More Bardic Spells

More Bardic Spells

Satire

Level: 5

Range: special

Duration: special

Effect: lays a Curse upon 1 being

This Spellsong is one of the most potent weapons in a Bard’s armoury; it enables the Bard to place a form of Curse on a single individual who has wronged the Bard, or those whose side he takes.

Each use of this spell requires the Bard to compose and write a new song, lambasting the chosen target in a particular way; the song should generate derision, contempt, or dislike for the target in those who hear it. A skill roll is required at its completion, to see if it succeeds in evoking the effect the Bard wants; failing this roll means that the Bard must start again, with -1 on the next skill roll. If the attempt fails three times (cumulative penalty), the Bard may not Satirise that individual until he gains at least two more levels.

If the attempt succeeds, the Bard may cast the spell by playing the song in front of an audience of no less than 20 people. The target need not be in the audience, or even in the same country, but must nevertheless make a Saving Throw vs. Spells (with -1 on the roll for each 10 people who hear the Satire’s debut performance) or be affected by the Curse. This may be anything from a penalty to saving throws, to a reduction in 1 Characteristic (no more than 2 points), to some physical effect - an obscenely long nose, for instance, or the sound of a donkey braying when the Cursed person speaks; anything which makes a suitable punishment for the target’s "crime".

The effect of the curse lasts for as long as people remember, and continue to sing, the Satirical song; if no further performances are given, the effect fades in about a week. A wronged Bard is a vengeful creature, however, and is likely to perform the Satire as often as necessary, and to as many people as possible, to keep it going. The task may be made easier for him if fellow Bards and Minstrels can be convinced to take up the Satire - two (or ten, or twenty) Bards can spread a song much more effectively than one, after all. No Bard may have more than one Satire in operation at once; this includes those relaying another Bard’s Satire.

The subject of the Satire is entitled to an additional Save once per month, for as long as the curse continues; if successful, he is freed from its effects forever.

The power to Satirise someone is the most important ability, and most sacred trust, held by the Bards; they never use it for frivolous or trivial purposes. If a Bard should ever stoop to such an act (DM’s judgement), he may find the effects of his Curse turning back on him threefold.

Song of Orfeo

Level: 5

Range: 30’ radius

Duration: 1 Turn

Effect: Dispels illusions, Charms & paralysis

This Spellsong is ancient; it was created during the height of the Milenian Empire by the Mage-Musician Orfeo Merelakys, for whom it is named. Since the fall of the Empire, knowledge of the Spellsong has been preserved by a small, secret order of Mage-Musicians in the Hinterlands; in recent times they have finally thrown off their cloak of secrecy and taught the spell to outsiders, notably a number of Bards and Minstrels, giving the Song of Orfeo a wider audience.

The Song of Orfeo, an unaccompanied solo, is a stirring cry for freedom; when sung, this powerful Spellsong disrupts all lies and repression within a 30’ radius. In practical (game) terms, it negates illusions (including spells such as Invisibility, Phantasmal Force, Mirror Image etc), cancels paralysis (from a Ghoul’s touch, Hold Person/Monster spells), and weakens Charms (victims of Charm spells may make an extra Save, with +1 to the roll). Moreover, no spell of this type may be cast within the area of effect for as long as the Song is is maintained.

This Spellsong is draining to perform, to say the least; the Bard may perform no other actions while singing it, even in self-defence. Once the spell expires (no Bard or Mage-Musician since Orfeo himself can maintain the spell for longer than one Turn, at most), the caster must rest for at least three Turns; until this is done, he cannot fight or cast another spell, and can move no faster than half normal speed. The Song of Orfeo cannot be performed more than once per week by any one Bard.

Note: It is highly likely that knowledge of this Spellsong was carried into the Hollow World, since at least one Mage-Magician was amongst those transported to that setting. Whether or not the spell is still known there is currently unknown.

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