Dementation

The special legacy of the Malkavian clan, Dementation allows the vampire to channel madness, focus it, and pour it into the minds of those around him. Though in former nights this power was practiced primarily by the Malkavians of the Sabbat, in recent years it has spread throughout the clan. Some Kindred speculate that this "infection" might be yet another move in the Jyhad; a few vampires, of particularly paranoid bent, even whisper that the Malkavians are to be harbingers of the Final Nights.

The practitioner of Dementation need not actually be mad himself - at least initially - although madness seems to grant a certain insight into the key tenets of this Discipline. Few vampires ask the Malkavians to teach them this Discipline, although the Lunatics are almost always eager to "enlighten" others. In fact, some say that one cannot learn the secrets of Dementation without eventually going mad.

Eerily enough, Dementation doesn't seem to inflict insanity on its victims per se. Rather, it seems to catalyze madness, breaking down doors into the hidden reaches of the mind and releasing whatever it finds there. The Malkavians claim that this is because insanity is the next step in the evolution of the mind - a necessary progression if one is to behold the truths of the universe. As such, they say, it is inherent to all minds, and evident only in the more highly evolved specimens of human or vampiric thought. Other Kindred pray the Malkavians are wrong, but find it difficult to dismiss such thoughts out ofhand, particularly because Dementation works as well on vampires as it does on mortals…

1 - Passion

The vampire may stir his victim's emotions, either heightening them to a fevered pitch or blunting them until the target is completely desensitized. The Cainite may not choose which emotion is affected; she may only amplify or dull emotions already present in the target. In this way, a vampire can turn mild irritation into frothing rage or dull true love into casual interest.

System:

The player rolls Charisma + Empathy (difficulty of the victim's Humanity score). The number of successes determines the duration of the altered state of feeling. Effects of this power might include one- or two-point additions or subtractions to difficulties of frenzy rolls, Virtue rolls, rolls to resist Presence powers, etc.

• 1 success - One turn
• 2 successes - One hour
• 3 successes - One night
• 4 successes - One week
• 5 successes - One month
• 6+ successes - Three months

2 - The Haunting

The vampire may stir the sensory centers of his victim's brain, flooding the victim's senses with visions, sounds, scents or feelings that aren't really there. The images, regardless of the sense to which they appeal, are only fleeting "glimpses," barely perceptible to the victim. The vampire using Dementation cannot control what the victim perceives, but may choose which sense is affected.

The "haunting" effects occur mainly when the victim is alone, and mostly at night. They may take the form of the subject's repressed fears, guilty memories, or anything else that the Storyteller finds dramatically appropriate. The effects are never pleasant or unobtrusive, however. The Storyteller should let her imagination run wild when describing these sensory impressions; the victim may well feel as if she is going mad, or as if the world is.

System:

The player spends a blood point and rolls Manipulation + Subterfuge (difficulty of his victim's Perception + Self-Control). The number of successes determines the length of the sensory "visitations." The precise effects are up to the Storyteller, though particularly eerie or harrowing apparitions can certainly reduce dice pools for a turn or two after the manifestation.

1 success - One night
2 successes - Two nights
3 successes - One week
4 successes - One month
5 successes - Three months
6+ successes - One year

3 - Eyes of Chaos

This peculiar power allows the vampire to take advantage of the fractured wisdom hidden in insanity. She may scrutinize the "patterns" of a person's soul, the convolutions of a vampire's inner nature, or even random events in nature itself. The Kindred with this power can discern the most well-hidden psychoses, or gain insight into a person's true self. Malkavians with this power often have (or claim to have) knowledge of the moves and countermoves of the great Jyhad.

System:

This power allows a vampire to determine a person's true Nature, among other things. The vampire concentrates for a turn, then her player rolls Perception + Occult. The difficulty depends on the intricacy of the pattern. Discerning the Nature of a stranger would be difficulty 9; a casual acquaintance would be an 8, an old friend a 6. The Malkavian could also read the message locked in a coded missive (difficulty 7), or even see the doings of an invisible hand in such events as the pattern of falling leaves (difficulty 6). Almost anything might contain some hidden insight, no matter how trivial or meaningless. The patterns are present in most things, but are often so intricate they can keep a vampire spellbound for hours while she tries to understand their "message."

4 - Voice of Madness

By merely addressing his victims aloud, the Malkavian can drive targets into fits of blind rage or fear, forcing them to abandon reason and higher thought. Victims are plagued by hallucinations of their subconscious demons, and try to flee or destroy their hidden shames. Tragedy almost always follows in the wake of this power's use, although offending Malkavians often claim that they were merely encouraging people to act "according to their natures." Unfortunately for the vampire concerned, he runs a very real risk of falling prey to his own voice's power.

