He yawned. "What a night." He staggered out of bed, gesturing at the door. It opened. He walked out, tossed out a quick Scan, and entered the kitchen.
Eric chuckled. I'm getting paranoid, he thought with a smile.
No, you're not, he Heard. Practice more.
Eric laughed outright. Okay, you're getting paranoid. His cereal floated into his bowl.
You should be so lucky, his fellow Scanner Sent back at him. Do you want to die?
Oh, please, Eric replied easily. Who'd be Scanning this dump any-
The building shook.
"Dammit, Sharon!" Eric roared. "Quit fooling around!"
That wasn't me, she Sent grimly.
"Oh great, Reapers," Eric groaned, tossing on his Kevlar trenchcoat and jumping out the window. Being part of Phoenix Covenant may be a lot of things, but at least it's not dull!
Roland woke uneasily, the dream of the Buzzing surrounding him still echoing in his mind. He pulled his concentration together, desperately trying to discern reality from fantasy.
The crashing sound above him explained a great deal.
"I suppose I should help..." he sighed, taking his ninja-to from its place beside his bed and rising. After all, it isn't as if Phoenix Covenant hasn't helped me out of a few scrapes.
The "World Of Darkness" and "Storyteller" series of role-playing games are published by and are a copyright of White Wolf Inc.
"Firestarter" is a Dino De Laurentis film, and a Universal Release by Universal City Studios, 1984, released on MCA home video, and based on the Stephen King story of the same name.
"Scanners" is A David Cronenberg film, a Filmplan International Production, and an Embassy Pictures release, 1981.
"Highlander" is a Russell Mulcahy film, a Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment release, and a Davis/Panzer production, 1986.
Scanners are often solitary, but this is a condition of their rarity, not (usually) a choice made by them. When a psion finds others touched by the power, the resulting relationship is usually intense, like most things related to the psi world. Either the lone Scanner is quickly and heartily welcomed into the group (mind-reading aids trust tremendously) or ends up a bitter adversary, if not an outright enemy. Shortly thereafter, however, a differently aligned group will usually learn about the Scanner's newfound affiliations or troubles, and react accordingly. And so it goes, all things balance, except that in the end, the Scanner isn't alone any more.
The purposes of the Phoenix Covenant are simple: to protect the normal humans around them from unscrupulous Scanners and to learn more about themselves. They usually spent little time successfully doing either, more often than not unable to access the information that would tell them who and what they came from, and rarely crossing swords with the now-uncommon forces of the broken Scanner conspiracy. The Covenant primarily serves as a support group for now, finding Scanners and bringing those who aren't totally psychotic or corrupt into the fold, so they can learn to control their powers and function normally. They've been very successful in recent years, causing the number of 'unexplained psi phenomena' reported to drop since their founding. Still, some groups within the Covenant remain vigilant against other Scanners and denizens of the World of Darkness.
In addition to maintaining Scanner peace, PC Scanners are also expected, though not required, to protect normals from mundane threats such as muggers, accidents and drunk drivers. This request is more honored in the breach than in the practice, but it is becoming more popular as the new generation of Scanners begins to take an active role in society.
Other assets available to the Phoenix Covenant include: its ties to law enforcement, from the local use of psychometric 'trackers' to the mysterious 'Project PSI' itself (which may be the Covenant's link to the federal agencies), the growing Internet, through which they can find out more about themselves and, to a lesser extent, friendly Technomantic factions, including the Sons of Ether and the New World Order (both of which covet the psions' paradigm) as well as their 'parents,' the Progenitors.
Many think that the Scanner supremacy movement died with its mysterious leader.
That is the worst mistake a Scanner, or Hunter, could make.
The organization that was trying to breed a master race of Scanners isn't gone. The children of the conspiracy are entering their teens even now, and the survivors have new troops, a new plan, and a name: the Reapers.
The one virtue extolled by the Reapers is loyalty. Do what you will with the humans; destroy the enemy by any means necessary, but betray your own and die horribly.
Anything else goes.
