Arcane Curse

Tier 2 Spell (Average(d d) difficulty)

"Magic is a dream made real. Whether that dream is a pleasant fantasy or a nightmarish hell is entirely up to the caster."

— Archmage Argus Jogumont

Magic is a wonderful tool that can be used to build truly amazing things. However, it is just as powerful a destructive instrument as a creative one, and this spell is the manifestation of that destruction on a much more...subtle scale. Rather than ripping out an enemy's bones or blasting them to dust, Arcane Curse targets a foe's senses and foundation, weakening them from within. This spell comes in many variants, and they are described below, along with their difficulties. It should be noted that some effects can be combined, while others cannot.

• Blackout (dd): This spell floods a target's vision with shadows, adding bbb to their ranged combat checks, Vigilance checks, and Perception checks until the end of the caster's next turn. This can only be combined with Curse of Degradation and Curse of Exhaustion


• Curse of Exhaustion(d): This spell makes a target extremely tired; whenever they suffer strain, for any reason, they suffer 1 additional strain. This effect lasts until the end of the caster's next turn. This can be combined with most Arcane Curse variants. This can be combined with Blackout, Curse of Degradation, and Mind Block.


• Curse of Degradation (dd): This spell severely physically weakens a target, removing d from their Brawn, Agility, and Presence checks until the end of the caster's turn. This can be combined with almost any other variant of Arcane Curse, except for Mind Block.


• Mind Block (dd): This spell clouds the target's mind, making it difficult to concentrate. This removes d from their Cunning, Intellect, and Willpower checks until the end of the caster's next turn. This can be combined with almost any other variant of Arcane Curse, except for Curse of Degradation.


• Curse of Horrible Aim (ddd): This spell disrupts the target's aim so badly that, if it generates hhh or d on it's next combat check, it deals damage to a random ally instead. This spell also adds bb to the target's next combat check. This cannot be combined with any other effect.


• Curse of Paralysis (ddd): This spell assaults the target's nervous system, staggering them until the end of the caster's next turn. This can only be combined with either Mind Block or Curse of Degradation.

Manifestation

Arcane Curse appears as a ball of unsanitary-looking blackness that hovers before exploding into several streams of vile ooze that attack the target.

Gestures & Ritual

To cast Arcane Curse, the caster must close their eyes and focus on the desired effect(s) of their spell, and mentally create an image of the effect(s) being mixed into a crucible of bubbling green liquid, and stirred while thinking dirty thoughts. While stirring, the energy must be focused into their arm, which they hold out like they're holding an orb. They then open their eyes, look at their target, and release the spell's energies.

Related Discipline

Arcane Magic

Effect Casting Time

1 Combat Maneuver and 1 Action (1 minute)

Range

short (range band)

Level

Characters need at least 1 rank in Arcana to cast this spell.

Applied Restriction

Arcane Curse must be cast using at least one arm. If the caster has no free arms, the spell cannot be cast.