System:

The player spends a blood point and makes a Manipulation + Empathy roll (difficulty 7). One target is affected per success, although all potential victims must be listening to the vampire's voice.

Affected victims fly immediately into frenzy or a blind fear like Rotschreck. Kindred or other creatures capable of frenzy, such as Lupines, may make a frenzy check or Rotschreck test (Storyteller's choice as to how they are affected) at +2 difficulty to resist the power. Mortals are automatically affected and don't remember their actions while berserk. The frenzy or fear lasts for a scene, although vampires and Lupines may test as usual to snap out of it.

Note: The vampire using Voice of Madness must also test for frenzy or Rotschreck upon invoking this power, although his difficulty to resist is one lower than normal.

5 - Total Insanity

The vampire pulls the madness from the deepest recesses of her target's mind, focusing it into an overwhelming wave of insanity. This power has driven countless victims, vampire and mortal alike, to unfortunate ends.

System:

The Malkavian must gain her target's undivided attention for at least one full turn to enact this power. The player spends a blood point and rolls Manipulation + Intimidation (difficulty of her victim's Willpower). If successful, the victim is afflicted with five derangements of the Storyteller's choice. The number of successes determines the duration.

1 success - One turn
2 successes - One night
3 successes - One week
4 successes - One month
5+ successes - One year

Derangements

Blood Addict:

You are addicted to the blood of your pack. It gives you a physical and emotional high that can't be beat. For every period of six hours you go without consuming pack vitae, you lose one Physical Attribute until you get your fix. When you wake, you are down one Physical Attribute until you get pack blood.

Blood Taste:

You hate the taste of blood. Your body craves it, but you think it tastes disgusting. You go out of your way to feed on drunks (the alcohol helps kill the taste), even going to such extremes as hanging out in mortal bars to get your dinners sloshed. You have tried everything to make it taste better, but nothing seems to help. The Vaulderie is torture; one person's blood is bad enough by itself, but the blood of a whole pack smells and tastes stale and putrid. You must succeed in a self control test diff 6 each time you participate in the Vaulderie to see if you spit out the blood. If you fail the test, you must burn a Willpower point if you wish to keep the noxious fluid in your mouth.

Creation Memory:

High stress, especially violence, usually triggers plaguing memories of your Embrace. You may also choose a random factor and invoke the memories. Your thoughts will immediately return to the time of your creation, and you feel a pressing need to share these memories with whoever is around. This Derangement can be played as anything from a near frenzy to the burning desire to tell anecdotes. You are down one Mental Atribute whenever you lapse into memory.

Crimson Rage:

You have a tremendous capacity for rage and violence. When you are provoked, angered, bullied or threatened, you sometimes erupt into a frenzied rage during which you passionately attack the one who offended you. This frenzy may end as quickly as it began, but often only after you have vanquished your foe or have yourself been defeated.

Compulsive Liar:

This character will often lie about most things. You cant help it. Be it fear of trouble or an excuse a lie is always better than the truth.

Handler: Guns are for pansies. If you can't do it with your hands, you don't deserve to do it. It is your philosophy that vampires are a superior species and should use their Disciplines as their war tools. Force the bravery out of those you fight. Ropes, stakes and weapons of nature are acceptable in a pinch, but firearms are a no-no.

Hangover Helper:

You like to kill, but not if it's really hard work. You prefer to feed on those who have incapacitated themselves. You have cured many hangovers by feeding fully on those who have been in need of a remedy. Death is a wonderful cure for a hangover, and you feel so lovely afterwards.

Hebrephrenia:

The horror of the World of Darkness has shattered your perceptions of everything you once held as logical and real. this mental trauma has plunged you into a state of mind where you maintain your sanity by clinging to the idea that everything is going on in your head, to the point where nothing is real including those around you.

Hunger:

You suffer from a constant lust for blood. You crave it even when your Blood Pool is not yet depleted. When exposed to blood, you do whatever is necessary to get it. You'll attack for it if need be and drink it in reward. When you do feed, you seek to drink all you can until the source is depleted.

Ideology Fanatic:

You believe in an ideology so deeply that you are willing to do anything to spread the word. For example if you are a Sabbat fanatic you believe in converting before killing, although those who are weak and stupid are not worth proselytizing. You are driven to convert from within the ranks of the enemy and will sacrifice your unlife to do so. Your personal mission is to win a willing Camarilla to the Sabbat. You can retest once a night with a Self Control test diff 6 + the number of nights resisted or resume your fanaticism.

