Monday, October 20, 2014

Dr. Hern's Anaetheric Lacuna

Dr. Hern's Anaetheric Lacuna (Abjuration/Planar, Cost, Persistent, Requires two other Abjuration or Planar spells): This formula disrupts the luminiferous aether, creating an airless vacuole of absolute darkness that is roughly 10' x 10' x 10'. Any individual trapped within such a vacuole takes a Consequence each round (starting with the Medium Consequence Breathless, Blind, and Freezing), and will soon freeze and suffocate in an absolute, terrible pocket of darkness. No sound, light, or energy of any sort penetrates the membrane of this void, but physical objects pass through it normally.

This casting is not infrequently used as a means of assassination. It is particularly effective in this capacity when used at night, since it can often be cast unseen directly in a target's immediate path.

If the target can see Lacuna being cast, the caster should roll CHA/Flashy +2 vs. the target's DEX/Flashy Approach. If the defender's roll is higher, they successfully evade the specific location where the caster placed the Lacuna.

A second, no less important use of Lacuna is to shield its caster from the fire of energy weapons. Because light cannot enter the vacuole - it has no luminiferous aether - the vacuole's membrane harmlessly deflects energy weapons of all sorts, scattering their rays away from the caster.


This spell was inspired by Ambrose Bierce's short story "Charles Ashmore's Trail."


2 comments:

  1. Does the temperature change around the area of the vacuole?

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    1. That is a really good question. I think the vacuoles are simply smooth, self-contained discontinuities, which do not bleed cold or anything else.

      But if they aren't smooth and are instead fractal furry, well then all bets are off, and one might perceive a dip in temperature in close proximity to them.

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