Melpominee Revised
By Khlaire (kschaefe@direct.ca). Also see The Daughters of Cacophony Revisited. Based on Voce by William Matross (firshee@hotmail.com)
Preface
After reading William Matross' article on the Banshee Bloodline, my previous re-work of Melpominee seemed sorely lacking. I've swiped much of his article to give players a chance to use his ideas without necessarily resorting to adding a new Bloodline to their chronicle. (Besides, some of us really like the DoC.) To pull this off, I've increased the levels to 8 in spite of what the Player's Guide says. Storytellers may want to add other levels in order to not have two powers available per level. Besides, nothing written on these pages is written in stone when it comes to your game.An alternative view of the Banshee ST's may use is that Melpominee was always what is written below, and that Padrick (founder of the Banshee) took it and the Black Widows Discipline Sensualis to form his Bloodline.
Introduction
The Melpominee Discipline appeared simultaneously with the Daughters of Cacophony and is intrinsically linked to that bloodline. It allows its possessors to use speech and song for a variety of supernatural effects.
* The Enchanting Voice
Similar to the Merit of the same name, this gives the Daughters an almost magical voice, well beyond even the mortal talent for which they were embraced. She may add two dice (ST's discretion) to all rolls directly involving the voice (singing, seduction, etc.). The Daughter however, may not take Merit Enchanting Voice to add even more dice to her pool.System: This power is automatic, but can not be used in conjuction with any other disciplines -- including the other levels of Melpominee. The exceptions are Awe (Presence level 1, but only if the voice is used) and Command the Wearied Mind (Dominate level 1). One extra dice to each (with ST approval).
* The Soft Voice
By singing or speaking, the vampire is able to bring the target out of frenzy.System: Roll Manipulation + Singing (diff. 7). Three successes are needed to bring another vampire out of frenzy, five to do the same to any supernatural creature.
** The Monotonous Voice
Using repetitive notes, the user can cause any creature to fall asleep. This affects different creatures in different ways.System: Roll Charisma + Singing (diff 5 for mortals, 7 for other supernatural creatures). The number of successes determines the length of sleep. Victims can attempt to counter this by spending Willpower points. For vampires, this sleep resembles torpor, while Wraiths are unaffected.
Vampires | 1/2 successes in days
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Lupines | 1/2 successes in days
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Mages | 1/2 successes in hours
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Mortals | 1/2 successes in hours
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Changlings | 1/2 successes in hours
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** The Enraged Voice
This acts like a counter to the Soft Voice. This will cause the listener to go into a frenzy.System: Roll Manipulation + Singing (diff Self-Control +3 or Willpower). Three successes will send a Vampire into frenzy; five successes are needed to do the same to other supernatural creatures.
*** The Voice of Pain
By singing loudly, the user can deafen opponents. Normally this is in the form of blood coming from the ear.System: Roll Manipulation + Singing (diff 8). Three successes must be achieved. Vampires take no dammage, but lose a bloodpoint. All other listeners take one point of damage. If the successes equal twice the listeners Stamina, the victim is permanently deafened.
*** The Missing Voice
A vampire with this power can "throw her voice," causing it to emanate from any place within her view. This voice operates independently of the vampire, and she can speak normally at the same time her voice sings elsewhere.System: This power works automatically, but if the vampire undertakes any other actions while using The Missing Voice, she loses two dice from her Dice Pool.
**** Voice of the Muse
With this power, the Daughter can inspire others with her voice.System: By making a Charisma + Singing (diff 9), the vampire can cause the listener to gain temporary Willpower equal to the number of successes. This can not raise the Willpower higher than normal. If a botch is the result, the listener becomes enraged at the vampire and may attack.
**** Toreador's Bane
This power enables the vampire to reach a state of awareness in which her voice becomes an extension of her very soul. It allows the Daughter to create some of the most beautiful music ever heard. It also gives her the power to entrance others with her voice. The vampire can enrapture her listeners in sheer awe. They will be overcome by the singing. The vampire can then influence the emotions of her listeners based on her song, although the vampire will not have any direct control over the listeners' actions and they will not all interpret the song in the same way. Also, the listener will be drawn to the music and unable to take action against he singer or to run away. This effect duplicates the Toreador clan weakness, but can affect anyone. The target will sit still, in awe of the characters voice, until the character stops singing. Thus the effects can last seconds, minutes, hours or even the entire night.System: The character must spend a bloodpoint and roll Charisma + Singing (difficulty equals the targets Willpower [- 2 for toreador]) and totals the successes, though one is enough for the victim to be hit with effects smilar to Awe (Presense level one). If the target wants to resist, he must make a Willpower roll (difficulity equals the number of accumulated sucesses). If she wins the contest, then the listeners are in awe of the singer and will do nothing against her. They are free to act in anyway that will not harm her. If the target does not resist, then the trance will last until the character stops singing.
***** Tourette's Voice
With this power, the vampire can project her voice to any point or person with which she is familiar. She can sing, talk or make any other vocal noises she likes, as loudly or as softly as she wants. The vampire herself will not hear the sounds unless she is within earshot of the target.System: Tourette's Voice requires the character to make a Wits + Linguistics roll (diff 7) and spend a Willpower point. Each success allows the character to speak for one turn.
***** Voice of Authority
Using this power, the vampire may rally the support of others. With this rallying effect, the Daughter can comand the forces to act. The forces will fear nothing to complete their commands.System: Roll Charisma + Artistic Expression (diff 8). The vampire must gain a total of 15 successes to rally and command. The targets can spend Willpower to cancel successes, but only five successes can be lost each turn.
****** Art's Traumatic Essence
This is the power that other vampires fear most. It is the song that drives others mad, and it can be used in conjunction with the other powers of the Discipline. It can, however only affect one target at a time.System: The character must make a Manipulation + Empathy roll (diff equals the targets Willpower). The vampire must accumulate a number of sucesses equal to the target's Self-Control + 5. Once this happens, the target acquires a new Derangement of the ST's choice.
****** Death of the Drum
At this level, the character can use this Discipline and her voice to inflict actual damage upon others. The damage caused to mortals is mainly that of punctured eardrums. Kindred may take serious damage as dead organs begin rupturing. This singing is either extremely high pitched or very low. Only one target can be affected at a time.System: The vampire spends two bloodpoints and rolls Manipulation + Intimidation (diff equals the targets Stamina + 3). Each success inflicts one level of aggravated damage. This damage can be soaked (diff 7). If this power is used more than twice in a row or a total of five times in a scene, other objects may also begin to take "damage." This is usually like glass shattering.
******* Blessed Audience
At this level, Art's Traumatic Essence may be used on a group. All affected must be within earshot of the vampire, and they must be able to hear her song.System: The roll and effects are the same as for Art's Traumatic Essence, but the vampire must spend one Blood Point for every person she wants to affect.
******** The Distant Drum
The vampire can now combine the power of Death of the Drum with the power of Tourette's Voice in order to inflict damage on a distant target.System: The character must spend two bloodpoints roll Wits + Intimidation (diff equals the targets Stamina + 5). Each sucess inflicts one level of aggravated damage. This damage can be soaked (diff 7).