[✗] [Magic Lore] Malleanism

[Narthok 9213]

MAGIC LORE - MALLEANISM

 

 

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FLUFF

 

DEIFIC

In gilded halls cloaked in shadow there dwells a being of singular fury. A mad god forgotten by both mortal and immortal alike. His essence overwhelmed with ancient memory, and a depthless fury. The betrayers would pay. 

 

With the dogged patience of insanity he had waited. Yet, in his waiting, he had not lain idle. Long had he coaxed these mortal cultists, these deluded fools into his embrace. A whisper to a warrior here, a vivid dream there. Bit by bit the starving wolf was tempted ever closer to the fire of the mad god. A beast on the cusp of surrendering its freedom for bondage, its hunger for servitude. Soon he would have them, oh so soon.

 

-

CULT (Red Faith)

For decades the Father had been coming to the various prophets and defenders of the faith, revealing divine truth and providing harsh rebuke for failure. Yet after all this time he had never appeared so strongly, not since the days of Thoromir. The gathered priests were scattered about, their chanting circle shattered by the force of the wrathful God’s arrival. He looked exactly as the ancient depictions claimed, one eyed and clad in a cloak of flame. The very air about the God shimmering, perhaps from the heat? 

 

One by one he knelt to the gathered priests and as he did so his fire flowed into them, their flameblands roared up and then dimmed. “Do not waste my gift” he whispered, his voice reminiscent of a thousand roaring forest fires. With that single utterance he vanished, the room engulfed in overwhelming light and then nothing. The servants of the All-Father had received a boon from their patron, but at what cost?

 

 

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Magic Explanation

 

Malleanism is fundamentally an exercise in deception. Malleus is a weak patron who has been driven mad with the death of his master the Aengul of Justice Zecharael. He exerts all his energies to avenge the death and in his eyes the betrayal of his master. However he is far too weak to confront the greater powers directly. Recognizing this Malleus seeks out pliable agents that he can influence to his own ends. To achieve this end Malleanism is made to be aesthetically consistent with the cult he steadily influences and seeks to fully command. 

 

Malleanism functions as a 5 slot magic, not as a result of any overwhelming power that it offers but more as a result of Malleus being a capricious and jealous deity who is unwilling to share his ‘property’. Malleanism is obviously a boon granted to his followers by Malleus for the purpose of fulfilling his vindictive goals, therefore it would be powered by a diefic source.

 

Malleanism cannot merely be ‘learned’; it requires full and explicit submission to Malleus’s assumed identity. This generally demands a full initiation into whatever cult is engaged in wielding Malleanism and then result in an apprenticeship to various priests (Mallean magic wielders).

 

It is worth noting that Malleus is merely looking for pliable agents who can be pitted against his enemies. Therefore any cult or belief system that can be co-opted or subverted to his purposes could theoretically be adopted by or adopt Malleanism, The only difference would be that Mallean aesthetics would be adapted to said cult in order to maintain his deception. Those who feel that Malleus would be a good fit for their religion are welcome to submit a sub-magic of Malleanism that just illustrates the various rituals and different aesthetics that would be present under a different Mallean ‘identity’ or ‘disguise’. In this submission I’ve focused on the Red Faith version of Malleanism as Malleus has been interacting with various Red Faith priests through events for a few years now. 

 

I will expand on this more in the redlines, however, the ‘disconnect’ factor of Malleanism would generally be any attempt to learn additional magics, or renunciation of Malleus’s various disguises/identities. 

 

Finally, as Malleus is certifiably mad those who enter his service expose themselves to his madness. Practitioners of Malleanism will slowly be driven mad by the whispers and mutterings of the mad God sitting on his lonely throne. As priests progress further into mastery of Malleanism and cast more spells / produce more artifacts their bond to the mad God would continuously deepen, each spell running the risk of exacerbating the growing madness of the caster. 

 

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Abilities/Spells

 

Malleanism is intended to take a more ‘low fantasy’ form, mud slathered peasants would mutter prayers and finger crude totems, hoping that the mysterious priests would grant them a good harvest. Malleanism is not an ‘active’ or perhaps better described as a ‘battle’ magic. While it is by no means a pacificstik magic in the sense of House magery it is a magic that is focused on the wielding of wards and artifacts, prepared well in advance in elaborate rituals.

