[10] Initiate of the True Image [10] Trump of Desire [ 5] Trump Healing [10] Living Trump [??] Truest Image
TRUMP ARTIST ABILITY
[15] Trump Sketches
Trump sketches can be drawn in pencil, marker, charcoal, etc. They are relatively 'quick and dirty' Trumps which are good for a limited number of uses and do not possess the innate indestructibility of real Trumps. They can be made in 30 minutes to an hour, though Dworkin is rumored to be able to create one in under 30 seconds! Trump sketches are good for a limited number of uses depending on the creator's Psyche. After this usage is complete the sketch will be unempowered and no longer viable for either communication or transport. If the Trump Sketch is to reach across Shadow, then the creator must have either the ability or the potential to influence shadow (Blood of Chaos or Amber, Broken Pattern, etc.). Otherwise, the Sketch works only within the Shadow it was created in. This ability also conveys on the possessor the ability to Sense Trump nearby (as the trump trick of the same name). A trump artists abilities when it comes to sensing aspects of Trump is more refined than a lay-person's.
If a trump artist cast the cards for a Scrying they can tell what a particular card may
represent more so than a non trump artist. If Benedict shows up in the Scrying then a
trump artist may be able to detect within the structure of the scry if it represents
Benedict himself, conflict, intelligence, et cetera, making Trump Scrying much more
useful. When a Trump Artist does a sketch, they can get impressions on the subject area,
much like like one might get with a Power's Scrying Lens or Sorcerous sight.
Of course making a Trump of a person can also be very informative, even though the
Artist's insights might only get them pieces of the whole puzzle of who someone is.
[15] Create Trump
This involves creating a card representing some particular person, place, thing or
object. When the user concentrates on the card there will be a psychic bond between
the user and the subject of the card. Creating a Trump takes from 4 hours to
two days of concentrated work depending upon the character's Psyche, Endurance, and
relative level of experience with making Trumps. As time passes, the character will
find that creating such paintings takes less and less time. Suhuy, for example,
could probably render a fully functional Trump in 20-30 minutes of work.
The medium used also determines some of the time so painting in oils, while better for
highest quality Trumps, takes much longer to dry and become functional whereas Acrylics
are relatively quick drying albeit not as conducive for that 'ultra- realistic' look which
is the hallmark of quality Trumps.
Working from memory, without a live model, will DOUBLE or TRIPLE the amount of time to
create a card. Trumps made from descriptions, without the Trump Artist ever having
observed the subject, have a HIGH probability of linking to a Shadow, instead of the
actual subject.
When the Trump Artist first sits down to create a Trump, he/she must clear his/her mind,
then think upon the subject of the Trump they wish to create, and finally bring up the
Power of Trump. Once in the empowered state, they then begin drawing the lines upon the
medium they are using, rendering a life-like representation of the subject, and embedding
the Power of Trump into the image. Trumps cannot be drawn if there are things to
distract the Artist, they must have total concentration during the entire process, and any
interruptions during the Trump
creation stage will require them to start over.
This ability also conveys on the possessor the ability to sense the identity of a Trump
Caller (as the trump trick of the same name), as well as
recognize trump artistry styles that he or she has encountered before.
Advanced Trump Artistry
Trump Memory (5 points)
In creating a card, either a new one, or redrawing an old one, you memorize the image, so it is permanently imprinted upon your mind. That means you can attempt to contact an image without an actual card being present. This is a great effort on both the Psyche and Endurance of the Trump Artist, but if persistent it can be accomplished. Note that this is only possible with person Trumps not those of places or objects.
Trump Deception (5 points)
A Trump can be altered or designed so that it looks like something that has nothing to do with where it actually links. An example would be a trump of 'Castle Amber' that actually took the user to Brand's Dungeon of Painfull Innuendos. Alternately, one can make a trump that reacts like a 'real' trump, but it's actually connected to anything. ("Eric can't be dead... see? His trump still gets cool.")
Quick Transport (5 points)
A Trump can be altered or designed so that as soon as contact is made, transportation
is automatic. Note the combination of Quick Transport and Quick Activation makes a
great Trump
Trap.
A Trump can be specially designed to take only moments to activate. When it is touched and concentrated on like a normal Trump, it activates almost immediately, popping on without warning. This power also allows the artist to make a very quick, but impermanent 'normal' trump, as a sketch.
Instant Activation (2 points)
A Trump can be created to activate by sight or touch alone. When someone looks and concentrates, or touches the active face, the Trump instantly activates.
Exalted Trump
Initiate of the Ideal Image [ 10 points ]
The initiate has achieved the level of knowledge and insight to understand the True Power
of Trump. As a result, the Trump Artist may make a thorough appraisal of the Psychic
imprint of anyone whose card he possesses, including any Powers that have imprinted
themselves on the subject's Psyche.The Trump Artist can also screen those who pass through
his Trump Gates by using Trump energy to scan the subject.
Trumps of Desire [ 10 points ]
This allows you to draw Trumps of places and people that you have never encountered, but
have conceived. It links the Trump to a Shadow resembling the Trump's images; since Shadow
is infinite, any drawing can be made into a Trump.
Trump-based Healing [ 5 points ]
By calling on the Image of the subject, the Trump Artist may use Trump Energies to restore
a damaged subject to wholeness. This ability may be limited by the level of familiarity
between the Artist and subject, the Artist's ability, and the level of reality the subject
exists at. Relative to other exalted disciplines, trump-based healing is relatively
inexpensive point-wise, but is extremely draining on the healer in both body and mind.
Living Trump [ 10 points ]
At this level of development, one's understanding of the Ideal Image is so complete, s/he
is infused with its power. As a result, foci are no longer necessary to use Trump.
Inter-shadow travel, communication and other Trump applications can all be accomplished by
tapping into the Image of the desired effect contained within the Artist's mind: Focus on
the Image of a place to travel there, focus on the Image of a person to communicate,
travel to, or summon them.
The Truest Image [ ??? points ]
Many possibilities exist at these exalted levels of mastery of the True Image, the costs
of which must be left to the GM. Here are some possibilities: