Custom Blood Magic: Path
Some chronicles allow for their players to develop customized powers for their characters. The following is a compilation of player created custom content in OWBN. At this time, custom content that is created and/or used by vampire PC's is required to be listed.
Chango's Grace
Once a proud Yoruban king, Chango enjoys immense popularity among the the devout of the Santeria faith. He and his wife, Oya, wield the power of lightning as their favored weapon, making their mark on any battlefield they cross. By forging an association with these two Orisha's, a Cainite can borrow a small portion of Chango's and Oya's power for themselves, to devastating effect. Some would claim that the Wangateur is merely imitating a powerful deity, but the faithful know the truth; that their lightning is a blessing bestowed upon them by a proud king and his fierce queen.
Basic - Chango's Spiteful Vigor
Virility is one of Chango's most well-known traits. He is often depicted as youthful and passionate. Chango's Spiteful Vigor allows the caster to channel some of that excess energy into anyone he comes into contact with, momentarily filling them with more vigor than their body is capable of handling, and causing it to spasm out of control.
The Cainite needs only spend 1 Blood Trait. Electricity crackles around the vampire's eyes and at their fingertips. This is enough to ignite readily flammable materials (such as gasoline or cloth, though not wood). Anyone who comes in contact with the caster suffers the negative physical trait of Clumsy for the rest of the turn, as the shock causes their body to briefly twitch uncontrollably. Once activated, this power lasts for an hour or the scene, or until the Cainite decides to cancel it's effects.
Basic - Favored Arms
Both Chango and his wife, Oya, wield the power over the domain of lightning. Many tales tell of it's use, to devastating effect, on the battlefield. One story even tell of how Chango, having been captured, was freed from his prison cell when Oya sent a bolt of lightning to strike open the jail.
The caster must spend 1 Blood Trait. The electricity coursing through the Vampire's body can arc across short distances to effect those nearby. Engage in a ranged Mental challenge with a target within 30 yards. the target uses their Physical traits to soak, and must bid an additional trait while attempting to do so, as lightning can strike rather quickly. If successful, the lightning strikes its intended victim, dealing 1 health level of lethal damage and igniting anything flammable it comes into contact with.
Intermediate - Hushed Whispers
Oya is know as the 'Mother of Nine' because she gave birth to nine individual stillborn children. Hushed Whispers is a direct reflection of the sadness and emptiness she feels for being unable to bear children, and a manifestation of the eternal silence of those nine lost children.
The caster spends 1 Blood Trait and must make a static mental challenge against an appropriate difficulty (4 for standard electronics, 6 for shielded power supplies, 10 for military grade hardware, or more at the narrator's discretion). The electromagnetic wave generated by the electricity in the Cainite's body pulses outward a short distance, causing any electronic devices within 10 feet to be disabled as their batteries are immediately drained, and the devices cannot receive power for the remainder of the scene.
Intermediate - King's Decree
Before being elevated to an Orisha for performing miracles after his death, Chango was the third King of Oyo. He is of boisterous temperament, and is said to be the essence of masculinity. His indomitably assertive nature is something that can be channeled to staggering effect.
The Cainite must spend 1 Blood Trait. By channeling the fury of Chango, the Cainite is able to release a devastating sonic burst. All within 10 yards of the caster are knocked to the ground, and must spend an action to get to their feet again before taking any other physical actions. Affected individuals also suffer the Negative Mental Trait Oblivious for one minute, as the intense sound ruptures ear drums. Any who are unfortunate enough to have a means of heightening their hearing become stunned and can take no actions except to defend themselves for the remainder of the turn, and are deafened for the remainder of the scene or hour.
Advanced - Stride of Yansa
Oya is a fierce warrior Orisha who wields the might of storms as her weapon. Even as she passes through the battlefield, it is said that her movements are sudden, sharp, and precise as if she were lightning itself. Through this penultimate mastery of divine favor, the Cainite transcends the physical form. He becomes, for the briefest of moments, the pure essence of Oya's stride.
The Wangateur spends 1 Blood Trait and 1 Willpower Trait. For a brief instant the Cainite's body transcends the physical, becoming lightning itself. In this lightning form, the Cainite can move with impossible speeds and can cover great distances in a few seconds. While in this form, the caster suffers no damage except from sunlight and magic, but is incapable of interacting with surroundings in any sort of meaningful way. This form begins on the caster's turn and only lasts until the end of the round. Storytellers are advised to limit the distance to about 100 miles per round and not allow such travel to interrupt the flow of game play.
