Reference: Soultwister Magic

[Vutall]

Enemies of the Empire
SOULTWISTER MAGIC
Soultwisters do not cast spells in the Rokugani sense. Instead, they use the powers of the spirit realms to twist their enemies’ and allies’ souls to match those of the Spirit Realms they have visited. Mechanically, however, this functions in the same manner as casting Rokugani spells. Each Spirit Realm is associated with a Ring, and a Soultwister who is casting a spell rolls School Rank/Ring just like a Rokugani shugenja, at a TN of 5 + 5 times the spell’s Mastery Level. A Soultwister has spell slots just like a shugenja and conforms to the same rules regarding casting time, Raises, and so forth. For purposes of Tsuno spell casting, the Rings which are associated with the various Spirit Realms are as follows:
c Air – Yomi and Chikushudo.
c Earth – Gaki-do and Meido.
c Fire – Sakkaku and Tengoku.
c Water - Yume-do and Toshigoku
There are no known Tsuno spells related to Ningen-do. The rules which follow present only three Mastery Levels of Soultwister spells. This is typically more than suffi cient, since Soultwister magic is both powerful and deadly. However, creative GMs should feel free to create higher Mastery spells for their Soultwister villains.

MASTERY LEVEL 1
BENEVOLENCE OF TENGOKU
c Realm/Ring: Tengoku/Fire
c Range: 50’
c Area of Effect: One target
c Duration: School Rank x 5 Rounds.
The Soultwister imbues the target’s soul with a sense of wellbeing and assurance, granting the confi dence to do anything. A creature affected by this spell receives a bonus of +1k0 on all Skill rolls and does not suffer any penalties for rolling unskilled.

BLOODLUST OF TOSHIGOKU
c Realm/Ring: Toshigoku/Water
c Range: 50’
c Area of Effect: One ally or enemy
c Duration: School Rank x 2 Rounds
c Raises: Special (2 raises to increase the TN of the Willpower roll by 5)
The target of this spell is afflicted with the bloodlust of Toshigoku, attacking friend and foe alike with mindless determination. Soultwisters will often use this spell to remove the effectiveness of foes who do not generally attack in melee like bowmen or shugenja. They will also sometimes use it on a Tsuno Ravager and set him loose among the enemy. A creature under the Bloodlust of Toshigoku immediately changes to the Full Attack posture (if not already in Full Attack) and must adopt the Full Attack Posture every Turn for the duration of the spell. During his Turn he must attack the creature nearest to him, whether it is friend or foe. He must attack with a melee weapon or, if there are none in reach, with unarmed attacks.

The mindless rage grants him a +1k0 bonus on attack rolls. If the target of this spell wishes to resist the bloodlust, he must roll Willpower at a TN equal to the Soultwister’s School Rank x 5. The TN is reduced by 10 if the closest target is a friend or close ally. If the roll is successful, the target does not act that Round (he is putting all his effort into resisting the spell’s compulsion).

DREAM MESSAGES OF YUME-DO
c Realm/Ring: Yume-do/Water
c Range: School Rank x 100 miles
c Area of Effect: One sleeping target
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank in minutes
The Soultwister uses the spirits of the dream realm to send messages to others in their sleep. The Soultwister appears within the target’s dreams and imparts a message using images and sounds (including speech if the Tsuno shares the target’s language). This is a one-way communication and the Soultwister cannot see how the target reacts to the message he has delivered. When the target wakes he remembers the message clearly, although it is up to him whether to believe the message or not.

GAKI-DO’S GRASPING HUNGER
c Realm/Ring: Gaki-do/Earth
c Range: Touch
c Area of Effect: One Target
c Duration: School Rank x 2 Rounds
The Soultwister imbues the target with a portion of the hunger felt by the spirits of Gaki-do. This all-consuming hunger forces the target to consume the energy of others… or his own. Any successful melee attack made by the target of this spell gain a bonus to the total of the damage roll equal to 2
plus the School Rank of the Soultwister. During any Round in which the target does not hit an enemy; however, he suffers damage equal to 2 plus the School Rank of the Soultwister, as the hunger consumes a portion of his own essence.

