow through his skull
and deep into his brain.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Grizzled Veteran
Classification Human
Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch
Agi d8 Str d8 Vit d8 Ale d10 Int d6 Wil d8;
LP 18; Init d8+d10+d8
Traits Duty (Brotherhood) d8, Get-Out-of-
Death-Free-Pass d6, Lightning Reflexes d8, Tough
Sunnava … d4
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d8, Covert d4,
Discipline d4, Drive d4, Guns d6/Rifles d10,
Knowledge d4, Medicine d4, Perception d4, Ranged
Weapons d6, Survival d4, Unarmed Combat d4
Description He was killing monsters before
you were even born. His body is a roadmap of
battle scars. The semicircle on his throat was a
vamp attack. The lines on his right shoulder were
the claws of a werecougar. The big hole
in front, you know, where his eye used
to be, that was a Drop Bear. Cuddly little
bastard tore it right out of the socket and
swallowed it whole. Every
scar tells a story, and from
the look of things, he’s got
plenty of stories to tell.
And he wouldn’t trade a
single one. He believes in
the mission. Believes that one man can make a
difference. And he likes to think that he has.
K incaid
Classification Human
Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch
Agi d8 Str d6 Vit d6 Ale d8 Int d10
Wil d10; LP 16; Init d8+d8
Traits Duty d8, Initiate of the Mystic Arts d2,
Intuitive Leaps d4, Mad Skillz (Knowledge) d4,
Rebellious d4, Reputation d6
Skills Covert d4, Mad Knowledge d6/
History d10/Religion d12, Melee Weapons d4,
Mystic Arts d6/Detection d10/Offensive d10/
Summoning d10, Perception d4, Science d4,
Unarmed Combat d4
Description Retirement. It almost never
happens. It’s not like the Brotherhood tries to
hide the fact that demon hunting is dangerous,
but still, there aren’t that many Hunters who
wind up spending their pensions. Those who do
survive 35 years of Brotherhood service often find
 themselves stared at in wonder, and occasionally
suspicion, as if they did something wrong not to
have been killed along the way. Kincaid McHarg
couldn’t stand it. The Brotherhood doesn’t need
him anymore? Him? The warlock who retrieved
the Seven Mirrors of Tezcatlipoca and out-
riddled the Sphinx of Karnak? The wizard who
organized the Loch Ness breeding program and
successfully instituted supernatural recruitment in
the Brotherhood? The spellcaster who’s trained
more Chapter Heads than anyone since Miyamoto
Musashi? Bullshit, you’re going to retire me, you
wee nancy bastards! And so Kincaid bullied his
way back on semi-active duty as a Brotherhood
Tribune. And he’ll likely bully his way into other
Chapters’ affairs if they can’t get their shit in order,
which means perfect, which is impossible, so
count on Kincaid showing up at regular intervals.
Saint Peter
Classification Saint
Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch
Agi d6 Str d6 Vit d10 Ale d10 Int d10
Wil d12; LP 22; Init d6+d10
Traits Duty (Brotherhood) d12, Friends in
“High” Places d6, Got Religion d10, Idealist d6,
Memorable d2, Mystic Vortex d6, Old Timer d12,
Spooky Mystique d6
Skills Animal Handling d4, Covert d4, Craft d4,
Discipline d6/Morale d12, Influence d6/Leadership d10/
Bureaucracy d10, Knowledge d6/Law d12/Religion d12,
Perception d4, Survival d6/Fishing d10, Watercraft d4
Description Ever been a gatekeeper?
Sweet Lord is it ever boring work. You’re on the
list, come on in. You’re on the list, come on in.
163
Sorry sir, you’re not on the list, go to Hell. Over

Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,

and over, day in and day out. So when Peter
Purple Ninja was offered command of the Brotherhood, he
Classification Human chucked the Keys at his replacement and never

and Innocent Bystanders

Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch looked back. As Brotherhood Director, Peter
Agi d12 Str d8 Vit d8 Ale d10 Int d6 has implemented some sweeping changes. He
Wil d10; LP 18; Init d12+d10 established an Advisory Board, with members
Traits Brawler d6, Mad Skillz (Covert,
Unarmed Combat) d8, Mystic Vortex d6,
Shadow d10, So Damn Macho d10
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d10, Discipline d6,
Knowledge d6/Philosophy d8, Mad Covert d6/
Stealth d12, Mad Unarmed Combat d6/Ninjitsu d12,
Melee Weapons d6/Ninja Weapons d10,
Perception d6, Ranged Weapons d6/Ninja
Weapons d10
Description The Purple Ninja is a mystery,
wrapped in an enigma, shrouded in a purple
robe. He is the greatest Demon Hunter of all
time, yet no one in the Brotherhood knows
his true identity. Many claim to have witnessed
his death, yet he never fails to appear when
called upon. Still, there are whispers. Talk of a
secret dojo, hidden deep in the forests of Japan,
where dozens of students spend their entire
lives in training, learning the seven essential
forms of martial arts: The Crane, The Monkey,
The Django Django Django, The Chopper, The
Sweeper, The Dicer, and Tai Shu. Each hoping
that they will be the next to be called to don
the purple gi, and head into battle as the Purple
Ninja. Still, these are just rumors.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 drawn from the most respected Chapter leaders
in the Brotherhood. Under their guidance he
established the Brotherhood’s current policies of
acceptance, allowing supernatural agents to serve
in the Brotherhood for the first time. This decision
was met with resistance, but has gradually come
to be accepted throughout the Brotherhood.
As Director, Peter’s a pretty laid back guy, and
he’s big on forgiveness. An agent would have to
try pretty damn hard to get thrown out of the
Brotherhood.
Tree
Classification Tree
164 Alliance Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch
Agi d10 Str d12+d4 Vit d8 Ale d10 Int d8
Wil d8; LP 28; Init d10+d10
Traits Animate d12, Attuned to Nature d6,
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
Dull Sense (Touch/Taste) d6, Memorable d2,
Unintentionally Erotic d6
Skills Artistry d6, Covert d6/Disguise d10/
and Innocent Bystanders
Stealth d10, Discipline d4, Guns d6/Pistols d10,
Influence d6/Seduction d10, Perception d6/
Investigation d10, Survival d6/Tracking d10/
Woodcraft d10
Description The Oregon Vortex is the largest
and most active energy nexus in the entire North
American continent. It’s no surprise that it would
occasionally spit out something fantastic. Like,
say, a sentient, ambulatory tree. During a routine
Brotherhood recon mission to investigate the
Vortex’s most recent outburst of dark energy,
the team came across Tree wandering around
the forest. After determining that he wasn’t a
threat, the team tied him to the roof of their
van and drove him back to Regional HQ. The
Brotherhood’s top scientists weren’t able to make
heads or tails of him. As far as they could tell, he
was a normal Douglas Fir in every way, despite
his mobile nature. Since the Brotherhood didn’t
know what else to do with him, they put Tree
to work. Hostility towards supernaturals in the
Brotherhood at the time was quite high, and Tree
was no exception. Rather than join a Chapter,
Tree was accepted into Internal Affairs. There
he has been able to use his impressive skills in
espionage and infiltration to flush out traitors in
the Brotherhood. Tree is a master of disguise and
camouflage, and can disappear in practically any
environment.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Order of the Infernal
Scepter
The Brotherhood’s polar opposite. Everything
we work to protect, they strive to destroy. Chaos
and corruption are their only goals, and unlike us,
they aren’t limited by standards of morality. The
Order accepts anyone and anything into their
ranks. They prey on the mean and the stupid
in the mortal world, promising them a position
of authority in Hell. Supernats play a large role
in the Order, finding easier acceptance in their
ethical vacuum than under the strict rules of
the Brotherhood. They will use any tool at their
disposal, no matter how vile, to spread their evil
on Earth. We’re here to make sure they don’t
succeed.
The Amazing Velma
Classification Human
Alliance Order of the Infernal Scepter
Agi d6 Str d6 Vit d6 Ale d10 Int d8
Wil d12; LP 18; Init d6+d10
Traits Friends in “Low” Places d6, Glory
Hound d6, Greedy d4, Initiate of the Mystic Arts d2,
Mad Skillz (Mystic Arts) d4, Reputation d6, Too Mean
for Hell d4
Skills Animal Handling d6/Training d8, Covert d6/
Sleight of Hand d10, Knowledge d6/Culture d8, Mad
Mystic Arts d6/Alteration d10/Obscuring d10/
Offensive d12, Perception d6/Intuition d8,
Performance d6/Stage Magic d10, Science d4
Description Vegas can be a tough town for a
magician. If you want to get noticed, the illusions
have to be big, expensive, and totally mystifying.
And frankly, Velma wasn’t very good, but she was
willing to do whatever it took to claw her way to
the top. So when the stranger at the bar offered
her a chance to become the greatest magician
in town, she jumped at it. There was a ton of
paperwork involved, lots of stuff in confusing
legalese, some Latin, even a couple pages of what
looked like Klingon, but she signed every dotted
line, eager to reap the rewards. She really should
have read the fine print. Sure, now she puts on the
best show on the strip, but she’s also consigned
her immortal soul to burn for eternity in the fires
of Hell. But hey, at least with that pesky soul out of
the way, the little stuff like that doesn’t bother her.
 Plus, this isn’t any piddly smoke and mirrors crap,
this is the real thing. Floating and disappearing and
transmogrification, the full package. If anything,
the Vegas show bores her, since she has to rein in
her powers to keep things believable. She’s happy
to help when the Order needs to lay down some
serious magical hurt. It feels good to really stretch
out and use her powers to their full potential.
Demon of the Order
Classification Demon
Alliance Order of the Infernal Scepter
Agi d8 Str d10+d8 Vit d10+d8 Ale d6
Int d4 Wil d8; LP 26; Init d8+d6
Traits Branded by the Infernal d10, So Damn
Macho d10
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d10, Influence d6/
Intimidation d10, Melee Weapons d6, Perception d6/
Search d10, Survival d6/Outdoor Life d8, Unarmed
Combat d6/Brawling d10/Clawing d10/Grappling d10
Description If you know what’s good for
you, you’ll run. Just turn around, start running,
and don’t look back, because all you’ll see is the
demon tearing apart whoever was slower than
you. Of course, if you knew what was good for
you, you wouldn’t be a Demon Hunter in the
first place, so you may as well know what you’re
up against. These denizens of the Pit are the
meanest, strongest, toughest bastards you’re
likely to come across. They’re fireproof, they’re
quick healing, and holy crap are they ever fast!
You’d have to be crazy to summon a demon to
earth, and unfortunately there’s no shortage of
crazy in the world. If you’re lucky, the demon
will be bound in some way; to a talisman, a
person, a place, anything that will limit the scope
of his wrath. An unfettered demon is far more
dangerous than one under a mortal’s control.
Mortal beings just don’t have the imagination for
devastation that a demon does. Now, don’t get
us wrong. It’s not all hopeless. Your best chance
of taking down a demon is an object of faith.
Whether it’s a sanctified sword, a blessed gun,
or a sacred rocket-propelled grenade launcher,
holy weaponry will take a chunk out of even
the strongest demon. And when it comes to
consecrated arsenals, the Brotherhood can’t be
beat. So chin-up buddy! Fighting demons is only
mostly hopeless!
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Sam Hell
Classification Human
Alliance Order of the Infernal Scepter
Agi d8 Str d12 Vit d10 Ale d8 Int d6
Wil d10; LP 20; Init d8+d8+d4
Traits Brawler d6, Fades Out d12, Friends in
“Low” Places d6, Lightning Reflexes d4, Out for
Blood d8, Too Mean for Hell d12
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d10, Covert d6/
Sabotage d12/Stealth d12, Drive d4, Guns d4, Heavy
Weapons d4, Influence d6/Intimidation d12,
Survival d6/Tracking d10, Unarmed Combat d6/
Grappling d12
Description A giant of a man, Sam is Chaos
personified. Yet you’d never spot him in a crowd.
He’s the stranger in town no one remembers.
165
The homeless man you avoid eye contact with.
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
You could look him in the eye, and forget him the
minute you turn away. This is his gift. Even before
he joined the Order, Sam showed promise. He
and Innocent Bystanders
was well on his way to becoming the most prolific
serial killer in history. He lived only to hear the
last, choking gasp of his victims as he squeezed
the life from them. Several agents of the Order
learned this firsthand when they attempted
to recruit him to their cause. As their leading
Special Ops agent, Sam is a master of infiltration
and subterfuge. Thanks to his infernally granted
powers, there is no facility, no matter how heavily
guarded, he can not gain access to. He disappears
in shadow, and moves without making a sound.
You’d never even know he was there until you felt
his hand close around your throat. And then, it
would be too late.
Missy
Classification Changeling
Alliance Order of the Infernal Scepter
Agi d8 Str d10 Vit d8 Ale d6 Int d6
Wil d10; LP 18; Init d8+d6
Traits Allergy (Cold Iron) d4, Damsel in
Distress d4, Friends in “Low” Places d4, Second
Sight d4, Shorty d2, Stubborn SOB d4, Shadow d6,
Too Mean For Hell d12
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d10/Gymnastics d10,
Covert d6/Stealth d8, Guns d4, Heavy Weapons
d4, Influence d6/Persuasion d12, Knowledge d4,
Performance d6/Acting d10, Tech d4, Unarmed
Combat d6/Grappling d8

