Vine of Dionysus

Years before the rise of the mighty Roman Empire, pagan sects dedicated to the Greek god Dionysus thrived. Small cults of vampires worshipped the lord of rebirth and release from the burdens of undeath. Symbolized in oinos, or wine, and orgy, the cults of Dionysus spread their intoxicating practices throughout Eastern Europe.

Any practitioner of the Vine of Dionysus often refers to himself/herself as a thyrsus (females are occasionally called “Maenads”, preferably from a safe distance). These vampires sometimes wear jewelry of other accoutrements with ivy and/or pine cone motifs as symbols of their dedication.

Powers (Social - Occult)

⚫ Methyskein

Challenge: Social (Occult) vs Physical(Survival) Cost: One Blood Duration: Scene

By making physical contact with his target, the Warlock causes her to behave and appear as if she were drunk. For one scene, a person affected by this power suffers -1 Mental and -1 Social Traits, and generally acts intoxicated, from slurred speech to euphoria and clouded judgement.

Note: If used on a mortal or ghoul three nights in a row, the victim becomes addicted to the euphoria this power brings and may suffer ill effects from this addiction (such as Trait penalties for each night without a “fix”)

⚫⚫ Omophagy

Challenge: Social (Occult) vs physicals ( Survival) Cost: One Blood, One Willpower Duration: One Night

This power hearkens back to Dionysus’ ability to invoke animal urges in his victims. By making direct eye contact and winning a Social (Occult) vs Mentals with her target, the Warlock imbues her target with an all encompassing gluttony. Mortals eat until they become sick and even then will feel hungry and continue to gorge after they vomit. Kindred affected in this way will not only drain a vessel completely of blood (even if it is another Kindred!) but attempt to devour the victim’s flesh (although this does not grant the ability to digest whatever flesh is eaten, ensuring predictable, gory results). A Kindred who kills another in a fit of gustatory ecstasy cannot “accidentally” diablerize the victim.

In basic terms, this power causes a hunger frenzy in the target for whatever they consume for energy (humans eat food, vampires drink blood).

A vampire affected by this power seeks out the easiest “prey” readily available. If the vampire is hungry and confronted by the sight, smell or taste of blood, hunger frenzy occurs. The target loses awareness of her surroundings to the extent that a breach of Masquerade is probable. By spending a Willpower Trait, the victim may resist the hunger for one hour but will lapse back into it with gusto. This effect, which is two trait penalty to self control checks, lasts for the rest of the night.

⚫⚫⚫ Hamartia

Challenge: Social (Occult) vs Physical(Survival) Cost: One Blood Duration: Scene

Far more intense than the mere euphoria created by Methyskein, this power causes intoxication to the point of perversity, delirium and possibly torpid stupor. In those who possess the path themselves, however, it also grants superhuman strength.

By making physical contact with his target, the thaumaturge induces such euphoria in the victim that she is two Traits down on all challenges for the remainder of the scene. How the victim reacts to such intoxication is in the hands of the Storyteller - lust, depression and violence are possible, and the target’s Nature, Flaws or derangements may further affect her actions.

Interestingly enough, while they also suffer most of the negative effects detailed above, when this path is used upon another follower of the Vine of Dionysus the victim takes no penalty to physical actions and gains a two-Trait bonus in challenges involving strength.

⚫⚫⚫⚫ Enthousiasmos

Challenge: Social (Occult) vs Physical(Survival) Cost: One Blood Duration: Scene

With this power, the follower of Dionysus exudes a powerful pheromone with which she may “infect” others within a 10 foot radius. Anyone affected will fall into a narcotic stupor as the hallucinogen induces pleasant, dreamlike images. In this state they wilt simply giggle, dance or sigh as they sink into the visions.

By succeeding in this power, the caster inflicts a -1 penalty to all skill ratings and virtues. The vampires enter a state of euphoria though and are likely too pleased with themselves tok care much ( for the moment); they’re inclined to passive euphoria, content to while away their time with their visions (which are better than television). Someone affected by this power may spend a temporary Willpower to shrug off the effects for one turn, after which he slides back under. This power lasts for one scene.

