Hermetic Thaumaturgy

[Hematite]

Path of Warding [DAC 95]

All uses of this path require that the thaumaturge paint a sigil using a point of his own blood on the affected object, specifics determined by individual power. This counts as the blood expenditure for the use of this path.


Path of Warding 1: Bar the Common Passage [DAC 95]

The portal is immune to damage while this effect persists. The only way to open the warded portal is to apply Strength equal to double the successes on this power to the warded portal.

This power may only be used on an actual portal such as a door or window. It cannot be applied to a wall or other ordinarily impassible structure.

The Glyph may be applied to either side of the portal.

If the portal is bypassed by means other than breaking it open, the Thaumaturge does not get the mental alarm.


Path of Warding 2: Glyph of Scrying [DAC 95]

This is considered a scrying effect for rituals and other effects that prevent scrying.

It does not take a mental action to establish a connection with a Scrying Glyph.

While focusing through a Scrying glyph, the Thaumaturge may not use any active powers, though the passive benefit of Auspex does apply.

Thaumaturges looking through a glyph are blind and deaf to their own surroundings.


Path of Warding 3: Runes of Power [DAC 95]

The ward suspends its power while in sudden motion, such as being swung at a person, and the damage cannot be delivered to any person who touches it involuntarily (though coercion is perfectly viable).

Unlike ordinary warding rituals, there is no automatic sense that the object in question is dangerous, though like all Path of Warding effects, a physical rune is drawn on the object.

Unlike warding rituals, the Thaumaturge cannot attune others to this ward. Only the Thaumaturge himself is immune to this effect.


Path of Warding 4: Glyph of Enlightenment [DAC 95]

Using this power counts as line of sight for all uses of Thaumaturgy paths and rituals.

In the case of obvious attacks that have a physical manifestation such as Lure of Flames of Theft of Vitae, the source of the attack appears to be the Glyph itself.

These glyphs function exactly as Glyphs of Scrying in all other respects.


Path of Warding 5: Secure the Sacred Domain [DAC 95]

This power can secure any single structure up to the size of a modern skyscraper office building.

Unless a door or window is completely destroyed, it will not open.

The ward at the exact center may be disguised or covered in any way the Thaumaturge wishes.

[Hematite]

Path of the World’s Blood [LS2 64]

This Path may only be learned by those of the Telyavelic Tremere bloodline. Though they have tried to teach it outside the bloodline since joining the Sabbat (mostly to their Tzimisce guardians) no one else seems to be able to grasp the concepts. To everyone else it appears to be based on flawed or incomprehensible math, the Thaumaturgical equivalent of saying that 2 + banana = the French National Bank. To the Telyavalic Tremere, the equations make perfect sense and they are continually confused by the fact that no one else can grasp the concepts no matter how hard they try.

This path bears marked similarities to Koldunic Sorcery, however accomplished Kolduns look at practitioners of this path with just as much confusion as other Thaumaturges. As far as they can tell, this path should not work, and quite possibly should be blasting apart the Thaumaturge’s mind and soul. The fact that it clearly does work is the cause of much discussion among Kolduns as to what these bizarre Thaumaturges may actually be doing.

Despite the mystery of this path, it has drawn relatively little controversy in the Sabbat as of yet. Though this would be ideal fodder for the Inquisition, the Telyavelic Tremere have realized this and have wisely kept specific knowledge of this path from falling into general knowledge. If questioned about their odd abilities, they usually just smile and cite the blessings of Telyavel.

Due to the obscurity of this path, only those with the specialty of Sielanic Thaumaturgy can be said to know any specifics about it.

The power of this path may only be used in an area attuned to the Thaumaturge with the ritual Become One With the Land.

The concoctions ingested by the uses of this path do not grant the Eat Food merit in any other circumstances.


Path of the World’s Blood 1: Eyes of the Earth [LS2 65]

The Thaumaturge does not have constant omniscience within this range of vision. He must focus on specific scenes, though changing his focus area does not take any effort.

While focusing on any scene other than his own immediate vicinity, the Thaumaturge takes a +2 difficulty penalty on all actions due to distraction. Thaumaturges with the Concentration merit do not take this penalty.

To attune an area as one’s haven for the purposes of this power, the Thaumaturge must cast the ritual Become One with the Land. That is the only way to properly attune an area for this path.


Path of the World’s Blood 2: Roots of Power [LS2 65]

Cutting the feet is symbolic and does not actually deal damage.

