Sites of Power

Sites of Power are commonly found in the form of a stone circle, ala Stone Henge. Sites of Power are created by powerful magi for various reasons and require the use of a Power Stone. Once created they gain power as they age. The oldest sites being awesome sources of magical power, and thus the focus of attention for powerful beings.

Site spells are ALL level IV spells.

Those spells marked as "Process" will take 4 days each to cast (x4), see the FORM spell for details.

ACTIVATE

The caster will take control of the Site as long as no one else currently has control. They will remain in control until they relinquish the spell, leave the boundaries of the site, fall unconscious or die. Once you have control you are able to use the powers of the site as explained in the other spells. You become aware of available powers once you have control.

ALIGN

This spell can be cast only during the creation process of the site, or when it is enlarged. It aligns the site to a specific philosophical viewpoint, which is expressed as Chaos, Law or Fate (see Religion). Alternatively it can be aligned to a divinity. An aligned site can only be activated by a caster of the appropriate outlook.

ATTACK

This spell allows the caster who has activated the site to cast a mana bolt at anyone outside the Sites boundary. It may not be cast against those of the same alignment (it will fail) as the site (if it has one). The bolt will do 2d6 damage, ignoring all physical armour, although it can be defended against. This attack cannot be made against anyone within the sites boundaries.

BARRIER

The controller of the site may summon a force barrier around the boundary that will prevent the entry of any creature the caster does not permit. The barrier will not keep out those of the same alignment as the site. Short of destroying the site nothing can penetrate the barrier, in either direction.

EMBED

At anytime the site is created, or enlarged, the caster may embed extra powers into the site. These powers are mostly spells, allowing anyone controlling the site to cast those spells.

Each spell to be embedded will take 4 days. Each spell will also need one (and only one) powerstone to be used, which is embedded into the site. The number of charges in the stone determines the chances of success. After 4 days the caster rolls against their MAGE skill using a base number of equal to the *(number of charges in the stone) .

To embed a level 4 Fear spell into the Site would use a roll of *(stone)+*(Spell skill+Mind?Will)-4. Obviously very difficult.

Once a spell is embedded into a site then the ability to cast that spell will be available to whoever takes control of the site (as long as it has power).

ENLARGE

A site may be enlarged by adding extra rings of stones as is described in the FORM spell. A new power stone must be used. After the required time the caster makes a MAGE skill roll using a base value equal to the *(number of charges in the stone) . The power of the new stone is added to the base power of the site.

FORM

This is the base spell of this magic area. It allows for the creation of a site of power, taking a full lunar month to complete. It also requires the use of one or more powerstones, which are embedded into the site. After 28 days the caster makes a MAGE skill roll using a base value based around the *(number of charges) in the stone used, less the number of stones used on the site. The total weight of the site will also modify the chances of success.

*(number of charges) + *(Mage + Mind?Will) - No of power stones - *(Weight of stone/1000)

A basic site will consist of four specially prepared stones (see PREPARE). Each of the stones must face one of the major directions of the compass. Each stone must have a specific weight as this will determine the power of the site. The site must be open to the sky and stars.

The distance between each stone used in the site is limited to one of the following:

• no more than the reach of the casters natural outstretched body

• the stones are joined by a capping stone (single)

• the stones stand on a single slab of stone

All stones inside the site MUST be part of the site or the whole procedure will fail. Stones brought in later have no effect. Extra stones used in a larger site must point toward the next most major point of the compass. Extra rings added outside the first may use the same or next most major as the originals.

The four stones that face the major compass points are the base stones of power, as long as they remain intact the site remains in effect. Extra rings of stones may be used, or added, around the centre circle. These extra rings merely provide a larger area to the site plus an increase in power potential. The four base stones MUST be the heaviest stones, all other stones MUST weigh less.

The power potential of the site is initially based on the number of charges present in the powerstone used to create it. It will absorb extra power potential at the rate of one point per lunar month, upto a limit based on the size of the stones it is constructed from. For each 200kg of weight of stone, the site will be able to store an extra point of potential. Thus a large multi-ringed site could have enormous powers. Unfortunately really powerful sites tend to attract really powerful creatures of all kinds who quite often become its guardian. The GM should feel free to bring in any number of strange things when dealing with large ancient sites.

