Crimson Magic

Please Consider Whether the Number of Uses, Durations and Effects are Reasonable
I picked numbers I think are good, but most of them have not been tested.

Using Crimson Magic
"Crimson" is mostly a shorthand for the mechanics which these spells share, rather a separate type of magic. However, some groups learn and teach only Crimson spells. Crimson Magic regards spells as sapient entities called “hexengeists.”

Acquiring Spells
Bob must learn a Crimson spell's glyph, its pronunciation, and its carving ritual from a teacher (or in some cases from a book). During or after that learning period Bob must attract a hexengeist by spending 3 hours each day for 30 days ritually carving the glyph into an appropriate token (count every day as 3 days when learning the spell is Bob's full-time activity). Bob cannot attract more than one hexengeist of the same spell.

When the carving is complete Bob rolls his Nerves + Spirit + Magic against the 15 dice threshold. If he succeeds, Bob obtains the spell. If Bob fails, he may make additional attempts (30 days each) which need only exceed the 12 dice threshold to succeed. After succeeding, Bob must spend 5 ep to bring the spell (narrow skill) to 1 die.

Tokens
Bob must carve the spell's glyph into a token which has a resonance with the desired spell. For spells which cost Fat, the token can also store 1 point of Fat (useable for this spell only) if charged after sunset and immediately before at least 4 hours of sleep. Such tokens are typically about the size of a half-dollar coin. Alternatively, multiple glyphs can be carved on a much larger object, such as a staff, but in this case each threshold is 3 dice higher and no Fat can be stored.

Casting
To cast, Bob must both view the token and speak the name of the glyph. Casting without either reduces Bob's die roll by half (round down). The spell cannot be recast until 13 minutes have passed. Most spells can be cast with range, duration, etc. other than those listed, but costs will be higher, and casting an unpracticed variation will raise the threshold by 6.

Arcane Circle
Creates a barrier which obstructs spells and less than fully-corporeal creatures. Use the spell's action roll as an automatic attack on any creature attempting to cross. Successful attack blocks creature and inflicts normal damage. Use the spell's action roll as an additional defense roll against any spell. Crossing by a fully-corporeal creature larger than a house cat breaks the circle. Each boost add another VSD rounds/turns turns to the duration.

Arcane Torch
Allows vision in darkness to specified distance.

Augmentation
Assist another character by rolling the lesser of
 * 1) the same number of dice as that character (ignoring that character’s damage but reducing for your own damage); or
 * 2) your own roll of SPI + Magic + SD.

The other character may use your roll instead of his own if your roll is better.

Banish
Force an undead, summoned or animated creature to return to its home plane. Must be cast from within (or at a creature within) an Arcane Circle. On success recover 1V-1 Fat.

Blind
Target loses unused action in the current round and remains blinded until he makes a Magic Save against the spell's original action roll. This save does not require an action, so target may still act at an appropriate penalty.

Fear
Target loses any unused action in the current round and must immediately flee VSD × 10' from caster.

Fireball
Creates a fiery explosion. Allies and neutrals add 4 × SD dice to their saving throw; physical objects are unaffected.

Fireblade
On Bob's initiative, a fiery blade appears in Bob's hand. Attacks with the Fireblade get Initiative Advantage, do Normal Damage, and can hit incorporeals. Note that the roll to strike with the Fireblade is Bob's normal attack roll plus (VSD minus 1) dice, not the roll to cast the spell.

Firedart
Fiery missile strikes target. Single casting enables 1 + VSD uses: first must be used immediately; others within 2 + (2 × VSD) rounds.

Firehands
A single arc of fire deals damage to adjacent creatures. Bob can control start and stop of arc (up to 360°) but can't make it skip over friends within arc. Physical objects are unaffected. Single casting enables VSD uses: first must be used immediately; others within 2 × VSD rounds. Ectoplasmic Damage.

Raise (Ability)
Raise Muscles, Raise Nerves, Raise Combat, Raise Missiles, Raise Athletics, and Raise Stealth are each a separate spell, but use the same mechanics. Adds VSD dice to the relevant attribute or general skill for duration of spell.