The bonus from this power in addition to the Thaumaturge’s base attribute cannot exceed 5. The Attributes may still be raised above 5 by blood or other enhancement powers.

This power only works if the Thaumaturge remains in contact with natural soil or stone, and only within 50 feet of the place the power was activated.


Path of the World’s Blood 3: Arbor of Protection [LS2 65]

The tree the Thaumaturge melds with must be large enough to physically fit his entire body.

The potion can be prepared ahead of time. The sap need not come from the targeted tree.

Exiting the tree requires a mental action.

This power causes the Thaumaturge to physically meld with the tree in question. It does not transport the Thaumaturge to the Penumbra like Earth Meld.


Path of the World’s Blood 4: Course of the Beast [LS2 65]

This power does not grant attribute bonuses like Protean 4. The Thaumaturge’s physical Attributes and Abilities are replaced with those of the animal in question with this power, though they may still be increased with blood or other enhancement powers.

The Thaumaturge must drink a sample of the blood of each type of animal he wishes to transform into when he activates the power. If he later wishes to transform into a different type of animal than one of those whose blood the Thaumaturge drank, he must drink the blood of that animal and reactivate the power.

The Thaumaturge gains access to all of the forms whose blood he drank at the activation of the power for the full duration (until the next moonrise). He may assume any of these forms and return to his own form as often as he likes during this duration.

Transforming with this power follows all the usual rules of Transformation Disciplines, the transformation taking effect on the Thaumaturge’s initiative on the turn following the intent to activate it. Forms assumed by this power are considered Complete and Incompatible Transformations.


Path of the World’s Blood 5: Way of the Stone [LS2 65]

This power transforms the Thaumaturge. It does not meld him with the boulder.

This power follows all the usual rules for Transformation Disciplines, the transformation taking effect on the Thaumaturge’s initiative on the turn following that in which the final blood point was spent. This power is considered a Complete and Incompatible Transformation.

When in this form the vampire takes no penalties for action during the day and does not suffer the Weight of the Sun. He is also immune to fire and heat, taking no damage and needing no Rotschreck rolls for either fire or sunlight.

This form is an obvious Masquerade breach. Anyone who even gets even a cursory glance in bad lighting at the vampire in this form will not mistake him for human.

[Hematite]

Soul of the Serpent [CbN 88]

This path is the sole discovery of Regent Sylvia Kilver of the Cairo chantry. She has not shared this discovery with the Pyramid or anyone else. Characters must have some connection to Regent Kilver and a good story to get access to this path.


Most of the powers of this path are considered Transformation Disciplines. They follow the usual rules for such Disciplines, though as arts of Thaumaturgy they still require the usual mental action and roll to activate.


Soul of the Serpent 1: Serpentine Sense [CbN 88]

This power halves the penalties for all darkness, both mundane and mystical.

This power follows all the usual rules for Transformation Disciplines, coming into effect on the Thaumaturge’s initiative on the turn after its activation. This power is considered a Partial and Compatible transformation.


Soul of the Serpent 2: Scaleskin [CbN 88]

This power follows all the usual rules for Transformation Disciplines, coming into effect on the Thaumaturge’s initiative on the turn after its activation. This power is considered a Partial and Compatible transformation.


Soul of the Serpent 3: Venom Curse [CbN 88]

This venom cannot be stored either mundanely or mystically.


Supernatural targets cannot reduce the duration further. Vampires cannot recover from the blindness by spending extra blood and werewolves do not get to regenerate it away.


Soul of the Serpent 4: Touch of Typhon [CbN 88]

This power follows all the usual rules for Transformation Disciplines, coming into effect on the Thaumaturge’s initiative on the turn after its activation. This power is considered a Partial and Compatible transformation.


The range is 2 yards/meters.

Controlling the snake arm does not require actions on the Thaumaturge’s part. It acts on the Thaumaturge’s initiative much like controlling Arms of the Abyss.


Attacks from the snake apply carry-over damage as normal.

The asps created by killing mortals with this power are under the perfect control of the Thaumaturge from then on (though he cannot control them at range without some other power such as Animalism). They are treated as mundane asps in all ways other than the control.

Mortals killed by the poison from this power will never become wraiths.


Soul of the Serpent 5: Form of the Hydra [CbN 88]

This power follows all the usual rules for Transformation Disciplines, coming into effect on the Thaumaturge’s initiative three turns after the final blood point is spent. This power is considered a Complete and Incompatible transformation.

