Sorcery: Book Spells

Sorcery: Book Spells

Pyramid #3-48 has a nice section of book-related spells (Bibliomancy by David L. Pulver). Absorb Book lets the caster read a book remotely. Bedtime Reading is useful for casters who do not want to waste time sleeping. Book Binding is useful for casters who keep personal diaries. Confuse Memory is a style spell from another article in that issue (The Way of the Keepers by Michele Armellini) and is a less powerful Permanent Forgetfulness.

  

Absorb Book

Keywords: None.

Full Cost: 9 points.

Casting Roll: IQ.

Range: Unlimited.

Duration: Indefinite.

This spell lets the user devour the knowledge of a written work, effectively reading a book remotely. The caster must be able to see or touch the book to absorb it. Modify the casting roll for range penalties to the book (see p. B550). The caster must know the language of the book he is absorbing.

After a successful casting, the writing in the book gradually fades away (at a rate of 1 page per minute), leaving blank pages. The caster retains the information exactly as if he had carefully read the book.

The caster can maintain this spell for as long as he wishes without further concentration. If he switches to another book, he must stop reading his current book and cast the spell again.

If he fails to cast, he may try again, at a cumulative -2 per repeated attempt on that book in the past hour. Should he critically fail, he cannot absorb that book again for 24 hours.

Statistics: Mind Reading (Accessibility, Only on books, -50%; Nuisance Effect, Writing disappears, -5%; Sorcery, -15%) [9].

   

Bedtime Reading

Keywords: None.

Full Cost: 39 points.

Casting Roll: IQ.

Range: Touch.

Duration: One period of sleep.

Cast on a particular book, scroll, or other written work the caster is touching before he goes to sleep, this creates a dream analog of the work, which he may continue to read as he sleeps and dreams. This can allow the caster to count sleep time as study time.

Statistics: Mind Reading (Accessibility, Only on books, -50%; Accessibility, Only when going to sleep, -30%; Extended Duration, 1,000x, +120%; Independent, +40%; Maximum Duration, One night, -5%; Melee Attack, Reach C, -30%; Sorcery, -15%) [39].

Book Binding

Keywords: Buff.

Full Cost: 32 points.

Casting Roll: None.

Range: Touch.

Duration: Permanent.

This seals a book so that its cover cannot be opened unless the opener touches it and speaks a particular password that is selected when the spell is cast. The password must be one that appears within the pages of the book itself. Lockmaster can counter this spell.

Statistics: Affliction 1 (HT; Accessibility, Only books, -50%; Extended Duration, Permanent, +150%; Melee Attack, Reach C, -30%; No Signature, +20%; Nuisance Effect, Can be overcome by Lockmaster, -5%; Paralysis, Variant, +150%; Sorcery, -15%) [32].

Confuse Memory

Keywords: Resisted (Will).

Full Cost: 41 points.

Casting Roll: Will.

Range: Unlimited.

Duration: Permanent.

This spell causes the subject’s awareness of a single fact or event to become confused. Every time the subject thinks or talks about the event, he will need to make a successful roll against Will to be sure that what he remembers isn’t a dream, and to keep the details consistent.

Statistics: Affliction 1 (Will; Accessibility, One fact at a time, -10%; Based on Will, +20%; Disadvantage, Total Amnesia, +25%; Extended Duration, Permanent, +150%; Limited, Inconsistency, -50%; Malediction 2, +150%; No Signature, +20%; Selective Effect, +20%; Sorcery, ‑15%) [41].