Summoned Blades Spell in The Wild Cards | World Anvil

Summoned Blades

The most iconic Tarot ability, Summoned Blades is an ability where users manifest swords to wield in combat. Because of their transient nature, these swords are far more fragile than real weapons, yet still capable of causing injuries. The greater the control, the more dangerous these swords can become. However, users are always very careful to not accidentally kill an opponent with a summoned blade. Even in warfare, a killing blow must be dealt with a real weapon due to the Scrolls of the High Priest.   There are three aspects to controlling Summoned Blades: Quality, Quantity, and Control. Quality is the individual strength of swords, where a weak one may scatter when hitting a mere bracer, while experts can cut through plate armor. Quantity is the amount one can summon over a limited time. A shattered sword cannot be instantly reformed, so eventually one will run out of blades to summon. Lastly, Control is for making swords fly through the air.   The ultimate form of Summoned Blades, sometimes used in Tarot Duels, is Blade Gardens. The users will summon all of their blades in a single go, giving more power to them when they grasp or control them. The duel ends when either user runs out of swords to use, leaving naught but scattered shards as they fade away.   The limit to Summoned Blades equals the value of the suit cards, 105, one for the Ace up to fourteen for the King. Whether happenstance, a psychological restriction, or an actual law of Tarot usage, is unclear. But any summon past this limit, even for the greatest expert, will be a mere mirage without any actual solidity. Only an advanced technique of linking with another user can help bypass the limit.


Comments

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Feb 19, 2021 10:27 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Why are they careful not to kill people with summoned blades? Would something bad happen?

Emy x   Etrea | Vazdimet
Feb 19, 2021 12:44 by Michael Chandra

Because killing with Tarot Abilities gets you Marked, no matter what the motive. Self-defense doesn't apply to Tarot Abilities. I added in a note about that.


Too low they build who build beneath the stars - Edward Young