This power takes 3 full turns to complete as a baseline, decreasing by one turn per additional blood spent during the activation of the power and coming into full effect on the user’s Initiative on the fourth turn since its activation (or sooner if additional blood is spent). This additional blood is limited by Generational maximums but may be spent over multiple rounds. For example, if a 10th Generation Tremere activated this power (requiring 2 blood as usual so 2 turns before the power is actually activated), it would take effect on his Initiative 4 turns later. If on the second turn he spent an additional blood point to this power, the power would come into effect on his Initiative 2 turns later. If he spent a third blood point the following round, the bonuses would come into effect that turn. If an 8th Generation Tremere wishes to transform faster and spends 3 blood points when initially activating the power, the effects would manifest initially on his Initiative 2 turns later. If he spent an additional blood point on the following turn, the effects would manifest that turn. Spending additional blood points to speed up this transformation may never reduce the time to less than one full round (effects manifesting on the user’s Initiative the following round).


The Thaumaturge transforms into a number of vipers equal to his current blood pool, not maximum.

Each viper is controlled independently by the Thaumaturge as part of a hive mind regardless of distance between them. Each viper has the following statistics:

Strength 1, Dexterity 5, Stamina 1, Athletics 3, Brawl 2 (The Thaumaturge’s physical disciplines add as normal).

In this form, the Thaumaturge may activate any disciplines that do not depend on either speech or physical motions requiring limbs. However, each time he spends a blood point one of the vipers of the Thaumaturge’s choice dies. If taking purely physical actions, each viper receives its own action each round. If activating a discipline or other power, this takes the action of all of the vipers.


When the Thaumaturge reforms, his current blood pool is equal to the number of snakes still alive when he reforms. He may reform at the location of any of the vipers, at which point all of the remaining vipers vanish.

[Hematite]

Spirit Manipulation [GttC 106]

Vampires and Spirits

Gaian Spirits do not like vampires, considering them repulsive and unnatural creatures – the way a normal human would react to an unexposed Nosferatu, and a working relationship with a spirit is about as difficult and rare as a Nosferatu working side by side with a normal human who knew what he was. In most cases, a Spirit’s automatic reaction when being addressed by a Vampire will be to flee or to attack.

Bane spirits, on the other hand, unnatural themselves, actually enjoy the presence of vampires, and will deal willingly with them. Banes, however, are cruel and degenerate, and tend to want repulsive acts as payment for their services, and have a much higher propensity for betrayal and treachery.

Spirits can be convinced to serve or cooperate under certain circumstances. They expect payment for their services, always up front. They will accept payment from vampires in the form of blood, but they do not prefer to. It is dirty, and difficult for them to use the energy within - the spiritual equivalent of paying in all change. For very small tasks it might be acceptable, but for serious endeavors, it is unwelcome. You can pay for an ice-cream cone that way, but a car is out of the question.

Spirits usually take payment in the form of Chiminage. Chiminage is a ritual “please and thank you” that literally grants the power the spirit needs to help, should it accept. Chiminage, by its very nature, must be challenging to the supplicant and also offered with sincerity, or it does nothing for either party. A rich man could never have losing 1000 dollars as a Chiminage, but that might be fully acceptable for someone of no such means. Further, the Chiminage must be prescribed or accepted as worthy by the spirit in advance of the act – a Kindred cannot do some vaguely aligned task and claim it as Chiminage retroactively. That is, if the spirit is willing to even offer such a task to filthy vampire at all.

Spirits are not sentient in the same way as most creatures. There is nothing remotely human about them. They are closer to alien computer programs than actual intelligent creatures. They understand whatever is their area of focus more intrinsically than anything else. However they only understand the world in how it relates to that area of focus and cannot comprehend anything else. For example, a fire elemental could only understand wind as “fickle fuel to burn but too much can kill”. The higher orders of spirits (usually those with higher Gnosis scores) are marginally more intelligent and capable of pretending to understand other things, though they are really just repeating things they have seen or heard with no real comprehension.

Finally, Spirits can potentially be many times as powerful as the Kindred summoning them, and Spirit Manipulation gives no means of controlling what sorts of Spirit they are dealing with, or of what scope.

Spirits have only three relevant stats, and one derived one: Willpower, Gnosis, Rage and the derived stat being Essence. Each of these is described below, since they mean different things for spirits than for other creatures.

Spirits don’t have Attributes or Abilities as material beings think of them. Such things are bound up with the earthly nature of a being. Instead for all rolls a Spirit will roll one of their three Attributes of Willpower, Gnosis, or Rage.

