In the early nights, Mastery of the Mortal Shell was created to assist in the hunting the Tzimisce and Gangrel enemies of the Tremere, but its uses were expanded to enforce subservience among enslaved Gargoyles after their first revolt. The powers of this path form the foundation for many tales of witches’ curses and possession in folklore.
1 • Vertigo
The thaumaturge induces minor disorientation and dizziness through subtle manipulations in the subject’s body. Although the physical discomfort is temporary and minor, Tremere have been known to use it on social rivals at the most inopportune times, causing them to lose their aplomb.
System: A touch from the thaumaturge invokes disorientation in her victim. All of the subject’s physical actions are more difficult for the duration of Vertigo. Further uses of this path may extend the duration, though the difficulty will not increase.
2 • Contortion
With but a touch, the thaumaturge causes her opponent’s muscles to contract involuntarily, reducing her to twitching fits. This effect is extremely disconcerting to the subject, rendering the affected limb unusable.
System: A leg rendered useless may make it difficult to remain standing. A contorted arm hangs lifeless at the subject’s side. A useless head causes loss of speech and increases the difficulty of all Social interactions as the facial muscles spasm out of control. The thaumaturge can affect himself, causing his muscles tighten like a vise. Each success increases the difficulty to break his grasp or hold. This is very useful during a bite or choke attack, making futile any attempt to flee, and may also be used on others in this “beneficial” manner.
3 • Seizure
Like a nervous disorder, this power causes the body to “lock up” in a fit of convulsions. All the muscles throughout the body tighten uncontrollably, the victim foams at the mouth and spasms rack him with agony. A mortal may even choke to death as her tongue cuts off her air supply.
System: A light touch visits upon any target the very unpleasant effects of this power. For the duration of the seizure, a target’s body writhes, tormenting him to the point of incapacitation. The victim suffers one level of bashing damage every turn, though this damage is soakable, as her body helplessly twists itself unnaturally.
4 • Body Failure
Thaumaturges wielding this frightful power gain devastating insights into the workings of the body, allowing a complete shutdown of its systems. This sudden biological overload often proves fatal to mortals and damaging to other supernatural beings. Body Failure has been used throughout the ages to afflict victims in ''natural'' and inconspicuous ways. System: This power can affect any target the thaumaturge can see. A successful activation of this power grants effects similar to Seizure, except that damage is lethal (and thus not soakable by mortals) due to complete organ failure. Kindred are likewise affected by Body Failure, as their muscles spasm and brain activity becomes erratic. As Kindred, they may soak the damage this power inflicts on them.
5 • Marionette
The thaumaturge invoking Marionette gains such mastery over the body that he can magically seize control of another being and manipulate her actions to suit his own whims. Although this control is not as fine as the direct and personal command of the Dominate power of Possession, the thaumaturge’s true body is not as vulnerable during the manipulation. Once established, the Marionette victim is under the complete sway of the thaumaturge, forced to perform as the thaumaturge’s macabre pawn. As Gepetto once moved Pinocchio’s strings, so the thaumaturge bends his target to his will.
System: The thaumaturge may affect any target within his line of sight and he must keep visual contact with the victim at all times to maintain this effect. A subject may resist the effects of Marionette on a Stamina and Fortitude (difficulty equal to the thaumaturge’s Willpower) when the thaumaturge attempts to take control. Each success he gains on this roll reduces the duration of Marionette by one turn. Victims lacking Fortitude do not have the physical resistance to defy this effect. The concentration this power requires also increases the thaumaturge’s own difficulties for all actions undertaken while manipulating the victim. Marionette does not rob the victim of his cognizance, only his physical control over his body. During this time of thaumaturge’s mastery, the target remains aware that some outside force is manipulating his actions, conscious that they are not his own.
(BMST pg 73-75)