PATH OF INNER SILENCE
by Bryan Rendell
In understanding our awareness of reality, we appreciate that there is no gap between ourselves and our perceptions. To
speak of a notion such as pain, we must speak of experiencing pain, for this is exactly what pain is. However, the practitioners of the Path of Inner Silence can achieve a dualism in their perceptions, inserting a gap between their experience and themselves while still maintaining both. Whether this path actually achieves this end, or simulates the effect in another
manner is a matter of debate.

On a practical level, when this path is learned as the inherent path of Thaumaturgy, the powers operate as described below.
However, if the path is learned separately, as other paths are, then the Thaumaturge must make a Willpower roll and spend a blood point in the usual way for the use of Thaumaturgy paths.


[1] Silence of the Lower Senses: At this base level, the path enables the disjunction of the practitioner from the senses of
taste, smell and touch. While still fully aware of the perceptions of these senses, they are also distant and unconnected, as
though belonging to someone else. Any effects caused by these sensations are muted by the distance the Thaumaturge can
achieve.

System:
The Thaumaturge rolls Perception + Meditation (difficulty 8) to determine the duration and extent of the effect.
Each success results in a duration of 1 minute. Each success will also result in a difficulty shift or a dice pool alteration for all experiences affecting the senses of taste, smell and touch.
Thus the difficulty of frenzy rolls inspired by the taste or smell of blood, and wound penalties from injury are decreased by the number of successes attained. Note that these are only two examples of possible effects. The storyteller must judge other cases that might arise.


[2] Silence of the Higher Senses: This level of ability is identical to the Silence of the Lower Senses power, but affects
sight and hearing.

System: The roll, difficulty and duration of effect are identical to Silence of the Lower Senses. Possible examples of the use
of this power are increasing the difficulty of frenzy and Rotschrek rolls. An interesting effect of this power is the ability to
see through a number of levels of Obfuscate equal to the successes achieved. The dual effect of this power means that while
the mind may be fooled, the eyes are not.


[3] Silence of Unconsciousness: This level of ability is identical to the Silence of the Lower Senses power, but affects the
subconscious.

System: The roll, difficulty and duration of effect are identical to Silence of the lower Senses. This power primarily effects
the acquisition and effect of derangements. As derangements are largely role played, the storyteller must judge the degree to
which the derangement can be ignored based on the number of success achieved. In the acquisition of derangements from
botched humanity, frenzy and Rotschrek rolls, the successes gained with this power is the number of botches that can be
ignored, with the removal of all botches resulting in no derangements gained. This power can also be used to see through
Obfuscate in the manner of Silence of the Higher Senses. These two effects are cumulative.

In addition, the user is largely disjointed from his own past. This is not in any paradoxical sense, but rather a disjunction of
association with past events. Such events seem less and less relevant to the character, appearing to be the memories of
another person. Thus, traumatic memories seem less so, and it is even possible to re-capture memories lost through trauma.
Any other logical consequences of being separated from one's past must be decided by the Storyteller on a case by case
basis.


[4] Silence of Consciousness: This level of ability is identical to the Silence of the Lower Senses power, but somehow
affects the conscious mind. When asked to explain how the consciousness can be separate from itself, no Assamites can
provide an explanation. Regardless, the power works quite well.

System: The roll, difficulty and duration of effect are identical to Silence of the Lower Senses. Possible examples of the use
of this power are subtracting successes from any Dominate and Presence used against the Thaumaturge, ignoring wound
penalties and subtracting the difficulties of frenzy and Rotschrek rolls. Note that effects which double those of earlier
powers are cumulative with the use of Silence of the Lower and Higher Senses.

Silence of Consciousness largely reflects a disjunction of the character from his present, as Silence of Unconsciousness was
a disjunction from the past. Once again, the Storytellers judgment on individual cases must be exercised.


[5] Silence of the Spirit: At this ultimate level of the path, the Thaumaturge can divorce himself from his soul, and the power that animates him as a Kindred. While this power requires the judgment of the Storyteller as to the effect of this, there are
two particular effects that need discussion: the ability of the Kindred to achieve Final Death at will, and the effect on
humanity.

System: The roll, difficulty and duration (where applicable) are . identical to Silence of the Lower Senses. If the Kindred so
desires  and achieves 4 successes on the roll, they can expire on the spot as their soul departs the body. Why they may
want to do this is not  immediately obvious, but if they do so want, they can. This power can. also be used to reduce the
difficulty of humanity rolls by an amount equal to successes achieved. Interestingly though, frequent use of  this capacity
will of itself reduce humanity. This fact seems to  suggest that there is not the separation of soul and self that this power is
meant to accomplish, although it is still largely effective . It has been suggested that the logical nature of this power would include the disjunction of the subject from his future, in terms of . association with future events pertaining to the subject.
What the hell this might mean is unknown, however nothing recognizable of such. a kind has been observed, although
someone once said that you can't get much more disjointed from future events than by killing yourself .