Indra is the king of Svarga (Heaven) and the Devas. He is the god of the heavens, lightning, thunderstorms, rains and river flows. Indra is the most referred to deity in the Rigveda. He is celebrated for his powers, and the one who kills the great symbolic evil (Asura) named Vritra who obstructs human prosperity and happiness. Indra destroys Vritra and his "deceiving forces", and thereby brings rains and the sunshine as the friend of mankind. A Sadhanna practitioner who uses this path is in a way channeling the Divine powers of Indra.
Providence: HYMN LIII. Indra.
5 Let us obtain, O Indra, plenteous wealth and food, with strength exceeding glorious, shining to the sky: May we obtain the Goddess Providence, the strength of heroes, special source of cattle, rich in steeds. 6 These our libations strength-inspiring, Soma draughts, gladdened thee in the fight with Vṛtra, Hero Lord, What time thou slewest for the singer with trimmed grass ten thousand Vṛtras, thou resistless in thy might.
This Hymn calls upon the Goddess Providence which gives Indra his strength and virility to accomplish the deeds that he is known for. The Sadhanna practitioner calls upon a small bit of this power and enhances the caster with the ability to heal faster.
System: The Character may spend 1 blood a round beyond his generational maximum to heal one level of lethal or bashing damage.
Libations of Soma: HYMN LXIII. Indra
8 O Indra, God who moves round about us, feed us with varied food plenteous as water— Food wherewithal, O Hero, thou bestowest vigour itself to flow to us forever.
It is said that all the Gods drank healthily but none as much as Indra who was renown for his intake of libations. It fortified him in his fights to drink before hand and he accomplished much with the locations flowing through him. Thus this path allows one to drink of the storm which is Indra's strength and fortify your own self from it’s libations.
System: The character may spend 1 full action to stand in the rain soaking in the water. After which they may gain 3 blood traits as if they were feeding. This may be done once a turn. A Character may not gain more than 10 blood traits a night from this power.
Heaven's Wide Space: HYMN LV. Indra.
1 THROUGH e’en this heaven's wide space and earth have spread them out, nor heaven nor earth may be in greatness Indra's match. Awful and very mighty, causing woe to men, he wets his thunderbolt for sharpness, as a bull. 2 Like as the watery ocean, so doth he receive the rivers spread on all sides in their ample width. He bears him like a bull to drink of Soma juice, and will, as Warrior from of old, be praised for might.
Being the God of the storm, rain, lightning and thunder, Indra was considered the God of the heavens and could command them to bend to his will. Those blessed by Indra are able to channel some of that power and bend an area of the heavens to their will.
System: Spend 1 blood and call upon a rainstorm. The time for the storm to gather is 5 minutes but may be decreased by 1 minute per social trait spent at the time of casting. (Max 5). Those caught in the storm are down two traits in all challenges related to eyesight. The storm is limited in size to a City Block or The Scene. Anything within the range of the storm is to be considered to be within line of sight.
Hawk's Flight: HYMN LXXX. Indra
2 The mighty flowing Soma-draught, brought by the Hawk, hath gladdened thee, That in thy strength, O Thunderer, thou hast struck down Vṛtra from the floods, lauding thine own imperial sway. 3 Go forward, meet the foe, be bold; thy bolt of thunder is not checked. Manliness, Indra, is thy might: stay Vṛtra, make the waters thine, lauding thine own imperial sway.
Being the God of the heavens and thus the storm allowed Indra to travel within them as he transverses across the realms. Hawk's Flight allows you to channel this power that you have been blessed with by Indra and fly through the storm.
System: The caster may move like they are part of the storm. You may fly through the storm as if it was natural up to 45 miles per hour. As long as you stay within the storm you can fly continuously with no more expenditure than the original Willpower to take off. You can carry yourself and up to 200 pounds more and must concentrate to take off. Once outside the storm you will start to lose velocity and descend to the ground.
Cleft in Twain: HYMN XXXII. Indra.
1 I WILL declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the Thunder-wielder. He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents.
2 He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: his heavenly bolt of thunder Tvaṣṭar fashioned. Like flowing kine in rapid flow descending the waters glided downward to the ocean. 3 Impetuous as a bull, he chose the Soma and in three sacred beakers drank the juices. Maghavan grasped the thunder for his weapon, and smote to death this firstborn of the dragons. 4 When, Indra, thou hadst slain the dragon's firstborn, and overcome the charms of the enchanters, Then, giving life to Sun and Dawn and Heaven, thou foundest not one foe to stand against thee.