 

 But primarily Malleanism should be wielded in the day to day life of those members of its cults, always worming its way ever deeper into the populations who adhere to it. Malleus hungers evermore for more followers, for greater adoration, all that one day he may enact his vengeance. Broadly this means incantations chanted over rune circles, glyphs painted on posts of wood to ward off evil milk souring imps, blessed salts being laid on windows and at doorways to prevent the entrance of goblins and gremlins. This magic is not designed for the empowerment of your self insert minecraft doll, but rather to enhance the rp experience of other players. In essence I am attempting to make a supportive or an immersion enhancing magic rather than an explicit battle magic.

 

SPELLS

 

Malleanism has no spells, at least not in the conventional point wand, say word, shoot fireball fashion. Malleanism is a ritualistic magic no Mallean effects can be produced in the absence of either a ritual circle composed of runes or a single rune painted on a solid medium for use as a ward. Higher level rituals and wards will obviously demand the contribution of additional Malleanites.
 

RITUALS AND WARDS

 

Rituals and wards vary in some important ways from each other. Rituals are necessary for the creation of an effect but once the effect has been created there is no further persisting effect. These would generally be used for healing, enchanting, prompting the regrowth of a field, etc. In essence once the focus of the ritual is imbued with the deific energy and the desired effect is achieved then the ritual is completed. Wards on the other hand are persistent effects but are anchored to a medium, a piece of stone in a gate, a scarecrow in a farmer’s field, a small religious altar at a roadside etc. Wards are always used for persistent effects, generally to repulse undesirable or prevent entry to a certain area unless one speaks the password. 

 

More powerful rituals, and more powerful wards both demand large ritual circles and large ward glyphs respectively. The requirements are as follows, Rituals and Glyph effects will be filed under the minimum level of ritual or glyph necessary to invoke them. It is expected that you visually represent the ritual circles and glyphs whenever possible, ritual circles can be created on the fly but it is preferred that you have them drawn / represented by blocks. Glyphs MUST be represented visually with coloured blocks and signs describing the glyph and the manner in which it was affixed to the medium. Was it drawn onto a stone medium with a charcoal stick, painted on, or was it carved into the very stone itself? It is very important to remember that glyphs are rendered null if they are at all broken, marred or vandalized.

Malleus is a rather secretive God and his power is channeled through the use of his true name, he holds names in incredibly high regard and views them as the medium upon which the crimes of one’s souls are etched. To that end all invocation of Mallean abilities are done through wielding small portions of his true name. Level 1 wards and glyphs are to include a runic M somewhere within them. Level 2 wards and glyphs are to include both M and A somewhere within them. And Level 3 wards and glyphs are to include both M, A, and L somewhere within them. Generally for rituals you want to have circles within your circle equidistant apart to contain your runic letters. 

Generally something like this at least in regards to the outer ring. How to fashion your circle aesthetically is irrelevant as long as it is 

-A circle

-Contains the necessary runic letters

 

It is further recommended that your ritual space be appropriately decorated and that your rituals are preceded by appropriate levels of sacred decorum. The burning of incense and the lighting of candles should be a part of all pre ritual habits. A large portion of Malleanism concerns mollifying and flattering a rather irate and unreasonable deity, to that end you should consider offering some placating phrases or chants to the deity whom you are about to invoke prior to the ritual.

 

Requirements for Rituals and Glyphs

Creating a Ritual Circle costs 1 point

Level 1 Ritual - 6ft (2 blocks) diameter, 1 Point

Level 2 Ritual - 9ft (3 blocks) diameter, 5 Points

Level 3 Ritual - 12ft (4 blocks) diameter, 25 Points

 

Level 1 Glyph - 3ft (1 block), 3 Malleanite

Level 2 Glyph - 6ft (2 block), 9 Malleanite

Level 3 Glyph - 9x9 (3x3 block) 27 Malleanite

 

