Blood magic (VTM)

Blood sorcery (or blood magic) refers to magic performed by the Kindred, fuelled by the mystical power of Vitae. Disciplines are powers which stem from the nature of vampirism; aspects of the predator, the Beast, the hunter, the undead. Even the more exotic disciplines at least reflect the exotic natures of their creators. By contrast, blood sorcery seeks to achieve almost any effect imaginable by focussing the magical power of blood through an act of will. Any vampire can learn to become stronger, track their prey by supernatural means, or tap into the bestial side of their nature, but blood sorcerers can summon fire, control the weather and do things which are unnatural even by vampire standards.

The most famous practitioners of blood sorcery are clan Tremere, originally a group of mages who became vampires and created Thaumaturgy from their knowledge of Hermetic magic. They jealousy guard all knowledge of Thaumaturgy, and few outside the clan ever learn its secrets. Their unique powers have been called on many times by the Camarilla, securing the clan as one of the sect's pillars.

Thaumaturgy lays down the basic blueprint for all blood sorcery: the sorcerer must learn the basic principles of their chosen form of blood magic, increasing her mastery as if learning a Discipline, and learning a Path, a set of related spells. Once the sorcerer's knowledge is sufficiently advanced, she may learn other paths, allowing her to produce very different effects. Paths are usually powered by Vitae and the user's will alone, but by using the trappings of mortal magic - sacrifices, mystical ingredients, magical tools and the like - blood sorcerers can also enact Rituals. These are typically long-lasting magical effects, and range in power from trivial to history changing. The Tremere used a ritual to curse the entire Assamite clan and, it is rumoured, to destroy their antitribu cousins.

Blood sorcery is far older than the Tremere, however, and has been practised in many forms throughout vampire history. Before Thaumaturgy and the split between the Eastern and Western worlds, Dur-An-Ki was the most prominent type of blood sorcery; it, and many other older styles, have survived into the modern nights. Most follow the same pattern of sorcerous mastery, paths and rituals as Thaumaturgy, but the techniques and knowledge of one type of sorcery may be entirely incompatible with that of another.

Necromancy is sometimes thought of as distinct from blood sorcery, but this is a cultural distinction more than anything else, as more mainstream blood sorcerers often see communicating with the dead as a taboo.

Known styles of blood sorcery include:


 * Assamite Sorcery
 * Dur-An-Ki
 * Koldunic Sorcery
 * Mortis
 * Nahuallotl
 * Necromancy
 * Setite Sorcery
 * Thaumaturgy
 * Thaumaturgical Countermagic
 * Thaumaturgy, Dark
 * Wanga