Obtenebration

Obtenebration is the trademark Discipline of Clan Tenebra and is essentially the unearthly control of shadow itself. Obtenebration is said to further damn the vampire who uses it, who removes himself further from the Sun's grace and into the dark pull of the Outer Darkness. For this reason, the user is shunned by animals and humans alike. 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. In fact, the powers granted to a practitioner of Obtenebration through his blood are those same ones gained by the occult followers of dark powers such as Ahriman, Camazotz and Satan.

The unnatural darkness summoned by Obtenebration is extremely frightening to mortals, animals, and even other vampires 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 Kraken, who gave Tenebrous a portion of its mystical powers in order to manifest in the world’s deepest oceans. Its greatest scholars are the followers of the Path of the Abyss, which draws on knowledge of this Discipline in its rituals. While fairly common within the Consortium, Obtenebration is virtually nonexistent among Via Sanctum vampires and anyone seen using it would be regarded with extreme suspicion or outright hostility.