The Book of Knots - Jags

Book of Knots - Magicians
Binding 2,
Twist 1
Binding 3,
Twist 1
Binding 3,
Twist 2
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Ghost Writing. The message can appear
in written form any place it plausibly
could (i.e. graffiti, an email from some
unlikely address, written on the target’s
car in the dirt on it). It cannot appear
inside the target’s house unless a lot of
people have been in and out recently.
Phone Calls From the Other Side. The
phone actually rings and the Magician’s
voice speaks from the other end. Since
communication is two-way, the subject
can speak with the Shadow which can
give some more clarification. Usually
contact must be brief (2-4 minutes). The
Magician’s Shadow will seem strange
but not “goofy.”
Voice of Air. The subject hears
eerie voices (they are being heard
by his Shadow, really—they
won’t show up on tape). Since
communication is two-way,
the subject can speak with the
Shadow which can give some
more clarification. Usually
contact must be brief (4 to
20 minutes). The Magician’s
Shadow will seem strange but
not “goofy.”
Summon Entity
Stress: 4
Requires: Sciomancy 4, Binding 2,3,4
Description: The Magician sends his Shadow down
to the lower Chessboards to seek an audience with
the entities that dwell below. This is both very risky
and potentially very powerful. If the Magician gets
good guidance about which entities to seek (the Black
Rose is good, so is Lim) then it can be a route to great
knowledge and power. If a master is not available to
teach Twisting or the next level of Binding then this
will suffice. It can also be very dangerous.
Ritual: This depends on the Magician’s Occult skill
level.
Level Notes
2
Entities met are almost at random: several
rituals might go past without the Magician
encountering one. Worse: the Magician may
meet Wonderland entities that are interested
in him.
3
4
If the Magician has proper directions (a
name—but not necessarily the Entity’s
correct name, “directions,” etc.) then the
Magician can reliably contact that Entity
(usually at Level 3, the Magician will have
instructions to two Entities. Their real
identities will be up to the GM).
The Magician can contact entities based on
what the Magician wishes to know (i.e. who
can provide the best service).
Effect: The Magician will feel a strong presence in
the room and will have an (often distorted) view of the
thing he is communicating with. The Magician may
gain profound and useless insights into the nature of
the universe, learn more magic, get Twisted, etc. The
Magician may also get Damaged by these Caretakers
if he does not work to expertly separate himself from
his Shadow in the event of an attack.
Usually dealing with an Entity is a confusing
exercise in quid-pro-quo. The Entity will have almost
incomprehensible desires dealing with Chessboard
One and they are not easily transmitted (even
with Sciomancy 4, the connection is very distant).
The Magician will want things (specific Twists,
information, assistance with his own Descents if he is
Infected, etc.)
Historically there has been a lot of confusion resulting
in sacrifices that didn’t really please the Caretakers
or the imparting of wisdom that the Magician
couldn’t use (“The universe is composed of nouns
and verbs divided into sub-atomic and fundamental
force bestiaries …”). Some Magicians have opted to
subvert themselves to the Entities in order for better
communication. This results in power—but also
abominations (see Hunger Disciples).
Binding
Level
2
3
4
Notes
The Magician makes an Occult Roll during the
casting at a random negative determined by the
GM of -1 to -6 (roll one die and keep it secret). If
the Entity makes a WIL or RES roll by more than
the Magician’s roll the Entity can inflict Damage
equal to half the difference (this effect goes away
in a few days usually—but may be permanent).
As above, but the Magician ignores -3 points of
the negative modifier.
As above, but the Magician ignores -6 points of
the negative modifier.