Remember the Fallen
Rules
Summer Magnitude 32
Performing the Ritual
Performing this ritual takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This ritual targets up to five characters from the same banner. Each character must be present throughout.
This ritual is an enchantment. A target may only be under one enchantment effect at a time.
Effects
This ritual targets up to five characters from the same banner. Each character may make a total of two calls each day. They can choose freely between CLEAVE using any melee weapon save a pike; IMPALE using any great weapon; or STRIKEDOWN using any polearm. They must be able to wield the weapon (meaning they must have the weapon master skill to make calls with a great weapon or polearm). When doing so they must also call out the names of their fallen in an inspiring speech for all around to hear.
While under this enchantment the characters experience a roleplaying effect: you are reminded of those who have fallen in battle, especially family, friends, or battle comrades. Speaking their names, or shouting them as you fight, fills you with a sense of clarity, strength, and certainty.
The effect lasts until the start of the next Profound Decisions Empire event.
Additional Targets
This ritual can affect additional characters from the same banner. Every additional character increases the magnitude by 6. Additional characters must be present throughout.
Description
This ritual was based on work performed by the renowned Summer magician Brother Luke, Exarch of the Navigators. It was codified at the Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun by the Master of Ice and Darkness Alexander Tallstag shortly before the Autumn Equinox 387YE. The Crag had at that time just come under the patronage of Hayaak. The herald Ernreik had only recently moved into the nearby woodlands, and so was not involved in the codification although he did comment that it seemed to be an acceptable enchantment before disappearing back into the woods again. The ritual was created in memory of the Nine of the Shattered Tower of Highguard who fell "fighting for the Empire, fighting for Reikos, fighting for their home."
The enchantment uses the power of speeches and wise words to move people, and infuses it with magic. Certain words spoken by the recipients on a degree of otherworldly inspiration into them, filling them with strength, triumph and conviction. Those that are under this enchantment are encouraged to remember those that have fallen in the past, especially their friends and family and those who fell defending them or their home. Highborn are urged to remember the singing voices of their fallen brothers and sisters, Dawnish knights remember the great deeds of their fellows, Orcs remember the call of their ancestors and so on.
Those that remember, and call to others to remember, are infused with a powerful sensation of untapped strength and capability. It is as if through remembering the dead, Summer magic takes up these memories and uses them to send power and inspiration coursing through those fighting. They are urged onwards, encouraged, filled with strength of untapped capability, a power and passion drawn from deep inside and lingering on inspiring memory. This strength can be used in one fell burst, able to call forth a heroic moment, pushed on by the Summer magic aiding the inspiring memories to allow one to fight and push harder one final time.
There are comparatively few rituals in the Empire that are specifically designed to empower multiple individuals at a time. Like Splendid Panoply of Knighthood, Remember the Fallen is woven in such a way that it enchants up to five warriors who are all comrades in arms – members of the same banner. The ritual is an example of an enchantment whose magnitude is quite high – due to the number of champions it targets – but has a significantly lower cost to add additional targets provided they are all members of the same banner.
Common Elements
The key theme of the enchantment is the remembrance and honouring of those who fell in battle. Any performance of the ritual is likely to involve the names of the dead, especially those who have special meaning for the targets themselves. Those who died fighting with them are the most resonant, as are any who fell fighting to defend places of importance. This element is more resonant the more personal it is. Individual nations have different ways to commemorate their fallen, or celebrate courage and loyalty. Tailoring the performance to the traditions and especially hearth magic of the recipients makes it easier to weave the magic required. Girding is very appropriate when this magic is used to empower warriors of Dawn for example.
Dramaturgy rituals involving the Captain, that take place in the Tomb, resonate well with this enchantment. Evocations of paragons and exemplars of a heroic nature, the constellation of the Mountain, of historical figures who fell in battle, and of creatures such as the unicorn and the yale are also ideal accompaniments to the magic of Remember the Fallen.