CONTEXT (AKA AN OPENING RAMBLE)
I am currently developing a bloodline for a player to take. They are new to the game, and currently playing through the nights following their embrace. Their sire is still a ‘childe’ and they are both hiding out at the grandsire’s estate.
My ST style, especially with ‘testing the waters’ games such as this, is to seed fast and often. Worry about tying it all up later; just make it seem big and mysterious. Basically, ST like you are Steven Moffat with access to the Dr. Who IP.
As the player took Auspex as one of their starting three disciplines, I handwaved it mentally as ‘will be explained by bloodline.’ Then they took the Bloodhood and Blood Sympathy merits. So I’m thinking that this lineage of Ventrue have some mystic-perceptive mojo. Good strong seed.
Well, I was in luck when it came to cultivating said seed.
I had used a random name generator, changing cultural links as the ages passed by, to build out the direct lineage. As it happens, I settled into a pattern wherein the lineage was named (and used as a formal surname) Januarius. It sounded like January, so I looked for symbolic connections and it seems the Roman-only god Janus had dibs on the month. Janus is the god of ‘beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings.’ Oh yes. A bloodline that can open portals or see the future is a bloodline begging to be associated with the Auspex discipline. So I stamped it and relayed some history next time it came up.
Now the bill has come due: I have to make the gift and bane.
DISCUSSION (AKA WHAT I’D LIKE HELP WITH)
I need some ideas for what the gift and bane can be. The gift moreso, as the bane I’m about to suggest seems solid enough.
Currently, I am thinking that the bane is ‘invitation to enter.’ It works with Janus being associated with doors. That thematic alignment is carrying it though. Open to counter-points.
For the gift, I have yet to design mechanics. However, the end goal is to allow the use of blood smearing to open portals. Iris, Verge gateways, and such. I like it but it will drive the story in a certain direction and if there is no interest, it is a wasted opportunity.
And just for completeness: a bloodline gets four in-clan disciplines, a gift, and a bane. I’m not missing anything, yeah?
I am currently developing a bloodline for a player to take. They are new to the game, and currently playing through the nights following their embrace. Their sire is still a ‘childe’ and they are both hiding out at the grandsire’s estate.
My ST style, especially with ‘testing the waters’ games such as this, is to seed fast and often. Worry about tying it all up later; just make it seem big and mysterious. Basically, ST like you are Steven Moffat with access to the Dr. Who IP.
As the player took Auspex as one of their starting three disciplines, I handwaved it mentally as ‘will be explained by bloodline.’ Then they took the Bloodhood and Blood Sympathy merits. So I’m thinking that this lineage of Ventrue have some mystic-perceptive mojo. Good strong seed.
Well, I was in luck when it came to cultivating said seed.
I had used a random name generator, changing cultural links as the ages passed by, to build out the direct lineage. As it happens, I settled into a pattern wherein the lineage was named (and used as a formal surname) Januarius. It sounded like January, so I looked for symbolic connections and it seems the Roman-only god Janus had dibs on the month. Janus is the god of ‘beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings.’ Oh yes. A bloodline that can open portals or see the future is a bloodline begging to be associated with the Auspex discipline. So I stamped it and relayed some history next time it came up.
Now the bill has come due: I have to make the gift and bane.
DISCUSSION (AKA WHAT I’D LIKE HELP WITH)
I need some ideas for what the gift and bane can be. The gift moreso, as the bane I’m about to suggest seems solid enough.
Currently, I am thinking that the bane is ‘invitation to enter.’ It works with Janus being associated with doors. That thematic alignment is carrying it though. Open to counter-points.
For the gift, I have yet to design mechanics. However, the end goal is to allow the use of blood smearing to open portals. Iris, Verge gateways, and such. I like it but it will drive the story in a certain direction and if there is no interest, it is a wasted opportunity.
And just for completeness: a bloodline gets four in-clan disciplines, a gift, and a bane. I’m not missing anything, yeah?
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