All a Scanner has to do is take the oath (and Telepathy, again, ensures honesty, or else) and the Scanner is no longer a psychic, but a Reaper. It has been compared by one Nephandus-hunter to walking the Labyrinth -- the Scanner sells a piece of the soul for power and moral laxity. Scanners are quick to reply that the soul has nothing to do with it; Reapers are not trapped by their allegiance, they just take an easy out. Either way, the Reapers are the Villains, as far as the Traditions and the Covenant are concerned.
And, as always, the truth is not that simple.
Not all Reapers rape virgins and slaughter babies; most, in fact, only fight their enemies. The majority see themselves as the champions of a new species, outnumbered and outgunned, and taking the best steps possible to remedy the situation. And if the occasional human gets put through the grinder; well, it's us or them. And it's bloody well not going to be 'us.' Scanners (and don't call me 'psychic,' bird-boy!) are here to stay.
Some Reapers, however, do indulge themselves, and as long as they're discreet (no mindblind copsicles or overly-moral PC brats showing up) none of the others really care. Some rather unpleasant incidents of this type have turned the rivalry between the two psi groups back into the war it had been when Revok was in charge.
It's not as far-fetched as it sounds, either.
They have no intention of starting an armed revolution. Once they have enough telepaths, key officials will be mindraped or transferred out of their bodies, and voila, the Reapers are in charge. The Kindred won't be a problem (so they think) with their access to pyrokinesis and telepathy.
The Reapers have not yet run afoul of the Technocracy. This may well be a good thing; the New World Order and the Syndicate would both be far more likely to recruit the psis than kill them.
As for creating more Scanners, they may have lost access to BA's Ephemerol, but they have their sources, and they put it in anything they can. It's not enough to affect the psis who come across it, but unborn infants are being affected.
And even without the efforts of the Reapers, new Scanners are born every year...
1) They know what their Scanners are, if not where they come from.
2) Their psis work almost exclusively with the First Teams.
This has had the rather annoying effect of getting almost every Garou in the world to really hate Scanners.
As far as Pentex is concerned, this is a good thing. The more werewolves hate Scanners, the better chance of recruiting the psis into a First Team. As always, the best way to fight the werewolves is to turn them against themselves...
They recruit from the 'higher' echelon of Scanners, trying to get as many of the educated ones as possible. When forced to settle for the drudges that normally comprise their shock troops, they attempt to educate the psi themselves. Often this results in a very loyal, intelligent First Team Scanner; equally often the Scanner realizes what they want her to do and rebels. Occasionally the psi refuses to learn and is only useful for cannon fodder.
Regardless, Pentex gives its Scanners a lot of leeway; after an encounter with a pissed Garou, a rebellious psi is likely to return (on his knees) and beg for a second chance...assuming that the psi survives. Phoenix Covenant is not happy with the situation, but is as yet unaware that these psionic 'monster-hunters' are actually working for Pentex and turning a potential ally against them.
On the other hand, Pentex is unaware, except in the most nebulous way, of Phoenix Covenant. If it were, engineering an all-out Garou/Scanner war would be all too easy, and there is no guarantee that the Garou would win. As it stands, only the 'obvious' patronage of Phoenix (Gaia's champion) and the rarity of contact keeps the peace between the Garou leadership and Phoenix Covenant.
Phoenix Covenant is becoming a popular choice.
The Covenant provides a number of things valuable to an Immortal. One is a safe haven -- even those places which are not holy ground are staffed by mindreaders, always valuable allies. Another is companionship, especially with beings who can relate to the Immortal experience; like Immortals, Scanners are separated from humanity by a cosmic accident, but are still very human, and through biofeedback, can halt aging. But most important to an Immortal is something that could very well keep them alive through the centuries: a sense of purpose. The most common cause of death among Immortals is a loss of the will to live. Without that hunger to survive, the deadliest swordsman will fall through a simple lack of interest.
Besides, the Immortals and Scanners seem to have a common bond; their powers seem to be related.
