Professional Documents
Culture Documents
76 Stéphane Gesbert
Item explanations are found below: Crafted: brazier, bronze disk, copper bowl, leaden
1. Each spell is given here a generic name that seal, monolith, painted or drawn lines, pipes, small
distinguishes it from other spells. The listed spell name is figurine, stone arrangements, wooden boxes, etc.
intentionally generic. Avoid using it during play. Instead
call the spell something appropriately imprecise, poetic, or The evidence of the casting of a spell is up to the keeper.
circumstantial. Some spells include a discretionary As the keeper wishes, spell castings might include pale
specification in brackets. Specialize the spell to affect a nimbuses, the rushing of winds, howling and hissing
particular species, substance or characteristic. animals, murmuring voices, alarming moans, and so on.
Creature: specific animals, fabulous creatures, spirits, 8. Many temporary spells have a permanent variant
etc. requiring the expenditure of POW instead of magic points,
Skill class: physical movement, communication, and vice versa. Each variant should be considered a
thought, manipulation, and perception. different spell, and must be learned separately.
Characteristic: strength, constitution, intelligence,
power, dexterity, and appearance. NOT SIZE AND Ritual magic
EDUCATION!
Spirit: ghosts, nature spirits, demons, Old Ones, etc. Routinely spells are cast by a single caster in a single
Substance: magical, invisible or evil effluvium (e.g. round. If a caster wants to cast a spell, the magic point cost
poison, enemy), natural substance, etc. of which exceeds his resources, then he must spend
additional hours in casting. He may also join forces with
The specialty of the spell must be specified when the spell other casters who know the spell. In both cases we speak
is learned, with the assent of the keeper. For instance, Find of “ritual” magic.
Gate is a different spell from Find Gold, but both spells Humans naturally regenerate magic points at the rate of
work the same way. Knowing one of these spells is of no one-fourth of user POW every 6 hours. Therefore, every
use whatsoever in attempting to cast any of the others. additional 6 hours spent in casting effectively increases the
2. Spells come in four ranges: touch, earshot, sight or caster’s magic points - not POW! - by one-fourth of user
infinite. The target or target area of a spell must be within POW. For example, a POW 12 witch naturally recovers 3
range for the spell to take effect. magic points every 6 hours: she can cast a 15-point spell in
3. The magic point cost of a spell holds for the listed 6 hours by spending all her magic points (12 + 3 = 15
duration. Standard durations are instant, 1 round, 1 day and temporary magic points). The additional magic points only
permanent. If applicable, doubling the basic cost doubles exist for the spell being cast, and cannot be rerouted to
the duration, tripling the cost triples duration, etc. anything else. Note that temporary magic points are of no
4. All spells take time to cast - a single round by default - use for spells that demand POW expenditure; the only way
and they all require magic points or POW to be expended. to cast a spell with a higher POW cost than the caster can
Spells take effect at the end of the casting period after all sacrifice, is to share power with others.
required magic points or POW have been sacrificed. The A group or crowd of people can help power spells. The
cost of some spells can be scaled up for greater effect. If caster acts as the focus for the group. Anyone else in the
the caster is distracted while casting (by an upsetting group knowing the spell may also expend as many magic
event, a loud noise, a blow, etc.), he must make an Idea points or POW as desired. The remainder of the group can
roll to maintain his casting. Failing, both the spell effects aid a ritual casting by circling up around the casters,
and the magic points or POW spent are wasted. chanting, holding candles, burning incense, etc. Such a
5. Successfully liberating magical forces usually costs circle may prevent interruptions. Each caster is subject to a
Sanity points, in amounts varying from spell to spell. Note separate Sanity roll, and may incur the full Sanity point
that the horrific outcome of many spells (think of Wither loss attached to casting the spell.
Limb for instance) may cost yet more Sanity points to the Because lengthy rituals are likely to be interrupted, it is
caster, to the spell’s target, or to witnesses. wise to perform them in a place of relative calm, like a
6. “Targeted” spells compare the caster’s and an unwilling remote clearing in the woods.
target’s current magic points on the Resistance Table to
learn whether the spell attack succeeds (no match needed if Magical artifacts
the target volunteers). Failing, both the spell effects and Magical artifacts are items in which one or more spells are
the magic points spent are wasted. Note that if the target is embedded by an Enchant spell.
the spell caster himself no roll is needed. Usage of a magical artifact conforms to standard spell
7. Like the spell name, the spell description is intentionally casting procedures and conditions. In particular, the
generic. Each spell should be appropriately crafted for the wielder of the item must spend magic points or POW, and
circumstance. The keeper and the player may come up Sanity in order to activate a spell.
