Editing Gladius et Aegis: Arcane Nature Traits

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=Overview=

This page gives several examples of Arcane Nature Traits, as well as some notes on their place in the campaign setting of my home campaign.


=Magus=

===Campaign Setting Notes===

Selecting this trait means that you are a ''Magus'' - a human who has been lucky enough to have both the inherent aptitude for casting magic, and the opportunity to have formally trained in magic.

''Magi'' also refer to themselves as ''wizards, practitioners'' and ''loremasters''. They generally don't call themselves ''sorcerers, shamans'' or ''warlocks'' - these terms refer to entirely different arcane traditions. They often refer to their magic as ''The Art'' or ''The Lore'', and speak of casting magic as ''enacting forma'' or ''mastery of Will''. Archaic terms, especially in Latin, are popular with many magi, as is a certain air of superiority and hubris regarding their magic as opposed to other magics.

The core foundations of ''The Art'' are knowledge and will. Knowledge is required to harness inherent magical talent, and to direct it into spells and rituals. This knowledge is generally from elder ages, with much lore coming from the magical traditions Ancient Egypt and later, Ancient Greece and Rome. Will is required as magic is inherently against nature: it forces the desires of the magus upon reality, and must overcome the resistance of reality to such intrusions.

''"Aptitude"'', or the ability to cast this sort of magic, is a rarity in the world, with magi estimating that no more than one human in one to two hundred thousand being capable of learning magic. Many of these go undetected, as despite the best efforts of magi, there has never been discovered any spell or other means that allow one to search out for those with aptitude. Instead, it tends to be the case that individual magi will note that a human they encounter is seemingly immune to the effect of ''Denial'' (see neutral trait effects below), and will make a guess that the person has aptitude. The next step is for the magus to approach the "potential" and to invite him to become an ''Apprentice'', usually with a demonstration of The Art, and an open offer for the Apprentice to come see him if he wants to learn more. An apprenticeship lasts till the mentor "releases" his protegee, traditionally after a taxing test of magic. Sometimes these mentor-trainee relationships go sour, of course, and an apprentice will decide himself to leave the magus before his mentor feels training is complete. More rarely a mentor might abandon an apprentice that he feels he cannot teach. Magi who never completed their apprenticeships are often referred to as ''Orphans of the Craft'' with a mixture of pity and disdain.

Most ''Magi'' operate alone, or in small cabals, as the prideful nature of those who command ''The Art'' often results in clashing egos. However, most magi also serve within supernatural hierarchies, attending convocations and gatherings when they are called upon, even if they spend as much time pursuing their own agendas as those of their faction. The ''Council of the Invisible Hand'' commands most magi's loyalty, as few magi feel they would wish to be beholden to the ultimate authority of a non-magus. Those ''Magi'' who serve ''Gladius et Aegis'' are often somewhat rebellious in nature, with personalities that have led them to shunning the "mainstream" of the ''Invisible Hand''.

''Magi'' generally follow the ''Shadow Concordat'' strictly, or at least give the appearance of doing so. This is generally true even of those within ''Gladius et Aegis''.

Aptitude is rare and easy to miss, most Magi's existence is dangerous, and their magical tradition is very much centered on the western world. This means that there are probably no more than six or seven hundred magi in the world, and no more than a couple of dozen who serve ''Gladius et Aegis''. However, as Magi are often secretive and somewhat paranoid, there may be twice or even three times that number, with many declining to reveal themselves.


===Character Generation Guidelines===

An above average ''Intellect'' is generally the norm, as becoming a Magus requires study and determination. Magical power is a point of pride and a source of respect amongst Magi as well, so investing in a higher ''Puissance'' score is sensible too.

Recommended ''Background Traits'' include ''Web of Intrigue'', ''Concordat Diligent, Library of Lore, Buried Identity'' and ''Mentor''.
Recommended ''Internal Traits'' include ''Prideful''.

