The Book of Knots - Jags

Running Shadows
There is a difference between Commanding a Shadow and Inhabiting it. A character with Sciomancy Levels
1 or 2 may command their Shadow and will “get reports from” their Shadow. We advise that the GM will not
usually “play out” a character’s Shadow performing tasks (for one thing, the Shadow might try something
over and over).
For tasks a Shadow is sent to perform we advise the GM assign a success number (usually between 6- and a
13-) and roll that to see how well the Shadow performs (and make an estimate as to how long it will take for
the results to come in).
When the character is at Sciomancy Level 3 or 4, they may choose to “inhabit” their Shadow and steer
it directly. When this is being done the Magician is meditative and isn’t acting (they are controlling their
Shadow).
Binding
The second knowledge the Magician learns is to “bind” a Shadow to
Chessboard Zero more tightly. This reduces the Disassociation that
occurs when one’s Shadow does something. Thus, if the Magician
wishes to damage someone on Chessboard Zero they will bind that
target to their Shadow and then kill their Shadow. If the target’s Shadow
is tightly bound they will die when their Shadow does! If the target’s
Shadow is more loosely bound they might just get sick.
When the Magician binds his own Shadow to Chessboard Zero then the
Shadow’s actions have more effect there. If you command your Shadow
to wash your car and bind it, your car will get mysteriously cleaner (but
probably not completely clean unless your binding is very strong!).
Level Cost Notes
1 4
2 8
3 16
4 24
Weak Binding: Only effects that seem “reasonable” will happen on Chessboard Zero. They will take time to
happen as the Magician’s Shadow must work on the target over and over and over. Damage done to a bound
Shadow may appear as simply getting sick or having some other negative effect. In the case of actual damage
getting through (GM’s call) the damage is quartered and must come from some potential viable source (if there
is none in the GM’s opinion then no damage will be done).
Binding: Only effects that can translate as “plausible” will happen on Chessboard Zero (even if very unlikely).
Damage done to a bound Shadow is halved and will appear from some other form (a slip and fall, a collapse of a
wall-rack, sudden internal bleeding, etc.)
Strong Binding: the effects of actions will have a very close effect but will usually still appear to have “no
obvious cause.” Effects will usually only last no more than 2 seconds (i.e. if the Magician has his Shadow lift
a pen it’ll be seen to float up, hover, and then fall). Damage done to a bound Shadow is taken directly but may
appear to be some other form of injury.
Perfect binding: the actions taken by the Shadow will reflect exactly on Chessboard Zero. Effects persist so long
as the caster wants. Damage done to a bound Shadow is taken directly and appears as the type of damage it was.
Binding: Double Attacks?
Let’s say a Magician with Level 4 Binding punches you. His Shadow punches you too (well, your Shadow).
Does that act like you got hit twice? It doesn’t unless the Magician is doing a specific kind of Trick (Double
Team).
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Book of Knots - Magicians