Celestial Circle Spells
Binding a Hidden Whisper
Author: Zip
Description:
The ferrying of secrets and the practice of blackmail are common trysts across
the face of Creation, particularly in the byzantine weavings of the Sidereal
Exalted. Often such information takes an inordinately precious value that must
be protected from those that may choose to exploit it for their own ends, or
needs to be protected beyond the reach and recall of those that may wish to use
it until the time is right.
This sorcery allows the caster to impart a single fact, or piece of hidden knowledge, beyond the reach of any that may choose to recall it. This fact must be verbalised and must be a "secret" or hidden truth of some kind, known only to the caster and/or a few individuals or the parties involved - for example, a secret plan among a plot of conspirators, a piece of blackmail known only to the caster and the victim, a piece of information in a long forgotten tome in libraries of Imperial City that noone reads.
This can be anything from a hidden truth, the location of a treasure; a piece of verse or an incantation, or the name of a secret lover or witness. Upon recitation of the spell, the caster whispers the secret in one of the following fashions - either scattered to the winds, or buried in the earth, or trapped in a vessel which is then cast adrift in the air or water.
The fact or hidden knowledge immediately departs from the face of Creation; as in, it cannot be discovered or revealed in any way at all until the caster chooses to release this information. It dissapears if written and fades within a day from the memory of all except for the caster and the party instrumental to the secret.
For the duration of the spell the knowledge cannot be discovered, revealed or coerced from the caster or subject without releasing the spell. They will be unable to verbalise or demonstrate the hidden knowledge in any way. This applies even if the subject is willing to divulge such knowledge. This does not protect the caster or subject from hostile attempts to extract the information - i.e. they will continue to suffer from torture or interrogation, but simply will be unable to reveal the information even if they want to!
The spell continues to last for a number of weeks equal to the caster's essence; after this time the effects dissipate and the caster may attempt to renew the oath by enacting the ritual again. This is risky however and the caster must roll against their essence vs the number of previous extensions to the spell. A failure results in the spell immediately ceasing; a botch means that either the caster permanently loses their voice or the secret somehow becomes widely known - it mysteriously appears in common gossip, for example.
An attempt to extend the spell's duration on the night of Calibration always automatically succeeds.
Shadowlands Circle Spells
Forestalling the Final Breath
Cost: 15 motes
Description:
This spell was designed as an aid for torture, necrosurgery and entertainment. The spell requires a specially prepared altar or cutting table, usually located in the necromancer's workshop. The target must be bound to the table and then anointed with blood, water and bonedust in a ritual that takes fifteen minutes.
Whilst the spell is in effect the victim cannot die (with exceptions), and will not fall unconscious. The necromancer can remove as much skin, muscle and bone as desired and the victim will remain horrifically aware of every second. He will not die from bloodloss and the necromancer can even remove most of the target's internal organs. Any damage to the brain or heart will immediately end the spell's effect, as well as removal of more than 50 percent of the body. This is one of the most terrifying fates that can befall mortal or Exalt.
System:
The table or altar costs at least Resources 2, and must be prepared by a sorceror with Lore and Occult ratings of 3 each. The motes for the spell remain as long the the effect is sustained, but no longer than one whole day. This spell can add dice to interrogation or necrosurgery attempts as the ST sees fit, the caster's Essence or Occult would be appropriate. There might perhaps be a Labyrinth version that can last for a week, costing a commitment of 20 motes. A Void circle version with permanent effect is something not to be thought about...