Way of Spirit

The Way of Spirit is based on the manipulation of souls, spirits and their dimension of reality – Limbo. This Way upholds the soul – the only eternal substance – as the most real component of existence and, as such, that which is at the basis of everything. Enlightenment, therefore, lies in grasping the soul of all things. This pursuit invariably leads to the exploration of Limbo, the Realm In-Between and passageway of all souls, as well as of the free spirits that inhabit it and the secrets of life and death. For this, those who practice the Way of Spirit are known as necromancers. 
At low levels, the Way of Spirit manifest as communicating and even controlling lesser spirits, using them to gather information and even aid the necromancer in combat. This contact furthermore grants them the ability to employ auras of cold and decay to corrode living matter. Control of the soul – their own and those of others – also allows necromancers to reanimate and control the dead. At high levels, necromancers can employ soul energy in devastating attacks, or attack the souls of others directly. They may even open gateways to Limbo, becoming a living embodiment of the grave, allowing them to store and unleash hordes of undead and employing the chill of the grave against their targets. Those at the pinnacle of the Way of Spirit may even cheat death, either through resurrection, or by splitting their soul into new vessels. 
== Spell Effects ==
=== Ordinary ===
At ordinary attainment, you gain the Grave Sight, allowing you to peer into the realm of Limbo at-will. While your Grave Sight is active, you will perceive the world as gray, devoid of color, but you will be able to see in the dark as if it were dimly lit. You will be able to see through the {Intangibility} of Spirits, as well as the remnant energies of those who recently died as dense, colorful mist. The mist will appear denser if the death was more recent and grow in size with the number of people who have recently died at that location. If a creature has only been dead for 6 seconds or less, you will instead be able to see their soul. The soul will be a Spirit version of said creature, retaining all the memories and mental attributes. It will be in a state of stupor, being unable to lie, but may still resist certain lines of questioning. In such cases, so long as the soul can speak the language used to question it, they will be able to answer one question before departing from Limbo. 
Additionally, you gain extra Gambit Slots. 
Ordinary Effects
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Soul Lock
Cost: 1 Numen 
Casting Time: 1 Action 
Range: Sight 
Duration: Instantaneous 
----You mystically lock unto the soul of a target that you can see. Make a 1C Spell-Attack against Glamour. On a hit, you lock onto the soul of a target, allowing you to treat them as a Spirit for the purposes of targeting them with your spells and abilities. If a spell with this effect bears another effect that deals damage, this effect replaces its Spell-Attack in favor of that effect's damage draw. 
Upcasting. For each extra Numen placed on this effect, you may also target other entities within an extra 2 meters of the original target.
Dread
Cost: 2 Numen
Duration: 2 Turns 
Enhancement Effect 
----A spell with this effect inflicts living creatures with the dread of true death. A target must perform a Glamor contest against your Spell-Casting Attribute. If they lose, they are infected with Fear of you, becoming unable to willingly come closer to you and having disadvantage on any Draws performed against you. A target is entitled to repeat the contest at the end of every turn, being freed from this effect upon winning. 
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, its duration is increased by 1 turn.
Chill of the Grave
Cost: 1 Numen 
Casting Time: 1 action 
Range: Touch 
Duration: Instantaneous 
----You employ the chill of the grave against a target within range, dealing 4C freeze damage against Physique. When applied to a non-instantaneous spell, it will deal half of its damage upfront, and inflict 1C Sustained freeze damage against Physique to creatures who enter or start their turn within within the boundaries of said spell. 
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, its damage increases by 2C.
Cadaveric Rot
Cost: 1 Numen
Enhancement Effect 
----A spell with this effect is imbued with a corrosive power, dealing an extra 2C necrotic damage against Physique to creatures and objects within its range. Organic matter will rapidly decay and wither when in contact with a spell with this effect. When applied to a non-instantaneous spell, it will inflict 1C Sustained necrotic damage against Physique to creatures who enter or start their turn within within the boundaries of said spell instead. 