with intriguing modifications or add specific details. The The Seal spell can be used to create freakish magical
physical components of a spell, how they are acquired or artifacts that contain imprisoned spirits. Such artifacts are
prepared, is left almost entirely to the keeper. Here follows de facto “possessed”, having INT, POW and a will of their
a list of usual components: own. To use the magical powers of captive spirits, the
Organic: ashes, blood, bones, corpse, flowers, flesh,
wielder must bargain with them. There is no guarantee that
herbs, intestines, liquids, small animal, etc. bound spirits would rather bargain than harm the caster, or
Mineral: gold dust, mercury granules, powder, rocks,
that they might not have some other alien scheme in mind.
saltpeter, salt water, sulfur, etc.
Some magi believe that spirits can squeeze through the It is believed that spirits can squeeze through the two ends
two ends of a Gate and intrude into our world. of a Gate and intrude into our world.
Create Gate has a temporary variant that vanishes after one Create Time Warp has a temporary variant that vanishes
passage. This variant only requires magic point after one passage. The temporary variant only requires
expenditure instead of POW. magic point expenditure.
Cost (POW/magic points) Distance (miles) Cost (POW/magic points) Distance (years)
1 not to exceed 1 1 not to exceed 1
2 10 2 10
3 100 3 100
4 1000 4 1000
5 10.000 5 10.000
and so on: add another point, add another zero. and so on: add another point, add another zero.
Note that Dark Ages scholars believed that the World’s Note that Dark Ages scholars believed that the time span
size did not exceed several thousand miles. Anything of History did not exceed several thousand years.
beyond that was thought to belong to transcendental Anything beyond that was thought to belong to
Spheres. transcendental Ages.
FURY that case match target STR against the caster's magic
points. If the target wins, the spell is broken - and the
Range: touch Duration: until opponent target falls, of course.
killed
Cost: 2 magic points MOONLIGHT
Sanity: 1D6 Resistance Table: yes
Fury causes the caster or his target to fight unceasingly for Range: sight Duration: 10 minutes
the spell duration. The target always chooses whom to Cost: 1 magic point for every 3x3x3 cubic yards
attack, but may have to attack a friend if all foes have been Sanity: 0 Resistance Table: no
slain. The spell increases by one the number of attacks that Causes a silvery full-moon-like light to illuminate the
the maddened target can make in each round. The berserk target area. Moonlight dissipates darkness, shadows and
ignores unconsciousness stemming from a major wound. A mist for 10 minutes (even the spectral mist invoked by the
fatal wound is still fatal, but he or she attacks until the end Mist spell). Moonlight can also reveal the outline of
of the round of death, striking blows while technically invisible Limbo creatures to the trained eye (Occult roll
dead. required).
A furious target may not actively defend (dodge or parry)
for the duration of the spell. MIST
Sorcerers sometimes know this spell as “the curse of the
Wolf”. Range: sight Duration: 10 minutes
Cost: 1 magic point for every 3x3x3 cubic yards
GRAY BINDING Sanity: 0 Resistance Table: no
Causes a shadowy mist to appear directly in front of the
Range: touch Duration: until undead caster. Mist can douse small lights such as candles and
decays only the strongest light penetrates it at all. Within the mist
Cost: 8 magic points sight is impossible, the senses of touch and hearing are
Sanity: 1D6 Resistance Table: no benumbed, and the freezing air blunts the sense of smell.
A way to form an uncontrolled vampire. A ritual liquid After 10 minutes, the mist evaporates without trace.
must be poured over a corpse. The corpse is left to mature. It is believed that the mist flows directly out of Limbo, and
At the end of one week, the caster intones the binding, sometimes hides ghastly things (see Nameless Mist,
after which the corpse rouses. The keeper determines the Bestiary).
ingredients of the liquid: at least one part should be
difficult to obtain. The corpse is nearly mindless, and has POISON BLOOD
free will. It is not under the control of its creator. The thing
continues to rot after its creation, and so eventually decays Range: touch Duration: variable
into incapacity. The risen corpse is otherwise identical to Cost: 2 magic point for every day of “poisoning”
the Bestiary’s vampire. Sanity: 0 Resistance Table: yes
Poison Blood exposes the target to an infectious poison.
