••• Shroud of Night
As a student of Obtenebration gains skill, he can generate his own darkness to conceal his deeds, to frighten victims or to animate through Shadow Play. Shroud of Night swallows and suppresses light, so a Kindred could darken a brightly lit room to dim twilight, or spread utter darkness throughout a city street at night. Electric lights still work and fires still burn, but they fade and their light doesn’t cast the way it should. So, a 100-watt bulb shines no brighter than a candle. Shroud of Night provides no protection from sunlight. The sun’s direct light instantly burns away such eldritch shadows.
Effect
Dramatic Failure: The character fails to create shadow and cannot use this power again until the next sunset.
Failure: The character is unable to manipulate shadows with this attempt, but a successive attempt may be made if another Vitae is spent.
Success: The character can darken an area of about 16 square yards (a room) for a scene.
Exceptional Success: As per a normal success, except each success at five and over multiplies the maximum possible area by three. So, five successes darken a 48-square-yard area (3 x 16), and seven successes affect a 144-square-yard area (9 x 16).
Failure: The character is unable to manipulate shadows with this attempt, but a successive attempt may be made if another Vitae is spent.
Success: The character can darken an area of about 16 square yards (a room) for a scene.
Exceptional Success: As per a normal success, except each success at five and over multiplies the maximum possible area by three. So, five successes darken a 48-square-yard area (3 x 16), and seven successes affect a 144-square-yard area (9 x 16).
Side/Secondary Effects
The degree of darkness that can be achieved depends on the starting illumination.
Starting Illumination | Limit of Darkness
Bright as day (but not real sunlight) | Shadowy, dim light
Well-lit room | Twilight
Poorly lit room | Moonlight equivalent
Twilight or well-lit city street | Starlight equivalent
Moonlight or poorly lit city street | Complete darkness
The user does not need to reduce lighting as much as the power allows. He could dim a well-lit room merely to poorly lit, instead of going all the way to twilight.
Darkness persists until the remainder of the scene, unless the effect is dispelled early. Brighter light sources introduced once the power is in effect may increase ambient light. The user may dispel darkness whenever he desires, and it fades completely if he is knocked unconscious, sent into Torpor or destroyed. Only one area may be affected by darkness at a time. The user need not be in the area affected. He can dim an area at a range as long as he has direct line of sight to that area. If line of sight is ever broken, normal light returns.
Starting Illumination | Limit of Darkness
Bright as day (but not real sunlight) | Shadowy, dim light
Well-lit room | Twilight
Poorly lit room | Moonlight equivalent
Twilight or well-lit city street | Starlight equivalent
Moonlight or poorly lit city street | Complete darkness
The user does not need to reduce lighting as much as the power allows. He could dim a well-lit room merely to poorly lit, instead of going all the way to twilight.
Darkness persists until the remainder of the scene, unless the effect is dispelled early. Brighter light sources introduced once the power is in effect may increase ambient light. The user may dispel darkness whenever he desires, and it fades completely if he is knocked unconscious, sent into Torpor or destroyed. Only one area may be affected by darkness at a time. The user need not be in the area affected. He can dim an area at a range as long as he has direct line of sight to that area. If line of sight is ever broken, normal light returns.
Material Components
Cost: 1 Vitae
Gestures & Ritual
Dice Pool: Intelligence + Crafts + Obtenebration
Related Discipline
Effect Casting Time
Instant
Level
3
Applied Restriction
Modifier | Situation
Moonlight or poorly lit city street | +2
Twilight or well-lit city street | +1
Poorly lit room | —
Well-lit room | –1
Bright as day (but not real sunlight)| –3
Moonlight or poorly lit city street | +2
Twilight or well-lit city street | +1
Poorly lit room | —
Well-lit room | –1
Bright as day (but not real sunlight)| –3