Willpower: For a spirit, the Will is manifest physically. Willpower is used for all physical actions. Anything from combat actions, to athletics, to contests of agility, the spirit rolls its Willpower in place of the usual Attribute + Ability. A guideline is that if an action would involve Dexterity or Stamina, use Willpower. A spirit also uses its Willpower for soak rolls against damage.

Rage: If Willpower is a spirit’s intent made manifest, then Rage is what fuels that Will. Effectively use Rage to replace Strength for all rolls. After a spirit attacks with it’s Willpower, use Rage for its base damage.

Rage also serves another function for Spirits. During combat with a spirit, instead of a static difficulty of 6 for the damage roll, the difficulty to damage a spirit is equal to its Rage.

A spirit’s combat action would work as follows below:
Step 1 Attack: Roll Willpower instead of Dexterity + Brawl/Melee. Count successes.
Step 2 Carry Over: Add successes on attack roll to Rage to determine damage roll.
Step 3 Damage: Roll damage pool. Apply successes as damage to target (soaked normally if able).

Attacks against the spirit function normally, except the difficulty to do damage is equal to its Rage, it soaks with Willpower, and has health levels equal to its Essence.

Gnosis: This is perhaps the most pervasive stat for a spirit, representing its cosmic awareness. Roll Gnosis in place of any Mental or Social check for the spirit. Gnosis also usually helps in the use of Charms.

Essence: The Essence of a Spirit is its life. A spirit’s Essence is generally equal to its Willpower + Rage + Gnosis, although it can be adjusted up or down at ST’s discretion depending on the individual spirit in question. Use Essence as effective Health Levels, although spirits never suffer wound penalties for lost Essence. When a spirit loses all of its essence, it discorporates, enters Slumber and will later reform elsewhere in the Umbra. If someone uses Rite of the Fetish (or Entrap Ephemera) immediately after reducing a spirit to 0 Essence, the spirit may instead be forced into a Fetish against its will. A spirit may only regain Essence by entering Slumber.

A spirit’s traits are normally limited to 10, however they may be higher in the case of particularly powerful spirits (Incarnae and Celestines will usually be higher).


Spirit Manipulation 1: Hermetic Sight [GttC 106]

Hermetic Sight can identify a Fetish on sight.

4+ successes are required to not have a +2 Penalty to all actions from distraction, unless the Thaumaturge has the Concentration merit.


Spirit Manipulation 2: Astral Cant [GttC 106]

Most spirits can speak and understand human tongues. However, it involves a level of effort that they don’t usually wish to engage in, requiring them to think in ways alien to their nature. As such they usually pretend not to in the hopes that whoever is trying to talk to them will go away. This power is rather disappointing to them.

Less than 3 successes nearly guarantees that some level of misunderstanding will happen during an interaction with a spirit, which may have drastic consequences.


Spirit Manipulation 3: Voice of Command [GttC 107]

Failure or botch on this roll means the relationship and conversation is over. If a spirit believes itself superior to the vampire, it will attack. If not, it will flee.


The difficulty for the Spirit to resist this roll is the Thaumaturge’s Manipulation + Occult. If the Thaumaturge does not possess the Spirit specialty, this resistance roll is made at -2 difficulty.

This power is rolled in private by the Storyteller or Narrator for the scene and the successes are kept secret from the Thaumaturge’s player. The Thaumaturge does not know the extent of their power over the spirit, and if they ask for something greater than their power over the Spirit prescribes, the Spirit is free to ignore, mock, attack, or falsely promise to fulfill the task requested, as befits the Spirit’s nature.

Spirits commanded by this power are always aware that they are being compelled against their will, and are never happy about it. They will take steps to not be compelled against their will again, once their command is finished. How they go about that depends on the spirit’s nature.


Spirit Manipulation 4: Entrap Ephemera [GttC 107]

In order to trap a spirit within an object and create a Fetish, the Thaumaturge must achieve more successes on the activation roll than the Spirit receives on a resisted roll of its current Essence. Since Essence is also the Spirit’s current health levels, it may become necessary to beat a Spirit into submission if it is unwilling to be bound. If the Spirit is willing, such as after a Chiminage, it may enter willingly with the aid of this power, but the price will be very high.

Fetishes have a single power or ability that they grant to its beneficiary, agreed upon with the Storyteller ahead of time. The exact ability desired by the Thaumaturge’s player is placed on a scale of 1-5 by the Storyteller, and requires a Spirit of that grade of power to facilitate the Fetish. Fetishes that grant a single, specific power that is either on or off are the best choices for Fetishes.

