Awareness
Ability
Awareness is an instinctual reaction to the presence of the supernatural. It differs from Alertness (which measures sensitivity to mundane events) and Occult
(which covers actual knowledge about the supernatural). Usually, only supernatural creatures have access to this particular Talent, but some unique mortals have a sense that something is strange in the world (such as those with True Faith – see p. 372).
Characters with Awareness sometimes get hunches, chills, or sudden flashes of inspiration when they are near supernatural creatures, objects, or events. This insight is purely subconscious, and knowing that something’s wrong doesn’t mean that the character knows what it is. To get more specific information, the Kindred will need to use Occult or a particular power – Awareness only makes the vampire more receptive to the presence of the unusual.
A vampire can use Awareness deliberately if he suspects that something is supernatural, but more often the Storyteller can ask for an Awareness roll to determine whether a vampire notices a strange event that’s not immediately visible.
• Novice: Once in a while, you get the feeling that something isn’t right.
•• Practiced: You sometimes get strange vibes from a particular direction or vague area (like a building).
••• Competent: You can walk into a room and know that something unusual is going on within.
•••• Expert: If you concentrate, you can sense whether a someone in a group of people or a collection of objects is supernatural.
••••• Master: You instinctually know if something or someone is mundane or supernatural.
Possessed by
Psychics, New Agers, Mystics, Paranormal Researchers
Specialties
Ghostly Activity, Mystical Objects, Someone’s In My Head, Debunking
Also in M20 p. 277 — M20 text
You’ve got uncanny perceptions. While alert folks spot everyday clues, your instincts cue in on the so-called supernatural side of life. Perhaps you’ve simply got that feeling about things – some people do, even if they’re not Awakened as such. More likely, you’ve spent enough time around the magical world to sense its effects in your presence.
At lower levels, this Talent grants a nebulous perception of uncanny phenomena; higher ratings in the Trait reveal auras, expose the secretive Night-Folk, and open your eyes to the spiritual Periphery. In game terms, you can use Perception + Awareness to spot paranormal effects, detect magick, recognize Resonance Echoes, and so forth, assuming they’re within close proximity of you. The more successes you roll, the more detailed your impressions become.
For a reference chart of aura colors and textures, see Chapter Ten, (p.507).
• Novice: You possess a gift for spotting hidden truths.
•• Practiced: Magic exists, and you often sense its presence.
••• Skillful: You can see auras, and you understand what those colors mean.
•••• Expert: The supernatural world reveals itself to you in disturbing detail.
••••• Master: You’re so attuned to the mystic realm that many folks consider you insane.
Possessed By
Canny Grannies, Wise Spies, Crazy Shamans, Demented Seers, Insightful Kids, Mad Scientists, Those Touched By God
Suggested Specialties
Omens, Auras, Resonance, Weird Feelings, Mystic Instincts, Hidden Magic, Spiritual Vidare
See also 2
Referenced by 60
Bestiary
- Aigamuxa mage/creature/npc/aigamuxa
- Amira the Storyteller (Amira al-Kadhaab) mage/creature/npc/amira-the-storyteller-amira-al-kadhaab
- Anuk Ite mage/creature/npc/anuk-ite
- Big Cats vampire/creature/ghoul/big-cats
- Bioenhanced Field Agent mage/creature/npc/bioenhanced-field-agent
- Black Suit mage/creature/npc/black-suit
- Cat mage/creature/npc/cat
- Common “Steelskin” Cyborg mage/creature/npc/common-steelskin-cyborg
- Dataphyte mage/creature/npc/dataphyte
- Erinyes (Entropy and Hubris) mage/creature/npc/erinyes-entropy-and-hubris
- Extraordinary Scientist mage/creature/npc/extraordinary-scientist
- Ghosts mage/creature/npc/ghosts
- Government Agent mage/creature/npc/government-agent
- Grootslang mage/creature/npc/grootslang
- Hedge Magician mage/creature/npc/hedge-magician
- High Wizard vampire/creature/npc/high-wizard
- Hive (Innocuous Marauder) mage/creature/npc/hive-innocuous-marauder
- Hounds vampire/creature/ghoul/hounds
- Inkanyamba mage/creature/npc/inkanyamba
- Inquisitor vampire/creature/npc/inquisitor
- Invested Infernalist mage/creature/npc/invested-infernalist
- Jiangshi mage/creature/npc/jiangshi
- Kijimuna mage/creature/npc/kijimuna
- Kongamato mage/creature/npc/kongamato
- Miengu mage/creature/npc/miengu
- New-Age Dilettante mage/creature/npc/new-age-dilettante
- PDC Aberration Hunter mage/creature/npc/pdc-aberration-hunter
- Ravening Winds mage/creature/npc/ravening-winds
- Shisa mage/creature/npc/shisa
- Skymurmurs mage/creature/npc/skymurmurs
- Spirit-Talker mage/creature/npc/spirit-talker
- Subculture Devotees mage/creature/npc/subculture-devotees
- Taniwha mage/creature/npc/taniwha
- Tzitzimimeh mage/creature/npc/tzitzimimeh
- Urban Shamanic Musician mage/creature/npc/urban-shamanic-musician
- Wolf vampire/creature/ghoul/wolf
- Yazid al-Ghul mage/creature/npc/yazid-al-ghul
- Young Cultist vampire/creature/npc/young-cultist
- al-Ghadib, the Mad Warrior mage/creature/npc/al-ghadib-the-mad-warrior
Disciplines
- Eradication of Secrets vampire/power/combo_discipline/eradication-of-secrets-thaumaturgy-and-dominate
- Obfuscate vampire/power/discipline/obfuscate
- Silent Voice vampire/power/combo_discipline/silent-voice
Merits & Flaws
- Clear Sighted shared/trait/merit/clear-sighted
- Medium shared/trait/merit/medium
- Oracular Ability shared/trait/merit/oracular-ability
- Phylactery shared/trait/flaw/phylactery
Paths & Numina
- Quintessence Manipulation mage/power/sorcery_path/quintessence-manipulation
- Starlight mage/power/sorcery_path/starlight
Places
- Resident Aliens mage/location/umbral_realm/resident-aliens
Rotes & Procedures
- Aura Colors and Textures mage/power/rote/aura-colors-and-textures
- Burnt Offerings mage/power/rote/burnt-offerings
- Invisibility or Silence mage/power/rote/invisibility-or-silence
- Is Energy-Work Coincidental or Vulgar? mage/power/rote/is-energy-work-coincidental-or-vulgar
- Perceiving Auras mage/power/rote/perceiving-auras
- Sensing Magick mage/power/rote/sensing-magick
- Spotting the New Location mage/power/rote/spotting-the-new-location
- Temporal Disturbances mage/power/rote/temporal-disturbances
- Witnesses and Recording Devices mage/power/rote/witnesses-and-recording-devices
Rules
- Similar or Opposed Energies shared/rule/system/similar-or-opposed-energies
- The Weight of Living mage/rule/system/the-weight-of-living