Path of CyberThaumaturgical Experimentation (Via Ars Corpus Machina)

By Gregory Rowbotham (gard@ats.com.au)

Description

"For too long we kindred have been happy to use the same powers over and over again. We are creatures of habit that have been stuck into a terrible and potentially fatal rut. We, Tremere, once boldly took the initiative and transformed ourselves from the mortal mages of House Tremere to the immortal vampire Magi of Clan Tremere. But we have grown lax and have felt content to sit on our laurels and let the world go by; we have fallen behind. All our magicks look back into the past and try to glean power from the dark ages of yesteryear. Recently we have gained information that human mages called the Technocracy use cyber-magick to rule the world. So I say, once again Clan Tremere will take the initiative and look forward to see what magicks can be brought under our sway. This path will meld the ancient and the modern into something more powerful. We will be transformed!"

To use this path the thaumaturgist must have equal levels in science and medicine as the path level required. The magus will also need equal levels in BioThaumaturgy. The mystic cyber-tech grafted onto and into the bodies of the subjects will have a techno-mystic quality, i.e. gleaming metal etched with eldritch runes, Words of Power written on gun barrels, clean computer datajacks surrounded by Invocations to spirits of information and communication etc. This is a melding of science and magick; it should always feel that way.

* Understand the Machine (Intelligere Machina)

At this first level the thaumaturgist is able to ken the nature of any mechanical device. The plans and schematics are open to the caster with a mere touch.

System: Roll Int + Science (Dif 5) Each success gives more information about the machine. Simple mechanical objects, like a toy or a lock would require only one success but a complex device like a computer or internal combustion engine would require more 3-5. With this knowledge the character is able to better repair the device, or build a new one as the plans are in his head. This spell will subtract one from any target number when using this device. Any attempt to pick a mechanical lock after this power has been used on it will subtract 2 from the roll. Also any attempt to destroy a device after the use of this power will also have 2 subtracted from the difficulty as the caster knows where to strike, plant the explosives etc. This power takes merely seconds and physical contact with the subject to perform.

** Repair the Machine (Reficere Machina)

Now the thaumaturgist is not only able to understand his mechanical servants but to repair them as well. Using an array of strange and seemingly useless tools that would baffle an average mechanic the caster is able to repair nearly any mechanical device, no matter how broken.

System: Roll Wits + Science (Dif 7) and spend a blood point. Each success repairs one point of damage to the device. If the device is fully ruined but all the parts are still in existence, albeit in a damaged state, then the thaumaturgist is able to totally fix the machine. The number of successes for the repair job is based on the complexity of the item.

Successes	Complexity
1	Simple lock, lever or electrical switch
2	Simple machine (Windmill, simple electronics (games))
3	Moderately complex machine (steam engine, electrical appliance)
4	Complex machine (Combustion Engine, Computer)
5	Unearthly machine (super/alien tech)

The caster must first surround the device in a mystic circle. This may limit the size of the machine the thaumaturgist can repair. Once the circle is drawn and the correct invocation uttered the repair work takes an hour to complete. This is because the magick is fixing the machine and not the caster per se. It may take longer if the device is very big as the caster will have to travel around the device and repair points. Note: This is to fix one device that has a specific function. To fully repair a technocrat VoidShip, for example, would require the thaumaturgist to first understand the ship, second, surround it in a circle and third, cast the spell for each broken component. The caster is also able to change the shape of a device or miniaturize it, not merely repair. This opens up a whole new range of possibilities. Each success halves the device's size.

*** Augment the Animal (Animalis Amplificatio)

Instead of merely understanding machines and fixing them, now the thaumaturgist is able to start melding them to flesh. To begin with the caster works with the lesser life-forms.

System: Roll Int + Science (Dif 8) and spend a blood point. For each success the caster is able to augment the animal's attributes, or give it new skills or give it an ability that mere biothaumaturgy cannot give, (e.g. listen to the radio bands, fire bullets etc). This augmentation will be in the form of attached and/or imbedded technology. It is up to the ST to decide how many successes are required to meld certain devices to certain animals. The bigger and more complex the device is in comparison to the animal the more successes will be required. The caster can quite simply meld an ordinary piece of technology to the animal and it will work, but it will be unsightly and awkward. It would be best for animal and caster for the thaumaturgist to use the second level ability on a device, or merely craft it with mundane tools and skills and shape it to a more economical size. Conjuration can be used in this case but a high number of successes will be needed to make the new cyber-device flawless enough for transplanting. The operation will take a few (1-4) hours but the animal will require a week to recuperate from the damage and to get used to its new parts and abilities.

**** Augment the Human (Humanus Amplificatio)

The thaumaturgist skill has risen to the point where she is able to start grafting metal to human beings.

System: Treat as Augment the Animal but the thaumaturgist can augment human beings as well.

***** Augment the Supernatural (Divinus Amplificatio)

Finally the pinnacle of the path has been reached. The thaumaturgist is able to graft cyber-technolgy to the bodies of many supernatural creatures, such as Vampires, Lupines, Mummies, Mages and Changelings. This mystic cyber-tech will not hamper the supernatural creatures powers and will transform along with the creature into a form which fits the transformation.

System: Same as Augment the Animal but now it is possible to augment a wide range of supernatural creatures.