Obfuscate

Obfuscate

This uncanny power enables Kindred to conceal themselves from others' site.By simply wishing to remain unseen,a vampire can disappear, even if he stands in full view of a crowd.The immortal doesn't actually become invisible; he simply deludes any observers into thinking he has vanished.Additional uses of Obfuscate include changing the Kindreds features and concealing other people or objects.
   Unless the vampire purposefully makes himself seen, he can remain obscured indefinately.At higher levels of power, the vampire may fade from view so subtly that those nearby never register the point at which he "left".
   Under most circumstances, few mortals or supernaturals can penetrate Obfuscate's cloaking fog.Animals, operating on a more instinctive level, often perceive (and fear) the vampire's presence even if they can't detect him with their normal senses.Children and other innocents to whom deception is foreign might also be able to pierce the deception.
   The Auspex Discipline enables a kindred to see through Obfuscate.Since Obfuscate affects the viewer's mind,Kindred cannot use this discipline to cloak their presence from mechanical devices.Video recordings and photographs capture the vampire's image faithfully.Even so, such is Obfuscate's ability to bend the mind that someone using a recording device will not see the immortal's image until she views the footage at a later date, if even then.
     Several clans---Assamites,Followers of Set,Malkavians,Nosferatu---use this power,but it stands as the hallmark of the Nosferatu.A number of elder Kindred believe Caine,or perhaps Lilith, bestowed the clan with this Discipline to compensate for the hideousphysical deformities its members suffer.Most Obfuscate powers last for a short period of time.Once evoked, they require very little mental effort to keep in place.

Levels of Power

Level 1 Cloak of Shadows: At this level, the vampire must rely on nearby shadows and cover to assist in hiding his presence.He steps into an out-of-the-way, shadowed place and eases himself from normal site.The vampire remains unnoticed as long as he stays silent,still,under some degree of cover (curtain,bush,door frame,lamppost,alley) and out of direct lighting.The immortal's concealment vanishes if he moves,attacks,or falls under direct light.Furthermore, the vampire's deception cannot stand concentrated observation without fading.

Level 2Unseen Presence: With experience,the vampire can move around without being seen.Shadows seem to shift to cover him,and others automatically avert their gaze as he passes by.People move unconciously to avoid contact with the cloaked creature;those with weak wills may even scurry away from the area in unacknowledged fear.The vampire remains ignored indefinately unless someone deliberately seks hihm out or he inadvertantly reveals himself.Since the vampire fully retains his physical substance,he must be careful to avoid contact with anything that might disclose his presence (knocking over a vase,bumping into someone).Even a wispered word or the scuffing of a shoe against the floor can be enough to disrupt the power.

Level 3 Mask of a Thousand Faces: The Vampire can influence the perception of others, causing them to see someone different from the immortal himself.Although the Kindred's physical form does not change, any observer who cannot sense the truth sees whomever the vampire wishes her to see.The vampire must have a firm idea of the visage he wishes to project.The primary decision is whether to create an imaginary face or to superimpose the features of another person.Manufactured features are often more difficult to compose in believable proportions,but such a disguise is easier to maintain than having to impersonate someone else.Of course, things get simpler if the Kindred borrows the face but doesnt bother with the personality.

Level 4 Vanish From the Minds Eye: This potent expression of Obfuscate enables the vampire to disappear from plain view. So profound is this vanishing that the immortal can fade away even if he stands directly before someone.While the disappearance itself is quite subtle, its impact on those who see it is anything but.Most kine panic and flee in the aftermath.Especially weak-willed individuals wipe the memory of the kindred from their minds. Although vampires are not shaken so easily,even Kindred may be momentarily surprised by the suddenvanishing.

Level 5 Cloak the Gathering: At this degree of power,the vampire may extend his concealing abilities to cover an area.The immortal may use any Obfuscate power upon those nearby as well as upon himself, if he wishes.Any protected person who compromises the cloak exposes himself to view.Further, if the one who invokes the power gives himself away,the cloak falls from everyone.This power is particularly useful if the vampire needs to bring his retinue through a secure location without drawing the notice of others.