Thundering Roar of the Lion-bound Horn

Rules

Performing the Ritual

Performing this ritual takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This ritual targets a character, who must be present throughout. The target character must be a contributor participating in the performance of the ritual.

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

Effects

This enchantment allows the target to call MASS VENOM once during the duration.

While under the effect of the enchantment, the target experiences a role-playing effect: their body seethes with magical power that makes it difficult to relax or concentrate. The longer they spend in inactivity (talking, sleeping, waiting), the worse this gets. It may include feverish symptoms (as if the blood or body were on fire), a whole body itch (as if invisible insects were burrowing beneath the skin), or aching bones and inflamed of the joints. This effect is particularly pronounced if the target has the briar lineage; a briar under the influence of this enchantment finds it difficult to stay still for extended periods, and feels the urge to take decisive action right now.

The effect lasts until the end of the next battle, skirmish or quest the character participates in; or until the end of the current event, whichever is sooner. The power of the ritual can be invoked only once during this time.

Additional Targets

The ritual can affect additional characters from the same coven. Each additional character increases the magnitude of the spell by 35. Additional characters must be present throughout, and each must contribute to the performance of the ritual.

Option

The ritualists may burn up to 20 measures of beggar's lye as part of the ritual. Every two measures used in this way reduces the magnitude of the ritual by 1.

Option

Any caster who has mastered the ritual may choose to substitute tempest jade for crystal mana when contributing to it. Every 2 ingots of tempest jade spent counts as 1 crystal mana when contributing to the ritual.

Description

This battlefield ritual allows a powerful magical attack to be unleashed against a group of enemies, hurling them backwards and breaking their formation. Like similar rituals, the attack is temporarily stored in a rod, staff or wand, and then unleashed at the most tactical moment.

The ritual is named after the legendary war-horn of the Eternal Hayaak, the Gryphon-king, whose irresistible wrath sweeps all before it.

Common Elements

When performing this ritual, a coven often invokes symbols of strength and physical might. Some magicians might invoke the unleashed power of an earthquake, while others look to legendary figures like Inga Tarn or Korl. Others invoke the names of Eternals such as Barien or Hayaak. This is a ritual that creates a violent force, and as such the ritual itself is often violent with sudden movement and discordant or clashing music. Drums and cymbals are quite appropriate, but the sound of horns being blown can be a particularly powerful element.

The focus of this ritual is an implement, and the role it plays in the ritual can be quite important. Some ritualists take it in turn to beat the implement against a solid surface, passing it back and forth as the strength of the ritual grows. Others place the implement in the middle of the ritual and move around it, touching it with their hands and magic as they increase the power of the ritual.

Other common elements in this ritual might include the runes Verys or Mawrig, and occasionally the rune of dominion. They might call on the constellation of The Dragon, or evoke the powerful roar of the lion, chimera or wyvern.