•• Mortify
Xiao who have mastered this power create and enforce another unnatural bond with their subjects. By engaging the victim in conversation, the Xiao can warp the nature of the his passions, inspiring twisted feelings of remorse and guilt when they are indulged. The Xiao who invokes this sensation is then free to dispel it at whim, painting herself as a savior.
To activate the power, the Xiao must speak with the victim, encouraging him to talk about one of his favorite activities or sensations.
To activate the power, the Xiao must speak with the victim, encouraging him to talk about one of his favorite activities or sensations.
Effect
Dramatic Failure: The target experiences his passions with burning, renewed intensity. The target recovers a point of Willpower, if applicable, and is immune to the Xiao’s Kingjan powers for the rest of the night.
Failure: The character loses or ties the contested roll. This attempt to Mortify fails, and the target is unaffected.
Success: The target of the power begins to feel ashamed of his desires while talking with the Xiao, and will suffer potentially crippling doubt when he attempts to engage in the act that he spoke of. To perform it (or enjoy it), he must first succeed at a Resolve + Composure roll, but he will still feel vaguely guilty afterwards.
This mortified guilt only fades when the Xiao chooses to release the target from it, by conversing with him again and reassuring him. At that moment, the guilt fades completely, and the target is free to engage in his passion. Victims will rationalize the power’s effects, associating the guilt they felt with some internal failing (or outside influence unrelated to the Xiao) and viewing the Xiao as a soothing, encouraging influence.
Vampires are free to attempt to override this rationalization by spending a point of Willpower and succeeding on a Composure + Blood Potency roll. This roll is reflexive. If it fails, the Willpower is spent, and the vampire subject rationalizes the experience just as a mortal would. If the roll succeeds, the vampire can clearly see that the feelings inspired were not normal, and is not likely to be as appreciative as a mortal.
This power lasts one night for each success scored on the activation roll in excess of the defender.
Example: Xiao Lian is speaking with one of the new members of her mortal Herd, a young musician named Victor. She encourages him to discuss his love of music, which he does with enthusiasm. Lian’s player rolls Manipulation + Subterfuge +Kingjan versus Victor’s Composure. She gains two more successes than he, so he starts feeling a little bit ashamed while he speaks, even though she seems to be perfectly receptive.
The next night, Victor is at a jam session, getting ready to play a song. He feels strangely mortified, looking at the other members of the band and experiencing a vague sensation of disgust. He steels himself, trying to play, but his player must make a Resolve + Composure roll first. The roll is a success, so he plays as skillfully and enthusiastically as ever, but Victor can’t shake the feeling of vague shame.
When he returns to Lian, he confesses his shame to her — and she reassures him, speaking a few words of encouragement and releasing him from the effect of the power. Victor is relieved, and thankful for her apparent kindness.
Exceptional Success: As above.
Failure: The character loses or ties the contested roll. This attempt to Mortify fails, and the target is unaffected.
Success: The target of the power begins to feel ashamed of his desires while talking with the Xiao, and will suffer potentially crippling doubt when he attempts to engage in the act that he spoke of. To perform it (or enjoy it), he must first succeed at a Resolve + Composure roll, but he will still feel vaguely guilty afterwards.
This mortified guilt only fades when the Xiao chooses to release the target from it, by conversing with him again and reassuring him. At that moment, the guilt fades completely, and the target is free to engage in his passion. Victims will rationalize the power’s effects, associating the guilt they felt with some internal failing (or outside influence unrelated to the Xiao) and viewing the Xiao as a soothing, encouraging influence.
Vampires are free to attempt to override this rationalization by spending a point of Willpower and succeeding on a Composure + Blood Potency roll. This roll is reflexive. If it fails, the Willpower is spent, and the vampire subject rationalizes the experience just as a mortal would. If the roll succeeds, the vampire can clearly see that the feelings inspired were not normal, and is not likely to be as appreciative as a mortal.
This power lasts one night for each success scored on the activation roll in excess of the defender.
Example: Xiao Lian is speaking with one of the new members of her mortal Herd, a young musician named Victor. She encourages him to discuss his love of music, which he does with enthusiasm. Lian’s player rolls Manipulation + Subterfuge +Kingjan versus Victor’s Composure. She gains two more successes than he, so he starts feeling a little bit ashamed while he speaks, even though she seems to be perfectly receptive.
The next night, Victor is at a jam session, getting ready to play a song. He feels strangely mortified, looking at the other members of the band and experiencing a vague sensation of disgust. He steels himself, trying to play, but his player must make a Resolve + Composure roll first. The roll is a success, so he plays as skillfully and enthusiastically as ever, but Victor can’t shake the feeling of vague shame.
When he returns to Lian, he confesses his shame to her — and she reassures him, speaking a few words of encouragement and releasing him from the effect of the power. Victor is relieved, and thankful for her apparent kindness.
Exceptional Success: As above.