100 Cult of Ecstasy just for a chance to have the magic back. I doubt you’ll survive their ministrations, but who knows? Some of your victims may have survived, as well. “You’re in their place. How does it feel? Does that rush of terror and horror bring you closer to ecstasy? Does it let you feel the magic? No… it just makes you a victim. You can’t enlighten someone by breaking him. You have to make him better. “Now, you know why we follow the Code of Ananda. You know why we never bring experience on people unbidden. We are not here to make victims. We are here to make gods.” Lee Ann steps back away from the frantic man as he tries to piece together the shattered fragments of his locket — his phylactery, his soul. With a gesture of her blade she indicates that their work is done for now. Kyle and Strathma start their way up the stairs. Kyle pauses and asks, “What about others? Shouldn’t we see…” “No,” Lee Ann cuts him off. “He knew we were coming; we won’t find the others or their victims here. But we’ve tamed one more victimizer today. There may not be endings in time, Kyle, but this is a beginning.” Suggested Resources We don’t advocate that readers of this book actually go out and engage in a lot of the Cult practices herein. Drugs, pain trancing, extreme sports and casual sex can all be very dangerous! That’s why playing through such activities is safer than trying them yourself. Of course, to have an idea of what you’re playing, you might want to read some books or watch a few movies that help give you an idea of what your character’s all about. The suggestions here are just a few minor ones; we’re sure you’ll think of more. Bacchus, by Eddie Campbell — A graphic novel regarding the travails of the God of Merriment in the modern age, as he is brought low by his own venerable stature and his inability to control his excesses. Even so, he perseveres, but without understanding how or why. The Kama Sutra — Once you’re done snickering, check the actual book out. It’s not just a work of erotic fiction, but rather a guide to pleasures and to the inherent power of different forms of sexuality. The Vedas — The four Indian Vedas form the core of Hinduism. Since Tantric Hinduism comes from Hindu roots, it’s useful to see the beginnings. A worthy addition to any library, to complement other major religious texts such as the Bible or the Koran. Anything by Carlos Castaneda — A great thinker, imaginer and challenger of mundane ideas. Try Journey to Ixtlan for a particularly Cult-inspirational book. Food of the Gods, by Terence McKenna — An examination of foods and substances that bring on trance and ecstasy. Not something to be tried by amateurs, but a good resource on shamanic ecstatics. Trainspotting — An ugly, ugly movie that provides insight into the flip side of the Cult: The crash of the hardcore junkie. Dangerous Liaisons — The dance of innuendo and social stigma all ultimately revolves around desire. See the Cult of Ecstasy dancing at its wicked best in this movie. Shall We Dance — A Japanese import that plays on the feeling of isolation that comes with being a practitioner of ecstasy in the middle of mundane society. A Japanese businessman by day takes lessons in dance by night, but he can’t let anyone know, or he’ll be ostracized and lose his job. He tiptoes through the business world until, one day, he sees another businessman and, from the man’s walk, recognizes a fellow dancer.
Strength______________ Dexterity_____________ Stamina______________ Nature: Essence: Demeanor: Name: Player: Chronicle: Faction: Concept: Cabal: Advantages Advantages Attributes Attributes Physical Social Mental Charisma______________ Manipulation___________ Appearance____________ Perception_____________ Intelligence____________ Wits__________________ Talents Alertness______________ Athletics______________ Awareness_____________ Brawl_________________ Dodge________________ Expression_____________ Intimidation___________ Leadership______________ Streetwise_____________ Subterfuge_____________ Crafts_________________ Drive_________________ Etiquette______________ Firearms_______________ Meditation_____________ Melee_________________ Performance____________ Stealth________________ Survival________________ Technology_____________ Academics______________ Computer______________ Cosmology_____________ Enigmas______________ Investigation___________ Law__________________ Linguistics_____________ Medicine______________ Occult________________ Science________________ Skills Knowledges Correspondence________ Entropy_______________ Forces________________ Life__________________ Matter________________ Mind_________________ Prime_________________ Spirit_________________ Time_________________ Backgrounds Arete Health OOOOOOOOOO Willpower _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ Quintessence Bruised -0 Hurt -1 Injured -1 Wounded -2 Mauled -2 Crippled -5 Incapacitated Experience Paradox Abilities AbilitiesAbilities Spheres Spheres OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO • OOOOOOOOOO Resonance Dynamic______________ Entropic_______________ Static________________ OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO Other Traits _________________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO ™
Weapon Difficulty Damage Range Rate Clip Conceal Merits & Flaws Merits & Flaws Merit Type Cost Flaw Type Bonus ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Magic Preferred Effects Rotes ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Combat Maneuver Roll Difficulty Damage/Effect Armor:___________ ™
Expanded Background Expanded Background Allies ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Contacts ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Destiny ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Influence ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Library ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Mentor ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Node ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Resources ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Possessions Possessions Gear (Carried) ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Equipment (Owned) ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Foci ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Wonders ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Familiar ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Past Incarnations Past Incarnations ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ™
History History Awakening ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Goals/Destiny ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Seekings:__________________________________Quiets:__________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Description Description Age:____________________________________________________________________________________ Apparent Age:________________________________________________________________________ Date of Birth:__________________________________________________________________________ Age of Awakening:_____________________________________________________________________ Hair:____________________________________________________________________________________ Eyes:____________________________________________________________________________________ Race:________________________Appearance/Nature of Avatar:_______________________________ Nationality:__________________________________________________________________________ Height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Weight:__________________________________________________________________________________ Sex:____________________________________________________________________________________ Visuals Visuals Cabal Chart Character Sketch ™
Notes
Notes