                                 APOTHEOSIS



   Spirits can materialize to work their will in the physical world;
   doing so, however, costs much Power. However, spirits who wish to gain
   in Power, ironically, must aid physical beings, as totems or as gods.
   The path from Incarna to Celestine is dependent on the actions of
   believers. Sometimes, to bring miraculous aid to humanity and win
   their worship, a spirit must choose some agent to act as their body,
   empowering it to act on their behalf.

   Apotheosis is avaliable as a Numen to mortals and Garou, or as a
   Discipline to Vampires. Note that Apotheosis is never a Clan
   Discipline, and high rank cannot be attained without the aid of a
   spirit Patron, typically from the ranks of the Pack Totems, although
   more powerful spirits may also act through such a channel.

   * Secret Meanings: You are sensitive to the spiritual activity behind
   the mundane world, and can add your level in Apotheosis to abilities
   like Astrology, Herbalism or Spirit Lore where an such an intuition is
   useful, or even to Enigmas when appropriate.

   ** The Voice and The Vision: You can glimpse spirits and communicate
   with them. Limited perception of the Umbra permits you to perceive
   spirits on a successful roll of Apotheosis+Spirit Thaumaturgy (note
   that Perception does not apply - regular senses are of no use) with
   difficulty and clarity of perception analogous to Aura Sense.

   Moreover, on a successful roll of Apotheosis (only) against a
   difficulty of six, you can permit your body to become a host for a
   willing spirit. The spirit can typically remain only a short while
   without expending Gnosis, however, and will thus generally depart
   within a few minutes unless an appropriate ritual is employed.

   *** The Crown and The Glory: This level can be attained only after a
   suitable and willing Patron Spirit has been found. You have
   established a regular and persistent connection with your Patron, and
   the supernatural presence makes itself felt through you.

   If you are not a Vampire, you gain the ability to buy the Presence
   Discipline as if it were a Numina (see Hunters Hunted). Further, when
   your Patron manifests through you (see Level 1, above), you gain a
   level of effective Presence (even if you have none yourself).

   If you are a Vampire for whom Presence is not a Clan Discipline, it
   becomes such; if you are a Vampire for whom Presence is a Clan
   Discipline, the bond with your Patron grants you a permanent new level
   of Presence. In both cases, an extra level is also gained when your
   Patron manifests through you.

   The Aura of a person with this level of ability is strengthened by the
   supernatural energy coursing through them. This counteracts the
   typical Vampiric paleness of Aura; it also decreases by one the
   difficulty numbers of anyone attempting to read your Aura.

   When manifesting your Patron, your Aura will reveal a golden emanation
   from the head, recognizable as a solar disk or halo ("Crown of
   Helios"), or as a golden lotus, or a similar symbol, depending on the
   cultural background of the observer.

   **** The Crook and the Flail: As an embodiement of your Patron, your
   authority extends even to the Umbra. Spiritual servants of your Patron
   may be at your command, and abilities such as Dominate and Presence
   now extend into the Umbra. You automatically perceive the servants of
   your Patron, and they are predisposed to assist you.

   ***** Communion: You have achieved a profound union with your Patron,
   and are in constant communication with it.

   Because you are, in effect, always manifesting your Patron, the bonus
   level of effective Presence (see Level 3, above) is always active.

   If you are not a Garou, you gain a Gnosis pool at this time, starting
   with one point; if you are a Garou, you gain a point of Gnosis. The
   Patron can transfer its Gnosis to you to recharge your pool, if such
   behooves it.

   Your Patron can now choose to expend Power through you, as though you
   were a Materialization of it. A point of Power can be used just like a
   Blood Point, e.g. to heal a level of damage, raise a physical
   attribute, or fuel a Vampiric Discipline.

   After Communion, the Patron is able to teach you suitable Garou gifts,
   depending on its nature. Such Gifts are purchased at the same cost as
   for Garou, even if you are not one.

   Like a Thaumaturgy path, there may be no higher level of Apotheosis
   than Communion; even if there were, however, it would be unlikely that
   a Patron spirit would expend the necessary Power to grant you so high
   a rank.

   The high level powers of Apotheosis depend on the Patron; should a
   Patronage relationship end, for whatever reason, the powers of the
   Crook and the Flail are lost, as is the communion. Presence is
   retained, although mortals will be unable to advance in the Discipline
   unless they find a new Patron (or are Embraced). The Gnosis pool is
   also retained, although without a Patron non-Garou will find it
   difficult to replenish the pool.

   Without ever finding a Patron, however, levels 1 and 2 are available
   to Kindred and Kine alike, and are found among Shamans and
   spiritualists.
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