Entitlements Exclusive to the Order of the Mani Dello Spirito Santo.

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FEMALE VAIZARDS: THE MAIDENS OF THE VEILED SWORD

The Maidens of the Veiled Sword were once a small group of all-female fighters who drew their inspiration from the stories of St. Joan of Arc. They trained themselves extensively in the art of using a sword and shield on the battlefield, and have taken their techniques to an entirely different level. Their numbers have significantly expanded, but they have lost none of the prestige that their original founders had, most especially in light of the fact that the Order used to have a resoundingly male demographic.

PREREQUISITES.

• Character must be female
  
• Status [Order of the Mani dello Spirito Santo] ••• or higher
  
• Conviction ••• or higher (for mortals) or affective Supernatural Advantage ••• or higher (for supernaturals)
  
• Benedictions rating of ••• or higher
  
• Fighting Style: Sword & Shield ••••• or higher
  

MEMBERSHIP & INITIATION.

MEMBERSHIP & INITIATION
The candidate must express her interest in joining the Maidens of the Veiled Sword to her superior. She is then made to participate in a battle royale, where she will engage all current Maidens. If she performs according to their standards, they gain the entitlement.

BENEFITS FOR MAIDENS.

A Maiden is eligible to purchase this Merit.

FLEUR D’ORLEANS (• TO •••••)

PREREQUISITES: Strength ••••, Dexterity ••••, Weaponry ••••, Sword & Shield •••••

EFFECT: The primary fighting style of the Veiled Swords of the Mani dello Spirito Santo, and the Firebrands of the Brotherhood of Violence – they drew their inspiration from stories of St. Joan of Arc, and trained themselves extensively in the art of using a sword and shield on the battlefield.

ZEALOUS GUARDIAN (•): Your character is a seasoned veteran and practically one with her chosen weapon and shield, making it next to impossible to flank her. Your character will always apply her full Defense rating against multiple attacks. PERFECTED DEFENSE (••): Usually, a fighter who uses a shield in battle can easily be flanked by the enemy. Your character, however, has learned to turn this disadvantage into a weapon in itself. With a successful reflexive Dexterity + Subterfuge roll vs. the targeted opponent’s Wits + the higher rating between their Weaponry, Firearms or Brawl (according to the attack they are using), the character can trick an opponent into thinking that she is unaware of incoming attacks. Their next attack roll against the character suffers from a -1 penalty. This stacks with any other penalties that may have been levied on their dice pool. SILVER HAMMER (•••): Sometimes, combat situations require a warrior to get rid of as many opponents as possible with whatever’s at hand. By expending one Willpower point, your character can target two different enemies with her weapon and shield respectively. Attacking with the shield suffers from a -2 penalty; the Shield’s Defense rating becomes the attack dice pool’s weapon bonus and deals bashing damage. The second targeted opponent must be within the character’s Speed rating. Drawback: using your Shield as a weapon means that you cannot use it to defend yourself. Your character loses the Defense bonus provided by your Shield’s Defense rating for that turn. IRON LILY (••••):Your character is a formidable force in a combat situation, capable of deflecting incoming attacks as if it were second nature to her. When attempting to target the character for an attack or similarly offensive move, opponents automatically suffer a penalty to their dice pools equal to the character’s dots in Sword & Shield and her Weaponry Skill together with the character’s Defense and Armor. ACHILLES’ HEEL (•••••): Your character has become adept at pressing against enemy attacks, so much so that she can immediately take advantage of their disorientation. Upon a successful Shield Bash maneuver, the character gains a free Weaponry-based action.

Upon initiation, a Maiden gets the following Benedictions for free.

SAINT AGATHIUS’ CALL

Saint Agathius of Byzantium is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, or Auxiliary Saints, and among their number is the patron of soldiers. Scourged and beheaded after terrible torture for refusing to renounce his faith, a hunter knowing Saint Agathius’ Benediction can draw upon a measure of that saint’s resolve. The hunter empowers himself in the martyr’s role, drawing the attention and ire of an attacker so that his companions may live unmolested.


COST: 1 Willpower

ACTION: Instant

DICE POOL: Presence + Intimidation + Benediction

DRAMATIC FAILURE: The hunter prays, but answers are not forthcoming. He suffers a -1 to all dice pools for the rest of the scene.

