Custom Sabbat Ritae
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.
Pick a building, pick a floor, jump off. Who ever walks away from the highest floor wins. For added fun, include bonus floors for landing on and taking out passers-by.
The pack begins by selecting a port of harbor. This may be literal port if they are playing on the water or it may be a parking lot if operating on land. Next they designate a certain vehicle as the "ship". The ship will typically be controlled by a mortal at the start of the game. The object of the game is to be the cainite in the drivers seat when the ship arrives at port. The pack then sets out on smaller vehicles, cars, jet skies, motorcycles, etc, and try to board and take the ship. At first the pack must over take the operator of the ship but ultimately they must face off against each other to control the driver's seat. The team variation of this game pits two packs (or teams within the pack) against each other. Each team has its own port and the pack that gets the ship to their port first wins.
The pack takes to the highway on motorcycles with the goal of corralling a target car "the bull" to a specific location.
New York was home to the third Sabbat Civil War and is infamously known for its covens fighting among each other for territory and resources in the city or political issues. To avoid another all out war in the city; the clergy of New York developed this ritae. Designed off the frame work of Monomacy; this ritae is performed under much the same rules and guidelines, but for entire packs rather than single Sabbat members. A Priest of the Sabbat (A Pack priest, Bishop or Higher) who is not involved in the conflict must perform this ritae. The start of which is brining all the packs involved in the conflict together for council to determine terms, weapons, place, and time. Such uses of ritae often result in a large bloody conflicts in the hidden parts of New York, but when the battle is done; the issue is resolved without need for further bloodshed.
System: This Ignoblis ritae functions almost identically to the Monomacy Ritae. However, rather than a one on one fight, this ritae allows for a Pack on Pack conflict. Indeed, even several packs may face off against other groups of packs under this ritae (as long the number of packs on both sides are the same.). Those who participate under this ritae can suffer Final Death legally in the Sabbat as the same a Monomacy. The victorious pack (or packs) gain the territory and possessions of the defeated packs (or packs). A member of the clergy uninvolved in the conflict must perform this ritae.
This ritae is designed to provide for both identification of one's exploits, review of a battle, and examination of both success and failure. This in theory combines principles of the Ritus of Thanksgiving, the focus of Training Day, and the process of After Action Reviews into a combined and guided examination of a battle itself.
System: The officiant provides a brief overview of the battle - merely the time and place - while the participants share the cup (this is not a vaulderie or a Sacrament of Caine, merely to infuse the ritus). The participants - both in the battle and those for review - then "walk the ground" in a vision as the battle is discussed and reviewed. During this review, participants can discuss and test other methods and actions with others acting in the stead of the actual opponents. All participants get to "control" and test/challenge actions and decisions to learn what went well, didn't, etc. Everyone gets to participate in re-enactment even if they weren't there. Consider it a 'combat sandbox' wherein the players can make adjustments and discuss outcomes. It is cooperative storytelling of a battle's after action review. All expenditures are returned upon completion of the ritae.
Custom contect created by PC Ian Kincaid
Prayer is a powerful way to focus faith into impressive manifestations of the divine. Especially numerous are prayers for protection against the malicious forces that surround us always. Adapting these prayers into Sabbat doctrine and calling upon Caine's strength to protect them in battle with the infernal, participants in the Hymn of Faith become capable of warding off evil. Though this Ritae is similar to the lost ritae which bestowed some faithful Sabbat with the Mark of Caine, its effects are far more narrow in scope and far more temporary. System: If performed successfully, those who participate in the Hymn of the Faithful receive the smallest measure of Faith in their purpose and in Caine for the remainder of the evening. They benefit from a single level of True Faith, which can only be employed against Demons and their servants.
Such blessed may attempt to repel the infernal by brandishing a symbol of Caine or speaking passages from the Book of Nod, invoking his belief (“In the name of Caine, I command you to be gone,” etc.) and employing a Social Challenge. Success means the demon or minion must flee the area immediately. Failure means the creature must retreat a few feet and cower before taking action, and it still may not initiate any attacks during the next turn, although it may defend itself normally.
