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Path of Curses
This path, a natural extension of human spite, was developed early in the history of Thaumaturgy. Whatever it is called - whether it be hexing or bestowing the evil eye - it always involves a "calling down" of evil forces upon the victim. Some theorize that it is purely the psychological impact that makes the superstitious unlucky or ill, but thaumaturges know better. This path is extremely powerful, but is also dangerous; unlike other paths, the accursed usually know exactly who it is who is making their unlives miserable - a Warlock must speak aloud her curse directly to her target. While modern industrialized nations pooh-pooh the notion of curses, there are places in the world where such a brazen witch could find herself pursued by a mob. Warlocks wishing to bestow a curse upon the unlucky target must first possess a sympathetic link - a bit of blood, a lock of hair, a fingernail or the like - and then must win a Social Challenge against their victim while intoning to them the details of the curse (although not necessarily in a language the target understands). The sympathetic link might need to be acquired through a Physical Challenge; this is a good time to remind players of the "No Touching" rule. A new sympathetic link must be used each time a power is invoked, even if it is upon the same person. This path retests with the Intimidation Ability. The thaumaturge can remove her own curses any time she wishes.
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basic path of curses |
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Stigma |
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This, the most basic of curses, "marks" the victim with an invisible aura of revulsion. While no one will ever be able to say exactly why the target is uncomfortable to be around, it will make social dealings difficult nonetheless. The subject of this curse (who may be mortal or Kindred) must bid an extra Trait in all Social Challenges and loses all ties in Social Challenges. This power lasts until the next sunset. |
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Malady |
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This power allows the thaumaturge to infect Kindred or kine with a debilitating sickness. Even a powerful Cainite might think twice about crossing someone who could make them suffer the sicknesses of a common mortal. If this power is successfully invoked, the accursed suffers a two-Trait penalty to all physical actions due to intense discomfort; the disease looks and behaves similarly to influenza. The player should tell everyone around her of these developments and roleplay appropriately. This curse might also endanger the Masquerade as the accursed Kindred sneezes and vomits blood. It lasts until sunrise. |
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intermediate Path of curses |
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Pariah |
This curse touches upon the greatest fear in organized society, that of being wholly outcast. By twisting the perceptions of the target's peers, the thaumaturge curses his target to appear as the most hateful of enemies to her peers (the target should indicate to anyone she interacts with that she appears to be the most horrible enemy that person can think of). This altered perception is only in body - the target may still act and speak as normal. Like Mask of 1000 Faces, this power affects the perceptions of the onlooker, leading him to believe that he sees his worst enemy before him. How he chooses to react is up to him: He may simply snub the target, or he might throw the first punch. Auspex 'cannot see through this power. This power lasts until sunrise.
While Pariah simply alters the perceptions of those around the target, Corrupt Body makes that appearance reality. By denouncing the physical form of the accursed, the thaumaturge forces her body to warp into a grotesque parody of what it once was. This outward caricaturing is accompanied by mind-wracking pain, and Kindred who have undergone this curse are often scarred both mentally and physically. If successfully cast, this power reduces the target's Physical Traits to half (rounded down), bestows two Negative Physical Traits (Storyteller discretion, based on the curse) and renders all Appearance-based Social Traits unusable for the duration of the curse. The target must also spend one turn doing nothing but writhing in agony. After that turn of transformation, the full weight of the curse descends, lasting until sunrise or until the thaumaturge lifts it.
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advanced Path of curses |
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Fall From Grace |
This power curses the target with supreme ineptitude, making even the most familiar of tasks an uncertain endeavor. If successfully invoked, the thaumaturge ensures that the odds will always be against the accursed - the target will lose all ties, in any challenge, and cannot use any retests, including those given by Merits (i.e. to succeed in an action, a person accursed in this way must straight-out win every challenge). This power lasts until sunrise.
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