FAILURE: The hunter does not gain the benefit of Saint Agathius’ blessing.

SUCCESS: The hunter shines as if lit from within. Those wishing to attack the character’s Blade see the Vaizard as the perfect choice, the only possible one to attack. Anyone with Morality (or equivalent trait) 6 or below who wishes to attack a member of the Vaizard’s party must spend a point of Willpower in order to attack anyone other than the hunter using this Benediction. If the attacker wanted to strike at the Vaizard anyway, however, this power has no further effect.

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: Though they strike at him, the hunter is protected by his higher calling. The Vaizard’s Defense is increased by the number of dots he possesses in Benedictions until this effect ends.
Saint Agathius’ Call lasts for one scene.

Modifier Situation
+1 The hunter is a Soldier by Profession, or has recognizably devoted much of his skills and/or Merits to combative arts
+1 The hunter possesses the Giant Merit.
+2 The hunter has the highest Strength of his Blade
+5 The Benediction is performed on May 8 (feast day of Saint Agathius of Byzantium)

ARMOR OF ST. MARTIN

In the constant battle against the Darkness and its many forms, the Mani dello Spirito Santo must stand ever ready. Since the modern world frowns upon the wearing of riot vests by the general population, many hunters offer their prayers to St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers, to watch over them and protect them. Uttered before going into battle, the prayer of the Armor of St. Martin has saved many hunters’ lives.


COST: 1 Willpower

ACTION: Instant

DICE POOL: Stamina + Survival + Benediction

DRAMATIC FAILURE: The Vaizard’s prayers are not sufficiently sincere; not only does he not receive St. Martin’s protection, but he also suffers a -1 penalty to his Defense for the rest of the scene.

FAILURE: The Vaizard does not gain the benefit of St. Martin’s blessing.

SUCCESS: The Vaizard gains an Armor rating equal to the number of dots he has in Benedictions. This armor stacks with mundane armor and other forms of supernatural armor. The Armor of St. Martin does not protect against attacks that naturally inflict aggravated damage.

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: The Vaizard may spend a Willpower point to downgrade the damage from a lethal wound to bashing. This effect only downgrades the base damage from the attack; it has no effect on damage that wraps around from a full Health chart.

The Armor of St. Martin lasts for one scene.


Modifier Situation
+1 The hunter is fighting to defend helpless innocents
+5 The Benediction is performed on November 11th (feast day of St. Martin of Tours)

MANTLE OF ORLEANS

This Benediction is associated with Jeanne D’Arc, the young French woman famously besieged by visions of Heaven. Unable to ignore the Lord’s call to arms, she waged a military campaign that helped save France near the end of the One Hundred Year War. Wrongly condemned for heresy by the politicians of the time, Saint Jeanne has posthumously been cleared of all charges, and beatified and canonized in short order. She serves as an inspiration to women in the church and all who bear arms in the name of God. It is no surprise that the Malleus Maleficarum and Vaizards of the Mani dello Spirito Santo have come to hold her in such high regard when it comes time to raise the standard of war. Specifically, this Benediction invokes her glorious success under Heaven in lifting the siege of Orleans in only nine days. This prayer blesses the practitioner’s brothers in arms as they battle unholy forces. The companions of the practitioner receive a blessing that guides their blows and turns aside their enemies’ attacks in turn.

In the course of the prayer, the hunter invokes Margaret of Antioch, Catherine of Alexandria and Michael the Archangel to aid in battle as they once graced Saint Jeanne. She must remain in prayer for every turn she wishes to continue issuing the blessing. For every turn the practitioner remains in prayer, members of her Blade gain bonuses to all combat rolls and attributes (i.e. Defense, Initiative). This doesn’t necessitate rolling or expending Willpower every turn, only the act of prayer itself. If interrupted (she is otherwise stopped from speaking or is attacked, for instance), the Benediction ends. She may not attempt to use this Benediction again until 24 hours have passed.


COST: 3 Willpower

ACTION: Instant

DICE POOL: Manipulation + Expression + Benediction

DRAMATIC FAILURE: The practitioner and her Blade are besieged by visions of the Archangel Michael standing in Holy Judgment. The Blade suffers a -2 penalty to all combat related rolls and -3 to their Initiative for the remainder of the scene. The Benediction is over and the practitioner may not continue the prayer or try again for one full turn of the moon (28 days).

