Farwander

By David "Ogre" Zaslavsky (ogre@inx.net) (18 April 1996)

Description

This Discipline was created by a Gangrel, among the greatest of vampiric wanderers, who was affected by wanderlust, perhaps, worse than any other kindred in history. Eventually, he sired childer, and they inherited his knowledge. Thus a Bloodline was formed and a new Discipline flourished.

This Discipline allows a vampire to travel more freely, and to know where she is. At greater levels it allows the user to physically travel easier and faster.

The political ramifications for a Kindred with this Discipline are very important. Kindred society depends on the idea that subjects are bound to the Prince's fief not because they are loyal but because they cannot travel freely. One with this Discipline becomes a wild card in Kindred politics. A subject who can leave the machinations of most Princes is unpredictable and uncontrollable, barring Dominate and Blood Bonding. They can be interfief spies, messengers, or simply travelers. They can be a means to bringing the Camarilla closer, as a group, or a means to disseminate dissent, by spreading news and rumor.

* Lea of the Land

At this level the Kindred becomes instinctively aware of his surroundings. This does not only apply to the area within line of sight but, as the Kindred becomes more proficient, can apply to area the size of a city. The Kindred will become aware of the natural surroundings and features of the land. This does not mean that he will know everything that is concealed in the area. Anything purposely concealed will not be detected. This includes any traps that are set.

System: To activate this power, the Kindred must use a blood point and then roll Perception + Awareness (diff. 6). The number of success rolled and then divided between two categories, range and detail.

Range		Detail
No Successes:	Line of Sight	1 Success:	General awareness of terrain.
1 Success:	1/4 Mile Radius	2 Successes:	Intimate knowledge of terrain.
2 Successes:	1/2 Mile Radius	3 Successes:	Area Knowledge 1
3 Successes:	1 Mile Radius	4 Successes:	Area Knowledge 2
4 Successes:	5 Mile Radius	5 Successes:	Area Knowledge 3
5 Successes:	10 Mile Radius

For example: a Kindred has just landed in the newly founded Virginia colony. As he exits his crate he uses Lea of the Land, getting 4 successes. He could use 3 of his successes for Detail and 1 for Range, giving him the equivalent of Area Knowledge 1 for a 1/4 mile radius, comprising mostly of the docks. If he were in wilderness, he could use 3 successes on Range and 1 success on Detail, giving him a general idea of what the surrounding mile is like in terms of traveling conditions, hills, valleys, and small villages. Each use of this power lasts for one scene.

** Easy Path

At this level the Kindred can travel easier and faster. The Kindred will instinctively find the shortest route to wherever he is going. He will also be less likely to get lost on his way to his destination. He will tend to avoid natural obstacles and will take the paths that take the least time, even if the path is spatially longer.

System: To activate this power the Kindred must use a willpower point and then roll Wits + Enigmas (diff. 7). For every success rolled, divide the time it takes to get to the Kindred's destination by half, up to the least possible time it would take to get to where the Kindred is going. On a botch it will take the Kindred at least twice as long to get to where he must be. The Storyteller may also decide that the Kindred walks into some sort of trouble of a botch is rolled.

*** Native Mind

This power is an advanced version of Lea of the Land. At this level the Kindred powers have advanced to the point that no matter where he goes he is always aware of his surroundings and may, in fact, be more aware of them than the native inhabitants of the area.

System: The Kindred can get extensive knowledge of the area he is in with this power. To activate it he must expend a willpower point and a bloodpoint, he then rolls Perception + Awareness (diff. 7) and divides the resulting successes between Range and Detail.

Range		Detail
No Successes:	Line of Sight	1 Success:	Area Knowledge 2
1 Successes:	1/4 Mile Radius	2 Successes:	Area Knowledge 3
2 Successes:	1/2 Mile Radius	3 Successes:	Area Knowledge 4
3 Successes:	1 Mile Radius	4 Successes:	Area Knowledge 5
4 Successes:	5 Mile Radius	5 Successes:	Area Knowledge 5 + City Secrets 1
5 Successes:	10 Mile Radius	6+ Successes:	Area Knowledge 5 + City Secrets 2

The power lasts for one scene.

**** The Path Less Traveled

At this level of Farwander, the Kindred can simply teleport wherever he wishes to be. He is only limited by range.

System: The Kindred must expend a blood point and a willpower point. He must then roll Stamina + Alertness (diff. 7). The range of his travel are determined by the roll. The Kindred can determine where he wants to be after he rolls to see how far he can go. He must have been to the location that he is going to at least once before. The period of time he was there does not matter.

***** Hermes Portal

This is the final level of Farwander. At this level the Kindred can teleport others as well as himself wherever he needs to get to. He must go with those he is transporting, he cannot sent someone away without coming with them.

System: The Kindred must expend one willpower point and one blood point for every person he is transporting, including himself. He must then roll Stamina + Alertness (diff. 8) to determine range.

Botch:	God help you
1 Success:	1/2 Mile
2 Successes:	1 Mile
3 Successes:	10 Miles
4 Successes:	100 Miles
5 Successes:	Whole Continent
6+ Successes:	Anywhere on the planet

The Kindred must send everyone to the same place and he must accompany anyone he sends. To get somewhere the Kindred must have been to that location at least once; the period of time he was there does not matter.