By Jamie Seidel

Character Concepts

"The vampyre is a master of psychological manipulation. He plays upon the lust of the wretched by giving them more, so that they end up beyond redemption from vice, and in his intimate relationship with women he has the power to transform even the most virtuous into a shamelessness. But who could resist his power?"
-- Vampire, a Complete Guide to the Undead, Manuela Dunn Mascetti, 1991.

The presence of the knights is a sign that the long suffering world is fighting back. Evil is counterbalanced by good: But it is not a simple equation.

The warrior monks are restrained by the law and their religion. Vampires, whose only restrictions are the masquerade and the control of their princes, have the freedom of the lawless.

Murder, destruction, illegal activities -- often involving the death of innocents -- are irrelevant to the minds of Cainites. Knights, however, cannot destroy or damage what they are sworn to protect. There is no such thing as "collateral damage" in a knights dictionary -- therefore harming innocents must be avoided at all cost.

The fight against the Corrupt is not an easy one. While vampire hunters have existed throughout history, they have rarely attained a high degree of organisation or continuity. The knights have the advantage of over a 700 years of written history -- but many vampires have lived longer. Knights are mortal, vampires immortal.

This is not as big a problem as it may appear. The knights are fighting a holy war -- a cause in which they wholly believe. Through their faith they no longer fear death as they believe it simply brings them closer to their God. High standards of training and tradition ensure that knowledge is passed through the generations.

The primary quarry of the knights are vampires. While the Magi, witches and werewolves are recognised and regarded as evil, their destruction is secondary to that of a vampire. But finding a vampire is not easy. A basic purpose of the Masquerade was established to avoid the Inquisition -- and the knights.

The bulk of a knight's work throughout the ages has been investigation. Tracking down tales and signs of a vampire occupies a significant amount of time. The "cleansing operation" is but the culmination of a long process. Killing a vampire is not a simple task either. Not only must the Cainites' supernatural abilities be taken into account, the action must be of minimal risk to the innocent populace. Each "cleansing operation" must be carefully planned and professionally executed. This is the cause of the high degree of military training each knight must undergo. There are only a limited number of knights. Each Order would be hard pressed to muster more than 100 fully trained and combat capable knights at any one time. Each Order would also have about 300 Novices.

As a result, the warrior-monks will almost always be out-numbered and in a hostile environment. Knights are themselves high on the hit list. Their extensive training and holy powers are their only protection.

The knights maintain the Masquerade as it serves their own purposes. A populace living in open fear, hostile to all strangers and unusual behaviour would be close to hell on earth. Publicly exposing the vampires would also reveal the existence of the Militant Orders. Any organisation with the influence and power of the Knights would attract jealousy and fear -- and the tragedy of 1316 France would almost inevitably repeat itself.

"Beowulf spoke: 'Let your sorrow end! It is better for us all to avenge our friends, not mourn them forever. I promise you -- she shall have no shelter, no hole to hide, no towering tree, no deep bottom of a lake where her sins may hide.'"
-- Beowulf

The knights of the Temple take a scientific approach, believing that technology and theories of science will ultimately lead to the defeat of vampires. This particular approach is based in the Militant Order's long history of scientific knowledge -- even when many of the key theories were considered heresy by the Church. The knights of the Temple believe God prefers mankind to use its own resources to resolve its own affairs, and created a self-contained universe. Any direct intervention on His behalf is purely a bonus. Much of the Templars resources, gathered through their contacts, the Masons, is spent on scientific research into vampire physiology and psychology. Such research has resulted in the invention of technology capable of assisting knights in the hunt: sun torches, air-compressed dart guns, weapons of aggravated damage, vampire poisons, and repellents. While this approach is largely strategic, it is considered vital in the long term war against vampires. In the field, while actually fighting against vampires, Templars adopt the Detective method -- supplemented by the fruits of the Scientific approach.

The Hospitallers have been involved in the espionage world for a long time there status as a Sovereign nation making them particularly attractive to organisations such as the CIA, MI5, KGB etc. A derivative from this experience is their preference for the Detective method of investigation. Using deductive reasoning and investigation, the knights of St. John follow their suspicions until they are satisfied one way or another. Careful investigation of suspects include tailing and direct observation, record searches and talking to associates. Scientific and Medical elements are often utilised in the Detective approach, but generally the Hospitallers believe in getting out there and doing the job with whatever is available. Stealth and Tracking skills (with specialities in Shadowing) are a must for trailing a vampire back to its lair. Security is useful for breaking into it. Brawling and Melee skills are useful if you meet anything "nasty".

The Teutonic knights are rather old-fashioned in their approach, and their history is a particularly ruthless one. Scientific and Detective methods are too subtle, though sometimes useful. But to the Teutones, such scheming, behind the scenes methods are unchivalrous -- they would rather take the battle straight to the Kindred, and fight out in the open. The general tactic is to hit a Kindred hard, then kill it with a stake or sword before it heals itself with blood. Such tactics work with a lot of training, and luck. One item of preference in the Teutone arsenal is the Dragonsbreath round -- a shotgun cartridge that sends a jet of flame about 20 feet from the barrel (has a 6 difficulty roll to resist, affects one part of body per shot). Another item just coming into common use is an incendiary bullet. Here, the bullet itself has a magnesium base that ignites as it leaves the gun -- similar to tracer. Teutones usually have little patience. They will not wait around for slower methods to work if they can be killing vampires now.

The Templar whom God to a strange folk should send as head; Must ban all world or question of his country or home or race; If his subjects want their rights from him and would in his sight find grace; They must not ask his origin, for he must leave them straight away.
-- Parzifal, Chretien de Troyes

Before anything is put to paper, the gamer and the Storyteller must determine what type of character is being played. Is it a fully fledged Knight an experienced Novice or a new Associate of the Militant Orders? It also involves choosing which is the most appropriate Order for a character to be a member of. Is he a Templar a Teutone or a Hospitaller? Choosing between these will provide the groundwork for a gamer's character. Becoming an Associate Teutone would indicate he has no powers beyond the Faith rules described in Vampire: The Masquerade but has a police or military background. A Hospitaller Novice would allow the character to obtain Piety Points and therefore use the Blessings as outlined under the Gifts -- but not the Prayers or Rituals. Being a Hospitaller usually indicates a background in the clergy or medical professions. A Knight Templar is a fully Initiated warrior-monk, blessed with high True Faith and the Holy Powers of the Blessings as granted to mankind under the Gifts, Prayers and Rituals. The character's background is likely to be in science or business.

Associate: Attributes 6/4/3, Abilities 11/7/4, Backgrounds 5, Freebie 21, Virtues 7.
Novice: Attributes 6/4/3, Abilities 13/9/7, Background 6, Faith 1^*, Freebie 24, Virtues 7.
Knight: Attributes 7/5/4, Abilities 19/15/11, Background 7, Faith 5^*, Freebie 27, Virtues 9.
^* minimum base figure -- provided at no cost.