===Benefits of being a '''Magus'''===

* '''Arcana:''' You can cast magic! Mastery of The Art is is the source of your Arcana. 
* '''Finesse:''' As your magic comes from careful study and understanding of its underlying principles, you can use your Arcana with a higher degree of conceptual versatility than other supernatural types. Whereas a ghost with mastery of fire might be able to summon infernos and command flames to do his bidding, a wizard that studies pyromancy understands the symbolic and arcane nature of fire, perhaps using a hearth fire to speed healing, or scrying what the "eyes of a fire" might have seen from ashes, or making a candle burn brighter but cooler.
* '''Subtlety:''' A Magus learns control is everything, and so can choose how much arcane force to apply. When testing his ''Puissance'' he can choose to roll fewer dice than normal. Doing so increases the subtlety of the magic, making the casting less obvious. Sacrificing one dice (e.g. rolling 4 dice when you are entitled to roll 5) might be enough to mask an arcane signature. Sacrificing two dice can make the magic seem like a natural event to after the effect scrying. Sacrificing three or more dice can make the magic seem like a natural occurrence to onlookers at the time (for example, a telekinetic shove being taken to be due to a strong gust of wind).
* '''Ritual:''' A Magus can take additional time to bolster the power and control of his magic. Spending an hour casting a single spell gains +1 Puissance for that casting. Spending ten hours adds +2 Puissance. Spending a hundred hours, +3 Puissance. Spending a thousand hours, +4 Puissance. There is no upper limit to this: for each further x10 time spent, add a further +1. However, Rituals can be interrupted (typically by violent means), which can negate the spell altogether.
* '''Cooperation:''' A Magus can work in tandem with another Magus, supporting their casting with his own. This is generally handled as a Difficulty 6 spellcasting, with each 3 points of success adding +1 to the second Magus' Puissance for one casting. However, cooperation generally requires the Magus to understand the magic he is assisting: that is, to have the Arcana that would allow him to cast the spell himself. 
* '''Arcane Principia:''' A Magus has access to a variety of other arcane edges and advantages that he can call upon. The principles of sympathetic magic, of using the true name and of mystic resonance are but a few tools in the Magus' toolbox. The GM will generally award a +1 Puissance bonus to a casting for any use of the Arcane Principia that makes sense within the framework of magical thinking.


===Drawbacks of being a '''Magus'''===

* '''Discord with Modernity:''' Something about the practice of magic jars with the modern world, and makes it hard for magi to get the modern world to work for them. High technology is a particular problem, and magi often have problems with using electronic or electrical devices of any sort of complexity. Computers crash, cellphones pack up, even light bulbs tend to burn out a lot quicker than they ought to. Even more complex mechanical devices can be troublesome, so magi often avoid using firearms, and will tend to take the stairs rather than the elevator, and to walk rather than drive. Though this effect ought to have some practical uses, its far more often a great inconvenience to magi. The effect is outside of a mage's control, and tends to occur to their detriment rather than benefit. The effect increases as a Magus' Puissance increases. A newly trained apprentice might have a computer that crashes more than it ought to and a car that breaks down a little too often. A master that has the power of centuries behind him might find that he has to live an anachronistic lifestyle that is technologically primitive even for him, perhaps with actual burning torches lighting his home, and a riding horse being the only way to move faster than running, short of magic. The effect also "spikes" when the Magus actually casts magic. Its not uncommon at all for lightbulbs to explode and for telephones to start smoking when a mage is using the Art. 
* '''The Outsider Effect:''' A Magus seems strange to ordinary humans, emanating a sense of wrongness that makes them uncomfortable. This effect can certainly be worked against with determined charm and prolonged friendship, but its always there at some level. This effect also increases with Puissance, and spikes with magic use. An average magus that uses his magic in a crowded street may find that the people present might not remember what happens (see Denial, below) but that they whisper against him and cross the street to avoid him. A powerful magus might find himself persecuted by witch-hunts (or their modern equivalent, tabloid slander) if he interacts at all with human society, and will often have to seek only the company of other magi and supernaturals if he is to be accepted as anything less than a monster.

