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

chapter voice • one: body society language of the • makeup
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subjugating those below them in station. Vampires can be much the same way. Speak to others
from a position of superior height. Stare down those who seek to challenge you without
fl inching. Keep your back straight, your chin level and your arms close to your body without
covering it. Don’t close up your body language, as that suggests weakness or timidity, but
don’t overextend it either, as that looks brash and draws attention. Do not waste energy on
movement that is not required, unless it’s part of your camoufl age among the mortals. And
when you do move, waste no energy. The name of the game here is subtly. Most vampires
learn to mask their nature, but some things slip through the façade. That doesn’t mean that
you necessarily have to be an extra in a ballet or a black belt in karate to acquire the right
kind of smooth predatory grace, but there are a few things that you can do even to display
otherworldly attributes without a depth of experience in how the human body can move.
Also, while using some of your character’s vampiric Disciplines and other supernatural
powers, use your body to explain what process you are going through. Don’t simply state that
you are using Vitae to heal your character, roleplay it with your body movements. When using
healing, fl ex that part of the body that requires it. Close your eyes and grimace as the Vitae
works over your character’s arm and unnaturally pulls the skin and muscles back together.
While you should never break the Only Rules That Matter to do so — don’t actually run
around to simulate Celerity or throw your back out lifting an object to indicate Vigor — an
extra bit of action can make for a much more dynamic and intense performance.
MAKEUP
Highlighting a character’s undead nature through the use of make-up and other cosmetic
products is an excellent method for players to add a very personal touch to the chronicle.
After all, make-up is usually reserved for special occasions or formal environments in most
cases. This is another subtle way to make your game sessions special in the minds of your
players. There are generally two schools of thought on the subject of makeup. On one hand
are those who want to go all out for characters, skillfully applying their powder and cream to
get just the right shade of pale. They seek to create just the right look for a gaunt creature of
the night. On the other hand are those players who just can’t be bothered with makeup at all
and don’t take kindly to being forced to do so for the sake of a game they play for fun.
There are arguments to support each stance. After all, vampires are creatures who are adept
at passing for ordinary people when they need to hide their presence. Some vampires and
their servants intentionally do all they can to look human to the casual observer, whether
with raw application of their Vitae or more nuanced Disciplines. If a player doesn’t see the
need for makeup, this could be an excellent reason why they are not as pale as the rest of
their community. On the other hand this is a game where the main characters are monsters
attempting to pass their long years in the shadows of society. But no matter how they might
try to disguise themselves, they are still just not human. Some of these creatures of the night
are so far removed from their humanity that their otherworldly nature is evident even in a
dark room. And honestly, sometimes simply tacking a card to a player’s chest proclaiming
the character’s undead appearance just doesn’t do it justice.
As a Storyteller it’s a good idea to bring up the topic of makeup to your player base before
your fi rst session. If you are concerned with the overall look of your chronicle you might
want to work out some kind of uniformly agreeable position on the subject. If cosmetics are
going to be allowed, then you should set ground rules for how much or how little should
be used. If and your players are unconcerned about half of your characters being pale as the
grave and the others having a nice rosy skin tone, then allow each player to decide how he
will approach the subject.