Post by Annabelle Devonshire on May 22, 2020 15:08:14 GMT -5
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Fallen look like to the Imbued‘s Second Sight and Observational Edges?
To the Second Sight, a Fallen is somehow “wrong”, but it is difficult for them to say exactly how. Demonic possession is subtle since the mortal host still lives and breathes and possesses a soul (although not its original one).
Imbued with active Conviction sense something disturbing about them, but it’s not always the same thing each time. It may be a hint of the demon’s true form, such as a scent of brimstone or strangely glowing eyes. They may get a brief impression of wings, horns or other demonic features. There may be a sense of intense heat or cold, a shadow that falls across the demon’s mortal form or simply an overwhelming sense of malice from the creature.
Illuminate allows hunters to perceive that a demon is not the mortal being it appears to be. The subject bears an ominous aura of some kind, whether utterly black, one that seems to absorb all light, or one like that corona of the sun - fiery and smouldering. That’s not to say that all users of Illuminate see that very same aura, however, not even around the same demon. Two hunters standing side by side may see different kinds of outlines, while a single hunter looking at two demons may see different auras around them. The variation can arise from a hunter or devil’s mood or intent, predisposition toward the subject observed, or from a hunter’s interpretation of what “demon” means. An imbued who defines “demon” as evil may see a black aura, while a hunter who wonders if “demon” implies “fallen angel” may see brilliant light surrounding an entity. Ultimately, characters should be kept on their toes when Illuminate reveals varying and not always reliable information.
Witness allows a hunter to see a flash of a demon’s infernal form, revealing the demon’s true nature. It’s the most effective means to see the creature for what it is, but since infernal forms often differ in appearance from subject to subject, be careful not to simply think “it’s a demon.” Describe the demon’s infernal form in detail, instead, allowing the character to draw their own conclusions.
Discern is not very effective against demons simply because they inhabit living host bodies and therefore lack most of the signs of supernatural possession. Things that a hunter may notice using this edge are slight changes in mannerisms, skin that is unusually warm or dry to the touch, faint and musky odours, or the smell of smoke where there is no fire. These signs are limited and confusing. They should tell a hunter only that something is wrong about a particular individual, not necessarily that it’s demonically possessed.
How can Fallen detect the Imbued?
Whilst Fallen have supernatural awareness, they do not have the capacity to sense or detect Imbued that do not actively use their Edges. “Inactive” hunters appear as ordinary mortals to demons, potentially giving the Imbued the element of surprise (at least the first time they encounter a particular demon).
The simple use of the Second Sight does not attract a Fallen’s attention, although using an observation Edge such as Witness, Discern or Illuminate does. Use of such powers - or any Edge - makes a hunter “active” to their supernatural senses. Ironically, use of Hide could theoretically attract a Fallen’s attention.
The dampening of demonic powers due to hunter presence does not in itself trigger a Fallen’s awareness of supernatural activity. The demon’s power is more taxing to use, but the Fallen does not necessarily sense unnatural activity in the area. The Fallen has to determine for itself that one of the Imbued is responsible for draining its energy.
In addition, a Devil can use the Lamp of Faith evocation to discern an Imbued’s high Faith potential (perhaps even unusually so, for the few Extremist hunters in existence).
Can Imbued have Faith reaped from them?
Imbued cannot have Faith reaped from them by Fallen when they have active Conviction. Without active Conviction, however, they can have Faith reaped just the same as any other mortal.
What Lores does having active Conviction render the Imbued immune to?
Firstly, active Conviction protects the Imbued against the effects of Revelation in addition to many of the Lores of the Fallen.
Specifically, active Conviction renders them immune to Lore of Humanity Level Two to Five, Lore of Celestials Level Two, the Lore of Radiance, Lore of Awakening Level Two and Three, Lore of Light Level Two to Five, Lore of Longing Level One, the Lore of Longing, Lore of Death Level Three, the Lore of Chaos, and the Lore of Violation Level One to Four.
Can Imbued become mortal hosts of Fallen?
No, Imbued cannot become the mortal hosts of Fallen. The mind and soul of the Imbued automatically reject the demonic presence, no matter how defeated they are, denying the demon any sort of hold.