===Other Effects of being a '''Magus'''===

* '''Denial:''' Ordinary humans instinctively avoid believing that magic has occurred. Usually this means that they react with immediate disbelief or shock, and later rationalise away what they have experienced with whatever explanation they can. If they can't come up with a justification to themselves, they might even suffer amnesia, or just create a fictional chain of events different to what actually happened. Supernatural creatures don't suffer this effect, nor do other Magi. Also, potential magi with "the aptitude" don't suffer it either, which often the only way in which Magi can discover their would-be apprentices. Some other humans that don't have the aptitude can also avoid the ''Denial'' effect - this number includes children with high imaginations, individuals with a low grip on reality (such as severe schizophrenics) and obsessive devotees of arcane esoteria (normally called "true believers" by the Magi). However, few of these fringe elements tend to be believed when they report what they truly saw! Magi see the Denial as a blessing and a curse, as it both prevents them from using their magic to openly gain status in the human world and helps protect their secrecy.
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=Vampire=

===Campaign Setting Notes===

Selecting this trait means that you are a ''Vampire'' - once human, but now undead, thanks to the cursed Embrace of your vampiric sire.

Vampires also refer to themselves as ''the Blood, the Damned'' and ''the Family''. Commonly they refer to the vampiric condition as the ''Curse'', but also as the ''Dark Gift'' or the ''Endless Night''.

Vampiric powers are referred to as ''Blessings of the Blood'', or simply ''Dominions''. They are not taught, but rather occur as a natural (or more accurately, unnatural) part of the vampiric condition. Certain powers tend to run along certain bloodlines, but also new powers often emerge with age and experience, or through the copious consumption of the blood of supernaturals, be they other vampire, or any other creature with magic within them.

Vampires are not naturally gregarious, and usually view each other as competitors in the hunt. They often dislike each other intensely, but they're also savvy enough to know that the rest of the supernatural world likely hates them even more, so they cooperate for the sake of personal survival. Blood isn't just about sustenance to vampires, but also about power, and it is the pursuit of power that motivates most Vampires, coming second only to fear of mortality and the desire to survive and live forever.

Most Vampires pay lip service to ''The Circle of Night'', but will often associate with other factions too, as their loyalty goes only to the faction that best serves their needs and desires. Few Vampires serve ''Gladius et Aegis'', and those that do are almost invariably younger vampires, who are clinging to the idea that their former humanity still exists and are determined to live moral lives even if their very essence tells them that morality is redundant to them. Vampires of ''Gladius et Aegis'' are often so determined to be as human as possible that they can seem excessively moral to their allies. It is perhaps the struggle to deny their own nature that forces them to be strait-laced, and perhaps also an understanding that if they are to earn trust, they cannot show even a hint of their inner darkness.

''Vampires'' usually follow the ''Shadow Concordat'' strictly, and its rumoured that the ''Circle of Night'' metes out dire punishments to the Damned who slip up on this. In particular there is a strong emphasis on the importance of secrecy.

New Vampires are not created often, as a sire must surrender a little of his power (a permanent -1 Puissance) to turn a mortal human, and they rarely have any desire to share the world with yet another competitor. Often when sires create new progeny, they do so because they have been forced to do so by vampires with more power than them, who see it both as an opportunity to weaken the sire, and to further their own interests. The ''Circle of Night'', for example, sometimes sees the need for a strategic policy of gradually increasing vampire numbers to increase their faction's relative power in an area, and will force an expendable vampire to almost deplete his entire essence in creating new progeny. The number of vampires in the world is hard to measure, but likely lies somewhere between one and two thousand.

The nature of these sorts of arrangements mean that most Sires resent their Progeny, and many Progeny hate their Sires for cursing them with vampirism. Also, its more common for a vampire to be introduced to the long night by a proxy than by their own Sire.

