Latest revision as of 01:14, 6 April 2010

Back to Abyssal Larceny
Ashande's Lair

<b>Cost: 3 motes
Duration:  Instant
Type: Simple
Min. Larceny: 3
Min. Essence: 2
Prereqs: Cunning Criminal Style

Abyssals involved in a life of crime are well aware of the penchant that thieves and murderers have for betrayal. After all, the Underworld is littered with the ghosts of victims of such intrigues. Tapping into their comunal mind in an extension of the Cunning Criminal Style, the Abyssal may discover who is most likely to roll over on his fellows.
Upon activating this Charm, the Abyssal knows who is the most treacherous bastard in a given grouping of criminals. Note that the Abyssal explicitly does not have to be part of the organization in question, though he may be. The Abyssal also gains some general details on the subject's past treachery and/or what might force the issue now.
As a final note, this Charm won't pinpoint someone who has never committed a treacherous act in his life; it points out who's most likely to do it, which is usually a repeat offender.

<b>Cost: 5 motes, 1 willpower
Duration: One Scene
Type: Simple
Min. Investigation: 3
Min. Larceny: 3
Min. Essence: 2
Prereqs: Cunning Scrutiny Style

There are times, when engaged in activity that might be considered "illegal" by the unenlightened masses who cling so tightly to concepts such as "life," that an Abyssal would prefer not to leave evidence of his activities. Abyssals so inclined, provided they have the knowledge to understand how a crime might have occured, given different circumstances - and a different perpatrator - are thus almost supernaturally capable at setting up a frame.
When this Charm is activated, any physical evidence that the Abyssal leaves behind - or that is created - during the perpetration of a criminal activity simply can not be linked to the Abyssal in any way, barring the use of Investigation Charms or other supernatural means. Any attempts to sort out the evidence instead point to someone else. If the Abyssal has a specific target in mind, he must first make a Perception + Investigation roll; otherwise the ST is free to decide who the "smoking gun" is now pointed at. (And, as a note to STs, feel free to make it the friends and associates of the Abyssal...)

<b>Cost: 3 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Min. Larceny: 4
Min. Essence: 2
Prereqs: Evidence-Erasing Technique, Unscrupulous Damning Evidence

Just as there are times when the deathknights may desire to leave evidence incriminating someone else for their crimes, there are times when the Abyssal may wish that certain evidence not be brought to light. Too late to ensure it doesn't exist in the first place, and unable to ensure the evidence points to someone else, he instead simply makes such evidence cease to exist or to matter.
When the Abyssal activates this Charm, a single piece of evidence (a blood stain, a murder weapon, a suicide note) is rendered irrelevant or non-existant in some fashion. Whether it is through an exceptionally convincing story ("I cut myself shaving" probably won't cover it, but it's a start), a calculated bungle ("Oops... I didn't mean to spill that wine all over these papers. Hope they were nothing important") or simple disappearance of the incriminating object into Elsewhere, never to return, that clue is rendered unusable in any useful fashion for determining the guilty party.
Objects affected with this Charm are perfectly useless to any mortal investigator. Those with access to supernatural means of proving guilt - such as Investigation Charms - must succeed in a Perception + Investigation roll, with a difficulty equal to the Abyssal's Permanent Essence.

<b>Cost: 5 motes, 1 Willpower
Duration: Instant
Type: Supplemental
Min. Larceny: 5
Min. Essence: 3
Prereqs: Breaking the Chain, Striking Snake Grab

With careful concentration and excellent thieving abilities, some Abyssals have discovered the secret of people disbelieving that a crime was committed at all. Through their prowess, they might murder someone in plain sight, only to have friends and associates present believe it was merely a stage-play, or might steal a soldier's sword from his belt, while the soldier believes he never had a sword in the first place.
The Abyssal must state that he is using this Charm before any Larceny rolls are made; when the criminal activity occurs, any witnesses - including the victim himself - will simply not believe a crime was committed. They will forget that an object stolen really belongs to them, or will write off a break-in as "someone who lost their keys" or what have you. This Charm may only affect one instance of one crime per usage, so if an Abyssal filches a money purse with one hand while plunging a dagger into somoene's back with the other, he'll need to use the Charm twice.
This Charm only affects mortals; beings with Awakened Essence see and interpret the crime however they normally would under the circumstances.

