===== Dark Magic =====
{{infobox>
Combat = Fire
Detection = Earth
Health = Water
Illusion = Air
Manipulation = Man
Drain = WIL + CHA
}}

Dark Magic is not a tradition that sees much formal
use, due to societal prejudice and an inherent
fragility. While Black Magic is a relentless drive
to power and dominion, Dark Magic is at once
elemental and petty in that it depends upon the
ego to impose the will of the mage onto reality.
In essence, it is the evolution of New Age Satanism,
which does not command obedience, but
insists upon individual pursuit of godhead, usually
through dramatic rejection of servitude (which
does not preclude making a Faustian “deal”).
Blasphemy and psychodrama are used to build
a sense of self-empowerment to achieve arcane
focus. The type of personality this attracts is often
insecure and self-important, and the validation of
magic can very often lead these mages to pure
egomania. Its magic can do anything, but its users
are rarely benevolent to others.\\

Dark mages utilize magic in a raw fashion, demanding
the best of themselves and adhering to
exercises of minor blasphemy and logic to focus
their will to shaping mana and forming spirits.
When successful, these mages are close to understanding
the Unified Magical Theory. When they
fail, they often fall into depression and uncertainty.
This means dark mages are more likely to burn out
due to a lack of faith in themselves. It is the rare
Dark Mage who can use their ego without becoming
beholden to it.\\

Dark mage conjurations may appear to be minor
demons and spirits that the mage dominates
into servitude, but many also appear as shadowy
reflections of the caster, seemingly reformed into
their master’s shape as extensions of their will.
While these shadows are quite obedient, they
are also known to act upon the id of the conjuror,
sometimes fulfilling requests in a fashion the
caster secretly desires, regardless of whether it is
to the outward benefit or detriment of the caster.\\

Their ritual work is laden with the trappings of
occultism, and many of their spells can be learned
in hermetic or Theurgist form, though the caster
will use a blasphemous inversion of the process
to highlight their triumph over doctrine and dogma.
The most likely mentor spirit archetype is the
Adversary.\\

Infected are notable among their membership
due to the practice of the tradition among certain
vampiric covens. It is hardly surprising; vampires
often justify their existence and habits by extolling
their superiority over normal metahumanity, and
that kind of self-serving pride makes Dark Magic
both tempting and easy.