The Tradecraft skill of Seduction
Using your wily ways to lead whoever you please into giving away secrets, doing the unthinkable, betraying someone, or simply for fun and entertainment, is intoxicating. Why work for something when you can have someone else do it for you. Especially if there is a chance you could break a nail or ruin a suit. Amazing how the glimpse of a stocking top can grab the attention or offering a silk handkerchief to wipe away the tears breaks through all the barriers. The right look (up to a possible 25% additional bonus), the right time, the right words, are the only ins you need.
Charisma (Bonus) 7 (+5%), 8 (+10%), 9 (+20%), 10 (+30%)
And it is arguably the Shadow Weaver who is the best equipped in terms of their psychic Talents to make seduction truly their own.
Penelope Lake – Shadow Weaver (Rank 7)
Whether it be directly through their ability to alter appearance to suit.
Alter Self → Misperception → Invisibility
Alter Self (Tier 1) provides you with the ability to change minor physical characteristics such as eye color, hair color, facial wrinkles, fingernail length and shape, etc. for a period that can last for hours or even days. It should be noted that unnatural changes such as red eyes or taloned nails although permissible only last for minutes.
Concentration: Subconscious
Life Energy cost: 5 per hour; at Rank 1 you can change your appearance for 10 hours if no other Life Energy is expended. Add 1 hour per rank so at Rank 4 the effect can last two days and by Rank 10 over a week.
Effect: Allows you to change your appearance. “Unnatural” changes result in 1 hour becoming 1 minute when calculating duration.
Misperception (Tier 2) alters how others see you by forcing the desired image directly into their mind. The scope of what can be achieved is only confined by what the target(s) find believable; the greater the imagination the greater latitude. This ability does not change your actual physical characteristics and so allowing a target to touch you could negate their belief in what they are seeing. If the target leaves your presence and returns after some time has elapsed, then unless the ability is used again they will see you as you truly are. Also, if the mind of the target is protected by, for example, Bastion of Thought then the ability will have no effect.
Concentration: Passive. Becomes Subconscious at Rank 7
Life Energy cost: 5 per minute; at Rank 4 the effect lasts 13 minutes. Add 2 minutes per rank so at Rank 7 you can hold the appearance for almost two hours. In addition, at Rank 7 you can affect two targets, and at Rank 10 three.
Effect: Completely alter how you look within “believable” constraints. For, example, if the target believes in the devil you could appear so but not to an atheist. If you adopt an appearance that the target(s) find particularly attractive, then your effective Charisma is +2. The image is the same for all targets. The image persists in the mind of the target for 1 minute per Rank after they have left your presence. If they return within that time the image continues to hold until the duration is exhausted.
Or through more insidious mind manipulation!
Inquisition → Mind Probe → Memory Wipe
Inquisition (Tier 1) allows you to know when someone is lying unless their mind is protected in some way, such as through Bastion of Thought. However, you will become aware of any such protection IF your Intellect is greater than that of the target.
Concentration: Intense. Becomes Active at Rank 4. Becomes Passive at Rank 7
Life Energy cost: 10 per use.
Effect: For 1 minute per Rank you will be aware, barring other mental protections, when anyone within direct (i.e. not via telephone) ear shot is lying.
Mind Probe (Tier 2) makes your target’s short-term memories and knowledge accessible without them being aware of the mental intrusion. Longer-term memory can be accessed through careful questioning that brings what you seek to the forefront of the mind. If your target’s mind is protected, for example through Bastion of Thought, they are entitled to try and rebuff your intrusion, but the result is not guaranteed. They will, however, become aware of attempt.
Concentration: Intense. Becomes Active at Rank 7
Life Energy cost: 25 per use.
Effect: At Rank 1 you are able to (re)view the last 5 minutes of your targets memories for significant information. This increases by 5 minutes per Rank so by Rank 10 you can scan back as far as 50 minutes. For every Rank difference between you and your target, in their favor, they gain 20% change to rebuff the intrusion and become aware that it has been attempted. If you are successful, then the target never realizes what has happened.
Memory Wipe (Tier 3) eliminates recent memories from your target’s mind. As with Mind Probe if your target’s mind is protected, for example through Bastion of Thought, they are entitled to try and rebuff the erasure, but the result is not certain. They will, however, become aware of attempt. If a wipe is successful then the target may become disorientated and question “how did I get here”, “what was I doing”, “I’ve never met you before have I”, depending on circumstance. They do not, however, consciously know they have any lost memories.
Concentration: Intense
Life Energy cost: 30 per use.
Effect: You can effectively delete, up to, 1 minute per Rank of your targets memories.
The period you can go back is limited to 12 hours in the past. For every Rank difference between you and your target, in their favor, they gain 20% change to rebuff the intrusion and become aware that it has been attempted. If you are successful, then the target never realizes what has happened.