Swan's Cruel Wing

Rules

Performing the Ritual

Performing this ritual takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This ritual targets a character, who must be present throughout.

This ritual is an enchantment. A target may only be under one enchantment effect at a time.

Effects

The target may call cleave once per day with any melee weapon except a pike.

The effect lasts until the start of the next Profound Decisions Empire event.

Additional Targets

This ritual can affect additional characters from the same banner. Every two additional characters increases the magnitude by 5. Additional characters must be present throughout.

Description

This enchantment is among one of the best-known Summer rituals. Along with Swift Leaping Hare, Hammer of Thunder and Strength of the Bull it provides a coven with the ability to select the right enchantment to enhance any band of warriors.

The Swan's Cruel Wing is also known as The Hungry Blade (or axe, or what-have-you), or The Dolorous Blow. It has several advantages over other enchantments of Summer because almost anyone can benefit from it; there is no requirement to have mastered a specific weapon to strike a devastating blow.

Common Elements

This ritual usually involves both the target and their armoury. A ritualist might trace matching runes on weapons and warrior, or might anoint them with a mixture of blood and oil. A toast is often drunk, especially when the ritual is performed on a band of warriors rather than a single target. Legendary warriors, especially those who fought and triumphed against great odds, are often invoked as are Paragons and Exemplars of warlike mien.

Any of the Summer runes might be evoked, but Tykonus, the rune of victory, is the most common. An evocation of The Stallion or The Oak may be appropriate with this ritual, as are evocations of horses, unicorns and dragons.