House Rules

Arcanos

---

Crossovers

The effects of Arcanoi on other denizens of the World of Darkness, as well as effectiveness (or lack thereof) when used across the Shroud -- or perhaps when Embodied -- isn't always clearly stated. This section should help clear it all up.

Note that, in general, many Arcanos are limited only to use in the Underworld (e.g., Argos and Moliate). They can never affect the denizens of the Skinlands...unless the Skinlanders find themselves on the wrong side of the Shroud. Then they're every bit as vulnerable to benefits and dangers of these Arcanos! However, Arcanos that deal with a wraith's dual soul nature, such as Castigate, can never directly affect the Quick (except Kuei-jin as the sole exception), regardless of what side of the Shroud they're on. Bulwark will still protect a mortal who found his way into the Shadowlands from a Maelstrom, however.

-- Argos
Argos is primarily limited to the Shadowlands and Tempest. Enshroud can hide a wraith while Embodied, however.

-- Behest
Behest functions just as well on the Skinlands and its denizens as it does on the Underworld.

-- Castigate
Only Dark Secrets has applicable use beyond the Shroud, and only then on Kuei-jin.

-- Chains of the Emperor
Chains of the Emperor cannot be used in the Skinlands or on the Quick in any way.

-- Connaissance
Having to do almost solely with spectres, this art's direct crossover applications are irrelevant.

-- Displace
Affecting only Corpora, this art has few crossover possibilities. However, it could be used against those who travel the Underworld but are not wraiths (such as mummies).

-- Embody
An Embodied wraith has a number of advantages and disadvantages when he crosses the Shroud. For starters, a wraith has for all intent and purposes crossed the Shroud (only Ghostly Touch and Whispers are used across the Shroud). He is in the Skinlands now, and will not be found in the Shadowlands (this is a common escape route from enemy ghosts who cannot Embody). The downside is that, while Embodied, the wraith is plainly visible to the Quick. He is subject to most powers that are able to affect a normal human being (mages require Matter to attune any Life Effects to affect an Embodied wraith). The exception is Phantom, for the wraith is only partially materialized - he cannot physically interact with the Quick and they cannot physically interact with him. Mentally and magically, however, he is vulnerable (mages need only Spirit). So an Embodied wraith can be Dominated, affected by fae cantrips, torn apart by an angry werewolf, and so forth. A physically manifested wraith can be even be transmogrified through Vicissitude, though he will return to his normal form once his Embodied shape dissipates back to the Shadowlands.

On the plus side, Embody is a direct route to using sight and/or touch-based Arcanoi on the Quick (such as Usury). Moliate can still not be used against the Quick, nor can a wraith manifest any form but his original shape (Moliate can only reshape a Phantom manifestation). But best of all, an Embodied wraith also materializes any relic or artifact he can hold (such as a weapon). The object is just as functional as it was in the Shadowlands (usually), but will still require any activation costs (such as Pathos or Willpower). The object may even be used against the wraith should he drop it (and though a relic firearm could not be used by a mortal who could not spend Pathos to activate this item, a mortal could certainly stab a wraith with his own Stygian blade). The relic or artifact will vanish back to the Shadowlands once the wraith’s form dissipates as well. Bringing relics or artifacts over costs no extra Pathos, but only the objects that the wraith is holding in his hands can be Embodied. Everything else remains behind in the Shadowlands.

-- Fascinate
This is one of two Arcanoi that only the Risen Dead can learn and use. As such, it only works on the Quick! All of its powers affect the supernatural as readily as the mundane. Fascinate can never be used in the Shadowlands.

-- Fatalism
Fatalism has varying effects on the dwellers on the Skinlands. In general, the information gleaned through this Arcanoi will be more vague and less coherent. But it is still useful, and Foreshadow can detect a scheming necromancer as readily as an incoming spectral assault. The most intriguing uses of Fatalism on the supernatural is Fatal Vision. On changelings and shapechangers, the wraith will often get muddled views of the beings’ past lives, since these creatures usually reincarnate. On vampires who are technically dead, the ghost will usually see the time of the vampire’s Embrace or the time of death prior to Second Breath.

-- Flux
Flux was designed for use in the Skinlands. Little need be said about clashes with the supernatural, except to say that using Flux on technomagickal devices faces only whatever countermeasures the mage placed on them.