166
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
and Innocent Bystanders
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Description Missy never did seem right.
Her parents first noticed it when she was a baby.
She’d never cry. She would just lay in her crib
and stare out at the world with a cold, calculating
intelligence that seemed alien on the face of such
a small child. As she grew, it became apparent that
Missy was no ordinary child. She started speaking
at 12 weeks, and could bend apart the bars of her
crib by the time she was six months old. No, she
was no ordinary child. In fact, she isn’t a child at
all. Missy is a Changeling, a child of the fae, left
as a replacement for the couple’s stolen infant.
Missy’s parents, being devout Catholics, thought
their daughter had been possessed by a demon,
and called in a priest to perform an exorcism.
The priest, however, was secretly an agent of the
Order, and he stole away with the child in the
night. Missy has been raised by the Order ever
since, and trained in the arts of subterfuge and
misdirection. No one ever suspects the little girl,
and Missy plays that to her advantage. Her cute
face and innocent demeanor have granted her
access to otherwise impenetrable areas. On rare
occasions she has been caught by Brotherhood
operatives, but it seems her fairy nature makes
her difficult to keep captive. The most successful
capture involved binding her with chains of cold
iron, but even then she managed to escape from
the custody of Chapter Alpha One during a routine
prisoner transport. She remains at large, and
should be considered extremely dangerous.
Order Recruit
Classification Human
Alliance Order of the Infernal Scepter
Agi d8 Str d8 Vit d6 Ale d8 Int d6 Wil d6;
LP 14; Init d8+d8
Traits Brawler d4, Fast On Your Feet d2,
Formidable Presence d2, Friends In “Low” Places
d4, Out For Blood d4, Too Mean For Hell d12,
Tough Sunnava … d4
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d8/Running d8/Weight
Lifting d8, Covert d6/Sabotage d8, Discipline d6,
Drive d6, Guns d6/Assault Rifles d10/Machine
Guns d8/Pistols d8/Shotguns d8, Influence d4,
Mechanic d4, Melee Weapons d6, Unarmed
Combat d6
Description He used to burn ants with a
magnifying glass. He thought it was funny—the
way they’d run around with the flames leaping up
from their backs. That got boring pretty quickly
though, and soon he was running over frogs
with the lawnmower and tying firecrackers to
the tails of stray cats. It was really only a matter
of time before the little psychopath murdered
someone. The Order got to him first. Offered
him an outlet for all of that destructive energy. It
was the first time anyone showed an interest in
his hobbies, and he found that he liked it. They
didn’t just teach him how to fight, they taught
him how to fight dirty. Showed him the most
vulnerable parts of an enemy’s body. Ran him
through countless attack drills. These days he
could find an opponent’s eye socket in his sleep.
Weapon’s training was next. The most lethal
firearms, loaded with the most deadly ammo.
Hollow points, poison tips, white phosphorous.
He’s used them all. He hurts things for a living
now. And he loves it.

Johnny “The Demon” Ossesso
Classification Demon
Alliance Order of the Infernal Scepter
Agi d8 Str d10+d6 Vit d10+d6 Ale d8
Int d6 Wil d6; LP 22; Init d8+d8+d4
Traits Branded by the Infernal d6, Infamy d4,
Lightning Reflexes d4, Out for Blood d4, Stubborn
S.O.B. d6, Too Mean for Hell d4
Skills Athletics d6, Covert d4, Discipline d6/
Interrogation d12, Drive d6, Guns d6/Submachine
Guns d10, Influence d6/Intimidation d12, Melee
Weapons d4, Perception d4, Unarmed Combat d6/
Boxing d10
Description Johnny was a mean kid, with the
muscles to back it up. By the time he hit junior
high, he’d been running his own protection racket
for years, so moving up to the big leagues was a
no-brainer. He started out working as muscle for
Capone’s Chicago outfit, and made a name for
himself pretty quickly for the degree of violence
he employed against Capone’s enemies. When
Gronthar the Devourer took possession of his
body in 1928, no one even noticed the difference.
It was about five years before people even started
to talk about how Johnny didn’t seem to be aging.
How they’d seen him take a bullet to the chest
and not even wince. The scent of brimstone
seemed to surround Johnny in a cloud. They called
him “The Demon,” and as the years passed the
name seemed to fit even better. Johnny’s attacks
became more vicious. Simple collection jobs
became major cleanup jobs for the city coroner.
The Mob couldn’t risk being associated with such
high-visibility crimes. Eventually, Johnny stopped
getting assignments. That’s when the Order came
calling. Since then, Johnny’s made a nice home
for himself with the Order, where no amount of
violence is considered too excessive.
Clan of the Golden Fang
A recent entry to the supernat scene, the
Clan of the Golden Fang has rapidly distinguished
itself as a singular threat to the Mortal World.
While they hold no particular animosity toward
the Brotherhood, instead seeming bizarrely
focused on a Midwestern dessert company,
any creature preying upon the living will not
be tolerated. The Clan of the Golden Fang has
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
proven difficult to track effectively. While most
vampire clans leave a trail of bodies in their wake,
the ninja vampires of the Clan of the Golden Fang
never kill while feeding. In fact, victims of the ninja
vampires are rarely aware that they have been
attacked at all, experiencing only a slight feeling
of light-headedness and mild anemia. They are as
swift and silent in feeding as they are in killing.
Master Wu
Classification Vampire
Alliance Clan of the Golden Fang
Agi d12+d6 Str d8+d6 Vit d8 Ale d10
Int d6 Wil d10; LP 18; Init d12+d10+d6
Traits Anger Issues d4, For the Cause! d6,
Movie Villain Tendencies d6, Natural Leader d10,
Paranoid d4, Vampire d6
167
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d10, Covert d6/
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
Stealth d12, Craft d4, Discipline d6/Leadership d10,
Influence d6, Knowledge d6/Philosophy d10,
Melee Weapons d4, Perception d4, Unarmed
and Innocent Bystanders
Combat d6/Ninjitsu d12
Description Lenny Wutarski’s business was
in trouble. For years, the Golden Wing Dojo had
been the hottest place in town for students of
the martial arts to study the ancient ways of the
Orient. Judo, Kendo, Ninjutsu, Lenny taught a
little bit of everything. Business was booming,
until a “Dave’s Heavenly Cheesecake Delicatessen
and Celestial Kenjutsu School” franchise opened
up right across the boardwalk. There was no
way he could compete with “Dave’s” low, low
prices and delicious New York Style Cheesecake
Samplers. The solution to his problem struck
him as he stumbled home from a casino one
night. Well, it didn’t so much strike him as pull
him into an alleyway and sink its fangs into his
neck. Lenny Wutarski died that night, but Master
Wu was born. And he was born with a purpose:
to raise a vast army of the night, trained in the
ancient ways of the ninja. He will sire them, train
them, and together they will march on “Dave’s”
World Headquarters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The
vengeance of Master Wu will be swift, silent, and
bloody.
 Ninja Vampire
Classification Vampire
Alliance Clan of the Golden Fang
Agi d8+d6 Str d8+d6 Vit d8 Ale d8
Int d4 Wil d6; LP 14; Init d8+d8+d6
Traits Amorous d6, Duty (Golden Fang) d8,
Fades Out d6, For the Cause! d6, Glory Hound
d4, Vampire d6
Skills Athletics d6/Climbing d10/Dodge d10,
Covert d6/Stealth d10, Influence d6, Knowledge d6,
Melee Weapons d6, Perception d6, Ranged
Combat d4, Unarmed Combat d6/Ninjitsu d10
Description Master Wu has trained them

168 well. They live in darkness, stalking the night

with an inhuman grace to feast on the blood of
the living. They are ghosts, silent as the wind,
and no sign remains of their passing. They strike
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,

from the shadows and disappear in a flash of

smoke, leaving only chaos and confusion in their
wake. Attacking with fang, fist, and feet, the
and Innocent Bystanders

Ninja Vampire is the perfect killing machine.

Or at least they would be if they could just shut
up about themselves long enough to attack
someone. Arrogant Eurotrash.

Syphilitic Ninja Vampire

Classification Vampire
Alliance Clan of the Golden Fang
Agi d8+d6 Str d10+d6 Vit d10 Ale d8
Int d6 Wil d6; LP 16; Init d8+d8+d6
Traits Amorous d6, Duty (Golden Fang) d8,
Fades Out d6, Fast On Your Feet d2, For the
Cause! d6, Obscure Body Odor d2, Vampire d6
Skills Athletics d6/Climbing d10/Dodge d10,
Covert d6/Stealth d10, Influence d6/Persuasion
d8/Seduction d10, Knowledge d6, Melee Weapons d6,
Perception d6, Ranged Combat d4, Unarmed
Combat d6/Ninjitsu d10
Description Just as deadly and obnoxious
as the standard Ninja Vampires of the Clan
of the Golden Fang, Syphilitic Ninja Vampires
merit an additional caution. Do not, under any
circumstances, have sex with a Syphilitic Ninja
Vampire. Alternately, if sex is unavoidable, use
protection. Remember, when used properly
condoms can dramatically reduce the risk of
sexually transmitted infection when having sex
with a vampire ninja, so play safe.
The Pound
Anarcho-primitivistic eco-terrorist
werewolves. That’s the Pound in a nutshell—A
highly organized global network of regional cells,
or “Dens”, carrying out acts of corporate and
industrial sabotage in an attempt to bring about the
complete destruction of human civilization. These
bastards are crazy. From the greenest Runts to the
most experienced alphas, every member of the
Pound is willing to die for the cause. Of course,
with the strength, speed, and regenerative abilities
of a lycanthrope, dying isn’t a big risk.
Pound Agent
Classification Lycanthrope (Stage Two)
Alliance The Pound
Agi d8 Str d10 Vit d10 Ale d6 Int d4
Wil d4; LP 14; Init d8+d6
Traits Attuned to Nature d4, Duty d8,
Lycanthropy d8, Toe the Line d4

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Skills Animals d4, Athletics d6/Dodge d8, Covert
d6, Discipline d4, Drive d2, Influence d6/Intimidation
d8, Knowledge d4, Medicine d4, Perception d6,
Survival d4, Unarmed Combat d6/Clawing d8
Description If it hadn’t been for The Pound,
she’d be dead by now. It was almost a year ago
that she was infected. She thought it was just a
mugging, until the attacker sank his teeth into her
arm. By the next day the bite marks were gone,
but the damage was just beginning. Her head
ached from the smallest sound, and everything
around her smelled so strongly, she was sure she
was having a stroke. She collapsed outside of the
Emergency Room from the overpowering wail of
an ambulance siren. If Patches hadn’t sniffed her
out, she’d probably be a goner. He helped her
up and took her to a Pound safehouse. Helped
her through the transition and taught her about
the virus. The changes it was making to her body.
She was stronger now, faster, and damn near
invulnerable. And then, he showed her the vision.
A green earth, cleansed of mankind’s poisoned
touch. Running the streets of the world’s cities,
packs of werecreatures hunting herds of deer.
Mankind and werekind living in harmony with
nature. And he showed her the plan. Lots of
people were going to die, but it was the right way.
The only way.
Sisters of Divine
Retribution
These ladies are serious about their hunting.
The Brotherhood’s mission is to protect the
world from Evil. That wasn’t good enough for the
Sisters. They broke away from the Brotherhood,
denouncing St. Peter’s calls for supernat tolerance
as heretical and calling our supernatural agents
“abominations.” They claim to be called to
destroy all that is unnatural in the eyes of the
Lord. These are some extreme nuns. The
Brotherhood has worked joint missions with them
on occasion, but the Sisters aren’t above taking
shots at supernatural agents when they think no
one’s looking. Be on your guard.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Sister Mary Dillinger
Classification Human
Alliance Sisters of Divine Retribution
Agi d10 Str d6 Vit d6 Ale d12 Int d10
Wil d8; LP 14; Init d10+d12
Traits Duty (Sisterhood) d8, Focused Hunter
(witch/warlock) d2, Formidable Presence d6,
Natural Leader d8, Got Religion d4
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d2, Covert d6/
Stealth d8, Discipline d6/Leadership d8,
Drive d4, Guns d6/Pistol d8/Sniper Rifle d12,
Heavy Weapons d4, Knowledge d6/Religion d10,
Melee Weapons d4, Perception d6/Tactics d8,
Unarmed Combat d6
Description “Thou shalt not suffer a witch
to live.” It doesn’t get much plainer than that.
169
Yet somehow the Brotherhood has strayed from
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
the path. The Director openly employs psychics,
warlocks, and other abominations. Offering
refuge and sanctuary to the very creatures they
and Innocent Bystanders
were tasked by God with destroying. The Sisters
show no mercy for these creatures. Under the
leadership of Sister Mary Dillinger, the Sisterhood
has cleansed the earth of thousands of unholy
mistakes. Though the Sister’s hold various pacts of
nonaggression with the Brotherhood, and will, on
occasion, even fight alongside them, the Mother
Superior is not above ordering the targeting of
supernatural Brotherhood agents. She isn’t afraid
to get her hands dirty either. She can frequently
be found with the Sisters in the field, picking
off long-range targets as the Sisterhood’s top
sharpshooter.
Nun with a Gun
Classification Human
Alliance Sisters of Divine Retribution
Agi d8 Str d6 Vit d8 Ale d8 Int d6 Wil d6;
LP 14; Init d8+d8
Traits Duty (Sisterhood) d2, Got Religion d2,
Idealist (The Lord Shall Provide) d2, Reputation d2
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d8, Discipline d6,
Drive d4, Guns d6/Machine Guns d8/Pistol d8/
Rifle d8, Influence d4, Heavy Weapons d4,
Knowledge d6/Religion d8, Melee Weapons d4,
Perception d4, Unarmed Combat d6/Nunjitsu d8
Description The footsoldiers of the
Sisterhood. Modern Amazons, battling evil
through prayer, ministry, and raw firepower. Their