Immortal TerrorIn:

the presence of sunlight and fire, you sometimes experience such extreme terror that you become completely unable to take any sort of action except to flee in fear. Even the sight of a lighter flame might instil you with a wave of fear. Your reaction is considered a frenzy, but it is a frenzy of fear rather than anger.

Intellectualization:

You have recoiled from the horror of your situation and protect yourself by feeling nothing. You insulate yourself in a world of logic and intellectual vigore where emotions have no place. By isolating your incompatible needs and thoughts into separate compartments, you avoid losing control. However, the pressure inevitably mounts, and the dam eventually bursts. If your passion and emotion are thrust upon you during a stressful situation, you may frenzy. This frenzy may last for some time depending on how long it's been since you last let off steam, STs Disgression.

Kleptomaniac:

The compulsion to steal. The character will often steal things which they can get away with. The easier it will be to steal, the higher the difficulty becomes to keep from stealing. Even if you don’t need it that fact that its there and you can is all that matters.

Manic-Depression:

You suffer mood swings that take you from euphoric bliss to utter despair. You begin each game in either a manic or a depressive phase (STs call). In your manic phase, you are wildly happy and excited to the point that anyone or anything that tries to bring you down i.e, make you listen to reason or frustrate you may trigger a frenzy. You will readily spend Blood points for the most trivial of reasons. In your depressive phase, you act as per Undying Remorse. You may switch from manic to depressive at the whim of the ST, or let role play dictate.

Masochism:

Sometimes things go wrong and you know deep down inside its your fault, even though it may not be. You must have a way to keep yourself inline. This maybe but getting yourself in dangerous situations or simply hanging out with those you know dislike you. You deserve their abuse. In the end you physically harm yourself but never to a degree that it can be noticed. You don't want people to know what a terrible person you are.

Mercenary:

Killing is a gift. You are a great and powerful hunter and may, if you so choose, bestow the gift of death . However, it is not remotely worth your while if there is not an exchange, a gift for a gift. You happily kill for money, valuables or elder blood, but you refuse to bestow your gift without receiving one in exchange the satisfaction of doing the sect or a friend a favour is not enough. You rarely kill those you feed from (a complete waste of time) and will not kill or feed from animals unless they have something you need, like a pelt, bones for some ritual you need performed or something else of value.

Multiple Personalities:

You possess a number of different personalities and may change Nature and Demeanour in times of great personal stress. Thus you behave in radically different ways at different times. Naturally this causes others to distrust and be wary of you. Your current personality persists until either you change personality again during a stressful situation or you expend Willpower to return to your basic personality.

Obsessive-Compulsive:

You are obsessed with keeping track of things. You can sometimes get obsessed with a person or fetish associated with the situation. this Derangement gives you a perverse ambition toward which you direct all your energy. If you are directly thwarted in your obsession you may reach violently.

Obsession:

When a new person enters your life, or you are faced with a dramatic situation, you can sometimes become obsessed with that person or some fetish associated with the situation. This obsession is some sort of per verse ambition toward which you direct all your energy. If you are directly thwarted in your obsession, you may enter into a frenzy.

Examples of Obsessions

• Cleanliness. You must clean up any area he/she is in for more than a few minutes.
• Timeliness. The character is obsessed with being on time for everything.
• Sex. You Character is a nymphomaniac.
• Opposite sex. You are obsessed with the opposite sex.
• Wealth. You will do whatever it takes to get money.
• Secrecy. Everything must be a secret, no matter what it is.
• Appearance. You are obsessed with clothing and other such stuff.
• Thrill seeker. To this character, there is no rush like danger.
• Gambling. You are willing to bet all you have on one dice roll.
• Loner. You either can't stand to be alone, or can't stand to be with somebody.
• Collecting. You are an obsessive collector of items or an object.
• Religion. Self explanatory.
• Horde. You can throw anything away, you never know when you may need it. Anything of interest you must have. If you loose something…well…

Paranoia:

When someone threatens or stubbornly opposes you, you become convinced that the person is after you. You become obsessed with those you believe to be your enemies and make all kinds of insane preparations to protect yourself. During bouts of this Derangement, you trust no one and hold even your closest friends under suspicion. If you are pushed too far while in a paranoid state of mind, you may enter into a frenzy.

Paranoid of Ancients:

Everyone, everything is a tool of the Antediluvians dedicated to your personal destruction. All of your loyal comrades are doomed along with you. You are suspicious and wary of anything. You feel the need to purify those you don’t know to be sure they have not been overcome by the influence of the Ancients themselves.

