Consent of the Magna Mater
Majesty •, Taurobolium ••
Taurobolium changes the user’s blood. The vampire’s spilled Vitae becomes imbued with properties above and beyond that of other Kindred. The Galloi suggest that the difference is that this blood carries the blessing of the goddess Cybele. By and large, this blood becomes useless outside the Taurobolium. The blood cannot be used in the Embrace, doesn’t provide sustenance to vampires and, in general, can’t be used to create a Vinculum. However, Damned who know this Devotion can use the blood to create a ghoul.
Ghouls created using the blood that results from this Devotion are different from Ghouls created by the usual practice. Although the standard ghoul rules apply (see p. 166 of Vampire: The Requiem), the ghoul also goes through a few other changes.
First, the ghoul becomes eerily attractive, much like a recently bathed Pretty, becoming almost genderless in his appearance. His skin turns smooth and pale like marble, his eyes grow ringed with gray and his limbs appear lithe and delicate. Thus, the ghoul suffers the standard Nosferatu weakness (dice pools based on Presence or Manipulation are exempt from the 10 again rule, and any 1’s that come up on the roll subtract from successes), but this social failing is due to alien splendor, not fearsome disposition.
Second, this alien beauty has an effect on those around the ghoul. Those mortals near the ghoul (within 10 yards) suffer a –1 to all rolls involving Composure. These mortals are more likely to become easily frustrated and drawn to temper or, similarly, give into their lusts or other dark proclivities.
The third and perhaps strangest effect is on the ghoul’s fertility. Most true servants of the Galloi are infertile — they are mutilated in a way that their reproductive organs do not function. These Ghouls, however, are quite the opposite. Any time the ghoul engages in any sexual act that could end in reproduction, a pregnancy results. Every instance of sexual intimacy to climax results in pregnancy. Male Ghouls impregnate every woman with whom they have sex, and female Ghouls become pregnant from any instance of sexual intercourse. This is true even if either partner normally has nonfunctioning reproductive systems (from vasectomies, tied tubes or other biological conditions).
If the ghoul goes a time (month or more) without the Galloi’s Vitae in his system, he reverts to being a “normal” mortal without any of the aforementioned modifi cations. If the ghoul is a female and was with child, the fetus dies in a bloody miscarriage.
Ghouls created using the blood that results from this Devotion are different from Ghouls created by the usual practice. Although the standard ghoul rules apply (see p. 166 of Vampire: The Requiem), the ghoul also goes through a few other changes.
First, the ghoul becomes eerily attractive, much like a recently bathed Pretty, becoming almost genderless in his appearance. His skin turns smooth and pale like marble, his eyes grow ringed with gray and his limbs appear lithe and delicate. Thus, the ghoul suffers the standard Nosferatu weakness (dice pools based on Presence or Manipulation are exempt from the 10 again rule, and any 1’s that come up on the roll subtract from successes), but this social failing is due to alien splendor, not fearsome disposition.
Second, this alien beauty has an effect on those around the ghoul. Those mortals near the ghoul (within 10 yards) suffer a –1 to all rolls involving Composure. These mortals are more likely to become easily frustrated and drawn to temper or, similarly, give into their lusts or other dark proclivities.
The third and perhaps strangest effect is on the ghoul’s fertility. Most true servants of the Galloi are infertile — they are mutilated in a way that their reproductive organs do not function. These Ghouls, however, are quite the opposite. Any time the ghoul engages in any sexual act that could end in reproduction, a pregnancy results. Every instance of sexual intimacy to climax results in pregnancy. Male Ghouls impregnate every woman with whom they have sex, and female Ghouls become pregnant from any instance of sexual intercourse. This is true even if either partner normally has nonfunctioning reproductive systems (from vasectomies, tied tubes or other biological conditions).
If the ghoul goes a time (month or more) without the Galloi’s Vitae in his system, he reverts to being a “normal” mortal without any of the aforementioned modifi cations. If the ghoul is a female and was with child, the fetus dies in a bloody miscarriage.
Material Components
Cost: 2 Vitae; must be poured into the mouth of the mortal. (Note that creating the ghoul also requires the vampire to spend the standard Willpower point.)
Gestures & Ritual
Dice Pool: This power involves no roll to invoke.
Related Discipline
Majesty •, Taurobolium ••
Effect Casting Time
Instant
Applied Restriction
Note that this Devotion is required only for the first drink that creates the ghoul (that is, the one coupled with an expenditure of Willpower). After that, the Galloi may keep up the ghoul’s persistent condition via the normal taste of Vitae without this Devotion.