170
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
and Innocent Bystanders
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
motto: “If it’s not in the Good Book, it’s Bad.”
Countless creatures of the night have fallen under
the barrage of their blessed bullets. Vampires fear
the Sisterhood above all other foes, as they burn
bright with a holy righteousness unmatched by
anything in the Brotherhood.
Revout
Classification Human
Alliance Sisters of Divine Retribution
Agi d10 Str d8 Vit d8 Ale d8 Int d6 Wil d8;
LP 16; Init d10+d8
Traits Duty (Sisterhood) d4, Got Religion d4,
Mad Skillz d8, Out for Blood d4, Reputation d4,
Toe the Line d4
Skills Mad Athletics d6/Dodge d10/
Gymnastics d10, Discipline d6, Drive d4,
Guns d6/Pistol d8/Rifle d8, Heavy Weapons d4,
Knowledge d6/Religion d8, Melee Weapons d6,
Perception d4, Mad Unarmed Combat d6/Nunjitsu
d12
Description The elite forces of the
Sisterhood. Trained in the seven essential forms of
martial arts and armed to the teeth, they are holy
vengeance personified. None who have evoked
their wrath have lived to tell of it. Feared by the
Order and the Brotherhood alike, the Revout, or
“Nunjas”, are an unstoppable force in the field of
battle; reverent warriors without compare.
Foolish Mortals
People like to think they live at the top of the
food chain. It’s our job to keep them deluded. If
they had any idea what was actually going bump in
the night, how many monsters actually lived under
their bed, their little lizard brains would take over,
setting off a world-wide panic like nothing that’s
ever been seen before. Humanity isn’t ready to
know how the world really works. It’s up to us to
keep them in the dark.
Frightened Teenager
Classification Human
Alliance None
Agi d6 Str d6 Vit d6 Ale d4 Int d6 Wil d4;
LP 10; Init d6+d4
Traits Coward d4, Friends in Strange Places d4
  For all that is Holy, never let them hear you call them that.
Skills Artistry d4, Athletics d6, Craft d4, Drive d4,
Mechanic d4, Watercraft d4
Description All he wanted to do was hang
out at the lake and get drunk. Maybe he’d finally
get to second base with Stacy. That’s pretty much
out of the question now, since the last he saw of
Stacy was her legs sliding down the gullet of some
kind of lake monster. And now these guys with
guns showed up in a big bus with some weird
kind of flaming sword symbol on the side of it and
started shooting at the creature. He’s tired, and
he’s drunk, and he’s scared, and the explosions are
too loud, and he just wants to go home and change
his pants. This is the worst prom night ever!
High School Witch
Classification Human
Alliance None
Agi d6 Str d4 Vit d4 Ale d6 Int d6 Wil d6;
LP 10; Init d6+d6
Traits Initiate of the Mystic Arts d2, Klutz d6,
Loose Grasp on Reality d4
Skills Artistry d4, Craft d4, Influence d4,
Knowledge d4, Mystic Arts d4, Performance d4,
Tech d4
Description She thanks the Goddess for that
bitch Sarah. If Sarah hadn’t totally been making out
with Amber’s boyfriend in the quad, then Amber
wouldn’t have dropped her backpack into the
mud to go kick Sarah’s skanky ass, and the mud
wouldn’t have splashed all over her favorite striped
socks and totally ruined them, which means she
wouldn’t have had to go to Hot Topic to get a new
pair for, like, way more than she paid for the first
pair, and so she never would have passed by that
creepy used book-store at the end of the mall
where all the losers from the football team hang
around the Orange Julius. So thanks to slut-bag
Sarah, she found the most wicked looking old
book. It’s bound in this old leather that the guy
behind the counter tried to tell her was flayed
human skin except it totally isn’t because eww,
and there’s a pentacle carved into the front of
it and this awesome sounding title: “De Vermis
Mysteriis.” Man, the other girls in the coven are
totally going to flip when they see this thing! She
can’t wait to try out a spell!

Local Sheriff
Classification Human
Alliance None
Agi d6 Str d6 Vit d6 Ale d6 Int d6 Wil d6;
LP 12; Init d6+d6
Traits Addiction (caffeine) d2, Reputation d2
Skills Athletics d4, Drive d4, Guns d4,
Influence d4, Knowledge d4, Perception d4,
Unarmed Combat d4
Description Looks like it’s going to be one
of those nights. The Sheriff just picked up a bunch
of crazy druggies out at McClinty’s farm. Damn
fool kids were firing their fancy guns into the corn
field and ranting some sorta crazy nonsense about
a scarecrow wearing the clothes of a hanged
man. Said they have to burn the clothes before
it kills again. A shot into the air from the Sheriff’s
double-barrel put an end to that nonsense real
quick. He’ll just confiscate their guns and make
them sleep it off in the drunk tank. By morning
they should sober up and they can get that big-old
hippie bus of theirs back on the road. Probably
some sort of rock band, what with all the leather
clothes and that weird sword picture on the bus.
Dang kids and their rock music!
Mad Scientist
Classification Human
Alliance None
Agi d4 Str d4 Vit d6 Ale d6 Int d8 Wil d4;
LP 10; Init d4+d6
Traits Mad Skillz (Science) d4, Paranoid d4
Skills Discipline d4, Influence d4, Mad
Science d6/(choose one specialty) d10, Tech d4
Description They all laughed at him. Called
his theories the work of a madman. Well could
a madman have raised an unstoppable army
of Atomic Supergeese? Or crossbred Bacillus
anthracis and Lactobacillus to create the world’s
deadliest cup of yogurt? Or grafted a live octopus
to the back of a squirrel? Okay, maybe a madman
could do those things, but it would have to be a
pretty smart madman! Fortunately, Mad Science
attracts some of the smartest madmen in the
world, from every scientific field imaginable!
Mad Physicists trying to split the Earth in two
via harmonic resonance! Mad Geneticists
breeding mutant Überbeasts of every kind! Mad
Astronomers looking for crazy new planets! No
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
matter their modus operandi, all Mad Scientists
have three things in common: an assortment of
technologically advanced weaponry, a snazzy
laboratory full of blinking lights and Jacob’s
Ladders, and a scheme for world domination
that’s so crazy that it just … might … work!
Overzealous Hunter
Classification Human
Alliance None
Agi d6 Str d6 Vit d6 Ale d6 Int d4 Wil d4;
LP 12; Init d6+d6+d4
Traits Comfort Object (gun) d4, Crude d4,
Lightning Reflexes d4, Tough Sunnava. . . d4
Skills Animals d6, Craft d4, Guns d6, Melee
Weapons d4, Perception d4, Survival d6, Unarmed
Combat d4
171
Description He was all set to spend the
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
weekend getting drunk, taking wild shots at
passing deer, and coming home empty-handed
on Sunday night. That all changed when that
and Innocent Bystanders
flash of brown passed through the scope of his
rifle and he pulled the trigger. It wasn’t a deer,
that was for sure. At first he thought he’d killed
another hunter, but this thing was bigger than
any man he’d ever met. Seven feet tall easy,
naked, and covered in matted, dark brown hair.
Holy crap, he’d bagged a Sasquatch! It was all so
exciting in the daylight. Now that night has fallen,
things aren’t looking so good. Something’s out
there. Deep guttural grunts are coming from the
treeline around the camp. Strange shapes are
moving around just at the edge of the firelight.
The grunting is getting louder, and pinecones are
raining down on the roof of the tent. He bagged
a Sasquatch, and now he’s pretty sure it had a
family.
Tabloid Reporter
Classification Human
Alliance None
Agi d6 Str d4 Vit d6 Ale d8 Int d6 Wil d4;
LP 10; Init d6+d8
Traits Greedy d4, Sharp Sense (sight) d4
Skills Covert d6, Discipline d6, Influence d4,
Perception d4, Tech d4
Description Rumor has it that the Old
Johnson Place is haunted. They say Old Man
Johnson went crazy one night and ran Mrs.
Johnson through the meat grinder in the kitchen.
 Well this intrepid reporter just found out the truth.
Mrs. Johnson wasn’t the Old Man’s only victim.
Looks like there were at least five more, since
she’s currently watching six limbless ghosts parade
down the hallway while she snaps pictures like
crazy. Chances are pretty good that nothing will
show up on the developed film, but if even one
picture turns out, she’s looking at a front page
spread. That kind of exposure gets noticed. Like,
maybe noticed by a team of holy warriors who can
help to put those tortured souls to rest. Or not,
who cares, she’s getting paid!
Tourist with a Camera
172 Classification Human
Alliance None
Agi d6 Str d4 Vit d6 Ale d6 Int d6
Wil d4; LP 10; Init d6+d6
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
Traits Attuned to Technology d2,
Damsel in Distress d4, Lightweight d2,
Lazy d4
and Innocent Bystanders
Skills Artistry d4, Covert d4,
Craft d4,
Drive d4, Perception d4,
Science d4, Tech d4
Description He
cycles through his photos
for the hundredth time.
There’s no way he saw
what he thinks he just
saw. And yet, there it is
again. Right there on the
LCD screen. It looks like
a giant earthworm, easily
200 feet long and at
least six feet across. It
just stuck its head right
out through a hole in the
canyon wall and crawled down
to the river. But believe it or
not, that wasn’t the amazing
part. The thing he can’t wrap
his head around, the reason he
keeps rewinding the tape, is the
five figures clinging to the outside
of the giant worm. It’s hard to tell
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
on this tiny screen, but it looks like they’re
stabbing it with swords. Is this still Arizona?
Because it seems more like the Twilight Zone.
Tweedy Academic
Classification Human
Alliance None
Agi d4 Str d4 Vit d4 Ale d6 Int d8
Wil d8; LP 12; Init d4+d6
Traits Damned d4, Wealthy d4
Skills Covert d4, Discipline d4, Knowledge d6/
History d10, Science d6
Description “May all who violate the tomb
of the great Pharaoh Khafra suffer his wrath.”
That was the hieroglyphic inscription over the
door of the tomb. Only the great Pharaoh Khafra
isn’t in his tomb anymore. His sarcophagus is
currently in the back of a truck, en route to
the Museum of Ancient History, where one of
the country’s leading Egyptologists is making
the necessary preparations to study it in detail.
Of course, when he opens the back of the
truck, the sarcophagus will be empty,
and Khafra will be pissed. That’s just
the way these stories work.
Chris Weiner
Classification Human
Alliance None
Agi d6 Str d4 Vit d6 Ale d6
Int d6 Wil d4; LP 10; Init d6+d6
Traits Coward d4, Fast On
Your Feet d2, Good-Natured d4,
Inconsequential d4, Quick Leaner d6,
Wimpitude d4
Skills Animals d4, Athletics d4,
Covert d4, Craft d4, Drive d4,
Influence d4, Knowledge d6/
Accounting d8, Perception d4,
Performance d6, Science d4, Survival d4,
Tech d4, Unarmed Combat d4,
Watercraft d4
Description Chris has a five year plan.
Graduate with his degree in accounting from
Pacific Northwest University; get a nice, safe
cubicle job somewhere, crunching numbers;
maybe even marry his college sweetheart,
Katie. You know, if she tells him that that’s the
plan. Yep, Chris knows exactly where he’s
headed—a nice, boring, and dependable
 life of average normalcy. There’s no chance that
he’s about to stumble headlong into a violent and
bloody world of living nightmares. I mean, he can’t
even stand the sight of blood. It makes him all
woozy.
Random Supernats
Though it might seem like it sometimes, not
every supernatural creature is part of a cult, clan,
or clique, fiendishly plotting your demise. Most
supernats are free agents, just living by instinct and
trying to survive. They’re not necessarily good,
and they aren’t naturally evil either. But once they
start attacking humans, it’s our job to clean up the
mess. And there’s usually plenty of mess to clean
up.
Half-Demon
Classification Demon
Alliance None
Agi d4 Str d6+d4 Vit d6 Ale d6 Int d4
Wil d6; LP 12; Init d4+d6
Traits Anger Issues d4, Branded by the
Infernal (includes Allergy [Holiness] d2, Eerie
Presence d4, Immune [Fire] d8, Memorable d4,
add Trait die to Strength) d4
Skills Athletics d4, Covert d4, Discipline d4,
Guns d4, Influence d4, Perception d4, Unarmed
Combat d4
Description Half-demons aren’t as common
as they used to be, but they’re not exactly an
endangered species. Chances are good that
someone you know has some demon blood in
them. The chiseled Adonis hitting on chicks at the
gym who never seems to work out? Half-Demon.
The 110-pound soccer mom who lifts a van off
her kid? Half-Demon. Vin Diesel? You’ve got the
hang of it. Back in the day, you could spot a half-
demon coming from a mile away. Eight, maybe
nine feet tall, solid muscle, an imposing spectacle
to say the least. These days though, it’s rare to
find one much bigger than your average human.
The infernal gene pool must be drying out. Half-
demons are abnormally strong, but most of the
time you’ll be pretty evenly matched. Just your
average fight against a guy with fire-resistant skin,
horn buds, and an anger-management problem.
They’re in no way invulnerable, and holy stuff
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
burns them real good. Since all Brotherhood
weaponry is blessed by St. Peter himself, you
should be all set.
Vampire
Classification Vampire
Alliance None
Agi d6+d6 Str d4+d6 Vit d6 Ale d6
Int d6 Wil d4; LP 10; Init d6+d6+d6
Traits Amorous d6, Vampire d6
Skills Athletics d4, Influence d6/Seduction d8,
Knowledge d4, Performance d4, Unarmed
Combat d4
Description Vampirism is a disease, and
unfortunately there is no cure. A vampire’s fangs
are hollow, much like those of a rattlesnake. Most
of the time, when a vampire feeds from a human,
173
nothing will happen. Either the human will recover
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
feeling slightly lightheaded, with symptoms of
anemia, or, if blood loss is sufficient, he will die.
On occasion however, if the vampire so desires, it
and Innocent Bystanders
will inject a serum into the human’s bloodstream
via his fangs. Once in the human’s system, the
virus contained in the serum goes to work. The
human’s body changes, developing the classic
symptoms of vampirism. Sensitivities to sunlight,
garlic, and spiritual belief. Super strength, speed,
and agility. Rapid healing. And the Thirst. Were
it not for the Thirst, vampires would make ideal
Demon Hunters. For many years this obstacle
seemed insurmountable. All vampires, even those
who had never injured a human being, nor shown
any desire to, had to be killed. There was no way
of providing sustenance to a hemovore without
injuring a human. Only in the past half-century
have advances been made that allow vampiric
agents to survive without human blood. Vitamin
V, a Brotherhood invention, is an artificial blood
substitute that provides all the nutritional benefits
of human blood, in an entirely artificial format.
Now, vampires are assigned to many Brotherhood
Chapters, and have proven to be of inestimable
value in the field.

