Mage/Theme/Legacies/Bearers of the Eternal Voice

Bearers of the Eternal Voice

Origins

Parentage: Mastigos, Guardians of the Veil, Seers of the Throne
Background: Talented orators and speakers have commanded audiences throughout human history; the Awakened have long sought to extend their talents beyond those which Sleepers may attain. The Wisest among them learn first the true art of listening. The Bearers of the Eternal Voice are sought after for their superior skills in the art of persuasion, and respected by those who know how sacred they hold their talents, refraining from using them frivolously.
Appearances: Whisperers change their appearance to match their audiences, but when left to their own devices, often dress simply so that their appearance does not overshadow their words. Some Whisperers have truly impressive wardrobes, and utilize their clothing as tools of persuasion or distraction. Many elder Bearers of the Voice simply can’t be bothered to dress up anymore and default to closets full of black, matching clothing. Who can mind their appearance when there’s listening and talking to be done?

Doctrine

Prerequisites: Mind 2, Persuasion 2, two dots in one of the following Skills; Subterfuge, Expression, Empathy, Politics, Socialize
Initiation: While many elder Whisperers seek talented traditional orators, modern Bearers know that communication doesn’t just come from speeches or sermons. Communication styles vary culturally, and the Bearers have centuries of experience in blending with the people around them, adopting different methods and means of bringing others to their point of view. An accomplished Bearer must be able to switch from East Coast overtalk to the rigid courtesy forms of formal Japanese business speech. While newly-minted Whisperers often get cocky and even misanthropic when they realize they can manipulate others much more easily than before, those who survive, let alone thrive, understand that craven manipulation is hollow and meaningless compared to true communication. To speak most effectively, one must first truly listen.
Some masters assign missions in which they must talk a mark into a certain position or state, using nothing but spoken words. Others forbid the would-be Whisperer from speaking at all, forcing them to focus on the other ways in which human beings communicate with each other, and forcing the apprentice to listen before they act.
Organization: While young or particularly ineffective Whisperers manipulate without ending, those taught by reputable Bearers understand the sacred responsibility of their powers. Constant manipulation of others isolates the Whisperer and makes her more likely to fall to Hubris. Only by true communication with others, an actual sharing which requires vulnerability, do the Bearers of the Eternal Voice avoid soaking their souls in Hubris. Those Whisperers who fail to keep strong bonds with those they consciously refrain from manipulating become targets for Seer recruitment or slip to Madness by submitting to greater and greater acts of Hubris. The sense of superiority over the masses who they manipulate so easily becomes their downfall.
The truly Wise among the Bearers keep close and genuine links with those who are both able and willing to check them. The Legacy’s reputation as insular and secretive springs from the deeply private nature of most Bearers, as the Legacy has many members among the Guardians of the Veil. The visible misanthropes among the Legacy never rise through the ranks and are considered foolish children by those who do.
Whisperers keep close tabs on their students, watching for signs of Hubris but also developing strong bonds which protect them from Hubris as well. A Whisperer without a close tie to her Mentor is considered an oddity among the Legacy, and potentially untrustworthy.
Theory: Do not underestimate the power and the sacred weight of a properly-chosen word. Do not trifle with the hearts of men or use your abilities frivolously. All men have a right to self-determination; they are not our playthings. A single silver tongue holds greater power than a hundred iron swords and must be treated accordingly. Study the secret language of speech, earn the trust of a hundred men, but never fail to listen more than you speak. Here lies true wisdom.