FAILURE: The invoker’s prayer fails to be heard and the Blade gains no benefit or blessing.

SUCCESS: The Benediction is successful and other members of the Blade gain a boost to their Defense ratings, combat-related rolls, Initiative and Speed ratings equal to the ritualist’s dots in Benedictions (to a maximum of +5). These bonuses last for as long as the hunter prays (maximum one full scene). Note that the Vaizard using this Benediction does not gain these benefits, and may do nothing except pray if she hopes to keep up the blessing. Those in the Blade gaining these benefits must be within 50 yards of the praying hunter.

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: As above, but the boosts can now go up to a maximum of +7.

Modifier Situation
+5 Benediction performed May 30 (Feast Day of Saint Jeanne D’Arc)
+1 The Ritualist is a sworn Brother or Sister in Violence
+2 The Ritualist is holding a blessed item (a sacred banner, a sanctified sword)
-2 Distractions (loud noise, trembling ground, the combat is going on inches from the hunter’s face)

PRAYER TO ST. GERMAINE

St. Germaine, recognized patron to victims of child abuse, was the favorite saint of Mila Oborskaia, an Ursan Changing Breed and one of the founding members of the Mani dello Spirito Santo. Godhand Mila was a Den-Warden, and served as a mother-figure to her brothers and sisters – records state that her deep need to aid all under her protection was a result of the abuse and neglect she faced at the hands of her own parents. This Benediction was developed to honor her legacy, and Vaizards who invoke it find themselves filled both with sorrow and righteous rage over the plight of St. Germaine, and with inspiration over her response to such terrible circumstances. These emotions are what they draw upon in their mission to protect others from the evils of the world.


COST: 1 Willpower

ACTION: Instant

DICE POOL: Resolve + Empathy + Benedictions

DRAMATIC FAILURE: St. Germaine sees not the humility of a protector of the faith, but the arrogance of a warrior who seeks her aid not for the sake of others, but for personal gain. The prayer fails, and the Vaizard cannot attempt to use this Benediction again for 24 hours.

FAILURE: The Vaizard completes the prayer, but fails to derive any inspiration from it.

SUCCESS: The Vaizard completes the prayer, and gains inspiration from remembering St. Germaine’s plight. For the number of turns equal to her activation successes, the Vaizard gains a bonus to any action taken in the defense of another equal to the dots she has in Benedictions (up to a maximum of five).

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: The effects of this Benediction last for the duration of the scene.


Modifier Situation
+5 Benediction performed on the Feast of Ascension (40th Day of Easter).
+3 One of the Vaizard’s companions or the person they are seeking to protect is a child or teenager.
+2 The Benediction is invoked in the defense of an obviously helpless civilian, comrade, or loved one.
+1 The ritualist’s Virtue is Charity.
+1 The ritualist is a Changing Breed.

WRATHFUL SWORD OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

St. Michael, the general of the Heavenly Host, did personal battle against Lucifer in the last days of the War in Heaven. It was by Michael’s hand that the Morningstar’s power was broken, and he was thrown down from the celestial city into the bowels of Hell. By praying to the mighty warrior angel, a hunter can imbue an earthly weapon with the divine power to smite the devils that haunt humankind. Few earthly implements can channel the divine power for long, but for as long as it lasts, a weapon sanctified by Michael is the most potent weapon in a hunter’s arsenal.


COST: 2 Willpower

ACTION: Instant (however, the Willpower cost must be paid over two consecutive turns)

DICE POOL: Strength + Weaponry + Benediction

DRAMATIC FAILURE: The weapon is unable to channel the divine wrath and shatters immediately.

FAILURE: The weapon is not imbued with the power of the archangel.

SUCCESS: The weapon blazes with celestial power. When wielded against a supernatural target or a mortal whose Morality score is 6 or below, it inflicts aggravated damage. It also gains the blessed quality.

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: Beyond inflicting aggravated damage against the types of targets stated above and gaining the blessed quality, the weapon also gains the 9-again qualities. If the weapon already possessed the 9-again quality, it gains the 8-again quality instead.