174
Chapter Eight: Demons, Angels,
and Innocent Bystanders
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Werewolf
Classification Lycanthrope (Stage Two)
Alliance None
Agi d6 Str d6 Vit d8 Ale d6 Int d4 Wil d4;
LP 12; Init d6+d6
Traits Lycanthrope d8, On the Run d4, Too
Mean for Hell d4
Skills Athletics d4, Drive d4, Guns d4,
Medicine d4, Perception d4, Survival d4, Unarmed
Combat d4
Description The werewolf, despite being
the most common form of lycanthrope, is widely
misunderstood. Many legends exist
surrounding these creatures, few of
them true. For instance, a werewolf’s
transformation has nothing
to do with the phases of
the moon. Transformation P urple N inja say: “The demon
occurs in three distinct stages, disarms you and makes happy ending
determined entirely by the with your insidey parts. You die.”
spread of the werevirus.
Stage One Lycanthropes are
distinguished by thick growth of hair on the face
and hands, and experience heightened olfactory
and auditory abilities. The ability to regenerate
damaged tissue presents itself in this stage.
Using the Brotherhood’s vaccine, 100 percent of
infections can be halted at this stage. Stage Two
Lycanthropes experience rapid hair growth over
the entire surface of the body. The canine teeth
elongate and the nose begins to protrude and
darken in color. At this point in the transformation
the victim can become quite violent, especially in
the presence of fresh blood. Almost 80 percent
of infections can be stopped at this point by
the vaccine. Final Stage lycanthropes undergo
complete transformation into the animal form.
Radical restructuring of the skeletal and muscular
systems take place over a very short period of
time. The resulting creature possesses the full
mental capabilities of a man, but the raw animal
power of a beast. At this point, the vaccine is
useless. However, Final Stage lycanthropes have
full control over their transformation, and are able
to change from human, to animal form, and any
stage in between with ease.
Z ombie
Classification Undead
Alliance None
Agi d4 Str d6+d8 Vit d8 Ale d4 Int d4
Wil d6; LP 22; Init d4+d4
Traits Addiction (brains) d6, Animate d8,
Obscure Body Odor d2
Skills Athletics d4, Survival d4, Unarmed
Combat d4
Description Be they of the Science or
Voodoo variety, zombies are pretty much
good for nothing. I mean sure,
they put up a hell of a fight.
Nigh invulnerable, a zombie
can only be stopped by
destroying its brain. But really,
how fearsome can an army of
the shambling undead be with
a top speed of around four miles an hour? Should
one of these nasty little brain-gummers somehow
get its hands on you, for the love of god, stay away
from the teeth. Zombification is the end result
of a cocktail of toxins, bacteria, and necromantic
energy that Brotherhood scientists haven’t even
begun to unravel. So if a zombie bites you, you’re
screwed. Sorry, nice knowing you. If you’d be so
kind as to use your last bullet on yourself, we’d be
much obliged. So, being a completely unnatural
walking corpse with zero capability for higher
brain function or rehabilitation, not to mention
the fact that it carries a disease that is both highly
contagious and incurable, is it any wonder that
zombies are the only creature on the planet to
warrant an official “shoot to kill” policy in the
Brotherhood?
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
 Harkadian Chapter Leader
Agility: d6 Skills &
Strength: d6 Specialties
Vitality: Athletics: d4
d6 Covert: d2
Alertness: d6 Discipline: d6
Intelligence: Concentration: d8
d8 Leadership: d8
Willpower: d10 Drive: d2
Guns: d4
Influence: d6
Life Points: 16 Knowledge: d6
Initiative: d6+d6 Culture: d8
Religion: d8
Endurance: d6+d10 Medicine: d4
Resistance: Melee Weapons: d4
d6+d6 Mystic Arts: d6
Necromancy: d8
Summary Offensive: d8
It struck Harkadian hard when his sister Jillian died. They had become close as children after their Perception: d6
parents had been killed, and though Granny had taken care of them as best she could in her old age,
Harkadian and Jillian had looked after each other.
Harkadian refused to accept his sister’s death, and began a seven-year tour of the world. He went Assets &
to Egypt to study the Book of the Dead. In Tibet, he deciphered the Bardo Thodol and learned to recite Complications
it. He studied the ways of the Bokor in Haiti, learning to serve the loa with both hands. In Ouro Preto,
he became a pupil of Quimbanda, and acquired knowledge of offerings to Exu. Focused Hunter
When Harkadian returned, he was a new person. Though never rambunctious, he was now (Animates): d4
focused. He was not rude, by any means. In fact, having been exposed to so many cultures, he made it a
point to always observe the finest details of etiquette. He got a job as a mortician and began to work his
Duty: d8
plan. Eerie Presence: d4
Harkadian used the bodies in the mortuary for experimentation. After months, he finally Initate of the
synthesized a ritual that would bring his sister back. Though Granny was horrified when Harkadian told Mystic Arts: d2
her of his work, she was eager to have Jillian back. They went to the graveyard, and Harkadian worked
his necromancy. And it succeeded! His sister rose from the grave ... along with seventy-four other Steady Calm: d6
nearby corpses. Though they were raised, none had a strong enough will to maintain their personality,
and each became a mindless zombie.
This set off alarms at the Brotherhood, who sent a chapter to investigate. They found Harkadian battling the hordes of zombies by himself,
desperately trying to protect Granny. As the Brotherhood joined Harkadian in battle, Harkadian tried to stop his sister without injuring her, hoping
he could refine the ritual. She threw him aside, and mauled their Granny. In a fit of rage, Harkadian struck and felled Jillian. Through refusing to
sacrifice his sister, he had cost both Jillian and Granny their lives. By refusing to choose one or the other, he had lost both.
The Brotherhood offered him rehabilitation. Harkadian had always been a great student. He was now, however, highly detached and icily calm.
Always polite, and precise, Harkadian is now ready to make sacrifices. No matter how hard the outcome of the decision, he will make the choice,
even if it requires sacrificing himself or a teammate. The choice will be made, and the job will get done.

Gear
Harkadian carries a small 9mm pistol, a Jericho 941FB (d6 damage; range increment 12 yards*). He also carries a portable taxidermy kit
for repairing Ned, the tools, charms, and amulets of the necromantic arts, and a locket with pictures of his sister and grandmother—a constant
reminder of the importance of keeping a rational mind in battle.

Chapter Sigma Thirteen

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
 Rituals
Harkadian has extensively studied all forms of death magic (at least, those he could get his hands on). As a result, he has a vast
collection of rituals available to him. They are all cast in similar ways—they operate as complex actions (see Chapter Four: We Ride, in the
Demon Hunters Role Playing Game book), but each has their own “flair.” Here are two example rituals; for rules on how to create more, see
the rulebook.

S ense of M or talit y
Roll: Alertness + Mystic Arts
Difficulty: Easy (15)
Time per roll: 30 seconds
To cast this ritual, Harkadian must stand within a closed circle. Anything will do, but he carries some chalk to make this easier. The circle
made, crouching or sitting, he holds out in front of him a string from which hangs a small piece of bone. The ritual drains a portion of his life
force as he begins it; he loses 1 Life Point. As he concentrates on the ritual, the bone begins swaying back and forth in an unfelt wind. When
it is complete, Harkadian gains the ability to sense nearby necromantic phenomenon for up to an hour, as long as he keeps the string and
bone hanging from his hand. He can instantly sense if something cat-sized or larger dies within thirty yards and determine what species it was.
He can instantly sense if anything has died in the area in the past hour as well as what species it was and the quantity. He can also sense the
presence, direction, and distance of undead creatures within 50 yards. He cannot determine the exact number or type of creatures.

R epair N ed
Roll: Intelligence + Mystic Arts
Difficulty: Formidable (75)
Time per roll: 10 minutes
To cast this ritual, Harkadian requires several things: as much of Ned’s remains as he can find, enough other body parts to make up the
rest, a needle and thread, an electrical current strong enough to run a toaster, and a small jar with a dozen live fruit-flies in it—the kind that
only live for one day. With these components, and enough uninterrupted time to do his work, Harkadian can bring Ned back to un-life, good
as new and at full health. While working, he essentially performs the mortician’s task of piecing a body back together for viewing, combined
with the bonus of being allowed to use other bodies as well. While most rituals of this Difficulty require a much greater sacrifice than a dozen
fruit-flies, Harkadian believes it somehow uses Ned’s recent death as a sacrifice to fuel itself. Or maybe that’s why he always dies again so
soon....

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

Chapter Sigma Thirteen
 NedDamage Sponge
Agility: d4 Skills &
Strength: d4 Specialties
Vitality: d6 Artistry: d6
Model Building: d8
Alertness: d6 Athletics: d6
Intelligence: d12 Craft: d6
Discipline: d6
Willpower: d10 Resistance: d8
Influence: d2
Life Points: Knowledge: d6
24 Accounting: d12
Initiative: d4+d6 Geek Culture: d12
Law: d8
Endurance: d6+d10 Perception: d2
Resistance: d6+d6 Science: d6
Physics: d8
Unarmed Combat: d2
Summary
Ned has always been the best. Through high school he was the Math Society president,
elected Archwizard of the DnD Guild, and was Valedictorian. He was no slouch at athletics either,
Assets &
winning the state championship in chess. After scoring a 1600 on his SATs, he attended Yale, Complications
graduating Magni cum Sancti Sterci, with an advanced Accounting degree in only two years. He
didn’t have a single date, or go to a single party. Animate: d8 (doesn’t add to str)
Upon graduation, he was offered a very large sum of money to do the books for “a large Bureaucratic Mind: d6
project.” The secrecy and scale intrigued Ned. Soon, he found himself keeping the books for the Damned: d4
Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch, a multi-dimensional organization with millions of employees.
And the things he saw in the files! Danger and demons and forces of evil! Ned was a great
Klutz: d8
accountant, but after five years in the Brotherhood accounting department, he was done with Obscure Body Odor: d2
that. He knew he had always been meant for something more. He was meant to be a Demon
Hunter.
Some tried to dissuade Ned, but he knew he could make it. He had keen tactical skills, thanks to chess and Risk. He had the endurance
of a god, able to go almost eleven minutes on the treadmill. Most importantly, he was almost untouchable in battle, having done Tae Bo for years,
and studied countless Jackie Chan movies, developing his own Spotted-Eagle Style.
As Ned expected, his intimate knowledge of the Brotherhood’s inner workings paid off. His application was accepted, and he was entered
into field agent training. However, his Spotted Eagle Style was not all he thought it would be. Ned was actually an unbelievably awful combatant,
and was the first recorded death of an agent during basic training in over 200 years.
Ned did have one thing though: a will to succeed. Noticed by chapter leader Harkadian who needed a subject with an incredibly strong will,
Ned was re-animated using an advanced necromantic ritual, and Sparky’s techno-gadgets, making him the first fully functional zombie in recorded
history, with full mental and physical control. He became Un-Ned. His knowledge of the Brotherhood system keeps his team well equipped, and
as long as spare arms and torsos are available, Un-Ned will continue to give his life for the Brotherhood.

Gear
The rest of the team is terrified by the notion of Ned using weapons, and on top of that Harkadian has forbidden Ned to use bladed weapons
at all. But that’s fine, because Ned is a master of unarmed combat, knows no fear, and feels no pain. (At least now that he’s a zombie.) That said,
Ned is also a master of improvisation, ready to grab whatever is handy to get the job done.

