••• Sympathetic Call
Using this power, the Xiao can bring those who feel as she does close to her, sharing her pain (or joy) and drawing strength from the company. She expresses the depth of her emotion — sobbing in sorrow, howling with rage or laughing with pleasure — and all who feel the same way within a given area are compelled to seek her out, moving toward her at their fastest possible speed, via the most direct route they can find.
Only those mortals and vampires who can hear or see the emotional display will respond. Once they do, the intensity of the Xiao’s emotional state fades. It is as if those who respond to the call are taking her passion from her and accepting it into themselves. Many Xiao make use of this power when they are feeling dangerously emotional, hoping that they can numb themselves before they lose control.
Only those mortals and vampires who can hear or see the emotional display will respond. Once they do, the intensity of the Xiao’s emotional state fades. It is as if those who respond to the call are taking her passion from her and accepting it into themselves. Many Xiao make use of this power when they are feeling dangerously emotional, hoping that they can numb themselves before they lose control.
Effect
Dramatic Failure: The Xiao strains herself overmuch, failing to attract sympathizers and losing a point of Willpower.
Failure: The power fails to manifest. Nobody is compelled to respond. The Xiao’s display may attract attention, but it is not likely to be the type she’s looking for.
Success: The area of the call is 10 yards for every success rolled. The Storyteller determines how many mortals and vampires within the area share the Xiao’s emotional state. Dozens or even hundreds might respond to the call, flocking to the Xiao and surrounding her with sympathy. Everyone who responds to the call is aware that his feelings are mirrored in the Xiao, and will be moved by the sense of commonality he feels with her.
Each will express his sympathy in any way that seems appropriate — taking her hand, speaking or standing silently by her side.
Mortals are unable to resist the compulsion of the Call, but vampires may sacrifice a point of willpower to be allowed a Composure + Blood Potency roll to resist. If they match or exceed the number of successes the Xiao scored on the activation roll, they are unmoved.
If the Xiao is currently experiencing an emotion that threatens frenzy, successful activation of this power may prevent the rising of the Beast. As the sympathizers gather, the Xiao is afforded a +1 die bonus on her rolls to resist frenzy, and enjoys that bonus for as long as the crowd remains.
Example: Mei of Xiao is feeling intensely unhappy while attending an Elysium gathering, and she wishes to purge herself of the sensation. She weeps aloud, using Sympathetic Call. Her player rolls Mei’s Manipulation + Expression + Xinyao for a total of four successes. Everyone within 40 yards, mortal and vampire both, who also feels unhappy is compelled to rise and join Mei in her suffering. The vampires present are given the chance to resist, if they so choose. If any gather around her, her sadness will wane to a certain degree. Her sadness is not gone entirely, but she feels less weighed down.
Exceptional Success: As above, but the Xiao immediately gains a point of Willpower from the display of sympathy and enjoys a +2 dice bonus on rolls to resist frenzy.
Failure: The power fails to manifest. Nobody is compelled to respond. The Xiao’s display may attract attention, but it is not likely to be the type she’s looking for.
Success: The area of the call is 10 yards for every success rolled. The Storyteller determines how many mortals and vampires within the area share the Xiao’s emotional state. Dozens or even hundreds might respond to the call, flocking to the Xiao and surrounding her with sympathy. Everyone who responds to the call is aware that his feelings are mirrored in the Xiao, and will be moved by the sense of commonality he feels with her.
Each will express his sympathy in any way that seems appropriate — taking her hand, speaking or standing silently by her side.
Mortals are unable to resist the compulsion of the Call, but vampires may sacrifice a point of willpower to be allowed a Composure + Blood Potency roll to resist. If they match or exceed the number of successes the Xiao scored on the activation roll, they are unmoved.
If the Xiao is currently experiencing an emotion that threatens frenzy, successful activation of this power may prevent the rising of the Beast. As the sympathizers gather, the Xiao is afforded a +1 die bonus on her rolls to resist frenzy, and enjoys that bonus for as long as the crowd remains.
Example: Mei of Xiao is feeling intensely unhappy while attending an Elysium gathering, and she wishes to purge herself of the sensation. She weeps aloud, using Sympathetic Call. Her player rolls Mei’s Manipulation + Expression + Xinyao for a total of four successes. Everyone within 40 yards, mortal and vampire both, who also feels unhappy is compelled to rise and join Mei in her suffering. The vampires present are given the chance to resist, if they so choose. If any gather around her, her sadness will wane to a certain degree. Her sadness is not gone entirely, but she feels less weighed down.
Exceptional Success: As above, but the Xiao immediately gains a point of Willpower from the display of sympathy and enjoys a +2 dice bonus on rolls to resist frenzy.
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