Any Fetishes from either Werewolf: The Apocalypse or Mage: The Ascension are permissible only at ST discretion. The balance scale of those games is different from that of vampire, and not all are appropriate for this sphere.

Fetishes created by this power are not the same as those created by the Werewolf Rite of the Fetish (or the Koldunic Sorcery or Draiocht ritual Compact of Binding). Those effects are a formalized contract with a spirit who willingly agrees to inhabit the item and power the fetish in question. This power forces the Spirit into the compact against its will. Even if the Thaumaturge makes a compact with the Spirit in question before invoking the power, the Spirit knows that this deal is putting it in bondage, and will charge far higher prices than usual for compacts. Vampires cannot normally use fetishes created by Werewolves, as they depend on the user’s Gnosis score. Fetishes created by this power are specifically made for vampires to be able to use, allowing the vampire to enforce his will on the captive spirit.


Examples Fetishes:
1st Level - Gaflings

Hawk's Eye - The Hawk's Eye looks like a small gem in the shape of a monocle. Although it is most commonly a precious stone (the most pleasing to spirits), the fetish can just as easily be any simple elliptical object of colored glass or crystal, often carefully engraved with glyphs and patterns on one side. When activated and placed in front of the eye, it lets the user spy on a particular, predefined area from afar. The fetish must have been created at the particular location in question. Most commonly it is a room in a building, but it can just as easily be a glade in a forest or a cave. The area in view can never be greater than about twenty feet on a side, and the fetish provides only a fixed view - the user can't pan or zoom around the area.

To create this fetish, a hawk-spirit must be bound within.

2nd Level – Minor Jaggling (Essence 15+)

Delirium Mask - This fetish takes the shape of a stone helmet with the face plate carved in some grotesque demon's likeness. Anyone wearing the mask can cause the effects of the Delirium in a chosen victim by activating the fetish. The victim reacts to the water as if she were actually a werewolf in Crinos form, no matter how harmless she would otherwise seem.

3rd Level – Standard Jaggling (Essence 20+)

Big Black Book - This pocket sized book contains the phone number of every single person on earth that has one. It is all written in the owner's handwriting. Curiously enough, a spirit of humor is bound into this fetish.

Torc of Wisdom - When activated, the torc increases the wearer's permanent Willpower by one point until the end of the scene. A spirit of wisdom empowers the fetish.


4th Level – Powerful Jaggling (Essence 25+)

Feathered Cloak - When activated, the wearer can rise above the ground and travel horizontally at speeds equivalent to her running speed indefinitely. The flight is not perfect, however. The wearer cannot travel both horizontally and vertically at the same time, and vertical travel is considerably slower, progressing at walking speed.

Finally, the entire experience causes a great deal of stress upon the body. For every ten minutes of flight, the player must roll Stamina + Athletics (difficulty 5). If the roll fails, then the strain has become too intense and the wearer will need to land.

The Feathered Cloak is a full-length cloak that remains wrapped around the body, even during flight and is bound with a bird spirit.


5th Level – Extremely powerful Jaggling, Incarna replacement candidate (Essence 35+)

Boar's Tusk - This fearsome fetish, a large tusk from a boar suspended by a leather thong, marks the wearer as someone you don't want to mess with. When activated, this fetish adds one health level per success and one dot of Stamina per two successes for one scene.

Watcher's Shield - This small wooden token, shaped like a shield, is worn around the neck. When activated, the shield adds five dice to the wearer's soak roll, but only against cowardly attacks. Only one opponent per round will have a direct shot at the wearer; for all other attacks, the wearer receives the extra five soak dice.
To create such a fetish, the crafter must bind a turtle-spirit or a spirit of vigilance within.

The most powerful Fetishes require the most powerful Spirits bound within them, such as Incarnae or Celestines. Such creatures loathe making deals with beings so far beneath them in value and power, and are difficult in the extreme to beat into submission, having trait values that often exceed 10.

Vampires can deal with Spirits in one of two ways to create Fetishes: They may barter with them, asking for and completing a Chiminage that they prescribe, and upon completion, the Spirit will accept being used as a Fetish under perhaps a further set of stipulations, such as Taboos, Bans, Time limits, willingness to work on behalf of others, etc. Note that even if this form is used, the power itself is one of bondage and most spirits will charge far higher prices for this form of service than one in which they are free to leave.