HEAL Count two weeks of preparation. Disease rules apply if the
Resistance roll is failed. Symptoms start after a 12-hour
Range: touch Duration: 1 week incubation period, and cost the target 1D3 hit points per
Cost: 3 magic points day. The description of the spell is left to the keeper, but
Sanity: 0 Resistance Table: yes could resemble the actual symptoms of blood poisoning:
Heal maximizes the healing rate: natural is three hit points fevers, chills, feeling of doom, rash, gangrene, etc.
per week, and with Medicine six hit points per week. The
spell must be re-applied each week to have effect for that POWER DRAIN
week.
Each casting of Heal can cure one disease or one Range: touch Duration: instant
poisoning. Cost: 1D6 magic points if failing to overcome target
Sanity: 1D8 Resistance Table: yes
LEVITATE Drains magic points from the target. If the caster wins the
magic point match, then the target loses 1D6 magic points,
Range: sight Duration: 1D6 minutes and the caster gains them. If the caster fails to overcome
Cost: 1 magic point for every 1 SIZ levitated the target, the caster loses 1D6 magic points. The specific
Sanity: 1D6 Resistance Table: yes description of the spell’s effect is up to the keeper.
Levitate causes the caster or a chosen target to float slowly Power Drain can also undo temporary magic. If the caster
through the air. The spell levitates the target 3-5 feet off succeeds in overcoming the magic points of the target
the ground or floor. If falling from a height, the target falls spell, he or she drains 1D6 magic points from the spell,
in slow motion and halts several feet off the ground. Each thereby weakening its effects.
extra magic point expended after the spell is cast allows
the user to move him or the target one-yard horizontally or
vertically.
The target floats as the caster wills, helpless to stop
moving except by grabbing a tree limb or similar brace: in
POWER SOURCE use the magical powers of captive spirits, the wielder must
bargain with them. There is no guarantee that bound spirits
Range: touch Duration: instant would rather bargain than harm the caster, or that they
Cost: as many magic points as granted might not have some other alien scheme in mind.
Sanity: 1D8 Resistance Table: yes
Grants magic points to the target. If the caster wins the SHIELD
magic point match, then the target gains 1D6 magic points,
and the caster loses as many. The specific description of Range: sight Duration: until Shield is
the spell’s effect is up to the keeper. ruined
Power Shift can also reinforce temporary magic. If the Cost: 1 magic point for every point of physical armor
caster succeeds in overcoming the magic points of the Sanity: 1 Resistance Table: no
target spell, he or she grants 1D6 magic points to the spell, Creates a Shield around a given area that blocks physical
thereby strengthening its effects. movement and attacks both ways. A material being can
Power Shift lasts 24 hours or until the imparted magic cross the Shield by beating it down with a successful STR
points are used up. versus magic point match on the Resistance Table
(multiple beings cannot combine STR to attempt passage).
SCRYING WINDOW The magic points in the warding also resist damage aimed
at targets on the other side of the Shield. Match damage
Range: sight Duration: 1 round versus magic points on the Resistance Table. Any
Cost: as many magic points as the log-to-base-10 of the penetration ruins the Shield.
distance in years The warded area may take many forms, common ones
Sanity: 1D3 Resistance Table: no being indicated by a pattern of painted lines on a floor or a
Makes a magic window that looks into the past. When the peculiar arrangement of stones in a field. The Shield’s
spell is cast, it must be keyed to a specific time in the past shape and size are left to the appreciation of the keeper.
relative to the date of casting. As a key, one could say, The Shield may also be cast on the surface of an object
"800 years past," but not "1125 BC" The spell shows the (e.g. to make it stronger).
site at which it is cast (though at the appropriate time in the
past). SHRIVELING
The spell has an obvious limitation: a given scene can be
viewed once, for time passes on both sides of the window, Range: touch Duration: instant
and the spell must be tuned to a spot where things actually Cost: 1 magic point for every hit point subtracted
happen. Sanity: ½ Cost Resistance Table: yes
The Scrying Window has an inherent danger: any being The spell injures the target. The specific description of the
viewed rolling POW-20 or less on D100 realizes that it is spell’s effect is up to the keeper. Variants of this spell may
being observed. It could then cast a spell through the burn, crush, blast, weaken, scar, and so forth.
window, including a spell that could manifest a monster on
the observer’s side. Worse still, Hounds of Tindalos may SOUL SINGING
spot the intruder.
Range: earshot Duration: 1 round
SEAL Cost: 8 magic points
Sanity: 1D4 Resistance Table: yes
Range: sight Duration: until Seal is Soul Singing causes the target to see and hear only what
destroyed the caster desires. Soul Singing is aimed at a single victim
Cost: 1 magic point for every point of spiritual armor who, seeing what the caster wishes him to, is led on
Sanity: 1 Resistance Table: no entranced to the doom or destruction desired.
