Gilded Cage Rituals Knowing the Gate (Level-One Gilded Cage Ritual )
to be that evening to allow easier hunting for the subject. Block the Path does just the opposite through the same technique. By perceiving the ways mortals tend to move through a domain, the influence the leylines of a city to pull mortals away This ritual allows the Architect to sense previously created Architect can influence from a subject’s typical hunting areas. “gates” to any location, created by any other magic user; it need This ritual penalizes the subject ’s hunt rolls by the successes not be another Architect. ( “Gates” are usually defined as any gained on the ritual ’s casting roll, this lasts for a number of location that gives direct entrance to another location via nonhunts equal to the caster ’s Gilded Cage rating. mundane methods. For example, a Haunt might contain a Ways and Means: Means: A planner’s map of the city. “gate” to the Underworld but a door between rooms would not be a “gate.”) It does not, however, give the Architect any idea of where the gate leads to as that is the providence providence of “ Viewing the ( ) Gate.” The resonance of a leyline affects the areas it flows through, Ways and Means: A detailed floor plan of the building in question or a detailed map of the area in question if looking and the canny Architect can alter this resonance to suit his outside a building. needs through mystically intertwining the emotions inspired by a work of architecture architecture and the leyline to project that emotion emotion along the leyline ’s path. Similar to Aura of the Monolith (anoth( ) er Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual), this ritual allows the caster to link the leyline symbolically to a great structure in order to allow Cities unconsciously follow the designs of the local leylines, it’s awe, reverence, or fear to permeate the resonance of the which are in turn influenced by the buildings, buildings, which in turn are leyline. The effect is only maintained as long as the caster keeps influenced by the leylines. This ritual allows a caster to discover both the structure and leyline in direct line of sight (which must the locations of leylines or their crossing points and so be better be directly visible and not through binoculars or on television). able to influence the building of the Gilded Cage. As the ritual Ways and Means: Line of sight to the structure in mind from is performed, the crystal swings along the paths of the leylines in the leyline the area. Failure to activate the ritual will not prevent the crystal swinging, so the caster may well end up with false results. This ritual does not show the locations of places of power. ( ) Ways and Means: A map of the location, a crystal on a string or cord (a plumbob, but must be crystal) to dangle over the map, Building structures strong and powerful and able to withstand withstand and being physically present at the location. the elements is a key factor in any architectural handbook. The ritual allows the caster to link herself to the city ’s ley lines and sap some of their power in order to strengthen and harden ( ) modern items into stronger and less-prone to destruction tools and building equipment – or mend damaged items of the same The Architects are known for their affinity with the leylines, only materials materials this ritual ritual will work work on are steel, steel, glass, and this power is representative of it if nothing else is. The caster variety. The only can study the complex interplay, overlapping, shape and flow of stone, processed stone, fiberglass and aluminum. For strengthening items, each success on the initiation roll adds one durability leylines surrounding them, and this ritual helps them to deterto the item ’s rating. For instance, a stone pillar with a durability mine the landscape of the current energy passing along the lines rating of 2 is used in this ritual and 2 successes are gained – the - their construction, intensity, path and resonance are all words stone pillar’s durability is raised to 4. For repairing items, each used by Architects to define what this ritual gives them the idea success on the initiation roll causes the material to “rebuild” of. itself at a rate of 1 Structure per round up to the amount of sucThe truth is simpler, the Architect can determine if anything is cesses rolled – items completely destroyed cannot be rebuilt. Any affecting, or has recently affected, the leylines or nests which the extra successes on the repairing roll should be treated as Architect can view. view. This ritual ritual gives the caster an idea if the mysstrengthening successes. For instance, a revolver made of steel tical energy of the city has been, or is currently being, tapped for has taken 3 structure levels of damage (of its 4), on ritual initiasome task, and the general idea of what it is being tapped for. The character can gain a snapshot of this sort for a number of tion the caster gains 4 successes; over a span of 3 rounds the gun repairs itself and at the end is actually stronger for it, gaining past nights equal to successes gained on the ritual. one extra durability due to the excess success on the initiation Ways and Means: Means: A looking glass and a piece of copper wire. roll. This ritual only can apply to one item at a time (and only once ( ) per item per type of use), and could not be used on say, an entire building because a building is made up of many different The most basic level of Gilded Cage allows the user to perceive steel beams, glass windows and other materials. the energies that act up upon on a populace to direct their movements. The Paths of Prey can be used to predict where mortals are likely
Colours of the Crystal Web Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual
Facets of the Crystal Web Level-One Gilded Cage Ritual
Empowering the Monolith Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual
Supernal Geomancy Level-One Gilded Cage Ritual
Block the Path Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual
Way and Means: Line of sight to a structure that has the same properties as the item in question (glass would need line of sight to a building that has glass windows, for instance).