Naturally statistics vary according to experience and time within the Order. Knights holding a higher rank, such as Knight Lieutenant, Knight Captain, Preceptor or Knight Marshall often need to be portrayed with a character sheet. While each knight varies, use the following as a general guideline to the extra strength of more senior members of the Orders. Knight Lieutenants will usually have an additional three freebie points on their sheets; Knight Captains gain an extra six, Preceptors get a further 12 and senior officers get 18. Grand Masters and Seneschals will get 24 extra freebie points.

Associates enter the Orders with what they have learned from the outside world. Essentially, they are established via the Mortal character creation method as outlined in Hunters Hunted. These people are usually invited into the protection of an Order -- though are not exactly members themselves. Vouched for by individual Knights, they usually provide specialised skills such as forensic science, medical research and technical sciences.

A novice is an initiated member of a Militant Order -- though not a full monk. Following a code of honour, though not the monastic Rule, these people are essentially knights-in training. Their skills, faith and abilities will vary according to their backgrounds and experience within their Order. In recognition of their devout service they receive supernatural gifts, aiding them in their crusade against evil.

This is the highest attainable status within the Orders. These members have attained high levels of both faith and training in their chosen fields. As a knight under monastic vows, they have been rewarded with additional miraculous powers conveyed through prayers and rituals.

Choosing the character's Order is somewhat like choosing a vampire's clan. Each Order attracts particular types of characters (as outlined in the Order's Fact Sheets earlier in this volume). The Order determines the policies a character can follow and provides specialist Blessings known only to members of that particular Order.

Associates do not have to immediately link themselves to any particular Order, though subtle pressure to do so should be applied. By the time of the Novitiate Initiation ceremony, a character must have well and truly chosen. After all, it takes the recommendation of his peers to qualify as a Novice.

These are simply words to help in the description of the character. Natures and Demeanours are limited to those acceptable to monastic standards (no chance, Madonna!). Nature is the most dominant part of a character's personality, though not the only factor that applies. It should describe the character's innermost being, feelings and beliefs. Demeanour is what characteristics a character presents to the open world. Often it is different from true Nature and is a facade to hide insecurities or imperfections.

These represent the Physical, Social and Mental components which make up a character. The method of choosing these for a member of a Militant Order is exactly the same as that under Vampires.

Novices and Knights all receive one free dot in each attribute, following the example set in The Inquisition by White Wolf. Knights are highly trained in the physical attributes, and their minds are always being tested under conditions of combat, their areas of speciality and theological thought. As a result, the statistics for a knight are usually higher than most humans. Give them 7/5/4 on top of their free dot in each category. Novices are on the same path but have not reached the same level of excellence and devotion. Give them 6/4/3. Associates, however, are created using the old Hunters Hunted method, without free dots. Give them 6/5/3.

This measures what a character has learned during the course of his life, including Talents, Skills and Knowledge. Membership of the Militant Orders can have a significant influence on Abilities. High standards of training, education and performance are demanded if one is to succeed (and stay alive).

The measure of abilities under Abilities should reflect the specialist training that particular Novice/Knight has undergone (see chapter Combat Techniques). The statistics 19/15/11 for knights and 13/9/7 for novices reflect this intense training -- but should only be interpreted as ball-park figures. As outlined below, points must be spent in specific areas of training for them to qualify as members of the Militant Orders.

Talents represent the innate skills that a person posses, and these can be refined once identified.

All Knights must have a minimum of three dots in either Brawl and Melee. With Melee four, special offensive/defensive manoeuvres become available for swordplay and melee (See Apendice 3 & 4).

Skills are the primary areas considered for qualification as a Church Knight. The Militant Orders have the basic requirement of giving their members the skills necessary for a chance of survival in the fight against evil. A good standard of combat training is vital. Both Novices and Knights must have completed several basic elements of training. All Knights must have a minimum of three dots in Firearms, and can choose to specialise in particular weapons (See Appendice 1).

Knowledge is the most valuable weapon in the Cleansing Crusade. With it, no vampire is safe from exposure. Upon becoming a Novice or Knight, the Militant Orders will offer training courses in areas of the characters interest or their Order's need. Activities, such as lectures, will take place in order to increase the characters experience points -- though they are "targeted" experience points which cannot be used anywhere else. This system is largely up to the Storyteller's discretion -- he may consider six months of full-time study necessary for Computers Three, but only a weekend session with a friend for Computers One. It is often best to build upon the Knowledges characters bring with them to the Order. Several knowledges are considered vital, and therefore all members must receive training.

The importance of getting the job done quickly, efficiently and with the minimum of fuss is vital. Too many botches can ruin the Church Knight's own masquerade, destroying any progress they have made in a particular region. Church Knights represent the Special Forces of vampire hunters, and thus must have very high standards of training in at least one major combat-related field. This is expressed through the compulsory competency in one of the following areas: Signals, Munitions, Medical and Intelligence.




Signals	Munitions	Medical	Intelligence
Computer	Firearms	Medicine	Investigation
Etiquette	Security	Science	Occult
Stealth	Science	Empathy	Law
Repair	Demolitions	Chemistry	Interrogation
Cryptography	Artillery	Forensics	Criminology
Electronics	Heavy Weapons	Biology	Vampire/Lupine etc Lore
Security	Piloting	Psychology	Research
Driving	Escapology	Research	Linguistics

To gain competency, a Knight must be trained in a Knowledge/Skill to the level of five dots, or trained. All Knights must also be fluent in Latin, therefore Linguistics one is also compulsory.

These work in exactly the same way as under Vampire: the Masquerade. However, the wide ranging support and resources of the Militant Orders must be taken into account. All systems operate as per Vampire: The Masquerade.

Order Background: This is a reflection of both the time you have spent in an Order, and how much you have experience within it.

*	You know the people you have met in the training regimen.
**	You associate with your chapter and have knowledge of others.
***	Thorough knowledge of your chapter's activities and history.
****	A wide ranging knowledge of your preceptory's history and activities.
*****	In-depth understanding of your Order's actions and secrets, as well as a few of those belonging to other Orders.

Allies: Friends and associates who can be counted on in times of difficulty. They do not have to know of the character's status.

Contacts: The number of readily available sources of information the character has.

Fame: How widely the character is known in the world. This can be area specific (such as medical science or investigative policing).

Influence: The Novice/Knight's social status or political influence.

Mentor: A more experienced person who acts as the character's personal adviser and, where possible, does what he can to assist.

These components of a character are an important measure of a Knight's understanding of his vows and a measure of his moral fibre. Because of his life under The Rule, and the requirements upon a character to be able to live a monastic life with True Faith, give all novices and knights one automatic free dot in each of Courage, Self Control and Conscience.

For Militant Characters, Willpower is equal to their Courage (like in Vampires). It can also be modified through freebie points. True Faith can be "burned" in the place of Willpower, once all willpower has been expended. This is an expensive recourse, but in some situations they may have to lose a point of Faith because they did not burn a point of Faith to avoid an action they were being forced into. Interesting double-bind (or catch-22) that makes roleplaying all the more fun.

Like vampires, this is determined through Conscience + Self Control. This represents a character's individual moral code -- essentially his inherent nature. To become a member of an Order, Humanity must be at 5 to become a Novice of any Order as it represents the long-term nature and personality of the individual.

