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Years before the coming of Christianity, temples devoted to the god Dionysus flourished throughout Greece. As a symbol of rebirth, vampires in those areas were drawn to him and worshipped nightly at his shrines, eagerly involving themselves in orgiastic bouts of wine and revelry. These practices eventually became reflected in the magic of the Tremere, although few Warlocks will openly admit to engaging in the shameful (and often cannibalistic) rites. Most practitioners of either gender on this path refer to themselves as thyrsi (sing. thrysus); female Warlocks are sometimes called Maenads (usually from a safe distance). These Warlocks often display jewelry or symbols of their faith, including representations of pine cones and ivy. Followers of this path find it is more of a religion than a series of magical formulae and cannot resist becoming entrenched in its hedonism; as a result, Kindred beginning this path automatically lose one permanent Willpower Trait as they become "addicted" to the pleasures. This path retests with the Occult Ability.
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basic path 0f THE vine 0f Dionysus |
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Methyskein |
by making physical contact with his target, the Warlock causes her to behave and appear as if she were drunk. For one scene, a person affected by this power suffers a one-Trait penalty on all challenges involving Dexterity or Intelligence, and generally acts intoxicated, from slurred speech to euphoria and clouded judgment. It used on a mortal or ghoul three nights in a row, the victim becomes addicted to the euphoria this power brings and may suffer ill effects from tins addiction (such as Trait penalties for each night without a "fix").
Omophagy
This power hearkens back to Dionysus' ability to invoke animal urges in his victims. By making direct eye contact and winning a Mental Challenge with her target, the Warlock imbues her target with an all-encompassing gluttony. Mortals eat until they become sick and even then will feel hungry and continue to gorge after they vomit. Kindred affected in this way will not only drain a vessel completely of blood (even if it is another Kindred!) but attempt to devour the victim's flesh (although this does not grant the ability to digest whatever flesh is eaten, ensuring predictable, gory results). A Kindred who kills another in a fit of gustatory ecstasy cannot "accidentally" diablerize the victim. A vampire affected by this power seeks out the easiest "prey" readily available. If the vampire is hungry and confronted by the sight, smell or taste of blood, hunger frenzy occurs. The target loses awareness of her surroundings to the extent that a breach of Masquerade is probable. By spending a Willpower Trait, the victim may resist the hunger for one scene but will lapse hack into it with gusto. This effect lasts for the rest of the night.
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intermediate Path of the vine 0f Dionysus |
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Hamartia |
Far more intense than the mere euphoria created by Methyskein, this power causes intoxication to the point of perversity, delirium and possibly torpid stupor. In those who possess the path themselves, however, it also grants superhuman strength. By making physical contact with his target, the thaumaturge induces such euphoria in the victim that she is two Traits down on all challenges for the remainder of the scene. How the victim reacts to such intoxication is in the hands of the Storyteller - lust, depression and violence are possible, and the target's Nature, Flaws or derangements may further affect her actions. Interestingly enough, while they also suffer most of the negative effects detailed above, when this path is used upon another follower of the Vine of Dionysus the victim takes no penalty to physical actions and gains a two-Trait bonus in challenges involving strength.
With this power, the follower of Dionysus exudes a powerful pheromone with which she may "infect" others within a 10 foot radius. Anyone affected will fall into a narcotic stupor as the hallucinogen induces pleasant, dreamlike images. In this state they will simply giggle, dance or sigh as they sink into the visions. By succeeding in this power, the Warlock ensures that the targets are far too Submissive x 2, Lethargic and Witless to pose much of a threat; they're inclined to passive euphoria, content to while away their time with their visions (which are better than television). Someone affected by this power may spend a temporary Willpower to shrug off the effects for one turn, after which he slides back under. This power lasts for one scene.
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advanced path 0f THE Vine of Dionysus |
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Oinos Aimatos |
By invoking the essence of the wine-god into themselves, the thyrsi transforms his blood into a powerful elixir. For the duration of one scene, anyone imbibing even the tiniest drop of the Warlock's blood will be affected as per Enthousiasmos. The thaumaturge need only spend a Blood Trait and a Willpower Trait upon first invoking this power: He can affect as many targets as drink his blood without further expense. If dumped into a communal punchbowl or the like, it can only be detected through the use of Heightened Senses and a successful Mental Challenge (difficulty at the Storyteller's discretion). It can also be detected by enhanced powers of taste, but by then of course it is too late for the Kindred in question. The effects of this power last for one scene.
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