-- Inhabit
Inhabit proves extraordinarily useful against cybernetic servants of the Technocracy. Cybernetic systems can be Gremlinized, Surged, and otherwise mucked with just like any computer system. Plus, few cyborgs have Dimensional Science-based defenses. Many cyborgs do, however, have Primium-based countermagick. Thus, “taking over” a HIT Mark is possible, but not necessarily easy. Plus, the danger of summoning Technocracy attention to one’s Circle is probably the most idiotic violation of the Dictum Mortuum.

Tradition-based technomancers, such as Virtual Adepts and Sons of Ether, typically have better Spirit defenses. In fact, Sons of Ether’s scientific gadgets are so weird that a wraith using Inhabit on one of their devices must roll Intelligence (difficulty 7) or be trapped inside its strange workings for up to a day.

-- Intimation
Intimation works perfectly well on the Quick, including supernaturals. Of course, the wraith must be able to perceive her subject to Intimate. All Intimation arts function equally well on the Awakened. Where Puppetry can oppose powers like Dominate, Intimation may be used to oppose emotion-based powers like Presence. Thus, a master of Intimation could distract a mortal Summoned by yonder vampire via The Craving, or simply tear away the intent of the Summons via Quash. Standard crossover rules apply in these cases (Level vs. Level, successes vs. successes when equal level)

-- Keening
Remember that for any use of Keening to affect the Skinlands, the target(s) must be able to hear the ghost. This is normally achieved through Embody (Phantasm at least).

Wraiths don’t often have much to do with shapechangers. But some, such as Silent Striders, seem especially attuned to the spirits of the dead. Keening can have a profound effect on all lycanthropes. Dirge may be used to steal Rage points (rolled at difficulty 9, one per success) or add Rage points through Ballad (also difficulty 9, one per success). The latter tends to increase the likelihood that the shapechanger will frenzy.

Against the undead, Requiem can be used to directly force a vampire in or out of frenzy. This can be resisted as per normal by Willpower, but only if the target is prepared for the emotional assault. Three successes must be scored to force or end a frenzy.

On the fae, Keenings of sufficient enough beauty can infuse the changeling with Glamour. This normally works best with Requiem, but Ballads can occasionally work, too. This is usually one point of Glamour per success past the first three. But a changeling can only benefit from such a Keening once a month at most. Over time, the benefits will gradually decrease until the faerie is fortunate to glean even one point of Glamour from the wraith. Wraiths are not subject to any form of Epiphany, and this is the only way a changeling can harvest Glamour from a ghost.

Crescendo can be used to assault the Quick provided they can hear the wraith (through Embody normally). For every two successes, one Health Level of lethal damage is inflicted on everyone in hearing range. This damage can be soaked. But if the wraith scores at least 5 successes, the targets will flee in terror (vampires and shapechangers must check for Rotschreck and fox frenzy).

-- Lifeweb
Only the art of Soul Pact has any direct effect on the Quick. But due to the violent nature of the World of Darkness, and the disinterest most supernaturals would hold to becoming one of the Restless, it’s extremely rare for a wraith to initiate a Soul Pact with an Awakened denizen of the Skinlands. And it’s just as rare for the supernatural to accept the terms.

-- Mnemosynis
This Arcanos works perfectly well on the Quick, provided the wraith can perceive and communicate with the Skinlander (via Embody or Phantasm normally). None of the powers affords the target a normal resistance roll, though supernaturals can resist Mindspeak (roll Willpower, difficulty 7).

-- Moliate
Moliate can not be used on the Skinlanders even when Embodied. It functions solely on the plasm of the Underworld. On the other hand, anyone in the Underworld can be Moliated. Thus, even a Tzimisce Elder who finds himself on the wrong side of the Shroud had better watch his arrogant behavior in the presence of the local Masquer Lord. He may find himself more efficiently reshaped into a doorknob or lawn chair than Vicissitude could ever muster. And Vicissitude, functioning only on the flesh, has no effect in the Underworld or on its denizens…

-- Outrage
Outrage is all about the Skinlands. While Stonehand Punch and Obliviate work just as well in the Shadowlands, they’re especially useful for punishing the Quick. The wraith can strike across the Shroud and (usually) remain untouchable. The wraith need only be able to perceive his Skinland targets; Embodying isn’t necessary. While Embodied, any use of Outrage (including Leap of Rage) can be employed. In essence, most Outrage arts manifest like telekinetic attacks, and can be treated as such.

