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 Table o’ Contents
Posse Chapter Three: The Marshal’s
Territory .............. 3 Rewards & Handbook ............ 9 9
Relics ......................... 7 1
Relics ....................................................... 71
Rewards ............................................. 72
Templar Rewards ................... 80

No Man’s Land ..... 8 1 Chapter Six:

Dirty
The Few, the Laundry .................
.................11 0 1
Laundry.................
Proud, the Simple Simon ............................. 101
Baphomet ....................................... 103
Templars ................. 5 Boise ..................................................... 104
The New Templars ...................7
The Boise Horror .................. 104
Simon Says So .............................. 8
The Combine .............................. 105
Boise .......................................................... 9
Baphomet ............................................ 11
Chapter Four: The Cult of Doom ................ 105
Junkyard .......................................... 105
Simon’s Long Walk ............... 16 Martyrs ................... 8 3
The Law Dogs .......................... 106
The New Templars ................. 17 The Theology of the
Mutants ............................................. 106
Martyrs ................................................. 21 Martyrs ......................................... 83
The Anti-Templars .............. 106
Simon and Me ............................ 23 Creating New Martyrs ...... 84
Ronan Lynch,
The Boise Horror .................... 24 The Martyrs ................................... 86
Saint of Death ................... 107
Becoming a Templar .......... 26
Relations ............................................ 31 Chapter Five: Chapter Seven:
Black Sheep ................................... 39 A Walk on the The
Anti-Templars ............................. 39
Dark Side ............. 9 5 Destroyer .......... 1 0 9
The End ............................................... 41
Characters as
The Book of Martyrs ......... 42
Anti-Templars ...................... 96
Chapter Two: Anti-Templars &
Martyrs ......................................... 97
Knights in White
Tabards .................. 5 3
Playing a Templar ................. 53
New Hindrances ....................... 57
New Edges ...................................... 58
New Skills ........................................ 61
Combat Notes .............................. 61
The Way of
the Sword .................................. 62

Posse: 4
Posse Territory
The Few, The Proud

6
 The Few, The Proud

The Few, the Proud, the Templars

It was a dark and stormy knight.

Get it? Templars used to be “knights?” The Real Templars
Oh, never mind, brainer. Let’s start with where we come from. The real
Jo here. You may have read my notes on the “Knights Templar” got started during the
“Wasted West” I put together when I thought I crusades sometime back in the days of knights
was dying a few months back. Guess what? I and dragons and stuff (yeah, I know dragons
lived. Sorry to disappoint you if you’re one of aren’t real, but these days, I wonder…).
those wasteland cretins always hoping for the I’m not going to dwell on this for a long time
death of another Templar. because I don’t think it’s very relevant to what
Anyway, Simon Mercer, the Grand Master of we are now. We take our name and a few ideals
the Templars, read my report and thought it was from the Templars, but that’s about it. If you
keen, so he asked me to do another one. Who want to know more about them, scav a history
would have thought a housewife from book somewhere or better yet, beat up a
Minnesota would become a knight and an Librarian.
author? Not me. Hell, the only thing I ever Okay, so here’s what’s important to know
planned on fighting for was after-Christmas about the Templars. A long time ago, starting in
sales. 1095, a bunch of Christians in Europe decided to
This time I get to narrow the field a little. take back the Holy Land of Jerusalem. You
Instead of talking about the whole freaking know, the places Jesus Christ walked, lived, and
wasteland I’m just supposed to talk about us— died. The problem was there just happened to be
the Templars. Where we came from, how you a whole bunch of people living there—Muslims—
become one of us, why we like hacking things and the land was just as sacred to them as it
up so much, that sort of thing. was to the Christians.
I probably shouldn’t be so glib. The world’s in The Christians decided the only way to get
pretty bad shape, and we Templars are the best the Holy Land back was to take it.
thing going. Hell, we just might be the only force There’s all kinds of reasons why they did it—
who can stop the Combine, the Cult of Doom, the Pope wanted all those troublemaking
and the half-jillion-and-one monsters, muties, knights out of Europe, the Christian Emperor of
and misfits roaming the wastes. Byzantium needed help fighting off the invading
That’s why this little guide is pretty important. Turks, and rumors were floating around that
Think of it as a training manual for all you these same Turks were murdering Christians
bright-eyed young heroes who want to be and desecrating churches and other holy sites,
Templars. getting everyone all riled up.

7
 The Few, The Proud

Unfortunately, it was the common folks who began picking off and murdering stragglers from
packed up and headed south first. They formed the main horde. The “peasant army” returned the
a huge mob of 60,000 or more, with hardly a favor by massacring entire villages. Yep. The
real soldier among them. The real knights tried first people the crusaders killed were fellow
to get these folks to wait, but their leader, a Christians. You just can’t make this stuff up.
monk named Peter the Hermit, said God told him So the Emperor of Byzantium gave the mob
the pilgrimage must begin immediately. food and told them to get the Hell to the Holy
So off they went, a huge army of thousands Land and out of his backyard. They did, and
to go beat up on people they didn’t know and were basically wiped out a few weeks after
take “back” lands they had never set foot on or arriving in the Holy Land.
even seen before. They called the people of the The real army of knights came just a few
Middle East “Saracens,” though I understand that months later. They fared a little better, and by
was actually a bit of a misnomer. No problem— 1099 they took Jerusalem. Oh, then they
the Saracens called all the crusaders “Franz” promptly slaughtered all the inhabitants. This
(Franks, for the French, even though the was the problem with the crusaders—their quest
crusaders were also English, Germans, Normans, for land and power sometimes overwhelmed
Saxons, and Italians). This little their Christian ethics.
misunderstanding foreshadowed what was to
happen for the next 200 years. The Lesson
Along the way, the rabble realized they didn’t It’s easy to see how Simon came up with his
have enough food and other provisions for the ideas when you know a little about the crusades.
trip, and McDonald’s were a little scarce back Lesson number one. If the common people
then. So they sacked a few villages in Hungary, had a trained body of “knights” to lead them,
which just so happened to be part of the Empire they would almost certainly have been victorious.
of Byzantium—a Christian nation. The Lesson number two. The fight can’t be about
Hungarians were understandably upset and land or loot, it has to be about ideals.

The knights Templar of old, hard at work in the Holy Lands.

8
 The Few, The Proud

Birth of the Templars The New Templars

The original Templars were formed around
1118 by two French knights, Hugh de Payens and So why is this little history lesson so
Godfrey de St. Omer. Their purpose was to important? Only because the leader of the new
protect pilgrims making their way to the Holy Templars, Simon Mercer, was intent on not
Land. These guys were actually fairly pious. repeating the follies of our ancestors. He would
They didn’t own land like the other knights, but not declare a “crusade” against some unknown
instead took vows of poverty and relied upon group, nor would he get involved with religion.
gifts from the various royalty of Europe for Neither would there be huge armies led by
their arms, armor, horses, and staff. competing generals. Most importantly, the
They were headquartered in the royal palace Templars would answer to no one. Simon hates
of Jerusalem, which was rumored to have been the heat, and he doesn’t want to wind up burned
built on the site of the Temple of Solomon. Thus at the stake like De Molay.
was born the name, the “Templars.” That’s what he decided the Templars wouldn’t
The fierce “warrior monks” who made up the be. What we would be—and are—are guardians.
ranks of the Templars were fanatics in battle. Simon is determined that the purpose of the
Used as heavy shock troops, they were heavily Templars is to guard the pilgrims.
armed and armored, and usually capable of Let me explain. See, the pilgrims are “good”
taking on twice or more of their number. They people. Innocent, normal folks just trying to get
soon became the backbone of the many armies by. They’re not Christians, Muslims, muties,
raised in the various crusades. norms, or any other organized group. They’re
just good people. If they’re able, they also have
Jacques De Molay to be strong. A perfect community that does
nothing to help other communities around it
The true Knights Templar died out in 1314
doesn’t count. Turning your back on other
with the execution of Jacques De Molay, the last
pilgrims who need help is almost as bad as
Grand Master. He was burned at the stake at the
attacking them yourself. That’s why you’ll often
behest of King Phillip the Fair (right!) and Pope
hear of Templars making villagers fight
Clement, who claimed the Templars worshipped
alongside them, particularly against really big
demons. I’m no historian, but the books I read
road gangs and the like.
about this stuff say it was all a sham by the
Of course, real pilgrims go on “pilgrimages.”
King and the Church to get the vast lands the
Simon says the pilgrims we’re protecting are
Templars had accumulated over 200 years. See,
those who are heading into the next era. Don’t
the only way you could confiscate lands back
get all “Cult of Doom” on me. We don’t mean the
then was if the guilty were charged with heresy.
next evolution of humanity. We’re simply talking
De Molay got his revenge, though. Just before
about the generations who are going to rebuild
he died he cursed both Phillip and Clement,
and redefine the world. Simon wants them to do
saying they would join him in death within the
it right, without repeating all the same mistakes
year. They did. Weird, huh?
people made the last couple of thousand years.
You know, no more wars, no more massacres,
Parallels and most importantly, no more freakin’ atomic
The Templars were, at times, fanatical and bombs.
ruthless bastards. They had to be. They were I know what you’re thinking. Who’s to decide
outnumbered in a land of the enemy. who the pilgrims are? We are. The Templars. A
We’re the same way today. There’s maybe a little self-righteous. Absolutely. High-handed?
couple hundred Templars now, but thousands of Definitely. Is it right? Maybe not. But every one
Black Hats, monsters, and wasters looking to kill of us has decided it’s the only way we can
us. That’s why we have to be a little harsh guarantee a good foundation for the creation of
sometimes. Simon doesn’t want us to wind up the new world. The next generation simply has
like the original crusaders. To waste our lives to be held to a higher standard. And Templars
on foolish causes only endangers our order, the who get out of line get the worst treatment of
West, and the world itself. Don’t think we like all (more later, brainer).
turning our back on people. We just have to So if you’re a pilgrim, we’re your friend. If not,
conserve our resources to ensure our very if you’ve strayed from the path to the next era,
survival. And yours as well. the Templars are your worst nightmare.

9
 The Few, The Proud

lady Law Dog named Jenny Hise showed up in

Simon Says So town. Very quietly, the town’s leader (actually
their Sheriff), asked the Law Dog for help. Jenny
So where did Simon get all his ideas? That’s a tipped her hat, said she’d see what she could do,
long story. To fully understand it, you have to and rode off into the night.
go back to before the bombs; when Simon, like The next morning, the town woke up to hear
most of us, had a normal life. Jenny’s motorcycle running at full throttle,
Simon was an accountant in Boise, Idaho. heading straight for their gates. Behind her were
Pretty heroic stuff, huh? He was out on a a couple of dune buggies and a half-dozen more
job in the country when the bombs fell. bikes. Black Hats. She’d messed with ’em all
His whole family got wiped out, just like right. Probably killed a few and was hoping to
mine, yours, and most every other person lead the rest into the town where the villagers
over 25 years old. If that includes you, would help her slaughter them.
brainer, you know what it does to a Jenny rode up to the front gates, screamed for
person. the sentries to let her in, then watched in horror
101
Simon dealt with his grief by as the Sheriff shook his head. Jenny cursed the
wandering. He traveled all over the West, town, drew her two six-guns, and went down
lost and confused. He looked like a bum. Rarely fighting.
was he welcomed into a community and made Black Hats are stupid, but they aren’t that
to feel like a human being. stupid. They knew the town had sent her after
One day Simon was in Near Pueblo, Colorado, them so they whipped out a couple of rocket
a fairly large survivor settlement south of launchers, took out the guard towers and gates,
Denver. The town had long been delivering and came in shooting. Men, women, and children
tribute to those bastards at the Combine, and it all died because they wouldn’t stand up to fight
was literally starving them to death. The for themselves. Simon fought as well as he
townsfolk wouldn’t share much with Simon, so could without any real weapons, but eventually
he was about ready to move on when a tough went down, unconscious and looking dead.
That’s why he was the only survivor. The
Black Hats thought anyone missing a chunk of
scalp like that must be dead. It was the single
greatest mistake of their sordid history.

Back to Boise
When he woke up several days later, he was
lying in an abattoir. The only other living souls
were the buzzards feasting on the dead. It was a
traumatic scene, especially for someone who
still hadn’t gotten over the loss of his own
family. So he staggered out into the wastes sick,
wounded, and alone.
Simon had wandered quite a bit before. This
was 2084, three years after the bomb, so he’d
already been around. Before, he had always
stuck to the well-traveled routes. This time his
delirium escorted him smack into the wastes.
And that’s not a fun place to be, friends. We’re
pretty lucky he survived. He was unarmed, didn’t
have any of his Templar powers yet, and was
wounded and out of his head to boot.

Simon and the Walking Dead

Sounds like a rock group, doesn’t it?
I know a lot of you still don’t believe the
dead walk. It seems about a third of the folks I
meet have killed scores, another third have
Simon, about to have an epiphany.

10
 The Few, The Proud

never seen a single one. The last third got eaten,

I guess, so they didn’t report in. Think what you
want, but I’ve hacked enough zombies in two to
Boise
tell you for damn sure they’re out there. Boise wasn’t. I mean, it got nuked hard, just
Simon was scavving a candy bar machine at like every other city. Simon hadn’t been here in
an old Exxon when he heard a rumble from the three years, and the ruins brought back a
back room. He still wasn’t quite in his right violent flood of memories. By his own
mind, so like a newbie squire, he opened the admission, he sank to his knees and cried like a
long-locked door. Sure enough, a pair of stinking baby at the rubbled streets and swirling ghost-
zombies poured out! rock maelstrom in the distance.
Simon whacked one with a crowbar he found He couldn’t take his eyes off the storm. He’d
nearby. Knocked its head right the frag off. Did heard rumors that the screaming white streaks
the same to the next one. I don’t think he really in the dark clouds were the souls of those
knew what he was doing, his mind was just so who’d been killed in the bombs. Could some of
numbed by terror that his reflexes took over. those shrieking spirits be those of his family?
When he finally got over the immediate For my younger readers, it’s a thought many of
horror, Simon looked in the room the gruesome us who survived have had.
twosome had come from. Seemed these two had It’s a good thing Simon was out of shotgun
locked themselves in the back room of their shells. He might have ended it all right there.
office. It had a steel door, so Simon later figured Fortunately for the rest of us, he decided to
they were holing up from looters in the early throw himself into the maelstrom. He thought it
days after the bomb. The pair of shotguns, would kill him—most folks do the first time they
ammo, and old food containers backed up his have to go through one—but of course, it didn’t.
theory. It still hurts like Hell, though. Having a couple
So did the half-eaten remains of their third thousand screaming demons slamming through
companion. I guess they started on this guy your soul can’t be good for you.
when they couldn’t get out, then killed each
other over who was next. Wanna know the Into the Maelstrom
really funny part? Back in the Old West, there If you’ve ever been through a maelstrom, you
was a group of settlers called the “Donner know what Simon went through. For those who
Party” that got stuck in the mountains and haven’t, imagine walking naked into a hurricane
wound up eating each other to survive. The filled with hail. Now imagine the icy hail doesn’t
name of Simon’s gas station was “Donner’s just sting your skin, it stings your insides as
Exxon.” Ironic, huh? well. Your bones, your brain, your heart—maybe
even your soul. A lot of folks die. Simon lived,
Simon’s Lessons but just barely.
Simon left Donner’s Exxon with two Like most maelstroms, the inside of this one
important lessons. First: the walking dead can be is calm. Eerily calm. You can still hear the
put down if you crack open their noggins and whirlwind, but it seems distant. Almost like
stomp their brains out. Always good to know, instead of screaming, it’s whispering to you—
’cause there’s a lot of those grinning bastards which is just as disturbing, by the way.
out there. Simon was very lucky he wasn’t found by the
Second (and more importantly): he realized the things that lived inside the Boise Deadland. He
value of a good hand-to-hand tool. His ammo would meet them later, but I’ll get back to that.
would run out quick, but if he got good with the For now, Simon just staggered deeper into the
crowbar, it might last him forever. ruins. Eventually, he reached the center of the
I seriously doubt he was thinking those things downtown blast site. A handful of buildings still
consciously yet. In fact, he claims he barely stood around ground zero, mostly stone
remembers the rest of his trek to Boise. All he structures slightly shielded by larger buildings
knows is that when he got there, his shotgun that had stood in front of them. Simon
was empty and his crowbar was coated in blood recognized one of these buildings immediately—
and ichor. (What’s “ichor?” That’s how you tell if it was the old Freemason’s lodge. There wasn’t
some critter is a monster or not. If you cut off much left of it, but it was shelter. Our hero
its head and it bleeds some kind of colored goo hobbled toward it, made his way into the inner
(ichor), it was a monster. Otherwise it was just a meeting room, and collapsed.
mutated varmint.)

11
 The Few, The Proud

In his dreams, Simon imagined the Templars

The Delirium had magical powers. They could cure the sick,
Simon probably laid there for a few weeks. imbue their swords with holy might, and even
He doesn’t know. All he remembers is staring at dance through hordes of enemies with
the paintings on the meeting hall walls. The superhuman speed and grace. Sounds silly,
Freemasons had something called “York Rites,” doesn’t it? Maybe, but Simon’s dreams were
which is a secondary organization that pays soon to become reality.
homage to the Knights Templar. Some of the
paintings on the walls featured those knights, Simon’s Sword
and I guess the images burned themselves into I’m getting ahead of myself. When Simon was
Simon’s fevered brain. finally able to get up, he smashed open an old
Like most inductees, Simon had wanted to display case sitting at the head of the Mason’s
know more about the real Templars, so he had meeting hall, where an old Civil War saber had
read a few books. You know, those boring somehow not yet been scavenged. He needed a
history books you used to get your dad at tabard to truly fit the image, so he ripped up an
Christmas. I guess men like them because old sheet and painted a cross on it. Simon
they’re filled with exciting tales of hand-to-hand figured if he was to truly resurrect the order,
combat and desperate last stands. Macho crap if there was no more fitting weapon and uniform
you ask me, but Simon bought into it hard. He to do it with. It didn’t take him long to try out
dreamed of new Templars, armed with swords his new role.
and guns, reclaiming the Wasted West and Wearing the tabard and with sword in hand,
protecting travelers from evils like the Black Simon walked outside and straight into trouble.
Hats, the walking dead, and umpteen billion other Most maelstroms have a local population of
evil pieces of crap sliming around the wastes. muties living in their calm sweet spots. This one
Of course, he was the Grand Master of this was no exception, as some normie scavengers
new order. were discovering. Two of the scavs were down
when Simon spotted them; a woman and
another man were struggling to defend their
bodies from the hungry muties that had
surrounded them. Simon started carving, snick-
snack (that’s the sound a spine makes if you
cleave it clean).
A couple of maimings and mutilations later,
and Simon’s a big hero (to the local norms, at
least). Turns out the scavvies were from a
nearby settlement: Near Boise, as it was called
back then.
The scavs thanked Simon, but were upset
about the two friends still lying bleeding on the
ground. Simon knelt to one of them and saw a
sharpened iron pipe had been rammed into his
ribcage. Our hero tried to pull the pipe out, and
just about stained his tabard when his hands
started glowing yellow! The pipe slid out like a
straw and gushed blood. Simon instinctively put
his hand over it to stop the bleeding, and was
once again amazed to see it glow brilliant
yellow. The blood slowly stopped. Fifteen
minutes later, Simon took his hand off and
marveled at what had happened. The man had a
large bruise and a faint scar—but no two-inch
gaping pipe-hole. That fellow lived, and turned
out to be Sheriff Murray of Near Boise.
The other fellow was a junker. He’d been
brained by a piece of rock. Nothing serious, but
The first time I ever met Simon. Can you believe that’s me in the back? very painful. Simon tried his trick again and

12
 The Few, The Proud

soon Doc Young was sitting up and asking him

all sorts of questions.
Needless to say, everyone was curious. Simon
Baphomet
wasn’t a Doomsayer and he wasn’t a syker. He If you don’t believe in walking dead, you sure
had passed through the storm, though, so Doc as Hell won’t believe in Baphomet. I’ll just
Young figured his new power must be some assume your brainwaves aren’t flatlining and
sort of mutation. Simon had other suspicions. tell you about him. It. Whatever the Hell it was.
They were confirmed a few minutes later when About a hundred miles north of Boise is Hell’s
the muties he’d chased off came back with Canyon. It’s a real state park—not some
reinforcements. melodramatic name we made up. Check an old
There were twenty or so this time. Sheriff atlas if you don’t believe me. It had been a
Murray plugged a couple with his SMG, and Doc spooky place for a long time—go figure with a
Young showed everyone how great the new name like that. Back in normal days, hikers,
plasma rifle he’d been working on could cook rangers, and others would go missing in this
flesh. The other two scavs did the best they huge area and never be seen again. It never got
could, but one was a punk-nosed kid of about 16 a lot of attention in my day except in rags like
and the other was a former housewife more the Epitaph. The last few years, however, we
accustomed to beating eggs than the odds. heard a community of survivalists had holed up
Simon stepped up and started carving. His in there. They thought it was the perfect place—
speed was incredible—superhuman even—and he secluded, plenty of game, and easily defendable.
knew it. You could see it in his eyes as he sliced They were right, except they were the game.
and diced. The muties knew it too. They ran, and Turns out there was this “thing” in there. An
Boise’s been mutie-free ever since. ancient creature that had dwelled in the canyon
The four townies were impressed. Enough so since Indian times. It looked like an effeminate
that they asked Simon to help them with their man, with a long black cape that covered its tall
real problem—the reason they’d been scavenging body like a stiff dress. The cape’s collar rose to
inside a ghost-rock storm in the first place. a weird hood that either formed a pair of horns,
See, Doc Young was working on a new or covered the real ones. Its face was a pale
weapon, one to defeat a nearby horror so lilac—like the color someone’s skin turns when
deadly it had already wiped out half our town. he’s suffocating. Its eyes were completely black,
Yeah, I said “our” town. See, I was that like a shark’s. I remember it well because I saw
housewife, in case you hadn’t figured it out, it. But I’ll get to that in a minute.
brainer.
I told you a little about myself in my original The “Green-Glowing-Eyes” Thing
journal, The Wasted West, so I’ll keep it short. The thing did its dirty deeds by possession. It
My story’s like most others. My husband, Roger, could somehow reach out to people (way out—
died in the war. I was at his funeral in the remember its lair was a hundred miles away)
country when the bombs hit. In a way, he saved and take them over. Or more like infect them.
my life. The rest of my family didn’t make it long Something. We never were quite sure.
after that. There are just as many human All we knew is that folks would sometimes
monsters out there as supernatural ones. get this greenish tint to their eyes, then do
Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it. Besides, something horrible. They didn’t have the green
this book is about Simon and the Templars. thing going on all the time, and they weren’t
Oh, the last scavenger, the punk, was Aaron under its control all the time either. It was more
McConnell. He was your typical young male— like this force could control them whenever it
looking to be a hero by blowing some bad guy wanted, and they wouldn’t even know what
away, never realizing that the real heroes stay they’d done afterward. Once it got its hooks into
home and raise the kids while their spouses run a person, it seemed to just sit back and wait to
off to Kansas to fight the Rebs. do something mean. And it was very good at that.
Sorry. Men have been that way for a couple The possessed weren’t obvious about it. I
millennia, and I don’t think my ranting is going mean, they didn’t just pick up a gun and go
to change anything. postal. They’d wait ‘til they were alone with a
Back to the story. Me, Simon, Aaron, Sheriff friend, then, if the friend got in some kind of
Murray, and Doc Young headed back to our danger, the victim would push them further into
town. Along the way, Doc Young told Simon it.
about the Soul Taker.

13
 The Few, The Proud

The trip to Hell’s Canyon was just full of wonders.

Here’s an example. Fred Young (Doc Young’s know that then).

brother) was a farmer outside of Near Boise. He Doc Young set out to make a sort of “tracer”
had the only working thresher in the area. One to find out what was causing all this evil. He
day, he and his son James were working in the thought he could trace the supernatural energies
field. Fred heard something thunk in the blades from the victims to its source. Trouble was, he’d
of the thresher and got out to see what he’d hit. need some parts from Boise, and then he’d need
While he was standing in front of the thresher, to use his device on a person when they were
James crawled in and hit the gas. Fred got baled. taken over.
It would have looked like an unfortunate Of course, Boise was inside the maelstrom
accident if Aaron McConnell hadn’t been in the and chock full of flesh-eating muties. Murray
cornfield that day and seen the whole thing. met the challenge head-on and assembled a
Another example was the time Manny and posse to help him. He chose Doc Young ’cause
Gloria Wells were picking berries. These things he needed him. Me and Aaron also got drafted
grew on the sides of cliffs, so Manny had his because we must have been clean or we
wife, Gloria, drop him over the side with a rope. wouldn’t have told him about what we saw.
Sure enough, she just let him drop. I happened Aaron could shoot a gun, but I was mostly
to be the witness for that one. I saw Gloria’s worthless back then. Murray gave me a shotgun
eyes glow green, then she just picked up a knife and I just prayed the shells weren’t dried up.
and worked at the rope ‘til it went snap. I ran Getting the parts out of Boise wasn’t easy. We
straight back to town and told the Sheriff. He probably wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t
said he suspected something like that was going been for the timely “awakening” of Simon. I’ve
on in town—there’d just been too many fatal already told you what happened at this point.
accidents lately. So we called in Doc Young. We kept the scavenging trip a secret, knowing
James had already been cleared, but we didn’t that Gloria was one of “them.” Sheriff Murray
tell Gloria we saw what she’d done (she then arranged to have her “help” him clean the
wouldn’t have known anyway, but we didn’t shotguns. She was a good girl, so Murray

14
 The Few, The Proud

prodded a bit. He told her he thought there was when I’m going to get back to the Templars. Be
some sort of presence infecting the town. Sure patient. You gotta know all this stuff, or else
enough, a few minutes later, her eyes glowed what Simon did later just won’t make any sense.
green and she leveled a shotgun at him.
Fortunately he’d taken all the powder out of the
shells.
The Cabin
In a flash, Sheriff Murray jumped on top of So there we were, trekking through the
Gloria and slapped his cuffs on her. At the same forests of Idaho. You’d think we’d be excited
time, Doc Young, hiding in the next room with being out in nature away from the ruins of the
his gizmo, detected a strange signal. It cities, but we weren’t. The forest was a
disappeared instantly, but as he suspected, it Deadland. Trees were gnarled and deformed, the
started again in a few moments. The thing was trunks all broken in so they looked like those
probing its minions, trying to find out what was spooky trees you see in creepy cartoons like
going on. It stayed out of Gloria, though, just in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (my kids loved that
case. It was smart that way. one).
The Sheriff wanted to put together a group to Then we come upon this old cabin out in the
track down the signal and find out what was woods. We’d found a few survivalist camps on
sending it. Doc Young knew this was a bad idea, the way and scrounged up some old milrats and
however. If one of the posse turned out to be ammo, so we thought we’d give this one a try
infected, it would know they were coming and too. Turns out there was an occupant.
stop sending out its supernatural signal. Then She was sitting in an old rocking chair with a
they couldn’t track it and kill the thing. shotgun across her lap when we threw open the
He had me, Aaron, and Doc Young, but door like common thieves. Notice I said “across
wanted more help. Someone from outside who her lap,” not “pointing at us.” The woman, Althea
couldn’t already be infected (we hoped). Butterworth (hey, I didn’t name her) said she’d
lived here a long, long time, and sometimes she
was able to see things. I’d dismiss that as an old
Simon’s Quest wives’ tale, except that what she said left no
In his current “I’m a hero” state-of-mind, doubt she was some kind of oracle.
Simon was more than willing to undertake this Granny Butterworth (as she called herself)
important quest. Sheriff Murray couldn’t leave said we were seeking an ancient creature, one
the town, so me, Aaron, and Doc Young got to that had plagued these parts for a couple
go with him. hundred years. Doc Young recorded all this on
It was slow going. Doc Young’s device only his palmcorder, so I’ll just paste the transcript
worked when the monster was active, and the into this file and let you read it yourself. I know
signal led us over country that had few roads she’s a little hard to understand, but stick with
but plenty of other horrors. I think the first time it, brainer. (And if you’re a Librarian, I hope it
I saw a zombie I hid behind a tree. I figured wrecks your machine. Stinkin’ bookworms.)
Simon would smack me with the flat of his
sword for that, but he didn’t. Nope. He came
over and put his hands on my back. Said he felt
Granny Butterworth’s Tale
my pain and was sorry I was put in this I’se already told you I got the gift o’ seein’—
situation. He was a lot nicer to me than I would my momma said I was born with a “blue veil”
have been. Now, anyway. over my face. Now you better believe it, Simon
Maybe there’s something to be said for all Mercer! I kin see in your eyes that you don’t.
that, ’cause the next time we ran into a horror— You is on the verge o’ greatness, Simon Mercer,
this big, nasty tree-thing—I was the first to open but part o’ you is dead inside. Your compassion.
up with my shotgun. The others said I let out a You been hurt so much by the war you’re afraid
shout so loud the forest shook. Maybe it was all to feel anymore. You’re thinkin’ ’bout fightin’ evil
the rage and fear I’d built up since Roger and and slayin’ monsters, and that don’t leave no
my kids died. Maybe I was just tired of being time for children or ol’ ladies. Maybe you got
scared all the time. Or maybe I just wanted to good reasons to be hurt, Simon Mercer. But
see what a can of whoop-ass tasted like. losin’ Stephanie and the kids didn’t hurt you no
Whatever, I came of age that day. It was a good worse than Josephine losin’ her family. Or Doc
thing, because the trip only got worse. Young losin’ his brother. You gotta get your
Still with me? Good. I know you’re wondering compassion back, child, or it’s gonna be your

15
 The Few, The Proud

downfall. They’s things out there that’re gonna took ’em a long time to figure out all those
prey upon your coldness. accidental shootin’s and people fallin’ off cliffs
All right. I’se tired o’ preachin’. You’re here to wasn’t just accidents. When they did, they
find out about the monster, so that’s what I’ma decided to up and leave. But the monster
gonna tell you. weren’t havin’ none o’ that. It went down among
It’s an ancient thing. It was here when the the survivors and killed those it couldn’t control
Indians was. Maybe even before. My granny said with its own hands, ever last one.
it was a demon straight from the pits of Hell. That changed the thing somehow. It still
She said sometimes these things get rewards couldn’t leave the canyon, but it could send
from ol’ Lucifer hisself and get to come to the folks away and use its powers through ’em.
world for a while. They come right up outta the Your town down there by Boise. Some of the
pit and set to makin’ mischief. folks used to be survivalists, didn’t they? Those
This one does it by ridin’ inside folks. It us’ta was the ones it controlled. Who brought the
only see inside Hell’s Canyon. Some crazy fool’d monster in. Don’t blame ’em though—they’s just
go back in there, hikin’ or fishin’ or huntin’, and its puppets is all.
the demon’d get in his mind and make him do But now you got yourself a real hero. Maybe
terrible things. A hunter might shoot his friend a couple. An’ you can go in and finish that
in the backside or push him right off a cliff. The demon once and for all. It’s gonna take that
demon delights in all the pain and guilt it causes. fancy sword, Simon Mercer, and it’s gonna take
Fo’tunately, it was stuck in that canyon for that scattergun, Josephine Wales. Doc Young and
the last couple hundred years. One o’ them Aaron McConnell are gonna have to fight too.
funny rules demons and angels live by, I reckon. But no matter what, one o’ you is gonna die if
But then we done blowed up the planet and all Simon don’t do right. I can’t tell you no mo’. All I
those survivalists moved in there. The demon’d can do is give you a warning. Don’t do the
never had so much fun, and I guess it liked it. Devil’s will, chil’un. Think on it hard, ’cause this
Those folks weren’t as bright as you ‘n me. It is just the beginnin’ of the beginnin’.

Pressing On
What do you say to that? “It was nice meeting
you?” I mean, this old lady knew our names,
where we were going, what we were doing, and
maybe even something about our future. She
turned out to be right about everything, too.
I think Simon was more shook up than the
rest of us. This old lady had just told him he
had some great destiny to fulfill. He wanted to
hear that, but he didn’t care much for the lecture
about him needing to regain his compassion. I
sympathize. I’m a little short of it myself these
days. Losing your world will do that to you.
Anyway, we tried to ask Granny Butterworth
some more questions but she wouldn’t answer.
She did make us an incredible meal though.
Beans, corn, bread. It was a feast. I remembered
how I’d taken home cooking for granted before
the War. Tasting Granny’s spread reminded me
how much I missed my own mom’s cooking.
Aw Hell. I’m getting off-track again. I’m bad
for that. Sorry.
The skinny of it is that Granny Butterworth
didn’t say another useful thing. She just filled
our tummies and sent us packing. So that’s what
we did. We grabbed what leftovers would keep
and headed straight into Hell’s Canyon.
Granny Butterworth.

16
 The Few, The Proud

Grand Canyon—it’s not just one massive gash in

Hell’s Canyon the ground. Hell’s Canyon is covered in trees, for
I’ve said this before, but if you ever get the one thing. That makes it hard to see more than
chance to name some place, don’t call it “Hell’s a few hundred feet at a time when you’re down
Canyon” or “the Devil’s Backbone” or the “Forest in it. It’s also riddled with side-canyons, gulleys,
of Death.” How could you not have monsters in and streams that turn it into a maze.
places like that? If you get to name something, When we got there, we expected more
call it the “Happy Place.” Or the “Peaceful Forest walking dead. We did see people standing just
Where There Are No Freakin’ Monsters!” What inside the cave, but they weren’t dead. They
critter in its right mind would take up residence were alive.
there? Simon warned them to stand aside. He had
Anyway, Hell’s Canyon lived up to its name come for the demon and he aimed to kill it. I
all right. I’ve never seen so many walking dead. guess the people were the survivalists it had
The first batch we encountered were former taken over before. One of them, a big bald guy,
soldiers. A platoon of Northern Alliance troops was even a syker. He shook his head and
must have holed up and gotten killed back here, leveled an auto-shotgun at us.
’cause there was a good 15 or 20 of the suckers. “I don’t want to kill you,” Simon said, but the
They were packing, too. Assault rifles, body bald guy just stood there.
armor, grenades. They set an ambush (those Then suddenly, this weird creature comes out
zombies often seem to keep the nastiest of of the shadows behind them. The damn thing
whatever skills they had when they were alive) reminded me of one of those Disney villains. It
and would have wiped us all out if Doc Young was tall, dressed in a blue gown or robe, and
hadn’t whipped out his plasma rifle again. It had an almost porcelain face—stiff and
ripped right through those corpses and took out unmoving. Its eyes were coal black with no
all the heavy weapons before it ran out of juice. pupils, like a shark. On top of its heads were
Then it was up to the rest of us. Simon hacked, horns, though they may just have been some
I blasted, and Aaron did the two-gun-kid thing. weird decorations from its bizarre hat.
Doc Young was fresh out of gizmos but he had It looked out at us and its eyes glowed green.
an old revolver in his pack and it turned out he We probably would have started firing if the
was pretty handy with it. survivalists hadn’t been in the way. No one
We came through alive, but Aaron had taken wanted to start shooting this close, and it didn’t
a 7.62mm round in the guts. Simon fixed that seem like the monster was doing more than
right up, just like he’d done back in Boise. You looking at us anyway. I can’t speak for the
can guess how that made us feel. We thought others, but I felt it look into my head. I felt cold
we were invincible. clammy fingers touch my brain. I tried with all
Then we hit the survivalists. They were just my might to force it out, and it worked! It
more walking dead, but they were tricky withdrew in a panic like a teenager having sex.
bastards. The soldiers were more dangerous Simon must have felt it too because he
straight up, but these zombies set traps, fired on charged forward. The big bald guy jumped in the
us from the canyon rims where we couldn’t get way, but Simon put his sword right through him.
at them, and even hid in the earth itself to pop The big man didn’t go down, but instead cracked
out and take us from behind. Simon across the skull with his big weapon. The
I don’t know how we survived all that, but we two squared off as the demon backed away to
did. And all the while, Doc Young’s detector watch the fight.
would occasionally pick up the demon’s energy Everyone else opened up at the same time. It
reaching out. It led us right to the north end of should have been instant death for everyone. I
the canyon. Where the thing lived. mean, we were only a few yards apart. It
We never expected the last of the monster’s reminded me of the way you always see the
defenders. “Shootout at the OK Corral” in the vids. A group
of people close enough to spit on each other
The Mouth of Hell unload their guns but with only a few rounds
actually hitting anyone. It’s just freaking
The detector led us to a tall cave in the north unbelievable, but there it was.
face of the canyon. It would have been The bad guys’ luck gave out first. My pump
impossible to find without Doc Young’s gizmo. shotgun cut a woman with an SMG in half.
You have to realize Hell’s Canyon isn’t like the

17
 The Few, The Proud

Aaron’s pistols finally hit something and turned Aaron finish the monster, he could have healed
a guy’s head into a melon. Doc Young. Aaron didn’t say a word. He just sat
Doc Young got hit next. A rifle round went there avoiding eye contact and reloading his
straight through his throat. He fell back gasping clips.
and bleeding like a blood fountain, gurgling and Simon didn’t say anything either. He just
choking all the way. stepped back out of the cave and looked out
Aaron ran empty and ducked down to change over Hell’s Canyon.
clips. I had two rounds left. I put one into the It seemed a little less dark now. It wasn’t
guy who’d hit Doc and hurled another at some clean, not by a long shot. But I could see the
young girl with a jammed automatic pistol. I death of Baphomet had an effect on the land. A
missed. The girl finally cleared her jam, then lot of us know that’s how it works now. Kill off
raised her pistol to finish me off. I looked a big bad guy and the whole region gets a little
straight into her eyes as my shotgun’s hammer brighter. At least until another big bad guy
fell on air. There was a shimmer of green there. comes along. I guess that kind of soothed us.
She was terrified and didn’t want to be there. Me. So I didn’t say anything else. Simon knew
Suddenly, Simon came out of nowhere and he’d screwed up. Cost Doc Young his life. He’d
stood between us. I looked to see the syker had lived up to Granny’s prophecy and done the
finally fallen, his bald head neatly separated right thing, though. At least, I guess that’s what
from his brawny body. she meant by killing Baphomet.
Simon did the girl one worse. He stared her
down and backed her into a corner. I can’t tell
you what he saw when he looked in her eyes,
Home
but I heard her whisper “please.” Then Simon The trip home was almost as bad. We didn’t
raised his sword and slammed it into her run into any more walking dead, but we did
shoulder and all the way down through her cross paths with more than a few critters. With
crotch. Simon’s powers, Aaron’s guns, and me being
I went to Doc Young and put my hand on his somewhat competent by now, we managed to
throat to stop the bleeding. It was useless. I survive. We tried to stop at Granny
yelled for Simon to come save him, that he was Butterworth’s cabin and tell her what had
dying quickly, but studly couldn’t stop himself. happened, but we couldn’t seem to find it. She
He turned on the demon and backed it into the probably knew anyway, so we just kept trucking
cave. on back to Boise. We finally made it, with Doc
Then I saw the strangest damn thing. Simon Young’s body, and buried him in the cemetery.
advanced with his sword out and the monster Aaron really did a number then. He told
just stood there. I’d swear the bastard was even everyone what we had done. He went especially
grinning. I couldn’t hear, but Simon later said the crazy over Simon, who was his hero now, I
creature told him its name before he killed it. suppose. The people bought the whole story,
Baphomet. Then Simon raised his sword with and even gave Simon a huge feast. Sure, me and
both hands, screamed, and smashed it into the Aaron were “guests of honor” as well, but it was
side of the monster’s skull. It shattered Simon who everyone wanted to talk to. I guess
into a thousand pieces, just like you might they felt they already knew me and Aaron, and
imagine from the look of its doll-like face. we had just gone along for the ride.
In fact, the fiend’s whole body shattered To top it all off, we had never officially
like that. The shards were hard, like named Near Boise anyway—that’s just what
porcelain, and rained down noisily on the people called it. Aaron said we should officially
103 stone floor of the cave for what seemed name it Simon’s Rock. So we did.
like minutes but must have only been
seconds.
Simon just stood there looking at the shards Simon’s Long Walk
until I finally screamed at him. Slowly, he turned The town was in good hands now. Sheriff
and saw Doc Young twitching and gurgling on Murray was a competent leader, and Simon even
the floor. He dropped his sword and put his said that I was getting to be one Hell of a
hands on the junker’s throat, but it was too late. fighter. He was going to go off into the wastes
Doc Young shot a desperate, pitiful look at both and find others who needed help. Aaron begged
of us, kicked one last time, and died. and begged to go with him, and Simon finally
I was furious. I told Simon if he had let me or

18
 The Few, The Proud

agreed to take him along. Aaron said he would

be his “squire,” like the ones who served the
knights of old.
The New Templars
The rest of us sent the pair off with a big Several of Simon’s knights were already
feast but didn’t hear back from them for a year. competent fighters, survivalists, and even
During that time, Simon honed his skills, learned medics. The rest were gifted amateurs, like me.
about the powers he’d been blessed with, and The veterans trained us day and night, teaching
even recruited others with similar values. When us how to fight with swords and guns, how to
the big hero came back, Aaron wore the tunic, find food and water in the wastes, how to treat
as did a handful of other men and women in wounds, and everything they could come up
tow. None of them had powers at this point, but with on the horrors that seemed to be crawling
they were committed to the cause and had out from under every rock since the bombs fell.
proven themselves to Simon over the last Simon taught all of the virtues of our new
months. order, and slowly but surely, how to tap into the
Simon said that from now on, he would be phenomenal power of the saints. Aaron was the
the “Grand Master” of the Templars. He would first to demonstrate his ability to lay on hands. I
train these men and women and teach them was the second. It was grueling, 20-hour a day
how to tap the incredible power of the saints. training, but those who finished came out
Then his band of chosen knights would venture tough-as-nails and twice as sharp.
out into the West and try to reclaim it. At the end, Simon gave us each a sword. He’d
All of us thought we’d seen the beginning of scavenged plenty during his travels. Then we
a genuine legend in Simon. Kind of like our own made our own tabards and painted the
Joan of Arc. To hear him say he was going to Templar’s red Maltese Cross on them.
create a whole order of heroes like him was The way new Templars train is quite different
incredible. We were in shock. An army of angels now. Let me finish the last bit of history and I’ll
was coming to save us from this Hell on Earth. tell you all about it.
The Templars were going to fight a very just
and righteous war, and they even had the power
of something holy behind them.
That night we celebrated Simon’s return.
Sheriff Murray uncorked enough wine to get
everyone smashed and properly welcome the
new recruits to our fold.
Simon’s never been a drinker, but he’s never
gotten in the way of a good party either. That
night, while I was buzzing pretty hard on some
10-year old Zima, Simon dropped a city-buster
on me. He asked if I would come with him to
Boise and become one of the first Templars.
My brain said no. Things were pretty good
here in Simon’s Rock. I hadn’t picked up a
shotgun since our adventure, and I wasn’t sure I
was still the same brave little soldier I’d been
back then. But my heart (and maybe the Zima)
said yes before my brain could stop it. I’m like
that.
Simon smiled in a way I didn’t catch then, but
would later on. He was falling in love with me.
The next day, after everyone finally came out
of their hangovers, Simon addressed the town
and vowed to protect it in exchange for a small
amount of food and occasional assistance. The
first such task would be to help him rebuild the
old Masonic lodge in the ruins of Boise. A good
number of folks agreed and went to work that
very day. The first batch of Templars (there’s me again) prepares to set out.

