spells.tex

\chapter[Chamber of Magic]{Magic}
\toggletrue{examplecharacter}

\begin{multicols}{2}

\noindent
Magic can do any number of things, but like anything else, it has standards.
These standards are, of course, `spells'.

Spells of the `low spheres', directly affect their elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Air, or Fate).
They produce very powerful effects, but must affect people indirectly.
A fire spell might make fire explode in someone's face, but if that someone does not stand near a fire, then the Fire Sphere will not affect them, because most people are not made out of fire.

The `high spheres' (Death, Light, Life, Force, and Mind) each need two low spheres combined to cast their spells; level 2 Light magic requires Fire 2 and Air 2, and so on.
These high spheres tend to affect people much more directly, but with smaller effects.
Death spells will encourage the little seed of death which sits within us all, and Life magic can twist or prod anything which lives.

The primordial breath to speak the language of spells comes from the wind, bringing inspiration to those who can listen.
Of course, spellcasters without the patience for inspiration often resort to just gutting a giant arachnid for its webbing, mixing in some griffin-feathers, and twisting the world by force.
A good witch leaves no part of her prey unused. 

\columnbreak
\input{config/rules/spells.tex}

\end{multicols}

\section{First Level Spells}

\begin{multicols}{2}

\subsection{Air}

\showSpells{Air1}
\showSpells{Air1}

\subsection{Fate}

\showSpells{Fate1}
\showSpells{Fate1}

\subsection{Fire}

\showSpells{Fire1}

\subsection{Water}

\showSpells{Water1}

\subsection{Death}

\showSpells{Death1}
\showSpells{Death1}

\subsection{Force}

\showSpells{Force1}

\subsection{Light}

\spell{Little Big}% Name
  {}% Enhancements
  {Warp}% Action
  {Fire, Air}% Spheres
  {\roll{Wits}{Vigilance}}% Resist with
  {The caster mixes a malaphor, and the target's size contorts like a funhouse mirror, inflicting a -\arabic{spellPlusOne} penalty to ranged attacks against them}% Description
  {A gnome seen from ten steps might appear to be the size of a human, or a human may appear the size of a gnome.
    The closer one approaches the target, the more normal it appears.}

\showSpells{Light1}

\spell{Shadow}% Name
  {}% Enhancements
  {Wane}% Action
  {Fire, Air}% Spheres
  {\roll{Wits}{Vigilance}}% Resist with
  {As the caster whispers, a single patch of darkness, the length of a step, forms anywhere within range}% Description
  {It can completely obscure a candle's light, and diminish a torch's light to the strength of a candle.

    The patch of shadow joins to a target.
    If cast on a person, the shadow remains attached to them, inflicting a -\arabic{spellPlusOne} penalty to noticing things (and becomes very irritating, very quickly).

    The shadow fades once sunlight touches it for \pgls{interval}.}

\subsection{Life}

\showSpells{Life1}

\spell{Forest Crown}% Name
  {}% Enhancements
  {Warp}% Action
  {Earth, Water}% Spheres
  {\roll{Strength}{Athletics}}% Resist with
  {The target hears how good they would look with antlers, and antlers start to grow.
  They grant +1 to Damage while using the Brawl Skill}% Description
  {
  The antlers will stop the target wearing a helmet, so they cannot wear Complete armour.
  The antlers shed over any cold season, or can be removed with a bone-knife.}

\spell{Slashers}% Name
  {}% Enhancements
  {Warp}% Action
  {Earth, Water}% Spheres
  {\roll{Strength}{Athletics}}% Resist with
  {The caster makes accusations of vile language, and the target grows needle-sharp claws.
  They grant +1 Damage when using Brawl, but inflict a -1 penalty to using weapons or other tools}% Description
  {
  The claws grow out naturally, or can be cut off at any time.}

\spell{Tweak}% Name
  {}% Enhancements
  {Warp}% Action
  {Earth, Water}% Spheres
  {target's \glspl{hp}}% Resist with
  {The caster lists how the target looks like a different race, and their features begin to shift to match}% Description
  {The target must have Attributes within the racial maximums and minimums of the target race, so a human with Strength +1 could become an elf, but Strength +3 would stop them looking remotely elf-like.

