Evocation of the Oubliette
With this ritual, a mystic may reach out with grasping tendrils of Obtenebration to seize a victim and cast her into the Abyss. The tendrils may emerge from the caster’s fingertips or mouth or perhaps reach from some deep shadow like the arms of a lurking beast. Regardless of their source, the end result is the same. When the oily tentacles withdraw, no trace of the victim remains.
System: The vampire spends a full turn in concentration, focusing upon his victim and the hunger of the void. If the vampire is disturbed during this time or breaks off to attempt any other action, his player must roll Wits + Occult (difficulty 8) or suffer the effects of a botched casting as described below. On the turn following the preparation, the vampire gestures forcefully at the victim and his player spends 3 blood points. The actual attack is made with Perception + Occult (difficulty 6) and may be dodged but not parried. A failed attack means the tendrils simply close on nothing and withdraw. If the attack results in any successes, the tendrils envelop the victim and drag her into a spherical prison of emptiness within the Abyss. The mystic may recall the victim at any time for the cost of one blood point, in which case the nearest shadow disgorges its prisoner with a shuddering sigh. If the mystic does not recall the victim before a number of nights equal to his Occult score have passed, shadows disgorge the victim as near to her original location as possible. On a botched attack roll, the shadows swallow the mystic and keep him prisoner for a number of hours equal to his Obtenebration rating. After this time has elapsed, the Cainite returns to his original location and immediately enters Rötschreck. Weak-willed prisoners of this ritual may go mad as a result of their captivity. If a victim’s Willpower is less than the caster’s Obtenebration rating, the victim gains a derangement that lasts until cured with repeated Willpower expenditure. It is possible for vampires to drive themselves insane with a botched casting.
A level 8 variant of this ritual exists called Ahriman’s Beckoning. This ritual follows the same rules, save that the caster need not see the target. Instead, he may simply speak her name to the Abyss. If the victim is within a number of miles equal to the vampire’s Obtenebration + Occult, the tendrils can seize her with a successful attack. It is said that the Eldest once used an even greater ritual to bring guests to his castle from distant nations, although not in recent centuries.
Side Effects: Upon learning this ritual, a Cainite immediately gains the Flaw Grip of the Damned. The kiss of the Void imparts no comfort, only emptiness and pain.
