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Cauldron/Books of Blood (Trials of Blood/Blood Magic)
The trials of blood, books of blood, or Cauldron of Blood (As it is known) refer to a set of instructions (text, images, geometry, and occult visions and channeling power from strange dimensions) to the occult that represent a faster path to power in the higher stratum of the practice of magic. Tests on it describe a series of old “rites” – ritual and/or ceremonial magic which granted magical knowledge. Often young magi succumb to their lust for power and attempt to shorten the long path of development in their specific methodology. These are considered to be slightly dangerous, forbidden, and considered foolish and amateur by real magi. The knowledge of it is typically proscribed and hidden by orders bent on producing un-corrupted practitioners that are ‘of’ the order, reflective of its philosophies, and seeking congruent outcomes. It is likely that exercising the power of the Blood Spirit ritual will leave a Marks of Wickedness, regardless of the intent or nature of what is to be gained.
Forever has this knowledge been sought and practiced by the apprentice and student, to give them insights and knowledge which would allow them to leave greedy, immoral, or abusive masters. The Trials of Blood allow someone to learn powers of the occult without formal instruction or guidance, or the years of testing and perfecting themselves. These short-cuts are often dangerous and cost many an apprentice their sanity and career. So too has it been sought by the impatient practitioner, a way of skipping steps and catapulting themselves forward as to have others perceive them as more skilled at their art. Typically such shortcuts and the power that comes with it removes the seeker from reliance on and alignment with an order, institution or mentor – for they no longer have need of them and can exceed the limits imposed by the behavior in their codes and tenets.
Perception by Others: Often those who achieve power using these methods are pejoratively labeled as ‘blooders’, and never thought of as a true magus by those taking the longer paths – they are often lumped in with the Hedge-Wizard practitioners. These texts are forbidden by most organized brotherhoods as it would jeopardize years of teaching and produce potentially unstable as disloyal members.
The trials of blood, book of blood, or cauldron of blood (As it is known) refer to a set of instructions (text, images, geometry, and occult visions and channeling power from strange dimensions) to magic that represent a faster path to power in the higher stratum of the practice of magic. Often young magi succumb to their lust for power and attempt to shorten the long path of development in their specific methodology. These short-cuts are often dangerous and cost many an apprentice their sanity and career. The powers themselves are mostly lesser version of those granted through the high stratum [link], and bodies of work exist for each methodology. This pursuit on oblique latitudes seeks insight and knowledge from a consciousness within the dark places of the void, which is why they leave a mark upon all seeking to use them and often drive their users insane. The name of the knowledge is often referred to as the books of blood because those seeking to tap into the power must make their own version in pictogram, texts, and drawings in their own blood to secure the bond to draw forth working power.
Perception by others: Often those who acheive power using these methods are pejoratively labeled
as ‘blooders’, and never thought of as a true magus by those taking the longer paths.
The actual record of their learning reflects their path, and can perhaps be used in someway against them or to bolster them if they possess or are present with the source work. This could be a cave with drawings from a shaman, book(s) and a library, digital versions with physical manifestations such as sculpture and art. The voluntary Shadow Bond should be reflected in this body of work, serving as a pact and requiring the magus to use it whenever possible. As such, the magus should be compelled to keep all learning materials in order to reinforce that pact – creating a unique vulnerability.
These texts are forbidden by most organized brotherhoods as it would jeopardize years of teaching and produce potentially unstable as disloyal members.
The Path
Require Shadow Bond of 1.
This is accomplished through sheer force of desire [for power] the magus will reach out to the void to establish a link; SAN check or lose 1 SAN.
Abilities
Swift Sense of Mana
The magus learns to shift their senses swiftly and violently in order to assess the flow of mana. It takes only a single AM to do this but requires a SAN check of the magus is in shock for 2 rounds.
Occult Ripping
Ability to burn a single AP and cast any spell in their occult reservoir without chance of failure.
The risk is that the magus must make a VIT check or lose 1 from their OR.