A Stonehand Punch can be dodged (if the target knows it’s coming), but it cannot be blocked. Each dodge success reduces the wraith’s successes, reducing the damage. The damage is lethal and soakable by most supernaturals. Death’s Touch can be used to set objects aflame, but people - even vampires - cannot be directly set on fire through this art. Pyris is the only known Arcanos to directly cook a target in his own flesh.

Obliviate, on the other hand, is one of the most terrible assaults in the whole World of Darkness. It inflicts direct aggravated damage on any target the wraith can perceive. This damage cannot be soaked without special soul-wards (the systems for which this Storyteller cannot imagine outside the realm of the Spirit Sphere), not even by Disciplines like Fortitude!

-- Pandemonium
For the most part, Pandemonium is geared towards affecting the Skinlands. The wraith must be aware of the vicinity or target he wishes to affect, though he need not be Embodied. The effects of Pandemonium are typically physical and supernaturals in the vicinity must deal with them physically. Mostly, the effects of Pandemonium are weird and unsettling, not deadly, although it would be possible through Foul Humour to summon, for example, acid. He could not summon silver or garlic to try to inconvenience supernatural foes, however. And the ghost likewise could not summon any palatable meat or blood for supernaturals’ consumption. Any animals summoned through Pandemonium are only irritating and verminous; circles of gnats and mosquitoes are fine, but angry killer bees are out of the question.

Tempus Fugit can be used to slow down a supernatural using magical methods of speed, such as Rage, Celerity, or Time magick. Tempus Fugit cannot add additional actions to current uses of these powers. It can be used to hasten a supernatural target who is not already benefiting from these powers, but subsequent use of such powers negates the benefits of Tempus Fugit.

-- Phantasm
Phantasm works just as effectively on the Awakened denizens of the Skinlands as it does mortals. Different supernaturals are limited in what powers they can employ in the dream pageant. Cainites, whose Disciplines are dependent on their blood, cannot use any Disciplines, as only their souls are brought into the dream. Cathayans aren’t much better off, but may employ any Soul Disciplines that have no Chi cost. Shapeshifters may use any spirit or mind-based Gifts, but physical Gifts (such as Razor Claws) are useless. True magick is by and large unaffected by the dream pageant, excepting that only certain Spheres are particularly effective in the Underworld, Spirit especially. Dreamspeakers are the most adept at adapting their magick to the dream pageant. Entropy can backfire on both the mage and the wraith, as it can generate Angst for the wraith’s Shadow and thereby endanger the nature of the dream pageant. The fae fare the best, and they have access to their full range of cantrips. Their chimerical possessions (and companion) will likewise manifest in the dream pageant.

If the wraith Embodies, she may also form illusions through Phantasmagoria that can affect the denizens of the Skinlands. Provided the illusions are believed to be real (and if the illusion isn’t something like a Flying Purple People Eater, it probably will be), it can affect and even harm the denizens of the Skinlands. The damage inflicted is either bashing or lethal, depending on the nature of the illusion and its attack (which can be defended against normally).

-- Puppetry
No one is immune to Puppetry. A wraith can use any of his Puppetry arts on an Awakened being in the Skinlands, even Obliterate the Soul. However, such creatures are much more likely to be aware of such meddling, and can resist by spending a Willpower point and rolling Willpower (difficulty 7). Some arts are so sudden in use, like Skinride and Sudden Movement, that they are almost impossible to anticipate and thus, resist. Rein in the Mind, however, is likely to be noticed and countered. Mental defenses through Mind magick will also defend a mage against Puppetry (Spirit isn’t required to counter this Arcanos). Attuning a supernatural, naturally, is even harder to come by, making most uses of Puppetry against the Awakened of the World of Darkness an arduous (but often rewarding) process.

-- Pyris
Pyris functions on the Quick only if the wraith can physically affect them (such as through Embody). In this case, barrow-flame is just as deadly (if not deadlier) as normal fire.

-- Serendipity
Like Fascinate, this Arcanoi is used by the Risen only to affect the Skinlands. This Art’s indirect auspice brings the supernatural and mundane together equally, making for some truly dramatic clashes sometimes. In rare occasions, it has brought a revenant into contact with an Embodied wraith, but that is the exception. Serendipity can never be used in the Shadowlands.

