Abyss Mysticism
As the Lasombra delved deeper into the secrets of Obtenebration, they discovered it drew power from a dark realm of shadows called the Abyss. Mystics within the Clan began to study this secret realm to unlock its secrets, and through this developed the art of Abyss Mysticism. The Lasombra keep this power secret from the rest of the Sabbat, as the creatures they summon and control with it are as dark as they are mysterious. Abyss Mysticism is difficult and time consuming to learn, and comes at a cost. Its rituals often have side effects that create Flaws the character cannot remove that provide no bonus points. To learn the power, a vampire must have at least one dot in both Obtenebration and Occult. She may not learn any Abyss rituals higher than the lowest of her Obtenebration or Occult ratings, and each ritual costs the same XP as Obten per level and must be purchased in the same manner as disciplines. Abyss rituals are cast using a Perception + Charisma roll. The difficulty is 3 + the level of the ritual being cast. Only one success is required to cast the ritual, but the Storyteller is encouraged to make the penalties for failure especially horrifying.

Light within Shadow
(Level One Ritual)
One of the first powers a savant of darkness learns is the ability to see in darkness. Using this ritual, the mystic summons up a ball of shadow and stares into it for so long that her eyes permanently attune themselves to the dark.
System: Upon successful casting this ritual, the Lasombra summons into her hand a sphere of pure shadow. As she stares into the sphere, she makes a Perception + Charisma (difficulty 8) roll. The Mystic may use this power for another to gain this benefit, but their roll will be increased to difficulty 10. If the roll is successful, she permanently gains the Controllable Night Sight Merit. If they fail, they may try again the next night, but if they botch they permanently gain the Uncontrollable Night Sight Flaw.
Side Effect: Whenever the vampire uses her new vision, her eyes become disturbing inky black pits of shadow. If she has no control over her sight, her eyes will always look like this.

Comforting Darkness
(Level Two Ritual)
The Abyss can heal as well as harm. Using this power, the vampire draws darkness into herself and uses it to heal her wounds. However, there is a price to be paid, and the Abyss will claim it in blood.
System: Once this ritual is cast, the vampire makes a Perception + Willpower roll (difficulty 8). If the vampire botches, the darkness burns her, and she takes 2 levels of damage. If the vampire succeeds, the vampire may heal 1 level of damage. Unfortunately there is an additional cost before the darkness inside is sated. All blood the vampire consumes feeds the dark inside, not even entering her own system. This goes on for two feeding scenes. Until this cost is paid, the Cainite cannot use this ritual again. It can also only be used once each night.
Side Effect: The taint of darkness never leaves the caster’s blood, turning it a dark ruddy hue, almost black, forever.

Claiming the Dark
(Level Three Ritual)
This ritual allows the caster to merge with the shadows, drawing the power of the Abyss into herself. However, the cost for this power, as always, is blood.
System: When casting this ritual, the vampire cuts herself open with a knife and draws the surrounding shadows into her own body. The process takes an hour and is very painful, subtracting two dice from any rolls the Cainite makes for the duration. After this torment, the vampire makes a Perception + Willpower roll (difficulty 8) to hold the power of the shadows inside her. If she fails, the shadows escape her, and if she botches, the shadows inflict 1 point of damage for each 1 rolled as well. If she succeeds, her skin turns dark and her eyes become black. All her physical attributes rise to the level of her Obtenebration if they are lower (up to 4). Obtenebration powers up to level three are used at -1 difficulty. This augmentation lasts for as long as the vampire desires. Unfortunately, upon rising from slumber each night, the vampire in this condition must pay an additional temporary willpower cost equal to half of their Obtenebration rating rounded up. Should she fail to do so, she returns to normal. In her augmented form, she is also more vulnerable to sunlight and takes triple damage from it. Her Charisma also drops by one point while empowered.
Side Effect: Should the vampire spend more consecutive days in this form than her willpower, her skin begins to darken permanently, in a similar way to elder Assamites with the loss of charisma being permanent. You will also no longer be able to go above four in charisma.

Vision of Shadow
(Level Four Ritual)
There are shadows everywhere, and with this power, the mystic can use them to observe her enemies without their notice. Using the Obtenebration power, the Cainite calls up a ball of shadows and uses it like a crystal ball to see what her enemies are up to several miles away.
System: The vampire makes a casting roll to call up a ball of shadow that she will use to scry on a target. If the caster fails the roll, nothing happens, but a botch leaves her confused and disoriented, suffering –2 to all dice pools for the rest of the night. The Cainite then concentrates on a person or location she has previously seen. As she does so, the shadow ball will become clear to reveal a vision of that place or person at that very moment. There must be shadows near the target, and the vision will come from the most optimal position in these shadows. The vision lasts for a scene, or until the target leaves the area. If the target has the ability to sense such scrying (such as with Auspex or a similar power), he can attempt a Perception + Alertness roll (difficulty 10 – your Auspect rating.) to know he is being watched.
Side Effect: Looking too far into the distance makes the Cainite less aware of what is happening right under her nose. For the rest of the night after successfully casting this ritual, she suffers -1 to all perception rolls.

Commune with the Abyss
(Level Five Ritual)
The Abyss listens. It is a place of secrets, and they say it hears every whisper ever spoken. With this power, the mystic infuses herself with the shadow so completely that their minds become one. Once joined, the petitioner can ask one question of the darkness, which for once cannot hide the answer.
System: By casting this ritual, the vampire draws into herself the surrounding shadows and darkness. Once they are gone, the vampire falls into a deep torpor-like sleep from which she cannot awaken. The character may then ask one question, which may be as mundane or as complicated as she desires. The Storyteller gives this question a rating based on how obscure or difficult it might be to answer, from one to ten. The rating may even be higher than ten if the question is truly momentous. Each hour the vampire remains in their torpid slumber, she rolls Perception + Charisma (difficulty 8) and keeps a note of her cumulative successes. Once the amount of successes equals the rating of the question, the vampire awakes suddenly knowing the answer. This answer will be true and complete, and not hidden in a riddle. The Abyss only hides the truth; it does not confuse it or guard it jealously. Should the vampire fail to gain any successes on one of the rolls, the interval between making rolls moves from hours to days. Continued failure moves this interval from days to weeks, to months, years, and even further. It is said that ancient mystics have lain for centuries contemplating the ultimate questions of the universe. There may even be Gehenna cults that await their awakening.
Side Effect: The touch of shadow never leaves those who have communed with it in this way. After each use of this ritual, the vampire loses one charisma point permanently that may be repurchased with charisma afterwards. This also gives +1 to charisma when dealing with Abyss Mystic NPC which is also cumulative for every two times when asking a question. These modifiers are cumulative and gradually divorce the vampire from those not comfortable with the shadow. They also permanently gain the Nightmares Flaw