More than just a simple clan of artists, the Toreador helped found the Camarilla and have extensive dealings with the mortal world. More than any other Kindred, they feel the damnation of the Embrace, as it extinguishes the flame of creativity for which they long. But what passions inspire the Toreador after they receive the Embrace? -- Clanbook: Toreador - Revised Edition
From the Toreador perspective, when the sun fades, darkness gives rise to an eternal and entrancing world. Everything is fraught with wonder and terror, low politics and sensual glories, the profound and the profane, and an undeniable undercurrent of the sanguinary. These Kindred are the Toreador, and they spend unlives ensconced in pleasure.
Of course, for vampires of this disposition, it’s easy to become jaded and bitter. More than the other Clans, Toreador often succumb to ennui, or fight the eventual boredom of unchanging immortality by playing at rivalries. An excess of stimulation turns them into slaves to the sensations they seek. The most debased Toreador can become true monsters, sinking to unimaginable levels of depravity in order to feel anything at all.
The Kindred of Clan Toreador often involve themselves greatly in the world of mortals. They have any number of reasons, whether enjoying proximity to the blush of life, cultivating veritable cults of doting followers, or influencing and following the trends that their own kind simultaneously mock and venerate. To hear the Toreador tell it, they are the Muses of a desperate mortal world, inspiring through their beauty or patronage.
Toreador culture is a mixture of sybarites, dilettantes, and visionaries. Some Toreador, with echoes of mortal passion, Embrace lovers or “project” progeny who seem to fly in the face of every Toreador custom. These either don’t last long or rise to great prominence as subversives and individualists. Ideas, trends, and “the next great thing” spread through the Clan, and other Kindred often look to the Toreador to guide them. The Degenerates know this, and many become Harpies, Princes, and other key figures in vampiric society.
Quote: Long after you die, I will still be young, beautiful, and adored by everyone whose lives I touch.
Nickname: Degenerates
Sect: The Camarilla would not have survived in the nights following the Anarch Revolt without substantial participation from the Toreador, and they remain among its most ardent supporters.
Appearance: Almost to the last, they are attractive in some way, whether the traditional beauty of a runway model or the dangerous allure of something more predatory. By definition, there is no such thing as an ugly or unattractive Toreador. No Toreador would ever embrace a creature that is tied to them as a childe for eternity that was not absolutely stunning and talented. Such a thing would be miserably intolerable and unforgivable amongst the Toreador.
The Degenerates augment their physical beauty with a sense of personal style, which may take the form of expensive couture, avant-garde street wear, or classical fashions designed to emphasize their many appealing qualities. Most are patrons of up-and-coming fashion designers simply so they have access to the very latest fashions.
Haven: The Degenerates spare no expense in appointing their havens in luxury, often with many original works of art. It is a point of pride among Toreador to have an unconventional (and thus memorable) haven with modern comforts; thus, many have striking lofts and penthouses, while the bolder among them renovate or repurpose everything from abandoned aquariums, southern plantations, or deconsecrated churches to rooftop gardens or converted warehouse-galleries in fashion-forward neighborhoods. Share a communal haven? How déclassé!
Background: Many Toreador hail from high-society or “bohemian” backgrounds. Indeed, many are themselves artists or influential among local art scenes or other subcultures. Actors, models, singers, musicians, dancers, sculptors, poets, playwrights, authors, and creative folk of any stripe may well find a home in the Clan, as do those who serve as patrons to (or travel in the entourages of) those artistic types. You will never find Toreadors with backgrounds that do not coincide with physical beauty and the arts, since a Toreador's childer are a direct reflection of the glamour and artistry they strive to foster in the world.
Character Creation: Toreador love to cultivate Backgrounds, Allies, Contacts, Resources, Domain, Haven, Mentors, Resources, Retainers — all of these have great value among Toreador. During creation, Willpower is a strong suite for them and work well with their strengths and power sets. Physical abilities and fighting skills are also a wise choice. Hell hath no fury like a Toreador scorned.
If you are looking to play an androgenous Character, or one of a non-gendered designation, Toreador are a welcoming Clan. They easily embrace these concepts and those who wish to distinguish themselves in nonconventional ways. They see beauty as an idea, not a gender.
Clan Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Presence
Weaknesses: When a Toreador experiences something truly remarkable — a person, an object d’art, a lovely sunrise — the player must make a Willpower roll (difficulty 60). Failure means that the Kindred finds herself enthralled by the experience. The dazzled Toreador cannot act for the duration of the scene aside from commenting on or continuing their involvement with whatever has captured their attention.
If the experience no longer affects her (whether by moving, being destroyed, or whatever is appropriate to the situation), the captivation ends. Enraptured Toreador may not even defend themselves if attacked, though being wounded allows them to make another Willpower roll to break their enthrallment.
