Constance
The legendary focus and determination of the Icarian bloodline has long been described as “extraordinary” when, in fact, it is supernatural. Some believe this power first manifested in the childer who avenged the Amaranth of Archbishop Icarius in 1388, but others say Icarius himself used it. Many other Icarians relied on Constance during the years of the Icarian Heresy to resist efforts to reign in Icarian authority.
Constance enhances the notorious ambition and confidence of the Icarians. Constance allows a vampire to resist coercion and fear. Its users face fires with cool detachment and overcome setbacks and obstacles with calm resolve. Vampires with Constance seem unshakable, unbeatable and sure of themselves in the most dire situations. Their minds are thought to be wholly immune to supernatural assaults. Constance turned the Icarian drive to rule into an unquestioning belief in the bloodline’s divine right over the Damned. Effort and ambition put Icarians on the thrones of dozens of European domains, but Constance kept them there.
Constance enhances the notorious ambition and confidence of the Icarians. Constance allows a vampire to resist coercion and fear. Its users face fires with cool detachment and overcome setbacks and obstacles with calm resolve. Vampires with Constance seem unshakable, unbeatable and sure of themselves in the most dire situations. Their minds are thought to be wholly immune to supernatural assaults. Constance turned the Icarian drive to rule into an unquestioning belief in the bloodline’s divine right over the Damned. Effort and ambition put Icarians on the thrones of dozens of European domains, but Constance kept them there.
Execution
Dice Pool: Constance is unlike many other Disciplines in that it is not actively rolled. Rather, it represents an inner well of confidence derived from a resolute sense of divine entitlement. This well of the will can be brought to a boil by burning Vitae. The effects of this power last for the duration of the scene in which it is activated, affecting other rolls during that time.
Each dot of Constance increases the character’s Resolve by one while the Discipline is active. Constance can only be invoked once per scene. You may not spend a second Vitae to double the benefits of the power.
Constance therefore increases a character's Willpower during the scene. No matter how many dots the character has in Constance, however, he may never have more than 10 dots in Willpower. As the character’s Willpower dots are increased, so is his supply of Willpower points. Constance does not restore Willpower points that have already been spent, however. Willpower points granted by this power are lost at the end of the scene, when the character’s Willpower dots return to normal.
Remember to mark off spent Willpower points from left to right — Icarians draw from their well of inner strength only when their natural drive has been exhausted. When the powers of Constance fade away, the character may crash as his mystically derived Willpower points vanish and he is left with none.
Each dot of Constance increases the character’s Resolve by one while the Discipline is active. Constance can only be invoked once per scene. You may not spend a second Vitae to double the benefits of the power.
Constance therefore increases a character's Willpower during the scene. No matter how many dots the character has in Constance, however, he may never have more than 10 dots in Willpower. As the character’s Willpower dots are increased, so is his supply of Willpower points. Constance does not restore Willpower points that have already been spent, however. Willpower points granted by this power are lost at the end of the scene, when the character’s Willpower dots return to normal.
Remember to mark off spent Willpower points from left to right — Icarians draw from their well of inner strength only when their natural drive has been exhausted. When the powers of Constance fade away, the character may crash as his mystically derived Willpower points vanish and he is left with none.
Components and tools
Cost: 1 Vitae per scene
Related Ethnicities
Example: Father Augustus is an accomplished Icarian with seven dots in Willpower, Resolve 4 and Constance 4. He has been debating with a Ventrue Archbishop for hours over feeding rights in the local parish; he has just one Willpower point left. Dawn is not far off, and the two are in a building that belongs to the Archbishop. Augustus, thinking he is being stalled, is beginning to suspect the Archbishop or his minions plan on trapping him there, possibly as a hostage. Augustus activates his Constance — his Resolve increases to 8 and his Willpower dots increase to 10; even though he has seven dots in Willpower and four in Constance, Augustus’ Willpower cannot rise above 10. Augustus gains three more Willpower points, for a total of four. He spends one right away on a Wits + Empathy roll to discern the Archbishop’s mood and judges him to be tense and anxious.
Within a few minutes, Augustus has resisted the Archbishop’s attempts to Dominate him, thanks to his increased Resolve, and is on his way back to his haven. When he gets there, and the power of Constance wears off, he’ll find himself without any Willpower points left. Augustus, exhausted, blames himself for trusting the Archbishop… but vows to win himself the feeding rights he’s after.