Still the Mortal Flesh

Dominate 7

Description: Despite its name, this power may be employed on vampires as well as mortals, and it has left more than one unfortunate victim writhing in agony or unable to do even that. A vampire who has developed this power is able to override her victim's body as easily as his mind in order to cut off his senses or even stop his heart.

System: The player rolls Manipulation + Medicine (difficulty of the target's Willpower + 2; a difficulty over 10 means that this power cannot effect the target at all). The effect lasts for one tern per success. The player must choose what function of the target's body is being cut off before rolling. She may affect any of the body's involuntary functions; breathing, circulation, perspiration, sight and hearing are all viable targets. While 'Autonomic Mastery / Still the Mortal Flesh' is in effect, a vampire can either stop any one of those functions or cause them to fluctuate erratically.

The exact effects of any given bodily function being shut off are left to the storyteller. Most mortals panic if suddenly struck blind, but only the shutdown of the heart will kill a target instantly. Vampires are unaffected by the loss of heartbeat or breathing, but may be rendered deaf and blind as easily as mortals.

This power was originally printed in the first Dark Ages book as a rank 6 ability. White Wolf's own play-testing convinced them to move it to level 7 when it was re-printed in 3rd edition, and DA2.