The other way to create the Fetish is to simply beat or bully the spirit into the item and force them to obey. Fetishes created this way have all the same powers and abilities as normal, but have some sort of serious flaw, as the spirit within is constantly straining to become free. Unless the spirit is a willing inhabitant of the fetish in question, each time it is activated, the Storyteller should make a secret WoD check. If the user tests down twice, the fetish will not function for the duration of the scene, the captive spirit rebelling against its chains.

In any case, the Fetish must always be activated with a Willpower roll, difficulty of the Fetish level + 3, and a botch on the Willpower roll at any time destroys the Fetish and frees the spirit. If the Spirit was working willingly with the Thaumaturge, it may be amenable to a new agreement, but it generally will want a new Chiminage for its trouble.

Fetishes created on behalf of another character must have that ability in mind from the start, to be bargained for with the spirit ahead of time or designated (and affecting the power level) before enslaving a defeated spirit – by default they only work for the Thaumaturge who created it.


Spirit Manipulation 5: Duality [GttC 107]

The Perception + Occult roll to ground your senses does benefit from Auspex.

A Thaumaturge with this power may physically move items from one side of the Gauntlet to the other, and is able to effectively hide items in the spirit world, making them nearly impossible to find. A character with Psychic Projection can see the items while in that form. An Astral being, such as a vampire using Psychic Projection, or a spirit, can grab, remove or take the items if they wish, but they are otherwise safe and invisible.

On a botch, the Thaumaturge is trapped in the Spirit World. Use of Duality does NOT allow them to return to the normal world. Only another character with Duality can pull the character back across, but there is no blood in the Spirit World to feed upon, and things like phones do not work. Powers still work, but not across the Gauntlet into the real world. A character with Psychic Projection may use that Discipline’s Manifest power to appear in the real world for one round per Willpower spent to try to get assistance.

[Hematite]

Spirit Thaumaturgy [PG2 50]

This path is cobbled together from the Tremere’s early attempts to manipulate both spirits and wraiths. The spirit side of this path eventually culminated in the Path of Spirit Manipulation. The wraith side of this never proved particularly successful and further research was generally abandoned, only now carried out by House High Saturday.

In the Sabbat, experiments were performed with this path by House Goratrix just as they were by the pyramid. However once Spirit Manipulation was acquired, this path was mostly abandoned as not worth further effort just as in the Camarilla.

This path is essentially early research notes and thus not generally accessible or taught. Characters should have a very good reason for knowing this path.


Spirit Thaumaturgy 1: Evil Eye [PG2 50]

This power attracts a small horde of minor banes of misfortune to the target, delighting in causing the target to fail.

This power grants a number of botch dice, not automatic botches. For each one assigned to a roll, the roll loses one success. If a roll is reduced below 0 successes by means of this power, the roll is considered to botch, even if a Willpower was spent on the roll.

The effects of this power stack with itself, but all unused botch dice at the end of the scene are lost as the banes lose interest and leave.


Spirit Thaumaturgy 2: Spirit Eyes (“The Sight”) [PG2 50]

This power does not actually allow the Thaumaturge to see into either the Penumbra or the Shadowlands. It does allow the Thaumaturge to see outlines of ghosts and spirits in either realm however.

This power grants no additional mystical information to the Thaumaturge. However, upon seeing either a spirit or wraith, he may make standard Occult rolls requiring appropriate specialties to gain additional information.


The base use of this power does not allow the Thaumaturge to speak across the Gauntlet or the Shroud. However, the Thaumaturge may reactivate this power targeting a specific spirit or wraith and form a connection which allows him to communicate across the planar boundaries.

The Thaumaturge cannot use any powers across either planar boundary unless he has another means of doing so.


Spirit Thaumaturgy 3: Spirit Slave [PG2 50]


This power does not create actual wraiths from the recently deceased. It can force a recently dead soul to become a Drone (see clarifications for the Path of the Shadow World). Drones created by this power will only remain in existence for one week, after which they will fade away to nothing.

This power cannot compel a spirit to perform any task that directly puts it in danger or acts against its nature. This power cannot compel wraiths.


Spirit Thaumaturgy 4: Fetishes [PG2 50]


Use of this power after using Spirit Slave to create a drone creates a temporary fetter that extends the duration of the Drone’s existence to one month.

Used on a Spirit, this power can bind a Spirit and compel it to use its Charms as the Thaumaturge wishes, but it cannot create true fetishes as done with Spirit Manipulation.

