Savage Ghost Tamer Arts

 

Taste The Demon Wind

Cost: 2 motes

Duration: Instant

Type: Simple

Minimum Valor: 1

Minimum Essence: 1

Prerequisite Charms: None

One of the most common hazards of ghostly existence are roving packs of hungry ghosts. Mindless and driven by inhuman appetites, they roam the across the worlds, constantly searching for prey, living or otherwise. As such, it behooves a clever ghost to be aware of these potential hazards, and Taste the Demon Wind allows a ghost to do exactly that.

When a ghost uses this power, a successful roll of Perception + Presence renders her aware of the number, direction and location of any hungry ghosts in the vicinity. The more successes rolled, the further out hungry ghosts can be detected.

Number of Successes         Range

1                                  100 yards

2                                  250 yards

3                                  500 meters

4                                  1 mile

5                                  5 miles

Taste the Demon Wind must be used consciously. The ghost must be actively listening for hungry ghosts, or else, this Arcanos is useless. The way in which the power manifests varies from spirit to spirit. Some detect hungry ghosts as a foul odor or a sudden chill, while others claim to be able to suddenly hear their howling, even from great distances. Once a ghost has detected a hungry ghost, she is then aware of its location at all times until it leaves her range. Hungry ghosts are not aware they've been found out, nor are they usually clever enough to lope outside of range and then return, undetected.

 

Call The Ravening Hound

Cost: 8 motes, 1 Willpower

Duration: Instant

Type: Simple

Minimum Valor: 2

Minimum Essence: 1

Prerequisite Charms: Taste the Demon Wind

Summoning a hungry ghost — or a pack of them — is not the brightest thing a ghost can do. However, there are times when it makes sense to do so. The arrival of a pack of hungry ghosts can provide excellent cover for an escape, and some of the more advanced Arcanoi also provide uses for hungry ghosts that arrive.

The use of Call the Ravening Hound requires a successful Manipulation + Presence roll. The more successes scored, the further away the hungry ghosts may be that are summoned (and the more who are likely to heed the call). Bear in mind, however, that if one hungry ghost suddenly bolts in response to a summons, the rest of his pack may follow of its own volition.

Number of Successes         Range                    Maximum Number of Hungry Ghosts Called

1                                              100 yards               1

2                                              250 yards               2

3                                              500 yards               4

4                                              1 mile                      8

5                                              5 miles                    20

When a ghost uses this power successfully, a cold, unearthly shrieking rises up from where he is standing. This radiates outward to the limits of the Arcanos' effective range. Any hungry ghosts within the range will howl in response, and the nearest to the summoning ghost will respond. This initial call is very distinctive, and those who are familiar with the use of the Arcanos will be able to recognize it for what it is. This practice is highly illegal in civilized portions of the Underworld.

Those caught using Call the Ravening Hound face enslavement or worse as punishment for deliberately attracting the scourge of hungry ghosts.

 

Relentless Hunter’s Mark

Cost: 10 motes, 1 Willpower

Duration: One hour

Type: Simple

Minimum Valor: 4

Minimum Essence: 3

Prerequisite Charms: Call the Ravening Hound

Hungry ghosts are relentless, savage hunters. This is why many ghosts find it useful to unleash them on their enemies. Placing the Relentless Hunter's Mark on a victim immediately makes that individual the center of attention for any hungry ghost in the vicinity, as well as any he stumbles across while the Mark endures. A pale white handprint outlined in angry red, the Mark calls hungry ghosts to itself like raw meat calls hungry dogs, and it whips those hungry ghosts into a frenzy of anger against the Mark's bearer.

The Mark can be placed on an individual or on an item such as a breastplate or weapon. To place the Relentless Hunter's Mark, a ghost's player must make a successful Dexterity + Brawl roll for his character to touch the target, then succeed on a Manipulation + Presence roll (difficulty 2). The Mark then remains in place on the target for an hour, highly visible to all. Hungry ghosts will react to the Mark immediately and will pursue the victim relentlessly until either they or their target is brought down. Once the Mark fades, hungry ghosts will no longer be unnaturally drawn to the character, but if they're already hunting her, they won't suddenly stop.

While the basic Mark fades after an hour, some ghosts are skilled at prolonging its effects. The expenditure of a single experience point when placing the Relentless Hunter's Mark on a target seals it in place for a year and a day. Spending 2 makes it permanent.

 

Diversion Of The Savage Hunger

Cost: 12 motes

Duration: One scene

Type: Simple

Minimum Valor: 2

Minimum Essence: 1

Prerequisite Charms: Call the Ravening Hound

The flip side of detecting the location of a nearby hungry ghost is preventing it from detecting you. While ghosts of power can deal with even a pack of hungry ghosts with minimal risk of destruction, not every restless spirit is so capable. Even those who can put down a hungry ghost should the situation require it often prefer to avoid any confrontation on general principle.

With that in mind, many ghosts become skilled in the exercise of Diversion of the Savage Hunger. The successful use of this Arcanos effectively removes a ghost from the perception of any nearby hungry ghosts. A successful Perception + Presence roll is required (difficulty 2), but once success is achieved, the hungry ghost or ghosts are no longer a problem — a single successful use hides a ghost from all hungry ghosts until the end of the scene. Any attack on the hungry ghosts or otherwise ostentatious display of the hiding ghost's presence negates the effect of Diversion of the Savage Hunger and leaves the ghost vulnerable to attack once again.

