Coercion
Spell, Black Magic, level 5
Using a carved wax or wood effigy prepared over a week, the caster holds it over a flame to torment a victim anywhere into obeying one mental command. The image crumbles after three successful resists.
From the book
Uses sympathetic magic to seize control of a creature or being, though arch demons, arch devils, guardians and godlike beings are beyond its reach. First the caster carves a likeness of the victim in wax or wood and covers it with arcane symbols and glyphs, which takes a full week.
To use it, the caster holds the figure over a lit candle or torch while casting. Wherever the victim is, they are struck by agonizing pain and must save vs Will. On a success the pain stops. On a failure the pain drives them to obey, without question, one mental command from the caster.
The figure can be used again and again until the victim has resisted it three times, at which point it crumbles to dust.
At a glance
- Components
- Carved wax or wood image of the victim inscribed with symbols; candle or torch
- Casting time
- 1 full week to prepare the image
- Limits
- Not vs arch demons, arch devils, guardians or deific beings; image dissolves after 3 successful saves
- Save
- As stated (vs Will)
- Spell type
- Non-variable
- Range
- Unlimited; the victim is affected wherever they are
A scene
For a week the sorcerer Galen has worked in his rooms above the Black Skull, carving a little wax figure of the harbormaster of Acheron and covering it with tiny, crawling glyphs. Tonight he holds it over a candle and speaks. Across the city, the harbormaster doubles over his supper in agony. It passes. Galen frowns and tries again, and this time the pain wins: sign the release for the Tartessian ship, he commands silently, and the man rises, weeping, and goes for his seal. Two more refusals and the figure will crumble, but Galen does not expect many.