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

change a Kindred’s very being, thus resulting in a bloodline, rather than stemming from it.
Two broad patterns turn up again and again, with many possible variations. You could work
either of these patterns into the history of a bloodline.
VARIATIONS ON A THEME
A rare or new Discipline might be a variation on a more familiar Kindred art. Such a
variation could appear because a Kindred wanted to use the original Discipline for some
unusual or specialized purpose. He might even develop unique Devotions or six-dot+ powers,
so the Discipline would perform more of the feats he really wanted. Such a Kindred might
fi nd that his childer learn his idiosyncratic variations instead of the more common version,
creating a new Discipline.
CROSSOVER CONTAMINATION
Kindred can also develop new Disciplines based on the powers of other supernatural
beings, such as Lupines, mages or ghosts. A vampire who sets out to do so deliberately certainly
needs to study the other supernatural race — a precarious activity, to say the least. His
research subjects surely object, since Kindred tradition holds that one must drink another
being’s blood to claim its power, as with diablerie. Still, a Kindred manages to pull it off now
and then and manifests a Discipline, the effects of which resemble one of the magical gifts
of another supernatural creature.
Such “crossover” Disciplines can also appear spontaneously. Embraced mortal magicians
might manifest novel Disciplines based on the sorcery they practiced in life. More dubious
rumors speak of exotic creatures of legend giving rise to novel Disciplines. In rare cases, Kindred
can also manifest strange powers if they repeatedly feed upon other supernatural creatures or
survive deadly encounters with their powers. When different supernatural powers clash and
end in death, anything might happen.
WHO INVENTED IT?
When you work out the back story for a Discipline, give some thought to who
invented it, or at least who made it more widely known. This is usually the founder
of the bloodline that uses the Discipline. Not only does this character set the style for
the bloodline, he might still exist. Quite possibly, a character who wants to master
the last one or two powers in the Discipline needs to learn them from the inventor
himself. This requirement might lead to a travel story as the character searches for
his bloodline’s founder, with all the diffi culties and dangers that travel always holds
for the Kindred. Once he fi nds the Discipline’s inventor, the character still faces the
challenge of persuading him to share his secret. What compensation, threat, bribe
or plea can be offered?
SELECT A THEME
Creating a Discipline is rather more complicated from the point of view of a player or
Storyteller. First, give thought to what the Discipline is about. Every Discipline sticks closely
to a theme or effect, such as “strength” or “fear” or “concealment.” Be careful that you don’t
just create a grab bag of cool powers, even if they would all be useful for a certain purpose.
Remember that a Discipline is really just one linear progression of power that a character
learns to use better and in different ways.
Not every theme or effect is really appropriate for the Kindred. Can you tie a Discipline
to some aspect of the undead condition? Is it something a vampire could really use? The
Kindred are undeniably powerful, but they aren’t superheroes. Think about creepy, moody,
374 mind’s appendix: eye theatre: bloodlines requiem