The power of a site will be available to the person who takes control of it. The power takes the form of fatigue points usable by the caster for the casting of their spells.

Eg: 100 years ago a mage created a new site. He used eight stones each of 2000kgs, formed into two rings. He uses a powerstone with 16 charges, creating a base power level of 16. With a total of 16,000kgs of stone, the site will eventually store 80 points (after 80-16 months).

Sites will regenerate power used at the rate of one point each time the sun rises.

Granite weighs about 80kg per cubic foot. A 2000kg block would there for be roughly 2x3x4 feet. Assuming a man has a reach of around 6 feet, the first ring would be roughly 14 feet across. (Assuming a slightly diagonal reach of 5 ft for a human, larger creatures would be able to have larger separations).

Cap stones may also be used, resting on top of the stones forming the rings of the site. These stones merely add weight (and thus potential) to the site and widen the possible area it can cover (cap stones can only be so big however before the stone cannot support itself, you will have to look up some reference for this, or simply limit cap stones to be able to cover the area determined by the reach rule). Likewise a centre stone (or altar stone) may be used for extra weight. A base slab stone does not count as being part of the site (weight wise) but can be used to extend the area.

During the FORM process the caster may use the EMBED spell and extra powerstones to place extra spell powers into the site. These will all be linked to the success of the FORM spell, and deduct 1 from the target each. They also extend the casting period by 4 days each.

If the site becomes covered for some reason, such that it does not receive the light or the sun or stars, then it will lose one charge per 24 hours until none remain. It then remains dormant until exposed, at which time to begins regenerating power as normal. Cover in this case is expected to be considerable, not just a sheet thrown over it.

Obviously the creation of a Site is not a simple task, and will require the use of advanced magical processes and practises, such as a Ceremony and/or Group Magic.

PREPARE

This spell must be cast on each of the stones that will be used to create a new site, or enlarge a site with. If the casting fails then the stone is flawed and cannot be used.

PROTECT

The caster summons forth the power of the site to provide protection from all forms of attack. All within the site, at the discretion of the caster, will gain a benefit of 3 to all their rolls, or 3 points of magic resistance to spells coming from outside.

QUAKES

This spell can be used to cause a small local earthquake, this quake will freeze everybody where they stand unless they make a DEX roll with a base number of 3. At the same time the caster may cause any one stone that is part of the site to fall from its current position, presumably to squash an enemy who is standing near it. Such a stone will cause 1 point of damage per 100 kgs of weight. It may not be one of the four base stones.

Any stone used in this manner becomes dormant until returned to position (doesn’t contribute its weight). If a fumble occurs during use of this spell then one stone cracks and is ruined.

SANCTUARY

The caster, and any friends, can enter the 'heart' of the site where they will pass into a hidden dimensional space where they will be completely safe from all external forces. Even if

the site is destroyed they will remain safe until the time limit is up. They cannot see out nor can anyone detect them.

The effect may be extended if power is available from those within, or from the site. Control of the site is lost when you enter, but access to power from the site remains. New users of this spell create new sanctuaries.

SUMMON

This is a modified version of the SUMMON spell specifically for Sites of Power. See the Summoning rules.

TAP

This spell can be used to tap the core power of the site. The caster may draw out permanent potential power points from the site and use them as if they were powerstone points. These points are lost permanently from the site, and an appropriate lump of stone will crack off and fall to the ground somewhere in the structure.

Material Component:

Example of Creating a Site

A mage (Mage skill =25, Mind=25) decides to create a small personal site of power in a courtyard within his keep. The site will be simply 4 stones with a central altar. The stones will be 3x4x5 each, and thus each weigh 60x80kg=4800kg each. The five stones will have a total weight of 24,000 kgs and thus a power storage capacity of 120 points. He uses 4 power stones each with 16 charges. To keep the site as simple as possible he will not embed any spells. His casting chance is as follows:

*(64) + *(25+25) - 4 - *(24,000/1000) = 8 + 7 - 4 - 4 = 7

The thing for GMs to remember here is that the stones have to be moved. The stones of Stonehenge in England weigh about 4 ton each, or roughly 4000 kg. Moving these stones was a considerable effort for the technology of the time. Players who wish to build their own sites will have to work out how they are going to move the stones they wish to use from place to place.