Animalism

ANIMALISM

Doolittling | Taming | Bestiae Sermo | Abombwe

Perhaps the vampire has more in common with animal than human. A dangerous set of instincts drive them, and it takes a lot for them to withhold the urge to just lash out. Much like a wild dog on a chain, a vampire’s Beast will never truly be tamed.

Some Kindred find a way of becoming one with their Beasts. Those who do are the masters of Animalism. Some accompany the use of this power with howls, snarls, and roars, or communicate with animals in the animal’s “language,” though this is an affectation and not a necessity.

The Animalism Discipline sees much use among vampires who struggle to fit in or have no taste for living among mortals. Often classed as one of Caine’s gifts of utility, allowing a vampire to thrive on unrefined blood or form companionship with non-sapient beings, it is also a devastating weapon against vampires who cling to their towers, and against inquisitors who suspect their enemies will only come on two legs. A swarm of blood-hungry rats invading a Kindred’s penthouse haven, the Animalism-proficient vampire who cows the Sheriff’s Beast in Elysium, or the beady-eyed raven that spies on a Society of St. Leopold chapter all serve to strengthen Animalism practitioners, and weaken their foes.

CHARACTERISTICS

• Type: Mental

• Masquerade Threat: Low to medium.
  While talking to animals might seem eccentric, only the most violent applications of the Discipline elicit more than a few raised eyebrows.

• Blood Resonance: Animal blood, preferably feral.

By default Animalism powers involving animals can only be used on vertebrates. Additionally, any use of the ability on herbivores adds one to the Difficulty of skill rolls involved.

LEVEL 1

BOND FAMULUS

Animalism •

When Blood Bonding an animal, the vampire can make it a famulus, forming a mental link with it and facilitating the use of other Animalism powers. While this power alone does not allow two-way communication with the animal, it can follow simple verbal instructions such as “stay” and “come here." It attacks in defense of itself and its master but cannot otherwise be persuaded to fight something it would not normally attack.

Cost: The animal must be fed the user’s Blood on three separate nights, each of which requires a Rouse Check by the user. The amount of Blood needed to sustain the ghoul-state of the animal after this is negligible. Players starting with this power have completed this process and can chose a famulus for free.

Dice Pools: Charisma + Animal Ken

System: Without the use of Feral Whispers, below, giving commands to the animal requires a Charisma + Animal Ken roll (Difficulty 2); increase Difficulty for more complex orders. A vampire can only have one famulus, but can get a new one if the current one dies. A vampire can use Feral Whispers (Animalism 2) and Subsume the Spirit (Animalism 4) on their famulus for free.

Duration: Only death releases a famulus once bound. As long as it receives vampire Blood on a regular basis, the famulus does not age.

_{Core Book, pg. 245}

SENSE THE BEAST

Animalism •

The vampire can sense the Beast present in mortals, vampires, and other supernaturals, gaining a sense of their nature, hunger, and hostility.

Cost: Free

Dice Pools: Resolve + Animalism vs Composure + Subterfuge

System: A win allows the user to sense the level of hostility in a target (whether the person is prepared to do harm or even determined to cause it) and determine whether they harbor a supernatural Beast, marking them as a vampire or another type of supernatural creature. On a win, a critical gives the user information on the exact type of creature (for example, a werewolf), as well as their Hunger (or equivalent) level, and their Resonance.. This power can be used both actively and passively, warning the user of aggressive intent in their immediate vicinity.

Duration: Passive

_{Core Book, pg. 245}

LEVEL 2

FERAL WHISPERS

Animalism ••

The vampire can commune with the beasts of the wild and the city. Feral Whispers allows two-way communication with animals. A cat might not be interested in debating Matisse’s use of color but happily discusses the lack of prey around the brownstone building across the street. Depending on the vampire’s skill, they can even persuade animals to perform services; like humans, animals seldom agree to things that go against their nature or endanger them.

Vampires can also use Feral Whispers to summon a chosen type of animal (see Animalism limitations above) but the animals must be present to answer. Nothing prevents a vampire trying to summon an orca in Central Park, but success seems unlikely. Summoned animals listen to the summoner, but scatter or attack if endangered.