Odd exceptions to this pattern do exist, but are rare. Sometimes a more humane vampire might fall in love, and seek to keep his beloved from aging. Sometimes, a benevolent vampire might give the Dark Gift out of mercy or compassion to a human who is going to die. Sadly, even these creations often end in tragedy...


===Character Generation Guidelines===

Above average ''in Physicality, Socialisation'' and ''Intellect'' is recommended, to reflect the general increase in capabilities that comes with becoming a vampire. The low to moderate ''Puissance'' scores that come with this trade off are in keeping with vampiric nature as well, as supernatural power is not something that is easily increased for vampires. a higher ''Puissance'' generally reflects great age and experience.

Recommended ''Background Traits'' include ''Web of Intrigue'', ''Concordat Diligent'' and ''Old Money''. Vampires are also power-hungry, so traits that reflect power acquired so far are also appropriate.
Recommended ''Internal Traits'' include ''Self Preservation'' and ''Desire for Control.''


===Benefits of being a '''Vampire'''===

* '''Arcana:''' You have supernatural abilities linked to your vampiric condition. This is the source of your Arcana. 
* '''Undead resilience:''' As you are essentially a corpse animated by cursed blood, you don't have to worry about a lot of mortal frailties. You don't need to eat food, drink (other than blood), breathe, sweat or excrete. In fact, you can't do these things even if you wanted to. Extremes of temperature don't bother you, at least short of the temperatures that freeze or boil your blood. You suffer general discomfort far less - pain feels somewhat abstract to you, loud noises won't give you a headache, silence won't make you nervous, pitch darkness or bright light are equally fine. Even physical attacks don't worry you greatly - the flesh is just a shell, and it isn't your organs that keep you going, but the Blood. Almost all physical attacks inflict ''Fatigue'' on you rather than ''Impairment'', and factors that would cause physical ''Fatigue'' to mortal humans often won't effect you at all.
* '''The Kiss:''' Vampiric saliva is replaced with a potent soporific drug that renders humans in a state of soporific bliss for a minute or more, and clouds their memory either side of exposure as well. This drug requires direct skin contact. The Kiss makes feeding a lot easier for Vampires, as it stops victims from resisting and hides the event from the victim's mind. The Kiss doesn't require feeding: it can be used for other practical purposes too. Other supernaturals are effected by The Kiss to varying degrees. Other Vampires are unaffected. "Mostly humans" like wizards and warlocks are no safer against The Kiss than ordinary mortals, though they're more likely to know about it and to seek to avoid it.
* '''Fangs:''' All Vampires can extend and retract their fangs at will. Fangs aren't terribly practical for fighting purposes, but are useful enough for feeding.
* '''Undying:''' Vampires do not age and can theoretically live forever. Also, if destroyed by any means other than sunlight, then they will gradually heal even seemingly fatal injuries, though they will need blood to do so (1 point of blood over 1 night will heal 1 level of injury, or all impairment and all fatigue). If they have no blood (for example if they have been burnt to a pile of ash) then pouring blood over the remains will reanimate them. Death by sunlight, however, is true and final death.