The weapon lasts for the duration of the scene. It can only deal the number of aggravated damage wounds equal to the Vaizard’s activation successes. Once it has inflicted the equivalent amount of aggravated damage, it shatters, overcome by the divine power poured into it. If the scene ends before the weapon has inflicted its maximum aggravated damage, the effect ends and the weapon is not broken.

It should be noted that this Benediction can only be used on mundane weaponry. Weapons crafted from otherworldly material, or enchanted with properties that prevent them from breaking will not be able to receive its blessing.

The Vaizard who imbues the weapon needn’t be the hunter who uses it to incur damage.


Modifier Situation
+5 Benediction performed on September 29th (Michaelmas)
+3 The targeted weapon is a sword or similar bladed weapon
+1 The weapon is made, in part or in whole, from symbolically holy material, or has recognizably Christian symbols engraved upon it
+1 The ritualist is a sworn Brother or Sister in Violence
-2 The targeted weapon is not traditionally recognized as a weapon

Maidens of the Veiled Sword can purchase the following Benedictions at 10 experience points per ritual rather than the regular cost of fifteen.

ST. BENEDICT’S SYNCHRONICITY

St. Benedict of Nursia, the recognized patron saint of Europe and of students, was known best for his work The Rule of Saint Benedict. The entirety of the book dealt with administrative wisdom with the context of being a faithful servant of God, and its model was adopted by the majority of Europe’s religious communities during the Middle Ages. Vaizards of the Mani dello Spirito have discovered that by invoking his name, they can act in just the right way at just the right moment to strike that deal or make that perfect shot.


COST: 1 Willpower

ACTION: Reflexive

DICE POOL: Wits + Academics + Benediction

DRAMATIC FAILURE: The Vaizard fails to convince St. Benedict of his need for guidance. He cannot use this Benediction for 24 hours.

FAILURE: The Vaizard’s prayer falls on deaf ears.

SUCCESS: The Vaizard successfully communes with St. Benedict, and gains his guidance for the number of turns equal to his dots in Benediction. During this period, before making a roll, the Vaizard can spend another point of Willpower to make a reflexive Wits + Academics roll. The successes for this roll will be added as dice to his next roll.

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: The Vaizard gains St. Benedict’s guidance for the duration of the scene.

Modifier Situation
+5 Benediction performed on the Feast of Ascension (40th Day of Easter).
+2 The Benediction is invoked during a battle where the Vaizard is at a clear disadvantage (i.e. outnumbered, outgunned)
+1 The ritualist’s Virtue is Charity.
+1 The ritualist is an Alchemist or a Promethean.

THE HANDS OF ST. LUKE

Grievous wounds are all too common in the hunt, and often the injured warrior cannot be taken to a hospital. Vaizards know that the power of faith to heal the wounded is a greater tool than the scalpels and drugs of the modern doctor, and so they call on St. Luke the Evangelist to restore life and vigor.


COST: 1 Willpower

ACTION: Extended; each roll represents one minute of prayer and laying-on of hands

DICE POOL: Intelligence + Medicine + Benediction

DRAMATIC FAILURE: The injured character’s wounds are visited upon the healer in the form of stigmata. The healer suffers one point of lethal damage as blood erupts from his palms, feet, side and brow.

FAILURE: No progress is made toward healing the injured character.

SUCCESS: The injured character’s wounds begin to close through the power of God.

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: Costs for healing wounds are halved: as such, it costs only one success to heal a point of lethal damage and two successes to heal an aggravated wound. One bashing wound – if the target has any – will heal automatically.

Successes rolled on the extended action go toward healing the characters. One success is required to heal a point of bashing damage; two successes are required to heal a lethal wound; three successes are required to heal an aggravated wound. The healer need not declare a target number in advance, but the character may only make a number of rolls equal to his Morality.
In order to use this ritual, the healer must lay at least one hand on the injured party. Skin-to-skin contact is necessary. If physical contact is broken, all accumulated successes are lost and the character must begin again. A character may not use this ritual upon himself.

