Vampire Bygone

By blake1001@technologist.com

Description

As a Bygone, this Vampire is a Thaumavore. However, it can extract Quintessence from its victims' blood, so it is not dependent on Nodes or Mages for its existence in physical reality. The Vampire needs about 1 Quintessence per week to maintain its unlife. In civilized areas, this can increase to 1/day, while very superstitous or appropriate surroundings (Transylvanian Castles) reduce it to 1/month. In addition, the Vampire uses up extra Quintessence when it has accumulated Paradox; each day when it sleeps it loses one extra Quintessence which cancels one accumulated Paradox.

Statistics

Attributes: Strength 5 (Inhuman), Dexterity 3, Stamina 5 (Inhuman), Charisma 2, Manipulation 5 (Compelling), Appearance 4 (Fascinating), Perception 3, Intelligence 4 (Experienced), Wit 5 (Cunning)

Abilities: Alertness 3, Awareness 3, Brawl 4 (Grab and Bite), Dodge 2, Intuition 3, Intimidation 4 (Gaze), Subterfuge 4 (Urbane), Etiquette 4 (Old Fashioned), Melee 4 (Sword and Shield), Stealth 4 (Silent as Death), Culture 3, Enigmas 4 (Wisdom of the Ages), Linguistics 4 (Old Forms), Occult 5 (Ancient Secrets), History 4 (Personal Experience)

Backgrounds: Followers, Resources, Avatar, Destiny

Willpower: 10

Arete: 5

Quintessence: 10

Paradox: 0

Health Levels: OK,OK,OK,OK,OK,-1,-2,Becomes Mist

Image

The Vampire is a tall, pale, imposing, nobleman. There is something fascinating, exotic, almost hypnotic about him. He exudes power and confidence, yet great restraint and patience, as well. When he does lose his temper he is as ferocious as any wild beast.

Weaknesses

• Repelled by crosses, holy water, etc, cannot walk on consecrated ground, cannot recite from the scriptures.
• Cannot cross running water (natural streams and rivers), though he can be transported over such in his coffin.
• Sleeps, helpless, in his coffin (which must contain earth from his grave) during the day (during which time his soul is tormented in Hell).
• Cannot enter a dwelling unless invited (but only needs to be invited once).
• Cannot consume normal food or drink.
• Casts no reflection.
• Repelled by garlic or wolvesbane.
• Takes Agg damage from fire.
• Takes Agg damage from (direct) sunlight as if engulfed in flame.

Powers

• Recovers any non-Agg damage upon awakening each night (Agg damage is also healed but uses 1 Quint/HL)
• Can only be permanently slain by fire, sunlight, a stake through the heart followed by decapitation, or the consecration of all his coffins and the earth they contain.
• Will: the Vampire has a remarkably developed Will; he can Countermagick any direct effect without using up his Arete pool.
• Curse: anyone drained of blood by the Vampire is cursed to rise as a Vampire within three nights. Such Vampires are little more than beasts (Mental and Social Attributes of 1, no skills or knowledges and their only powers are 'Scent the Life' and 'Drink the Life' below). If the Vampire drains a willing victim over three nights, it becomes a fully sentient, fully powered Vampire, like himself.

Effects

Drink the Life

Prime 5, Life 4

This effect allows the Vampire to obtain the Quintessence he needs to maintain his mockery of life by drinking the blood of the living. [The effect costs no quint to use, the Vampire must succeed in a STR + Brawl contest to grab and bite a resisting victim. Each success on the Vampire's Arete drains 1 HL (Aggrevated) from the victim, and gives the Vampire 1 Quintessence.]

F/X - doesn't draw Paradox (oddly enough)

Hypnotism (Willforce)

Mind 4

The Vampire's dread gaze can overwhelm the will of nearly any Mortal. The Vampire can command the Hypnotized victim to perform nearly any act, can plant post-hypnotic suggestions, and alter memories. Multiple uses can leave the victim insane, or a 'broken' puppet of the Vampire, or both. The victim has no memory of what occurs while she is Hypnotized. [Costs one Quint, and requires an Arete roll, Diff 7. If it works, instead of normal Resistance, the victim and the Vampire make contested Willpower rolls each time a new command is given. The Vampire's difficulty is always 6; the victim's varies based on the command, from 8 for simple commands she might be tempted to obey anyway, to 4 for unspeakable acts.]

F/X - Coincidental.

Reveal the Beast Within

Life/Matter 3

The Vampire is not really a human being anymore. If he chooses, he can abandon his human form for one that more accurately represents his inner nature: a blood-drinking bat or predatory wolf. [Costs one Quint, and requires an Arete roll, Diff 7, 8 with witnesses; only one success is required, and there are no penalties for assuming the animal form (it is 'natural' to the Vampire). As a bat, the Vampire loses two OK HLs but, has +2 DEX, can fly at twice his normal running speed, and has a -2 on his dodge and stealth difficulties. As a Wolf, he has enhanced (-2 diff) senses of smell and hearing, can run at twice normal speed, bite for STR+1 Agg damage (but not use 'Drink the Life,' above), and has +1 STR, +1 DEX, and +3 STA.]

F/X - Vulgar.

Blush of Life

Prime/Life/Mind 2

Though the Vampire is a creature of the night, he can move about during the day, though it is not his natural time, and his powers are weak. [Costs one Quint per scene, no Arete roll required. The Vampire appears completely human, and, in fact, takes damage as if he were human for the duration of the effect (though he will still vanish into mist if taken below Incapacitated) and can be affected by Life Magick, as well. This effect temporarily suspends the Vampire's vulnerability to sunlight (though it is still unpleasant to him). While using this effect, no other Vampiric power can be called on, and the Vampire's STR and STA are both reduced to two.]

F/X - Coincidental. There's no such thing as Vampires.

Scent the Life

Life/Prime 1

The Vampire can smell blood in even the tiniest amounts, and has the predator's instinct to track his prey once scented. He can also tell much about any person whose blood he tastes. [Costs no quint to use. The Vampire roll PER + Awareness (difficulty 4 to note the presence of fresh blood, 6 to track or identify a specific victim, or 8 to infer the magickal powers of a victim).]

F/X - Coincidental.