Spell:Death of Obsidian Butterflies

Source: Book of the Emerald Circle by Brian Hon/Limited Reagent

Cost: 15m, 1wp

Circle: Emerald

Type: Simple

Keywords: Area Effect, Obvious, War

Duration: Instant

This spell calls forth a cascade of sculpted obsidian butterflies with razor-sharp wings. Their wingspans vary from an inch across to almost a foot. Flashing over the character's shoulders and past her sides in a glassy black torrent, they slash through the air in a pattern (Essence x 10) yards wide, (Essence x 40) yards long and (Essence x 4) yards high.

When the character releases the magic, her player rolls (Perception + Occult), with an Accuracy of (Essence), as an attack against all targets in the area. The swarm cannot be parried or dodged without a stunt or appropriate magic. If the attack is successfully defended against, it still hits with 0 attack successes and half base damage. If a target successfully defends and reflexively moves fully out of the attack's area of effect before the attack resolves, the effect described in the previous sentence does not apply. Wooden shields and equivalent cover do not apply, as they are automatically destroyed. The attack has a base damage of (Willpower)L/2, Piercing and Overwhelming. Brush, grass and small trees are cut off near the ground. Double base damage against structures or extremely large targets. Note this spell carries the Area Effect keyword and has special rules when used in mass combat. This spell always initiates a route check and is considered a ranged attack by Essence weapons as well as a spell.

The thousands of shattered glass butterflies don't go away after the spell concludes. This counts as an environmental hazard of Damage 1L/action, Trauma 2, which only applies to those without reinforced footwear or those who are knocked prone onto the ground. Walking barefoot in the area is not recommended.