Organization: Clan Toreador is cliquish and parochial in its local domains, but very rarely on a level that affects Clan-wide custom. Certain Toreador (and a few outside the Clan) sometimes use the terms “artiste” and “poseur” when describing individual Toreador, often derisively, to describe whether the Degenerate in question is one who is seen as creative or simply a follower of established trends, but these are certainly informal distinctions.
Presence is the Discipline of emotional manipulation. Vampires with this power can inspire passionate fervor or unreasoning terror in mortals and Kindred alike. In addition, unlike most Disciplines, some of Presence’s powers can be used on entire crowds at onetime.
Presence can transcend race, religion, gender, class, and (most importantly) supernatural nature. As such, this subtle power is one of the most useful Disciplines a vampire can possess. Anyone can attempt to resist the affects of Presence with a roll modified by their own Willpower, but affected individuals will succumb to the Vampire's charms until they are no longer in the presence of the vampire (or, in the case of Summon, until the effect wears off).
The major drawback of Presence is that it typically controls only the emotions. It causes others to feel a certain way toward the vampire, but does not give her outright control over them. While people weigh strongly the orders that the vampire declares, their minds are still their own. Though Presence can be resisted through force of will, most do not realize when it is being used upon them.
Suicidal or ridiculous directives don’t sound any more sensible just because the person giving them is unusually fascinating. Still, inspired eloquence or significant wealth used in combination with this Discipline can enable the vampire to urge others along a desired course.
Followers of Set, Toreador, and the Ventrue clans are all adept in this subtle Discipline. The Ventrue are arguably the most skilled with its application, however this is mostly due to their ability to use a combination of both Presence and Dominate.
Base Roll: 50
Mod: Willpower
Energy/Blood Cost: 1 pts.
Damage: 0
Affects:
Description:
Those near the vampire suddenly desire to be closer to her and become receptive to her point of view. Awe is extremely useful for mass communication. It matters little what is said — the hearts of those affected lean toward the vampire’s opinion. The weak want to agree with her; even if the strong-willed resist, they soon find themselves outnumbered.
Awe can turn a chancy deliberation into a certain resolution in the vampire’s favor almost before her opponents know that the tide has turned. Despite the intensity of this attraction, those so smitten do not lose their sense of self-preservation. Danger breaks the spell of fascination, as does leaving the area. Those subject to Awe will remember how they felt in the vampire’s presence, however. This will influence their reactions should they ever encounter her again.
System:
The Player spends one Energy/Blood point and makes a successful roll, modified by Willpower. The higher the Player rolls, the greater number of people within a 10 meter radius will be affected (see Roll Chart below).
If there are more people present than the character can influence, Awe affects those with lower Willpower ratings first. The power stays in effect for the remainder of the scene or until the character chooses to drop it.
Roll Chart:
1-10: Botch! Awe turns to distaste and avoidance of the Vampire for the duration of the scene.
11-49: No effect.
50-59: One person.
60-69: Two People
70-79: Six people
80-89: 20 people
90-100+: Everyone within a 20 meter radius (chat range)
Affects of Awe
Those affected can roll to beat the Player's roll, modified by their own Willpower to overcome the influence of Awe. A successful roll will free them from the influence, but otherwise will not make them aware of the use of the influence itself. They may, however, be puzzled why others are so enthralled. They remain unaffected by an individual Vampire for the rest of the scene, even if the Vampire uses Awe again (for example, new people enter the scene and the Vampire wishes to subject them to Awe as well.)
Those who fail their roll will be under the influence of Awe for the duration of the scene, or for as long as they remain in the same area as the vampire.
Base Roll: 55 (does 12 points of damage at 70+)
Mod: Mental Attack
Energy/Blood Cost: 4 pts.
Damage: 15
Resist: Mental Defense
Description:
While all Kindred can frighten others by physically revealing their true vampiric natures (baring claws and fangs, glaring with malevolence, hissing loudly with malice) this power focuses these elements to insanely-terrifying levels.
Dread Gaze engenders unbearable terror in its victim, stupefying him into madness, immobility, or reckless flight. Even the most stalwart individual will fall back from the vampire’s horrific visage.
System:
The Player spends 4 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. If the Target fails his defense roll, he responds according to the intensity of the Vampire's fierceness (determined by the roll chart below):
Roll Chart:
1-10: Botch! You might as well be wearing plastic Halloween fangs. The subject is not impressed and reacts either with amusement or cynical disgust. The Target is also now immune to your further attempts for the duration of the scene.
11-54: No effect, though the Target may be startled by your attempt but certainly not frightened.
55-69: The victim is cowed and intimidated by you. If you are attempting to persuade them to a particular action, they will obey if it is not a complex or difficult task. Though as soon as they are out of your sight, they may choose to ignore your requests.
70-85: The victim suffers 12 points of damage and runs away in abject fear. Targets who have no place to run will claw at the walls in a futile attempt to escape. He is so shaken and terrified that he curls up on the ground and weeps.
