Mask of the Beast
(Obfuscate ••••, Animalism •)
With this Devotion, a vampire can cause others to believe he is merely a mundane animal.
To use Mask of the Beast, the vampire must first make contact with an animal of the type she wishes to mimic. After about a minute of study and “communion” (using Feral Whispers), the vampire has enough of a feel for that animal’s instincts, form and movements to suggest a reasonable facsimile.
To use Mask of the Beast, the vampire must first make contact with an animal of the type she wishes to mimic. After about a minute of study and “communion” (using Feral Whispers), the vampire has enough of a feel for that animal’s instincts, form and movements to suggest a reasonable facsimile.
Effect
The Size of the animal mimicked can be up to two higher or lower than the character’s own. Thus, a vampire with Size 5 can appear as an animal of Size 3 through 7.
The Kindred can appear only as the individual creature with which she interacts. She could not, for example, interact with a dog and appear as a horse. Once the effect ends, another communion period is required to re-establish it, even if the Kindred wants to use the same Disguise. The effect must begin immediately after interacting with the animal.
While the vampire appears to be an animal, there is no physical transformation, so circumstantial evidence can be tricky. While under this power’s effects, she still leaves human tracks. In the seeming appearance of an eagle, she can’t fly and retains human weight. As well, character cannot travel any faster than her own Speed.
Mask of the Beast does not fool genuine animals. See the “Clash of Wills” sidebar on p. 119 of Vampire for the possibility of other undead using Auspex to see through the Disguise. Mask of the Beast lasts for one scene. Its effect ends if any other Obfuscate power is used or if the character does anything that her Disguise could not, such as fire a gun or speak. If someone witnesses such a belying action, he can point out the Disguise to others. A Wits + Composure roll is made for each such person, and successes achieved must exceed those acquired in the Manipulation + Animal Ken + Obfuscate roll made for the Devotion user. If an onlooker’s successes aren’t high enough, he still doesn’t perceive the vampire as anything other than an animal.
The Kindred can appear only as the individual creature with which she interacts. She could not, for example, interact with a dog and appear as a horse. Once the effect ends, another communion period is required to re-establish it, even if the Kindred wants to use the same Disguise. The effect must begin immediately after interacting with the animal.
While the vampire appears to be an animal, there is no physical transformation, so circumstantial evidence can be tricky. While under this power’s effects, she still leaves human tracks. In the seeming appearance of an eagle, she can’t fly and retains human weight. As well, character cannot travel any faster than her own Speed.
Mask of the Beast does not fool genuine animals. See the “Clash of Wills” sidebar on p. 119 of Vampire for the possibility of other undead using Auspex to see through the Disguise. Mask of the Beast lasts for one scene. Its effect ends if any other Obfuscate power is used or if the character does anything that her Disguise could not, such as fire a gun or speak. If someone witnesses such a belying action, he can point out the Disguise to others. A Wits + Composure roll is made for each such person, and successes achieved must exceed those acquired in the Manipulation + Animal Ken + Obfuscate roll made for the Devotion user. If an onlooker’s successes aren’t high enough, he still doesn’t perceive the vampire as anything other than an animal.