Upcasting. For every two extra Numen placed on this effect, it will deal an extra 1C damage.
Animate Dead
Cost: 1 Numen 
Casting Time: 1 action 
Range: Sight 
Duration: Instantaneous 
----You imbue corpses within range with a mimicry of life, reanimating them as mindless undead, hostile to the living. If you target a corpse with this effect, it will have the same physical Attributes and abilities it had when it was alive, plus those added by either the {Zombie} or {Skeleton} templates (your choice), but will have its mental attributes set to 0. If a special template exists for that creature, the GM may allow you to use that one instead. If you target a messy pile of remains, you may instead create a number of undead creatures or undead horde of your choice whose total Size does not exceed that of the pile. You can only affect a volume of remains that would fit within a 2-meter square. This effect cannot target (-Purified-) remains. 
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, you may target an additional corpse or an additional 2-meter square of remains.
Command Soul
Cost: 1 Numen
Duration: Renewal 
Enhancement Effect 
----A Spirit or Undead creature that is affected by a spell with this effect must win a Glamor contest against the caster’s Spell-Casting Attribute or become charmed for duration. Unless the target is {Mindless}, they are entitled to repeat the contest at the end of every turn. 
If a spell with this effect creates an Undead, the effect instead renders the creatures under the control of the caster – it will follow your mental commands, issued as an Action. If you control multiple creatures, you can command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one. You may also issue a general command, such as to move to a particular location, or perform a basic task. Once given an order, the creature will continue to follow it until its task is complete. If a creature has remained under this effect for the entirety of its duration, you may cast this effect on its own to reassert your control over them.
Exorcism
Cost:  1 Numen
Enhancement Effect
----A spell with this effect exorcises entities that are (-Possessing-) a creature or object within its range. The possessing entity is entitled to a Glamor contest against your Spell-Casting Attribute, resisting this effect on a win, and being ejected from its host on a loss. Furthermore, upon losing, the entity is projected up to a distance equal to two times your Spell-Casting Attribute in meters, and is then weakened until the end of their turn, losing half of its movement and gaining a -1 malus on Draws and Contests. If a target wins a contest against this effect at any point, they gain immunity from further attempts by that caster for the next three hours.
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, the distance at which the target is projected is doubled |OR| the malus increases by -1.
Bind Soul
Cost: 2 Numen
Enhancement Effect
----A spell with this effect binds a Spirit with a Condition of 0, within an object in range of the spell, imprisoning them. While sealed, the entity will be unable to use Actions and cannot move from their seal. You must stipulate conditions for the sealing, and for its release. These may be as convoluted and specific as you want, but must be equally so. This effect may also target a restrained Spirit, but these are entitled to a Glamor contest against your Spell-Casting ability to resist the attempt.
=== Master ===
At master attainment, you gain the ability of speak the Language of the Dead. This is a Mystical Language that can be understood and spoken by Spirits and Undead. It allows you to command the residual energies of the dead and exert authority over weaker Spirits, giving them orders which they feel compelled to follow. This can include minor tasks, such as fetching an object, interacting with a lever, cleaning, or spying information. More active uses include ordering them to grapple with a certain target. When controlling minor nature spirits or remnant energies in this fashion, they use your Glamor for any Draws that are called. You may also call upon them to perform a Visionary Divination to gather information, replacing the lowest value card in your hand with one of equal value to your Spell-Casting Attribute, unless that card has a larger value. 
In any case, you may only give one order at a time, as an Action, using the Language of the Dead, but you may do so to any number of creatures under your influence that can hear and understand you. Spirits of equal or higher Stratum are entitled to a Glamor contest against you to resist this effect every time it its attempted. If a creature is already under the control of someone else, you may wrest control over them by winning a Glamor contest against their controller. 
Additionally, you gain extra Gambit Slots. 
