Level Three Rituals

Level Three Rituals

Rutor’s Hands: An ancient Tremere ritual, Rutor’s Hands, requires that a vampire cut off one of his own hands and pluck out one of his own eyes. This causes five levels of aggravated damage, though these can be healed normally. He then works the ritual, which will animate the hand, allowing it to move about and serve its owner. The eye rests on the back of the hand, and provides both sight and hearing. The hand makes a careful spy or messenger, and a magus can create as many of these as he likes (as long as he regenerates his hands and eyes). Each one must absorb a point of blood each week, although it does not matter where this blood comes from.

Ward Versus Lupine: This ritual works much the same as the Ward Versus Ghoul (level two ritual), but it affects werewolves. The only component needed is silver dust. Wards in general can be destroyed by most any normal means, but not by the being that it is versus; indeed, they can hardly bring themselves to come near it. There is no ward versus mortals.

Pavis of Foul Prescence: This is sometimes referred to as "Our ritual for the Ventrue" and is so tightly controlled a secret that it is supposedly unknown outside the Tremere clan. This most specialized ritual was created (some say by Tremere himself) to combat the power of the Ventrue in the Camarilla. Any Prescence discipline used against the caster is instead reversed to by felt by the offender. Thus, if the crafty Warlock was willed to panic and run, the Kindred who exercised his power will make whatever resisted roll is necessary against himself, more than likely turning the tables on the poor lick. Preparation takes a mere hour and the ritual will remain in effect until sunrise, but a blue silk cord must be tied around the neck of the caster for the spell to work and last.

Shaft of Belated Quiescence: This particularly vicious ritual is cast on a stake that is meant for the heart of a vampire. During a five hour ritual, the caster must carve an ornate series of symbols onto the sharpened shaft of rowan wood, coat the stake with her blood, and blacken it in an oak-wood fire. The darkened shard then becomes one of the most feared Kindred-slaying weapons known. A simple hit with the stake, even in the leg or arm, causes the tip to break off inside the victim and begin burrowing into the victim’s body. The point then slowly works its way into the heart. The victim of this attack may not know what is occurring until it is too late.

The point will reach the heart in about one to ten days (roll a die). During the time of the stake’s journey, the sufferer will occasionally feel sharp pains. These pains grow closer together and more unbearable as the tip nears its unmissable target. Damage caused by the thing’s journey isn’t enough to remove Health Levels from a vampire, but will harm a mortal or ghoul. One of the only ways to be rid of the thing is to dig for it -- a very grisly process that won’t necessarily work. The vile thing may actually try to elude the operator, automatically burrowing away from the open wound. The "surgeon" does more and more damage as he digs deeper after it. Needles to say, this weapon is a death sentence for a mortal, and may well destroy a Kindred, because who knows where the vampire might be when she is immobilized...

Flesh of Fiery Touch: This ritual turns the caster’s own skin into a protective trap. After the ritual is completed, any Kindred who touches the bespelled Warlock’s flesh will receive a single point of aggravated damage in the form of a searing burn. The damage can be resisted with Fortitude, but if the vampire continues to hold the caster, he will continue to take damage. However, the caster cannot inflict this damage by touching someone; he must himself be touched. Although the effect lasts until dusk of the next day, it is not without its price; during the two - or three - hour ritual, the casting vampire must consume a small burning coal, causing an aggravated wound (again, resist with Fortitude) and costing a Willpower point (to bring himself to do it). While the enchantment is in effect, the Kindred’s skin takes on a subtle bronze tint. This hue can be noticed with a straight Perception roll (difficulty 8) by a character who intensely inspects the Warlock. The caster is also unnaturally hot to the touch.

Incorporeal Passage: This allows the caster to become intangible and move about. In this state, the caster still maintains a slightly hazy image of herself. This means that the Kindred can travel unhindered through all obstructions, even walls. The caster is also impervious to most attacks, just as if she were utilizing the Protean power Form of Mist. The caster must walk in a straight line through objects; once she begins, she must continue through - she cannot draw back. Thus the vampire may not travel downward into solid ground, for it would be an impossible walk. Also, the caster must have a piece of a broken mirror to hold her image as she move incorporeally. The ritual lasts about an hour to prepare and lasts a number of hours equal to the number of successes scored on a Wits + Survival roll (difficulty 6). The ritual can be canceled by shifting the mirror so the caster can no longer see her reflection in it.

