Bane-Spell (Secret Word of the Destroyer)

The Secret Word can only be taught to those who make a pledge to the Destroyer (a member of The Five). This may take the form of a taboo they must obey, a ritual they must regularly perform, a feat they must accomplish, or even an attribute point permanently sacrificed during the magus’ training. Those who enter this pact gain the knowledge of the Word and its terrifying destructive potential.

The base difficulty of using the word is d3. Saying the Word to one thing or person, and spending some amount of one’s personal energy in the form of strain, fatigue, or damage, will deal that many points of damage to the target. (The focus necessary for the caster to apportion points as desired between the three meters increases the difficulty by a step.) Alternately, the Word can be spoken “freely.” In this case the magic will automatically drain as much energy as is necessary to destroy the target. (If all three meters are filled, then the excess is distributed evenly.) In any case, the energy cost can be halved by increasing the difficulty by two steps.

Living beings destroyed by this spell may make Psychic saves, difficulty d12, to remain on as spirits.