Dwell in Darkness

Unlike many Disciplines, Taurobolium is a single
power that gains in intensity as the Galloi becomes
more adept with its use. As the vampire becomes more
capable, she can grant the subject greater refi nements
to his appearance. This also requires more effort on the
part of the vampire, however. At lower levels, the Galloi
can sprinkle a little blood on the subject to achieve
a small effect. At higher levels (and stronger effects),
the vampire might be required to pour her blood upon
the individual or actually have the subject bathe in a
tub full of the Vitae.
Cost: Variable per level of use. At •, Galloi must
spend 1 Vitae. At levels •• and •••, the vampire must
spend 2 Vitae. At levels •••• and •••••, she must
spend 3 Vitae to enact this power.
Dice Pool: Presence + Occult + Taurobolium versus
the subject’s Composure + Blood Potency (assuming
the subject resists)
Action: Contested; resistance is refl exive. The subject
may choose at the time of invocation to resist this power.
Roll Results
Dramatic Failure: The Vitae burns the subject like
acid, causing a number of lethal damage points equal
to the Galloi’s Blood Potency.
Failure: The vampire’s Vitae fails to impart the blessing.
The Galloi expends the Vitae, but nothing happens.
Success: The subject gains a dice bonus to all rolls
involving Presence and Manipulation. This bonus is
equal to the level of Taurobolium invoked by the Galloi.
This benefi t lasts for a number of nights equal to
the Pretty’s Blood Potency level.
Exceptional Success: The vampire gains the dice
bonuses as granted by a normal success, and also regains
a Willpower point as her self-confi dence soars.
Note that the level of Taurobolium invoked requires
a progressively greater expenditure of Vitae. Using the
fi rst level costs 1 Vitae, and the Kindred can sprinkle
the blood over the subject’s head.
The second and third levels of this Discipline require 2
Vitae. The Kindred pours the blood from a vessel (an urn or
jug, for instance) over the subject’s head and shoulders.
The fourth and fi fth levels of this Discipline cost the
Galloi 3 Vitae, and demand that the subject bathe in the
expended blood. Note that this expenditure of blood
isn’t enough to fi ll an entire tub. The blood is mixed
with oils, salts, water and other additives to compensate.
The subject must completely immerse herself in this
pagan concoction.
When the subject emerges from the Taurobolium,
her skin bears no mark or blemish. She possesses an
androgynous beauty or a mysterious nobility. Features
that previously may have been unattractive or odd instead
seem exotic. In some cases, subjects even acquire
a fl eeting semi-nimbus, appearing as if in ‘soft focus.”
The subject must be naked when the Galloi invokes
this Discipline. The subject must also keep the blood
gallooi
bloodlines: the legendary 61
upon her fl esh for a full hour before the player makes
the roll to invoke the blessing. If the subject washes
the mystical Vitae off before that time, the Discipline
automatically fails and the Vitae is wasted.
The Discipline’s benefi ts last for a number of nights
equal to the Galloi’s Blood Potency, but the Galloi can
end the Discipline prematurely by spending a Willpower
point. Doing so requires the subject to make a Resolve +
Composure roll. Failure causes the subject to suffer a physical
pain as her skin re-aligns itself and painful headaches,
which infl ict a –1 penalty to all Physical and Mental dice
pools for the following 12-hour period. Dramatic failure
means the subject suffers the Depression derangement for
this duration as well (if she already has that derangement,
she develops the severe version, Melancholia).
The Pretty can choose to invoke this Discipline
at a level beneath her capability. For instance, if she
has Taurobolium •••• but doesn’t want to involve
the subject in a full bath, she may choose instead to
invoke the fi rst level of the power. That level requires
sprinkling and less Vitae, but also grants less benefi t to
the subject.
The subject does not gain the Presence or Manipulation
bonus to any dice pools affecting the Galloi who
granted her the blessing.