Crystaline Focus of Aesh

Rules

Performing the Ritual

Performing this ritual takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying.

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

Effects

This enchantment effects the coven bond directly. The next ritual that is performed using the coven bond has its magnitude reduced by ten.

When the ritual is completed, each ritualist present experiences a short-lived roleplaying effect: they become profoundly aware of all other members of the coven present. For a short period (at least thirty seconds), they are unable to understand or in some cases even perceive people who were not part of the ritual. The coven members experience the same effect during the next ritual they cast, using the coven bond, even if they were not involved in performing this ritual.

The enchantment ends when the coven bond is used to perform a ritual, or at the next sunrise, whichever comes first.

Description

This is an adaptation of the Sign of Aesh spell, designed to allow a coven to focus their minds and knowledge much more effectively. It is sometimes used to allow a coven to perform a ritual that is beyond their combined powers, whether due to the absence of one or more ritualists, or because they lack the raw understanding to perform a spontaneous effect. It can also be used to allow ritualists to add another target to a ritual they do not have quite enough mastery to achieve by themselves. It is especially effective at allowing scholars of Day magic to perform rituals of other lores in which they are less proficient.

It cannot be denied that this effect is 'expensive', costing easily sixteen crystal mana to get a comparatively small bonus. The advantage is that by reducing the magnitude of the next ritual, the coven effectively gets at least five crystal mana, and even more benefit if they are able to perform a ritual effect that might otherwise have been out of their reach. It is also worth noting that some Eternals of Day have access to objects or substances that can enhance the effectiveness of this ritual, or allow it to be performed with less crystal mana.

Common Elements

This ritual often involves group meditation, or chants including the recitation of a complex mathematical formulae. Similar effects are achieved by reading from books or scrolls. Reciting a rote passage without reference to written text is another element that helps bring the minds of the ritualists into harmony. Bells, chimes and gongs might be used; sometimes the ritualists focus on their fading notes, sometimes all the ritualists strike individual instruments in unison, harmonising their music as they harmonise their minds.

Many ritualists draw a complex diagram on the ground during this ritual, sometimes with coloured sand or powder, but more often with myriad small pieces of crystal. If this diagram can be created free-hand by multiple ritualists, it again makes it easier to unite their efforts and strengthen their coven bond.

The rune Aesh is almost always evoked with this spell, often in the form of a complex hand-gesture.