Spells & Magic - Orbis Terrarum RPG

Table 30
Initiative Modifiers for
Ritual Prayer
Spell Points Initiative
Accumulated Modifier
15 to 29 +3 penalty
very easy to cast, requiring nothing more than a
moment's concentration and a brief invocation. However,
it can take a long time to build a higher-level spell.
A ritual priest gathers 2 spell points per round through
his invocations and prayers, but the cost to cast a spell is
reduced by the priest's level. For example, a 1st-level
priest casting a 1st-level spell must gather 3 spell points
(4 for the spell, less 1 for his level), which would require
one full round of prayer, plus part of a second round.
If the priest's level reduces the spell's cost to 0, the
priest need not spend any time gathering spell points
and casts the spell with the normal casting time initiative
modifiers. In the example above, a priest of 4th level
or higher reduces a 1st-level spell to a cost of 0, which
means he can cast the spell without spending time to
gather his deity's favor beforehand. In effect, the spell is
minor enough that the power trusts the priest not to
misuse his or her divine energy
In many cases, the priest's gathering time will require
more than one round. The 1st-level priest described
above must gather 3 spell points to cast his spell, which
means that he gathers 2 points in the first round of con-
centration, and the remaining point in the round in
which he casts the spell. There is a slight initiative modi-
fier for this, as shown on Table 30 Initiative Modifiers
for Ritual Prayer.
The initiative modifier is based on the number of
spell points accumulated in the round in which the spell is
cast. For example, a 5th-level priest casting a 3rd-level
spell must draw 5 spell points (10 for the spell, less 5 for
na- .
95
his level), which requires two full rounds of concentra-
tion and part of a third-but since he only needs to
gather 1 spell point in the last round, he gains a -1
bonus to his initiative when he actually casts the spell.
There are ways to accelerate this otherwise tedious
process. Invoking the deity's power in a sanctified place,
making a sacrifice pleasing to the deity, or staying true
to the deity's precepts are all good ways to ensure that
the deity in question will be willing to empower the
priest with spell energy See Table 31: Modifiers to Ritual
Preparatory Times for examples.
PlaceISite of Interest: The priest is located in some
place favored by the god. This could be a forge for a
deity of smithery, a business for a god of commerce, o
battlefield for a power of war.
Sanctified or Holy Place: The priest is located in a
shrine, temple, or place of special and unique significance
to the deity he serves.
Offerings: The priest destroys or surrenders items or
materials pleasing to his patron power. This could range
from treasure, weapons, or gems to such things as exotic
spices, candles, or specially-prepared libations. A deity
of war or battle might consider a gem-decorated sword
to be a minor offering, a sword of special significance or
quality to be a moderate offering, and a magical weapon
to be a major offering. As a rule of thumb, a small offering
must be worth at least 50 gp, a moderate worth 500
gp, and a major offering 2,000 gp or more.
Purity and Faithfulness: This is a subjective call on the
part of the DM. Has the priest been careful to follow the
precepts of both his temple and his alignment? Has the
player gone out of his way to role-play his character's
dedication, or has he been lazy in portraying the priest? If
the character has been played well and is in favor with his
superiors and his deity, this bonus applies.
the divine power necessary to re-use a spell.
Regaining Spell Points: As noted above, ritual
priests expend their spells normally, striking them from