Book of Bone and Ebony

This simple art allows an incorporeal ghost in the
material world to sneak words out through the mouth of a
living person. The ghost must “touch” the target and spends
a mote of Essence, and his player rolls the ghost’s Dexterity +
Expression. If he succeeds, the target involuntarily says what
the ghost intended him to say — one word for every success
achieved. The target does not immediately realize that she is
speaking at all, but she can figure it out by her player
succeeding at an Intelligence + Occult roll after someone
around the character points out that she said words she
doesn’t remember speaking. A conscious target who is aware
that a ghost is manipulating her can resist such manipulation
for the scene by spending a Willpower. If the target wishes to
allow the ghost to speak through her, the ghost must spend 1
mote of Essence per sentence but no roll needs to be made.
SHADOW CONSTRAINT CRAFT
Ghosts’ activities are tightly constrained in the Underworld,
and mortals are bound as much, if not more so.
The secret laws of the Underworld stem from the Dual
Monarchy, which nearly every ghost venerates at least in
name. Ghosts who learn Shadow Constraint Craft learn to
manipulate the taboos and secret laws of the Underworld
and to punish ghosts and mortals who violate them.
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CHAPTER TWO • THE ARTS OF THE DEAD
ILLUMINATE THE SHADOW CONSTRAINT
Cost: 1 mote
Duration: One minute
Type: Simple
Minimum Temperance: 1
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: None
Throughout the Underworld, subtle laws apply to the
activities of ghosts. Most such laws stem from the use of
ancient and wide-ranging necromancy, but others are
restricted in their area of effect, are new or have nothing
to do with necromancy itself — they are inherent to the
fabric of the Underworld. Ghosts can create temporary
taboos with the Impose Stricture Arcanos (see p. 45).
Illuminate the Shadow Constraint reveals any taboos
that apply to any locations within sight. Alternately, the
ghost’s player may roll Perception + Bureaucracy when her
character uses this Charm in order to determine any taboos
that apply to a particular person or ghost. Studious and
careful ghosts learn Illuminate the Shadow Constraint in
order to remain aware of taboos and strange laws of reality
as they travel from realm to realm.
TWENTY TABOOS
The Storyteller may use any of these as local taboos, while players may choose to create them with
necromancy or some of the Arcanoi in this art. This list should be seen only as inspiration. These are not the only
possible taboos by any means.
• The living may not eat food grown in this place (or they may not eat a particular food, such as pomegranates).
• Slay no ghost animals.
• Do not say the word “love.”
• Touch no other ghost.
• Never let your feet touch the ground.
• Look at no other ghost’s eyes.
• Do not speak of Creation or of your mortal life.
• Wear no woven clothing.
• Never speak your name.
• Light no new fires.
• Give thrice-daily veneration to the Dual Monarchy.
• Drink only collected rainwater.
• Do not fight with thrown weapons.
• Carry a piece of stone against your flesh at all times.
• Speak only in whispers.
• Eat only the flesh of carrion eaters such as hyenas or vultures.
• Sleep only under the open sky.
• Cook only using implements crafted from cold iron (or bone).
• Sleep in a bed crafted for children.
• Cover every inch of your flesh save your eyes (or face).