Vitality of Rushing Water

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

This ritual has three related effects:

• When hits are restored to the target by any means then they are also cured of the VENOM status if they were affected. This effect will not work if the purify spell would fail to remove the VENOM effect for any reason.
• The target is not subject to the venomous effects of the vallorn miasma. They will not contract green lung, nor will they become a vallornspawn husk if they die while under this enchantment.
• The target experiences a roleplaying effect: they feel healthy, vital and full of energy. They also have a greatly increased appetite, feeling the need for significantly more food and drink than they might normally require.

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

Additional Targets

This ritual can affect additional characters who are part of the same banner. Each additional character increases the magnitude by 11. Additional characters must be present throughout the ritual.

Option

Any caster who has mastered the ritual may choose to substitute Imperial Roseweald for crystal mana when contributing to it. Every 2 doses spent counts as 1 crystal mana when contributing to the ritual.

Description

The supernatural vitality offered by this ritual helps survive exposure to supernatural venom, especially the effects of close exposure to the vallorn and its creations. It is a powerful protection when facing enemies who employ tactics that make extensive use of venom, such as the Druj or the Navarr, or creatures whose presence or attacks can be dangerously toxic such as hydras or plaguewulfs.

The ritual strengthens the life of the target, such that almost any medical attention will purge the effects of venom. This greatly improves the likelihood of exposure to life-threatening poisons and venom - a chirurgeon can quickly remove the effect of exposure to a Druj knife, for example, or a single dose of True Vervain not only restore the victim of a plaguewulf to full fighting strength but also remove the threat of undying servitude should the patient fall to the creature's claws. Rather than needing to exhaust their entire reserve of personal power, a war witch can swiftly cast a heal spell on their enchanted ally, having the dual effect of restoring health and purging venom. A bold Navarr thorn can rise, unstoppable, from the ground while fighting a venomous beast not only restored to health but purged of life-threatening venom.

The ritual is not a panacea - it is sufficiently difficult that it is not a simple matter to provide it to every warrior on a battlefield - but when coupled with other protections it can greatly increase the likelihood of surviving a battle, not least because it allows existing supplies for treating poison to be spread less thinly. Those protected with the Vitality of Rushing Water can rely on more straightforward healing methods.

In some circles this ritual is called The Mark of Abraxus, after the Abraxus Stone. In Dawn it is sometimes referred to as the Breath of the Hydra, while those Highborn who have used it in skirmishes with the hated Druj call it Strength of Pure Water.

Common Elements

As with many enchantments, ritualists often mark the targets of the ritual in some way. Common elements include shared consumption of a drink or herbal preparation; painting a rune or symbol on the face or chest of the target; or securing a woven woven favour, braid or protective amulet to the target. Branches or leaves from hardy plants or those associated with good health, such as the oak, ivy or mistletoe, are sometimes woven together and worn on the head or wrists or in the hair; amber or even ambergelt jewelry might also be used to signify the protection offered by the ritual.

The idea of washing or purifying is another element that works well with this ritual. Fresh and salt water alike have resonance with a ritual designed to offer protection from dangerous impurities. Some ritualists perform a ceremonial washing of hands, while more vigorous rituals might involve pouring water over the head of the targets. With blood magic, it is not uncommon for a small amount of blood donated by a child to be mixed with water and used to anoint the targets.

Evocations of runes such as Bravash, Rhyv, Feresh or Cavul are all common, as is the constellation of The Fountain; a scene involving The Doctor or The Witch; or the strength and vitality of potent creatures such as hydras, boars or bears.