  The spell lasts until the target makes use of any characteristic of their own race.
  For humans, this means their ability to walk long-distances, and for gnomes it means trying to focus on anything.}

\pic{Roch_Hercka/polymorph}

\spell{Regeneration}% Name
  {detailed}% Enhancements
  {Wax}% Action
  {Earth, Water}% Spheres
  {current lost \glspl{hp} + 7}% Resist with
  {The caster gathers tiny gifts for the target, and they begin to regenerate Damage faster, recuperating an extra \arabic{spellPlusOne} \glspl{hp} each week}% Description
  {During this time, the target's appetite grows substantially, and they need an extra \arabic{spellCost} meals every day to keep the spell going.}

\subsection{Mind}

\showSpells{mind1}
\showSpells{mind1}

\spell{Shadow Check}% Name
  {}% Enhancements
  {Witness}% Action
  {Fate, Water}% Spheres
  {quiet thoughts}% Resist with
  {This spell tells the caster if any particular patch (and it has to be a specific patch) contains anything which has a mind}% Description
  {Shadows, statues, or suspicious bushes can all hide all manner of things.

    The spell will not say what kind of mind this is -- whether animal or person.
    It reports only `yes/ no', and often has false positives due to mice or insects (1/6 chance in daylight, 2/6 chance at night).}

\end{multicols}

\section{Second Level Spells}

\begin{multicols}{2}

\subsection{Air}

\showSpells{Air2}

\subsection{Earth}

\showSpells{Earth2}

\subsection{Fate}

\showSpells{Fate2}
\showSpells{Fate2}

\subsection{Fire}

\showSpells{Fire2}

\spell{Toothless Fire}% Name
  {duplicated}% Enhancements
  {Warp}% Action
  {Fire}% Spheres
  {intensity of the flame}% Resist with
  {This spell changes the basic nature of a fire, so it can no longer burn a certain type of material}% Description
  {Casters generally use this to stop a fire damaging people, but it could just as easily be used to stop a fire spreading to clothing.

    The fire will not stop feeding on whatever allows it to currently burn, so a wood fire will continue burning its wood.}

\subsection{Water}

\showSpells{Water2}

\spell{Detect Water}% Name
  {distant}% Enhancements
  {Witness}% Action
  {Water}% Spheres
  {water purity}% Resist with
  {The caster detects liquid within \spellRange, but nothing within a few steps of the caster.
    They know only the closest source within the range, but have no idea what kind of liquid the spell has revealled}% Description
  {It might reveal a river, a tankard of ale, or any other body apparent of liquid.}

\subsection{Death}

\showSpells{Death2}
\showSpells{Death2}

\spell{Corpse Stench}% Name
  {distant}% Enhancements
  {Witness}% Action
  {Fate, Air}% Spheres
  {time since death}% Resist with
  {Sniffing at the wind, the caster identifies any corpses within \spellRange}% Description
  {
    Casters typically use this trick to double-check if an immobile and wounded person might still have a chance of life.
  }

\spell{Infectious Migraine}% Name
  {duplicated}% Enhancements
  {Wax}% Action
  {Fate, Air}% Spheres
  {\roll{Strength}{Athletics}}% Resist with
  {As the caster roars, a deathly feeling flows over the targets, who gain \arabic{spellCost} \glspl{fatigue}}% Description
  {}

\spell{Preservation}% Name
  {detailed}% Enhancements
  {Wane}% Action
  {Fate, Air}% Spheres
  {existing rot}% Resist with
  {The caster paints a picture -- with words or brush -- of food, a shirt, or a human corpse.
  The target ceases all rotting when not in use.
  Rain or snow may fall upon it, but it will not degrade}% Description
  {
    Anyone working with the undead must make use of this spell.
    To work without it means any undead creatures summoned will not last long.

    The spell degrades when the target begins moving, and fails within \arabic{spellPlusOne} \glspl{interval}.
    Therefore, undead spellcasters, such as liches, must continuously cast this spell upon themselves.

    \index{Necromancy!Preservation}
    If cast immediately, upon death, it can arrest the effects of \textit{rigor mortis} before they begin.
  }

\widePic[t]{Roch_Hercka/flashing_light}

\subsection{Force}

\showSpells{Force2}

\spell{Friendly Bolt}% Name
  {duplicated}% Enhancements
  {Wane}% Action
  {Earth, Fire}% Spheres
  {carried items' total \gls{weight}}% Resist with
  {The caster shouts `let's go', and two targets gain a plus \arabic{spellCost} bonus to running}% Description
  {They feel suddenly lighter, as if being carried.
  However, this spell does not help with carrying heavy items.}

\spell{Traveller's Curse}% Name
  {distant}% Enhancements
  {Wax}% Action
  {Earth, Fire}% Spheres
  {\roll{Speed}{Athletics}}% Resist with
  {The caster wishes the target a bad journey, and they immediately feel heavier.
  For the next \arabic{spellCost}~\glspl{interval}, the target counts as carrying something with \pgls{weight} of \arabic{spellPlusOne}}% Description
  {
  The curse wears off once the target has marched enough, but any \glspl{interval} the target spends stationary do not count towards the spell's duration.}