CREATING A RITUAL CIRCLE OR A GLYPH FROM SCRATCH TAKES A MINIMUM OF FOUR EMOTES. FIRST YOU NEED TO DRAW THE CIRCLE/GLYPH. THEN YOU NEED TO APPLY THE APPROPRIATE RUNES. THEN YOU NEED TO SUMMON MALLEUS’ ATTENTION TO THE CIRCLE, THEN YOU NEED TO IMBUE HIS ESSENCE INTO THE CIRCLE

 

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THE TIER SYSTEM WITHIN MALLEANISM

I don’t like the LOTC tier system. All Malleanites from tier 1 to tier 5 will know and be able to participate in the casting of all Mallean effects. HOWEVER Malleanites will have ‘points’ corresponding to their tier. Each ritual takes a certain amount of points that only regenerate every 24 hours. A tier 5 Malleanite can perform a ritual demanding 5 points solo while it would otherwise take 5 tier 1 Malleanites to achieve the same effect. I have chosen to include a 6th tier, T6 will be exclusive to the current cult / coven leader as a reflection of Malleus’s favour. Tier points are as follows

T1 - 2 points

T2 - 4 points

T3 - 6 points

T4 - 8 points

T5 - 10 points

T6 - 20 points

 

T1 - Two OOC weeks 

T2 - Three OOC weeks 

T3 - Five OOC weeks 

T4 - Six OOC weeks 

T5 - (After the last week of T4)

T6 - (Current head of the cult, returns to T5 / their pre head tier when they are no longer head)

 

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SPELLS

 

LEVEL 1 RITUALS 

 

Cure

Description of the spell: Mystical light emanates from the ritual circle as the foul humours are drawn from the body and cast to the floor of the ritual circle. Cure draws minor poisons and minor illnesses from the ritual focus.

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

>summon the attention of Malleus by invoking the name of his disguise / persona, you must include your true name somewhere in this emote “all father your humble servant Ninja-Assassin Character Art Commissioner, begs your assistance in this small matter” (include appropriate waving of incense, of hands, swooshing of robes etc)

>declare the true name of the focus

>declare the ritual effect intended 

>channel the Mallean energies through the invoker, through the circle, into the focus (emote appropriate lighting effects / smoke etc)

 

Mend

Description of the spell: Mystical light emanates from the ritual circle as minor cuts, sprains and scrapes are mended. Heals minor wounds.

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

Redlines

-Life threatening wounds cannot be healed by this spell, they can only be temporarily stabilized for the cost of 3 points every 10 minutes. After which the major injuries will revert to their previous state.

 

SPECIAL GLYPHS (SEALS)

Seals are a special set of moveable wards that must be imbued in a ritual rather than merely creating the seal then imbuing it with power. Seals unlike wards are a single charge rather than a persistent effect. Once the seal has ‘fired’ then the glyph breaks and the seal is rendered inert. Only three seals can be worn at one time. Mechanics of Seals: Seals must be crafted and the appropriate Mallic runes must be placed on the seal before it is placed within the ritual circle. Unlike Wards who receive their energy following this crafting process seals must be imbued with energy via ritual. If a seal is imbued with energy via the orthodox glyph method then it will immediately break if it is moved. 

Therefore the emote requirements for crafting one seal are as follows 

-8 emote spell, perform the standard glyph emotes and and exempt the energy channeling emote, then perform the standard ritual emotes.

 

IF YOU ARE WEARING ANY SEALS YOU MUST STATE THE WORN SEALS IN YOUR BIO CHEERS!

 

Detect Witch

Description of the spell: The seal catches flame and burns up when in the presence of non Malleanic magic

Redlines

-Range 3 block circle around wearer

 

Resist Spell

Description of the spell: When a spell is aimed at the bearer of the seal, the seal consumes itself to weaken the spell by half.

Redlines

-Range 3 block circle around wearer

 

Courage Brothers

Description of the spell: When the seal is tapped twice by the wearer the wearer is filled by a burst of courage (4 emote duration)

 

LEVEL 2 RITUALS

 

Greater Cure (Can cure severe illnesses / fevers / moderate poisons)

Greater Mend (Can mend severe wounds / broken bones)

-Life threatening wounds cannot be healed by this spell, they can only be temporarily stabilized for the cost of 3 points every 10 minutes. After which the major injuries will revert to their previous state.