In order to trap a Spirit, the Thaumaturge must beat the Spirit in a contested Willpower roll (each with a difficulty of the other’s current Willpower). The Thaumaturge’s net successes are the number of times the Thaumaturge may compel a use of a single Charm from the Spirit. To compel the use of a Charm, the Thaumaturge must spend a Willpower point and win another contested willpower roll (again each at a difficulty of the other’s current Willpower). If the Thaumaturge ever loses one of these contested rolls, the Spirit is immediately freed from the crude fetish and depending on its nature will either flee or attack the Thaumaturge. After the final forced use of a Charm, the Spirit is drained of energy and escapes to the Umbra entering Slumber to recover from its ordeal.

If left unused the Spirit may attempt a new roll to escape the fetish each night.


Spirit Thaumaturgy 5: Journey [PG2 50]

This power functions much as the Auspex power Psychic Projection. Treat the Thaumaturge as if he is Astral in all ways save that he is considered to be constantly manifested. He is immaterial, but remains entirely in the material plane, unable to affect the Umbra in any way. For the purposes of powers that target spirits, the Thaumaturge is considered a spirit while in this form.

[Hematite]

Thaumaturgical Countermagic [V20 228]

This is the only version of counter magic left to the Tremere in the modern nights. The breaking of the Hermetic Paradigm left them without access to the older form of Perdo Magica which does not function in the modern world.


This is not truly a part of Thaumaturgy, but its own complete discipline. However, if developed alongside an understanding of Thaumaturgy, the process is easier. Essentially, this path may be learned either as part of Thaumaturgy like any other path, or as a completely separate discipline. If learned as a discipline, it is always considered out of clan and at usual out of clan (or Caitiff as appropriate) costs. This path can never be a primary path of Thaumaturgy.

Use of Thaumaturgical Countermagic is a free action and does not require the user to split his dice pool.

This power may target any form of blood magic as well as any Mystical discipline with half dice pools.

Anyone who acquires this discipline outside of clan Tremere gains the flaw Clan Emnity Tremere IF IT IS KNOWN THAT THEY POSSESS IT. Should this become known to clan Tremere the one with this discipline will likely be having a rather unpleasant meeting with an Astor in very short order.

This power can be used repeatedly on the same effect, each time stripping successes from the effect until the effect is reduced to 0.

Even though this is not technically a part of thaumaturgy, this power qualifies for the Combination Discipline Thaumaturgical Sight. If used in conjunction with Thaumaturgical Sight, the Thaumaturge may pick and target specific magical effects on a target. Otherwise this power will target the effects with the least successes first.

The countermagic dice are alway rolled at a difficulty of 3 + the level of the effect they are targeting.

In theory, variants of this Discipline exist and may be learned that focus on other forms of blood magic rather than Hermetic Thaumaturgy. No known example of this yet exists (though there are rumours of some being created by Inceptors), but the theory is sound. Such variants however, would need to be created as either part of their own paradigm of blood magic or as separate disciplines.

[Hematite]

Transitus Velociter/Way of Passage [DAV 217]

This power has greatly fallen out of use in the modern age. With the advent of cars and planes, most can move far faster than 30 miles per hour and see no need for this path anymore. As such, this path is seldom practiced anymore. Yet it does still have its uses. Characters should have a good reason for taking this path.

This path does not require a road, but does require relatively easy and unobstructed terrain to function.

For conversion to the modern nights, where this path says mounts, apply this to individuals including modern mounts such as bicycles or motorcycles. Where the path says laden wagons, apply this to cars. Where this path says Siege engines, apply this to cargo trucks.

A vampire affected by this power who also possesses the Forced March combination discipline may activate that combination to multiply the 30 miles per hour speed by his Celerity rating. He cannot grant this speed to the others affected by this power however.

The caster need not be one of the targets affected by this power.

[Hematite]

Vine of Dionysus [BM:SoT 82]

This path is not looked on favourably by the Pyramid. Practiced mostly in secret by semi-rogue Thaumaturges seeking enlightenment through euphoria, this path goes against the much of the ordered model enforced by the Tremere heirarchy.

Within the Sabbat, this path, though still rare, has thrived. It is seen as a great boon by those who follow the Path of Cathari and most of the Sabbat practitioners have followed this Path. Nevertheless, this path still has few practitioners, as those who have the ordered mindset required to learn Hermetic Thaumaturgy are usually not interested in the euphoric pursuits of this path.


