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.
Punishment Doll
The Priest takes a cloth object (it need not be a doll), large enough to soak in several blood points (max of 5, based on path rating of Priest). The Priest speaks what sins the accused has done while they bleed onto the doll, giving it a red tinge. Upon completion of the ritae, the doll is tied around the accused neck. For as many nights as blood points are expended (up to 5, limited by the Priest’s Path Rating), the accused suffers one of the following effects:
· Down traits equal to number of traits expended into the doll
· Takes that much aggravated damaged once per night per the Priest's Command
· Gains Negative Traits equal to half rounded down amount of blood points put into the doll (Priest's choice of negative traits)
· Losses as much blood traits as were put in by the doll when they wake up
The negative effects may change every night or remain the same. The Doll may be destroyed by exposure to fire and sunlight. If it is destroyed, the bearer of the Doll immediately suffers 5 unsoakable aggravated damage.
System: The Priest, while in seclusion, strips nude, kneels in and takes a discipline (a cattail whip made of knotted cords, if the Cainite desires, it can be modified to make it more sturdy, or can be modified to be a harsher tool). While focusing on holding back her beast, the Cainite engages in self-flagellation, seeking to provoke their Beast without actually releasing it. The Priest must inflict at least one level of lethal damage to themself during the course of this Ritus. If successful, they are considered to be up 1 trait on tests of Self-Control for the purposes of ties for either the night, or until they heal the lethal damage, whichever comes first. This may only be used by Cainites whose Paths espouse Self Control.
System: The cainite clears their mind by confessing their sins against their path and moments of weakness to the performing priest. Depending on the severity of the sin in question the Priest might offer contrition to the sinner in question. After the sinner has made peace with themself and Caine, the Priest blesses them, marking him across his forehead with a trait of vitae. This absolves the Cainite of his sin, giving him a renewed sense of clarity. System: Completion of this Ritus (Which must be roleplayed) gives the confessor in this Ritae a +1 trait bonus to conscience and conviction challenges for the evening.
A hold over from an ancient Tzimisce tradition of vampiric political weddings, the Red wedding ritae is still practiced by some of the Sabbat who wish to either form a stronger bond among sect meets or even still for political reasons. The Ritae itself requires a mortal wedding. One of which the Sabbat invade. The gathered Cainites proceed to brutally murder and terrorize the mortal wedding and turning it into a blood affair. After which, the two cainites that wish to announce their bond to one another bath in the blood of the victims on the altar and solidify their “marriage”. This is by no means a actual marriage between vampires, it is a mockery of the mortal tradition perverted by the Sabbat to make a statement over mortal traditions and the Cainite blood is stronger then words.
System: Characters that have undergone a Red Wedding develop a special bond that lasts until the vampire reaches final death. When in the presence of the other character they have performed the Red Wedding with; the character is considered to have 1 additional temporary willpower trait that may go over generational maximums. If this trait is spent, is does not return for one month. This ritae does not stack with the Merits True Love or Loyalty.
The first ritae were developed by the Tzimisce who used their ancient magics to create them in the early nights of the Anarch revolt. Pulling upon the ties between Blood Magic and Ritae itself a priest can transfer some of their own power to their packmates for a limited time. This ritae is performed in conjunction with the Vaulderie and the priest also performs whatever normal ritual casting steps are used to empower their blood magic. Whips of arcane blood magic energy can be seen transferring from the priest into the Vaulderie chalice when this ritae is completed.
System: Once per month when the Pack Priest performs the Vaulderie, they can place a beneficial Blood Magical Ritual they know upon the entire Pack. This ritae only functions on Packmates of the Packpriest themselves, and no other members of the Sabbat. Additionally, the pack priest performing this ritae may only gift one blood magic ritual, that they themselves possess, to the packmate/s recipient/s; and this ritae may not be cast multiple times in a month. This ritual may not be modified by other rituals, and will last is normal duration and no longer as per its write up. Finally the pack priest may only bestow the benefits of a Blood Magic ritual they possess to a packmate based on the following vinculum chart:
Basic Rituals: Vinculum Rating 2 or higher
Intermediate Rituals: Vinculum Rating 4 or higher
Advanced Rituals: Vinculum Rating 6 or higher
The ritae is meant to help the cainite mind and the beast understand how each will react under a given situation. The priest guides their packmate in an hour-long meditation, walking them through a series of imaginary events that ultimately cause the cainite to enter a controlled fenzy. The events described by the priest will place the cainite in situation of personal challenge they are currently ging through or are likely to face in the future.
Mechanics: The subject of the ritae spends a temporary willpower and enters into a controlled frenzy. For the remainder of the night they are plus two on all instincts challenges.
In this ritae the priest serves as the moderator in a debate between two cainites. The topic of discussion may be focused on the particular meaning of a passage from the book of nod, the location of some hidden artifact, the fundamental quality of some aspect of the vampiric form, or any other topic the noddist may find stimulating and worthy of debate and study. Should a participant resort to ad hominid or physical attacks against their opponent the priest ends the debate typically declaring the subject of the attack the victor.
System: At the successful completion of the ritae, and the training/sparring concludes, all participants regain traits/items spent during this training/sparring session. This includes temporary willpower, attributes, abilities, health levels, all uses of Aegis, and items such as bullets or throwing daggers. Vitae expended is still spent. Any disruption of the ritae will cause the ritae to fail, and all benefits negated. Presiding priest must decide at time of performing the ritae what is expected of participants, drawing the line between acceptable and unacceptable conduct.