Custom Blood Magic: Path

Way of Bliss - Way of Vajrayogini, the Essence of all Buddhas

Mantra: oṃ vajra berotzaniye hūṃ hūṃ phat svāhā

The basic concept of the Way of Bliss (or as Buddhist Kolduns call it, the Way of Vajrayogini) is a lesser known Buddhist practice most commonly associated with Vajrayana Buddhism, altered for the particular physiology and nature of Cainites with origins in a predominantly Tzimisce sect of Buddhist vampires in Sri Lanka and India.  For practitioners of the Way of Bliss, to practice this way is to practice a so-called “Mother”-type Tantra, its focus being on the deity Vajrayogini, arguably the preeminent deity of Vajrayana Buddhism, the so-called “Essence of all Buddhas.”  In this way, the Wayof Bliss is a pathway to enlightenment for the koldun, based in experiencing the bliss it is named for byway of tantra.  To westerners, it might be considered a path to nirvana by way of “feeding one’s demons.”  For the koldun and other fellow practitioners, it is a method of indulgence that is so intense that it brings forth the darkness within them as a piece of power and focus for enlightenment.  Desire, thus, holds a wealth of treasures rather than hindrances, the focus given by flesh leading to a state ofhigher consciousness, the so-called “ultimate bliss” of Nirvana.

Note: Each level of this power requires the 1st basic level to be enacted before that certain level can be activated.  Also, any violent or offensive action (aside from the use of this power) taken towards the target causes any and all effects of this power to cease, unless stated otherwise in the power.  Defendants to this power may also expend a Willpower to shrug off the effects of a single level of this power for a single round.  However, that does not make the target immune to further uses of this power.

Activation for all levels (unless otherwise noted) is 1 Blood Trait.

0 - Spark of Life

    -> The basis of all desire is attraction and a practitioner of the Way of Bliss knows that fact to be the foundation of all that they do.  This power is the spark of attraction, the spark to life that the koldun “imparts” in their vampiric would-be consort, a consort that will walk with them on the path to Nirvana.  Once the spell is done, the koldun’s target might swear that they feel their heartbeat again, a heart that wants whomever gave them such a gift.

    -> System:  Spend 1 Blood and make a Social Challenge, retest Koldunism or Occult, against the target.  The gain the mechanical effects of the merit “True Love” (for the koldun).  If the target already has the True Love merit, it immediately switches to the koldun casting this power, rather than the original person of the target’s affections.  This power lasts a scene or an hour, whichever is shorter.

00 - Wheel of Desire

    -> Once the spark of attraction is made, a koldun with this gift may further fan the flames of her would-be lover’s desire with but a simple phrase.  Upon hearing the words of love from the koldun, the “victim” truly believes her words and becomes so enraptured that they can find no other solace than to have the koldun.

    -> System: Once the the first level “Spark of Life” has been successfully cast, spend 1 Blood and whisper an appropriate phrase or such to the target, making a Social Challenge, retest Koldunism or Occult.  If successful, the target becomes entranced and may make no other action but to romantically pursue the koldun.  This power ends when the target either feels that he/she has succeeded, when the koldun ends the power, the power ends due to an attack on the target, or at the end of a scene/hour (whichever is shortest).

000 - The Lovers’ Union

    -> “Consummating” a relationship does not always entail copulation, particularly for vampires whose flesh do not necessarily feel as they did when they were mortal.  However, a clever koldun and priest ofJarilo was known to hasten the flesh of all whom he touched.  This power reflects that late koldun’s gifts, with roots far older and more Eastern, enabling the koldun to inflame the spark she has given to the target of her desires, giving life to flesh that had long forgotten the sensualness of touch and rendering such poignant and powerful experiences that her lover can do nothing but give in to desires he perhaps did not know he had.

    -> System: Once the first level “Spark of Life” has been successfully cast, the koldun must spend 1 Blood and touch the target (possibly requiring a Physical Challenge), then engage in a Social Challenge, retest Koldunism or Occult.  If successful, the target is overwhelmed by physical sensations caused by the koldun’s touch, as if his flesh were that of a mortal’s again.  Any Social or Mental powers/actions that require concentration automatically fail so long as the Koldun remains in physical contact with the target.  Note: any action that would break the target’s focus (e.g., physical provocation, theft of vitae, most offensive actions, etc.) also causes this power to fail.

0000 - Exultant Bliss

    -> If a vampire were to point to the one act that most closely resembled their idea of bliss, there is nothing more intoxicating (nor pleasurable) than the Kiss.  This knowledge is important to a koldun sorceress who practices the Way of Bliss, for they understand that the Kiss is necessary to the practices of those vampires who try to walk the path of Vajrayogini.  The Kiss, then, is just as much a meditative focus as other sexual acts (such as copulation), if not more for its preternatural aspects.  In the Exultant Bliss, the koldun reinforces these facts and heightens the ecstatic realization of the Kiss for both herself and her lover, all as another step towards the blessed gift of Nirvana.

    -> System: Once the first level “Spark of Life” has been successfully cast, spend 1 Blood and make a Social Challenge against the target, retest Koldunism or Occult.  If successful, the koldun may engage in a Physical Challenge (if required) to enact the Kiss.  Mortals may not resist succumbing to the exquisite (even if subtly painful) ecstasy and vampires must make a Self-Control/Instinct Challenge, difficulty 4, or fall under the effects as well.  Neither mortals nor vampires may expend a Willpower to resist the effects of the Kiss so long as this power is successful.  (For more on the Kiss, see page 139of Vampire the Masquerade, Revised.)

00000 - Nirvana

    -> The penultimate power of the Way of Bliss, the koldun enacting Nirvana wishes to instill in her lover with the very state of ultimate bliss that is said to come from perfect tantric unity.  By invoking the name of Vajrayogini, a female Buddha and the preeminent Buddha in all tantric Buddhism, the koldun pushes her lover into a state supposedly close to Nirvana, creating for him a vision of perfect clarity and peace.  Like the diamond yogini, it is as if he is made of diamonds and can no longer be harmed.

    -> System: Before “Nirvana” can be used on a target, the target must first experience all four lower levels of Way of Bliss.  Once he/she has done so, the koldun speaks the mantra of Vajrayogini, spends 1 Blood and enters into a Social Challenge against the target, retest Koldunism or Occult.  If successful, the target enters into a trance-like state and becomes temporarily immune to frenzy and Rotschreck (even through supernatural means), and also automatically wins on ties when defending in Mental Challenges  This power lasts 15 minutes or a scene (whichever is shorter).

    -> NOTE: IF the koldun and her target engage in all levels of the Way of Bliss mutually and without force/coercion, whether covert or not, then the benefits (and detriments) of all five levels of Way of Blissconfer on BOTH the koldun casting the power and the one who is the target of the power.