Horizon's Razor Edge

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

The target may call cleave once with any melee weapon except a pike. While under the enchantment the target experiences a roleplaying effect: you feel focused and ready, you are on the lookout for an opportunity to act decisively, achieving your goals with as little unnecessary effort as possible.

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.

Additional Targets

This ritual can affect additional characters from the same banner. Every two additional characters increases the magnitude by 3. Additional characters must be present throughout.

Description

With the power of this ritual, a warrior is granted clarity of purpose, empowered to strike a single decisive blow that can cripple a limb or render a lightly- or unarmoured opponent incapacitated with one swift strike. It is also known as Strike of Running Water among the Navarr who make good use of it with spear-and-shield fighting style, and as The Sentinel's Poise in parts of Urizen.

This enchantment is sometimes compared unfavourably to The Swan's Cruel Wing. While it has a much shorter duration, it is still useful in that it allows a scholar of Day magic to offer a combat enchantment to an ally or group of allies. Summer magicians may excel at combative magic, but their realm is not the only one that sees virtue in magic that allows warriors to strike decisive blows.

Common Elements

This ritual usually involves both the target and their armoury. A ritualist might trace matching runes on weapons and warrior, or might encourage them to run through a weapon-drill. Some magicians encourage the targets to remain absolutely still, sometimes in an uncomfortable martial pose, until the climax of the ritual when they explode into action with a single dramatic strike. A toast of fresh water or fruit juice is often drunk, especially when the ritual is performed on a band of warriors rather than a single target. Legendary warriors, especially those who fought only when neccessary, are often invoked as are Paragons and Exemplars who showed great patience

Any of the Dayrunes might be evoked. Cavul, the rune of clarity and Aesh, the rune of thought, are commonly marked on the weapon and the wielder respectively. An evocation of The Key may be appropriate with this ritual, as might evocations of creatures such as mantids or birds.