Mind's Eye Theatre - Vampire The Requiem.pdf - RoseRed

animalism
Storytellers are advised to remember that due to its reliance on nonhuman targets, this
Discipline can be diffi cult to capture in live-action play. They are encouraged to work with
players whose characters possess this Discipline in order to make sure they feel it was a
worthwhile acquisition. Animalism is a very potent Discipline, but one that’s easy to lose in
the shuffl e of live-action play. Both players and Storytellers should try to strike a balance of
making it useful without overly favoring it.
• FERAL WHISPERS
The Kindred with this ability has learned to understand the lesser creatures that surround her,
and to speak with them and make herself understood. It is the foundation upon which all other
Animalism abilities are built, for there can be no obedience without understanding. The vampire
must initiate eye contact with the animal in question. Doing so forges a strong empathic bond
between Kindred and beast, allowing communication. This contact is at least partially mental. The
vampire may either whisper to the animal in a human language, or she may choose to hiss, bark,
chirp or make whatever sounds the animal might use to express itself. (Some Kindred prefer the
latter, feeling that it joins them more closely with the animal in question, though many others
deride them for it and consider the practice vulgar.) The animal, in turn, might make some sort of
noise while responding. The precise nature of the sound is irrelevant, as the meaning is conveyed
mostly via the empathic link. Most animals instinctively respond quietly when answering Feral
Whispers, unless the situation is a very tense or violent one. The Kindred must maintain either
eye contact or a constant dialogue with the animal. If she fails to do so for even a single turn, the
link is broken and she must reinitiate contact if she wishes to speak further.
Because Feral Whispers requires initial eye contact, animals that cannot see cannot be affected.
Additionally, the simpler or less intelligent the animal is, the more diffi cult it is to link with it.
Mammals, raptors and certain large reptiles are relatively easy to communicate with; insects,
invertebrates and most fi sh are very nearly impossible. While most uses of Feral Whispers require
a member of the Storytelling staff to portray the animal in question, it is also possible that Feral
Whispers may appear as a task card as well, representing that there are animals in the vicinity that
Kindred with this Discipline can communicate with in order to learn relevant information.
Note that while Feral Whispers makes sure that the animal communicates with the vampire,
it does not compel the creature to obey commands or perform tasks. Further, the nature of
the information conveyed by the animal depends largely on its intelligence and awareness. A
cat might be able to explain that a large number of humans scared it out of a nearby building,
but it’s unlikely to understand questions such as, “Was one of them wearing a green baseball
cap?” or to have any real concept of numbers. When in doubt, always assume that an animal
does not understand an abstract concept.
Cost: —
Test Pool: Manipulation + Animal Ken + Animalism
Action: Instant
Roleplaying: Initial eye contact and then conversation, possibly also making appropriate
animal noises.
Draw Results
Failure: Failure indicates that the character cannot communicate with the animal.
Success: Success indicates that the character can fully communicate with the animal, to
whatever degree it is capable.
•• OBEDIENCE
Having mastered the ability to commune with beasts, the Kindred’s connection with his
own feral nature now allows him to command them as well. No longer need he beg, threaten
or cajole animals into doing his will. He demands, and they obey as best they can.
155