Chapter Sigma Thirteen

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
 Ben “Gator” Bailey Survivalist
Agility: d8
Skills &
Specialties Strength: d12
Animals: d6 Vitality: d8
Animal Training: d8
Alertness: d6
Athletics: d6
Dodge: d8 Intelligence: d4
Swim: d8
Willpower: d4
Influence: d4
Melee Weapons: d4
Perception: d6 Life Points: 14
Survival: d6
Forage: d8 Initiative: d8+d6
Swamp: d10 Endurance:
Track: d8
d8+d4
Unarmed Combat: d6 Resistance: d8+d8
Brawling: d10
Grappling: d10
Watercraft: d2 Summary
Now most people don’t think of an alligator farm as a good place to raise a family, but five
generations of the Bailey clan have grown up surrounded by gators, and each generation has
Assets & been stronger and faster that the last. Ben Bailey’s the strongest, fastest yet. The youngest child
Complications in his family, he stands heads and shoulders above the rest of them. Tipping the scales at almost
300 pounds, and not an ounce of it fat, Ben is a mountain of a man. Ever since he was a little
Brawler: d6 kid, he’s been the main attraction at the farm, jumping in the water and wrestling the alligators,
sometimes two or three at a time. Ben’s fighting skills aren’t limited to reptiles either. His friends
Dead Broke: call him Gator, and with good reason. He may look fat and gentle, but provoke him and you’ll be
Good-Natured: d2 faced with a swift-moving, hard-hitting behemoth that you’ve got no chance of stopping. More
Heavy Tolerance: d4 than a few drunken tourists learned that lesson the hard way. It’s not that he’s a mean guy or
anything—the boy just loves to get in a scrap.
Memorable: d6 About a year back someone broke into the Bailey’s alligator farm. Gator was on his way
Tough Sunnava … : d4 out to feed the pond when he noticed that a section of fence had been torn down and some
of the gators were missing. Gator wasted no time in picking up the trail, and he gassed up his
family’s fan boat and followed it into the swamp. Now some might think that tracking a thief
through the Everglades in the middle of the night is impossible, but this sort of thing was second nature to Gator. He’d lived in these swamps all
his life, and the trail those gator thieves had left was clear as day to him. The trail was leading him to a small island in the swamp, and he killed
the motor to try to sneak up on them. Not that it would have made a difference though, since it sounded like World War III had just started over
there.
Turns out the alligator thieves had been acolytes of Sobek, an ancient Egyptian crocodile god. Sobek had a reputation as a real vicious bastard,
and the acolytes learned about it real quick. After sacrificing the Bailey’s gators to resurrect their god, there wasn’t much left of them apart from
a few stains on the ground. The real noise was coming from the Brotherhood Agents who had tried to stop the resurrection, and were now stuck
fighting for their lives against the biggest goddamn crocodile that Gator had ever seen, thirty feet long if it was an inch.
There’s a trick to gator wrestling, and Gator Bailey learned it early in life. Don’t get bit. You master that, and there’s not a gator, croc, or
caiman you can’t handle. It also helps to have balls of steel, and Gator’s got those in spades. That boy grabbed some supplies out of his boat, ran
up on shore, and before those soldier boys knew what happened, Gator had that nasty croc trussed up real nice, tied nose to tail with a healthy
length of duct tape wrapped around its jaws. Needless to say, the agents were impressed. They told him about the Brotherhood, and their fight
against the forces of evil, but none of that mattered to Gator. He just smiled and asked when he’d get to fight against something as big as that croc
again.

Gear
He’s a simple man, with simple needs. He doesn’t tend to weigh himself down with unnecessary objects. He just prefers to get up close
and personal when he’s fighting. Nine times out of ten, Gator just bare-knuckles his way through the bad guys. If he’s up against a particularly
nasty fellow, he might tuck a couple rolls of quarters in his fists, or even slip on some brass knuckles (uses normal rolls for unarmed combat,
but adds d2 damage). The only other weapon he usually carries is a big-ass machete (d4 damage), handy for chopping his way through swamps,
underbrush, and armies of the undead. Otherwise, he’ll improvise with whatever might be handy. Chairs, tables, bottles, other enemies, other
teammates—any one of them is a weapon in Gator’s hands.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

Chapter Sigma Thirteen
 Trisha “Sparky” Carnacki
Technician
Agility: d8 Skills &
Strength: d4 Specialties
Vitality: d6 Athletics: d2
Drive: d4
Alertness: d8 Influence: d4
Intelligence: d8 Knowledge: d6
Mechanic: d6
Willpower: d8 Create Mechanical Device d10
Mechanical Repairs d8
Life Points: Perception: d6
14 Science: d6
Initiative: d8+d8 Physics d10
Mad Tech: d6
Endurance: d6+d8 Create Technical Devices d10
Resistance: d6+d6 Jury-Rigging d10
Repair d10

Assets &
Summary Complications
Technology speaks to her. Not in any sort of new-agey, hippy, metaphysical sort of way; she just
has an innate understanding of how things work. There isn’t an electrical device she can’t build, repair, Allure: d4
or improve, given the right equipment. For as long as she can remember, she’s been called Sparky. Attuned to Technology: d6
Apparently the nickname comes from one of her earliest experiments, involving the inner workings of a
TV remote and an electrical outlet, but she unsurprisingly has no memory of the event. Duty (Brotherhood): d4
She has no memory of her dad either. He walked out on her mom when Sparky was a baby. All Mad Skillz: d4
she ever got from his side of the family was brown eyes and a last name. So it came as somewhat of a Memorable: d8
shock when she found out on her eighteenth birthday that she had a great-grandfather over in London,
and an even bigger shock when she learned that she was the sole heir of his estate. Mystic Vortex: d6
Grandpa Thomas had done pretty well for himself over the years. He left her a sizeable trust fund, Walking Armory: d4
a gorgeous old building in Chelsea, and a small fleet of vintage cars. The most exciting find was in a
secret room, hidden behind a bookshelf in her grandfather’s study. There, Sparky found case after case
of vintage electrical equipment, all gleaming brass and vacuum tubes. Bizarre gadgets with names like “Electric Pentacle” and “Spectrum Defense” with
functions that Sparky couldn’t begin to guess, but couldn’t wait to figure it out. At the center of the room stood a small podium, holding a single, leather
bound book. A set of flaming swords graced the cover, and inside was a brief inscription from her great-grandfather: “Sparky, Your talents are great, and
your spirit is strong. The Brotherhood needs you. Thomas Carnacki.”
Sparky read the book cover to cover. The title page proclaimed that it was the “Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch Guidebook for Field Agents
of the British Empire for the Year of Our Lord 1911.” There were charms and wards against evil; histories of paranormal activity in the British colonies;
detailed descriptions of vampires, werewolves, faeries, and other creatures, along with the best methods of killing them. All of it wholly improbable, yet
entirely fascinating. What Sparky found most interesting was an appendix in the back of the book titled “Contacting the Brotherhood.” There was no
text, only an elaborate drawing of a circumscribed pentagram, made up of a series of tiny, interconnected lines. It was labeled “Summoning Circle,” but
it felt intensely familiar to Sparky. It soon dawned on her that the drawing was essentially a circuit diagram. She grabbed her soldering iron and a spare
breadboard, and set to work. Ten minutes later, she was done, having wired an ethernet connector to the circuit’s termination point as an afterthought.
She plugged it in and crossed her fingers. A golden ball of light appeared over the circuit board, and a cloud of mist enveloped her as a synthesized voice
rang out from her speakers: “Aura Identified. Agent Thomas Carnacki, Retired. Welcome to the Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch. She is the only civilian
ever to hack into the Brotherhood Database. It was almost four hours before her intrusion was detected and a team was sent to bring her in. Thomas was
right, the Brotherhood does need her.

Gear
Sparky carries her trusty Necrometer —used to measure ectoplasmic or necromantic energies in the area. (Detects undead, most of the time,
for up to 50 yards.) She also carrries a minaturized version of her great-grandfather’s Electric Pentacle. It’s a spherical metal gadget with 4 laser diodes
spaced evenly around the middle, and a focusing lens at the top. When activated the EP’s lasers draw a 5-foot circle around the device and the power
focused through the lens to form a protective dome. Used to bind ghosts, or to form protective circles against spirits and infernal creatures. (Undead
creatures cannot pass through the barrier—including Ned.) The batteries last only 10 minutes before needing replacement. Her only weapon is a
homemade taser built using flash capacitors from disposable cameras. (Range 20 feet, any living target struck must make HARD Vitality + Endurance roll
or fall unconscious for d8 turns.) She also carries a portable electronics tool kit.

Chapter Sigma Thirteen

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
 ArmageddonSoldier
Agility: d8
Skills &
Specialties Strength: d8
Athletics: d6 Vitality: d8
Dodge d8
Alertness: d6
Jump d8
Run d8 Intelligence: d6
Cover: d4
Willpower: d6
Discipline: d6
Intimidation d8
Drive: d2 Life Points: 22
Guns: d6
Pistols d12 Initiative: d8+d6
SMG d12 Endurance:
Heavy Weapons d6
d8+d6
Melee Weapons: d6 Resistance: d8+d8
Perception: d6

Assets & Summary

Complications Don’t mention the War. It’s not generally something the Brotherhood likes to talk about.
The inevitable final confrontation between the forces of good and evil, where only one side
Addiction (oxypills): d8 will survive—it’s a real conversation killer. Not good for morale. Still, there are factions within
the Brotherhood devoted to thinking only about the War, and devising ways to make sure
Dead Inside: d6 that Heaven comes out on top. Project Armageddon was one of those ways. At least, it was
Duty (Brotherhood): d12 supposed to be.
Natural Athlete: d6 Supersoldiers. Perfect killing machines. Strong, fast, agile, designed to fight effectively in
any environment against any species of foe. The ideal soldier cloned thousands upon thousands
Second Sight: d8 of time. Entire battalions of men, each one identical to the last molecule. Trained in every form
Tough Sunnava … : d12 of armed and unarmed combat known to the Brotherhood, they would rise up against the
forces of Hell and overwhelm them with skill and numbers. The prototype phase of Project
Armageddon was wildly successful, and the first batch of 5,000 soldiers were rushed through
production. The bodies were decanted from their quick-growth chambers and placed in stasis in a laboratory deep within the Warehouse to await
the End of Days. Everything would have gone perfectly, if a lab tech hadn’t hit the wrong switch on his way out the door as he was leaving for the
night.
Supersoldiers. 5,000 of them. Each one programmed to fight without mercy against the forces of evil. Each one finding himself faced with
4,999 identical versions of himself. Apparently there was a small oversight in the soldiers’ programming. They didn’t know they were clones. So
they compensated by identifying each other in the only way they knew how.
Doppelgängers.
The fighting was fierce, wild, and unchecked. Bones shattered, blood sprayed, and limbs were ripped from their sockets, as 5,000 of
the deadliest fighters in existence battled one another for dominance. By the time the morning shift arrived to open the lab, one lone soldier
remained, curled up exhausted in a massive puddle of gore. Needless to say, the project was canceled. The surviving soldier was given the
moniker “Armageddon” and was placed into basic training. He still bears the scars of his battle.
As for the War, the scientists are still thinking about it. Still coming up with new plans, new projects. They’ll be ready.

Gear
Armageddon wears a combat jacket (ignores 2 points of damage from each attack) carries a custom-modified MP5AS submachine gun
(d6 damage single-shot; d8 burst; d12+d2 for autofire but uses up half the ammunition; range increment 40 yards*). His sidearm is a Ruger P95
9mm pistol (d6 damage; range increment 15 yards*). A combat knife (d2 damage) is always tucked in his boot. He wanted to bring grenades,
but the Chapter Leader said “no grenades.” If anything could make Armageddon sad, that would have been it. He also carries four doses of his
respiratory medicine.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

Chapter Sigma Thirteen
 The Cipher
Database Liason
Agility: d6 Skills &
Strength: d6 Specialties
Vitality: d10 Covert: d6
Disable Device d10
Alertness: d6 Drive: d6
Intelligence: d10 Knowledge: d6
Culture d12
Willpower: d6 History d12
Religion d12
Life Points: Mechanic: d4
16 Perception: d6
Initiative: d6+d6 Science: d6
Math d12
Endurance: d10+d6
Resistance: d10+d10 Assets &
Complications
Summary Cipher: d6
He lives to serve—as long as there isn’t any danger involved. His base programming is Coward: d8
hardcoded into the neural net of his positronic brain. Above all else, follow any direct order from a Fast On Your Feet: d2
superior officer… unless there is risk of damage.
The Cipher is of standard construction, but has demonstrated a few unusual personality quirks.
Intended for use with the Brotherhood recruitment and training program, lines of code were added so the Cipher would
avoid combat and danger. This manifests in his personality matrix as abject and unapologetic cowardice. This particular
Cipher lives in a constant state of paranoia and fear. He is loyal and helpful, but ready to leap out of harm’s way, hide in a dark
corner, and cry for his motherboard, at the first sign of danger.
He is a whiz at research, with much knowledge stored in his goggles and nearly everything else in this universe (and
several others) available through the laptop and a link to the Brotherhood Database. The Cipher is eager to prove his worth,
and will even promise to be brave, if asked. He insists he’s not a coward—he’s just programmed that way.

Gear
No way the Cipher is going to carry any weapons — that’s just asking for trouble, thank you. The only piece of
equipment he carries, other than the power cord that normally stays tucked in his pants, is his laptop. Though it looks like a
piece of junk from the 90s, it’s actually state-of-the-art equipment featuring cutting edge software that would make a Seattle
software mogul blush. Assuming the signal isn’t blocked, the Cipher may use it to access the Brotherhood database from
almost anywhere for the purposes of research.