Indra was a fighter with no equal and a hero of the kine who brought the rains and waters to them. In one of his greatest accomplishments. He fought the Dragon and his strikes were so potent they split a mountain in half. Cleft in Twain allows for one to travel the storm in lightning quick movement and even strike your target with the strength of Indra.
System: Those Blessed by Indra, the God of thunder and lightning move like him and fight like him. At a cost of a Willpower you may move like lightning to your target in a physical strike. Dealing 5 aggravated damage as a hammer made of lightning appears in your hands and descends upon your target. This requires a physical challenge against your target retested with occult. Distance is limited to size of storm. Target is limited to line of sight.
Conversion of the MET Faith and Fire version of Ogham to Assamite Sorcery (Dur-An-KI).
This path finds it roots in the folklore of moon gods and lunar magic. A versatile path created by a self-proclaimed Druidic Dur-An-Ki practitioner.
Level One:
"By The Pale Moonlight"
A nimbus of moonlight surrounds the character, enabling them and others close by to see more clearly in even the darkest of conditions. The aura of light is slightly controllable, meaning it can be dimmed or flared for cosmetic effect, but roughly radiates no more than 20 feet around the character.
System:
Spend a blood. You now find yourself shrouded in moonlight. This effect radiates out from you (moving with you). You now find it easy to see even in the darkest of conditions. Your allies and you may treat this as a source of lighting similar to Eyes of the Beast, Heightened Senses, or Tongue of the Asp when effected by darkness conditions. Additionally, you personally gain the ability: "Luminous" which you may use to cancel the "Darkness" re-test. This power last for a scene or an hour.
Level Two:
“Reach For The Stars”
“If you aim for the stars and miss, you’ll still hit the moon,” is the mantra of this level. While within their own moonlit shroud, the caster has the ability to blink within it’s range -- surprising enemies and avoiding entrapments. Aesthetically, this appears as a flickering of the illuminated character as seen when clouds obscure the moon’s light.
System:
Spend a blood at the beginning of the round. If moonlit by “By The Pale Moonlight” the caster of this path may move to anywhere within the 20 illuminated feet, returning to the original starting point at the end of the round or remaining at their new location at the cost of reactivating “By The Pale Moonlight” the following round. This does not grant additional actions (and in fact costs an action), however it does grant a “Surprise” retest on the next attack the first time it is used in a scene. This power only allows one to move to an area illuminated by the previous level of this path and cannot be used to bypass objects such as walls, unless of course there may be a window or doorway in to which your light spills in to. If the character returns to an area that is now inhabited, they will take one level of aggravated damage and be flung anywhere within the circle at the Storyteller’s discretion.
Level Three:
“Blood Makes Noise”
Long has the phase of the moon been tied to the blood that flows within our veins. Everything from blood pressure, sleep, and menstrual cycles have direct correlation to the phases of the moon. Knowing the pact that Luna has made with man, you may now directly control it’s effects on the body.
System:
While radiating Luna’s glow, you may now directly affect the blood that rushes in the veins around you. By spending a blood and a willpower you may choose to either lessen or increase the blood pressure of those within your aura. Lessening the pressure will allow faster healing of aggravated damage while raising the pressure will cause wounds to bleed more freely, causing additional bashing damage to those around you. When activated you may either choose to heal one aggravated wound in your presence or cause an additional level of bashing damage be added on each subsequent attack of the round. This power relies on the first level “By The Pale Moonlight” to be active and lasts only one round.
Level Four:
“Moonglade”
Faerie rings. Druid groves. Standing stones. Moon bridges.
Many cultures, both Earthly and Supernatural have associated the moon with protection of sacred places and the mystical ways that bind them together. This power allows you to identify, mark, and in some cases even consecrate these monuments to Luna.
System:
Spend a blood point to activate this power to identify a sacred area (or to test if a newly created area is appeasing to Luna). ST discretion on what may constitute such an area. Additionally, you may spend a willpower to attune yourself a specific location for one lunar cycle. Within the Moonglades that you are attuned to, you gain the following benefits:
The Hunter’s Eyes – Within your Moonglade you gain the beneficial effects of Heightened Senses: Sight for free. Additionally, you may spend willpower to re-test any attempt you make at breaking obfuscate, chimerstry, or other similar effects.
