Custom Blood Magic: Ritual

(Thaumaturgic Ritual - Intermediary)

Through this complex ritual, the thaumaturge may change his appearance, creating an alternative visage for himself, which will even fool recording devices (such as surveillance cameras). The ritual needs three material components: an artificial diamond (zircon), a wax figurine sculpted to resemble the desired visage, and a bottomless pyramidal structure between the two.

The process of sculpting the wax must be done by the thaumaturge itself, and is both physical and metaphysical in nature, and must include a mix of the melted wax with the user's blood. The diamond also needs to be attuned to the thaumaturge through a bath on his own boiling blood (which gives It a red tint). The pyramid must be regular, have a slot for the diamond at its top, and be made entirely of glass.

The components must be arranged in a specific way: the pyramid should be placed on a clear surface (like a table), the figurine inside of it, and the diamond on top of it. When the ritual is activated, the wax sculpture will float some centimeters in the air, and then start to move in the place, mimicking the thaumaturge moviments. Such stress eventually wears out the sculpture, which will need to be replaced.

System:

To attune the diamond the thaumaturge needs to spend a blood trait, which will be used to boil It into. This process gives the diamond a red tint. To sculpt the figurine the thaumaturge needs to mix a trait of his blood with the melted wax, and then use any methods he likes to sculpt It (including molds, carving, etc...).

With the material settled, once per night, the user may spend one trait of blood to activate the ritual, which will last for a scene, for up to one hour. Once activated there is no need for further concentration, and the thaumaturge may even fight without breaking the visage.

The ritual may be activated a number of times equal to one plus the user's level in "Crafts: Sculpture", after which the figurine will dissolve, and will need to be replaced.

While the ritual is active the user appears just like the intended visage, even being registered as such by recording devices (such as surveillance systems or cellphone cameras).

The visage may not differ too much from the user's general body type and silhouette. Skin texture, colors, and appendages (like horns, scales and feathers) may be altered (or hidden) but someone bulky may not look like someone skinny, etc. Clothes and accessories are not affected in any way.

Users with Basic Auspex may see through the illusion, automatically identifying a wax texture on the user skin, they may try to see behind the wax with a Mental Challenge against the user, success means they see entirely through It and discern the true appearance of the thaumaturge. The supernatural senses of other creatures may work the same way, at the ST's discretion. While the user wears his Thaumaturgic Visage, he may not be affected by Mask of a Thousand Faces (Obfuscation 3) from any sources.