Ceremonial Circle
Description: The circular form, considered the perfect shape, according to ancient Greek thought was conceived as a center of power that radiated outward. The elegance of that simple form, made with a single uniform line, suggests inner strength combined with maximized power to exert influence on the world beyond its boundary. The ceremonial circle then is a locus of power, focusing the mastery of the operator, concentrating his supernatural strength and abjuring catastrophic failure in any occult operation.
Origin: This kind of ritual is ancient and many variants exist.
Ingredients: A handful of powdered marble from a tombstone and a blood-point of the caster's vitae.
Casting: The circle must be carved without break or deviation; within its inner and outer bounders the necromancer inscribes names of power (gods, demons, his ancestors, etc) and the astrological symbols of the current governing celestial powers. Then the necromancer must cut himself with a ritual blade (a talisman would do nicely) and sacrifices a blood point by physically shedding the vitae upon his ceremonial circle. To bring the ritual to an end, he blots the bloody circle with the powdered gravestone marble.
System: This ritual turns any botched ritual or path roll into a simple failure and the numbers of successes on the ritual roll determine the number of castings of either a path or ritual that are botch free; the ritual ends if the caster leaves the circle or with the rising of the sun, whichever comes first. The caster must blot his circle before leaving it or risk incurring his successes as successive botches; botching this ritual is not something anyone sane would want to consider.
Reference: This ritual had two very powerful influences. The first was the Giovanni, level one ritual 'Circle of Cerberus' and the Path of Orisha"s Fortune, power level one: Sheltering Hand: Pg.79, Blood Sacrifice - The Thaumaturgy Companion. The first offered inspiration, while the second provided a usable system.
