Chapter Three Sample, part 2 - Traumavore & Clairvoyance (Patreon)

Traumavore (• to •••••)

Subtle

Perpetual, Tiered

The Deviant is in tune with the trauma suffered by Baselines.

At Magnitude •, the Remade can sense the echoes of recent trauma. She is immediately aware whenever a Baseline she can perceive within 40 yards/meters suffers a breaking point, as well as the result of any breaking point roll (Deviant, p. 187). Moreover, she can sense whether anyone she can perceive is currently suffering a Condition caused by a breaking point and what, in a general sense (trauma, unnatural, or violation), caused the breaking point (p. XX).

At Magnitude ••, as Magnitude •, and the Broken feeds on the trauma of Baselines. However, she cannot benefit from the trauma of any given person more than once per chapter (which cannot be overcome by Adaptations). Choose one:

•            Enthusiasm: Once per scene, when a Baseline suffers a breaking point, the Deviant regains a point of Willpower. Once per chapter, when a Baseline suffers a failure or dramatic failure on a breaking point roll, the Remade may regain all spent Willpower.

•            Equilibrium: Once per scene, when a Baseline suffers a breaking point, the Broken heals a minor Instability. Once per chapter, when a Baseline suffers a failure or dramatic failure on a breaking point roll, the Deviant may instead heal a medium Instability.

•            Vitality: Once per scene, when a Baseline suffers a breaking point, the Remade heals a point of lethal or bashing damage. Once per chapter, when a Baseline suffers a failure or dramatic failure on a breaking point roll, the Broken may instead heal a point of aggravated damage.

At Magnitude •••, as Magnitude ••, and choose one:

•            Empathize: As a Directed effect that must target a Baseline who is currently suffering a Condition due to a breaking point, the Deviant learns more about the circumstances that imposed the Condition — or the circumstances surrounding a previous breaking point, if she witnessed the breaking point that triggered the current Condition — observing the experience from the victim’s senses but with their emotional response dulled to a purely informational input, such that it is not distorted by normal psychological blocks nor by occult effects that cause a victim to forget or misremember scenes involving supernatural powers. If the Remade witnessed the event that caused the target’s current Condition, she may exercise more control over which past trauma she witnesses — either by specifying something she suspects the victim suffered (“the first time he saw a Deviant use their powers,” for example, or “when he murdered his father”) or a broader question (such as “an encounter with the supernatural” or “an interrogation”). The chosen event must have been one that constituted a breaking point for the target; otherwise, the scene the Broken witnesses is random. This effect fails against non-Baselines.

•            Hold Together: The Deviant’s presence makes trauma easier to endure. Whenever a Baseline suffers a breaking point, the Remade may choose to improve the results of the breaking point roll by one step — a dramatic failure becomes a failure, a failure becomes a success, and a success becomes an exceptional success. Regardless of the original or modified result, the Baseline does not earn a Beat from it.

•            Tear Apart: The Broken’s presence amplifies trauma. Whenever a Baseline suffers a breaking point, the Deviant may choose to worsen the results of the breaking point roll by one step — an exceptional success becomes a success, a success becomes a failure, and a failure becomes a dramatic failure. Regardless of the original or modified result, the Baseline does not earn a Beat from it.

At Magnitude ••••, as Magnitude •••, but choose two Magnitude ••• effects, instead. In addition, the Remade gains a second method of feeding from the Magnitude •• options (Enthusiasm, Equilibrium, or Vitality), although the per-scene/per-chapter limits to the benefits of feeding apply to the entire Variation, not just to the individual benefits (i.e., a Broken with Enthusiasm and Vitality can regain a point of Willpower or heal a point of lethal damage once per scene, never both in the same scene).

At Magnitude •••••, as Magnitude ••••, but the Deviant enjoys all three Magnitude ••• effects and all three Magnitude •• methods of feeding. Finally, this Variation can affect non-Baselines who are capable of suffering occult trauma in some form. For Remade, it reveals when a Deviant has Faltered or suffered Instability, as well as ameliorating or worsening the results of Faltering rolls. Non-Baselines must have suffered this occult trauma in the current scene (having a related Condition isn’t enough), and this is always a Directed effect when used against them.

