Cutting Traces of Blood

By Michael Gachek (hejniak@uranos.cto.us.edu.pl)

Level Five Ritual

Description

To succesfully cast this ritual the caster must first sacrifice a living being who is familiar to him (vampires skilled in Animalism often befriend a bird or cat for later use). Sacrifice means burying alive, three feet deep, in some desolate place. Not until then can he begin real sorcery.

Once cast, the ritual remains indefinitely effective (if maintained -- see below). It is possible to keep the effects of the spell for years (although most targets won't survive weeks).

The target of Cutting Traces of Blood begins to have problems contacting persons (mortals and vampires) who drank his blood. This includes those blood bound to him. He keeps forgeting names, meetings, addresses and locations of havens. When, by an accident, he meets such a person, he has problems noticing her! (Treat this like Obfuscate 2 in early stage, and Obfuscate 3 in later). Although this spell does not negate the effects of drinking vampiric blood, it is far easier for thralls to break the bond in such a circumstances.

Successful maintainance of this spell can cut an elder from most of his pawns. Such a handicapped vampire becomes an easy kill for most mortal hunters or immortal enemies. Even (or especially...) mighty Ventrue princes will be in a dire situation.

System: For ritual to be effective, at least three successes are required on a Manipulation + Occult roll, difficulty 8. Five or more successes grants a (-2) bonus to difficulty for maintaining purposes. If the test fails, another sacrifice must be made.

Additionally, every third day, caster must try to maintain the spell -- he needs to obtain at least one success on a Manipulation + Occult roll (difficulty victim's Charisma + Presence or Dominate level). If he fails, the spell effects slowly fade away. If he botches, the ritual is broken and he must begin from the beginning.

Note: A fourth level variation of this ritual exists, which imposes on the victim the effect of Cutting Traces of Blood for one (specified in ritual casting) person. It is a useful way to get ridden of troublesome regnant if you manage to pay Tremere for casting this.