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Supernatural Merits

Natural Astrologer
5- or 7-pt Supernatural Merit

Some people are connected more closely to the patterns of the Loom of Fate and its interface with the stars of Creation than others, better able to make sense of the patterns that fill the night sky. Some of these individuals might have had a Star-Blessed in their bloodline some time in the past or perhaps they've just been particularly touched by the Loom since birth. Never the less, these individuals have a natural talent for the art of Astrology. These people tend to be coveted assets, and often find themselves in the service of some greater power. No few kings keep talented astrologers in their employ, while in the Realm both the Immaculate Order and All-Seeing Eye collect such individuals (so that they're under the oversight of the Sidereals as much as any other reason). Even the Deathlords have been known to have such individuals serving them.

The lesser version of this merit, available for 5pts, lowers the difficulty to perform astrology. This adjustment is -2 if the subject doesn't have First Age or Varangan Astrological equipment, but only -1 if he has such equipment. The greater version of this merit, which costs 7pts, adds the character's Essence in automatic successes to any successful astrology roll. The greater version of this gift also includes the benefits of the lesser version.

Both versions of this merit affect mortal (little a) astrology, not Sidereal astrology. Sidereals can never the less take this merit for two points less than normal, if they wish to do so, but it still only affects mortal astrology.

Accomplished Anima -- GregLink
2 or 4 pt Supernatural Merit
Prerequisites: Any Solar Anima Ability

Much as the Solars of old were masters of many things, often with expertise far beyond what one might expect, the remnants of these Solars can also exceed expectations. A Solar with this merit has been blessed with such a shard, and can emulate the anima abilities of other Solar Castes. The scope of these abilities varies with the cost of this merit, as shown below:
|| || 2 || 4 || || Dawn || N/A || All || || Eclipse || Diplomatic Immunity || Learning Non-Solar Charms or Oath-Sealing || || Night || Cloaking or Muting Essence Expenditure || Both || || Twilight || N/A || All || || Zenith || Burning of Bodies || All || When the character's Caste mark is showing, and he activates one of these learned abilities, his caste mark will briefly warp and shimmer into the caste of the appropriate Caste. This merit may not be taken more than once at character creation, but with Storyteller approval and an appropriately stunted plot hook, could probably be learned in game.

Soulsteel Sense -- Han'ya
2 pt Supernatural Merit
Prerequisites: None

Soulsteel is forged from, funnily enough, souls. It is fairly evident that having the core of one's being brutalized, mutilated, and twisted by necromancy into a hideous and agonizing new configuration would be a tad uncomfortable. Thus, everything made of soulsteel is emitting a constant psychic cacophony of torment. Some individuals can hear this agonized chorus in their minds, like a fight in the room next door. Any individual with this merit may take a miscellanious action, rolling (Perception+Compassion+Artifact level), to locate any artifacts made of or containing soulsteel, or any quantities of raw soulsteel, within (Artifact's levelx100) yards. One success gives cardinal direction (e.g. "North"), two successes gives more detail (e.g. "North-East"), three successes gives a fairly clear sense of elevation and distance (e.g. "one hundred and fifty yards North-East at the top of that tower"), four successes gives a very clear picture of the object's location (e.g. "at the top of that tower in the third room on the left with an iron door"), and five successes is enough to pinpoint its location down to the inch.

This Merit is usually accompanied by Soulsteel Sensitivity.

Dramatic Soul -- Han'ya
2, 4, or 6 pt Supernatural Merit
Prerequisites: Eclipse Caste

Some people just have a knack for stories, whether shaping them, starring in them, or just seeing them happen. The Eclipse with this merit's soul moves in time with the grand, inhuman rhythm of the Wyld. They subtract one experience point from the cost to learn all Fair Folk charms at the two-point level. At the four-point level, they subtract a further experience point. At the six-point level, they retain these discounts and reduce the training time to that of an out-of-caste Charm.

Note: Corresponding versions of this Merit exist for Lunar, Sidereal, Abyssal, Terrestrial, and spirit charms.

Comments

I just made up this merit this morning without thinking much about it. I figured that the Anima abilities are similar in many ways to charms, and some are better than others, so I tried to divide up the table evenly. I'm thinking I went a little easy on the costs, but I've always been a little generous about such things. In your games, feel free to up all costs by 1, to a {3,5} cost, which I think might fit the developer's concept of "fairness" better. -- GregLink

Eh. I am not a fan of the concept of learning the anima abilities of others that way. Considering that the ability to do it temporarily is a Blossoming of the resplendent lotus, essence 4 charm? the base description of exalts, as I recall, splits their powers up into three categories: Anima abilities, which are innate: Charms, which are type specific: and Sorcery. that seems.. too cheap to me, for one, and to break the feel of the castes, for another. - Molikai

What book or reference is that Blossoming thing in? I don't recall reading it... -- GregLink

That would be the term for Sidereal Level Martial Arts. As in, Exalt Ways. - Scrollreader

(Type) Exalt Ways also provides your Essence in autosuccesses to all rolls of a favored attribute or ability for the five turns it's active; I think that's more pertinent to its level of power than the access to other caste abilities. Still, I would rather see this effect as a charm effect. Merits don't have enough range in availability. Either it's cheap enough to dilute the caste flavor, or it's expensive enough not to be worth it. With charm trees and prerequisites, it can be quite expensive to gain the abilities, but still be worth it because the prerequisites are useful in and of themselves. - IanPrice