Cost: One Rouse Check per type of animal chosen for the scene. Allows one summoning and unlimited communication. Free when used on famulus.

Dice Pools: Manipulation + Animalism, Charisma + Animalism

System: Simple communication requires no dice pool test. Persuading an animal to perform a service requires a Manipulation + Animalism roll; the Difficulty depends on the task required. Having a bird keep an eye out for anyone entering the park at night is Difficulty 3, while ordering any animal to defend a place with their lives is Difficulty 6.

Summoning animals uses a Charisma + Animalism roll; Difficulty depends on the scarcity of the animals summoned. The number of animals summoned depend on the margin on the test; a critical win summons most, if not all, animals of the type in the area.

Duration: One Scene

_{Core Book, pg. 245}

ATAVISM

Animalism ••

By subtly projecting their Beast into a mortal animal, the vampire may cause it to revert to its most base and primal of instincts. Loyal guard dogs suddenly become ravenous, slathering curs and prized thoroughbreds throw their riders a they champ and buck in mad panic.

Cost: One Rouse Check

Dice Pools: Composure + Animalism

System: The target must be able to sense (smell, hear, or see) the user in question to use this power. Roll Composure + Animalism vs. Difficulty 1-4, depending on type of animal, its training, and whether or not it is a ghoul. A win against the target allows the user to choose one of two primal responses: Fight or Flight. Ir Fight is chosen, the creature reacts in kind, lashing out at the closest perceived threat or prey. If Flight, the creature instead flies into a panic, trying to escape its surroundings at any cost to their safety. Well-trained and faithful animals tend to shake off this reaction quickly, and so, clever users tend to time their uses of this power in order to create maximum effect.

Duration: A number of rounds equal to the test margin plus one, or the entire Scene in the case of a critical win.

_{Winter's Teeth, vol. 3}

LEVEL 3

ANIMAL SUCCULENCE

Animalism •••

The vampire can slake additional Hunger by feeding on animals. In addition, the vampire can consume its famulus, gaining nourishment far beyond what would be gained from an animal of similar stature and absorbing a sliver of its primary trait.

Cost: Free

System: Feeding from animals slakes 1 additional Hunger, and the vampire counts their Blood Potency as two levels lower in regards to penalties to slaking Hunger from animal blood.

Consuming one's famulus slakes 4 Hunger, regardless of animal size. This act can never remove the final Hunger die. In addition, consuming one's famulus increases the vampire’s Attribute most associated with that animal (as determined by the Storyteller) by two dots. Consuming a cat might raise Dexterity or Composure; consuming a dog might raise Charisma or Resolve. Storytellers may vary the reward from famulus consumption: draining an owl might raise the Attribute in any perception pool by two dots, or in pools involving wise decision making. The bonus lasts until the vampire’s next feeding or until their Hunger reaches 5.

Duration: Passive

_{Core Book, pg. 246}

QUEEL THE BEAST

Animalism •••

By locking eyes with a target, the vampire cows their inner Beast into temporary slumber. Mortals affected thus become apathetic, unable to take any actions other than to stay alive, while vampires’ bestial urges temporarily abate, for better or worse.

Cost: One Rouse Check

Dice Pools: Charisma + Animalism vs Stamina + Resolve

System: Roll Charisma + Animalism vs Stamina + Resolve. A win against a mortal target incapacitates them for that scene, instilling severe lethargy. They act only to preserve themselves, not against the user or anyone else. A win against a vampire prevents the target from performing Blood Surges. While their Beast is quelled, vampires do not score messy criticals. Against vampires, this power lasts a turn plus a number of turns equal to the win margin on the contest. A critical win against a vampire target also ends their frenzy.

Duration: One scene, or a number of turns equal to the test margin plus one.

_{Core Book, pg. 246}

UNLIVING HIVE

Animalism •••

Amalgam: Obfuscate ••

Most often seen amongst the Nosferatu, this unnerving power allows the user to extend their animal influence to swarms of insects such as flies or roaches. Certain vampires even go so far as to adopt swarms as famuli, giving them a permanent home within the folds and orifices of their malformed flesh.

