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.