===Drawbacks of being a '''Vampire'''===

* '''The Hunger:''' The less ''Blood Pool'' you have, the hungrier for blood you are. If your Blood Pool is empty, then the Hunger overtakes you immediately. If it is not empty, but equal or less than your ''Puissance'', then you must pass increasingly difficult Intellect tests to control yourself if exposed to the sight or smell of blood. If it is above this level you still feel desire to feed, but can control it. When you are overtaken by the ''Hunger'' you lose control of your own actions, seeking to feed by any means possible, regardless of danger. The Hunger passes only once you have filled your ''Blood Pool''.
* '''Vampiric Vulnerabilities:''' Silver weapons and fire harm you as easily as they would harm a mortal human. True faith, holy symbols and holy ground can drive you back, though strong willpower (and an Intellect test) can overcome this. Garlic does nothing to you, however. Sunlight is the worst: for each combat round (or few seconds) that you are exposed to direct sunlight, you take 1 Physical Fatigue damage. Indirect sunlight during the day does the same, but more slowly (1 Fatigue per minute). A wooden stake through the heart will paralyse you till it is removed.
* '''Daytime weakness:''' You cannot use Arcana between dawn and dusk. During the day, you lose 1 Blood Pool just from the sheer effort required to remain undead. Your attributes are all at -1 dice penalty during the day. You sleep much as a human sleeps, but this is due to quiescence and fatigue of the blood during the day rather than a need for physical rest. You need a minimum of (''Puissance'') hours of sleep per 24 hours, though never more than the number of hours between dawn and dusk. If you do not receive this much sleep, then you lose all your remaining ''Blood Pool''. 

===Other Effects of being a '''Vampire'''===

* '''The Blood:''' You draw power from the Blood, and must record a Blood Pool score on your character sheet. The maximum Blood Pool score you can have is equal to three times your ''Puissance'' attribute. For example, if you have a ''Puissance'' of 3, you have a maximum ''Blood Pool'' score of 9. Each time you use any ''Arcana'', you must spend at least one point from your Blood Pool, up to a maximum equal to your ''Puissance'' attribute. Each Blood Pool you spend adds +1 to your Puissance test for the purpose of that single usage of the ''Arcana''. For example, if you have a ''Puissance'' of 3, you could spend up to 3 Blood Pool in order to roll up to 6 dice on the test. You can only regain blood by feeding on the blood of other creatures. Human blood gives you back 1 Blood Pool point for each pint you take. The blood of creatures with a Puissance score is far more potent, giving you a number of Blood Pool points equal to their Puissance for each pint you take. Animal blood is less potent, requiring two or three times as much blood for the same benefit as feeding on a human. Also, more potent blood tastes better, and animal blood is barely palatable. Volume is not an issue when feeding - the consumed liquid is mystically transformed into your inner essence. A vampire can keep feeding long after his Blood Pool score is maximised: this "gorging" provides no practical benefit, but is intensely pleasurable for the vampire. You can also lose blood through bleeding, but vampiric bodies bleed far less easily than human bodies. For each point of ''Physical Injury'' you suffer, you lose 1 point of Blood Pool. You can't use Arcana without spending Blood Pool. Also, you can't use Arcana between dawn and dusk, regardless of whether you are exposed to sunlight or not.
* '''Stasis:''' A vampire cannot spend XP normally - essentially, at the moment of death he is trapped in a state of metaphysical stasis. While he might gain new memories, he won't learn anything. An eight hundred year old vampire might never master the internet or the telephone or the automobile. Even vampiric powers are fixed in this sense - any powers he begins his existence with come through the essence given by his sire. However, it is clear that old vampire ''are'' more powerful and the reason for this is because the power of their blood can grow, though only in a predatory fashion. To represent this, Vampire characters must track a separate trait called ''Blood Potential''. This score starts at zero, but increases by 1 for every fifty years that pass. Also, if a vampire kills and drinks the last few drops of blood of any creature with a Puissance score, he gains +X Blood Potential, where X is their Puissance score. This is called the "heartsblood" by vampires, and it is by consuming heartsblood of magi, other vampires or any other supernatural creature that vampires can accelerate their growth. Whenever a vampire wants to spend XP, he must spend exactly half of the cost in ''Blood Potential'' instead. For example, if he wants to increase an Attribute (normally cost 20XP) then he must spend 10XP and 10 Blood Potential instead. This is both a boon and limitation for Vampire player characters, as it means they could theoretically advance twice as fast as other players, but might also be held back from advancing till they can make a kill. 
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=Warlock=

===Campaign Setting Notes===

Selecting this trait means that you are a ''Warlock'' - a human who has made a pact with demons or other malign otherworldly entities in exchange for arcane power.

