 The following is a
list of which Arcanoi a Rot can use while in their 'Rot' condition,
and what cannot be used. It is followed by the description of
the Cloister Arcanos, which Rots - like Risen - are able to use
in their condition. D:IL = Doomslayers: Into the Labyrinth; DK:J = Dark Kingdom of Jade; DR:S = Dark Reflections: Spectres; EOE = Ends of Empire; SPG = Shadow Players Guide; SS = Supplement Specific; W:TGW = Wraith: The Great War, RIS = The Risen
Cloister: An Arcanos that the Risen and a few Puppeteers - and, increasingly, Rots - can use, Cloister is a way by which Wraiths in human bodies may walk around unseen. It is not the true invisiblity of Enshroud (Argos 1); It is rather a field of delusion that makes the Wraith's host much less noticable. Also unlike Enshroud, the delusion is such that not only do those affected not see the Wraith's host, but - at higher levels - they will neither hear nor smell her until she ends the Art's affect, or it's somehow broken. As they can't use Argos, and might have plenty of reason to remain hidden, Cloister's Arts are fairly useful things for Rots to know. It is this Arcanos that has led Vampires, and many Risen, to think that those Wraiths had access to the Vampiric power known as "Obfuscate." While some of Obfuscate's powers very closely mimic some of the Arcanos' Arts, and they work in similar ways, they are not quite the same thing. The proof is that while a Risen and a Vampire can hide from one another using their different powers, and a Vampire can have a good chance at hiding from a Wraith in the Shadowlands while using Obfuscate, a Wraith will never be able to hide from a Wraith in the Shadowlands while using Cloister. Wraiths who aren't in the Skinlands can see right through the delusion as though it wasn't even there, but anyone in the Skinlands (Rots, other Risen, Embodied and Puppeteering Wraiths) will still be fooled. The confusion between Obfuscate and Cloister is no accident. The Puppeteers have told the Risen they mentor that they have access to some "vampiric special powers," rather than telling them the truth. The vast majority of the Underworld has no idea this Arcanos exists at all, and the Puppeteers like keeping it that way. They are not at all pleased to hear that the Rots are starting to learn it too... Unless otherwise noted, this Arcanos does not invoke The Fog.
Botches: Any botches rolled while attempting to use Cloister render the Wraith ultra-noticable. Anyone looking for her gets a -3 Difficulty to do so, and everyone will see her and remember her especially for some odd reason.
Basic: Itchy Neck Some people have the knack of knowing when someone's looking at them, or for them. Wraiths who use Cloister have this knack in spades. SYSTEM: The Storyteller rolls Perception + Cloister at a Difficulty of 7. A success tells the Wraith that someone's taken notice of them, or is intent on meeting up with them. It won't tell her any more than that, no matter how many succcesses the Storyteller gets, and will not reveal identity or intention.
* Shadow Statue The Wraith is able to hide in the shadows as long as she remains perfectly still, and does nothing to draw attention to herself, such as attacking, activating a noticable Arcanos power or speaking. This power won't withstand much scrutiny, but it's good for hiding from casual onlookers. SYSTEM: The player rolls Manipulation + Cloister at a Diff of 6. A success completely hides her from notice, and she'll stay hidden unless she does something to break the effect (see above) or someone is actively searching that area for anything out of the ordinary. This level of Cloister does not block smells. This costs one Pathos to activate. ** Change of Face The Wraith can disguise herself, so that she appears to look different than how she usually does. This can be a great help to Risen and Rots, given their low Appearance scores, but it won't disguise any hideous smells. SYSTEM: The player spends two Pathos and rolls her Wraith's Manipulation + Cloister at a Diff 7. The permutations and success ratios are the same for Obfuscate on pp. 166 - 167 of VTM: Rev Ed. The effect lasts for up to an entire Scene, and the Wraith can stop it any time she wants to. Remember that while the effects will disguise the person, it will not disguise any equipment or clothing the Wraith may be wearing. So if Fred's Risen wants to make himself look like 'Dubya,' and is wearing a ski-mask and carrying a chainsaw, he'll look like 'Dubya' wearing a ski mask and carrying a chainsaw if he gets three or more successes.
*** Movement Unseen Using this power, a Wraith can disappear from view and walk around unseen. It's rather startling when it goes off, and tends to invoke The Fog if the Wraith uses it right in front of Human witnesses. SYSTEM: The Wraith spends two Pathos and her player rolls Manipulation + Cloister at a Difficulty of 8. If successful, the Wraith will turn invisible within one turn, and any mortals who see this happen will be subject to The Fog. The power lasts for up to an entire Scene, and the Wraith can stop it any time she wants to. While Unseen, the Wraith must not do anything that would compromise her position. If she attacks, speaks, or performs an Arcanos with spectacular effects, the effect will end. She can move around as long as she doesn't make too much noise, and can attempt to take things or reposition them. The Storyteller should call for Dexterity + Stealth rolls to do this so no witnesses notice: if they do, the effect is broken.
**** Doppleganger The secret divisions of the Hierarchy who sought out Risen in order to destroy them would sometimes report success on a mission, only to have their knuckles rapped when the same Risen reappeared - safe and sound - a week or so later. This confusion was sometimes caused by this power: the ability to create a mentally controlled 'double' up to twenty feet away. SYSTEM: The Wraith spends four Pathos, gains one Temporary Angst and rolls her Wits + Cloister at a Difficulty of 8. Each success creates one turn when a 'double' is created up to twenty feet away from the true Wraith. The power also hides the Wraith from view so long as she is perfectly still, and says and does nothing. The double looks and sounds just like the Wraith's physical form, but is purely illusory and has no substance. While the Wraith is maintaining the 'double,' she can have it behave or speak in any way she would like, up to and including sporting 'wounds' gained in an attack. She cannot use any other Arcanoi by herself, or through it, though. The double will remain so long as the power is maintained, or until the Wraith decides to end it. Once she does, the double will disappear. Smart Wraiths maintain the illusion of a body lying there in tiny pieces until the attackers go away, and then end the effect.
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