Ghoul Blood

By Abe Dashiell (adashiel@indiana.edu)

Introduction

Somebody asked about playing a revenant character and in response, I created this background. It's not been tested and I'm worried it might be a bit powerful -- perhaps it should cost twice as much as a normal background. I suppose you could also make this similar to the Gypsy Blood Purity (I think that's what it's called) trait.

Level One

Your parents were probably ghouls when you were conceived or born. A trace of the vampire still flows in your veins, and you are more attuned to them than most. You are able to learn disciplines more easily than most other ghouls. You have the potential to learn disciplines up to the fifth level, and at a cost of x7 the current rating rather than x10. There are a few limitations, however:
1. Your disciplines are available to you only as long as you have vampiric blood in your system. If you do not have at least one blood point, you may neither use your disciplines nor may you buy new disciplines.

   Example: Julia's master, Malthus, leaves the country on business, leaving her to protect his haven. She knows Dominate 3, Presence 1, Fortitude 2, Potence 1. However, after a month, she no longer has Malthus's blood in her system and cannot use her disciplines. When Malthus returns and feeds her, she regains the use of her powers.

2. You may only purchase and use disciplines known to your master. The physical disciplines are exempt from this rule.

   Example: Julia would like to use Auspex, but because Malthus does not know this discipline, she is unable to learn it. Again, Malthus leaves on business, but this time, leaves Julia in the care of his childe, Carolyn. Carolyn knows Presence, but is unfamiliar with Dominate. Therefore, while Julia has access to Presence, she may not use Dominate. Furthermore, even though Carolyn does not know Potence, because it is a physical discipline, Julia may use it anyway. Carolyn also knows Auspex and teaches it to Julia. However, if Julia goes back to Malthus and no longer has Carolyn's blood in her system, she will be able to use Dominate, but Auspex will be lost to her.

3. You may not have disciplines that are higher in level than your master. Again, physical disciplines are exempt from this rule.

   Example: Once again, Malthus leaves the area, but this time leaves Julia to another of his childer, Sebastian. Sebastian knows Dominate, but only up to level 2. Therefore, Julia will not have access to the 3rd level of Dominate. However, she will have access to Fortitude 2, even though Sebastian only has Fortitude 1, because it is a physical discipline.

If the character has the blood of several vampires in her system, she may have access to a wide variety of disciplines. However, she must be more careful about spending blood. Naturally, this will also be a real headache to keep track of.

Second Level

You are likely the result of two or three generations of interbreeding ghouls. You have all the abilities conferred by the first level, but you also have a single "clan discipline." You may learn and use this discipline whether you have vampiric blood in your system or not, and may buy it at in-clan rates (x5 the current level). Your system generates one blood point every two weeks, which may be used for healing and powering disciplines, but cannot be used to create ghouls or blood bonds and in no way slows aging.

Third Level

The ghoul interbreeding in your family goes back several generations. You may learn two disciplines without vampire blood and at in-clan rates. Also, you age at half the normal rate once you have reached maturity. You generate one blood point every week, with the same benefits and limitations described above.

Fourth Level

Ghoul interbreeding spans many generations; you are probably the result of an intentional breeding program. You may learn three disciplines without vampiric blood at in-clan rates. Once you have reached maturity, you only age at a third of the rate of a normal human. You generate a blood point every three days. It has the same limitations as above, but you may create a blood bond if another drinks your blood six times.

Fifth Level

You are a revenant and a full fledged member of one of the ghoul families. You generate a blood point a day and age at a mere quarter the rate of a normal human after you have reached maturity. Otherwise, you have all the abilities of the fourth level. You also have a family weakness, similar to a clan weakness, but your family ties more than make up for this disadvantage. You have easy access to the family disciplines and your family has enough clout that you are largely free from the meddlings of vampires.