Difference between revisions of "Spell:Corrupted Words"

Latest revision as of 02:20, 21 February 2013

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

Cost: 10m, 1wp

Circle: Emerald

Type: Simple

Keywords: Counter-Resist, Component, Sickness

Duration: Varies, until dismissed, or until the sorcerer dies

This spell helps sorcerers keep their secrets. It also enforces oaths of silence or simply prevents someone from speaking about a given subject. The subject may be as specific as "Mnemon's deal with the Mask of Winters," or as broad as "Solars in Chiaroscuro." It affects any one person the sorcerer can see within (Essence x 5) yards.

The sorcerer evokes a seething, bilious green ball between his hands. He names the subject matter about which the target cannot speak and releases the ball. The vile green energy rushes toward and into the mouth of the target and down her throat, dissolving into a ward within the target's body. This is an unblockable and undodgable attack that imposes a Sickness effect and is the only Obvious part of this spell. The player of a target with Exalted-level resilience is permitted a (Stamina + Resistance) roll at a difficulty of (Essence). Failure and the curse lasts indefinitely. Success reduces the duration of the spell from "indefinite" to "a year and a day." Every threshold success reduces the duration further, by one season per success. If five threshold successes are rolled, the spell fails to affect the target. The sorcerer immediately knows the the spell's duration.

Subjects who even think of violating the binding feel nausea. So do subjects who try to devise ways to get past the limitations of the spell, such as by writing or using sign language. Victims who ignore the warning and go ahead with their communication — be it verbal, written, silent, telepathic, or anything else — feel wracking pain and vomit dozens of fat, white maggots. The target cannot take any non-reflexive actions that action; she's in too much pain to concentrate on anything but throwing up.

This spell can provoke inconvenient reactions, from uncomprehending fear to immediate knowledge that someone doesn't want the victim to speak of something. To dismiss this spell, the sorcerer reaches into the victim's mouth and speaks the last word of the spell backward. The victim violently disgorges the spell, which manifests as a slimy, egg-like sac filled with tiny, squirming larvae.

Component: The sorcerer must be able to hold the vile green ball of energy; if he cannot, the spell cannot be cast. Furthermore, the sorcerer must be able to speak the words of the subject he wishes to deny the target from speaking about. If he cannot, the spell does not proceed. He has until the target leaves the spells range or the sorcerer removes he hands from the energy ball to speak the words, otherwise the spell ends without effect.