The intricacies of this power are described in the following chapters, particularly Holy Powers. However, the following synopsis is for character creation purposes. One level of Faith is the equivalent of Seven Freebie Points. Novices start out with one free Faith point on their character sheet. Knights start out with five free Faith points on their character sheet. Novices and knights can buy as many extra Faith Points as they can afford with their Freebie Points. Associates -- who start out with no free Faith -- are only allowed to buy their first level of Faith (Faith 1) with their freebie points, see Hunters Hunted. To gain Faith Levels during game-play, it will costs the Novice/Knight his current rating x3 in experience points up to level 5. ( For example, a novice of Faith 3 wishes to advance to Faith 4. This will cost him Faith 3 multiplied by 3 [= 9] experience points). For Associates, the cost will be current rating x5 in experience points thereafter (above Faith 5). Members of the Orders only have to increase the equation to Current Rating x 4 (above Faith 5) in experience points because of the support found within their Order and as a reward for living under vows.

These can be spent in exactly the same way as Vampire, though they cannot affect the Piety Pool or Grace Point Pool directly. Piety is the sum of Faith and Conscience, while Grace Points are the sum of Piety and True Faith. Associates (mortals) can only use Freebie Points to buy one Faith Level (cost 7). Knights and Novices can buy as many as they can afford. Attributes cost 5pts, Abilities 2pts, Backgrounds 1pts, Virtues 2pts, Faith 7pts, Willpower 2pts. Gifts, Prayers and Rituals cannot be bought by Freebie Points as they are assigned or chosen under the supervision of the Orders.

Usually specialities are only available for Attributes and Abilities of level Four or higher. This is not always the case among the Militant Orders. Some special abilities are considered vital for combat. Hospitaller Novices usually have a speciality in a humanity skill such as First Aid, Templars in the Investigation fields and Teutones in combat or hunting related areas. As members of combat teams, Knights have particularly specialised roles and abilities. See the chapter Combat Techniques.

Some of these have already been mentioned, but it is wise to repeat them again.
• Novices have 1 point of True Faith at no cost. Knights have 5 points of True Faith at no cost. Further levels of Faith may be purchased at 7 freebie points each.
• Associates have to buy True Faith with freebie points, and are limited to buying only one level. Novices and Knights get an automatic dot in their Attributes tables. Associates do not.
• Novices and Knights get an automatic dot in their Virtues table. Associates do not. Code of Honour (Hunters Hunted and Players Guide) is a merit given to all Novices and Knights, though not Associates. As an Associate is a normal mortal, they may purchase this ability through experience or freebee points -- but not granted through a Militant Order. Roleplaying is required for an Associate to be given a Militant Order's Code of Honor -- involving the full initiation outlined earlier in this book. Code of Honour represents the effect the Rule has on a Novices or Knights daily lives -- representing the acceptable parameters of warrior-monk behaviour. As such, it is a free addition to their character sheets.

All Novices and Knights start out with a level of Piety Points, granted during their Initiation and Investiture Ceremonies. This is equal to the sum of their Faith and Conscience -- with a maximum of 10. Piety represents the degree to which the character is pleasing God. A sin or thoughtless act can cause Negative Piety Checks, and a loss of Piety Points. Serious offences cause an automatic loss of Piety Points to a value proportionate to the crime -- or even a level of Faith. A particularly good deed can cause Positive Piety Checks and the gain of Piety Points. This system is detailed in Pious Behaviour.

Grace Points determine how much Grace Energy the Novice or Knight is allowed to expend upon his Holy Powers. His Grace Level is directly linked to his performance under Faith and Piety. Grace Pool = Faith Level + Piety Level. See The Measure of Grace.

These are the benefits given to members of the Militant Orders as a reward for sacrifices demanded under the Rule. Gifts are awarded to novices and knights, generally representing powers that can be called upon instantly. Prayers only become available to those who have been initiated as a Knight, and will often require a little time to enact or "recite". Rituals are reserved for the officers of the Orders, and generally require the presence of several knights.

The Gifts, Prayers and Rituals of the Church Knights are not easy to come by. Rather, characters must demonstrate to their Order that they are worthy of being taught how to use such precious Blessings.

Upon the initiation of a Novice, the Storyteller may choose to train him in a number of Gifts equal to his Faith rating (thus a novice of Faith 4 may learn 4 Gifts). Any Gifts over and above this must be earned through roleplay and at the discretion of the Storyteller. Individual Gifts not have different "Costs", but must be chosen to suit the character concept, abilities, skills etc.

One Prayer or two Gifts may be chosen for each level of Faith that a knight has. For example, a Knight of Faith 6 may chose to be taught 8 Gifts (equivalent to 4 Faith) and 2 prayers (equivalent to 2 Faith). Specific powers should be assigned at the Storytellers discretion. Order-specific Gifts and Prayers apply only to the appropriate Order.

To gain one or more Rituals, a senior Knight must have demonstrated his worthiness before undergoing personal training. Usually those with rank of Knight-Captain may hold the authority to conduct a Ritual, and Preceptors two.

Associates can spend money and own personal items. The strictures of the Code and The Rule do not affect their daily lives. Militant Orders can give them items to assist with their activities, though this is usually in the form of a loan. Novices have the right to own personal property -- supplemented with Militant Order issue items. Knights are bound by The Rule not to have any personal belongings whatsoever. Issue equipment is in the chapters The Rule, Combat Techniques and Uniform and Equipment.

Idiosyncrasies of character can add a lot of interest to a character. But they can also be a major liability. Some Flaws may have severe effects on a Knight or Novices Piety and Faith ratings -- and heavy implications on role-playing. If this is the case, the character may be required to leave the Order (an interesting role-playing scenario!). Other Merits may actually assist in a character's Pious and proper behaviour. The essence is appropriateness -- a knight is unlikely to have the Trait Vengeance, as his motives are personal and not of Worship. If he does, it will conflict with his Piety -- resulting in numerous Piety checks. If Piety falls below 5 he looses the benefits of the Gifts and Prayers, If it falls below 1, he is banished.

"We fight for the honour of the most glorious Virgin, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the honour and defense of the Holy Church and for all the Christian faith and for the expulsion of the enemies of the Cross."
-- The Trial of the Templars, Malcolm Barber

In return for the sacrifices made through taking their monastic vows, and their high faith, the knights have been blessed with "Divine Gifts." These powers are vital in the war against Corruption, as vampires are generally beyond the ability of even the best trained mortal to defeat. However, these powers do not belong to the knight -- but to God. The blessing of supernatural powers must only be used under the guidelines of the Rule -- a knight cannot use them for selfish or vain purposes such as in revenge, laziness or profit.