Creates a protection around a given area that blocks spirits
(disembodied or not), spiritual attacks, and most spells. A WINDS OF DESOLATION
conscious entity can cross the Seal by beating it down with
a successful magic point match on the Resistance Table Range: sight Duration: 10 rounds
(multiple beings cannot combine magic points to attempt Cost: 10 magic points for every point of the wind force
passage). The magic points in the warding also resist all (see table)
spells cast to take effect on the other side, to the exception Sanity: 1D8 Resistance Table: no
of summonings in general. Match magic points on the Causes winds to blow. Cast at sea this spell causes waves
Resistance Table. Any penetration destroys the Seal. to smash down at the caster's direction. Winds also allow
The warded area may take many forms, common ones fires (e.g. forest fire) to blaze at the caster's direction.
being indicated by a pattern of painted lines on a floor or a Needless to say, people swallowed up by powerful waves
peculiar arrangement of stones in a field. The Seal’s shape or caught into a large firestorm vanish forever.
and size are left to the appreciation of the keeper. The Seal To evaluate the spell’s cost, consider the difference
may also be cast on the surface of an object (e.g. to create between the desired wind force and that of the wind at the
a magical artifact entrapping a spirit). moment of casting. For instance, “only” 60 points are
The Seal can be used to create freakish magical artifacts needed to obtain a storm when a breeze is already blowing.
that contain imprisoned spirits. Such artifacts are de facto It is believed that the Winds of Desolation blow from
“possessed”, having INT, POW and a will of their own. To Limbo, often carrying raging spirits with them.
to belong to the Babylonian Serpent Tiamat, alias Great could take on human form. Sanity loss 1D4/1D8; Cthulhu
Cthulhu. The tables are allegedly older than Earth, and of Mythos +8 %; 28 weeks to study.
formidable power. Two almost inaccessible copies are said REFLECTIONS – In Arabic, by scholar Ibn Shacabao.
to exist on earth. It is rumored that the Tables – sometimes Conversations with the Jinn (Old Ones). Cited twice in the
known as the Elder Keys - constitute the single most Al Azif! Sanity loss 1D4/1D8; Cthulhu Mythos +8 %; 27
important source for many later Mythos texts. Sanity loss weeks to study.
1D10/1D20; Cthulhu Mythos +20 %; 75 weeks to study. TESTAMENT OF CARNAMAGOS – in Greek, trans.
AL AZIF - in Arabic, by Abd al-Azrad, c. 730 AD. by anonymous monk, c. 935 AD. Presumed original
Original form unknown but numerous manuscript versions author: Carnamagos, Cimmerian oracle. Testament of
circulated among scholars. Immense compendium on events past and future, and an invocation to Quachil
nearly every aspect of the Mythos. Sanity loss 1D10/1D20; Uttaus. The book purportedly distorts the reader’s passing
Cthulhu Mythos +18 %; 68 weeks to study. of time. Sanity loss 1D3/1D6; Cthulhu Mythos +6 %; 23
NECRONOMICON - in Greek, trans. of the Al Azif by weeks to study.
Theodorus Philetas, c. 950 AD. Hand-written copies SONG OF YSTE – in Greek, trans. by the Dirka
circulated until 1050, when the Patriarch Michael of magicians. Amongst other things, discusses the adumbrali
Constantinople condemned the blasphemous tome. Many entities. Sanity loss 1D3/1D6; Cthulhu Mythos +5 %; 11
copies were confiscated and burned. Sanity loss weeks to study.
1D10/1D20; Cthulhu Mythos +17 %; 68 weeks to study. CABALA OF SABOTH – in Hebrew, author or authors
PNAKOTICA - in Greek, author and trans. unknown. unknown, c. 100 BC. Esoteric book of “angel” lore. Sanity
Disparate collection of pre-human stories, myths and loss 1D3/1D6; Cthulhu Mythos +3 %; 16 weeks to study.
legends. Papyrus version. Sanity loss 1D10/1D20; Cthulhu HIERÓN AIGÝPTON - in Greek, author unknown (Ieron
Mythos +17 %; 60 weeks to study. of Egypt?), c. 200 AD. Scrolls describing the fearsome
CTHAAT AQUADINGEN - in Latin, author unknown, c. rites of the Dark Folk; there is also mention of the Dark
11th century AD. Extremely rare study of the Deep Ones. Pharao Nephren-Ka and of prodigious ruins “where the
Bound in human skin. Sanity loss 1D8/2D8; Cthulhu Sun rises”. Sanity loss 1/1D3; Cthulhu Mythos +2 %; 6
Mythos +13 %; 46 weeks to study. weeks to study.
