What is an Arcanos?
- Name of each Arcanoi
by Path and level
An Arcanos (plural Arcanoi) is a power possessed solely by wraiths. It is not
only an inherent part of a wraith’s supernatural being, but also a survival
tool, and a means of personal discovery. Through these powers, a wraith defines
who and what she is, and how she deals with the universe surrounding her. The
Arcanoi are split into three distinct paths: Hierarch, Renegade, and Heretic.
Hierarch Paths:
For the most part, the hierarch paths are used by the eight Legions of the now-extinct
Empire of Stygia. The Arcanoi are used by these wraiths as tools of structure
and control; the Legions believe that even though Stygia is little more than
a memory, its ideal is still genuine, even if Stygia’s own hubris was
what destroyed it in the end.
Renegade Paths:
The renegade paths of the arcanoi transform a wraith into a vessel of destruction.
They are mostly designed to be used in a full-blown combat, so much so that
one is led to wonder why these arts do not belong to the Shadow; indeed if they
do not, then one might be tempted to wonder what malicious toys they do have
to play with.
Heretic Paths:
Even here, in this mindless confusion, there are some wraiths that have retained
an intense faith in a higher power, and a deep seeded spiritualism that gives
them the strength to carry on. The Heretic paths of the arcanoi serve as a reflection
of the inner self; they express, in a tangible sense, the wishes of a wraith’s
Eidolon. Taking a Heretic path is a spiritual quest, and a constant evolution
of self.
The following is a list of the Arcanoi and the basic purposes behind each. Each Arcanoi has three paths; each path having their own form of the Arcanoi.
Outrage
The Arcanos of Outrage is mostly centered around telekinesis, but for most it
is a question of harnessing one’s inner rage, and focusing it into defying
the laws of physics to move objects and people, hence its name. Outrage may
be used on both sides of the Shroud, unless otherwise noted. Where the target
of a given effect is in the Skinlands, the difficulty is the local shroud. In
the Shadowlands, the difficulty is the local Maelstrom rating.
Moliate
Moliate is the craft of bending and sculpting corpus, and it is a very versatile
power, because the only boundaries (aside from the amount of materials) is the
user’s imagination. However, it can only be used in this way, because
sculpting Corpus does not require a laboratory, and can be undone with the wraith’s
hands, and nothing else (As such all uses of Moliate require direct physical
contact, unless otherwise noted). Any other substance of the Underworld requires
the Inhabit Arcanos in order to manipulate.
Mnemosynis
Mnemosynis is the Arcanos of crafting and manipulating memories. It is a potent
art, and must be used very carefully, but it relies heavily on the creativity
and forethought of the user. Note that any memories that are borrowed from a
target are duplicated, not stolen. (Meaning that while a Mnemos may carry a
memory that is not his own, the original owner of the memory also has it, unless
otherwise noted).
Lifeweb
The Arcanos of Lifeweb allows wraiths to manipulate the connections wraiths
have to various things and people. It is a prized and feared power, because
with it, one may be able to affect a wraith’s access to the Shadowlands,
and if done with harmful intent, can utterly cut off a wraith from his passions.
It should also be noted that a wraith who has Lifeweb can not use it in conjunction
with Fatalism, due to a conflict of sensory input. All Lifeweb difficulties
are the local Maelstrom rating, unless otherwise noted.
Intimation
Intimation is an Arcanos which allows a wraith to subtly manipulate the passions
of others, usually for personal gain. He may be subtle, but can use it aggressively
to command others, erase desires, or create mindless addictions. Each time a
wraith uses Intimation more than three times in an evening, he gains one angst
point.
Usury
Usury is an Arcanos which allows Pathos to be moved and converted a number of
different ways. It is expressed by those who use it in very mathematical terms,
because the use of the Arcanos is generally treated in a very professional and
calculated manner. All Usury difficulties are the local Shroud or Maelstrom
rating, depending on what side of the shroud the effect is targeted.
Puppetry
Puppetry is an Arcanos that focuses on the domination of a mortal body by one
who should not be in it. Remember that while a mortal’s soul is whole
and complete, the soul of a wraith also belongs to the shadow, and so users
of Puppetry must realize they are fighting against 2 adversaries every time
they assume control over a host. All difficulties regarding Puppetry are the
host’s permanent Willpower, unless otherwise noted.
Castigate
In a society where each member of the population is at war with their darker
side, the Arcanos of Castigate is perhaps one of the most crucial. It allows
a wraith not only to gain considerable control over her own shadow, but those
of others as well. He who knows this Arcanos is a peacekeeper, friend, therapist,
cleric, and paladin; vital to any society as dangerous and volatile as the Underworld.
Inhabit
Since plasm is a malleable substance, everything can be shaped into something
else, and therefore, all things in the Underworld (Including wraiths) are raw
materials. While this may seem incredibly morbid, those who practice Inhabit
regularly have come to the understanding that the only way to maintain stability
in a world besieged by Oblivion is to give purpose to things which would otherwise
be consumed. Unless otherwise noted, the difficulty on all Inhabit arts is the
local Shroud rating.
Phantasm
Phantasm allows a wraith to enter and witness the private dreams of mortals,
other wraiths, or anything capable of dreaming. These dreams can be manipulated,
connected, severed, and controlled in a number of ways, depending on the imagination
and intention of the user. Unless otherwise noted, the difficulty for Phantasm
arts is the permanent Willpower of the dreamer.
Fatalism
This Arcanos, while reliable, is not always clear. Most answers given by the
web are cryptic puzzles that must first be deciphered before they have any practical
use. However, oracles have enough of a hold on how the Web functions that they
can use it for various purposes and goals. It should be noted that while it
is possible to have both Fatalism and Lifeweb arts, they can never be combined
to produce conjunctional effects. All difficulties are the local Maelstrom rating
unless otherwise noted.
Argos
Argos is an Arcanos that is built around movement. It includes a gradual understanding
of the tempest and its workings, and so requires that in order to advance one’s
self, one must spend a large portion of time there. Also included in the Arcanos
are arts which allow the body to explore the full range of motion in a ‘liquid’
universe; teleportation, flight, remote handling, and invisibility are some
possibilities. Unless otherwise noted, all difficulties regarding Argos are
the current Maelstrom rating.
Flux
The Arcanos of Flux is a power which allows one to manipulate the process by
which an object in the Skinlands breaks down. It was banned for a very long
time by the now-extinct Hierarchy, because it deal quite heavily with decaying
objects in the Skinlands (and at its higher levels cause the Fog). However,
the Alchemists have discovered a means by which to strengthen the integrity
of relics, making them as hard as Soulsteel. This power alone makes Flux as
invaluable as it is volatile. All difficulties, unless otherwise noted, are
the local shroud rating.
Embody
Learning to manifest in the Skinlands is a very difficult endeavor, and requires
a high degree of concentration. The user focuses his attention on a piece of
sensory input in the Skinlands, and then meditates on that input for a full
action. Unless otherwise noted, all difficulties are equal to the local shroud
rating.
Keening
Keening has always had a stigma attached to it as one of the softer, more fragile
arcanos, though there are a few renegades who would openly dispute such an assumption,
and correct whoever made it with haste and fury. Unfortunately, the Chantuers’
inability to properly represent its potential has labeled it as such, and most
wraiths will scoff at those who claim it can be used as a potent weapon.
Pandemonium
Pandemonium is an Arcanos that offers a wraith some consolation, in that it
allows him to exert a fair bit of control over the chaos that constantly surrounds
his existence. This control often comes at a high price though. It is said that
too much use of Pandemonium can drive the user mad. Difficulty for these arts
is the local shroud, unless otherwise noted.