Master Effects
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Spiritual Aura
Cost: 0 Numen 
Casting Time:  1 Action 
Range: Self 
Duration: Renewal 
----You release a [Spiritual Aura], which is emitted up to 0 meters from you. 
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, the aura is emitted for up to 2 extra meters away from you.
Summon Spirit
Cost: 2 Numen
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch 
Duration: 1 minute
----You summon a spiritual projection of a recently deceased creature within range, creating a Shade of the target. The Shade will retain the abilities and memories of the creature it originated from, but will lack Intellect. They will also not possess any memory of the after-life. The Shade will maintain the allegiances the target had in life.
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, its duration of is doubled.
Undead Force
Cost: 4 Numen
Enhancement Effect
----You compose a spell with this effect from spirits or undead, reducing its cost whilst transforming its appearance and behavior. You may sacrifice a number of Spirits or Undead under your control, destroying them and incorporating them unto the spell. For each Spirit or Undead destroyed as part of this effect, the cost of the spell is reduced by 1 Numen.
* If you sacrifice a Spirit, the spell changes to be composed of translucent spirits. If it deals damage, its damage type becomes mystical necrotic. If the spell acts on an area of effect, it becomes difficult terrain for its duration, and entities that enter or start their turn in the area take 1 Sustained mystical necrotic damage.
* If you sacrifice an Undead, the spell changes to be composed of skeletons or zombies, as appropriate. If it deals damage, it will instead deal the damage of the signature attacks of each undead used to compose it. If the spell acts on an area of effect, it becomes difficult terrain for its duration, and entities that enter or start their turn in the area take must make a Physique contest against your Spell-Casting Attribute or be grappled by undead arms and appendages.
Capture Soul
Cost: 2 Numen
Enhancement Effect
----A Spirit targeted by a spell with this effect is Restrained if they lose on a Glamor contest against your Spell-Casting Attribute. An intelligent spirit may repeat the contest at the end of every turn to be freed from this effect. Whilst under this effect, the time for which a Spirit can maintain itself in Limbo is extended for the remainder of their restraint.
Ressurection
Cost: 2 Numen
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch 
Duration: Instantaneous
----You allow a Spirit that you can see to incarnate into a soulless body within range, reviving them in that new body, by first succeeding on a Visionary Divination against the Spirit you wish to resurrect. If the body targeted by this effect is the Spirit's original body and the Spirit is willing, the Divination is performed with a 1C advantage. If the target body is not (-Purified-), the Hand of Fate for that Divination will be a card larger.
Necromancy
Cost: 2
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Duration: Concentration
----You use a deceased corpse to connect with the Realm of Souls, allowing you to perform a Q&A Divination of up to 3 questions. The corpse must be of someone who has been dead for less than 3 days, must have at least a mouth or some other appendage that would allow for communication once animated. If you interact with the corpse outside of a Divination attempt, it will answer truthfully, but has no knowledge of anything that happened after its death. If you fail at any step of the Divination, or ask the corpse anything pertaining to the realm of Demi-Gods and above, the corpse is destroyed, upon which you must draw a card. On a 6 or higher, the animated creature mutates with the [Abomination] template and becomes hostile. After answering your questions, the corpse is destroyed.
Upcasting. For every extra two Numen you put into this effect, you may target a corpse who has died one-degree of time larger (from days to weeks, from weeks to months, etc).
Read Soul
Cost: 2 Numen  
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch
Duration: Concentration
----For the duration, you can probe and extract the memories of certain creatures. You initially learn the surface thoughts of the creature - what is most on its mind in that moment. As an action, you can probe deeper into the creature's mind, making an Intellect contest against the target. If you win, you gain insight into a memory regarding its last thought. If the target succeeds on any of these contests, the spell ends. Questions verbally directed at the target, and presenting them with certain information or mementos, naturally shape the course of its thoughts. If the target knows that you are probing into its mind, they can use an action to make an Intellect contest against you. If they win, the spell ends, and the target becomes immune to this effect, unless it comes from a different caster.
