Aracnean

By Mario Majoni (proteus@promix.it) for the Tien'sloj

* Spider Eyes

By spending a blood point, the vampire can change the shape of his eyes, making them multi-lensed. This grants him 360 degree vision.

** Spider climb

By spending 2 blood points the vampire may gain the power to adhere to ceilings and walls for the duration of a scene. Manoeuvres can be attempted with a Dexterity + Athletics roll.

*** Spinnerets

Upon gaining the 3^rd dot in Aracnean, the vampire grows special glands in his forearms: the spinnerets which may be used to create webbing similar to (although thicker than) that of a normal spider. These webs can be used to seal off holes, entangle or blind opponents, lower from high places, climb, etc.

Targeting and hitting something requires a Dexterity + Firearms roll with a variable difficulty (usually 6); the webs have a basic Stamina of 5 and one health level for purposes of soaking damage. Successes on an Intelligence + Webmaking roll with a difficulty of 8 may be spent to give the webs either extra Stamina or extra health levels; every botch removes one health level or one point of Stamina. It requires a blood point to use this power once.

**** Lilian Form

The vampire spends 2 blood points and turns into an horrible, 7 feet tall spider-like humanoid that is covered by black velvet-like hair. The hands have long and pointy claws (Str+1 damage) and the vampire is considered to be ambidextrous for brawling purposes. Social characteristics drop to 0, but the following bonuses are gained:

Str +1, Dex +4, Sta +2, Wits +1

***** Replenishment of the Flesh

The vampire may cure himself sending a telepathic command to all spiders nearby to come at once and join his flesh; a roll of Charisma + Animal Ken with a difficulty based on the amount of spiders present in the area (i.e., Brazil 3, Alaska 9) determines the number of health levels cured (1 success = 1 point of damage, 5 successes = 1 point of aggravated damage). Subsequent rolls may be attempted at +2 difficulty each; Animalism 4 or mare lowers the difficulty by 2.

***** * Vile Metamorphosis or "Crawlerling"

The vampire spends 3 blood points, becoming a mass of spiders that may swarm however he likes; the character is then nearly invulnerable in this form, since she may reform her body (through Replenishment of the Flesh) even if only one small spider survives. Only fire, acid and sunlight may actually destroy a clever vampire in this form.

***** * Poison blood

The vampire possessing this power actually has a particular venom (that works like Assamite blood for non-Assamite) and not blood in his system. Blood may be spit at targets with the expenditure of some blood points and a Dexterity + Firearms roll with a difficulty of 7; basic damage is (blood points spent) + (number of successes -3).

***** * Razor Web

This power allows the vampire to spin a razor-sharp web that cannot harm him and that can be used for usual purposes (catching items, climbing etc.) as well as for damaging enemies. Basic damage is aggravated and is equal to the number of successes on an Intelligence + Webmaking roll with a difficulty of 8. Hitting an enemy requires a Dexterity + Firearms roll with a difficulty of 7, with any success in excess of 2 becoming additional damage.

***** ** Spider Mastery

This power actually empowers the Tien'sloj with the first 5 levels of Animalism, with the only difference being that these "Animalism" powers can be applied to spiders only, and a blood point must be spent when using them.

***** ** Phitus Form

When the vampire reaches this skill in Aracnean he gains the ability to turn into a giant spider. This form gives the vampire +3 to all physical attributes, 2 extra health levels, one additional dice to add to the soak pool and 1 point of armor, while social skills drop to 0.