Proponents of the feudal structure of vampiric society, the
Ventrue are purveyors of ceremonial rites and tokens of hospitality.
The offering of gifts and presents (don’t say bribes) is
one such affectation. It’s very common for a roaming Ventrue
to send a gift to the Prince or Primogen of a city that he visits
or passes through (unless his presence is a secret).
In a dead world where the only important possession is blood
to sate one’s unending thirst, the only meaningful gift is blood.
The Ventrue have traded mortal blood slaves as gifts for centuries.
Such gifts are meant to curry favor and enmesh recipients
in the webs of boon and counter-favor that typify members
of the clan. If a gift-giver has learned the secret of this
Devotion, the blood of an enslaved mortal can be far more
than a token of esteem. It can be a conduit through which
the benefactor works his inhuman powers on the recipient.
To use Poisoned Chalice, the vampire must have already Dominated
a chosen mortal subject (the vessel) using the Conditioning
power successfully. He must then feed the vessel a few drops
of his own Vitae while concentrating on a specific subject — the
intended recipient of the gift. The power of his Dominate Discipline
is instilled in the vessel’s blood, which is laced with psychic
energy. When the intended recipient drinks from the vessel, the
trap springs, seeping into the subject’s mind and making him
especially inclined to trust or favor the gift-giver.
