Knowledges

Knowledges involve the application of the mind, not the body; consequently, Knowledge Abilities are most often paired with Mental Traits. (It's possible to roll Charisma + Academics, or even Stamina + Medicine, but such things are pretty rare.) The following descriptions speak of Knowledge levels in collegiate terms, although formal schooling is j ust one way to improve a Knowledge.

If you don't have any dots in a Knowledge, you cannot even attempt a roll involving it unless the Storyteller gives explicit permission (such as where com

Academics

"Little fool," Hesha hissed in disgust. "You babble of your ruined 'Carthage,' yet the term means no more to you than a parroted lyric from one of your shrill, oh-so-important 'alternative' screeds. What do you know of Carthage - or of Rome, for that matter? Did your sire tell you of the Sabines' sacrifices to Tanit and Moloch? Of the screams in the streets as infants vomited forth their blood for the Brujah's sustenance? Of women and children dragged naked to the block and given over to the caresses of foreign mercenaries - who yet defended the 'Utopia' when your noble line was too blood-glutted to stir?

"Go away, whey-blooded Iconoclast. Speak to me again in a century, when your vitae is less tainted with heroin and ignorance. Hesha waved a finger in dismissal.

The anarch's frenzy was sudden and, as the attack was a clear violation of the Sixth Tradition, Hesha suffered no repercussions for the subsequent slaying. Naturally, taking over Morningside Homes was the simplest of matters thereafter.

This catchall Knowledge covers the character's erudition in the "humanities": literature, history, art, philosophy and other "liberal" sciences. A character with dots in Academics is generally well-rounded in these fields, and at high levels may be considered an expert in one or more areas of study. Not only can this Knowledge impress at salons and other Elysium functions, but it can also offer valuable clues to certain past - and future movements in the Jyhad.

Specialties: Poststructuralism, Impressionist Painting, Imperial Rome, American Realism

1.(dot) - Student: You're aware that 1066 is something more than a Beverly Hills area code

2.(dot) - College: You can quote from the classics, identify major cultural movements, and expound on the

               difference between Ming and Moghul

3.(dot) - Masters: You could get a paper published in a scholarly journal.

4.(dot) - Doctorate: Professor emeritus

5.(dot) - Scholar: Scholars worldwide acknowledge you as one of the foremost experts of your time.

Computer

Emmett couldn't resist a phlegmy chuckle. It had taken some time to rig up his system in the sewer, to say nothing of getting a power line set up. But it was all about to be worth it.

It wasn't tricky, hacking into Laveaux's S&L institution. It would've been simple to rewrite a few numbers. But Emmett was a pro, and that meant he played hardball. Once the JRS got through checking Laveaux's artfully embellished numbers, there wouldn t be enough left of the self'righteous nancyboy's money or credentials to buy a Taco Bell combo meal. So much for "superior influence."

This Knowledge represents the ability to operate and program computers, as well as the savvy to keep up with the latest technology.

Specialties: Computer Languages, Internet, Codebreaking, Viruses, Data Retrieval

1.(dot) - Student: Point and click.

2.(dot) - College: You can process data with relative ease.

3.(dot) - Masters: You can design software

4.(dot) - Doctorate: You can make a very comfortable living as a consultant.

5.(dot) - Scholar: You're on the bleeding edge.

Finance

The vampire set down the newspaper with a deliberate cough. "Were you under the impression that undeath brings effortless, unending power! Did you suppose that our influence and wealth are magically granted to us at the moment of the Embrace? I did not select you for your naivete, childe." He drummed long, exquisitely manicured nails on the mahogany desktop. "I entered this century with nothing more than a handful of coins. I shall see the millennium turn with billions to my name. And all that I have, I achieved through my own savvy and determination."

He touched one finger to his cheek, and his burning gaze grew pensive. "It seems you need a practical lesson in how to make money do your bidding. I will apply my skills to bringing about the financial ruin of a person, and you will watch me - and then demonstrate what you've learned." The corner of his mouth crooked upward. "What was your ex-husband's name again?"

You know the ins and outs of commerce, from evaluating an item's relative worth to keeping up with currency exchange rates. This Knowledge can be invaluable when brokering items, running numbers or playing the stock market. Sufficiently high levels in Finance allow you to raise your standards of living to a very comfortable level.

