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

show of bravado as a show of strength to other Kindred, but she feels some genuine remorse
and regret for her actions, no matter how far down she tries to bury it. Many vampires also
make some active effort at atonement after a successful degeneration draw, whether as grand
as public recompense or as small as an anonymous donation to a victim’s family.
Likewise, a failure on a degeneration draw can mean many different things, depending on
the vampire and the circumstances in question. Some vampires still feel genuine guilt for their
actions (particularly if they still have a high Humanity rating), but all of their remorse just
isn’t suffi cient to prevent them from suffering a fundamental sense of loss or horror at the
crime they committed. They’ve shaken their own moral foundations with their actions and
lost part of themselves because of it. Of course, some vampires’ reactions are much more cold
and callous. They may realize distantly that they’re supposed to feel something like guilt, but
the feeling never really materializes. Others fi nd themselves rationalizing the act to a degree
that they no longer care anyone got hurt, because it served their goals to do so. And a small
minority (usually those on a rapid trip down) might actively enjoy the experience.
RESISTING DEGENERATION
Storytellers do not have to leave resisting degeneration as nothing but a straight draw series.
Aside from any relevant roleplaying the player might have already performed, ask the player
to describe how the character feels about her sin, and what she intends to do about of it.
Short answers that don’t suggest much thought, like, “My character feels real bad about doing
that,” receive an unmodifi ed draw series. So do defensive answers, such as, “Well, he was
asking for me to beat him up, mouthing off like that.” At least the character tries to rationalize
her actions. It isn’t a great example of humanity at its best, but it’s still very human.
Answers that show the character engages in extravagant but cost-free contrition, such as, “I
return to my haven and scourge myself until dawn,” also don’t quite pass muster. There’s no
real loss or suffering involved. If you really want to encourage that sort of melodrama, give
the player a bonus draw for the degeneration series (but not the Humanity draw if they fail).
If you think the character is lying to herself, don’t give the bonus at all.
Serious answers that show the character engages in some soul-searching or an attempt to
do better in the future could receive a bonus draw to the degeneration series. For instance,
one character might go to her sire and ask how she can better resist the Beast when she’s
angry, because she hates the results when she loses control. Another might pray for forgiveness.
Don’t automatically reward that, though, unless the player has previously established
the character’s religious feeling, or she does a good job of roleplaying the crisis that leads the
character to a faith previously neglected or scorned.
Attempts to fi nd some good or at least necessity in the character’s actions might be worth
a bonus draw to the degeneration series. “Sure, killing that guy was wrong… but the way he
beat his girlfriend? Eventually, he probably would have killed her, and she didn’t deserve that.
Better that he died than she did.” Or: “I tried every other way to stop that journalist from
running the story, but the bribes, threats, Dominate attempts and schemes to discredit him
all failed. He had to die to protect the Masquerade. I feel horrible about it, but how many
people would die if mortals found out about the Kindred? He would have started a war.”
At most, a player should receive up to two extra draws when checking for degeneration,
when his character shows deep regret and — more importantly — acts on it. Does the character
try to make up for his sin? The character could apologize to someone he injured or secretly
try to help the family of someone he killed in a Beast-driven rage. Anyone can “feel sorry,”
but really acting on that regret is something special. Of course, the very acts that bring him
into contact with people he tries to help may endanger the Masquerade… or enemies might
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mind’s chapter eye three: theatre: special requiem rules and systems