19
 The Few, The Proud

edge of his chair. See, an arrogant “king”

The Temple concerned only with power and wealth would
By this time it was 2088. The people of sit back and listen apathetically to those who
Simon’s Rock, helped by more than a few have come to him for help. Simon sits on the
squires, finally finished the Temple. Most folks edge of his seat, listens intently, and becomes
come to Boise thinking they’re going to see the noticeably upset when a petitioner has a
Taj Mahal or the MGM Grand in Vegas. (I know particularly disturbing tale. He even gets up and
you architectural purists are dying at the goes into the line to lay hands on someone who
comparison, but did you ever see the Grand?) is obviously suffering.
The thing you have to remember is that the If he can do something about a problem, he
“Temple” used to be the Boise Freemason’s does. Simon finds a Templar to accompany the
Lodge. I’m not saying the Masons were cheap, petitioner, or hires healers, farmers, or
but their lodge was nothing to get worked up mercenaries to solve more mundane problems.
over. It was a good, solid building with plenty of
meeting space, however, and that’s what Simon Other Uses of the Temple
needed. He and the others made a few structural Minor ceremonies are also conducted at the
changes when they rebuilt it, but it’s basically Temple. When a waster is named a Companion,
the same old building. he’s presented with the red cross in this
The thing most people notice first about it is chamber. This happens fairly frequently. You’d
the difference between the old stonework and be surprised how important this makes folks
the new. Several times a former architect feel.
or construction worker has offered to re- A Templar who completes a particularly
stone the Temple to make it match, but difficult assignment or task might also be
Simon says no. He wants people to formally congratulated in the Temple.
remember what the bombs did. Leaving Simon also uses the throne to sit in judgment
the Temple as is serves as a powerful when a Templar is accused of betraying his
104 symbol of the old world and the new. oath. Such affairs are always public, and the
Boise hangers-on love to sit in the back rows
Temple Interior and watch the debates. There are no lawyers
Inside, the Temple is only a little more (thank God) when such a thing occurs. Everyone
elaborate. The central meeting hall has been is expected to represent himself, tell his side of
opened up, walls were knocked out, and the story, and then abide by Simon’s decision.
supports added. A ragged red carpet runs down
the middle of the aisle to a short platform and
an uncomfortable stone chair. A white tabard
The Hall of Heroes
hangs overhead, and rows of mis-matched pews Up on a hill overlooking the Temple is the
taken from nearby churches fills the gathering Hall of Heroes. Shortly after rebuilding the old
area. Paintings of the real Knights Templar, Freemason’s Lodge, the workers decided they
mostly scavenged from museums and other hadn’t sweated out enough blood, so they fixed
lodges around the West, line the side walls. up an old church and the cemetery around it as
well. The dead had long since got up, chased
Hearing Petitioners folks around a bit, and promptly got their heads
The most common use of the Temple is the chopped off, so it was relatively safe. The crew
thing Simon does every day—receive petitioners still dug the broken coffins out of the graves
asking for help. Every morning at the crack of and filled them in with dirt just to be sure. You
dawn, Simon goes to the Temple. Any healthy can never be too safe around cemeteries these
Templars who happen to be in town are also days, especially in a Deadland.
expected to be on hand. They sit in special pews Squires and Companions who fall get buried
behind Simon facing the crowd, though they in this hallowed graveyard—if we can find their
may get up and talk to the people waiting, clear bodies, that is. The tombstones are sanded and
the line by healing those who need comfort, and then inscribed with the names and deeds of the
so forth. new corpses.
Simon sits on the “throne” when hearing The inside of the church is reserved for the
pleas from visiting survivors. It would be easy Templars themselves. See, if someone brings
to think of Simon as a pompous dictator here, your corpse back to Boise, Simon has it
but you can tell he’s not because he sits on the cremated in a formal ceremony, then placed in

20
 The Few, The Proud

an urn (if we can get our hands on a real one—if The last feature is a huge book at the back of
not, you might get stuck in a cookie jar, the room. This is the Book of Martyrs, which
spittoon, or something). Then Simon and records all we know of these heroes. If
whoever’s on hand says a few kind words over Biletnikoff will help me, I’ll try to include the
your ashes and shoves them in a hole in the entire text of the Book of Martyrs at the end of
wall. this report.
Biletnikoff the Librarian then places a plaque
over your hole that lists your name, date of
birth, date of presentation, date of death, and
The Hospice
any deeds they happen to know about. The Hospice was once an old apartment
building. Simon and the other locals restored it
The Martyrs in 2089. It’s divided into two sections. There are
Standing below these plaques are busts of the over 50 units, and they’re available to visiting
“Martyrs.” I’m going to tell you more about them petitioners for up to a week at a time. The
soon, but for now, just realize some of the rooms are simple but clean, and sometimes a
saints who give us our power take a more little weird. We scavenged decent furniture from
active role in things. outside the blast zone, but it’s mismatched to
One of the Downtowners is a handy sculptor, say the least. Your room might have a beat-up
and he carves a likeness of each Martyr, which sofa from an old one-room efficiency alongside
is then placed along the walls under the plaques a mahogany dresser from an expensive
of the fallen Templars. In case you’re wondering, downtown hotel. Hey, it’s the Apocalypse. What
we get their pictures either from the library at d’ya want?
Sacramento or from descriptions by those The rooms do have running water, but no
Templars who have been blessed by them. electricity. Simon’s never allowed a generator to
There’s around a dozen Martyrs right now, with be put in because he doesn’t want to become
room for another 20 or so. dependent on ghost rock. Personally, I think he’s

Boise, as it now looks. Home sweet home.

21
 The Few, The Proud

The Hall of Heroes, where we Templars honor our fallen.

actually repulsed by ghost rock. A lot of folks little bigger, and it’s got a desk, some books, and
are these days. Who can blame them? other personal items, but it’s definitely nothing
About 10 of these rooms are used to treat special.
those few sick who cannot be cured by our Biletnikoff, the Librarian I’ll tell you about
miracles. In case you don’t know it, sometimes soon, has the big room. He knocked out a couple
our healing doesn’t work. We can usually try of walls and built himself a decent little
again the next day, though, and this is where apartment. There’s always a waist-deep stack of
patients wait when that happens. papers, maps, books, and dataslugs he’s either
studying or scanning in for the Librarians.
The Barracks
We Templars get to stay in an old hotel we Downtown Boise
call the Barracks when we’re in town. Whoopee. The area around the Temple and the Hall of
The visitors get comfy sofas and running water. Heroes is just called “Downtown.” There’s four-
We get old army cots and one community or five-hundred “Downtowners” there at any
shower. The cots came from a military hospital given time. Maybe 50 or so are permanent
they set up here during the Last War. They’re residents—hangers-on who’ve created their own
comfortable enough if you don’t use them. little community in the Temple’s shadow. Some
Actually I don’t mind the community shower so of them actually work for Simon, hunting,
much. We Templars ain’t all that pure. fishing, or making tabards or sharpening
Oh, and there’s rats in the walls. They’re not swords, but most just live here.
radrats or anything, but I guess I have a little Because of the frequent visitors, the regulars
yuppie housewife left in me ’cause I still hate get along pretty well. Downtown’s a carnival
the little bastards. every day of the week. The Downtowners set up
If there’s any consolation it’s that Simon lives little carts or tents and sell food, traveling
here too, just like the rest of us. His room’s a equipment, and even pictures and other

22
 The Few, The Proud

souvenirs of Boise. A few sell supposed relics as water tower for the rest of us, and installed a
well—mundane weapons used by Templars, solar-powered filtration system. Clean, clear
pieces of their tabard, bones—whatever they can water is free now, though the filtration system
get hold of. When we catch someone with needs frequent maintenance from Bob.
something he shouldn’t have, we boot ’em.
The Grand Master doesn’t rule Downtown, but
he does boss the Downtowners around when he
The Boise Maelstrom
feels the need. Right now, everyone in Boise Petitioners and squire-wannabes have one
who isn’t a Templar is considered a guest, and major obstacle to go through when entering
they’re subject to their host’s whims. Boise—the maelstrom. Fortunately for them, our
Eventually, Downtown will get big enough storm’s not as bad as most—probably because
that someone will have to take charge. Knowing all the Templars drained most of the fear out of
Simon, he’ll probably allow the people to appoint downtown—but it’s still nothing to sneeze at. If a
their own leader. I think that’s a mistake, and regular maelstrom is a high voltage fence, ours
I’ve told him so. I think we should tell those is one of those electric ones they use to keep
folks that as long as they live in the Templar’s cows in. Just don’t piss on it.
front yard, we’re the boss. Some day, some big Is the storm actually dying down? No one
army’s going to come rolling through Idaho and knows of one that’s stopped yet. Sure, they were
we’re going to need every swingin’ thingie that supposed to. The whole point of using ghost-
can hold a weapon. Before that happens, we rock bombs was to leave the land in good
ought to put these people to work building us a shape so the enemy could later occupy it
wall, installing some guns, and forming a militia. in a few years. But the Reckoners
Maybe someday Simon will listen to reason. evidently tricked us all, because every
storm caused by the bombs still rages
The Town Square today. Ours doesn’t so much “rage” as
104
That’s what we call it, anyway. Having a town “tantrum,” so maybe it is truly dying. I’m
square makes us feel like Downtown’s actually sure some junker will come in and figure
a place instead of a place’s leftovers. it all out eventually.
In truth, the town square is what used to be But if the storm is abating, it begs the
the intersection of two major streets. Most of question: is Boise still a Deadland? Most of us,
the buildings around it were blasted to the including Biletnikoff the Librarian, think not. We
ground floor. Before Simon and the others fixed all know eliminating fear “heals” an area and
up the Temple, they cleared the rubble and hurts the Reckoners in the long run. Maybe the
pitched hundreds of US Army tents they’d found Templars have done enough good in Boise to
somewhere for temporary homes. The tents are erase all that. Or maybe we’ve just turned it
small, but waterproof and comfortable even in down a notch. In any case, things are pretty
winter. Thank the military for that. good here—except when the Boise Horror strikes.
These days, the tents are available to visitors I’ll get to that soon enough.
when the Hospice is already full. They pitch
them all around the square, but not inside as it’s
far too busy.
Martyrs
A lot of kids looking to be squires live in By 2089, news of Simon’s new order reached
“tent city” until they’re finally taken in as the ears of the Librarians in Sacramento. The
Templars. They’re not allowed to stay in the Head Librarian, Marcus Liebowitz, dispatched a
Hospice more than a week, and most wait for senior Librarian, Brother Frederick Biletnikoff, to
nearly a year before landing a mentor, so they learn all he could about these post-apocalyptic
borrow a tent. It’s almost a test in and of itself. knights.
Those who can’t handle living in a tent for a Biletnikoff arrived in Boise just as a horde of
year aren’t likely going to make good Templars. mutants tried to attack Simon’s Rock. Several
Templars and a small army of hopefuls showed
The Water Tower up just in time to turn the raiders away with
ease. Biletnikoff saw the whole thing from a
Among the crew who helped Simon rebuild nearby hillside and knew he must chronicle the
Boise was a civil engineer named “Big” Bob Templar’s adventures.
Johnson. He’s the one who restored the running Biletnikoff recorded most of the battle on his
water in the Hospice. He also constructed a palmcorder and then followed the trail of the

23
 The Few, The Proud

Templars to the Boise storm. He knew the risks requesting permission to stay in Boise
of passing into the storm but pushed through permanently. Leibowitz agreed.
anyway. The howling spirits nearly tore his
sturdy body to pieces, but he staggered onward Who in Hell is Ronan Lynch?
and eventually found himself at the Boise A few months after Biletnikoff’s arrival,
temple. Simon himself came forward and healed Simon quietly told him that he sometimes
the unfortunate traveler, causing Biletnikoff to received visions of a gunslinger from the
become even more enchanted with these Old West. The Grand Master didn’t know
almost-Arthurian heroes. how he knew this, but the man’s name
When he was able, Fred told Simon that he was Ronan Lynch. In Simon’s dreams,
had come to find out about his order. Simon Ronan battled horrors in the boomtowns
told him the bare essentials—not wanting to and deserts of the West sometime during
reveal too much to the outside world at this the First Civil War. The strangest thing
4
time. In exchange, Simon asked Biletnikoff what about this lightning-fast gunfighter,
he knew of the world, for the Templars needed however, was that he was a walking
every bit of information possible to succeed in dead man. Simon knew of the Harrowed, but to
their quest to rebuild the world as a strong but see one in action was still a shock.
peaceful place. The Librarian agreed, and the More importantly, there had been a rare few
two spent most of the night sharing stories. occasions when Simon thought his number was
Over the next few weeks, they became up. Then, just as some horror or waster was
trusted allies. As Templars came to Boise and about to finish him, he had pictured Ronan
shared their adventures, Biletnikoff decided Lynch. By some miracle, he then managed to
Boise was as good a place as any to gather escape what should have been certain death. It
information for the Great Library in Sacramento. was almost as if Lynch’s spirit had been watching
He sent his report through a trade caravan to over him and provided him with some small but
Marcus Liebowitz himself, and concluded by important ability to escape his predicament.
Biletnikoff’s jaw dropped, but he said nothing.
The next day, he sent a private message to
Leibowitz requesting a complete copy of all the
Tombstone Epitaph articles dealing with Ronan
Lynch. Even better, Leibowitz sent a dataslug
collection of old dime novels, the star of which
were Ronan Lynch himself. Lynch was a real
person, and according to the stories, he really
had battled the creatures of the Reckoning
before the War.
When he showed the articles to Simon, both
men were amazed. They poured through the
tales like mad and pieced together the
gunfighter’s tale. Was it possible that Lynch was
one of the so-called “saints” Simon said
provided the Templars with their power?
The Grand Master called in another of his
Templars, Aaron McConnell, and asked if he
ever had visions of the enigmatic gunfighter.
Disappointingly, McConnell said no.

McConnell’s Martyr
Aaron did have another story, however. There
had been a time in the woods of Washington
state when he had helped the local hunters
battle a creature called a wendigo. Shortly after
slaying the beast, Aaron experienced visions of
a woman dressed in furs standing beside a giant
white wolf. He didn’t know how he knew it, but
Aaron McConnell gets a little help with a Wendigo. her name was Jenna Dean.

24
 The Few, The Proud

Several days later, another wendigo appeared. same saint. A few had visions of several, and
This one was larger, more ferocious, and claimed that these mysterious patrons had even
covered in snow-white fur. McConnell and the aided them on occasion.
hunters rushed headlong into battle but found Even more startling, the Templars who shared
this creature was far stronger than the black- a patron saint had each performed some similar
furred variety they had encountered earlier. deed. Three of the Templars who had ventured
As the last of the hunters died, Aaron looked into the wendigo war raging in Washington
up past his own battered body and saw an State, for instance, had received visions and aid
amazing sight. A ghostly she-wolf stood over from Jenna Dean and her she-wolf.
him—just like the one from his dreams. The Biletnikoff realized it first. When a Templar
wendigo screamed at the spirit, but did not performed a particular deed, the Martyr would
advance. The she-wolf pounced, and the two take notice and forever after come to the hero
incredible creatures battled. Though the wendigo in times of need.
was invulnerable, and the she-wolf a ghost, both This was very important news, one that
bled as they tore patches of flesh from their demanded the attention of all the Templars.
snow-white fur.
McConnell struggled to his feet, staggered The Great Council of ‘91
toward the raging battle, and plunged his blade Simon called a great council of every Templar
straight through the massive shoulder of the he could get word to. On a cold night in January
white wendigo. The she-wolf faded from his of that same year, Simon announced that the
sight as McConnell slumped to his knees, saints were indeed real, and that some of them,
exhausted, but triumphant. the Martyrs, sometimes watched over their
living descendants of spirit. From that point
The Martyrs forward, every Templar would be required to
learn about the lives of the known Martyrs.
Biletnikoff and Simon called in more Templars, Doing so might gain Templars the Martyrs’
and found that many of them had visions of blessings if they honored their memories by
heroes from other times, fighting the same kinds replicating their deeds.
of horrors they confronted. Over the next two Simon appointed Frederick Biletnikoff as the
years, the two put together a list of the saints Chronicler of the Martyrs. It was his job to
who had appeared to the Templars, and gather information on any of the saints the
compiled information from the Great Library Templars had claimed appeared to them. He was
and other sources about their lives. then to keep the saints’ histories in the Book of
While there were likely thousands of saints Martyrs. New Templars would be required to
who had fought the creatures of the Reckoning read the book, and could thus appeal to these
on occasion, those saints who appeared to the saints should they one day replicate their great
Templars had a few things in common. deeds.
First, there had no doubt been many
individuals who had battled some dark creature
as it intruded into their lives. All of the Martyrs,
however, once exposed to the world’s secretive
Simon and Me
dark side, had dedicated their entire lives to So there we were, fat and happy. We had a
fighting the forces of Darkness. Temple, a small but solid group of knights, and
And second, all of the Martyrs had eventually the support of a great town to provide us with
fallen at the hands of these dark powers. food and other necessities in exchange for our
For this reason, Simon stated there were protection.
many saints, but those few who were known by By day, I was just another recruit (now a
name and had chosen to somehow intervene on Templar). At night, once we got a little time off,
the Templars’ behalves from the afterlife would Simon got chummy. He’s going to kill me for
now be called the Martyrs. printing this, but it’s part of the story, so I’m
going to do it. (Simon, if you get really pissed
about this, I can always edit it out. Hell, maybe
The Deeds it’ll help you.)
By the end of 2090, Simon and Biletnikoff had By night, Simon got personally involved in my
interviewed nearly every living Templar. They training. We’d duel, wrestle, heal, and even do
found many of the knights had visions of the what he called the “storm run.” That means you

25
 The Few, The Proud

jump into the maelstrom, but instead of heading One Knee and I’m Outta Here
for the other side, you turn clockwise and run When the first “graduating class” got their
around its circumference for a hundred yards or swords, Simon gathered everyone together and
so (I wonder if they run counterclockwise down gave us a speech. He said we were all ready to
south?). It hurts like Hell, but for some reason, go save the world, so get out there and do it.
none of us Templars ever died from it. One time, Okay, he was a little more inspiring than that
I challenged Simon to complete an entire lap. (and long-winded), but that was the gist of it.
Now remember that while the Boise storm is Right after, he called me aside and asked me
easier than most, it still feels like standing something I thought I’d never hear again.
naked under Niagra Falls. We did it, but we Simon got down on one knee, pulled out a
shouldn’t have. Even after laying our hands all huge rock (that’s a diamond ring, brainer), and
over each other we were laid up for a week. asked if I would stay in Boise as his wife.
That’s when we got close. Too close. I looked Okay, I admit it. I freaked out. I half-nodded,
up to Simon as some sort of living saint. He saw half-shook my head, mumbled something about
me as a woman. Or maybe a little reflection of having to think about it, and scooted off into
his old life before all this Hell. Personally, I the darkness. I hadn’t realized where our night-
think Simon has more trouble dealing with his time “training” sessions were heading. Or maybe
personal demons than the rest of us. Hell, I’m a I did, but I was afraid to touch the sun, if you
bitter bitch myself. I miss Roger and my kids know what I mean. I was all willing to bask in
and I’ve taken out my anger on more than a few its light, but marrying it, having sex with it,
monsters and muties who got in my way. Some treating Simon like a person instead of some
of the other Templars are like that too. We’re Chosen Saint, that was another thing altogether.
only human, and every one of us has as much In fact, I think the moment Simon proposed, I
pain in our past as you likely do. realized he was just another man. An incredible
But Simon has somehow placed the weight of man, sure, but mortal just like the rest of us.
the world on his shoulders. He feels it’s up to And that shattered the security blanket I had
him to make the world right. Not right “again,” knitted since joining the Templars. I was all
mind you, because the new world we’re going to wrapped up in the ideal, maybe even thought we
forge won’t be anything like the last one. We all were semi-divine beings ourselves. Suddenly we
know how that ended. were all too human again.
That’s a tall order. I only had one college The next morning, as the Templars packed up
psych course, but if I had to analyze Simon, I’d their few belongings and set off on their own, I
say he’s made dealing with his grief dependent was with them. I didn’t say anything to Simon,
on something else. That works for some of us. but the pack on my back said it all. He wished
Like when one of your parents die, the funeral the group well and we vamoosed. I didn’t come
serves as a “milestone.” You get through it and a back for two years.
little of your grief passes. Things are a little
better, even if it’s artificial.
Unfortunately, Simon won’t get over his grief
until he fixes the world. And that just ain’t
The Boise Horror
gonna happen. I mean, I’m as dedicated as the I got this next bit of history second-hand, so
next Templar to working toward utopia, but let’s if something’s not entirely accurate, don’t blame
be realistic. It’s not going to happen in our me. I heard the tale from several sources, and
lifetime, and things will never be perfect. It can they don’t all agree on the details. The gist of
definitely get better, maybe even better than it the story is the same, however.
was before the War, but it’ll never be perfect. We left on June 2nd, 2088. The next batch of
And all this strict discipline we try to enforce squire wannabes (still mostly locals at this
will one day become just another totalitarian point—remember, this was back even before
regime. Don’t get me wrong. I think we’re exactly Biletnikoff arrived) moved into town on June
what the world needs right now, but someday, if 8th. As I told you earlier, hopeful recruits
we’re successful, we’re going to have to leave stay in Tent City. The handful of other
the world to its own fate. If you’ve ever been a residents live in nearby apartment
parent, you know how that feels. buildings we cleaned up.
Simon’s love for me was a temporary On the morning of July 4th, one of the
touchstone to heal his pain, but saving the squires, Jeanette Willis, didn’t show up
world would always be his first priority. for roll call. The rest of the group figured 104

26
 The Few, The Proud

she got cold feet about the training and took

off. Three days later, they found her body in a
ruined store a few blocks from the lodge. She
had been torn to pieces.
Simon gathered everyone together, armed
them all to the teeth, and set about trying to
find whatever creature had done this. The posse
searched all day but didn’t turn up a thing.
Then Teller came to town. I don’t know if
you’ve heard of this guy, but he’s a storyteller.
He fights horrors just like we do, but then he
goes and brags about it to everyone. He says
spreading tales of “hope” to the masses erodes
their fear, and that’s what the Reckoners feed
on. I agree that they feed on fear, but I’m not
sure spreading tales of monsters actually gives
anyone hope. In fact, I think it scares the
bejeezus out of them. Simon’s always been a
little wary of spreading our secrets. Even this
file you’re reading is intended for us, not the
general public. Mind you, I don’t see what the
big deal is, but you know how men are with
their secrets.
Anyhoo, Teller had heard about the Templars
and wanted to learn all about us. Simon let him
hang around, but didn’t volunteer any
information. Eventually, Teller hears about the
death of Jeanette and gets nosy. He disappears
for a while, then comes back and tells everyone The Boise Horror strikes.
he thinks there’s a werewolf in Simon’s Rock.
About a third thought he was crazy, another Teller said he thought he knew what was
third thought he was just wrong, and another going on, but he was cryptic as always. He told
third started scavenging for silver. Teller Simon to separate the recruits, lock them in their
proposed a trap. He wanted to start simple. barracks rooms, and wait ‘til the next full moon
Stake out a couple of pigs on the path between (about three weeks off). Two weeks went by
Simon’s Rock and Boise, chum up the ground a without further incident. Then one morning, they
bit with blood and other smelly bits, then see found Sally Merchant with her throat ripped
what came calling. That might bring the creature open and drained of blood.
out—if it was just a savage animal. If it was Nothing happened again for a week. Then the
smarter, they’d have to try something different. full moon came. Teller, Simon, and the veterans,
Simon agreed and they went to work. He, along with a posse of locals from town
Teller, and all three of his remaining Templar (including acting Sheriff Tate who was filling in
trainers sat inside the lodge and watched the for Murray because he had a bad case of the
street through the night. Nothing happened. At runs) staked out the pigs again. This time, the
least not in Boise. Boise Horror (Teller named it), struck.
The next morning, they found out another of Turns out the thing was a “bloodwolf,” a sort
the recruits, also a woman, was missing. They of vampiric werewolf. They’re people by day,
put the group together again, combed the ruins, vampires by night, and bloodwolves during the
and sure enough, found the body of Lynn full moon. Nasty cusses. I’ve not killed one
Graves. Only this time, it hadn’t been shredded. myself yet, but I’ve heard of them several times
Her throat had been ripped open and her blood during my wanderings.
drained. A vampire, sure as spit. The posse followed the thing out through the
I can just picture Simon and Teller standing storm and into the plains where it dove into a
there—Simon scratching his head like he thicket of bloodvines. Being a blood drinker
sometimes does and Teller rubbing his chin. A itself, I guess these normally dangerous plants
vampire and a werewolf? had a certain kinship with it.

27
 The Few, The Proud

The group surrounded the thicket. One of the us come into loot in our adventures, and with
deputies, a newbie who didn’t know the our vows of poverty, that leaves a lot leftover
wilderness very well, pushed into the bloodvine. for those who serve alongside. Call them
Teller and the others cried out a warning, but mercenaries if you want, but most who are in
the stuff wrapped around him and drained him the fight only for the loot don’t last long.
dry in a heartbeat. New recruits are usually found out in the
For whatever reason, the bloodwolf chose field, but many simply come to Boise and ask.
that moment to bound out of the thickets. It Simon puts the wannabes to work until a
ripped up Sheriff Tate and a couple of others. traveling Templar shows up, and boots any who
The crossfire from the poorly positioned posse turn out to be real losers. Those with potential
killed two more (Sheriff Murray would never get to hang around until a Templar shows up.
have done something so stupid). Simon then asks the Templar to take the most
Teller carried a couple of silver bullets with deserving brat of the lot as a squire. It doesn’t
him for these kinds of emergencies, and finally matter who showed up first—the kid who works
managed to put the thing down. When it died, it the hardest and somehow catches Simon’s
turned out to be Larry Fisk, an otherwise attention gets the nod. Even then, the visiting
promising young squire from SoCal. Templar might say no. It’s up to each of us
That should have been the end of it. It wasn’t. whether we feel like taking on a babysitting job.
I like working alone, so I try to steer clear of
Son of the Boise Horror squires, but even I agree every other year or so.
It’s a big world out there, and sometimes even
One month later, during a full moon, there Templars die. We need as many strong hands
was another incident. Another promising recruit, and pure hearts out there swinging swords and
this time a male, was found ripped to pieces. It’s teaching right as we can get.
happened most every full moon since. The folks
in tent city even lock themselves in the Temple,
the Barracks, or the Hospice for the night, but Companions
somehow the Horror always finds meat. Not everyone can hack it. And not every hero
Some say it’s the ghost of Larry Fisk. Maybe wants to be a Templar. Those who help our
so. I’ve seen stranger things. But why did Larry’s cause but can’t or won’t become one of us are
taste change from goose to gander? And why sometimes made “Companions.”
can’t a lodge full of men and women blessed by A sponsoring Templar or even another
some sort of higher power stop him? It’s a Companion takes the waster to Boise and tells
mystery that must be solved soon, friends. the Grand Master why the hero’s so great. If
People are starting to lose faith in the Templars’ Simon agrees, he schedules an induction at the
abilities. I mean, if we can’t stop one little ghost Temple. There the Companion gets a small red
in our own backyard, how are we supposed to cross he can sew onto his clothes. He never gets
clean the whole world of all its monsters? Templar powers, but he can gain Martyrs’
blessings just like the rest of us.

Becoming a Templar There are two things a squire must master

before he becomes a Templar: our philosophy
and a certain set of skills we’ve found are
So I’ve told you how the first of us became
necessary to survive out there in the wastes.
Templars. These days, we rely on taking
squires—snot-nosed wannabes who think they’ve
got what it takes to be one of us. Philosophy
All Templars are encouraged to have potential Templars have a strict moral code. It’s hard to
recruits accompany us on our journeys. We train define, and even harder to teach our young
them, teach them our particular code of ethics, squires. It’s hard for them to throw away the old
and sometimes use them as bullet stoppers ideas about being a hero. They want to help
when they’re not working out. Don’t worry, I everybody because they think that’s what
don’t mean we deliberately get them killed. heroes should do.
When squires screw up, we tell them we’re not I told you about the sacrifice of Jenny Hise,
going to present them as Templars. They can the Law Dog Simon watched throw her life
either hit the road or hang out as a sort of away defending some ungrateful town from
“retainer.” Of course we don’t pay, but a lot of Black Hats. I also told you Simon pledged not to

28
 The Few, The Proud

repeat such a foolish mistake. Would a Templar need one more fat-ass who won’t fight for
have helped that town? Hell no. Nor would we himself because of laziness. And it sure doesn’t
get ourself into that situation before need more selfish, thieving murderers.
determining whether or not the people deserved Here’s our answer to the problem. We
our help and would contribute to their own disguise ourselves. Most of us travel about as
defense once we got the fight started. invalids, mutants, or weaklings. Then we try to
Here’s the way we see it. The old world was get into a settlement, live there for a while and
full of greedy, violent people. It was also full of show that we are willing to work, fight, or do
lazy bags of crap who knew the world was whatever is required of the community to fit in.
going to Hell and didn’t do a damn thing about If they treat us right, we make a note and help
it. The small minority who stood up against evil, them out should they ever need it. Some
who sacrificed everything to fight oppression, Templars even keep a little notebook or
didn’t usually get much help. dataslug telling them where the worthy villages
Templars have vowed not to let this happen are. Most of us just remember.
again. We don’t fight for those who won’t help
themselves or their neighbors. The only “meek” An Example
we protect are those who are truly defenseless: Let me give you an example to illustrate my
children, the sick, and so on. I’m sure Gloria point. Squires who read this should pay
Steinhem and the Devlin girls didn’t mean it like particular attention, because it addresses a lot of
this, but we’re not sexist either. Don’t think the questions you’ll inevitably bug your mentor
we’re going to risk our necks for you just about.
because you’re wearing a skirt. (And if that’s A Templar named Hillary (that’s a guy, by the
really the case, put some pants on, for God’s way) often travels around disguised as a
sake! Haven’t you noticed there’s an Apocalypse hunchback. On his back, under his coarse burlap
on?) That said, some of the male Templars still robes, is a golf bag—that’s what gives him his
can’t quite get over that old chivalry thing. hunch. Inside the bag are his sword, guns,
Lunkheads. If you’re one of those chicks who ammo, and trademark golf club. Recently, he
won’t even try to protect herself ’cause you’re heard that the town of Trinity Springs was
afraid to break a nail, don’t count on my help. having trouble with the Combine. He went there
Toughen up, sister. I did. I was a sorority sister, and found it walled. The guards at first told him
cheerleader—the whole nine yards. You don’t see to go away. He said he was a hard worker, and
me cowering behind some testosterone-laden asked if they would give him a chance to prove
manmeat, do you? his worth to the community. If he did not live
Wow. I do rant sometimes, don’t I? up to his promises, they could always throw
him out again. The guard summoned up Sheriff
The Test of Worth Greer (who runs the place), and they agreed to
Of course, the question from the beginning let the hunchback in.
has been how to tell who’s worthy and who’s It’s important to note that Hillary didn’t just
not. Sometimes you can just talk to a person turn around and walk off when the guard first
and find out. Even that’s hard, though. They said no. You can’t blame a settlement for being
could be lying. Especially once they’ve seen tight on who it lets in. Of course they also have
you’re a Templar. “Um, yeah. We’re ‘good people.’ to be willing to help those who’ll pull their own
Could you kill those wormlings for us?” Right. weight. That’s why Hillary asked them to give
We needed a way to find out if a person, and him a chance. They did, and he was soon put to
more importantly groups of people, were worth work.
risking the lives of the truly valiant, selfless Hillary spent the better part of the next two
fighters—the Templars. Sound hypocritical? By days listening in on what was happening. The
the old standards, yes. The good guys were people of Trinity Springs were worried because
supposed to be altruistic. Like the Sheriff in the they had repelled a band of unusually
Old West who gets himself killed protecting a determined Black Hats, and they were afraid a
known murderer from a lynch mob. Or a stronger bunch would come soon.
Japanese Admiral gutting himself because he Hillary found a few who weren’t willing to
failed one time. It just wastes precious fight, but most everyone was determined to help
resources, and doesn’t make much sense. This Sheriff Greer and the militia stand up to the
world needs all the heroes it can get. It doesn’t marauders. He then spent a little time getting to
know the people. He asked for simple jobs

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 The Few, The Proud

around the town in exchange for food and Disguise

water. Most everyone treated him kindly and I already told you why this one’s so
paid in full when he completed his tasks. important. You can’t judge people when you’re
These people were golden. When they met wearing a tabard. They’ll tell you whatever they
later that day to plan the town’s defenses, think you want to hear just to get your help. So
Hillary took off his disguise and revealed we disguise ourselves to see how they behave
himself as a Templar. He healed up those who “off-camera.”
had been wounded in the last Black Hat assault,
helped the town form their plan, and pledged Fighting
he’d stay with them until the situation was A Templar has to be able to use a sword or
resolved or he was dead. (He did in fact die. It other hand weapon of some sort. He should also
turned out what happened there was much be able to fire most any kind of gun
bigger than he’d first thought—but that’s another competently. It’s not enough to shoot bottles off
story). a fence. A real Templar has to be able to stand
her ground, keep her cool, and still hit what
Templar Skills she’s aiming at even under the most chaotic
conditions. A knight who can’t hold her own
So what skills do we teach our squires?
against half a dozen trogs is dead meat.
About a million things. How to wash off rads,
how to eat rats when you have to, how to
swing a sword, how to tell when someone’s
Healing
lying, how to kill a werewolf. You name it, it’s Laying on hands is great, but it has
probably come up in just about every case. But limitations. Non-Templars don’t know this, and
there are four very specific things Simon insists we don’t usually advertise, but it can only be
the squire become good at: disguise, fighting, used once per day on any given person. Why?
healing, and survival. Who knows—why can’t we just wipe out all evil
with a thought? I don’t know. The cosmic rules
on all this holy power stuff are just plain weird.
Laying on hands can be tricky because a
friend who just broke his leg might wind up
getting a much worse injury later on. I’ve seen it
happen. Once I was hunkered down in an old
bunker with four companions. We were
surrounded by walking dead, most of them
former soldiers with guns. One lousy round
somehow got through the bunker slit, bounced
around, and nailed a gunslinger friend of mine
right in his gunhand. I healed him up and we
didn’t think any more about it. A couple of
hours later, the dead we hadn’t put down yet
make a final charge. They burst in and raised all
kinds of Hell before we put them down. I look
over and the gunslinger’s got a chunk of throat
torn out. He’s spurting blood like a lawn-
sprinkler and all I can do is apply pressure. If I
hadn’t laid my hands on him earlier, I could
have saved him. Take some advice from a vet.
Use your abilities wisely. This is why we all
learn traditional medicine as well. Learn to fix
up a person without your powers and save the
big mojo for life-or-death situations.

The Occult
Most of the time, we Templars spend our
energy carving up dumb-ass bikers, gangers, and
raiders. Sometimes, though, we come across
Takin’ on the Black Hats. I hate those guys.

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 The Few, The Proud

weirder stuff. You know about bloodwolves and See, we don’t have lots of really good swords,
the walking dead now, but do you know about so when we recover the weapon of a dead
wormlings, toxic zombies, Doombringers, and Templar, it’s given to a squire as his own. When
bloats? Probably not. But they’re out there. Trust that happens, the squire must learn the deeds of
me. And forewarned is forearmed. (Or four- the fallen Templar (as recorded on his plaque)
armed if you’re a mutant Templar—no, we don’t and recite them at his initiation. If it is a “new”
discriminate against muties.) sword, he must recite the deeds of one of the
A lot of these critters are impossible to take Martyrs.
down with normal blades and bullets. You have He does this at an official ceremony at the
to figure out their weaknesses. That’s why Hall of Heroes. The squire and his mentor (if
whenever we return to Boise, which is usually possible) walk slowly from the lodge to the Hall.
at least once a year, we pass on everything The townspeople, petitioners, and visitors line
we’ve learned about the creatures we’ve the walk for the new recruit. It’s tradition for
encountered. We also take a look at the record them to remain quiet and somber during the
and learn what all the others have battled. walk, and for the squire and his mentor to avoid
Ignore the hard-learned lessons of others and eye contact with them.
you’re monster-kibble. We pass on all this Then the pair enter the Hall of Heroes. As
information to our squires as we travel. many full Templars as happen to be around
wait inside in attendance. Simon stands at the
Survival head of the aisle where the church altar once
Templars have tough feet. We travel all the stood. When the squire reaches the Grand
time, and because of our disguises, it doesn’t Master, he stops. Simon then recites our oaths
really work for us to have vehicles. We can— and gives a short speech. Here. I’ll paste in a
there’s no rule against it or anything—but it’s recording of the last initiation I attended.
hard to look like a tramp when you come
rolling into town on a hoverbike. If you’re car- The Knighting of Margaret Fleming
crazy, hide it outside of town before going in, Simon: Welcome to the Hall of Heroes,
brainer. brothers and sisters. Today, Margaret Fleming
All this running about looking for worthy asks to join our ranks. She has served her
people to save works up an appetite. Trouble is, mentor well, proven herself in martial combat,
there aren’t as many McDonald’s and Jack-in- and satisfied this Grand Master of her
the-Boxes as there used to be. So a Templar is appreciation for our way of life.
forced to get creative about what she eats. Now I ask you, Margaret, to swear to uphold
Simon knew some of this because he was a Boy the Vow of Poverty. Templars are the righteous
Scout Master before the War. He picked up the fists of the new world. It is our duty to cleanse
rest from a NA training manual, plain old the land by might, and by example.
experience, and the wisdom of some of the first With our might, we destroy the foul things of
Templars we recruited (one of whom was a this earth, both human and otherwise.
Navy SEAL). By our example, we show others that terror
That training helps us find grub, shelter, must not be tolerated. The destroyers of peace
water, and even predict when violent storms are must be fought, and only those who are willing
heading our way. Sure, you may wind up eating to partake in this battle shall enjoy the
grub worms and washing it down with your leadership of the Templars. One cannot battle
own purified piss, but it’s better than dying. Or evil with might if he is intent only on gathering
so I’m told. material things. Neither can a proper example be
set for those others who join our fight against
The Presentation evil. For these reasons we shun material things.
We shun wealth. We shun greed. We shun
Once a squire has served for a while, at least gathering more than a person needs to survive
a year, and his mentoring Templar feels he’s and to fight.
ready, the pair make their way back to Boise. Do you, Margaret Fleming, swear this vow of
There the squire is presented to Simon and poverty?
asked of his adventures. If all goes well, Simon Margaret: I do.
tells the squire he will become a Templar the Simon: Ours is a pious order. Those who join
following day in the Hall of Heroes. He also tells our ranks have proven themselves to other
him who’s sword he gets.

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 The Few, The Proud

brothers and sisters. They have weathered the themselves beyond redemption, it is our sad
storm of evil and triumphed. And they have duty to cleanse their memories in blood. Traitors
made great sacrifices. are to be slain and their bodies left to the
For those sacrifices, we are rewarded with scavengers. Their swords are to be returned
Holy strength. We ask not where these powers here, to this Hall of Heroes, and cleansed of
come from, and we do not worship its source. their taint by the Grand Master.
But we do praise and remember the men and Should you encounter such a traitor in your
women who fought the powers of darkness wanderings, Margaret Fleming, it is your duty to
before our time. These are the Saints, and we slay him. Know too that should you turn from
owe them for their struggles against the the path of virtue, your brothers and sisters will
darkness. hunt you down as well.
Do you, Margaret Fleming, swear to uphold Do you, Margaret Fleming, swear this Oath of
the virtues of the Saints? Blood?
Margaret: I do. Margaret: I do.
Simon: Despite the divine presence in our Simon: Our deeds are the stuff of legend, but
lives, occasionally even Templars must fall from that is not why we perform them. We do not
grace. Some become disillusioned, falling prey to struggle merely to have our names hallowed
the sometimes overwhelming power of evil in until the end of time. Yet we pay homage to
this world. Some are wily tricksters to begin those who have gone before by remembering
with, and somehow manage to fool their their names and their deeds.
mentors, and even the Grand Master. Such is the Margaret Fleming, you are to be given the
power of evil in this age. sword of Templar Azrael Marks. Honor her
When Templars embrace the darkness, when memory.
they break the Vow of Poverty, when they Margaret: It is my honor to tell the tale of
shelter the undeserving, when they fail to one very remarkable Templar, Azrael Marks.
protect the righteous, when they prove Though born into a life of violence and crime,
she overcame adversity long before joining our
ranks, and lived long enough to redeem herself
through her deeds.
Azrael came from a poor neighborhood in
New York. Her parents were addicts, and her
neighbors were drug dealers, gangers, and
thieves. Azrael fell into this life of crime. She
was imprisoned by the age of 14, and returned
there many times. Later, she turned to violence,
assaulting those she robbed. Eventually she was
deemed a habitual offender and placed in the
permanent prison population.
When the Northern Alliance became desperate
for troops, Azrael was assigned to one of the
penitent battalions. An explosive chip was
placed inside her skull. She was taught to fight,
to shoot, to kill.
In the last year of the war, Azrael and those
in her battalion became family. She rose quickly,
became their platoon sergeant, and took on an
almost motherly role to her damned legion. By
the end of the war, she had learned to love and
trust others.
When the bombs fell, Azrael’s unit, of their
own free will, decided to redeem themselves for
their previous crimes against humanity. They
threw themselves in the path of the Reckoner
called War. Only a handful survived.
Those who did wandered the wastes for a
A squire is about to be inducted into the ranks of the Templars. while, scavenging for survival and eventually

32
 The Few, The Proud

aiding the fledgling Law Dogs. Years later, After nodding in reverence to the Grand Master,
Azrael once again found herself alone. Until she the recruit turns around to face the group, then
met a man named Simon Mercer. walks slowly outside. The doors open, and the
Simon Mercer told her that he had pledged crowd applauds and welcomes the new Templar
himself to fighting evil, and helping the truly into her “home.” There’s almost always a big
deserving build a new world better than the old. feast and celebration then as well. More than a
Azrael joined him, probably for loot at first, but few Templars spend their first nights
grew stronger in both spirit and morals as she celebrating and their first mornings regretting it.
fought beside the Grand Master. She was one of If whoever reads this one day becomes a
the first of our order, and she fought beside Grand Master, I urge you not to stop this rowdy
Simon, Jo, Aaron McConnell and the others in celebration because you’re some uppity teetotaler.
numerous battles. Remember that training to be a Templar takes a
Azrael left Boise in 2088. Within a year, year of incredible sacrifice—that’s longer than
reports came back that she was with the most militaries’ special forces used to take. And
resistance in Denver. I am sorry to say we do all while “under fire” from raiders, mutants, and
not know the full extent of her deeds there, but monsters to boot. The recruit has earned a night
a resistance member told us she died battling of being bombed out of his gourd, so cut him
the Combine’s automatons. The Denver some slack. Us veterans need the downtime as
Resistance was so impressed with Azrael’s well. Sometimes it’s hard to turn your back on
bravery that one of them risked his life to the “unworthy,” especially when all they’ve done
return her sword and tabard to our order. is allow themselves to be terrified into inaction.
Simon: This is the sword of Azrael Marks. It We need to forget that once in a while.
is my honor to bestow it unto you, Margaret
Fleming. May you do service to its memory.
I also present to you this tabard. The mark
The Baby Bird Leaves the Nest
upon it is the Maltese Cross, an ancient symbol Within the next few days, the Templar sets
of our order. You will not worship it, and you out on his own. There’s nothing official about it,
will not use it for personal gain. You will wear but new Templars have a tradition of leaving
it as a sign that you are one of the leaders of town alone and in their full garb (no disguise).
the new world. One of the few who will punish What he does from that point on is up to him.
the wicked and protect the good so that the He travels from place to place, looking for
future of all humanity will not end this way trouble and then trying to decide if whoever
again. needs help deserves it. Most don’t. At least that’s
There is no greater challenge in this ruined my experience.
world than joining our order. You will endure Every year, the Templar is supposed to come
many hardships. You will sacrifice all for the back to Boise and check in. That way we know
good of many. You will turn your back on the who’s alive and what’s going on out there. If the
unworthy. And you will most likely suffer a Templar isn’t currently involved in something,
painful death for your efforts. Simon might ask him to help out one of the
But know that it is the sacrifice of heroes people hanging around the Temple.
that will build a new world, one in which men The Templar gets to hang out a few weeks,
and women are free from the oppression and learning what’s going on with his brother and
horror of the present and the bleak omens of sister Templars and resting up. He might also
the future. present a squire to Simon if he’s got one ready
Turn and face your comrades, Margaret for the initiation.
Fleming. For you are now a Templar.

