HELL'S GATE ARRESTED

GAMING IN THE WORLD OF HELLSING

"In the name of God, impure souls of the living dead will be banished into eternal damnation. Amen."

What is Hellsing?

Hellsing is a 13-episode animated series that was shown on Japanese television during the 2001 season (in the 2:25 AM to 2:50 AM timeslot!). Taken from the manga from the same name (written and drawn by Kourta Hirano), it is the story of the Hellsing Organization and their war against the forces of the supernatural (specifically vampires). In some ways it is reminiscent of other monster hunter anime (such as Geobreeders, Ghost Sweeper Mikami, Phantom Quest Corp, and Silent Möbius), while it also calls to mind supernatural horror anime such as Vampire Hunter D and Vampire Princess Miyu. While it features the team-aspect of many monster hunter series, Hellsing has a dark and serious tone, similar to the latter two series.

Overall, Hellsing stands out not for its animation (which is roughly average, although with some nice directorial touches and CGI additions), but for its content. It is an exciting series and presents a thrill-ride through a world that's not our own (but could almost be), as well as an eerie creepiness in which virtually none of the main characters are cute, friendly, or in some ways even likable. However, one of the main drawbacks to the series is it's length. At only 13 episodes, it can't spend a lot of time concentrating on anyone one character (with the exception of Integra in Episode 10, Master of Monster). In addition, it only presents a small part of the original manga series, and a second season has been delayed until the manga series is completed.

At the moment, the Hellsing manga is not available in the United States in a translated form. Apparently, Dark Horse Comics has bought the English license, and will be distributing the first volume in December of 2003.

The Music of Hellsing

One of the more interesting things about Hellsing is its soundtrack. There are two albums, titled Raid and Ruins, each with 60 minutes or more of music. The music is a wide mix of material, and fits very well with the anime (although there are some really odd touches—like the sound effect of Godzilla's roar in one song, or a Tarzan yell during another). I recommend both albums for those who wish some interesting background and theme music for runs involving the supernatural. As a final note, the ending song Shine partially written and produced by Richie Zito, who was also behind the soundtrack to Project: A-ko.

Paladin Alexander Anderson: Monster!
Arucard: People say that to me all the time.

The Hellsing Universe

The world of Hellsing is our world with one major exception: vampires are real. In fact, Hellsing looks to take place in the late 1990s, and might even be meant to be occurring in the same as it's broadcast date (i.e. it takes place in the year 2001).

History

The anime doesn't go into much detail about the past history of the Hellsing universe. A few comments made by Integra Wingates Hellsing make it apparent the events in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula actually occurred, and that Count Dracula came to London, England in the late 1890s. As for the Hellsing Organization itself, it seems to date from around the turn of the century, and is roughly 100 years old as of the Hellsing anime.

Technology

The technology of the Hellsing universe is the technology today. There are no examples of far future technology with two major exceptions. The first is the so-called "Freak Chip." This chip is some form of bio-chip placed into the body and causing the body to assume a vampiric state. The second is Alexander Anderson's regenerative abilities. More about this below.

Weapons

In Hellsing everyone uses projectile weapons. The standard Hellsing trooper uses a Heckler and Kock MP5, while police officer Seras Victoria uses a Heckler and Kock M23 automatic pistol, and Integra Hellsing is seen with both a Walther PPK and a Berreta 93R. For vampire killing the Hellsing Organization uses a variety of light machine-guns and heavy sniper-rifles that are probably similar to the .50 Barrett. Of course, when dealing with superhumanly-strong vampires, then one can build and use guns requiring superhuman strength to lift and fire. This, the Hellsing Arms Weapons Industries Company, Limited, has designed and built several impossibly large guns to be used by several of its operatives, namely the .454 Casull longslide automatic and 13mm Jackal used by Arucard, and the 30mm single-shot breech-loading cannon used by Seras Victoria.