While some specific abilities are granted for specific purposes, they may not necessarily be carried out the same way every time. Miracles are a prime example of this. A desperate knight may beg for a miraculous obstacle to appear between him and an advancing vampire. This "barrier" could, by God's will, be anything from a wall of fire, a collapsing tree, a swarm of bees or the souls of the vampire's victims. The powers embodied in Faith assist in all aspects in the battle against the Cainites. Investigation of, protection from and combating vampires all benefit in different ways. The devoutness of the followers of God is a coinage measured in Faith. The higher one's Faith the closer he stands to God. The Warriors of Christ wage a bitter war with the Damned, their most valuable weapon and their most effective shield is their Faith in their Lord. The Holiness that they receive from their beliefs grants them ever increasing Blessings that give them the ability to directly oppose the centuries old creatures that they hunt. These powers do not belong to the knight -- but to God. The Blessings must only be used under the guidelines of the Rule -- a knight cannot use them for selfish or vain purposes such as in revenge, laziness or personal profit. The term "Blessings" applies to three distinctly different types of Holy Powers which are bestowed upon the Church Knights. These are, the Gifts, the Prayers, and the Rites. Each is a grouping of abilities with different properties.

For the members of Militant Orders, Faith is not a Merit -- but a blessing and attribute. You simply cannot become a Knight without a Faith rating of Five or more. Novices must have a Faith of at least One. When a hunter is in dire straits, and has no more Willpower, then he can call upon the strength of his Faith. Faith points can be used as a substitute for Willpower points. When he is out of Faith, he is out of luck -- except for the intervention of a miracle. Willpower can be regained within oneself, but Faith must be regenerated through the dictates of one's religion, such as charity, compassion or penance. Always give players an idea of the enormity of their Faith. It represents something greater than them. They may direct and focus it, but its power comes from Beyond. They are its servants.

Any Faith roll ignores re-rolls on 10s - but 1s still botch. Faith is almost always a supplement to anything involving willpower.

Kindred in the presence of a Knight in prayer or focusing on his Faith have to make a Willpower Check v. Faith. The number of successes equals the number of steps he can move forward. The number of failures represents the steps backwards he takes, a botch results in Rotschreck.

The strength of character associated with Faith helps anchor the believer's sense of reality -- thus acting as a potent form of Counter Magick. Each point of Faith gives the character one die of Counter Magick. Rolls have a Difficulty of 7.

Count the number of successes of a Faith roll against the creature's Rage rating as the Difficulty. The successes must then be added to the were-creature's Difficulty to Rage. A successful Faith roll can also calm a frenzied werewolf. Use Faith versus Rage Rating as Difficulty along with the spending of a willpower point.

A wraith must attempt to overcome a mortal's Willpower when attempting a possession. Faith must be added to the Willpower rating when this is attempted, increasing the wraith's difficulty. Exorcism involves a Faith + Occult (min 3) roll versus the wraith's willpower. This will dissolve any Consort link generated by the wraith, who must start the process over again if she wishes to interact with the physical world.

These can be repelled in the same manner as vampires, and exorcised the same way as wraiths.

Many consider those with high faith (Faith 6+) to be particularly close to God. Some give them the title of Saint, though the recipients of this title are the first to deny it. They are undeniably living rays of hope in a dark world -- living vessels of Numina. The Beatific (as they are otherwise known) automatically gain the merit Holy Aura. Their Aura burns brightly -- even those who cannot see auras know there is something special about these people. The very presence of the Beatific disrupts supernatural ability:
• On a Faith Roll, the Beatific can automatically sense the presence of the supernatural. By spending a Willpower Point, he can determine the source, though not exact nature.
• The Beatific can see through all Levels of Kindred Obfuscate, Chimerstry and other related Disciplines or Gifts with a Perception + Alertness roll (difficulty being the opposing powers Level +3).
• Supernatural beings cannot approach any closer than one foot per level of Faith the Beatific posesses, without making a Willpower roll and expending a willpower point. If a Beatific approaches, then the supernatural must step back. This effect can be cancelled out by invitation.

1-4	Novices are initiate knights, with normal human abilities. They have not reached a level of Faith high enough for extra power, or initiation in the Orders. The basic application of Faith at this level is increasing the difficulty of a Vampire's approach to the character. One of the Faithful concentrating on his Faith (by raising a cross, for example, and telling the creature to "be gone") can force the approaching Vampire to make a Willpower Check v. Faith Level. The number of failures represents the number of steps backward a Vampire must make. The number of successes equals the number of steps forward achieved. A botch results in Rotschreck. Novices are often at differing levels of experience and training. It is possible for a Novice to have a Faith of 9 -- but has not completed enough training to become a Knight. Invested Novices are granted use of the Gifts.
5	A Faith rating of greater than five indicates a true intimate connection with the supernatural. This level of Faith is the minimum acceptable for Knights. It allows Invested Knights to learn and use the Prayers and the Rituals, and also allows sensing of True Faith in other people (Perception + Faith, Difficulty 8).
6	Abilities associated with Beatification come into effect (see earlier). Cleanse the taint of evil from an area (nullify Flaw Taint of Corruption). Cause the difficulty of all reaction rolls in the area to be reduced by 1 (aura of tranquillity). Get a sign from God which inspires you (an extra point of Willpower for the remainder of the scene on a successful roll of Faith v Difficulty 8).
7	Cause a vampire or psycho killer to feel guilt (A roll of Faith v Difficulty 8 will decrease the vampire's dice pool by the number of successes). Add three dice to any reaction rolls made toward you, even with animals. Know the correct answer to all moral, ethical questions. Get a sign from heaven which inspires the entire unit you command, resulting in an extra point of Willpower for you and your companions for the rest of the scene (achieved with a Faith v Difficulty 8 roll).
8	Change the nature of a person for a temporary or permanent period, depending on how well you roll your Charisma + Empathy against the targets Wits + Self Control. However, Church Knights have a problem with this: as it breaches the freedom of the individual protected by the tenets of the Rule. Reduce the level of a vampiric discipline by one for every success you roll on a Faith roll with a Difficulty of 8. Determine discipline randomly per point.
9	Exorcise demons and evil spirits (Faith dice versus the demon's willpower. Successes must be greater than the demon's willpower). Can also lay a ghost to rest (resisted Faith roll against the Wraith's Fetter + 4, Difficulty 6. The character with the most successes triumphs). Those with this Faith rating can leave an aura of tranquillity in an area, such as a violent slum. The residents of the area will be more moral and cooperative, old feuds will fall by the wayside, crime will drop etc. Those with this level of Faith can permanently touch the world with their Faith. Complete protection against supernatural evil is another ability, as long as you do nothing but concentrate and stand still or slowly leave with no aggressive action. Can protect others in immediate vicinity also (5 metre radius). A powerful ability is that of causing an evil being, if truly deserving of death, to realise this; it takes at least five successes of your Faith against the targets Willpower. The target must have a Humanity of 2 or below, and must have committed truly horrible atrocities. If successful, the creature will submit to the stake (or silver) etc.
10	Ignore a source of damage (up to 10 dice per round) if at least five rounds are spent in preparation for the feat and a difficulty roll is made against a 9; each success removes two dice of damage. Can also cleanse someone of the Embrace (difficulty 10, only in dramatic circumstances and the target must want to be saved). Call the minions of the Divine (usually in mortal form) to aid you in a dark hour.