Ise Kagura (Custom Ignoblis)
Kagura is the ancient Shinto ritual dance of shamanic origin. The word "kagura" is thought to be a contracted form of kami no kura or "seat of the kami" or the "site where the kami is received." There is a mythological tale of how kagura dance came into existence. The sun goddess Amaterasu became very upset at her brother so she hid in a cave. All of the other gods and goddesses were concerned and wanted her to come outside. Ame-no-uzeme began to dance and create a noisy commotion in order to entice Amaterasu to come out. The kami (gods) tricked Amaterasu by telling her there was a better sun goddess in the heavens. Amaterasu came out and light returned to the universe.
Music plays a very important role in the kagura performance. Everything from the setup of the instruments to the most subtle sounds and the arrangement of the music is crucial to encouraging the kami to come down and dance. The songs are used as magical devices to summon the gods and as prayers for blessings. Rhythm patterns of five and seven are common, possibly relating to the Shinto belief of the twelve generations of heavenly and earthly deities. There is also vocal accompaniment called kami uta in which the drummer sings sacred songs to the gods. Often the vocal accompaniment is overshadowed by the drumming and instruments, reinforcing that the vocal aspect of the music is more for incantation rather than aesthetics.
Ise kagura is a collective name for rituals that are based upon the yudate (boiling water rites of Shugendō origin) ritual. It includes miko dances as well as dancing of the torimono type. The kami are believed to be present in the pot of boiling water, so the dancers dip their torimono in the water and sprinkle it in the four directions and on the observers for purification and blessing.
Originally, the practice of kagura involved authentic possession by the kami invoked. In modern day Japan it appears to be difficult to find authentic ritual possession, called kamigakari, in kagura dance. However, it is common to see choreographed possession in the dances. Actual possession is not taking place but elements of possession such as losing control and high jumps are applied in the dance.
Effect: If this ritea is performed successfully it will summon the spirit the priest s attempting to call. This grants no power over the summoned spirit, but the spirit will at least hear what the priest has to say. Additionally, some of the Kami summoned may choose to possess the priest for a time. This possession is not malicious but deeply spiritual to the priest as it is communing with the god. The spirit possessing the vampire will not do foolish things or attempt to kill its rider. That is counter to the point of the ritae. The caster may take no action against the spirit while it is summoned, and loses all challenges to the spirit as he relents to its will. The spirit will not harm the caster in any way unless threatened by others present. Any other individual present who wishes to initiate a challenge with the spirit while it is present must first direct all challenges against the caster until they are subdued, as the spirits manifestation is through their essence.
Brotherhood is a key element in the sabbat but often times pushed aside for petty squabbling. We forget how different someones unlife is to our own.
System: All parties in the ritae must agree to this first. Then change via disguise, obfuscate, vicissitude or anyother way into the other person.Those under the effects get a +2 in acting and disguise. There auras will change to reflex the other persons for the duration of the ritae. As well as gain a stick about the person they are pretending to be. This will give the person no mechanical advantage it is just flavor and must be agreed upon before doing so by players and staff.This ritae lasts a night or until all parties are discovered by others. The one who last the longest undiscovered wins.
A priest who leads this ritae and all those who participate sacrifice a piece of their mind or body and donate a pint of blood into the priests ritual bowl (1 mental trait or 1 physical trait, but always 1 blood). Upon which the priest says a prayer to Caine to invigorate the tools of his war so that they may strike their enemies hearts with fear. After doing so the priest annoints the vessels of caine in the blood collected that has taken on mystical properties through the shared faith of the participants. This blood is used to mark the vessels with tattoos that fade the next night as it sinks into the participants skin, marking them(Possibly requiring a Crafts:Tattoos challenge). After doing so the blood radiates with power invigorating the vessels of Caines chosen, those blessed with such gain 2 bonus social traits for the night for challenges involving Intimidation, Leadership, or Occult. These traits fade once the scene they are called upon in, concludes. In order for someone to benefit from this ritae theh must have a viniculum rating to all those who partake in the ritae. As such this is traditionally done following a Vaulderie.
Summary of mechanics:
-In order to participate, all parties must have a Viniculum rating of at least 1 to all involved.
-All participants lose 1 blood and their choice of a physical or mental trait, this can be refreshed as normal.
-The leading priest makes a Crafts:Tattoo challenge to annoint the vessels to recieve caines blessing, only 1 challenge is needed for the group.
-The participants gain 2 bonus Social Traits in challenges involving Intimidation, Leadership, or Occult, which fade at the conclusion of the scene in which they are called upon.