"If you insist," she replied, concentrating on the Reaper that had attacked. Don't you learn, shock-boy? We kicked your butt all over the place before, and that was when you had your buddies here. Now I'm going to -- Sharon's head jerked back, then she doubled over.
The Reaper, a tall lanky punk with a dark smile, walked forward and reached toward the sensory expert. "Ever run into a reflex shield, little girl? Nasty experience, being blasted by your own mind." "You're...not...that...good," she breathed, trying to push him away with her TK. He shrugged it off and laughed.
"Ah, science," he said, touching the choker gleaming on his neck. "It's simply amazing what they're doing with electronics these days."
His hand jerked as an electric arc shot from the choker.
"Yeah..." Eric snarled, his eyes blazing, "it's just one shock after another."
The scanshield shorted out in a blue-white blaze while the punk screamed.
Sharon rose shakily, smoothing out the mindblast with a touch of biofeedback. Then she focused, taking the punk's psiforce out of synch and channelling some of it to Eric. "Thanks."
"Hey, I owed you," Eric replied. "That reminds me...gotta thank Roland for teaching me that trick. But we've got more important things to worry about right now."
"Like how trash like him got hardware like this?" she asked, taking the choker.
Eric nodded solemnly.
Scanners are, by their nature, scientifically oriented. This is to say, the physical nature of their powers, being of the Technocracy, makes them more capable of using technological advancements than normal humans. Psychotronics, psi-drugs and parapsychology are all a part of the Scanner phenomenon, as well as the 'harder' sciences of paraphysics and parabiology.
This means that, in general, Scanners have access to a higher level of technology than the sleepers around them.
It should be noted that this is not always a good thing. The Technocracy uses psi-tech already, and in fact the New World Order has made great advances in the sciences of the mind. This gives interested Technocrats a serious advantage when tracking, hunting and capturing Scanners for study and/or arrest for 'reality crimes.'
In addition, the Scanners' powers are not static, however much the Technocracy might wish otherwise...
There's no real 'trick' to it that I can explain, Eric Sent to Roland as he floated above the immortal. You have the power within you, all you need do now is focus it.
Perception? Roland thought.
In this case, another word for focus. Imagine thrusters, invisible hands, Quickening, whatever works for you. But get that force to push you up and you'll be set.
Roland nodded as Eric's experience with psychokinesis flowed through his mind. Direction of force through strength of will...energy surrounds us, we swim in it...all that is needed is to grasp it and --/p>
PUSH!
"How's that, Roland?" Eric asked.
Roland opened his eyes, and found himself floating a few feet above the ground.
"That...is extraordinary!"
Eric smiled. "Not to us."
The original Scanners rules were, and are, excellent. But with the publication of Mage, 2nd. edition, some of the psion's advantages are less pronounced. A mage can now easily equal the powers of a psi as defined in Scanners, and the powers of the psis themselves, based largely on Mage spheres, change also if using the 2nd edition. Also, many 'alternate' Immortals rules have powers for immortals that greatly resemble psi powers. Therefore, a complete set of psi powers is provided here, completely compatible with Mage 2nd edition and requiring no other books. These can be used as the base Scanner powers, second generation Scanner powers (they're getting more powerful!) or Highlander abilites, similar -- but not identical -- to the powers of the psis, which were designed by the Progenitors to be like these.
(Special note: Unless the ST says otherwise, Scanners cannot combine Mediumship with other powers for psi rotes.)
Buying up the remaining abilities costs the normal price for an ability of that level.
(Note: STs might consider this power inappropriate; check before using)
Roland smiled. "Trust me, Eric. The VA I got this from said it's been tested thoroughly."
Eric took the circuit-covered headband dubiously. "If you say so..." He put it on his head.
"On the net, anyway..." Roland smiled.
"Magnus, you motherless --" Eric began. Then everything went into hypersharp focus, and his car was suddenly floating in the air. Eric's jaw dropped.
Roland stared at this spectacle with a smile and folded arms. "I told you to trust me."
Let's face it. What good is being related to the Technomancers if you don't get a few neat toys to play with? It bears noting, however, that these items are rare; even the more common drugs are all but unheard-of.
