Monday, March 18, 2024

Summon ye, the Wise-ard!


Early “lunch hour” class today. What if wizards could be boiled down in the same way the fighter was? 


Courts are filled with magicians, masses gather in temples for the wisdom of god. These prophets and priests follow the well trod paths to wisdom and power. Study, practice, listen carefully to master, learn well before you act. They forget this ancient lesson. Fortune favors the bold.


When the hills grow dark with the shadow of evil,


When those who know better turn their back on the great flaming eye,


When whispers of an evil once banished find their way your ears,


When the prophecy long lost and largely forgotten holds the crucial kernel of truth,


Summon ye, the wise-ard.


The Wise-ard

Mastery of the self is the first and least of the lessons you have learned. It is but a step on the road to true power. And power is what is needed. Forces not understood and armies unseen threaten the realm and there is no time for earned wisdom. It must be taken.


The Wise-ard cannot have a position of status in your setting. They are necessarily an outsider and disruptor. Their goals are inscrutable and aim singular. They are not easily diverted or distracted into the comfortable categories those in power would thrust upon them and they will bear warnings of cataclysm. Their mission will certainly be opposed.


Skills: 1. Drinking, 2. Doom saying, 3. Manipulation, 4. Flirting, 5. Courtesy, 6. Oratory


Starting Equipment: Robes that are comfortable and easy to wear, a tall and striking hat that makes you immune to being ignored, an acquaintance in every town, a small and easily overlooked golden ring, a satchel of fireworks


A Self Possession, Purveyor of Cheap Tricks

B Older Paths

C Master of One

D Reflection


Self Possession - You cannot be compelled to do something you do not want to do. This does not account for physical force, or death, or mightier wizards, but does count for charms, ruses, diseases, blackmail and the like. Save to act for the benefit of others if there is no clear and immediate benefit to you. You are always as beefy or athletic or scrawny as you prefer with stats to reflect this.


Purveyor of cheap tricks - You may manifest minor magical effects. These include classical spells such as mage hand, prestidigitation, minor illusion.


Older Paths - When you ruminate and smoke select herbs from your pipe, you are able to determine the steps to accomplishing a goal. You must be personally committed to the goal. This includes routes across the earth, pieces of magical rituals, necessary implements such as keys, and who knows what it is that you don’t know. This does not include the steps to accomplish the goals of others. You are not a soothsayer, oracle, or prophet. You are a wise-ard.


Master of One - Select a single mighty working of legend. Lightning Ray, Dimensional Portal, Killing Finger, Commune of Angels, Walking Dead, Explosion, Become Animal, Hastega, or any other. Choose wisely, ye of unearned wisdom. This spell is now your constant companion, but will be your doom. 


Roll a d6 each time you cast it, plus 1 for each recent use of the spell. On a 5+ you take d6 damage as the spell fries the breaches you, its conduit.


If you are playing GLOG (good for you, good for you) then this spell is always cast with 4 dice. Mishaps and dooms are irrelevant as this so-called wise-ard will soon kill themself with this power. If you are using another system and have somehow found this post, my god, what have you done?


Reflection - Your mastery grows and with it your appearance is altered. Other spells that share a common thread with your constant companion are now under your command. Casting these spells does not require a hazard roll as before, but does increase your bonus to that hazard roll.


Companion, accompanying spells, accompanying spells, accompanying spells

Lightning Ray, shocking touch, animate metal, static trap, static cling

Dimensional Portal, blink, knock, hold portal, lock, locate key, talking stones

Killing Finger, accurate missiles, agony, poison cloud, bifurcate

Commune of Angels, command, consecrate, light, banish

Walking Dead, empower dead, corpse jar, soul walk, seem lifeless

Explosion, smokescreen, meteor shower, burning fan, wall of fire

Become Animal, summon squirrels, call bear, fairy moot, speak with birds

Hastega, mend, flight, shield, invisible barrier, invisible servant


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