Transubstantiation of the Seven
Even many outsiders know that the Tremere hold a blood loyalty to their clan, but the extent of this loyalty - or the means by which it's accomplished - remains a secret. Almost every Tremere holds a slight bond to the Council of Seven through their mixed blood. Of course, the Council cannot expect every newly Embraced neonate to come to Vienna to drink of their blood. Nor can they simply ship their blood around the world - both solutions are far too impractical and dangerous, as any number of waiting Kindred would relish the thought of stealing such vitae or intercepting Tremere neonates and destroying them before they can become threats. To overcome this problem, most regents know and use this ritual instead.
After the Embrace, a Tremere neonate typically goes through a formal oath-swearing. No magic compels that oath, but the presiding regent (or higher ranking Tremere) ends the formality with the Transubstantiation. The ritualist fills a large chalice with his own blood and intones the syllables of the ritual. the neonate, still grappling with the new phenomenon of blood-thirst, drinks the entire contents of the chalice. As the blood enters and spreads through her system, the rite mystically transforms it into the blood of the Seven. By this means, the Tremere place each neonate a step toward a full bond with the council, without the risk of having enemies steal the council's blood.
The Transubstantiation is considered a requirement for a fledgling to be recognized socially as a true member of the Tremere clan. For this reason, the vast majority of regents learn this ritual, which incidentally guarantees that most regents are at least reasonably competent with Thaumaturgy. Even in chantries where the regent lacks this power, some Tremere instructed in this rite must be present for any new Embrace, unless the hapless sire wishes to risk the ire of the clan.
Those who undergo the ritual, and indeed, many who have the ability to perform it, know little of its mechanical workings. Obviously, the transmuted blood is that of the Council of Seven - but how vast are their stores that they can transfuse neonates at the whims of those conducting the ritual? Where does the neonate's blood go? Whispers of a hidden vault beneath Vienna with labeled, preserved vials of vitae from every Kindred who has ever undergone this ritual can't possibly be true, can they?
System: The caster of the Transubstantiation must sacrifice a full quart of his blood - volume, not blood points, are required. The blood placed in the chalice remains unchanged until after it's imbibed and then spread throughout the subject's system, at which point it takes on the properties of the council of Seven. This causes one step toward a blood bond to the whole council, but guarantees that the councilors' vitae cannot be stolen. Because the blood is already in the subject's system, it counts as his own vitae if it is later drained out.
In truth, there is no physical requirement that this rite be used on a new neonate. A few rare Tremere neonates escape the process, while conversely the rite could be used to generate a stronger bond in older Tremere or even in ghouls or Kindred of other clans. Kindred of the 14th or 15th generations, ghouls and revenants cannot use this rite - their blood is not sufficiently strong enough to channel the councilors' power.