Magic

Ruling Arcanum: Mind
Yantras:Speaking to a large crowd or deeply-invested audience (+1); preparing notes or other documents for a speech or presentation (+1); listening to someone talk about a special interest at great length without interrupting (+2)
Oblations:Listening to and analyzing human speech, including oration, storytelling, sermons, and other important cultural forms of speech; conducting a survey; engaging in persuasive speech; talking to random people in a large event or gathering; participating in an active discussion where multiple viewpoints are aired, such as a Torah study

Attainments

First: Know Your Audience

Prerequisites: Initiation
The Whisperer must first know her audience to form her speech, and she can do so with a quick glance. By engaging in conversation with her target for a scene, the Whisperer may replicate the "Mental Scan" spell. Reach is assigned to sensory range, and the Bearer’s Mind must exceed the subject’s Withstand rating or the Attainment fails. Potency equal to Mind dots permits the Bearer to ask questions as per M:tAw p 159.
If the target has a power which protects their mind or destiny, such as a Mental Shield (M:AW p 160), this Attainment does not bypass that; a Clash of Wills is necessary.

Optional: Space 1
Knowing what the listener holds dear is a crucial element in persuading her. Knowing this, the Whisperer may duplicate the "Correspondence" spell, with Reach assigned to instant casting and Potency equal to the Bearer’s dots in Space.

Second: Poker Face

Prerequisites: Mind 2, Persuasion 3
The Bearers are often Guardians of the Veil, and Whisperers become better than their peers at hiding their intentions. This Attainment emulates the "Alter Mental Pattern" spell on the Whisperer's person, with Reach assigned to instant casting and Potency equal to his Mind dots. Engage in a Clash of Wills as per usual if someone attempts to use a supernatural power to read her surface thoughts.

Optional: Space 2
The Whisperer learns to quickly hide his connections from those who would use them against him. He mimics the "Veil Sympathy" spell on his person, with Reach assigned to instant use and Potency equal to his Space dots. Engage in Clash of Wills as usual when necessary.

Third: Wherever I Goddamned Like

Prerequisites: Mind 3, two dots in a second Skill among the initiation Skill list
Whisperers take extra care with using this Attainment, knowing that excessive use of it can be a quick path down into Hubris. This Attainment replicates the "Emotional Urging" spell, with Reach assigned to instant use and sensory range. Despite the Attainment itself taking effect instantly, the Whisperer must still start a conversation with her target and activate the Attainment during it. Successes are equal to his Mind dots, engage in Clashes of Wills as normal.

Optional: Space 3
The Whisperer refines conversation into an art form, and is now unimpeded by distances and mediums. Whenever the Whisperer casts a Mind spell for communication, he only needs to spend one point of potentia per target instead of Reach to access remote viewing from sensory range.

Fourth: Gilding the Lily

Prerequisites: Mind 4, Persuasion 4
The Whisperer never puts a foot wrong, always choosing the perfect phrase. This Attainment is a variant of the "First Impressions" spell, used solely to improve the target's impression level towards the Whisperer in her next Social Maneuvering attempt against the target. The Whisperer must first address her targets, filling their hearts with her words for a scene. Reach is assigned to sensory range, Advanced Duration, and Advanced Scale.

Optional: Space 4
As he speaks to the masses, the Whisperer may strengthen his bonds to them. This effect is a variant of the "Web-Weaver" spell bolstering the otherwise non-existent connection between the Whisperer and anyone who has heard him speak within the last turn, instead of using physical contact with the Whisperer as the medium. The Temporal Sympathy Attainment cannot be used in conjunction with this effect, which has Potency equal to his dots in Space. Wise Whisperers remember that sympathetic connections run both ways.

Fifth: Spoken Into Being

Prerequisites: Mind 5, two dots in a third Skill among the initiation Skill list
As with all Mind mages, Bearers make use of memory-altering spells. This Attainment makes it less detectable when a Whisperer does so and is one of the most closely guarded secrets of the Legacy. After speaking with her target for a scene, the Whisperer duplicates the "Read the Depths" spell. Reach is assigned to sensory range, Advanced Duration, and allowing the mage to edit memories she has read. Engage in Clashes of Wills as per usual. The Attainment has Potency equal to the Bearer’s Mind dots.

Optional: Space 5
As the Whisperer enhances sympathies, so she must cut them to protect herself, and her butt. This Attainment functions as per “Cut Threads,” M:tAw p 177, with Potency equal to her dots in Mind and Reach assigned to instant casting, sensory range and Advanced Scale.