Beast traits reflect a vampire's closeness to his or her individual “Beast”; it is the spiritual evidence of their cursed state. As their humanity dwindles over the centuries (or years for those most unfortunate souls), the “Beast” beckons for release from the restraints of mortal consciousness and for dominion over the psyche and existing will of each and every Kindred. From the moment of Embrace the vampire is cursed, damned to have an awake and ever-growing monster/demon stirring within them. The tragedy comes from the fact that, despite every action of will and every modicum of self-restraint, vampires are still prisoners of their “Beasts”. Beast Traits are the refection of the torturous and crippling existence of the vampire as they eventually spiral out of control to their Final Deaths. Granted immortality and super natural powers beyond the ken of any mortal, vampires must constantly practice self-control and restraint or else they unleash the very source of their creation - and destruction.
Dwelling in the recesses of the psyche and within the heart of every vampire, the “Beast” exhibits its own cunning and mastery over the vampire as it whispers to the Kindred to take action that looses it from its shackles. Every frenzy, every time they feed, every murder for whatever reason, as well as lapses in moral integrity, allow the “Beast” to gain greater and greater influence over the Kindred, until finally it is the one in control.
Each Beast
Trait is granted a name and is followed by a description of a specific
event or stimulus that will send a vampire into a state of frenzy. Unless
the Player Character (PC) resists by spending a Willpower trait, the PC
will automatically frenzy.
Subhuman Beast
Traits determined by Humanity Level 5:
Callousness:
Whenever others fail to adhere to your virtues or insult your Moral Code
Charity:
Whenever aid or resources are deigned to your worthy causes
Crusader:
If you ever fail in a Virtue test of Courage
Discipline:
Whenever you fail your Mentor, guru, et cetra in matters of Conscience
or Conviction
Frustration:
Whenever you fail at an opposed Mental challenge or a Static challenge
involving mechanics
Hopelessness:
If your actions lead to emotional set backs or if your Vampiric condition
bring you down
Judgment:
If you ever encounter the Infernal of those who truck with Demons
Moralist:
Whenever you have proselytized and you are ignored or silenced
Perfection:
Whenever you are ever accused of sinfulness or moral failings
Perversion:
Whenever witness to acts of moral depravity or sadism
Protector:
Whenever witness to the needless murder of a mortal
Sanctity:
Whenever your piety or spiritual beliefs are hamstringed by Kindred dealings
Temperance:
Whenever one shows lapse in Humility to Mortals or Kindred
Subhuman Beast
Traits determined by Humanity Level 4:
Aberrant:
Frenzy whenever you commit actions contrary to your Nature
Beauty:
Beauty is to be cherished, Frenzy if anybody destroys or despoils it
Concern:
Frenzy when you see Vampires showing a lack of sympathy when dealing with
Mortals
Disrespect:
Frenzy whenever you see a high-ranking member of your Clan disrespected
Desire:
Wherever you are denied of your infatuations or relationships with Mortals
Follower:
Whenever you see a Kindred Frenzy their weakness make you furious enough
to lose control
Incompetence:
When others around you fail at their duties of risk the Masquerade by their
actions
Larceny:
Whenever you are the victim of theft or in the company of thieves
Inquisitor:
Whenever you are denied information concerning your Vampiric advancement
Prudence:
Whenever another Kindred places the Masquerade at risk in your presence
Respect:
Whenever you see a leader mistreating others and/or individuals conspiring
against/challenging a competent leader
Traitor:
Frenzy if forced to reveal secrets to others or betray a confidence
Vigilantism:
Whenever you encounter the death of a person (Kindred or Mortal)
Subhuman Beast
Traits determined by Humanity Level 3:
Avenger:
If anyone tries to stop you from assisting a fellow clan/coterie member
Deviant:
If prevented from expressing yourself outside normal societal parameters
Envy:
Whenever you encounter whatever you desire most in the hands of another
Kindred
Hedonism:
Whenever you are restrained from seeking pleasurable experiences
Humiliation:
If you lose face of standing in front of a crowd
Item:
Whenever you encounter a specific item
Lust:
Whenever you encounter a willing vassal or paramour
Luxury:
If you lose anything that affects you lifestyle (Influence, Property or
Resources)
Mortal Feelings:
Your feelings for mortals conflict with your Beast's Nature. If mortals
avoid or reject you, you enter Frenzy
Naturalist:
If the balance between nature and Kindred predations are pushed to far
or if you are denied time to commune with natural settings
Propriety:
If not granted the proper social graces to which you have become accustomed
to or if boorish behaviour is presented to yourself
Shame:
