Psychometry
Numina · Vampire
Some parapsychologists theorize that emotions are expressed by the human brain as a form of energy that can be absorbed by objects or places. Psychometry is the ability to read this emotional residue, called psychic resonance, and then interpret it and extrapolate information about the events and people connected to the object. Strong emotions linger, and they can be read by those with the special perception to feel and understand the psychic imprint. Places or objects exposed to these strong emotional signatures hold flashes of information that a psychometrist can read by touch.
The Psychic must touch the object, and then her player must make a Perception + Empathy roll (difficulty 7) for the character to read its psychic resonance. Successes achieved on the activation roll determine the level of details received as per the effects chart, below. On a botch, the Psychic may become lost in a dreamlike reverie or may be harrowed by a flood of hostile emotions.
An object with a particularly strong resonance may make it easier to find information about its owner, and the Storyteller may elect to lower the difficulty of roll to do so. Although a toothbrush may have DNA from its owner, for example, it is unlikely to be significant since it is thrown out every three months. A locket with a family photo, on the other hand, is likely to be much more important to its owner. The information discovered will depend on how the owner feels about the object and what it might mean to him. A wedding ring might reveal the location of the owner or flash to instances of the owner violating his wedding vows.
System
Roll: Perception + Empathy (difficulty 7)
Modifiers: Per the significance of the item or the severity of the psychic resonance, as described above
Cost: 1 Willpower
Duration: Generally N/A, but higher levels yield ten minutes or one hour per success for an active connection
Psychometry Levels
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| • | The Psychic may read the psychic resonance of an object or place to learn about the identity of the owner of the object or the most significant visitor to the place. |
| •• | The Psychic may learn about everything that occurred near the object or place within the last 24 hours. |
| ••• | The Psychic can discover and understand the complete history of the object or place. She can witness key events that occurred in the vicinity of the object or place. |
| •••• | The Psychic can attune herself to an object, allowing her to align her vision to the location of the owner of the object. She can then watch the owner of the object anywhere in the world for 10 minutes per success on the activation roll (as influenced by the effects below). |
| ••••• | The Psychic may follow the psychic resonance to the owner of an object. She then learns the direction and distance of the owner of the object, anywhere in the physical or astral world (informed by the clarity of the effects, as indicated below). This connection lasts for an hour per success on the activation roll. |
Effects
The number of successes achieved on the Psychometry activation roll determines the clarity of the information the Psychic receives.
| One success | The Psychic feels vague impressions and perceives cloudy imagery, but these lack concrete details. |
| Two successes | The details are blurry, as though viewing them via a poorly scrambled television signal. A Psychic might see a man with dark hair, but not his specific eye color or other details. |
| Three successes | The Psychic perceives the information as if from a distant vantage. Most of the details are difficult to discern, but others stand out in sharp clarity. |
| Four successes | The Psychic receives a detailed view of the people, places, and events associated with the vision. She may speed up or slow down events. If she concentrates, she can pause things as though watching a movie and study the scenario. |
| Five successes | The Psychic has complete and utter control over her visions. She can stop, start, review, and observe from any angle. |