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Keening is one of the primary thirteen Arcanoi from Wraith: The Oblivion. Those who can use the arts of Keening can manipulate emotions through sound.

Although it does not produce as useful effects as Inhabit or Castigate, Keening is nonetheless a treasured art in the Shadowlands because of the potential power it has. More than anything else, it makes a wraith feel emotional again. Chanteurs can create strong emotions and reactions in almost anyone they chose, and it’s an experience that some wraiths would give their unlives to have again, even if the emotions are artificial sensations made from a manipulative wraith.

Chanteurs primarily work through song, although merely speaking or shouting may have their desired effect. Although Keening can be used with large groups of wraiths, Chanteurs prefer to focus on one target at a time.

Mistakes made with Keening can have severe repercussions. The most common is for an intended positive emotion to backfire and become a negative one, but in extreme cases of misfortune, a Chanteur has been known to be driven mad by his own power.

Basic Abilities[]

  • Perfect Pitch: A Chanteur can tell when another wraith is using Keening.
  • Sotto Voce: A Chanteur can hide their use of Keening from other wraiths.

Standard Powers[]

First / Second Edition[]

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Dirge: A Chanteur can strengthen a listener’s darker emotions (sadness, anger, grief).
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Ballad: A Chanteur may inspire a listener's higher emotions (love, happiness, joy).
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Muse: A Chanteur can make a suggestion to others to do their bidding.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet Crescendo: A Chanteur can physically damage wraiths with a scream. If Embodied, they can terrify the Quick to the point of harm.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Requiem: A Chanteur can fill someone with a completely overwhelming emotion.

20th Anniversary Edition[]

Basic abilities were dropped in the 20th anniversary edition.

The standard powers of Keening 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 Hearing Voices: A Chanteur can make their voice appear to come from a nearby object or person.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Mood Music: A Chanteur can inspire both positive and negative emotions in their listeners.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Satire: A Chanteur can ruin a wraith's social standing with a story or song.

Alternate Powers[]

Wraith: The Great War[]

Keening 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.

  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet Brenden's Lay: A Chanteur can travel without harm through a Maelstrom so long as they continue a chosen song.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Songs of the Living: A Chanteur can fill a song with life and use it to damage a Spectre.

20th Anniversary Edition[]

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

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Sotto Voce: This is essentially the same as the old basic ability.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Cacophony: A Chanteur can deafen and disorientate everyone nearby, and disrupt other uses of Keening.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet Siren Song: A Chanteur can enthrall a victim, making it easy for them to submit to the Chanteur's influence.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet Banshee: A Chanteur can inflict injuries on a victim that won't take effect until a specified condition occurs.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Out Of Tune: A Chanteur can temporarily disrupt a wraith's attunements.

Other Books[]

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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