\subsection{Life}

\showSpells{Life2}

\spell{Scent in the Air}% Name
  {distant}% Enhancements
  {Witness}% Action
  {Earth, Water}% Spheres
  {target's strangeness}% Resist with
  {Focussing on the air, and sniffing the wind, the caster asks politely if it will say whether or not some creature sits around \spellRange\ away}% Description
  {Other humanoids are \tn[7] to detect, beasts are \tn[9], and stranger creatures present a greater challange.}

\subsection{Light}

\showSpells{Light2}
\showSpells{Light2}

\spell{Shadow Puppet}% Name
  {detailed}% Enhancements
  {Wane}% Action
  {Fire, Air}% Spheres
  {\roll{Wits}{Vigilance}}% Resist with
  {One target shadow forms a detailed silhouette, and may even stand up and away from the ground}% Description
  {During the daylight, it simply appears very strange; but at night these shadow puppets can easily fool someone into thinking a monster, or even a particular person lies waiting, in the distance.

  The shadows disappear once bright light hits them.}

\subsection{Mind}

\showSpells{Mind2}

\spell{Awaken}% Name
  {detailed}% Enhancements
  {Wax}% Action
  {Water, Fate}% Spheres
  {spell's level}% Resist with
  {The caster explains a plan to a spell, and the spell gains an Intelligence Bonus of +\arabic{spellPlusOne} and begins enacting the plan}% Description
  {
  All spells have a small spark of sentience, endowed by their creator, so this spell exploits that fact to make a spell behave more intelligently.

  The spell begins with all of the caster's knowledge, although anything beyond general knowledge generally ends up as a tangled mess of half-memories.
  Without any interest in socializing, any social memories will simply not make sense.
  The spell has all of the caster's Skills which do not depend on any social intuition%
  \footnote{The spell gains none of the caster's magic Spheres},
  with a -1 penalty.
  However, if given a Charisma Bonus, with the Social Spell spell (\vpageref{Social Spell}), the spell will have full access to the caster's Skills (again, with a -1 penalty to each of them).

  The spell grants no Charisma Bonus, and the resulting mind has no interest in anyone, or anything, except as instruments for \emph{the plan}.
  It operates methodically, and sometimes behaves in strange, and alien ways, given its single-pointed value system.%
  \footnote{Look up `the paperclip maximizer' for an explanation of how this kind of spell can easily go horribly wrong.}
  }

\spell{Fear}% Name
  {detailed}% Enhancements
  {Wane}% Action
  {Water, Fate}% Spheres
  {\roll{Wits}{Academics}}% Resist with
  {The caster explains to the target their imminent death.
    If the target ever finds themselves facing the danger the caster described, they take a -\arabic{spellPlusOne} penalty to Mind Attributes}% Description
  {The spell lasts until the character gains \pgls{xp} for following their Code.}

\spell{Social Spell}% Name
  {detailed}% Enhancements
  {Warp}% Action
  {Water, Fate}% Spheres
  {spell's level}% Resist with
  {The caster speaks to a spell like a dog, which awakens an instinct to socialize, and grants it a +\arabic{spellPlusOne} Charisma Bonus (but no Intelligence)}% Description
  {
  Casters might use this spell to let an illusion interact semi-realistically with people (it will smile and listen, but cannot speak).

  The newly created mind gains all of the caster's Skills which rely primarily on social graces (Deceit, Empathy, and Performance), with a -1 penalty to each.
  It also gains their spell Spheres with a -1 penalty, but does not need an audible voice to use them.

  The spell typically tries to attack the caster's enemies, and then interact with the caster and their friends.

  }

\end{multicols}

\section{Third Level Spells}

\begin{multicols}{2}

\subsection{Air}

\spell{Clawing Wisps}% Name
  {detailed, duplicated}% Enhancements
  {Wax}% Action
  {Air}% Spheres
  {wind speed}% Resist with
  {The caster gives a battle-cry, and cloud-lined spirits, appearing like small copies of the caster, push any enemies (but not allies) back, reducing their \glspl{ap} by \arabic{spellPlusOne}}% Description
  {}

\showSpells{Air3}
\showSpells{Air3}

\subsection{Earth}

\spell{Mud Clamp}% Name
  {duplicated, detailed}% Enhancements
  {Wax}% Action
  {Earth}% Spheres
  {\roll{Strength}{Wyldcrafting}}% Resist with
  {The caster shouts `\textit{hold fast}', as snow or mud becomes solid, encasing any feet pushed into the ground.
  Targets then count as \textit{Entangled}}% Description
  {
  The spell suffers a -2 penalty when used against creatures without flat feet (such as hooves, or most other animal feet), but can also gain up to a +2 bonus in particularly deep mud or snow.}

