Notes about Edges and Triggers

Notes about Edges and Triggers

When the Imbued activate their Edges, they typically do so with a habitual phrase, object, or movement. This allows them to disassociate themselves from the powers they have been granted, potentially allowing themselves to survive better on the Hunt... and it generally looks cool and makes the roleplaying more fun.

There are four types of potential Triggers you can use for your character activating their Edges...
- Emotional
- Material
- Movement
- Verbal</li>
Emotional

The Imbuing almost always occurs in a moment of extreme mental duress. The Wrathful may well be infused with berserker fury as they strike down The Enemy whilst the Merciful might view their charges with pity. Defenders act out of concern for their loved ones, Martyrs often act out of self-loathing, etc.

If an Imbued develops an Edge whilst in the grip of a powerful emotion - anger, grief, pity, love, fear - they might associate that feeling with the execution of the Edge.

An Avenger might drive themself into a frothing rage before cutting free with the Cleave Edge. The Merciful may not be able to tend to the Penitent unless they can fully empathise with their charges.

Perhaps the best way to represent Emotional triggers for Edges is by associated it with it's Virtue...
- Zeal Edges would occur when the Imbued acts

- Mercy Edges occur when the Imbued interacts with the Enemy in any form other than by offensive means

- Vision Edges occur after periods of introspection and contemplation</li>
Material

It's likely that the first thing that's sprung into mind concerning Material Triggers would be religious artefacts. These objects typically are held an important place in an Imbued's life before, and might have been family heirlooms or objects of devotion. The more useful Triggers of this kind are, obviously, small and easily transportable, but that's not entirely necessary.

One of the staples of myth is of a Holy person warding away a monster with an upraised Crucifix. If an Imbued raised up their mark of faith the first time they employed the Defence Edge "Ward", this could well be linked in their psyche as what caused the Edge to work, rather than anything they actually did.

Others might carry prayer scripts with them to ensure that the divine watches and protects them (justifying any number of Edges).

If the Imbued is a practitioner of the occult before, it might be the witch hazel and silver blade used in their rituals.

A Japanese person might wear a five-yen coin around their neck for good fortune.

A Muslim might believe they need to wear the Hajab to activate the Innocence Edge Hide, and it might only work against male monsters.

Holy Water might allow a Martyr to use the Ravage Edge. Those with access to more powerful religious artefacts (perhaps reliquaries) might wear them on the Hunt or incorporate them into weapons which they unleash the Cleave Edge with.

Even larger items can provide an Edge's effects. A Hunter may pray in front of an icon depicting the three Arch-Angels; Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. These Angels are indescribably powerful and have often intervened to aid the faithful. Michael, the Captain of the Host, is the Angel of War and exists in diametric opposition to Satan. Raphael is the Keeper of the Lord's Vengeance, and strikes down all who dare defy God. Gabriel is the Messenger of Heaven, and carries important information to the Imbued.

This could well lead to Hunters manifesting the Foresee, Delve, or Pinpoint Edges, believing their guidance comes from above. Scrying bowls and the like would also serve well for less pantheistic Hunters. The same could well come as "insights" granted whilst reading holy writings.

Regardless of what the particular item is, it serves as a focus for the Imbued's religious devotions. A Hunter's continuing development of their Edges may well strengthen their faith, as they might become able to manifest a number of new effects via it.

Even if the item only allows them to wield a single Edge, it takes on special meaning for the Imbued. To the Hunter, it is the divine acting via the medium of faith and mundane objects that is creating their Edge's effects, not the Hunter themselves.

Another class of Item Triggers is the memento. Given to the Hunter by someone important, the Imbued associates the artefact with a certain emotion or event.

An Avenger might carry their father's Victoria Cross and remember their valour and sacrifices in the Great War to provide them with strength in the Hunt (the Vengeance edge Fuel). A Judge might carry a policeman's badge, serving to remind them of the pursuit of justice and allowing them to manifest the Discern Edge.

Family heirloom jewellery with an attached history of good (or bad) fortune might allow them to first make contact with their dead relatives and grant access to the Redemption Edge of Outreach.

Much as religious items, Mementos allow the Hunter to manifest Edges by concentrating on a particular place, person, or event. The Edge, to them, is manifested because of the depth of that emotion and the importance of the item in bringing it forth.

The final Item Trigger class is the Souvenir. These are seemingly random belongings to which the Hunter has attached their belief. Maybe the first time a Hunter was able to use Discern was when the Rot posing as their optometrist gave them a new pair of reading glasses.

Perhaps the Avenger first lashed out with the Cleave Edge with a lump of two-by-four and finds themselves unable to feel the rage without it. Defenders could well be limited in the use of Alarm and Lock to their own premises with a particular password or identification number.

Whatever the case, the Souvenir item was the one that first allowed the Hunter to confront the hideous truth of the World of Darkness and they find themselves unable to manifest the Edge unless they are using it the same way. To these individuals, it was the advent of these new items in their lives that tore the veil away from their eyes and allowed them to reach for their new abilities.

Movement

Some Hunters find that movement allows them to focus their powers and unleash their Edges. More contemplative Hunters might find insight in performing martial arts Katas, which sharpen their concentration and allow them to focus.

Others may find that pushing outwards with their hands sends their opponents backwards with the Ward Edge. A more powerful Hunter may find that all he has to do to strike monsters down with the Smite Edge is point at them with an accusing hand. Striking a target, perhaps by slapping them, is a perfect way for Defenders to mark their prey with Brand. Martyrs might be forced to exact a high physical toll on themselves before they can bring forth the Demand Edge. Perhaps when the Innocent compress themselves into a small ball they are easily overlooked (the Hide Edge). Maybe a Redeemer must walk forwards with their arms out and to the side, demonstrating they are unarmed and do not plan to attack, in order to summon the Outreach Edge.

Whatever the case may be, the Hunter finds that the movements bring forth the desired effect. It may be that they cause them to feel a particular emotion, fulfil some sort of ritualistic function, or are simple, random motions that they used the first time the Edge was granted to them.

Verbal

"BACK, DEMON! I ABJURE THEE!" sound like the Ward Edge to you? How about a softly-whispered "die" prior to Ravage's spectacular attack? What about prayer? Interceding with the divine for aid in desperate circumstances? Or a carefully worded speech that harangues the Imbued and fills them with righteous fury? Enrage, anyone? Whacky as it might sound, self-help tapes?

Language is a powerful tool. It is what sets us apart from the beasts. It is what allows us to express ourselves. In a very real sense, language is what makes us human. As a result, language and communication can take on special importance in the Hunt. Perhaps the first time a Hunter used an Edge, it was in combination with something they said. To their mind, it is the act of speaking that aloud that activates the Edge and distances the Hunter from it.

Some Edges, by their very nature, require verbal communication to work. "Speak" could very well bring forth confessions with Reap. Judgement's Pierce Edge requires interrogation. Outreach, Confront, and a whole host of Innocence and Redemption Edges are aimed at opening dialogues.

These Edges require Verbal triggers by default and a Hunter might very well need to learn to phrase their questions correctly to get the results they desire.
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