Blood Gift of Glamour

The Blood Gift of Glamour is wielded by vampires in order to influence the emotions and desires of other beings. Glamour is the source of many vampiric legends which tell tales of the undead enthralling mortals with unearthly beauty, or sending them running away with terror with naught but a look. Glamour is often compared to Mesmer, for both powers are used in influencing others, but it is far less direct and more subtle than its cousin.

## Mechanics

Glamour functions by the vampire projecting telepathic energies from themselves, which can be simply projected out over a broad area, or focused upon a single target (with the concentration of power provided by the latter making the effect more potent). These energies then serve to project a chosen emotion onto the recipient. No direct alterations to the emotions they are presently experiencing occurs, but rather, the projected emotion serves to overwhelm and suppress them, enabling this power to be used even on beings who are resistant or immune to having their minds altered.

Advanced users of Glamour have greater control over what emotions they induce, and can infuse emotions into objects, or ingraining feelings into individuals.

The more potent a vampire's mastery of Glamour, the longer the effects of their powers persist, the more individuals they can affect at once, and the longer the distance that they can reach over.

## Powers

### New Blood Gifts (Levels 1-2)

* **Allure (Level 1):** The most intrinsic use of Glamour enables vampires to seize the attention of those around them. It induces an immediate feeling of strong attraction and fascination towards the wielder, making those affected more amenable towards their words. This affect can be fought off with sufficient willpower, or easily brushed aside if there is suddenly any danger added, as the weak bonds of Allure snap. More powerful Glamour wielders, however, may strengthen their Allure to the point that even being harmed cannot divert the attention of their victims.
* **Affright (Level 2):** The usage of this power on a victim causes them to be filled with fear and apprehension. While being Affrighted will not cause anyone to run away screaming, the power does make them much more vulnerable to intimidation, a useful tactic when attempting to make threats or simply throw around some weight.
* **Soothe (Level 2):** When employed, this ability puts whoever is effected by it into a state of calm, making them less likely to begin running away, shrieking their head off. Soothe is insufficient to calm someone who is in a terrified panic, but can allay feelings of unease or trepidation, such as those that might be caused by a predatory smile or being lead down a dark alleyway. It is an ability employed by many young vampires in the moments leading up to feeding.

### Common Blood Gifts (Levels 3-4)

* **Aggravate (Level 3):** An ability often used to instigate trouble, Infuriate does exactly what the name implies: To drive whoever is subjected to it to anger. This fills the victim with anger, making them more easily incited to anger by mundane annoyances, or driven to outright violence by threats.
* **Dread (Level 3):** A more potent version of Affright, Dread *can* cause those subjected to it to run away screaming. Dread instills extreme fear in whoever it affects. With the fear in place, a frightening gesture can be made to send the victim running or falling to their knees, begging for mercy.
* **Entrancement (Level 3):** Entrancement causes those affected by it to enter an emotional state where they are extremely amenable to all manner of suggestions put forth by the user of this ability. They regard the user like a trusted friend, feeling happy and excited in their presence, and willing to carry out all manner of ideas that they posit. This is often used by more experienced vampires to convince prey to journey with them to a more private venue where they can be fed upon.
* **Inspiration (Level 4):** Many vampiric generals employ this ability, which enables them to instill troops under their command with courage and hope, allowing a charismatic vampire to stir them to heroism with a rousing speech. This also has the effect of making it harder to use any fear based powers to intimidate or cow any Inspired individual. This ability is best used before battle, as overcoming already present fear makes the power more difficult to employ.
* **Safeguard (Level 4):** An essential power for any vampire who does not wish to be made a fool out of by their inferiors, a Glamour Safeguard involves a vampire projecting power out which makes them more resistant to the effects of Glamour when it is used against them. As a vampire further masters Glamour, they become more resistant to being Glamourd by other vampires.

