Merits and Flaws
Combination Disciplines
Rossellini Turncoat
The Milliners can go fuck themselves . They constantly complain about their treatment by the bosses , but they go no further than moaning . You found a way of climbing the totem pole without having to kiss Venetian ass for an eternity . These Harbingers will let you do whatever you want with the spirits of the dead , as long as you sabotage the Giovanni . These Lazarenes even said you can “ keep what you kill ” when it comes to the war with the Venetians , and you ’ ve got your eye on the soul of the stunning Claudia . The cost was high ; your initiation was pain beyond anything you ’ ve felt , and the tortures the Harbingers ’ wraiths then visited upon you was worse , but a month ( or was it a year ?) later , and you ’ re ready for action . A shame your face has atrophied , and your body is catching up , but a styling mask and a tailor-made suit conceal the worst of the damage .
Merits and Flaws
Disciple of Lazarus / Japheth ( 2pt . Merit )
You speak for the powers-that-be within your bloodline , and bear the clean , white death mask of a respected Harbinger lost to one of the historic purges suffered by your people . Most Harbingers of Skulls will listen to what you say , and take your words at face value . This Merit adds two dice to any Social roll when you invoke the name of Lazarus or Japheth .
Styx Baptism ( 3pt . Merit )
You pledged fealty to the Harbingers of Skulls and swore to work against the machinations of Ashur , despite not being Embraced into the bloodline . You were escorted to the Shadowlands , where you were baptized head-first in the churning waters of the Styx . The flesh upon your head sloughed off with contact over the coming month , leaving just rotten patches or bare bone , reducing your Appearance Rating to 0 permanently . You ’ re now held in esteem by Lazarenes , gaining any one of the bloodline ’ s Disciplines as a Clan Discipline in place of one of your own .
Half-Life ( 6pt . Merit )
You ’ re more than just a vampire ; you ’ re a wraith in vampire form . Your awareness of the realities of death enables you to spend half the regular experience points cost for increasing Necromancy Paths after the first point , and permits you to move between Shadowlands and Skinlands through the expenditure of a Willpower point . You cannot be controlled as a normal spirit through use of Necromancy , but should other vampires discover what you are , you can expect to be hunted mercilessly . You suffer the same weaknesses and have the same strengths as a vampire , but if viewed with a power such as Aura Perception ( V20 , p . 135 ) the aura appears as a double-exposure , with a wavering , translucent humanoid shape merging in and out of yours .
Unsanctioned Embrace ( 2pt . Flaw )
Lazarus decreed no Harbingers should Embrace , but your sire failed to listen . You ’ re hopelessly green and unworthy of the vitae in your veins . Until you perform acts befitting the nobility of your blood , your existence is shunned as a bad omen . Increase difficulties of all Social actions involving your bloodline by two .
Shadow Scarred ( 3pt . Flaw )
Since escaping the Shadowlands , you ’ ve struggled to reacclimatize to the world of the living . You see ravenous Spectres in every shadow . You must roll your Courage ( difficulty 7 ) or spend a point of Willpower whenever using Necromancy , as you fear the repercussions of touching the Underworld .
Combination Disciplines
Bloodied Hands ( Necromancy •, Auspex ••)
Even among immortals , the act of murder is often concealed . Lazarenes use their connection to the auguries of death as potent blackmail material . Through piercing the obfuscations surrounding another being ’ s soul , the Harbinger can identify her target ’ s most recent victim .
System : The player rolls Perception + Empathy ( difficulty 7 ). Success allows the necromancer to view details of the last sentient being killed by the target . The results are perceived only by the necromancer , and last the duration of the scene .
Successes
Result
1 success The victim ’ s face takes the place of his killer ’ s .
2 successes The victim ’ s body also takes the place of his killer ’ s .
3 successes The victim ’ s cause of death becomes physically apparent .
4 successes The victim ’ s voice speaks the events immediately leading up to his death .
5 successes The victim can voice as much of his life history as time permits .
This power costs 9 experience points to learn .
48 HARBINGERS OF SKULLS