Discovery Phase
Investigate Runic Component: Attack Meaning
Attack Meaning Discount Gained
To affect the other with direct action is the foundation that we build upon when using this Meaning. Our insight into the Attack meaning reduces the amount of mana needed to align our magic with its precepts.
Investigate Runic Component: Earth Element
New System Discovered: Geomancy
Geomancy is a system that transfers mana into the earth by crushing the Runes within a spell circle. Once crushed in this manner the Rune transforms into a flat glowing representation in the language of the Iqua people. Starting with the first Rune as ignitor and ending with the final Rune as terminator. The spell circle is constructed of raised earth and will only function when in contact with the earth from which it draws its power.
Once created the spell circle acts as a medium to allow a Geomancer to stand in its centre and draw power from the earth to cast the spell contained within the spell circle. As the power of the spell circle is stable, it is possible for multiple Geomancers to take turns making use of the same circle.
(Form Mastery) The Form Meaning is an Ignitor.
Secret Discovered: Spell Engine
With an understanding of Geomancy comes insight into the potential uses of Alchemy to augment it. The use of the appropriate alchemical potion should activate a spell circle without requiring the presence of a Geomancer. Different recipes may be required depending on the nature of the circle.
Secret Discovered: Scrolls
Perhaps our Scroll of Fear is ill-named. Using the Runic Paint of our Alchemy we can scribe a spell circle on to any surface. These scrolls will exhaust themselves after a single use, but anyone may draw upon their powers.
Secret Discovered: Chanted Spells
Our chanters believe that they can create a spoken form of Spell Circle. By careful use of word and gesture, a Chant can be transmuted into a Spell without the mobility limitation of Geomancy.
(Form Mastery) The Form Meaning as an Ignitor is able to best express this spell circle. Further Meanings need to be at Adept or better knowledge to be made use of for the purposes of Chanted Spells.
Secret Discovered: Chaining
Just as Chanting gives insight into Geomancy so an understanding of Geomancy can improve the foundations of Chanting. By use of the Form Meaning it is possible for a Chanter or Geomancer to chain a second chant or spell after the first during the creation process. This allows Chanters to make use of multiple Chants and Geomancers to create more complex spells at the expense of a greater investment of mana.
Runic System Experiment (Alchemy): Ward(Earth), Form(Earth), Ward(Fire) - Fizzle
During the alchemical creation process, the recipe set into a hardened mass composed of earth. It seems the problem was caused by the second and third rune.
(Form Mastery) Once again the Form Meaning couldn’t have been the cause for this difficulty. We are beginning to suspect that there is an elemental cycle involved.
It is now Spring, Turn 4
Design PhaseRune Skills are a measure of your nation’s understanding of the Runes. They are measured as Unskilled, Apprentice, Adept and Master. You cannot make use of Meanings or Elements until you have at least an Apprentice level understanding of them.
Simple Meaning
Ward - Apprentice
Form - Mastery - Mana Discount, Life
Attack - Adept - Mana Discount
Shape - Apprentice
Control - Apprentice
Complex Meaning
Life - Unskilled
Terrestrial Element
Water - Mastery - Alchemy, Shadow
Wood - Apprentice
Air - Adept - Chanting
Fire - Apprentice
Earth - Adept - Geomancy (Path to Golems)
Celestial Element
Shadow - Apprentice
Discoveries are magical effects you have discovered that you can put to practical use inside Designs.
Alchemy
Ward(Wood), Form(Water), Attack(Air) - Swan’s Black Blood
A poison that attacks the blood of the victim making them more susceptible to bleeding as their blood does not clot properly.
(Water Mastery) This poison produces an excess of the Water Element.
(Form Mastery) The use of the Form Meaning governs the blood.
Ward(Earth), Form(Water), Attack(Fire) - Black Dragon’s Lethargy
A poison that attacks the blood of the victim, devouring their vitality. Victims are fatigued for the months it takes to make a full recovery.
(Water Mastery) This poison produces an excess of the Water Element.
(Form Mastery) The use of the Form Meaning governs the blood.
Shape(Earth), Form(Earth), Ward(Earth) - Earth Elemental’s Fortifying Elixir
This white elixir aligns the blood of the drinker with the element of Earth. A chanter who drinks this elixir, will find it easier to manipulate Earth mana when speaking. This should allow them to speak Earth aligned chants for longer before exhaustion becomes a problem.
(Form Mastery) The use of the Form Meaning governs the blood.
Form(Wood), Form(Fire), Form(Shadow) - Green Ghost Flame Paint
This recipe congealed into a liquid that gradually dries out storing its mana for later use. The green paint never stops burning with a ghostly flame of the same colour.
(Form Mastery) The nature of this paint is largely driven by element order, with Shadow being related to Ghosts.
Wood->Air - Fizzle (Froth)
Earth->Fire - Fizzle (Sets)
Alchemy Secrets
Records - The use of alchemy to record a chant for later speaking.
Using alchemical paint it is possible to contain the meaning and element behind a chant in a written form. Those who read the symbols out loud, can draw the magic of the paint into themselves forming the chant set down in the record. Writing records of a particular chant requires access to one or more paints that can represent the elemental makeup of the chant.
Recordable Elements: Wood, Fire, Shadow
Scrolls - The use of alchemy to create a spell for later casting. Uses alchemical paint.
Spell Elements: Wood, Fire, Shadow
Spell Engine - The use of alchemy to activate a spell without the presence of a caster. Requires an alchemical recipe that matches in some way with the spell circle to be used.
Chants
Ward(Wood), Form(Air), Attack(Shadow) - Reinforcement of Cutting
This chant grants a target enhanced ability to cut for the duration of a battle. This supernatural sharpness can render a punch capable of stabbing holes in an enemy. Wielding an already sharp blade such an individual could cleave through armour.
Attack(Wood), Control(Fire), Form(Shadow) - Reinforcement of Fear
This chant inflicts a target with fear. This supernatural fear will cause the target to run from danger or otherwise cower in fright. As the fear is only inflicted on a single target, we suspect that this chant would be very exhausting to use on the battlefield.
Control(Earth), Ward(Earth), Shape(Water) - Spike of Mud
A chant that concentrates mud into a spike before projecting it forwards away from the speaker. The hardened mud has some amount of mass behind it and thus is capable of causing damage on impact. Once it has struck the target the spike breaks, spreading mud all around the target area.
Chanting Secrets
Elemental Distillation - The use of chanting to enhance the alchemy process by using the correct set of words.
Using a chant with matching Elements to a known Alchemical recipe enables a different recipe to be imbued with both associated powers at the cost of double the expenditure of mana.
Chain-Chant - The art of chaining chants to allow a chanter access to multiple chants. Requires the use of the Form Meaning at the start of each Chant after the first.
Chanted Spells - The careful application of Meaning to a chant to transmute it into a Spell. Requires a spell and matching chant with all Meanings to be at least at the Adept level.
Geomancy
Form - Ignitor
Geomancy Secrets
Chain-Spell - The art of chaining spells together to create a more complicated whole. Requires the use of the Form Meaning at the start of each spell after the first.