Specialties: Stock Market, Laundering, Appraisal, Foreign Currencies, Accounting, Fencing, Corporations

1.(dot) - Student: You've taken a few business classes

2.(dot) - College: You have some practical experience and can keep your books fairly neat.

3.(dot) - Masters: You'd make a fine stockbroker.

4.(dot) - Doctorate: Corporations follow your financial lead.

5.(dot) - Scholar: You could turn a $20 bill into a fortune.

Investigation

Lucita and Anatole walked calmly into the darkened office, then stopped and quietly scanned the opulent surroundings. No more than a minute had passed before Anatole spoke: "There - the right bookend, three shelves down on the south wall."

Lucita strode to the bookcase and lifted the grotesque Olmec statue from the shelf. She turned it over to inspect the base, nodded, then sank her fingers into the stone and putted. The statue split apart with a crack, and a tiny phiat tumbled to the floor in a shower of rock dust and broken hingework.

As the Kindred maxim runs, Guns mean nothing to a lifeless heart. A blade is often worth far more, as is the skill to use it properly. Melee covers your ability to use hand-to-hand weapons of all forms, from swords and clubs to esoteric martial-arts paraphernalia such as sai or nunchaku. And, of course, there is always the utility of the wooden stake...

Specialties: Forensics, Shadowing, Search, Discolorations

1.(dot) - Student: You've read your share of Agatha Christie.

2.(dot) - College: Police officer

3.(dot) - Masters: Private detective

4.(dot) - Doctorate: Federal agent

5.(dot) - Scholar: Sherlock Holmes

Law

"What did you expect me to do?!?" The chained vampire's voice rose in a desperate shriek, almost falsetto at the very end. "My pack was slaughtered! They tore Diego to ribbons without breathing hard!" His eyes snapped to one side, to the metal brewing vat half-visible in the shadows. "I had to warn you!"

"The law is the law," intoned the robed creature before him. "Cowardice is unforgivable." The older Cainite's vestments rustled as he extended his palm in mock benediction. "The sentence is as it must be. Death by acid."

The chained vampire screamed at that, and didn't stop screaming for some time.

With all the lawyers and lawmakers out there, this Knowledge can prove very useful. Law can be useful for filing suit, avoiding lawsuits or getting out of jail. What's more, even the Kindred keep their own laws, and more than one vampire has saved his own unlife by deftly exploiting a loophole in one of the Traditions.

Specialties: Criminal, Suits, Courts, Contracts, Police Procedure

1.(dot) - Student: You've watched your share ofcourtroom dramas

2.(dot) - College: You're either studying for or just passed the bar exam.

3.(dot) - Masters: Ambulance chaser

4.(dot) - Doctorate: Major public figures have your number just in case

5.(dot) - Scholar: You could find the loopholes in the Devil's contract.

Lingustics

As Anatole raised his face to the broken rose window, his voice lifted into song, echoingin the corners of the chapel. "Pange, lingua, gioriosi/Corporis mysterium/Songuisque pretiosi...."

Lucita shook her head, artfully drowing one finger across her wine-dark lips to daub away an errant drop of blood. "'Of the Blood, all price exceeding.' How appropriate."

Anatole finished the stanza, then slowly turned to face her. "'O wondrous gift indeed! The poor and lowly may/Upon their Lord and master feed.'" He chuckled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Communion is a sacred business. It Joys me that you have always understood this."

You begin play with the native language of your choice for free, but if you want to speak any other languages, whether modern or ancient, Linguistics is a must. This Ability allows you to understand additional languages, but at high levels also offers a more general understanding of linguistic structure. Linguistics may allow you to recognize accents or decipher word puzzles.

Specialties: Romance Languages, Kanji, Idioms, Hieroglyphics, Written Expression, Ciphers

1.(dot) - Student: One extra language

2.(dot) - College: Two extra languages

3.(dot) - Masters: Four extra languages

4.(dot) - Doctorate: Eight extra languages

5.(dot) - Scholar: Sixteen extra languages

Medicine

"Yaroslav! Idiot!" The horribly distorted ghoul cowered as his master spoke, shrinking back against the stone wall in abject terror. Shaking its head in contempt, Vykos knelt over the bleeding man and began molding his wounds closed. "This one must be kept intact for a time," the vampire coldly continued. "I shall punish you tomorrow evening. "

Vykos shook its head, ignoring the now-piteous whimpering of the ghoul in the corner. Finally, its hands stopped moving. "There," it crooned to the unconscious man. "I have granted you life again. Come, let us see what you are willing to make of it."