-- Usury
Assessment, Charitable Trust, and Early Withdrawal all function on the Quick. Assessment requires only the wraith’s ability to perceive the Skinlands. Charitable Trust and Early Withdrawal, however, both require that the wraith be able to touch the target. Embody or Phantasm are the most direct routes, but sly wraiths can also do so through Puppetry or even Inhabit.

Early Withdrawal can have a secondary use against the Awakened of the Skinlands. Rolling at +1 difficulty, the ghost can target the supernatural’s “power base” instead of his Health Levels. Thus, he can steal Blood points, Chi points, Gnosis, Glamour, Quintessence, and so forth. This drains the target’s energy directly and adds to the wraith’s Pathos instead of Corpus (never to exceed 10 points of temporary Pathos). Such cavalier energy theft is a quick way to make dangerous enemies.

-- Way of the Artisan
Way of the Artisan has almost no application on the Skinlands. Only the Basic Ability, Hear Jade’s Tale, can function in the Skinlands, and then at +2 difficulty.

-- Way of the Farmer
Occasionally, a Farmer must deal with a kuei that can Embody. In this case, he must Embody as well in order to hunt and subdue the p’o through this Arcanos. Uses of this Arcanos on the Quick are extremely limited: only the Kuei-jin under the direct influence of their P’o are subject to Deaden Spirit.

-- Way of the Merchant
Only Returning the Favor has any effect on the Skinlands or the Quick.

-- Way of the Scholar
The Way of the Scholar can be employed as readily on the Quick as it can on the Dead - provided the subject can hear the wraith’s vocal commands and speech (such as through Embody). The Arcanos works just as well on the supernatural. But its forceful control of the target’s higher soul leaves bitter aftertaste. The shen are likely to be well aware of any use of this Art upon them, and it can earn a wraith dangerous enemies.

-- Way of the Soul
This Art has no effect on anyone but the wraith himself.

Dark Arcanoi

These Arcanoi were listed for Storyteller reference, primarily.

-- Contaminate
This Arcanos has limited use on the denizens of the Skinlands. In fact, only the dual-souled Kuei-jin can be affected. Sense the Shadow, Shadowspeech, Sense Nature, Transfer Angst, and Call the Shadow can be wielded against the Hungry Dead as well as wraiths. Sense the Shadow permits the spectre to sense the P’o Nature with 3 successes (less than that only indicates that there is an awakened Demon Within). Shadowspeech allows the spectre to gain limited information about the vampire. Sense Nature determines the vampire’s Nature and Demeanor.

Transfer Angst has the effect of replenishing the vampire’s Demon Chi, point for point. The Demon Chi pool cannot exceed the vampire’s P’o score as normal. Use of this art also forces an immediate Shadow Soul check. Last but most terrifying of all, Call the Shadow forces the Kuei-jin into Shadow Soul without a resistance roll.

The Soul Discipline of Cultivation can oppose this Arcanos. Cleave the Demon does not immunize the vampire to this art, but the spectre may have to search for the P’o to affect it. Yoke the Demon makes the vampire immune to Call the Shadow, but no other use of Contaminate. Two Become One make the vampire completely invulnerable to Contaminate.

-- Corruption
Corruption often works well on other supernatural beings, especially vampires due to their dark tendencies that mark them as ripe targets for this Arcanos.

-- Hive-Mind
This Arcanos functions only on the spectre’s own twisted brain. But it functions just as well even if the spectre is Embodied.

-- Larceny
The only prerequisite for Larceny to work on the Quick is the ability to perceive the Skinlands. All arts but Steal Corpus and Withstand Oblivion may then apply. Supernaturals are just as vulnerable to these dark arts as mortals. Indeed, darker-souled vampires and shapechangers may even be more vulnerable to such arts, particularly Emotional Infection. At +1 difficulty to the roll, the spectre can force a berserk or fear frenzy in such a creature with 5 successes on the roll.

-- Maleficence
Instead of offering "dark salvation" to a mortal, this art can be used to instead subvert and corrupt any supernatural being.

-- Shroud-Rending
This Art is the sole means by which a spectre can perceive the Skinlands from the Shadowlands. Consequently, it must often be employed prior other Arcanoi use on the Quick or the Skinlands.

-- Tempestos
This Arcanos was designed solely to affect Maelstroms and the Tempest.

-- Tempest-Weaving
This Arcanos was designed solely to affect the Tempest.