Sometimes a person can lose his Faith. Doubts arise about the truth of his calling, and he begins to wonder whether religion is just a sham. Every time a hunter tries to use his Faith and comes up with two or more botches, he loses a point of Faith. For the Church Knights, it is for three or more botches -- due to the close support of the Militant Order environment. This can be regained only through the strong support of his fellows, or through further successful actions. If a Knight's Faith falls below level five, he must subject himself to a great deal of soul-searching. Usually, the Knight will remove himself to the nearest monastery where the abbot would hear his confession, provide instruction and support in the Faith and the serene company of monks devout in their worship. Once the knight has restored his Faith to his previously highest attained level, he may leave.

It costs 7 freebie points to buy a level of Faith. It costs the Hunter's current Faith rating x3 to raise Faith with experience points up to level 5, and the current rating x5 thereafter. Members of the Orders, living as they do in under a monastic Rule, remain at current rating x 3 because their vows and sacrifices make it easier.

Praying for a miracle takes one round. Roll a percentile dice. The chance of success is 1 percent per Faith level, plus any modifiers the Storyteller decides are warranted. Success means the miracle has been granted and the event takes place. Failure means the request has not been granted. At the Storyteller's discretion, positive or negative modifiers may be added. For example, if the miracle is desperately needed and of great importance to the Church, a +5 percent or +10 percent modifier may be appropriate. On the other hand, if the request is simply for convenience or frivolous reasons, a -5 percent or -10 percent modifier may apply. If a particularly spectacular or rare miracle is granted -- the knight may be on the path to Sainthood (indicated by a Storyteller defined increase in Faith Points). An increase in Faith must be granted for every three successive successful miracles achieved by a Knight -- once again upon the Storyteller's discretion.

This also applies to the reverse: three successive failures to achieve a miracle causes a loss of Faith. Praying for a miracle with a relic or on Holy Ground may help the situation.

The power of Holy Ground can be tapped by the knight if called upon. The base Faith rate of the site is added to the Knight's when used to resist the Willpower of a vampire attempting to go where it is not allowed. Most importantly, the Holy Ground's supernatural strength can supplement a knight's own Holy Powers: the Holy Ground is revolted by the presence of evil, and seeks whatever means available to get rid of it. A Knight is a convenient channel for this desire. Holy Ground will add to his basic Faith scores if engaged in combat. It has no effect on Piety Checks or the inherent Holy Powers directly linked to a knight's individual Faith Level (as outlined under Hunters Hunted) -- it only supplements the value of Faith used within the Gifts, Prayers and Rituals.

The Faith component of a roll under such circumstances will use the Knight's Faith + Holy Ground. The moral of the story is to never attack a Church Knight on his own ground. The only places with a Faith rating of 10 points are the Vatican in Rome, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca etc (essentially the centre of each major religion). Sites of particular relevance to Church Knights are:

Holy Ground is naturally repulsive to the codes opposite to the religion (Christianity v evil, Satanism v Christianity etc). Anything opposing the ground's creed, such as a vampire, must make a Willpower v Holy Ground check. Invitation nullifies the repulsion.


Relics

Holy relics, icons and sacred items are focuses of Faith. While most items serve only as conduits of the subject's own Faith, others are actual sources of power. A relic is not a blessed object -- it is an ancient and sacred item -- often associated with a prophet or a disciple (such as bones, possessions, hair). Relics can protect against natural or supernatural powers, human or demonic afflictions and cure disease. The presence of a Holy relic can add to the strength of Holy Ground or the Knight/Novice holding it. Once a genuine relic has been found, it must be guarded and respected. A Relic does not have to be authentic -- people only have to believe it is. It is not the relic that generates the power, it is the belief the Faithful have in it. For example, legend has it that the Knights Templar had under their protection one of the greatest Relics of all time -- the Turin Shroud. In fact, it is possible distorted rumours of this holy item helped lead to their downfall. Relics force the same Willpower Checks as True Faith and Holy Ground. Outcomes are the same.

The Vatican:	10
The Holy Sepulchre:	8
St Johns Cathedral, Malta:	7
New Temple Church, England:	6
Marienburg Castle, Poland:	6
Rosslyn Chapel, Scotland:	4
Chatres Cathedral, France:	4
Average district cathedral:	3
Average suburban church:	0/1

Fragment of the True Cross:	9
Turin Shroud:	7
Lock of Mary's hair:	7
St Peter's Skull:	6
Spear of Lujinius:	5
St George's fingerbone:	2

The Christian calendar is full of Holy Days, Fasts and Feasts. On these days, the expression of Faith is generally more common than other times. This open expression of Faith and piousness helps those doing God's work. On Easter Friday, a Christian's difficulty level on any Faith Roll is reduced by 2. Other significant Holy Days reduce difficulty by 1. This includes rolls using Faith under the Gifts, Prayers and Rituals.

"It is . . incumbent upon all of us to consider and to choose to amend our sins by voluntary chastisement and to turn to the Lord our God with penance and works of piety; and we should first amend in ourselves what we have done wrong and then turn our attention to the treachery and malice of the enemy."
-- Pope Gregory VIII, launching the Third Crusade. In The Atlas of the Crusades, Jonathan Riley-Smith

The Council at Troyes foresaw that not all Knights were to be Saints, and that Grand Masters would need a method of enforcing the Rule. Practical punishments ranging from small penances, humiliating acts such as eating off the floor, expulsion from the Order and perpetual imprisonment were laid down to be administered by the Order's hierarchy. At least one knight was starved to death for disobedience in the London Temple. Another was imprisoned in the Jerusalem mother-house for leading an unauthorised raid against the Saracens, and losing the lives of several knights in his troupe.

The modern application of the Rule is no different. However, the composition of the Orders is. Members must have a measure of True Faith, making serious crimes unlikely. Most offenses are expected to be simply the domain of human failure -- such as pride, ignorance and stupidity. Knights or novices who abuse the powers given to them, fail to adhere to the Code or break the Rule of their monastic life may lose God's favour and the ability to use some of their Holy Powers. Loss of specific abilities are at the Storyteller's discretion -- but should suit the nature of the crime. Punishment does not mean loss of all powers. For example, preventing use of a particular Blessed item, Prayer or Ritual can be devastating enough. Total loss of powers should result only from serious or repeated sins. Definitions of codes of conduct affecting knights can be found in the chapters The Rule and The Code earlier in this volume. Other binding disciplines follow in The Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Virtues.

Piety Points are a measure of a knight's performance against the Seven Deadly Sin and Seven Virtue tables. It represents the strict code of conduct knights and members of any monastic organisation have to follow. Piety Points are also a method of enforcing appropriate role-play and knightly behaviour -- and only applies to characters who have undergone the Novitiate Initiation ceremony or the Knight Investiture. Failure to behave Piously results in a loss of available Grace Points and, at the Storyteller's discretion, a character's ability to use particular supernatural powers. The whole idea is supposed to be that the gifted powers demand sacrifice through maintaining strict vows. Measured from one to ten, a knight starts with the maximum Piety Level of Ten. Good behaviour and works warrant a Positive Piety Check (Piety dice rolled, requiring a target roll equal to that of the knights Faith rating level). If the roll of Piety dice is successful (with the number of successes set by the storyteller to reflect the nature of the event -- base 3), a gain in Piety Points is rewarded. (Piety Points equate available Piety Dice).

