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Chapter 8: SORCERY S MIND
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Sorcery s Influence
in Play
From a game point of view, certain characters may
receive instructions to behave in new, increasingly
unfriendly ways towards one of their spell-casting associates. If so, they should change behavior and even
embrace the new reality as part of their regular game
play. Dark sorcery’s vengeance is a key element of the
Dragon Kings world and gameplay, dependent upon
the players’ willingness to make it serve its central
role in character interaction. It becomes a role-playing
challenge.
Game Ramifications: Aside from role-playing challenges, sorcery’s afflictions can have a direct effect
upon a character’s ability to perform any actions. Mental exhaustion can hamper the wizard’s ability to memorize, research, or effectively use spells. Game statistics may be temporarily reduced. Apply the game’s
rules for exhaustion and fatigue where appropriate.
Crippling afflictions might reduce the character’s ability to travel, carry objects, climb, dodge, or fight.
Story & Social Ramifications: Wizards are outcasts.
All know the horrors that might befall them for associating with a spell caster, so prejudices run high. Many
wizards keep their practices secret, locking themselves
out of sight while they delve deeper into their sorcerous studies. But the locals know the telltale signs of unwanted sorcerous attention. Once discovered, word
spreads quickly, so a wizard finds few places to hide and
fewer friends for aid. Among adventurers, a spell caster
must continuously prove his value to the expedition or
be cast out as an unnecessary burden.
Unwitting Agents
A wizard’s friends and associates might not only become afflicted victims, but they may become pawns
in sorcery’s vengeance. For instance, when a wizard’s
friends turn against him, that dark reservoir partially
controls or influences the actions of those friends. That
control is nigh impossible to resist, since it taps the very
magical fabric of the universe to get its way.
Still, such self-aware pawns can take actions to at
least partially thwart sorcery’s wishes. For instance,
one could simply remove oneself from the vicinity of
the offending wizard, thereby negating the possibility
of turning against him or participating in rumormon-
gering. How much energy magic puts into bringing
the friend back into association with the wizard has
much to do with how pivotal that person’s role is to its
nefarious plotting. This is moot if there are many other
friends left to turn against the wizard. If it needs the
escapee’s presence, magic can take steps to subvert any
plans to meet its goals.
Priestly Magic
The Shadazim have their work cut out for them, facing skepticism from both worlds they touch. The Khitan
masses remain dismissive of their proselytizing, since
the ancient gods they represent have been absent far
beyond living memory. The distant gods with whom
they have intermittent contact have little faith that Khitus will again become a nourishing source of worshipers as the Shadazim promise them. Bridging that chasm
between new worshipers and skeptical god presents a
unique challenge.
Their spell casting ability depends upon two things:
the attention of their chosen god and their proselytistic
success.
For the former, the Shaadzim must monitor his distance and attitude constantly. Connections between
priests and deities are tenuous, at best, even for godlike
powers. Regardless of preparation or devotion, there are
times when a Shadazim cannot connect to a god’s power
for channeling into a particular spell. The connection or
lack thereof cannot accurately be known until the moment of the casting. Such failures often have an immediate consequence, whether undermining confidence
in witnesses or failing to protect a priest from harm.
Additionally, a god’s fickle nature can leave priests in
the lurch, as well. Without continuous demonstrations
of devotion and evidence of progress in building worship, a god may choose not to waste the energy connecting to Khitus. Shadazim seek new worshipers constantly
as large followings are the best proof of success that
holds a god’s attentions. If worship becomes stagnant, a
god may lose interest or become erratic at a moment of
need when a priest calls for power.
All this makes the Shadazim’s magical expectations
less reliable than he might wish. However, gods sometimes offset periods of inattentiveness with surges of
startling magical energies. Some deities might see decreases in worship and reverse that trend through inspiration, allowing priests improved access to magics for a
time or to accomplish some god-specified task. At those
times, a Shadazim appear far more powerful and certain
than normal. Wise Shadazim take advantage of this to
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