Make Ready the Great Work (Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual ) The Masons of the Dragons, tolerated but only just, have begun to make waves by their mastery of the lines of leys, which were previously ignored by the Kogaion and Guardians of the Ordo Dracul. One of the reasons for which is this ritual, which utterly amplifies the resonance and essences of a Wyrm ’s Nest for a limited time, by forcing the energies along the lines leading to the nests to draw more than normal to a specific point. There are rumors amongst the line that this ritual has come through dreams only now, from Ermenjart la Charpentière herself, because the final plans of the bloodline ’s Great Work are beginning to manifest, and the amplification of lines and nests are part of the Plan. If successful, the intensity (Value) or dice bonus of a Wyrm ’s Nest is temporarily increased by the successes gained on the ritual. The amplification only lasts for the night in which it is cast. Furthermore, anyone not Kindred attempting to utilize the Nest to power supernatural abilities find their rolls made at a penalty equal to successes gained. This ritual may only be done once per week. Ways and Means: A length of transportation rail and something which represents the nest ’s “resonance ”.
Make Silent the Voice (Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual ) The Architect Bloodline makes use of the patterns in the world, and the manipulation manipulation of those patterns, patterns, in order to enact their grand plans. It ’s this underlying understanding that allows them to see and manipulate manipulate leylines or predict the paths of p rey. People and mystical energy isn’t the only thing that travels in patterns though, telecommunications take advantage of a most basic pattern: the wave. An Architect of the Monolith can use this ritual to disrupt the waves of telecommunication devices to cut a single individual out of the grid. This ritual works on cellphones, text messages, land-line phones and all other forms of long-distance communication, blocking their use for nights equal to successes on the activation roll. For example, a letter could be written but lost in the mail, a text message composed and sent but never delivered, the 3G going dead just before making a forum post, or a call dropped before the other side connects. It even works on communication of mystical means, although less reliably. To block mystical long-distance communications, it works once for each success gained on the activation roll. The activation roll is penalized by the victim ’s Resolve. Ways and Means: A cellular telephone and a picture or personal item of the victim.
Soul of the Builder (Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual ) This ritual creates a direct bond between the physical integrity of a building and the ritual ’s caster. The Architect must be with-
in sight of the building during the casting, though the ritual ’s effects remain in place for a year and a day after casting. This duration may not be cut short by the caster. For the duration of the ritual, any lethal or bashing damage up to the number of successes rolled done to the Architect is transferred to the building instead (aggravated (aggravated damage still affects the caster directly). Bashing damage manifests itself as wiring failures, broken windows, burst pipes or other superficial damage to the building, while lethal damage is much more dire, causing walls and support columns columns to crumble. If the building building’s Durability (Generally 3) + Successes gained on the ritual cast are ever exceeded in lethal damage, the building collapses entirely. “Health Levels” may only be restored to the building by repairing the structure. If the character chooses to remove this bond prior to the collapse of the building, he can do so at some amount of pain to himself. He immediately takes 1 Aggravated Damage when removing the bond. The sympathetic bond between caster and building goes both ways; should an attacker attacker manage to completely destroy destroy the structure, the ritual ’s caster immediately takes enough damage to put her into torpor; the mystical assault happens so fast that the Architect is unable to spend any Vitae to heal before being plunged into the sleep. Hence, Architects are always cautious not to reveal which building they have chosen as the focus for their ritual. Enclaves of Architects are often hesitant to teach this ritual to their students; typically, only the most headstrong and selfish Architects will even use it...unfortunately, it...unfortunately, the bloodline bloodline has more than its fair share of Kindred fitting that description. Ways and Means: The building itself, as well as copies of the architectural architectural plans.