Imbued don’t have to use Conviction for this protection; it’s simply part of the nature of being imbued. Not even the very recently deceased body of an imbued hunter can be possessed. It’s a dormant vessel that offers an invading demon no anchor or footing in the material world. Thus, the Fallen gain no insight into the beliefs, knowledge or memories of the imbued - at least not through possession anyway.
Can Imbued become Thralls of Fallen? Or can Thralls (or former Thralls) become Imbued?
The Imbued cannot normally become the thralls of a Fallen. Their inherent nature rejects a demon’s powers, enhancements and “gifts.” Still, there are some means by which even an Imbued hunter can fall to demonic manipulation (see below for more information).
Any mortal who is or has ever been a Thrall to a Fallen can never become Imbued. The Messengers seem to disdain those mortals who have been so strongly tainted by the infernal. Such mortals cannot even become Bystanders.
Of course, Imbued have no way of knowing any of this. The smart ones avoid making any sort of deals with demons to begin with, and hold out hope that a Fallen’s mortal followers can be redeemed. More than a few imbued hunters fear for their souls when it comes to dealing with the infernal, and in many cases they’re right to worry. The Imbued may be protected from some of a demon’s powers, but Fallen possess other capabilities, and there are fates far worse than becoming mere pawns.
There is one way an Imbued can become in thrall to a Fallen. The first requirement is that the Imbued go beyond the edge of sanity and attain the maximum of 10 in their Primary Virtue, the second is that they do not have a Level-Five Edge (whether they were insane enough to manifest it themselves or was given to them from “otherworldly sources”) and the final and most important deciding factor is that the Imbued willingly accepts (whether they are aware of the consequences or not) the Fallen’s offer of aid.
Once all these requirements are met, the Imbued is considered a Corrupt Extremist and receives all the benefits and drawbacks of an infernal hunter described here.
What does the presence of an Imbued mean to a Fallen?
The presence of an Imbued with active Conviction interferes with a Fallen’s use of Faith, almost like magnetic charges that oppose each other. If a hunter with active Conviction is in a demon’s presence and can see the Fallen as it uses its powers, the Faith costs of those capabilities are doubled as long as the hunter focuses his attention on the demon. This dampening effect requires no active effort on the chosen’s part, merely attention to the subject. The Fallen is not automatically aware of the Imbued’s influence or interference, although it does notice that using its powers is taxing.
Note that this cost increase applies to only powers that actually cost Faith to use. Innate powers are unaffected by a hunter’s presence, and work normally.
This extra Faith cost does not apply to Thralls when they try to activate powers bestowed through pacts. Only Fallen capabilities and Faith are influenced by a hunters’ presence.
This phenomenon is one of the greatest advantages Imbued have against the Fallen. It forces most demons to be cunning and subtle in dealing with the hunters, rather than confronting them outright. Still, a demon with enough Thralls to provide Faith can confront a group of hunters and still wield its powers quite effectively, and only Imbued actively using Conviction limit the Fallen in this way. Under normal circumstances, demons can use their powers against ordinary humans and Imbued to full effect.
It’s important to understand that Imbued don’t know they have this suffocating effect on demons, and the Fallen have yet to figure out how or why their powers are more difficult to use around the chosen (indeed, or that anyone who could be called a “hunter” is even responsible). Demons who are aware of this weakness conceal it carefully, and they can still be quite intimidating to any Imbued who don’t know their own strength.
Can Imbued use True Names?
Like every other creature, if an Imbued possesses the Fallen’s True Name, they will be able to resist the creature’s supernatural powers even without active Conviction. Note that this resistance doesn’t protect a hunter from a Fallen’s physical capabilities and attacks (claws, poison, hellfire, etc), only from mental influences and mystical powers.
Ironically, to a Fallen’s perspective, the protection that Imbued receive from Conviction can make them seem to possess their True Name. If one of the Imbued uses Second Sight, and the demon discovers that its mind-control power has no effect on the mortal, the Fallen might suspect that the person has somehow gained knowledge of its True Name.
But, of course, neither the Imbued nor the Fallen know this. Even with their infinite knowledge of the supernatural, demons are just as ignorant about the true extent of the capabilities (as they are about the existence) of the Imbued.
Can Imbued use summoning/binding rituals against Fallen?