THE THREE CODICES - in Latin, authors and trans. TUSCAN RITUALS - in Latin, author unknown. Rites of
unknown, c. 400 AD. Three books (“Leprous book”, the Great Old One Summamus. Sanity loss 1/1D3; Cthulhu
Codex Maleficium, and Codex Dagonensis) similar in Mythos +2 %; 3 weeks to study.
content to Cthaat Aquadingen. Each volume contains at PRAESIDIA FINIUM – in Latin, by Lollius Urbicus, 183
least one set of summonings and wardings of the Sathlattae AD. Parchment rolls relating the mysterious events that
series. Use the Cthaat Aquadingen statistics. took place during the Roman occupation of Britain, incl.
LIBER IVONIS - in Latin, trans. Caius Phillipus Faber, the killing of a faceless winged being (over 50 soldiers lost
9th century AD. Presumed original author: Eibon, wizard their lives too). Sanity Loss 1/1D2; Cthulhu Mythos +1 %;
of Hyperborea. Bound manuscript versions. Sanity loss 2 weeks to study.
1D4/2D4; Cthulhu Mythos +13 %; 36 weeks to study KITAB AL-KIMYA – in Arabic, by Abu Musa Jabir ibn
BLACK RITES – in Greek, by Egyptian high priest Hayyan (c. 750-803), also known in the Occident as
Luveh-Keraphf, trans. unknown. Rare Greek translation of Geber. One of Geber’s 22 monumental treatises of
secret scrolls concerning Bast and other Egyptian gods. alchemy, “the book of alchemy”. Remarkable “gibberish”
Contains a cautionary note on Nyarlathotep and the Dark style. No Sanity loss; Occult +3 %; no spells.
Pharaoh. Sanity loss 1D6/2D6; Cthulhu Mythos +11 %; 41 BEATUS METHODIVO – in Latin, attributed to St.
weeks to study. Methodius of Olympus, c. 300 AD. Relatively short
RASUL AL-ALBARIN – in Arabic, by Ibn el-Badawi, c. prophetic apocalypse. No Sanity loss; Occult +2 %; no
900 AD. Book dealing with the Great Old Ones and the spells.
being Huitloxopetl. Sanity loss 1D6/2D6; Cthulhu Mythos TABULA SMARAGDINA - Aramaic or Greek original,
+11 %;, 36 weeks to study. author unknown, c. 200 AD. The “Emerald Tablet” is part
SAPIENTIA MAGLORUM – In Latin and Greek, by the of the Corpus Hermeticum, the central alchemical text for
Persian fire-mage Ostanes. Rare volume containing rituals medieval Europe. Attributed to Hermes the Great III. No
to raise Hastur and Shub-Niggurath, and a possible Sanity loss; Occult +1 %; no spells.
formula of immortality. Sanity loss 1D6/2D6; Cthulhu SIBYLLINE BOOKS - in Latin, author unknown.
Mythos +10 %; 40 weeks to study. Compilation of prophecies of the Cumaean sibyl
THE BLACK TOME - in Latin, by Alsophocus of Amalthaea, who offered these books for sale to Tarquinius
Erongill, trans. unknown, c. 200 AD. Includes the secret of Superbus, last of the seven kings of Rome. The sibyl
the Shining Trapezohedron and the call of Cthulhu. Sanity burned the first six books after he refused to pay her price.
loss 1D6/2D6; Cthulhu Mythos +10 %; 37 weeks to study. The last three disappeared in a fire in 83 BC. No Sanity
CONFESSIONS OF THE MAD MONK CLITHANUS loss; Occult +1 %; no spells.
– In Latin, by Clithanus, c. 400 AD. Contains formulas for CANON EPISCOPI – in Latin, by Reginon of Prum,
calling a Cthulhu-spawn, sending it back, and protecting archbishop of Treves. Part of a guide of ecclesiastic
against its wrath. Also relates how Slavonic priests discipline intended for bishops. The Canon mentions
imprisoned a large number of spawns. Sanity loss flying women, witch cults, and witchcraft. Will be used in
1D6/2D6; Cthulhu Mythos +9 %; 29 weeks to study. later centuries by the Inquisitors to justify their merciless
DAEMONOLORUM - in Latin, author unknown, c. 200 witch-hunts. No Sanity loss; Occult +1%; no spells.
AD. Account of an Egyptian sect which believed its gods