Speaking Through the Pyramid (Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual ) Using this ritual the Mason imbues identical crystal pyramids with the power of the leylines. He can then pass one of the pyrpy ramids to another person of his choosing, but must keep one for himself. He can initiate conversation through the pyramid at any time provided he enacts the ritual. The person with the receptor pyramid must be willing to accept the conversation, and can ignore it without penalty if he so desires. If he does accept, he is at a -2 penalty to all actions... talking in your head makes other things a little harder to concentrate on. Ways and Means: Means: A minimum of two crystal pyramids (up to a total of your Gilded Cage rating)
Strength of the Monolith (Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual ) Massive bridges straddling great rivers, great towers of concrete and glass that reach toward Heaven, and towering spindles of steel that span gorges. Monumental architecture projects a palatable aura of indestructibility. An eternal testament to strength and power. This ritual allows an Architect to tap into that strength in order to enhance her own physical prowess for a time. For each success rolled, the caster may add one bonus dice to her Strength, Dexterity or Stamina rolls. The effect functions
only so long as the caster is within or on the building on which this ritual was cast, but will function for the rest of the night as long as she returns to the building. Changing Changing buildings requires a new ritual and no more than one ritual can be enacted at once. Ways and Means: The character must be on or within the structure.
Summons to Speak (Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual ) ”
(Or, How Did You Get This Number? ) (Or, Ask Not For Whom the Phone Rings - It Rings For Thee)
This ritual permits the Architect to telephone anyone in the city. The incantation is mathematical rather than mystical, involving the numerological aspects of the phase of the moon, the time of night, the characters of the target ’s name (whatever name he is known as to the Architect - it need not be a True Name), and a host of other variables. These numbers are filtered through a tortuous quasi-mathematical equation which inevitably yields a seven-digit solution. A calculator or notepad may be used to help with the math, but is not required for the ritual. What is required required is a land line line telephone. The The solution is dialed, dialed, and the nearest land-line phone to the target begins to ring. In an effect reminiscent of Majesty 4, the target will know without a doubt that the call is for him. So will anyone else nearby. Receptionists will offer the phone to the recipient of the ritual without without answering first, saying simply “Call for you, sir.” Homeowners will allow their guest to answer, knowing knowing that the call isn ’t meant for them. There is no compulsion to answer - nothing that requires a resistance roll, anyway. Just the knowledge that the call is meant for them usually suffices. Even disabled or outof-service phones will function. Dedicated lines - like those phones installed in elevators - will serve the ritual just fine. If the subject is not near a phone - driving down the street, for instance - the Architect will somewhat irritatingly be put “on hold.” He will hear soft muzak reflecting his mood until the target approaches a suitable land-line phone. So long as he doesn’t hang up, the ritual will function. If he does hang up, the ritual fails, and the willpower spent is still lost. It should also be noted that the seven-digit result of the equation/ritual is only good once - it will not function later, and the ritualist does not gain confidential or unlisted numbers for later use. Caller ID does not identify the ritualist...indeed, it does not recognize an incoming call at all. Line Telephone Ways and Means: Means: A Land Line Example: Tanya and Drew stood around the corner of a convenience store, watching the Bus Depot burn. The Unaligned anarchists had escaped, the ransom money was going up in flames, and likely so was the Seneshcal s childe, in torpor and probably locked in one of the lock- ers in the blazing bus station. With a muffled boom, another fuel tank went up behind the depot, where the busses filled up between runs. Tan- ya ducked, hiding her face from the fireball down the block - skittish as any Mekhet. Drew refused to look away. It wasn t just a building going up in flames, he knew. It was his chances of seeing another night. Around the corner, at the front of the convenience store, a pay phone began to ring. With a cold, gnawing certainty, the Gangrel knew it was ’
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for him. He picked up the receiver, noting that that the phone had been van- dalized, and the cord was all but severed. He nonetheless held it to his ear without saying a word. From my window, I see a fire downtown. From my blood, I feel the heat. My childe is in that fire, Supplicant. Either retrieve her, or join her. Yes, Dr. Seward. Right away, sir, Drew answered, but the line was already dead. Hmm. Poor choice of words, that. With a glance at Tan- ya, he started jogging toward the inferno, steeling himself against the heat and fear. She would be of no help, and he had no choice. As the elder had demonstrated - it wasn t as if he could run. Seward would find him. “
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Viewing the Gate (Level-Two Gilded Cage Ritual ) This ritual allows the Architect to peer into a previously discovered gate to see what rests on the other side. Although not yet powerful enough to step though the gate, the Architect can still witness events happening on the other side. The duration of this ritual lasts only for 1 hour per success. Auspex abilities may be targeted at the building through this mystical connection and gain a +2 bonus, possibly allowing the viewer to penetrate Obfuscate powers (Vampire, p. 119). Ways and Means: A sketch of the gate in question with enough detail to give a good idea of its location to someone uninformed.
