[HOE] Two new Martyrs (Post Boise Horror Spoilers)

Hugh de Payens, The First Saint

After blessed Simon Mercer’s death at the hands of the Boise Horror in Junkyard, the new grand master of the Templars, Jo, received a vision from a Martyr no other Templar had ever encountered; Hugh de Payens, first Grand Master of the original Knights Templars!

We don’t know very much about Hugh de Payens. Born in Champagne, de Payens was with the First Crusade as it took the Holy Land in the name of Christ. A pious man, de Payens saw that the pilgrims who came to the Holy Land in the aftermath of the First Crusade were being picked off by Saracens and other... stranger things. So with eight others he founded the Knights Templar, an order dedicated to protecting pilgrims travelling through the Holy Lands. The Knights Templar had another mission in the Holy Lands, the destruction of creatures from the very pits of Hell.

de Payens first encounter with a creature brought forth from the Reckoning was during the nightmarish siege of Antioch. There he and three companions fought none other than a ‘glom, a conglomeration of corpses into an unholy form. de Payens was the only survivor.

All this is very incredible because it was before the Great Spirit Wars where the Reckoners were first imprisoned. de Payens is therefore our earliest Martyr and there are no other Martyrs from as early a time as his.

The Deed:

We haven’t the slightest idea as to why de Payens appears to who he does, and as he has only appeared to two Templar we can’t establish any pattern. We don’t even know what he is the Saint of. We call him the First Saint only because he is the oldest Martyr.

Hugh de Payens, the First Saint

Sorry players, Marshal only. Trust however, de Payens will make a real splash if you should ever attract his attention.

Erwin Rommel, Saint of Leadership

Erwin Rommel was the famous German general of World War II. Nicknamed the "Desert Fox", Rommel was as wily as his namesake. He fought, and defeated Allied armies twice the size of his force and if he couldn’t he would simply lead the Allies on a wild goose chase until he could find an advantage, which he always did. While he served under Hitler, Rommel didn’t really agree with Nazi views. In fact when a group of generals plotted to overthrow Hitler they had decided Rommel should take charge of Germany. This is a testament to the leadership skills Rommel possessed. His men would have quite literally followed him to Hell.

While he fought for Germany, Rommel also fought for the greater good by destroying the creatures of the Reckoning as he encountered them in the deserts of Africa and in the forests of France. Not only that but he also secretly destroyed or disabled many of Hitler’s hellish experiments. Unfortunately he was eventually exposed by the SS and given the choice between being executed or committing suicide Rommel chose suicide.The Deed:

Just as Rommel could turn the course of a battle with one action, so does Saint Rommel bless a Templar who does the same. Any Templar whose clear-headed actions or deeds turn the course of battle to the Templar’s favour finds himself visited by Saint Rommel.

Erwin Rommel, Saint of Leadership

Erwin Rommel was an amazing commander of men and one of the most brilliant leaders of men that ever existed. A natural leader and a fair and just man, Rommel persuaded many of the men under him to do the unthinkable and go against Hitler by destroying many of his experiments.

Deed: In order to earn Rommel’s attention a Templar must change the course of a battle in favour of the Good Guys with one idea or action. The idea or action must be premeditated, not just something done in the heat of battle that happens to work.

White: The Templar gains +4 to any Leadership roll. This chip can be spent after the total is otherwise determined.

Red: Rommel’s leadership dispelled the fears his men had before entering a fight. As soon as any ally of the Templar fails a Guts check, the Templar can spend a red chip to not only cause that Guts check to succeed instead of failing but all Guts checks made by the Templar’s allies for the rest of the scene are automatic successes as well! This does include the Templar’s Guts checks as well.

Blue: By spending a blue chip the Templar can persuade even the most dubious survivor to fight under him. The templar must talk to the people he is attempting to persuade for at least five minutes. After that he makes a Fair (5) Faith roll. For each success and raise the Templar persuades ten people to fight under him. People such persuaded will fight as best they can as long as the Templar is also fighting. They will not fight to the death however but it is the Marshal’s decision as to how long they’re willing to fight.

Legend: Rommel led from the front and was rarely wounded when he did so. During a battle, your hero, as long as they’re is leading from the front, cannot be harmed by anything on earth. This ability lasts an entire battle but only as long as your hero has others with him, your hero is leading from the front or, if retreating, is the last one to retreat.

Vexation: Rommel might have been an enemy of the Allies but that doesn’t mean he was cruel with those that he captured. Any Templar is forsaken by Saint Rommel if they torture or execute foes who are unarmed or who have surrendered.

Marshal's Section!!!!

Hugh de Payens, the First Saint

de Payens most important deed was the founding of the original Templars but not for the reason he thought it was. It was important because the Templars secret "crusades" against the servants of the Reckoners distracted the Reckoners a hell of a lot. Chances are if de Payens had never fought that ‘glom at Antioch and never founded the Templars as a result, the Indian shamans would have lost the Great Spirit Wars, enabling the Reckoners to become manifest long before they eventually did. de Payens is not the First Saint. de Payens is the Saint of Fate itself.

Deed: de Payens appears to those Templars who will, due to fate itself, have to make a decision that will have a big impact in determining the outcome of the fight against the Reckoners. The Templar apart from Jo who attracted de Payen’s attention earned it because he was forced to decide whether to make a very risky attack on some Cult o’ Doom Doomsayers. If he hadn’t made the attack then the Doomsayers would have poisoned local groundwater, which would have resulted in the death of our friend Teller. As it stands the Templar made the right choice, attacking the Doomsayers and with de Payens’ help, defeating them.

White: The Templar gets to swap one of their Action Cards with any other player on the table, including the Marshal.

Red: By spending a Red Chip the Templar can force the re-roll of any one dice roll made by anyone, including the Marshal, choosing the one of the two she wants. This can be any dice roll, from hit location to aptitude check to damage. If the Templar chooses a damage roll or aptitude roll to be re-rolled then all the dice are re-rolled.

Blue: When faced with a choice of which there ate two options, by spending a blue chip he Templar knows which of two choices is the most beneficial for the Greater Good. This ability doesn’t work with the choice fate has chosen the Templar to make. de Payens refuses to help with that one.

Legend: By spending a Legend Chip before initiative is rolled the Templar automatically gets 5 action cards. Not only that but she gets to choose which action cards she wants out of both the action deck and the discards! And yes the Jokers can be chosen.

Vexation: Up until the Templar makes the choice Fate has chosen her to make de Payens will never forsake her. After the choice however it is another matter. If the Templar ever consciously commits an act considered evil or if they break any of the Templar oaths, then de Payens’ immediately and permanently forsakes her.