96+: The victim will be so terrified they will pass out. Upon awakening, they will have no memory of having seen the Vampire. The mind, in self-preservation, will have wiped the entire scene from recent events.
NOTE: The Player's Character may attempt Dread Gaze once per turn against a single Target, unless any of their attempts at using this skill against an individual is a Botch.
Base Roll: 65
Mod: Mental Attack
Energy/Blood Cost: 4 pts.
Damage: 10
Resist: Mental Defense
Description:
This power bends the emotions of others, making them the vampire’s willing servants. Due to what these individuals see as true and enduring devotion, they heed the vampire’s every desire. Since this is done willingly, instead of having their wills sapped, these servants retain their creativity and individuality.
While these obedient minions are more personable and spirited than the mind-slaves created by Dominate, they’re also somewhat unpredictable. Further, since Entrancement is of a temporary duration, dealing with a lapsed servant can be troublesome. A wise Kindred either disposes of those she Entrances after they serve their usefulness, or binds them more securely by a blood bond (made much easier by the minion’s willingness to serve).
System: The Player identifies the intended Target, spends 4 Energy/Blood points and makes a successful roll. If the Target fails to defend, he/she/they will suffer 10 pts of damage attempting to resist the Vampire and succumb to the Entrancement. A failed resist also incurs 5 points of damage to the Target. How long the subject is Entranced is determined by the Player's roll, (See Roll Chart Below).
The vampire may try to keep the subject under her thrall, but can do so only after the initial Entrancement wears off. Attempting this power a second time while Entrancement is already in operation has no further effect.
Roll Chart:
1-10: Botch! The Target cannot be entranced for the duration of the scene.
11-64: No effect.
65-70: The Target is Entranced for one hour.
71-80: The Target is Entranced for one full scene.
81-90: The Target is Entranced for one Day
91-99: The Target is Entranced for one Week
100+: The Target is Entranced for one Month
Base Roll: 70
Mod: Mental Attack
Energy/Blood Cost: 6 pts.
Damage: 10 pts.
Resist: Willpower, Mental Defense
Description:
This impressive power enables the vampire to forcefully call to herself any person whom she has ever met. This call can go to anyone, mortal or supernatural, across any distance within the physical world. The subject of the Summons comes as fast as he is able, possibly without even knowing why. He knows intuitively how to find his Summoner — even if the vampire moves to a new location, the subject redirects his own course as soon as he can. After all, he’s coming to the vampire herself, not to some predetermined site.
This power forces the Target to drop what they are doing and come to the Vampire. The Target will incur damage/injury as they continually fight this urge but are unable to do so.
Although this power allows the vampire to call someone across a staggering distance, it is most useful when used locally. Even if the desired person books the next available flight, getting to Kyoto from Milwaukee can still take far longer than the vampire needs. Obviously, the individual’s financial resources are a factor; if he doesn’t have the money to travel quickly, it will take him a far greater time to get there.
The subject thinks mainly of reaching the vampire, but does not neglect his own well-being. This is less of a consideration if he only has to cross a room, unless he must get through a gang of gun-wielding punks to do so. The individual retains his survival instincts, and while he won’t shirk physical violence to reach the vampire’s side, he won’t subject himself to suicidal situations.
The Summoning dissipates at dawn. Still, as long as the Target is physically capable he/she/they will do everything within their power to arrive at the Vampire's side — as long as nothing happens to him along the way, of course.
System:
The Player spends 6 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. If the Target fails their roll, they suffer 10 points of damage to do whatever it takes (within reason) to go to wherever the Vampire is. The higher the vampire's Player's roll, the faster the subject will travel.
Roll Chart:
1-10: Botch! The Target cannot be summed by the Vampire for a full OOC week.
11-69: Failure - the Target for some reason cannot be summoned by the Vampire for the duration of the scene.
70-79: The Target reluctantly is summoned and is easily detained by obstacles.
80-89: The Target immediately makes his way to the Vampire and makes an effort to overcome obstacles.
90-99: The Target is summoned and makes great haste. He will also make every conceivable effort to overcome obstacles.
100+: The subject rushes to be at the vampire's side and will do anything and everything to get there; even risking his own life to do so.
Base Roll: 70
Mod: Mental Attack
Energy/Blood Cost: 10 pts.
Damage: 0
Resist: Willpower
AOE: 10 Meters
Duration: One Scene
Description:
At this stage, the vampire can augment her supernatural mien a thousandfold. The attractive become paralyzingly beautiful; the homely become hideously twisted. Majesty inspires universal respect, devotion, fear — or all those emotions at once — in those around the vampire. The weak scramble to obey her every whim, and even the most dauntless find it almost impossible to deny her.
People affected find the vampire so formidable that they dare not risk her displeasure. Raising their voices to her is difficult; raising a hand against her is unthinkable. Those few who shake off the vampire’s potent mystique enough to oppose her are shouted down by the many under her thrall, before the immortal need even respond.