Dead Letter (Level-Three Gilded Cage Ritual ) Write a letter to an unknown but named target (e.g., Dear Prince of Southwark) over the course of about a week it arrives at their door, it will only be able to be used for purely mundane letters with no tracking devices or other items enclosed. There is no compulsion to reply and the sender does not know if they even received it. Only works in the same city. Ways and Means: Means: Write the letter
Pull of the Crystal Web (Level-Three Gilded Cage Ritual ) Through the workings of this ritual, the caster is able to temporarily shift the flow of leylines in his city to better suit his needs. During the workings of the ritual he reaches out and “grasps” the leyline in the air (he must know it is there either by a power that allows him to see leylines or having first used Facets of the Crystal Web successfully on the area) and then begins to pull it in the required direction. Observers will see this rather strange behaviour, but it is in no way Masquerade breaching. The ritualist can move the line by five yards per success gained on casting (accumulating less than the three required to activate the ritual achieves nothing), and can repeat the ritual to move it further. Once he has moved it, he must ‘invest’ a point of vitae into the ground to hold the line in place (he must bleed on the ground) where it will stay for one hour per dot the caster has in Gilded Cage before snapping back to it ’s previous position. Ways and Means: Being physically present at the site of the leyline to be moved.
Unified Sting of Diaphanous Steel (Level-Three Gilded Cage Ritual ) Cities are often considered places of marvel and wonder, but they can also be equally dangerous as well. This ritual allows an Architect to draw this danger to herself and make it a tangible force that she can wield within a small steel compass. Once activated, this ritual remains “charged” and waiting to be released from the compass. If anyone outside of the caster touches this compass, the charge releases instantly – the Architect cannot decide whom the ritual may ignore. The ritual has the potential to inflict one point of lethal damage for each level of the caster ’s Gilded Cage rating at time of the casting. The character may make no more “charged ” compasses than she has levels in Gilded Cage. architect’s compass. Ways and Means: Means: A steel architect
Master of the Manor (Level-Four Gilded Cage Ritual ) This ritual, one of the rarest and newest discovered by the bloodline’s members in Germany during the alignment of Berlin, allows the sorcerer an edge against all outsiders within a building. This ritual, when cast, makes it more difficult for those outside of the bloodline to cast Disciplines in the confines of the building in which it is cast for. The ritual roll is penalized by the Haven Size of the building in which it is cast. If successful, any and all Discipline rolls for those who are not of the Architects of the Monolith bloodline are penalized by the sorcerer’s dots in Gilded Cage. In the case of Disciplines which do not require a roll to activate (such as Awe, Vigor or Resilience for example), a roll of Resolve + Blood Potency, with the same Gilded Cage rating penalty, is necessary on each activation to see if it activates or simply fails to do so. The ritual lasts for one scene. Ways and Means: Floorplans of the building to be cast within and a golden heart pendant.
Radiance of the Crystal Web (Level-Four Gilded Cage Ritual ) The flow of a leyline and its resonance into an area can drastically effect the location, location, so this ritual allows an Architect to temporarily change that flow to their own ends. The Storyteller should determine the strength of the leyline before hand, between 1 and 5 - where 1 is barely a trickle, 2 is average, and 5 is a raging torrent. If the caster succeeds at the ritual, they may bleed onto the leyline to adjust its strength either up (to a maximum of 5) or down (to a minimum of 0) by a number of points up to their successes on the last draw of the ritual. If this is not enough for the caster ’s purposes, they may cast the ritual again with all the normal costs. Each point moved costs 1 vitae, and the line strength remains changed for a number of hours equal to the caster ’s dots in Gilded Cage before returning to its normal strength. The higher the temporary strength, the faster it will effect locations that it flows through with its resonance. Attempts to manipulate the line strength again within 24 hours suffer a penalty equal to the number of points of strength it has already moved. This applies to the caster as well as others.
