Psychic Vampirism

By Tim Coram (shdwwlkr01@aol.com)

Author's Notes

This is just a weird little Numina that showed up in my game and I thought I'd share. It is based on "Vampires: the Occult Truth" by Konstantinos, and published by Llewelyn books.

Description

This is the power to siphon the life force and will from others and utilize it for ones self. Not a great way to maintain ones Humanity. The power is rather potent, but can easily be stopped by those who are aware of the power's usage and are willing to take proper precautions. Once the necessity for contact has been overcome the rating in this Numina is rolled (even if he isn't using his highest level), difficulty the victim's Willpower. Each success siphons one temporary willpower from the victim. After all temporary will is gone, up to five health levels can be drained in a similar fashion (treat each as 2 points of temporary Willpower)

* Leeching Touch

The character must bring the aura of the victim into contact with his aura (basically, they must be within three feet of each other). At this level, the "vampire's" aura darkens; simultaneously, the two auras become hard to differentiate.

** Arms of Vampire

At this point, the character can, with some small degree of focus, send out tendrils from his body to the victim. They can stretch up to 10 feet. The auras look as though dark black-purple (or ocasionally black-red, or a few other shades) tentacles have stretched from the vampire to the victim.

*** Dark Stare

At this point, the tendrils stetch to affect the Victim from as far away as 200 feet. At this point they must be extended from the eyes, requiring the character to be able to look at the victim to use this level. The auric tentacles are still there but now are linked to larger stalks extended from the eyes. At this point the user detects as "of the Wyrm."

**** Dreams of Darkness

This power causes some odd affects. The victim must be asleep while the power is sued. She will immediately wake up if it is successful and will be paralyzed as if a huge weight was on her chest. Simultaneously, she will see a manifestation of the attacker (usually symbolic, but noticeably the attacker). She will then lose Willpower until the attacker fails on one roll, nothing is left to take, or the attacker chooses to leave.

***** Ephemeral Being

This highest level has no effect until the vampire dies, at which point he can survive past death. When the character dies, he rolls 5 dice against the difficulty of every person within his psychic reach, or, if none are there, a sleeping victim. The number of points gained is the character's starting Angst as a Spectre. If none is gained, the character begins with one point. If the roll is botched, the chracter dissipates (for this reason some forgo the roll and take the one point). These Spectres continue with their nocturnal feeding frenzies, sometimes in Circles, selectively assaulting weakened prey.

Uses of Stolen Power

The first is replenishing one's own temporary Willpower. These points can be used like any other Willpower. However, since every turn a victim is fed upon she is more likely to understand the source, gaining much this way is dangerous. Also, due to the limits of the power, no more than three times the character's rating can be taken in on day. Another usage is that at a cost of 3 points each, the first two health levels can be healed. If the vampire has taken more than two levels nothing can be done.

Unintentional Vampires

These are those people who, without some sort of influx of enegry, will die. They never learn the 3rd or 5th level powers. They learn the fourth as if it were the third level. They never keep draining once they have healed all their health levels and have more Willpower than a victim.

Counter Measures

All that is necessary is that a Character ritually choose to seal of her power; the vampire simply cannot pass this. This could be anything from a warding to a prayer for protection. The only problem is that most people never realize they're being attacked if the vampire is cautious.

This does not affect Wraiths, and pity those they choose as fetters. These can only befeated by destroying the Wraith in the Shadowlands or the exorcism of the place they attack in. The Benandanti are quite skilled in dealing with such creatures.

Societies of Vampires

The Setians have a branch devoted to the study of this Numina, though not all of its members are skilled and fewer are serious. A more serious and vicious group is the society of the Black Rose, who work in packs and make a point of eliminating those who attempt to disrupt their studies or feedings, including Benandanti.