- See also: Blood Curse (disambiguation)
The Blood Curse, also known as the Blood Curse of the Tremere, was a powerful spell inflicted upon the Assamite clan as part of the Treaty of Tyre of 1496 CE to quell the effects of the Curse of Hunger and punish the clan for its practices. The curse was broken in 1998.
Overview[]
Baali Curse[]
In the 7th century, the Baali used thirteen Assamites Warriors to introduce a Curse of Hunger to the Warrior Caste as revenge for their active role during the Baali Wars. The bloodthirst levied upon the caste grew in strength during the next centuries, and by the time of the Fourth Crusade over half the Warrior Caste thirsted for Cainite vitae nightly. In another century, not a single Warrior was unafflicted. As the thirst grew, so too did the Warriors' aggression, and even the combined influence of the Sorcerers and the Viziers was not enough to restrain them. By 1242 even other Assamite castes were affected by the curse.
Tremere Curse[]
| “ | If I remember his description properly, he said the Tremere probably used a ritually-prepared papyrus scroll marked with Egyptian glyphs of command and hierarchy, and black ink laced with the vitae of a slain Assamite elder when drafting that particular copy of the Treaty of Tyre. Then, you simply had our Eldest, who had authority to speak on behalf of us all, sign the treaty and thereby bind the entire Clan via a sympathetic blood link. The Amr speculated the ritual probably required at least one blood magician of the Fourth Generation to perform, more if they were less skilled, but he did marvel at the vitae requirements. Out of curiosity, Justicar Carfax, do your allies in the Camarilla know just how many of your own clanmates you ritually murdered in order to levy your curse against us? | ” |
| — Tegyrius | ||
Hence, the Blood Curse of the Tremere of 1496 was at the same time a punishment inflicted by the Camarilla upon the Assamites, as well as a protection against their hunger as it made Cainite vitae poisonous to them. Over time Sorcerers developed the ritual called From Marduk's Throat, which allowed them to artificially decrease their generation. This only addressed the physical needs of the clan, though. Many Assamites follow the Path of Blood, which exalts the practices of diablerie. The inability to taste the blood of other vampire is an affront to their creed.
Broken[]
At the end of the 20th century, Ur-Shulgi, a direct childe of Haqim himself, awoke from his slumber. Calling upon the power of the Assamite blood, the most powerful Assamite blood sorcerer ever to exist dispelled the curse within a week. Finally free to taste the long denied blood of other Cainites, many Assamite Warriors now find themselves addicted to vitae.
References[]
- VTM: Clanbook: Assamite, p. 10, 15
- VTM: Clanbook: Assamite Revised, p. 24
- VTM: Encyclopaedia Vampirica, p. 57