Paralysis
Cost: 3 Numen
Duration: 1 minute
Enhancement Effect
----Make a 1C Spell-Attack against the Glamor of a living creature targeted by a spell with this effect. On a hit, the target will be paralyzed for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target can attempt a Glamor contest against your Spell-Casting Attribute to free themselves from this effect.
Upcasting. The duration of this effect increases by 1 minute |OR| the Spell-Attack increases by 1C for every two extra Numen expended.
Wailing
Cost: 2 Numen  
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: 4 meters
Duration: Instantaneous
----Your release a mystical wailing, chilling the souls of all living entities that can hear you within range. While a target is suffering from this effect, their resistances to necrotic damage are downgraded by one step.
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, the duration of this effect increases by 1 minute |OR| increase the range by 2 meters.
=== Grandmaster ===
At Grandmaster attainment, you become a Gatekeeper, enhancing your abilities and authority over Limbo:
* Grave Sight. Whilst your Grave Sight is active, you may Concentrate to activate a {Death Gaze} on a specific target that you can see. Whilst being targeted by your {Death Gaze} the target will take 1 Sustained necrotic damage at the end of every turn. You may expend Numen, as an Action, to perform an attack against the target of the {Death Gaze}, dealing 2C necrotic damage against Glamor for each Numen expended in this way. A target of lower Stratum that suffers a Critical Hit from your {Death Gaze} will instantly die.
* Language of the Dead. You may issue a single-word command using the Language of the Dead to a number of creatures you can see. The targets must make a Glamor Contest against your Spell-Casting Attribute. If they lose, a target will be forced to obey your command. A creature will automatically resist this effect if the issued command would obviously result in their death.
* Authority. Spirits and Undead will recognize your authority over Limbo at a glance, seeing you as someone noble, of great importance. They may or may not aquiesce to your requests. {Mindless} Spirits and Undead will be Fringhtened of you.
Additionally, you gain extra Gambit Slots. 
Grandmaster Effects 	 	 	 	 	
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Pale Flames 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 2 Numen
Enhancement Effect
----A spell with this effect will bear pale, ethereal flames that burn both flesh and spirit, dealing 4C mystical burn damage to Agility to a target on-contact. If a spell bears a [Mystical Area], the flames will fill the entire area and remain for the duration. Whenever a targets takes at least 10 damage from this effect, they will accrue 1 Sustain mystical burn damage against Physique. 
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, the flames deal 1C extra damage on contact.	 	 	 	 	
Death Knell 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 3 Numen
Enhancement Effect
----A spell with this effect is imbued with a force that erases the life of a creature with a Condition of 30 or lower, instantly killing them. If the target has a Condition above 30, their resistance to necrotic damage is downgraded by one stage instead, lasting until they first suffer necrotic damage or until the end of the next turn, whichever comes first.	 	 	 	 	
Forgetfulness 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 2 Numen
Enhancement Effect
----A spell with this effect will cause the target to temporarily forget a particular fact, the existence of an entity, or the events that occurred during a set span of time if certain conditions are met. You must set the conditions to forget and to remember said event, entity or span of time during the creation of a spell with this effect. These can be as contrived and specific as you want, but must be equally so. It is recommended to set these to be complete opposites for simplicity (i.e. "not seeing the entity" being the condition to forget it, and "having the entity in sight" being the condition to remember it), or to make them related in some fashion (i.e. "drinking a specific liquid" as a condition for forgetting, and "returning to the source of the liquid/where the liquid was drank" as a condition to remember). 
# When this effect would force a target to forget a specific fact, they will behave as if the notion or piece of information does not exist, but will still recognize it when directly presented with it. 
# When this effect would force a target to forget the existence of an entity, the target will be unable to perceive it directly, but will be able to notice the effects of its actions and recognize that it is being attacked if they are damaged by the entity. 