 

Burn

Description of the spell: Fire erupts from the edge of the circle engulfing the presumably restrained focus in flame..

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

 

Brand

Description of the spell: Fire snakes from the edge of the circle towards the presumably restrained focus, a brand is etched into the location chosen by the caster. If the brand is covered it will begin to burn into the bearer causing them intolerable agony until the brand is uncovered. 

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

At some point during the ritual emotes the location of the brand must be specified. This goes without saying but don’t be a degenerate please.

 

Flame Blessing 

Description of the spell: Fire erupts from the edge of the circle engulfing the inert focus in flame, when the ritual is completed whenever the wielder wishes the blade of the weapon will ignite into flame.

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

-The weapon will lose all enchantment if a non Malleanite attempts to wield it, the non Malleanite wielder must then roll through the wound chart to determine damage sustained.

 

Group Heal

Description of the spell:  Mystical light emanates from the ritual circle healing minor to moderate injuries (cuts, scrapes, broken bones). Those healed are left extremely hungry and tired. 

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

-Ritual costs n(number of foci within circle) x 3

-Life threatening wounds cannot be healed by this spell, they can only be temporarily stabilized for the cost of 3 points every 10 minutes. After which the major injuries will revert to their previous state.

 

Protect Me

Description of the spell: The caster is transformed into unbreakable stone, paralyzing them but rendering them impervious to most damage. This state of affairs can only be lifted by a dispel. You may not speak or move while in this state. Your body becomes stone, you can be transported as long as the transporting party can carry your bodyweight in stone (this will almost certainly take multiple people or a cart). If your body is thrown into a lava pit or sunk to the bottom of the ocean the effect cannot be dispelled until your body is retrieved. 

Mechanics of the spell: 

-2 emote spell

>invoke the attention of Malleus

>ask malleus to protect you for your state is dire

Redlines

-does not require a ritual circle

-The ritual caster must single handedly have sufficient points to cast the spell, the spell can only be cast on yourself

 

Purge

Description of the spell: As the ritual is conducted the magical essence within the foci would be greedily consumed by Malleus rendering the enchantment or curse placed  upon the object inert.

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

Redlines

-Can be used on living or inert foci

-Can be used to dispel the petrification of ‘Protect Me’

 

LEVEL 3 RITUALS

 

Salvation

Description of the spell: The massive circle pulses and flashes, sweat beads the brow of the assembled casters. The grievous, perhaps life threatening wounds of the focus are barely stabilized, the lethal humours are barely expelled before the various invokers begin to collapse. 

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

Redlines

-They will be bedridden for several days and unable to perform rituals for 24hours

 

LEVEL 1 GLYPHS

 

Minor Ward

Description of the spell: Undesirable descendants approaching the ward would feel extremely uncomfortable and feel a strong urge to turn away. Please roll a d/20 if you are not included on the glyph.

Mechanics of the spell: 

>fashion the glyph including the necessary number and type of Mallic runes

>inscribe the protected classes upon the glyph (glyphs with no necessary protected class are 4 emote)

>summon the attention of Malleus by invoking the name of his disguise / persona, you must include your true name somewhere in this emote “all father your humble servant Ninja-Assassin Character Art Commissioner, begs your assistance in this small matter” (include appropriate waving of incense, of hands, swooshing of robes etc)

>declare the glyph effect intended 

>channel the Mallean energies through the invoker, into the glyph (emote appropriate lighting effects / smoke etc)

-5 emote spell

Redlines

-The glyph carving must specify which people are not affected by the glyph (worshippers of x / residents of x house / bloodkin of x etc)

Ibid

 

Turn Beast

Description of the spell: Various animals approaching the ward would feel extremely uncomfortable and feel a strong urge to turn away.

Mechanics of the spell: 

-5 emote spell

Ibid

 

Bountiful Fruits

Description of the spell: This ward would encourage the growth of crops and ward off various agricultural diseases such as potato blight. 

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

 

Preserve

Description of the spell: Perishable objects stored within containers bearing this glyph would expire at half of their normal speed. Excellent for preserving meats or dairy during hot summer months.

