Night Owl 9/Night Owl CD-ROM (NOPV9) (Night Owl Publisher) (1993).ISO/023a/me060393.zip/!TAROTI.#01

Text File | 1993-04-23 | 12KB | 329 lines

:Tarotist_Tradition

     The Tarotist tradition dates back hundreds of years, being as old
as their primary tool, the Tarot deck. Tarotists MUST have a deck to
be functional as mages, but are not token mages nor do their tools
work like those of other Traditions. They are both versitile and limited
as a tradition. A Taroist enpowers and utilizes tarot cards to know
the future, divine events and to perform miracles.

     Required Skills  :

              None

     Suggested Skills :

              Concealment
              Drawing & Painting
              Gambling
              Meditation
              Psychology

     Restrictions and Modifiers:

              Cannot cast if unable to see
              Cannot cast without a deck
              Cannot cast if unable to access deck (hand movements)
              Cannot cast effects that Directly Affect a MUNDANE
                     (Detecting, scrying and predictions are
                      not considered Direct affects).
              Cannot HANG spells

         Although a Taroist can work with a store-bought deck for
     some of their magics, many require them to create a special
     card to produce the effect. This must be drawn or painted by
     the caster (and they need the specific skill for such). All
     Effects that required a special card will be noted as such
     in their description.

:Augury

   COST   : 5
   MODS   : N

   This ability allows the caster to ask any question to which a one
word answer may be given. The answer will be accurate and truthful.
This can be done with ANY tarot deck.

:Block_Teleport

   COST   : 10
   MODS   : D

This spell prevents anyone from teleporting into or out of the area of
effect while the spell is in effect. It will not effect homing teleport
spells (e. g. word of recall). It will also not effect gates. It WILL
affect Trump cards. It covers an area of 50 Cubic Feet per RANK of the
spell.
       Any Complete Tarot Deck can be used for this spell.

:Chaos_Vortex

   COST   : 30
   MODS   : D,R

   This spell summons in a tiny piece of a shadowstorm in the form of
a swirling tornado that will wander about randomly, affecting everything
it hits. Anyone that fails a prowness roll when the vortex reaches them
is affected by a RANDOM SPELL KLUTZ effect. The Vortex is unable to pass
thru solid objects, and cannot be dispelled (but may be BANISHED). It
fades away when the duration ends. The caster is NOT immune to the
effects, and cannot end the spell prematurely. (If the caster creates
their own card for their deck for this effect then the cost and cast
time is reduced to a base of 25 pts., else they pay the above using a
stock tarot deck).

   The effects of this spell cannot occur if there are Mundanes viewing
the caster or those affected by it.

:Counterspell

   COST   : 5
   MODS   : D

   This spell requires the caster to perform the drawing forth of
"The Magician" on which it centers. The card, for the duration, will
when A spell is cast AT the caster directly by a mage of another
tradition (it fails vs Bardic, Mentalist and Visionary effects)
attempt to intercept the effect.

(It ONLY works on spells that produce a MAGICAL effect, so it would
fail against any spell that works not on the caster but on an object
an area or produces a mundane physical effect). The caster makes a
normal saving throw vs the incoming spell, with a +10% per RANK
defense against the spell. If successful, the card will absorb the
incoming and negate its affect entirely.

   While Counterspell is functional the Tarot Mage cannot cast
any other effect from their tradition or in a tradition that requires
the usage of their hands or movement since they must continue to
grasp the card.

:Create_Mundane_Object

    COST   : 25
    MODS   : N

   This spell will help the caster create a generic mundane object that
they specify, drawing it from a card in their deck. They must specify
the object (ex: coin, rope, crowbar etc). The object has no magical
properties whatsoever (its mundane!) and doesn't vanish or fade away.

The spell does limit the item to a mundane one from the equipment list
that would fit within the general area the caster is in (no making
automobiles appear!), and should be of a maximum of 1 lbs per rank and
cost no more than $5 per rank.

:Death

    COST   : 25
    MODS   : R

   This spell, done by drawing the death card from the deck, causes
the target to have to save not against magic but against HARDiness.
If they fail they suffer a heart attack, falling to the ground in
severe pain and taking 1d10/rank damage with no armour absorbtion or
other magical absorbtion applying to the damage. The heart attack
leaves them weak and unable to act physically for 1 minute/rank of
the caster (10 rnds to a minute).

:Detect_Lie

    COST   : 1
    MODS   : D

   This allows the caster to perceive any SPOKEN lies said in their
presence if they understand the language being spoken. Range is not
necessary as an element in this spell. It does not detect omissions,
only falsehoods. This can be done with any tarot deck.

:Enhance_Emotions

     COST   : 10
     MODS   : D,R

While active this spell will enhance the existing emotions of anyone
within the radius area affect and reduce inhibitors that normally keep
such emotions from being expressed or carried out by those within it.
Thus sadness may become actual crying and tears, Lust may result in
actual seduction or sexual encounters, Anger may result in violent
attack or action, Greed may lead to actual theft, happiness may result
in a feeling of contentment without action, etc.

   The Queen of Hearts is Used for this spell effect.

