Some New Applications of Old Disciplines

By S. M. Agle (agles@mindnet.org)

Auspex level 6: Lay of the Land

The Kindred gains an innate feel for his surroundings at all times. This sense is similar to the first level of Correspondance in that it provides for a sense of spatial awareness, and similar to Viceratika in that the kindred becomes aware of secret passages, hidden compartments, underground caves, etc. In catacombs, tunnels, etc. she will have an unerring sense of direction, and be able to "feel" where the passages lead. In wilderness, she will sense deadfalls, pits, the locations of streams, buildings, and so forth. Indoors, secret passages, hidden compartments and the like are made evident. In a sense, it provides for a mental blueprint of her surroundings at all times, allowing tricks like walking through a dark room without banging shins, and knowing where the bathroom is without having to ask. An exacting sense of direction and the abililty to "know" one's relative relation to ground and/or sea level is a minor but useful side effect. On the downside, the mental map provided by Lay of the Land does not include the locations of other people, so it is not an easy "Ha! I can see the Nosferatu!" power.

System: For most applications, such as the aforementioned quest for the powder room, no roll is needed. For other situations, when actively looking for something hidden, a roll of Perception + Awareness is called for. Yes, yes, Awareness is a mage thing, but Alertness isn't warranted in this case. The kindred is opening herself to her surroundings, feeling as much as looking. In all likelihood, this will mean she will have to pick up the talent after she gains Lay of the Land. Note also that the effective range of Lay of the Land is subject to the whim of the Storyteller. A good guideline is forty or fifty meters in wilderness, three or stories indoors, or up to a hundred meters in tunnels. Generally assume that the more area the power has to cover, the shorter the range.

Necromancy level 6: Banishment

A rather straightforward talent, it is simply an inversion of the level four power Haunting. The offending spirit is unceremoniously dumped into the Tempest and barred from returning to the Shadow/Skinlands. The necromancer may, if she wishes, maintain this effect indefinitely, refreshing the banishment before the duration expires. Necromancers are cautioned to use this ability sparingly, as certain spirits tend to take this personally. There is an out, for the unfortunate ghost. Should he be fortunate enough (?) to locate a nihil, he may use it as a sort of loophole around the banishment, and slip back into the Shadowlands.

System: Roll Manipulation + Occult vs. the spirit's willpower, each success is one day the spirit will remain banished.

Protean level 6: Doppelganger

Invented by the Gangrel Archon Leigh Greenbough, this application of Protean makes one a master of impersonation. The shapeshifter requires a taste of a person's blood, and then may assume his form. A benefit of the power is that the kindred gains a sort of eidetic memory, applicable to faces only. Starting when the kindred gains the doppelganger ability, she becomes a walking crowd, able to at any time become any mortal she feeds on, or any kindred she "samples." The ability became known publicly due to the Lady Archon's habit of killing someone close to her target, usually a retainer, assuming his form, and breezing through the security measures. Similar to Vicissitude One, in that it allows mimicry of other people, the difference is that the impersonation is flawless, automatically.

System: The kindred spends one blood point to become someone's double. Only the kindred changes, not their clothing. The form taken is that of the subject at the time the sample was taken, so if a child is fed upon at age eight, even if she lives to eighty, the kindred can only mimic her as a child. If a new sample of the same mortal is taken, it overwrites the older sample. The transformation lasts until A) another blood point is spent to revert to a new form or the original, or B) the kindred loses consciousness, in which case she reverts to normal automatically; daytime sleep qualifies, so if impersonation is an absolute priority, cancel the sleepovers. No roll is needed, just a sample of blood, and only a sip is required, not even a whole blood point. (Word of advice: This one is fun when paired with Theft of Vitae. Also lotsa fun for the Malkavians out there with multiple personalities.) Final word: The impersonation is perfect, and that will include certain physical merits. Enchanting Voice for example, or Acute Hearing. On the other hand, it would also confer certain flaws, such as Blind or One Arm. Non-human forms, such as garou in Glabro form or a Gargoyle are possible, but the Glabro's claws will not inflict aggravated damage unless Wolf Claws are used, and the kindred will have to learn the Flight skill to make use of the Gargoyle's wings. (Calculate flight speed as per Viceratika, using the Gargoyle's rating or the shapeshifter's Protean rating, whichever is lower.)

Really really final note: Caution, Diablerists! Yes, you can use Doppelganger to become your diablerie victim; the danger is that you might er, well, become your victim. You have how many black veins in your aura? There is a certain resonance between soul and body. Even a piece of someone else's soul in her own body may be able to overwhelm you.