Modifier Situation
+1 The injured character’s Virtue is Faith
+5 Benediction is performed on October 18th (feast day of St. Luke)

SANCTIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

The enemies of the faith are manifold, and while some may be fought with sword and gun and purifying flame, some exist against whom earthly weapons are no avail. Ghosts, demonic spirits and other insubstantial terrors cannot be fought by force of arms, but rather by the strength of faith. Truly devout hunters can invoke the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, infusing ordinary objects with the divine power of faith.


COST: 1 Willpower (see below)

ACTION: Extended; each roll represents one turn of prayer

DICE POOL: Strength + Crafts + Benediction

DRAMATIC FAILURE: The object to be sanctified is shattered by the wrath of God, and the hunter loses any Willpower cost associated with the ritual.

FAILURE: No progress is made toward completing the ritual.

SUCCESS: Progress is made toward completing the ritual.

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: In addition to major progress being made, the rating of the blessed item created by this ritual is increased by one dot.
This rite allows the Vaizard to create a blessed item (The World of Darkness Rulebook, p. 214). Before beginning the ritual, the character must decide on the dot rating he wishes to bestow on the blessed item he creates. Each dot requires three successes to create, and the maximum number of rolls is capped by the character’s Morality. If the hunter fails, he does not pay the Willpower cost except on a dramatic failure. Creating a blessed item with this rite costs a point of Willpower. The item remains blessed for the remainder of the scene. If the Vaizard desires, he may spend a Willpower dot to infuse the item with God’s blessing permanently.

Modifier Situation
-2 The item being blessed is profane or blasphemous (a porn magazine, an image of Jesus sprayed with horse urine).
-1 The item being blessed is one of no particular religious significance (e.g., a baseball bat or comic book).
+0 The item being blessed is one of religious significance (a Bible, rosary, etc.).
+2 The blessed item is an actual relic of a saint, such as a bone or vial of blood.
+5 Benediction is enacted on May 24th (Feast Day of Mary, Help of Christians).

SCUTUM SANCTE TRINITATIS

This Benediction invokes the “Shield of the Trinity,” or the Scutum Sancte Trinitatis. This Benediction is used by the righteous soldier of God to protect himself against all mortal damage that might end his crusade against the Devil’s army. It is, at present, a Benediction found among the Athanasians in the Malleus Maleficarum, and it was a jealously guarded secret within their ranks. The Brotherhood of Violence, however, spread the invocation within their own number, and eventually shared it with Vaizards within the Mani dello Spirito Santo. Who knows how they managed to learn it…

To use Scutum Sancte Trinitatis, the Vaizard must mark himself with the symbol of the Shield of the Trinity, a symbol marked by four nodes (linked by six lines).


COST: 3 Willpower

ACTION: Instant

DICE POOL: Resolve + Survival + Benedictions

DRAMATIC FAILURE: The symbol burns, searing the Vaizard’s flesh with one point of aggravated damage.

FAILURE: God will not provide the defense necessary. Surely, He (She) has His (Her) reasons?

SUCCESS: For each success gained on the roll, the hunter has one turn where he takes no damage from most bashing or lethal sources. However, the hunter still takes damage from fire, disease, drugs, and poison. In addition, aggravated damage still accumulates as normal.

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: Additional successes are their own reward.

THE WINGS OF ST. GALL

The Irish St. Gall (also known under the names of Gallen and Gallus) was one of the traditional twelve companions of Saint Columbanus on his mission from Ireland to the continent. He is recognized as the patron saint of birds, and Vaizards of today’s Vigil can call upon his aid to grant them the celerity of birds in flight.


COST: 3 Willpower

ACTION: Instant

DICE POOL: Dexterity + Athletics + Benediction

DRAMATIC FAILURE: The Vaizard’s prayer displeases St. Gall. He suffers from a -3 penalty on all movement rolls, and his Speed drops by -2.

FAILURE: The Vaizard’s prayer falls on deaf ears.

SUCCESS: The Vaizard successfully communes with St. Gall. For the number of turns equal to his activation successes, the character’s Speed is now multiplied by his Benediction rating (up to a maximum of five). Furthermore, actions targeted at the Vaizard suffer from a penalty equal to his Benediction rating (up to a maximum of five).

EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS: The effects of this Benediction last for the duration of the scene.

Modifier Situation
+5 Benediction performed on October 16th (St. Gall’s Feast Day).
+1 The ritualist has at least one dot in Animal Ken.

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