Dark Magic ========== Magic is an esoteric art that is very dangerous even in the best case scenarios. It takes its energy from the life essence of everything around the caster. A magic-user knows how to tap just enough, to power their spells in a somewhat safe way. .. _spells-section: Spells ~~~~~~ .. compound:: Spells must be tattooed on the caster's body and recited at the time of execution. To create a Spell, generate a formula with a d6: 1-2: **Effect + Element**, 3-4: **Element + Form**, 5-6: **Effect + Form**. Then define it with the following tables, extrapolating function from its name. Roll d12 to generate the **Effect**. +---+--------------+---+----------------+ | 1 | Transforming | 7 | Mending | +---+--------------+---+----------------+ | 2 | Attracting | 8 | Disintegrating | +---+--------------+---+----------------+ | 3 | Paralyzing | 9 | Repelling | +---+--------------+---+----------------+ | 4 | Revealing | 10| Spawning | +---+--------------+---+----------------+ | 5 | Shielding | 11| Disrupting | +---+--------------+---+----------------+ | 6 | Deceiving | 12| Corrupting | +---+--------------+---+----------------+ Roll d12 to generate the **Element**. +---+---------------+---+-------------------+ | 1 | Acid / Poison | 7 | Air / Wind | +---+---------------+---+-------------------+ | 2 | Mind / Soul | 8 | Thunder / Ray | +---+---------------+---+-------------------+ | 3 | Fire / Heat | 9 | Stone / Earth | +---+---------------+---+-------------------+ | 4 | Flesh / Body | 10| Time / Age | +---+---------------+---+-------------------+ | 5 | Water / Ice | 11| Nature / Plant | +---+---------------+---+-------------------+ | 6 | Shadow / Void | 12| Illusion / Mirage | +---+---------------+---+-------------------+ Roll d12 to generate the **Form**. +---+----------------+---+----------------+ | 1 | Armor / Shield | 7 | Cloak / Zone | +---+----------------+---+----------------+ | 2 | Arrow / Bolt | 8 | Touch / Grasp | +---+----------------+---+----------------+ | 3 | Aura / Sphere | 9 | Trap / Prison | +---+----------------+---+----------------+ | 4 | Blast / Beam | 10| Wall / Barrier | +---+----------------+---+----------------+ | 5 | Blade / Slash | 11| Vortex / Pit | +---+----------------+---+----------------+ | 6 | Cloud / Fog | 12| Clone / Image | +---+----------------+---+----------------+ ------------ Spellcasting ~~~~~~~~~~~~ | The effect of "safe" magic is usually subtle. This means the effect is often temporary and low-impact, avoiding significant changes to the environment or the caster. Sorcerers avoid detection by casting subtle spells that go unnoticed. | Roll *+Sorcery* or a similar skill, vs a :hoverxref:`Low Difficulty ` set by the GM. | On a *CRITICAL FAILURE*, a *Magical Mishap* occurs (see below). | **DEFILING MAGIC** is the process to tap more than what's safe for greater power. Plants wither and die, soil goes infertile and dry, and creatures weaken and writhe. | When you choose to do so, add +3 to your roll if you defile a few meters around you, or +5 if you desecrate a bigger area. | The :hoverxref:`difficulty ` is set by the GM, but usually it is *Medium* or *Hard*. | The spell effect is stronger, but if you roll a *FAILURE* or you obtain a total result *equal to or higher than 20*, you trigger a *Magical Mishap*. Magical Mishaps ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Roll d20 + the :hoverxref:`Negative Effect ` (in case of Failure) or + the :hoverxref:`Positive Effect ` (in case of a total result of 20+ while *Defiling*): .. list-table:: :widths: 10, 90 * - 2-3 - You speak and write gibberish until rest. * - 4-5 - You start glowing, attracting attention. * - 6-7 - The weather worsens locally, following you around, until rest. * - 8-9 - Something nearby spontaneously catches on fire. * - 10 - Every magically-attuned being in the area gains a ``Disoriented (Mild, -1)`` Condition. * - 11 - An anomalous light beam triggers at your location; a magical beacon that attracts any arcane-attuned being. * - 12 - One of your body parts or facial features changes into that of an animal (detrimental/awkward), until rest. * - 13 - The spell targets a random, unwanted target. * - 14 - The spell effect is much smaller/bigger than expected, to your detriment. * - 15 - Your mind switches bodies with that of a nearby ally, until rest. * - 16 - You lose the ability to understand any spoken word until rest. * - 17 - One of your limbs is petrified (a ``Moderate (-3)`` Condition) until rest. * - 18 - An explosion of arcane energy deals 8 damage to you and anyone close, and 4 damage to anyone nearby. * - 19 - You become deaf or blind (a ``Severe (-5)`` Condition) until rest. * - 20 - The spell does the opposite of the intended effect, to your detriment. * - 21 - An Item you carry (or that of a nearby ally) is broken or spent and must be repaired or refilled. * - 22 - A localized earthquake occurs: the ground cracks, structures collapse, people is hurt, etc. It lasts for 1 minute, complicating everyone with a ``Moderate (-3)`` Condition. * - 24 - The area turns into an arcane nega-zone where no spells can be cast, for a year. * - 25 - An entity of horror is summoned. It is angry and has no master. * - 26+ - You tear a gash in reality. The pitch-black tear grows larger by the hour, until it devours everything that exists. ------------ .. _rituals-section: Rituals ~~~~~~~ Some special or powerful effects cannot be cast instantly (or be encoded as spells), and require a more involved process, known as a **Ritual**. Magic Rituals can potentially achieve any desired effect the caster can imagine. The GM sets **1 to 4 conditions** before you roll: - It's going to take hours/days/weeks/months - You must perform it at a special place/time - First you must do [X] or get help from [X] - The effect will be unreliable or limited - You and your allies will risk danger from [X] - You'll have to sacrifice or consume [X] to do it