Vital Strength of the Earth
Rules
Summer Magnitude 28
Urizen Lore
This ritual is part of Urizen lore rather than Imperial Lore. Any Urizen character with the appropriate lore can master or perform this ritual. A character from another nation who mastered the ritual before it became part of Urizen lore may still perform it, but does so under the usual rules for performing a ritual learned from a ritual text.
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
When the enchanted character uses the unstoppable skill they regain up to 5 hits (rather than the usual three). When they use the relentless skill they repair all limbs that have been ruined by the cleave or impale call rather than just one. Whenever they use either ability they they are also cured of the VENOM status if they were affected although this effect will not work if the purify spell would fail to remove the VENOM effect for any reason.
The character must be in contact with earth or stone to benefit from these abilities. A thin layer of other material will not prevent the enchantment working, but being in the air, up a tree, or standing on wooden planks are all sufficient to stop the magic taking effect.
While enchanted the character experiences a roleplaying effect: you become keenly aware of the fragility of the world and the enduring nature of earth and stone.
The ritual does not grant access to unstoppable or relentless; the character must have gained those skills separately through use of character points or magic items.
The effect lasts until the start of the next Profound Decisions Empire event.
Additional Targets
This ritual can affect additional characters from the same banner. Every two additional characters increases the magnitude by 5. Additional characters must be present throughout.
The other rituals are fine but for me this is the most important. It is not eternals that protect our people but the power of mortal spirits. The supernatural strength imbued in a person by this ritual empowers those most committed to the defence of their homes. At the same time it reminds us of the fragility of our lives, how delicate our sanctuaries are in the face of the mountains on which they are built, and how important it is not to take their safety for granted. An important spiritual insight, I am sure you will agree.
Illuminate Leartas of DelvingDescription
This ritual became part of Urizen lore during Winter 383YE along with Raise the Dragonsworn Cohort and Stone's Unyielding Defiance. All three rituals were contained in A Year of Perfect Stillness, a tome of magic owned by the magicians of Delving, a spire known for their expertise in working stone, in engineering, and in mining. They are also on good terms withAdamant, and Raise the Dragonsworn Cohort draws on that eternal's power. While this ritual does not draw direclty on the power of the eternal, it was apparently formulated with his assistance. By all accounts the King Under the Mountain is inclined to help the people of Urizen. The creation of the Three Watchers and the public thanks issued by the Urizen assembly, as well as the mandate encouraging Urizeni to work with eternals all apparently factored in to the architects of Delving receiving his blessing to share the magic he helped to create.
Home to a number of respected architects, they were among the first to see the potential benefits of sharing some of their personal lore with their fellow Urizeni. Arbiter Severus presented the opportunity to gain access to the book's rituals in return for an appraisal commissioned by the Imperial Senate to identify sites for new fortifications in Urizen. When the Senate did so, representatives of the Spire delivered the scrolls that make up A Year of Perfect Stillness to Anvil and it was duly added to Urizen lore.
The enchantment allows strength and vitality to be drawn from earth and stone, but only when they are in great need. Unless someone already has some ability to exert their will over their body, either innately or through the use of a magic item, the ritual does nothing apart from provide an awarnesss of the enduring nature of rock and stone. Those who have benefited from the ritual talk of being in touch with an inexhaustible reservoir of power which surges into them and massively enhances their constitution and durability for a few moments. They must be in physical contact with a significant amount of earth or stone - generally being on the ground is sufficient. A thing layer of material such as the soles of one's boots, or even a thick rug, will not interfere with the magic. If one is suspended in the air, swimming, climbing a tree, or stood on a floor made of wooden planks however access to the power this ritual provides is temporarily lost. Only part of the body needs to be in contact with the surface - there is a story recounted in A Year of Perfect Stillness of a sentinel who was able to use the enchantment in a thane's wooden hall by keeping one hand in contact with the stone fireplace at all times.
The stone does not have to be natural - worked stone is more than sufficient. However, it is reported that the energy that floods someone when they call on the power of the enchantment in contact with natural earth and stone is somehow more potent, almost overwhelmingly so, than when standing on worked stone.
Common Elements
This ritual is a personal enchantment, and thus the people who will benefit from its effects are the focus. The original text talks of using the Oak to channel the magic - racing it on the chest or forehead of the recipients at the very least. One of the great halls at Delving, where the ritual has been practiced for many years, has a white granite floor inlaid with a mithril tracery depicting the constellation, and is regularly used for performing this ritual. Indeed, it is apparently regularly performed on a group of thirteen sentinels at once, each one standing on one of the stars of the Oak. Other notes suggest casting the ritual barefoot - both the recipients and the magicians being in direct skin-to-skin contact with earth or soil helps to focus the magic.
There are a few side notes that the runes Verys and perhaps also Bravash resonate with the ritual. Evocation of the names of Adamant (obviously) and Cathan Canae; heraldic magicians might find the mandowla or the hydra support the enchantment.