IsawaBrian/SolarInvestigationTelepathy
First Edition and Conversions
Heart on the Sleeve Method
Cost: 5 motes, 1 Willpower Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Minimum Investigation: 5 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisite Charms: Irresistible Questioning Technique
The character opens his perceptions to the subtle clues of emotions that surround people and animals alike. His eyes and ears pick up the quiet hints that everyone displays, and he becomes peripherally aware of the invisible bends in Essence caused by emotions. Until the end of the scene, the character is aware of the surface emotions of all those around him. As a result, subtract the character’s Essence from all difficulties of rolls that can be aided by understanding emotion. This will not overwhelm him, even if the emotions are very strong. Heart on the Sleeve Method will not reveal long term emotional constants or deep, concealed emotions, merely what is on the top of the target’s mind. It is therefore possible to use self-control to fool this Charm.
In Second Edition, this Charm functions slightly differently.
Cost: 7m, 1 wp; Mins: Investigation 5, Essence 2; Type: Simple (Speed 5 in long ticks) Keywords: Combo-OK, Social Duration: One Scene. Prerequisite Charms: Irresistible Questioning Technique, Evidence-Discerning Method.
The character opens his perceptions to the subtle clues of emotions that surround people and animals alike. His eyes and ears pick up the quiet hints that everyone displays, and he becomes peripherally aware of the invisible bends in Essence caused by emotions. Until the end of the scene, the character is aware of the surface emotions of all those around him. As a result, reduce all external penalties on dramatic and social/social mass combat actions the character takes by his permanent Essence, so long as the roll in question could be aided by emotional understanding. If a target is actively concealing his emotional state via self-control or other method, have the Solar roll Perception + Investigation against a difficulty equal to the target's (Manipulation + Socialize)/2. The number of excess successes the Solar gets, if any, are then the number that is subtracted from external penalties as above, up to a maximum of the Solar's permanent Essence. Failure has no penalty.
Roaring Silence Insight
Cost: 8 motes, 1 Willpower Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Minimum Investigation: 5 Minimum Essence: 4 Prerequisite Charms: Heart on the Sleeve Method
With this Charm, the Solar’s insight into the minds of those around her grows beyond mere surface clues. Her attunement to the hidden flows of mental essence deepens, and emotions and even thoughts cannot be concealed from her. Until the end of the scene, the character is aware of both the surface emotions around her, and with a reflexive action, may become aware of deep emotional constants, including the target’s Nature. She is also aware of the surface thoughts around her. Depending on the strength and number, this may range from quiet whispers to the roaring of a crowd, and the Storyteller should judge how hard it is to make out individual thoughts as a result.
In Second Edition, this Charm is Combo-OK, Social, and reveals Motivation rather than nature. Any Intimacies that are immediate to a deliberately scanned target-- such as being used for or against an MDV, or the object of an Intimacy being present, etc.-- will also be revealed. The Essence minimum for this Charm is 3.
Probing the Hidden Depths
Cost: 8 motes, 2 Willpower Duration: Instant Type: Simple Minimum Investigation: 5 Minimum Essence: 5 Prerequisite Charms: Roaring Silence Insight
By locking eyes with the target for one turn- this may require additional Charms or restraining gear- the Exalted may probe the mind of his target. The Solar stares directly into the mental Essence of the target, reading it like a book. This mental probing can reveal hidden secrets and thoughts desperately concealed. It will not reveal anything that the target has never voiced, only seen, except for words- the resultant probe is only verbal. No emotions, visual cues, smells, etc. will be conveyed, unless the target expressed these to herself in reaction to the memory. This will also not reveal any insight into memories that have been locked away, whether by trauma, or charm, or other means.
In Second Edition, this Charm is Combo-OK, Obvious, and Social. Its Essence minimum is 4. This Charm may be used to plumb for non-immediate Intimacies. This is a perfect Investigation-based social attack.
Becoming the Inner Eye
Cost: 10 motes, 2 Willpower Duration: Varies Type: Simple Minimum Investigation: 6 Minimum Essence: 6 Prerequisite Charms: Probing the Hidden Depth
By means of this Charm, the Solar can send her target into a deep trance, bringing up long-hidden memories and allowing the Solar to view them as though she were watching from the target’s perspective. This effect requires at least an hour of preparation, although after the first five minutes, it is unnecessary to restrain the target, as he will be dropped into a deep trance. The target gets a willpower roll against a difficulty equal to the Exalted’s Essence to resist; if he does, she may not use this Charm again on him for a day. Otherwise, it will be as though he is in a deep sleep- any violence or loud noises will awaken him, but he is otherwise out. The Solar will also be in a trance from this point on, so it is usually a wise idea to have guardians of some kind around.
Once both are in the trance, it will take the rest of the hour, and then twice the time-length of the memory being probed, for the character to retrieve and relive the memory. The character need not know what she is searching for, but if she is merely ‘fishing’, it will take the target’s Permanent Essence in hours to find something interesting. The character must specify the sort of memory she is searching for, or the Storyteller may feel free to heavily extend the time in the trance while searching. The Solar may end this Charm at any time, reflexively.
In Second Edition, this Charm is Combo-Basic, Obvious, are Social. The Investigation and Essence Minimums are both reduced to 5. This effect is a perfect social attack, but requires that the target be restrained, asleep, or otherwise immobile for the first five minutes of the Charm
Second Edition
Illuminating the Shadowed Heart
Cost: --; Mins: Investigation 5, Essence 3; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Know the Soul's Price
The key to a heart is also the best leverage point to use against it. Within moments of intuiting the price, whether financial or otherwise, at which a target will bend to the Solar's will, the Solar gains powerful insight into the mechanisms of the target's thoughts and emotions. This Charm modifies its prerequisite. When a Solar successfully uses Know the Soul's Price on a target, he may opt to commit 3 of the motes to gain leverage against that target in social combat. These 3 motes may be committed indefinitely, including if and when the Solar uses that price to inflict Servitude onto the target. The Solar's knowledge of the target's ultimate price grants him bonus dice equal to (his permanent Essence) to all social attacks, regardless of Ability, used while the motes are committed. These are dice from charms.