Other weapons seen in the series include the FN-P90 (used two at a time by the Freak-Chipped vampire Jan Valentine), a cut-down M-1 rifle (also used two at a time by the chipped vampire Luke Valentine), an Armscore 40mm grenade launcher (used by the True Vampire Incognito), and a variety of submachineguns and shotguns. About the only impossible weapon (aside from the aforementioned firearms) is the monowire gloves of Walter C Ddollneazz (see his character sheet for more).

Vehicles

As with weapons, there are no real surprises with the vehicles seen in Hellsing. most vehicles seen are typical British military helicopters and armored personnel carriers. About the only notable vehicle is Integra's car, which is a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II.

Computers

Computer technology is pretty much on par with the real world. Walter mentions the internet and chatrooms, while the Hellsing Organization looks to have its own OS (Hellsing OS), that looks suspiciously like the Macintosh OS (but then, so do a lot of anime computer systems...).

Medical

Medical technology has advanced to the point where the creation of the "Freak Chip" is possible. This chip, if placed in the human body (only one is needed), turns the recipient into a vampire. It is described as an "artificial vampirisation catalyst semiconductor" or as a biotechnological computer chip with an electrical transmitter mechanism. How this chip works is never explained, although one doctor theorizes that placing the chip in the body activates a dormant "freak" gene in humans, turning them into vampires.

The other example of unusual medical technology is Alexander Anderson's ability to regenerate from virtually any damage done to him. Not even a close-range gunshot to the head from Arucard's .454 stops him. He either ignores or heals most any damage in a short period of time, and seems to be able to regrow (or have replaced) any limbs lost in combat.

Magic

Although it isn't exactly obvious from the series, the world of Hellsing seems to be crawling with magic. Bullets used in various guns are said to have undergone ritual blessings, Alexander Anderson uses blessed swords (which can hurt a vampire) and casts various "spells" using holy Catholic writs (such as purifying an area against vampiric powers). Arucard and Incognito exhibit vast magical abilities, including changing shape, summoning demons, and mentally influencing others. Finally, when the basement under the Hellsing mansion is described, a "black magic" laboratory is mentioned.

Vampires

The statement is made in Hellsing Episode 5, Brotherhood, that non-human beings (a.k.a. "true" vampires, or "NHBs" for short) have existed from the earliest times, while Freak-Chipped vampires have only appeared in the last 18 months or so. In addition, both types of vampire are capable of creating that is called a "ghoul" (basically an animated corpse), from a human victim.

Ghouls: A ghoul is what you get when a vampire kills a human through feeding on the human's blood. A ghoul can also create more ghouls simply by biting another person, infecting them (or so it seems), and causing them to transform into an undead state. Ghouls have gray skin, sunken eyes, and shamble about when walking. They cannot speak, but can understand simple commands, and are unable of being turned back into a living human. They will readily feed on human flesh, and will usually attack any living human they find.

Chipped Vampires: A Chipped Vampire is someone who has had a Freak Chip implanted in their body. The chip turns them into a vampire (or, a vampire-like being), giving them many of the benefits of being a vampire, and few of the drawbacks. A Chipped Vampire is superhumanly strong, superhumanly resistant to damage, can regenerate most wounds, no longer ages, and can create ghouls. At best guess, the basic powers for a Chipped Vampire are as follows (this presumes the starting character has characteristics of 10 in all stats):