Knighting Relations
Pretty intense, huh. After Simon gets tired of There are a lot more people out there than a
hearing himself talk, he takes out his sword, look at the nearest ruined city might suggest.
touches the squire on both shoulders, and There’s hundreds of survivor settlements,
proclaims her a Templar. From that moment on, thousands of mutant enclaves, huge convoys,
the recruit is a Templar. She gets all the perks nomadic Indians, and groups like the Combine,
that comes with wearing the tabard, and can Law Dogs, and the Cult of Doom. A Templar’s
even heal people by laying on hands right then going to encounter lots of these folks as he
and there. It really is something of a miracle. travels. Here’s how we feel about some of them.

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 The Few, The Proud

pay or even work for your transportation. Most

Caravans caravans won’t turn away passengers even if
No survivor settlement is self-sufficient. That they can’t make the fare. They put them to work
means they have to trade with other foraging, scavenging during the trip, loading and
settlements. Maybe a settlement trades food for unloading when they reach settlements, and
weapons, or expertise in civil engineering for other menial tasks. Passengers are expendable,
water. Just about any practical commodity can so even if they don’t make much transporting
be traded. Ghost rock and spook juice are people, the caravan can use them to gather
common, as are electronic parts, food, water, useful goods along the way, or to free up more
ammunition, weapons, vehicles, and clothes. capable travelers to fight should trouble start—
The wastes are too dangerous to travel in as it often does.
small groups, so all that trade means caravans. We Templars consider caravans very
This is a fantastic way to travel. You can important to rebuilding the world. Protect them
disguise yourself as a wasteland waif, then hire as best you can, even if you sometimes have to
on as a guard. That will earn you some grub and cut them a little slack on the whole “worth”
get you to survivor settlements that may need thing.
help. A word of warning, however. Don’t reveal
yourself as a Templar to a caravan if you can Traveling with Caravans
help it. If you do, you can bet your secret will A few words of advice. Caravans are
get out the moment it arrives in a settlement. frequently ambushed by raiders, mutants, and
People love to gossip, and caravaners have big intelligent horrors. That’s why there is never any
mouths. That can make your job of determining shortage of jobs for caravan guards. These
a settlement’s worthiness very hard. attacks are good places to ply our particular
If your disguise prohibits you from working trade. You can hack up bad guys as well as
as a guard, you still might hitch a ride on a monsters. Of course, that makes caravans very
caravan. Ask the caravan commander if you can dangerous as well.

Our buddy Cole Ballad, openin’ a can of whoop-ass on some raiders.

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 The Few, The Proud

I’ve found it best never to ride in the Black Hats are just wasteland scum
caravan’s most heavily-armed vehicle. Raiders who’ve joined up because they like the
usually open ambushes with big stuff—like work. They weren’t Throckmorton’s
rocket launchers—to take out the heavy original soldiers, and I haven’t met one
resistance. I recommend riding in whatever yet that actually gave a crap about
vehicle is hauling the goods. Raiders won’t blow whether the world was reunited or not. 105
up their loot if they can help it. They just want free guns, food in their
stomachs, and a license to push folks around.
The Combine Fortunately for us, that means there usually
aren’t hordes of reinforcements rushing to their
Some day, I imagine all the “good guys”—the aid. You have to be careful though, because
Templars, the Schismatics, the Law Dogs, and individual Black Hat lieutenants sometimes
whoever we can draft into an army—are going make deals with other platoons nearby. Twenty
to wind up fighting Throckmorton’s unholy of those suckers are bad enough. Forty is a
machine. nightmare, especially when they’re all spraying
As I said in the Wasted West, the Combine lead on full-auto ’cause they don’t have to
was founded by General Throckmorton, a scrounge it like the rest of us.
former Confederate prison commander. After Our outlook on the Black Hats is fairly
the bombs, he liberated his prisoners and bloody. If we cross their trail, we do what we
equipment, added them to his own troops, and can to take them out unless we’ve got
headed out of the remote Rocky Mountain something better to do.
prison facility. There’s some debate about his
early goals, but he wound up taking over
Hellstromme’s old automated factories on the Convoy
outskirts of Denver. His techs got the things A few months back I found out there’s this
going again, and soon it was churning out huge group of truckers, bikers, and other folks.
automatons, raptors (flying automatons), Unlike most road gangs, this one’s peaceful—as
warbots, and weapons. To this mechanical army long as you’re on the right side of the highway,
he added a couple of thousand waster scum and if you catch my drift.
gave them booby-trapped vehicles and weapons The convoy searches out isolated survivor
(so they couldn’t wind up in enemy hands). settlements, lets them know they’re not alone,
These are the so-called “Black Hats.” and helps them establish trade with their
Publicly, Throckmorton says it was the war neighbors or with Junkyard (a frequent stop).
that tore our nation apart. No scheisse, Sherlock. The best part about the Convoy is their “Law
He claims that only by ignoring the antiquated of the Road.” They obligate themselves to
ideas of nationalism can we heal the people. helping those in trouble. While it’s not officially
Thus he created the “Combine,” meaning he part of their doctrine, in practice, they think
wants to combine all the people into one group. much like the Templars. They help those who
I wonder if he actually thought about what a deserve it, but they won’t waste their resources
“combine” is to a farmer. You know, it’s one of to help out a bunch of savage cannibals being
those big threshing machines that chews up picked on by wormlings.
everything in its path and jams them into little The Convoy is led by a trucker named Goose.
uniform cubes of hay. Whether he meant it or He’s laid-back about most things, but don’t get
not, the Combine was a perfect name for his him started on biker gangs or reconstruction.
“new world.” His Black Hats and automatons He’s got some strong opinions on these subjects
chew up everything that gets in their path and and expounds on them to anyone who’ll listen.
adds the survivors to their movement.
“Liberated” settlements must pay tributes of
food, salvage, and ghost rock to Denver.
The Cult of Doom
Throckmorton uses the Black Hats as I hate fighting these bozos. Fighting any kind
expendable scouts. Platoons of them cross the of magic-user pretty much sucks. Sure, we
West causing trouble and demanding tribute to Templars have a little mojo of our own. We can
see who’ll pay and who’ll fight. My guess is heal, fight like demons, and even live through
Throckmorton uses the Black Hats to find out stuff that would kill most anyone else. But we
who’s really going to resist him when his robot can’t cause freakin’ nuclear explosions! Not
army finally pours out of Denver. Remember, without a nuke, anyway.

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 The Few, The Proud

Silas Rasmussen’s whackos can. And The bad ones wear green robes and prove
they enjoy it too. These nutjobs worship they’re unfriendly by hurling all sorts of
radiation (they call it the “Glow”), and radioactive death your way. You’ll often see
have found a way to channel it through bands of flunkies in tow. The Doomies call ’em
their bodies to cause all kinds of Hell. “vengants.” I think it means they’re going to get
105 Most of their powers are destructive. revenge on the norms for whatever it is they
Some cause mutations or cook your flesh hate us for.
with microwaves. A very few are actually useful
or even helpful, but you’ll never see Silas’ Trogs
minions use their powers to help good folks, If you see really disgusting muties in tow,
especially non-mutants. Oh, and if you happen likely armed only with hand weapons, they’re
to be a mutant yourself, don’t buy into that line probably “trogs.” That’s short for troglodytes.
of buffalo-puckey Silas preaches. He’s not out to People call ’em that because they’re so freakin’
save mutants, he’s out to take over the world ugly. Watch out though—they’re dangerous in
for himself. The only difference between him large numbers. They’re dumb as a bag of
and Throckmorton is theme. One of ’em uses hammers but strong as oxes.
radiation priests and bloodthirsty mutants, the
other uses robots and war machines. Grundies
That said, let me tell you a little about the Slightly more normal but really large mutants
kinds of Cult of Doom minions you might meet. might be Grundies. We just learned about these
guys—I haven’t even seen one myself. Evidently,
Doomsayers they’re mutants born with something Silas calls
First you got your Doomsayers. There are “Solomon Grundy Syndrome.” So far, the disease
good ones—the Schismatics. They’re handy to is only found in Lost Vegas. It ages a newborn
have around, even if they cause trouble really fast, turning it into a full-grown adult in
sometimes. just a few years. The worst part is that Silas
takes these innocent children and trains them to
be bloodthirsty killers. The Doomsayers don’t
trust them enough to handle firearms, so like
trogs, they just give them hand-weapons.

Mutated Critters
I’ve also heard that Silas has been
experimenting with creatures as well. Don’t be
surprised if you start seeing Doomsayers with
big mutated dogs and other varmints. I just hope
those damn lions and tigers in Vegas bit the big
one. I’d hate to see what Silas could do with
those babies.

Doombringers
The most dangerous cultist I’ve encountered
is the Doombringer. This isn’t common
knowledge, but they’re undead. They’re not
Harrowed, and they’re not zombies. They’re
something entirely different. Their powers are
just like those of regular Doomsayers, though
they seem to be able to use them a little longer
than the living. Also, I killed one of these
suckers once. I know it was dead-dead because I
cut its head off. Two weeks later, it was back
again. I tracked it down, got the snot beat out of
me (that’s when I recorded the Wasted West), but
managed to kill it again. This time I burned the
body. Damnedest thing is, the locals told me it
Good Doomsayers are okay, but watch out for the green robes. was back a few weeks later. By the time I got

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 The Few, The Proud

back to it, a Schismatic Doomsayer named infernal devices. Some of these spirits are
Grissom had killed it again. This time it stayed devious and mean, and they can make junkers
dead (at least I haven’t heard of that particular that way as well. Those who make a lot of
Doombringer again). Seems to me the only way weapons are particularly dangerous. I guess the
to put one down forever is with radiation magic. spirits who impart this kind of knowledge to
So what’s the policy on cultists? Kill ’em all them are the meanest of the bunch.
and let the Glow sort ’em out. They’re as bad as
Black Hats. Maybe worse.
Junkyard
Junkyard is the largest city I know about in
Junkers the Wasted West. It sits just outside the old
Ever see those weird “mad scientist” types ruins of Salt Lake City in Deseret.
scavving the ruins? Those are “junkers.” Most of The Junkyarders make spook juice
them make wild devices and try to sell them. I’d there, and even sell guns and ammo,
stay away from paying for one of their gizmos. refitted cars, and most anything else you
They sometimes cost a fortune in ghost rock to could want. Junkyard is so successful
maintain, have a tendency to blow up, and cut they trade with just about every other
out on you when you need them most. If you sizeable settlement in the West. If you 105
can talk a junker into accompanying you, see a caravan on the highways, there’s a
however, they can be very useful. I told you decent chance it’s eventually headed
how Doc Young created a device that let us either to or from Junkyard. All that trade is good
track the Soul Taker to Hell’s Canyon. I’ve seen for lots of reasons. First, it puts folks back in
other junkers make flamethrowers, laser touch with each other. I’m sure you know how
cannons, and more impressive devices that can important it is for people in a town to know
help take a bite out of the bad guys. In fact, they’re not isolated. They need to know there
junker devices may be your only hope when are others out there sharing the same fate. They
faced with a really big threat, like a rattler or a also need to keep in touch in case the Combine
wormling nest. or the Cult of Doom ever gets off its ass and
Oh, and if you have a car, a junker can not goes on a rampage. When that happens, the
only repair it when the gangers get in a lucky caravans will be the fastest way to get word
shot, but he might be able to soup it up for you around and start forming an army of resistance.
as well. I had a 2079 Road Hog for a while. Here’s my only beef. They trade with anyone,
Sweet as sugar. Roll bars, improved frame, and that includes the numerous local gangs.
nitrous oxide, twin .50 caliber machine guns, This doesn’t make much sense to me. I mean,
even a rear-mounted flamethrower. That bitch these are the very raiders who attack Junkyard’s
could run. I was running with a group of caravans! Something’s going on here, and I
wannabe heroes at the time, and one of them, intend to find out what eventually.
Thad, was a junker. He kept the hog in tip-top
shape ‘til he got wasted fighting zombies one Cole Ballad
day. Next time my hog broke down, I couldn’t fix The local Law Dog, Cole Ballad (more on him
it. Remember, I was a freakin’ housewife before under Law Dogs
Dogs), must not be in on the secret,
the war. Roger always fixed the cars. Besides, I because he kills more raiders a week than I
doubt even Mr. Freakin’ Goodwrench himself have scars. The gangs hate him. Sometimes they
could have figured out what Thad did. even set elaborate traps for him. Unfortunately
The best part about having a pet junker is for them, Cole’s as lucky as he is stupid.
that all you have to do to keep them happy is I’ll add a section to this report if I ever find
toss them whatever electronic doo-dads you out what’s going on here.
come across in your adventures. It’s not like you
need that junk anyway. Give ’em to a junker and
he thinks you’re Santa Claus.
Law Dogs
The only thing you have to watch out for is Misguided schmucks. That’s what the Law
the ones with “overzealous, gun-crazy freak” Dogs are. I already told you the story of Jenny
stamped on their foreheads. Okay, they don’t Hise, the Law Dog Simon watched die before he
really have anything stamped on their founded the Templars. These bozos are still just
foreheads—as a rule—but they ought to. See, as stupid. Oh, I guess a few are a little more
junkers consort with spirits to make their selfish (as they should be), but most are living

37
 The Few, The Proud

local road gangs. Cole fights when the gangs

attack convoys bound for Junkyard or raid an
outlying settlement, but he tolerates them when
they’re not making trouble. Have you ever heard
anything more ridiculous? He knows they’re
going to cause trouble eventually, but he
actually lets ’em do it before busting their
heads! I just don’t understand. When I run
across a road gang I know’s going to cause
trouble, I poison their water, kill them in their
sleep, or whatever. I don’t wait ‘til innocents
have been killed to exact “justice.”
There’s a few Law Dogs out there who aren’t
so stupid. Kath Turner, a former Texas Ranger
who operates in the Maze, is one. By and large,
though, the Law Dogs make good temporary
allies. Hang with one too long and he’ll just
make your life Hell.

Librarians
I told you all about these hosers in my Wasted
West book. What I failed to mention, as Simon
pointed out, was that Templars are supposed to
help these mealy-mouthed bookworms. God,
that irks me. I mean, I appreciate what they do, I
just hate the way they do it.
Need to save a village? Fine, just remember
Cole and me on the job. the library is more important than the people.
Going into the ruins? Pick me up all the books
by the old rules. They fight for justice no matter you can lug out while I sip mocha. Yeah, thanks
what the cost or who’s asking. Most won’t stop for the help. Okay. I’ve vented.
a bloodwolf from tracking a murderous biker Officially, you should help these guys out as
gang, but they will protect a town from raiders much as you can. Their goal is to gather
even if the people haven’t proven themselves information so that we don’t suffer a “dark age.”
worthy of the effort. They’re also handy for finding out about stuff.
I know a lot of you think that’s all Need to know how to kill a penangallen? Or
noble and stuff, but what’s going to even what the Hell one is? They’ll probably have
happen to the world if all the good and something on it. And if you can find a Librarian
decent people throw their lives away on willing and able to fight while he’s gathering
worthless causes? Think, people! This isn’t information, hang on to him. Librarians like that
just some ethical theory—this is the very are worth their weight in books. What, I can’t
106 make jokes?
survival of the human race! And these
dumb-ass Law Dogs, who ought to know We Templars are lucky because we have a
better, are getting killed daily for stupid causes! permanent Librarian in Boise: Fred Biletnikoff.
Let me give you an example: Cole Ballad, the He’s a pretty good one, too, but maybe that’s just
guy I just mentioned. You might have heard of because he’s not out in the field where he can
him—folks call him “Nemesis.” The Director (that get in the way. He records the tales of the
guy in MovieTown who keeps making vids) has Templars and our saints as well. He’s the one
even done seven or eight films about this who started keeping the Book of Martyrs. That’s
muscle-bound steroid-junkie. Cole’s one of those important because the Martyrs only grant
“good bad-men.” See, he was one of blessings to Templars who perform very specific
Throckmorton’s boys in the early days, but split deeds. If you’re smart, you’ll memorize the tales
when he saw the General was off his rocker. of the Martyrs and learn their deeds. If the
Now he’s a Law Dog operating around Junkyard. opportunity presents itself, you can perform the
Those people actually sell spook juice to the deed and get a blessing from a genuine spirit.

38
 The Few, The Proud

Biletnikoff is also a great way to learn the were in the Old West. Some are friendly, some
weakness of some weird creature you will scalp you given half a chance. That’s true,
encounter in the wastes. Assuming you’ve got and we all know how things with the real
the time to send a message to Boise before you Indians went: a war every couple of years with
have to deal with the unruly varmint, there’s a lots of slaughter and no real gain. Let’s make
small chance Biletnikoff has information that sure we don’t repeat that with the mutants. If
can help. I say a small chance because there’s a you discriminate against them, if you fail to help
lot of weird stuff out there. If you’re dealing those who are in need (when they deserve it),
with a unique creature, you’re probably out of and if you encourage other survivors to hate
luck. If you just aren’t sure how to kill a them, you’re doing the Cult of Doom’s work for
bloodwolf, someone’s already done that and them. And one day, the mutants may outnumber
Biletnikoff’s got the info in his vast datastores. the rest of us. Let’s make sure they’re our
It’s always worth the chance if you’ve got the friends, not our enemies.
time.
Ravenites and the Sioux
Mutants I haven’t encountered too many Old Wayers.
This is a tough one, because people mean lots As far as I can tell, they haven’t changed much
of different things when they say “mutants.” I since the old bow-and-arrow days. There are
even use the term several ways myself. If you rumors of some sort of split—something about
tell me someone is mutated, I could care new animal spirits and summoners called
less. Tell me there’s a tribe of mutants spooks or something—but I don’t know much.
nearby, I get a little worried, but I’ll Truthfully, as long as they stay in their own
reserve judgement til I meet ’em. Tell me domain, I don’t much care.
there’s a horde of muties, and I go for my The Ravenites are a different story. These
gun. Did you get that? I know it’s subtle. guys and gals were some of the most selfish,
106 Most of us call people mutants when arrogant, materialistic sons-of-bitches before the
we’re unsure whether they’re violent or war. I told you about them in the Wasted West,
not. We start calling them muties when they go but in brief, these were the Indians who threw
all savage. off the Old Ways movement a long time back
Let’s talk about that. People with one or two and claimed Deadwood as their own.
mutations are just that—people, who’ve had the The Ravenites weren’t regulated by anyone,
bad luck of seeing their bodies changed by so they pretty much built whatever made them
radiation. It’s been my experience in the past, the most money off white tourists. Many of the
however, that once a brainer gets lots of Ravenites bought ghost rock mines in the Black
mutations, the gray matter suffers as well. It Hills. Others turned Deadwood into something
drives them insane, I think. Look at the trogs. All like Las Vegas. It had huge gambling casinos,
they are is muties who’ve suffered so many mega-hotels, and more strip shows than you
mutations they’re hardly human anymore. And could shake a dollar at. Some of the big
they’re all violent. I haven’t met a trog yet who Ravenite corporations later turned their Midas
didn’t want to crush my skull and eat my flesh. touch to arms sales as well.
That tells me one of two things. Either people Deadwood got nuked, but a lot of Ravenites
just can’t handle being transformed into a survived because they had already been chased
monster and become what they see, or the out of their city by some bizarre horror—a
mutations—caused by supernatural forces, charred corpse in a loincloth that shot fireballs
remember—are just another taint of the from its fingertips. Freaky, huh?
Reckoners. If that’s true, then all mutants A couple hundred thousand tourists escaped
eventually become muties. the town too, but they got drafted by a local
My advice is to forget about mutations army commander into helping fight the War. The
altogether. Just look at the person. If he’s got a richest Ravenites were a little smarter and took
leg-bone in his hand and he’s trying to hit you off before they got drafted too. They claimed
with it, you’d better cut him up. If he’s asking they weren’t citizens of the US and so couldn’t
about the weather and picking the nose on his be drafted. That wouldn’t fly now, but back
second head, cut him some slack instead. then, people were still thinking about countries
One word of warning. I’ve heard people talk and stuff. The less-wealthy Ravenites and most
about how the mutants are like the Indians all the tourists got wiped out a few weeks later.

39
 The Few, The Proud

The rich Ravenites who escaped are the ones

you’re most likely to run into now. These guys Sky Pirates
are former executives, arms dealers, and casino If you’re ever around the Rockies, you might
managers. After the bombs, a lot of them went occasionally see aircraft flying in the sky. It’s
to their own private shelters or the ruins of not a mirage, friend, or even wishful thinking
their former companies and scrounged up the about days long past. Those are very likely the
best arms and personal armor they could find. sky pirates.
Even better, part of their old heritage never The pirates used to raid the survivor
died—they knew how to use this stuff. Evidently settlements west of the Rockies, but then the
it was a point of pride among the Ravenite Combine came after them in earnest and they
social elite to prove their skill in high-tech arms. decided to make nice with Junkyard and some
Those Ravenites who still have all this high- of the other survivor settlements. These days
tech wealth are extremely valuable—if you can they mostly raid the Combine and any Black Hat
put up with them. See, as former executives, patrols trying to pass through the Rockies.
they’re used to giving orders, not taking them. We Templars keep the pirates at arm’s length.
Still, when one of your troops has a full suit of We want their help in battling the Combine
body armor, an assault rifle with tons of ammo, when it eventually comes pouring over the
and the skill to use it, they can be damn handy mountains to crush the rest of us, but we also
when you’re fighting off hordes of bad guys. know they’ll go back to raiding real people the
One thing to be careful about with either type day after the war’s over. For now, make nice
of Indian. Don’t go into the Nations with a and use them when you can.
Ravenite in tow. And don’t go asking a Ravenite
for help if you’ve got an Old Wayer hanging out
with you. They mix like oil and water—that is to
Sykers
say, they don’t. Maybe you’ve never seen a syker before.
There aren’t many left. Most of the ones I’ve met
returned from the war on Faraway after the
bombs fell. Hell of a homecoming, huh? They
evidently didn’t have a good time up in space
fighting anouks. I’m sure coming home to the
end of the world didn’t help much either. Talk
about attitude—these guys hate everyone,
especially authority figures. I guess they got
used and abused by their commanders on
Banshee, so they don’t like taking orders from
anyone anymore.
That sometimes makes it tough to work with
these guys when they’re on your side. You’re
trying to get the town in position to repel an
assault and the syker’s busy mindwashing some
poor girl he wants to sleep with. Tell him to get
in position and he makes you dance like a
chicken. I hate that.
If you can get them to work with you, sykers
are damn handy. Give them a little time and
they can infiltrate your enemies and find out
what their plans are. If you really trust one, and
he’s sympathetic to our particular “world view,”
you might get him to read the minds of those
you want to help. He can tell you in a hurry if
they’re worth your effort by determining their
sincerity about whatever you’ve asked them.
My advice is to use sykers if you can, but
don’t depend on them. That way you won’t be
A syker in action. Good help if you can get it. stranded if they cut out on you. Or their heads
explode. It happens, friend.

40
 The Few, The Proud

Black Sheep Anti-Templars

There used to be this cola—Bubbly Fizz. I Once in a great while—okay, twice that we
hated the stuff. Stupid name, bad taste, and know of—a Templar turns really bad. The
enough carbonation to make a duck fart. Roger powers of evil, the Reckoners, I guess, jump on
(my husband) loved it. I’d catch him sneaking in these fallen heroes like prairie ticks on milk
a case every now and then when I was busy cows.
flipping through Vogue or Better Homes & These “anti-Templars” retain their powers,
Gardens. The worst part about Bubbly Fizz was though they lose the blessings of the Martyrs.
that at least one can in every case would just Simon can’t quite figure this out. If our rewards
freakin’ explode. I’m not talking about leaking are granted by the saints—who fought against
around the seal like you see in older cans today. evil in their lives—how come anti-Templars get
I’m talking about you open the case, pull out a to keep them? I think they don’t. Not exactly,
can and look at it funny and the damn thing anyway. I think the Reckoners give simply take
erupts like Old Faithful right there in your over the job. I think that’s why the Martyrs stop
kitchen. Bubbly Fizz on the fridge, Bubbly Fizz granting blessings but the “saints” don’t. Our
on the stove, Bubbly Fizz on my new perm. God, local Librarian, Fred Biletnikoff, agrees with me.
I hated that stuff. What’s my point? In every You might think this makes the anti-Templars
case there was at least one bad soda. In every a little weaker than the rest of us. You’d be
group, there’s bound to be at least one bad seed wrong. They actually get more power, and more
as well. We have two. easily. Again, blame the Reckoners. I don’t know
exactly how it works, but the one anti-Templar
Blackballing I’ve come up against kicked my ass—and that’s
an accomplishment, friends.
Sometimes a Templar’s judgment fails him. I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you
Maybe he condemns a village he should have how this whole anti-Templar thing got started.
helped, or he’s too stern in his punishment. Most
of the time, the rest of us leave him alone and
let the brother live and learn from his mistakes. Julia Aiken
Occasionally, however, a Templar doesn’t seem Julia Aiken was one of that second batch of
to learn. Maybe his situation is more dire than Templars Simon trained after I left. I never met
most, or maybe his foes have so blinded him her, but those who knew her say she was one
with fury that he loses his judgement. In those of those eternally optimistic, goody-two shoes. I
cases, a Templar is oath-bound to step in and think she was a pediatrician—that’s a baby
quietly offer a warning. doctor, brainer—before the war.
Those Templars who choose to ignore such One day she’s in this piss-ant survivor
warnings are given one last chance to appear in settlement, Sierra City, California. A woman was
Boise and answer for their actions. If they fail about to give birth and Julia thought she’d help.
to show within some reasonable amount of time No one else would, because they said the girl
(which depends entirely on circumstance), or if had humped a genuine demon. Julia said that
they will not come, Simon “blackballs” them. was crazy talk and stayed with the woman until
Every Templar who visits Boise is then told she was ready to pop.
of the fallen brother or sister. Simon doesn’t Turns out the locals were right. The baby was
spread the news outside the order—it doesn’t born a monster. Not a mutant—a monster. This
help our reputation to tell people some of our thing was all claws and teeth and meanness. It
knights have “gone rogue.” ripped it’s way to daylight, jabbed one of Julia’s
Those Templars who know of the fallen eyes out, tore out another girl’s throat, and then
knight’s transgressions are expected to fulfill went to work on its momma. You’d think Julia
the Oath of Blood. Of course the hunter is would put the thing out of the world’s misery,
expected to listen to the hunted’s story if he has but as a former baby doc, she just couldn’t bring
one, but otherwise, he’s duty-bound to slay him. herself to do it. She took the critter off into the
The blackballed Templar’s tabard and sword are mountains to raise. Word got back to Simon and
returned. The sword is broken and hung in the he had little choice but to blackball her.
Hall of Heroes as a warning to all others who A few months later, Julia comes back down
would stray from the path. out of the hills with a whole litter of these

41
 The Few, The Proud

monstrous toddlers! They wiped out Sierra City had somehow sensed this powerful weapon had
before word got back to Simon. He sent five turned against its makers. Then it had rewarded
Templars who happened to be in Boise to put an her for that treachery by granting her Templar
end to the embarrassment. powers faster than should have been possible.
They tracked her to her lair somewhere in the Modeen turned over her sword. Simon broke
Sierra Nevadas and found she had taken up it over his knee and started to have it melted,
residence with that demon. This thing looked but decided instead that it should hang in the
mortal and was actually quite handsome, I Hall of Heroes. It would remind others of Julia’s
understand. I guess Julia had mated with it just efforts before she went bad, and serve as a
like that other woman had done, and produced a warning to what would happen to those who
monstrous litter of these things for God-knows- abused the incredible power they’d been given.
what reason.
It took all five Templars to take the freaky Modeen’s Fall From Grace
family down. The first fell to the babies, the Brad Modeen left Boise with a troubled heart.
second to the demon-thing, and the third and How could Aiken have become so powerful? I’m
fourth to Julia’s sword. The last Templar, Brad sure he was dwelling on that when he came to
Modeen, finally managed to slice her in half Quissling, Nevada.
with his battle-ax, “Despair.” Quissling sits in eastern Nevada. It was one of
those towns that had knuckled under and paid
Brad Modeen tribute to the Combine. Modeen showed up in
disguise, and learned several patrols of Black
Modeen returned from his quest and reported Hats used Quissling as a base. Not only were the
what had happened to Simon. He said Julia had townsfolk sending monthly caravans of ghost
gained more power than any Templar besides rock to Throckmorton’s goons, but they were
the Grand Master himself. He couldn’t help but providing them with food and shelter as well.
believe the powers of darkness—the Reckoners— Brad was about to take off when the Cult of
Doom attacked. As Simon taught, he stayed out
of the fight—those losers didn’t deserve his help.
But when the fight started, according to him at
least, he saw that the lightly-armed townsfolk
were really caught in a crossfire between the
powerful Cult of Doom and the heavily-armed
Black Hats.
Brad didn’t see any way out for these people,
and it looked like the mutant horde outside, led
by Doomsayers, was going to win. So he
whipped off his robe and joined the Black Hats
in defending the town.
Unfortunately for him, his side won.
A few months later, Modeen returned to Boise
and made the mistake of telling Simon what
he’d done. The Grand Master was furious. Simon
said the Black Hats, their accomplices, and the
Doomsayers might have wiped each other out if
he hadn’t foolishly intervened.
Modeen didn’t see it that way. He made a big
speech about how Simon was no hero, and that
he was just another deluded wasteland warlord.
Then Brad tore off his tabard, said he would no
longer be part of this madness, and left.
I was one of the next to run into Modeen. I
found him outside Pocatello, Idaho (where he
lived before the War, I think). He wore a black
tabard and had gathered a group of others
wearing similar outfits. Most of them had axes
Julie Aiken and her brood of kiddies. like Modeen’s as well.

42
 The Few, The Proud

I asked him what the Hell was going on, and were just defending themselves, or perhaps
Brad said he was tired of the Templars’ were just overzealous and under-trained. Right.
totalitarian regime. He was founding the anti- The anti-Templars also kill any Templars they
Templars. They would be much like the see, and sometimes declare war on anyone who
Templars, but would defend and protect all but stands with them as well. In some cases, that
the worst of the wasteland’s survivors. includes whole settlements.
I knew it was trouble, but he was sincere and
Boise was just a few hours away, so I decided Dress and Habits
to go tell Simon and see what he wanted me to All those who call themselves anti-Templars
do. He said I should fulfill the Oath of Blood. I wear black tabards. A lot of them carry axes in
argued—Brad had a point, though I didn’t agree honor of the father of their movement, Modeen.
with it either—but it was no use. Simon was They never wear disguises.
adamant. In fact, he came with me. We were Each anti-Templar keeps a group of 10–20
going to execute Modeen and his followers. other fighters in tow. This is their “warband.”
I had a very bad feeling about it, but was The group wanders the West, looking for
prepared to do my duty. Fortunately, the anti- monsters to fight and settlements to save. Oh,
Templars were gone. and Templars to kill, of course.
The “squires” in the anti-Templars’ warbands
The Trouble with Anti-Templars can become anti-Templars themselves. It usually
We heard stories about Modeen and his new takes our squires a year. It takes anti-Templars
knights for the next year. A few of our order about three months. That’s why they’re gaining
even joined him. Remember, most Templars are on us in number so fast.
real heroes, and sometimes this whole “test of
worth” stuff really gets us down, so I guess it’s Modeen
understandable why they’d be curious. The anti-Templars say Brad Modeen, now the
Then we heard some settlements Templars Destroyer, is their founder, but there is no
had helped before turned against these black- formal order, no central meeting area, and no
clad imitators. There were fights, people died, real traditions,—at least not yet. Evidently, the
and Simon had no choice but to declare all anti- Destroyer plans on taking over Boise and
Templars our enemies. A few of us wound up in adapting our old traditions to his new ideals. Of
fights with Modeen’s growing band, and—here’s course, that means killing Simon and any other
the frightening part—lost. As I mentioned at the Templars who might be there. Not that Modeen
top of this section, the Reckoners had already would care. From what I’ve heard lately, he’s
sunk their claws into these guys and given them gone completely over to the “dark side.”
power much more easily than the saints give us. Modeen has some other anti-Templars in his
Not fair, is it? Not much is these days. horde, but he’s sent most away to continue the
cause in case Simon somehow defeats him.
Anti-Templars
Anti-Templars don’t start out evil. A lot of
them truly believe in the basic idea of the
The End
Templars but think Simon is a tyrant. The That’s it, friends. I’ve said all I can think of
problem is, once they put on that black tabard, and I need to get packing before Simon picks a
something happens. I think the Reckoners tempt job for me. Or hits on me again.
these guys somehow. Maybe they get their The only thing I haven’t discussed is what’s
power by doing bad things. Eventually, they going to happen when Simon dies. It will happen
become true villains. someday, and I’m afraid our high-minded lot
What kinds of bad things? I’m not talking might just fight over who should be the next
about virgin sacrifices—most of these guys still Grand Master. I’m going to state here that I think
think they’re heroes. They do things like side Simon should name his successor—secretly. That
with the Combine. They say Throckmorton has a way his successor won’t start plotting our hero’s
vision of restoring the world that includes death.
everyone. When the Black Hats massacre Maybe I’m worrying about nothing, but I want
someone for not participating in their master’s to know who my next boss is going to be. And I
vision, the anti-Templars claim these lackeys don’t want to see the greatest force for good
left in this world tear itself to pieces.

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 The Few, The Proud

The Book of Martyrs

As compiled by Frederick Biletnikoff,

in the year 2091,
by permission of the worshipful
Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Simon Mercer.

Being an Living Account of those revered Saints, the Martyrs, who, by their ultimate
Sacrifice in the fight against Evil, have passed on into the realm of Spirits, and through
Strength of Will, look down upon our ruined world to aid and guide their mortal sons
and daughters of the Knights Templar.

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 The Few, The Proud

New York City policeman Dorsey Gates

Katy Blaze, Saint of Confidence (another of our sacred Martyrs who is revered
Most of those who have fought against the elsewhere in this tome) knew of the Reckoning.
Reckoners do so quietly. Like the Agency or the He brought patients with unusual ailments to
Texas Rangers before the War, they believed the hospital, not for its apathetic doctors, but
that spreading tales of the darkness would for a nurse named Clara Clark. Clara could heal
only give it more power. A few however, much like the Templars of today, at least
knew tales proving that ordinary people according to the old Tombstone Epitaph.
could win out over evil would actually Clara eventually became heavily involved in
deprive the Reckoners of their much- fighting the occult with Dorsey Gates. These two
needed fear. One such heroine was Katy were the only champions willing to save the
4 Blaze, the daughter of a wealthy German poor and homeless huddling in the dark alleys
industrialist in the mid 2000’s. and miserable ghettos of New York.
The Martyr battled evil in the guise of “Blaze,” Clara eventually met her death at the hands
a costumed vigilante who traveled the world of a serial killer. A fiend the Epitaph called “the
fighting monsters and cultists. Her costume, like Butcher” was shot by Dorsey Gates and brought
her personality, was flamboyant and direct. to the NYCCH. Clara healed the murderer,
Blaze exuded confidence in everything she did, perhaps in an attempt to learn information for
including hosting a late-night television show Saint Gates. Later that night, the Butcher
documenting her adventures. Unfortunately, this escaped his room, slaughtered several guards in
was an era when computer graphics technicians the hospital, and eventually cornered Clara
could make anything appear real, so she was somewhere in the vast boiler room of the
accorded no more respect than other so-called hospital’s basement. Detective Gates’ journal
“documentaries” that proved the existence of indicates he was the one who found her
UFOs, faeries, and celebrity pornography. mutilated body. The Butcher escaped.
Though her credibility was always in
question, her fame never was. Her tantalizing The Deed
costume and bold personality spawned movies, Clara is an unusual Martyr in that her blessings
comic books, games, and novels that generated seem somewhat erratic. Those Templars who
millions of dollars in revenues. have felt her merciful touch have done so after
Before her death in 2060, Ms. Blaze gave birth healing a horrible wound. But almost all Templars
to a daughter, Kyla Blaze. She trained her have done so many, many times. What makes
daughter to follow in her footsteps, and it is our her choose a particular occurrence is unknown.
great honor that this brave young woman
survived the war and joined our order in 2090.
Like her mother, Kyla is full of bravado and
Jenna Dean, Saint of Winter
compliments her combat skills with her Jenna Dean was a mail-order bride, sent west
feminine wiles. It was Kyla who first reported in the 1870s to marry a trapper. Jenna traveled
that her mother has appeared to us as a Martyr. west by train, caught a stage from Denver to the
foothills, and then traveled with a guide from
The Deed there to her prospective husband’s cabin in the
Saint Blaze has so far appeared only to her woods. When she arrived, she found only ruins
daughter and one other woman. Both are and human bones. It was cold and late, so
attractive and confident, but it is unknown Surefoot, her Sioux guide, suggested they build a
exactly what deed attracts her divine attention. fire in the ruins for the night, then set out in the
morning to find her missing husband.
Late that night, a terrible howl pierced the
Clara Clark, Saint of Mercy darkness. From the cold forests came a hideous
Near the millennium’s end, the New York City white-furred creature with horrendous claws
Community Hospital (NYCCH) was one of those and a round mouth as wide as a barrel and
dirty, creepy places that wouldn’t look good filled with rows of sharp, frosty-white teeth.
even by today’s standards. Bad things happened The Indians call these monsters wendigos.
there. Immobile patients were found dissected in The abomination burst through the wall of
their beds, life-support machines became the cabin and stuffed Surefoot into its gaping
unplugged, and the morgue in the basement maw. Jenna ran blindly into the night. Through
spewed forth horrors and undead regularly. the thick pine forests she stumbled, lost and

45
 The Few, The Proud

afraid, until she came to a short cliff. She had Jenna watched as the two snow-white
no choice but to jump. Jenna landed hard, creatures tore each other to bloody shreds.
snapping one of her legs at the shin. When she When the fight finally stopped, the wendigo fell
cleared the tears from her eyes, she saw she backward and “melted” into the form of her
was surrounded by wolves! Like the wendigo, missing husband. Jenna turned away in shock.
these creatures had pelts of purest white. There The she-wolf still breathed, but the end was
were a dozen or so of them, and they stood coming. Jenna lay down beside the wolf and
about her as if to protect her. stroked her mane, then kissed her softly on her
One of the wolves, a massive she-wolf, licked shattered skull. Finally, the mail-order bride said
at her bloody leg. Jenna jerked backward, still a quiet goodbye to her savior, and used the
terrified, but the pain overwhelmed her and she Winchester to end the she-wolf’s misery.
fainted. She awoke in a shallow but warm cave Jenna moved from the Rockies into the
surrounded by wolves. Pacific northwest. Her experience in Colorado
Days later, Jenna limped back to the cabin to must have hardened her, because this young
gather provisions when a howl sounded in the lady from Back East couldn’t keep a husband.
distance. The she-wolf tried to drag Jenna back She eventually wound up a trapper and hunter
to the pack, but her broken leg proved too in the Cascades and even Alaska. Stories from
much. The mail-order bride ducked down in the the Epitaph tell of Jenna fighting creatures all
ruins, hugged the Winchester she found, and over the northwest, dealing death to the minions
prayed. The monster came fast and furious. of darkness as well as any veteran frontiersman.
As before, the rifle proved worthless. This Some of the stories claim Jenna traveled with
time, though, the she-wolf was there to help. a white wolf, but the references are always
She launched herself at the wendigo, her sharp sketchy and impossible to verify. The Martyr
teeth tearing away patches of bloody, stark- disappeared into the Cascade Mountains in the
white fur. The wendigo shrieked, amazed that early 1880s, perhaps involved in a war between
this creature could do it such lethal damage. the wendigos and sasquatches

The Winter Wolf comes to Jenna Dean’s rescue.

