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

chapter one: society of the makeup
damned 343
your own skin tone, or even a deeper red. Once again, less is often more, and subtle effects
are often the ones that give the greater effect.
For scar tissue, there are a few methods to use. The cheap but effective method is to apply
some white glue or rubber cement to the skin, which can then be properly colored through
the use of over-the-counter cosmetics. Theatre supply stores and costume shops sometimes
sell liquid latex, however, which can effectively be molded to give the appearance of gruesome
wounds. This material can be used in greater quantity for burn effects as well, but if used too
much it can fl ake off over the course of a night.
Sometimes a character just needs to look a little roughed up. Halloween outlet stores and
shops often sell makeup kits specifi cally designed to handle bruises. They come with palettes
with a vast array of colors including greens, yellows, blues, purples and reds. If these kits
are beyond the means you are willing to spend on a chronicle, a cheaper alternative is to
carefully apply women’s cosmetics. Dark lipsticks, blush and eyeliners can be combined into
convincingly real bruising effects in a pinch. Experiment a little and fi nd a method that you
think works best for your story needs.
Regardless, whenever your game session is going to be viewed by the public it’s best to do
the bare minimum of make-up, if you’re even using it at all. Avoiding wearing makeup in
public spares your game sessions the inevitable intrusions from curious bystanders that are
in no way related to your chronicle.
Fangs
There are a few thoughts to consider when equipping oneself with a pair of actual fangs.
First is affordability. Modern dentistry can do some marvelous work in creating fake fangs fi tted
precisely to your teeth, but professional-looking fangs can prove somewhat expensive. Most
players will look to costume shops instead, which can provide much cheaper alternatives. The
tradeoff here is that they might fall out after an evening of chatting it up with fellow players.
While some fangs simply snap over the teeth and can be inserted or removed quickly, many
other fangs require an adhesive to apply and stay in for a certain amount of time once it has
set. And it’s worth noting that most fake fangs are made perfectly white, so unless you have
that exact shade of white teeth, they’ll seem out of place in your mouth.
Given that the heart of live-action play is social interaction, the other consideration when
wearing actual fangs is how it will effect your conversational ability. Though some fangs do
not interfere with speech, many can give you a pronounced lisp or even a spitting problem.
Players should make sure to try out their fangs before the chapter begins. After all, a Kindred’s
fangs are normally retractable, so they can naturally conduct eloquent conversations without
tripping over their own teeth. Unless you’re a hideous Nosferatu whose fangs are a permanent
feature or a similarly disadvantaged Kindred, the fangs only really come out when a vampire
is trying to scare off an enemy or feed. If you are costuming yourself with fangs, however, they
are most likely going to stay in for the rest of the evening once they are in. And while this
might suit dreadful Nosferatu, having these long teeth in your mouth can sometimes have
the opposite effect of what you were trying to achieve.
And what happens if you then have only one or maybe two vampires in your player base with fangs.
What about the others? Do you restrict the use of fangs for the sake of character consistency, or do
you simply allow players to costume as they like in regards to fangs? It is quite possible to portray a
domain full of vampires without actually having any players wear fangs at all. As stated previously,
it’s not often that most Kindred bare their fangs. Consider these options and talk them over with
your player base to see how they feel on the issue. Some like fangs for the same reason they like
pale makeup. Even though Kindred can retract their fangs and fl ush their skin with Vitae, to them
it’s more “vampiric” to see a roomful of pale players sporting fangs than it is to have everyone with