Under Majesty’s influence, hearts break, power trembles, and the bold shake. Wise Kindred use this power with caution against mortal and immortal alike. While Majesty can cow influential politicians and venerable Primogen, the vampire must be careful that doing so doesn’t come back to haunt her. After all, a dignitary brought low before others loses his usefulness quickly, while a humiliated Kindred has centuries to plan revenge.
System:
The Player spends 10 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. If the targets within a 10 meter radius choose to do so, they may roll to defend. If they make their defense roll, the Target may act normally for the moment, although he may feel a sense of discomfort though he cannot identify its source.
A Target who fails their defense roll (and those who chose not to defend) goes to absurd lengths to humble himself before the vampire, no matter who else is watching. The effects of Majesty last for one scene.
Base Roll: 100
Mod: Mental Attack, Mental Skill, Willpower
Energy/Blood Cost: 12 pts.
Damage: 10
Resist: Willpower
AOE: 20 Meters (Chat Range)
Duration: Those effected will feel the effects for the duration of the scene.
Permanent Affects:
Description:
A vampire possessing this power can shorten tempers and bring old grudges or arguments to the surface with a minimum of effort. Spark of Rage causes heated disagreements and fights to erupt, and can even send other Vampires or Garou into frenzy.
Creatively used, this skill can turn dinner parties into bar brawls and have trained soldiers in combat devolve into fist fights among comrades and allies.
System:
The Player spends 12 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. All Players (PC and NPC) must make a roll to resist the effects. Those who successfully roll to resist will be completely unaffected and none the wiser that such influences on them were attempted.
Those who fail their roll to resist will suffer 10 points of damage, plus:
NOTE: A Botch by the vampire using Spark of Rage sends the invoking character into immediate frenzy.
Any characters who fail their roll and the 10 points of damage completely deplete their Health will fall unconscious and retain 1 HP.
Base Roll: 90
Mod: Mental Skill, Physical Attack
Energy/Blood Cost: 12 pts.
Damage: 10
Resist: Willpower
AOE: 10 Meters (only affects the vampire and the Vampire's group/allies)
Duration: Scene.
Permanent Affects:
Description:
When used before or during combat, this skill allows your very presence to whip your allies into a raging horde of Berserkers that jump into battle and are oblivious to their own wounds.
System:
For the duration of the scene, everyone in the Vampire's group (except the Vampire using this skill) gains the following temporary Buffs for the duration of the scene:
Base Roll: 100
Mod: Mental Skill, Mental Attack, Willpower
Energy/Blood Cost: 16 pts.
Damage: 0
Resist: n/a
AOE: one selected person
Duration: Scene.
Permanent Affects:
Description:
This skill takes the form of either a Gift, or a Curse; the intent of which is determined by the Vampire using it, as well as how the Target is attempting to portray himself.
Whether gift or curse, the powerful vampire using this skill has the ability to make or break another simply by wishing it so. The vampire can cast an aura about another person that radiates out from him and effects everyone within a 20 meter radius, and those who see or hear him over electronic media. Affected individuals around the target will treat him as though he is a celebrity and be in awe of him. Or, find everything the Target says or does so hilarious they can barely stop laughing long enough to breathe.
System:
The Player identifies the Target, and the intent of the skill (Awe or Comedy) in Group Chat, then spends 16 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll.
While there is no Resist for the Target to avoid exuding the effects of Starmaker, on his next turn everyone (except the Vampire using this skill) within a 20 meter visual radius must make a roll modified by their Mental Defense (Dif 70) or be under the following influences for the duration of the scene:
NOTE: The effects of Starmaker translate across visual electronic media during live performances only. As long as the viewer can hear or see the Target, they will need to roll to resist or also feel the effects.
Auspex gives the vampire uncanny sensory abilities. Vampires with Auspex start with the capacity to heighten their natural senses significantly, but as they grow in power they can perceive psychic auras and read the thoughts of another being. Auspex can also pierce through mental illusions such as those created by Obfuscate. However, vampires with Auspex need to be careful. Their increased sensory sensitivity can cause them to be drawn in by beautiful things or stunned by loud noises and pungent smells. Sudden or dynamic events can disorient an Auspex-using character unless the Player makes a Willpower roll to block them out (difficulty of at least 60 and dependent on the Storyteller's call,) although the more potent the source of distraction, the higher the difficulty. Failure overwhelms the character’s senses, making the Auspex-using vampire oblivious to their surroundings for a turn or two. While the Malkavians and Toreador are more prone to these kinds of distractions, the Tremere and Tzimisce aren’t immune. Dots in Perception are very useful for using Auspex powers, as more points purchased in this ability will help the character gain more sensory information.