46
 The Few, The Proud

The Deed non-existent. What we do have are several

Jenna appears to Templars who slay articles from the Epitaph.
wendigos. According to Templar Aaron According to these archives, Detective Gates
McConnell, our brothers and sisters should first learned of the powers of darkness when
beware, for there are many varieties of these the homeless and destitute went missing at an
creatures. Even the least powerful species, the alarming rate. This was a dark time in the over-
black wendigo, is a ferocious predator that can populated mega-city, and it seems few who
slay an army. The more powerful type are might do something about the situation cared to
white, and are invulnerable unless one already take action. Saint Gates eventually discovered
has Jenna’s blessing. that a cult of ancient nosferatu had moved into
Once blessed, her followers can survive better his district, feeding off those no one would miss
in winter, eat less than most, and have an edge as they had for hundreds of years.
against wendigos. This can be critical when The detective caught 13 of these terrible
operating in the northwest, where the wendigos creatures in a shelter that was supposed to feed
now war against humanity. the homeless, but was instead feeding on them.
He locked the doors, set it afire, and burned the
horrible monsters alive.
Wyatt Earp, Saint of Composure As with so many of our Martyrs, it seems
Wyatt Earp was quite famous in the annals of Saint Gates’ first encounter with the
the Weird West, and there are numerous supernatural only led to further occult
references available on his many deeds. adventures. Many of these encounters ended
When the First Civil War broke out, Saint with the detective suffering from mortal
Earp was eventually drafted and assigned to a wounds. Fortunately, he had befriended another
military police company. There are few records of our Martyrs, Clara Clark, a nurse who had the
of his time there, and the next we hear of him, gift of healing.
Wyatt was married. His wife died from some Though the Martyr had many adventures, his
strange disease caused by a minion of most frequent foes were the nosferatu. They
Pestilence, and our saint wandered lost and hunted him at every turn, slew his partners, and
confused for several years. in the end, turned his true love against him by
Eventually, Saint Earp recovered from his loss making her one of their own.
and took to law enforcement. He started in This woman, Roxanne, proved to be our
places like Abilene and Dodge before eventually Martyr’s end. He could not bring himself to kill
moving to the Confederate boomtown of her, so she killed him. It is said the cult feasted
Tombstone in Arizona Territory. His brothers on his mortal remains, a ritual the nosferatu
and the famed “Doc” Holliday joined him there, reserve for their most hated foes.
and fought in the celebrated “Shootout at the
OK Corral.” Saint Earp’s life was well- The Deed
documented and can easily be accessed from Saint Gates appears to those who stand up
the central records in Sacramento. for others with no voice of their own. As with
many of our Martyrs, defining the exact
The Deed conditions under which his blessings are
Saint Earp has so far only appeared to one received is impossible. He aids his followers by
Templar. This man is known for his coolness granting them wisdom in matters of justice and
under fire, and in fact, is called the “Iceman” by strength against the undead.
those who know him. Since then, the Iceman
claims he has walked through a hail of bullets
without being hit, much like our revered Martyr
El Gato, Saint of Daredevils
did on several occasions. Another Martyr from what the papers call the
“Weird West” appears to those Templars
unafraid of taking extreme chances. He was a
Dorsey Gates, Saint of Justice Mexican, so we have few accounts of his
Dorsey Gates is one of Simon’s Martyrs, and adventures in America. We also do not know his
thus quite popular with many Templars. true name, but the papers called him “El Gato.”
Information on this individual is scarce, as he The Tombstone Epitaph says El Gato came to
lived in New York City in the late 1980s, and America to prove he was the fastest gunfighter
records from the devastated East are almost in the West. He wanted to start his career by

47
 The Few, The Proud

dueling the famous “Wild Bill Hickok.” El Gato evidence the Martyr does not benefit those who
soon had a change of heart, however. While in risk their lives frivolously. Only when such
Deadwood, Dakota Territory, he foiled a plot to chances are taken in the course of true heroics
assassinate Sitting Bull that would have plunged does this long-gone hero act as guardian angel.
the Indians into war with the North.
He was rewarded with a job as a Deputy US
Marshal. For the next few years, the gunman
Maggie Grimes, Saint of Stealth
traveled the West seeking out evildoers and Martha “Maggie” Grimes was born and raised
bringing them to justice. In his adventures, El in Deseret in the 1900s. Her family was abducted
Gato proved something of a daredevil. He was by what the Tombstone Epitaph called “rattlers.”
constantly jumping onto runaway stagecoaches, The Nauvoo Legion, who fought the creatures
driving steam wagons over cliff-top roads in hot through the years, told the 18-year old Martha
pursuit of some brazen bandit, and shooting it that her parents were eaten while tending their
out even when outnumbered five to one. crops. Maggie knew otherwise, for she could
El Gato met his end during one of these “hear” her mother still crying out for help.
daredevil stunts. According to the Epitaph, he Most disbelieved Maggie’s claim as the
died fighting the “blood worm” in Utah. wishful thinking of a young girl who had just
lost both her parents, but she finally persuaded
The Deed a preacher named Canon to accompany her into
Only a Templar who performs a near- the depths of the earth in search of her mother
impossible daredevil stunt, and lives to tell it, and father. It turned out Maggie was correct. Her
captures El Gato’s attention. Exactly what this parents were some of the first humans captured
entails seems up to the Martyr’s whim. by the great worms in their quest to produce the
It is certain that Saint El Gato watches over wormlings. Saint Grimes rescued her parents
those who continue to push their luck. and, with the help of Reverend Canon, destroyed
Followers be warned, however. There is some the nest where they had been held.
Canon reported Maggie’s incredible psychic
powers to the Elders and she was used as an
investigator and interrogator for the church
until the outbreak of World War II. In 1941,
Deseret assembled a “Mormon Battalion” of
priests and special agents like Maggie.
Maggie was particularly distinguished. She
was trained to use her psychic powers to aid in
stealth and pyrokinetics, and became a very
successful saboteur. We have few records of
her accomplishments, as they were considered
“black ops” by the Allies, but we know she
specialized in detonating “buzz” bombs on their
launch pads. It also seems she was instrumental
in shattering a Nazi cult known as the “Thules,”
who were attempting to summon some
otherworldly creature to slay the Allies.
Maggie was captured and executed shortly
after the invasion of Normandy. It is said her
last deed was to destroy a massive rocket that
could have destroyed all of London.

The Deed
Maggie blesses those Templars who
accomplish their objectives through stealth,
deceit, and destruction. The lone Templar she
has appeared to was not a syker. This follower
now claims that with some effort, he can
become almost invisible when attempting to
Dorsey Gates’ first meeting with the Nosferatu. sneak past hostile guards and creatures.

48
 The Few, The Proud

valor when she became infected with a strange

Jenny Hise, Saint of Sacrifice disease that atrophied her muscles. Laquitia
Our founder, Grand Master Simon Mercer, could have sat out the rest of the war in bed,
first realized the duty of the Templars when he but she was an angry soul. She had no love of
saw the sacrifice of a “Law Dog” named Jenny “Yankees” to begin with, and she now believed
Hise. This determined young woman gave her that the Northern Alliance was responsible for
life defending a village from the so-called “Black biological warfare on civilian targets as well
Hat” patrols of the Combine. (she was right, though of course her own
Because Saint Hise battled evil after the government was also involved in such covert
Apocalypse, there are no written records of her operations).
deeds. All we know of her comes from the The only hope Laquitia had in rejoining the
dreams and visions of the two Templars she has war effort was the super-soldier program.
appeared to. According to these knights, Saint Previously, only penitent battalions of super-
Hise was a thin but sturdy woman with almost soldiers had been formed. A high percentage of
elfin features, black hair, and pale skin. She was these “volunteers” had died, and an even higher
drafted late in the war but fought with the percentage had gone mad. Perhaps only half of
Southern Alliance in only a few battles before those subjected to the treatment had become the
the bombs fell. living weapons the Confederates had envisioned.
She is angry that her death was the Laquitia took the chance.
foundation for our order’s “test of worth.” She Fortunately for her, the serum took with only
realizes the importance of the Templars, one side-effect. Her hatred for the North was
however, and appears to those few who intensified, and it seems to have enhanced her
occasionally break our own rules. strength and endurance in combat.
This contradiction has been noted by our Unfortunately, she could barely contain her rage.
Grand Master. He does not condemn those She was assigned to the 1st Arizona Penitent
Templars to which she has appeared, but Battalion, and terrified even these hardened
instead thanked them for honestly reporting the criminals.
conditions of her patronage. He realizes the role When engaged in battle, Laquitia became a
of a Templar is a difficult one, and exceptions “berserker.” She would charge blindly across the
must sometimes be made to the order’s rules. battlefield, fire her rifle until it was empty, grab
another weapon and empty it, then bludgeon to
The Deed death any foe who was left.
To gain Saint Hise’s blessing, a Templar must Saint Jackson died during a raid on Denver.
make a sacrifice our order would not normally The Confederate Covert Operations Director had
condone. One might stand up for a less-than intended to allow these former murderers and
deserving settlement, for example, or save the thieves to commit whatever atrocities they
life of a villain he feels may be redeemed. wished against the civilians to break civilian
Saint Hise aids our cause by somehow morale.
transferring a knight’s misfortunes onto his But Laquitia could not bring herself to
foes, a benefit quite handy in battle. massacre civilians. On April Fools Day, 2081, she
turned against her battalion in the middle of a
Laquitia Jackson, Saint of Rage “battle” against the people of Denver. She tore
into her former comrades with her usual
During the Last War, both the Northern and bloodlust, shattering the battalion before she
Southern Alliance became desperate for an edge. was shot by a Denver police officer who
This led to the development of “super-soldiers,” mistook her for one of the rampaging criminals.
men and women injected with various growth We revere Saint Jackson for overcoming her
hormones, steroids, and muscle enhancers. The hatred and focusing her rage on those who truly
original formula seems to have been concocted deserved it.
by the Nazis in World War II. That serum met
with little success, but future attempts had The Deed
better results, particularly in the final days of Laquitia appears to those who overcome their
the Last War. own personal biases and fears to do the right
Laquitia was a front-line combat soldier and a thing. To these fortunate few, she gives
sergeant in the 3rd Alabama Infantry. She had incredible strength and ferocity in hand-to-hand
already been awarded several silver stars for combat.

49
 The Few, The Proud

Ronan Lynch, Saint of Death

Ronan Lynch was a great gunfighter in the
late 1800s, the so-called “Weird West.” He served
with the North in their great war to reclaim the
Confederacy until the Battle of Washington in
1870. It was there that the young lieutenant
commanded a cavalry troop pitched against
Hunley’s Devils, a Confederate unit equipped
with experimental flamethrowers. Ronan’s
company was annihilated. Out of nearly 80 men,
only 17 remained, including Lt. Lynch.
Saint Lynch left the service shortly thereafter.
He left the devastated East and headed straight
into the West. As has been recorded elsewhere,
death is not always the end for some of the
world’s heroes. When Ronan was killed, he
returned from the Pale and avenged his own
murder.
Ronan’s adventures continued for many years
thereafter, and are, in fact, documented in a
series of Dime Novels. While they are likely
based in fact, the stories themselves are no
doubt heavily dramatized. The complete series is
on file at the Great Library in Sacramento. In
them one can read about Saint Ronan’s fight
against horrible nosferatu, werewolves, and the
capture of the Butcher, a serial killer who turns
up repeatedly in our collections.
Through it all, Ronan seems to have survived
his adventures due to his incredible Harrowed
powers. We know that he could regenerate his
wounds and that he was lightning fast with his
six-gun. We also know that like most Harrowed,
Ronan occasionally lost control to the demon
within him.
We have no record of Ronan’s true death. In
fact, a rumor surfaced in 2093 that the undead
gunslinger still stalked the west. This cannot be
true, for several of our Templars claim him as a
Martyr.

The Deed
Unknown. Our great Grand Master does not
know why he was blessed by Saint Ronan, and
no other Templar has yet reported visions of
this legendary gunfighter. We have named
Ronan the “Saint of Death” only because he was
known to be Harrowed.

Eliot Ness, Saint of Morality

In 1921, the United States began “prohibition,”
an act that made selling or drinking alcohol
illegal. Criminals from all over North America
Ronan Lynch. Only Simon has been visited by this great Martyr. flocked to the North to import bootleg whiskey,

50
 The Few, The Proud

beer, and other beverages from Canada, the

Confederacy, and overseas. Many of these Doc Norman, Patron Saint of the Lost
criminals eventually formed large syndicates of Gerald “Doc” Norman was a US Marshal of
power. In many cases, they controlled the police, some reknown in Kansas in the 1860s, a rough
the customs agents, and the very cities in which and stoic man revered by his friends and
they lived. Few ever suspected that many of respected by his enemies. In 1871, while in
these gangsters secured their incredible luck, pursuit of a mysterious gang of kidnappers, he
fame, and fortune by embracing the darkness of found himself face-to-face with a creature of
the Reckoners. Mob boss Alphonse Capone of Indian myth called a Two-Face. That was his
Chicago was one of these twisted souls. first encounter with the supernatural, and he
The government could not count on the local was fortunate to escape alive. A local Cheyenne
police to control him, so they sent in one of shaman told him that the Two-Face had been
their own. They assigned Agent Eliot Ness of the plaguing his tribe. When Doc pursued the Two-
F.B.I. to the case. Secretly, however, Agent Ness Face again, he killed it, but not before it
worked for the Agency. mortally wounded him.
Ness proved uncanny in his ability to raid That was the old Doc Norman—not exactly
Capone’s speakeasies, warehouses, and the saint we revere. You see, Doc was revived
smuggling operations. His secret was to gather a by the same shaman he had aided, but somehow
small and completely trustworthy band of police the spirit he called back was not the right one.
officers to avoid the inevitable tip-off to Capone The new “Doc” had no recollection of either
and the other Chicago mobsters. These men life—Marshal Norman’s or his own—but he was
became known as the “Untouchables.” definitely a different person.
Ness’ job proved incredibly difficult. Not only The new Doc resigned his post as US Marshal
was there a never-ending supply of killers eager and set out in search of his own identity—a
to work for the mob, but it was also virtually search that frequently brought him into conflict
impossible to arrest Capone. Ness could never with the supernatural. Armed with a gritty
prove he controlled the mob, nor could he go disposition, the tenacity of a pit bull, and the old
public with the crime boss’ allegiance with Doc’s fearsome reputation, he became known as
occult forces (such was the Agency’s policy at a great gunfighter and tireless hunter of the
the time). Finally, Ness had to settle for arcane. How he died is a mystery, as is whether
prosecuting Capone on tax evasion. he ever found out who he really was.
Having failed his dark masters, Capone
eventually died of syphilis. Capone’s gang was The Deed
shattered, but the mob unfortunately lived on Doc blesses those who find themselves truly
until the Apocalypse. lost, either physically or spiritually. To those he
Ness is one of the few Martyrs who lived to grants aid, insight, and his intense personal grit.
old age. Even then he continued fighting the
Reckoners by doing research and recording all
of his strange adventures for the Agency.
Nevada Smith, Saint of Intrigue
The papers claim he died of natural causes, Nevada once worked for the Pinkerton
but it is more likely some nefarious creature Detective Agency when that company served
finally claimed our beloved Martyr. the United States Government during the First
Throughout his life, Saint Ness never Civil War. He frequently used disguises to
capitulated to the dark forces aligned against infiltrate criminal organizations and other
him. Though they threatened his career, his life, strange cults. Nevada became known as the Man
and even his family, he never strayed from the of a Thousand Faces when he was covertly
straight and narrow. He never took a bribe, assigned to investigate and watch over the
looked the other way, or allowed even a minor infamous Doctor Darius Hellstromme, then a
criminal to escape. resident of the Mormon nation of Deseret.
Soon after, the Northern government created
The Deed the Agency. The Pinkertons had served them
Ness favors those who display rigid morals. well, but there were occasionally questions as to
This is difficult to objectify, but if you never who the agents worked for—the company or the
allow your morals to waver, Ness may one day government. Nevada embraced the change easily.
grant you his blessing. His loyalty was always to the government. It
was a trait noticed by the mysterious Ghost, the

51
 The Few, The Proud

head of the Agency’s Western Bureau. The Ghost to live in a new location so that their “fear”
and Nevada formed a fast friendship, and the would be diluted. Some of these families were
two performed many great deeds for their nation. sent as far away as the planet Banshee. Adults
Later, Saint Smith became prominently were often drafted and thrown into the front
involved in a little-known conflict to find the lines to die.
“Hearts of the Old Ones.” The governments of It also appears that on several occasions,
the North and South officially entered the fray when the outbreak of some creature or
when Reverend Hezekiah Grimme, whom secret monsters could not be contained, Major Stern
government reports claim was not a savior but ordered an “Extermination Order.” This was an
a cannibalistic madman, assembled an army to order only the President, the head of the
gather these powerful relics. Rangers, and Major Stern could issue. It called
Smith proved instrumental in eventually for an entire area and everyone within it to be
defeating Grimme, and we have record of a destroyed, either by fire-bombs early in the war,
posthumous nomination for the Medal of Honor. or tactical nuclear weapons later on when use
Most likely, this nomination was never of those devices became relatively common.
submitted for approval because the Agency Some may call Major Stark’s actions
could not tell the public exactly what he had murderous. Perhaps they were. Our task here is
done to earn it. not to judge, but to simply repeat the history of
Though Smith’s exact fate and even his real the Martyr and grant our brothers and sisters
name are unknown, he disappears from the some insight into gaining their divine assistance.
records about the same time Reverend Grimme
vanished in a religious riot of the Lost Angels. The Deed
Saint Stern blesses those who are willing to
The Deed sacrifice others for the greater good of all. Of
Saint Nevada appears to those who have the two Templars to whom he has appeared,
accomplished some great scheme through one trapped an entire band of mutants in a
elaborate deception and disguise. He aids them building and set it on fire. These mutants were
in maintaining their disguises and ensures their peaceful, but had been infected with a hideous
complex schemes are rewarded. and highly contagious wasting disease from the
Reckoner Pestilence that may well have killed
Rex Stern, Saint of Ruthlessness thousands more. Another Templar, on learning
his closest companion had become Harrowed
The fight against the Reckoners did not end and lost complete control to the demon inside,
when the Last War started. Both the Texas was blessed by Saint Stern after sending the
Rangers and the Agency continued their covert friend to his final end.
roles throughout the war, rooting out terrors, It is said the Martyr lends strength and
exterminating them, and keeping the general willpower to his followers, and comforts those
populace from learning that such things existed. tormented Templars who must destroy some for
The situation became extremely horrifying the good of all.
near the end of the war. Battlefields littered
with fallen soldiers spontaneously gave rise to
entire armies of the walking dead, the John Wayne, Saint of Grit
wormlings first emerged in force, and giant During the 1930s through the late 1970s, a
creatures that once dwelled only in shadows popular actor fought the evils of the Reckoning
came forth to slaughter the innocent. as he traveled about the globe making films.
Major Rex Stern, a commando for the This actor was born Michael Marion Ross, but
Rangers, was one of those in charge of handling was best known as John Wayne.
such outbreaks. He was especially successful in It is perhaps ironic that Wayne starred in so
dealing with large outbreaks of undead, many westerns, and is probably one of the best
wormlings, and other hordes. He worked closely known “cowboys” in history, yet he lived long
with Colonel Steele Green, whose syker unit after the age of the Weird West.
could wipe memories from people’s minds. The stories of the Epitaph say the actor read
When there were far too many witnesses to an of the horrors of the West while studying for
event, Major Stern dealt with them in other the role he played in The Searchers. It was many
ways. On more than one occasion, he years later before he actually encountered the
quarantined entire towns and sent each family forces of darkness.

52
 The Few, The Proud

While shooting a film in the deserts near One fateful day in 1918, York’s platoon was
Alamogordo, New Mexico (previously a testing pinned down by a German machine-gun
ground for Confederate ghost-rock bombs), position. His friends and companions dropped
Wayne and the crew were attacked by a race of like flies until York used his abilities to sneak
ancient gargoyles. It seems the creatures had into the German trench-lines and create dozens
lived in the earth under Alamogordo for of mirror-images of himself. The enemy
millennia, and the bombs had created tunnels to surrendered and York became a hero for “single-
the surface. Far more frightening was that the handedly” capturing 132 Germans.
atomic bombs mutated the gargoyles, as well as It wasn’t long after that Sgt. York encountered
some of the local creatures. Giant scorpions, the undead in the trenches of Flanders. These
two-headed rattlesnakes, and other such muddy, corpse-filled fields reeked of death. Fear
creatures plagued the set in the days before the literally saturated the muddy flatlands. Machine
real trouble with the gargoyles began. gun bullets claimed thousands, craterous
Fortunately, Saint Wayne turned out to be the mudholes claimed hundreds more. No Man’s
hero he played on screen. He loaded the prop Land became a Deadland where the dead—and
department’s pistols, rifles, and shotguns with worse—crawled from their swamp-like graves.
all the real ammo he could find, armed the crew, One night, dozens of undead slithered into the
and staged a brilliant defense of their besieged trenches. Only one of York’s powers proved
camp. After the production, Wayne escorted a effective on the dead soldiers: one the sykers
detachment of Texas Rangers into the gargoyles’ call “boneripper.” He used it to shatter the
lair and wiped them out. skeletal troopers’ bones and save his
He continued to fight the horrors of the companions, but his strength began to wane.
Reckoning throughout his incredible career. Suddenly, a grim patrol of veterans appeared
Wayne’s battles were waged mostly in the along the trench line. They showed the surviving
American West, but he also traveled to Vietnam, infantry of York’s company how to deal with
Korea, Japan, and even China to hunt the these freaks of the night by firing at their heads
creatures of darkness. and cracking open the skulls of the undead
Throughout his battles, Wayne’s greatest asset fiends.
was his “grit” (as the cowboys used to call it). No When the smoke cleared, a grim British
matter how tough things became, no matter how Colonel in a black overcoat approached the
beat up the grizzled veteran was, he always battered survivors. He told them that they could
toughed it out and found a way to win. not be allowed to rejoin their battalion after
Wayne passed away in 1977. The records what they’d seen. They must join his “special”
claim he died of cancer, perhaps because of his brigade and fight the horrors of the night
experience at Alamogordo. It is more likely some whenever and wherever they arose. He asked
nefarious terror finally claimed its revenge on the survivors who would be their leader, and
this great hero. they immediately named Sgt. York.
York and his Confederate companions went
The Deed on to fight in the allies’ “special detail,”
Wayne smiles upon those who persevere combatting the forces of the Reckoners for
even when suffering greatly. It is unknown another three months before most of them were
exactly how one gains his blessing, but it comes finally wiped out by some horror in Beuleau
after victory in the face of great pain. Woods. York survived however, and eventually
became a teacher at the Confederate Syker
Sgt. York, Saint of Sykers Academy in 1924.

Albert York was a brave but simple man from The Deed
the hills of Kentucky. He had, among other Saint York has only appeared to one of our
things, a natural talent for supernatural powers brothers so far. Brother Jacobs was born with
already, and with a little training, he became the the ability to use powers much like those of the
world’s first real “syker.” sykers. Soon after becoming a Templar, Brother
The Confederate Army kept York’s powers a Jacobs received a vision of Sgt. York. Though he
secret from his fellow infantrymen (at this time never had formal training as a syker, the young
they had little concept of using sykers as knight has since been able to use powers he has
commandos, and simply inserted them in front- never been taught, as well or even better than
line infantry battalions instead). trained sykers.

53
Knights in White Tabards

Posse: 54
 Chapter Two:
Knights in White Tabards

Now you know all about the Order of the Academia: Occult
Templars. You know the training the squires A Templar’s basic knowledge of the macabre
must go through, the difficult decisions the comes from his time spent as a squire. He
Templars often face, and the demands placed knows the Reckoners exist, that monsters are
upon them by a shattered world desperate for created from fear, and that manitous are the
saviors. You also know a little of the Templar’s spirits which deliver raw human fear to their
dark side—the story of Aiken and Modeen. Still masters. Templars also know of the Harrowed,
want to don the tabard? and that it usually takes a blow to the head to
Okay. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. kill them.
Here’s how you do it. Note that most folks who have learned occult
knowledge on their own don’t know all this
Playing a Templar information at level 2 (as discussed in the
academia: occult sidebar in Chapter Two of the
To be a Templar, your character must be at Deadlands: Hell on Earth rulebook).
least 18 years old and purchase arcane Templars, however, pass this specific
background: Templar. She must also have certain knowledge on to those who join their
skills that allowed her to pass from squire to organization. A particular Templar might not
full Templar, as shown below. Your character know more about other supernatural
must also be relatively good-hearted. No phenomenon than someone with the same skill
cannibals or raving lunatics need apply. level, however. Because it is not often
discussed, occult knowledge really depends
on the particular experiences of the
Templar Skills character and his immediate circle.

Minimum Faith
Skill Level Your character must have faith. Simon
Academia: occult 2 has not made religion an official part of
Faith 3 the order, though Christianity was
Fightin’: any hand weapon 4 integral to the old Knights Templar and
Medicine 2 the Freemasons as well. Simon is a
Survival 2 Christian himself, but he knows that in this

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 Knights in White Tabards
day and age there are many other really doesn’t matter, though, because even
religious beliefs, and most all making a “related” skill check is better than
denominations believe God has forsaken the making a default roll.
world anyway. Perhaps even more importantly, though, the
What faith represents in this case is the Templars must show others how to gleen food
Templars’ belief that the saints, or at least and water from the land. A person well-versed
some power of goodness, watches over the in which plants are edible might find entire
world. These are the spirits of fallen heroes of fields of berries, roots, or plants a few hundred
the past, those who battled the evils of the yards away from a starving settlement.
Reckoners and paid for it with their lives.
Anti-Templars have faith in the saints as
well, though their brothers in white believe they
Other Useful Skills
are more than a little misguided. In fact, The following Aptitudes aren’t mandatory for
Templars say the “ax-murderers” (as they like to a Templar simply because Simon hasn’t made
call them because of their fondness for battle them so. They are just as important, however.
axes) worship “false saints.” Some even claim
their black-clad brothers worship the Reckoners Disguise
themselves. A Templar’s primary tool in determining
whether or not a person, family, or village is
Fightin’ worthy of his presence is to visit them disguised
As a squire, a Templar-in-training learns to as a mutant, an outcast, a diseased soul, or
use some kind of weapon. Most prefer swords some other pitiful wretch. If those in need treat
because they are relatively simple to use, have a him poorly, he usually leaves before they even
good reach, and provide a decent defense know they were on the brink of salvation. If,
against opponent’s weapons. They’re also easy instead, they are sympathetic and
to carry, much easier than an ax, spear, or other compassionate to the disguised Templar, he may
heavier weapon. choose to reveal himself and pledge his sword
That said, a Templar can actually choose any to their cause.
hand weapon. It even gets blessed by Simon, as Disguise is not a required skill because it
discussed under Swords, below. doesn’t take much to make oneself look dirty
and pathetic. Should a time come when the
Medicine Templar comes under close scrutiny, however,
One of the most important duties of a Templar he’ll certainly wish he knew more about how to
is to heal the sick and wounded. The miracle lay hide his weapons, his tabard, his true condition
on hands is the best way to do it, but there are and so on. In case you haven’t guessed, we’re
dangers—mainly that it can only be attempted not telling you your character must take
on a particular person once per day. That means disguise, but we highly recommend it.
a Templar should be very careful to use
mundane first aid whenever possible and save Shootin’
the “big guns” for truly life-threatening injuries. Again, Simon doesn’t require any sort of
Part of a squire’s training is to learn first aid marksmanship test to knight a Templar. That
and basic medical skills. Those who cannot heal said, most folks don’t make it a month as a
the flesh cannot hope to heal the world. squire without knowing how to handle a gun.
Also, while most people think of their swords
Survival when they think of the Templars’ fighting
The last mandatory skill a squire must prowess, they forget that the epic hand-to-hand
have before becoming a Templar is survival. battle comes only after most of their foes have
It’s a necessary skill for any traveler, and been dropped by gunfire. A Templar too eager to
Templars wander more than anyone. Food wade into a fight with only his sword is likely
and water are scarce, so any nomad who to have a very short career.
can’t live off the slim pickings of the land
and the few scraps left in the ruins does Recommended Edges & Hindrances
not last long in the savage wastes.
Now let’s talk a little about what your
Survival requires a concentration. Most
character gets from being a Templar, and what
Templars choose the plains because that’s
his specific obligations are.
where they spend most of their time. It

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 Knights in White Tabards
Arcane Background arsenal with him. What the Oath of
Obviously, a Templar must have arcane Poverty really means is that Templars
background: Templar. Is it possible to have other shouldn’t look for loot, and they shouldn’t
arcane backgrounds as well? No, and yes. load themselves down with worthless
Doomsayers can’t be Templars. They just can’t trinkets.
serve two masters. The second vow is the Oath of Blood.
Regular sykers can’t be Templars either. Most Simon has tried to rescind the powers of
hate authority too much to try. Those very few a few Templars he felt did not uphold the
who have tried found that the supernatural ideals of the order, but without success.
pathways in their brains (meridians) have Once granted, their rewards are permanent.
already forged themselves in a certain way, and The blessings of the Martyrs, however, are not.
the rewards of the Templars just don’t come to A Templar who turns from the path of
them. A greenie syker can become a Templar, righteousness finds himself without the aid of
however. See Brainburners for the details. those powerful spirits.
Junkers face the same problem. They already Blackballed Templars are to be brought in
channel supernatural energy from the Hunting alive if possible, dead if not. If they resist
Grounds and just can’t seem to make Templar without good reason, fellow Templars are
rewards work for them. obligated to bring them in by any means
The same goes for characters with other necessary. When rumors come of a Templar
arcane backgrounds, such as the blessed, straying too far from the path, Simon dispatches
hucksters, mad scientists, shamans, and even another Templar to find the errant knight and
houngans. For the most part, once folks wrap find out what’s going on.
their mind around one particular way to receive When Simon receives confirmed reports of
power from the Hunting Grounds, they just can’t Templars who have strayed, he blackballs them.
seem to open them up in another. There have Other Templars are told of the misdeeds and
been exceptions, but those are rare and expected to fulfill the Oath of Blood if they
something the Marshal must decide on a case- should encounter them. Rarely is it practical for
by-case basis.

Companions
There have been a few sykers and junkers
(no Doomsayers, as yet) who tried to become
Templars. When they found out the power of
the saints wouldn’t take, Simon determined such
individuals could not be called Templars, but
would be given the honorary title of Companion.
Companions must uphold the order’s values,
but do not have the ability to gain Templar
rewards. They can gain the blessings of the
Martyrs, however. See the Companion Edge later
in this chapter for details.

Oaths
Templars and their squires are bound by two
oaths: poverty and blood.
The Oath of Poverty states that a Templar
must gather only those goods and provisions
necessary to carry out his duties and survive. A
Templar may own a vehicle to help him travel
quickly across the wastelands, but such wealth
often makes it hard to disguise oneself, so
vehicles are rare or kept well-hidden while the
hero is incognito. Templars are also expected to
keep themselves well-armed and protected, so
don’t feel guilty if your hero carries a small

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Knights in White Tabards
a Templar to contact Simon and get his
approval to hunt another Templar. That’s why
the knights are expected to judge their brothers
and sisters for themselves.
All this means your hero must take the
Templar’s Oath, which includes a vow to help
only the worthy, the Oath of Poverty and the
Oath of Blood. All together, this is a –5 point
oath Hindrance. All Templars have this oath.
Those who violate it—and are caught—quickly
gain a –5 point enemy instead.

Swords
Templars’ swords serve as a symbol of their
station and as a useful backup when bullets are
scarce. Every Templar starts with a “free” sword
awarded to him by Simon himself.
Actually, some Templars prefer other
weapons. Modeen, now an anti-Templar,
preferred a battle-ax. Another Templar uses a
spear. Simon is usually willing to bless any type
of weapon his knights are most comfortable
with, though nine times out of ten, it’s a sword.
Templars consider hand-to-hand combat a
sign of bravery, but they don’t hurl themselves
headlong into a fray when guns serve them
better. They generally use their swords to save
precious bullets, when they want their foe to
taste the fear of retribution before they perish,
or when they face overwhelming odds and want
to go down swinging.
Partly due to Simon’s blessing and partly
because Templars live with their weapons in
hand, they add +1 to their fightin’: sword and
quick draw: sword rolls. The quick draw bonus
applies only to the Templar’s chosen weapon,
but not other weapons (even of the same type)
he happens to carry.
Templars don’t like to lose their swords. They
revere their brothers’ and sisters’ swords, so
when one falls, other Templars eventually come
to claim it. These are taken to the Temple in
Boise and hung in the Hall of Heroes. The fallen
Templar’s name is then inscribed upon it so that
it can one day be given to a new Templar, who
must learn the deeds of those who’s names
appear on her weapon.

Disguise
Templars live by disguise—it’s their primary
tool in assessing the worth of a community.
Living in disguise can be a trying existence.
Imagine a person who looks like a filthy beggar,
a leper, or a mutant all day. Even “good” people

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 Knights in White Tabards
won’t have much to do with him. Hopefully
they’ll treat him kindly, but they won’t confide
secrets or share important information. They
New Hindrances
certainly won’t turn to such a person for help,
or consider him an asset, until he reveals Blackballed 3
himself as a post-Apocalyptic knight. Not all Templars who incur Simon’s
That’s tough to handle—a Templar must be wrath become anti-Templars. Most are
both humble and patient. But a great hero must simply warned, then given time to explain
be ready to beg to clean horse puckey out of themselves or make amends.
the stable for a few scraps of food. And to In the interim, however, the Templar is
resist dropping his disguise every time someone blackballed. His brothers and sisters of the
doesn’t treat him kindly instead. It’s not as easy order are duty bound to bring him in—alive if
as it sounds. Heroes who are really just looking possible, dead if not. This is the Oath of Blood.
for lots of perks to hack things up should
beware. Hated 1–5
Templars are harsh saviors. They do not
willingly invite death upon themselves, nor do
Attitude they show remorse when victims are deemed
With all the Templars’ power comes a lot of unworthy of their help.
responsibility. The hard part about being a Hated Templars are those who have openly
Templar isn’t helping out every waster that turned their back upon some horrendous
comes along—it’s turning them down. situation, and are now hated by the shunned
Think about it. Say a settlement in the Maze victims. Say a disguised Templar enters a town
is looking for someone to save it from croakers. about to be attacked by Black Hats. While there,
Your hero can’t just jump on top of the town he is treated roughly, perhaps even attacked by
walls and dare the fishmen to get him like he local toughs, and the authorities ignore his pleas
would if he were a Law Dog. Instead, he’ll have for help. In the best case, the Templar takes his
to infiltrate the town, talk with the civilians, and punishment and exits, the inhabitants of the
then find out if they’re worth risking his life for. settlement never knowing they were a kind
And that’s what it all comes down to: a good deed away from salvation.
Templar doesn’t think of it as “his” life. It’s the Occasionally, however, a Templar must reveal
world’s. He’s been entrusted with the power of himself to defend his life. Or perhaps he feels it
goodness in a world of evil. There are only so will teach the locals a lesson to know he was
many weapons like him, and if he risks himself almost their ally, and reveals himself just before
on some unworthy cause, the darkness may lose leaving them to their fate.
the battle but win the war. Assuming the settlement or some of its
Think “selfish.” That’s what the Templars are. inhabitants survive, they very likely have a
At least until they judge a cause worthy of their hatred for that Templar (and likely all others).
effort. Then they become utterly selfless. That’s Such people just generally bad-mouth the
tough to play sometimes. As a human being, you Templars. They might even attack some of
may want to help a family of ranchers them—but they’ll kill the hero who shunned
threatened by hordes of undead. If you later find them on sight.
out the family likes to hunt mutants for sport Imagine some poor dirt farmer loses his
on weekends, you might have to say adios. Even family in a raid, only to find out a Templar
if there are innocents at risk, like the ranchers’ almost helped them but left because the local
children. You might make the mother and father bullies gave him a rough time. The farmer
do all the dangerous stuff while you stay back and his family did nothing to incur such a
to protect their kids—that fits the Templar fate, yet they were the ones who suffered.
philosophy. But even then you risk making Think of hated as a bad form of renown.
orphans of the innocents, and that’s almost as Word’s gotten around that this particular
monstrous as turning your back on them. Templar left needy people in the lurch.
These are the moral dilemmas a Templar face Some folks might understand how it
every day. That can be a real challenge to could happen, while others harbor a deep
roleplay. Sometimes your friends will think your hatred. That could extend to other Templars,
character’s a complete bastard. Other times, meaning that hatred toward one might be
she’s Joan of Arc herself. directed at anyone in the white tabard.

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 Knights in White Tabards
Blessing 3
New Edges The saints watch the affairs of man from the
Hunting Grounds. A few—those who dedicated
Anti-Templar 5 their lives to fighting the Reckoning and
eventually died for it—sometimes take a more
There are some who believe in the ideals of
active role. These are the “Martyrs,” as Jo
the Templars but cannot bring themselves to
explained earlier in this book.
follow Simon’s strict “test of worth.” Some of
In the game, once a Templar, squire, or
these become anti-Templars. They willingly
Companion has performed a certain deed
join this movement to reclaim the Wasted
(usually known only to the Marshal), the Martyr
West and oppose the “tyrannical” Templars.
gives him his blessing and the hero can then
If you’re feeling brave, you might want to
call on the saint to give him certain benefits by
play one of these heroes. It’ll be tough, though.
spending Fate Chips. This is all explained in
Most people consider anti-Templars deluded at
Chapter 3, though you shouldn’t read that
best; evil at worst. And many of the people who
section until your Marshal gives you permission.
see your hero as a savior are those the real
By taking this Edge, your
Templars have already deemed beyond salvation.
character starts the game with one
On the plus side, your knight will get powers
of these blessings. Read the Martyr’s
easier than his Templar foes. We can’t tell you
basic information in the Book of
how here, because then all those other goody-
Martyrs, then tell your Marshal
two-shoes would read it. Just ask the Marshal
which saint you’d like your Templar
after you’ve decided you’re going to walk this
4 to be blessed by. If the Marshal
dangerous path and play an anti-Templar.
approves, you can then read the
Here’s what else comes with this package.
exact game effects for that Martyr in Chapter 3.
First, your character sees real Templars as the
A squire, Companion, or Templar can start the
bad guys. They are tyrants who despoil the very
game with one Martyr’s blessing. Templars who
power of the saints themselves. Don’t plan on
are veterans o’ the Wasted West may start the
having a Templar and an anti-Templar in the
game with two Martyrs’ blessings (at a cost of 3
same party. Sure, it’s happened on a few rare
points each).
occasions for very specific reasons, but there’s
This Edge can never be purchased after the
no way these two would ever work together
game starts. The blessings of the saints must be
without a more pressing threat hanging over
earned from that point on.
their heads. In fact, most Templars and anti-
Anti-Templars may purchase this Edge as
Templars simply attack each other on sight.
well, though they have an entirely different set
Second, most folks don’t like your hombre.
of “saints” who bless them. Only after you have
Subtract –4 from any persuasion rolls when
committed to playing an anti-Templar should
dealing with ordinary folks. On the flip side, if
you read the rules for their strange patrons.
whoever your hero is dealing with
hates the Templars, you can add +4
to your rolls.
Companion 1
Finally, your anti-Templar needs Not everyone can be a Templar. Sometimes a
to wear his black tabard most all character just isn’t everything he should be.
the time. Anti-Templars are fierce in Most often this is because the individual is not
5 their hatred of Simon and his order, strong enough to make the hard moral choices
and they show it by their costumes. of the Templars. Perhaps the hero has
Anti-Templars can have any of the performed all his tasks admirably, but just
rewards in this book. The saints, or cannot bring himself to turn his back on others,
something, still provide them with arcane regardless of whether or not they truly deserve
abilities. They cannot, however, gain the his help.
blessings of the Martyrs. They have their Other times, a character with all the right
own benefits, however, as the Marshal will values has already developed some sort of
tell you only after you’ve decided to play supernatural powers. These folks, for whatever
an anti-Templar. reason, cannot acquire the rewards of the order.
One last warning, friend. Most of those When Simon feels that such an individual is a
who become anti-Templars do eventually valuable ally, but he cannot make him a
turn to evil. You’ve been warned. Templar, he often makes him a Companion. This

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 Knights in White Tabards
is a formal title, and entitles the character to all Many other abilities are possible.
the benefits and responsibilities of the Templars. Think of the benefit you want the sword
The only difference between the hero and a to possess then let the Marshal determine
regular Templar is that the Companion receives the point cost. A sword with a cost higher
no rewards, and does not have to purchase than 5 shouldn’t be bought with this Edge.
arcane background. Since he is not undergoing Such a powerful relic should be found
the formal process of becoming a Templar, a during play instead.
Companion does not have to have the skills If the sword is ever destroyed, the
required of a regular Templar either. character may return to Boise and ask the
Finally, Simon does not award a tabard to Grand Master for another. The Marshal
Companions. Most wear small red crosses on should then provide a suitable replacement.
their bodies—patches, emblems, and even tattoos
are common, but there is no formal design. Squire 0
A squire is a Templar-in-training. Squires try
Relic 1–5 to prove themselves to older Templars so that
Templars are often given the swords of their they may one day become members of this
fallen brothers and sisters, whose names are post-Apocalyptic order. If you want your
engraved upon the blades. It is the new owner’s Templar to have a squire, read this section for
duty to memorize the deeds of the former owners some ideas, then create him with the sidekick
and hold himself to the high standard set by his Edge. This Edge is for those who wish to play a
predecessors. squire.
Some of these swords are imbued with more A squire has one year to go before he can be
than just memories: they have magical powers presented to Simon. During this time, he must
as well. Most simply add +1 to the wielder’s gain all the required skills at the minimum
attack and damage rolls. Each +1 is worth 1 point levels and prove his understanding of the
in this Edge. Only a Templar, squire, or Templar’s ways to his mentor. Yes, that means
Companion can claim this bonus. your hero has a mentor. There must be a full

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 Knights in White Tabards
Templar in your posse to be a squire—no Warband 5
exceptions. You have two choices here. A Templar is allowed to train only one person
The Templar can be a character under the at a time, and that takes a full year. Anti-
Marshal’s control. A better way, however, is Templars are encouraged to expand their ranks
to attach yourself to a player character as rapidly as possible. They often gather large
Templar. That can take a level of maturity warbands or posses of skilled warriors about
some players might not have, so don’t go them to serve as their “anti-Templars in
jumping into this role without thinking about training.”
it a good bit first. Playing someone else’s If you are playing an anti-Templar and you
student is a real challenge, but can also be would like to have a warband, there are a few
pretty cool. ways you can go about it. The first is to acquire
Squires aren’t “servants,” by the way, but your warband members through play. Convince
since the relationship is not well defined or some wasters that your hero has it going on,
codified by the order, each Templar pretty much and they might hang around to see if it’s true.
treats his squire as he wishes. If a squire doesn’t Another option is for your anti-Templar’s
like the way he’s being treated, he can talk “warband” to be the rest of the player
about it with his mentor and try to work it out, characters. Oh, they might not see it that way at
or he can quit. He could take up with another first, but they’ll come around eventually.
mentor if he wanted, but that hasn’t happened If you’d like to start play with a gang of non-
yet, and the first mentor might not take it well. player toughs in tow, that’s cool too. A warband
Of course, getting a new mentor to take over for costs 5 points for every 1d6 worth of followers,
an old one can be pretty tough. Most would just up to a maximum of 20 points spent on the
think the squire couldn’t hack the life of a warband. These wasters are pretty much scum,
Templar and turn him away. though there are likely a few honest souls
Though your character isn’t a slave, do expect among them. They’ll follow your hero’s orders
to be the one who gathers the firewood, cleans as long as they make sense and get them some
the weapons, and does all the other menial loot, power, and personal gratification. They’ll
chores. Mentors often stick their squires with also turn on their master given the right
these tasks just to see if they can hack the opportunity.
frustration and hard work it takes to be real After three to four months and several
Templars. Combat-crazy squires get lots of missions together, the Marshal might decide
menial labor. Mentors like to teach hack-and- some of these followers are worthy of
slash types a little patience. becoming anti-Templars themselves. Most
Assuming your hero manages to put up with manifest their new powers after some important
his new master, he can be presented to Simon in victory, such as the defeat of a fearmonger or a
roughly one year. The mentor can discharge his Templar. A few minutes later, one or more of
squire at any time, though, and he doesn’t have the anti-Templar’s most accomplished warriors
to present him to Simon in a year—that’s just the may suddenly feel a surge of power and become
bare minimum. If the mentor feels the squire is an anti-Templar. This is called the “Becoming.”
a pud, but promising enough for a second Soon after, the new anti-Templar is to be
chance, he’ll probably give the squire a few awarded a black tabard by his master and
extra months to prove himself before either released. He is now expected to leave his
dumping him or making the trek to Boise. master’s company to raise a warband of his own.
Should a mentor die during a squire’s training, Ask your Marshal before taking this Edge. He
if the squire is abused by his master, if he may not want the hassle of running a handful
witnesses him doing something unworthy, of thugs along with the rest of the posse. If you
or if the Templar is blackballed by the order, do have a warband, make sure to help your
the student may return to Boise and petition Marshal run them.
his case to Simon. The Grand Master may Use the Squire archetype for the warband
then release the squire to find a new members’ statistics. Remember they’re not
mentor. Or he may simply banish him from usually the bright-eyed innocents real squires
Boise if he feels that the squire is simply are. Most of them are raiders looking for an
looking for power from an easier source. arcane edge to help them gain more loot and
Established squires awaiting new masters power.
get priority over newcomers.

