Sound of a Breaking Oath
Auspex 4, Dominate 4 or Presence 4
Betrayal is most often done in silence and the shadows, but some Cainites can hear betrayal and disloaylty on the wind. A vampire with this technique may know if any who have sworn allegiance to him forswear their oaths. The knowledge comes to the character like a distant sound of bells or breaking glass, or sometimes as a foul stench or a chill up the spine, but it is certain knowledge of betrayal, regardless.
System: Whenever one of the character's sworn vassals, through word or deed, violates the letter of his oath of fealty, the Storyteller should secretly roll the character's Perception + Leadership, with a difficulty of the oath-breaker's Willpower. The number of successes determines how much the character learns about the oath-breaking.
| 1 success | The character knows that a vassal has broken faith with him, but does not know who, where or how. |
| 2 | The character knows the whereabouts of the oath-breaker, but no other details |
| 3 | The character knows the identity and whereabouts of the oath-breaker. |
| 4 | The character also knows in general what sort of violation has been committed. |
| 5 | The character has a vision of the oath-breaker for a few seconds after the violation is committed. |
Note that this technique provides no forewarning of treachery or betrayal, nor does it sense disloyal thoughts, only deeds. A vampire would receive no warning, for example, if a previously faithful vassal suddenly plunged a stake into her heart, unless bringing such a weapon into the vampire's presence constituted a violation of the vassal's oath, in which case the vampire could learn of it. The technique only affects those who have sworn oaths of fealty or loyalty to the character, not allies, associates, peers, or anyone else. It does affect thralls under the effects of the character's Dominate or Presence disciplines and those bound by the blood oath.
Experience Cost: 28
In the modern era, a would-be corporate overlord might find his dreams troubled as every instance of petty pilfering of office supplies (in violation of the employee's signed contract) could find its way into the mogul's conscienceness. But this might be a bit too cruel. -Jamie