Description:
This power increases the acuity of all of the vampire’s senses, effectively doubling the clarity and range of sight, hearing, smell and perception. While the vampire's senses of taste, touch and observation extend no farther than normal, they likewise become far more distinct. For example, the vampire could taste and identify the hint of liquor in a victim’s blood or feel the give of the board concealing a hollow space in the floor. When speaking with someone, they will sense if they are being lied to or someone is attempting to deceive them.
The Kindred may magnify his/her/their senses at will, sustaining this heightened focus for as long as the vampire desires. At the Storyteller’s option, this may make hunting easier. Occasionally, this talent provides extrasensory or even precognitive insights. These brief, unfocused glimpses may be odd premonitions, flashes of empathy, or eerie feelings of foreboding. The vampire has no control over these perceptions, but with practice can learn to interpret them with a fair degree of accuracy.
Expanded senses come at a price, however. Bright lights, loud noises and strong smells present a hazard while the vampire uses this power. In addition to the possibility for distraction, an especially sudden or potent stimulus (like the glare of a spotlight or a clap of thunder) can blind or deafen the Kindred for an hour or more.
System:
This is a Passive skill and does not require the use of Energy or a successful roll. In certain circumstances, a Storyteller may request a situational roll associated with using the character’s sense. The Storyteller may also use this power to see if the character perceives a threat. In this case, the Storyteller privately rolls the character’s unmodified Auspex rating, applying whatever difficulty he feels best suits the circumstances.
Note that even this “precognition” comes only as a result of interpreting details the Kindred is able to notice "while actively using Auspex." It’s not an all-purpose insight or miraculous revelation. At the character’s discretion, he/she/they may selectively heighten one specific sense, rather than turning them up. This power does not let characters see in pitch darkness.
Description:
Using this power, the vampire can perceive the psychic “auras” that radiates about mortals and supernatural beings alike. These halos comprise a shifting, swirling series of colors that take practice to discern with any level of clarity. Even the simplest individual can have many shifting hues within his aura; strong emotions predominate, while momentary impressions or deep secrets flash through in streaks and swirls. The colors change in response to the subject’s emotional state, blending into new tones in a constantly dancing pattern of emotions and impulses. The stronger the emotions involved, the more intense the hues become.
A skilled vampire can learn much from her subject by reading the nuances of color and brilliance in the aura’s flow. Aside from perceiving emotional states, vampires use Aura Perception to detect supernatural beings. The colors in Kindred auras, while intense, are quite pale, while mage halos often flare and crackle with arcane power. The race of shapeshifters has strikingly bright, almost frantic, auras, and ghosts have weak auras that flicker fitfully like a dying flame. While a faerie creature's aura is vivid and radiant, streaked with capricious rainbow hues.
System:
The Player spends 3 Energy/Blood Points and makes a successful roll. The character stares at the subject for at least a few seconds, then the Player uses the chart below to determine how much of the subject’s aura the Player's character sees and understands (see the table below). A failure indicates that the play of colors and patterns yields no prevailing impression. A Botch (rolling a natural 1-10) indicates a false or erroneous interpretation. The Storyteller may wish to make this roll, thus keeping the Player in the dark as to the veracity of the character’s interpretation.
Roll Chart:
COLOR | CONDITION | COLOR | CONDITION | |
Orange | Afraid | Sky Blue | Lovestruck | |
Purple | Aggressive | Neon Green | Obsessed | |
Red | Angry | Silver | Sad | |
Brown | Bitter | Gold | Spiritual | |
Light Blue | Calm | Dark Blue | Suspicious | |
Pink | Compassionate | Color or White Static | Anxious | |
Lavender | Conservative | Mottled Shifting Colors | Confused | |
Gray | Depressed | Thick Black Veins in Aura | Diablerist | |
Maroon | Desirous or Lustful | Sharp Flashing Colors | Day/Dreaming | |
Light Green | Distrustful | Fast Rippling Colors | Frenzied | |
Dark Green | Envious | Hypnotic Swirling Colors | Psychotic | |
Violet | Excited | Sky Blue with Gold Waves | True Love | |
Rose | Generous | Aura with Pale Blotches | Ghoul | |
Red-Orange | Happy | Sparkles in Aura | Magic Use | |
Black | Hateful | Bright Intense Aura | Werebeast | |
Yellow | Idealistic/Optimistic | Weak Intermittent Aura | Ghost or Spirit | |
White | Innocent/Guiltless/Naive | Rainbow Spikes in Aura | Faerie | |
Turquois | Deceptive | Pale Aura Colors | Vampire |
Description:
When someone handles an object for any length of time, that person leaves a psychic impression on the item. A vampire with this level of Auspex can “read” these sensations, learning who handled the object, when he last held it, and what was done with it recently. (For these purposes, a corpse counts as an “object” and can be read accordingly since it is merely a body without life.) These visions are seldom clear and detailed, registering more like a kind of “psychic snapshot.”