Superhumanly Strong: +15 STR (15 Active Points). Total Cost: 15 points.
Fangs: HKA 1 point (1/2d6 with STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (7 Active Points). Total Cost: 7 points.
Blood Drain: RKA 1d6, NND (defense is not having blood or protective skin or equipment too thick to bite through; +1), Does BODY (+1), Continuous (+1), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (67 Active Points); No Range (-1/2), Bite Must Do BODY First (-1/2). Total Cost: 33 points.
Undead Corruption: Major Transform 10d6 (human/human corpse into ghoul, does not heal back), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (225 Active Points); Extra Time (roughly 15-30 minutes from attack to onset of corruption; -2), No Range (-1/2), All Or Nothing (-1/2), Limited Target (humans; -1/2), Bite Must Do BODY First (-1/2). Total Cost: 45 points.
Undead Vitality: Physical Damage Reduction, Resistant, 1/4 (15 Active Points); STUN Only (-1/2). Total Cost: 12 points.
Undead Body: Does Not Bleed (15 Active Points). Total Cost: 15 points.
Undead Vitality: Life Support: Total (except Diminished Eating and Diminished Sleep; including Longevity: Immortality) (44 Active Points). Total Cost: 44 points.
Vampiric Regeneration: Healing 3d6 (3 BODY per Day [minimum—should be faster]), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Persistent (+1/2) (60 Active Points); Self Only (-1/2), Extra Time + Increased Time Increment (3 BODY/Day; -2). Total Cost: 17 points.

We see several Chipped Vampires during the course of the Hellsing anime. They all have the listed powers (or seem to), and some can do even more. Arucard calls Luke Valentine an "instant" for his superhuman speed (virtually a form of teleportation) and also labels him a Category A vampire, indicating that someone has broken down vampires into types based on what they can do.

True Vampires: A True Vampire is just that, a genuine, honest-to-goodness creature of the night, created when a True Vampire drains the blood from willing victim (there may be more to the process than simply drinking the blood of a victim, but the anime doesn't show it). A True Vampire is everything a Chipped Vampire is, and more. True Vampire's have (or can have) vast supernatural powers far beyond anything a Chipped Vampire can even conceive of obtaining. The base stats for a True Vampire are almost identical to that of a Chipped Vampire with a few additional powers (this presumes the starting character has characteristics of 10 in all stats):

Superhumanly Strong: +15 STR (15 Active Points). Total Cost: 15 points.
Fangs: HKA 1 point (1/2d6 with STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (7 Active Points). Total Cost: 7 points.
Blood Drain: RKA 1d6, NND (defense is not having blood or protective skin or equipment too thick to bite through; +1), Does BODY (+1), Continuous (+1), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (67 Active Points); No Range (-1/2), Bite Must Do BODY First (-1/2). Total Cost: 33 points.
Undead Corruption: Major Transform 10d6 (human/human corpse into ghoul, does not heal back [a more powerful True Vampire can also make another True Vampire]), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (225 Active Points); Extra Time (roughly 15-30 minutes from attack to onset of corruption; -2), No Range (-1/2), All Or Nothing (-1/2), Limited Target (humans; -1/2), Bite Must Do BODY First (-1/2). Total Cost: 45 points.
Undead Vitality: Physical Damage Reduction, Resistant, 1/4 (15 Active Points); STUN Only (-1/2). Total Cost: 12 points.
Undead Body: Does Not Bleed (15 Active Points). Total Cost: 15 points.
Undead Vitality: Life Support: Total (except Diminished Eating and Diminished Sleep; including Longevity: Immortality) (44 Active Points). Total Cost: 44 points.
Can Sense Their Kind: Detect True Vampires, Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees), Range, Sense (18 Active Points). Total Cost: 18 points.
Creature Of The Night: Nightvision (5 Active Points). Total Cost: 5 points.
Supernatural Eyesight: Telescopic Sense (Sight Group) +12 To Offset Range Penalties (18 Active Points). Total Cost: 18 points.
Vampiric Regeneration: Healing 3d6 (3 BODY per Day [minimum—gets faster the older the vampire is]), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Persistent (+1/2) (60 Active Points); Self Only (-1/2), Extra Time + Increased Time Increment (3 BODY/Day; -2). Total Cost: 17 points.

True Vampires can have many more powers, however. It is possible they have the "No Hit Locations" power, as Arucard, Incognito, and Seras all take hits to the head and/or throat without any noticeable effects beyond basic impact wounds. In addition, Arucard makes mention of a number of powers a True Vampire is either supposed to have or can have. These powers include shape changing into a bat or fog, transforming one's body (possibly into something else than a bat or fog), summoning demonic servants, or regenerating lost limbs. See Arucard's character sheet for an idea of how extensive the powers of a True Vampire can get, while Seras Victoria's character sheet is the perfect example of a newborn True Vampire.

