Trace
The foundation of modern magic. Burn magic into wood, stone, and skin.
Contents
- Trace
- Area Warding — Visualisation 4
- Low Runes
- Psi-Blade — Expression 4
- Tool Enhancement — World 6
- Imbue — Expression 6
- Mantle — Expression 8
- Limited Spellcasting — Arcane 6
- Unlimited Spellcasting — Arcane 8
Trace
- Speed: Ritual.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Creature or Object.
- Cost: 2.
Choose one Concentration spell currently affecting the affected creature or object. That spell becomes a trace, persisting without concentration and requiring no mana. It keeps all the spell modifiers and skill ability effects that it had when first cast.
The spell's original caster loses control of the spell when it becomes a trace. Spell parameters that could be changed by the caster while concentrating instead follow a set of rules that you lay out when you create the trace (e.g. the appearance of an illusion, or the size of a fire). The decision-making of these rules can be as complex as you can describe, 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; if the spell ends for any reason, the trace disappears.
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.
Area Warding
Prerequisite: Visualisation 4
When you cast a spell that can target objects, you can target a 1 m square region of wall, floor, or ceiling. Each such section counts separately for tracing, and each can hold one trace, regardless of its material.
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.
Tool Enhancement
Prerequisite: World 6
When you cast Psi-Blade, all skill rolls made using the affected object as a tool can use the chosen skill.
Imbue
Prerequisite: Expression 6
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Object or Creature.
- Cost: X.
- Concentration.
As part of casting this spell, choose another non-concentration spell you can cast with a speed of Action that costs X or less. When this spell ends, the imbued spell is immediately cast, originating from the affected object or creature. You remain the caster of the imbued spell but don't pay mana for it.
Mantle
Prerequisite: Expression 8
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Object.
- Cost: X.
- Concentration.
As part of casting this spell, choose another concentration spell you can cast with a speed of Action that costs X or less and can target creatures. When a creature touches the affected object the chosen spell is cast on them. You remain the caster of the produced spell, but it originates from the object and costs zero. If they lose contact with the object or this spell ends, the spell ends.
Limited Spellcasting
Prerequisite: Arcane 6
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Creature.
- Cost: 2.
- Concentration.
As part of casting this spell, choose another spell you can cast. The affected creature gains the ability to cast that spell using your abilities and spell modifiers. If this spell is traced, the affected creature uses its own abilities and spell modifiers when casting the spell.
Unlimited Spellcasting
Prerequisite: Arcane 8
- Speed: Action.
- Range: Touch.
- Target: Creature.
- Concentration.
Affected creature gains the ability to cast spells. It must gain magical Arts separately (e.g. from its level in Arcane). If this spell is traced, it produces the Spellcasting trace that all player characters start with. It cannot be removed or suppressed by most means.