''Warlocks'' sometimes call themselves''demonologists'', if they are seeking to come across as scholarly, but more often stick with ''Warlock''. Female ''Warlocks'' sometimes refer to themselves as ''Witches'', but more often avoid that appellation in order to avoid being confused as wiccans, which they almost never are. A female ''Warlock'' will more often just call herself a ''Warlock''! They refer to their magic as ''The Pact'', and speak of casting magic as ''paying the Price'' or ''offerings''. 

''The Pact'' refers to the source of their power: magic lent to them by demons who themselves need the ''Warlocks'' as agents in the world. In return for payment on the Warlock's part (usually blood or flesh, rather than souls, as selling your soul to a demon simply allows him to move into the empty shell of your body) the demon provides the raw power that empowers the Warlock's magic.

Anyone can become a Warlock, but few humans get the opportunity to interact with a demon, and any given demon can only be tied to one warlock. Their numbers are therefore limited by the number of demons who are able to exert enough arcane force to reach out of Hell, and make an offer to a mortal. As the individuals are chosen by demons, they tend to be unpleasant or outright evil people, as if the demon is going to spend his precious resources on empowering a mortal, he's going to want to make sure that the mortal will enact his will. Warlocks are certainly encountered more rarely than vampires or magi, but this is possibly because they often avoid contact with other supernaturals, as many supernaturals see them as nothing less than pawns of hell, and entirely untrustworthy. Warlock lore suggests that there are always six hundred and sixty six warlocks in the world, but this may be a lie spread by the demons in order to have others mis-estimate their true numbers.

''Warlocks'' generally operate alone, save for being forced to work for or alongside the demon that empowers them. However the schemes of demons often lead to them suggesting to their warlocks that they join certain factions, either for protection or to further their intrigues. Almost all factions include some ''Warlocks'', though they are not the dominant force in any one. Few serve ''Gladius et Aegis'', as its essentially altruistic mission doesn't generally further demonic agendas. Those that do are exceptional cases, with individual reasons for their choices, but are met with considerable suspicion, as many cannot believe that the Warlock could be there other than with their Demon's permission, and that no Demon would be in favour of protecting humanity. There are odd occasions, however, when ''Gladius et Aegis'' accepts Warlocks. Around fifty years ago there was a Warlock who convinced them that both he and his demon hated supernaturals more than humanity, and thus he was willing to protect humanity to spite those supernaturals. Seventy-seven years ago there was another Warlock who claimed that he mastered his demon entirely with the aid of magi, and that he was now seeking to make amends. He did much good work for no less than twenty five years, before suddenly betraying his allies during a confrontation with an archfiend of hell who had been patiently waiting for those souls to be brought to him.

''Warlocks'' generally come to knowledge of the ''Shadow Concordat'' late, and rarely abide by it, though it might often suit their purposes to pretend to do so. Few ''Warlocks'' actively and properly follow the ''Concordat''.


===Character Generation Guidelines===

An above average ''Puissance'' is generally the norm, as demons are powerful beings, and invest strongly in their warlocks. High ''Intellect'' is uncommon, as the last thing a demon wants is for a ''Warlock'' to be able to outwit him.

Recommended ''Background Traits'' include ''New Fortune'' and ''Fame'', as these are often the things that demons tempt mortals with.
Recommended ''Internal Traits'' include ''Immoral'' and ''Driving ambition.''