A Negative Piety Check is made when a knight commits a sin. It follows the same system as a Positive Piety Check, although the number of successes needed is increased to 4 -- as doing good things are really expected of you anyway. An offense may attract more than one Piety Check. If the Storyteller feels the wayward knight deserves to lose more than one Piety Point, he may demand multiple rolls -- specifying the breach which that each Check. Otherwise, major crimes will cost the same as a minor act of thoughtlessness.

An apparent problem occurs when a knight's Piety Level falls below that of his Faith. This is deliberate. As Faith Levels increase, so does the difficulty of maintaining the strict self-discipline (Piety Points) that Faith Levels demand. If you have the Faith of a saint, you must behave like a saint (The Faith rating of Nine demands a Piety Rating of Nine -- allowing virtually no room for sin). When a knight's Piety Level falls below the value of his Faith, the knight would be wracked with self-disgust, guilt and self-abasement. His powers may be reduced, and regeneration of used Grace Points suspended. The only solution is to remove himself to a place of worship, serving penance until the Storyteller determines his Piety Level has been restored to that of his Faith Level.

A Piety Level less than Faith will not allow a knight to roll Positive/Negative Piety Checks. Any Negative Piety Check his behaviour incurs will automatically fail, and he loses a further Piety Point. Any Positive Piety Check his behaviour causes cannot be rolled as it will not measure up to his Faith -- therefore he loses the ability to restore Piety Points through his own actions. Only Penance can restore Piety Points to the level demanded by Faith. Penance can provide one point per day of total worship. Any interruptions automatically removes that day's benefit. The Storyteller can also add specific tasks needing completion before his Piety is restored to a level no greater than his Faith. Further good works are needed before it grows higher than Faith. (Example at the end of this chapter).

If Piety falls below zero, one point of Humanity must be deducted. All powers are lost until the character returns his piety level to that of his Faith. Falling below zero represents continuous failure to live according to the vows, so suitable punishment must also originate from within the Order. This usually involves removal from combat status, an interview by a superior of at least Knight Preceptor rank and severe penance.

If Piety reaches 10, extra benefits can be added toward the Grace Point pool -- such as a top-up of 2 Grace Points per success (but no more than the maximum the Knight is allowed). However, if Piety remains at 10 for a considerable time, the Storyteller may reward this excellent behaviour with an extra Humanity point or Faith point.

Piety may also be "burned" to replace Grace in an emergency. If Grace levels have fallen too low to enact a Gift, Prayer or Ritual, that power may be initiated at the expense of a Piety Point. These "burned" Piety Points can only be regained through Penance.

Humanity points and checks are conducted in the same manner as Vampires. The main difference between Piety and Humanity is that Piety reflects the performance of the Knight against the stipulated standards of The Rule. Humanity is a personal measure of behaviour: what the character feels is appropriate.

When a check calls for a loss in Humanity Points, a corresponding loss of two Piety Points occurs. With any increase in Humanity, Piety is not necessarily increased -- though this is up to the storyteller. If a novice or knight has a humanity of less than five, trial for inappropriate behaviour is likely, followed by expulsion from their Order.

Each of the following outline the rules of conduct knights and novices must adhere to. The Ten Commandments affect Humanity Checks and Faith, while the Seven Virtues and Seven Deadly Sins affect Piety Checks.

First and foremost, a knight must uphold God's commandments as given to Moses at Mount Sinai. These stand above The Rule, The Code and the Seven Deadly Sins -- even though they were themselves derived from the Commandments.

Any breach of the following must be dealt with the complete removal of Grace points and Piety Points. The offending knight must be banished to a remote monastery, where he must demonstrate an extraordinary degree of penance if the favour of God is to be restored to him. Many offenders end up serving Penance for life.

1) Thou shalt not have any other Gods.
2) Thou shalt not worship any idol.
3) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4) Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.
5) Honour your father and your mother.
6) Thou shalt not kill.
7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8) Thou shalt not steal.
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness.
10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.

A knight's Piety can be measured against the Seven Deadly Sins. Offenses in any of these categories will cause a Negative Piety Check, with failure resulting in a drop in Piety status and incurring the penalties inherent in such a loss. Punishment can be dealt out in several forms. Most often the offence can simply be punished through a Piety Check, with a Difficulty Level determined by the Storyteller. Serious offenses can result in several Piety Checks (the number determined by the Storyteller) -- and thus the potential to lose a number of valuable Piety Points. In other cases, a knight may lose specific Gifts, Prayers or Rituals until the knight recognises the sin he committed, apologises -- and then serves an equal amount of time in penance. The appropriateness of a punishment should be determined by the nature of the sin.

Pride: One of the most common offenses. Becoming too enamoured with one's own powers and abilities is punishable by loss of those same blessings. Knights must remember that their powers are not their own: rather, they are blessed as being a vessel for God's will. Their success is not due to their own actions -- but to God's. Too frequently calling upon divine aid when simple diligence and courage would suffice is taking God's favour for granted. This is a serious form of pride -- as the power's divine source has been forgotten. In every-day life, knights may also demonstrate pride through behaviour including haughtiness, excessive self-satisfaction, conceit, arrogance and egoism. Apart from losing Piety Points, suitable punishment usually includes the removal of the object of pride or setting the character's ego in its place -- all of which can be determined by the storyteller.

Covetousness: Coveting what is not a rightful possession is a typical human failing. Covetousness is usually related to emotional matters, such as wistfully desiring something out of immediate reach (such as a Faith level of 7, instead of 5). More insidious behaviour such as selfishness and avarice come under this category. Trying to use Holy Powers for one's own purposes demonstrates a severe breach of the tenets of The Rule and Faith.

Lust: This has obvious connotation for Monks. Having to suppress passion is an important component of a knight's sacrifice to gain favour in the eyes of God and is a vital component of reaching the status of knight, as determined by the Rule. Failing to do so results in a loss of this favour. Apart from lechery, lust includes the excess of almost any passion. Knights must demonstrate self-restraint, though there are times in which suitable demonstrations of loss, remorse, compassion etc are appropriate. In some ways lust overlaps with Covetousness and Gluttony, as all reflect unwholesome desires and urges.

Anger: Vengeful violence when patience, charity, mercy and forgiveness are called for demonstrates a failure under the terms of the Rule and the Code. There is no place for unfettered rage in the Militant Orders, nor for subliminal hostility or continuous provocation. Animosity and ire also fall under this category. Demonstrations of great self control and restraint are to be encouraged. The severity of their rage or animosity must be reflected in the Difficulty Level of any Piety Point Check -- as well as the consequences of their actions.

Gluttony: As a warrior-monk, self sacrifice is a basic requirement. Waste, greed and longing goes against this rule of behaviour. Over consumption of an item, be it food or ammunition, is a wanton display of wastefulness. Gluttony is usually linked to acquiring material possessions and any longing desire to obtain an object. An example may be an excessive desire to own a particular weapon. Covetousness relates to matters emotional and religious.

