Spells & Curses

Etharis hosts a menagerie of magical creatures and spellcasters. Ranging from terrifying liches to ancient Primordials, many of these fearsome entities wield immense arcane powers.

Most of the spells detailed here range on the darker side of magic: incantations that drain your blood, tear out your soul, or kill you in other gruesome ways. And then there are the really bad ones.

Included here are two special kinds of spells: Sangromancy spells and Shadowsteel curses. These spell types work similarly to regular spells, but with some subtle differences, noted below.

Shadowsteel curses are unique afflictions that progress in stages over time. At each stage, the afflicted have an opportunity to either shake off the curse’s symptoms or suffer worsening effects until the curse reaches its final stage. These curses can Grim Hollow: The Player's Guide only be cast by spellslingers who have access to the rare and dangerous substance known as Shadowsteel.

Sangromancy spells allow casters to use their own blood and life force to push their magic beyond normal limits. The more these casters sacrifice, the more powerful their spells. While some train to reduce the strain of this magic on themselves, others use magical items or spellcasting foci to provide a more efficient path to Sangromancy mastery. Below is a collection of new spells found within the world of Etharis for players and GMs.