Halo of the Damned
Requisite Disciplines: Auspex 2, Obtenebration 2
Description: The Lasombra are known for utilizing their influence over preternatural darkness in manifold ways and the discipline technique known as the "Halo of the Damned" is no different. Though it is a specialized use of the Nocturne power of Obtenebration combined with the Auspex power of Soul Sight.
Essentially, the Lasombra channels Obtenebration spiritually rather than physically, and creates a cloud of spiritual darkness that clings only to the halos of the Children of Caine. In this way, the Lasombra can detect the presence of individual vampires in large crowds of mortals or the presence of multiple Cainites in a given area.
If the Lasombra's application of Obtenebration to the halos of other Cainites is successful, then to his specialized sight, each immortal's halo is limned in otherworldly darkness, thus revealing the damned nature of the individual or individuals without necessarily revealing the contents of the halo itself.
As the saying goes: "The eyes are windows to the soul" and an unfortunate side effect of this power is the complete blackening of the Lasombra's eyes. This effect scares most mortals, and even some vampires are taken aback, the first time they see it.
System: The player expends a point of blood and rolls Perception + Occult (difficulty 8). Every success creates an expanding cloud of spiritual darkness that initially envelopes the Lasombra at a radius of 3 meters and each additional success past the first, doubles the radius of spiritual darkness.
Mortals and animals can detect the change in atmosphere, but only the most observant Cainite can detect the cloud of spiritual darkness. As a side effects, the Lasombra raises the difficulty of all social interactions with mortals by one (+2) and those mortals that see the Magister's eyes during use must roll Courage (difficulty 7).
This discipline technique can be arbitrated by the rules concerning Auspex versus Obfuscate. Therefore, should a fellow Cainite have a rating in Obfuscate lower than the Lasombra's Auspex rating, that vampire is detected. If that Cainite's Obfuscate is equal to the Lasombra's Auspex rating, then there is an opposed roll of Perception + Subterfue (difficulty 7) by the Lasombra versus a roll of Manipulation + Subterfuge (difficulty 7) by the hidden Cainite. And, if the Lasombra's Auspex rating is higher than the Cainite for which he may be looking, then the Lasombra succeeds automatically.
If the vampire wishes to read the contents of another Cainites halo, then he must use a separate application of Soul Sight to do so.
Experience Cost: 14