Note: This penalty does stack with others of this path

⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫ Oinos Aimatos

Challenge: N/A Cost: One Blood, One Willpower Duration: Scene

By invoking the essence of the wine-god into themselves, the thrysus transforms his blood into a powerful elixir. For the duration of one scene, anyone imbibing even the tiniest drop of the Warlock‘s blood will be affected as per Enthousiasmos. The thaumaturge need only spend a Blood Trait and a Willpower Trait upon first invoking this power: He can affect as many targets as drink his blood without further expense.

If dumped into a communal punchbowl or the like, it can only be detected through the use of Heightened Senses and a successful Mental Challenge (difficulty at the Storyteller’s discretion). It can also be detected by enhanced powers of taste, but by then of course it is too late for the Kindred in question.

The effects of this power last for one scene.

== Vine of Dionysus == 

O Sin Redefined

Challenge: Socials (Occult) vs 10 Cost: 1 Blood Duration: Permanent With their control and mastery of the various drugs in the neon nights of the 1980’s the follower of Dionysus is able to use their blood to empower one does of any mortal created/manufactured drug or alcoholic drink to double its effects, double its duration and double its capabilities for addiction. Mortals who partake in vices buffed by “Sin Redefined ” lose ties to addiction tests, and characters with the Addiction flaw are able to gain double the blood points from mortals under the influence. ( Typical addiction checks are difficulty 2.) A vampire who feeds on mortals under the effect of such drugs get a euphoric high. Reducing the difficulty of any rage frenzy stimuli by one.

OO Brew of Ecstasy and Liberation

Challenge: Socials (Occult) vs 15 Cost: 2 Blood Duration: Scene The caster brews the dreams and thoughts of a mortal into a brew. May create one of the following drinks at a time. Can be mixed into a larger quantity of a drink, like a punch bowl at a party. Excessive use of any of the Brews within a night (3+) forces a player to make a simple Mentals test (diff 2). Failure will result in them gaining addiction to the brews. Creating a Brew takes an action and creates 5 doses of said brew.

Gin of Exuberant Jubilation +2 Social Traits / -1 Self Control

Champagne of Intense Concentration +2 Mental Traits / -1 Conscience

Whisky of Uncontrollable Wrath -4 Physical Traits / +1 Courage

Wine of Immense Willpower +2 Temporary Willpower / -1 to all Virtues

OOO Adopting the Charms of Bacchus

Challenge: Socials vs Physicals ( Discipline retests apply but no skill.)

Cost: 1 Willpower, 1 blood.

Duration: Scene

With this power, the follower of Dionysus infects whatever situation they are in with joy and excitement that they may use to influence others within the room. Anyone affected by the power falls into a drunken stupor as the Charm of Bacchus induces pleasant, dreamlike images. In this state, they will simply giggle, dance or sigh as they sink into the visions. By succeeding in this power, the caster inflicts a -3 penalty to all traits, and a -1 to virtues on all characters affected by this power as they enter a state of euphoria making this power extremely potent against the Brujah or Black Spiral Dancers that are trying to avoid their respective frenzies. Anyone affected by this power may spend a temporary Willpower each turn for the rest of the scene to fight off the effects of Bacchus’ charms. If the follower of Dionysus is knocked unconscious, all characters under the influence are immediately freed.

OOOO Perfecting the Purification Process

Challenge: Socials (Occult limited by Craft, Alchemy) vs 20

Cost: 1 Blood, 1 Willpower

Duration: Night

Makes Brew of Ecstasy of Liberation drinks last for the entire night instead of a scene, also enables them to be thrown with a Physicals(Athletics) vs Physicals(Defense), however, some Anarchs have begun to instead fill Super Soakers and use Physicals/Mentals(Firearms). This power also makes it so mortal drugs improved by “Enhance the Mortal Capability” can affect the supernatural directly.

OOOOO Distilling of the Blood

Challenge: None, 2 Actions (one to chant and one to transform)

Cost: 2 Blood

Duration: Scene

(Transformation) The caster chants an ancient prayer to Dionysus and drinks their preferred alcoholic drink. Afterward their vitae transforms into and gains the benefits of, the various concoctions of the Brew of Ecstasy and Liberation. +2 to Social and Mental Traits, -4 Physical Traits and -2 to Self Control and Conscience, and 2 temporary Willpower ( this temporary willpower returns at the start of every scene.) When in this form, the Kindred may feed this power to others at an additional cost of one blood per character, the character who drinks will become blood bound to the caster. Anyone who attempts to drink the character's blood forcibly loses 1 mental, 1 social for each point of blood they take.