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

 

LEVEL 2 GLYPHS

 

Ward of Secrets

Description of the spell: The way is impassable until a predetermined word is spoken, allowing entry

Mechanics of the spell: 

-5 emote spell

>in place of protected classes just state the password

-ideally you use a door with a password on it to simulate the lock here.

Ibid

 

Begone Monster

Description of the spell: weak monsters (ratiki / goblins / ghosts / etc) suffer immense pain if they are within 3 blocks of the ward.

Mechanics of the spell: 

-5 emote spell

-ideally you use a door with a password on it to simulate the lock here.

Ibid

 

LEVEL 3 GLYPHS

 

Ward of the Spiteful God

Description of the spell: Flames block your path, magic wielders unaligned with Malleus are unable to pass through or over the Flames. Should you attempt to the flames would flare up and burn you. Should you not be a magic wielder or be a magic wielder aligned with Malleus you would be able to merely jump over the flames. Magic creatures are magic wielders.

Mechanics of the spell: 

-5 emote spell

Ibid

Redlines

-The ward must be connected to another war of the spiteful god in a straight line with no obstructions in order to create the fire wall.

-The maximum range is 12 blocks.

 

Silence Witch

Description of the spell: This ward needs four wards to function correctly, the wards must form a box or a circle (3 wards minimum) surrounding an open area, anyone within the area (with the exception of Malleanites) would be unable to cast spells or connect to their source.

Mechanics of the spell: 

-4 emote spell

Ibid

 

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GENERAL MALLEAN REDLINES

-Ritual circles or wards that are marred / vandalized or rendered incomplete (broken circle, smudged or erased portion of the ward) are rendered unusable or inoperable respectively until they are repaired.

-Attempting to use damaged ritual circles will result in a failed ritual

 

-If the true (birth) name (first name only last name doesn’t matter) of the ritual focus is not used during a ritual then the ritual fails and the focus and Malleanite casters suffer a wound from the wound chart.

 

-ALMOST NO EFFECT CAN BE CREATED WITHOUT A RITUAL CIRCLE OR A GLYPH, THE ONE EFFECT CAPABLE OF BEING PERFORMED SANS RITUAL OR GLYPH WILL BE SPECIFICALLY LABELLED AS SUCH. TRY THO

 

-Ritual circles must be circles

 

-Ritual circles and Mallean Glyphs cannot function without a portion of Malleus’s true name imbued within them in runic form

 

-With rituals or glyphs requiring more than one caster, one caster will lead the chants and the other will repeat after him. Casters are free to aesthetically emote as is appropriate so long as the chants of the primary caster are echoed.
 

-if you have failed to

-offer any placation

-light any candles

-burn any incense

-used the true names of both caster and invoker

-perform a ritual with a damaged circle

-then your ritual will fail and you must check the wound chart

 

-PUNISHMENTS FROM THE WOUND CHART CANNOT BE HEALED BY THE WOUND CHART

 

-Attempting to learn any other magic would prompt immediate disconnection

 

-All Rituals are single target unless otherwise specified, if multiple foci are inside of a ritual circle during a single target ritual then all the foci must roll from the wound chart. Inert foci (inanimate objects) are destroyed. 

 

-Glyph effects break and are rendered inert if the Glyph medium is moved (picking up a scarecrow with a glyph on it to move it)

 

-Only 3 seals may be worn on a single character

 

-If a glyph is obscured / covered from its area of effect then it is rendered inert until the covering is inert (it cannot project magical energy into the area of effect)

 

-Glyphs cannot be layered, only one glyph may be present per ward space

 

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THE WOUND CHART  

Malleus is a petty god, he really doesn’t like being ignored and takes offence easily. Making him angry isn’t a question of if but when. When you do make him angry he will punish you, with wounds. On failing a ritual please refer to the chart for the appropriate punishment to inflict on your character. ROLL A D20 

 

D1-5

-Deep slash on limbs or torso

 

D6 - 10

-The mad god will ask you what bone you want broken

-if you declare one he breaks it

-if you do not he breaks two, roll a d5

D1 - both legs

D2 - both arms

D3 - ribs

D4 - leg and an arm

D5 - spine, you are paralyzed from waist down

 

D11-15

-Overcome by the rantings of the mad God, you collapse under the weight of his screams

-unable to cast for 24 hours

 

D16-20

-An invisible force strikes you incredibly hard, you are knocked off your feet.