MEIDO’S LETHARGIC INTROSPECTION
c Realm/Ring: Meido/Earth
c Range: 20’
c Area of Effect: Self or one target creature
c Duration: School Rank x 2 Rounds
c Raises: Special (2 Raises to increase the Initiative penalty by 5, 2 Raises to increase the bonus to Knowledge Skills by +1k0)
The Realm of Meido is a realm of waiting, but it is also a realm of introspection where souls review the events of their own lives so they may better present their case to EmmaO. The Soultwister calls on the powers of Meido to slow the actions of the target while enhancing his memory of past events. A creature affl icted by this spell feels extremely lethargic, wanting nothing more than to stand around and wait for judgment. If he is in a skirmish, or enters one while under the effects of this spell, his Initiative score is immediately reduced by an amount equal to 5 times the Soultwister’s School Rank. However, while the target’s body feels sluggish, his mind functions with a supernatural clarity. The target gains a +Xk0 bonus (where X is the Soultwister’s School Rank) to all Lore Skills and to all rolls involving memory.

PRIMAL SENSES OF CHIKUSHUDO
c Realm/Ring: Chikushudo/Air
c Range: Touch
c Area of Effect: Self or one target
c Duration: School Rank x 2 hours
The Soultwister draws on the enhanced senses of the animal spirits of Chikushudo, granting an enhanced sense of smell, sight, and hearing. The senses of the spell’s target are enhanced to supernatural levels. He gains two Free Raises on all rolls involving Perception. He also gains 1 Rank of the Hunting skill and the Tracking Emphasis if he does not already have it. However, while the animal spirits of Chikushudo are canny trackers, they are still animals. The target of this spell also gains a fascination with shiny and/or fast-moving objects. He must roll Willpower at TN 15 once per Round as a Free Action any time he is confronted with a distraction of this nature – otherwise he will chase the distraction.

SAKKAKU’S VANDALISM
c Realm/Ring: Sakkaku/Fire
c Range: 60’
c Area of Effect: One object
c Duration: Permanent
The spirits of Sakkaku are mischievous and the Soultwister has learned to turn that supernatural mischief to his own ends, mystically causing a single object to break. This spell targets a single non-magical item, which will break the next time it is used. Soultwisters often use this power to make an opponent’s weapon snap or to destroy an enemy’s armor, though there are other more creative uses for it as well. If the item targeted by this spell gains magical properties while affected by this power (for example, if a sword targeted by Sakkaku’s Vandalism is later targeted by the spell Biting Steel), Sakkaku’s Vandalism is negated.

YOMI’S ANCESTRAL SEPARATION
c Realm/Ring: Yomi/Air
c Range: 30’
c Area of Effect: One target
c Duration: School Rank x 2 Rounds
c Raises: Special (2 raises to increase the TN penalty by 5)
The Soultwister’s knowledge of the spirits of Yomi allows him to lessen the connection between the target and his ancestors. The target of this spell suffers a diminishment of his connection to his ancestors, and while this will not actually negate an Ancestor’s guidance, the feeling of loss distracts the target from everything he is doing. All Skill and Trait rolls have their TN increased by 5 for the duration of the spell.

MASTERY LEVEL 2
AGONY OF TOSHIGOKU
c Realm/Ring: Toshigoku/Water
c Range: 30’
c Area of Effect: One target
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank in Rounds
c Raises: Special (3 Raises to increase the TN of the Willpower roll by 5, 3 Raises to increase the damage of the spell by +1k1)
The Soultwister has discovered the spirits of Toshigoku are in constant spiritual pain. Their frenzy for slaughter masks this pain, but it exists. The Soultwister channels this spiritual pain into another, causing indescribable agony. Creatures affected by this spell are wracked with terrible (albeit non-physical) pain; at the start of each Turn while they are under the effects of the spell, they must make a Willpower Roll (TN 25) or be unable to act during that Round. Further, if they fail the Willpower Roll the spiritual pain damages their body as well, causing 2k2 Wounds. Creatures native to Toshigoku and those without souls (such as undead) are immune to this power.