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 Knights in White Tabards

New Skills
Fightin’: Florentine
A lot of wasters fight with two weapons at
once. Few of them truly know how to take
advantage of them, however. A fighter with the
florentine concentration has trained extensively
not only with each of his two hand weapons,
but also in using them together.
The florentine concentration doesn’t work
alone. The character has to have some other
kind of weapon concentration such as another
sword, club, ax, and so forth. As long as the
weapons in his two hands are covered by his
other concentrations, he can take advantage of
the florentine concentration.
Using it is simple. When the character hits
with one or more raises, he can use them to
affect the Hit Location as usual, or he can use
the first raise to say that the second weapon hit
as well. Additional raises can be applied to the
Hit Location roll of either weapon as the
attacker desires. Ignore the off-hand penalty
when using the florentine concentration.
For called shots, resolve the attack as usual.
If successful, the first weapon hits the targeted
area. The second weapon hits a random area,
though additional raises can be used to move as he sees fit. We mean that. You shouldn’t
the second weapon closer to the target area if check to see if someone goes prone every time
desired. they get stunned. In fact, the Marshal might not
A character cannot make two separate even want to check for stun all the time. That’s
attacks on one action using the florentine skill. fine—the extra detail is there for when it’s
For that he uses the normal rules for attacking important. When it’s not, just roll some damage
with two weapons as detailed in Chapter Five of and get on with the game. When it is really
the Deadlands: Hell on Earth rulebook. important, however—when the odds are
desperate and clever players are trying to stack
every possible advantage in their favor—the
Combat Notes extra detail is there.
Templars love their swords. That means they Or at least it is now. Read on, amigo.
wind up in hand-to-hand combat (fancy types
call it melee) all the time. Usually, the Marshal Facing
will keep fights like this fairly generalized. A character can face any direction on his
Everyone makes their fightin’ rolls to see who action, so the specific direction he’s facing
gets hacked to bits. Sometimes, though, you isn’t usually an issue. Sometimes, however, it
might want a little more detail. This can be can be important, especially if he is being
particularly useful when Templars are involved attacked by multiple opponents. It’s a
in hand-to-hand fights and they want to use good idea to use miniatures if things get
clever tactics to help them beat a better-skilled this complicated. That way a hero knows
or more numerous foe. That requires slightly what sort of nasty critter is sidling up
more detailed rules than we gave you in the behind him.
Deadlands: Hell on Earth rulebook. We don’t need to get into side facings.
Below are some clarifications and It’s enough to know if opponents are in a
elaborations of existing rules. The Marshal character’s front or rear. Here are the
should feel free to integrate them into his game effects:

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 Knights in White Tabards
A character only gets the Defensive weapon. Skilled Templars can use their weapons
Bonus of his weapon against foes to his to take a foe’s pointy-thing away, which can
front 180 degrees. prove quite handy when trying to capture a foe
A character cannot strike at a foe to his alive.
rear—not without a special maneuver, anyway. A disarm maneuver works by pitting the
attacker’s fightin’ against the defenders. A win
Prone with no raises means the defender’s weapon is
A prone character is someone lying on the knocked aside temporarily. The defender must
ground. Prone characters suffer a –4 to fightin’ re-ready the weapon, and is at –2 on his next
totals, and must subtract –4 from Hit Location action if he attacks with it (he can ignore the –2
rolls as well, due to their low angle of attack. otherwise).
Attacking a prone character is easy. Add +2 to With a raise, the attacker disarms the
the attacker’s fightin’ total. defender and sends the weapon flying in a
Characters might be knocked prone by being random direction (roll a d12) for d6 yards. With 2
stunned or as the result of an opposed fightin’: or more raises, it flies in the direction the
brawlin’ maneuver. attacker intends.

Stun Feint
A stunned character does not add his fightin’
levels to the TN to be hit. He also does not get A feint is a quick motion in one direction
the DB of his weapon. followed by an even faster strike in another. A
If the Marshal wants, he might also require a fighter might pretend to aim for the head, for
character to make a Fair (5) Strength roll for a instance, but then switch his momentum and
character to stay on his feet immediately after drop the sword into his foe’s guts. If the
becoming stunned. This should usually be opponent raised his own weapon to parry a
applied only to damage from weapons that high blow, he’s probably looking at last night’s
deliver kinetic energy, such as hand weapons dinner spewing out in front of him.
and gun shots. The trouble is that it’s harder to feint against
both more experienced veterans and newbies.
Veterans are, of course, more difficult to fool
The Way of the Sword because they’re looking for it, but why newbies?
Because they aren’t fast enough to fall for the
Templars don’t rely entirely on their swords. fake strike in the first place. In either case, the
A submachine-gun on full-auto clears a room effort spent to pull the other fighter off-guard
full of trogs much faster and with less risk to subtracts from the attacker’s inertia, thus
the sword-slinger. Ammunition is often scarce in causing less damage the harder the feint.
the Wasted West, though, so Templars find A character can only feint against an
themselves falling back on their swords more opponent armed with a hand weapon. He does
often than they’d like. so by adding the opponent’s fightin’ level to the
That means they get in a lot of practice, and hero’s attack total. That same amount is then
find themselves in unusual situations where a subtracted from the damage. A Templar feinting
clever flick of the blade can save their lives. The against a trog with fightin’ 3, for example, adds
greatest sword-slingers in the order tell others +3 to his attack roll, but subtracts –3 from his
of their trademark moves, to ensure their damage roll.
brothers and sisters have every edge possible in If a foe is using a weapon but does not have
combat. the right concentration for it, don’t worry about
Here’s how all these fancy maneuvers it—use the foe’s basic fightin’ level anyway. A
work in the game. These aren’t powers— trog with a sword, for example, is still thinking
they’re just nifty tricks of swordplay. Any like it’s a club, so he can still be drawn off by a
Templar—in fact, anyone with the fightin’: successful feint.
sword aptitude—can use these techniques. In either case, the opponent can still attempt
an active defense by vamoosing. He just figures
Disarm out he was suckered at the last moment and
throws himself aside. The fighter who threw the
A bad guy without a weapon is about as feint still gets to count the foe’s fightin’ levels
dangerous as a, well, a bad guy without a as a bonus to his own roll, however.

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 Knights in White Tabards
total because of the lack of visibility.
Figure Eight Because the character cannot gain his
The figure eight is great for holding people at usual momentum from the thrust, also
bay—especially a hostile crowd that you might subtract –3 from the usual damage, or –2
want to talk to before they try to rip you to if the character’s other hand is free and
shreds. It’s performed by swinging the sword in he pounds it in with his empty hand.
a wide figure eight (hence the name, brainer). If In either case, subtract –2 from the Hit
someone moves into the arc of the sword’s Location roll due to the angle of the
movement, they’re going to get hit (though not attack.
as hard as by a directed attack).
Here’s how it works. It takes an action to
start, and no other attacks can be made while
Spinning Reverse
it’s in effect. However, if at any time someone The spinning reverse is a little more dramatic
attempts to close with the hero, passing into the than the reverse thrust. It allows a character to
sweep of the figure eight, the hero gets an combine a rearward swing with an attack on a
automatic roll to hit him, but with a –2 penalty. foe to her front, essentially getting a free attack.
If that hit connects, roll damage normally but However, it takes a lot of room, and can’t be
subtract –2 from the total (the figure eight performed in a narrow space like a simple
doesn’t take full advantage of the character’s reverse thrust.
Strength). The character performs this maneuver by
Any time an opponent is hit, the sword- swinging his sword in a loop in front of him
slinger must make an immediate Strength roll and then following through with a low swing to
against the severity of the wound he just his rear. In game terms, he makes an attack
inflicted. Use the standard healing TNs for the against the front target normally. Roll fightin’,
wound (Wind is 3, light wounds 5, and so on). If and do damage as usual. Then, if the first attack
the character makes it, the figure eight is still in was successful, roll Strength as well. The TN is
effect. If he fails the roll, the blow disrupts his the same as the wound level just caused (Wind
maneuver and it is no longer in effect, though
he may start again on his next action.

Double Figure Eight

It’s also possible to do a double figure eight
with two swords. This works the same way,
except that if the character hits with a raise,
both swords hit. Roll hit location, damage (don’t
forget the –2), and Strength checks for both.
If one figure eight is interrupted (by hitting
someone), the other sword stays in motion.

Reverse Thrust
Sometimes a person knows a bad guy is
behind him but doesn’t have time to spin around
and carve him up like a Thanksgiving turkey.
That’s when a quick reverse thrust comes in
handy.
It‘s performed by quickly switching to a
down-grip, then stabbing backward between the
character’s own arm and side. For extra thrust,
the sword-slinger can pound on the pommel of
his sword with his other palm.
This move simply allows a character to stab
someone directly behind him. It can be handy in
those rare cases when he’s surrounded and
doesn’t have enough room for a spinning reverse
thrust (just below). Subtract –2 from his fightin’

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 Knights in White Tabards
is 3, a light wound is 5, etc.). If failed, the weapons can’t be thrown—they just don’t work
maneuver is interrupted and the action is that way. You need both hands free to throw a
over. If successful, or if the first attack sword, though the Marshal might cut really strong
missed, the sword continues through and characters a break (d12s or better in Strength).
strikes at an opponent directly behind the The damage for throwing a sword depends on
wielder. Roll fightin’ again, but at a –4 penalty. how it hits. A success with no raise means the
If this blow hits, subtract –2 from the damage. sword hit pommel-first. It does only Strength
If this swing is used only to hit a target to +1d4 damage. With a raise, the sword does its
the rear (without striking a target to the front normal damage.
first), simply make the attack roll as usual, but
with a –4 penalty to the fightin’ roll and –2 to
the damage total.
Trap
A good swordsman can bind a foe’s weapon
so that it cannot strike.
Sweep Trapping is a straight contest of fightin’ rolls.
What’s a Templar to do when he’s out of If the Templar wins with no raises, it results in
bullets and surrounded by a horde of muties? a face-off (just below).
He should try a sweep, of course. With a raise, the swordsman has trapped his
A sweep is merely a wide swing designed to opponent’s weapon. Follow the normal
hack at multiple targets standing in close guidelines for opposed rolls here. One raise
proximity to each other. It doesn’t have the means the opponent can keep struggling. Two or
force of a full swing, but with a little luck, it more raises means he’ll need to wait until some
might cause enough damage to several other opportunity arises to free his weapon. Or,
opponents at once to get them all to back down. of course, he could just let go.
Here’s how it works. The character swings his A florentine fighter can have both his
sword at the first opponent. He gets +2 to hit weapons trapped, but it’s hard. The attacker
because of the wide arc of his blow, but causes must get an additional raise to trap the second
–2 damage should he connect. weapon. Decide how effective the trap is by
If the blow hits the target, resolve damage looking at the number of raises over and above
and have the Templar make a Strength check the two needed to trap both the weapons.
against the TN of the wound. If he makes that
roll, the weapon continues on its swing and the Face-Off
fighter can roll to hit another foe within his arc. A face-off is one of those deals where two
Unfortunately, this leaves the hero wide open, swordsmen get all tangled up with each other
so anyone taking a poke at him before his next and wind up face-to-face, grunting and swearing
action gets a +2 to hit him as well. curses as they try to push each other away and
The Marshal gets to decide if the bad guys off-balance. It happens when one of them
are lined up right for this maneuver, but it attempts a trap and doesn’t quite make it.
should almost always work against a mob, Once a face-off results, both fighters make
assuming the Templar isn’t already overwhelmed Strength rolls on their next actions. They remain
and unable to properly raise his sword. locked this way until one of them wins with a
raise. This is a simple task, so either fighter can
Sword Throw attempt some other action during the struggle if
he wishes (it’s a great time for overawe or
We’ve all seen it a dozen times in the vids. ridicule attempts). If the action requires the
Some hero’s just about to lose the climactic other hand, however, you suffer a –4 to your
battle. Out of desperation, he throws his Strength roll.
sword. It flies end-over-end (usually with When one of the fighters eventually wins, the
the camera right behind it) and plunges other is knocked backward and falls prone if he
through the villain, skewering him like a doesn’t make a Fair (5) Nimbleness check.
Morrocan shish kebob. Either fighter can drop his sword to escape
Here’s how it works in the game. As you the trap at any time, though this likely leaves
might guess, throwing a sword requires the him unarmed. That’s also a simple task, so he
throwin’: balanced Aptitude. Broadswords could drop his sword and attempt to run, smash
and the like have a Range Increment of 2; his foe with his fist, or even quick draw a pistol
sabers an Increment of 3. Light fencing and fire it.

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 Knights in White Tabards

Sword Maneuvers
Sweep

Disarm
Figure
Eight

Feint Sword
Throw

Reverse Thrust

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 Archetypes

Anti-Templar
Traits & Aptitudes Personality
Deftness 1d6 You fool! I’m no Templar! Can’t you tell the
Shootin’: pistol 2 difference! My tabard is black, and it will remain
Nimbleness 2d12 so until the tyranny of Simon and his “knights”
Climbin’ 1 have been wiped from memory.
Dodge 3 I know of their spite firsthand. Several years
Fightin’: ax, ago, my family lived in a small village in
brawlin’ 5 the Maze. Croakers attacked with their
Sneak 3 shraks and shamans and wiped us out,
Strength 1d8 then took our women and
Quickness returned to the sea. One
4d10 of those women was my
Vigor 4d6 wife.
As I stood there,
helpless, a recent
traveler stood and
dropped his filthy coat
and hat. Beneath these
tattered clothes was the hated
white tabard. The Templar said he
did not help us because we knew
Cognition 3d6 the croakers were raiding other
Scrutinize 1 villages nearby and had refused
Search 3 their requests for aid. Can you
Knowledge 3d8 believe the pig? Asking why
Academia: Occult 2 we didn’t help those other
Area Knowledge 2 folks when he wasn’t
Language 2 willing to help us himself?
Mien 3d6 And this on the day my
Smarts 1d6 wife was likely eaten—
Survival: plains 2 or worse—by those
Spirit 2d10 hideous fishmen.
Faith 3 I attacked the
Guts 2 swine but was beaten to
Wind 16 within an inch of my
Pace 12 life. Months later, I
Edges: heard of the anti-
Arcane Background: Templar 3 Templars. The great
Hindrances: Modeen and his faction
Enemy: Templars –3 have shown us the true
Intolerance: Templars –3 way.
Vengeful –3 Now I wield my ax in
Ugly as sin –1: a scar from a his honor, and for the
fight with a Templar runs world’s future.
down your face. And as for the
Rewards: Armor of the Templar who turned his
saints 3, fury of the saints 2 back on my wife? His
Gear: A great ax and $50. death made me stronger
and faster than I ever was
before.

Quote: “I’ve got an ax to grind.”

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 Archetypes

Companion
Traits & Aptitudes Personality
Deftness 1d8 I ain’t got the patience for it. That’s
Shootin’: SMG 4 why. Don’t ask stupid questions. ’Sides. It’s
Speed-load: SMG 1 good enough. I been blessed by a Martyr. If
Nimbleness 3d6 I’m good enough for Saint Gates, I oughta
Climbin’ 1 be good enough for you.
Drivin’: car 3 Anyway, I’m too old to be a squire. These
Fightin’: brawlin’ 3 young Templars don’t want some middle-
Sneak 1 aged veteran tagging along behind them
Strength 2d10 telling ’em what to do. They’re s’posed to
Quickness 4d6 tell you what to do, an’ I sure as Hell ain’t
Vigor 4d10 got the
Cognition 3d6 patience
Search 2 for that.
Knowledge 1d6 ’Course,
Academia: Occult 1 Simon’s
Area Knowledge 2 got the
Language 2 right idea. I
Mien 2d12 done seen too
Overawe 4 many good folks die
Smarts 1d6 out here to think any
Survival: urban 2 different. You gotta be
Spirit 3d8 careful who you stand
Faith 2 behind. How do you tell?
Guts 3 Take it literally. If the
Wind 16 bozo’d take a bullet for
Pace 12 you, take one for him.
Edges: Otherwise, leave ’im for the
Blessing 3: Saint Gates monsters to chew on while you go
Companion 1 somewhere else.
Hindrances: Now shut up with all the
Big ‘un: husky –1 (Size +1; Pace questions. There’s a wormling
4) boundin’ in an’ I got two full clips.
Intolerance –1 (people who
ask why you’re not a real Quote: “Monster, my ass.”
Templar)
Miser –3
Slowpoke –2 (you don’t run
anywhere.)
Vengeful –3
Gear: An NA Commando SMG with 2
full spare clips.

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 Archetypes

Squire
Traits & Aptitudes Personality
Deftness 3d8 Thanks, boss. That was great. I needed the
Shootin’: rifle 2 practice. Now don’t get me wrong—I like the
Nimbleness 2d12 lessons—but maybe next time we could start
Climbin’ 1 out on something… well, not quite as tough
Dodge 3 as those zombies. Like maybe watermelons
Fightin’: brawlin’ 3 or something that doesn’t fight back. I’m
Sneak 3 missing half an arm here. I know you
Strength 1d8 can fix it but…
Quickness 4d10 What? You’re not going to heal
Vigor 4d6 me? Yeah, I know what you said
Cognition 3d6 about conserving our power, but
Scrutinize 2 I’m spurting blood here. You don’t
Search 3 want me to die, do you?
Knowledge 1d6 Okay, I’ll wait a while. I just
Academia: Occult 2 hope I don’t get blood on
Area Knowledge 2 that pretty tabard of yours.
Language 2 Want me to shine your
Mien 3d6 boots now? I’ve still got
Smarts 1d6 one good hand.
Ridicule 3 Sorry. I know sarcasm
Survival: plains 2 isn’t “becoming,” but I’m
Spirit 2d10 starting to feel faint. Huh? No, I
Faith 1 don’t think the Duke’s gonna bless
Guts 3 me for sitting here bleeding. “Not if I
Wind 16 keep whining.” That’s funny. Really
Pace 12 funny. Thanks.
Edges: Come on. Just heal me up and I’ll
Arcane Background: build us a fire and fix us some
Squire 0 dinner. I got some jackalope meat
Blessing 3: Saint Hise leftover! Your favorite, you bas.…
Hindrances:
Curious –3 Quote: “Hey, can I borrow your
Stubborn –2 sword?”
Templar’s Oath –5
Gear: A golf club, a police pistol,
10 spare rounds (loose),
running shoes (+1 Pace), and
$30.

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 Archetypes

Veteran Templar
Traits & Aptitudes Personality
Deftness 4d6 You want to be a Templar, huh? What
Shootin’: pistol 5 do you know about it? Do you know how
Nimbleness 2d10 lonely it is? Do you know how terrible it is
Climbin’ 1 to have the weight of the world
Dodge 3 on your shoulders? To know you
Fightin’: brawlin’, sword 5 can save an entire town if you
Sneak 2 put your heart into it, but
Strength 3d8 you won’t, ’cause they’re
Quickness 3d6 just desert scum?
Vigor 4d10 You young punks. All
Cognition 3d6 you see is our white
Scrutinize 2 tabards and gleaming
Search 3 swords. You don’t see
Knowledge 1d6 us when we’re
Academia: Occult 3 dressed as lepers or
Area Knowledge 2 muties to see if
Language 2 anyone will help us.
Medicine 2 Ever think about that,
Mien 1d6 kid? I thought not.
Overawe 3 I was there at the
Smarts 2d12 start. When Simon
Survival: plains 2 first came back
Spirit 1d8 from his long walk.
Faith 5 A lot of good
Guts 4 people died
Wind 16 since then.
Pace 8 What
Edges:
Arcane Background 3:
Templar
Blessing 3: makes
Saint Earp you so
Sidekick 5: Squire special?
(use the Squire Okay. Just
Archetype for testing you, kid.
this character, or You’ve done well
design your the last few weeks,
own) so I reckon I’ll take you
Veteran o’ the on as a squire. Just don’t
Wasted West bug me, okay? You talk
(Tell the too much. Here. Go
Marshal to practice with my
draw a card sword so I can get
for this Edge.) some sleep. And
Hindrances: keep that fire
Lame –3 (Pace 8) stoked. These old
Stubborn –2 bones get cold at
Templar’s Oath –5 night.
Gear: A sword, 2 police pistols, 2 spare clips,
and $22. Quote: “You wanna be a Templar? Go
kill that thing.”

Posse: 71
Rewards & Relics

Posse: 72
 Chapter Three:
Rewards & Relics

So now you know what it takes to be a No one knows why he didn’t take his sabre
Templar, and what you do with your nifty skills into battle that day, but it stayed back at
and abilities. But what do you get out of the headquarters and survived the war. It’s typical
deal? We’ve got ya covered, partner. This chapter of the ceremonial swords issued to US and
covers Templar rewards and even a few of the Confederate officers: lightweight and ornately
relics they’ve made their own. Lets start with engraved.
those: a handful of powerful swords floating Power: Billings’ Blade offers its bearer two
around the Wasted West. benefits: a +2 to all fightin’: sword rolls; and,
when in hand, a +4 to all guts checks made by
the bearer’s companions. The bearer does not
Relics get the guts bonus, which is negated if he fails
his own guts check.
Templars live and die by the sword, so it’s no
surprise that the order has come into possession
of some very special blades. What follows are a
Clarent, Sword of Justice
few of those. They’re examples of the sort of Most people don’t know that King Arthur
thing your hero might start the game with if owned not one but two powerful swords. Before
she’s got the relic Edge, or which might be found the Lady of the Lake tossed him Excalibur,
in her adventures or in the hands of important Arthur carried Clarent, his Sword of Justice.
Templar non-player characters. No one knows exactly how this sword
surfaced in the Wasted West—it had been
Billings’ Blade missing since the Dark Ages. Nevertheless,
some scavvie found it in a baggage locker in
Lt. Colonel Ralph Billings was a real leader of
the ruins of the St. Louis bus terminal. Go
men. The CO of a Confederate infantry battalion,
figure. Clarent looks like a simple
he always insisted on leading his unit into
medieval longsword, slightly tarnished
combat, waving his ceremonial officer’s sabre
and a little loose in the handle. Looks can
over his head as he stood in the hatch of his
be deceiving, however.
armored personnel carrier. His men were intensely
Power: Clarent lives to punish the
loyal, and had an astonishing success rate in
guilty. If its bearer spends one night
battles that chewed other units to pieces. “Ol’
meditating on a crime, and succeeds in a
Bill” survived eleven battlefield wounds before
Spirit roll against a TN of 9, Clarent gives
he and his loyal “Raiders” were vaporized by a
him a vision of the guilty party. The bearer
tac nuke strike in the final weeks of the war.

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 Rewards & Relics
then gains a +5 to all fightin’: swords Power: The bearer gains a bonus equal to her
rolls against the guilty party, and a faith for both her fightin’: sword and damage
whopping +10 to damage! These bonuses rolls. The sword’s defensive bonus is also equal
remain in effect until the target is dead or to the bearer’s faith.
the bearer contemplates a different crime.

Chamberlain’s Sabre Rewards

Civil war general Chamberlain’s sabre was a Templar magic isn’t nearly as spectacular as
lifesaver. At Gettysburg, it stopped a bullet that of Doomsayers or sykers. Most of their
that might otherwise have killed the general. “rewards” are small blessings that affect only
Chamberlain was seriously wounded in a later the Templar himself. Offensive rewards don’t
battle, but he used his sabre as a crutch and strike enemies down. They augment the
stayed on his feet to command his forces for Templar’s own prowess or perhaps deliver some
hours, despite the massive loss of blood. sort of additional effect when a Templar smites
The sword was in a Texas museum before a foe himself. Defensive powers aren’t glowing
the war, recovered by scavengers, and ended up shields able to keep out tank rounds. They’re
in the hands of early Templar George Lablanc. It small improvements in the Templar’s own body
is a conventional Civil-War era officer’s sabre, that help him resist shock and heal slightly
complete with tasseled scabbard. faster than usual.
Power: The bearer of Chamberlain’s sabre Rewards are measured in levels from 1 to 5
cannot drop below 0 Wind. At 0 Wind, he can (they don’t go any higher). The higher the level,
only perform simple actions, and cannot the more powerful and beneficial the reward.
participate in combat. But he does remain A beginning Templar receives 5 levels divided
conscious and does not bleed to death. between lay on hands and any one other reward.

The False Excalibur

No-one knows what became of the real Gaining & Improving Rewards
sword of King Arthur, if it ever even existed at A new reward can be bought at level 1 for 5
all. This sword isn’t the real McCoy, but it’s the Bounty Points. This takes the Templar a full day
next best thing: the prop sword used in the 2053 of meditation.
hit film, Arthur’s Vengeance III: the Bloodfest. It Improving a reward costs double the new
belonged to the Director, who gave it to Templar level and requires a like number of hours in
Leslie Young in exchange for a brief appearance meditation. Thus, raising lay on hands from level
in his vid Knights of Battle. It looks a lot like a 1 to 2 costs 4 Bounty Points and requires four
real medieval sword, or at least what Hollywood hours of meditation. As with Traits and
thinks a medieval sword should look like. Aptitudes, only 1 level in a power can be raised
Power: The False Excalibur is an inspiring between game sessions, no matter how many
instrument. Its bearer gains +4 to all bluff, Bounty Points the hero might have.
leadership, overawe, and performin’ rolls made
while the sword is in hand.
Greater Rewards
The Templar’s Cross After a Templar reaches level 5 in a particular
When the last real Templars were burned at reward, there is one extra perk to be gained: the
the stake in 1314, many of their treasures were greater reward.
lost, hidden away from their enemies. One Greater rewards are obtained by completing
much-sought-after artifact was the noble and important quests. Your Templar may
Templar’s Cross, a sword that had belonged, automatically choose a greater reward for any
it is said, to a string of knights beginning power he has at level 5 when he or his posse
with Templar founder Hugh de Payens. It receives a Legend Chip. There is no Bounty
was sought not for its symbolic value, but Point cost for this reward.
for the valuable gem embedded in its hilt. The powers on the following pages all list
Although King Phillip never got his hands their greater rewards. When one is granted, the
on it, it did eventually resurface, ending up Marshal must figure out exactly how the new
in the Antiquities Museum in Shan Fan. It is blessing manifests itself—no bathing in golden
a large, heavy broadsword with an ornate rays of light. Greater rewards usually manifest
hilt and huge onyx pommel. in subtle and humble ways, such as a dream, a

Posse: 74
 Rewards & Relics
sudden revelation, or—as in the case of beast Greater Reward: the Templar can
friend—a critter that suddenly shows up and “bond” himself to a particular creature.
takes a liking to your hero. The animal isn’t supernatural, though it
does become a little smarter than the
Armor of the Saints average dog, horse, bear, hawk, or
The Saints look after their own. whatever once bonded. The animal can
Each level in armor of the Saints reduces any understand simple commands from the
damage the Templar takes by a like amount. At Templar and obeys as best it can.
level 5, for instance, 23 points of damage is The statistics for several common animals
reduced by 5, to 18 points of damage. can be found in Chapter 17 of the Hell on
Greater Reward: The Templar gains 1 point Earth rulebook. The Templar can choose the
of real, honest-to-God armor. If the hero also type of beast to bond himself to, and can wait
wears any other type of armor, it adds to it. A until he finds that particular creature before
Templar in a Kevlar jacket, for example, has an declaring his bond.
Armor level of 3: 2 for the jacket and 1 for his
Greater Reward. And yes, he still also subtracts Celerity
–5 (–1 for each level in armor of the Saints) from By clearing their thoughts of distractions and
whatever damage manages to get through. exercising their incredible wills, Templars can
increase their effectiveness in stressful situations,
Beast Friend such as combat. Each level in celerity allows a
The Wasted West is a fearful place for Templar to discard one Action Card and draw
critters as well as people. Templars with this another in its place. Jokers may not be discarded,
gift seem to have as comforting an effect on but any other card, high or low, may be.
animals as they do on people. Greater Reward: The Templar gains one
A Templar with this reward gains +1 per additional Action Card in combat. This allows
power level to all ridin’, teamster, and medicine: him to have 1 more than the usual maximum of
veterinary rolls. 5 cards in a single round.

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 Rewards & Relics
Command Deflection
Templars are stern taskmasters. When Templars very often come up against
one says jump, most folks do it. Command practitioners of the black arts and monsters
doesn’t turn a person into the Templar’s hurling arcane bolts of energy. Deflection allows
puppet, but it can make a scavvie drop his post-Apocalyptic knights to sometimes hurl
gun or a mutie run for the hills. those deadly magicks back at their casters.
Each level of command adds +1 to the Deflecting an attack requires two things. First,
Templar’s leadership, overawe, and persuasion the Templar must discard an action card as a
rolls. “vamoose.” Then he makes a faith roll versus
Greater Reward: The Templar gains the opponent’s “casting” roll result (be it faith,
temporary but powerful control over a single blasting, or whatever), with a +1 for each level of
individual. He can issue a single simple deflection. If the creature doesn’t make a roll to
command as an action by making an opposed cast its spell, it makes a Spirit roll instead.
roll of his faith versus any human target’s Spirit. If successful, the spell affects the caster in
This reward has no effect on creatures without whatever manner it would have affected the
a human spirit (so walkin’ dead are immune, but Templar. This can get pretty tricky with really
Harrowed are not!). If the Templar succeeds, the bizarre spells, so the Marshal might have to do
target loses an action. With a raise, the victim some fast-thinking. Note that this applies only to
must carry out a single, short instruction. spells cast directly at the Templar. A fireball
Victims of the command can still refuse to do cast at the ground at his feet wouldn’t count,
anything to directly injure themselves, but they but if it was aimed at him, it would.
can be made to harm others, including their Greater Reward: The Templar can deflect
close companions. In rare cases, such as any spell he sees, whether it is cast at him or
commanding a victim to harm a loved one, the another. The procedure remains the same. The
target gets a second chance to resist. only catch is that the Templar must somehow
know the spell was cast.
Deadeye
The only thing better than a hail of bullets is Endurance
a hail of well-aimed bullets. Deadeye helps, but Many times through the years, a young
only at a distance. Templar has come to Simon privately and told
Each level of deadeye negates 1 point of range him of her sorrows and travails. Sometimes
penalty when firing a gun, crossbow, missile bearing the load of the world on one’s shoulders
launcher or other ranged weapon. Note that this can wear down even the hardened knights of
doesn’t actually add to his total, it just negates the order. On these occasions, the Grand Master
the penalty for the Range Increment. That has listened sympathetically, patted the
means the minimum TN to hit something (before despairing Templar on the back, and comforted
counting other factors) is still a 5. her with a single word: “Endure.”
Greater Reward: The Templar gains the This is easier said than done, of course. There
ability to pull off trick shots. By spending a is little anyone can do to relieve the mental
single action drawing a bead, he can then use woes of being the world’s judge and jury, but
his next action to take a bizarre shot, such as the saints have at least granted some post-
ricocheting a round off a rock around a corner, Apocalyptic knights the gift of physical stamina.
using a mirror to hit someone behind him, and Each level in endurance adds +1 to the Templar’s
so on. The Templar still can’t make a shot that’s Wind.
actually impossible, but he can make one Greater Reward: The Templar’s Vigor raises
that is even theoretically possible. The base a die type permanently.
TN for the shot is Incredible (11), and it is
further modified by range and other Fury of the Saints
circumstances. The Templar’s five levels of The heroes the Templars revere as Saints
deadeye still negate the first 5 points of were those gallant souls who fought the horrors
range penalty as usual. of the Reckoning—and died. Of course, most of
Figure in all other factors when those heroes were mean sons-of-bitches, so
determining the final TN. To hit someone being killed just pissed them off. This reward
around a corner, for instance, add the –6 allows them to give a little back to the unholy
modifier for hitting a hidden opponent. horrors that put them six feet under.

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 Rewards & Relics
Fury of the saints allows the Templar to reroll
a damage total. Say he rolls STR+2d8 and gets a
5 on his Strength total and 3 on his sword
damage. Not so hot. So he uses fury of the saints
and rolls over. This time he gets a 12 on his
Strength total and a 12 on his sword damage.
The power’s level determines the number of
times per day the character can use this ability.
If he has 2 levels in fury of the saints, he can
discard and reroll his damage no more than
twice every 24 hours.
Greater Reward: The Templar gains one
additional die of damage whenever he uses his
primary hand weapon (the one blessed by
Simon). If his sword normally causes 2d8
damage, it now causes 3d8.
Note that it is not the sword that is blessed
by the saints, it is the Templar. So another
character wielding the weapon would not
receive the bonus.

Gallantry
The horrors of the Wasted West are many,
and no one sees more of these abominations
than the Templars. To help them cope with
these horrors, they draw on the courage of the
saints. Gallantry adds +1 per level to the hero’s
guts totals.
Greater Reward: When the Templar is
negatively affected by fear, he has a momentary guardian angels cannot protect their servants
vision of some event from the lives of the from all harm, but they can “tweak” Fate a bit
saints. The vision shows the saint in one of his and reduce the number of lucky and random
worst predicaments, scared witless, but hits directed at their Templar champions.
somehow managing to persevere despite his Each level in guardian angel subtracts one
terror. The message is very clear: “If you’re not from an opponent’s attack roll, whether it be
afraid, you’re a fool. But you may still survive if fightin’, shootin’, or throwin’. It does nothing to
you keep your head.” protect against attacks that aren’t specifically
Such a vision occurs whenever the hero directed at the Templar, such as explosives.
suffers from the effects of fear. If he fails a roll, Greater Reward: The Templar can cancel
and then suffers for it by being forced to run, Fate Chips spent to increase an attack (or
endure a negative modifier, suffer a heart damage if the villain has that ability) that
attack, or any other result of fear, whether from directly targets him. He does so simply by
the Scart Table or some specific result caused spending a like number of Fate Chips.
by a weird creature or power, he can make a
second guts check immediately. The only catch Guise
is that there are no gallantry bonuses to the roll Templars often disguise themselves to
this time. He’ll have to do it on his own. watch those they are thinking of aiding.
Only if those folks seem honest and
Guardian Angel compassionate does a Templar reveal
Though they are now spirits, the saints herself and provide service.
remember all too well the frailties of human This reward helps the Templars remain
flesh. Armor of the saints is a wonderful way to incognito. Each level adds +1 to the hero’s
reduce the damage the forces of evil inflict on disguise skill. The bonus only works when
the saints’ avatars, but it’s better if the mortal the Templar is attempting to blend into a
hero isn’t harmed in the first place. These crowd or, more often, appear as an

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 Rewards & Relics
afflicted beggar or mutant. Guise never illustrates the harsh methods of the Templars
helps a Templar pretend to be a specific than the greater reward of persuader.
person. It could be used to look like just The Templar lays his sword upon the flesh of
another bandit in a large gang of road a subject and asks a question. If the victim lies,
warriors, but not to slip into one of the sword nicks the flesh and it begins to bleed
Throckmorton’s 20-man patrols because they so profusely that it causes one wound to the
all know each other. subject’s guts area.
Greater Reward: The Templar’s guise This act is subject to two conditions. First, the
actually becomes an illusionary ability he can subject must be subdued (though not necessarily
adapt at will (Speed 1). This may be used to bound). It’s not a reward a Templar could ever
impersonate particular targets. No props, use in combat. The Templar must be able to
clothes, makeup or other “special effects” are actually rest his blade on the subject’s skin and
required. His bonus to disguise is still +5 (+1 for allow it to cut on its own.
each level he now has in guise), but most folks Second, the victim must be told what will
don’t even attempt to scrutinize the Templar happen if he lies. If not, or if the victim doesn’t
unless they have good reason to. understand the Templar, the power also fails.

Inner Strength Pluck

Templars have many gifts and powers with
The power of righteousness lends great which to battle evil. But sometimes dumb luck
strength. intervenes and causes disaster to the forces of
—Simon Mercer, 2088 good. The saints frown upon this sort of thing.
While they cannot alter fate for their chosen
Simon’s words must be true. Each level of warriors, they can sometimes nudge it in the
inner strength adds +1 to the Templar’s Strength right direction.
rolls, including those made to cause damage. Pluck is a very special reward that grants the
Greater Reward: The Templar’s Strength character a little extra luck in emergencies. In
actually raises a step permanently. Remember game terms, each level in this reward gives him
that if your hero already has a d12 in Strength, 1 reroll per game session. Each reroll can be
one additional step raises it to d12+2. used to reroll any one die that would normally
be rolled by the player. This doesn’t add a die to
Persuader a roll like white Fate Chips, it simply allows him
The saints do not grant Templars the ability to pick up any one die (per level) and roll it
to tell truth from lies. They do help them notice again.
tell-tale signs humans subconsciously give when The Templar can use as many rerolls as he
they lie, however. Deceivers’ eyes may dilate has levels per day, and can use them all on one
unnaturally, they may glance away as they roll or break them up over several rolls. He may
weave their false tale, or they may have some also spend them one at a time, and can even
characteristic “tell” when they deliberately bluff use a reroll on a reroll if he wants. Again, this
or mislead. doesn’t add additional dice, it just changes the
Persuader gives a Templar +1 per level to his result of one or more die rolls.
scrutinize roll. The power only works when the Unlike Fate Chips, these rerolls may be used
knight can see the subject’s features. Generally, for anything the player would normally roll, or
he has to be within a few yards, close enough for an effect his character caused. The player
to see his pupils. The Marshal may allow the could choose to reroll a die used to determine a
Templar to be a little further back if the result on a random table (if his hero caused the
subject has a very obvious “tell.” roll), reroll damage dice, or even a hit location
Greater Reward: The Templars are not result (assuming his Templar made the attack).
always kind, benevolent heroes. They Greater Reward: Once per game, the
believe that the end—the total reboot of a Templar may affect a roll caused by someone
strong and lawful society—justifies their else (as long as his character is aware of the
often heavy-handed means. Many people action). Thus a Templar who just got shot in the
disagree, of course—especially those who head could force his attacker to reroll hit
have suffered from their sometimes location. Or an evil junker could be forced to
Gestapo-like tactics. No reward better reroll a dangerous malfunction check.

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 Rewards & Relics
Lay on Hands Magic Resistance
The first reward Templars learn is how to Templars are often called upon to
heal. Only after this ability is mastered and the defeat some nefarious creature. Many of
Templar’s faith and compassion are proven does their most dangerous foes are the most
Simon invest the hero with more sacred power. intelligent, and they often use magical
To use this power, the Templar makes a faith powers. This reward helps the knights of
roll against the TN of the victim’s highest the Apocalypse resist such eldritch
wound level, as shown on the table, adding +1 attacks.
for each level in this reward. Each level in magic resistance adds +1 to
If he makes the roll, every area on the victim the character’s roll if the spell has an opposed
improves a level. If the Templar fails the faith effect. If it is a damage-causing effect, the
roll, the victim is not healed, and the hero reward also subtracts 1 point per level from the
cannot attempt to aid him again until 24 hours damage total.
have passed. Failure when trying to heal a Finally, if the spell is not resisted and does
maimed limb means it’s a permanent wound. not cause damage, but does directly affect the
A Templar can use the power on any Templar, the spell-caster must subtract the
particular victim only once per day. He can also hero’s magic resistance levels from his roll.
use his power on himself. Magic resistance does not affect spells that
aren’t directly targeted at the Templar. It would
still soak some of the damage resulting from
Lay on Hands such an attack, however. Thus a knight would
still gain armor against an explosive ball of
TN Wound Level Time doom aimed at the ground near his feet, but the
3 Wind 1 minute enemy spellcaster would not have to subtract
5 Light 5 minutes from his casting roll.
7 Heavy 10 minutes Greater Reward: The Templar can
9 Serious 15 minutes automatically redirect any spell cast in sight to
11 Critical 20 minutes affect him instead of its intended target. Some
13 Maimed (limbs) 30 minutes gift, huh? His friends might appreciate it.

Greater Reward: The Templar gains the Manna

ability to cure ailments too. The TN of his faith Templars are supposed to learn how to find
test depends on the severity of the toxin. food and water in even the harshest conditions.
Once someone has attempted to cure an Sometimes it just doesn’t happen, however. The
ailment by supernatural means, it can never be devastation of the world has killed thousands of
healed by those methods, though it may heal species of game, wiped out entire species of
normally if that is possible. What we really plants, and generally made staying alive hard as
mean is that once lay on hands, touch o’ the Hell. Literally.
Doomsayers, or fleshknit fails, those magical Manna protects against starvation and
powers won’t cure that ailment. A very special dehydration. It’s not a reward many Templars
magical cure, such as a wish or the blessing of rush to get—everyone wants more strength to
a divine being, should still work, however. kill things with—but they often wind up wishing
they’d paid more attention to basic survival
skills when they’re starving in the desert.
Curing Each level in this power allows the
Templar to go an entire day without real
TN Toxin food or water by subsisting on normally
3 Colds, most nonfatal poisons inedible materials such as tree bark,
5 Common viruses grass, or even scraps of leather. After
7 Most natural poisons, such as snake that, he must eat and drink normally for
venom; infections at least two days or lose Wind as detailed
9 Radiation, chronic infections in the Wasted West sourcebook. This
11 “Supernatural” diseases; tummy reward is right handy when the hero
twisters; faminitism; any plague needs to travel light or finds himself in a
started by Pestilence or her minions devastated wasteland.