Whenever you fail at a Static Physical challenge, display physical anguish
or pain
Sire:
If you are prevented in siring a childe of if your Fledgling is terminated
Thwarted:
Anyone crossing you, or refusing to obey your instructions
Subhuman Beast
Traits determined by Humanity Level 2:
Boredom:
Stagnation and ennui are your enemy. If you find yourself getting bored
you Frenzy
Bother:
Whenever you see other Kindred faun or dote on mortals
Bullied:
Whenever beaten in a Social Challenge or intimidated
Control:
If anyone tries to control you or hinder you choices
Enthrall:
If you are stopped from Embracing Vassals or if your Ghouls are harmed/poached
Failure:
Whenever you fail to achieve a goal
Insult:
If you hear someone insult or blatantly show disrespect towards you
Molest:
If prevented from lording your superiority over mortals, ghouls or lesser
kindred
Materialism:
If some one damages your possessions
Obedience:
Whenever an underling or one of your Brood questions your authority
Passion:
If you become exited, elated and/or in flamed in any situation pertaining
to your Nature
Secrecy:
If anyone uses your Nature against you or sees past your demeanour to the
real you
Sloth:
If forced to do your own menial labour (i.e. Hunting) or the labour of
others
Monstrous Beast
Traits determined by Humanity Level 1:
Blood:
If exposed to open blood (about a pint), drink until full
Defeat:
If you fail in a challenge regarding your mental or physical prowess
Fire:
Whenever in the presence of a flame (size is of no consequence)
Hatred:
If in the presence of the object or person(s) to which you have antipathy
with
Haunted:
If in the persense of Ghosts, Spirtis or Astral or invisible beings
Numb:
If you are ever overtly emotional or if others begin to effect your emotional
state
Pain:
If you ever take damage
Quiet:
If you are ever in area of low volume or silence for more than 10 minutes.
Release:
If prevented form killing Mortals due to you Derangement, Nature, or stress
Submission:
Whenever threatened by or ordered to defer/submit another Kindred.
Sunlight:
If exposed to sunlight, bright lights (stage/stadium/camera flash) or UV
light
Territory:
Whenever someone enters your personal space or violates your Haven
Tormentor:
If ever denied the pleasure of torturing others or calling to attention
their faults
Diabolic/Monstrous
Beast Traits:
Addiction:
If you cannot get your “fix” at least once per evening
Cannibal:
If you cannot acquire vampire blood for sustanance
Corruptor:
Those who cannot be twisted to serve your ends must be destroyed
Diablerie:
When encountering incapacitated Kindred, frenzy and attempt Diablerie.
Entropy:
If others attempt to prevent the death and decay you perpetuate
Faith/Religion:
If confronted/contacted by a Holy Symbol or by True Faith
Final Death:
Frenzy whenever directly threatened with Final Death
Hunger:
If down more than 20 percent of your Bloodpool
Innocence:
You prey on the unknowing, draining them dry. If one ever escapes you,
for any reason, you Frenzy
Monster:
If brought face to face with the Beast, its nature and it’s hold on your
psyche
Paracide:
If made a thrall, vassal or otherwise indentured to a vampire of Elder
status
Purity:
Interaction with those who are virtuous makes you enter a bloody killing
haze
Ravage:
Whenever the opportunity presents itself wallow violently in base pleasures
Terror:
If, while exhibiting the the unholy nightmare thing you are, none are in
fear
Violence:
When violence is about you, wade in and show participants and spectators
your dominance
Weakness:
If ever you see a superior Kindred who is physically in peril or wounded
you enter a Frenzy and attack
Details
As a Kindred
PC's Humanity dwindles they continue to gather additional Beast Traits.
Depending on the circumstances of the Humanity loss the ST or Narrator
may chose a Beast Trait from the level list.
Say Victor
Venture had a Humanity of 4 and because he witnesses his Primogen brutally
kill a private detective who was investigating him, it drops to 3. Now
Victor Ventrue started play with the Subhuman
Beast Trait Respect (a
Level 4 trait) he would now (at ST/Narrator discretion) gain an additionalSubhuman
Beast Trait Thwarted
as his "Beast" recognizes the importance of removing obstacles to its desires.
If Victor Ventrue had done the brutal slaying himself the ST could grant
the PC either a Level 3 Subhuman Beast Trait, any of the Level 1Monstrous
Beast Trait or any Diabolic/Monstrous
Beast Traitthat is relevant to the actions
surrounding the loss of the Humanity Trait. For Victor's brutal murder
of a private detective either Territory (Level 1) or Corruptor
(Diabolic/Monstrous) would be sufficient. Any of these Beast Traits are
relevant to his particular Humanity loss. And despite Victor Venture still
having a Humanity of 3, he had best ensure that his dealings with mortals
are through ghouled officers or completely to his (and his Beast's) liking
unless he wishes to have his "Beast" come forward during heated negotiations.
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