-You got lucky this time

 

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Purpose (OOC)

I want to fill a low fantasy vibe while also making the magic more accessible to various cults and religious cliques in the way that @JoanOfArc suggested on Caelria’s thread. In this proposal, I’ve tried to make the actual ‘deity’ an involved character in the rp of said deific magic. Whilst you might not be speaking directly to Malleus his presence would be felt consistently in mechanics such as the wound chart, or his jealous demand that you can learn no other magics.

 

Malleanism isn’t really intended to be a ‘battle magic’ those who have read over the mechanics will quickly realize it is almost impossible to invoke any Malleanic effects in the middle of a fight without immense prior preparation; and those who attempt to will likely just end up hurting themselves (wound chart). What I intended to do with my design was create a more superstitious mud hut piast peasant vibe where you’re praying next to your crudely carved wooden altar with layers of salt laid at the window. 

 

Ideally a Malleanite is someone who is enriching other people’s rp. Ideally you’d see things like: wives coming to the priest to get seals for their husband before battle, getting wards put on the grazing paddock, getting wards put on the doors windows, getting wards put on the larder to preserve food etc. The ritualized magics is intended to be far more supportive and ‘priestlike’ mostly through healing and blessing services rather than a battle mage standing in the middle of the fire and the steel.

 

I'm obviously not very familiar with a good deal of LOTC's lore, I did a great deal of research before I finished this post but it is likely that I've overlooked a piece of lore or convention. Completely open to suggestions and constructive criticism.

 

Citation Spoiler

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/176426-%E2%9C%93-deific-realm-the-gilded-court/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/169470-%E2%9C%93-malleus-revised/

 

Some FAQs I’ve gotten 

 

-Why is it 5 slot

I don’t think Malleanism is a particularly strong magic that will be collected by anime mages, however Malleus is an extremely jealous and spiteful Deity, he does not like to share. I am not familiar enough with all the varied magics so for me it just felt easier to blanket make it incompatible with all magics.

 

-Can’t I just soft PK people by tricking them into ‘protect me’ ing themselves

Yeah probably, if you don’t get dispelled from protect me you’re essentially a very realistic statue forever.

 

[rukio 8910]

first 

 

[Luciloo 2653]

4 minutes ago, Narthok said:

Detect Witch

Description of the spell: The seal catches flame and burns up when in the presence of non Malleanic magic

Redlines

-Range 3 block circle around wearer

 

lol

[Narthok 9213]

2 minutes ago, Luciloo said:

 

lol

[Sorcerio 4596]

Interesting.. definitely some neat concepts that could be worked out!

[Narthok 9213]

Just now, Sorcerio said:

Interesting.. definitely some neat concepts that could be worked out!

suggestions always appreciated

[Nozgoth 2897]

regardless of intricacies, this is an interesting concept.

[DistantCryprid 265]

Man b****es be sh*****g bricks when they walk into sutica while using the "detect witch " spell.

[Narthok 9213]

Just now, DistantCryprid said:

Man b****es be sh*****g bricks when they walk into sutica while using the "detect witch " spell.

1 minute ago, Lionbileti said:

I love watching people fume at good lore pieces, keep up the work Narthman

you need to go back (to ireland)

[Monomakhos 1837]

Narthok is based. I think the concept should be refined a bit, but DnD magic principles epic and better than lotcshit.

[Narthok 9213]

1 minute ago, Yeagerist said:

Narthok is based. I think the concept should be refined a bit, but DnD magic principles epic and better than lotcshit.

what needs to be refined?

[JoanOfArc 4586]

I love Fatherism and I am tired of pretending I don't.

[Narthok 9213]

1 minute ago, JoanOfArc said:

I love Fatherism and I am tired of pretending I don't.

oocly Malleus has been psyopping red faith for a long time, I thought I'd expand that opportunity to other religious groups if they wanted it.  There are probably some problems with my systems that I'm not seeing, but I think magic should be something fantastical / magical that enhances immersion rather than being a science or a power stim.

[Crevel 4727]

I also love Fatherism and I am tired of pretending I don't.

[Slorbin 1774]

+1 It is time.