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 Rewards & Relics
Greater Reward: The Templar can Say a Templar needs to find the wreckage of
eat anything he can chew, and it provides Air Force One. He doesn’t just start walking
complete nutritional value. He is completely toward the Rockies, or even get a vision of the
immune to poisons or diseases transferred jet’s final resting place. Instead, he asks around,
by ingestion. He can be affected by poisons listens to rumors, and conducts research. While
that are injected or transmitted by bites, claws, doing so, he just happens to run into a former
dart guns, and so forth. Think of the hero’s air traffic controller who knows how to access
stomach as a filter. If it passes through there, the old radar records at the Cheyenne
it’s harmless. Otherwise the poison affects him International Airport. Armed with a general
normally. One last perk. Templars with this location, he heads into the mountains and runs
reward are completely immune to the effects of into some veteran mountain men. They give him
faminites, hunger spirits, and creatures which more clues, and eventually he gets close enough
kill by causing intense hunger or famine. that he sees something glint on a high
mountainside. He whips out his binoculars and
Purity sure enough, finds the wreckage.
The world is filled with irradiated horrors and
the strange energy that made them. The Cult o’ Sixth Sense
Doom embraces and even worships this power, The men and women of Simon’s order work
but most survivors avoid its mutating caress. long and hard to become Templars. Then they
The saints must feel the same, because purity strive day after day to heal the world and
helps their avatars avoid this energy. expunge the evils that eat away at it like cancer.
Whenever the Templar is subjected to When these dark forces do not play fair, by
harmful radiation, his purity level adds to his attacking from ambush or sniping a dedicated
resistance roll. This adds to opposed rolls, and hero from a distance, the saints sometimes
also acts as “light armor” against harmful provide a supernatural warning.
radiation damage (including most Doomsayer Whenever the Templar is about to be
spells). A Templar who is also rad-tolerant is a adversely affected by a situation he does not
deadly weapon against the vile minions of the know about, such as when he’s about to enter
Cult of Doom. an ambush, eat poisoned food, or get shot at by
Greater Reward: If the Templar ever suffers a sniper, the Marshal should secretly make a
a random mutation, he can draw an additional Cognition roll against a TN of Incredible (11). Add
card and choose which one affects him. +1 to this roll for each level the Templar has in
this reward. If successful, the knight feels a
Scavenger tingle at the back of his neck. Against an attack,
The knights of the Apocalypse find it means he gets to make a dodge or simply
themselves in all kinds of strange situations. To avoid surprise in the first round of an ambush.
save a village, they may have to find a With a poisoned dish, booby-trapped vehicle, or
generator one day, a cache of arms the next, or other situational circumstance, the character
a replacement firing pin for the town’s heavy must determine what he does with his warning.
machine gun the next. Fortunately, the Saints Greater Reward: The Templar is so in tune
seem to smile on those who wear the tabard. with his danger sense that he can actually
Each level in scavenger adds +1 to the anticipate more immediate threats. He may add
Templar’s scroungin’ rolls. +4 to his Defensive Bonus and dodge rolls. The
Greater Reward: The Templar can find just hero may also add this bonus to any other
about anything. It might take him a while, but “defensive” skill roll or other total where his
if he searches hard enough, he can probably anticipation might help him (Marshal’s call).
find a working hover tank, a rocket
launcher, or even a Tickle-me-Elmo. Speed
These items aren’t “manufactured” by the They say speed kills. Maybe “they” saw a
saints, they just lead their vassals to the Templar with this reward.
location of the needed device through signs Speed makes the Templar move faster. That’s
and clues. The Marshal should set a simple handy when he’s out of ammo and some
TN for mundane or relatively common brainer’s going for his gat. Then the Templar has
items. Finding more exotic items should be to close the distance quickly and get to hacking
a quest in itself. with his sword.

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 Rewards & Relics
Each level of speed adds +1 to the Templar’s Survivor
basic Pace. If a knight has a Nimbleness of 8 and Templars are hard to kill. This reward
3 levels of speed, his Pace is 11. If he runs, he proves it. Immediately after a Templar
can move up to double that total as usual; 22 in dies, he draws a number of cards equal to
this case. That’s fast, friends. his level in this power, plus another for
Greater Reward: The Templar can “bolt.” If every point of Grit.
he chooses, he can divide his Pace over his If no Joker is drawn, the character dies.
actions however he wants. He may even use all If a red Joker comes up, the Templar
of his Pace on a single action if he likes. That clings to life. Maybe he lies in the desert for
can make him drastically faster than the other hours or days before a friendly band of
brainers around him if you (the player) take nomads finds him. Maybe he drags himself into
proper advantage of it. an old cave and lays in delirium for a week.
Of course, this reward only benefits you Perhaps a seemingly terminal fall deposits him
when the Marshal is detailing the combat and in a snowdrift. Whatever the case, he hangs on
sticking to the exact movement rules (which he to life by the slimmest thread until help finally
may not always want or need to do). manages to arrive.
Here’s an example of how it can benefit you A black Joker means he’s coming back from
when these occasions do arise. A Templar with the Great Beyond in a different way. Marshal,
a Pace of 6 and 3 actions in a particular round this reward replaces the usual Harrowed draw.
would normally move 2, 2, and 2 at a walk, or 4, Don’t do it twice.
4, and 4 at a run (double his Pace). A Templar Greater Reward: Even after a Templar takes
with the same Pace, 5 levels of speed and its a maiming wound to the head or guts, he can
greater reward has a total Pace of 11. He could keep fighting as long as he makes an Incredible
walk all 11 yards on his first action. Or run 22 (11) Vigor roll on his first action of each round.
yards on the first action. Or run 21 yards on the Afterward, he drops to the ground like any
first action and 1 on any other action. Got it? other brainer and draws as described above.

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 Rewards & Relics

Templar Rewards
Reward Description Greater Reward
Armor of the Saints Reduces damage by the Adds 1 point of Armor.
number of levels in this power.
Beast Friend Adds +1 to ridin’, teamster, The Templar can bond himself
and medicine: vetrinary with an animal.
rolls per level.
Celerity For each level, the hero can The Templar gets +1 Action Card
discard an Action Card every turn.
and draw a fresh one.
Command Each level adds +1 to the hero’s The Templar gains temporary
leadership, overawe, and control over an individual.
persuasion rolls.
Deadeye Negates 1 point of range penalty The Templar can pull off
for each level. “impossible” shots.
Deflection Deflects magical attacks cast at Deflects any visible magic back
the Templar back at the caster. at the caster.
Endurance Adds +1 to the Templar’s Wind Adds +1 step to the Templar’s
for each level. Vigor.
Fury of the Saints The Templar can reroll one damage Adds +1 die to the damage of the
result per day for each level. Templar’s primary weapon.
Gallantry Adds +1 to the Templar’s guts Allows a second guts check to
die rolls for each level. avoid running from previous
guts check result.
Guardian Angel Subtracts -1 from an opponent’s The Templar can cancel opponents’
attack roll for each level. fate chips with his own.
Guise Adds +1 to the Templar’s disguise The disguise becomes an illusion.
for each level.
Inner Strength Adds +1 to the hero’s Strength Adds +1 step to the Templar’s
die rolls. Strength.
Lay on Hands The hero can heal self and others. He can cure ailments, too.
Persuader Adds +1 to the Templar’s scrutinize The hero can use his sword as a
die rolls for each level. lie detector.
Pluck Lets the hero reroll one of his dice Lets the Templar reroll any one
per game session for each level. die each game session.
Magic Resistance Adds +1 to rolls to oppose the The Templar can deflect any
effects of magic for each level. spell to affect him.
Manna The hero can survive one day The character can eat anything,
without food and water for and is immune to poisons or
each level. taints in food.
Purity Adds +1 to resist radiation effects, The Templar draws two cards for
subtracts –1 from radiation random mutations, and takes
damage for each level. the best one.
Scavenger Adds +1 to the Templar’s scroungin’ The hero can find anything…
die rolls for each level. eventually.
Sixth Sense Gives the Templar some warning Adds +4 to defensive rolls.
when in immediate danger.
Speed Adds +1 to the Templar’s Pace The Templar can divide his Pace
for each level. up however he wants between
Action Cards.
Survivor Helps the hero hang on to life. Allows the hero to fight on,
even when mortally wounded.

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No Man’s Land
 Martyrs

No Man’s Land: 84
 Chapter Four:
Martyrs

The power of the Templars comes from those

heroes who died fighting the Reckoners. That’s Gaining Blessings
the source of the Templars’ miraculous gifts. Templar characters gain the blessings of new
Some of the “saints,” as the Templars call such Martyrs by performing deeds. Some of the
fallen warriors, take an even more active role. requisite deeds are very specific, some are not.
These long-dead heroes are the Martyrs. There’s enough information in the first chapter
for players to know what kinds of deeds their
heroes must perform to garner the attention of
The Theology of the Martyrs the saints. When they believe they may have
performed an appropriate deed, the Marshal
The saints are real—or at least the powers
should check the Deeds section of each
they grant are. A few skeptics say they may not
Martyr’s description. If the Templar has met
be the actual spirits of those who have gone
those conditions, she gains the Martyr’s blessing.
before, but instead are manifestations of some
That’s all there is to it. The character doesn’t
greater force of good. They take the shape of
have to spend Bounty Points or perform any
saints because is that is the way Simon has
rituals—completion of the deed is good enough.
envisioned them.
Some of the deeds are very specific, such as
Both Jo, Aaron McConnell, and the Librarian
killing a wendigo. Biletnikoff and the Templars
Biletnikoff believe Simon is correct. If not, the
have an easy time figuring those ones out. Most
Martyrs would have originated with Simon
of the Martyrs’ deeds are much more subjective,
instead of being culled from the minds of
however. The Marshal must decide whether
others. They believe Ronan Lynch, Dorsey Gates,
or not a Templar has met the conditions
and the Duke really do peer down from the
listed under the saint’s description.
heavens and grant their blessings to those who
follow in their footsteps.
So why do some saints become Martyrs while Visions
others do not? Who knows? The powers of good Once a Templar successfully completes
are even more mysterious than the Reckoners. a Martyr’s deed (whether intentionally or
Perhaps some “earned” the honor by the number by chance), he learns of the blessing and
of “scalps” they collected in life. Or maybe what the saint can do for him by means
they’re so mean they keep on fighting the bad of a dream, vision, or hallucination. The
guys even after they’ve died. Twice in some dream itself seems vague and
cases.

No Man’s Land: 85
 Martyrs
indecipherable, but when the Templar
awakes, he knows the saint’s name and
that he or she will look out for him in
Creating New Martyrs
certain situations. We’ve come up with a handful of saints who
Of course the character doesn’t think in gave their lives fighting the Reckoners. You can
“game terms.” In fact, he doesn’t even know create your own Martyrs as well. We’ll tell you
that his player must actively call on fate (by how right now.
spending chips) to call on the saint. To the
hero, it simply seems that the Martyr Martyrs from the Weird West
intervenes on his behalf in certain situations. One of the coolest things about the world of
Deadlands: Hell on Earth is that it has a real
The Marshal’s Role history. Those of you who have been with us
Marshal, once the character gains the from the beginning know that many of the story
blessing, go ahead and let the player read the elements introduced in Deadlands: the Weird
Martyr’s description in this chapter. West were eventually wrapped up here in 2094.
If a player wants his character to start the Many of the saints we introduce in this chapter
game with a particular saint by means of the came from the stories we’ve told of the Weird
blessed Edge, you could let him read this West. Ronan Lynch, for example, is the main
chapter. But we recommend that you preserve character of our Deadlands: the Weird West Dime
the mystery of the saints for a while by only Novels (just like Teller is the hero of our
letting him read the information in the Book of Deadlands: Hell on Earth Dime Novels).
Martyrs and choose his Templar’s blessing Both the players and the Marshal can use the
based on what he reads there. Weird West background to come up with new
Remember, the people in your group who saints. We didn’t talk about Velvet Van Helter,
play Templars don’t know anything about the Ronan’s hex-slinging companion, but you could!
Martyrs until you introduce this book to your Even better, if your group actually played in the
game. We recommend you take that opportunity Weird West, you could immortalize one of your
to put a little mystery and theology into the fallen heroes as a saint. That’s a great way to
campaign for a while. When the saints have pay tribute to both your character’s efforts, and
become “old news” and everyone knows how your efforts as a player.
they work and what most of them do, feel free
to let players read this whole chapter before Other Martyrs
they choose. Other Martyrs come from almost any walk of
life. Most of them tend to be policeman, soldiers,
Blessings or other “fighters” who have reason to combat
Once a Templar has captured the Martyr’s the horrors lurking at the edges of society. That
attention, he may call on him or her for divine isn’t always the case, however. Many ordinary
assistance on occasion. He does this simply by people have come into contact with the
spending a Fate Chip. A white chip has a small supernatural terrors of the Reckoners. Clara
effect, red chips are more dramatic, and so on. Clark, for instance, was a nurse whose ability to
Using a Legend chip has a very dramatic and heal dragged her into conflict with the forces of
obviously supernatural effect. darkness (see her entry in the Book of Martyrs
Calling on a saint is a simple task, though for the whole story).
only one chip may be spent to call on a saint The only real qualifications are that the saint
per action. The only other restriction is that battled evil on several occasions and had a
a character cannot “stack” effects by significant impact on fear in his or her area. The
spending the same type of chip more than saint must also be dead, of course.
once. A blessing that adds a +2 bonus to
some skill, for instance, could not grant a Blessings
+4 bonus by spending 2 chips. We’ve given you the specific blessings of the
The Marshal must decide if the Martyr’s Martyrs we’ve created, but how do you figure
blessings are being abused. If so, the spirit out what a saint you’ve created can do? The
might decide the greedy character is no easiest way is to start by writing down the
longer worth his or her divine attention. story of the character. Take Jenna Dean, for
That’s always the Marshal’s call.

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 Martyrs
example. It wouldn’t make much sense to just
say Jenna was a hero from the Weird West, and
her rewards protect Templars from starvation,
gives them the power of a wendigo, and allows
them to call on a ghostly she-wolf for help. If
we told you that, you’d just say “Huh?” But once
you know her whole story—that she was
“baptized” as a heroine after battling a wendigo
alongside a pack of seemingly intelligent and
perhaps supernatural wolves—her blessings
make sense.
Both the Marshal and the players are
encouraged to create their own Martyrs and
detail the blessings they give for each type of
chip spent. Of course, the Marshal’s word is law,
so if she thinks the blessings are too powerful
(or not powerful enough!), she should change
them as she sees fit.

Falling from Grace

Much has been made of the anti-Templars
and the fact that Simon cannot repeal their
rewards once gained. That is not the case with
Martyr’s blessings. Perhaps the Martyrs are more
active than the vast body of saints that provide
the Templars with their powers. Or perhaps the
Martyrs just operate by a different set of “cosmic
rules” than the host of less-active saints.
In any case, the Martyrs have a much more rarely and forgive easily, as long as the Templar
direct role in blessing their followers. Those has not truly given his heart to the forces of
who live life by their rules retain their rewards. darkness.
Those who stray from the path are often When a Templar is forsaken, he can regain
forsaken. his Martyr’s blessing by accepting the fact that
It is even possible for a hero to be forsaken he may have made a mistake. Then he must try
by a Martyr while fulfilling his duty as a to repair whatever damage he’s caused. That
Templar. The spirit of Major Rex Stern might not doesn’t necessarily mean reversing his actions.
care that a knight turns his back on a A Templar who has abandoned a town in need
settlement he doesn’t feel is worthy, but Clara might gain his blessing back by at least
Clark might forsake a hero that she feels is too evacuating the women and children.
harsh. If the damage cannot be repaired, the Templar
Along with the description of each Martyr’s must prove he’s learned his lesson the next time
blessings, you’ll also find an entry called he’s confronted with that situation.
vexations. This tells the Marshal and the player This is all very subjective stuff, and it’s not
what kinds of deeds angers the Martyr and entirely fair. The Templars’ strange code of
causes him to withdraw his blessings. This is ethics and their “tests of worth” often
almost always a subjective decision, so the directly contradict the wishes of the
Marshal must decide how a character’s Martyr meddling but powerful Martyrs. Just
reacts when the hero performs a questionable remember that the Martyrs were heroes
action. and they did things their own ways. They
were never Templars themselves, and
Atonement some of them care very little for the
Fortunately, the Martyrs are far more selfish nature of the order. The Martyrs
concerned with continuing their fight against have chosen the Templars to carry on the
the Reckoners through their mortal vassals than fight against the Reckoners only because
they are about holding a grudge. They punish they are the best the world has to offer.

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 Martyrs
Vexations: Katy Blaze instantly withdraws
The Martyrs her blessing from any Templar who defeats a
major threat (a fearmonger) and does not
What follows is a list of all the Martyrs attempt to reduce the fear level by spreading
mentioned in Biletnikoff’s Book of Martyrs. the news. The Martyr allows only a few days
The story is detailed there; all you’ll find here for the Templar to start preaching before she
are the specific deeds a Templar must perform forsakes her.
to gain the saint’s attention, and a description
of what the various Fate Chips do when spent
to call on a Martyr. Clara Clark, Saint of Mercy
Vexations are the kinds of actions that might Clara truly was a selfless soul. Of all the
cause a Martyr to withdraw his blessings. All Martyrs, she is the least fond of the Templars’
the Martyrs forsake characters who truly turn methods. To true healers, however, she is a
to evil. A few are also bothered by actions that Godsend who allows them to become a virtual
Simon and the Templars might approve of. one-man hospital.
Deed: Gaining Saint Clark’s blessing is
Katy Blaze, Saint of Confidence actually very easy—keeping it is much more
difficult, as you’ll see under Vexations, below.
This rich adventurer was truly as amazing as To gain the Martyr’s blessing, a hero simply
her self-promoting movies, television shows, needs to use lay on hands to heal a critical or
and novels made her out to be. A Templar maiming wound, getting 2 raises on the roll.
visited by Saint Blaze is treated to the many White: The Templar adds +4 to his lay on
exciting episodes of her life. hands faith roll. This chip may be spent after
Deed: The character must successfully the faith roll.
reduce the fear level of an area through tale- Red: The Templar gains +4 to his medicine
tellin’. In his story, the Templar must also be the and lay on hands totals for his faith in hours.
“star” of the tale, and it must be essentially true. Blue: The Templar may use his ability to lay
A little dramatic embellishment is okay though. on hands on someone he’s already used it on
White: The hero gains +4 to a single tale- that day, including himself. He may heal that
tellin’ roll. The chip can be spent after the total person again and again just by spending
is otherwise determined. additional blue chips.
Red: With a few minutes of preparation and Legend: The Templar can resurrect the dead.
some appropriate “rips” in her outfit, the The deceased must not have been dead for more
character becomes incredibly sexy and than the Templar’s faith in hours. The body
irresistible to the opposite sex. This gives her +4 must be in reasonably good shape. Parts that
to persuasion and other appropriate rolls for her were incinerated, disintegrated, or completely
faith in minutes. destroyed cannot be restored. If such areas
Blue: The hero becomes preternaturally sexy, include vital organs, there is no hope for the
and even gains a limited “charm” ability for her character. The resurrected character arises one
faith in minutes. This is just like spending a red hour after the Templar spends the Legend chip.
chip except that if the victim loses an opposed She is heavily wounded and must heal naturally.
persuasion roll, he will do almost anything the No amount of supernatural healing (except that
Templar asks. A guard won’t kill himself or a of an even higher power) can eliminate this
loved one, but he would shoot a close friend, damage.
wound himself, keep quiet while a Templar Strangely, if used on a Harrowed, the
walks past his station, or otherwise do character gets an immediate chance to regain
whatever he’s told to win the Templar’s Dominion. This power cannot resurrect a
affections. Harrowed, however.
Legend: With a Legend Chip and a Vexations: Clara remits her blessings for
successful persuasion roll versus an Templars who too often turn their back on
opponent’s Smarts, the victim becomes a those who need help. This is the Marshal’s call.
complete and total slave for the Templar’s She also withdraws her aid from any hero who
faith in minutes. The slave will do anything is asked for medical aid and does not grant it
during this time, including take his own life. regardless of whether that person is friend or
He should get another roll if ordered to slay foe. Killing a prisoner or other helpless person
a loved one, however. also causes Clara to forsake the Templar.

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 Martyrs
Jenna Dean, Saint of Winter Dorsey Gates, Saint of Underdogs
Any Templar who frequently travels the Detective Dorsey Gates was a true hero.
Northwest will find this Martyr a true lifesaver, In a city of darkness, he was one of the
especially if he finds himself fighting the few to shine a light and prove that
incredible winter war raging between the humanity had a chance against the
wendigos and the human enclaves of the Reckoners.
Cascades. In that conflict, Aaron McConnell Deed: Dorsey blesses those who
(Saint Dean’s first vassal) and one other have perform either one of two deeds. The first
proven the Saint of Winter’s blessing is more deed is the slaying of 13 nosferatu, as he did
valuable than an army of veterans. to begin his journey into the occult. The second
Deed: A Templar may gain the attention of method is entirely subjective and must be judged
this saint by slaying any type of wendigo. by the Marshal. A Templar who helps others
White: The character is immune to the who have been refused help from everyone else,
damage or ill effects of hunger or hunger-based including the local authorities or protectors, may
attacks for 24 hours. He reduces the damage of find himself visited by the spirit of Dorsey
cold or cold-based attacks by half. Gates. The situation must be truly desperate, and
Red: The Templar is immune to all damage or the lack of aid truly unjust. If the sheriff doesn’t
ill effects caused by starvation or exposure help someone because he was busy helping
from cold for his faith in days. He is immune to others, the victims’ plight is not unjust, it’s just
all damage from supernatural cold-based attacks unfortunate.
for his faith in minutes. White: The Templar can tell if a particular
Blue: The follower of saint Dean gains the character within his faith in yards is undead.
fury of the wendigo. His Strength and Vigor rise Red: The hero can spend 6 “points” worth of
4 steps, he doubles his current Wind, and he chips (6 white, 3 red, 2 blue, or any combination),
may ignore all wound modifiers. This lasts for a plus the red chip that evoked this power, as if
number of rounds equal to the Templar’s faith. they were a Legend chip. This can only be done
This power doesn’t turn the Templar into an once per game session, however.
unthinking “berserker.” It simply grants to him Blue: Mindless undead (such as walkin’ dead)
the raw strength and power of the supernatural cannot cause direct harm to the hero for his
wendigo. faith in rounds. Soulless undead may make
Some types of wendigos are immune to opposed faith rolls to cause the Templar harm.
normal damage. Spending a blue chip also Legend: Whenever the Templar is the
allows a Templar to harm a particular wendigo underdog, usually by being outmatched or
with his hands, or with any hand-weapon (no outnumbered, a Legend chip allows him to add
ranged attacks), for his faith in days. up to +/–10 to all dice totals the player makes
Legend: Calling on the saints and spending a for 1 entire round. This modifier may affect Trait
Legend Chip brings the spirit of Jenna’s she-wolf or Aptitude checks, damage, or even rolls on
into being. Templars call this mystical and special tables. The only qualification is that the
beneficial creature the “winter wolf.” roll is one directly caused by the Templar, or is
The winter wolf is similar in stats to a a roll normally made by the player.
regular wolf (see the main rulebook), although Vexation: Dorsey is quick to forsake
she is in effect a magical creature, and therefore Templars who abuse their station or fail to
able to damage abominations (such as wendigos) protect the weak.
that can normally only be harmed by magical
weapons. Though the winter wolf is a very
intelligent spirit, she is still an animal spirit.
Wyatt Earp, Saint of Justice
Don’t expect to call on her to defuse a bomb. Wyatt stood for justice, if not the law.
She might be able to carry a bomb away, He broke the latter several times in his
however. And she loves to rip the Hell out of long life, but he was always a champion
wendigos. of justice. He was also a strong force for
Vexations: Jenna withdraws her blessing vengeance. After his dramatic and well-
from anyone who kills a wolf, even for food or known shootout at the OK Corral, Wyatt
to kill off packs that might be harassing nearby hunted down every local member of the
survivor settlements. Only direct self-defense is Cowboy gang. His Templars tend to be
an adequate excuse to her. vengeful as well.

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 Martyrs
Red: While in combat, the Templar can
discard his lowest action card to act twice on
any other card, including a cheat card. He
essentially turns the lower card into an exact
duplicate of the higher card. This ability may
only be used once per round.
Blue: The Templar cannot be harmed by any
sort of ranged attack—even those not directly
aimed at him—for one entire round. Even
explosions cause only half damage (halve the
total, not the dice rolled).
Legend: The Templar gets to act twice on
any non-face cards he drew this round, just as if
each were two separate actions.
Vexation: Strange as it may sound, Wyatt
Earp was a “violent pacifist.” He only killed a
handful of men, and all of them were related to
the Tombstone shootout. A Templar who kills
too easily is quickly forsaken. Killing wasteland
scum isn’t necessarily frowned on by the order,
so occasionally the ways of Saint Earp interfere
with the Templars’ quest to scour the Wasted
West clean of its many human jackals.

El Gato, Saint of Daredevils

El Gato was actually Emilio Rodriguez. He
started his career as so many young men of the
period did—looking to prove he was the fastest
Deed: Wyatt blesses Templars who bring gun in the West. Fortunately, he realized that
justice to the wastes. Just as he wiped out the goal would lead to cold-blooded murder just
Cowboy gang, a Templar who eliminates a before he reached Deadwood (where he planned
similar threat to a survivor settlement might on challenging Wild Bill Hickok). From that point
find himself visited by the ghost of Wyatt Earp. on, he pledged his dual six-guns to the cause of
There are a few conditions, however. Number righteousness. His followers learn this when the
one, the Templar must first try to solve the saint appears in their dreams.
problem without killing anyone. Wyatt was Deed: El Gato blesses a Templar who has just
quick to “buffalo” his foes with the butt of his survived a life-threatening stunt of some sort to
pistol, but amazingly, he never killed a man until perform some good deed. The action must take
the infamous shootout at the OK Corral. If the place in the line of duty—bungee jumping for
Templar simply wipes out the local trouble fun won’t cut it.
without attempting to bring them to justice, Earp Ordinary dangers such as facing
will not share his divine aid. overwhelming odds or staring down a crowd
Earp is a little faster in blessing Templars don’t count either. The hero must perform a
who are vengeful or follow the Law o’ the truly amazing and spectacular physical stunt.
West Hindrances. A hero with both these White: The hero adds +4 to any Corporeal
Hindrances should gain Earp’s blessing after Trait or Aptitude roll. This may be added after
a victorious encounter with just about any the total has otherwise been determined.
type of gang, such as raiders or Black Hat Red: The Templar is granted a second chance
patrols. at a risky stunt he has just failed. Reroll as if
White: The Templar gets an extra action the previous roll never happened, even if it was
card. This can give a player more than 5 a bust.
cards. This power may be invoked after Blue: The Templar can discard a black Joker
cards are drawn, but may only be used drawn during initiative, ignoring its effects and
once per round. drawing again.

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 Martyrs
Legend: The daredevil raises his Nimbleness
(and Pace) by 4 entire steps for a number of Jenny Hise, Saint of Sacrifice
rounds equal to his faith. It is quite ironic that Jenny Hise would
Vexation: El Gato was often disparaged for become one of the Templars’ Martyrs. She
being a Mexican in the Old West. If the Templar made the ultimate sacrifice defending a
ever uses a racial slur of any kind, the Martyr’s town that wouldn’t even open its gates to
blessing is instantly revoked. He never blesses her. The townspeople stood upon their
characters with racial intolerances. high walls and watched as she was gunned
down defending their worthless hides. Her
last brave but perhaps foolish act was
Maggie Grimes, Saint of Stealth directly responsible for the creation of the
Maggie was always stubborn, even before her Templars.
powers manifested. Afterwards, she learned to Now Saint Hise cannot help but look down
get her way by reading people’s thoughts and, from her vaunted position in the Hunting
later, controlling them. Grounds and grimace as what she sees as a
Deed: Maggie appears to those who destroy mess. She knows the salvation of the West,
some important objective with fire and perhaps the world, is in the hands of the
explosives. The objective must be very large and Templars, however. So she must attempt to
very important, such as the nest of a wormling guide them away from turning their backs on
horde, a camp used by well-organized raiders, or the “unworthy,” and toward being the true
the temple of some bizarre wasteland cult. The heroes she feels the world needs to lead it by
sabotage must be “clean” as well. If any example.
innocents are slain in the course of the Deed: Jenny Hise manifests to any Templar
operation, Maggie turns a blind eye to the who knowingly and willfully violates the order’s
careless Templar. “test of worth.” Anyone who defends those who
White: The Templar may add +4 to his may not deserve it, for good reason, is likely
sneakin’ totals for his faith in minutes. visited by the Martyr. The knight cannot simply
Red: The Templar may use a one-ounce turn his back on his responsibilities; he must
chunk of ghost rock as a grenade, imitating truly believe he violated his oath for a good cause.
Maggie’s syker power to detonate this As usual, the Marshal has to determine when
supernatural material. Such grenades cause 4d12 such an event occurs, and if it is truly worthy
damage and have a 5-yard burst increment. and painful enough to garner Saint Hise’s
Larger chunks can be detonated, but only one attention.
ounce of the stuff actually explodes. The rest White: The character may add +4 to any
simply scatters and does not detonate or even Vigor-based roll. This may be added after the
ignite. total has otherwise been determined.
Blue: The hero may use, one time, any one of Red: Any character of the hero’s choosing
the following syker powers: arson, chameleon, may draw a red chip from the pot (or you can
detonate, pyro, shh!, silence, skinwalker, or slow simply hand the red chip you’re spending to
burn. Check out the Brainburners book for evoke this power to the player in question).
descriptions of these powers. The Templar uses Blue: The follower of Saint Hise negates five
her faith instead of blastin’. In most cases, Strain wound levels, or 25 Wind, instead of the usual
isn’t an issue for the single use of a power, but three that would be normally be negated with a
if you have to keep track of it (for an ongoing blue chip.
power, or if the Templar invokes this power Legend: When a Legend Chip is spent, the
more than once before her strain might recover), hero may immediately and permanently raise
it’s equal to the Templar’s Vigor as usual, and a skill one level, regardless of its current
replenishes at the normal rate. level. A character with a fightin’ at level
Legend: The Templar actually becomes 5, for instance, could instantly raise her
invisible for a number of rounds equal to her skill level to 6 by spending a Legend Chip.
faith. Most attacks just miss outright, but if an Obviously, it’s not worthwhile to raise
antagonist has some idea where the Templar is, lower skills in this manner because a
he may make attacks at +10 to his TN. Legend Chip normally yields 4 Bounty
Vexation: Maggie was a devout Mormon. Points anyway. The effect is intended to
Any Templar who speaks ill of the Latter Day raise the hero’s primary skills to legendary
Saints is immediately forsaken. levels.

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 Martyrs
Vexation: Jenny detests the way
Templars turn their back on a cause Ronan Lynch, Saint of Death
because they deem the victims “unworthy.” Those of you who read our Weird West Dime
When the character does such a thing, the Novels know all about Ronan. In fact, these
Marshal must decide if it was a minor or adventures are the very visions Ronan sends to
major incident. In general, allowing someone his followers in their dreams.
to die (assuming they weren’t total scum) is a Does this mean the star of our
major faux pas to this Martyr. Weird Western serial is eventually
For a minor incident, Jenny withdraws her going to kick the bucket? Sure. Even
aid for 1d6 days. For a major incident, she dead men die again someday.
forsakes the character until he essentially gains We’re afraid the benefits he
her blessing a second time. grants are strictly for the Marshal, 107
however. Sorry, partner. Trust us
though—once blessed, a Templar with Saint
Laquitia Jackson, Saint of Rage Lynch on his side is one tough melon farmer.
Were Laquitia still alive, she would almost
certainly have been a Templar. She was truly a
terror on the battlefield, but knew her rage Eliot Ness, Saint of Morality
should be directed toward the enemy, not the Eliot was as honest and forthright as they
innocents who happened across her path. come. The visits he pays his followers in their
Deed: Laquitia appears to those Templars dreams convince them of that. There he shows
who turn on their comrades or employers for them the many times he was offered bribes or
the cause of right. Even Templars, as careful threatened and stuck to his guns. It seems the
and picky as they are, sometimes find they’re Martyr feels this will help a Templar resist the
working in the cause of the unworthy. Those temptations his sword and tabard sometimes
brave enough to change course, especially under afford him.
duress, earn Laquitia’s attention. Deed: Saint Ness appears to Templars who
White: The character may add +4 to any have resisted some great temptation that would
Strength-based roll (including a damage roll). have brought them personal gain. As with so
This power may be invoked after the total has many of the Martyr’s deeds, the Marshal must
otherwise been determined. determine when such an event has occurred.
Red: The hero may +1 die to any damage roll. The offer should be very painful or dangerous
This power may be invoked after the total has for the Templar to refuse, however. Declining a
otherwise been determined. simple bribe is rarely worthy of Ness’ attention—
Blue: The hero can counteract up to 3 “points” most Templars stick to their oaths of poverty
worth of chips spent by an opponent to cancel anyway. A more likely sacrifice, and one much
wounds. Say the Marshal spends four white more difficult for a heroic soul to abide, is
chips to save some dastardly villain’s hide. This continuing a battle against a foe who directly
power would cancel three of those chips. The threatens a close friend. If the Templar has a
last white chip would still cancel one wound, of chance to avoid this situation, he should, of
course, but all the chips go to the Fate Pot. course. If he must choose between his friend or
Legend: The Templar is imbued with the fury the good of a larger group, and chooses the group,
of Saint Jackson. Her Strength and Vigor rise 4 Ness will very likely enter his dreams soon.
steps for a number of rounds equal to her faith. White: The character’s personal integrity
This causes an appropriate rise in Wind as well. shines through. Everyone who comes in contact
Wind damage caused during this time comes with the hero notices his honesty and sincerity.
off these “temporary” points first. When the He gains +4 to his persuasion and other
Legend Chip wears off, all the Wind the applicable rolls for his faith in hours.
character has lost is applied against his Red: With a few minutes of short
normal total as if he’d just suffered it. conversation, the Templar will know if someone
Vexation: If the character ever runs he is talking to is lying to him. Even if the
away from a fight (usually due to a failed subject isn’t actually lying, the Templar gets a
guts check), Saint Jackson withdraws her sense of the target’s true feelings and intentions.
blessing for 2d6 days. If the character Blue: Calling on Ness’ strength allows the
becomes a true coward (not likely), she Templar to completely resist any charm,
withdraws it altogether. command, or control ability for a number of

No Man’s Land: 92
 Martyrs
rounds equal to his faith. He may evoke this
power even if he is already under control. This
reward works against a syker’s mind control,
voodoo, another Templar’s command reward,
and even weird science.
Legend: For one entire round, the character
becomes “untouchable.” Nothing on Earth can
hurt him.
Vexation: A character who turns his back on
what he knows is right for personal gain, no
matter how small the matter or how great the
gain, is instantly forsaken by Saint Ness.
Also, a character who drinks even a drop of
alcohol loses the Martyr’s blessings for one
entire week.

Doc Norman, Patron Saint of the Lost

The Doc that we know was something of a
lost soul his entire life. Like an actor who finds
himself on stage with no idea of his lines—or
even what play he’s in—he struggled constantly
to figure out who he was, and to make people
believe that he was the man they thought they
saw. That probably accounts for his other
defining feature—the intense power of his
personality.
Deed: Saint Norman blesses those who
become completely, hopelessly lost. We’re not
talking “can’t find the local gas station” lost
here, we’re talking “200 miles out in the desert—
sure wish I had some water left” lost. A severe
spiritual crisis—one that truly causes the
Templar to question his own identity or deepest-
held values—might also do the trick.
White: The character may add +4 to any Mien
or Spirit-based roll. This power may be invoked
after the total has otherwise been determined.
Red: A stranger meeting the hero for the first
time mistakes him for someone he knows.
Usually it’s someone good, but it might not be.
Blue: A hero who is lost or in grave danger is
given a sense of where to turn for safety. “Safety”
is, of course, a relative term, and the hero isn’t
led by the nose out of all trouble. But Doc will
steer him toward the best shelter he can.
Legend: With a few moments’ concentration,
the character can learn one key fact about the
past of any other person (alive or dead—this
power works on bodies as well as living people)
that he touches. He may or may not get the
answer to a specific question, but he’ll definitely
get something important to the subject’s life.
Vexation: Doc was self-reliant to the
extreme. He remits his aid from any who turn
unnecessarily toward others for aid.

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 Martyrs
they start counting, go over job assignments, or
Nevada Smith, Saint of Intrigue otherwise go through the gathered faces one by
Nevada was the prototype for the “James one.
Bonds” of later wars. He had more If the hero had already been spotted, a foe
adventures than even Ronan Lynch. Many of must make a Fair (5) Smarts roll to pick him out
these were later revealed to the general public of the crowd. The Marshal has to use a little
through dime novels. What only a handful of common sense here. If the Templar is being shot
officials in the Agency knew was that the at by a band of thugs and uses this ability, they
author of those dime novels was none other may be confused but they’ll probably realize the
than Smith himself. guy on the other side of the room shooting back
Deed: A Templar who pulls off an incredibly at them is a target. If the hero mixes with the
elaborate deception gets the Man of a Thousand crowd at all, however, every goon in the bunch
Faces’ attention. The deed must be truly must make the Smarts check to pick him out.
extraordinary, the kind of plot a really well- Blue: Nevada was an incredible investigator,
written MovieTown thriller might take two though he would be the first to admit much of
hours to develop. his luck was just that. By spending a blue chip,
As usual with this kind of subjective the character gets a lucky break in an ongoing
condition, the Marshal must determine when a investigation. This may not happen right away,
deed is worthy of Saint Smith’s notice, but it but when the knight and his companions are
should be something fairly elaborate. stone-walled, this is a great ability to give the
White: The character adds +4 to his disguise group a new lead.
skill for his faith in hours. Legend: Given a single round (5 seconds) of
Red: As long as there is a crowd of more concentration, the Templar can change his
than five people about, the Templar can appearance to match any roughly humanoid
instantly “blend” into the group. If no one is being within 2 points of his Size. The hero must
specifically looking for him, there’s no real have seen the person he is imitating. The guise
chance anyone will notice his presence unless is physically perfect, and even gives the knight
the target’s voice. This lasts for the Templar’s
faith in minutes, though it may be extended for
an additional minute per Wind spent.
Vexation: Nevada has no particular pet
peeves, though like most of the heroes who
became Martyrs, he is quick to forsake Templars
who abuse their power.

Major Rex Stern, Saint of Ruthlessness

The three Templars who have been blessed
by Saint Stern claim he reminds them more of a
professional wrestler than a Major.
They also claim Stern has something of a
guilt complex for some of his legendary deeds.
The most common dream they have of him
concerns a town somewhere in Georgia. A breed
of walkin’ dead had arisen, and when they
killed, the victims arose as undead as well. The
contagion got out of control, and Major Stern
was forced to call for a tactical nuclear strike
on the town.
Deed: Stern visits Templars who prove their
ability to sacrifice the few for the good of the
many. The sacrifice must be painful, and it must
signal certain doom for the “civilians” in
question. The end result does not necessarily
have to mean death for the sacrificial lambs, but
such a fate must be very likely.

No Man’s Land: 94
 Martyrs
White: Stern had incredible willpower, and he Legend: When the character is about
instills in the hero +4 to any opposed roll. This to be killed, he can spend a Legend Chip
chip may be spent after the total has otherwise instead. That negates the wounds,
been determined. however severe, that caused his death.
Red: The hero is unaffected by nightmares, Pretty sweet power, but that’s not all. For
including night terrors, for one night. Also, the remainder of this fight, if the Templar
nightmare creatures—monsters somehow drawn is “killed” again and does not cancel the
directly from dreams—cannot harm the hero for damage with Fate Chips (of any kind), the
a number of rounds equal to his faith after hero fights on for a number of rounds equal
evoking this power. to his faith. During this time, he ignores Wind
Though Stern never told a soul, the decisions and all pain modifiers, and may raise one Trait
he was often forced to make haunted him of his choice by 4 steps. Each additional attack,
endlessly, so he was no stranger to nightmares. blow, or effect that would normally kill him
Blue: The Templar automatically makes a instead reduces the duration of this power by
failed guts check, even if he went bust. Stern one round. When all the heroics are over and
had no fear. the duration has expired, the Templar dies.
Legend: A Legend Chip causes a mighty but Vexation: The Duke doesn’t tolerate quitters
subtle miracle. When a Templar is forced to turn or sissies. If the Templar ever shies away from
his back on one group to save another, if he is a fight due to cowardice, the Martyr withdraws
successful in saving the latter, the former his blessings.
somehow miraculously persevere as well. The Duke is also quite a patriot. He’ll bless
Vexation: Stern doesn’t tolerate weakness. If Confederates and even foreigners as well as
the Templar allows a situation that threatens Northerners, but the moment either one
others to persist (such as allowing a faminite to badmouths the USA, he’ll turn a blind eye to
escape out of “pity”), he’ll forsake the hero. them for 1d4 days.

John Wayne, Saint of Grit Sgt. York, Patron Saint of Sykers

The Duke was truly the man millions of Templars sometimes find Sgt. York a curious
movie-goers saw on screen, but even he didn’t saint. Sure, he was a great hero and made the
realize his True Grit would affect the world ultimate sacrifice fighting monsters in the
even after he passed on to the Great Beyond. trenches of Europe, but what can a syker do for
Deed: The Duke blesses Templars who prevail Templars? Truthfully, not much unless the
in a mission while enduring great pain. A hero character is a greenie syker. For those rare few,
who suffers a critical wound or other extremely York grants the following rewards:
painful injury, and then must fight or push on Deed: Sgt. Alvin York appears to greenie
under terrible strain, is chosen by Saint Wayne. sykers who develop their capability into real
The Templar can’t do this intentionally—he can’t skill. Any Templar who begins his career as a
choose not to lay on hands before entering the greenie syker gains York’s aid when he raises
climax of a battle or riding miles for aid just to his blastin’ skill to level 4.
attract the Martyr’s attention. The situation must White: The syker gets +2 to his blastin’ rolls
develop naturally, and the hero’s sacrifice must for his faith in minutes.
be the only way to accomplish the objective. Red: The Templar has 5 Strain to use as he
White: The Templar can ignore any and all pleases. This power cannot be invoked again
pain modifiers for a number of rounds equal to until these 5 points are used.
his faith. Blue: The syker can use any syker power.
Red: The hero negates three wound levels, or Legend: The syker’s Strain increases by
15 Wind, instead of the usual two that would be +1 permanently.
normally be negated with a red chip. Vexation: York was an altruistic man.
Blue: The Templar doubles his base Wind for He forsakes Templars who put
a number of minutes equal to his faith level. themselves above others (others who are
Subtract any Wind already lost from this new worthy of his protection, that is) in dire
total. Make sure any Edges or artificial Wind situations. Taking the last twinkie from
increases are doubled as well. When the effect the posse won’t get York riled, but keeping
is over, apply all Wind lost to the character’s it from a hungry child would.
normal total as if it had just been suffered.

No Man’s Land: 95
A Walk on the Dark Side

No Man’s Land: 96
 Chapter Five:
A Walk on the Dark Side

Anti-Templars aren’t such bad The worst part is that the saints continue to
guys. Most start out thinking, “I reward these less-than-pure servants even when
want to help people just like the they go astray. Simon can’t figure this out, and
Templars, but who am I to judge the good anti-Templars can’t either.
which people are worthy?” Even an Modeen, the father of the movement, says it
106 anti-Templar won’t go out of his is not the anti-Templars’ place to question the
way to save a band of murderous saints’ mysterious ways. They should simply do
raiders from a horde of undead, but he would what they feel is right, and protect the world
fight to defend a town against Black Hats, even from Simon’s heavy-handed “knights.”
if that town had a “Death To Muties” sign on the
front gate. The Martyrs
The saints must not have a problem with this Strangely, the highest of the saints—the
attitude, because they continue to grant rewards Martyrs—do not seem to look favorably on the
to the anti-Templars. Proof positive, right? anti-Templars. No matter how well an anti-
This is how player character anti-Templars Templar performs a Martyr’s alleged deeds, the
feel. They’re still heroes—they just disagree a bit Martyr does not grant the anti-Templar blessings.
with Simon and his “goons” on what being a Fortunately, the anti-Templars are able to tap
hero means. into an even greater power. We’ll get to that in a
Fortunately, power comes much more easily minute, friend.
to anti-Templars than to their white-clad
enemies. Though this is undoubtedly proof that The Becoming
the saints prefer the anti-Templars, it also Warriors who wish to become anti-
allows some common thugs to gain their Templars need only serve in the company
powers as well. Serving an anti-Templar is a of another for a few months (as opposed
way for them to gain incredible power without to the year required of Simon’s squires).
becoming a mutant or spending years of When the saints feel the time is right,
training as a syker. the warrior suddenly feels his body surge
Of course, no good anti-Templar would keep with energy. Modeen calls this the
such cretins around, but the bad ones do, and Becoming. From that point on, the
they just keep making more. These bastards go character is an anti-Templar and gains
on looting, raping, pillaging and giving the anti- true insight into the nature of his order.
Templars a bad name.