# When this effect would force a target to forget the events that happened during a span of time, they forget everything that happened in the last 8 hours. 
In any case, the target is entitled to a Glamor contest against your Spell-Casting ability to resist this effect.
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, the maximum span of time that can be forgotten increases by one stage (from hours to days, from days to weeks, etc.).	 	 	 	 	
Soul Restoration 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 2 Numen
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch 
Duration: Instantaneous
----You restore the condition of a target's soul, healing any damage inflicted on it. If the creature is being affected by a curse or a mind-altering effect, they may attempt an imediata contest to be freed from it, with advantage. If the creature's soul is not damaged, or they are not affected by a curse or mind-altering effect, their Condition is instead restored by 2C + your Spell-Casting Attribute.
Upcasting. For every extra Numen placed on this effect, the amount of Condition restored increase by 1C.	 	 	 	 	
Posession 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 2 Numen
Enhancement Effect
----A spell with this effect will allow a Spirit that is affected or created by it to posses the body of a creature, allowing them to inhabit it as if it were its original body. If the body is that of a sapient, still-living creature, the Spirit will have to contend for ownership of the body with its host. When the Spirit seeks to perform an action contrary to the intentions of the host, a Glamor contest occurs between the two parties to determine which will Action the body will take. If the Spirit wins three consecutive Glamor contests against the host, they win permanent control of the body, effectively killing the original host. However, if they fail lose three Glamor contests against the host, even non-consecutively, they are expelled from their body. In any case, a Spirit in possession of a body will adopt its physical Attributes and natural abilities.	 	 	 	 	
Split Soul 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 4 Numen
Casting Time: 1-minute
Range: Self 
Duration: Instantaneous
----You split a piece of your soul as an independent Shade of yourself. The Shade inherits all of your capabilities, personality, attainment and memories, unless you choose to retain any of these from it. They will maintain a Connection to you, with which new information and memories may be transmited if both sides are willing. At any time, should you die, you may have your soul replace that of the clone, so long as it is not otherwise restrained. Splitting your Soul will permanently reduce your Glamor by 1. However, you may reabsorb one of your split souls to restore the Glamor lost by its creation at-will, provided the split soul is restrained or willing.	 	 	 	 	
Soul Materialization 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 2 Numen
Casting Time: Reaction
Enhancement Effect 
----A Spirit or [Spiritual Aura] created by a spell with this effect can be materialized into the shape of an object or entity which you have seen before or can conceivably imagine, at an equal or lower size category. The entity will be translucent and clearly mystical in nature. The entity gains the following properties, based on its form:
* Weapon. The weapon retains the same damage, damage type, and properties its regular counterpart possesses.
* Body Part. The body part can perform any actions its regular counterpart would.
* Creature. The creature can perform any actions its regular counterpart would, but any magical properties or senses are ignored.
The entity uses your Spell-Casting Attribute for all of its Draws. It has physical attributes equal to your Spell-Casting Attribute (plus the bonuses provided by its Size) and a Condition of 50. Additionally, if the entity is capable of crushing or squeezing a target, you may have it do so at the beginning of every turn while it is grappling a target, dealing half, rounded up, of its regular damage as crush damage against their Physique.
Upcasting. For every extra two Numen used, the projection gains an additional 50 Condition.	 	 	 	 	
Soul Detonation 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 3 Numen
Enhancement Effect
----A Spirit or [Spiritual Aura] created by a spell with this effect explodes over a 8-meter radius upon being destroyed, or at your will, as a free action. Creatures within the area take 6C aura damage against Agility.
Upcasting. For every extra Numen used, you may increase the area of the explosion by 2 meters |OR| increase the damage by 1C.	 	 	 	 	