Envy: Undue jealousy over a companion knight's rewards, powers or status is an insidious sin that would affect most knights at one stage or another. Such a failing can be demonstrated through spiteful behaviour, rivalry and begrudging respect. Knights should be made to understand that God's favour is demonstrated to different people differently. Humility is a key virtue if a warrior-monk is to remain pious. Piety check's should be accompanied with a role-play rebuttal or other suitable punishment.

Sloth: Avoiding the instructions and duties of one's Order is a serious offense. Any body of knights is only as strong as its weakest link. If a knight avoids his designated chores, punishment can be doled out by his comrades according to the Rule. Carelessness, Apathy, passivity, lethargy, failure to take appropriate action -- all are sins under the banner of Sloth. Avoiding serious events -- such as battle -- will result in loss of all Piety Points and trial before a Chapter of Knights.

While Piety can be lost, so can it be gained. Knights striving to increase their favour in the eyes of God can, through the following Virtues, gain status -- and therefore power. A good demonstration of any Virtue will call for a Positive Piety Check. If the roll succeeds, an extra piety point is gained. However, if a knight's Piety Level is below that of his Faith Level, only Penance can restore lost Piety Points.

Faith: A knight must demonstrate faith (as reflected in the Faith points system) that his God will look over his actions and protect his soul. If a knight hesitates overmuch when planning to use a Holy Power because he fears a major botch, then he is demonstrating a lack of assurance in God's word. However, when succeeding in a roll which has a high probability of failure, rewarding his faith with a Piety Point would be appropriate.

The knight must demonstrate a sureness in his belief in his everyday behaviour, a certainty that the Divinity does exist and an unshakeable belief in God's favour, under whatever circumstances.

Hope: An inherent optimism about the fate of God's children on earth needs to be demonstrated. Allowing oneself to become despondent and fall into despair over the power of evil shows a lack of hope. A knight lives in expectancy of revelations of God's will and favour -- this is why the success of miracles result in an immediate boosts to the Faith level. Through hope, attributes such as trust and confidence are spawned. Continuous examples of a hopeful attitude (though not over-optimism) should be rewarded with Piety Points, though despair has an opposite effect.

Charity: As reflected in The Rule and The Code, a generosity of spirit is required to make a knight's worship complete. Along with the more obvious "giving" aspect of charity, behaviour such as benevolence, compassion and tolerance are vital elements of this most wide-reaching virtue. On-going displays of such behaviour should be rewarded through Piety Points. Thoughtlessness or deliberate acts of nastiness ought to be punished.

Justice: Justice is the demonstration of fairness and equity in the judgements made in everyday life. But for a knight it goes beyond this narrow definition. Natural justice can also be affected by a knight's own integrity and uprightness. If a knight lies or conceals the truth, he is committing an injustice. This can pose interesting dilemmas -- sometimes the truth is not the best thing to say!

Fortitude: This relates to a knight's steadfast resolve to see God's will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Despite the hurdles encountered, a knight must demonstrate tenacity and determination to get the job done. Such perseverance should be rewarded: giving up to easy, punished.

Prudence: Demonstrating a high degree of common-sense and forethought can save a knight from a lot of trouble -- even if things go wrong. Cautious calculation shows a knight is taking everything he can into account before an action is taken or a decision is made. If a decision turns out to be wrong, and the knight has acted prudently, then he should not be punished for the event. If it goes wrong because of a lack of consideration -- a Negative Piety Check must be made.

Temperance: Knights must be humble, seeking Holy Powers only when necessary and to serve the needs of the Order and the Church. By sincerely striving to avoid using their Holy Powers, knights can gain favour in the eyes of the Lord. This demonstrates a strong respect for his religion and a regard for his God's desire to limit intervention upon this earth. But Temperance goes beyond use of powers. A knight must demonstrate the virtues of humility, self control, abstinence and modesty in all their behaviour. Clear-cut examples of such behaviour, or merely a string of good performance, can be rewarded by the Storyteller through granting a Positive Piety Check.

The theory of holy Christian violence was worked out by Christian thinkers of the 4th and 5th centuries and was available in the central Middle Ages in anthologies of theological texts. Its starting point was that violence was not evil but was morally neutral and drew moral colouring from the intention of the perpetrator, which could be loving. For instance, the surgeon who strapped a man to a table against the patient's will -- an act of violence which may cause death -- had the intention of healing a man who would otherwise have certainly died.

Like the surgeon, any perpetrator of Christian violence had to have the right intention. He also needed a just cause, because violence could only be resorted to in response to previous injury in the forms, for instance, of aggression, menaces, tyranny, or the invasion and occupation of land that rightly belonged to an earlier possessor. Moreover, since no Christian had any right even to defend himself as an individual against assault, acts of violence had to be authorised by a legitimate authority, who could be a minister of God such as the pope or the emperor, but could also be God himself. Christian sacred violence, whether medieval or modern, posits a "political" God or Christ whose intentions for mankind are believed to be reflected in some existing political structure or course of political events. If this structure or course of events comes under threat, Christ's intentions for mankind are believed to be at risk and his support for military countermeasures is assumed.

-- Atlas of the Crusades, Jonathan Riley-Smith

Knights who lose the benefits of their Faith or Piety may make a penance to regain them. The remorseful knight must seek solitude, such as a church or monastery, and devote himself to meditation, study and private prayer -- begging forgiveness with a humble heart.

Correcting one's actions can be an important prelude to Penance -- though not always necessary. If a knight sins by punching a hole in the wall in frustration after a vampire escapes, the Storyteller may require the knight pays for and organises the repair. (To make this even more demanding, the Storyteller does not have to tell the knight what it is he has to do before his Penance takes effect -- let him figure it out for himself. Never forget, True Faith makes harsh demands upon its subjects.)

Piety can be gained or restored through a Piety Check when a knight displays an act of one of the Seven Virtues. A Positive Piety Check (Piety Points rolled with a Difficulty Level of Faith with the number of successes determined by the Storyteller) can reward the knight with an extra Piety Point. If the Positive Piety Check fails, he simply gains no benefit. However, if Piety Points have fallen below the total number of Faith Points the benefits of the Virtues cannot be gained. In this situation, only Penance can restore lost Piety. Penance will restore one Piety Point per day -- only if it is under conditions of true repentance in uninterrupted prayer, usually conducted in a monastery or another private place of worship. Interruptions automatically removes the Piety Point that day's worship was intended to restore -- so it is best to leave a penitent knight alone. Serious or repeated offences may extend the period of penance and can result in loss of Faith. The Storyteller may also give a knight a particular quest to complete before penance is granted such as a worthy act of charity or an apology.

Loss of Faith is more severe than a loss of Piety. It represents a measured loss of belief, trust and adoration of God. Therefore, restoring a lost Faith Point is a much more difficult task. However, restoring a lost level is not as hard as gaining new Faith Points. Thus a knight can undergo penance to restore the lost Faith -- and not wait until he has sufficient Experience Points to re-purchase a level. Penance of Faith will require Faith x 2 weeks of prayer and charity. The Storyteller may, however, require a clear act of belief and faith in one's God before returning his Faith Level's Holy Powers. These restored Faith cannot surpass the highest Faith Levels previously obtained.