   Unlike other Taroist spells this one CAN be used on a mundane.

:Explosive_Deal

    COST    : 10
    MODS    : R,T

   This effect charges card(s) from the deck with explosive energy,
which are then fired off at the target(s) to do damage to target
objects or beings.

   The cost is 10 pts plus 1 point per point of damage to be inflicted
by the card (the card does a base of 5 points plus the additional
paid for damage). Additional targets require an additional card for
each.

    Once a tarot deck has lost cards within it, the character cannot
use many of its divinatory capabilities : Augury* , Locate_Object*,
Know_Answer* , Spell_Trace* for examples.

    This spell CAN affect a mundane. Any Deck can be used for this
effect.

:Foolishness

    COST    : 15
    MODS    : D,R

   This will make the target being act rather impulsively and oftentimes
in a silly manner for the duration, drawing from their psyche all the
childish emotions they hold within. In some this may result in silly
walks or other body movements, in others they may begin to recite
meaningless poetry, in still yet others they may emulate comedians that
they have observed that they liked.

   This, of course, required drawing THE FOOL from the deck.

   This can be done with ANY deck.

:Know_Answer

    COST   : 25
    MODS   : N

    This spell allows the caster to get a detailed response to a
stated question dealing with the past, present or future within
reason. The past and present will be very accurately replied to,
while the future will be based in part upon the most likely series
of events unless the question gives stipulations.

   A complete Tarot deck is necessary for this spell.

:Locate_Object

    COST   : 5
    MODS   : D,R

This spell allows the caster to find the location of a lost or stolen
item which they are familiar with (that is, they have held it in their
hands at some point in the past). The spell will give them a direction
and will lead them along that direction, with statements of
'warmer'/'Colder' until they reach it or until the spell expires.
If the item is beyond the casting range then they will NOT perceive
it at all except a vague direction and then the spell will expire
prematurely. If the object has been broken, changed or damaged in any
way it will not ne detected at all. The caster needs to constantly
manipulate the deck during the spell to be able to tell when warmer
or colder....

    This requires a complete deck.

:Person_Trump

   COST  : 25
   MODS  : N

   This spell REQUIRES the drawing of a card by the caster.

   You must know the person quite well or have them pose for the
drawing or be around them for a considerable period of time to do the
drawing from memory. If successfully enpowered with the spell, one can
study the card and produce the effects of:

       1) Telepathically speaking with the person on the trump
          without range restrictions (costs 1 point per round
          of usage).

       2) Teleporting to that person if they will agree to it
          mentally or if they fail a save against you.
          (Costs 15 points per usage)

       3) Summoning that person to you if they Will it or cannot
          resist (you CAN trump thru an unconscious person).
          (Costs 25 points per usage)

   All affects take time to cast, based on the 25 base of the card,
   less 1 round per additionally RANK it is known at.

   A Tarotist CAN use a card draw and enpowered by another Taroist,
but a non-Taroist cannot use a card, but they WILL detect as magic.

   Remember that you cannot make a TRUMP of a mundane that will work!

   Instead of a card the caster may make and use something larger,
like a painting or wall mural.

:Place_Trump

   COST  : 20
   MODS  : N

   The creating of a trump for a place is a common practice and is
akin to the teleporter concept of memorizing a locale. The Place trump
must be someplace that the caster has been in, is in when it is created,
or has thoroughly viewed in some other means.

   When used the card will be concentrated on and the caster will be
transported into the picture in the trump (the trump card WILL go with
them in the process if it is held by them). Trumps for places that have
changed drastically or no longer exist will fail to work.

   The cost to use a Place Trump is 10 points at the usage. The time
needed is equal to the base cost to create a Place Trump, minus the
usual rank factors.

   Additionally the card can be used to see and Hear what is occuring
within a place WITHOUT using it to transport the caster, combining
Clairaudience and Clairvoyance to that place, visible in the face of
the card. Usage of a Card Scrying, as this is referred to, costs
five points at the time of casting.

   Like a Person_Trump* a Place Trump detects as a magic item but can
only be used by a Taroist.

   Also something larger than a card (such as a painting or wall mural)
could be made this way by the mage.

:Spell_Trace

    COST   : 5
    MODS   : R,T

Cast on an object or on a target of a recently discharged spell, this
will give the mage an image of the caster who originally cast the spell.
(If the caster is someone the caster has made a special Person_Trump*
card for then they will know EXACTLY who performed the spell).

    This requires an ENTIRE deck, but it can be store bought.

:Strength

    COST   : 20
    MODS   : D,R

This is cast on the mage or on a target being. It enhances their
HARDINESS by 5 points per Rank for feats of physical strength and
gives them phantom HTK of equal factor for the duration. It, of
course, is done with the STRENGTH card in the deck.

   It can be done with ANY deck.

:Weakness_Understanding

     COST    : 5
     MODS    : D

     This spell grants the caster the ability to perceive the weakest
points of construction on an object or structure or person. While
it is active they can apply the knowledge to their attacks on such
with any physical attack, causing +1 damage per attack per rank they
know the spell at.

     A full deck is needed for this to be cast.