(M25) Psionic Vampirism* (- 76 -)
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The Psi-vampire can drain the mental energies of his victim. He then uses the purloined energy to increase his own Strength, Endurance, Psyche, and his own Powers' ranks.

The Psi-vampire can drain the mental energy from a target by means of a Power FEAT. The intensity rank is determined by the victim's Psyche. A successful FEAT enables the Psi-vampire to drain an amount of energy equal to his Power rank number. This amount is drawn in equal amounts from the victim's Reason, Intuition, and whatever Mental Powers he possesses. The process can continue indefinitely, with each successful FEAT enabling the Psi-vampire to drain more mental energy.

The Psi-vampire can voluntarily cease feeding at any time by making any color FEAT except red. A red FEAT means he has entered an uncontrollable feeding frenzy that can only end when the victim is completely drained or the Psi-vampire has. been repelled.

If the Psi-vampire fails to make a FEAT at any point in the feeding process, he is instantly repulsed by the victim and can never re-establish his attack. Furthermore, the victim is now immune to any further vampire attacks by that particular Psi-vampire. This immunity does not extend to other Psi-vampires.

The Psi-vampire distributes the gained energy among his Strength, Endurance, Psyche, and whatever Powers he has. He cannot raise this Power's rank; no Vampire of any type can ever raise his own Power rank.

So why do Psi-vampires do it? The answer is they lose energy at a frightful rate. The rank numbers for Strength, Endurance, Psyche, and all his Powers (except this one) each drop one point per hour. The Psi-vampire must feed in order to return the affected Abilities to their original ranks. This also explains why Vampires are so rare: lower ranked Vampires must constantly feed and are therefore easily detected and destroyed.

If the Psi-vampire is-deprived of victims, he enters a death-like trance when all his afflicted Abilities drop to Shift-0. His Vampiric Power continues to function and will try to feed on anything that comes in contact with the body. When the Abilities return to Feeble rank, the Psi-vampire returns to life.

When the Psi-vampire is created, the player must choose at least one Weakness. The player can increase his Power rank +1CS for each additional Weakness he chooses, up to a limit of three additional Weaknesses.

Psi-vampirism is communicable. A sentient being who was completely drained by a Psi-vampire must make a Psyche. FEAT roll. A red FEAT means the victim has himself been transformed into a Feeble Psi-vampire.