No Man’s Land: 97
A Walk on the Dark Side

Characters as Anti-Templars
A player character anti-Templar is one of the
good guys who truly believes Simon is a tyrant
and that Modeen’s approach is better for the
world.
Immediately after the Becoming, the warrior
gains 5 levels worth of any rewards—five
different rewards or a single one as he chooses.

Required Aptitudes
There are only two skills an anti-Templar
must have: academia: occult and faith.
Anti-Templars usually learn their occult
knowledge from their masters. Some
information is gained through stories; others
through intuition and prophetic nightmares.
Before his Becoming can occur, an anti-Templar
must have academia: occult at level 2 or better.
Anti-Templars have faith in the saints just
like Templars. They must have at least 2 levels
of faith to undergo the Becoming.

Getting the Ax
When the follower of an anti-Templar finally
feels the power of the saints surge through him,
he is recognized as an anti-Templar.
He makes his own black tabard. His preferred
hand weapon is enchanted by his Mentor,
granting him +1 to his fightin’ and quick draw
rolls when wielding it.
Anti-Templars have a strong tradition of
wielding great axes, like Modeen the Destroyer,
but any hand weapon can be blessed. Even
chainsaws and weed whackers have served the
anti-Templars.

Rewards
Anti-Templars gain rewards in the usual
fashion. They can purchase new rewards and
raise them just like their white-clad cousins.
They gain Greater Rewards when their group
receives new Legend Chips as well.
The real advantage to being an anti-Templar
is that they have a second way of receiving
Greater Rewards as well. Anytime the character
kills a Templar, squire, or Companion, he gains a
Greater Reward. The reward can come from any
gift he has at least one level in, but he does not
need all 5 levels of the gift to claim the reward!
Even better, the anti-Templar can claim the
Templar’s “coup” if he is within a few feet of
the villain when he dies. He doesn’t actually
have to kill the tyrant himself. Smart anti-
Templars let their warbands do the hard work.

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 A Walk on the Dark Side
So how much is too much? That’s
Anti-Templars & Martyrs hard to say precisely. Suffice it to say
that when your Corruption reaches your
Modeen was upset that the Martyrs had Spirit die type, bad things start to happen.
forsaken him. He brooded for many months From there it’s a slippery slope.
until he suffered a vision of Julia Aiken, the first
anti-Templar. In the dream, Julia said that she Reducing Corruption
had drawn power directly from the Reckoners
Reducing Corruption is very
themselves! This not only drained the
simple mechanically, yet very hard
Horsemen’s power, but gave her energy to fight
in practice. You can reduce your
their minions as well! She had, in effect, used
character’s Corruption by one point 106
the monsters’ own might against them.
by spending a Legend Chip. An anti-
Alas, she said, she had drawn too much
Templar who draws the Legend Chip during a
power and become corrupt. It didn’t have to be
game and wants to reduce his Corruption simply
this way, however. With care, Julia claimed, the
throws the chip back in the pot (at any time)
anti-Templars could draw on the very power of
and reduces his Corruption by one.
the Four Horsemen themselves to fight the
forces of darkness, and Simon’s tyrants in
particular. The Horsemen Are Waiting
Modeen saw the wisdom of using Hell’s Here are the powers the Reckoners are
power against itself. The next time he found willing to give the anti-Templars. All heroes can
himself in battle, he opened himself to this dark call on any of the Four Horsemen. No deeds
energy. It coursed through him and allowed him need be performed, and the horsemen will never
to slaughter a creature that would have killed forsake them.
scores. Be careful, friend. Your hero must walk a fine
Modeen told others, and soon all the anti- line. Using these powers against the evils of the
Templars knew they had the ability to use the wastes is great. Get too greedy, though, and
Reckoners’ power against them. Unlike the you’ll find your hero has become one of these
Martyrs, which grant blessings to squires and villains.
Companions as well as to Templars, the
Reckoners grant blessings only to full anti- Death
Templars, not the warriors in their warbands. The anti-Templar may spend Fate Chips on
damage rolls just as he would on Trait or
Calling Down the Thunder Aptitude rolls. A white chip allows the character
Calling on the power of the Reckoners works to roll and replace a die, red and blue chips add
just like asking for a saint’s blessing. The anti- to the total of one die.
Templar simply spends a chip and waits for the As usual, all whites have to be spent before
effect to kick in. any reds, and reds spent before blues.
As with the Templars, the anti-Templars may
only spend one chip per action. Famine
White: The character may spoil 1 pound of
Welcome to the Dark Side meat or 1 gallon of water per faith level. The
The only problem with using the Reckoners’ food is not truly poisonous, but anyone who
power is it taints the anti-Templar’s soul a tiny eats it must make an Incredible (11) Vigor roll or
bit. Most of the blessings granted have effects become violently ill for the next 2d6 hours.
that are dirty at best, and downright evil at Red: As above, but the food or water is
worst. If the hero isn’t careful, he can actually poisonous. Anyone who ingests the stuff
turn into an instrument of evil. must make an Onerous (7) Vigor roll or
Whenever you spend a chip for your die in the next 2d6 hours. Magical healing
character to call on the Reckoners, write down can stop the illness with an Incredible (11)
its “value” (whites are worth 1 point, reds are 2, roll. Normal healing can also cure the
blues are 3, and Legend Chips are 4). These are patient, though the TN of the medicine
“Corruption” points. As an anti-Templar roll is increased to 13.
accumulates more Corruption, he becomes more Blue: The anti-Templar may infect a
and more aligned with the Reckoners, and that living target by touch, turning the target
much closer to becoming truly evil. into a faminite. When the victim is touched

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 A Walk on the Dark Side
(flesh to flesh), the anti-Templar makes or even if he called a shot and made the roll to
an opposed roll of his faith versus the hit the intended point, but would rather hit
victim’s Vigor. If the anti-Templar wins, the some other point instead. In general, the
loser becomes a faminite roughly 12 hours specified location is restricted to the standard
later. The faminite doesn’t become a slave of body areas. The character could choose to hit
the anti-Templar, but it won’t hurt him either the target in the head, for example, but can’t
(though faminites made by others attack him automatically hit square in the eye to cause
normally). Those he has sired may listen to instant death. He gets the standard bonus
him if they think he can lead them to food, damage for the head shot, though, and if the
however. damage is good, the Marshal can interpret that it
Legend: By eating an ounce of human flesh, hit the eye.
no matter how fresh, the anti-Templar may raise Blue: The character’s attack steers toward a
any one Trait by 4 steps for his faith in hours. truly vital area, causing an extra 3 dice of
damage.
Pestilence Legend: The character can raise the dead to
White: The anti-Templar can infect any living fight alongside him. Each Legend Chip spent
target within his faith in yards with a minor but raises the anti-Templar’s faith in walkin’ dead,
instant flu. Make an opposed faith roll versus creatures similar to, but slightly more capable
the victim’s Vigor. If the anti-Templar wins, the than, the standard walkin’ dead covered in the
foe suffers a –2 modifier to all his Trait and Deadlands: Hell on Earth rulebook. These unholy
Aptitude rolls for the next 24 hours. creations are the anti-Templar’s obedient
Red: With a touch, the anti-Templar can servants for one battle, after which they fall
cause a horrible but non-fatal disease. After lifeless once again. The blessing does not create
touching the victim, the character rolls his faith corpses—the “hero” must provide those himself.
versus the foe’s Vigor. If the servant of
Pestilence is successful, painful, oozing sores Anti-Templars’ Walkin’ Dead
erupt all over the victim’s skin. Besides the Corporeal: D:2d6, N:2d8, S:3d10, Q:2d10, V:2d8
obvious roleplaying effects, the pain and pus Climbin’ 1d8, dodge 2d8, fightin’: ax, brawlin’ 3d8,
inflict a –4 modifier to most any Trait or shootin’: (any) 2d6, sneak 3d8, swimmin’ 1d8
Aptitude check. The disease passes without Mental: C:2d10, K:1d6, M:1d8, Sm31d6, Sp:NA
further harm in 1d6 hours. Overawe 5d8
Blue: Just as with a red chip, the touch of the Pace: 8
anti-Templar (and a successful contest of faith Size: 6
versus Vigor) results in a horrible disease. This Wind: NA
time, it’s fatal, eventually. The character Terror: 9
immediately gains the ailin’: chronic Hindrance. Special Abilities:
Legend: A Legend Chip infects a living Fearless.
person with a deadly virus that turns the Spirit: Any attacks or contested rolls made
target’s innards to goo. Blood gushes from his against the walkin’ dead’s Spirit is actually
orifices and he dies a horrible, messy death in made against the anti-Templar’s Spirit,
seconds. The anti-Templar spends his chip and though the result always affects the
makes an opposed faith roll versus the foe’s walkin’ dead.
faith/Vigor. If he wins, the victim dies in 1d4 Weapons: These walkin’ dead use whatever
rounds. Only magical healing and an Incredible weapons they can get their slimy, rotten
(11) casting roll can stop the fatal finish to this hands on, preferring guns or, if none of
spectacular disease. those are handy, axes. They’re not
concerned with saving ammo for later,
War since they usually aren’t around for too
White: The anti-Templar can add +4 to long.
any sort of attack roll. This power may be Undead.
invoked after the total is otherwise Description: These nasty fellows look much
resolved, but it can only be invoked once like standard undead. Their appearance varies
per attack. depending on the condition of the bodies
Red: The anti-Templar may choose the from which they arose, but even freshly-
hit location of any attack he makes. He can killed bodies look unusually sinister, putrid
do this after rolling the location randomly, and evil as walkin’ dead.

No Man’s Land: 100

The Marshal’s
Handbook
Dirty Laundry

Marshal: 102
 Chapter Six:
Dirty Laundry

Most cordial wasteland greetings, Marshal. We that have sprung up since the West got wasted,
were hoping you’d show up back here. See, the the Templars are one of the few that work for
Templars have some dirty laundry we want you good.
to help us wash. Their leader, Simon, for one is— The Librarians and the Convoy are definitely
Hey. You look like a player. You shouldn’t be positive forces, but they’re not the kind to come
here. It’s bad mojo. And we just might have to running to a settlement’s defense when they’re
let the muties have their way with you if you getting overrun by Black Hats.
don’t beat it. The Law Dogs are also good, and most of
That’s better. We don’t want those nosey them are worth ten times their number in a
player-types knowing the Templars’ dirty fight, but they don’t have any special gifts or
secrets, because they’re going to have big powers. Besides the obvious disadvantages,
effects on the future of the Wasted West. having no mojo means folks don’t give them the
We’re going to tell you a good portion of kind of respect a Templar gets. Not only do
those secrets now. The rest will be revealed as Templars heal sickness and fight like demons,
the story of Hell on Earth continues. but they have those nifty tabards and wicked
So let’s start by scavving some dirt on the swords. Folks can’t help but idolize them. It’s
head honcho himself: Simon Mercer, the Grand hard for the Law Dogs to compete with that.
Master. Most of them are just ordinary men and women.
To top it off, they don’t turn their backs on the
“unworthy” like the Templars do, so they wind
Simple Simon up in trouble a whole lot more, and have
fewer tools to deal with it.
Okay, there’s actually nothing simple about
So that makes the Templars the leaders
Simon at all. He’s a very complicated man. In
of what passes for the good guys in this
some ways he’s the most selfless person in the
blasted land. Simon is the head of the
entire West. In others, he’s the most ruthless—
order, and that puts all that power in one
maybe more ruthless than even Throckmorton
man’s hands. With that power comes
or Silas Rasmussen.
great responsibility, and Simon wears it
Simon may also be more dangerous than
like a slave’s yolk.
those two nutcases. That’s right, we said more
The Grand Master can handle this
dangerous. See, Simon has the keys to the
burden. He’s strong enough to make hard
kingdom in his hand. Of all the organized groups
decisions and stick to them. The question is,

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 Dirty Laundry
whether he’s too harsh. Will his policy of The Anti-Templars
abandoning those who aren’t “good” The anti-Templars are growing faster than
enough eventually alienate and splinter the boils on a faminite. A lot of the folks who join
other positive forces out there? Or is his the order just cannot live up to the harsh test of
vision exactly what the world needs to create worth that Simon requires. A few Templars have
a better future from the ashes of the past? simply stopped reporting in and been
The jury’s still out, amigos. Just make sure blackballed. A few others have adopted the
you pay attention, because Simon’s fate will black tabard and taken up with Modeen.
be decided sooner than you might think. We’ll get back to these guys later on in this
chapter.
What’s He Doin’ With That Thing? The Combine
You know what Simon’s long-range plans are.
Simon is well aware that the Combine isn’t
What about his immediate concerns? Besides the
building its army and scouting the West with
daily grind of administering his order and
Black Hat patrols for their health. One day,
assigning Templars to aid petitioners, what does
they’ll come pouring out of Denver to take over
the Grand Master see as his most pressing
the West. Simon has little hope in fighting
concerns?
Throckmorton’s troops east of the Rockies—
Those are good questions, so let’s deal with
there are few organized forces there. Instead, he
them from top to bottom.
plans on joining with the people of Junkyard,
the Sky Pirates, and any other troops he can
The Boise Horror muster to stop them moving West through the
As you’ll see later on this chapter, the
Rockies. The bulk of the Combine’s troops must
bloodwolf Teller and the others killed was not
come through the narrow passes, and these will
the Boise Horror. This thing is still very much
be the best defensive positions the forces of
“alive,” and is causing Simon no end of pain.
good can hope for.
The Boise Horror is not the greatest danger in
the Wasted West—at least not directly. It seems
to be a very localized threat, and it only kills
The Cult of Doom
Simon seriously underestimates the power of
someone every couple of months. That’s pretty
Silas Rasmussen. It’s not that he doesn’t fear the
good as local horrors go.
Mutant King’s Doomsayers, Doombringers, and
The problem is that its domain is the home of
war parties—he fought them enough in his early
the Templars. That’s just plain embarrassing to
days to properly respect their abilities. What
the post-Apocalyptic knights. Simon needs to
Simon underestimates is Silas’ ability to rally the
find out what this creature is and defeat it. Fast.
mutant masses to his side someday. When the
Right now, most of the people who have
Combine finally mobilizes, forgetting about this
heard of the Horror have also heard that it was
large faction centered in the “allied” rear may
defeated by Teller. That’ll fly for a while, but the
prove to be a fatal mistake.
rest of the story is starting to pass on from the
Downtowners to the occasional caravans, and
from there to other survivor settlements. Simon’s Profile
Besides the bad press, the Boise Horror is We’re going to follow our long-standing
starting to increase the Fear Level as well. tradition here. See, we believe that if we stat
That’s really bad news for the Templars. something, you crazy kids will kill it. We don’t
The only problem with all this is that Simon want you to do that to Simon. Not yet, anyway.
has been searching for the thing for well Think of him as a plot device, not a set of
over five years now. He’s tried to find it numbers. Let him succeed when he needs to,
himself, he’s hired posses of renowned and fail when it’s critical to the plot.
heroes, and he’s even had a Doomsayer try As to his rewards, he’s got them all, with their
some hocus pocus. Nothing has worked. greater rewards as well. He also has the
That makes the Boise Horror a very blessings of Ronan Lynch and Major Rex Stern.
frustrating bit of business for the Grand He hasn’t garnered any other Martyrs’ attentions
Master. It’s the single most important short- because he doesn’t leave Boise anymore.
term problem, but also one Simon can do The Grand Master’s sword has become
little about. something truly special. It adds +6 to his attack
More on the monster in a bit. and damage rolls, and has one other nifty effect

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 Dirty Laundry
as well. When the sword causes a wound to a
truly wicked individual or creature, the wielder
can spend a white chip to heal a like number of
wounds himself. If the hero caused 3 wounds,
for example, he could heal a heavy wound to
his guts and half of a heavy wound to his arm
with just one white chip.
Simon usually has 1d10 Templars around Boise
to help him out as well.

Jo
Like Simon, we’re not going to give you the
stats on Jo. She’s one tough broad, and we’d hate
to see you kill her off. If you need a list of her
rewards and blessings, however, we can
accommodate.
Jo doesn’t have every Templar reward as
Simon does, but she’s got most of them, along
with the blessings of numerous Martyrs.
Marshal, feel free to make her as powerful as
you need her to be—remember, she’s more a plot
element than a character to be defeated.

Baphomet
Baphomet was truly a demon from Hell. He’s
been on Earth for nearly a thousand years now,
and finally became bored with living in isolated
Hell’s Canyon.
Here’s what happened. When Simon came to
Hell’s Canyon, Baphomet saw an opportunity to
travel outside his natural prison. Escape was a
bit tricky, however.
Demons can’t do much on their own. Most of
their really cool powers require free will on the
part of their victims. Baphomet had watched
Simon for the days leading up to his arrival at
Hell’s Canyon, and knew he was a very special
person. The demon also figured out Simon that
had a hole in his heart. The loss of his family,
and indeed, his world, had created a dark void in
Simon’s soul. For the most part, Simon ignored
his anger and rage by concentrating on his
mission to save the world. Occasionally,
however, he gave in to his baser instincts and
took out his aggression on those who stood in
his way. Most of the time, his opponents
deserved what they got. Sometimes, however,
Simon’s zeal meant the weak and innocent
suffered alongside the guilty.
Baphomet took advantage of this weakness
by releasing one of his servants in the climactic
battle with Simon. Just as the Grand Master
defeated one of the demon’s servants, a young
woman, Baphomet released her from his

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influence. Simon saw the humanity a body of harmful rads. It doesn’t. A lot of
return to the confused woman’s eyes and younger people in town, thinking his soda is like
could have checked his swing, but he wasn’t those the olders always talk about, spend a lot
in a mood to take chances, so he cut her of money trying to acquire a taste for this stuff.
down. In that instant, Simon damned himself. Templar Bones: $1000. Sam’s real money
Baphomet called on a power he could only comes from the sale of Templars’ bones. He
use once. By sacrificing his physical form, the never says where he gets them from because he
demon was able to flee its body and enter knows Simon might do worse than exile him. In
Simon’s during this critical moment of truth, the bones are really those of a Templar.
weakness. Sam dug up a single corpse, that of Johannes
Simon is not “possessed” in the traditional Faulk, and has been selling bones and fragments
sense of the word. Baphomet resides inside his of bones for almost a year now.
psyche much like a manitou in a Harrowed. Anyone who has one of these bones on their
The effect of this is something we just can’t person gains +2 to any sort of opposed roll, be it
tell you yet. We hate to say “buy another physical, mental, or otherwise.
sourcebook to find out,” but we just can’t spill
all the beans yet. Trust us, though, it’s worth
waiting for.
The Boise Maelstrom
In the meantime, run Simon just as you’d The Maelstrom here is slightly less dangerous
think and don’t worry about the timebomb than most, because the Templars have
ticking inside him. When it’s time for the heroes successfully lowered the Fear Level within the
to play the bomb squad, we’ll let you know. Boise maelstrom.
Whenever anyone crosses through the storm,
draw two cards and apply the lowest as
Boise damage. Only if both Jokers are drawn can the
victim suffer a mutation.
Fear Level 3 For Templars, squires, and Companions, draw
Boise is a strange place. The Temple and the 5 cards and take the lowest. They never suffer
Hall of Heroes are solemn monuments to mutations.
Simon’s efforts, yet the streets in between are
filled with an almost carnival-like atmosphere. Storm Laps
Though neither Jo or Simon know it yet,
Welcome to the masochist olympics. “Storm
there’s actually quite a large “black market” in
laps” are races run within—not just through—the
smuggled goods flowing through the town. Most
maelstrom wall.
of these are sold quietly in the scores of booths,
There’s no real rules to it; the brainers just
carts, and kiosks that fill the town square and
jump in and start running along the storm wall,
surrounding streets. A Marshal with a mean
taking damage each round until one of them
streak might find it entertaining to have one of
can’t take it anymore and jumps out.
these vendors offer a trinket to one of the
The cool part is that the locals take bets on
Templar’s companions. If discovered, both the
who can last the longest. This might be a good
seller and the buyer are booted and asked never
way for a posse to have a few laughs and make
to return.
a few bucks at their Templar’s willing to risk his
life.
Sam Hinkelman Simon frowns on storm laps, but can’t say too
The most notorious of the black marketeers much since he and Jo were the ones who
is Sam Hinkelman. Publicly, he sells lizards- started this insane contest.
on-a-stick and other “delicacies.” Quietly, he
sells Templar relics to the unscrupulous,
and especially the desperate petitioners
who come to Boise seeking aid.
The Boise Horror
Here’s a list of his wares: Okay, we know a few of you are going to
Lizard-on-a-Stick: $2. The lizards are groan and think we’re just trying to make you
tough, leathery, and not particularly buy more sourcebooks, but once again, we’re
nutritious. going to have to withhold the truth from you
Hinkelman’s Amazing Soda Pop: $25. for a bit longer. Remember, this book is about
Sam claims this foul-tasting concoction rids how to play a Templar, not a Boise sourcebook.

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 Dirty Laundry
The truth about the Boise Horror, and
Baphomet as well, are revealed in the upcoming
super-adventure for Hell on Earth called,
appropriately enough, The Boise Horror.
In the meantime, characters who try to
investigate won’t meet with any success. The
monster strikes sporadically with no real
pattern, and never leaves a trail. It often leaves
clues, but they are false and confusing. Most of
the time, those it kills seem to have been slain
by a vampire, werewolf, or some similar
creature. It usually acts on the full moon, but
not always. It does always strike at night,
however.
We can tell you the bloodwolf killed by Teller
was not the Boise Horror. It was responsible for
the death of Lynn Graves (the second victim),
however.

Son of the Boise Horror

The “son” of the Boise Horror is the horror
itself—it has not yet been slain or even
discovered. Neither Jo nor Simon have figured
this out yet.

The Combine
Jo doesn’t know this yet, but the rise of the
anti-Templars and their frequent alliances with
the Combine have led Throckmorton to issue a
general order about the Templars: they are to be
The Cult of Doom
shot on sight. That’s not a big change—Black Hats Silas Rasmussen, the Mutant King, also grows
and Templars were never close pals anyway. tired of the Templars’ constant interference. He
The real problem is that every settlement has instructed his minions to treat Templars as
that’s kowtowed to the Combine is supposed to they would Schismatics—nuke first and don’t
report the whereabouts of any Templars who bother to ask questions later.
happen by, and quietly kill them if possible. The Mutant King doesn’t offer a reward for
Black Hats have also been authorized to pay a Templar heads, but those who defeat these
$5000 bounty for the bodies of Templars. As a powerful knights are rewarded with promotions
result, it’s becoming common for Templars to and the warm caress of the Glow.
find themselves betrayed by a few greedy
bastards lurking on the fringes even when
they’re helping out “good” settlements. There’s a Junkyard
few bad apples in even the best of bushels. The salvation of the Wasted West lies in
Besides the reward, it’s become common the grimy streets and soot-clogged alleys of
knowledge that killing a powerful Templar gets Junkyard. The only known city in the
a waster promoted quickly. A gang who shows Wasted West is not only the center of the
up in Denver with a Templar strapped to the survivors’ trade, but of information and
hood might just get trained and armed as Black news as well. Soon, when the Combine
Hats on the spot. Okay, if the bastards were eventually comes rolling over the
tough enough to go killing Templars, they’d Rockies, this bastion of twisted steel will
probably get to be Black Hats anyway— be the only obstacle to stop them.
Throckmorton never has enough thugs—but Junkyard’s foreman, Ike Taylor, is a
Throckmorton’s operatives sure make them feel friend of the Templars, though the knights
special for bringing in such a trophy. do not approve of him arming the local

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 Dirty Laundry
road gangs. But Ike’s plan isn’t quite as
contrary as it seems—there’s a method to
his madness.
Mutants
As much as he prefers dealing with the By and large, mutants are afraid of Templars.
Convoy and the “good” gangs, Ike knows that There are just too many tales of Templars
the violent marauders are the most powerful battling their way through mutant hordes,
military force he might be able to call upon cutting down scores of savages with their
when the Combine makes its push. In the magical swords. Given a chance to think about
meantime, he has to minimize their damage it, any mutant in his right mind ought to realize
while keeping them friendly to Junkyard. On that these tales are just norm talk—any mutants
the surface, he trades openly with them. But in attacked by Templars were probably of the
reality, when a gang known to be raiders pulls flesh-eating, bone-chucking variety, not the just-
in, the spook juice reserves are mysteriously some-guy-with-a-third-nipple sort. But
low, ammunition is short, and so on. perception is far stronger than reality, so
The Templars just can’t go along with Ike’s mutants are suspicious, fearful, and angry
way of thinking. They don’t believe in arming toward the post-Apocalyptic knights.
thugs and murderers regardless of the reason. Silas Rasmussen, the Mutant King, encourages
Cole Ballad, the local Law Dog, agrees. He goes this fear. His Doomsayers spread false tales of
after any gang suspected of raiding and wipes Templars killing all mutants they encounter.
them out to the last man.
It’s hard to say who is right. Ike’s way may be
best, but the balance is so precarious it may be
The Anti-Templars
a moot point. If the gangs raid too heavily, the The world is in a lot of trouble in case you
caravans will stop coming and Junkyard will die. hadn’t noticed, and right now, Simon’s way is
If they’re wiped out, a potential ally in the fight the right way. People who aren’t part of the
against the Combine disappears. solution are part of the problem. Anti-Templars
Time will tell. don’t buy this, so the Martyrs forsake them.
The Reckoners, however, are more than willing
to step in and take over. They provide unearthly
The Law Dogs powers to the anti-Templars, and very slowly,
Most Law Dogs think working with a Templar very subtly, take control. The pure-hearted resist
is like walking around with your revolver as best they can. Those greedy for power do
cocked. They’re always looking for trouble, but whatever they feel might reward them.
half the time, they run off when they find it.
When a mutie horde attacks, Law Dogs don’t Corruption
waste time worrying about who’s worth saving Most all anti-Templars, player-types included,
and who isn’t. As long as the defenders are just can’t resist using those nifty Reckoner
probably decent people, they deserve help. blessings. We told the players something bad
There’s just nothing more frustrating than would happen when their Corruption equaled
getting involved in that kind of situation, then their Spirit die type, but we didn’t tell them what.
seeing a very powerful asset just walk away. Here’s the scoop. For each Corruption point
The tale of Law Dog Jenny Hise has been over his Spirit die type, the anti-Templar gains a
somewhat corrupted by some folks. One version new Hindrance from the following list: big ‘un:
of the story currently circulating the irradiated obese, bloodthirsty, death wish, grim servant o’
plains is that Simon was already a Templar death, mean as a rattler, scrawny or tuckered 3.
when Jenny died. She allegedly stood outside Remember that these Hindrances don’t
the town of Quissling asking for help and usually just appear instantly—a character doesn’t
Simon said no. She had started trouble and suddenly become obese the instant he gains that
the “good people” inside didn’t want her critical Corruption point. Instead, perhaps he
there. After Jenny was killed, Simon starts feeling insatiably hungry over the course
decided the people inside weren’t worth his of the next few days, growing huge over a week
trouble after all and left them to the or so. These Hindrances can be bought off
marauders, who slaughtered them all. normally (double the usual cost), though
It’s pure bullpuckey, of course, but so are obviously this drains a whole lot of character
a lot of campfire stories. points. When the character gains all of these
Hindrances, he becomes a villain under the

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 Dirty Laundry
Marshal’s control. Yup. Take the character sheet Templar just has to know when to use
from the player—you now have yourself one it and when not to. That’s harder than it
grade-A villain who knows the rest of the sounds.
posse’s most intimate secrets and weaknesses. Now for some big news. The adventure
You can let the lost soul keep playing for a bit at the end of this book is all about Brad
to keep things interesting, but once discovered, Modeen. In fact, with a little luck on the
he should be retired from the posse and treated posse’s part, he’ll be slain.
as a villain. That’s okay, because Modeen has
This is true even if the character had some of already played his greatest role by creating
these Hindrances prior to becoming corrupted. If the anti-Templars. His deeds will leave a
he gets them all, regardless of how, he becomes terrible stain on the Templars and their valiant
a fully-corrupted bad guy. efforts of restoring the Wasted West.
The most powerful of these true anti-
Templars usually become servitors (see
Servitors in Chapter Four of the Wasted West Ronan Lynch, Saint of Death
worldbook).
Thought we forgot about old Ronan, didn’t
Hey, we warned those guys not to jump in the
you? No way, partner. Here’s the scoop on the
deep end of Hell.
one Martyr that has—so far at least—appeared
only to Simon himself.
Non-Player Character Anti-Templars Ronan is the patron saint of the doomed. He
Once an anti-Templar becomes an apostle of appears to those heroes who’s deaths have
the Reckoners, don’t worry about keeping track already been set into motion. All Templars live
of Corruption anymore. They’re bad guys and on the edge, but Ronan only aids those whose
they can use the Reckoners’ blessings at will. doom is already set. Does this mean Simon’s
days are numbered? You figure it out.
Modeen Deed: Ronan appears to any Templar who,
due to the deliberate plotting of the Reckoners
The leader of this evil movement is, of
or their minions, is inevitably going to die. It
course, Brad Modeen. The sad part is, he was
doesn’t matter whether death is eight minutes or
true to Simon until the incident at Quissling.
eight months off—what matters is that the clock
That’s when he decided to become an anti-
is ticking, and the death cannot be avoided. By
Templar. He was still basically good for the next
the way, even Simon doesn’t know this yet.
several months until he found out about the
There’s no reason a character visited by Ronan
power the Reckoners were willing to offer.
needs to know why.
The outcast used the power wisely for a
White: The character may make a natural
while. Each time he’d come close to death,
healing roll. This power may only be invoked
however, he’d draw just a little more energy to
once every 24 hours, though it can be done in
save his skin. Soon, it became second nature to
addition to lay on hands.
will the power of the Four Horsemen to course
Red: The hero can use any Harrowed power
through his body. Eventually, his soul turned
one time, up to a maximum duration of his faith
black as ghost rock. That’s when he became the
in rounds.
Destroyer.
Blue The hero, or anyone he’s with, gets a
Later on, Modeen told an idealistic young
free attempt to resist possession. For example, a
anti-Templar about the power the Reckoners
Harrowed character who’s manitou has taken
offered. The youth reacted badly, and the
over gets a free shot at the usual Spirit test to
surprised Modeen was forced to cut him in half.
regain control.
That’s when the Destroyer realized he’d have to
Legend: A hero who has received a
wrap the truth in a more attractive wrapper. He
killing wound from any source other than
made up the lie about Julia Aiken appearing in
what is destined to kill him may transfer
his dreams and spoon-fed his enthusiastic
the damage to any close compadre (such
followers what they wanted to hear—that all the
as a posse member). This can’t be done as
power at their fingertips was just a way of
a deliberate act—if the hero wants the pal
using the Reckoners’ power “against them.”
to be hurt, the power won’t work.
Of course there is some truth to it. The
Vexation: In the unlikely event that
Horsemen’s blessings can be used for any
the hero survives the portended death,
purpose—there are no restrictions. An anti-
Ronan leaves him to his own resources.

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The Destroyer

Marshal: 110
 Chapter Seven:
The Destroyer

Evenin’ friends. Gather ’round the firebarrel Finally, the caravan was forced to surrender
and let us tell you a tragic tale of a Templar or be destroyed. The survivors were rounded up
gone bad. A tale of misery, of woe, and of the and surrounded by the anti-Templars. Then,
start of a whole new chapter in the saga of the from a nearby hilltop, a lone rider dressed in
Wasted West. A tale of Modeen. heavy black armor and carrying a large battle-
ax approached. He said he was the Destroyer,
Brad Modeen, and he had a message for the
The Story So Far caravan to deliver to the Templars in Boise.
The Destroyer threw a bag at the caravaners
We told you the story of Julia Aiken and Brad
feet, pointed at the youngest of the survivors,
Modeen earlier in this book. Go back and read
and told her to deliver it to the Grand Master in
up on them if you forgot, because knowing the
Boise. He would keep the rest of the survivors,
origin of the anti-Templars, and Modeen the
and starting tomorrow, would kill one caravaner
Destroyer in particular, is especially important
each nightfall until the Templars responded to
to this story.
his message.
A few days prior to the start of the
The girl, Daphne Dumar, had no idea what he
adventure, a trade caravan heading for Simon’s
meant by “respond,” but it was obvious the
Rock was creeping over the busted highways
blood-soaked bag had a head inside. All she
around Twin Falls, Idaho. Among the ruined
could do was grab one of the caravan’s
outlying suburbs, they were attacked by a large
remaining motorcycles and ride as fast as she
and well-organized biker gang. The caravan was
could for Simon.
protected by several posses of hired guards, and
Daphne arrived in Boise three hours later
they were holding up pretty well until
and told Simon what happened. The Grand
something… well, unusual happened.
Master couldn’t believe his misfortune—
A dozen bikers, dressed in chain mail and
the Boise Horror had struck again and he
armed with machine guns, came pouring over
had dispatched all the Templars currently
the horizon. These bikers were good shots, and
in Boise to parts unknown on a
nearly impossible to kill. Most frightening of all
mysterious mission (a very important
was that they wore black tabards with white
mission we’ll reveal in a future adventure,
crosses. Most in the caravan had heard of the
amigo). He had no one to send with her.
anti-Templars, realized that’s what these riders
The caravaners were doomed.
were, and knew they were trouble.

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 The Destroyer
be the one who takes them away from
The Setup their misery and gives new meaning to
their lives.
Then the heroes show up. We assume
your group has one Templar and perhaps a Give the heroes a moment or two to look
few companions. If there is more than one around. With a Hard (9) Cognition roll, one of
Templar, that’s fine. If there is no Templar and them might notice a young boy scamper off
you still want to run this adventure, that’s toward the Temple. There he alerts Simon that a
okay too, but you’ll have to figure out what Templar has arrived in town. A few minutes
Simon is willing to pay for the posse’s help. later, he returns and tells the heroes that the
Also, he won’t even ask for help from a Grand Master would like to meet with them
particularly mercenary or incompetent group. immediately. When they agree, read on.
They have to be basically good and very
competent to be of any help. Otherwise they’ll The Temple is little more than a long
just get themselves and the caravaners killed meeting hall with several other rooms
(not to mention give a bad rep to the Templars). leading off the rear. The stone floor and
walls emanate cold. You imagine that
Welcome! Sit Down. Shut up. Listen. electric heaters once warmed this place in
As soon as Simon becomes aware a Templar winter, but the gray stone looks as if it
has entered Boise, he heads out to find him. would never truly be comfortable. Much
Read the text below to the heroes a few like the Templars relationship with the
minutes after they enter downtown Boise. world itself. Necessary in personality.
Tolerable in method. But cold.
The ruins outside the Boise maelstrom Such thoughts are shaken from your
looked like those around most other cities. skull when you see Grand Master Simon
Buildings lay rubbled and blasted, scores Mercer sitting upon a raised podium at the
of scorched cars filled the streets, and back of the room. Beside him is a man in a
here and there old signs of the aftermath— simple brown robe, like a robe of old. This
battles fought between mutie bands over is Librarian Fred Biletnikoff.
the last scraps of food—were evident. Simon nods, and begins.
Then you stepped through that raging, “Welcome, friends. Brother Templar. I’m
violent maelstrom. It hurt—like it always sorry, but you have little time to spend
does—but seemed a knot or two slower here. We have a most dire emergency that
than elsewhere. Maybe the Templars have must be dealt with immediately.
something to do with it. Maybe you just “Yesterday, a caravan heading for these
got lucky. parts was ambushed by a large gang.
Either way, you’re through it now. Leading this gang was a villain we call the
Where you expected either more rubble, Destroyer. He is an anti-Templar named
or perhaps a gleaming city of gold, there is Brad Modeen. We need to bring this
neither. Instead, there are a few stone murderer and thief to justice immediately.
buildings and countless tents, lean-tos, “The Destroyer has taken the remaining
and shacks made of scavenged debris. In caravaners hostage, and will kill one at
this sea of temporary homes are several nightfall each day until we ‘respond’ to
hundred people. Most mill about hastily- this.” Simon points to a table nearby. On it
built kiosks, bargaining for food with sits a gruesome head on a wet, bloody
bags of salvage. Others sit despondently, bag.
waiting to petition the Grand Master for
aid. A much smaller number of young Have the Templar of the group make a
men and women look as if they hope to Knowledge roll, but don’t tell him the TN. Unless
be squires. They duel with each other, he goes bust, he makes it—the roll is just for
most armed with little more than sticks show. He recognizes the head as that of Tim
or iron pipes. Compared to the semi- Brown, a fellow Templar.
permanent population of aid-seekers,
your band must look like veteran Simon points to a young girl standing
warriors. And you, the Templar, might just near the Templar entrance. “That is
Daphne Dumar,” Simon continues. “The

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 The Destroyer
Destroyer allowed her to live so that she
could deliver his ‘message.’ She can guide
you back to the site of the ambush. I need
Chapter One:
you to accompany her at once and bring
this fiend to justice. Twin Falls or Bust
“I cannot offer you any help. I believe It’s time to head for Twin Falls. The
the Destroyer wishes to take the Temple, route is easy—just take old I-84 East, with
and I must organize a defense and gather an occasional detour to avoid the ruins and
any other Templars I can before he ghost-rock storms along the way.
arrives. The people here are untrained and Daphne doesn’t know where the Destroyers’
mostly unarmed so I’ll need every last one camp is. She’s sure they’ll be easy to track
of them here to hold the place. though—there were over 20 regular gangers, 13
“I can risk only you,” Simon says to the anti-Templars, and the Destroyer himself.
Templar, “and your friends. Your small
group may be able to do what an army Daphne Dumar
can’t: kill Modeen. If you can strike down Daphne has traveled with the caravan for
the Destroyer before he moves on Boise, several years now. Her adopted father drives
we will save many lives.” one of the team’s semis. He’s now a hostage, so
Simon looks to those of you who do she’s anxious to make sure he survives this
not wear the tabard of the Templars. “If ordeal. For that reason, she won’t put up with
you succeed in this quest and honor our much stalling on the part of the posse. If they
order, I will make you Companions. This is hang around Boise too long, she’ll eventually
a great gift, for it allows the sacred take off without them. She’s willing to stay with
Martyrs to smile upon you in times of them, and even help out (she’d be a useful
need.” guide), if the heroes seem to know what they’re
“Go now, my friends. And do not fail.” doing. If not, she’ll first attempt to hurry them
along, then set off by herself if need be.
Simon Says
A Templar has no choice but to follow his
Grand Master’s direct orders. If his friends hold
out for pay of some kind, Simon refuses. He
believes his Templar is better off without such
greedy companions.
A posse without a Templar can negotiate a
bit. Simon doesn’t like hiring greedy mercenaries,
but he’s not so stubborn he’ll sacrifice the lives
of the caravaners or risk the fall of the Temple
for that principal. In fact, he he’s just using one
unscrupulous force against another, and that’s
perfectly fine with him.
If the heroes have no Templar but seem
good-hearted and recognize the importance of
their mission, Simon still offers to make them
Companions. You might want to point out to
those who don’t know that Companions can call
for aid from the order, and more importantly,
gain Martyr’s blessings.
At any rate, the order has been given or the
bargain struck. The heroes should leave for
Twin Falls immediately. They have until
nightfall of the following day before a
caravaner is sacrificed, but as Simon and
Daphne point out, they need plenty of time to
scout out the “Destroyers” (as she calls them)
and determine how best to defeat them.

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 The Destroyer
Profile highway. Roll 1d6 damage to the vehicle, +1 per
Corporeal: D:2d6, N:2d8, Q:3d6, S:2d6, V:3d6 point the character missed the roll by. Make
Climbin’ 2d8, drivin’: motorcycle, car 3d8, sure to reroll any Aces on the d6. It’s possible to
fightin’: brawlin’ 2d8, shootin’: pistol, rifle 3d6, total a car running through a pothole that was
sneak 3d8 deeper than it looked, but not real likely.
Mental: C:3d6, K:2d6, M:2d8, Sm:2d6, Sp:3d10 On a bust, the vehicle plunges through what
Area knowledge: Northwest 3d6, gamblin’ 1d6, looked to be a broad puddle, but turns out to be
guts 2d10, medicine: general 2d6, persuasion a massive crater several feet deep. The vehicle
3d8, scroungin’ 3d6, scrutinize 2d6, search 3d6, takes 3d6 damage, or 6d6 if the posse was
survival: forests 2d6, trackin’ 2d6 pushing for speed. In any event, the vehicle
Edges: Purty 1 becomes stuck in the crater. It takes some work
Hindrances: Loyal 3, stubborn 2 to get it free. The roads are dangerous these
Pace: 8 days.
Size: 6 As if that isn’t bad enough, somewhere
Wind: 16 outside of the town of Mountain Home (about
Gear: A motorcycle. Her weapons and halfway to Twin Falls), the posse is once again
possessions were taken by the raiders. reminded of the true nature of the Reckoning.

I-84 Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-Bats, Man!

I-84 is not a pleasant drive. It follows the The Church of Christ sits just outside the
Snake River Plain in a half circle from Boise Mountain Home maelstrom. Its shattered steeple
down to Twin Falls and clear through to towers over the landscape and pierces the winter
Montana. To the north of the highway are tall sky. A bell can be seen just inside the tower,
mountains, and to the south is the Snake River and it begins to ring as the posse passes by.
along with numerous canyons and vast The bell rings whenever strangers come to
expanses of soggy prairie. The rain from the town, all on its own. Stuff like that happens in a
mountains washes down through the plateau to Deadland. This wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t stir
the river and constantly warps the highway. up the death bats that dwell within the steeple.
During more civilized times, road crews kept it The bell tolls exactly 12 times, then stops for
in good condition. These days, between the a 10-second pause—just enough time to lull the
water, the ghost-rock craters, and the damage nervous party into thinking nothing happened.
caused by occasional battles of the Last War, it’s Suddenly, hundreds of bats (actually, three
more like an obstacle course than a road. hordes of Death Bats) fly from the steeple,
It’s 130 or so miles from Boise to Twin Falls. darkening the sky around it. If the posse hasn’t
Daphne made good time on her bike—about five already scrambled for cover, they’d better. The
hours. If the heroes have bikes, they can do horde of death bats soars high into the sky,
almost as well. It’s relatively easy to swerve then swoops down for the kill.
through the wrecked cars blocking the The bats attack the posse, and continue to do
occasional town on a 2-wheeler. so until defeated or someone dies (see the
If they have 4-wheeled vehicles, they’ll make profile, below), the tower bell is rung, or the
the trip in about eight to 10 hours due to the posse escapes—the bats won’t pursue the heroes
many detours they’ll have to take. more than five miles from their tower.
On foot, the journey is five or six days at Observant characters (those making Hard (9)
least (check out the traveling rules in the Cognition checks) might spot two skeletons on
Wasted West for guidelines). This’ll be a long the pavement before the church, as if they’d
adventure if the posse doesn’t have a fallen as they struggled to reach the bell tower.
vehicle. Because the bats regenerate, they’ll most
Each time the posse makes this trip likely be back the next time the heroes pass
(they’ll do it more than once), have each Mountain Home. Welcome to the Deadlands.
character who is driving a vehicle make a Some heroes might be tempted to solve the
Fair (5) drivin’ roll for every four hours on mystery of the Death Bats right away, but smart
the road. A driver who fails dings up his characters will remember that they have
vehicle weaving in and out of the various pressing business elsewhere. Maybe you’ll want
obstacles, potholes, and craters along the to develop the bats into an adventure of their
own to follow this one, Marshal.

