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Obtenebration is the trademark Discipline of clan Lasombra which is the unearthly control over shadows. It is related to the practice of Abyss Mysticism within the clan.

Overview[]

Obtenebration is said to further damn the vampire who uses it, who removes himself further from God's grace and into the dark pull of the Abyss. For this reason, the user is shunned by animals and humans alike.[1] Proficient users may manifest physical changes: eyes become pools of utter darkness, shadows move of their own accord in her presence, and from time to time, spontaneous Obtenebration effects may manifest.[2]

The unnatural darkness summoned by Obtenebration is extremely frightening to mortals, animals, and even other Cainites unaccustomed to its use. The exact nature of this Discipline is unknown even among its greatest masters, and it has been a subject of religious, philosophical, and metaphysical debate among vampires for millennia. The Shadow Crusade believes that Obtenebration stems from the Iryi Azaneal, who gave Lasombra parts of its qlippothic powers in order to manifest in this world.

Its greatest scholars are the followers of the Path of Night and practitioners of Abyss Mysticism, which draws on knowledge of this Discipline in its rituals. While fairly common within the Sabbat, Obtenebration is virtually nonexistent among Camarilla vampires and anyone seen using it would be regarded with extreme suspicion.

Official Abilities[]

Included below are the official powers described in supplements for Vampire: The Masquerade and Dark Ages: Vampire. Sources are described below in the order they were printed.

Standard Powers[]

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [1]
    • Shadow Play: Move and shape the natural shadows around you
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [2]
    • Shroud of Night: Blanket an area in a cloud of unnatural shadow that obscures light, sound, and heat
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [3]
    • Arms of the Abyss: Summon black tentacles from the shadows to assist you
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet [4]
    • Black Metamorphosis: Encase your body in nightmarish armor and grow black tentacles from your sides
    • Nightshades: Create temporary objects made of shadow
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet [5]
    • Tenebrous Form: Transform into pure shadow that can only be harmed by fire, sunlight, or magic

Advanced Powers[]

  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [6]
    • Aegis of Shadows: Cover yourself in powerful shadow armor
    • Eyes of the Night: See without light, even through supernatural darkness
    • Shadowstep: Teleport from shadow to shadow
    • Shadow Parasite: Grow a black tentacle within a target until it kills them
    • Shadow Perspective: Move senses to a nearby shadow
    • The Darkness Within: Cover a target in a horrid shadow that drains them of blood
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [7]
    • Darksight: Watch and listen through any shadow in the world
    • Fortify Against Ahura Mazda: Your shadows summoned through Obtenebration become resistant to sunlight
    • Shadow Lair: Pause mid-step when using Shadowstep
    • Shadow Twin: Animate your shadow into a weaker duplicate of yourself
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [8]
    • Dark Hunter: Create a shadow duplicate of yourself that hunts a specific target
    • Inner Darkness: Draw the shadow into yourself to gain great power
    • Night Shades: Summon shades to act as your servants
    • Oubliette: Lock one person in an Abyssal prison
    • Shadow Watchtower: Merge with a shadow, becoming invulnerable to everything except sunlight
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet [9]
    • Ahriman's Demesne: Blanket an area in a darkness that devours everything it touches
    • Enter the Abyss: Enter and leave the Abyss at any time, allowing you to teleport from shadow to shadow around the world
    • Tchernabog: Temporarily blot out the sun in your area
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet [10]
    • Banishment: Send someone to the Abyss for an extended period of time
    • Plot Device

Rituals[]

The rituals of Obtenebration were developed by Lasombra mystics known as Abyss Mystics, and as such when one's knowledge of Obtenebration includes rituals this Discipline is sometimes instead called Abyss Mysticism.

For a complete list of Obtenebration Rituals see the Rituals article.

Gallery[]

VTES cards[]

References[]



^  Level 1

Shadow Play Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 199
Shadow Play Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 156
Shadow Play Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition Pg. 169
Shadow Play Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 200

^  Level 2

Shroud of Night Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 109
Nocturne Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 156
Shroud of Night Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition Pg. 169
Nocturne Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 200

^  Level 3

Arms of the Abyss Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 109
Arms of Ahriman Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 156
Arms of the Abyss Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition Pg. 169
Arms of Ahriman Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 200

^  Level 4

Nightshades Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 109
Nightshades Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 156
Black Metamorphosis Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition Pg. 169
Nightshades Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 200

^  Level 5

Shadow Body Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 109
Tenebrous Form Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 157
Tenebrous Form Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition Pg. 169
Tenebrous Avatar Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 200

^  Level 6

Call the Lamprey Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 110
Eyes of the Night Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 110
Eyes of the Night Laws of Elysium Pg. 68
Shadow Step Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 110
Shadow Step Laws of Elysium Pg. 68
Walk the Abyss Vampire: The Dark Ages Pg. 201
Shadow Parasite Clanbook: Lasombra Pg. 34
Darksome Embrace Dark Ages Companion Pg. 86
Shadowstep Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 111
The Darkness Within Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 111
Walk the Abyss Dark Ages: Vampire Rulebook Pg. 201
Aegis of Shadows Players Guide to High Clans Pg. 156
Shadow Perspective Lore of the Clans Pg. 124

^  Level 7

Shadow Slave Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 112
Darksight Clanbook: Lasombra Pg. 34
Death Shroud Dark Ages Companion Pg. 87
Shadow Twin Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 112
Fortify Against Ahura Mazda Players Guide to High Clans Pg. 157
Shadow Lair Lore of the Clans Pg. 124

^  Level 8

Entombment Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 110
Master of the Night Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 110
Night Shades Dark Ages Companion Pg. 87
Dark Hunter Libellus Sanguinis 1: Masters of the State Pg. 30
Oubliette Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 112
Inner Darkness Players Guide to High Clans Pg. 157
Shadow Watchtower Lore of the Clans Pg. 124

^  Level 9

Summon the Abyss Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 111
Tchernabog Libellus Sanguinis 1: Masters of the State Pg. 31
Ahriman's Demesne Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 112
Enter the Abyss Players Guide to High Clans Pg. 158

^  Level 10

Banishment Players Guide to the Sabbat Pg. 111
Plot Device Gehenna Pg. 182


Vampire: The Masquerade Disciplines
Animalism · Auspex · Blood Sorcery · Celerity · Dominate · Fortitude · Obfuscate · Oblivion · Potence · Presence · Protean · Thin-Blood Alchemy
Amalgams Chimerstry · Dementation · Obeah · Serpentis · Valeren · Vicissitude
Legacy Abombwe · Bardo · Chimerstry · Daimonion · Deimos · Dementation · Flight · Kai · Kineticism · Maleficia · Melpominee · Mytherceria · Nihilistics · Obeah · Obtenebration · Quietus · Rift · Sanguinus · Serpentis · Spiritus · Striga · Temporis · Thanatosis · Valeren · Vicissitude · Visceratika
Legacy Blood Magic Abyss Mysticism · Akhu · Thaumaturgical Countermagic · Dur-An-Ki · Mortis · Nahuallotl · Voudoun Necromancy · Western Necromancy · Ogham · Sadhana · Sihr · Thaumaturgy · Dark Thaumaturgy · Sielanic Thaumaturgy · Assamite Sorcery · Anarch Sorcery · Koldunic Sorcery · Setite Sorcery · Wanga
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