Cost: No additional cost

System: This power extends all powers previously restricted to vertebrates to insect swarms, treating a swarm as a single creature. The vampire can bind the swarm as a famulus, and some even give it the ability to nest inside the cavities of their body. This hides the swarm from sight while allowing it to nurse the minute amounts of Blood needed to sustain it indefinitely. While nested, the swarm is undetectable by anything less than X-rays.

Swarms do little damage in combat. They have Health 5 and a pool of 8 dice to resist attacks. Swarms take Superficial damage from Brawl; flame and insecticide cause Aggravated damage. Vampires can use swarms for spying, as distractions (resulting in a two-dice penalty on any roll for a single swarmed individual), or to intimidate mortals (add between one and three dice to Intimidation pools, depending on the type of insect and the victim’s phobias). Players and Storytellers can doubtlessly come up with even more creative uses of this power.

Duration: Passive

_{Core Book, pg. 246}

THE EYES OF BEASTS

Animalism •••

Amalgam: Auspex ••

Using this amalgam, one can see through the eyes of surrounding animals, moving from one to the next at-will.

Cost: One Rouse Check

System: The user can see and hear through the eyes and ears of surrounding animals (150 yard / meter radius per level of Animalism). They must close their eyes and focus as they do so, and can only experience the senses of one animal at a time, although they can switch between animals at-will. The user is helpless during this period, and cannot see or hear through their own senses. Note that unlike Subsume the Spirit, the user has no control over the animals whose senses they borrow.

Duration: One Scene, unless prolonged for another by repeating the cost.

_{Fall of London, pg. 148}

LEVEL 4

SUBSUME THE SPIRIT

Animalism ••••

The vampire can completely transfer its mind into the body of an animal. They can control the animal and use its senses freely, even during the day should they manage to stay awake. While doing this, the vampire’s body lies immobile as if in torpor.

Cost: One Rouse Check. Free if used on famulus.

Dice Pools: Manipulation + Animalism

System: Make a Manipulation + Animalism test; Difficulty 4. On a win, the vampire can inhabit the animal’s body for one scene. On a critical win, the vampire can inhabit the animal indefinitely.

Extending this possession into the daylight hours requires the vampire to stay awake (p. 219); seeing the sun requires a test for fear frenzy though the sunlight does not damage the animal being ridden. The user remains oblivious to their original body, but harm to it pulls them out of the trance and releases the animal. Death of the possessed animal also ends the trance, and the vampire takes a point of Aggravated Willpower damage from the shock.

Duration: A scene / indefinitely (see above)

_{Core Book, pg. 247}

LEVEL 5

ANIMAL DOMINION

Animalism •••••

The power the vampire holds over beasts is now great enough to command flocks and packs as if they were extensions of their own body. At a gesture, animals lay down their lives by the dozens, even hundreds, to appease their master.

Cost: Two Rouse Checks

Dice Pools: Charisma + Animalism

System: Chose a type of animal and make a Charisma + Animalism roll with a Difficulty depending on the nature of the animals and the order given. Getting a flock of crows to disperse and look for a specific individual (given some means of identifying their target) is relatively easy (Difficulty 3), but getting a pack of dogs to give their lives in a suicidal attack on another vampire is more of a challenge (Difficulty 5). The power does not allow the user to summon animals, but compels those already present to obey. The vampire can command the animals to return after completing their task, if they have means to do so.

Duration: A single scene or until the directive is fulfilled, whichever is shortest.

_{Core Book, pg. 247}

DRAWING OUT THE BEST

Animalism •••••

The vampire can project their Beast at the moment of terror or fury frenzy, transferring it into a nearby subject, either mortal or vampire. That person immediately experiences the frenzy instead, going on a merciless rampage or fleeing in terror depending on the trigger.

Cost: One Rouse Check

Dice Pools: Wits + Animalism vs Composure + Resolve

System: Instead of the Willpower roll to resist a terror or fury frenzy, roll Wits + Animalism vs Composure + Resolve of the target. If the user fails, they enter frenzy as though they had failed the Willpower roll. On a win, the target experiences that frenzy instead of the user. Later stimuli can still provoke frenzy in the user, but they can use this power as long as they can make Rouse Checks and further targets remain available.

This power cannot transfer a hunger frenzy.

Duration: Frenzy duration (see p. 220)

_{Core Book, pg. 247}