Diablerie

By Robert Sweeney (rsweeney@anet-stl.com)

Description

This discipline was designed to build upon some of the vampire's distinctive physiological and supernatural traits.

* Sabertooth

Prerequisite: Wolf Claws or Protean 2, Fortitude 2, Brawl 3

Effects: As per Claws, but expands jaw and canines for enhanced damage.

Description: The vampire burns a blood point to fuel this power, at which time a transformation occurs in the jaw, jaw articulation, and fangs of the vampire. The canines become enhanced, extending out to their maximum normal extension while still 'retracted'. This makes maintaining the masquerade difficult while the power is in effect. The vampire can still 'extend' the teeth as he normally would, in which case they extend nearly twice as far, a truly frightening visage.

The teeth themselves are changed slightly. A blood groove runs down the inside edge of the fang to increase the ease of feeding. Additionally, while longer, they are also thinner and sharper than before. It requires Fortitude of 2 or greater to use these teeth in battle without injuring yourself. Those with less than a Fortitude of 2 must make a soak roll against 2 damage dice each time the teeth are used aggressively in battle. A botch, indicates one or both fangs have broken off, a painful event to say the least. Fortitude of 2 or greater, however, absorbs this damage completely and renders the fangs strong enough to be used without fear.

Brawl 3 or greater is required to use these teeth effectively in combat. The difficulty of the attack roll will be 9 for those of lesser brawling skill. At Brawl 3 or greater, the Difficulty drops back down to the normal 5 for bite maneuvers. The vampire need not grapple before using his teeth as an offensive weapon, however, should he do so, the Difficulty of the bite attack is reduced by 2.

Blood Drain: A vampire using SaberTooth drains blood in one turn at the normal rate of 3 pts plus and additional 1 pt per level in the discipline.

** Blood Burn

At this level, the vampire can 'burn' the blood he consumes as soon as it touches his system. This provides protection from the corrupting influences of Bane's blood, the frenzy inducing effects of Garou blood, and the psychic side effects of numina potent blood. These types of blood can be prevented from ever truly entering the vampire's system by consuming them immediately and completely. The blood of other vampires, however, continues to enter his system normally and can cause a blood bond.

Using Blood Burn is completely voluntary, but a bestial act of gluttony and lust suitable for a frenzying vampire. The vampire is still limited by his generation to the number of points of blood he can use per turn but he can burn (waste) any amount he can ingest if he so chooses.

*** Consumption

At this level, the vampire can spend one blood point to completely consume his victim. Used in melee, the vampire does an extra dice of damage (aggravated damage) per blood point spent. Used on a deceased body, it renders the physical remains a fine ash that quickly dissipates in the wind. This is accomplished by injecting one point of his own blood into the victim. The blood then turns against its new host and burns the body from the inside with a cold fire.

The consumption itself isn't particularly painful as the nervous system is among the first tissues destroyed.

**** Contact of Minds

During Feeding, the vampire can use Dominate without restriction, just as if he or she could speak normally. This is due to a mingling of the minds that occurs while the Vampire feeds. Due to the victim's vulnerable state while in the Embrace, no blood points need be spent to dominate and the difficulty of the dominate roll should be significantly reduced.

Telepathic communication is possible, even despite language barriers.

***** Fouled blood

Formulated as a defense against Diablerie, the vampire can burn a blood point to corrupt all the blood in his system. This sends him into torpor (considered voluntary torpor), but renders him immune to Diablerie as there is no heart's blood& that can be consumed by the diabolist.

The Diabolist suffers one aggravated wound level per point of tainted blood consumed and will contract a vampiric disease.

****** Mortal Diablerie

The vampire can Diablerize a non-vampire. He doesn't gain a generation, but his heart begins to beat, he breathes air, can eat food, and takes two less dice of damage from sunlight until he feeds again. He also gains access to some of the deceased's knowledge, skills, and talents until he feeds again. His aura shows white crackling lightning (as opposed to black).

****** Bloody Inferno

Blood Burn: Upon attaining this level, the Vampire's Blood burn can destroy even the blood of other vampires.

Dragon's Breath: By spending a blood point, the vampire can change his own blood such that upon leaving his body, it becomes a dangerous weapon. The vampire can spew from his mouth as many blood points as he desires . . . up to the maximum number in his system. He can direct this blood as follows:

• Pool: The blood can be spilt before the vampire in a pool, one pint of liquid per point used. Assume pools reach a 1' diameter per point. (or a 1' long line per point).
• Regurgitation: The vampire has bitten down on the victim and is feeding. He can regurgitate on the victim, automatically covering him with the affected blood. Note: The vampire doing this will surely have some blood on himself as well and would do well to wash it off quickly.

There are two main affects available:

• Fire: One damage dice per point (requires contact with air to burn)
• Consumption: One damage dice per point (does not require contact with air).

The vampire can choose how volatile the blood is. He can delay the ignition of Fire or Consumption damage for one turn, cumulative, per dot in the discipline. Thus, at level 6, he can delay the activation of the damage for 6 turns or approximately 6 minutes. He can also determine how fast it burns: one dice of damage per turn all the way up to all dice in one turn.

Thus, the vampire could pour out a pool of 8 pts of blood and have that blood ignite 4 turns later, burning at a rate of one dice per turn, blocking other vampires from crossing for as many as 8 more turns as it finally burns out.

This power is quite wasteful on blood points, but is most deadly if used deceitfully or while being diablerized. Note, that the blood can ignite even after being drunk by another vampire. The blood is quite warm as it is consumed, however, and experienced vampires will know what's going on.

It can also be quite effective if one has a suitably large supply of creatures on which to feed. The vampire can slice his wrist and begin feeding upon his victim, pouring out all the blood he consumes as potentially combustible vitae. For instance, at level 6 a vampire with this discipline can consume 9 pts of blood per turn if using SaberTooth. He can 'bleed' this blood out his wrist as "Fire" Blood that will ignite 6 turns from now. He then moves to the next victim, who's 9 points of blood is spilled with an ignite time of 3 turns etc...