Malenympha
By Alex Derenkov (icunning@nike.heidelberg.edu)
Description
What many of the Kindred often forget is that they are predators, and their disciplines, despite being all nifty and useful for Pranking or for art, are adaptations for hunting. Kindred with a brutal hunting style will often develop the physical disciplines, those who are more subtle stalkers may learn Obfuscate and Auspex. Also, certain disciplines may have developed in response to typical prey types: Gangrel who fed on animals, of course learned Animalism, those who stalked Mages may have developed Thaumaturgy.The Discipline of Malenympha was developed as a method of hunting the Fae, although in the modern era it is often not used thusly. It is found most often in Vampires that were Kinain in their mortal lives, that possess Faerie Affinity, and in Malkavians.
* Scent Glamour
Like lions who lie in wait at waterholes, the first and simplest technique learned is to sense the Fae foodstuff: Glamour. This can be anything from a freehold to an artist in the throes of creation (in this case, even if a Changeling doesn't show up, you still have a handy meal).System: Automatic, although exceptionally high levels of Glamour (Powerful Freeholds, someone undergoing the Chrysalis) may overwhelm the vampire, leading to effects similar to the drawback of the Level One Auspex power. Range varies, although the upper limit seems to be a few city blocks...
** View the Dreaming
The next stage in hunting is to learn to read the various signs of your prey. Chimera often associate with the fae (well, almost exclusively may be a better term than often) and a clever hunter will follow these beings back to a Changeling. Unfortunately, by the very nature of the Dreaming, what can be seen is 'real' and a chimerical dragon can really put a crimp in a vampire's day!System: The Vampire makes a Perception + Occult roll, difficulty is the kindred's Banality (usually about 8, but exacting STs will assign different numbers according to the vamp's behavior). Success indicates that the Kindred can see chimera and other things of the Dreaming for the duration of the scene. Failure indicates that the character sees nothing, a botch provides false readings (hallucinations).
*** Chameleon Seeming
Eventually, the hunter will wish to infiltrate among his prey, picking and choosing his victim. Chameleon Seeming may be used in two ways. The first way is essentially a chimerical Mask of a Thousand faces, allowing the vampire to construct the appearance of a seeming, which will fool the normal sensory input of a changeling (if the seeming is a Satyr, his legs look and feel fuzzy to a Changeling.). This false seeming can be defeated if the Fae uses her kenning on the vamp. The second, and more subtle, way allows the vampire to give the feeling of being of a seeming. This will fool Faerie kenning, but the prey may become suspicious when she cannot see the seeming (although this may be complemented by Obfuscate 3 to create the image...). The two methods may not be used simultaneously. Also, the Kindred gains no boons or flaws from the Kith.System: The player makes a Manipulation + Acting roll, difficulty 7. The first success allows the effects already described, additional successes allow the vampire to fine-tune the seeming (pick one per success: Childling/Wilder/Grump, Seelie/Unseelie, variation within the kith [Rabbit Pooka/Monkey Pooka, Sidhe Lord/Sidhe Knight], etc.). A botch causes the Vampire to register as an Aumtumn Person to Fae senses, causing the prey to react appropriately.
**** Gusts of Autumn
At this point, the Hunter has learned enough of the Fae to realize their weakness to the force they call Banality, and begins to channel his inherent Banality as a weapon.System: The vampire rolls a number of dice equal to his banality rating vs the Changeling's glamour. Success indicate a number of health levels of 'stun' damage done to the Fae (mark damage as normal, but the Changeling recovers at a rate of 1 health level per turn once she is away from the vampire). This damage may not be soaked by the Changeling.
***** Moths to the Flame
Subscribing to the aphorism "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" the Kindred learns to translate the power inherent in his blood into a form that resembles Glamour enough that Fae are drawn to it.System: The vampire spends a willpower point and a blood point, then makes a Manipulation + Acting roll, difficulty 8. For each blood point spent past the first, lower the difficulty by one. The number of successes determines how far away Changelings can sense this False Glamour (using the chart below). A botch means that the Vampire is overwhelmed by a rush of banality, and now has a stink that will repel Changelings that lasts for one to several weeks (STs discretion). This is not real Glamour and Changelings may not feed from it.
The How Far Away Can the Fae Smell Me? ChartSuccesses | Area of Effect
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1 | All Fae within three blocks
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3 | All within the Neighborhood (about 10+ blocks)
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5 | All within a mile
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7 | All within the City
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10 | All within the Greater Metropolitan Area
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****** Arcadia's Boons
Pretty much similar to Chameleon Seeming, but the Kindred can also gain the kith's boons (and if he wants, its flaws) by spending a point of blood.
******* Vital Glamour
The Vampire can now feed off of Glamour as Changelings do. 1 Glamour Point = 1 Blood Point.
******* Enter Dreaming
The Vampire can step into the Dreaming. As with Changelings, the Vampire still requires a Trod...