Chapter Sigma Thirteen

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
 A Walk in the Park
Some people are ready for anything. They train
day in and day out for an event that always seems
just around the corner. Weekend warriors who
exercise and prepare to fight for a cause they have
yet to choose. In the Brotherhood, things are a bit
clearer. There is an enemy around every corner: The
Order of the Infernal Scepter. They are evil, they are
cruel, and they would love to kill anyone who fights
for right and good in this world. Every day, new
recruits leave the Brotherhood’s protective embrace
to venture in the world. Some make their mark,
others just make a smear.
Your first day in the field. Everything you have
been taught is fresh in your mind and the world is
still shiny and new. Stepping into the night armed
with the finest weapons available and good itself at
your side, you see a flash of the glory that awaits
you, your Chapter, your family. At least, until Ned
gets his face smashed in by a vampire with a venereal
disease. That puts a damper on the whole day.
What is this?
This is an introductory adventure for the Demon
Hunters Role Playing Game. This adventure occurs
immediately after the end of the Orientation DVD
using the Demon Hunters introduced therein. You,
the Game Master, should familiarize yourself with
the adventure and you’ll be ready to lead a new
Chapter of Hunters into the world. You can also
steal ideas from this adventure and use them in one
of your own tabletop combat simulations. Thousands
of uses!
Your Story and Your Chapter
This Chapter is the greenest of the green. The
first actual action they saw ended in near disaster
with the death of Ned. The story, however, is how
you see it. Every new chapter takes a test like
this and every one does differently. Since this is an
introductory adventure, you should use the pre-
generated Demon Hunters provided. All of these
characters appear in the Orientation DVD. Even if
the chapter thinks they are on their own, Silent Jim
and the Brotherhood closely monitor them. The
miniature video camera implanted in Ned’s left eye
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
by the Brotherhood is IMPOSSIBLE to detect. If
things go haywire, Jim is ready to step in and assist,
but the noobs should not count on any help. At the
moment indicated in the adventure, Jim leaves the
Chapter on their own. After all, if they can’t handle
this, they don’t have what it takes to be successful
Demon Hunters.
Setting the Scene
This adventure is laid out in several scenes
covering the events planned for our intrepid heroes.
The scenes are in the order that makes the most
sense for the story and cover some basic learning
activities for the new Demon Hunters. The story
should unfold as the players progress and learn how
to use their new-found skills and abilities.

All scenes are laid out in the following manner:
The Setup
The first part of each scene sets up the
Adventure: “Training Day”
adventure. It usually begins with a bit of flavor text
that you can read to your players to get them in the
right mindset. You are also free to use it as a guide
for your own version of things.
Problems
There are always problems. If there weren’t,
there wouldn’t be a reason for a Demon Hunting
Chapter to be there. This is where any encounters—
good or bad—arise. Creatures of the dark, damsels
in distress, and general pains in the tuckus will show
up in this section. While killing everything in sight
is certainly an option, it is not always the best one.
Make sure you have everyone’s stats in front of you
just in case the players get trigger happy.
Now What?
After the players resolve the conflict and
hide the bodies, something has been altered for
better or for worse. Even if they haven’t all made
it through, this is where the Chapter examines the
consequences for their actions.
Note Words in all capitals are either Task
Difficulty Levels (like EASY, HARD, FORMIDABLE)
or Skills (like, Agility, Melee Weapons, or Kick in the
Junk –fine, that last one is unofficial, but don’t let
that stop you). Thus, when you read a phrase like,
“Fighters find killing Duamerthrax IMPOSSIBLE … ”
this means that the Difficulty for the desired action
 is indeed Impossible and requires a die roll of 31 or “Listen, Al, lay off the kids. You’re only here
higher to succeed. In this way, you’ll know how hard because your last Chapter quit. Look, this is easy.
things are without flipping pages. You’re headed about three hours north into Canada.
Jim’s taking you to a guy we use when Chapters

Scene 1: Reorientation
The converted SUV rumbles along the dark
road. The night seems more frightening than ever
before. It oppresses the senses and closes in from
all sides. An occasional town, one streetlight, and
perhaps a gas station, punctuate the long drive
in the North Dakota flats. The instructions the
don’t seem to grasp the finer points of how not to
get killed. Professor Sneed is a bit of an eccentric,
but he’s the best. Head up into Riding Mountain
and find his cabin. He’ll guide you through the rest
of your training.”
Jim stares at the hologram through his ever-
present sunglasses. Gabriel looks up at his friend
and winces.
“No, Jim, you didn’t do a bad job. This is
standard procedure when a noob bites it. You know

 Brotherhood gave Jim mean no stops, though. Not

even for Ned to take a pee break—even undead
accountants drink coffee, it seems.
Buttons line the dashboard console, most with
arcane symbols never seen inside an American-
made car. All assuredly do something really cool,
but no one dares cross Jim and push one at random.
Adventure: “Training Day”
that. Hell, we’re lucky only one of them kicked it! I
mean, usually … ”
Gabriel stops suddenly and looks around at
you. He swallows hard and stutters a bit.
“Um, well, yeah. Usually the whole Chapter
makes it out safely and lives full, productive lives.
That’s what happens. Nope. No chance that you

Only Aloysius, the new Chapter Leader put in place all might die in a blazing inferno of death and
by the Brotherhood, is allowed to ride shotgun. destruction.”
Sparky and Ned sit in the far back with their hands Again, he stares uncomfortably.
tied. Jim insisted on these arrangements because “Look, be careful and listen to Sneed. He’ll
Sparky would most likely want to rewire the car show you what to do. Alpha … Omega Fifteen out.”
while it drove and Ned is a bit of a moron. A signal
flashes on the dash and Jim reaches over to press a
button hidden amongst the many outlined by dim
LEDs across its surface. A holographic projection of
Gabriel, Chapter Leader of Chapter Omega Fifteen,
appears.
“Well, you really screwed that one up. Ned
died and the Syphilitic Ninja Vampire escaped.
You are obviously not ready to complete training
yet. The Brotherhood is giving you one last chance
before you are permanently assigned to ride the
desk in some backwater hole like they did to—
never mind. Aloysius has been assigned to you as
Chapter Leader to help keep you in line.”
With a quick head turn, the new Chapter
Leader looks at each of you and points a finger
accusingly. Through clenched teeth he says,
“If you noobs don’t get your shit together, I’ll
kill you myself.” Looking at Ned he continues,
“Permanently.”
The hologram of Gabriel looks up at Aloysius
and shakes his head.

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 The hologram winks out of existence leaving
you in complete darkness, save for the headlights
on the road. Jim simply turns back to the
lonesome road.
How it is [Setup]
Aloysius has been appointed the new Chapter
Leader. He will answer any questions they ask
as best he can, but cannot give any more details
as to what they might find and will be a real dick
about it. If anyone asks, “Is this a test?” Jim replies,
“Everything is a test.”
Now What?
As soon as everyone is satisfied with the
answers they get, move on to Scene 2.
Scene 2: Arrival AND
Exploration
Off the beaten path doesn’t even begin to
describe this place. Besides being in the middle of
Nowhere, Canada, the park has seen better days.
The paved road beyond the entrance looks too
worn for its age. Potholes and weeds pockmark its
surface with disdain for the encroachment of man.
Jim stops at the border of the park. He turns and
looks at each of you. You can feel his hidden eyes
burn into your very being.
“This is not a safe place,” he intones. “No
matter what you see or hear, do not leave the car
until I tell you. Do not leave the protective circle
around the cabin. If you do, I will not come and
get you. You will die here and your soul will not
escape.”
Without waiting for questions, he throws the
SUV into drive and heads into the darkness. The
headlights dim momentarily, but the car moves
along on the rugged road. A few miles in, Jim turns
off the paved road all together, running along a
packed dirt road surrounded by trees that have
seen more horrible things than a human could ever
imagine. Finally, after what seems like hours, a
rusted, chain-link fence appears, blocking the path.
Jim flashes his lights and the gate opens. Inside
the fence lies a log cabin that has also seen better
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
days. A Brotherhood-standard sedan with Ontario
plates sits out front and a lit fireplace shines
through the front window. Jim speaks without even
looking at you.
“Something is not right here. Sneed should
have greeted us. Be careful. Get out of the car and
secure the cabin.”
A quick flick of his finger and the child locks
disengage, allowing you to leave.
How it is [Setup]
The Chapter can search the grounds and the
cabin. It is HARD to turn up any evidence while
searching around the cabin (using Alertness +
Perception). What little there is cannot be accurately
identified. The Chapter might find smudged

footprints under a window or scratches on the door,
but nothing that indicates a struggle or forced entry.
Problem
Adventure: “Training Day”
Sneed’s defenses on the perimeter of the
cabin are still active. The accompanying sidebar
(Cabin Defenses) gives the location and type of
each trap as well as the Difficulty to disarm and the
damage caused if it’s set off. Fortunately, spotting
the defenses without tripping them is automatic for
Demon Hunters trying to enter cautiously or looking
around even a little. Allow players to exercise
creativity in their attempts to disarm the traps. They
could try smashing them with something (Strength
+ Melee Weapons), picking them apart (Alertness
+ Mechanic), shorting out the supernatural
components on the Rune or the Circle (Willpower
+ Mystic Arts), or even walking through them and
suffering the consequences (Ned).
Assuming they get inside and the Chapter
searches the house, go on to Scene 2-1.
Cabin Defenses
Front Door Rune of Warding; HARD; d6
explosion damage, 5-foot radius
Front Steps Trip Wire Flamethrower; EASY; d6
Fire damage
Windows and Front Door Super-Guard Alarm
System; AVERAGE; alarm sounds at 100
decibels for 30 sec, 1d2 Stun, 150-foot radius
Surrounding the Cabin 75-foot radius; Circle
of Protection; FORMIDABLE; allows forest
creatures and other bump-in-the-nighters in
if broken

Scene 2-1: [Interior Cabin]
The interior of the cabin reveals the spartan
existence of Professor Sneed. Not that he goes
around kicking people into pits—he just lives simply.
At first glance, the main room of the cabin is largely
undisturbed. A plain couch and easy chair sit a
comfortable distance from the roaring fireplace in the
main area. A desktop computer with the Brotherhood
logo screensaver adorns an antique wooden desk.
Various cabin standards hang on the walls along with
awards and commendations from various agencies,
indecipherable to anyone who isn’t already a member.
 Two doors leave the room: The one on the left stands
ajar and leads to the kitchen, while the other remains
closed.
If the Chapter searches the desk, read the
following:
Adventure: “Training Day”
On the desk, you find the Professor’s notes. One
is a day-by-day account of what appear to be minor
supernatural occurrences from a pit somewhere; one
details the anatomy of what the Professor called a
“Demonic Minion;” and yet another reveals intimate
details of Sneed’s last shopping trip. It seems the
good Professor has a penchant for Snacky Cakes and
Cobbler’s Crystals. The picture on the anatomy page
is an unusual one. The creature appears humanoid,
roughly five feet tall with dark red skin. Nothing else
is written on the page.
The Professor left no information on
the Minions, but the Chapter can search the
Brotherhood database through their Cipher and find
the following:
Demonic Minion
Type Half-Demon
Danger Level 3 of 10
Description Demonic Minions are the
result of a thousand years of inbreeding and abuse
by various evil masters. Clans of Minions live
underground and serve whoever comes around
offering the shiniest bits. Minions are generally
unreliable and are considered cannon fodder by
many. They are not true demons in any sense of
the word. Minions exist on the material plane
independent of any summoning or evil intent.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Current Whereabouts A clan of Minions is
currently under study by Brotherhood agent Sneed
in Ontario.
No further information available.
The only understandable bit of information left
on the desk is on a torn scrap of paper that reads:
Daily Report: October 15–October 21,
2007
Monday More scratching from below. The
Minions seem more restless than usual. New
password for the week: snuggle
Tuesday Minions seem louder than usual.
Better call in a Chapter to perform standard
maintenance.
Wednesday Strange sounds from below.
There’s a new voice leading the Minions. It sounds
organized and has a strange lisp. More scratching,
but not at the door this time.
Thursday Put in call to Brotherhood. Asked
for Gabriel and his Chapter. Hope they’re as
reliable as they used to be.
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Any attempt to use the computer is met with a
standard “Username:/Password:” screen. Entering
“Sneed” and “snuggle” does nothing to the computer,
but does open a hidden panel on the wall underneath
the awards.
When you press the enter key, a small door
slides open in the wall. A sickly green glow comes
from the small, dark tunnel beyond. It seems Sneed
has more secrets hidden away in his cabin.
The hidden room is unlike anything you have
seen before. Even Jim seems surprised. Well, he’s
pretty much just standing there as usual, but you
imagine he’s surprised. A large tube filled with
a viscous green fluid dominates the back wall. A
creature covered in tubes and wires floats in the
liquid. Working at a large console is a hunched
figure barely capable of being called a man. He
stands barely five feet tall and his face is deformed,
pock marked, and hard. He turns as you enter and
 hisses, “What’s the point of having a secret lab if
everyone and their hideously deformed mother can
find the place? Who the hell are you people?”
How It Is [Setup]:
If the Chapter has already researched the
Demonic Minions, they recognize the creature in the
jar as one.
The hunchback is Sneed’s assistant Chip. He is
sarcastic, callous, and really doesn’t like anybody. If
asked, he will claim that Sneed left without warning
and he’s not been seen in three days. A MODERATE
visual examination of Chip (Alertness + Perception)
suggests that he’s lying. An Extraordinary Success
reveals beads of sweat and a slight nervous twitch
above his left eye. He won’t tell the truth unless
threatened by actual violence.
Chip knows he technically betrayed the
Brotherhood, but he really, really couldn’t stand
Sneed. He claims that Sneed has taken credit for his
research and keeps him hidden to save face. Chip let
the Syphilitic Ninja Vampire (SNV) into the tunnels
below and reattached the trap door after the SNV
stupidly and impatiently broke the lock. He throws
himself on the Chapter’s mercy and begs them not
to turn him in.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Aloysius will play this one by the book and
want to send him back to HQ immediately. He
won’t allow (much) violence to come to Chip, but
will insist on calling in a more experienced Chapter.
It will be HARD, but he can be talked out of it if
the Demon Hunters are persuasive (Willpower +
Influence).
Chip gives the Chapter a vague map of the
tunnels, claiming to have never traversed them.
He warns them about the SNV and a handful of
Minions in small, unorganized groups. Chip begs to
be left to his work and swears to never, ever betray
a Brotherhood operative again. Jim simply watches
how the Chapter works in this situation. He offers
no advice.

