Vestige

A Vestige is a magical object created by the residual life force of humans combined with intense memories. Some Vestiges are spontaneously created, but can be created using Open Rites. Vestiges have the following traits:

• Rating: Naturally created vestiges are rated at 1-5 dots. Sorcerers can create vestiges rated at 1-6 dots.
• Object: A vestige is an object, and has Size, Durability, and Structure.
• Incorruptible: Vestiges are immune to ordinary wear and tear caused by the passage of time.
• Virtue and Vice: Vestiges have a Virtue and a Vice, and matching Power and Curse.
• Resonance: When a character’s Anchors, such as a Changeling's Needle and Thread, is synonymous with or matches a vestige’s Virtue or Vice, the vestige resonates with the character.
• Willpower Refresh: If a resonant vestige is kept on a sleeping character’s person, the character refreshes extra Willpower points after a full night’s sleep. The character refreshes 1 extra Willpower point per Virtue or Vice that is synonymous with or matches the character’s Anchors to a maximum of +2 Willpower points.

Invoking Vestiges

Vestiges are invoked through two methods. The first is to touch the Vestige and perform an action in sync with its underlying memory. A Vestige of protection born from an act of affection is invoked through a sincere declaration of love. An amulet relic forged from a memory of harsh weather is activated when worn during a rainstorm.

The second method is to touch the vessel, call out its name, and activate it by force of will. This invocation demands a sacrifice from its user, either in the form of a Pillar point or a Willpower point. Once a vessel is invoked, its user receives a vague or alarming vision related to the memory buried within it. The vessel’s Power and Curse begin immediately after.

A vessel’s dot rating determines the mechanical basis of its Power and Curse. In general, a Power is mechanically represented by a bonus; and a Curse by a penalty. Where the bonus or penalty is applied depends on a vessel’s type. Each individual dot in a vessel’s rating can grant the following:

Powers and Curses

• +1 dice pool bonus or -1 penalty
• +1 or −1 Armor
• +1 or −1 Defense
• +1 or −1 Attribute rating
• +1 or −1 Skill rating
• 1 positive or negative Social Influence shift

When designing mechanical bonuses and penalties for vessels, these can be mixed and matched using a pool of points equal to the vessel’s dot rating plus 1. For example, a two-dot vessel has three points and could give a user two dots in Empathy, but remove one dot of Streetwise. A five-dot vessel has six points and could imbue a user with three points of Armor, but remove three dots of Stamina. A one-dot vessel has two points and could give a user 1 positive Social Influence shift, but remove one die from a combat dice pool.

• Bonuses and Penalties: Powers and Curses inflict a set of bonuses and penalties on a vessel’s user.
• Design: A vessel’s dot rating provides a pool of points equal to its dot rating plus 1. These points are spread between the vessel’s Power and Curse. A vessel’s Power never has a mechanical bonus higher than half of the point pool, rounded up.

Memories and the Resulting Power and Curse

Vestiges are the embodiment of an emotional memory. That memory forms the basis of its Power and Curse. A vestige’s Power is a mechanical representation of its underlying memory and its Virtue. An Honest vestige might grant bonuses to Performance or improve Interrogation dice pools. A vestige’s Curse is formed from its underlying memory and its Vice. The Honest vestige is also Headstrong, and may apply penalties to Common Sense dice pools, or even reduce its user’s Composure.

The highly personal memories that vestiges hold ensure that the only person subject to its Power and Curse is its current user. They are also short lived, and their Powers and Curses last for a Scene. Vestiges are useful in any situation, but their inner light shines brightest when invoked during moments resonating with the creating event. A vestige under these conditions may gain additional effects.