Hard Fixation
Hard fixation is a technique of affixing spells in the occult reservoir known only to the most dedicated magi. It requires a RSN of 6 and CHA/WPR of 4. A magus can fixate a maximum number of spells equal to their RSN rating. It is a permanent altering of how the mind of the magus works and their use of their occult reservoir. It elevates a formulae above others in the reservoir, allotting for it permanently. This has the advantage of dropping the casting time by half (min 1 AM). the chance of success is = methodology ALU and takes 1 AP. Failure is the loss of 1 AP and 1 point of sanity for a year.
Blood Magic
The Blood Magic used is for the summoning and binding of dark powers – either those of the realm of shadow [lesser powers], or (more likely) fiends with access to more knowledge and power. The requirement of blood (and ultimately life) sacrifice to a life-feeding entity and the attendant moral issues in extracting the toll from unwilling sentient victims or permanent damage to the seeker or ‘volunteers’ have serious risks of affliction and taint and are perceived as evil or wicked. Much is dependent upon the pact or bargain with the Spirit of Blood summoned.
Item: The name implies a singular object and effect, but really the cauldron is a gateway between the Halls of the Dead and the memories of those who have passed there and the living. It could be something else, but the cauldron is large and designed to hold substances – a symbolic vessel that both houses the blood spirit called forth to teach, and the knowledge the seeker is searching for. It is symbolically pure – made of cold wrought virgin iron so the knowledge, like the metal, is untainted.
Records: The actual record of their learning reflects their path, and can perhaps be used in some way against them or to bolster them if they possess or are present with the source work. This could be a cave with drawings from a shaman, book(s) and a library, digital versions with physical manifestations such as sculpture and art. The voluntary Shadow Bond could be reflected in this body of work, serving as a pact and requiring the magus to use it whenever possible. As such, the magus should be compelled to keep all learning materials in order to reinforce that pact – creating a unique vulnerability.
Process
Vulnerability: What all magi refuse to tell those who may seek it is that the cauldron leaves the user vulnerable. A drop of blood from it, imbibed by an enemy grants them ability to charm the maker. Destroying the cauldron causes a loss of a point of vitality permanently, leaving the victim in a state of shock until they can regain it. Drinking their own blood from the cauldron causes the magi to go experience an ecstatic rush – some sexual, some not.
Destroyed in Process: If the materials are ever destroyed the magus will be subject to an immediate loss of Sanity (permanently), malaise, afflicted with Bloodlust in regards to the destroyer.
Knowledge
The powers themselves are mostly lesser versions of those granted through the high stratum, and bodies of work exist for each methodology. This pursuit on oblique latitudes seeks insight and knowledge from a consciousness within the dark places of the void, which is why they leave a mark upon all seeking to use them and often drive their users insane. The name of the knowledge is often referred to as the books of blood because those seeking to tap into the power must make their own version in pictogram, texts, and drawings in their own blood to secure the bond to draw forth working power.
iCore™ _TITLE_ Details
iCore [specific] Requirements: / Cost _ CP/_ Essence
Each attempt to learn a specific skill or ability requires the sacrifice of blood (any more sacrifice than CON at once requires a SAN check or -1 [cumulative] SAN checks for a year); each point of HLT permanently lost in this blood-letting is +1 level to roll on to see if the ritual of blood succeeds.
Hard fixation is a technique of affixing spells in the occult reservoir known only to the most dedicated magi. It requires a RSN of 6 and CHA/WPR of 4. A magus can fixate a maximum number of spells equal to their RSN rating. It is a permanent altering of how the mind of the magus works and their use of their occult reservoir. It elevates a formula above others in the reservoir, allotting it permanently. This has the advantage of dropping the casting time by half (min 1 AM). The chance of success is = methodology ELU and takes 1 AP. Failure is the loss of 1 AP and 1 point of sanity for a year.
GM Note: Like any flavor items, this is meant to be rare in use and is not designed to be balanced. It creates a lot of additional look-ups and referencing that may slow game time, but provides a lot of interesting possibilities for campaigns. It essentially shows how mages start down a “dark path” so easily, seeking power through highly volatile methods which corrupt them and drive them down a path no longer of their own choosing.