 

Tame The Wicked Appetite

Cost: 8 motes

Duration: One scene

Type: Simple

Minimum Valor: 2

Minimum Essence: 2

Prerequisite Charms: Diversion of the Savage Hunger

Tame the Wicked Appetite does exactly what its name suggests: It soothes the driving passion of hungry ghosts, rendering them passive and calm. Hungry ghosts that are affected will simply lay down in their tracks or wander around dazed. If attacked, they will return to their customary savagery, but if not attacked, they will be dull and passive until the Arcanos' power wears off. They will not even resist attempts to chain or muzzle them, though once they feel their bonds they may become more violent. Using Tame the Wicked Appetite requires a roll of Charisma + Presence. The more successes obtained, the more hungry ghosts that can be dealt with. Any hungry ghost struck by the usage of Tame the Wicked Appetite will fall prey to it immediately, whether it is wandering the shadowlands or in mid-pounce. This Charm has a maximum range of (the ghost's Valor x 10) yards.

Number of Successes         Number of Hungry Ghosts Tamed

1                                              1

2                                              3

3                                              5

4                                              10

5                                              20

The hungry ghosts' hunger remains sated for the duration of a single scene, though for the cost of another mote of Essence, the ghost using the Arcanos can extend the effect for an hour. Furthermore, by spending an experience point, the ghost can make the effect permanent, rendering the affected hungry ghosts permanently deprived of their appetites. This expenditure releases any Essence committed to the Charm.

 

Command The Hungry Devil

Cost: 8 motes, 1 Willpower

Duration: Instant

Type: Simple

Minimum Valor: 3

Minimum Essence: 2

Prerequisite Charms: Call the Ravening Hound

There are times when it is not enough to divert a hungry ghost. Occasionally, it is useful to harness the ravening power of a hungry ghost to one's own ends. Thus was developed the ability to Command the Hungry Devil. This Arcanos allows a ghost to issue a single, irresistible command to a hungry ghost. The command itself must be obeyed to the letter and to the best of the hungry ghost's ability, even if it leads to swift destruction. To Command the Hungry Devil requires a successful Manipulation + Presence roll, difficulty 2. The more successes achieved, the more hungry ghosts can be commanded.

Number of Successes         Number of Hungry Ghosts Commanded

1                                              1

2                                              3

3                                              5

4                                              10

5                                              20

The command need not be a single word, as a relatively simple sentence can be understood by a hungry ghost. "Stop" is a perfectly acceptable use of Command the Hungry Devil, with the understanding that the hungry ghost is free to start again a moment later. More effective are commands such as "Attack him!" or "Go back to the corpse that spawned you!" On the other hand, any ghost who issues a complex command such as "Invade the Prince of Shadows' citadel and bring me his left-handed gauntlet" is going to be disappointed. If the order given is too complex, the target ghost will remain motionless for a turn and then resume its former attitude. Hungry ghosts will, however, attempt to fulfill impossible commands, so long as they are simple enough to be understood.

 

Dust Commands Litany

Cost: 12 motes, 1 Willpower

Duration: One scene

Type: Simple

Minimum Valor: 2

Minimum Essence: 3

Prerequisite Charms: Command the Hungry Devil

Dust Commands Litany is an extension of the power of Command the Hungry Devil. Rather than a single command, however, it grants mastery over the hungry ghost for an entire scene. Furthermore, it can be extended for an additional scene by an additional mote's expenditure. Dust Commands Litany is useful for ghosts who keep penned herds of hungry ghosts or who employ the beasts as watchdogs and the like.

 

Ghostly Harness Exercise

Cost: 5 motes, 1 Willpower

Duration: One month

Type: Simple

Minimum Valor: 3

Minimum Essence: 3

Prerequisite Charms: Tame the Wicked Appetite, Command the Hungry Devil

There are some among the dead who devote their existence to dealing with the scourge of hungry ghosts in a most unusual fashion — by taming them. These spirits are masters of Ghostly Harness Exercise, which allows them to soothe hungry ghosts' savage nature for extended periods of time. While hungry ghosts marked by this power maintain their capacity for savagery, they are no longer constantly ravenous and can be trained. They even form a bond of sorts with the ghost who tames them, and so long as they are tamed, they will not attack him under any circumstances. This includes while under the influence of Command the Hungry Devil. Of course, the hungry ghost trainer must keep his end of the bargain, taking care of his charges, spending time with them and feeding them appropriately.

Hungry ghosts tamed with this power can be used as watchdogs or bodyguards. Some ghosts use them as fighting animals in tournaments and underground betting pits, but most feel that this is an unnecessary expense. Without the effects of Ghostly Harness Exercise, the task of training a hungry ghost is utterly impossible. Even with the Charm, training is a time-consuming process and requires a month of intense work with harness, whip and fist. However, once the hungry ghost has been trained, it is trained forever.

Tamed hungry ghosts function in much the same way trained hounds do for mortals, obeying simple commands, leaping to their owners' defense and eagerly awaiting the chance to hunt.

 

Spirit-Handling Leash

Cost: 5 motes, 2 Willpower

Duration: Instant

Type: Simple

Minimum Valor: 3

Minimum Essence: 3

Prerequisite Charms: Ghostly Harness Exercise

Spirit-Handling Leash is not nearly so powerful as its prerequisite. It does, however, have one virtue that Ghostly Harness Exercise lacks: versatility. It allows a trainer to transfer a tamed hungry ghost's loyalty to a new owner, quickly, easily and permanently. The trainer is still regarded with some, for lack of a better term, affection, but it is to its new owner that the hungry ghost now shows its utter devotion. The Spirit-Handling Leash will remain in place permanently, and the hungry ghost whose affections have been transferred will regard its owner with the same affection it once gave its trainer. The hungry ghost will hunt, guard or attack at its owner's command and will never attack the holder of the Spirit-Handling Leash. It is not uncommon to see servants of wealthy and noble ghosts walking the streets of the necropoli with leashed packs of hungry ghosts snuffling out ahead of them, a plain symbol of their power for all to see.