* Remove Thy Mask [Spell]

Remove Thy Mask:

Source: The King in Yellow (Rumored)

Restriction: This spell only works on human-like targets with faces. (Gaunt Men, Maggot Men, Rogue Robots, etc are immune.)

PP Cost: 3

Casting Time: 3 actions, minus one per three full levels of the caster. (The final action is declaring the target remove his/her mask.)

Casting Delay: Once per 24 hours, minus 2 hours per three full levels of the caster.

Arcane Difficulty Rating: 15+

Components: verbal, gesture & physical (Mask fashioned from a Gaunt Man/Woman's head, destroyed in the casting).

Optional Component: Vial of Hali Water, gives a +5 to spell casting and targets are -2 to saving throws. (Consumed in the casting.)

Optional Foci: Hali Ghost Stone, gives a +5 to the spell casting. Is destroyed on a fumble roll, but turns fumble into normal failure.

[Hali Ghost Stones are found in the Yhtill Wastes surrounding Lake Hali.]

Range: 10' per level of the caster. Must be line of site with the target(s).

Area of Effect: One target in range, plus one for every three full levels of the caster, as long as targets are within line of site.

Duration: Three melee rounds, plus one melee round per level of the caster.

Saving Throw: Will, -1 for every level of the caster that exceeds the level/HD of the target.

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Description:

This spell allows the Sorcerer to demand the target(s) to remove their mask(s). If the target fails a Fortitude save, their face begins to solidify into a mask, inflicting 1D4 damage and permanently reduces the target's BEA by 1D6, unless their BEA was already below 6.

At any free action within the remaining duration of the spell following, the Sorcerer can call forth the "Mask" of the individual to him/herself if still within the range of the spell effect if within line of site of the target. The target can attempt to make a Reflex save to hold on to their face/mask. If failed it is propelled as if by telekinesis to the hand of the Sorcerer. Any who wear this mask will find the victim of the removed face cannot harm them. In fact the wearer of the mask can dominate, see though the eyes, speak though the mouth and hear though the ears of the victim while the mask is worn. For game purposes this is at a range of one Carcosa (10 mile) hex per level of the wearer. These effects last after the spell duration and only end when the victim dies, his mask is destroyed or if the mask is returned to the victim. If the mask is returned to the "face" of the victim somehow, consult the chart below: (Roll 1D6)

1) Mask fuses to flesh, but is still a living mask. (Restore half of any lost BEA, rounding down.)

2) Mask partially returns to normal. (Restore one third of any lost BEA, rounding down.)

3) Mask returns to flesh but is disfigured. (No restoration of lost BEA.)

4) Mask returns to flesh but resembled the face of the Sorcerer who cast the spell. (GM adjusts BEA accordingly.)

5) Mask returns to flesh but you have the mark of the Yellow Sign upon your forehead.

6) Mask returns to flesh and victim is restored of any lost BEA.

Please note that if the victim of "Remove Thy Mask" dies, his/her "Mask" crumbles to dust. In addition any target dominated via a Mask created by this spell counts as against any rule limits for maximum bound/dominated individuals.

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Critical Success: Double the range & targets. Victim(s) make saving throws at -3. The target(s) can never reunite his/her mask/face to their body again. If the target dies, their soul is fused with the mask. The wearer of said mask can (after victim's death) use it to disguise themselves as the former wearer with a simple disguise check and any power points the target had can be used by the wearer to fuel spells or psionics.

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Critical Fumble: (Roll 1D6)

1) The reverse of the spell. The Sorcerer's face turns into a mask and ends up in the hands of an intended target.

2-5) Everyone including the Sorcerer within the range of the spell as radius doubled must save or suffer the effects of the spell, except The King in Yellow himself will manifest in the area to take all the masks.

6) The Sorcerer's actions have offended the King in Yellow who has summoned him/her to the City of Carcosa where the King removes the Sorcerer's face personally and leaves his/her body petrified as a living statue in the "Orchard of Faceless Souls", to moan in eternal suffering. [No saving throws.]

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