 * Name || Casting Time ||  Cost ||  Duration ||  Effect ||  Target ||  Boost? ||  Defense
 * **Arcane Circle** || 1 round  || 1 Fat || 4 + (2 x SL) rounds || None  | V | 3V || Up to 10’ radius from caster || Yes
 * **Arcane Torch** || 1 round  || 1 Fat || 1 hr per spell die || Special || All within 5’ of caster || No
 * Augmentation || 1 Round  || None || None || Special   || 1 Character   || No  || Background (T)
 * Banish || 3 Rounds || 3 Fat || None || Special || 1 Creature || Yes || Magic Save (R)
 * Fireball || 1 Round || 1 Fat || None || Ecto-Damage  || Take-Away Area   || Yes || Dodge (R)
 * Fireblade || 1 Round || 1 Fat || 7+VSD Rounds  || Creates Blade for Melee Attacks   || Self Only   || No   || Background (T) Dodge or Parry (R)
 * Firedart || 1 Round || 1 Fat || 1+VSD Uses || Special || 1 Foe per Use || Yes || Magic Save (R)
 * Firehands || 1 Round per Use || None || VSD Uses || 5' Arc of Fire || All in Arc || Yes || Dodge ®
 * Mastaze || 1 Round || 1 Fat || None || 0 -V-3V || Take-Away Area (Advantage) || Yes || Magic Save ®
 * Raise [ability] || 1 Round || 1 Fat || 7+VSD Rounds || VSD Bonus Dice || Self Only || No || Background (T)
 * **Raise Ability** || 1 round  || 1 Fat || 4 + (2 x SL) rounds || 1 + SL bonus dice || Self Only || No

You cast a Crimson Magic spell by looking at a carved glyph and speaking a its name. Katrina can teach all of these spells.

Capturing a Hexengeist: After learning the spells glyph, its pronunciation, and its carving ritual, you must spend 10 days hand ritually carving the glyph into an appropriate object, then exceed the 16 dice threshold rolling Nerves + Spirit + Magic. If you fail, you may make additional attempts (10 days each) which need only exceed the 12 dice threshold to succeed. After succeeding, you must spend 5 ep to bring the spell (narrow skill) to 1 die.

Costs and Limitations: A crimson spell has a casting time of 1 or more rounds, a cost of 0 or more Fatigue dice, and cannot be recast until 13 minutes have passed. You cannot capture more than one hexengeist of the same spell.

Storing Fatigue: An appropriate object with only 1 carved glyph can also store 1 die of fatigue (usable with that same glyph only) if charged after sunset and immediately before at least 4 hours of sleep.


 * Salamander** summoning

Arcane Circle: Creates barrier difficult for spells or spirits to cross. Treat as automatic attack on spell or spirit attempting to cross. Successful attack blocks spell or spirit and inflicts damage on spirit. Spells (coming or going) defend with their action roll. Crossing by physical creature with >0 magic dice breaks circle.

Arcane Torch: Allows vision in darkness to a distance of 5’ per spell die plus distance based on number of targets: 1 target = 20’; 2 = 15’; 3 = 10’; 4+ = 5’.

Assist: Assist another character by rolling the lesser of (1) the same number of dice as that character (ignoring that character’s damage but reducing for your own damage); or (2) your own arcane roll. The other character may use your roll instead of his own if your roll is better.

Banish: Force an undead, summoned or animated creature to return to its home plane. Must be cast from within (or at a creature within) an Arcane Circle. On success recover 1 Fat per Victory.

Fireball: Creates a fiery explosion. Normal animals add 1 victory to their saving throw; physical objects are unaffected.

Mass Stun: Does Fat and Stun damage to take-away area. Always gets full advantage.

Raise Ability: Adds 1 die plus 1 die per SL to selected attribute or general skill. Each ability needs its own special spell.

Summon Salamander:

Crimson Magic regards spells as sapient entities called “hexengeists.”

Ideas for Possible New Spells
Ice Storm (like Fireball) Demon Armor (small demons appear to intercept blow) Spell Parry Make trap which summons monster spell to resist detection (how general??) summon poltergeist ?? azure predict weather azure make talisman for combat use of spell which cannot be cast in combat