Animalism
- Outside I knew there lurked the beast,
- Who hung around and made deceased,
- Those who did not follow demands,
- Would fall at his cold-blooded, claw-like hand,
- Like Sleeping Beauty I lie in wait,
- For this untamed beast to contemplate my fate,
- There is nothing much that I can do,
- For it is now far overdue.
- -An excerpt from "The Beast Within" by Kim Kresswell.
- Introduction to Animalism
Normally, animals avoid vampires, sensing the supernatural predators and their beasts for what they are. A Cainite needs a moderate rating in Animal ken just to keep mundane animals from panicking when the beasts catch the scent of such a supreme predator. With Animalism, however, vampires can use animals as food, as spies, and occasionally as weapons. Such activity does go against animals' natural instincts, but the unholy power of the Cainite is more than sufficient to trample the creatures' basic desires. After all, as more than one Gangrel has pointed out, being saddled and ridden goes against a horse's natural instincts, and yet they acquiesce to such treatment quite readily after learning their place in the universe.
Animalism, like all Cainite Disciplines, contains a reflection of God's curse on Caine. Vampires who use Animalism extensively recede from humanity and from Cainite society - a fact that may help explain why the Nosferatu and Gangrel are such outcasts. Animals' activities and reactions are simple and predictable, and they are easy to shove about with Animalism. This is much less true for humans and vampires, and Animalism users risk the loss of their social skills.
Animalism is a clan Discipline for the Gangrel, Nosferatu, Ravnos and Tzimisce. Their twisted visages and outre habits push these vampires father away from the embrace of immortal culture and out into the company of beasts. Animalism may be useful to any Cainite, but many of the High clans eschew it in favor of those abilities that more directly affect the human psyche. Animalism is favored by those on the Road of the Beast in particular.
- Main Sequence
- 1) Feral Speech
- 2) Noah's Call
- 3) Cowing the Beast / Song of Serenity
- 4) Ride the Wild Mind
- 5) Drawing out the Beast
- Alternate Powers 1-5
- 5) Chosen Breed - created by Ravanos Madam Mina
- Advanced Animalism
- Level 6
- Animal Succulence (GC 82)
- Beast Walk (LH 135)
- Deep Song (CR2 42)
- Gap of Ages (LS4 76)
- Pact with Animals (PGLC 144-145)
- Quell the Herd (DAV 175-176)
- Sense the Savage Way (DAC 78)
- Shared Soul (GC 82-83)
- Shepherd's Innocence (PG2 41)
- Species Speech (GC 83-84)
- Tainted Oasis (VN 158-159)
- Tier of Souls (CTz2 44)
- Vrykolas (LS1 64)
- Level 7
- Conquor the Beast (GC 83)
- Crimson Fury (CG3 63-64)
- Master's Voice (PG2 41)
- Send the Eighth Plague (PGLC 145)
- Stampede (CG3 62)
- Twist the Feral Will (DAC 78)
- Level 8
- Mass Summons (PG2 42)
- Twin Spirits (PG2 42)
- Taunt the Caged Beast (GC 83)
- Unchain the Ferocious Beast (PGLC 146)
- Level 9
- Eyes of the Forest (CG3 64)
- Flesh Bond (PG2 42)
- Free the Beast Within (PGLC 146)
- Proposed Animalism Powers
