Fox Mulder meets the Spanish Inquisition.
Attributes: To most folks, the Witch-Hunter is the embodiment of humanity’s triumph over the supernatural. He uses humanity’s mundane advantages (planning, research, preparation) to vanquish foes who embrace chaos, traffic with demons, and violate reality itself.
However, the Witch-Hunter is also the embodiment of humanity’s arrogance in the face of a fundamentally unknowable universe. He presumes knowledge where he has none, approaches forces beyond his control with unfounded confidence, and callously destroys that which he does not understand.
Taboos: Admitting his own ignorance about something supernatural breaks taboo; the Witch-Hunter must always seem an expert in the eyes of those he protects. He may not display cowardice when confronted with the unknown; the Witch-Hunter has to instill confidence in his people. (Failing a stress check violates taboo, regardless of how he flips out.) Allying with a known witch also breaks taboo, though the loss of Avatar skill points can be recovered by using and then betraying said witch.
Symbols: Any of the traditional weapons used against supernatural creatures: wooden stakes, holy water, silver bullets. The pyre and the gallows are also strongly connected to this archetype.
Suspected Avatars in History: Many of Torquemada’s inquisitors certainly channeled the Witch-Hunter, as do one or two of the Order of St. Cecil’s operatives, if unconsciously. Joseph MacCarthy may have, if communism was just a convenient smoke screen for pursuing his real enemies.
Channels:
1%-50%: Hammer of Witches – The avatar may use his Witch-Hunter skill for any knowledge check related to the supernatural. This isn’t a psychic or divinitive ability, it’s the result of the Witch-Hunter’s fevered research into the occult and paranormal. He pieces together bits of (mis)information from dozens of sources to pull insights pretty much out of his ass.
51%-70%: Denial – This channel is used like a Dodge skill for magical attacks. The player declares that they are using their action to Deny magical attacks. If magic is used against him that round, the player immediately rolls their Witch-Hunter skill. If the roll is successful, the attack is negated; if it fails, they still only take half damage (rounded down).
71%-90%: Claws of the Tiger – The Witch-Hunter can inspire (re: manipulate) common people into attacking anyone they identify as a supernatural threat, or a normal person who is in league with same. (In effect, they can start a riot, as per the rules on page 287 of the UA 2nd edition rulebook, even in the absence of an obviously supernatural event.)
91%+: Witch’s Bane – This channel makes supernatural creatures (including avatars and adepts) vulnerable to mundane attacks, regardless of any magickal protection or immunities they may possess. Even immaterial creatures like astral parasites, demons, and entropics can be made substantial in this way. A successful avatar skill check makes one target vulnerable for a number of minutes equal to the tens place of the roll.
Nice!, but the ability to start a riot seems a little to poweful to me… maybe some sort of Riot aspect could be instilled, but not a full blown riot..
I think that this archetype works well, but you should throw in a connection to the modern day skeptics, of the James Randi variety. Instead of using the holy word of god, they use the holy word of science, etc. Perhaps the current godwalker is trying to ascend and redefine the archetype in a more modern, logical form.
The taboo would work a little different, in that it would be more like “admit a supernatural explanation for anything”, but a loose interpretation of their current taboo could give you that.
A central aspect of this archetype is that it admits the existence of the supernatural. It can certainly see a new spin being the skeptic who admits that “supernatural” things happen, but insists there’s a scientific explanation. I especially like it as the backdrop for an ascention war 🙂
As for the riots, I only mean the channel to create a riot excuse, not start one automatically. In other words, it’s just like when an Adept using flashy magic in front of a bunch of people. The GM still totals up the percentage chance and everything, as per the riot rules. Know what I mean?
L8r, –Dan
This also explains the rumors going around of normals killing off powerful adepts and dukes.
It’s about time someone started standing up for the mundanes.
–The Detective–
I’d suggest dropping the stress check thing, since it takes the ability to follow the archetype out of the avatar’s hands somewhat.
Instead, you could possibly empasise the “inspire confidence” thing by requiring avatars to offer justifications for such acts.
(“I didn’t do anything when the witch turned into a tiger, because I knew the illusion could only be shattered if I let her make the first move…”)