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Fatalism is one of the primary thirteen Arcanoi from Wraith: The Oblivion. Those with the gift of Fatalism are able to see into another’s past or future, and read a wraith's ultimate Fate.

Fatalism is one of the stranger Arcanos in existence. While it is tolerated, probably due in strong part to the Lady of Fate, it is also looked upon with some suspicion. Those who do not possess the power of the Oracles believe them to be master manipulators, while those who do believe are sometimes just as suspicious of their motives.

Much like those who use Castigate, applying Fatalism requires some degree of ceremony around it. Tarot cards, runes, astrology, or other props or methods are used to help focus Fatalism’s abilities and make it easier for the Oracle to see what they need to see. Fatalism will work without these things, but unless the Oracle is unusually powerful, the visions will be unfocused and almost impossible to interpret.

The Oracles are far more used to dealing with the future than the past. Although they use the weavings of Fate to see it, rather than tapping directly into a Wraith’s mind as in Mnemosynis, few would rather mess in the pasts of questionable wraiths. More frequently, Oracles are called by the powerful to divine turns of events and the fortunes of those involved. Oracles will dispense as much information as they feel comfortable with; no one knows more than them that pulling too much on the strands of Fate may cause things to unravel that were not meant to. Indeed, many Oracles come to believe strongly in their abilities, and anything that shows them otherwise may meet with strong opposition from them.

While bad uses of Fatalism tend to show incorrect visions or none at all, others show things so horrible that an Oracle will be shaken and refuse to divine again for a time.

Basic Abilities[]

  • Kismet: An Oracle can perceive the importance of a person, event, or thing in Fate’s plans.

Standard Powers[]

First / Second Edition[]

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Fatal Vision: An Oracle can read the deathmarks on wraiths and mortals.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Foreshadow: An Oracle can detect impending danger.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Interpretation: An Oracle can read into a person’s past or future.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet Guesswork: An Oracle can foretell the consequences of someone’s immediate actions.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Luck: An Oracle can make a minor adjustment to Fate’s plan.

20th Anniversary Edition[]

Basic abilities were dropped in the 20th anniversary edition.

The standard powers of Fatalism are the same as previous editions, with the following exceptions, which replace the skills of the same level or where noted.

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Kismet: An Oracle can read the deathmarks on a wraith or mortal, and can also see that person's importance in Fate's plans.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Reading the Bones: An Oracle can see a person or object's future, save for their own.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet Sidestep: Kin to Guesswork and Presage, the Oracle can foretell forthcoming attacks, allowing them to prepare a defense, or place themselves in the way of an attack meant for someone else.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Breathing the Mists: An Oracle's foresight allows them to prepare for future events.

Alternate Powers[]

Guildbook: Spooks and Oracles[]

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Distant Visions: An Oracle may clearly see what relevant events are happening elsewhere.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet A Quick Read: An Oracle can read using a relic attuned to a living person.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Malocchio: An Oracle may mark another with an "evil eye" that curses them with bad luck, which only other Oracles can see.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Pulling Strings: An Oracle may make small changes in the Web of Fate, learning something of what is to come and preparing accordingly.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet Tangles: An Oracle may twist, tangle, or knot another wraith's Thread of Fate, causing bad luck when they attempt to pursue a particular Passion.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Ensnare: An Oracle can tangle a wraith's threads to the point they no longer control their own destiny, instead serving another's ends.

Wraith: The Great War[]

Fatalism abilities during the Great War are the same as the basic abilities and standard powers with the following exceptions, which replace the skills of the same level or where noted.

  • Augur: Other than the name change, this is essentially the same as Kismet.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Sensing the Strands: An Oracle can read an object and determine who used it and how it was used.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet Presage: Other than being applied more to combat actions, this is essentially the same as Guesswork.

20th Anniversary Edition[]

The 20th anniversary edition introduces the initiate arts, a set of Fatalism abilities available to members of the Oracles' Guild with sufficient standing.

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Friendly Card: An Oracle can select the best option when faced with a random choice.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Retrace: An Oracle can see how a person's fate has been changed in the past.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Malocchio: Aside from the rating, this is essentially the same as the original Malocchio.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet Entangle: An Oracle can bind the existences of multiple wraiths together.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Ensnare: An Oracle can redefine someone's fate.

Other Books[]

  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Fate's Hand Apparent (WTO: The Book of Legions Buy it from DriveThruRPG! Now in Print!): An Oracle can detect the death of a mortal that Fate has chosen.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Eldritch Awareness (WTO: The Book of Legions Buy it from DriveThruRPG! Now in Print!): An Oracle may become aware of Fate as it relates to the Ladies of Fate.

References[]

Wraith: The Oblivion Arcanoi
The Great 13 Argos · Castigate · Embody · Fatalism · Inhabit · Keening · Lifeweb · Moliate · Outrage · Pandemonium · Phantasm · Puppetry · Usury
Forbidden Flux · Intimation · Mnemosynis
Dark Arcanoi Blighted Insight · Contaminate · Corruption · False Life · Hive-Mind · Larceny · Maleficence · Shroud-Rending · Tempest-Weaving · Tempestos
Risen Fascinate · Serendipity
Jade Chains of the Emperor · Way of the Artisan · Way of the Farmer · Way of the Merchant · Way of the Scholar · Way of the Soul
Miscellaneous Alloyed · Behest · Connaissance · Displace · Kinesis · Leechcraft · Tempered
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