Through the Looking Glass – With the expenditure of a permanent willpower you may step between any Moonglade attuned to you. This effect takes place at the end of two consecutive rounds (leaving round and arriving round). You must be personally attuned to each location for this power to work.
Level Five:
“Lunatique”
“Madness is the gift, that has been given to me.” – Disturbed
System:
Spend three blood and a willpower. Depending on your Pantheon the visual effects of this power vary, but all have similar overlying themes, a large, mythical creature whose aura radiates moonlight. Whether it be the Huntress form of Diana, one of the mythical Loup Garou, or Heng’e Celestial Form, the effects granted by this power are more-or-less the same. You gain Two Bonus Physical Traits (Fierce and Energetic), the Merit: Huge Size, and the Merit: Lucky for the remainder of the scene, at the end of which the player finds themselves suffering from the Negative Physical Trait: Frail x3 and the Derangement: Schizophrenia for the remainder of the night. This power may only be used once per game.
Level 1 – Code Hack: With the new world out there kindred need to be ready for it with more skilled hackers and code hackers
System: With the cost of 1 temporary willpower trait per, and 10 minutes of looking over the source code the caster is able to fix all bugs within the code or completely change the source code as he sees fit. Giving a +1 mental trait per willpower spent in this way that last for the scene or one hour of usage.
Level 2 – Photo Shop: By getting the source of a picture either from the device or the web, the
User is able to modify the picture as they see fit and be able to figure out it was modified. It magically makes you think it was always like that.
System: This cost 1 temporary mental trait and 1 blood with 10 minutes of looking over the device or picture to figure out how to modify it. When directed towards a biological subject, the caster can make physical changes akin to the disguise ability that are viewed as real to the naked or trained eye. Only magic can discern the disguise. Only magic can be discerned the disguise via thaumaturgical sight.
Level 3 – Trace and Logs: With a week’s worth of scanning and detailed searching, the User can trace any usage of an electronic device for three days of logs starting from that start of the scanning and ending on the 3rd day. This power will cost 1 blood to trace, a mental trait for each day of logging information.
System: By smearing a point of blood on computerized device and spending a temporary mental trait for each day of tracking, the blood can either trace the compiled data or function as
a script and log all information on the device for up to 3 days.
Level 4 – Minor Bio-AI: By combining a cognizant construct, made through the use of Biothaum and basic computer components, the thaumaturge is able to construct a Minor Biological Artificial Intelligence. Construction of the Minor AI takes 1 month, 3 weeks for the cognizant construct and 1 week for wiring, but only remains functioning for 1 week per mental trait spent at construction.
System: With this ability the User is able to send some of their intelligence into an electronic device with a limited intelligence equal to the Users Mental traits + computer skill (max of 5) that will last 1 week for each temporary mental trait spent at its creation. The Minor Bio-AI is able to perform the first three levels of bio-hacking on its own without the cost of blood, electronic versions only. All other costs still apply and its retests are equal to half that of the creators rounded up.
Level 5 – Major Bio-AI: With the understanding of the Minor AI, by combining a cognizant construct, made through the use of Biothaum and high-end computer components, the thaumaturge is able to construct a Major Biological Artificial Intelligence. Construction of the Major AI takes 6 weeks, 3 weeks for the cognizant construct and 3 week for wiring. The Major AI functions for 1 month per mental trait spent at construction or permanently for the cost of 1 permanent mental trait. With this more advanced version it gains the following abilities: It gains a number of health/firewall lvls equal to the number of security levels of the caster, minimum of 1. This health/firewall lvls are destroyed with each successful cyber hack on the device which burns out a portion of the construct lvls that cannot be healed at all, and once all health/firewall lvls are gone the construct is burnt out and will not work again. All components are destroyed. As a note this construct is immune to technomancy due to its biological majority parts.
Example: A 10th gen vampire has 12 max mental traits + 5 computer abilities + 5 Security abilities. That would make a 17 mental trait hacking construct with 5 health/firewall lvls of security. It also gets the number of computer retest equal to the maker of the construct to be used in its automated ordeals.
DATA MANIPULATION
Based on the idea that Technomancy was not sufficient to the information control and manipulation purposes of Clan Tremere, this path was created by Rosamonde Kurlein with the input and assistance of Elliot Maxwell and other Tremere in Northern California. Unlike Technomancy, which focuses on technological devices, Data Manipulation is focused instead on the detection and manipulation of the data itself.
Data Manipulation uses the Computers Ability for retests, rather than the Occult Ability.