Soulbound 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 2 Numen
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch 
Duration: 10 minutes
----You bind an object that isn't already attuned to the soul of a creature within range of it, attuning the creature to the object. If the creature holds the object for the entirety of the duration, the binding will last for as long as the creature remains attuned to the object. For as long as the binding persists, only the bound user will be able to utilize the item effectively. The item will actively resist any entity other than its bound user, preventing any of equal or lower Stratum than the bound user from using the item. Such an entity may still attempt a Glamor contest against your Spell-Casting Attribute to forcefully use the item, but will be unable to apply its Attributes to any Draws involving the item.
A creature will be able to recall their bound items as an action, whereupon it will appear on their person, or store them within their soul at-will. If the bound doesn't already have an item of the same type equipped, they may automatically equip the item as part of the call.	 	 	 	 	
Gate 	 	 	 	 	
Cost: 2 Numen
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch 
Duration: Instantaneous
----You phase yourself and a creature within range, as well as everything you are wearing and carrying, trough Limbo, appearing at a location you select. If you target an unwilling creature, you must win on an Agility contest against them in order to affect them. The destination you choose must be known to you, and it must be on the same plane of existence as you. Your familiarity with the destination determines whether you arrive there successfully. As part casting a spell with this effect, draw a card and check on the table below.
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed fandom-table"	Familiarity	Mishap 	Similar Area 	Off-Target	On-Target
Each teleporting entity suffers 4C aura damage against Physique and the caster re-Draws for the table.	Familiarity	Appear in a different area that's visually or thematically similar to the target area.	Appear a random distance away from the destination in a random direction. Distance off target is 1Cx1C percent of the distance that was to be traveled in longitude and latitude.	 	On-Target
Exact Coordinates 	— 	— 	— 	1-10 	
Very familiar 	1 	2 	3 	4-10 	
Seen casually 	1 	2-3 	4 	5-10 	
Viewed once 	1-2 	3-4 	5 	6-10 	
Description 	1-3 	4-5 	6 	7-10 	
False destination 	1-5 	6-10 	— 	— 	
=== Scion ===
At scion attainment, you gain the Soul King ability. You soul becomes dense and semi-material, enabling it to endure the call of Limbo. Whenever your souls leaves your body, either as a result of your death or at your will, you may continue to play as a Shade of yourself. If your body is alive whilst you are in this state, you may return to it to revive yourself. You also gain the ability to cast the [Intangibility], [Spiritual Aura], [Soul Materialization] and [Gate] effects at-will, with no Numen cost. When activated in this manner, however, the potency of these effect is capped at a Numen cost equal to your Spell-Casting Attribute. 
Additionally, you gain extra Gambit slots. 
Scion Effects
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Awaken
Cost: 4
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch 
Duration: Instantaneous
----You awaken a conscious soul within an entity with 0 or lower Intellect. The target gains an Intellect of 1 and the ability to speak one language you know of your choice. They will also gain the ability to move any limbs or appendages they posses and gain senses similar to those of a regular human. The awakened entity will regard you as their creator and hold deep loyalty, though this can change from henceforth with the way they are treated an as their personality develops. You may either select an appropriate statblock for the awakened entity, or create a Follower card for it, of 4 Kavana or less.
Upcasting. For every two extra Numen expended on this effect, the awakened entity may be created, either with a statblock or with a Follower card, of an additional 1 Kavana of value.
Nihilism
Cost: 4 Numen
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: 12 meters 
Duration: Renewal
----You collapse a portion of Limbo into the material plane, creating a Concealed zone, centered on a point that you can see, where Spirits are forced to taken on a physical form. Within range of this effect, [Intangibility] ceases to function. Creatures with that trait gain a Physique equal to their Glamor. All attacks within the zone will be considered mystical for the sole purpose of overcoming resistances. Teleportation effects within the zone will still work, but entities will be unable to leave or enter, both using such an effect or trough any other means.
Upcasting. For every two Numen placed on this effect, you may increase the size of the zone by 4 meters.