Ars Psychotica

By Patrick K. Aiex (paiex@indiana.edu) for the 5150s bloodline.

Description

This new and rapidly evolving Discipline was created by the Master, founder of the 5150s. It merges the power of warping the mind (Dementation) and decay (Thanatosis) to accelerate the natural aging process of the mortal or immortal mind. It has not yet developed into a high-level Discipline, but work is under way to further expand the potential of this bizarre and definitely dangerous power. Those who know of the Discipline's existence have remarked on the use of names derived from popular culture; this reflects the peculiar sensibilities of the 5150s and their trait of insanity, particularly Fantasy.

* Somebody Else's Problem (SEP)

Named for a unique way of "cloaking" space vessels in the book series The HItchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, SEP is similar to Obfuscate level 2, Unseen Presence. The difference lies in the fact that once a person sees the 5150, and SEP is invoked, the person observing the 5150 forgets about it, because it is obviously not that person's problem. The Master has theorized that this is yet another manifestation of chaos patterns at work.

System: If an immortal or mortal sees the 5150, and SEP is invoked (at the cost of one Blood Point), there is a Dexterity + Stealth roll against the observer's Wits + Occult. If the 5150 scores more successes than the target, the target promptly forgets about ever seeing the 5150 for the duration of the scene.

** Mental Decay

An extension of SEP, this actually induces Alzheimer's-like symptoms in the affected person. Symptoms include forgetting names, dates, places, and in severe cases, how to use certain objects. This is similar in game mechanics to the Id Discipline (possessed by the Razor Children) level 8 power, Memory Crash. Mental Decay's effects are more limited, however.

System: The 5150 rolls Manipulation + Occult (difficulty of 8), and consults the chart below for effect on the target. Mental Decay requires the expenditure of three Blood Points. The effects of Mental Decay last for only one night.

Successes	Results
1	The target forgets what his next action was going to be.
2	The target forgets where he is and why he is there.
3	The target forgets who he is.
4	The target forgets parts of his undead existence.
5	The target forgets parts of his mortal existence.
6+	The target forgets he is immortal.

*** Jedi Mind Trick

This power developed out of Dementation, and is extremely subtle. It manifests as a combination of Dominate and Obfuscate. With this power, the 5150 can make one verbal suggestion of non-offensive nature, i.e., "We're not the ones you're looking for."

System: This power requires the 5150 to spend one point of Willpower, and must roll Manipulation + Intimidation versus the target's Intelligence + Occult at standard difficulty. Those with Auspex are immune to this power.

Levels Four and Higher

There are no known powers in the Ars Psychotica Discipline of level four or higher, although experimentation is constantly being done by those who use it to expand the Discipline's repertoire. Rumors abound of 5150s who have in fact reached higher levels of aptitude in this Discipline, who can with but a flick of their minds, cause strokes or cause specific sections of the brain to stop performing fully. One particularly disturbing rumor is that the Master himself has a power which is instantly lethal to kine, and debilitating to other Cainites -- to shut down the cerebellum, seat of all autonomic function in the body. Suggestions for powers include the following:

**** Brain Freeze

This power causes the affected target to freeze with indecision; any intended action is deferred for a number of turns determined by the number of successes the attacker gets.

System: The attacker rolls his Manipulation + Occult against a difficulty of 8. For each success gained, the victim's intended action is deferred for that number of turns.

***** Blackout

One of the more dreaded weapons in the rumored arsenal of Ars Psychotica, this power is more Thanatosis-related than any of the others. It targets the victim's optical nerves, and causes them to wither, rendering the victim blind.

System: Two Blood Points must be spent to activate this power, and the attacker rolls his Medicine + Occult against the victim's Stamina + Occult. The number of successes dictates the amount of time the victim is blinded for.

Successes	Duration
1	One turn
2	One hour
3	One night
4	One week
5	One month

****** Black Ice

This power takes its name from much of the 'cyberpunk' fiction, in which computer hackers interface with on-line systems via the mind. Black Ice is a name given to high-level anti-hacking programs that can trace a 'netrunner' back to its source, and literally fry the netrunner's mind. In this case, Black Ice induces a stroke in its targets -- possibly lethal to kine, and quite damaging to other Cainites.

System: The 5150 must burn three Blood Points, and roll Brawl + Occult against the victim's Intelligence + Occult. Fortitude will not assist in soaking this damage. One die of damage is done for each success.

******* Brain Death

Suspected to be the ultimate in Ars Psychotica, this is the power that has been subject to the most rumor-mongering. If rumors are to be believed, this power attacks the victim's cerebellum, seat of all autonomic functions. While not as dangerous to Cainites as it is to kine, it is still a power to be feared.

System: The attacker rolls his Medicine + Occult at a difficulty of 8 and spends four Blood Points. If successful, the attack inflicts four Health Levels of aggravated damage. As with Black Ice, Fortitude will not assist in soaking this damage, as it is literally the target's brain that is being attacked.