Scene 2-2: [Interior Kitchen]
The kitchen is largely undisturbed. Pots, plates,
and glasses stack in the sink, indicating that—
Adventure: “Training Day”
indeed—a single man lives in this cabin. Despite
Sneed’s reputed intelligence, it seems his decorating
style is set firmly in the early crap period of the
1970s. The appliances and table may have survived
the Vietnam era, but the veneer is now scuffed and
marked from years of misuse. The giant throw rug
 on the hideous tile floor is the only redeeming item
in the room, but looking at its twisting patterns gives
you a bit of a headache.
MODERATE searching reveals that the rug
is bunched up at the far corner of the room as if
someone has moved it recently.
Hidden under the rug is a wooden trap door.
While the rest of the house seems thrown together,
this door is heavy and purposeful.
MODERATE examination reveals that the hinges
are slightly bent and the lock has been torn from its
 housing and reattached in a hasty attempt to hide it.
The lock on the trap door is simple enough to
open, even without the key. As you examine the
door, Aloysius begins arguing with Jim. Well, Jim’s
mostly standing there looking intimidating and Al’s
doing most of the talking.
Adventure: “Training Day”
“Someone needs to stay here and wait for the
cavalry while these noobs distract whatever’s down
there. I don’t trust any of them to do it and I’m not
letting you screw up another mission. I don’t care
how intimidating you think you are!. You keep your
big, creepy ass up here and I’ll make sure nothing
gets screwed up down there. Got me?”
Jim simply stares at your Chapter Leader for
just long enough to make all of you want to crawl
out of your skins. He nods once and simply says,
“Fine.” He leans up against the kitchen counter
and strikes a match to light his cigar. Where he
suddenly got a match and cigar, you have no idea.
Your Chapter Leader glares at you and pulls
open the trap door swiftly. With his focus on Jim,
the source of his annoyance, Aloysius does not
notice the crossbow bolt that slams into his throat
from the dark opening. With a gush of blood,
he falls onto the tile floor. Jim looks at him and
incredulously exclaims, “Damn!” The distraction is
enough to give the three creatures rushing up the
stairs the element of surprise.
G uar d M inions
Agi d4 Str d8 Vit d6 Ale d2 Int d4 Wil d4; Init
d4+d2; LP 10
Skills Discipline d2, Perception d4, Unarmed
Combat d6.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Notes Not having any defensive Skill (Athletics),
the Minions will simply attack every turn. However,
if a player thinks to attempt to intimidate them into
surrendering, the roll is Willpower + Discipline
against Willpower + Discipline (one roll counts for
all of them, and this can only be tried once); if the
Minions lose, they flee down the tunnel and vanish
from sight.
From this point, heading down into the trap
door leads to Scene 3.
Scene 2-3: [Interior Bedroom]
Opening the door leads you to the scene you
hoped not to find—violence most definitely ensued.
The bedroom is in shambles. Lamps and pictures
lie in broken pieces around overturned dressers and
furniture. Drawers are scattered and picked through,
as if the culprit were looking for something. Barely
anything in the room or adjoining bathroom is left
intact.
It’s HARD to see, but an Alertness + Perception
roll lets the Chapter find drops of blood under the
mattress.
Scene 3: Separation
Anxiety
The hole leading under the kitchen is dimly lit
from below. A flicker in the light and a puff of smoke
from the depths suggest torches or, if life really sucks,
the smoldering corpse of Sneed placed there to lure
his would-be rescuers to their doom. You climb down
the rickety stairs into a cramped tunnel no more than
10 feet wide and seven feet tall. Torches light the way
down the long corridor bending beyond your line of
sight.
It is EASY to see signs of a struggle at the foot
of the stairs. A torn bit of flannel still clings to the
bottom step. Tracks in the dirt on the floor indicate
someone being dragged down the tunnel. After the
Chapter begins to head down the tunnel themselves,
they find the following scrawled on the wall:
B-WEAR! STEP ON ROCK GO SQUISH
 It is EASY to see the raised bumps in the floor
ahead. They continue on for about 20 feet at odd
intervals. Also EASY to spot are the giant boulders
hanging 15 feet above the tunnel.
The trap is, as before, EASY to detect and avoid;
the spaces between the bumps are quite safe. If any
boulders fall, a MODERATE Dodge roll will let the
unlucky bastard who tripped the trap avoid certain
squishiness. The fallen boulders are IMPOSSIBLE to
move, but can easily be skirted to continue on the
path.
Scene 4: In Which
Our Heroes Do Great
Battle
The tunnel snakes on for at least a mile before
coming to an open area. The passage beyond is
closed off by a bolted wooden gate and guarded by
four Demonic Minions. They stand silently and do not
seem to have noticed you.
How it is [Setup]
Thus begins the battle sequence. These guards
aren’t the brightest or most coordinated Minions and
should pose little issue for the Chapter.
Problem
There is no way to continue forward without
passing the guards.
G uar d M inions
Agi d4 Str d8 Vit d6 Ale d2 Int d4 Wil d4; Init
d4+d2; LP 10
Skills Discipline d2, Perception d4, Unarmed
Combat d6.
Notes Not having any defensive Skill (Athletics),
the Minions will simply attack every turn. However,
if a player thinks to attempt to intimidate them into
surrendering, the roll is Willpower + Discipline
against Willpower + Discipline (one roll counts for
all of them, and this can only be tried once); if the
Minions lose, they flee down the tunnel, smashing
the door as they go, and vanish from sight.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Now What?
The bar across the gate is quite heavy and is
HARD to lift far enough to remove. Beyond, the
Chapter finds a dimly lit hall winding as it appears
on their map. A door is on the immediate left as
the Chapter enters the hallway. The door on the
left is outlined in Scene 4–1 and the right door is in
Scene 4–2.
Scene 4-1: Oh, Junk.
The heavy metal door is rusted around its
hinges. A small opening with ancient bars reveals a
horrible sight within. Two Minions stand on either 
side of a darkly clad figure. His robes resemble
those of a Shao Lin Monk, but they are covered in
scrawled anarchist markings. He stands silent and
foreboding, arms folded, and hood drawn. On the
other side of the room a man dressed in a purple gi
Adventure: “Training Day”
is chained. A mask covers his face, but blood from
various wounds flows openly. This man, the legend
known only as the Purple Ninja, rolls his head
towards his captor and speaks softly. The mask
moves with his lips, but you could swear the words
did not match the timing.
“You can do as you wish to me, fiend. Neither
your cruel henchmen nor your foul stench can
make me talk. I will be silent like the whispering
wind. My voice will not be heard by the most
sensitive of ears. The quiet I send forth will be as
deadly as the mosquito is green. Ho ho, ha ha ho.”
The black-clad man laughs. It is a cruel,
hollow sound. He tips his head, tossing off his
hood. Randomly spiked hair, black with a dyed
white stripe in the middle, tops a face only a blind
mother with no sense of smell could love. Metal
spikes and plugs adorn much of the man’s pale
face. He sneers at his captive.
“You are not meant to talk, Purple Ninja. You
are meant to suffer and die.” Suddenly, the pierced
man moves to an attack position. “You are meant
for pain at the hands of I, Skunk, the Dark Punk
Junk Monk.”
With a snap, Skunk’s leg finds its way deep
into the groin of the Purple Ninja. The cry of pain is
like nothing you have ever heard. It is the sound of
ultimate suffering.
 G uar d M inions
Agi d4 Str d8 Vit d6 Ale d2 Int d4 Wil d4; Init
d4+d2; LP 10
Skills Discipline d2, Perception d4, Unarmed
Combat d6.
Notes Not having any defensive Skill (Athletics),
the Minions will simply attack every turn. Unlike the
previous Minions, these ones are little braver, and
cannot simply be cowed—not while Skunk is around,
anyway.
S kunk
Agi d10, Str d8, Vit d8, Ale d6, Int d6, Wil d8,

