Ritual Variation: Heart's Curse
(Level-Five Crúac Ritual)
This terrifying and powerful curse is reserved only for the most hated enemies of the Sipán. It always coincides with a direct assassination attempt, and is never initiated by a vampire who is unwilling to take full responsibility for the destruction of her victim. When the Heart’s Curse is performed, the sorcerer considers herself the murderer of the subject, no matter what the actual circumstances of his death seem to be.
To begin the ritual, the Sipán presents herself at the ritual site, carrying the bowl of her salt scrapings as a means of identification before the Decapitator. She is accompanied by at least one assistant Acolyte, who must present his salt as well. An opening invocation is performed, involving the cleansing and preparation of the Circle’s Altar. The target of the ritual is identified in a formal recitation, with a full listing of his crimes against the Sipán, echoed and acknowledged by the assistants.
A mortal victim is brought forth and lashed to the Altar. The Sipán sorcerer sprinkles her salt upon this sacrifice’s naked chest and forehead. Her assistants follow suit, one after another, while the sorcerer chants a prayer of presentation to the Decapitator. When the marking is complete, the sacrifice is stabbed three times with a stone blade. As the mortal bleeds out onto the Altar, the sorcerer continues chanting, supported by her assistants, calling upon the terrible power of the Decapitator to lend aid in her quest for justice.
To demonstrate the depth of her need, the sorcerer then stabs herself in the heart, allowing her Vitae to gush forth at the base of the Altar. At this moment, the chosen victim, wherever he is, is struck by the awesome power of the Sipán and suffers lethal damage equal to number of successes on the Manipulation + Occult + Crúac roll representing the ritual’s effectiveness. Normally, as soon as a nearby agent of the Sipán sees the victim struck down, she will attack, chopping off his head with a stone axe or similar blade.
After the ritual is complete, the Sipán must carry the body of the mortal sacrifice down to the ocean and allow the remains to be taken by the waves. She must then bathe in the waters of the ocean for at least an hour, then emerge and let nothing touch her skin until the waters have dried. She is forbidden from participating in further rites of the Sipán until the following night.
To begin the ritual, the Sipán presents herself at the ritual site, carrying the bowl of her salt scrapings as a means of identification before the Decapitator. She is accompanied by at least one assistant Acolyte, who must present his salt as well. An opening invocation is performed, involving the cleansing and preparation of the Circle’s Altar. The target of the ritual is identified in a formal recitation, with a full listing of his crimes against the Sipán, echoed and acknowledged by the assistants.
A mortal victim is brought forth and lashed to the Altar. The Sipán sorcerer sprinkles her salt upon this sacrifice’s naked chest and forehead. Her assistants follow suit, one after another, while the sorcerer chants a prayer of presentation to the Decapitator. When the marking is complete, the sacrifice is stabbed three times with a stone blade. As the mortal bleeds out onto the Altar, the sorcerer continues chanting, supported by her assistants, calling upon the terrible power of the Decapitator to lend aid in her quest for justice.
To demonstrate the depth of her need, the sorcerer then stabs herself in the heart, allowing her Vitae to gush forth at the base of the Altar. At this moment, the chosen victim, wherever he is, is struck by the awesome power of the Sipán and suffers lethal damage equal to number of successes on the Manipulation + Occult + Crúac roll representing the ritual’s effectiveness. Normally, as soon as a nearby agent of the Sipán sees the victim struck down, she will attack, chopping off his head with a stone axe or similar blade.
After the ritual is complete, the Sipán must carry the body of the mortal sacrifice down to the ocean and allow the remains to be taken by the waves. She must then bathe in the waters of the ocean for at least an hour, then emerge and let nothing touch her skin until the waters have dried. She is forbidden from participating in further rites of the Sipán until the following night.