Cousombre (Rules)

## Advantages

Cousombre increase their **Illusion** and **Prospection** by 1.

They start with the following Powers:

* **Illusion:** *Spook, Drown the Echo* and *Swing the Mood*

Note that for some of these powers to be activated their prerequisites need to be learned

## Unique Powers and Rituals

### Aspirant Powers

**Beguile [Requires the Blood of the Cousombre | 10 points]-** *Allows the Aspirant to slow down and numb the mind of a person they have eye contact to, making them more receptive towards their rethorics and gain their undivided attention.*

Active: The Aspirant may spend two points of Essence and choose a target they are a talking to. For an entire scene their target will reduce their dicepool by 3 when attempting to resist a charisma-based action as long as its within the conversation, aswell as being unable to increase their dicepool using Binding or Vigor. This penalty also applies to Alertness Rolls.

**Whisperer in the Darkness [Requires six powers of Illusion and the Blood of the Cousombre | 20 points]-** *Allows the Aspirant to convince a person to perform a specific action. They will later believe doing so was their own idea.*

Active: The Aspirant may engage in a drawn out conversation with their target. By using charismatic and eloquent words they can be compelled into performing a specific action. This requires about 10-30 minutes, two successful Evocation Rolls and a contested Charisma Roll. When succeeding they will perform the desired action as described by the Aspirant and believe it was an idea of their own. It will be nigh impossible to remember the conversation in which this power was casted upon them.

### Aspirant Rituals

**Crimson Contract [Requires the Blood of the Cousombre | 5 points]-** *Allows the Aspirant to craft a contract that supernaturally binds both parties to their word. To do so they must prepare a piece of parchment and soak it in bat-blood for three full nigths. Afterwards it may be taken out and dried over a fire only fed by the thorns of roses while reciting a passage from the Book of Blood. After it has dried the contract may be written out, explaining the details of the arrangement. Afterwards both parties must sign the contract in their blood/Essence which will make its effects binding. Should any party defy its rules, a chosen punishment is enacted upon them supernaturally. Destroying the contract will end its supernatural effect however.*

Duration: 1 AP / 3 days

Ritual Resources: Common (2); Optional Narrative Resource

Effects: Creates a supernatural contract between the two parties. Should the contract be violated a number of chosen powers or rituals is casted upon the offender. These power must be chosen beforehand and must be known by any of the contractors. Through gathering a narrative resource a custom effect may be applied. The contract will remain active until fufilled or destroyed.

## Backgrounds

**[Requires Specific Knowledge (Cousombre Lore 2+)]-**

* **5 points; *Ombres Couronnée-*** *The Cousombre are masters over the human mind, acting as shadowy puppeteers that guide human fates from the dark. For centuries they have enforced the image that, like living shadows, it is impossible to reveal a Cousombre or their dealings.* Once per session the Cousombre can recieve a form of cover-up for something that would expose their Bloodlines activities or the identity of its members (alas its already public knowledge).
* **5 points; *Unnatural Eloquence-*** *The Cousombre have the most extensive understanding of the human mind. Through subtle rethorics, carefully picked words and controlled body language they can sway the minds of mortals and Afflicted alike.* The Cousombre may choose a social Talent to specialise on. Once per session they may reroll any amount of dice when making a roll on the chosen Talent.
* **20 points*; Royal Blood***- The Cousombre may choose to be a distant relative of *House Hanover, House Hohenzollern, House Habsburg, House Orléans* or *House Borbón.* This makes them a lesser Aristocrat respected by most mortals and other members of their House aswell as giving them access to the Privileged Profession.

## Corruption

* **Inhuman Vanity-** *Cousombre view themselves as the most superior creatures of the night and the rigthful rulers of undead-kind. To them, mortals are mindless toys and other Afflicted mudblooded servants. Many internalize this mindset so much it becomes intrinsical to their being. To such Cousombre it becomes physically revolting to not treat those below them condescendingly.* Aknowledging a character as equal or supreme that is not a Cousombre requires a Composure Roll with difficulty 3. Should they fail they will loose a point of Binding.

* **Shadow in the Mind***- The Cousombre live most of their unlifes in the shadows, guiding and puppeteering the fates of others. Many of their agents spend so much time hiding and trying to obfuscate their presence and identity. Over the eaons some Cousombres develop a shadowy aura, cleansing the memory of their face from the minds of the people around them.* Most characters will have a hard time remembering the Afflicteds face and forget trivial encounters with them.