Ways and Means: Physical access to the leyline and (drawing) compass to ritually release the vitae
Shadowed Hand of the City (Level-Four Gilded Cage Ritual ) A well-designed structure is organized in such a way as to control the flow of traffic, air, and even light. Sunlight is one of the most feared banes of the requiem, and even in their havens some Kindred do not feel safe. The Architects have have discovered a way to utilize the essence of the very structures around them to provide protection. This ritual can only effect a single room no larger than 30 feet on a side. To activate, the caster must scribe specific geometric symbols on all entrances and exits (though they must already be sealed in some other fashion, such as with heavy curtains), and while these symbols remain active the structure changes to pr e vent sunlight from entering, even if a door is flung open or curtains torn aside. The ritual remains active for one month and can only be used on an already enclosed space. This, of course, is a bit of a Masquerade breach – after all, if a building twists like a pop top to surround one small area scheduled for demolition... Ways and Means: Means: A black pearl and a slide-rule.
Traversing the Gate (Level-Four Gilded Cage Ritual ) Upon reaching this level of mastery the Mason now has the ability to traverse from one place to another using a pre-created gate. This does not give the Mason the ability to create gates or to move from one location to another unless there is a gate already present, although that gate does not have to have been created by the Architect in question. In general, it is unwise to traverse a gate without having previously used the “ Viewing the Gate ” ritual to see where it goes, and it is impossible to do so without first using the “Knowing the Gate ” ritual. Crossing through the gate is an instant action. (The ability to move without a “gate” is providence of the Level-Five Gilded Cage Ritual “Metropolis of the United Diagram ” on p. 37 of Bloodlines: The Hidden) Ways and Means: Means: Knowledge of the gate and a compass always set to north.
Creating the Gate (Level-Five Gilded Cage Ritual ) Not as powerful as the ability to traverse the city regardless of a gate, this ritual does allow a prepared Architect to create a gate from one single location to another single location. The Architect must have visited the location he wishes to make the gate open into and the ritual must be cast at one of the originating locations. Gates can be crossed in two directions; therefore the Architect must be knowledgeable of both locations. (A scene must be spent in each location previous to the casting.) Due to the nature of an Architect ’s understanding of leylines, city planning and general mystics he is unable to create this ritual in a location empty of a previous standing mundane gate or door. This ritual does not secure the gate therefore it can be found, and used, by any one with the ability to do so. An Architect can
only have as many created gates as he has willpower dots however, he does have the ability to let gates “lapse” therefore there may have been gate somewhere previously that is not there which could be quite a surprise for someone attempting to use the ritual “Traversing the Gate. ” Ways and Means: A gate, door, or other such creation (a hole in a wall would work, for e xample) and a picture or sketch of the location the gate should open into.
Ermenjart ’s Vision (Level-Five Gilded Cage Ritual ) This extremely potent ritual is prized by the Clef de Voûte of any city. It is both time consuming and expensive, but when successfully done works towards the perfect alignment of a city. This ritual is only workable on large buildings, as well. When successful, the Architect can create Haunts or Fontals (or Crucibles, though the Architects tend to not be interested in sharing that knowledge in an already secretive line). But there is more to this required than just the obtaining of the building, which must be a building of Size 4 or greater. The sorcerer must shed a number of blood or vitae at the place where this is to be cast, along it ’s foundation or upon it ’s roof, equal to twenty points per Haven Size (so a Size 4 would require 80 points of blood or vitae to be shed). Additionally, a number of willpower must be be specifically invested invested in the site of the the building (in the same location which the blood or vitae was shed) equal to the Size of the building. If this is cast where there is already a Haunt or Fontal, with intention to increase the potency or change the type of Nest , there is no willpower requirement, and only ten blood or vitae per Size level is required. It goes with saying that it is not uncommon for Architects to utilize Gather the Herd for nefarious means in conjunction with this ritual. Once successful in the creation of the mammoth task, and the casting is successful, the Architect may choose to create a Haunt, Fontal or Crucible at the site. The intensity (Value) of which is variable, as the Architects cannot control control the strength of a place for long periods of time, only create. Initially, however, for the first week of the Wyrm ’s Nest’s creation, the intensity (Value or dice bonus) of the nest is equal to the successes gained on the ritual roll. This over-amplification fades after one week. The rest of the details for that place, such as the ultimate intensity (Value) or the benefits, Resonance, Coils or bonuses gained are left to the Storytellers to determine. This ritual will alter the lines (and potentially other location location of nests if the lines are pulled out of sync from it) of a city, immediately, and Storytellers are encouraged to interweave interweave this into play. Ways and Means: The vitae or blood shed at the site as well as a mathematically and mystically accurate leyline mapping of the building and the block surrounding.
