Mark of Despair
Description: The vampire mixes equal parts of blood from a vampire and an innocent mortal. The vitae need not come from the caster, nor must the innocent perish in yielding blood. For especially large projects, multiple “donors” may be needed. After gathering the blood and steeping it in herbs and unguents used to prepare bodies for burial, the Cainite anoints her forehead and eyes with the crimson salve. She then daubs droplets in a scattered ring around the periphery of the warded area. If the ritual succeeds, everything within the circle resonates with the wrathful taint of Caine’s Curse and the undying hunger of the Beast.
System: Any ghost that approaches a barrier created with this ritual feels a sense of inherent wrongness that intensifies the closer it gets. Upon crossing the threshold, the ghost feels overwhelmed with soul-searing anguish that drains one point of Willpower each turn until it leaves. A ghost reduced to Willpower 1 flees in tears and can not even attempt to enter such a ward until it completely refills its Willpower pool. No limit exists on the maximum area a vampire may ward with this ritual, provided he has enough salve prepared for the task. Such wards remain potent for one week per success, although this duration can be extended to a year at the cost of one permanent point of Willpower.
Reference: PGHC 202-203