A Templar Knight Captain is running through a garden party in hot pursuit of his quarry. Instead of dodging past a group of young ladies, he decides to charge on through. This action causes one of the young debutantes to fall in a pond, ruining the dress she could not really afford and severely embarrassing her in front of her male friends. This action -- Sloth -- warrants a Negative Piety Check: he could easily have attempted a dodge. (If he had bothered to do the right thing, I would have automatically negated the need for a Negative Piety Check -- even if he failed the dodge -- as the accident was no longer a case of Sloth.) The Knight Captain has a Faith Rating of Five and a Piety Rating of Five. The Storyteller gauges the severity of the offence at a value of three successes needed. Therefore, the Knight Captain must roll three Successes greater or equal to Five (The Captain's Faith Rating) with his Piety Dice (in this case, Piety Points Five) in order to avoid losing a Piety Point. The Knight Captain fails the check, and must loose a Piety Point -- reducing him to Piety Four. This new Piety Level is one point below that acceptable to his Faith Level of Five. His guilt and self-admonishment would prevent him from receiving the benefits of any Positive Piety Check and automatically cause him to fail any further Piety Checks. The Templar removes himself to a chapel for a day of prayer and repentance. However, at the end of that day he still feels remorseful (his Piety has not been restored -- as it should). He realises the only way to satisfy his guilt is to find the debutante, apologise to her and pay her the cost of the spoiled dress. After two days of searching and obtaining a blushing acceptance of his apology, the Templar once again feels the comfort and security of God's favour return (thus, Piety Points are restored to the Level of his Faith). Now, he can once again serve as an effective member of the Militant Orders.

"Non nobis Dominie, non nobis, sed nomine tuo, da gloriam.
Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give glory."
-- Templar motto, recorded at the Council of Troyes, 1128

The measure of Grace is the yard-stick against which a knight's Holy Powers can be measured. Grace is the sum of Faith + Piety. Both Faith and Piety are fluid ratings which can be affected by performance and behaviour. Thus, a knight's actions can influence his spiritual strength. A knight who breaks The Rule or one of the Seven Deadly Sins must undergo a Piety Check. If the check fails, and he looses one Piety, he also looses a point of Grace.

For example: A Teutone sergeant with a Faith rating of six and a Piety level of seven has a Grace rating of 13. During the course of his investigations, the knight is curt and rude to a drunken hermit begging for money. This is an un-charitous act and calls for a single Piety Check (against a storyteller defined number of successes, with a difficulty level equal to his Faith). Upon failing the Piety check, he looses one Piety Point. This reduces the sum of Faith and Piety by one -- thus reducing his amount of available Grace Points. This loss of Grace Points will affect the total amount he can expend upon the Gifts, Prayers and Rituals. A loss of Piety to below one calls for serious disciplining. The aberrant knight must be banished to a monastery and stripped of his rank until he proves he has atoned for his sins.

A loss of Faith points has a similar effect. A knight who botches a major prayer twice or more in succession must loose a point of Faith. This, of course, also reduces the number of Grace points available. But more importantly, it also reduces the number of Gifts, Prayers and Rituals the knight can select from (Holy Powers can be tied to Faith Levels). A knight whose Faith falls below Five must seek instruction from an Abbot and seclude himself in a monastery until his Faith returns. His ability to use Prayers and Rituals is also stripped away, though the Gifts remain until he has no more Faith.

Grace points are the measure of the blessings conferred upon a knight, translating to game players as how many points are available to be expended as Prayers, Gifts and Rituals. As the sum of Faith and Piety, the pool of available Grace points is strongly linked to a knight's behaviour and belief. This way, his powers and behaviour cannot be taken for granted. A knight must remember always that he is not only a warrior -- but also a monk. The "*" rating before a Gift, Prayer or Ritual designates the number of Faith Levels required before that Holy Power becomes available. The numerical rating (x) specifies what number of Grace Points must be expended to initiate the Holy Power. Thus a *** Prayer (5) would reduce the total immediately available Grace Points from 13 to 8 (However, he must have a Faith Rating of at least 3 before he can attempt the action). Using a Holy Power does not affect the Faith or Piety scores. Grace points can be expended until there are none, and the knight must retire for private prayer to allow regeneration of his Grace points. If a knight is low on Grace points, is in a desperate situation and needs to call upon a Prayer with a higher requirement of Grace than he currently has -- he may "burn" a Piety Point for each Gift/Prayer/Ritual he enacts. These Piety Levels must be regained through special acts of penance.

For example: A Hospitaller Knight Sergeant is all that remains of an ambushed combat team sent into what appeared to be an abandoned country town. Fleeing for his life, he seeks refuge in the ruins of a church. This had been a very pious community before degraded land had made living in the area untenable. As a result, the ruined church has a Holy Place rating of Three. The Knight Sergeant, his own Faith rating being Five and his Piety Six, can add the Holy Ground rating of Three to his Faith-based rolls. Thus the knight is given greater strength with which to defend himself. However, the knight's excessive fear warrants a Negative Piety Check. The Faith Level of the Holy Ground has no effect on the knight's personal relationship with God, therefore it must be Six Piety Dice rolled against a Target of Faith, with a Storyteller determined number of successes. The young knight succeeds the Check. Seeing a vampire approaching and successfully struggling against the effects of Holy Ground, the Knight Sergeant jumps up -- determined to sell his life dearly. He yells his war cry "Christi Imperat" (using the Word of Power Gift which costs 3 Grace Points). This reduces his available Grace Point pool from 11 (Faith Five + Piety Six) to 8. The Word of Power requires a Charisma + Faith versus the vampires Humanity as the target roll. The Holy Ground's Faith Rating must be added to the Knight's Faith Level for this action (Charisma Three, Faith Level Five, Holy Ground Three versus vampire Humanity Target Six). His cry succeeds in frightening the vampire, causing the creature to make a Rotschreck Check. The Check must use the knight's Faith plus the Holy Ground's rating as the level of difficulty (thus, Eight) under the p199 Vampires Rotschreck difficulty table. In this case, the effect on the vampire is similar to that of being exposed to direct sunlight. The vampire flees in a raging state of panic. Round one to the Knight Sergeant.

Grace Points return to the Faith + Prayer sum total at the rate of one Grace Point per hour of worship or meditation. Thus, a knight with Faith Five and Piety Eight would need 13 hours of quiet meditation if all 13 Grace Points were expended. If only one or two points have been used, these can be restored during the normal morning and evening prayers. If the knight is resting on Holy Ground, the location's Faith Rating acts as an automatic boost -- giving him an initial surge of Grace Points equal to the site's Faith Level.

In the event of an emergency, a Knight may pray for additional strength through Grace. For the cost of one Piety Point, he may regain the number of Grace Points equal to his Faith rating. This lost Piety point must be regained through special acts of penance.