===Benefits of being a '''Warlock'''===

* '''Arcana:''' You can cast magic! Your Pact is is the source of your Arcana. 
* '''Sacrifice:''' A Warlock can offer blood or flesh to his demonic patron in order to be granted a boost of extra power. Blood loss is treated as physical impairment damage, while flesh offering is physical injury. This can be the Warlock's own blood and flesh, or that of a sacrificial victim. The injuries must be inflicted either with the Warlocks own hands, or with tools or weapons used by the Warlock while the Warlock is less than arm's reach away from his target. Note that this damage doesn't happen spontaneously - the Warlock must cause the injury or blood loss directly. For each point of Physical Impairment inflicted, the Warlock gains +1 Puissance for the next single spell he casts, as long as it is within the next few minutes. For Physical Injury inflicted, the +1 Puissance lasts for several minutes, and is cumulative. Note that sacrifice is not required for casting magic: it just makes the magic more potent.
* '''Soul Sacrifice:''' The Warlock can offer his own soul - simply by mentally deciding to do so - in order to immediately and permanently gain +3 Puissance. However, once he has done so, he loses self-volition, and is forever the mind slave of the demon.


===Drawbacks of being a '''Warlock'''===

* '''Eventual Damnation:''' Hell awaits every Warlock in the afterlife. There are apocryphal tales of redemption, but no reliable accounts. Some Warlocks consider this liberating, as they reason there is no point doing moral or good things, as there will be no reward for doing so.
* '''Unholy:''' A Warlock is aligned to hell, and as such is burnt by holy water as if it were acid, unable to cast magic on consecrated ground, driven back by symbols of Christian, Jewish or Muslim faith, etc. 


===Other Effects of being a '''Warlock'''===

* '''Voice of Temptation:''' Warlocks always have the voice of the Demon with them, and the Demon can speak to them at any time, though only the Warlock can hear the demon's voice. The demon can also be seen in reflective surfaces (though again, only to the Warlock) and can control the Warlock's dreams entirely. The demon will often ask or tell the Warlock to do certain things, and every demon has a variety of capabilities to encourage the Warlock to acquiesce. These techniques range from the infliction of crippling pain or orgasmic pleasure, to the denial or warping of senses, to small boosts or detriments to a Warlock's inherent arcane, physical, social or mental capabilities. However, there are two restrictions as to what a demon can do. Firstly, it can never over-ride a Warlock's free will. Secondly, it cannot directly affect the world beyond the warlock's body: that's why it needs the warlock!
* '''Denial:''' Same as for Magi, above.
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=Blessed=

===Campaign Setting Notes===

Selecting this trait means that you are ''Blessed'' - a human who has been given power by Angels (and by implication, God) to fight the good fight.

''Blessed'' sometimes suggest to others that they are no more or less blessed than any other human, but are simply doing the best they can. Others might claim to be instruments of the divine will, or messengers for the holy. All universally acknowledge that they command no arcane powers - rather it is God who works miracles on their behalf, and they give thanks for this. 

Anyone can become a Blessed, but it doesn't happen often at all. In any given generation there might be no more than a dozen Blessed in total, and both their calling and the strength of their enemies means that they don't tend to last long. Some ''Blessed'' work alone, or just with humans. If a ''Blessed'' does join any faction, its likely to be ''Gladius et Aegis''. Their rarity means that many supernaturals haven't even heard of them, save through rumours or apocryphal tales, and many that have heard of them don't believe they exist.

The ''Blessed'' haven't always heard of the ''Shadow Concordat'', but most of those that do recognize that it is a good thing, as it limits bloodshed and provides them some protection. No ''Blessed'' would ever put the Concordat ahead of doing the right thing, however.

While the vast majority of Blessed have been devout Christians, Muslims or Jews, there's been the occasional exception to this. In fact there's presently a Blessed in ''Gladius et Aegis'' who claims to be an agnostic and humanist, who says that the presence of angels and demons doesn't prove that there is a God, but that he does what seems to be the right thing because he chooses to. 


===Character Generation Guidelines===

An exceptionally high ''Puissance'' is generally the norm: this is the work of God, after all! Otherwise, ''Blessed'' tend to be no more than average humans, save that they are usually braver, more moral and stronger in faith.

Recommended ''Background Traits'' include ''Good Friends'' and ''Faith Connections''.
Recommended ''Internal Traits'' include ''Faith'' and ''Moral code.''


