Ancient and Accursed Powers (wip)

by **LaChambirdie** Tue May 14, 2019 9:53 pm

Dark Powers of the Vampire: Though the curse is a horrible thing to lay on another, it does come with certain intrinsic benefits that bely the vampires status as a predator of the night. And whilst there are whispers in the night of other abilities, techniques, and disciplines, these are the most common ones.

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Superior Strength: Vampires are predators, and all predators must be able to kill their prey, even if it puts up a fight. It is fortunate then that every vampire is stronger than near all humans. Ascending with both training and age a vampire's deadened muscles possess unnatural strength, and even a fledgeling will have the strength of an olympic weightlifter. Elders of the night though, are said to be more powerful than even a werewolf, crushing cement and bending steel with their very hands, or knocking down stubborn castle gates with a single blow.
Terrific Speed: The source of legends of a vampire who can move faster than any mortal, this power grants a vampire intense speed. Whereas an untrained fledgeling may be as fast as a sprinting cheetah. True masters of this power can seem to move without the constraints of time, vanishing in and out of sight through sheer speed.
Fortitude: Though a vampire's body is dead, it is possessed of unnerving durability, and the average vampire can withstand most forms of conventional damage, even being able to tank small arms fire. Elders however, can be near invincible, only harmed by the direct light of the sun, intense True Faith, or burning fire.
Mesmerize: The first of the powers completely unavailable to fledgelings, this power of mental suggestion and influence comes only when a vampire has existed as such for some time. Utilizing the unholy presence of their Beast a vampire can intimidate, convince, seduce, or utterly dominate a mortal with their superior will. Masters of this discipline are inexorable tempters or iron fisted mental overlords who hold the minds of their fellows in the palm of their hands.
Bestialism: Though some would be surprised that this is more difficult than mesmerizing humans, they would be wise to remember that unlike humans animals universally dislike and intrinsically fear vampires. Therefore it requires much more will and attunement with their predatory state for a vampire to commune with animals and nature. Regardless a vampire who uses this power is formidable indeed, for she can use animals as eyes and ears, and command them. At higher mastery, she can call on swarms of vermin, create an animal familiar, and even summon deadly animal spirits to strike down her foes.
Metamorph: Often only found among veteran vampires or those of especially potent blood, this ability allows a vampire to act like a night stalker of folklore and transform their very body down to become bestial. Whether taking the form of a bat, swarm of rats, wolf, or even a cloud of mist, they alter their very bodies temporarily. Masters of this form can take on a powerful bat-like warform known as Camazotz.

The Triumvirate Sorceries of The Night: Beyond the base powers of vampirism, there are lower techniques, drawing on the most base elements and refining them into a sinister science. Of these there are three, and any vampire who binds themselves to one can never forsake it, and never learn another.
Obtenebration: Truly creatures of the night, an obtenabrist can manipulate the very shadows that surround them, forming them into their hands and tools in the night. With this discipline they make shadow puppets, possessing the shadows of others to control their every action, and mold weapons of pure darkness. However any vampire of this path immediately becomes invisible to any reflective surface, a major liability in a modern world of buildings of glass and steel.
Thaumaturgy: Voices whisper in the dark, of the sorcerer vampires, who boil bodies with their own blood, who hurl daggers of frozen vitae, who mold profane glowing suns of scalding blood. Ancient and profane rituals committed on ancient altars and in the dark places of the world, curses that pass down through bloodlines. Weapons and tools, even constructs made of the red nectar.....They whisper because they are afraid, for they know these legends to be true. Though a rare and forbidden discipline, the sorcery of blood is formidable even in the hands of a neonate, and can give god-like power to a learned elder of the craft. However any vampire bound to this path desires to drink of the blood of their fellow vampires.
Flesh Crafting: Seeking to ascend past the last vestige of humanity, their bodies. Followers of this alien path shift and warp their bodies beyond what is human, and do it to others as well. Shapeshifters and body molders of the highest order. Seeking to constantly experiment and perfect their 'art' they seize the unsuspecting and with their hands, knead their very flesh and bone as they see fit. Whether into eerily beautiful muses, or monstrous wretches made only for war. A Flesh Crafter can change their very blood into a thick greasy substance that sets fire when met with air and some whisper, even transform into dragons.But changing oneself in this way cannot come without effect, and a flesh crafter may soon become utterly inhuman and alien in both body and soul.

Wild Gifts of the Werewolf:

The Wyrd Powers of Fae: The fae are not like you and I, mortal, fleshbound creatures of pure matter, no they are made of something else. Dreams and nightmares, legends and campfire stories brought to life and given form.

Bitter Blessings of The Changed: