Hypogean Merits

Lair

Many Hypogeans sleep where they can, finding some out-of-the-way area in UnderLondon to fall over when sleep takes them, hiding their belongings here and there to prevent (or at least stymie) thieves and in general live lives of vagabondry.

• The Lair Merit acts as the Sanctum Merit, divided into Lair Size and Lair Security.

Mantle

Those who are sworn into the service of one or more of the Keepers are changed in subtle ways. For the most part, these are minor benefits, social or resources-based in nature.

• Mantle •: You are looked on with some favor by those loyal to the Keeper associated with this Mantle, gaining a +1 die to Social skill rolls.
• Mantle ••: You are more than just the average toady. Once per Episode, you can call in a minor favor from the Agents of this Keeper. With a successful Social skill check, it can be a major favor, although you will owe them a service in return.
• Mantle •••: You have accepted the role of one of this Keeper's Agents. You gain 9-agains on all rolls with a Skill associated with that Agency. All other dots in Mantle automatically drop to 0, and you are given a Badge of that Keeper. You must be wearing and displaying that Badge in order to gain the benefits of this Merit from this point on.
• Mantle ••••: You are one of the Keeper's notable Agents. The Mantle has begun to exert supernatural influence on you, granting you some minor ability appropriate to the Agency you have accepted.
• Mantle •••••: You are one of the Keeper's right-hand creatures, answering only to them. Your Mantle has become fully manifest, granting you a noteworthy supernatural ability appropriate to the Agency you are now one of the masters of.

For details on the higher ratings of Mantle, see the descriptions of the Keepers.

• Keeper of the Arch
• Keeper of the Baths
• Keeper of the Calderium
• Keeper of the Fanum
• Keeper of the Forum
• Keeper of the Gardens
• Keeper of the Glass
• Keeper of the Wall
• Keeper of the Waters

Status (UnderLondon)

Not all social standing has to do with the Keepers. The Hypogeans are a fiercely independent lot, when they have the power to be, and they respect those who are, as well. Each dot in Status grants a discount to purchasing a specific type of Merit, reducing the cost to New Rating x1 for that Merit. The Merits are: Iron Stamina, Lair, Resources, Unseen Sense or the UnderLondon Dwellers group (Direction Sense, Iron Stomach, Natural Immunity, Toxin Resistance and Tunnel Rat)

• Status •: You are known in one of UnderLondon's domains, generally the one you spend the most time in.
• Status ••: You are known in all of UnderLondon's domains. Characters with this rating of Status may now purchase the Mantle Merit.
• Status •••: You are well-regarded in all of UnderLondon, gaining a +1 to all Social Skill checks. Characters with dots in Mantle cannot go above this rank in Status.
• Status ••••: You are quite famous in UnderLondon, regarded as a Person of Note and Distinction. You are also, of course, regarded as someone who is not under the thumb of any of the Keepers.
• Status •••••: You are a legend in UnderLondon - someone whose renown may be based on their leadership ability, their notorious capers, their depraved lusts or their great enlightenment. Not only are you not one of the Keepers' own, they are forced to regard you as a serious power in UnderLondon.