\showSpells{Earth3}

\subsection{Fate}

\spell{Blessed Army}% Name
  {duplicated, distant}% Enhancements
  {Wax}% Action
  {Fate}% Spheres
  {targets' Charisma (inverted)}% Resist with
  {The caster gives good wishes, and \arabic{spellTargets} targets receive \showDam~\glspl{fp}}% Description
  {The \glspl{fp} remain until used.}

\showSpells{Fate3}

\subsection{Fire}

\showSpells{Fire3}

\spell{Naked Fire}% Name
  {duplicated, distant}% Enhancements
  {Warp}% Action
  {Water}% Spheres
  {size of fire}% Resist with
  {After instructing all the fire around on proper etiquette, \arabic{spellTargets} \glspl{step} fires around \spellRange\ turns blue, and stops burning flesh.
  It continues to act upon wood, hair, and clothing as normal}% Description
  {}

\subsection{Water}

\showSpells{Water3}

\subsection{Death}

\showSpells{Death3}

\spell{Stench Sort}% Name
  {distant, detailed}% Enhancements
  {Witness}% Action
  {Fate, Air}% Spheres
  {time since death}% Resist with
  {Detect the corpse of a named species within \spellRange}% Description
  {
    Sniffing at the wind, the caster identifies any corpses from a particular species within \spellRange.
    Possible types include `elves', `woodspies', or `bats'.
  }

\subsection{Force}

\showSpells{Force3}

\subsection{Life}

\showSpells{Life3}

\spell{Herd Protection}% Name
  {duplicated, distant}% Enhancements
  {Warp}% Action
  {Earth, Water}% Spheres
  {current \glspl{hp}}% Resist with
  {The caster yells warnings, and the targets gain \gls{dr}~\arabic{spellCost} as their skin becomes thick}% Description
  {Unfortunately, the tough hide feels heavy, and effectively counts as an item with \pgls{weight} of \arabic{spellCost}.
  The hide usually comes with fur, and protects against the cold as well as Damage.

  When the spell combines with others, to boost the target's Strength and grant claws, they eventually look just like a regular bear.

  The strange skin fades to normal once the target takes Damage and heals.}

\spell{Piglet Farm}% Name
  {duplicated, detailed}% Enhancements
  {Wane}% Action
  {Earth, Water}% Spheres
  {\glspl{hp}}% Resist with
  {The caster cries `\textit{Pigs}', and the first \arabic{spellTargets} targets within \spellRange\ shrink, take a -\arabic{spellPlusOne} Strength Penalty}% Description
  {
  This penalty stacks as usual, so targets who already have a basic Strength Penalty of -2 would take this penalty, and then half of their regular Strength penalty, for a total of -\arabic{spellPlusTwo}.}

\subsection{Light}

\showSpells{Light3}

\subsection{Mind}

\spell{Carrier Crow}% Name
  {detailed, distant}% Enhancements
  {Warp}% Action
  {Water, Fate}% Spheres
  {\roll{Wits}{Brawl}}% Resist with
  {Whistling to a distant animal, the caster instils an instinct to enact a single plan.
  The animal gains Intelligence +\arabic{spellPlusOne}, used only to complete the plan}% Description
  {
  The spell is most often used to have birds deliver very small messages, written on small slivers of paper, but could also be used for any number of missions.

  The target animal gains all of the caster's Skills which do not rely on understanding social graces (so it cannot use any magical Spheres).

  Less cohesive animals, such as a bee-hive or swarm of stirges%
  \footnote{As Terry Pratchett once said, a bee is not an animal -- the hive is the animal, it simply has more mobile cells than most.}
  add +4 to the \gls{tn}.
  }

\showSpells{Mind3}

\pic{Roch_Hercka/elvish_enchanter}

\subsection{Divergent}

\showSpells{FireWater3}

\end{multicols}

\section{Fourth Level Spells}

\begin{multicols}{2}

\subsection{Air}

\showSpells{Air4}

\subsection{Earth}

\showSpells{Earth4}

\subsection{Death}

\showSpells{Death4}

\subsection{Fate}

\showSpells{Fate4}

\subsection{Fire}

\showSpells{Fire4}

\subsection{Water}

\showSpells{Water4}

\subsection{Force}

\showSpells{Force4}

\subsection{Life}

\showSpells{Life4}

\subsection{Light}

\showSpells{Light4}

\subsection{Mind}

\showSpells{Mind4}

\subsection{Divergent}

\showSpells{MindForce4}

\end{multicols}