Radionic Enhancer: The most famous piece of Scannertech, this SoE invention adds to a Scanner's Willpower pool over and above their rank in a given power. This does not give the Scanner the abilities of a higher-ranked power, but allows, say, a *** Telepath to roll four dice to determine success. There is no known upper limit to the Radionic Enhancer. Many versions of this device exist, including a few which are sanctioned by the Technocracy.
It does, however, have one major drawback: its energies are tuned to the Scanner, and can result in feedback. Any botch, or successful telepathic/electrokinetic attack by a psi or mage who is familiar with the Enhancer, causes damage to the Enhancer's user. Roll a number of dice equal to the user's highest power Dice Pool (including the Enhancer's die!) for damage.
Psi Tracker: Scanners are part of the paradigm. This allows Manar-like technology to function against Scanners without resorting to Devices.
The user makes a Perception + Technology roll, difficulty 10-highest power level in use (yes, inactive Scanners can be detected, with luck) and if successful, the Tracker will indicate the direction and location of the power in use (or the nearest Scanner).
Screamer: These nasty little devices are fairly rare, primarily because they are universally despised by Scanners and destroyed immediately upon discovery. A Screamer is a weapon designed to mimic the Migraines flaw, and boy, does it do the trick! Attacks are made with Intelligence + Technology, difficulty 7, 'dodged' with a Willpower roll. Successful attacks mean the Scanner is under the effects given for a Migraines flaw. (Those unlucky Scanners with the Migraines flaw add +1 to all relevant difficulties.) As the 'lash-out' rule is in full force, this is an extremely dangerous weapon for all concerned.
Scan Jammer: This piece of equipment acts in a fashion identical to the Metascan 2 effect, has a Dice Pool of 3, and causes general aches and pains in affected Scanners. This side effect allows Scanners to find the device by following the intensity of the side effect. Meta-scanners may resist with their own power, canceling the Jammer's successes with their own.
Mind Shield: This fairly well-known piece of equipment, usually made in the shape of a headband (though the infamous Mirrorshades of the Black Suits perform the same function), provides the wearer with a counterpsi Dice Pool of 3 for purposes of resisting telepathy only. Standard issue for Technocracy Scanner-hunters, they are otherwise hard to come by.
Psibolt Blaster: This diabolic weapon is the rarest and most effective weapon known to Scanners. It adds two dice to a Scanner's telepathy pool for purposes of attack only, but also has the effect of a Screamer on ANY target. The mindblind are easily cowed with this device. The Migraine effect, however, can be resisted by Awakened by rolling Willpower, difficulty 9-ranking in Mind, Telepathy, or equivalent power.
Note the 2nd: Scanners 2nd ed. includes a whole host of Merits and Flaws. Enjoy!
You make no distinction between Forces; all three powers rise equally and you don't have to buy anything up later. Perhaps you're a bit more enlightened than your fellow Scanners, or just more talented. This Merit causes Macro PK to function almost identically to Forces Magick, but use the Scanner listing in case of contradiction.
There's some-thing really odd about your Disorder -- either it's really weak, due to luck or sheer cussedness, or unnaturally strong in you. Either way, you react differently to it. If you have Disorder Control, then you don't suffer from your Disorder unless your Willpower is down to one. You don't gain any side benefits, however, by 'unleashing' your power. Disorder Weakness means that any time you botch a psi-related roll, you must make a Willpower check or suffer the affects of your Disorder, regardless of your present level of Will. This Trait must be used with caution, if allowed at all.
The strange miasmic force that hides other supernatural forces in the world also protects you. This can be a maddening matter if trying to prove what you are to someone, but in general is very useful. "Who was that masked man?"
This is especially valuable to a Scanner, as it means you know a Willworker with a Scientific paradigm. This Scientist (please, not Mage) can aid you in innumerable ways, although your assistance may also be required, and you will certainly spend some time as a lab rat -- er, assisting with various experiments. The three point Merit means you know one of the more decent members of the Technocracy, but you might become entangled in Technocratic red tape. Or worse. The five point Merit indicates a Son of Ether, Virtual Adept, or techno-Orphan, who most likely will not embroil you in such things.
