Bright Lantern of Ophis

Rules

Performing the Ritual

Performing this ritual takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. The ritual targets a single magical effect which must be present throughout.

Effects

The ritual reveals information about an enchantment, curse or other magical effect. It is most often used on a character or item that is present. It can also be used on a special effect that is anchored to an area such as the aura created by The Solace of Chimes.

When completed the ritual provides the following information about the magical effect:

• It determines the realm and magnitude of the effect
• It determines what the effect does, and provides details of how it works.
• It reveals any remaining duration.
• It reveals any conditional effects, or any special methods that exist for removing the effect.
• It may provide information about where the magical effect has come from (a ritual or the supernatural abilities of an Eternal, for example).

Some of these effects are similar to those provided by detect magic but unlike that spell, Bright Lantern of Ophis can penetrate effects designed to stymie or confuse divinations such as Incantation's Mystic Mask. The ritual must match or exceed the magnitude of any concealing effect on the item to penetrate it; otherwise the only information the ritual will reveal is whether the item is bonded or not; that there is an obscuring effect; and the magnitude and realm of that effect.

Additional Magnitude

You may increase the magnitude of the ritual to penetrate more powerful shrouds or masks.

Description

This ritual is rarely useful for identifying effects that can be created by the spells mastered by Imperial magicians; it is much more useful for investigating and analysing effects created by barbarians, foreigners and Eternals or by those rare effects that occur spontaneously. It is usually a good idea to use detect magic or a similar spell first, to ensure that there is actually something there to analyse.

It will only work on a magical effect that is actually present, and close enough to touch. For example, to gather information about a magical ward the ritualists must get close enough to touch the effect. This means that it might be useful to gather information about a large-scale effect such as a curse on a territory, but only if the magicians are actually in that territory examining something directly effected by the magic. To use Bright Lantern of Ophis to analyse a magical effect blighting the trees in a the forests of Miaren. the ritual must be performed within touching distance of a blighted tree. It is usually much more effective to use The Eye of the High Places.

This ritual is very old; there is some supposition that the detect magic spell was refined from it centuries ago.

Common Elements

This ritual often involves active divination, often with runestones or cards. Lenses and mirrors are often used to closely examine the target, scyring for the signs of bonds and magical effects. The area where the ritual is performed is usually well-lit, either by sunlight or by multiple lamps, laterns, light-stones or fires. The runes Sular and Ophis may be evoked - the former by covens who actively examine and seek information during the performance, the latter by covens that prefer to rely on sudden revelation to deliver information to them. The former group are usually active in handling the target, while the latter focus more on drawing up (or down) magical energies and may use incense, water or even some narcotics to empower their ritual.