The Poison Pen

"Dear Friend, You do not know me, but I have something I must tell you. Please forgive the anonymity of this letter but we live in a dangerous world, I am sure you can agree, and we must do what we can to protect yourselves. I know that you and your associates have taken it upon yourselves to rid this world of evil supernatural creatures. It is not up to me to suggest the wisdom of this course, suffice to say that the world is more complicated than you realize. In any case, one of your associates, the one who claims to be your leader, is in truth working for one of the species of predator he claims to despise. His masters want to rule this city and they have tasked your leader with wiping out all the other monstrous inhabitants to they can take over in their place. Their final task will be to kill you all, save for the betrayer, who will become their faithful lapdog. What you do with this information is up to you, but given its implications I had no choice but to tell you. Yours, A friend"


The demonic artifact known as the Poison Pen channels the users murderous urges. The pen will dance in your hand, without you even knowing what it's writing, or how it knows the things it writes. The Poison Pen will construct a letter meticulously designed to strike at the recipients heart.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The Poison Pen is Askarana-Khul’s gift to Donald Aitcheson. It is a fine and expensive-looking fountain pen. It is carved from ivory, and (on closer inspection) its tip is made from a tooth, like a shark’s tooth, carefully split to create a nib. This pen is enchanted to serve as a weapon of murder. A victim is selected by using the pen to write out his name. The next letter the pen writes is addressed to a loved one of the victim, and describes some revelation that will compel the loved one to kill the victim in a fit of violent passion. It typically describes imaginary infidelities and betrayals. The Poison Pen guides the writer’s hand imperceptibly as long as the writer continues to focus mentally on the intended victim. The recipient of a Poison Pen letter must make a Composure + Resolve roll opposed by the writer’s Intelligence + Expression (8 dice in Aitcheson’s case). If the writer exceeds the recipient’s successes, the target will attempt to murder the victim. Using the pen to murder in this way is pre-meditated murder, a Morality 3 sin. During Murder Will Out, the players decide how their characters react to recieving a Poison Pen letter rather than making rolls – these rules are intended for use by hunters who keep the pen and use it themselves.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Rarity

Unique, one of a kind. A gift given to Donald Atkinsson.

Weight

A few grams

Dimensions

15cm long

Raw materials & Components

Ivory