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===Performing the Ritual===
===Performing the Ritual===
{{Casting time|2}} The ritual targets a single character or item which must be present throughout and, in the case of an item, close enough to touch. It can also be performed to target the area where the ritual is performed.
{{Casting time|2}} The ritual targets a single character or item which must be present throughout and, in the case of an item, close enough to touch. It can also be performed to target the immediate area surrounding the ritualists.


===Effects===
===Effects===
The ritual reveals information about any and all [[curse|curses]] on the target person, place, or thing. It is most often used on a character or item that is present, but can also be used in an area that is under a curse such as that created by [[Naeve's Twisting Blight]], provided the contributors are in that area.


The ritual reveals information about any and all [[curse|curses]] on the target. It is most often used on a character or item that is present, but can also be used on a curse that is effecting area such as that created by [[Naeve's Twisting Blight]]. When it is used to analyse a curse effecting a region or territory, it must be performed in a powerful Winter [[regio]].
When completed the ritual answers some or all of the following questions about each curse that is present on the target:
* What does this curse do? How does it work?
* How long will it last if nobody intervenes?
* How can the curse be removed?
* Will anything make the curse worse?
* Where has this curse come from? This will usually indicate a general source rather than a specific one - "an eternal" rather than "the eternal Sorin" or "a spirit" rather than "the King at the Crossroads". If the source is a ritual, it will reveal the realm and magnitude. If the source is a spirit, it may reveal the strength of [[exorcism]] required to remove it.


When completed the ritual provides the following information about each curse that is present:
The magic that analyses the curse can be stymied by shrouds or masks of greater magnitude. In this case, it always reveals the realm and magnitude of the shroud, and whether there is any information that can be discerned by Wisdom of the Balanced Blade.


* It determines the realm and magnitude of the effect
The [[detect magic#Divination|divination]] function of the [[detect magic]] spell will indicate if there is information that can be found with Wisdom of the Balanced Blade - which is usually a clear sign that the target is cursed in some way.
* It determines what the effect does, and provides details of how it works.
* It reveals any remaining duration.
* It reveals any conditional effects, or any special methods that exist for removing the effect; it may suggest specific rituals that can remove the curse, or a general class of effects that might be appropriate.
* It may provide information about where the curse has come from (a ritual or the supernatural abilities of an Eternal, for example).
 
Some of these effects are similar to those provided by [[Spell list#Detect magic|detect magic]] but unlike that spell, ''Wisdom of the Balanced Blade'' can penetrate effects designed to stymie or confuse divinations such as [[Incantation's Mystic Mask]].
 
The ritual must match or exceed ''three-quarters'' of the magnitude of any concealing effect on the item to penetrate it; otherwise the only information the ritual will reveal is the presence of the obscuring effect; and the magnitude and Realm of that effect. For example, if a curse has been placed with a concealing enchantment of mangitude 12, a magnitude 8 ''Wisdom of the Balanced Blade'' can penetrate that shroud.


===Additional Magnitude===
===Additional Magnitude===
You may increase the magnitude of the ritual to penetrate more powerful shrouds or masks.
You may increase the magnitude of the ritual to penetrate more powerful shrouds or masks.
===OOC Note===
The ritual is least useful when used to analyse the effects of ritual curses that are in Imperial lore. It can be used in a territory under the effect of a curse to determine details of that effect. This effect ''cannot'' be achieved by performing the ritual at the Anvil regio - attempts to do so simply provide information about the Anvil regio and any magical effects on Casinea.


==Description==
==Description==
While many Winter magicians are adept at identifying the effects of [[curse|curses]] that are part of the wider body of [[Imperial lore]], this ritual helps analyse a curse whose details and potential counters are unknown. It may be used to divine the details of a curse that has come from an [[eternal]], from the rituals of a barbarian magician, or from more esoteric sources - it can discern the details of curses inflicted by malign spirits, as well as those brought down by less understood means such as broken oaths or vile transgressions.
The ritual has some similarities to [[Bright Lantern of Ophis]], but it only analyses curses - while the Bright Lantern cannot analyse curses at all. Sometimes the information it provides requires some interpretation. For example, it might discover that a certain farmer has become cursed, and that the provenance is "their own dark deeds" and that the curse can only be removed by "atonement" - what precisely that may mean will require further investigation. Usually, the information is much more straightforward - a curse is due to the actions of someone else, and the method of dealing with it may be difficult but clearly understood.


While detect magic is fairly effective at determining the effects curses that are part of the wider body of Imperial lore, this ritual helps analyse a curse whose details and potential counters are not commonly known. It is most often used to divine the details of a curse that has come from an [[Eternals|Eternal]] or a barbarian magician. It can also be used to help identify a curse whose precise effects are obscured through the use of other magic. The ritual is even more effective than [[Bright Lantern of Ophis]] when it comes to discovering the details of a magical curse.
When used to study a curse placed by an eternal, the ritual rarely reveals the precise eternal involved - usually it will simply provide the realm. This is not always the case - some eternals seem to ''want'' their involvement in a situation to be clear, especially those of the Winter realm. Likewise, when providing information about how a curse might be lifted it is just as common to learn that a "powerful supernatural creature such as an eternal" might lift a curse as it is to determine the precise eternal capable of doing so.  


The ritual is sometimes called ''Grandmother's/Grandfather's) Appraising Eye''.
The ritual is sometimes called (''Grandmother's/Grandfather's) Appraising Eye''.


