This is new discipline that I drew up originally for my voodoo-using NPCs in New Orleans. It often requires that the user have true faith in Voodoo, which after all is a religion in it's own right. It can be possessed by strong-willed or psychically active humans up to level 2. I have not worked out powers above 5 yet (suggestions are welcome), but they could include things such as healing, exorcism (uncommon and unsafe in Voodoo), precognition, or spirit travel (perhaps even to Guinee, the mythical Voodoo homeland). Note that the rites, spirits, etc presented here are largely Haitian; American versions are likely to be slightly corrupted. Also note that, with modifications, this can work with Obeah (THE RELIGION NOT THAT STUPID DISCIPLINE!) or other types of animistic or shamanic magioreligions. In the Serpents of the Light (among whom this is the most common), this can replace Serpentis as a clan discipline.
Houngan (also hongan, ongan): A Voodoo priest. In America, often known as Mojo wo/man or Obeah wo/man.
Loa: A spirit (or in some cases god) of the Voodoo religion. These may be Umbrood, Nephandi, demons, or whatever the ST deems appropriate. They come from the Realm of Guinee, the mythic Voodoo homeland similar to primitive Africa. The term Loa is both singular and plural.
Malfacteur: An houngan specializing in black magic, especially poisons.
Hounfour: A sacred shrine set up by the houngan and used for his rites.
Veve: Usually a mystical diagram made of chalk or grain and drawn on the ground. Occassionally can be a physical icon, such as the white cross and top hat of Baron Samedi (no relation to that rather disgusting bloodline).
Gros Bon Ange ("Big Good Spirit"): The soul of a Voodoo follower that relates the most to magic and the spirits. Read: Avatar.
Cheval: One who is "mounted" (as a horse) by a loa during a ceremony. Treat this as willing possession (although cases of non-believer specatators being mounted have occurred), but the cheval is pretty much immune to most physical harm, and do things such as walk on coals, eat glass, swallow razor blades, mutilate themselves, etc. Recovery from such things is usually 100%.
Each charm's creation process must be learned individually, and they are the processes are not necessarilly similar from country to country (or even from person to person). A charm may be improvised if the ceremony is not know, provided the creator makes an intelligence + occult roll at difficulty seven. Each charm must be bought, costing either 1/2 a freebie point or 3 experience. The roll to give the charm it's magic is manipulation + occult, the difficulty being 11-the faith of the charm's user. The user must then roll his or her faith during times when the charm could come into play (the ST may allow a bonus if an invocation of the charm is involved).
** Worship Loa: At this level, the houngan begins to learn the rites to the various loa (again, learned individually, at the cost of 1 freebie point or 5 experience) for use in calling, supplication, communication, and deal-making. When calling the loa, it will come down onto a cheval (if it comes down at all) and then may be friendly or hostile, coherent or incomprehensible, depending on the loa. This is the only means of communicating with most loa (see level 4 below). Each loa must be worshipped on a regular basis in order for it to consider a response. No roll is needed, but the ceremonies are usually large affairs, requiring a houngan, a dozen or more fervent worshippers, and a few hours to complete (this is where those herds and retainers really come in handy). The ST should assign a rating for each individual loa indicating the relationship between that loa and the houngan. 1=Phenomonal, 10=Abyssmal. This should be based on the houngan's faith, regularity, care of observance, and the creativity of the player in pulling it off. Ultimately, the use of this power is left largely to the ST's discretion.
*** Rituals: At this level, the houngan gains the ability to use thaumaturgical rituals, but not to use any of the paths (including the path of blood), which must be learned as a separate discipline. At level 3 Voodoo, level 1 rituals may be used, level 2 rituals at level 4 Voodoo, and so on, up to level 8 rituals at level 10 Voodoo (although no one has the power this high). Voodoo has several rituals that are common if not unique to it, such as the creation and warding against zombies and various types of curses and healing. Common components include various herbs, poisonous animals, salt (a powerful ward against evil, and especially zombies- must be natural, no table salt), rum, weapons, food, and of course the veve and hounfour. Loa often need to preside over high level rituals that fall under their domain.
**** Speak with Patron Loa: After successfully worhiping a certain loa for an indeterminate period of time (depending on the loa; weaker ones need more worshippers and thus are less selective), and with the construction of a permanent hounfour and veve to that particular loa, the houngan can choose a loa as his patron. The ceremony involved in this requires the permanent expenditure of a willpower point to feed the loa, which can be bought back at the usual experience cost. Only one loa may be taken as a patron. Usually, a worship rating (see level 2) of five or less is required for this to happen.
The loa is treated as a spirit mentor (see the merit). The houngan may speak with the loa whenever he wishes, provided that he is in his hounfour or carries a certain charm. The loa freely gives advice and will occassionally grant small favors in the form of manifestations or the using of it's own powers to benefit the houngan. In the end, this is more of a deal with the patron loa than any sort of learned power.
Communication with the loa in the hounfour is automatic, although a blood point must be spent. When away from the hounfour, the houngan must have the charm of the loa (created with the level 1 power, and taught by the loa, as are any other appropriate charms that are not already known. Rituals may come later when the worship rating is down to 2 or 3) and must roll charisma + etiquette, the difficulty being the worship rating. This also requires a blood point.
***** Call Patron Loa: This also involves the loa that was set up as a patron from level 4. It allows for the immediate calling of the loa anywhere, with no ceremony. The loa may either possess someone or materialize as the ST sees appropriate. This costs the houngan three blood points and the loss of one willpower point which may be regained through normal means. Also, the houngan will owe the loa a favor at some later date. The roll is the same as above, but must be made in the hounfour. The difficulty is increased by three if the houngan is attempting to call the loa through the charm.
Danbala Weido (male): The main god of the Voodoo pantheon. Snake god. Creator of the world.
Aida Weido (female): Goddess of the rainbow. Mate of Danbala Weido.
Papa LeBas (male): The devil. King of black magic.
Baron Samedi (male): Lord of the crossroads and the cemetery. Patron loa of the Bizango Society. Appears as a skeleton in fancy dress.
Erzulie (female): Goddess of love. Appears as a beautiful woman. NOT the same as the Setite Erzulie from the World of Darkness sourcebook.
Ogoun (male): War and fire. Appears as a great warrior surrounded by flames.
Baron Guede (male): Lord of the Dead. Appears as a skeletal king in tattered robes, often accompanied by a court of ghosts.
(note: I have taken some liberties with the appearance of the loa, who are normally not seen on this plane. Much of the material for this came from the book The Serpent and the Rainbow by Wade Davies.)