Trace
The foundation of modern magic. Burn magic into wood, stone, and skin.
Trace
- Speed: Ritual.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Creature or Object.
- Cost: 2.
Choose one Concentration spell currently affecting the affected creature or object. The spell's cost must be equal to or less than your Expression. That spell becomes a trace, persisting without concentration. It keeps all the spell modifiers and skill ability effects that it had when first cast. Traced spells do not cost mana the same way concentration spells do; see the Guide for trace cost rules.
Anything about the spell that could be changed by the caster while concentrating must be pre-programmed when you cast this (e.g. the appearance of an illusion, or the size of a fire). The decision-making of the trace can be as complex as you can define, and may use any audio or visual information available to the traced object. If you trace a creature, any information about the creature (including its thoughts) may be used. You may also specify conditions under which the spell ends.
You cannot add a new trace to something which already has its maximum; one must be removed first. See the Guide for advice on how many traces different objects can hold.
After this spell adds a trace to a creature, that creature is rendered helpless until it next rests. While helpless in this way, it cannot gain more traces from this spell.
Superconductor Conversion
Prerequisite: Arcane 4
When you cast Trace, the traced spell's cost is reduced by two. If it affects a creature, the creature's Endurance is reduced by one while it has that trace.
Area Warding
Prerequisite: Visualisation 4
When you cast a spell of any Art that targets an Object, you can count a 1 m square region of wall, floor, or ceiling as a single object. Each such section counts separately for tracing, and each can hold one trace, regardless of its material.
Inorganic Optimisations
Prerequisite: Visualisation 4, Arcane 6
When you cast Trace and affect an object, the traced spell's cost is reduced by an additional two.
Low Runes
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Object.
- Concentration.
You enhance an object with some simple effects. Affected object gains any of the following:
- Heat or cool itself (from -30 to +100 degrees K relative to its surroundings).
- Shine coloured light for up to 10 m.
- Produce a single sound of your choice, up to a short phrase of words.
Psi-Blade
Prerequisite: Expression 4
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Object.
- Cost: 4.
- Concentration.
Choose a skill: Composure, Reason, Presence, or Performance. Attacks made using the affected object as a weapon can use the chosen skill for offence.
Imbue
Prerequisite: Expression 6
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Object or Creature.
- Cost: X.
- Concentration.
As part of casting this spell, choose a non-concentration spell you can cast with a speed of Action (specifying any targets and effects of the spell), that costs X or less. When this spell ends, the imbued spell is immediately cast, originating from the affected object or creature. It affects any specified targets that are still valid (i.e. within range).
Limited Spellcasting
Prerequisite: Expression 6
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Creature.
- Cost: X.
- Concentration.
As part of casting this spell, choose another non-concentration spell you can cast with a speed of Action or Attack that costs X or less. The affected creature gains the ability to cast that spell, using either an action or attack action (depending on the speed of the spell), and using your skills and spell modifiers, without paying mana (if that spell has a variable cost, it equals this spell's X).
Unlimited Spellcasting
Prerequisite: Expression 6, Arcane 8
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Creature.
- Cost: 5.
- Concentration.
Affected creature gains the ability to cast spells. It must gain magical Arts separately (i.e. from its level in Arcane). If this spell is traced, it produces the Spellcasting trace that all player characters start with. It costs zero, and cannot be removed or suppressed by most means.
Trace-Out
Prerequisite: Personal Reality 6
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Creature or Object.
- Cost: 4.
You remove a single trace of your choice from the affected creature or object. Affect an unwilling creature with Personal Reality. You must be aware of a trace to attempt to remove it; you can sense it with Information magic, or simply see it used. This spell cannot remove the Spellcasting trace from an unwilling creature.