Basic Data Manipulation
Data Perception
With this power you can perceive electronic data, both on devices and in transmission, allowing you to detect even the most basic or passive of electronic devices and even potentially read electronic data in transmission.
You may activate this power at will and automatically detect active electronic devices, and perceive active transmission of electronic data (including wireless transmission) as a hazy overlay on the material world. If you wish to read or comprehend electronic data in transmission, you must spend a Mental Trait; you may then perceive any form of electronic data in transmission clearly, and comprehend the data being transmitted. Reading electronic data being transmitted requires line of sight on some portion of the transmission’s path. Data Perception is not able to make securely encrypted data clear and comprehensible, although at Storyteller discretion some information may still be discerned
Communication
With this power you can understand and communicate with electronic devices.
Spending a Willpower Trait activates this power for the remainder of the scene. As long as the power is active, you may comprehend and transmit electronic data, magically sending and receiving communications with any electronic device you are able to perceive regardless of whether the device normally includes any form of wireless communication.
Although you may use Communication to communicate with and transmit data to electronic devices, Communication does not inherently allow you to bypass security features such as secure encryption or requirements for passwords, thus preventing many forms of remote device operation, although it may be possible to operate some unsecured devices remotely at Storyteller discretion.
Practitioners may use Communication for a wide range of applications, ranging from placing cellular telephone calls and operating remote control cars, to reading unprotected computer files from across the room, however Communication does not allow a practitioner to simultaneously communicate with multiple devices.
Intermediate Data Manipulation
Control Data
With this level of mastery, security measures no longer thwart the practitioner, and you are able to not only magically manipulate data, such as breaking secure encryption, bypassing security features, or re-writing data on an electronic device, but even activate inactive electronic devices.
To utilize this power, you must interface with the active device with Communication and spend a Willpower Trait. Once the power is invoked, spend Mental Traits (number determined by Storyteller) to bypass secure encryption, alter/rewrite data on the electronic device, or bypass passwords and other electronic security. The details of these manipulations, and any further challenges required are left to the Storyteller, but let common sense be your guide.
To activate or power an inactive electronic device, you must have line of sight on the device and spend a Willpower Trait. For electronic devices connected normally to a power source, this will cause the device to activate and draw power normally from the connected power source, but an electronic device not connected to a power source normally will remain active for a number of turns equal to your Data Manipulation score.
Shutdown
With this level of mastery, you can utterly erase all data on an electronic device, cut the power to an active electronic device, and even physically destroy some types of small electronic devices and storage media by generating bursts of electromagnetic energy.
Spend a Mental Trait, and make a Static Mental Challenge against any single device that you are aware of in the scene. Cell phones or portable storage media have one Trait, normal household electronics or desktop computers typically have three Traits, while servers or more resistant devices may have nine or more Traits. Electronic devices with exceptional protection against electromagnetic interference or surges, such as hospital or military servers, gain an additional three Traits for defense. Success allows the practitioner to either disable the targeted electronic device by cutting all power to and from it, or to erase all data (including operating system, if applicable), or to generate a power surge that destroys small electronics and storage media.
Shutdown can destroy only data storage (tapes, discs, drives, CDs, etc.) and electronic devices with three or fewer Traits. Attempts to destroy larger devices may at Storyteller discretion cause the larger device to suffer damage, with damaged devices ceasing to function, and becoming unusable until repaired.
Advanced Data Manipulation
Pulse
As a master of Data Manipulation, some lower levels of this path become easier or more effective. Expenditures are no longer required to utilize Data Perception or Communication. Electronic devices not connected to power sources can now be activated with Control Data for a number of turns equal to twice the practitioner’s Data Manipulation score. Pulse also allows you to produce an effect similar to that of Shutdown, but affecting all electronic devices in an area simultaneously.
To activate Pulse, spend a Willpower Trait and make a Static Mental Challenge (against the number of Traits it would take to affect the single most resistant device in range with Shutdown), to simultaneously affect all electronic devices within your vicinity, up to a range of 10 times your permanent Willpower in yards, causing all electronic devices within that range to abruptly become non-functional for the remainder of the scene. Spend an additional Willpower Trait each at the time of this challenge to also cause total data erasure, or the destruction of storage media and small electronics, as if all of the devices within range were affected by the functions of Shutdown causing these effects.
You may not exempt or exclude any devices within range from Pulse, and even devices on your person or of which you are not aware, are affected if they are within the range of the effect.