Hypochondria

Hypochondria (Cachexy 4 + Dominate 2)

The target of this devotion, be it mortal or kindred, feels the symptoms of a disease they once suffered swell up and cloud their senses. Though kindred never get sick the mere rumor of one exhibiting the signs of a disease can lead to accusations of being a carrier and summary execution. More subtly, elders can also use this devotion to chastise Morbus neonates who recklessly feed and spread disease, an object reminder of the pain they are inflicting.

• Cost: 1 Willpower
• Dice Pool: Wits + Medicine + Obfuscate vs. Composure + Blood Potency
• Action: Instant; contested and reflexive

The Morbus tricks the targets mind into thinking they are suffering a disease they have experienced or know of. For mortals the body follows the mind’s lead and exhibits several symptoms, though close scrutiny will reveal no active illness. For kindred it’s all in the mind, so it's vital the user chooses a disease the kindred suffered from more than passingly. Though not truly sick, the target feels nausea, pain, and other symptoms appropriate to the disease for the rest of the night (or one day per success on an exceptional success), imparting a -2 penalty or other disease specific effects.

The Morbus must pick a disease when activating this power; and the power automatically fails if it's one the victim has absolutely no knowledge of. In mortal victims however, the power can still take hold if the disease in question has well known effects, popularized by television for instance, or being a disease the victim has known sufferers of. In this case, the victim need not have experienced the disease for himself; however, in such a case, the activation roll comes at a -2 modifier.

This power costs 20 experience points to learn and can only learned by Morbus characters.