The Cephalist bends his telepathic abilities to helping others face and overcome their trauma, but sometimes his empathic powers manifest of their own accord (Power Build-Up; Involuntary; Resolve).

Like many predators, the Chimeric can sense her prey’s fear, but she struggles to control her violent impulses (Murderous Urge; Persistent).

The Mutant is a specialized predator that feeds on trauma, which they find both necessary and intoxicating (Addictive Variation; Persistent; Deviations: Twined Scars [Dependency]).

Cephalist Variations: Clairvoyance (• to •••••)

Subtle

Directed, Tiered, Toggled

The Broken is a supernatural bloodhound capable of recognizing a target’s occult scent.

At Magnitude •, the Deviant can mark a target. This mark lasts until the end of the chapter, although the Remade may spend a point of Willpower to extend this effect for one, some, or all marked targets until the beginning of the next chapter (potentially allowing her to recognize a target’s scent for several consecutive chapters). The Broken recognizes when one of her marked targets comes within range, although supernatural concealment provokes a Clash of Wills. If she has multiple targets marked, she knows which one is in range.

At Magnitude ••, as Magnitude •, and choose one:

•            Divination: The Remade can extend her senses through a class of objects chosen at the time she develops this Variation — such as mirrors, artistic depictions of eyes, pools of water, or open flames — to perceive a target she has marked. As long as her target is within range of one of these objects, she can spy upon him and anything nearby that she could normally perceive as though her senses (including those enhanced by Variations such as Specialized Sense) were tied to the object (so covering a mirror she was using to scry upon him would block her sight, for example). This Directed effect calculates range from the object, not the Deviant.

•            Sympathy: Once per chapter, the Remade can instead mark a target by directing this Variation at one of the following, chosen when she develops this Variation — a recent (Scar Power months old or newer) photograph or video of the target, an object or place of great personal significance to the target, a person with a strong personal connection to the target (whether friendly or antagonistic), or a physical remnant of the target (such as blood, hair, or a fingernail clipping). This Directed effect has unlimited range and doesn’t require the Broken be able to perceive the target.

•            Tracking: The Deviant either knows the distance to each target, knows the straight-line direction in which the target lies, or can retrace the path the target took and when — chosen when she develops this Variation. This Directed effect has unlimited range and doesn’t require the Broken be able to perceive the target.

At Magnitude •••, as Magnitude ••, and choose one:

•            Balanced: The Broken enjoys all three Magnitude •• effects.

•            Faultless: The Deviant must have chosen Tracking as her Magnitude •• effect. The Remade gleans all three pieces of information — distance, direction, and the ability to retrace the target’s steps.

•            Scrying: The Broken must have chosen Divination as her Magnitude •• effect. The Deviant can extend her senses to observe her target without the class of objects restriction, although the target’s environment can impede her senses, such as if it is dark or noisy. This Directed effect has unlimited range and doesn’t require the Broken be able to perceive the target.

•            Seer: The Remade must have chosen Sympathy as her Magnitude •• effect. The Broken may mark a target by directing this Variation through any of the available options (photograph, significant object/place, strongly connected person, or physical remnant).

At Magnitude ••••, as Magnitude •••, but the Deviant also gains access to two Magnitude ••• effects and their Magnitude •• prerequisites.

At Magnitude •••••, as Magnitude ••••, but the Remade instead gains access to all Magnitude ••• effects and their prerequisites.

By exploiting the principles of sympathy, the Cephalist can spy upon her enemies from afar, but it causes curses to befall those closest to her (Scapegoat [Misfortune, Paranoia, Sensory Deprivation]; Controlled; Manipulation).

With the merest whiff of his quarry, the Chimeric can track it to the ends of the Earth, but this can be foiled by strong scents that lie in the trail he follows, such as rotting fish or heavy perfume (Power Failure; Controlled; Wits).

Through their web hacking mastery, the Invasive can surveil their target as long as he is standing within view of a camera. They are too taken with their own cleverness, however, and tend to taunt their victims even when doing so is dangerous (Hubris; Persistent).