Eyes of the Past: shows what happened in your present locations at a specific time in the past, up to five years ago. You can see what happened in the past as if you had been standing where you are now.

Illusion of Peaceful Death: heals obvious wounds on a corpse, causing a body to appear as though it died a natural death. While it does not add blood to a corpse, this ritual will make it less likely that anyone will notice how much is gone. Still, the body must still have at least half its original blood to be successful. Caster must "dust" the body with a white feather.

Gentle Mind: grants the target four extra Willpower Points usable only for preventing frenzy. Caster and target must share a point of blood, keeping a Tremere from casting this spell on himself.

A Touch of Nightshade (Sabbat): This ritual allows the vampire to poison victims by touch alone. The ritual causes the vampire to produce a magical effect similar to poisoning in the first person she touches after casting the ritual. The victim rolls Stamina + Fortitude (difficulty 8). One success means victim survives, but has terrible cramps for the night and increases his difficulties by two. If he makes two successes, the victim feels a little queasy, increasing all difficulties by one. If the victim rolls three or more successes, he does not feel a thing. The vampire Thaumaturgist using this ritual must rub a little juice from bittersweet, deadly nightshade, or some other potent form of nightshade on her hand for the ritual to work.

Clinging of the Insect (Sabbat): The vampire can crawl on walls and ceilings using this ritual. The only material component is a small living spider, which must be eaten alive. The vampire is then able to crawl upon any surface that will support her weight. Completely smooth, slick surfaces (such as Teflon or slime-covered glass) will negate this ritual.

Eldritch Glimmer (Sabbat): This ritual allows the vampire to draw upon some sort of magical force that bathes the vampire in a pale green glow. In addition, the vampire is able to fire bolts of energy from this magical source. Any number of bolts may be discharged, at a rate of one per turn, but each costs the Thaumaturgist one Blood Point. Hitting with the bolts requires a Perception + Firearms roll (difficulty 6); they do three dice of damage each. The material component for this ritual is a piece of sandstone soaked in vinegar.

Fire in the Blood (Sabbat): This ritual allows the vampire to cause the victim’s body to become extremely warm. The victim can feel heat from her blood as it passes through her body. The effects of this ritual are extremely painful. The heat starts slowly, but as the victim becomes more and more active, the blood becomes hotter and hotter. The victim suffers an aggravated wound every time she does something which involves rolling a Physical Attribute, unless she can make a simple roll using Wits + Medicine (difficulty 7) in order to calm down enough for the blood to cool. The victim is thus forced to remain inactive or face extreme pain and injury. No material components are required for this ritual.

Friend of the Trees (Sabbat): This power causes those who try to follow the vampire through woods to become entangled in roots, branches, and vines that just seem to be in the way. The power has the subtle effect of causing trees to animate slightly to provide the protection. Those trying to follow the vampire will only be able to move at half their normal speed. This ritual can only be performed in woods, and requires the vampire to plant an acorn.

Rotten-wood (Sabbat): This ritual protects the caster against wooden stakes and similar wooden weapons. It makes wooden objects so rotten that they crumble to dust. The ritual must be set up in advance, but for the entire night al the vampire has to do is speak one magical word to turn any wooden object she touches to dust.

Summon Mischievous Spirit (Sabbat): The vampire with this power is able to summon a poltergeist. The poltergeist will cause a ruckus, messing with appliances, furniture, plumbing, electronic devices and any other types of inanimate objects. The spirit may cause almost any object to animate and move about, but it will seldom directly harm a person. However, it will readily cause indirect injury, such as dropping a chair on a victim’s head or causing a knife to fly across the room.

It is important to keep in mind that the spirit does not intend to harm the victim--it just wants to annoy the hell out of him. The effect of this spirit is left to the Storyteller. The length of time the spirit stays is based on the number of successes the vampire rolls using Charisma + Spirit Lore (difficulty 7).

