This spell
is one of the basic attack spells for an earth mage. The caster temporarily
causes sharp spikes of rock to emerge from the ground in the target area,
frightening, injuring, or killing anyone unfortunate enough to be within the
targeted area.
Spell Effect. This
spell causes the rock buried underneath the solid ground to rise up from the
ground as spikes, damaging anything they connect with. The spell receives its
name as an innuendo that alludes to the effect the spikes have on their victims
if the mage is successful in hitting his target. Many enemies of various earth
magi have died with the rock spikes driven through their centers, causing their
corpses to be suspended atop the spikes or even split in two.
After they have been raised from the ground, the rock spikes stay temporarily
above ground in the position they were left by the caster. The raising and
shaping of the rocks is done by bending the
earth cár’áll of the rock that is
to be raised, stimulating it to reform and arise from the ground to strike the
mage’s enemy. Aim is a key factor in the success of this spell. Despite the
amount of damage each spike does, after their tips have passed the target, they
are harmless. It is important that the mage takes careful aim if he wishes to
wound or kill his target to help him conserve energy. Each spike stands at a
little over two peds,
and is one ped across
and made of heavily condensed earth
with rock-like properties. Shortly after the reforming of the ground to deadly
spikes is completed the spikes will dissipate again once the bending effect
wears off.
Casting Procedure.
The casting procedure of this spell ranges in difficulty. For low level magi,
(3-6) the casting procedure is quite complex, while for a more experienced mage,
(Level 7+) it is quite basic even though the casting procedures for both groups
are generally the same.
The first step in casting the spell is for the mage to select his target. For
all magic this can be done without creating a
physical circle around the area he wishes to target. After their target has been
selected, the mage must then create a miniature replica of his target on the
ground in front of him. The first variation in the procedure for new and
experienced magi occurs during this step and greatly affects to amount of time
it takes to cast the spell. This variation is how detailed the mage’s replica is
required to be. New magi find themselves unable to cast the spell unless they
have an almost exact replica of the targeted area. As the mage’s experience and
level rise, the replica is required to become less and exact and by the time the
caster reaches level 9, he can cast the spell without having to make any
alterations to the small circle he uses as a replica.
The Shift Earth spell is often employed by magi to help them create their
replicas. Then, the mage must create the spikes. This is done by reforming the
rock while it is still under the solid ground. The final step in the casting is
to raise the spike or spikes, and in the process, damage the targeted people.
This is accomplished by using the replica. Wherever the caster pinches the soil
on the replica, a spike appears on the targeted land. Each spike takes at least
a few blinks to raise,
preventing the mage from raising all the spikes in rapid succession.
Magical Formula.
Not yet defined.
Focus/Target. Unlike
many other attack spells, the target of this spell is not a person, but the
ground on which he stands. The size of the area affected depends upon the level
of the mage casting the spell.
|
Level |
Area Affected |
|
Level
3 |
2
peds |
|
Level 5 |
3
peds |
|
Level 7 |
4
peds |
|
|
|
Level |
Area Affected |
|
Level 9 |
5
peds |
|
Level
11 |
6
peds |
|
Level 12 |
7
peds and more
|
|
Reagents. This spell
requires two reagents, a crystal of
quartz and a small amount of
dirt to create the replica. At level 7, the mage no longer needs the crystal to
cast the spell. The amount of dirt needed varies based on the mage’s level. The
higher the level, the less dirt is required.
Spell Class.
Elemental Magic of Earth.
Range. The range of the
spell is dependent upon the mage’s level as their level affects the detail of
the replica. The lower the mage’s level, the closer he needs to be in order to
create a detailed replica. Though experienced magi can be farther away, they
must be able to see their target in order to aim.
Casting Time. As
the mage’s level increases, the amount of time it takes to cast the spell
decreases. Also the time it takes from the start of casting to raising the first
spike is significantly longer than the time it takes to raise all subsequent
spikes.
|
Level |
First Spike |
Next Spike |
|
Level
3 |
1 minute |
15 seconds |
|
Level 5 |
30 seconds |
some seconds |
|
Level 7 |
15 seconds |
a few
blinks |
|
|
|
Level |
First Spike |
Next Spike |
|
Level 9 |
10 seconds |
a few
blinks |
|
Level
11 |
a few
blinks |
a few
blinks |
|
Level 12 |
instantly |
instantly
|
|
Duration. After the
spikes have been raised they will remain in the same position for a short period
of time unless they are altered by another force. The spikes will dissipate
again once the bending effect wears off.
Counter Measures/Enhancing Measures.
The effects of this spell can be countered through both
magical and non-magical means. If the mage is
injured or killed during casting, the spell fizzles. Any targeted person with a
bow can shoot the mage and, because they
need to focus on casting, the mage will have no way to defend himself. Also a
very nimble person can dodge the spikes as they rise out of the ground,
preventing him from being hit. Finally, if the replica is somehow destroyed, the
mage must recreate it, making it extremely easy for him to be attacked.
Magic can be used to destroy the spikes or to injure
the mage while he is casting.
This spell can be enhanced by having multiple magi casting the spell over the
same target. This can be accomplished by having two or more magi using the same
replica or having multiple magi using replicas to depict the same area. The
first method is most effective with a smaller group of magi as larger groups
often tend to cause crowding, making it hard for the mage to concentrate on his
casting or leading to a mage accidentally destroying the replica. When used in
smaller groups, this method is more effective than the second as it increases
the rate of fire and prevents spikes
erected by multiple magi from colliding. The second method is most effective for
large groups of people. Each mage creates his own replica and each replica
targets the same area. This method can prove ineffective as magi cannot see
where their companions are casting and therefore spikes may collide, causing
them to shatter.
