Before the Flood:Amphivena Devotions

Venomous Bite

A Gorgon can distill her own emotions into specialized poisons that can be injected into her victims through the vampire’s bite, which is made as a Brawl attack. A Gorgon may not consume Vitae from victims in the same turn that she uses Venomous Bite.

The Gorgon can reflexively activate this Devotion at any time in a given night, whereupon she is capable of using Venomous Bite until the following sunrise. She does not have to reactivate the bite to use different kinds of poisons (see below).

Traces of the venom remain in the victim’s body even after its effects have worn off, and are still present in the victim’s remains after death — unless the Gorgon covers her tracks by using Antidote (see below). Once delivered, the victim’s player rolls Stamina + Blood Potency – Toxicity Rating. If the victim fails, the poison automatically takes effect and deals immediate damage equal to its Toxicity Rating, unless stated otherwise. The Toxicity Rating for Amphivena poisons is equal to Composure + Blood Potency.

Upon learning this Devotion, the Gorgon gains the ability to use a poison that causes muscle spasms, painful cramps and damage to the nervous system. In game terms, the poison simply inflicts physical damage based on the poison's Toxicity Rating. At BP 1, it only deals Bashing damage. At BP 2 - 4, it deals Lethal damage. And at BP 5+ it deals Aggravated damage. A Gorgon can choose to inflict a less severe type of damage if she wishes to.

In addition, the character can learn to produce other types of poisons. Each of the other poisons costs a single Experience point to learn.

Sample Venoms

Venom of Paralysis: The victim is completely paralyzed for a number of hours equal to the poison's Toxicity Rating. This poison causes no physical damage.

Venom of Madness: A victim poisoned with Venom of Madness develops the Madness Condition, which lasts for a number of nights equal to the poison's Toxicity Rating.

Venom of Lethargy: Venom of Lethargy inflicts no damage, but saps the victim’s drive to act, and slows his movements temporarily. The victim’s Speed becomes equal to his Strength alone (rather than the usual Strength + Dexterity + 5). The victim’s Initiative modifier becomes the lower of his Dexterity or Composure, and the Fast Reflexes Merit no longer applies. Venom of Lethargy lasts a number of hours equal to the poison's Toxicity Rating.

Venom of Blood Rot: This poison was specifically designed to destroy the vitae of the Kindred, rotting it in their veins and turning it into nothing but useless sludge to be vomited up. A Kindred affected by this poison instantly loses a number of Vitae equal to the poison's Toxicity Rating.

Venom of Fear: This venom deals no damage, but instead inflicts the Frightened Condition, forcing the affected to run away screaming.

Other devotions to be added later.