A thaumaturge can open his perceptions to the psychic auras that surround all sentient creatures, witnessing numerous and often-shifting hues and patterns. Although the strongest emotions predominate, almost every individual has more than one color to his aura at any given time, and an observer can see any number of streaks or flashes. “Psychic colors” change with the subject’s mental or emotional state, creating an ever-moving pattern that is as unique to each person as a fingerprint. As a rule, the more powerful the emotions, the more intense the colors, but even this guideline is betrayed by any number of mitigating factors, depending on circumstance. Practice makes perfect; a true master aura-perceiver learns to understand the significance of each whorl and eddy. Because mystics’ powers are limited and rather dim, thaumaturges cannot see auras clearly enough to tell the difference between the radiance of ordinary humans and those of mages, vampires or werewolves.

If performed correctly, this ritual allows a thaumaturge to observe a single subject’s aura. The magician must recast this ritual to observe the aura of another subject. After the magician completes the ritual to allow her to perceive auras, she must concentrate on observing a subject. She can continue to perceive his auras for the next scene, and can talk, walk slowly or perform other non-distracting activities while doing so. However, she cannot run, walk rapidly, perform any complex or difficult physical tasks (including combat) or even look closely at anything other than her target. Also, because of the concentration involved, the magician suffers a –2 penalty to any dice pool involving looking at anything except her target’s aura. The magician can end this ritual at any time and can see normally after that.

Thaumaturges who use this ability to observe someone in the act of lying may recognize that the subject speaks falsely. Intelligence + Empathy is rolled versus the subject’s Wits + Subterfuge in a contested action. The mystic recognizes the lie if the most successes are rolled for him.

Dice Pool: Intelligence + Empathy versus subject’s Composure + Supernatural Advantage (extended and contested roll)
Ritual Length: One minute
Duration: Scene

Roll Results
Dramatic Failure:
The character gleans utterly misleading and wholly inaccurate information. The Storyteller may want to make performance rolls on a player’s behalf for this reason.

Failure:
The character can distinguish no information at all.

Success:
The character perceives the brightest color in the subject’s aura and gains a +1 bonus to all Social rolls in regard to the subject.

Exceptional Success:
The magician gains a +2 bonus to Social rolls in regard to the subject.

Suggested Equipment: A bit of hair, blood or clothing from the person being observed (+1); a mirror more than a century old (+1)

Possible Penalties: The subject is a habitual or pathological liar (–1)

Ritual Details: The caster must perform some action with her eyes to allow her to see auras. Such actions include unfocusing while staring at the target, looking at the target’s reflection in a small mirror or looking through a special lens, kaleidoscope or transparent stone. The magician must continue to perform this action for the duration of the ritual, and the ritual ends as soon as she moves her eyes away.

Aura Signifiers