Vampiric Disadvantages: There seem to be few concrete disadvantages to being a vampire, either Chipped or True. The most basic, of course, is the intangible (at least in HERO System terms) feeling of no longer being a living being. This might lead to various Psychological Limitations, such as Jan Valentine's feelings of invulnerability (Expressed with the line of "We can cheat in invincible mode, and you can't!"), or Seras attempts to hold on to her humanity by refusing to drink blood for as long as possible. At any rate, the basic disadvantage for vampires is thus:
Distinctive Features: Fangs, Red Eyes (C) (10 points)

To be honest, this is about it. It's not that vampires have no problems with their state, it's just hard to figure out what they are, even after viewing 13 episodes of Hellsing. Let me explain.

When Seras is first turned into a vampire Walter tells her not to go out during the daytime. Then Arucard tells her "You've become a being who can never walk under the sun." But then she is seen walking around outside during the day. Arucard also tells Seras that she needs to drink blood in order to maintain her strength, and she will weaken without it. However, she doesn't drink much that we can see (only once is it done on camera, although she does allude to it later), yet her strength remains superhuman. Finally, it is shown that Seras can't touch silver without being burned and it is stated that fire can destroy a vampire. Chipped Vampires, seem to have even less problems with sunlight (Jan and Luke attack Hellsing mansion in what is obviously board daylight), and it's hard to say if they have problems with silver or not (it isn't clearly stated). Hopefully the manga will be more explicit on this subject.

Now, for all their power, vampires of any type do have one major weakness—they aren't bulletproof. If you want to kill a vampire, all you need to do is shoot it through the head (location 3-5) or the heart (location 13). Just about any type of bullet will do, although the Hellsing Organization does load Arucard's (at least) weapons with specialized rounds to allow him to do much more damage to his targets. You might want to give vampires of any type a Vulnerability to shots to locations 3-5 and 13. Either that or use hit locations and/or aiming to achieve the right feel. Or all three—as just about any head or heart hit killed a vampire instantly (at least Chipped Vampires anyway). Fire will work as well, and although vampires doesn't seem to be any more vulnerable to fire than a normal human (no extra damage in other words), they can't regenerate damage from it (or so I am guessing).

Important Organizations

Hellsing Organization (Honorable Royal Order of Religious Knights of Great Britain): Found over 100 years ago, the Hellsing Organization's duty is to defend Great Britain from vampires and other supernatural threats.
Iscariot Organization/Section 13: This is the Vatican's answer to the Hellsing Organization. Their exact age is unknown, and they almost certainly predate the founding of Hellsing.
Knights of the Round Table: A group of 12 men (actually, 11 men and one woman—Integra Wingates Hellsing), the Knights work to keep Great Britain safe from all sorts of threats.
SAS: The Special Air Service is where Hellsing recruits most of its soldiers. No fool, Incognito manages to capture some 88 SAS troopers himself, sending them out to destroy the Hellsing Organization. They succeed for the most part.

Important and/or Notable People

This list describes most of the named characters seen in the 13 episodes of Hellsing. See individual write-ups for more information on specific characters.

