The Flaying
Requires Vicissitude 3 for full utility, but can aid other forms of mimicry.
This power has helped many a Fiend hold onto his domain. Normally, it is very difficult to effect precise duplication of a specific person through Vicissitude. With this grisly power, however, a Tzimisce may "graft" the skin of a flayed victim to his own, enabling the Fiend to pose as and impersonate the skinned person. In this manner, many Tzimisce infiltrate the halls of the mighty.
System: The Tzimisce first uses Vicissitude (and perhaps a sharp knife or two) to flay the victim, then evokes this power while naked and wrapped in the victim's bloody skin. The skin "grafts" onto the Fiend's own, thus granting an automatic Vicissitude duplication (no roll required). The Fiend may maintain the stolen shape as long as he likes.
In addition, the Fiend absorbs the psychic impression left behind by the dying person: Attempts to impersonate the deceased are made at a -3 difficulty: Details of the victim's life and intimate mannerisms spring into the Tzimisce's awareness at appropriate moments, and the Fiend even has a basic awareness of how the victim felt about relevant individuals.
Once a shape is discarded, the victim's skin peels away and the power ends. However, the Tzimisce can maintain a mental "catalog" of "imprinted" shapes (a number equal to Intelligence + Memory). An "imprinted" shape may be assumed with five minutes' effort and a simple Dexterity + Crafts (Body) roll (difficulty 6).
Note: Players and Storytellers will notice that I added the second to last paragraph: As an Auspex power, rather than a power of Vicissitude, it seemed appropriate. After all, impersonation is much more than simple appearance. -Jamie