Init d10+d6, LP 16
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d8, Unarmed Combat
d6/Junk-Kicking d8, Perception d4.
Notes These are fairly minimalist stats for
Skunk. He possesses the special Recurring Villain
(d8) Asset: He usually flees successfully at the last
moment, and even when he appears to be killed, his
body is never found!
Adventure: “Training Day”
How it is [Setup]
The Purple Ninja is a folk hero in Demon Hunter
circles. His tales are legendary and his winning streak
is unmatched. Seeing him here, the Chapter is almost
compelled to help him.
Problem
As old as the door is, it is HARD to break down.
Any non-subtle attempt to open it alerts Skunk and
the Minions who will immediately kill the Purple
Ninja. (Note to Game Master: Don’t worry. The
Purple Ninja is supposed to die.) The lock on the
door is an AVERAGE design and can be picked with
an Agility + Covert roll. Picking the lock gives the
Chapter the element of surprise and a +1 Attribute
step to each Demon Hunter’s Initiative roll for the
combat. During the fight, one of the Minions will try
and kill the Purple Ninja.
Now What?
When it becomes obvious that the fight is
going the Demon Hunter’s way, Skunk will throw
a smoke bomb and run out the door. The smoke
makes Skunk FORMIDABLE to see, using Alertness
+ Perception, on his way out. If anyone tries to
follow, he disappears from sight and there’s no sign
of him outside the room. The Purple Ninja refuses
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
all attempts to heal him. He believes himself too far
gone. If the Purple Ninja was killed before or during
the fight, skip the next paragraph:
The Purple Ninja looks at you through swollen
eyes. His lips begin to move a split second before
you hear “Thank you, Demon Hunters. You are quite
worthy allies. Consider my streak … broken.” With
this, the Purple Ninja dies.
Scene 4-2: The Enemy
of My Enemy
The thick wooden door shows signs of age, but it
appears quite solid. The rusted hinges and bands are
supplemented by a complex, bizarre mechanical lock
inscribed with glowing runes. Though it is muffled, you
can hear a groaning sound through the door. It sounds
almost human.
How it is [Setup]
The door is magically sealed; Demon Hunters
can either try to beat down the door with a HEROIC
feat of Strength + Athletics, or disable the lock. Of
course, it isn’t really a lock—Covert won’t help.
The task requires Mystic Arts or Mad Tech (or any
other appropriate Mad Skillz) to deal with the arcane
amalgam, and is a complex action. Fortunately,
the Difficulty is AVERAGE (35), and each roll of
Intelligence + Mystic Arts (or alternate) takes only
five minutes. Remember, complex actions add the
result of each roll together, so that 35 isn’t all that
bad!
Should they manage to get through the door:
This room appears to be a small, 10-by-10
cell. Chained to the far wall is a pitiful creature. Its
bulbous eyes sit atop a head that would look out of
place anywhere but a cheap carnival. It dangles above
the ground from stunted arms chafed and raw from
the manacles. It looks at you and whimpers, trying to
pull away as if afraid for its life.
The creature is Chip’s hideously deformed
mother. If the Chapter hasn’t found Chip, she will tell
them how to reach his lab upstairs. Either way, once
 free she’ll babble about what a complete prick her
son turned out to be, locking his own mother up in
the dark with nothing but bugs and rats to keep her
company, etc, etc. Honestly, she never stops talking.
If the Chapter actually tries to get information out
of her, she will mention “that skinny fellow with the
saber and a terrible cough” but not much else of
any use to the party. When the Chapter lets her go
she heads immediately to the cabin to give her son a
good talking to.
The only way to go, once both rooms have
been explored, is to continue on down the tunnel to
Scene 5.
Scene 5: Don’t Try This at
Home … or Anywhere Else
Rounding the tight curve, you hear noises
ahead. Here the tunnel branches: To the right is a
small crevice, barely large enough for an average
person to scramble through into the darkness.
Straight ahead is a well-lit passage. From that
direction, a voice calls above the din.
“They will arrive soon! At last, we of
the undercaves will taste the blood of Demon
Hunters!”
A guttural cheer rises from the tunnel.
It sounds like Death scraping his scythe on a
chalkboard. The thumping of innumerable spears
against shields fills the caverns.
If Armageddon (or any other soldier-type
Demon Hunter) is alive, read the following as well:
Armageddon’s spine tingles at the sound, but
not with fear—just with the gut feeling that following
the main tunnel into an obvious deathtrap is unsound
tactics.
How it is [Setup]
The Demonic Minions have gathered all of their
forces to kill the Chapter.
Problem
These are just stupid odds. As a straight-up
fight, the Hunters will never win against the rush
of Minions. The side tunnel is not on the map and
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
they have no way of knowing where it leads, but it
seems safer to anyone who asks the Game Master
what their Demon Hunter thinks. If they insist upon
moving forward, the Game Master can let them run
into a slaughter, but should remind them to trust
Armageddon’s feelings about these things.
Now What?
If the Hunters follow the main tunnel, they
are torn apart and devoured by teeming masses of
Minions. Hooray for Total Party Kill endings! If they
take the branch through the crevice, go on to Scene
7.
Scene 6: The Balcony Scene 
You step out of the crevice onto a balcony
overlooking a horrific scene. Below, a moat of
bubbling lava surrounds tiers of stone adorned with
arcane symbols. In the center of the bottom tier
Adventure: “Training Day”
is a pentagram within a circle of flame and stone.
Around the circle, eight Demonic Minions bow and
chant in their guttural speech. The upper level
holds four figures, all appearing human.
Three stand over an ancient altar upon which
a man in torn flannel lies. You guess that this is
the missing Professor Sneed. The central standing
figure wears robes with strange gold markings and
holds a vicious dagger. To his left is a familiar face;
even from this height you can see the white stripe
of hair marking Skunk, the Dark Punk Junk Monk.
On the right is a man in dark robes with only one
identifying mark: the mark of the Order of the
Infernal Scepter. The Order Agent and Skunk have
their hands raised over Professor Sneed. With a
pause to scratch his crotch, the center man chants
in a strangely accented and lisped Latin.
A hissing sound comes from your right.
Hanging from the wall is a gruesome figure. You
imagine that it was once human, but is now no
more than a collection of bones held together
by bits of skin and wishful thinking. On the floor
beneath it lie a cutlass, single shot pistol and
a jaunty pirate’s hat. A groan comes from the
body on the wall. Its head slowly lifts with bones
cracking into place along its spine. It stares at you
with hollow, dead eyes.
 “Well, (hack, cough) are ye goin’ to help an
old pirate or leave me hangin’ in this hell hole?
Get to movin’ ye (cough, cough) scalliwags and let
me down. I assume ye be here (hack) fer the old
man. His captor be my sworn (cough) sworn (hack)
enemy and I be willin’ to help ye in exchange fer
lettin me down.”
The creature coughs rack his withered frame.
He looks at you, quite impatiently.
Problem
Would you trust a zombie pirate?
10 Now What?
Cap’n will help the Chapter, participating in
fights, but doing nothing spectacular. He hangs back
and lets the Chapter fight much of the battle unless
his help is truly needed. He is not very interested
about the growth of the young Hunters. He merely
wants to save his energy for the fight with the SNV.
Adventure: “Training Day”
C ap ’ n
Agi d6 Str d8 Vit d10 Ale d6 Int d6 Wil d8;
Init d6+d6; LP 18
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d8, Discipline d6/
Intimidation d8, Perception d6, Melee Weapons d6.
Weapon Cutlass (d6 W).
Notes If destroyed, he collapses into a pile of
bones with a final cry of, “Yarrr!”
Once Cap’n is free, continue.
Cap’n looks at the figure centered on the dais
and snarls:
“There he (cough) be. The creat- (hack)
creat- (cough) creature I been searching fer and
who locked me in that damned closet. He be a
member of the Clan of the Golden Fang. If ye want
to save yer (cough) friend we must move now.”
How it is [Setup]
The middle figure is the SNV the Chapter faced
in the training video. The Order Agent is unidentified
and even a close look at his face will not reveal any
information in the Brotherhood Database.
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
Problem
The Chapter is too late to interrupt the ritual,
but they can still save Sneed. Five turns after combat
starts, the demon will appear, and 10 more after that
Sneed will bleed out. The descent from the balcony is
AVERAGE and will take five turns. The first failure by
any Chapter member does nothing, save cause them
to knock loose small chunks of rock. The second
failure by any Chapter member alerts the Minions
to the Chapter’s presence. A third failure causes the
Hunter to fall. Making it down without alerting the
Minions gives the Chapter the element of surprise.
When the Chapter gets on the upper dais, the
major foes join the fight. Cap’n and the SNV go at
each other immediately. Skunk aims for the junk
of the first person to step near him and the Order
Agent acts defensively only, backing away from the
main fighting.
On the fifth turn, the demon appears. Read the
following:
A cracking groan sounds from beneath the
pentacle. All fighting stops as the summoned
demon rises into the room. Great red horns sprout
from his brow and a row of sharp yellow teeth
adorn his mouth. He stands over seven feet tall and
must weigh half of a ton. He is also wearing high
water pants, a pocket protector, and thick glasses.
The demon looks around at you and the other
combatants and shrieks loudly, cowering into a fetal
position. The Order Agent looks at the SNV with
disgust.
“I knew the Order shouldn’t have trusted you!
That thing isn’t Sessnerilax the Life Stealer! That
stupid lisp of yours screwed up the ritual. You’re on
your own, dumbass.”
With a wave of his hand over a device strapped
to his belt, he teleports, leaving only a bit of smoke
behind. With the distraction complete, the fighting
begins anew. The demon seems less than interested
in doing anything but … cower.
G uar d M inions
Agi d4 Str d8 Vit d6 Ale d2 Int d4 Wil d4; Init
d4+d2; LP 10
Skills Discipline d2, Perception d4, Unarmed
Combat d6.
 Notes Not having any defensive Skill (Athletics),
the Minions will simply attack every turn. Unlike
the previous Minions, these ones are little braver,
and cannot simply be cowed—not while Skunk is
around, anyway. Unfortunately for the bad guys,
after the Order Agent flees (fifth turn of combat,
when the demon appears), all living Minions take this
as a bad sign and give the place the laugh—they cut
and run, jumping into the lava and swimming away
unharmed.

S kunk
Agi d10 Str d8 Vit d8 Ale d6 Int d6 Wil d8;
Init d10+d6; LP 16
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d8, Unarmed Combat
d6/Junk-Kicking d8, Perception d4.
Notes These are fairly minimalist stats for
11
Skunk. He possesses the special Recurring Villain
(d8) Asset: He usually flees successfully at the last
moment, and even when he appears to be killed, his
body is never found!

Adventure: “Training Day”

S y philitic N inja V ampire
Agi d8+d6 Str d10+d6 Vit d10 Ale d8 Int d6
Wil d6; LP 16; Init d8+d8+d6
Traits Amorous d6, Duty (Golden Fang) d8,
Fades Out d6, Fast On Your Feet d2, For the Cause!
d6, Obscure Body Odor d2, Vampire d6
Skills Athletics d6/Climbing d10/Dodge d10,
Covert d6/Stealth d10, Influence d6/Persuasion
d8/Seduction d10, Knowledge d6, Melee Weapons
d6, Perception d6, Ranged Combat d4, Unarmed
Combat d6/Ninjitsu d10
Weapons Ceremonial Knife (d4 W).
Notes In combat, the SNV is supremely
overconfident. The Game Master may consider
giving a bonus to any Demon Hunter who picks up
on this and plays to it—if they try to draw him out to
find an opening, their attack adds a bonus d6 to the
roll! When reduced to 0 LP, he bursts into a cloud of
dust and ash.
O r der A gent
Agi d6 Str d6 Vit d8 Ale d8 Int d10 Wil d6;
Init 14; LP 14
Skills Athletics d6/Dodge d10/Run d8,
Discipline d2, Melee Weapons d4.
Weapons Shock Baton (d2 Damage Die, stuns
target on successful hit; the next time the target can
act, he cannot perform offensive actions).
Notes Mostly tries to stay out of the way; he’s
not interested in fighting Demon Hunters, even
untrained lackwits! Like Skunk, he is a Recurring
Villain.
Now What?
The battle ends when all enemies are defeated,
whether they died or fled. As he is about to be
defeated, Skunk pulls out another smoke bomb
and escapes through the exit, vowing revenge.
The Chapter cannot reach the demon through the
protective circle, which crackles into a magical,
greenish dome whenever anyone tries to pass
through it. When the battle is over, read the
following:
Cap’n stares at the dust on the ground where
his mortal enemy once stood. He turns to you
slowly with a mad gleam in his eye socket. “Ye
fools. Ye thrice damned (cough) fools! Ye cannot
kill the (hack) SNV with mere earthly weapons
and feeble tricks! He will (cough) just be reborn
elsewhere without the (cough, cough) proper
remedy! Now I must begin me search (cough) over
again. Ye have cost me (hack) my revenge and

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)

 Information
known by the demon
The Order Agent is a mid-level operative named
Eric Mason. This summoning was organized
by some higher ups in the Order to take out
Sneed.
The intended demon was Sessnerilax the Life
Stealer. The plan was to loose the demon and
send him after Brotherhood HQ.
Mason is based in Ontario.
The SNV cannot be killed truly by normal means,
he must be killed with an artifact known as the
Penicillin Stake. The Zombie Pirate would have
mentioned this before the fight, but...well, his
brain is a bit on the soggy side.
12 The Zombie Pirate will head back to his ship
moored at a mysterious island in the Lake
of the Woods on the border of Ontario and
Michigan.
Skunk isn’t a member of the Order or an Agent
of Hell.
gained yerselves an enemy. I spare ye today fer yer
Adventure: “Training Day”
assistance, but the next (cough) next (cough) next
time we meet, I’ll be feastin on yer brains.”
With this ominous prediction, Cap’n kicks the
dust and limps out of the cavern. Professor Sneed
lies on the makeshift altar and the demon still
whimpers within the protective circle, sucking his
thumb.
Sneed is in bad shape. If the Chapter reached
him in time to at least stop the bleeding, he will
survive, but is unconscious and cannot answer
questions. A long stay in the care of a beautiful nurse
is in store for him.
When the Chapter confronts the demon:
The demon is a sight that you can almost pity.
He crawls to the far edge of the circle as far away
from you as he can get. He stares at you with wide
eyes.
The demon’s name is Thethnerilackth (Theth-
ner-i-lackth). He is a demon working in the Infernal
Technology department of Hell. He will answer any
questions the Chapter has with little provocation (see
the sidebar Information Known by the Demon).
He only asks that they break the circle when they
are finished to allow him to return to Hell. It is up
to the Chapter whether they follow through on the
Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
promise. Now that the demon is no longer boosting
it with his own power to keep out the fight, they
must simply scuff the line in the dirt to set him free.
If the Chapter decides to let the demon free,
he thanks them and pops himself back to the safety
of Hell. If they do not, he finds a bit of courage and
threatens them with a variety of horrible tortures and
pain, most of which sound physically impossible and
involve a yak.
The Chapter finds Jim waiting for them outside
the cave exit, calmly reading a copy of the New York
End Times. Without a word he points them back to
the SUV and drives back to base. If the Chapter has
saved Sneed, Jim brings him back to HQ with the
Chapter.
Scene 7: The Aftermath
Gabriel stands at the front of the debriefing
room. He looks over you, making eye contact with
each one. Though he scowls, you can see an odd
sense of pride in his eyes.
“Well,” he says, “you made it. You killed your
first vampire and even got rid of a zombie pirate to
boot. I’m sure this will get you promoted right past
Jim and me. Everything seems to.”
He sighs and shakes his head. Silent Jim just
shrugs.
“Anyway, congratulations to all of you. You’re
a real Chapter and you’ve proven yourselves as
Demon Hunters. You’ve got a bright future
ahead … ”
Gabriel is interrupted by Albrecht, another
member of Omega Fifteen.
“Gabe,” he pants. “We gotta go. There’s
something going on at home base.”
Gabriel looks at Albrecht then back at you. He
smiles wryly. “One last thing before I go. Let’s see
‘em.”
Now What?
Gabe’s looking for the tattoo sequence. Have
each player flash where his tattoo would be, then
read the following:
Gabriel nods, slides on his sunglasses, and simply
says, “We ride.”
 N a me:

C h a p ter:

T at too Locat ion:

C o ncep t: P l ay e r N a m e :
Sk i lls an d s pe c ia lt i e s
At t ributes Animals Mechanic*
[ Wound ]

Agility:
Strength:

Vitality: Artistry Medicine*
Alertness:
Intelligence:

Willpower:
Athletics Melee Weapons

Derive d At t ributes

Life Points (Vit+Wil):
Covert Perception
Initiative (Agi+Ale):
Endurance (Vit+Wil):

Resistance (Vit+Vit):
Craft Performance

Act ion Difficult y

Action Diff / Extraordinary Discipline Pilot*
Easy 3 / 10
Average 7 / 14
> Hard 11 / 18

Drive Ranged Weapons
Formidable 15 / 22
Heroic 19 / 26
Incredible 23 / 30
Guns Science*
Ridiculous 27 / 34
Impossible 31 / 38

Heavy Weapons Survival
Ad vancement Cost

Type Cost
Attribute 8
Influence Tech*
Trait 7
Skill 3

Knowledge Unarmed Combat
Plot Points

[ Stun ]

Watercraft


Kevin swift (Order #18054340)
* Skilled only
 V itals
Origin:

Age: Sex: Hair Color:

Eye Color: Height: Weight:

compl i cat i o n s As s e ts
E quipment

Ar mor Weaponr y
Type: Armor Rating: Type: DMG:
Covers: Penalty: Range: Ammo:

Type: Armor Rating: Type: DMG:

Covers: Penalty: Range: Ammo:

Type: Armor Rating: Type: DMG:

Covers: Penalty: Range: Ammo:

d i e ste ps an d plot points

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
D2 D4 D6 D8 D10 D12 D12+D2 D12+D4 D12+D6 D12+D8 D12+D10 D12+D12

Kevin swift (Order #18054340)