### Elder Blood Gifts (Levels 5-7)

* **Beckoning (Level 5):** A power that functions in a similar manner to the Call used in a Blood Bond, the ability to Beckon another being allows elder vampires to summon others to their presence, so long as they have been in their presence before. This functions by instilling an urge to travel to the Beckoner's side, and the victim will attempt to do so, though they will not be compelled to take any severe risks in the journey. Unlike the Call, Beckonings grow weaker with greater distance, dependent on the Glamour mastery of whoever is performing the Beckoning, and with sufficient distance, the victim might not even be aware that a Beckoning attempt was made. Beckonings are stronger if the subject has been Glamourd previously, or if they are blood bonded to the vampire performing the Beckoning. A Beckoning lasts so long as a vampire wills it to, and is able to spend the power to keep it active. While no concentration is required beyond activating a Beckoning, the ability does steadily drain energy as long as it is sustained, and does require them to be conscious, meaning that the power does not function from torpor.
* **Despair (Level 5):** A power used most often for the purpose of torture, Despair crushes its victims with the weight of misery and hopelessness so long as they remain within range of whoever is sustaining it. Such an unpleasant state makes them easily convinced of heartbreaking words they might otherwise believe, or convinced to give up secrets in their state of despondence.
* **Lust (Level 5):** This ability is often used by vampires when they wish to avoid the effort of seducing someone. When employed, it incites arousal in the victim, and makes it so even the slightest suggestion of eroticism from someone they might usually find repulsive is enough to send them into a lustful frenzy.
* **Petrify (Level 5):** Using this advanced version of Dread, an elder may simply gaze upon one who has offended them, and incite such fear within them that they cease to be able to move. They become so frightened that they can take no action, to flee, attack, or anything else besides breathe. When used on particularly weak willed mortals, the ability has been known to cause the victims to soil themselves.
* **Bestow Safeguard (Level 6):** For those vampires with allies they wish to protect from Glamour based manipulation, this is an essential power. Anyone within a vampire's presence can be Safeguarded against Glamour. Elsewise, they must ingest the vampire's blood, enabling them to maintain a Safeguard from a distance. Any such Safeguard can be deactivated at any time.
* **Enamor (Level 6):** For those who wish to forgo the messy long term aspects of the Blood Bond, this power exists as a substitute. Any subjected to it become, as the name implies, Enamored with the wielder, desiring to please and protect them. This power, unlike the Bond, lasts only as long as the wielder keeps it active, and the victim remains in their presence.
* **Repulsion (Level 6):** This ability generates a field of fear and revulsion around the vampire, causing anyone within it to instinctively back away. Bereft of means of escape, victims might try to back themselves against the wall, closing their eyes and shrinking away.
* **Ardent Beckoning (Level 7):** A more advanced and potent version of the Beckoning, this power causes any Beckoned individual to struggle mightily to reach the one summoning them. They will move towards them with all possible haste, and will do whatever is necessary to speed towards them, putting themselves in danger and engaging in acts of violence if they think it will get them there any faster.
* **Majesty (Level 7):** An ability wielded by powerful elders, Majesty crushes everyone around them with the weight of their overwhelming presence. Victims of this power are struck by the grandeur and magnificence of whoever wields it, with the common reaction being to fall to their knees in supplication. To all but the most resistant, raising words against the wielder is a struggle, and to raise a hand to them virtually unthinkable. If anyone should attempt to go against the wielder of the power, the others affected by it shall be moved to shout or even strike them down for daring to defy their glorious overlord. Mighty as this power is, it is best used sparingly. Being forced to act like a dumbstruck sycophant is not something most people are overly fond of.

### Ancient Blood Gifts (Levels 8-9)

* **Frenzy (Level 8):** This power is the reason why many armies lead by vampiric ancients are known for being merciless, fearless fanatics who utterly disregard their own lives, making them a terror to face in battle. When employed, Frenzy causes those affected by it to enter a berserk state, where they are driven by the desire to brutally kill their enemies, completely ignore wounds, and do not even care if they live or die. The ancient wielder has control over who the rage of the Frenzied is directed at.
* **Strings of Eros (Level 8):** A power whose name was given by an ancient fond of its use named Alexander Guillaume, this advancement of Enamor enables a vampire to forge long lasting ties of love and affection towards themselves, or between a set of victims of their choice. Depending how much effort is put into strengthening the Strings, the artificial love may last anywhere from days to years before requiring reinforcement, during which time the simulated affection might well blossom into something real.
* **Beckon the Brood (Level 9):** The utilization of this power enables a vampire to use any Beckoning related powers at their disposal on any vampire who is descended from them. This can be done on an individual basis, or upon large groups of descendants. The further down the bloodline the ancient wishes to Beckon, and the more individuals they wish to subject to the power at once, the more effort is required from them. Unlike a standard Beckoning, this power can be used by a vampire in torpor.
* **Passion Eruption (Level 9):** An ability used by many ancients to incite all manner of chaos, Passion Eruption enables them to make emotions of their choice felt across a vast area. At their will, they may cause an eruption of supernaturally potent feeling within a vicinity dependent on their Glamour mastery. Anger might cause citywide violence to begin, whilst lust might cause thousands to descend into decadent orgies. Sometimes, this ability activates unconsciously, causing vampires to force the population of wherever they make their residence to feel whatever they are experiencing. As this power can be used in torpor, the dreams of many sleeping ancients have incited a great deal of chaos.

### Primordial Blood Gifts (Levels 10-11)

* **Enact Vision (Level 10):** As a primordial vampire achieves this power, the strength of their desires become so potent and so subtle that the lands around them move towards carrying out their goals. The vampire's long term desires are striven towards by the people around them. Society changes to suit their whim, slowly but surely. Their architectural ideals are steadily constructed. Eventually, wars against those they hate come to pass. Fortunately for whatever civilization they reside in, only the most potent vampires have this ability. Unfortunately, its effects persist even while the primordial lies in torpor. Theoretically, this ability could be deactivated, but why would anyone do such a thing?
* **Icon (Level 11):** The Firstborn vampires were once worshipped as gods. Some of them employ this power to make it so again. Any being who lays eyes upon them or enters their presence is instantly convinced of their absolute divinity, and overwhelmed by the sheer glory of the sight of them. The victim of this power becomes at once utterly devoted to them, desiring nothing more but to worship them, please them, and die for them. The potency of this effect is so tremendous that victims of it can transmit this devotion to anyone they come into contact with, as long as the Firstborn wishes for them to do so. While this ability would easily enable the Firstborn who possess it to reestablish themselves as gods, they all remember the Great Flood, which was unleashed when they dared reign over mankind as deities.