Occult: Difference between revisions
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Through fell ritual and careful experimentation, occult casters can augment their Essence by pulling Essence directly from planar entities. This is dangerous - if these entities become aware of the theft, they can be powerful enemies - but if they do not notice, the power becomes the cultist’s to do with as they see fit. This augmentation of one’s Essence through tapping into the Essence of others is the heart of the Occult Source. | Through fell ritual and careful experimentation, occult casters can augment their Essence by pulling Essence directly from planar entities. This is dangerous - if these entities become aware of the theft, they can be powerful enemies - but if they do not notice, the power becomes the cultist’s to do with as they see fit. This augmentation of one’s Essence through tapping into the Essence of others is the heart of the Occult Source. | ||
=== | === The Toll of Occultism === | ||
The draw of occultism is great: by manipulating one’s own essence, one’s own soul, a caster is beholden to nobody but themself. But this extreme individualism comes with dire threat: it is easy to overreach. A caster might lose themself to dark rituals, so focused on altering their soul that they become unrecognizable to who they were before they made such augmentations. | The draw of occultism is great: by manipulating one’s own essence, one’s own soul, a caster is beholden to nobody but themself. But this extreme individualism comes with dire threat: it is easy to overreach. A caster might lose themself to dark rituals, so focused on altering their soul that they become unrecognizable to who they were before they made such augmentations. | ||
Alternatively, one might draw so much power from a powerful planar entity that the entity becomes aware of the attempts to siphon power. Generally, these powerful beings will not retaliate beyond causing a spell, ritual, or chant to backfire, but occasionally a being of great power might hold a grudge against the caster or try to force the caster into their service. | Alternatively, one might draw so much power from a powerful planar entity that the entity becomes aware of the attempts to siphon power. Generally, these powerful beings will not retaliate beyond causing a spell, ritual, or chant to backfire, but occasionally a being of great power might hold a grudge against the caster or try to force the caster into their service. | ||
=== | === Occultism and Personality === | ||
As an occult caster draws more and more power into themselves and alters their own soul with ever greater abandon, they might undergo profound personality changes. In all but the rarest of cases, these personality changes are a negative transformation. Whatever a caster’s greatest vice prior to dabbling in occultism, it is likely to get accentuated. Power-hungry casters grow lustful for absolute power. Greedy casters become miserly copper-pinchers. Gluttonous casters might become wildly and destructively hedonistic. | As an occult caster draws more and more power into themselves and alters their own soul with ever greater abandon, they might undergo profound personality changes. In all but the rarest of cases, these personality changes are a negative transformation. Whatever a caster’s greatest vice prior to dabbling in occultism, it is likely to get accentuated. Power-hungry casters grow lustful for absolute power. Greedy casters become miserly copper-pinchers. Gluttonous casters might become wildly and destructively hedonistic. | ||
Casters that stay in touch with their positive emotions can stave off the worst of these changes. Keeping a strong circle of friends around you and pursuing a wide variety of wholesome activities makes you less susceptible to the corrupting nature of occult magic. | Casters that stay in touch with their positive emotions can stave off the worst of these changes. Keeping a strong circle of friends around you and pursuing a wide variety of wholesome activities makes you less susceptible to the corrupting nature of occult magic. | ||
=== | === Relationship With Divinity === | ||
Occult casters often steal power from [[divine]] beings, but do not confuse this with divine magic. While divine casters enter into carefully negotiated contracts with their patron deities, or they are rewarded for devout worship with magical favors, occult casters have no form of covenant with the deities from whom they draw power. A divine caster might find it challenging to draw power from multiple gods if the gods don’t get along with one another, but an occult caster has no such inhibitions, as the gods themselves are often unaware of the slivers of power that the occultist steals. | Occult casters often steal power from [[divine]] beings, but do not confuse this with divine magic. While divine casters enter into carefully negotiated contracts with their patron deities, or they are rewarded for devout worship with magical favors, occult casters have no form of covenant with the deities from whom they draw power. A divine caster might find it challenging to draw power from multiple gods if the gods don’t get along with one another, but an occult caster has no such inhibitions, as the gods themselves are often unaware of the slivers of power that the occultist steals. | ||
=== | === Occult Magic Types === | ||
In addition to spells, occult casters might learn chants or rituals. | In addition to spells, occult casters might learn chants or rituals. | ||
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'''Ritual.''' Rituals take quite a long time to cast, and each ritual will specify how frequently you can cast it. | '''Ritual.''' Rituals take quite a long time to cast, and each ritual will specify how frequently you can cast it. | ||
=== | === Occult Tags === | ||
These tags are referenced by some occult magical abilities. | These tags are referenced by some occult magical abilities. | ||
==== | ==== Occult Power ==== | ||
Occult power is the total number of talent points you have spent on occult talents as a result of leveling up, in addition to the number of talent points you have spent in certain classes or stacks. These classes or stacks will specify that they contribute to Occult Power. | Occult power is the total number of talent points you have spent on occult talents as a result of leveling up, in addition to the number of talent points you have spent in certain classes or stacks. These classes or stacks will specify that they contribute to Occult Power. | ||
