Dark Ages Mage
Contents
Spellcasting Summary
Simple Spell
- Roll
- Foundation + one Pillar
- If the Pillar's required level is higher than the caster's Foundation. the caster must spend a point of Quintessence.
- Difficulty
- 4 + the Pillar's required level (-1 per extra Quintessence point, up to a -3 max)
- If the difficulty exceeds 9, then the difficulty remains at 9, but one extra success must be achieved per excess point of difficulty.
Complex Spell
- Roll
- Foundation + Primary Pillar + 1 die per additional Pillar involved in casting.
- If the primary Pillar's requirement level is higher than the caster's Foundation, the caster must spend a point of Quintessence.
- Difficulty
- 5 + Pillar's required level + 1 per additional Pillar involved in casting (-1 per extra Quintessence point, up to a -3 max)
Extended Spell
As a simple or complex spell, except that successes are accrued over a series of rolls until the spell is achieved, time runs out, or a roll botches.
The time between rolls varies with the task. Quintessence may be spent per roll to lower the difficulty (-1 per point, -3 max).
Ongoing Spell
As an extended spell, but ten times the usual successes must be achieved. Quintessence cost: 1 point per success, plus 5 points per level of the highest Pillar involved. Willpower cost: 1 point per 10 Quintessence points spent.
- Source
- Pg.98, Dark Ages Mage Core Rulebook
Pillars ~ Forma
Forma was a term used by the mages of the Order of Hermes during the Dark Ages, to collectively describe the four Pillars of their magick: Anima (Command of Life), Corona (Command of the Mind), Primus (Command of Quintessence ), and Vires (Command of Elemental Forces). It should be noted that the Craftmasons eschewed the use of Primus, and instead practiced a Pillar known as Materia (Command of Material Substances).
Overview
Each Pillar of the Order of Hermes is a Forma. Each Forma embodies a fundamental aspect of Creation, a pillar that shores up the world itself. These four ancient Forma are: Anima (the "Breath of Life" that flows through every living being), Corona (the "Crown" which grants control over the working of the mind), Primus ( the raw power of magic itself) and Vires ("Forces", mastery over the energies of the Universe). Although the four Formas encompass a great many potential powers, in no case can current Hermetic theory violate certain precepts set forth by the Church (precepts which Bonisagus himself subscribed to and set forth in the founding doctrine of the Order): The resurrection of the dead, the creation of true life and travel beyond the Lunar Sphere. Further, though many scholars of the Order have truck with various spiritual entities, both benign and malefic, their control of those beings hinges mostly upon mastery of the energies that sustain those beings, rather than power over ephemeral matter (spirit).
Sample Foci: Conjunctions or other astrological phenomena, Enochian language (chants, recitation or text), numerology
- : Anima -- Command of Life
- : Corona -- Command of the Mind
- : Primus -- Command of Quintessence
- : Vires -- Command of Elemental Forces
- : Materia -- Command of Material Substances {Craftmasons}
| Pillar | Color |
|---|---|
| Anima | Red |
| Corona | Blue |
| Filum (Destiny) | Purple |
| Materia | Gray |
| Primus | White |
| Travectio (Connection) | Silver |
| Vires | Orange |
Backgrounds