This functions similarly to Echoes from the Mage and Changeling Guides, but instead means you have a tendency to use your powers unconsciously. A one point Flaw means you will occasionally pick up useless trivia from people's minds, a three point Flaw results in disturbing bursts of psi activity, especially 'poltergeist haunting' from all three kinds of PK, and a five point Flaw can do anything from paralyzing you with your own powers to setting off every burglar alarm in a three mile radius.
You move easily from false life to false life. This is as much a mystic power as a skill; you have a sort of Arcane fog about you that prevents mortals from tracing your previous 'lives' the way Connor was uncovered in the original Highlander. You even start to look different after a while, subtly matching modern appearance.
"Your will...is strong."
Eric blinked as the homeless man brushed passed him; a resonance of deep sadness had waved over him, as though the weight of the world had been on his shoulders. Poor guy, Eric thought. Maybe I can help... Eric carefully wove his kinetic powers together, starting to mend the ragged clothes he was wearing -- and suddenly he was staring at an eight-foot tall upright wolf, a wolf that was staring back in confusion and anger. "Wyrrrrm spawn!"
"Oboy," Eric said, backing away...
A lot of denizens of the World of Darkness have many misconceptions about who and what the Scanners and Immortals really are. Scanners, especially, throw a new wrinkle into old feuds. Immortals have been around, well, forever, but the pseudo-magi are something new.
The various supernatural beings of the Tellurian know little about each other; the groups as a whole know even less about the psions, or the Gathering.
Some individuals, however, know a lot more than they're telling...
The Camarilla, in typical vampiric arrogance, has dismissed the 'strange urban sorcerers' as a distraction, not worthy of consideration. They rule the world, after all, and a few lunatics with strange powers of the mind aren't going to give them a problem.
The Reapers could wipe them out if they tripled their numbers.
This may seem like a stretch, but for two things: telepathy and pyrokinesis. One or the other would not be sufficient; mortal hunters have been using fire to hunt the Kindred since the beginning, and telepathic Numina is no match for a Kindred with a full Blood Pool. Most Scanners, however, can easily take a neonate, and even the princes are no match for a Scanner circle. (This, BTW, does not account for Methuselah intervention. No known Scanner is a match for one of these beings...)
This, however, is not going to happen. The Kindred and the Scanners will never go to war on a grand scale for two simple reasons. One, they both have a Masquerade in common; the mortals are still powerful and numerous enough to wipe both groups out should it come to that. Two, they're each too busy fighting their own. Sure, the Reapers could destroy the Camarilla or the Sabbat, if there were no Phoenix Covenant. But there is, and they can't.
The rivalry between these forces is in fact minimal. The largest Scanner group is actually benevolent, and the Covenant has no interest in unveiling the Masquerade, even to the limited extent that they understand it. They content themselves with protecting the mortals from killers, and the Camarilla does not mind at all the assistance of these 'gifted kine' in maintaining the Masquerade. The Sabbat would do more, however, if they had a clue about the Covenant. They're more familiar with the Reapers, and even that contact is rare at best.
The comments in Highlander: the Gathering more or less remain as stated for Kindred/Immortal relations. Phoenix Covenant Immortals are watched warily by those who understand the connection, but in general the more or less good standing remains.
Werewolves and Scanners do not get along.
This is due entirely to the wonderful efforts of your local Pentex corporation. They give psions they find (and are able to recruit) equal or better treatment, a job, a home, and a purpose. Unfortunately, that purpose is to hunt the 'monsters' that prey on humankind, namely werewolves. They have managed to keep their First Teams from adding vampires to the list, and the 'reformed' werewolves (Spiral Dancers) are given considerable respect -- the last thing most Scanners want to be seen as is racist.
