sol invictus.indd

CHAPTER 2 • EXTENDED CHARM TREESThe character can analyze the flows of Essencethrough a manse down to a minute level of detail.In order to use this Charm, the character must beable to spend a scene (generally around 20 minutes)within the manse, walking into different rooms andcarefully examining the architecture and layout.Upon completing this examination, the Solar learnsthe following information: the rating of the manse,the rating of the demesne it caps, the nature ofany secondary or aesthetic effects produced usingexcess Essence, the number of people attuned to themanse, and the basic effects of the hearthstone.MANSE-REDESIGNING METHODCost: 20 motes, 1 Willpower, 1 experiencepointDuration: VariesType: SimpleMinimum Occult: 5Minimum Essence: 5Prerequisite Charms: Manse-AnalyzingMeditationUsing this Charm, a Solar can channel theEssence of a demesne itself into reshaping the mansewhich caps it. Upon activating this Charm, thecharacter places the hearthstone upon its Manse’sformation plate, and begins to channel its Essenceinto the surrounding structure. The character thenrolls as normal to alter the design of the manse;however, all difficulties on these rolls are reducedby half the character’s Occult rating, rounded up.In addition, the alteration requires no outsidematerials, and is completed within two days perlevel of the demesne. The Solar must stay within thehearthstone formation chamber to direct this energyfor the Charm’s duration, or it fails, though she caneat, sleep, and perform other non-strenuous actionswhile doing so. Upon the Charm’s completion, theoriginal hearthstone has become the hearthstone forthe manse’s new design; no time is required for anew hearthstone to form.HEARTHSTONE-DRAINING METHODCost: 3 motes, 1 WillpowerDuration: VariesType: SimpleMinimum Occult: 4Minimum Essence: 3Prerequisite Charms: Demesne-FindingMethodUsing this Charm, a Solar can draw moreheavily upon the Essence provided by a manse sheis attuned to, although at a cost. Upon activatingthis Charm, the rate of Essence regeneration of asingle hearthstone the character is attuned to isdoubled for the Charm’s duration. The Exalt maymaintain this Charm for a number of hours equalto her Occult rating. However, for each hour thisCharm is active, the effective level of the manse isreduced by 1 once the Charm is ended. This penaltydisappears at the rate of one level per day.BODY-SETTING TECHNIQUECost: 4 motes, 1 WillpowerDuration: IndefiniteType: SimpleMinimum Occult: 5Minimum Essence: 4Prerequisite Charms: Hearthstone-DrainingMethodWith this technique, the Solar does not needan artifact with a hearthstone slot in order to gainthe full benefits from an attuned hearthstone. Thecharacter simply places a hearthstone from a manseanywhere on her skin and activates this Charm. Thehearthstone attaches itself to the character, as if itwere a part of her body. While this Charm remainsactive, the character gains the special ability of thehearthstone, just as if it were placed in an artifact’shearthstone socket. In addition, the characterregains motes from the hearthstone as if its mansewere one level higher. The character may end thisCharm at any time, at which point the gem easilydetaches from her skin.119