==== | ==== Curse and Charm ==== | ||
Curse and Charm are tags that denote an effect that lingers with its target for the magic’s duration, even if an effect would normally dispel or suppress magic. | Curse and Charm are tags that denote an effect that lingers with its target for the magic’s duration, even if an effect would normally dispel or suppress magic. | ||
==== | ==== Incantation ==== | ||
If a spell has the Incantation tag, the spell’s effects can | If a spell has the Incantation tag, the spell’s effects can | ||
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This might look like: ''Incantation (1 AP; max 10 minutes)'' - this means that after you initially cast the spell, you must spend 1 AP on your next turn if you want to keep the spell going. If you keep the spell going for 10 minutes, then it expires at that point. | This might look like: ''Incantation (1 AP; max 10 minutes)'' - this means that after you initially cast the spell, you must spend 1 AP on your next turn if you want to keep the spell going. If you keep the spell going for 10 minutes, then it expires at that point. | ||
==== | ==== Ritualize ==== | ||
This tag means that the spell can be cast as a ritual, which does not expend SP. Each spell with an incantation tag will specify how many times it can be used as a ritual, and when you regain the ability to do so. | This tag means that the spell can be cast as a ritual, which does not expend SP. Each spell with an incantation tag will specify how many times it can be used as a ritual, and when you regain the ability to do so. | ||
==== | ==== Dark Power ==== | ||
Dark Power is a tag attached to certain chants, rituals, and spells. These magical abilities come with a risk of being temporarily or permanently altered or corrupted in some way, specified within each ability. | Dark Power is a tag attached to certain chants, rituals, and spells. These magical abilities come with a risk of being temporarily or permanently altered or corrupted in some way, specified within each ability. | ||
Revision as of 17:07, 21 November 2023
Through fell ritual and careful experimentation, occult casters can augment their Essence by pulling Essence directly from planar entities. This is dangerous - if these entities become aware of the theft, they can be powerful enemies - but if they do not notice, the power becomes the cultist’s to do with as they see fit. This augmentation of one’s Essence through tapping into the Essence of others is the heart of the Occult Source.
The Toll of Occultism
The draw of occultism is great: by manipulating one’s own essence, one’s own soul, a caster is beholden to nobody but themself. But this extreme individualism comes with dire threat: it is easy to overreach. A caster might lose themself to dark rituals, so focused on altering their soul that they become unrecognizable to who they were before they made such augmentations.
Alternatively, one might draw so much power from a powerful planar entity that the entity becomes aware of the attempts to siphon power. Generally, these powerful beings will not retaliate beyond causing a spell, ritual, or chant to backfire, but occasionally a being of great power might hold a grudge against the caster or try to force the caster into their service.
Occultism and Personality
As an occult caster draws more and more power into themselves and alters their own soul with ever greater abandon, they might undergo profound personality changes. In all but the rarest of cases, these personality changes are a negative transformation. Whatever a caster’s greatest vice prior to dabbling in occultism, it is likely to get accentuated. Power-hungry casters grow lustful for absolute power. Greedy casters become miserly copper-pinchers. Gluttonous casters might become wildly and destructively hedonistic.
Casters that stay in touch with their positive emotions can stave off the worst of these changes. Keeping a strong circle of friends around you and pursuing a wide variety of wholesome activities makes you less susceptible to the corrupting nature of occult magic.
Relationship With Divinity
Occult casters often steal power from divine beings, but do not confuse this with divine magic. While divine casters enter into carefully negotiated contracts with their patron deities, or they are rewarded for devout worship with magical favors, occult casters have no form of covenant with the deities from whom they draw power. A divine caster might find it challenging to draw power from multiple gods if the gods don’t get along with one another, but an occult caster has no such inhibitions, as the gods themselves are often unaware of the slivers of power that the occultist steals.
Occult Magic Types
In addition to spells, occult casters might learn chants or rituals.
Chant. Chants cost no SP and you can use them as many times as you wish.
Ritual. Rituals take quite a long time to cast, and each ritual will specify how frequently you can cast it.
Occult Tags
These tags are referenced by some occult magical abilities.
Occult Power
Occult power is the total number of talent points you have spent on occult talents as a result of leveling up, in addition to the number of talent points you have spent in certain classes or stacks. These classes or stacks will specify that they contribute to Occult Power.
Curse and Charm
Curse and Charm are tags that denote an effect that lingers with its target for the magic’s duration, even if an effect would normally dispel or suppress magic.
Incantation
If a spell has the Incantation tag, the spell’s effects can
be extended if you spend a smaller amount of AP on subsequent rounds, but these spells still have a maximum duration. If you neglect to spend the required Incantation AP at any point on subsequent turns, then the spell ends; you must spend SP again to recast the spell if you wish to renew the effects.
This might look like: Incantation (1 AP; max 10 minutes) - this means that after you initially cast the spell, you must spend 1 AP on your next turn if you want to keep the spell going. If you keep the spell going for 10 minutes, then it expires at that point.
Ritualize
This tag means that the spell can be cast as a ritual, which does not expend SP. Each spell with an incantation tag will specify how many times it can be used as a ritual, and when you regain the ability to do so.
Dark Power
Dark Power is a tag attached to certain chants, rituals, and spells. These magical abilities come with a risk of being temporarily or permanently altered or corrupted in some way, specified within each ability.