Path of Probability

By spalex@hotkey.net.au

Description

Gideon and Harriet, two Tremere Elders of the New York Chantry established this Path. Gideon discovered the processes necessary to manipulate the forces of chaos and luck itself and Harriet developed it into a formal path. Deciding that they needed an edge over their opponents that had access to many of the same abilities that they did Harriet created a path that would give them power over luck itself. By tapping into the forces of chaos she could make the impossible happen. She knew of the danger in releasing such chaotic forces so she did not learn the path herself but developed it with her apprentices, observing the side effects safely. This path is still in development and currently only four levels exist. Harriet, a conservative Tremere, is not hasty to develop the power any further because all but one of her apprentices have been sent into torpor or temporarily incapacitated due to impossibly bad luck.

It is rumored that before further experimentation was ceased Harriet was planning to extend the probability vacuum to an area instead of a single entity.

Any botches rolled always have an incredible, amusing and often dangerous side effect as the forces of nature get some payback.

Effects are stronger the more powerful the forces the Thaumaturgist attempts to control.

For example:

* keep losing things, items break mysteriously.

*** You keep running into the only Lupines in the city.

***** Internal combustion, watch for meteorites.

* Barakiel's Gift

Named after Barakiel, the Archangel attributed for -- among other things -- blessing individuals with luck. While the power is active the caster is unable to have any bad luck and everything seems to go right.

System: One success grants the caster immunity to botches for an hour. Additional successes extend the duration by one hour per success. However botches rolled using other Path of Probability powers are not ignored.

** Curse of Hermes

By releasing the forces of chaos onto another person the character can cause him to have some bad luck.

System: This power works on one individual only. If the power is successful, treat the subject as if she had botched. The botch may not occur immediately but will happen not long after the curse is bestowed. Additional successes add to the severity of the botch. If the Subject has the Merit Luck then it can still be used to erase the botch.

One success might cause the subject to get something in her eye distracting her for a second. Three successes might cause her gun to jam. Five successes might cause a fired bullet to ricochet and do the intended damage on the subject.

*** Lady Luck

This power grants the caster incredible luck for a limited time. The caster will find that he can gamble with the best, his guesses are accurate and he keeps getting green lights all the way home.

System: Extra successes can be put towards dice pools in any situations where luck could come into play at the Storyteller's discretion. Or if suitable, all probabilities such as winning the Lottery, or guessing the right playing card are all increased to a flat fifty percent chance. Each time luck helps the character the Storyteller should make a secret roll on a d10. If the result is an even number the power instantly ends. If it comes up odd then the power persists. This way the character never knows when his luck has run out.

**** Probability Vacuum

This is a very dangerous power indeed. As the name implies this power creates a vacuum in something that the Tremere Gideon refers to as the probability field. In essence this power makes the impossible likelihood, if the character succeeds in controlling chaos itself. This power warps the probabilities of events so that something that has a 1% chance of occurring can be increased to a more likely outcome. But something that will definitely happen may not happen.

System: This power only affects the character and lasts for a scene. All of the character's dice rolls are reduced to a flat, non-modifiable difficulty of 7. This makes the impossible a reality; however it also makes the mundane an effort. Any botches while this power is in effect means that a rip has occurred in the probability field. When the rip occurs the power ends automatically. This means that something very bad is about to happen to the character.

For example, Carter the Tremere is using a Probability Vacuum to enable him to perform a magical experiment that is well and truly beyond his capabilities. Botch! Somehow the stake that was immobilizing the now frenzied Gangrel has fallen out, and mysteriously all his wards of protection have ended. Luckily he has his trusty enchanted Blade of Torpor Inducing. Damn! He left it in his other lab. Carter is in big, big trouble.