Still, the Kindred can learn much even from such a glimpse. Although most visions concern the last person to handle the item, a long-time owner leaves a stronger impression than someone who held the object briefly in comparison.
Gleaning information from the spiritual residue requires the vampire to hold the object and enter a shallow trance. She is only marginally aware of her surroundings while using The Spirit’s Touch, but a loud noise or jarring physical sensation breaks the trance instantly.
System:
The Player spends 5 Points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. The Storyteller may provide a Temporary modifier bonus of +1 to +30 on the roll, depending on how strong (or weak) the psychic impression is imbedded on the item. The Player can add this percentage manually into their HUD before they roll.The difficulty for any object is determined by 1) the age of the impressions, 2) the intensity of the events the object was involved in, 3) and the mental and/or spiritual strength of the person who possessed it. Sensing information from a pistol used for a murder hours ago may provide a +40 Mod bonus, while learning who first owned a bloodstained puppet fashioned a century ago might only give a +5 bonus. However, the same puppet might provide a +50 bonus regarding the blood on the puppet if the event was intense or led to the loss of life.
The greater the individual’s emotional connection to the object, the stronger the impression he leaves on it — and the more information the Kindred can glean from it. However, a very old gold necklace that was worn for many decades by a long deceased woman could easily carry her imprint for a hundred years after her death, even if the item had experienced no intense negative/positive connection. This might make it more difficult to read through the years of following contact clutter to find out more recent events involving the necklace or who most recently owned it.Events involving strong emotions (a wedding/birthday gift, a torture, a long family history, murder of passion) likewise leave stronger impressions than short or casual contact do. (See the Roll Chart below.)
Roll Chart:
Description:
The vampire can project a portion of her consciousness into a nearby mortal’s mind, creating a mental link through which she can: 1) Communicate wordlessly or even read the target’s deepest thoughts, OR, 2) Project a thought into the target mortal's mind. When reading thoughts, the Kindred “hears” in her own mind the thoughts plucked from a subject as if they were spoken to her. When attempting to place a thought into the target mortal's mind, it is perceived as if it were the target's own thought. In either case, the mortal is none the wiser.
This is one of the most potent vampiric abilities since, given time, a Kindred can learn virtually anything from a subject without the person ever knowing. Or place a thought into the mind of a mortal. The Tremere and Tzimisce in particular find this power especially useful in gleaning secrets from others, or for directing their mortal followers with silent precision.
System:
The Player spends 8 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. Projecting or reading thoughts are separate rolls. They are the same skill, but much like you cannot breath in and breath out at the same time, telepathically reading or placing thoughts requires separate actions, using this same skill a second time. The vampire must declare which they will attempt to perform before they make their roll.
If the mortal target makes their Resist roll and successfully defends against this mental attack, the vampire fails to read the person's mind and the target is none the wiser. If the vampire is attempting to place a thought into the mind of the mortal, the target will recognize that the aberrant thought is not their own, but the target does not know from whence it came. The mortal may be puzzled or confused by the thought, then simply dismiss it as an odd experience. They might consider it as the results of too much wine, drugs or lack of sleep and think on it no more.
If the mortal target fails their Resist roll, the vampire will be able to read the thought(s), or the vampire will successfully project a thought(s) into his/her/their mind. If the target is a Player Character, they will privately send the thought(s) in an IM to the vampire character's Player.Reading minds or placing thoughts into the the minds of mortals can be a convoluted journey and must be accomplished in layers, like peeling an onion. For the most part, the human mind is a messy landfill of urges, impulses, emotions, song lyrics and trivia. The stronger your roll, the more you will be able to cut through the chatter and read/communicate meaningful thoughts.
Roll Chart:
Description:
Vampires with this awesome ability project their senses out of their physical shell, and stepping away from their bodies as entities of pure thought. The vampire’s astral form is immune to physical damage or fatigue, and can “fly” with blinding speed anywhere across the earth — or even underground — so long as they remain below the moon’s orbit.There is a danger in psychic projection. The Kindreds' material forms lie in a torpid state while their astral selves are active, and the vampires are not aware of anything that befalls their bodies until they return to it. This leaves them vulnerable and open to attacks.
An ephemeral silver cord connects the Kindred’s psyche to his/her/their bodies. If this cord is severed, their consciousness becomes stranded in the astral plane (the realm of ghosts, spirits, and shades). Attempting to return to the vampire’s physical shell is a long and terrifying ordeal, especially since there is no guarantee that the Kindred will accomplish the journey successfully. This significant danger keeps many Kindred from leaving their bodies for long, but those who dare can learn much.
System:
The Player's Character finds a safe place for his/her/their body, then the Player spends 8 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. If the roll is not successful, the Player may continue to try again in two turns. Unfortunately, a botch can have catastrophic consequences. If the roll is successful, exactly how high the roll is determines where and how far they are able to travel. (See Roll Chart below.)