<b>Cost: 8 motes, 1 Willpower
Duration: Varies
Type: Simple
Min. Larceny: 5
Min. Essence: 4
Prereqs: Theft of Mien, Unscrupulous Damning Evidence

A creative Abyssal may eventually decide that committing crimes himself and laying out evidence for a frame is far too risky; after all, why bother doing all that, if you could simply make the victim of the frame perform the act in the first place? This Charm allows the Abyssal to do the next best thing.
This Charm must be performed at night, and before it can be performed the Abyssal must have some personal item of the victim - a piece of clothing, a favorite weapon, a bit of flesh - and that victim must still be alive. When this Charm is activated, the Abyssal must succeed at a Charisma+Larceny roll.
Assuming the roll is successful, the shadows around the Abyssal coalesce, given thought and form by the Malfeans themselves, taking the shape of the target, down to the last mannerism. The Abyssal then names the crime he wishes the simacrulum to commit. The creature sets to immediately performing that crime, as per the Abyssal's specifications. Any evidence left behind by the creature - and there's bound to be plenty, since that's its purpose - will point to the original target.
The criminally minded simacrulum lasts for a number of days equal to the Abyssal's Permanent Essence, or until it completes its task. On sunrise of the last day - or on the sunrise after it completes its task - it is destroyed, melting back into the shadows from which it came.
The shadow creature has the stats of the person it is cloned from, except it possess no wound penalties and has a Larceny score equal to the Abyssal who created it. If it is exposed to the light of the Unconquered Sun - whether by walking about in daylight or subjected to certain Solar Charms or Anima abilities - it is immediately destroyed.
Anyone who is close to the original target and observes or interacts with the duplicate for any length of time may discern that it is not really their friend, with a successful Perception + Socialize roll. Anyone who gets a good long, close look at the duplicate, or deals with it for an extensive period of time - at the ST's decision - may make the same roll, at difficulty 2, to sense something "off" about the duplicate.
Exalts or other supernatural beings are perfectly valid targets of this Charm, but the duplicate cannot use any of their supernatural abilities (which includes any extra health levels the target possesses), and maintains a trait cap of 5, with the exception of Larceny, which still matches the Abyssal creator's.

<b>Cost: 15 motes, 1 Willpower
Duration: Varies
Type: Simple
Min. Larceny: 5
Min. Essence: 5
Prereqs: Perfect Crime Technique

Sometimes, an Abyssal just can't trust anyone but himself. But when you need an extra pair of hands, what are you to do? Use this Charm, of course. By channeling the rage of the Malfeans into a mortal, the Exalt effectively transforms that mortal into a portion of himself.
A mortal who is victimized by this Charm immediately is flooded with the power of Death-tainted Essence; this process invariably kills the mortal, even as the flesh is reshaped into a duplicate of the Abyssal. The duplicate possesses Attributes, Health Levels and Virtues equal to the Abyssal's, and Abilities, Specialties and Advantages at half the Abyssal's ratings.Round up in all cases.
The duplicate generally behaves how its creator would (They share the same nature) in a given situation, and either the duplicate or the Abyssal may spend 1 mote to initiate brief - one turn - telepathic communication. However, one kink does show up in this situation; if the Abyssal creator possesses any Resonance, the duplicate possesses a Whispers rating equal to the amount of Resonance the Abyssal has. The ST may, at any time, decide to roll that Whispers rating, if the duplicate is engaged in something displeasing to the Malfeans. On success, the duplicate hurries to perform their commands, even defying his creator.
The Abyssal may grant a number of charms equal to his Permanent Essence to his duplicate, which function as normal. For as long as the duplicate exists, those Charms are unavailable to the Abyssal. The duplicate must meet the minimum Essence and Ability requirements, but does not need Prerequisite Charms, to use these.
The duplicate lasts only for the length of time it takes to commit a single crime, decided upon at his creation.

Comments

An idea for a higher-essence Charm (Essence 3 or even 4, maybe) in this vein? What about a charm that instead of taking an existing charm and playing with the evidence for it, actually /commits/ a crime and leaves evidence of the Abyssals chosen behind. Like, you decide to use the charm, and a Malfean-inspired shadow duplicate of the subject of your choice heads off to inflict some dastardly deed. He has to hide from the light of the Unconquered Sun, and is very very careful to avoid both close observation and prolonged contact, but can be very useful for pure frame-ups. I.e., instead of commiting a crime and then pointing it at someone else, this just frames somebody. -- CrownedSun

Yessssss. I smell the coming Essence 4 Charm. :) I'll post one as soon as I decide on a system - Ashande

Perfect Crime Technique added. Now I'm thinking of another one (Essence 3, probably, with the same prereqs otherwise) called Victimless Crime Technique.... yessss. - Ashande