The Syphon of Stars
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The Syphon of Stars is a very powerful ritual tool attuned to the raw power of magic itself. While some are crafted in the shape of a metal or glass orb they most often take the form of a chunk of irregular crystal shot through with strands of the magical [[materials]], bound in [[Materials#Tempest Jade|tempest jade]] and [[Materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]]. Very occasionally, they are crafted in the form of great tomes bound in rare hides with their covers intricately decorated; twisted ceremonial staves or rods; or small portable monoliths of dark stone engraved with depictions of various constellations and runes, especially [[The Phoenix]] - the latter are sometimes called ''Phoenix Stones'' and are popular with [[Urizen]] and [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] magicians of an experimental nature. | The Syphon of Stars is a very powerful ritual tool attuned to the raw power of magic itself. While some are crafted in the shape of a metal or glass orb they most often take the form of a chunk of irregular crystal shot through with strands of the magical [[materials]], bound in [[Materials#Tempest Jade|tempest jade]] and [[Materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]]. Very occasionally, they are crafted in the form of great tomes bound in rare hides with their covers intricately decorated; twisted ceremonial staves or rods; or small portable monoliths of dark stone engraved with depictions of various constellations and runes, especially [[The Phoenix]] - the latter are sometimes called ''Phoenix Stones'' and are popular with [[Urizen]] and [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] magicians of an experimental nature. | ||
The Syphon of Stars has | The Syphon of Stars has three main purposes. First, it can be invaluable to a coven that wishes to perform a 'formulaic' ritual that some of its members have not mastered, allowing them to reach the threshold of lore required. This is often a costly endeavour, as those coven-members still perform the ritual without the benefit of mastery, meaning that it requires more crystal mana, but without the Syphon the ritual would often be impossible to perform. | ||
In a similar vein, it allows a coven to spontaneously invoke a ritual that none of them have mastered, again with a commensurate cost in mana crystals, In emergencies, however, this extra flexibility can prove absolutely invaluable. For example, a coven of Summer magicians might draw on the Syphon to allow them to perform [[Renewed Strength of the New Day]] on their entire coven after receiving a potent curse, or a mixed coven might allow all their members to more readily benefit from a ritual such as [[Signs and Portents]] or [[Hearthfire Circle]] that takes effect only on those who [[Rituals#Contributors|contribute]] to the ritual. | In a similar vein, it allows a coven to spontaneously invoke a ritual that none of them have mastered, again with a commensurate cost in mana crystals, In emergencies, however, this extra flexibility can prove absolutely invaluable. <!--For example, a coven of Summer magicians might draw on the Syphon to allow them to perform [[Renewed Strength of the New Day]] on their entire coven after receiving a potent curse, or a mixed coven might allow all their members to more readily benefit from a ritual such as [[Signs and Portents]] or [[Hearthfire Circle]] that takes effect only on those who [[Rituals#Contributors|contribute]] to the ritual.--!> <!--None of these three examples are possible under the current game rules--!> | ||
Finally - and this use causes some cautious magicians to look askance at any coven that relies on it - is to allow magicians more flexibility in creating ritual effects 'on-the-fly' as it were. Experimental and theoretical magicians, especially those associated with the [[Unfettered Mind]] order, have used it to great effect when [[Spontaneous_magic#Arcane_Projection|improvising magical effects]]. As they sometimes say, the Syphon of Stars is at its most powerful - and most valuable - when it applies its power to ''everyone'' and when better to get this benefit than when performing a ritual that ''nobody'' knows? | Finally - and this use causes some cautious magicians to look askance at any coven that relies on it - is to allow magicians more flexibility in creating ritual effects 'on-the-fly' as it were. Experimental and theoretical magicians, especially those associated with the [[Unfettered Mind]] order, have used it to great effect when [[Spontaneous_magic#Arcane_Projection|improvising magical effects]]. As they sometimes say, the Syphon of Stars is at its most powerful - and most valuable - when it applies its power to ''everyone'' and when better to get this benefit than when performing a ritual that ''nobody'' knows? | ||
Revision as of 13:03, 7 February 2022
Description
The Syphon of Stars is a very powerful ritual tool attuned to the raw power of magic itself. While some are crafted in the shape of a metal or glass orb they most often take the form of a chunk of irregular crystal shot through with strands of the magical materials, bound in tempest jade and dragonbone. Very occasionally, they are crafted in the form of great tomes bound in rare hides with their covers intricately decorated; twisted ceremonial staves or rods; or small portable monoliths of dark stone engraved with depictions of various constellations and runes, especially The Phoenix - the latter are sometimes called Phoenix Stones and are popular with Urizen and Freeborn magicians of an experimental nature.
The Syphon of Stars has three main purposes. First, it can be invaluable to a coven that wishes to perform a 'formulaic' ritual that some of its members have not mastered, allowing them to reach the threshold of lore required. This is often a costly endeavour, as those coven-members still perform the ritual without the benefit of mastery, meaning that it requires more crystal mana, but without the Syphon the ritual would often be impossible to perform.
In a similar vein, it allows a coven to spontaneously invoke a ritual that none of them have mastered, again with a commensurate cost in mana crystals, In emergencies, however, this extra flexibility can prove absolutely invaluable.