Editing GURPS Magical Styles Fan Netbook (section)

=Litany of Refusal    =

Cost:  12 points

Style Prerequisite: Will 12+, Magery, (not One College Only).

Litany of Refusal is a scholastic style, focused on protecting humans from evil spirits. The basics were laid down over a century ago by a disparate group of mages pooling their knowledge to put down the demon Uzzschael, who had unleashed a plague of murder and cannibalism. While stylists study folkloric, religious, and occult traditions for the useful information they provide, the style does not endorse any particular view of the universe, since the founders were more concerned with stockpiling magical secrets than laying out a philosophy. The Litany freely plunders tricks from other styles with little regard for the cultural or religious significance of the “trick” in its original context. In some worlds, this could be worth a negative reputation for profaning sacred things. In theory, mages study this style because they want to help people. In practice, it is also an excellent style for those who wish to make money, especially if they don’t mind exaggerating their client’s problems a little. Also, while Litany of Refusal does not teach the adept how to summon evil spirits, it is a very useful secondary style for mages who wish to traffic with Dark Things.

Required Skills: Exorcism, Hidden Lore (Demon Lore), Hidden Lore (Spirit Lore), Mental Strength, Occultism, Research, Thaumatology, Theology.

Required Spells: Astral Block, Counterspell, Final Rest.

Perks: Blocking Spell Mastery (Any), Elixir Resistance, Knower of Names, Limited Energy Reserve 1-5, Mana Compensation, Obscure True Name, Sanctum 1-2, , Scroll Reading, Secret Spell (Castigation, Chains of Binding or Knives of Compulsion), Secret Words, Willful Casting.

Optional Traits

Attributes: Improved IQ, Improved Will.

Advantages: True Faith, Reputation (Caster Out of Evil Spirits).

Disadvantages:  Cursed, Code of Honor, Enemies (Demons, Spirits and their Cults), Pacifism, Reputation (Heartless Shyster).

Skills:  First Aid, History, Interrogation, Physician.

Apprentices begin their studies at the level of The Consecrated, entitling them to learn the following ten spells.

The Consecrated

Astral Block, Counterspell, Detect Magic, Final Rest, Purify Air, Scryguard, Sense Danger, Sense Foes, Shield, Suspend Spell.

When the mage has learned 6 Consecrated spells, including Astral Block Counterspell and Final Rest, they become Exorcists, entitling them to learn the following sixteen spells.

Exorcist

Amulet, Armor, Detect Poison, Fear, Identify Spell, Mage Sense, Mage Sight, Nightingale, Purify Water, Recover Energy, Scrywall, Seek Magic, Sense Observation, Talisman, Terror, Watchdog.

When the mage has learned 8 Exorcist spells, they become Wardens, entitling them to learn the following twelve spells.

Warden

Analyze Magic, Materialize, Reflect Gaze, Resist Disease, Resist Fire, Resist Pain, Resist Poison, Resist Water, Scryfool, See Invisible, Solidify, Turn Spirit.

When the mage has learned 6 Warden spells, they become a Watchman, entitling them to learn the following eleven spells.

Watchman

Affect Spirits, Astral Vision, Coolness, Dispel Possession, Iron Arm, Magic Resistance, Resist Cold, Resist Lightning, Resist Sound, Turn Zombie, Warmth.

When the mage has learned 6 Watchman spells, they become one of the Ordained, entitling them to learn the following seventeen spells.

Ordained

Banish, Bind Spirit, Delay, Dispel Magic, Entrap Spirit, Pentagram, Reflex, Remove Curse, Repel Spirits, Resist Acid, Resist Enchantment, Soul Jar, Spellguard, Spell Shield, Spell Wall, Suspend Curse, Suspend Magic.

A mage who learns 8 Ordained spells becomes a Harrower, entitling them to learn the following 7 spells.

Harrower

Bless, Castigation, Chains of Binding, Hang Spell, Knives of Compulsion, Link, Suspend Magery.


Secret Spell:  Castigation (VH)    Regular, Resisted by Will

Castigation may only be cast on spirits and demons.  If Castigation is not successfully resisted by a target, then any immediately follow Banish spell cast on that target is resisted at a penalty equal to the degree by which the target failed to resist Castigation.  Castigation is quite painful for the subject, even if resisted.  There is no Shock Penalty, but the spell may convince the subject to go home even if not successfully Banished.  Or it may just really make them mad.

Cost:  10

Time to Cast:  10 minutes


Secret Spell:  Chains of Binding    Special

Chains of Binding functions the same way as Entrap Sprit (GURPS Magic p.157) unless otherwise noted.  The main difference is that Entrap Spirit is temporary, whereas Chains of Binding will hold the sprit until someone lets them go.

Duration:  Permanent.

Cost:  Spirit’s (ST+IQ) divided by 2.


Secret Spell:  Knives of Compulsion (VH)    Regular, Resisted by Will

This spell causes a spirit intense pain in order to make them tell the truth.  For every point by which the subject fails the contest, the mage is at +1 to Interrogation.  On a critical success by the caster or critical failure by the subject, the subject will tell all they know unless magically prevented from doing so.  Mages may have strong moral qualms about if and when it is appropriate to use such a spell.

Duration:  1 minute.

Cost:  Spirit’s (ST+IQ) divided by 5.

Time to Cast:  10 seconds.