Some questions about the magic rules

[Brootse]

1. How to learn spirit magic spells from cults?

Does one point of some spell pop in to a priest's head every year, or is it a free spell that some other priest teaches to him? And if someone wants to learn a spell that no priest in the temple knows, are there spirits that can be summoned to teach it, or does he have find some other place to learn it?

 

2. How many Sorcery techniques/Runes would a sorcerer know?

Page 70 on Philosophers: Philosophers learn sorcery, and start having mastered the understanding of one Rune and one technique (see the Sorcery chapter). They also start with three sorcery spells.

Page 76 on Lhankor Mhy: Cult Sorcery: Cultists trained in sorcery start as having mastered the principles of the Truth Rune and the technique of Command

Page 381 on Aeolialism: At age 16, those with a minimum INT of 14 select two Runes and one technique in which to specialize

Would a Sartarite Lhankor Mhy worshipping Philosopher get techniques and Runes both from his cult and profession, ie. the Truth Rune, one additional Rune, the Command technique, and another technique? Or would he get just the Truth Rune and the Command technique? And how many Runes and techniques would an Aeolianist Orlanth worshipping Philosopher get? Or is that combination even possible?

 

3. Rune point maximum

Are the total Rune points limited with CHA, or just the Rune points per cult?

[jajagappa]

16 minutes ago, Brootse said:

1. How to learn spirit magic spells from cults?

Does one point of some spell pop in to a priest's head every year, or is it a free spell that some other priest teaches to him? And if someone wants to learn a spell that no priest in the temple knows, are there spirits that can be summoned to teach it, or does he have find some other place to learn it?

If you go to the Spirit Magic chapter there are some points there that are salient and I think reflect "how" it happens:

• [spirit magic] concerns communication with the spirits that reside in the natural energy currents of the world
• To cast a spirit magic spell, the caster concentrates upon the spirits they have a focus with and temporarily alters the spiritual energy currents to create an effect
• Rune cults can teach any spirit magic spell known to their Rune Masters
• learning a new spell takes one week of work... Nothing else in the way of learning may be done during this week
• As the specialists in communicating with the Spirit World, shamans can teach any listed spirit magic spell
• Each point of spirit magic requires 1 point of CHA (which is same that you need to bind spirits)
• spirit magic spells require a focus. The focus serves as a reminder and token of the spell

So what does this all translate to?

• Rune Masters of the cult summon cult spirits that know the spell and learns how to communicate with and draw upon its magical energy
• The week of work includes:
  • the summoning of the spirit by the Rune Master (costs 1RP and that establishes what the cult charges in goods or service)
  • instructing the student on how to interact with the student (I.e. apply their CHA)
  • instructing the student in how to focus upon the "right" object to make the connection with the spirit
  • establishing the permanence of the focus (tattooing, inscribing in object, or whatever)
  • 'testing' that the focus works to open the channel to the spirit and its energy
  • 'testing' that the student can draw upon the spiritual energy and apply her personal energy (MP) to cast the spell
• For a Rune Master to teach something "new" or "unknown", she will need to research temple or other archives to find what cult spirit might know it - this is likely a higher cost Summon Cult Spirit as the spirit must be explicitly named - or has to go to a shaman to find/locate such a spirit and learn how to interact with it (including how to summon it again)
  • Or else the Rune Master may find/learn something on a heroquest or through an associated cult

Anyway, that's my rough take on the process.

[Cwitten]

2. The benefits of being a philosopher and an initiate of Lhankor Mhy would stack as far as i'm aware. (Giving you 2 runes, 2 techniques, and 6 sorcery spells)
Reading into Aeolialism (on page 389), both it and Lhankor Mhy are described as paths taken at a young age, so you'd have to pick one as the method of how you were taught (Even if Lhankor Mhy worship is part of their teachings.) I believe you could also stack Philosopher and Aeolialism? (Aeolialism however takes place in a region with a homeland not covered in the book.)

3. Rune Points are limited to CHA per cult, and each cult requires separate Rune Point pools.

[simonh]

In terms of Rune Magic, learning a spell involves understanding and experiencing the myths, rituals and magical secrets of the cult. Many rune magic spells are ‘minor’ versions of powers a god gained in a myth, so wielding that power requires a level of initiation into the secrets of the myth. Learning it is simply part of the character’s religious practices and devotion.

For example Sanctify is the ritual by which a priest purifies and dedicates a place of worship to their god. Learning the spell simply involves learning that ritual for your cult.

Edited September 19, 2018 by simonh