Masters of Shadows
Lasombra’s connection to the Abyss is an intense and extremely personal one. Other Kindred learn Oblivion, but the Lasombra ARE Oblivion. The Abyss influences them, and in turn, they influence the abyss. While their own mind is a rowboat against the endless tide of the Abyssal sea, their personality can influence how the Abyss Manifest forth from their bodies.
Externally, when other Kindred learn about these groupings of Lasombra, they sometimes refer to them as factions, but that implies a level of understanding, cooperation, and leadership where none exists. Each Lasombra views themselves as a captain alone amidst their fellows and views their mind as their palace and their palace alone. From the outside in, there are certainly certain themes among these “factions” that create similarities between Lasombra, though it is hard for them to see it as such. Some of these expressions of abyssal power make sense, while others are uniquely Lasombra in their manifestation. Perhaps the Lasombra have a greater effect on shaping the nature of the abyss than even they know.
Each of these powers represents a refinement of Oblivion that the Lasombra has mastered through self-discipline. The Lasombra alters how either Shroud of Night or Arm of the Abyss works. A Character may use either their new version or the original version but cannot have them both active at once. Ie. A Vampire can use either Arm of the Abyss or Shadow Cutlass but can't use both at the same time.
A Lasombra may learn each of the following Alterations for 5 exp each. They CAN teach other clans the powers, but doing so is extremely frowned upon. For other clans, they cost 15 exp., and they do not receive the skill benefit.
Masteries cost 4 Freebies at Game start
Corsairs
Dedication: You may not live in the city but must live on the ocean. You do not have influence in any one city but may own items.
Benefit: While within view of a great body of water (ocean, Lake), You possess a phantom retest that can be called once a Night on any non-lore Test.
Oblivion Refinement: Shadow Cutlass: Level 3
The Shadow Cutlass. You fold your Shroud of Night over your sword. The damage cap of the weapon increases by one.
Crusaders
Dedication: You must defend the sabbat. People disparaging the Sabbat provoke a frenzied test. Equal to Road rating.
Benefit: When in combat against someone, you would consider your equal; you possess one phantom skill retest. Applicable to any physical skill. Useable once per night
Oblivion Refinement: Abyssal Embrace: Level 3
You concentrate the shades into jet-black armor. It is category 2(2 health) of armor that regenerates each round after it is broken. Though this is a transformation power, it can explicitly stack with Black Metamorphosis.
Faithful
Dedication: You must tithe to the church each month. (Action Spent using church Influence in some way.)
Benefit: When using Empathy to understand someone's weaknesses, you possess a phantom Empathy retest. Useable once per night.
Oblivion Refinement: Fall and Pray: Level 2
When you activate your Shroud, there is a mass test against [10 traits Socials (No retests) vs Socials (willpower). Failure causes a subject to drop to its knees and contemplate the benevolence of night. It has none of the other effects of Shroud.
Monarch
Dedication: If anyone besides yourself murders a human near you, you lose a path rating if you don't immediately try to kill them. Ghouls don't count. All Humans are your Humans.
Benefit: When attempting to inspire someone, you possess a phantom Leadership retest. Once per night.
Oblivion Refinement: Shroud of Dusk Level 2
Shroud of the night will not kill mortals; it just renders them unconscious. It deals 3 bashing per round but applies no Blindness retest.
Children of the Abyss
Dedication: You must always torture before you kill.
Benefit: Reinforce Haven actions count double.
Oblivion Refinement: Dark Sanctum Level 2
You gain the Ritual Create Oubliette for Free when your purchase Oblivion 2. Your Oubliette is larger. You gain your Oubliette rating in traits on all actions performed within your Oubliette instead of just rituals. Lastly, You may take 10 minutes of uninterrupted focus while within the boundaries of your Shroud of Night to teleport yourself back to your Oubliette. This Shroud provides not blindness penalty nor damage, it just makes it dark enough to teleport you.
Villain
Dedication: Tell no one your true name. You must be an enigma; you exist as a symbol.
Benefit: Whenever you break into a place or trespass, you must leave a calling card. If you intend to do so, you gain an additional security retest above your maximum, callable once per scene. If you fail to do so, you lose the benefit until the next time you successfully leave your calling card.
Oblivion Change: Cloak of Shadows -Level 3.
The Villain's tentacle takes the form of a magnificent Shadow Cloak. While active, this cloak obscures the Villain's movements, granting them Oblivion + 1 in traits as an equipment bonus on Stealth. They may also call Oblivion's skill as retests on stealth tests.
Authority
Dedication: Never use a social skill besides intimidation (except for discipline retests). You don't bargain. Yours is to give commands, and theirs is to follow.
Benefit: When intimidating others, you possess a phantom Intimidate retest. Useable once per night.
Oblivion Change: Eyes of Despair -Level 2.
You open portals to the abyss in your eyes; You may use Dread Gaze as an Oblivion power (using mentals instead of socials and using Subterfuge as the retest.) If you also possess Dreadgaze from Presence, you gain +2 traits (untyped) on the attempt, with either discipline or power.