Passion Player:

While you strongly dislike and refuse to take part in torture, you believe that killing is your divine duty. Camarilla vampires avoid killing because they disrespect their Creator's wishes. They hide behind the Masquerade even when they do kill, though it is God's will for them to reveal themselves as the angels of death that they are. Each time you kill, you make sure your victim knows exactly what you are first.

Path Lust:

You are obsessed with your code of ethics, following your Path to the letter and not backing down when some point regarding your Path philosophy is debated. Thanks to your overwhelming dedication to your Path.

Perfection:

When nothing seems to be going right, you can become obsessed with perfection. Everything must be perfect, and you use all your energy to prevent anything from going wrong. You focus all your attention on keeping everything about you in perfect, unaltered condition. When things become hopelessly confused, fault-ridden or messy, you may enter into a frenzy.

Phobia:

You are irrationally afraid of something.

Easy Phobias/Fears:

• Fear of the dark: A vampire with this probably had some childhood fears that will never be overcome. A character would cluster around brightly lit places, and seldom venture away from company. Probably keeps a well-stocked backup set of light bulbs or carry a tourch. Dark alleys are a definite no no.
• Fear of animals: Nosferatu and Gangrel may apply.
• Acute paranoia: this could be everything or something more specific.
• Fear of heights: to the point of being frozen above second story.
• Fear of success: The Character will sabotage self at critical moments.
• Fear of loosing: Will do anything to win…anything
• Fear of Germs: They are everywhere.

Power Madness:

You can become so obsessed with control, power and dominance that you lose all control of yourself. When your ambitions are thwarted, you sometimes become enraged and attack those who oppose you. In general, you seek total and absolute control over everything and everyone around you.

Progenitor:

You feel personally responsible for the procreation of your race. The world must be peopled with vampires, and the Sabbat (hopefully your pack) will sire them. You dream of breeding juice bags for food and having a universe run by the Sabbat, the superior species All vampires who are not Sabbat are among the weak and are nothing more than prey.

Promise:

You force people to promise you things in order to help them learn to keep their word. Honor is the only thing that will strengthen the sect, and it is your personal quest to be sure the sect is strong. You run the risk of frenzy if you discover that someone has lied to you.

Quixotisim:

You believe in everything you see and hear. More than likely you have come form a mundane background where nothing out of the ordinary happens. Now you are subject to the world of darkness you take everything literal, stretching the limits of your imagination.

Recluse:

The character prefers to be alone, quiet and unobtrusive. City life is for carzy people that’s why you prefer your own company. This pairs well with a loner nature; the character often fears company, and will often frenzy if forced into such a situation.

Regression:

In times of stress, when much is being demanded of you, you can become childlike, retreating to a less mature aspect of yourself. At such times you find it difficult to do anything for yourself, and without the aid of others, you are quite helpless. If, after you have become childlike, you are physically threatened, you may enter into a frenzy.

Sadism:

You revert to cruelty when under pressure. Causing pain is a major stress relief. This is not just physical pain, mental pain can be just as pleasurable. When ever confronted by stress spend a Willpower point ot take it out on someone immediately.

Schizophrenia:

You hear voices in your head and see things that aren't there. It comes largely at the STs desgression or the way role play goes.

Sect Fanatic:

You love and are unwaveringly loyal to your sect, for your sect made you what you are today, a powerful hunter long past your miserable life. Moreover, the ideology of the sect enchants you: You unquestioningly believe every word and will do anything to see that the Sect is victorious.

Strangler:

You cannot bear the sight of blood. You shut your eyes during the Vaulderie and clean up as soon as possible afterwards. You enjoy killing and love the taste of blood, but must find ways to kill without bloodshed because the visuals are too much. If someone handed you a glass of blood outside of the Vaulderie, it would almost be too much for your stomach to handle.

Undying Remorse:

When reminded of some great evil or vile deed that you once committed, you sometimes enter into a state of such complete remorse and self-pity that you are incapable of taking any action except defending yourself. The pain can become so great that you enter into a frenzy.

Vengeful:

When you have been wronged in any way, you can become so obsessed with vengeance that you direct all your energy toward it. You will not rest until your foes have been punished for their sins. If you are thwarted in this goal, you may enter into a frenzy. Once activated, this obsession persists until you have won your vengeance or spent Willpower point to ignore it.

Wrist Slitter:

You love to bleed. You encourage others to drink from you at every opportunity and are willing to drink from them as well. You cannot live without that rush of your brothers' and sisters' blood in your veins. Even when you aren't hungry, you have been known to find a member of your pack and snatch their wrist, but you will not drain or harm them. The blood of immortals tastes delicious and full of truth, far richer than anything mortals could offer. To be denied pack blood is the worst punishment you could think of. You will, however, happily drain a mortal and then return to your pack to spread the wealth.