Spellcasting

Combat mages use the power of runecasting infused into a person in battle. A character who has the First Circle Mage trait is a mage and gains a mana pool. A newly initiated mage has two mana points. These are a separate pool to stamina points.

A mage can meditate to recover all of their mana points when not under pressure.

Using Magic

To cast a spell, you must have at least one point of mana remaining. Spells have a verbal length that is a multiple of 3 seconds and an effect. Most First Circle spells have a verbal length of 3 seconds. To use the spell, the character must spend that much time speaking out loud - called the verbal of the spell - and obviously casting magic. Magic can’t be mumbled or whispered - it must be spoken to at least a conversational volume, but need not be shouted.

If you don’t know what verbal to use, this standard verbal is about 3 seconds.

   “I channel the power of the runes and call forth a spell.”

Alternatively, you can babble nonsense words while counting the seconds (“zap zap zap” is about one second), or make up your own spell verbals, as long as they meet the minimum length for the spell. Some mages with military background are trained to cast with a verbal such as “channelling three, channeling two, channeling one, cast!” in order to help the rest of the unit coordinate with their spells.

When casting a spell, you can’t be actively fighting, and you must have a hand free. You can parry, but not attack, while casting a spell. You can only cast one spell at a time.

After you have completed the verbal, you can call the effect of the spell. Most spells target anyone in close range (five metres). You must clearly indicate the target so that they know they’re being affected, and announce what call takes effect. At that point, you spend a mana point, and the spell is complete.

For example, to use the First Circle spell Fear, you might cast it as follows:

“I channel the power of the runes and call forth a spell. Goblin with spear! REPEL!”

If the target doesn’t notice you calling the effect, the mana point isn’t consumed.

Circles of Magic

There are multiple circles of initiation into combat magic. Each level of initiation requires progressively more complex and strenuous runecasting invocations cast on the mage, along with the requisite training to control that kind of power.

First Circle spells tend to have subtle effects, being used to control the battlefield or as supplements to other fighting styles. Second Circle spells tend to have more overt effects, being used to directly take out enemies or make major changes to the way fights happen. Third Circle spells are known to exist, but no surviving mages are currently capable of casting them, and the method of initiating a mage into Third Circle Magic has been lost.

If you choose to initiate into a circle of magic in play, you immediately gain a spell of the circle you’ve initiated into when you do so. The spell that you get is determined by your character’s subconscious preferences. You may choose this spell OC or allow a ref to decide.

Learning Spells

Learning spells is also done by means of a runecast invocation. The mage needs to be the target of a specific ritual designed to imbue them with that spell. The runic inscriptions are included with the known spells later, if you want this to occur in play. Alternatively, you can have your character learn spells “off-screen” from NPCs - combat mages are a valuable asset, so teaching them spells is something that you can find a runecaster willing to do.

Known Spells

First Circle Spells

Second Circle Spells

Mage Bolt

3 second verbal.

Long range single target DOUBLE. Three shots.

Suggested verbal: “Shape an arrow, let it fly // like lightning falling from the sky”

Storm Missiles

6 second verbal.

MASS DOUBLE, one shot.

Suggested verbal: “Flash of lightning! Crash of thunder! // Rend the very sky asunder! Call the storm to heed my cry! // Powers of destruction, fly!”

Fireball

3 second verbal.

Close range single target TRIPLE. Two shots.

Suggested verbal: “Fire of magic, burn and flash // turn my foes to dust and ash.”

Countermagic

No verbal

If you are targeted by a spell, you may cast this spell in response to call RESIST, COUNTERMAGIC PARALYSE at the caster.

Banshee Wail

3 second verbal.

MASS WEAKNESS, one shot.

Suggested verbal: “Moonlit night and black abyss // call the rose’s deadly kiss.”

Break Limb

6 second verbal.

Close range single target CLEAVE. One shot.

Suggested verbal: “By my will and power unknown // Rupture flesh and shatter bone By my calling of the thunder // Break their mortal form asunder.”

Rust and Rot

3 second verbal.

Close range single target DOUBLE SMASH. Two shots.

Suggested verbal: “Turn the rushing wheel of time // and hear the final doom-bell chime.”

Enchant Weapon

3 second verbal.

A weapon touched calls DOUBLE on its next three strikes. These charges are spent even if the blow doesn’t land.

Suggested verbal: “Tap into magic’s flowing source // and grant this weapon mighty force!”

Chaotic Force

3 second verbal.

Touch range single target. The target gets a magical trauma. A target can only be affected by this spell once a day. There is a chance this spell backfires and affects you as well, and this chance increases the more times you cast this spell. (This spell requires a ref to dispense trauma cards; please ensure one is on hand.)

Suggested verbal: “Darkness, chaos, power adverse // rise and bring a woeful curse.”

Third Circle Spells

Third circle spellcasting is known to exist, but no Third Circle mages exist aboard Flotilla currently. There is some speculation about the exact extent of the power of third-circle magic, but it is generally agreed that it is another leap in power higher than the second circle. The one spell that is well-attested by many sources is the “Soulblast”, a piercing arcane strike that is able to fell nearly any foe.