Paladin Alexander Anderson: Alexander is a holy warrior for the Catholic Church out to kill any and all vampires. See his character sheet for more.
Arucard: A True Vampire of great age and staggering power, Arucard is the Hellsing Organization's "ace in the hole." See his character sheet for more information.
Boobhanshee (Baobban Sith?): This is a True Vampire (or so I presume) who attacks Integra. She is killed by Arucard.
Enrico Maxwell: The head of Section 13, Enrico has no liking for Integra and even less for Arucard.
Enrico Stivaletti: A foreign exchange student, Enrico has a Freak Chip implanted. He then tries to turn his gay lover Mick into a vampire, but fails. Eventually he goes on a rampage, killing about a dozen or more police officers and Hellsing troopers before Arucard destroys him.
Gareth Henderson: A Hellsing commanding officer, Gareth was Seras's superior before being killed by Alexander Anderson.
Harry Anders: An agent for MI-5, Harry introduced Seras to Helena. He is killed im Episode 8, Kill House.
Helena: Another True Vampire, Helena was turned when she was very young (no more then 10 years old is my guess). She is very, very old, and currently lives in a small rooftop apartment, surrounded by hundreds of books and classical music records. She has little to no interest in the outside world (aside from her books), and even less in drinking the blood of others.
Incognito: A powerful True Vampire from the "dark continent" (I presume Africa), Incognito was created for the anime and never appears in the manga. He is of a similar power level as Arucard, and fights him one-on-one at the end of the series, with both of them drawing on their full powers.
Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing: The current head of the Hellsing Organization, Integra is Arucard's master. See her character sheet for more information.
Jan Valentine: A Chipped Vampire, Jan is part of an underworld crime duo consisting of him and his brother Luke. His personality is best summed up with the line: "As long as we get to kill people and suck blood, anything is fine!" Killed by Integra.
Jessica: A teenaged Chipped Vampire, Jessica goes on a killing spree with her lover Lief in order to become more powerful (whatever that means...). She is killed by Seras.
Kim: A reporter, Kim tries to expose the Hellsing Organization and acts as an observer for the vampire snuff films. She is killed by Arucard.
Lief: A teenaged Chipped Vampire, Lief goes on a killing spree with his lover Jessica in order to become more powerful (whatever that means...). He is killed by Arucard.
Luke Valentine: A Chipped Vampire, Luke is part of an underworld crime duo consisting of him and his brother Jan. He seeks to destroy the Hellsing Organization in order to expand his power base. Certainly not as smart of clever as he thinks he is, he challenges Arucard to a one-on-one duel and gets eaten for his efforts.
Mick: Enrico Stivaletti's gay lover, who dies at the start of Episode 3, Duel.
Paul Wilson: Former SAS officer, Paul is made into a Chipped Vampire by Incognito. He is killed by Seras.
Peter Fargason: Commander of the Hellsing military arm, Peter is an ex-member of the Royal Armed Forces and Gulf War I veteran. He acts as a minor father-figure to Seras. Peter is killed in Episode 12, Total Destruction.
Pickman: A Hellsing squad commander, Pickman (a reference to Lovecraft's Richard Pickman?), is wounded by a vampire on 12, Total Destruction, and asks Arucard to kill him before he becomes a vampire. Arucard does (with obvious relish at the thought of using one of his huge handguns on a human) but then leaves his hat over Pickman's now-missing face in an equally obvious sign of respect.
Richard Hellsing: Integra's Uncle, Richard tried to have Integra killed so he could take over the family. Unfortunately for him, he ran into Arucard, who tore his arm off. Integra than killed him.
Father Ronaldo: Enrico Maxwell's assistant and apparent bodyguard.
Seras Victoria: A former police officer, Seras is turned into a vampire by Arucard. See her character sheet for more information.
Steadler: A former Hellsing Organization commanding officer, Steadler was arrested for making "snuff" films using humans and vampires.
Dr. Trevellian: Integra's personal physician, or, at least, a Hellsing staff doctor.
Walter C. Ddollneazz: A former Hellsing field operative, Walter now acts as Integra's butler. See his character sheet for more information.

Bibliography

Hellsing Volume 1: Impure Souls
Hellsing Volume 2: Blood Brothers
Hellsing Volume 3: Search And Destroy
Hellsing Volume 4: Eternal Damnation
Hellsing Ultimate Fan Guide #1

"In the name of God we shall strike down the damned undead with the eternal iron stake."


Hell's Gate Arrested
Alexander Anderson | Arucard | Integra Hellsing | Seras Victoria | Walter Ddollneazz | Hellsing Trooper | Ghoul

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