Imbued can learn the rituals to summon and bind demons just like any other mortals can. Their imbued status doesn’t prevent them from using the rites. Nor does it necessarily protect them from a summoning gone wrong. The primary difference is that a hunter performing a summoning ritual cannot use any Edges until the demon is no longer in the hunter’s service.
Conviction and Second Sight can still be used, however. Any Imbued participating in the ritual who does not have Conviction active during the scene is subject to supernatural fear and flees the scene or cowers uncontrollably and blanks out the whole spectacle.
Afterward, the hunter’s capabilities return in full measure, which means that a hunter who tries to summon a demon and fails cannot use any of his edges against the being. This prohibition arises as the Imbued creates something of a rift between himself and the Heralds.</li>
Fallen Lores
Lore of the Fundament
- Manipulate Inertia only can stop mundane weaponry (even those enhanced by Edges such as Cleave or Impact)</li>
Lore of Humanity
- Translate works as normal, regardless of whether the Imbued has active Conviction or not</li>
Lore of the Celestials
- Lamp of Faith revealed Imbued with active Conviction as having high Faith potential. They tend to glow even brighter when using Edges
- Pillar of Faith can be used to boost or hamper the effectiveness Edges, so long as the Fallen knows the Imbued’s real name
- Hand of Faith doesn't work on Imbued</li>
Lore of Flame
- Muse of the Flame still works on the flames being manipulated by this Lore
- Fallen using the Ride the Flame to be part of the flames can still be detected and discerned through use of the Second Sight or observation Edges. Furthermore, they can still be affected by Edges such as Cleave, Impact, Ravage, etc</li>
Lore of Awakening
- Find the Faithful can be used on Imbued as long as they know their real name
- Objects brought to life with Animate and people brought back to life with Restore Life (and the soul is not on hand to be refitted into the body) look "wrong" to Imbued’s Second Sight
- Restore Life cannot be used to resurrect dead Imbued, regardless of circumstances</li>
Lore of the Firmament
- Fallen can use Remote Viewing to see through the eyes of a Corrupt Extremist in their Thrall, but active Conviction renders them immune to this evocation
- Fallen can use Mouth of the Damned or Many Places At Once on any Corrupt Extremist(s) in their Thrall but, as mentioned before, if the Corrupt Extremist has active Conviction they are rendered immune to this evocation
- Scry and Touch From Afar cannot be used on Imbued who have used the Suspend Edge</li>
Lore of Paths
- The Suspend Edge can negate any use of this Lore, excluding Find Path</li>
Lore of the Forge
- Imbued cannot use relics enchanted by use of Enchant Object whilst their have active Conviction
- Imbued souls cannot be trapped with Imbue Object</li>
Lore of Patterns
- Imbued with active Conviction are immune to the effects created by Twist Time</li>
Lore of Portals
- Fallen, usually, cannot open doors, windows or other portals that Imbued have used Lock on
- Imbued cannot be affected by or use portals created by Teleport, Co-Locate and Doorway Into Darkness
- The Suspend Edge prevents the Fallen from using Teleport, Co-Locate and Doorway Into Darkness</li>
Lore of Light
- The high-Torment evocation of Light can be seen through by use of the Discern Edge</li>
Lore of Storms
- Fallen look "wrong" in Water Form to the Second Sight and further information can be gained through use of observation Edges. Furthermore, they can still be affected by Edges such as Cleave, Impact, Ravage, etc</li>
Lore of Transfiguration
- The Second Sight provides little to no hints of this Lore’s use, as they are physical transformations. If the Fallen uses it on themselves or other monsters, they still retain the “wrong” appearance and all other information that can be gained through use of observation Edges. It is only through the use of the Witness edge that information about the transformation can be discerned
- Imbued with active Conviction are immune to uses of this Lore against them as their imbuing fights back against the transformation</li>
Lore of the Beast
- Animals taken over by Fallen using Possess Animals look "wrong" to the Second Sight and can still be affected by Edges
- Despite their physical transformation, Fallen in Animal Form still give off the same information discerned through the Second Sight and observation Edges, and can still be affected by Edges as normal</li>
Lore of the Wild
- Plants created by Mutate Plant look "wrong" to the Second Sight and contain traces of the Fallen’s influence through use of observation Edges</li>
