Agonistes

**Parent Clan**: Mekhet

**Disciplines**: *Auspex*, Celerity, *Dominate*, Obfuscate

## **Bloodline Weakness: Lure of Torpor**

When an Agoniste fails a detachment roll, they must succeed in a Resolve + Composure check to avoid taking the Languid Condition (Blood and Smoke p. 304).

## **Bloodline Gift: Librarian**

Agonistes get one dot of the Library Merit for free.

## **Devotions: Somnology**

### **Exegesis**

*Auspex ••••, Dominate •• 3XP*

**Cost**: —

**Dice Pool**: Intelligence + Academics + Dominate

**Action**: Extended

Before a vampire enters torpor, the Exegesis is performed by the Agoniste with all attendant ritual observances: bathing, wrapping and positioning of the body,
as well as reading of a series of implanted instructions.
The Intelligence + Empathy + Dominate roll must accumulate a number of successes equal to the subject’s
Resolve + Blood Potency to activate the ritual; each roll
represents an hour’s work.

Once the necessary number of successes is accumulated,
the subject is free to slip into a voluntary torpor empowered by the Exegesis, and will enjoy the benefits of the
Devotion. An Agoniste awakening from such a torpor can take the Inspired Condition. Kindred not of the line (and not seeking membership) will not experience the enlightening sensation of
the ritual, instead just enjoying a dreamless sleep.

### **Syncope**

*Dominate ••, Auspex •••• 3XP*

**Cost**: 1 Vitae

**Dice Pool**: Intelligence + Intimidation + Dominate
vs. Resolve + Blood Potency

Successful use of this Devotion stuns the target for one turn. During this time,
the target slips into a momentary fugue, utterly unaware
of his surroundings. Any aggressive action taken toward
the subject jerks him out of the effect immediately, and
he is free to defend himself normally.

Observant Kindred who are affected by this power
notice that they experience a brief flash of nightmarish
imagery, exactly like the type that spools and repeats
throughout torpor.

### **Palinode**

*Auspex ••••, Dominate ••• 3XP*

**Cost**: 1 Willpower

**Dice Pool**: Intelligence + Academics + Dominate vs.
Resolve + Blood Potency

The power allows an Agoniste to lock away a vampire’s
true memories before torpor, sealing them from the
conscious mind and shielding them from the ravages of
slumber. Elders who have undergone the Palinode awaken from
torpor in a daze (or, in some rare documented cases,
become creatures crafted entirely from the torpor nightmares and the Fog of Ages, more Beast than man) until
an Agoniste uses this power to draw the memories back
from the subconscious and reassert them, at which point
the negative mental effects of torpor fade away.

### **Dodona**

*Auspex ••••, Dominate •••• 4XP*

**Cost**: 1 Willpower

**Dice Pool**: Intelligence + Academics + Dominate

**Action**: Extended

With this power, a Polemicist stores away a portion of an elder vampire’s abilities, sealing them away in
the vampire’s subconscious to be rediscovered when her
blood thickens again.
Success allows the target vampire to protect Skills (not
Attributes, Merits, Disciplines or any other traits) rated
at higher than 5 before being lowered into torpor, so that
the vampire may reclaim them when his Blood Potency
reaches a high enough level without having to spend
experience points. Each success allows for one Skill to
be maintained.