Fetid Breath of Teeming Plague

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 30. 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.

Description

This battlefield ritual allows a powerful magical attack to be unleashed against a group of enemies, filling them with supernatural poison and feverish sickness. The power to release a wave of venomous spring magic is an enchantment, allowing the magic to be stored for a time before being employed at the most tactically appropriate moment. The ritual has a strong affinity for the caustic material beggar's lye. A coven can take advantage of this affinity to help reduce the difficulty (and cost) of performing the ritual.

This ritual has a number of uses, but two are worth noting. Firstly, it is useful when facing groups of creatures with regenerative or supernatural-healing abilities. This might mean exotic beasts such as undead, vallornspawn, but even a barbarian force might qualify if it is supported by a number of magicians who are making good use of healing spells. Secondly, it is a very effective terror tactic. Those caught in the arc of the spell are left in no doubt as to the merciless intent of their opponents; no prisoners will be taken in this engagement. That fact alone is sometimes enough to break the morale of an enemy, or at least encourage them to withdraw until they can remove the venom.

Common Elements

When performing this ritual, a coven often invokes symbols of poison and disease. Some magicians prefer to weave incantations involving poisonous plants and venomous animals, while others may work spells that suggest disease, sickness and pestilence. Eternals such as Arhallogen and Llofir may be invoked, or the names of specific malignant plagues could be used.

The target of the ritual is always a contributor, and the ritual should reflect that. Some ritualists, especially in Varushka use the target's implement as a focus, passing it from magician to magician, whispering curses and dire promises of doom to the tool before returning it to the ultimate target. Others might prepare a poisonous (or symbolically poisonous) brew, and cause the recipient of the enchantment to consume it at the climax of the ritual.

Other common elements in this ritual might include the runes Mawrig, Naeve or Yoorn, the evocation of The Claw or The Drowned Man, the slow ringing of heavy bells suitable to a funeral, or evocations of the hydra, .hydra, wyvern or the basilisk (especially for the Freeborn, Highborn and The League).

If the coven intends to draw additional power through the use of beggar's lye, it is not uncommon to dilute the lye in water and use it to paint designs on the skin of the target. If the concentration is high enough, the caustic solution will cause slightly painful minor burns that fade over the course of an hour or so - tracing runes in this way is especially appropriate.