Lore of the Flesh
- Imbued with active Conviction are immune to alterations (including healing attempts) made by this Lore
- Witness can be used to discern the previous appearance of subjects affected by this Lore</li>
Lore of Death
- Read Fate can be used on dead Imbued, but it never shows anything that reveals the Messengers in the visions
- Decay and Extinguish Life cannot be used on Imbued with active Conviction
- The people that are brought back to life using Unlife look "wrong" to the Second Sight and possess all the traits attributed to zombies through use of observation Edges. Also this power cannot be used on dead hunters</li>
Lore of the Spirit
- This Lore cannot be used on Imbued, even when they're dead. The Messengers simply don't allow the chosen to become ghosts</li>
Lore of the Realms
- Edges that effect incorporeal beings, such as Cleave and Ward, can affect a Fallen using Ghostwalk
- Imbued cannot enter the portal to the Shadowlands that Pierce the Barrier creates. Their imbued nature simply does not allow it</li>
Lore of Chaos
- Creatures summoned from Summon Outsider looks "wrong" to the Second Sight and reveal traits of demonic influence from observation Edges, as well as being affected by Edges all the same</li>
Lore of Contamination
- Items used by Create Proxy and the body made by Unspeakable Servitor look "wrong" to the Second Sight and observation Edges reveals information attributed towards the Fallen
- Lash of Corruption is negated by active Conviction
- Imbued cannot use items created by Corrupt Relic with active Conviction. Also if hunters used such relics whilst they have inactive Conviction, it causes those Imbued who already have Derangements to have them spiral out of control. Imbued who don't already have Derangements are still affected by insanity but it is only temporary</li>
Lore of Violation
- Devour the Soul cannot be used to devour Imbued souls. The nature of their imbuing and their Conviction (active or not) prevents it from happening</li>
Imbued Edges
Vengeance
- Cleave, Impact and Smite cause Aggravated Damage. They may also affect incorporeal demons
- Harpoon causes Aggravated Damage and can be used to drag the Fallen out of their host's body. The host body doesn't suffer any damage from this</li>
Defence
- Brand always burns Fallen with the "Demon/Irredeemable/Monster Beyond Help" symbol
- Protect can defend against Fallen powers that do direct damage such as Lore of the Flame's Holocaust, The Lore of the Celestials's Fire of Heaven, etc
- Despite the innate power of Fallen to be immune to mind control, Champion works on Fallen
- Burn and Blast cause Aggravated Damage</li>
Judgement
- Both Burden and Imprison can hold both a Fallen inside of their host AND an incorporeal demon outside or without a host body
- Fallen can sense something strange about people/places affected by Anathama, but cannot discern what exactly. It's only when they attempt to gain Faith or enter the place do they suffer the effects of the Edge
- Balance takes away the Demon's ability to use Faith
- Vow inflicts Aggravated Damage when broken</li>
Innocence
- Despite the innate power of Fallen to be immune to mind control, Confront works on Fallen
- Blaze causes Aggravated Damage</li>
Redemption
- Despite the Fallen's innate power of being resistant to mind-control, Redemption Edges such as Insinuate still work on Fallen as they stir up memories and feelings of their mortal hosts or of the benevolent beings they once were
- Respire absorbs Faith as well as health</li>
Martyrdom
- Ravage inflicts Aggravated Damage and can also be used to affect incorporeal demons
- Expiate can't be used on Fallen, because they are too spiritually vast to be affected by the Edge
- Payback can be used to take away either one of a Fallen's innate powers (Immunity to Mind Control, Awareness, etc), the Fallen's ability to change into their Apocalyptic Form, or their ability to use a single Lore</li>
Vision
- Fallen can use their Supernatural Awareness to detect something supernatural about the symbols made by the Unify and Summon Edges</li>
Deviance
- Reap does not work on Fallen, even when incorporeal
- Spiral causes Aggravated Damage, even on incorporeal demons or Fallen who have crossed the Gauntlet into the Shadowlands</li>
Solitude
- Imbued using the Transcend Edge cannot be affected by The Lore of the Spirit</li>
Corrupt
- The claws/fangs (and anything else the Corrupt Extremists' master will give them) in the Channel Edge generally cause Aggravated Damage, unless stated otherwise</li>
Divine
- Cremate only affects the spirits of the Fallen, not their mortal hosts or Earthbound reliquaries</li>
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