Merits & Flaws

A charming (and chilling) blend of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sociopathy makes you a smooth-talking rule-breaker. Many people find your Fuck Authority attitude seductive, and they follow your lead even when it’s not in their best interests to do so. To you, however, these devotees are simply toys – useful and enjoyable, of course, but ultimately expendable. Your own pleasure and convenience are the only vital things in life.

A natural Merit for cult leaders, tempters, Fallen mages, and corporate tycoons, the Dark Triad adds three dice to all of your Seduction, Manipulation, Leadership, Subterfuge, and Charisma-based rolls. The fact that your character doesn’t truly care about the people she inspires isn’t readily apparent except to people who know what to look for. Because social consequences do not hinder your character, people find her exhilarating to be around. As a result, folks continue to follow and defend her, even when her actions should be indefensible.

Despite its obvious power, this Merit contains a significant story-based downside: Dark Triad folks are amoral bastards who act only according to their own perceived interests. Even on a malignant Path, such sociopathy becomes dangerous, especially when other people notice that individual’s behavior. Not even the Nephandi trust such a person once her tendencies become clear – after all, she might sell out the Fallen as easily as she sells out anybody else. The Storyteller may decide that this Merit isn’t suitable for player characters, and restrict it to supporting roles. For more details about extreme self-focus, see Antisocial

Personality Disorder on the Derangements sidebar, (p. 649).