Book of Bone and Ebony

energy flows outward in the blink of an eye, the crest of its
wave crackling with purple lightning. As it passes a ghost, that
ghost is briefly surrounded by the same crackling energy.
Once the light fades and the dust settles, none are
harmed. But the physical representations of the ghost’s
Fetters — any they happen to be bearing — are rendered
inert. They no longer provide Essence on a daily basis. A
Fetter representation is unable to be drawn upon for Essence
for a length of time dependent upon the Fetter’s strength:
Fetter Rating Duration Inert
• Two months
•• One month
••• Two weeks
•••• Six days
••••• Three days
Alternatively, the necromancer may hurl the bright
and flashing sphere at a specific ghost within 15 yards with
a Dexterity + Thrown roll. That ghost alone is caught in
bands of glaring necrotic energy before it dissipates within
the turn. Using the spell in this form permanently severs
the ghost from all Fetters whose representations he bore.
For both versions of the spell, any Fetters whose physical
representations were secreted elsewhere are safe.
NECROMANCY AND ARCANOI
Arcanoi are a set of powers that, in general, only
a ghost can use. Necromancers can often also affect
ghosts in manners similar to the effects of Arcanoi, but
a necromantic spell will almost universally be more
powerful than an Arcanos effect, so a spell that
resembles an existing Arcanos will usually be more
effective or combine multiple effects. See Black Candle
Visage and Bonfire Visions in the text for examples.
Most such spells are of the Shadowlands Circle.
LABYRINTH CIRCLE
Only the darkest Solar necromancers grew powerful
and learned enough to touch upon the powers available in
the Labyrinth Circle. Their curiosity, however, exceeded
their care. As they studied spells in the safety of their
workrooms or the twisting veins of the dead gods’ dreams,
the Labyrinth, several of the dozen that practiced dark
magics of this magnitude found themselves hearing strange
whispers in the back of their heads. The voices grew
stronger in the dark, during Calibration or whenever they
were heeded. Two of those who now call themselves
Deathlords began their journey toward submission to the
Void by listening too closely.
BANEFUL SUN
Cost: 22 motes
Target: One creature
131
CHAPTER FIVE • NECROMANCY
THE DANGER OF THE DEEP
Despite the vast number of necromantic spells
that are intended solely to have utilitarian effects,
binding or affecting the dead without harming
them or raping their will, as necromancers explore
the mysteries of the deeper circles they find that, in
order to achieve their desired ends, souls are going
to be abused or destroyed. Casting a Labyrinth
Circle spell is manipulating the spiteful nightmares
of the dead gods, and it is difficult to tease power
from their dreamstuff without some of their hatred
coming with it. Evoking the power of the Void
Circle draws directly from Oblivion itself, bypassing
the whispers of the Malfeans and reaching
directly for the Essence of the Void. It is nearly
impossible to cast a spell of that magnitude that
does not, in some way, inflict suffering and pain on
the spirits of the Underworld.
It is within the power of the Labyrinth Circle to place
upon a creature’s soul a taint that resonates violently with
the spiritual timbre of Creation. When in the sunlit realm,
the victim of this spell feels a shivering weakness and
vaguely ill. If he remains there for too long, he begins to
decay as the disharmony in his soul tears him apart from
the inside. After too long, he dies.
Mechanically, the affected individual is at a one-die
penalty when in Creation, for it is inimical to him. For
every month that he remains there, he is struck with an
unsoakable level of aggravated damage that will not heal
by any means. Eventually, this will kill even the most
resolute of heroes. Should the victim retreat to the
Underworld, he at once feels at ease. His unhealable
wounds fade at the rate of one every month, and they can
be healed no faster.
If this spell is cast upon a heroic character, the
necromancer’s and the target’s players may both roll their
characters’ Essence and compare successes. If the necromancer
is victorious, the target is struck with the effects of
the spell until tended by countermagic or until the necromancer
chooses to lift the curse.
Baneful Sun was used originally near the end of the
First Age. The sorcerer-kings had begun wielding necromancy
with abandon and cursed those who offended them
to wander the Underworld or die slowly. Today, the
Deathlords use it to bind ghosts away from their worldly
Passions, punishing them. Some use the reverse spell,
Baneful Shadow, to curse ghosts to forever wander Creation
where they can regain no Essence or to banish heroes
from the Underworld so they can do no harm.
A being cursed by either spell can travel the
shadowlands without penalty.