Hel, Queen of Nifhelm

By Athyra Di Giovanni (demonsreiche@yahoo.com)

Totem of Sorcery, Death, and Arcane Wisdom

Background Cost

8

Description

At once beautiful and terrible, Hel was one oft he three children born to Loki and his frost giant mistress. Along with her two siblings, Fenrir (also known as Fenris), and Jormundagr -- The Midgard Serpent -- she represents some of the darker and more sinister sides of the Nordic Gods. She is as ruthless as she is heartless, ruling over Nifhelm without any consort needed, nor a man required. As the Empress of the Dead, all who must cross through Nifhelm, the Realm of the Dead, must pay her tribute and due honours, or face her wrath and an eternity of torment.

She is not a totem to be taken lightly. Only those who are merciless dare invoke her name. She gives her daughters powers which even the most stalwart men fear. Many of her children are considered morbid and power hungry creatures of darkness, and many packs believe her a little too close to the Wyrm for their tastes. She blesses both the damned of Gaia (e.g., Black Spiral Dancers) and the blessed with equal impunity. For as long as they follow the path she has laid out for her children, they will be on her good side. Woe to those who anger her, for none have been known to defy her and not suffer the consequences.

Restriction

All of her followers must be women. They may come from all walks of life, but she prefers those who have witnessed death in the making themselves (or have caused death themselves).

Gifts

Her followers automatically receive the following permanent bonuses where applicable: +2 to Perception and Manipulation (even if this takes them above 5), Gnosis: +2, Willpower: +2. The children of Hel also receive the following dice pools while in the service of Hel: Mage Lore: 2, Occult: 2, Enigmas: 2, Wraith Lore: 2, Kindred Lore: 2. Finally, her children automatically gain a Mage Arcane Pool of 3 dice whenever searching for hidden knowledge, dealing with vampires or wratihs, and slaying the enemies of Hel.

Bans

Hel finds it imperative that more souls be sent to her. In that respect, at least once per year, the children of Hel must kill someone. Who the person is does not matter, as long as they possess a soul. The children of Hel are often associated with vampires, and vampires (especially Giovanni, Tremere, Nagaraja, and the Samedi) will actively search out her followers. Furthermore, wraiths will also actively look for the followers of Hel. (This is assuming they know there is one or more in the city.) Euthanatos mages are completely out of bounds for the daughters of Hel to slay, as are the Giovanni. Before killing one, the daughter of Hel will get a "notice" of agonizing pain, preventing her from killing them. When that occurs, that individual can locate the daughter of Hel despite her natural Arcane at any time. (The person will not lead people consciously to kill the daughter of Hel, however.)