In many ways, the Scanner phenomenon is what Pentex is trying to bring about in terms of their 'evolution' concept. Unfortunately for Pentex, they don't know about EPH-1, and EPH-5 does not create Scanners. They've looked into purchasing Biocarbon Amalgamated, but that was a complete failure, due to separate efforts from Darryl Ruth, the Progenitors, and the Syndicate (which isn't that corrupt...yet...) which completely threw them off.
The real problem arises, however, when Phoenix Covenant and the Thirteen Tribes run into one another. That didn't happen very often in the past, but now, as the new generation of Scanners tries to make a difference, these two groups of would-be heroes run afoul of each other with increasing regularity. If they were to work together, they would be a nearly unstoppable force, but the Garou see/sense the Scanner powers in effect, shift to Crinos form and attack, and the Covenant psis see a bunch of slavering monsters coming down on them.
It's a frustrating situation all around. Especially for the few members of both species who know what's going on.
A small but growing number of Glass Walkers and Children of Gaia have made alliances with Phoenix Covenant, and have learned Numina or even (in rare cases) a version of their true telepathy from them. In return, these Garou have begun teaching a few small Gifts to the Scanners. The Metis, especially, are fond of the psis, and 'Sense Wyrm' is slowly making its way through the society. The problem here is, of course, that these are not exactly the movers and shakers of Garou society.
Worse, the whole situation with the Scanners is making the relations between the Garou and the Immortals very strained. The Garou are beginning to look at the Immortals with concern, and the Phoenix Covenant Immortals, noble warriors all, are very protective of their friends. Typical Immortal behavior, of course...
A lot of mages are ecstatic over the Scanners.
The Sons of Ether are the Scanners' biggest fans, for a number of reasons. The Scanners use high technology, tend to be more open-minded about Science than their Consensus counterparts, and are literally living proof that there is more to science than the Technocracy would have the Masses believe. The Scanners, for their part, are fond of the Etherites, as one would be of a wacky but well-meaning uncle.
The Technocracy, for their part, is by and large pleased with the development of the Scanners. Now they need to regain control of the project.
The Progenitors and, surprisingly, the New World Order are most pleased with the Scanners. Although both groups would prefer that the Scanners keep an even lower profile than they are maintaining at present, the Progenitors are happy with the present level of success and the NWO is maintaining the place of mental powers on the timetable thanks to their help. The Progenitors are gleefully working on the next generation of Scanners, planning to channel the Flaws in a certain direction, while the NWO intends to slowly provide the sleepers with 'hints' of the Scanners' existence. Their long-term plan is to 'explain' all past magickal phenomenon as early Scanners...
The Iterators, Void Engineers and Virtual Adepts are all somewhat more wary of the Scanners. While none of them really object in theory, Scanners have a way of disrupting their plans. Iterators and Adepts don't like how Scanners fight computers (they don't crash computers, they blow them up ) and the Engineers are more of an outer exploration group than an inner one; they prefer to leave that sort of thing to the Akashics. Most Scanners think space travel is cool. (The one Scanner in the Void Engineers is quite friendly, but with her access to the 'Sleeper' talismans, is a very frightening opponent...)
The Syndicate hates Scanners. Don't ask them why, they won't tell you. But it seems to be an almost instinctual reaction, and the feeling is mutual.
As for the more mystical Traditions, they seem to be more ambivalent toward the Scanners. The Akashic Brothers and the Order of Hermes have paradigms closest to that of the psions. The Brotherhood is fond of the Scanners, but feels they need to learn self-control. As for the Hermetics, they would love to use the Scanners to advance their paradigm, but the Flaws make them a bit wary of taking this path. (Both Traditions get along very well with Scanners possessing great Willpower.)
The other Traditions are capable of cooperating with Scanners, and have little trouble with them -- except for the Euthanatos and the Verbena. The Euthanatos are outraged by the creation of the Scanners, and many of them try to 'destroy these spawn of the Technocracy.' The Scanners, for their part, usually despise these 'psychotic butchers' and know them only for serial killers. They aren't even aware of the existence of the Tradition.
