Talons of Satan

By Alexander Mischo (drgnsage@aol.com)

Description

The most potent of unholy relics, these are the claws that were torn form the Dark one's fingers as he grabbed the Earth on his plunge into hell. There are five said to be hidden in Europe and Africa. Five more are said to be hidden in lands yet to be discovered. The Talon is said to drive Lupines and Fae insane with the wishers of the damned. It is said that only Human and Cainite can touch the Talon. But to hold two Talons would vaporize the weak flesh of Human and Cainite.

Just one Talon would give the holder many "gifts" of darkness. By cutting the hand and feeding the Talon two blood points, the holder would be able to summon forth Imps and Demonhounds from the depths of Hell. However, a human sacrifice must be on hand for each demon brought forth by the Talon or the holder will pay with his soul. These "lesser" demons would follow the holder's orders as if he were Satan himself. However, any higher demons will follow orders to the letter, and no further. They will seek a way to return the master's lost Talon.

The Talon can turn the holder's thought into action. It gives the holder three dots in the thaumaturgy paths of Creo Ignem (control of flame), Rego Motus (Telekinesis), and Rego Tempestas (Control of weather) See Pages 165 and 166 of the Vampire: The Dark Ages handbook. The holder can only use these paths as long as he holds the Talon In an unholy place the holder is granted four dots, and in a holy place he has only two.

The Talon gives the holder power over darkness and shadows. Lights will dim and shadows grow darker in the holder's presence. The difficulty of all stealth rolls are reduced by two. Sunlight only does half damage to Cainite (though still aggravated).

The drawbacks to the Talon are equally great for it is of Satan.

Any who holds the Talon will be affected by those of Faith as if the holder were a Cainite. Any Cainite how holds the Talon will be affected times two. If one with a Faith of five touches a Cainite holder of the Talon he will meet Final Death as if by sunlight. None of the Faith can touch the Talon without the loss of one point to their faith, and can never use the "gifts" so long as they have faith.

Lupines will always seek to destroy the holder and Talon both for it is of the of the Wyrm (Satan) and will harm Nature and Gaia. Lupines can sense the evil of the Talon up to a mile away. Those who possess Soulsight (Auspex) will see only a pure black halo that surrounds the holder, evidence of the corruption of the Talon.

If the holder does not follow Via Diabolis (Road of the Devil) he must make a Conscience/Conviction roll. If the he fails he will lose a dot on his Road. Should the holder's road fall to three dots, his road will be replaced with Via Diabolis with six dots.

It is said that the Talon can turn the holder into a high level demon. However a long and complex ritual must be performed. The only record of this ritual is said to be contained within the "Codex of Lilith" said to be part of The Book of Nod. No parchment or scripture has ever been found, anywhere, that mentions the Codex of Lilith. This Codex may not even exist, just like the Talons.