Magic Keywords

Here are the meat and potatoes of the Keyword system. Below are Universal and Magic Keywords. As noted before, characters are not aware of their keywords and you're welcome to try out anything that seems reasonable within the keyword. As we go through play, it's likely we'll be updating and adjusting these keywords. If one keyword is absorbed into another, you're free to assume your character now possesses the one it was absorbed into.

Portfolios

The keywords are organized into portfolios for the Arcanists Path. Most other Paths are able to ignore these categories, except Undying who can only take Magic Keywords from specific Portfolios.

A portfolio is the term for a group of keywords that adhere to a certain theme. Like 'keyword', the term 'portfolio' is purely in the meta. Arcanists don't know they're falling into a certain portfolio. What they know is that they have a preference or affinity for studying and practicing a certain school of magic. The name of each portfolio is meant to evoke a certain feeling about the kind of magic contained therein, while the subtitle gives a more concrete idea.

Magic Keywords

Elemental Power

Fire

Water

Earth

Air

Metal

Electricity

Radiation

Plants

Storm

Fey Mind

Illusion

Empathy

Sound/Song

Animal Handling

Mimicry

Fortune*

Charm

Tongues

Hypnosis*

Disorder

Air

Animate

Eldritch Body

Acid

Elasticity

Growth/reduce

Lesser shapeshifting*

Mutation

Null*

Poison/Venom*

Psychometry

Shielding*

Transmission

Vampirism*

Water

Empyrean Light

Light

Healing*

Flying

Divination

Prescience

Empathy

Dreams

True sight

Astral Manipulation

Abidance*

Fire

Cthonic Dark

Shadow

Necromancy

Flying

Divination

Prescience

Empathy

Nightmares

Void

Null*

Entropy

Earth

Keyword Notes

HYPNOSIS

With this keyword a character may give a command or a suggestion to another. The target of Hypnosis has the opportunity to resist the roll. Read more about the rules around rolling for this in the Mind Affecting Magic section. If they fail, they will be compelled to carry out the order while seeing nothing wrong with it. Anything that goes completely against their personal ideals may be ignored. If this ability is used on another PC, communication is critical. Hypnosis fades at the next sunrise.

LESSER SHAPESHIFTING

You are able to transform into a small to medium-size animal. You are the average size of that animal and although you may retain some innate magical abilities, you are otherwise unremarkable. Unlike the shifters, who are given the complete package of instinct when it comes to assuming their other forms, you must manually learn how to function in whatever form you assume.

NULL

The Null keyword is a way of nullifying magic. If a Cinder roll with Null meets or exceeds the number of passes on the Cinder roll it is opposing, the magic fizzles out and is ineffective. The amount of passes above the target number is the amount of posts the target's Cinder pool can be blocked, no more.

POISON/VENOM

When Poison/Venom is used on another character, they can choose to roll an opposing Strike roll to resist the effect of the keyword. The resisting Strike roll must meet or exceed the number of Passes from the successful Cinder roll of the keyword.

SHIELDING

The Shielding keyword can be used as a defensive keyword versus attacks. Shielding can block an attack if the Cinder roll meets or exceed the number of passes on the opposing attack roll.

VAMPIRISM

Ironically, unlike the Undying's Grounding ability, this is something akin to the popular definition of vampirism. It is sucking the vitality out of something. Creature, object, situation. The mechanic is quite simple, in that this vitality transfers itself to the user, although it can also be stored in a separate vessel.

HEALING

On using Healing magic for Luck: On a Complete Success, the healer restores +1 Luck to themselves or another. On an Extraordinary Success, the healer restores +2 Luck to themselves or another. A character cannot restore Luck above the maximum for any character.

ABIDANCE

Abidance is a sense of structure and order, in whatever way that may mean.

FORTUNE

After a successful hit with Strike or Cinder, a character with Fortune can do an additional Cinder roll to "steal" a Luck point from their opponent This will either add to their Luck (if their opponent missed) or keep their Luck stable (if their opponent hit).

MIND-AFFECTING KEYWORDS

Hypnosis, Prey Paralysis, Charm, Empathy, and other keywords that could affect the mind. These types of Keywords have a unique set of mechanical rules around their use, most notable being the chance for the target to roll a contested roll to resist the effect.

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The member group and type a character is, based on the eight available.

Cinder is the die pool of mental and magical abilities of a character.

A group of rolled die of 4 or more

Strike is the die pool of physical abilities of a character.

A roll to meet or exceed a targeting/attacking roll.