As for the Verbena, they only know that these things were created by the Progenitors. Some of the more radical witches have crafted some ugly ends for a few Scanners, though the Reapers have happily returned death for death, among other unpleasant fates...
The Phoenix Covenant, which includes beings of many 'non-traditional' religions, would rather have peace with the Verbena, but they rarely encounter one another, and it usually comes down to who has their friends around and who is alone.
Scanners and Wraiths almost never run into one another.
Wraiths know a few things about the Scanners, but watch rather than interfere. Scanners, for their part, usually don't believe in ghosts. Immortals never become Wraiths. This, unsurprisingly, limits contact. Occasionally, a Wraith will try to possess a Scanner or a Covenant psi will find herself in the unenviable position of exorcist, but by and large they could care less about one another.
Except for a few Reapers, who've made contact with a small group of Spectres. The deal is, they'll mindwipe some Quick types and the Spectres can move in. Then the Spectres use their powers to help the Reapers...
Changelings like Scanners. They're fun to play with. Ever since the boring humans stopped knighting people, there haven't been any mortal champions to lead around by the nose (ahem) I mean, to inspire to great adventures and heroic deeds. Most magi are big sticks-in-the-mud about things like that, and the Garou forgot what 'fun' meant centuries ago. But these kids in Phoenix Covenant just love charging to the rescue, or flying around jousting with dragons, or solving really strange mysteries, or...you get the idea. The Immortals are usually too old to play with, though. 'Been there, done that' and all. Only the Sidhe have trouble with the democratic Covenant psis -- each finds the other insufferably arrogant and self-righteous. Fae treat Reapers much like Redcaps: either run like hell, shoot to kill or beg for mercy.
Phoenix Covenant has no idea that they're involved with Changelings (except for the one who faced off with a dragon) and tend to get truly mystified by their adventures. But they have lots of fun, and Changeling-Scanner romances tend to go surprisingly well; telepathic lovers never get boring, especially while hiding one's faerie nature. Both species wait with anticipation to find out what the children will be like.
Again, the Reapers' reaction to the fae is much like that of a Redcap's; making 'em grovel is fun and put down the one who mouths off the most as an example, the difference being that an angry Sidhe doesn't scare a Reaper in the least...
And they may well be the world's salvation.
Nothing was foretold of them. No divination accounts for them, no seers learned of them, then or now. They skirt the edge of Paradox, walking in the shadows of a World of Darkness, trying to find their way through to something better.
They just might.
As for the Immortals, one thing remains the same: In the end, there can be only one.
Especially in New York.
The Sabbat and the Glass Walkers share a strange rulership of the city, keeping the home of Lady Liberty teetering on a precarious brink.
In this city lies a small haven of hope.
A few blocks away from Yankee Stadium, in a well-kept warehouse, is a small publishing company called Synapse Press. This is a cover for the local chapterhouse of the Covenant. Consisting of nearly twenty Scanners, two Immortals, and a Hollow One, the owners of Synapse Press try to keep the worms out of the Big Apple. They're just beginning to learn that worms own the Apple...
Foci are rather odd in regards to Scanners. Most do what they have done through sheer force of will; STs may wish to use the rules for 1st ed. Orphans for Scanners, namely no foci are necessary, but spheres are more expensive for them. However, there are a number of options available, such as: Willpower rolls (used like a skill for focus purposes), their genetic structure as a focus -- those blasted drugs again! -- certain skills the psi might have gained, such as Meditation, or even their Disorders! Disorder rules would remain the same, except that accumulated Paradox might subtract from Willpower for purposes of resisting the Disorder...
A Scanner may, at the ST's option, take more 'normal' foci if the situation warrrants. Needless to say, Scanners lose foci as 'mystic' mages do, one for every level of Arete after the first. (The ST might solve the focus problem by not allowing Awakened Scanners to have more Spheres than they can remove foci from; how much Arete the Scanner Awakens with would therefore depend on their present psychic prowess, although the Storyteller could also choose to alter this if the Scanner in question has a large number of powers upon Awakening.)