sol invictus.indd

CHAPTER 2 • EXTENDED CHARM TREESMinimum Essence: 3Prerequisite Charms: King of MasksTechniqueLike the King of Masks Technique, this Charmallows the Exalt to take on the appearance of analternate identity. Unlike the former Charm,however, the Theft of Faces Technique allows thecharacter to take on the mannerisms and appearanceof another individual. This Charm cannot actuallyalter the character’s visual appearance — otherCharms must be used to do that. However, it doesallow the character to perfectly mimic the voice,accent, mannerisms, movements, and other imitableaspects of the target’s physical demeanor. The Exaltmust be familiar with the person she intends toimitate; she need not know him personally, but shemust have observed him sufficiently to have a basicconcept of his mannerisms and habits.As with King of Masks Technique, the characterrolls Intelligence + Performance, adding one successfor each additional mote she spends activating theCharm. Each success requires one Investigationsuccess to dispel, and this Charm cannot producemore total successes than twice the character’sIntelligence + Performance.THOUSAND SKIN APPROACHCost: 5 motesDuration: InstantType: SimpleMinimum Performance: 5Minimum Essence: 5Prerequisite Charms: Theft of FacesTechniqueWith a deeper and more subtle mastery ofcharacterization, the Solar learns how to changehis apparent persona in a mere instant. Simplyshifting his posture, slightly altering the positionof his clothing, or tying back his hair can allowthe Exalt to appear as an entirely different personwithin just moments. At any point at which noone is observing the character, he may make aquick movement and switch between personas.Even the briefest moment of hiding is enough —stepping behind a column or ducking beneath atable is enough. When the character returns, hemay adopt his own natural mannerisms, or thoseof any persona either purchased as permanent ororiginating in a currently active instance of King ofMasks Technique or Theft of Faces Technique.A character who knows this Charm may activateeither of the aforementioned Charms to createadditional background personas on top of the oneactive at any given time. He may have no more totalpersonas active at one time (not counting permanentpersonas) than his Performance rating.PRESENCEPHILOSOPHYPresence is the most internalized of the socialabilities. Where Socialize deals primarily withexternal relationships, Presence works to affectthe character’s own demeanor and style. PresenceCharms can make a character more inspiring, moreimpressive, more fearsome, or more trustworthyseeming; they are limited to only affecting thecharacter’s own social mien, however.Solar Presence Charms primarily focus on theimpressive and awe-inspiring aspects of the ability,in keeping with Solars’ larger-than-life leadershipqualities. However, while they receive less overallfocus, other aspects of one’s demeanor are open formodification — Rose-Lipped Seduction Style is anexcellent example.ABYSSAL EQUIVALENTSThose Abyssal Presence Charms which do notdirectly imitate a Solar equivalent are veryspecifically Abyssal in nature — Skeleton-Summoning Gesture, for example. As such, thereare none that provide a useful basis for new SolarCharms.73