==Common Elements==
==Common Elements==
This ritual usually involves carefully examining the target. Active divination may take place, often with runestones or cards. Other, more exotic, methods of diagnosis might be used as well such as observing if the presence of the target has any effect on a lodestone, or on fresh milk; letting droplets of their blood, phlegm or sweat fall into fresh water or cream; or getting the target to throw a handful of runestones or sticks, or spatter blood onto a hide covered in runes, and observing the results. Lenses might be used to examine the target; lights used to make their shadow move; and mirrors used to catch their reflection. The rune [[Irremais]] is commonly invoked, as are the names of [[Wisdom|wise]] [[Paragons and Exemplars]] or folk heroes..
This ritual usually involves carefully examining the target. Active divination may take place, often with runestones or cards. Other, more exotic, methods of diagnosis might be used as well such as observing if the presence of the target has any effect on a lodestone, or on fresh milk; letting droplets of their blood, phlegm, or sweat fall into fresh water or cream; or getting the target to throw a handful of runestones or sticks, or spatter blood onto a hide covered in runes, and observing the results. Lenses might be used to examine the target; lights used to make their shadow move; and mirrors used to catch their reflection. The rune [[Irremais]] is commonly invoked, as are the names of [[Wisdom|wise]] [[paragons and exemplars]], folk heroes, or the [[eternal]] [[Wise Rangara]].  
 
<!--- flavour. --->
 
[[Category:Winter Ritual]]
[[Category:Winter Ritual]]
[[Category:Rituals]]
[[Category:Rituals]]
[[Category:IC Text Required]]

Latest revision as of 18:48, 11 March 2024

Rules

Winter Magnitude 6

Performing the Ritual

Performing this ritual takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. The ritual targets a single character or item which must be present throughout and, in the case of an item, close enough to touch. It can also be performed to target the immediate area surrounding the ritualists.

Effects

The ritual reveals information about any and all curses on the target person, place, or thing. It is most often used on a character or item that is present, but can also be used in an area that is under a curse such as that created by Naeve's Twisting Blight, provided the contributors are in that area.

When completed the ritual answers some or all of the following questions about each curse that is present on the target:

  • What does this curse do? How does it work?
  • How long will it last if nobody intervenes?
  • How can the curse be removed?
  • Will anything make the curse worse?
  • Where has this curse come from? This will usually indicate a general source rather than a specific one - "an eternal" rather than "the eternal Sorin" or "a spirit" rather than "the King at the Crossroads". If the source is a ritual, it will reveal the realm and magnitude. If the source is a spirit, it may reveal the strength of exorcism required to remove it.

The magic that analyses the curse can be stymied by shrouds or masks of greater magnitude. In this case, it always reveals the realm and magnitude of the shroud, and whether there is any information that can be discerned by Wisdom of the Balanced Blade.

The divination function of the detect magic spell will indicate if there is information that can be found with Wisdom of the Balanced Blade - which is usually a clear sign that the target is cursed in some way.

Additional Magnitude

You may increase the magnitude of the ritual to penetrate more powerful shrouds or masks.

OOC Note

The ritual is least useful when used to analyse the effects of ritual curses that are in Imperial lore. It can be used in a territory under the effect of a curse to determine details of that effect. This effect cannot be achieved by performing the ritual at the Anvil regio - attempts to do so simply provide information about the Anvil regio and any magical effects on Casinea.

Description

While many Winter magicians are adept at identifying the effects of curses that are part of the wider body of Imperial lore, this ritual helps analyse a curse whose details and potential counters are unknown. It may be used to divine the details of a curse that has come from an eternal, from the rituals of a barbarian magician, or from more esoteric sources - it can discern the details of curses inflicted by malign spirits, as well as those brought down by less understood means such as broken oaths or vile transgressions.

The ritual has some similarities to Bright Lantern of Ophis, but it only analyses curses - while the Bright Lantern cannot analyse curses at all. Sometimes the information it provides requires some interpretation. For example, it might discover that a certain farmer has become cursed, and that the provenance is "their own dark deeds" and that the curse can only be removed by "atonement" - what precisely that may mean will require further investigation. Usually, the information is much more straightforward - a curse is due to the actions of someone else, and the method of dealing with it may be difficult but clearly understood.

When used to study a curse placed by an eternal, the ritual rarely reveals the precise eternal involved - usually it will simply provide the realm. This is not always the case - some eternals seem to want their involvement in a situation to be clear, especially those of the Winter realm. Likewise, when providing information about how a curse might be lifted it is just as common to learn that a "powerful supernatural creature such as an eternal" might lift a curse as it is to determine the precise eternal capable of doing so.

The ritual is sometimes called (Grandmother's/Grandfather's) Appraising Eye.

Common Elements

This ritual usually involves carefully examining the target. Active divination may take place, often with runestones or cards. Other, more exotic, methods of diagnosis might be used as well such as observing if the presence of the target has any effect on a lodestone, or on fresh milk; letting droplets of their blood, phlegm, or sweat fall into fresh water or cream; or getting the target to throw a handful of runestones or sticks, or spatter blood onto a hide covered in runes, and observing the results. Lenses might be used to examine the target; lights used to make their shadow move; and mirrors used to catch their reflection. The rune Irremais is commonly invoked, as are the names of wise paragons and exemplars, folk heroes, or the eternal Wise Rangara.