An astral form may travel at great speeds (the Storyteller can use roughly 1000 miles per hour or 1500 kilometers per hour as a general guide) and carries no clothing or material objects of any kind. Some artifacts are said to exist in the spirit world, and the character can try to use one of these tools if the vampire finds one. The character cannot bring such relics to the physical world upon returning, however. Interaction with the physical world is impossible while using Psychic Projection. At best, the character may spend 3 Blood/Energy points to manifest as a ghostlike shape. This apparition lasts one turn before fading away; while she can’t manipulate anything physically during this time, the character can speak in hushed whispers while in the ghostlike shape.
Despite lacking physical substance, an astral character can use Auspex and mental skills normally. At the Storyteller’s discretion, such a character may employ some or all Animalism, Dementation, Dominate, Necromancy, Obtenebration, Presence, Thaumaturgy, and similar non-corporeal mental powers the vampire has acquired.
Astral Shapes Meeting Each Other
If two astral shapes encounter one another, they can interact as if they were solid. They may talk, touch, and even fight as if both were in the material world. Since they have no physical bodies, astral characters seeking to interact “physically” substitute Physical Abilities for Mental Abilities. This means mental skills, attack and defense numbers replace physical Attacks, Skills and Defense. Willpower is the modifier on all rolls.
Due to the lack of a material form, the only real way to damage another psychic entity is to cut its silver cord connecting the spirit to the physical body. When fighting this way, consider Willpower points x10 to be health points; when combatants lose all their Willpower Points, the cord is severed. Although an astrally-projected character remains in the reflection of the mortal world, she may venture further into the spirit realms, especially if she becomes lost.
Other beings with particular sensitivity to psychic activity, such as ghosts, werewolves, and even some magi, travel the astral plane as well, and can interact with a vampire’s psychic presence normally (although the astrally projected character is not considered a “ghost” for powers such as Necromancy). Storytellers are encouraged to make trips into the spirit world as bizarre, mysterious, and dreamlike as possible. The world beyond is a vivid and fantastic place, where the true nature of things is stronger and often strikingly different from their earthly appearances.
Roll Chart:
Description:
By using Eagles Sight, the vampire can mentally fly like a bird and visually see the land and all beneath them with complete clarity. This is different than Psychic Projection since the vampire's spirit never leaves his/her/their body completely and they can "snap out of it" at any time without injury or disorientation. Like the eagle, the vampire using this skill has a 340-degree field of vision that allows for both excellent peripheral and binocular vision.
For Example: An eagle is capable of sighting a rabbit two miles away (or 3.2 kilometers) while in flight the vampire can travel between 20-40 miles per hour (32-64 km) in normal flight at altitudes of 10,000 feet or more.
System:
The Player spends 6 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. For the next two turns, the Character can mentally scan the area, flying above, or until they end the ability. If the vampire is attacked by surprise while in this state, they suffer a -5 Physical Defense penalty on the first attack and all initiative.The vampire still has access to his own hearing and other senses (not including sight). Think of it like wearing VR goggles playing a video game. You can't see what's going on around you, but you can still hear, touch and smell.
Description:
Psychic Assault is nothing less than a direct mind-to-mind attack which uses the sheer force of an elder’s will to overpower his target. Victims of Psychic Assault show little outward sign of the attack, save for nosebleeds and expressions of intense agony; all injuries by means of this psychic pressure inflicted are internal. A medical examination of a mortal victim of a Psychic Assault invariably shows the cause of death to be a heart attack, stroke or aneurysm, while vampires killed with this power decay to dust instantly, regardless of age.
System:
The Player spends 14 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. The character must touch or make direct eye contact with his Target. If the Target fails to resist, the Target takes 42 points of damage.
COOLDOWN: This can only be used once on an individual per scene. And can only be attempted on a different individual every other turn.
Description:
This powerful ability allows higher-level vampires to mentally link their minds to the minds of any other being or creature. When used on sentient beings, the vampire can mentally link and communicate via hold an ongoing dialogue with any number of people at the same time. Everyone the vampire has selected to link to can hear him in their minds, and also hear the minds of all others in the linked conversation. Distance is not a factor. When used on animal minds, the communication is very limited. The vampire can speak to animals and it will respond as if it physically heard the words, but the animal can only provide an emotional response, such as happy, sad, frightened, angry, confused, anticipation, etc.
An Unexpected Side Effect
For the purpose of conducting group meetings with her clan members across the globe, this skill was developed by an elder Toreador Primogen many hundreds of years ago before modern mass communication. However, she did not anticipate the side effect this type of mental link would have on her. While it worked perfectly in linking multiple minds through her own for an open dialogue, the skill itself effected her own mind in a way she could not control. In essence, she could never fully turn off the skill. Such a thing could easily have caused a vampire to go insane.