Vine of Dionysus 1: Methyskein [BM:SoT 82]

If a mortal becomes the target of this effect for three consecutive nights, the added effect is permanent, forever thereafter requiring a Willpower expenditure to gain the resistance roll.

If a supernatural creature becomes the target of this effect for three consecutive nights, he takes a penalty of +1 difficulty on future resistance rolls against this power until he goes a full month without exposure. This penalty stacks to a maximum of difficulty 9.


Vine of Dionysus 2: Omophagy [BM:SoT 82]


A vampire is not considered hungry at 3 blood or less. The hunger system defines the state as a blood pool of 7 - the subject’s Self-Control or Instinct score.

A hungry vampire under this effect will automatically frenzy at the sight, smell or taste of blood if hungry. He is not entitled to a Self-Control or Instinct roll.

Spending a Willpower to resist this effect for a scene functions just as if resisting a derangement.


Vine of Dionysus 3: Hamartia [BM:SoT 82]

The bonus on Strength-related roll is instead of the penalty, it is actually a bonus, not just a balancing factor.

This power affects all dice pools, not just dice pools for actions.


Vine of Dionysus 4: Enthousiasmós [BM:SoT 83]

The penalty from this power stacks with that from Methyskein.

Spending a Willpower shrugs off the euphoria and lethargy, but not the mechanical penalties. It also does not stop the hallucinations.


Vine of Dionysus 5: Oinos Aimatos [BM:SoT 83]

A full point is not required to transfer the effect. Even a tiny drop mixed into any drink will be enough to give the full Enthousiasmós effect to anyone who drinks it.

Because this power only lasts for the scene, it is ineffective for mass distribution by dropping blood into a water reservoir, bottling plant, or other mass distribution facility.

[Hematite]

Weather Control/Rego Tempestas [V20 228]

This Path's effects create the weather in the area local to the Thaumaturge, centered on her location and extending no more than 5 miles from the source. It is possible to control weather on any one Domain (such as Downtown, Lake Union, etc) and create an effect that affects the entire Domain for some sort of passive downtime purpose.

Weather effects default to 5 miles in diameter. The thaumaturge can attempt to contain the effect to a much smaller area, reducing it by 1 mile per success on a Willpower roll, difficulty 6. At 5 or more successes, the weather can be contained to any size, including a single room or street corner. This roll does not cost a blood, but does count as a Thaumaturgy roll, and the result of a botch is the same.

Use of Weather Control indoors is limited in use. Changes of temperature are acceptable, as is creating or removing humidity, but fog, rain and lightning cannot be called indoors with this power. All uses of Weather Control indoors are at +2 Difficulty.

The difficulty for this path is defaulted to 6. Attempts to make any kind of rain, fog or storm in Seattle are at difficulty 4. Lightning storms are difficulty 6, and snow outside of winter is difficulty 8.

The speed at which the weather change commences takes an amount of time based on the successes scored:
1 - 12 hours or more
2 - One hour
3 - 15 minutes
4 - 3 turns
5+ - Same turn

High Winds: All characters (except the Thaumaturge) must roll Dexterity difficulty 6 on their initiative. Failure means the character is knocked down and is considered prone until they take an action to stand. In precarious locations, such as rooftops, bridges, or scaffolding, falling results in tumbling into whatever danger the area exhibits and suffering any associated consequences.

Storm: This weather condition allows for partially inhibited sunlight during the day, should the Thaumaturge require it. Walking around fully uncovered is still 3 levels of Aggravated Damage per round, but the difficulty to soak is 6 rather than 9.

Lightning: Using a lightning attack without first creating a storm imposes a +2 difficulty penalty.


This attack requires a second roll to aim the lightning. Perception + Occult, difficulty 6 in the open, 8 in shelter or near tall objects (like on a street with buildings nearby) and 10 if striking indoors through a window. This roll does get the difficulty benefit of Auspex.

The attack does 10 dice of lethal damage, and cannot be soaked with Armor.


A lightning storm is a weather effect like Fog or High Wind, not an individual use of Thaumaturgy. Once the storm is created, lightning begins to strike on an ongoing basis and does not require a further use of Thaumaturgy. The Thaumaturge may use the Perception + Occult lightning attack once per round as a mental action, so long as he is conscious and not in Frenzy. Lightning Strike attack rolls benefit from Auspex and have carry-over damage as usual. As with other forms of electrical damage, a botch on the soak roll converts the lethal damage to aggravated.