Custom Combination Discipline / Technique

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.

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Custom Content Category: Combination Discipline / Technique
XP Cost: 6XP
Custom Discipline Requirements:
Discipline Name Discipline Level
Serpentis 5
Presence 4
MET Mechanics:

Throughout time, the haunting idea of old souls and linked souls has served both as a source of romantic inspiration and as a pillar of reincarnation myths. Due to the five-sectioned nature of the soul,  Egyptian sorcerers were said to have the power to call upon the dead even after they had left this realm, for part of them still resided here.  This ritual draws upon the myriad beliefs that the heart is the seat of love and life, and forges them into an eternal pact, forever binding two souls in the book of life.

System: both participants must be either willing, or completely incapacitated for the duration of their part in the ritual.  Furthermore, they must be at least 2 steps blood bound to each other or share a vinculum rating of at least 8. The sorcerer may be one of the participants if they so choose.  Each step of the ritual takes an hour. 

The first step of the ritual is the removal of the heart, as per normal.  However, instead of the power ending here, the sorcerer must inscribe half of the true name of the hearts recipient on the heart with a ritual dagger dipped in his own blood.  This process deals 7 levels of aggravated damage to the heart's owner, which may not be healed until the ritual is complete.

Next, the same process is performed in reverse upon the second individual.  Finally, each heart is placed in the chest of the other individual, and their chests closed in an hour long chant during which their spirits visibly mingle and merge to those who can see such things, and the IB of each is transferred to the other.  During this final step, both participants are locked in deep existential ecstasy of an intensity they will never experience again outside each others presence.

The overt effects of the ritual are similar to the standard removal of the heart, except that the emotional coldness each recipient feels towards others is reversed with regards to each other, and all emotions are richer and more intense.  Additionally, since they carry each others hearts, if one is staked, it is the other who will be paralyzed.

Metaphysically however, the ritual has far deeper implications.  Since the recipient's souls are linked, neither can be truly unseated from its place.  Should a power that effects the soul be successfully used on one of the individuals, they will be disoriented and stunned for a full turn instead of the power's normal effect, as their soul is tugged upon.  However, should both individuals be present when such a power is used, the power is instantly upgraded to a mass challenge against both of them.  While they receive a free retest on this challenge, should they both fail the power effects them both together normally.

Finally, should one of the individuals die, the heart within them shrinks and hardens to a fortified, mummified state, as with the original power to remove one's organs.  It can only be destroyed through subjecting it to prolonged damage such as a furnace or volcano, during which time it's owner is drawn to it in mortal terror.

So long as both hearts remain intact, the dead partner remains at the edge of the underworld, unable to be judged without their IB.  If a suitable host is found before the heart is destroyed (who must share a metaphysical connection with the departed individual such as mortal relation) the original performing sorcerer may conjure the dead participant back into the new body, snuffing out the body's own soul, in a night long ritual.  Doing so causes a permanent derangement to all participants, and the newly returned is left fully mortal and vulnerable, though at ST discretion their strength may return in time through in-depth story and rp.

Date of Archival: 25-Feb-2017
Ventrue, Followers of Set