You have an understanding of how the human body, and to a lesser extent the vampiric body, works. This Ability entails knowledge of medicines, ailments, first-aid procedures, and diagnosis or treatment of disease. Medicine is of great use to those Kindred with an interest in repairing, damaging or reworking the human body.

Specialties: Organ Transplants, Emergency Care, Poison Treatments, Pathology, Pharmaceuticals

1.(dot) - Student: You've taken a CPR course.

2.(dot) - College: Premed or paramedic

3.(dot) - Masters: General practitioner

4.(dot) - Doctorate: You can perform transplants.

5.(dot) - Scholar: You are respected by the world's medical community as a modern-day Aesculapius.

Occult

"'Of the mad ones, the wild ones, I say first, drink not of their blood!'" Beckett opened his eyes and sat up straighter in his chair. "That's the first part of that passage in The Book of Nod, and lean cite plenty of Kindred since then who've voiced more or less the same sentiment. The fae, if that's what you want to call them, are probably very real and likely very dangerous." He frowned. "I hope you know what you're doing, Anatole."

The Malkavian only smiled.

You are knowledgeable in occult areas such as mysticism, curses, magic, folklore and particularly vampire lore. Unlike most other Knowledges, Occult does not imply a command of hard, factual information; much of what you know may well be rumor, myth, speculation or hearsay. However, the secrets to be learned in this field are worth centuries of sifting legend from fact. High levels of Occult imply a deep understanding of vampire lore, as well as a good grounding in other aspects of the occult; at the very least, you can discern what is patently false.

Specialties: Kindred Lore, Rituals, Infernalism, Witches

1.(dot) - Student: You've paged through the New Age section of a Waldenbooks

2.(dot) - College: There seems to be some unsettling truth to some of the rumors you've heard.

3.(dot) - Masters: You've heard a lot and actually seen a little for yourself.

4.(dot) - Doctorate: You can recognize blatantly false sources and make educated guesses about the rest.

5.(dot) - Scholar: You know most of the basic truths about the hidden world.

Politics

Hesha's skin shone like mahogany in the candlelight as he shook his head and spoke into the receiver. "I think you overestimate Bianca's strength in this situation. The recent embarrassment she suffered from her childe's actions has called the harpies' attention to her, and she dare not risk further loss of status. Further, her soldiers - what few she has - are largely occupied in the defense of Lighten Ferry. No. She won't make a move."

He nodded, and a small light came into his eye. "Of course. You have my number if there's anything else you require."

You are familiar with the politics of the moment, including the people in charge and how they got there. This Knowledge can aid you in dealing with or influencing mortal politicians, or even offer some insight into the local Cainite power structure.

Specialties: City, State, Federal, Bribery, Dogma, Radical, Camarilla

1.(dot) - Student: Activist

2.(dot) - College: Political science major

3.(dot) - Masters: Campaign manager or talk-radio host

4.(dot) - Doctorate: Senator

5.(dot) - Scholar: You could choose the next President of the United States.

Science

"Douglas, look here!" The young ghoul's eyes shone as she backed away from the microscope. "The circulatory damage is considerable, but there are some signs of repair - clotting, even cell regeneration as usual."

Dr. Netchurch stared through the microscope lenses for a full minute before replying. "Yes. You're right, the deceased most definitely made a conscious attempt to repair the hemotoxin's damage - but to no avail. " His smile was taut and without humor. "It seems I've succeeded beautifully."

You have at least a basic understanding of most of the physical sciences, such as chemistry, biology, physics and geology. This Knowledge can be put to all forms of practical use.

Specialties: Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Physics, Astronomy

1.(dot) - Student: You know most of the high-school basics.

2.(dot) - College: You're familiar with the major theories

3.(dot) - Masters: You could teach high-school science.

4.(dot) - Doctorate: You're fully capable of advancing the knowledge in your field.

5.(dot) - Scholar: Your Nobel Prize is waiting for you.