One Hour
One Night
One Week
One Month
One Year

Ritual of Darkness: creates a very powerful darkness in the user’s Haven. This darkness cannot be seen through by intruders, but the caster can see easily. The caster must rub soot from a coal fire on the windows, and the ritual takes a full hour. Carma invented this ritual when she was in a tight spot 300 years ago. She will be willing to teach this one to other Tremere, and some other Tremere already know it. The darkness will last until sunlight hits it (if the haven is underground this could be forever).

The Watcher: calls to the caster a small rat who will then go where the caster tells her and look for whatever the caster tells her to look for. The rat can then return and, by pressing heads with the caster, "show" the Thaumaturgist what she saw. The rat can even be instructed to steal small items, though the caster must be very explicit as to what she wants stolen and where it is located. This little ritual takes about 20 minutes to enact and requires feeding the rat minute amounts of alcohol. This ritual was created by Victor’s mentor to help him watch over other Vampires. The rat will remain in service until sunrise. It can still be affected normally by the Animalism discipline.

Illusion of Perfection: this is the perfect ritual for Vampires deformed in some way or who want to remain hidden. The ritual takes a little under an hour and requires a plain white mask, put on at the very end of the ritual. Once complete, the caster looks like an ordinary person in his mid-20’s, with a nondescript face and an average body. The illusion allows the caster to blend easily into crowds. It also changes the caster’s face to facilitate escapes. Invented by Dr. Mortius to hide his deformities when in public, he will gladly share it with any friendly Vampire Thaumaturgist. Note that Kindred with Auspex can penetrate the guise and, much to one Tremere’s final amazement, so can Lupines.

Haunted House: can be cast on any Vampire’s Haven. Rumors will soon circulate among the mortals that the house is haunted and should be avoided. While many mortals today will profess a disbelief in such things, even they will be disturbed by the place and not wish to approach it. The ritual takes about three hours and involves three blood points to fuel the spells (more blood points may intensify the effect). The house will remain "haunted" for about 10 years, when mortals will start to think it is simply "run down" or "weird" instead of haunted. This ritual has long been forbidden by the Tremere as a risk to the Masquerade, but Dr. Mortius was around before that rule was ever made and still knows (and uses) the spell. He does not like to be disturbed.

Moonlight Dancers (Black Hand): This ritual was created by a lonely and insane Kindred to create the illusion of ghostly apparitions and music. The apparitions resemble five or more dance couples from some time in history chosen by the Thaumaturgist. The apparitions are not sentient--they are merely figments which dance to the music. The effects last until sunrise, though the Thaumaturgist can dispel them at any time. Some Toreador cast this ritual at their socials.

The Framing (Anarch): This ritual allows an anarch to "frame" another for his own actions. It requires possession of some object belonging to that person, or even better, some of the victim’s vitae. The ritual is performed before enacting the deed for which the target will be blamed. The caster rolls Appearance + Subterfuge (difficulty 8). If successful, the spellcaster can then perform the deed, and anyone who witnesses him will mistake him for his spell’s target. One success is visual only. Three successes enable the caster to sound like the target. Five successes and the ritual works upon all senses; even Auspex cannot detect that a spell has been cast. This ritual lasts only as long as it takes to enact the crime.

Example: James plans to break into the prince’s favorite jewelry store, but knows that it has been declared off limits to all Kindred. So, he decides to "frame" another for his action -- Gregor, a Malkavian. Earlier, James stole a jacket usually worn by Gregor, just in case he wanted to cast this ritual. He uses it now to focus the ritual on Gregor. He rolls his Appearance + Subterfuge and gets three successes. Now, anyone who sees and hears him will think that he is Gregor.

Bladed Hands: takes 10 minutes to complete and requires two blood points. When finished, this ritual gives the Tremere very sharp hands ehich do an extra dice of damage when they are used to attack. It lasts until the next sunrise. Perfected by Victor, he will not share this one with many. Note that the caster must be very careful about what he touches (especially himself), and will have a difficult time handling delicate objects.

The Ritual of the Bitter Rose: This ritual allows multiple Kindred to experience the Rebirth and to elevate in Generation from the blood of a single Diablerie victim. (As discussed in Awakening: Diablerie Mexico, the number of Kindred who can be elevated depends on the Generation and power of the victim.) The procedure is as follows.

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