Fortunately for her, it had a powerful and unforeseen effect that forced her to continually reach out and touch the minds of all those around her, giving her a split second impression of impulses and basic non-verbal thought. The ability was reflexive, weak and easily unnoticeable in her normal activities. However, when she was in combat situations she found this constant stream of information allowed her to anticipate the defenses and attacks of her opponents without effort. With practice she honed the skill and became a Master of combat, often seen by the Prince's side to defend him against attacks and settle disagreements on his behalf with the sword.
System:
The Player spends 8 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. The Player then sends an IM or sets up a Group IM Chat IN CHARACTER with as many "Characters" (Player-Characters or NPCs) as he wishes. The vampires mind serves as a hub from which all participants can communicate freely. His communication must be note-carded. And the IM/Group Chat communication must include the Storyteller, even though they are not an active part of the In-Character conversation. However, if the vampire is attacked or he somehow loses focus, the communication is instantly severed. Length of the "call" is the duration of a scene, unless ended by the Vampire.The combat bonuses/buffs for those purchasing this skill are permanent and always active.
When needed, some vampires can move fast — really fast. Celerity allows Assamites, Brujah, and Toreadors to move with astonishing swiftness, becoming nothing more than a blur of motion. The Assamites use their speed in conjunction with stealth to strike quickly and viciously from the shadows before they are noticed. Brujah, on the other hand, simply like the edge that the power gives them against overwhelming odds. The Toreador are more inclined to use Celerity to provide an air of unnatural grace to live performances or for an extra push to complete a masterpiece on time, but they can be as quick to draw blood as any assassin or punk when angered.
Each point purchased in Celerity grants permanent, stackable mods to the player's character. For example: A character that has purchased three points in Celerity receives a cumulative +15 point mod in Athletics/Reflexes, 20+ mod in Initiative, and +5 mod in Physical Skill. For more information on the additional modifiers earned with each purchase point in Celerity, read the descriptions below.
NOTE: Using Celerity 4-8 in public breaks the Masquerade.
Affects:
Affects:
Permanent Affects:
Base Roll: 0
Mod: n/a
Energy/Blood Cost: 3 pts.
Damage: 0
Affects:
Description:
The Vampire can instantly move with preternatural speed within 20 meters without using an action.
System:
The Player spends 3 points of Energy/Blood, but does not need to roll for success nor does it require you to use an action. This is a free move, but it can only be used at the beginning of your turn.
Base Roll: 80
Mod: Physical Attack
Energy/Blood Cost: 4 pts.
Damage: Does 5HP of damage, in addition to the weapon's damage
Permanent Affects:
Description:
The vampire can prevent a target with no or lower celerity than their own from dodging or defending against the vampire's melee attacks. (This skill does not work when used against Celerity 8 -Flawless Parry)
System:
The Player spends 4 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. There is no defense or resist for the Target. The Player's Character will auto hit when using a Melee weapon, such as a sword, staff, dagger, etc.
Base Roll: 85
Mod: Physical Defense, Athletics/Reflexes
Energy/Blood Cost: 5 pts.
Damage: 0
Permanent Affects:
Description:
The vampire can supersede the Storyteller's narration and perform an action that only requires a few seconds like get through a door before it closes, roll out of the way of an explosion etc. This does not use one of the Player's actions.
System:
The Player declares in Local Chat that they are attempting to use "Split Second" to make an instantaneous action during a Storyteller's scene. The Player then spends 5 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. If successful, the Player's Character receives one free action where they can slip through a closing door, roll out of the way of a moving car, etc.
Base Roll: 40
Mod: No Mods
Energy/Blood Cost: 6 pts.
Damage: 0
Duration: 1 Turn
Permanent Affects:
Description:
Use your Celerity to gain two attacks for one turn. Must declare in chat before you roll.
System:
The Player declares in local chat at the beginning of their turn that they wish to make this roll. Using Flower of Death does not take up the Player's action. The Player then spends 6 points of Energy/Blood and makes a successful roll. The Player's Character then receives two attacks during this turn. If unsuccessful, the Player's Character will attack as normal.
Flower of Death does not add onto a Character's normal number of attacks. Meaning, if a Character normally receives two attacks, they cannot use Flower of Death to add on another attack, for a total of three.
Base Roll: 0
Mod: n/a
Energy/Blood Cost: 10 pts.
Damage: 0
Duration: 1 Defensive move in response to an attack
Permanent Affects:
Description:
Make a flawless defensive motion that prevents an enemy's attack from successfully landing. This allows the kindred a level of speed, fluidity of motion and poise that makes them impossible to hit when using this ability. Think of it as something of an acrobatic skill and the vampire in question will be supernaturally more athletic and graceful.
System:
This ability can only be used as a defensive move in response to another Character's attack. When it's the Player's Character's turn to defend an attack, he spends 10 points of Energy/Blood and automatically dodges that one attack. The Player can only use this one move in defense. If the Player's Character naturally receives two actions during a defense, using Flawless Parry prevents the Player from using a second defensive or attacking action.