• Degradation
Before the Xiao can learn to drain his victims, he must perfect the practice of breaking them. When activating this power, the Xiao speaks calmly to the target, flattering her or otherwise expressing approval in an apparent attempt to bolster her confidence. In fact, the power is a subtle attack, designed to weaken the victim’s ability to function without the Xiao. The vampire’s words seem harmless enough, but the mystic undertone delivers a deeper, more insidious message: “You are only at your best when you are with me.”
This power does not multiply in effect if used more than once on a single target during a given scene. Two or more Xiao may hit the same target with it, though, causing her to suffer the effects with respect to all who succeed.
This power does not multiply in effect if used more than once on a single target during a given scene. Two or more Xiao may hit the same target with it, though, causing her to suffer the effects with respect to all who succeed.
Effect
Dramatic Failure: The victim is unaffected by the power, reacting to the words of the Xiao only as he would normally. Furthermore, the victim is immune to the user’s Kingjan attempts for the rest of the night.
Failure: The character loses or ties the contested roll. This attempt to Degrade the victim fails, and the target is unaffected.
Success: The character wins the contested roll by getting the most successes. The victim will feel confident in the Xiao’s presence, but will be noticeably shaken if separated from the vampire. If the target is unable to see or hear the Xiao any time during the remainder of the scene, all of his actions will suffer a –1 die penalty caused by a sudden nervousness. The victim may not understand the cause of his anxiety, but he will understand that it fades as soon as the Xiao is nearby.
Exceptional Success: The character wins a contested roll with five or more successes, and the target is deeply affected by the Xiao’s praise. The effect is doubled, imposing a –2 dice penalty instead of the normal one, and lasts for the remainder of the night.
Failure: The character loses or ties the contested roll. This attempt to Degrade the victim fails, and the target is unaffected.
Success: The character wins the contested roll by getting the most successes. The victim will feel confident in the Xiao’s presence, but will be noticeably shaken if separated from the vampire. If the target is unable to see or hear the Xiao any time during the remainder of the scene, all of his actions will suffer a –1 die penalty caused by a sudden nervousness. The victim may not understand the cause of his anxiety, but he will understand that it fades as soon as the Xiao is nearby.
Exceptional Success: The character wins a contested roll with five or more successes, and the target is deeply affected by the Xiao’s praise. The effect is doubled, imposing a –2 dice penalty instead of the normal one, and lasts for the remainder of the night.