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

mediate gratifi cation, and these Kindred display what is hideous about themselves to everyone,
hiding it only insofar as they must in order to observe the secrecy of the Traditions. Other
undead recognize the wisdom or even benevolence that fear affords. What better way to deal
with a problem or avoid a confrontation than by frightening away an opponent? How better
to protect someone from harm than by scaring her off? And if one seeks solitude, striking
fear is certainly more effective than issuing threats, trying to reason with would-be intruders
or orchestrating ever more elaborate means by which to hide.
Note: All uses of Nightmare gain a +2 bonus if the individual power is turned on a vampire
with whom the user has a blood tie (see p. 228). Naturally, this bonus does not apply to the
subject’s resistance.
• MONSTROUS COUNTENANCE
The true face of a vampire is a frightening thing, indeed — made all the more terrifying by
the assistance of this entirely unsubtle Nightmare power. When a Kindred activates Monstrous
Countenance, he does so in conjunction with a ferocious baring of fangs and a feral, malevolent
hiss. This horrid display may be enough to shake the confi dence of any onlooker, but the supernatural
revelation of the vampire’s Beast terrifi es beyond the fl esh, into the soul. The result is an
experience most terrible, one that can make stalwart foes cower at the vampire’s feet.
Cost: —
Test Pool: Presence + Intimidation + Nightmare versus subject’s Composure + Blood Potency
(The Nosferatu clan weakness does not apply to the Discipline user’s draw.)
Action: Contested; resistance is refl exive
An activation draw is made for the vampire, and a refl exive and contested draw is made
for the subject.
Even if witnessed by several onlookers, Monstrous Countenance can only affect a single
target (of the user’s choice). All others see a fearsome, but mundane display. The onlooker
must see the vampire in person; the character’s appearance is frightening on a television or
video camera, but no more so than any special effect.
Roleplaying: Bared teeth, loud hiss.
Subjects of Monstrous Countenance should roleplay shock and terror. They need not
scream and shout if that is wholly out of character, however. A hurried, nervous retreat can
be as effective as screaming bloody murder.
Draw Results
Failure: The subject’s successes exceed or tie those drawn for the vampire. The subject is
a bit shaken, but otherwise unaffected.
Success: Successes drawn for the vampire exceed those drawn for the subject. The victim
fl ees the vampire’s presence entirely, using all available means at his disposal to do so. He
continues fl eeing for one turn per success drawn and will not come within sight of the vampire
for the remainder of the scene.
•• DREAD
While an outward, physical manifestation can strike fear in onlookers, it is an overt, blunt
means by which to prey upon the weak. More insidious and subtle is a general sense of unease,
rising panic and paranoia that a vampire can engender with this power.
Cost: 1 Vitae
Test Pool: Manipulation + Empathy + Nightmare versus subject’s Composure + Blood
Potency (The Nosferatu clan weakness does not apply to the Discipline user’s draw.)
Action: Contested
Roleplaying: Victims must roleplay a rising sense of anxiety coupled with fear and a slight
touch of paranoia.
182 chapter two: character