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 The Destroyer
Death Bats
Corporeal: D:NA, N:4d10, Q:2d6, S:1d4, V:1d4
Fightin’: brawlin’ 2d10, flyin’ 4d10
Mental: C:1d10, K:1d4, M:2d4, Sm:1d4, Sp:1d6
Pace: Special (see Special Abilities)
Size: Special (about 10 yards across)
Wind: NA
Terror: 11
Special Abilities:
Horde: The bats aren’t individual creatures;
rather, each horde is a single abomination.
A horde can take 100 points of damage and
receives a single Action Card. Projectile
attacks cause 1 point of damage per bullet
or magical bolt fired, or 3 points of damage
per shotgun shell fired. Explosives and
other area-effect attacks cause full damage.
Wind damage doesn’t affect them at all.
Life Drain: A Death Bat horde attacks by
draining the life from its victims. Every
living thing within the horde loses 1d4 Wind
on the horde’s actions. Armor protects only
if completely sealed. Multiple hordes
cannot cover the same area. The victim
takes a wound to the guts for every
negative multiple of his Wind lost.
Pace: Death Bats can go as fast as necessary
to keep up with their prey, but they won’t
stray more than five miles from their tower.
Regeneration: Regardless of how badly
they’re hurt, the bats reform, unharmed, in
their belltower at midnight.
Tenacious: Death Bats normally only return
to their lair when someone dies. This horde
has one other trigger—they’ll retreat into
the belfry if the bell rings again. Up to 11
tolls sends them back to their lair. On the
12th toll, they’ll fly out again to look for
prey.
Description: From a distance a Death Bat horde
looks like a dark cloud of perhaps 200 bats,
but up close the individual bats look ragged
and shapeless; more like flapping shreds of
black cloth or plastic bags than actual animals.

Bounty
Accepting the mission without question:
one white chip for the Templar.
Eyes on the prize: one red chip for heroes
who remember that their business is elsewhere,
and don’t get hung up on the bats.
Ringing the bell: one blue chip for the
brainer who figured this one out and pulled it
off.

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 The Destroyer
Plateau, she points to a flock of buzzards
Chapter Two: circling over the next treeline. As the party
clears the small woods, they see a number of

Orchard of Despair charred, ruined vehicles—the remains of the

caravan.
Hang onto your Stetson, Marshal. This
chapter is fairly momentous as adventures go. Investigating the Caravan
We’re about to kill off a fairly major character Daphne says she knows there were some
in the history of the Templars. If you explosions, but her father made her duck down
remember, when Simon first emerged from the and she has little idea what kinds of heavy
lodge in Boise, one of the young men from the weapons the Destroyers used to bring down the
village was so impressed with him that he caravan. Smart player characters might be able
followed him for the next few years. This young to figure out what they’re up against by
man was Aaron McConnell, and he would examining the wreckage.
become the first Templar after Simon. That’s a grisly task, for the wreckage has just
He was a powerful knight for many years— now cooled down enough for the scavengers to
until this unfortunate chapter. Read on and we’ll get to work. Several wild dogs, ranging from
tell you all about it. poodles to Great Danes, pull bodies apart,
buzzards peck out eyeballs, and even a number
of domestic cats paw through the scene, licking
Twin Falls Blues blood from the charred, steaming corpses.
The heroes approach Twin Falls along I-84 Obviously, humanity’s former pets are just as
from the northwest. Describe to them the ruins lost and hungry as their masters. It’s enough to
of a major freeway, complete with pile-ups and make even a hardened veteran sick: have all
crumbling overpasses with semi-trucks hanging characters make Fair (5) guts checks. Daphne’s
perilously overhead. check is Hard (9) since these were her friends
Daphne directs them through this maze of and “family.”
destruction as best she can. They’ll have to Those who can stomach the carnage can now
leave the road and go down through a gully or search the ruined vehicles for clues. Have
two where the overpasses are crumbled, but for anyone who does so make an Onerous (7)
the most part, they can stay on the highway. search roll. Those who are successful spy
Have vehicle drivers make one final Fair (5) several large and deep blast holes in the largest
drivin’ roll. Those who fail suffer 1d6 damage to trucks cabs—obviously the work of light
their vehicles as they push through rubble, drive missiles or rocket launchers. There are also a
down a gully, or get hit by falling debris from number of old and new bullet holes. With a
an overpass above. raise, the heroes can determine that all the
On a bust, the vehicle is passing below an holes are of various calibers, but some of the
overpass when it nudges an overturned newest ones are from a large machine gun, such
Volkswagon. The car spins slowly, dramatically, as a .50 cal or a 20mm flak gun.
before its bumper hits a fractured support Most of the bodies were killed by gunshots or
column for the overpass above. The overpass fire from their vehicles. A few have been cut
shudders, a semi perched precariously on the deeply, as if by swords or battle axes. In fact,
edge trembles, and the whole thing crashes one of the corpses is that of a syker wearing
down like thunder. The driver can make one last the emblem of the Fightin’ 43rd. Daphne says he
Incredible (11) drivin’ roll to avoid the debris. and a few of the other bodies had hired on as
Those who don’t make it take 20d12 massive guards. Let this be a warning to the posse.
damage—almost certain death. Light armor The syker was one of those who survived to
offers no protection against this crushing be captured. Daphne says the Destroyer saw the
avalanche, but rigid armor works normally. mind freak among the captives and had him
separated from the others. Then, without
This Must be the Spot another word, he swung his great ax and sliced
the startled syker in half. Obviously, the
Eventually, Daphne leaves the ruined Destroyer didn’t care to have such a powerful
highways for a more tolerable secondary prisoner. There was a purple-robed Doomsayer
road. A few miles north of Twin Falls, in a in the syker’s party as well, but Daphne didn’t
wide, soggy, prairie on the Snake River see what happened to her.

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 The Destroyer
Difficulties with Daphne The Orchard
The grisly scene puts Daphne in quite a mood.
At first she’s sad and doesn’t say much. If the Fear Level 4
party dawdles, she begins looking for the The road passes into an orchard, where
Destroyers’ tracks, finds them, and insists the the heroes are met with a gruesome sight.
group set out at once. She mounts up and heads Bodies hang by their necks from every
north on her own if they don’t. The heroes tree. Some of the heavier corpses have
would do well to grab her before she gets too stretched the necks so far they no longer
far, as she’s likely to just get captured and warn look human. A very few have even
the gang of the posse’s approach. separated.
A raise on a persuasion roll will keep Daphne A place like this should be filled with
in line for a while. Of course, the smooth-talker scavengers, but strangely, the only animals to be
may have to catch her first if the posse is seen are black crows. There are hundreds of
dragging its feet. them sitting in the branches, watching the
heroes. Oddly, there ground is littered nearly as
densely with dead birds as it is with rotten
Trackin’ apples (which the heroes are constantly
The Destroyer’s tracks lead through an old stepping on)—this place is so tainted with evil
corn field and onto a secondary road. Fortunately that even the crows sicken and die here.
for the heroes, several of the raiders’ vehicles The crows don’t attack, but the heroes
are leaking oil. An Onerous (7) trackin’ roll will shouldn’t know that. Have the flock watch every
keep the heroes on the greasy trail. move they make. Every sound threatens to fill
The heroes can’t make very good time, the sky with this black host (much like the
however, because the tracker needs to look for death bats did earlier). Heroes climbing trees (to
oil drops at every intersection. cut down bodies, perhaps), a few score of crows
The trail ends up on a dirt road leading into move threateningly closer. Use the crows to
an old apple farm. establish tension and creep the posse out.

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 The Destroyer
That’s Gotta Hurt “Then there came the sound of fighting.
Once it is apparent the Destroyers aren’t We looked and saw a Templar cutting his
about, Daphne anxiously runs from tree to way through several bikers. Several of us
tree, looking for her father. She doesn’t find rushed to help, but the rest of the gangers
him, but she does find one of the caravaners. already had their guns on us. I would have
It’s the missing Doomsayer, a woman in her blasted them, but I was still short on juice.
mid-forties named Barb. She has on ordinary “The Templar got to the Destroyer’s tent
clothes instead of her purple robe, but before he was surrounded by the 13 black
Daphne’s sure it’s her. As she tells the party riders. He said he was Aaron McConnell.
her news, the Doomsayer suddenly starts He had been tracking the Destroyers for
kicking and gasping for air. She’s still alive! months and had come for vengeance. He
Barb managed to perch her toes on the tip of challenged the Destroyer to fight him alone.
a branch, but it gave out a few minutes before “The Destroyer came out of his tent and
the heroes arrived. They have about 30 seconds said, ‘You’re the best Simon could do?
to rescue her or it’s good night, Barb. Come on then, Aaron.’ Just like he knew
You think she’d be grateful, but as soon as him. Then he walked out into the pasture
she’s cut down she starts to yell: and took off his helmet. The Templar said
something then, but I couldn’t make it out.
“Stay away!” she screams at the “Then the two of them went at it. The
Templar. “Your kind has already come Destroyer had that huge ax and Aaron had
once. That’s why they hung me. Stay a thin but fast sword. We all cheered for
away! Stay away! You’ll only bring more him, and it looked like he got the better of
death!” it for a while. Then the Destroyer laughed
and dropped his ax. Aaron moved in like
Barb’s a little on the hysterical side for a few lightning and put his sword straight
minutes. A raise on a persuasion roll can help through the bastard’s heart.
her calm down. Assuming they are successful, “The Destroyer staggered backward and
the party’s Templar is likely to try to lay on grabbed the hilt. Then he pulled it free and
hands. Unfortunately, a person hung in the laughed again, like the villain in some old
orchard cannot be healed by magical means—not movie. Aaron stood stunned as the
by Templars, Doomsayers, or any other magic- Destroyer snapped his sword over his
using type. A syker hung in the tree can’t even knee and threw the lower half at the
heal himself. That’s part of the curse of this Templar. It caught him in the gut and
floral Deadland. Victims hung here can heal Aaron fell to his knees.
normally, but any wounds suffered prior to “The Destroyer said one of us would
being hung in the orchard cannot be healed by hang for this. I volunteered, both because I
any kind of magic. had agreed to protect the caravan, and
Anyway, when Barb calms down, she gives a because I thought my powers might come
little more useful information: back in time to give us a chance.
“They brought Aaron and me here.
“I threw a few nukes at the bastards They hung him first, in that big tree on
when they attacked, but I ran out of juice. the hill. The Destroyer did it himself. He
When they captured us, they saw my told him something just before he let him
friend Jimbo was a syker. I just happened drop, but I couldn’t make it out. Then they
to be wearing my “civvies” and I decided all walked down the hill and brought me
to keep my mouth shut about being a out into the orchard.
Doomsayer. Thankfully , the rest of the “I had enough juice for one last blast,
caravan played along. but after seeing what they did with the
“The raiders took us all to a field Templar, I got another plan. It was
somewhere north of here. They had us obvious they didn’t stick around to see
fenced in the open in an old cow what happened, so I decided to just let
pasture. It was cold. Freezing. The gang them hang me and hope they rode away.
camped out all around us, roasting God- Then I’d use my healing powers to save
knows-what on spits on their warm myself, and maybe the Templar too. Then
fires, taunting us with the heat and smell we could make it to Boise and get a
of food. whole freakin’ army of Templars!

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 The Destroyer
“The Destroyers did just what I hoped. Hanging from the tree are three
They hung me, mounted up, and rode off bodies, all of them dressed in Templars’
before I stopped kicking. I managed to tabards. The one closest to the front is
balance myself on a branch and tried to that of Aaron McConnell, the first
use my powers, but nothing happened. My Templar trained by Simon. Any Templar
hands were bound so I couldn’t even blast can make a Hard (9) Knowledge roll to
myself free. Just a few minutes ago, my recognize him (make it easier if one of the
branch finally broke and I started to heroes has actually met Aaron). Any hopes
strangle. I reckon I’d be dead now if you the posse has of saving Aaron are dashed as
hadn’t come along. soon as someone checks him. He’s dead, Jim.
“I don’t think there’s much hope for the This should be a powerful sign to any Templars
Templar now, but we should check. He’s in the posse that the Destroyer is not to be
on that big tree at the head of the orchard. taken lightly. Even worse, Daphne points out,
they’ll never know why his sword-thrust didn’t
Barb of Doom kill the Destroyer.
Barb has little else useful to say. In fact, the “Not so fast,” Barb says as she hobbles up the
heroes should run immediately to the Templar’s hill. She tells them that if they can get her an
Tree at the head of the orchard to check on ounce of ghost rock, she can speak to Aaron’s
Aaron. When they do, Barb hobbles after them spirit. At worst, he’ll have some last words to
as best she can. She’s got a heavy wound to the impart. At best, he might have some insight into
head (her throat) and she’s down to 1 Wind, but defeating the Destroyer.
otherwise, the Doomsayer is in relatively decent
shape. Is There Any Ghost Rock in the House?
If the posse has some ghost rock, you can
Profile move right on to the “canned speech” below.
Corporeal: D:2d6, N:3d6, Q:3d6, S:3d6, V:3d10 Otherwise, the heroes will have to come up with
Climbin’ 1d6, dodge 3d6, drivin’: car 3d6, fightin’: some—Barb needs it for her deathspeak miracle.
brawlin’ 3d6, sneak 3d6
Mental: C:2d8, K:3d8, M:2d8, Sm:2d10, Sp:3d10
Academia: physics 3d8, area knowledge: Nevada
2d8, demolition 2d8, faith 5d10, guts 4d10,
medicine: general 3d8, persuasion 3d8,
scroungin’ 3d10, scrutinize 2d8, search 3d8,
survival: desert 2d10, trackin’ 2d6
Edges: Arcane background 3: Doomsayer, luck
o’ the Irish 3
Hindrances: Enemy 3: Cult o’ Doom, loyal 3,
oath 3
Pace: 6
Size: 6
Wind: 20
Special Abilities:
Doomsayer: Strain: 10. Powers: Atomic blast,
deathspeak, nuke, sustenance, tolerance,
touch o’ the Doomsayers
Gear: Barb has nothing but the clothes she used
to wear under her robe.

The Templar’s Tree

At the head of the orchard, on a small knoll,
sits a lonely, gnarled tree. With twisted, gnarled
branches that spread broadly about it, it looks
like something transplanted from the
Serenghetti—one could almost expect to see big
cats lying on the branches or under its boughs.

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 The Destroyer
There are a number of ways the “Who summons me from the light?”
heroes might get their hands on ghost says the wailing ghost rock.
rock. One is to scavenge for it in the ruins “Friends,” says Barb. “Friends who want
of Twin Falls. That means crossing into a to avenge your death. What can you tell us
maelstrom and facing all sorts of potential of the one who slew you?”
horrors. Make it as tough as you care to, “He is Modeen, the Destroyer. He has
Marshal. given himself to the powers of Hell in
A second option lies with the raiders. return for incredible power. He is what
Daphne knows that the caravan had some the Librarians call a ‘servitor,’ and can
ghost rock—the raiders presumably took it. only be killed by the sword of the first
With some scouting around, the heroes can find anti-Templar. This he told me as he hung
a small group of them camped about a mile me from this accursed tree. He believed
from the orchard, keeping watch of Route 93 this knowledge would be kept secret for
where it approaches from the south. How the he knew I was doomed. Your spell,
heroes deal with them and what results depends Doomsayer, has changed the balance.
on your players’ decisions (use the profiles on Those among you can end this
page 127, but the camped raiders do have three blasphemy’s life with this knowledge. You
ounces of the looted ghost rock on them. must hurry, though, for Modeen has set
events in motion that even he does not
understand.
Famous Last Words “That is all I know. Let me rest in peace
Once Barb has some ghost rock, she spends a now.”
few minutes kneeling beside Aaron’s body.
Suddenly, the ghost rock in her hand ignites and At that the light goes out.
begins its characteristic wail. Read the following It’s Templar tradition to return the bodies of
when you’re ready. We recommend dimming the fallen Templars to Boise as soon as possible; in
lights and turning on some creepy music here. addition to Aaron there are three others.

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 The Destroyer
deliriously. If he were well, he would
Loose Lips Kill Servitors take the sword of Aiken and deal with
Modeen has made a fatal mistake in telling Modeen himself. While his illness is
Aaron about his weakness. That’s ironic, convenient (it sends the posse after
because Modeen read as many books and Modeen, instead of Simon), it’s not just a
watched as many movies as anyone before the plot device. This strange episode will be
War. He knew the downfall of the villains was explored more fully as the tale of Hell on
that they always revealed their plans, put the Earth goes on. Oh, and of course nothing
heroes in some sort of death trap, and then the posse does can stop it. Doomsayers can
walked away only to be killed by them later. He touch him all they want, but all they’re going
swore he’d never do something so foolish. to get is jollies.
So he told Aaron of his weakness and hung If someone looks into Simon’s brain
him. Combined with his fatal wound to the somehow, they’ll see a nightmare reminiscent of
stomach, Modeen knew the Templar would die that experienced by the Harrowed. In Simon’s
in just a few minutes—and he did. He just never dreams, he battles the creature known as the
figured that the miserable “civilian” he’d chosen Soul Taker over and over. His comrades—Jo,
to hang as well was a Doomsayer. Aaron, and Doc Young—are with him. They die
Such is fate. The good guys occasionally over and over, sometimes by the minions of the
catch a break even with Hell on Earth. Soul Taker, sometimes as it takes them over and
Now the task is to get the sword of the first Simon is forced to kill them himself. Freaky, huh?
anti-Templar. A Templar who’s read the player’s
section of this book, as we intended, knows all Biletnikoff Fills In
about the first anti-Templar. Her name was Julia For now, Biletnikoff is more than able to help
Aiken, and it was Modeen himself who put an the heroes out. There are still no other Templars
end to her. Aiken’s sword should be back in Boise. in Boise (mainly because Modeen has already
The Destroyer has already hung someone intercepted and slain four who were heading
tonight, so the heroes have until the following there), but he can give them the sword of
night before another innocent caravaner is Aiken—as long as there’s a Templar in the party.
killed. They’d best get on the road. If there’s not, you’ve got a problem, Marshal.
There’s two ways to fix this. First, if one of the
Bounty heroes is very virtuous and Biletnikoff has seen
or heard some example of his courage, he’ll give
Tracking the Destroyers: One white chip up the sword. Second, the heroes can simply
for the hero that did the tracking. steal it. They’ll just need to break into the Hall
Saving Barb: One red chip. of Heroes, not an incredibly difficult task, and
Barb casts deathspeak: One white chip, look for the broken sword. It even says “Julia
plus an extra to the hero (if any) who ponied up Aiken” under it if the posse has a brain
her own ghost rock for the miracle. embolism once they get inside.
Assuming there is a Templar in the group,
Chapter Three: read the following as Biletnikoff leads them to
the Hall of Heroes and says the following:

Back to Boise “A servitor. That would only make

sense. I’ve studied several of these horrors.
The Death Bats are still at Mountain Home, Simon has even slain a few. They are not
and if midnight has tolled they’re all ready for to be trifled with. I wish Simon was…
the posse to pass by again. You might hit them well.
with another encounter or two on the way, as “I suspect Julia Aiken turned to
well. And of course they need to make their two darkness—she allowed her emotions to
drivin’ rolls like they did on the way to Twin get the best of her. Modeen is another
Falls. Traveling the wastes is tough business! matter. He has willingly turned to the
When they finally make it to Boise, they are Reckoners for power. Obviously, they
met by Biletnikoff, the Librarian. He says that listened.
Simon cannot meet with them, for he is in the “As you know, servitors are immune
throes of some strange disease. It’s true. Simon to all but one weakness. Aaron claims
lies in his simple bed, tossing and turning Julia’s sword is the only weapon that can

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 The Destroyer
destroy Modeen, so I guess you’d best least 1 Wind or any level of wound, the Templar
get out there and do it. I prefer to keep must make a Fair (5) Vigor check or die. When
it here—if the Destroyer gets it, there may he dies, the sword sticks for a moment and
be no other way to defeat him. Still, literally sucks out his life force, leaving behind
Simon has become increasingly ill, and he a shriveled, grotesque husk. Each Templar killed
may never recover. I’d appreciate it if you by the blade raises the TN of the Vigor checks
kept that to yourselves, by the way. by +1, to a maximum of 15 after 10 Templars
“At any rate, all I can do is hand this have been spitted on its jagged edge. Nasty, huh?
sword over to you, Templar, and hope for The sword has no special effect on anti-
the best. Templars (except Modeen, of course). It does,
The Librarian unlocks the door to the however, work on blackballed Templars or
Hall of heroes. He leads you to the back, others of the order who have fallen from grace,
behind the raised platform, to a long, wide but haven’t donned the black tabard or sold
wall where the swords of fallen Templars their souls to the Reckoners.
are placed. No more than a dozen hang on
the wall, though there are places for thirty
or more. Beneath each sword sconce is a
One More for the Road
list of names and dates, the owners and Sword in hand, the posse must travel back to
the dates they fell. Twin Falls one last time. As before, Marshal, hit
One of them is broken at the middle. them with a couple of drivin’ rolls, another
Beneath it are the words, “Julia Aiken, round with the Death Bats, and maybe another
2091.” encounter or two.
“As you know,” Biletnikoff explains,
“Simon broke Julia’s sword when Modeen
returned it to us. Simon declared that it
Bounty
Recovering the sword of Aiken: One white
would not be passed on further.
chip each.
The Librarian reaches for the sword
Getting into Simon’s head: One blue chip
but stops, almost as if he is afraid to
for the syker (or other character type) who
touch it. Then he simply points at the
peeped into Simon’s psyche. That oughta scare
thing. “There. Take it.”
him.
Biletnikoff turns and walks toward the
door. “Good luck.”

The Sword of Aiken

Chapter Four:
A Templar who handles the sword gets a cold
chill up his spine. Maybe it’s just superstition
Warmup
taking hold. Right… Observant heroes have a chance to even up
The sword is tainted as Hell. It’s the weapon the odds a bit. As they near Twin Falls, have the
of the first anti-Templar. You expect any less? heroes make an Onerous (7) Cognition roll to
Thought not. spot a group of 30 or so Destroyers in a copse
Here’s the deal. The fact that it can kill of woods a few hundred yards off the highway.
Modeen is his weakness—not a power of the They’re refueling their bikes at their secret
sword. It is a relic, however, and a wicked one cache of spook juice.
at that. Not knowing if Modeen is in this group, the
Julia’s sword was a US Marine dress posse will probably want to jump these guys. It
saber. It’s broken about 18” from the pommel turns out Modeen isn’t here, though one of his
and ends in what looks like a clean break, anti-Templar followers is. That’s okay. This is a
but is actually jagged and cuts anyone who good chance for the heroes to warm up, to take
touches it (this isn’t enough to cause a out half of the Destroyers before the big fight,
Vigor check as described below, however— and, if any of the bad guys survive, to find out
it’s just a creepy effect). exactly where Modeen’s camp is. (If Barb is still
The sword, though truncated, can be used around, she can show them the way (she
as normal. It causes STR+1d6 damage watched very carefully), but she’s pretty certain
against most foes. Against Templars, it has that was a temporary camp—the gang has
an additional effect. Every time it causes at probably moved by now.)

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 The Destroyer
One last point. If the heroes mix it up with that generates open flame or intense
the anti-Templar leading this bunch, they’ll find heat, like a Molotov cocktail or a nuke,
out just how tough a fight they’re in for. has a 7 in 10 chance of going kaboom.
If and when the spook juice is ignited,
it causes 15d20 damage with a burst
Ske-Boom! radius of 5 yards. Calculate out the
Clever heroes might see an easy way to get damage if you want, but if the heroes are
most of the bikers and the anti-Templar down in cover, it’s best just to say they’re safe
fast. An incendiary round or an explosive has a while the bad guys are leveled with a few
very good chance of detonating the spook juice survivors, and these guys are in no shape to
inside the old truck that serves as the gangers’ keep fighting (except for the anti-Templar, see
storage tank. A junker or road warrior type below).
might even make a Fair (5) Knowledge roll to If the heroes aren’t too lucky—if they pop
smell the juice and verify that’s what’s in the rounds into the truck expecting a MovieTown
truck. explosion and nothing happens—they’ve just
The heroes still need to be careful here. First, given the Destroyers a warning. The gangers
spook juice probably won’t ignite if it’s hit by a charge the posse with guns blazing. Oops!
normal bullet (give it a 1 in 10 chance). Again, a
junker, road warrior, or any character who’s
been in many road battles might know this. An Gregory, an Anti-Templar
incendiary round is exactly the opposite. It has a Regardless of what happens, Gregory, one of
9 in 10 chance of igniting the spook juice. Modeen’s anti-Templars, survives. If the posse
Conventional explosives like grenades have a 3 wiped out the rest of the gang with the
in 10 chance of setting off the juice, as long as explosion, he’s got a heavy wound to his left
they go off within their first burst radius of the arm and a light wound to the head and guts.
truck (these demolitions are mostly concussion He’s up and ready to fight 1d4 rounds after the
and shrapnel with very little fire). An explosive big bang. Another 2d4 gangers rally to his side.

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 The Destroyer
Treat these guys as thugs. Two have Special Abilities:
heavy wounds, all the rest have light Templar: Rewards: Armor of the saints 5,
wounds. They’ll fight as long as Gregory is celerity 3. Greater Rewards: Celerity.
still fighting. If he’s put down or captured, Blessings: Gregory won’t hesitate to call on
they run. They won’t surrender no matter the Reckoners for aid.
what, because Modeen has warned them no Gear: An ax (STR+2d8) and a pump shotgun
Templar will allow them to live after running with a full magazine plus 11 additional rounds.
with him.
Here’s Gregory’s statistics. The rest of the
Destroyers’ stats are in the next chapter.
The Prophecy
Gregory takes a good deal of “prompting”
Profile (Gregory) before he’ll talk. Any of the other gangers
Corporeal: D:1d10, N:2d8, Q:3d10, S:4d8, V:3d10 (assuming Gregory’s out of sight) will spill their
Climbin’ 3d8, dodge 5d8, drivin’: car, motorcyle guts in a heartbeat if they think it’ll keep them
4d8, fightin’: brawlin’, sword 5d8, sneak 3d8 alive. The gangers know what Gregory knows,
Mental: C:2d6, K:3d6, M:2d8, Sm:3d8, Sp:2d10 but won’t be quite so dramatic in their telling. If
Academia: occult 4d6, area knowledge: upper your heroes get the story from these lowers,
West 4d6, faith 5d10, guts 6d10, overawe 4d8, paraphrase the information below. If they make
scrutinize 4d6, search 3d6, shootin’: pistol, the anti-Templar talk, he takes the opportunity
rifle, shotgun, SMG 5d10, survival: desert 2d8 to do a little preaching. Read the text below:
Edges: Arcane background 3: anti-Templar,
thick-skinned 3, Grit 2 “I used to live in Hunter, SoCal. We had
Hindrances: Loyal 3, oath 3 a couple hundred survivors there. It was
Pace: 8 off the beaten path so we had little
Size: 6 trouble from raiders. Some of our
Wind: 20 neighbors weren’t so lucky.

The Fuel Cache

1 inch = 40 feet

Gregory’s bike

Marshal: 124
 The Destroyer
“Then the local muties rose up. They show, Modeen is confident that the
wiped out a town near us, then headed Grand Master couldn’t possibly know of
our way. A Templar showed up. She said the servitor’s one weakness, so he would
she could save us, but she wouldn’t. She win the fight.
said we hadn’t helped out neighbors when It was a fairly safe bet—except that
they asked for our aid, and now we could Simon couldn’t come because of his
suffer for it. mysterious illness, and Barb’s use of
“Some hero, huh? I think she was just a deathspeak has let the cat out of the bag
coward. That’s how they do it, you know. about Modeen’s weakness.
They pretend to go around helping people,
but they really just take the job when it’s
easy. If it looks like they’re gonna loose,
Move It, Heroes!
they just take off and say you don’t The heroes had best get moving if they want
deserve their help. to save the caravaners. If they’re slow in acting
“So our town got wiped out. Me and a and Daphne’s still around, she’ll pull her usual
few other survivors wandered for a while stunt of pushing the gang until she gets
before we got captured by the Destroyer. frustrated enough to run off on her own.
He said the self-righteous Templars were
the true evils of the world. They
pretended to fight for good though they Bounty
turned their backs on those who needed Detonating the fuel truck: One red chip for
them most. The Destroyer vowed that he the brainer that comes up with the idea, and a
would destroy the selfish fools and white one for everyone else—provided it works
remake the world in his image, where the and most of the Destroyers go down without a
strong didn’t serve the weak—we would fight. We like explosions!
rule them! Greg spills the beans: One white chip for
“The Destroyer said he was the first the interrogator.
true anti-Templar. And those who fought
beside him would one day serve beside
him. The best of us could become anti-
Templars ourselves, and one day rule our
Chapter Five:
own kingdoms with him as our King.
“Now it is time. The Destroyer has Modeen
prophesied that Simon will die before the As Gregory or the gangers said, the rest of
dawn breaks! Either he will come to us, or the Destroyers are heading to the orchard to
we will go to him! hang caravaners like Christmas ornaments.
Modeen is going to rope up one every hour until
Gregory doesn’t volunteer any more Simon shows up.
information, but with a little more “prompting,” Besides Modeen, there are 20 well-armed
he or one of the gangers will eventually say gangers and three more anti-Templars. The rest
that the gang is meeting at the orchard in less of the anti-Templars have already been sent
than an hour. Now that he’s decided to head to away to spread their cause. Modeen wants to
Boise and he no longer needs the hostages, the ensure that the anti-Templars live on in case
Destroyer is going to hang the remainder of the Simon should somehow defeat him. He’s read
caravaners among the evil apple trees. If Simon enough fiction to know heroes sometimes
doesn’t show by the time the last hostage dies, win even when it’s impossible.
the gang will move on Boise.
Shoot ’em If They Act Suspicious
Big Talk Modeen truly expects Simon to show
up. The Grand Master would lose too
Modeen has taken a big chance. He figured
much face sending anyone else. Because
Simon himself would come tonight. If the Grand
of that, he’s stationed his guards around
Master didn’t show, the Destroyer could simply
the orchard to watch closely. They aren’t
claim he was a coward, then use it as an excuse
supposed to fire on Simon if he
to march on Boise with his gang—which is
approaches singly. If he or anyone else is
exactly what he’s now going to do. If Simon did

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 The Destroyer
spotted sneaking about suspiciously, the Earth that can kill him. Play him smart, Marshal.
gangers have been told to open up with Pretend he’s your character and figure out how
everything they got. They don’t know what you’d get him out of this situation.
Simon looks like, so they’ll hold their fire if Having said all that, we fully expect Modeen
any group led by a Templar walks in calmly. to die. In fact, he should lose to give your
Check out Showdown! (just below) if the Templar character one very cool reward (we’ll
group walks in calmly. If they have other get to that soon). He won’t go gentle into that
plans, or if some of them get caught sneaking good night, either. We’re not talking about just
around while others walk in calmly, read The fudging dice rolls and spending chips to keep
“Go to Hell” Approach. him alive. We’re talking about using genuine
wits. We know you’ve got a lot to keep track of,
but when Modeen’s actions come around, think
Showdown! hard, think mean, and think survival. He really
Modeen accepts any challenge to personal doesn’t want to lose face here, but if he has to,
combat by a Templar. If the challenger isn’t a there’s a lot more scum to be recruited in the
Templar, Modeen lets him get close, then orders wastelands.
the gang to open up. Remember, this guy’s
canny and smart. He wants to put on a show for
his gang so he’ll accept some risk, but he isn’t The “Go to Hell” Approach
willing to die for it. Here’s what happens if the posse tries
When he sees the broken sword, he instantly something other than just walking up and
recognizes it as Julia Aiken’s. A Hard (9) challenging Modeen. They might attempt to
Cognition check, onlookers might see the surround the gangers, for example, or infiltrate
hastily-masked look of shock on the anti- the group, and so on. You’ll have to play it by
Templar’s face. It’s bad enough the sword can ear for the most part, Marshal, but here’s the
kill him, but how on earth could the heroes basic situation:
have found out? He’s only told one person— The Destroyers hang one caravaner every
Aaron McConnell—and he was definitely dead hour. There are 11 left, including Daphne’s
minutes after the gang hung him from the tree. stepfather, Sean Dumar. If Daphne’s around, she
The Destroyer’s first tactic is to laugh, but a won’t allow a single caravaner to die before
Hard (9) scrutinize roll detects a little doing something. You’ll have to determine what,
nervousness to it. Then, if the rest of the gang is Marshal, but she may even do something as
watching (as opposed to fighting), he backs drastic as grabbing the sword and running at
away and says “I came here to kill Simon, not Modeen. Even if the posse somehow holds her
his lackeys!” When this happens, give the back, just about no force on Earth can stop her
characters about five seconds to respond while from doing something when it’s her stepfather’s
Modeen turns and walks away. Then he says turn at the rope.
“Kill them,” and the gang starts shooting. Read
The Go to Hell Approach. The Big Fight
If the heroes act fast during that five second The Destroyers are on high alert, so any little
interval, they might be able to goad the slip-up is likely to result in a very large combat.
Destroyer into a one-on-one match. He doesn’t Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, as
want to, but if they successfully ridicule him we mentioned before, we like lots of explosions.
with at least one raise, he’ll be forced to turn Be warned, though, that the Destroyers are one
and fight or lose face with the gang. Even then, nasty bunch. They’re likely to tear the posse a
once in single combat, he’ll look for a way new cornshoot if you run them with even a
to start the rest of the group fighting so he little tactical ability.
can make his escape. If none of those When all Hell does break loose, Modeen goes
occasions arise, he’ll fight for a round or after any Templars in the group himself
two to see if maybe he can win. If he can, (remember, he gets rewards for killing these
he presses the attack. If he can’t, he says guys). His remaining three anti-Templars do the
(lamely) “They’re in the trap, men! Kill same, and only back off once he tells them to.
them!” and backs away. All of them prefer to use their guns to kill off
In the end, just remember that Modeen the most dangerous foes, then cripple the
isn’t going to stand there and duke it out weaker ones so they can move in with their
with someone who has the only item on axes and hack them up.

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 The Destroyer

The Orchard
1 inch = 60 feet

The rest of the gang organizes into little for the rest of the bunch.
“teams” of three to five Destroyers each. This
isn’t anything formal—they just tend to buddy up Profile (Brad Modeen, the Destroyer)
with the gangers they hung with before they Corporeal: D:2d8, N:3d12, Q:4d10, S:4d12+4, V:4d10
joined Modeen’s group. Most of these teams get Climbin’ 1d12, dodge 5d12, drivin’: car, motorcyle
into cover and fire everything they’ve got at the 4d12, fightin’: ax, brawlin’ 8d12, shootin’: MG,
heroes. A few grab hand weapons and charge. pistol, rifle, shotgun 4d8, sneak 2d12
A few of the gangers may chuck grenades. Mental: C:3d10, K:3d8, M:5d12+2, Sm:3d8, Sp:2d12
They won’t intentionally catch their companions Academia: occult 4d8, area knowledge: upper
in the blast unless their friends are already West 5d8, faith 6d12, guts 6d12, overawe
down (and useless). They also won’t throw 6d12+2, scrutinize 4d10, search 4d10, survival:
pineapples if they’re winning—those things are desert 3d8
expensive! Edges: Arcane background 3: anti-Templar, Grit
Marshal, keep track of the wounds of 5, purty 1, “the stare” 1
Modeen, of course, and his three anti-Templars Hindrances: Curious 3, yearnin’ 5: to wipe
as well. Use the quicker system of generic out the Templars
wounds for the thugs. Pace: 8
Roll Quickness as usual for the Destroyer, but Size: 6
just give the three anti-Templars 2 cards one Wind: 22
round, 3 the next, then 2, then 3, and so on. The Special Abilities:
thugs get 2 cards each round. Anti-Templar: Rewards: Armor of the
Finally, if a black Joker is dealt to the thugs, Saints 5, celerity 5, command 2,
choose one ganger. He loses his turn as he runs deflection 5, guardian angel 3, inner
out of ammo. Draw a new card for the rest of strength 3, lay on hands 1, sixth sense
the losers. Do the same with a red Joker. Let one 3. Greater Rewards: Armor of the
ganger go when he wants but draw a new card

Marshal: 127
 The Destroyer

saints, celerity, command, guardian angel. plate mail, and carries a huge, two-bladed
Blessings: Modeen is a servitor and can call battle as.
on the Reckoner’s blessings at will. He no
longer gains Corruption for doing so. He’s Profile (Anti-Templars)
too far gone for that. Corporeal: D:1d10, N:2d8, Q:3d10, S:4d8, V:3d10
Coup: The hero gets a very special but very Climbin’ 3d8, dodge 5d8, drivin’: car, motorcycle
dangerous coup. She can call on the 4d8, fightin’: brawlin’, sword 5d8, shootin’: MG,
Reckoners’ blessings just like an anti- pistol, rifle, shotgun 5d10, sneak 3d8
Templar (anti-Templars get no coup from Mental: C:2d6, K:3d6, M:2d8, Sm:3d8, Sp:2d10
killing Modeen). The hero must keep track Academia: occult 4d6, area knowledge: upper
of corruption as usual, and might someday West 4d6, faith 5d10, guts 6d10, overawe 4d8,
just turn to the “dark side” as Modeen did. scrutinize 4d6, search 3d6, survival: desert 2d8
This is Modeen’s final curse upon the earth. Edges: Arcane background 3: anti-Templar, grit
Gear: Modeen’s weapon of choice is his great 2
ax, “Despair” (STR+3d10). It’s become a relic, Hindrances: Loyal 3, oath 3
causing STR+5d10 damage to Templars. He Pace: 8
also has an SA SMG with 3 full magazines. Size: 6
His armor is actually a black infantry Wind: 20
battlesuit fitted with metal plates. It’s Special Abilities:
normally AV 2, but unless the shot was Anti-Templar: Rewards: Armor of the saints
called, there’s a 50/50 chance an attack hits 3, inner strength 3, fury of the saints 4.
one of the metal plates, raising the suit’s Greater Rewards: Armor of the saints.
armor to 3 for that attack. Blessings: The knights have turned to evil
Description: Modeen is a large man with and use the Reckoners’ blessings freely.
dark, shaggy hair framing a sullen Gear: Kevlar vests (AV 2), great axes (STR+2d8),
expression. He wears heavy black body and a mix of SMGs, assault rifles, and pump
armor with plates reminiscent of medieval shotguns with 20 rounds each.

Marshal: 128
 The Destroyer
Description: These guys are all ex-gangers, and he makes the non-Templars
they look the part. They’re a motley group, Companions. Before he does so, however,
decorated with biker tatoos and earrings. he must have the endorsement of a
Templar. If the posse’s Templar was killed
during the battle, he won’t be able grant
Profile (Destroyers) them this advantage.
Corporeal: D:3d8, N:2d6, Q:3d6, S:3d8, V:3d6 If a character dies during this
Climbin’ 1d8, dodge 3d6, drivin’: car, motorcyle adventure, and the posse manages to get
4d6, fightin’: brawlin’ 4d6, shootin’: any 4d8, her back to Boise within six hours, the
sneak 3d6 hero’s in for a break. Simon has never been
Mental: C:2d6, K:1d6, M:3d6, Sm:2d6, Sp:3d6 able to call on Saint Clara Clark because of his
Area knowledge: various 2d6, gamblin’ 3d6, guts harsh dictates, but a visiting Templar, Kyla Blaze
4d6, overawe 3d6, ridicule 3d6, scroungin’ 3d6, (daughter of the Martyr Katy Blaze), can. She has
search 2d6, survival: various 2d8 one Legend Chip and a faith of 6d12, and will
Pace: 6 try to raise any character who died in this
Size: 6 adventure, assuming his corpse is still relatively
Wind: 12 complete and she is convinced the person is
Gear: Most carry pump-action shotguns, hunting worthy of her efforts.
rifles, NA assault rifles, or NA SMGs. Three
are armed with pistols and carry axes (they’re
trying to become anti-Templars and want to
Aaron McConnell, Saint of Vengeance
impress the boss). A few have hand grenades Surprised? Aaron McConnell, the second-ever
as well. Templar, becomes a saint. If one of your heroes
Description: if you think typical road gang, you took down Modeen, she might the be first to be
can’t go too far wrong. Studded leather, body visited by Saint McConnell.
piercings, and tattoos are the uniform of the Deed: McConnell appears to those who have
day. slain an anti-Templar.
White: The hero can sense the general
direction of any and all anti-Templars within his
Modeen Gets the Point faith in yards x10.
For once, we’re turning you loose to kill off Red: The hero gains 1 point of armor versus
one of the big bad guys. We’ve got even bigger an anti-Templar or any his minions for one
tales to tell of the Templars, and Modeen’s round.
actions in this adventure have already served Blue: The Templar can negate any and all of
their purpose. If he dies, that’s fine. The heroes an anti-Templar’s powers for one entire round.
get some nifty rewards and feel like they’re Legend: If the warrior causes a single wound
truly a part of the Hell on Earth story. If Modeen to an anti-Templar, regardless of his powers or
lives, that’s fine too. He’ll retreat into the wastes immunities, the anti-Templar dies. This includes
to gather another army and try again. Perhaps Harrowed anti-Templars. The Legend Chip may be
he’ll make an exercise out of tracking down the spent after the wound is caused.
posse to train his new warband. Vexation: McConnell deserts any Templar who
willingly works with an anti-Templar for any
Seeds of Evil reason.

Modeen has instructed his anti-Templars to

flee should he be slain, so they can continue the
battle at a later date. They’ll run for their
Bounty
motorcycles and hit the highway if possible, or Simpl
Simply y surviving: one white chip.
slip into the darkness on foot if not. Def eating the Destr
Defeating Destrooyer s: one red chip.
ers:
Needless to say, the posse hasn’t heard the Def eating the anti-T
Defeating emplar
anti-Templar
emplars: s: one blue
last of these bastards. chip for each character who kills or
seriously contributes to the death of an
anti-Templar.
Aftermath Killing Modeen: A Legend Chip (from
the pot if there’s one in it; a one-time use
If the heroes return to Simon and tell him chip if not) to the hero who puts the big
what has happened, they can claim whatever guy down. We don’t normally do this, but
other rewards he has offered them. Most likely, Modeen is a critical player in the Hell on
Earth history.
Marshal: 129