Bardo

By Alek D. Talevic (alukdeviant@earthlink.net) for the Mutes bloodline.

Description

If Serpentis is the dread lord Set's legacy to his childer, then the Discipline of Bardo is of a like bent ; Osiris' last will and testament to the worshippers of his Embrace, and the main clan discipline of the Osiriphite Mute blood.

* Mask of the Cursed Disciple

The most primary discipline in the Mute's library is also the most useful, easily taught to even the freshest neonate. In it, the Osiriphite Mutes have learned how to mask their lisping tongues and obscenely protruding fangs with a hint of Chimestry-like magick, although any member of the Followers of Set will see clearly through the guise due to their close and mysterious bonds with the Mute bloodline.

System: Almost every member of the Mute bloodline will have this discipline, although its degree of success varies from member to member, generation to generation. The success of the Mask can be from the lightest cover of the obscure extension of the Mute's fangs, all the way to the most accomplished levels, hiding both the teeth of the serpent, as well as speaking without impediment.

There is no penalty in either blood or willpower points to use this discipline, although three turns must be taken to perfect the appearance before it can be used as a successful cover.

Note that any follower of Set's sect, or even a fellow Osiriphile will easily see through the guise, and even some older members of the Garou and Nosferatu clans have been known to discern a Mute's true appearance through something so mere as a smile.

** Hand of Ra Amon

Using this discipline, an Osiriphite Mute can infuse the power of the sun's rays into her fingertips for one turn. While under the guise of the Hand, the Mute can cause one level of aggravated damage for every turn that she grips a part of an opponent's body.

The Mute herself is unaffected by the power of the infused solar energy, at least until its intentsity passes three levels.. at which point any contact to the Mute's own body will cause severely aggravated burn wounds.

System: No roll is required to start the discipline, but it costs two Willpower points to start. After that, a blood point must be used in every consequent turn to heighten the intensity, or else the aggravated merit of the discipline will be lost, and the touch will simply be uncomfortably warm. In attacking, use standard grappling or punching procedure, but every attack inflicted is a typical aggravated injury.

*** Legacy of Isis

Using this discipline, a Bardo-using Lick can steal a page from the Salubri's book, with a relatively weak healing power akin to Level Six Obeah.

System: In this, the Mute vampire can heal one health level of any other, once for every turn, by expending one Willpower point and two blood points for every injury and level healed. The Mute must be in direct skin contact, and be able to press her fingers to the wounded area directly. This discipline cannot be used on the Followers of Set's cult.

**** The Wrath of Horus

With this level of Discipline, the Mute is able to transform her skin into a papery substance, thusly making her invulnerable to the clawing of talons, the slice of a knife blade, of the sting of a bullet. This talent is a double-edged blade, however, as unlike the Setite discipline of the same bent, the Mute can still move her form, though suffering a -2 penalty for any physical action over simple walking or running. However, the papery husk of the Mute's skin is even quicker to burn then normal flesh, and any fire or sunlight will consume two health levels for every turn there is exposure.

System: Like the Setite's bitumenous flesh, this discipline takes no blood or willpower points to create, although two turns must be taken to fully transform.

***** Beckon of Desert Sands

Masters of their natural element and the guise of night, the Mute with this ability is able to seize up the ethereal stuff that creates the sandstorms of the Arabian desert, controlling and shaping it for use under their own devices.

Moments after incanting the sacred phrases necessary to incite the spell, a whirling dervish of sand will seem to appear from nowhere. In reality, it can be either an illusion or a true conjuration, depending on how high the level of the Mute is. The sand will blind an opponent, and in higher levels, cause stinging cuts on both the target's skin and interior flesh. To make matters worse for a Mute's enemy, miniature grains of the enchanted sand will seek out an open nostril or mouth to gain passage to more vulnerable areas of the Cainite or mortal's body.

System: The incantation takes three turns to recite, and the expending of three blood points and one willpower point. The sandstorm will continue to batter the opponent as long as the Mute can keep her concentration level up. If she is injured while holding the winds in place, the spell can explode or backfire, or simply die down. ( Storyteller's discretion. )

****** Reclamation of Thoth's Right

Using this ritualistic discipline, a righteous Mute will be able to enchant an object to use as a "Hand of Thoth," a device with which is utilized in seeking out the removed hearts of the accursed Setites, no matter where they may have been stowed.

System: The ritual itself takes a single day to prepare, with the Mute creating a circle of blessed Arabic or Egyptian sand five feet in diameter. Rocks are placed at every quarter-interval, demarking the gods and forces of North, South, East and West. The Mute proceeds to lay the object she wishes to change into the Hand within the circle's radius, (usually a stick, length of pipe, but in some cases, a bound length of hemp) and then proceeds to slice her wrist over it, costing one blood point to customize the object to that particular Osiriphite's desires and usage. The stick will hum and shake when held with both of the owner's hands, generating a soft light at its tip when a Setite's heart is hidden within a five-mile radius, and within eight feet of the ground's surface.