===Benefits of being a '''Blessed'''===

* '''Arcana:''' The Blessed have miracles that seem to act just like magic, even if they say they aren't. 
* '''Divine Instruments:''' The Arcana of the Blessed can't be countered, negated or redirected by other supernatural's Arcana. While a Magus might claim that the warding shield around the blessed is clearly magical, he won't be able to dispel it!
* '''Deus Ex Machina:''' Occasionally divine intervention may take place, allowing a Blessed to exceed his capabilities at a moment when he really needs to, and when his cause is especially righteous and his need is especially great. For example, when being pursued by a swarm of vampires, and grievously injured, a Blessed might decide to bravely meet his fate, taking out his crucifix and handgun, and stopping to turn and face the enemy while his companions escape. Then, if the powers that be decide that it should be so, he might find that his crucifix glows with holy light... sunlight in fact. The vampires burn before him, or flee, and he collapses exhausted. Deus Ex Machina events are not within the Blessed's control, and players should never petition the GM for one: doing so should in fact automatically preclude the event from happening. Instead, the GM decides when it is most dramatically appropriate, and assesses that the Blessed has both acted with exceptional righteousness and is in dire need, then he triggers the event. How often these events occur is entirely up to the GM: they might be no more than once in a whole campaign, or might never happen at all. Certainly they should occur no more than once every ten gaming sessions. Essentially, if the divine intervention was expected by the players, then it probably wasn't well played by the GM.


===Drawbacks of being a '''Blessed'''===

* '''Judgment:''' Someone, be it Angels or God himself, watches the Blessed and holds them to high standards. They must seek to be righteous in all they do, and failure to abide by this results in judgment from above. The first sign of this is a nagging sense of guilt that seems to come from outside of the Blessed. The next is temporary withdrawals of their blessings (that is, their Puissance score) until they make their actions right. Finally, they can be stripped of their blessings altogether. What is considered righteous or not is up to the GM to decide: depending on the GMs style this might be guided by things like the Ten Commandments, or the Old Testament as a whole, or may just be an arbitrary set of rules that the GM decides upon as what the "Powers" deem as righteous behaviour. Note that what player characters, players or the GM judge as being moral don't really come into it: this is an abstract rule of righteousness that comes from an unseen and non-negotiating force from above. In game terms, however, its thematically appropriate for a GM to always give fair warning when blessings are going to be taken away. Note also that Judgment doesn't just come from looking at Blessed's actions either, but also at their inaction. Choosing not to act when it would be righteous to do so is inherently unrighteous!
* '''Held back from sin:''' If an Arcana use would go against the above rules of righteousness, the casting simply fails. For example, if the GM has decided that killing humans is always wrong by these rules, then an attempt to use Arcana to kill someone would be wasted, and nothing would happen.


===Other Effects of being a '''Blessed'''===

* '''Miracles:''' While the ''Player'' chooses how he wants his Arcana to be used, the ''Player Charater'' (in his in-character mindset) does not. Essentially all he does is mentally or verbally ask for help from God, Yahweh, Allah, or whatever higher power he believes in. When help comes, the Blessed believes that it was something that was done for him, not by him. The other aspect of Miracles is that they very rarely look like anything supernatural, and could be explained away as coincidence by a sceptical onlooker. While a Blessed might claim he prayed to be protected from his attackers, and that God turned the incoming blows aside, a sceptic might observe that he just saw lots of lucky escapes from blows and bullets that almost struck home. However, at GM discretion, sometimes a Miracle will be blatant and incontrovertible by all but the most stubborn sceptic. These so called overt miracles generally happen when the Blessed is engaged in a righteous battle against a truly evil and powerful enemy. Normally all present have already accepted that terrible supernatural evil exists, and are close to giving up hope. Its at times like these that the powers that be decide that faith will benefit more from a demonstration of the divine then from asking people to choose whether they believe or not.


[[Category:Gladius et Aegis]]