BESTIAL NATURE OF CHIKUSHUDO
c Realm/Ring: Chikushudo/Air
c Range: Touch
c Area of Effect: Self or one target creature
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank x 3 in Rounds
c Raises: Special (5 Raises to affect a second set of Traits)
The Soultwister has learned to enhance his and others’ physical abilities with the strength and power of the animal spirits of Chikushudo. The target of this spell increases the Rank of one of its physical Traits (Agility, Refl exes, Stamina, or Strength, chosen by the caster) by an amount equal to the Soultwister’s School Rank. The mental Trait corresponding to that physical Trait is decreased by an equal amount, but only to a minimum of 1. The target always receives the full increase to the physical Trait even if the mental Trait is unable to drop by the same amount. This spell does change the target’s Ring Rank but not the target’s Wounds.

GAKI-DO’S CONSUMING HUNGER
c Realm/Ring: Gaki-do/Earth
c Range: Touch
c Area of Effect: One target creature
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank x 2 in Rounds
The Soultwister has learned to channel some of the hunger of the spirits who dwell in Gaki-do into others, allowing them to feast on the essence of their enemies. The target of this spell adds +2k2 to his damage rolls for any melee attack he makes. Moreover, a person wounded in this way must make a Willpower Roll at TN 30) or be Dazed by the feelings of hunger and pain that pass through them.

KNOWLEDGE OF YOMI
c Realm/Ring: Yomi/Air
c Range: Touch
c Area of Effect: Self
c Duration: Concentration
c Raises: Special (3 raises per extra question)
The Soultwister calls on his connection to the spirits of Yomi to discover information about a single human mortal, tricking the ancestors into spilling their secrets. The caster may ask those ancestors two questions about that human (he must know the mortal’s name); the spirits will answer him truthfully. The human’s ancestors have complete knowledge of his capabilities and statistics, including his Traits, Skills, Glory, Honor, School Techniques, Advantages, Disadvantages, etc.If the Soultwister is asking about a human who has the guidance of an Ancestor in the Book of Water, the Spell Casting TN for this spell is increased by the Experience Point cost of that Ancestor.

MALICIOUS PRANKS OF SAKKAKU
c Realm/Ring: Sakkaku/Fire
c Range: 50’
c Area of Effect: One target creature
c Duration: Instantaneous
Most of the mischief performed by the spirits of Sakkaku is ultimately harmless, but to the truly malicious among them the pain of others is highly entertaining. A creature targeted by this spell becomes the butt of one of these malicious spirit’s favorite pranks: phantom pain. The creature suddenly feels wracking pain coursing through its body. The form the pain takes is never the same, so one target might feel like a thousand bees are stinging it while another might feel like its entire body was suddenly set on fi re. The target of this power must make a Stamina Roll at a TN of 10x the Soultwister’s School Rank; if the roll succeeds the pain does not overwhelm the target, but if the roll fails, the target suffers 3k3 Wounds and falls Prone.

MEIDO’S CALL
c Realm/Ring: Meido/Earth
c Range: 25’
c Area of Effect: One target creature
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank x 2 in Rounds
A Soultwister can force the target of this spell closer to death. A creature targeted by this spell feels the forces of Meido pulling upon its soul, and for the duration of the spell the creature functions as if it is one Wound Rank lower than it truly is. For example, a samurai in the +5 Wound Rank would function as though he was in the +10 Wound Rank instead. This spell will cause death if the target is at the Out Wound Rank.

SHIELD OF TENGOKU
c Realm/Ring: Tengoku/Fire
c Range: 100’
c Area of Effect: Self or one target creature
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank in Rounds
The Soultwister calls on the power of the spirits of the Celestial Heavens to protect the spell’s target. For the duration of this spell, the target gains Reduction equal to the Soultwister’s School Rank x2.

YUME-DO’S HORRIFIC NIGHTMARES
c Realm/Ring: Yume-do/Water
c Range: 1 mile
c Area of Effect: One target creature
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank in days
c Raises: Duration (+1 day per 2 Raises) T
he Soultwister has learned how to utilize the darker side of the Realm of Dreams to inflict terrible nightmare. The target of this spell suffers severe nightmares every time he sleeps, and cannot rest peacefully. For the duration of this spell the target cannot recover Void Points, Wounds, or Spell Slots by resting. Each morning the target must make a Meditation/ Stamina Roll (TN 15 + 5 per day affected) to avoid becoming Fatigued. If the creature affected by this spell has the Phobia Disadvantage, its phobia is extremely prominent during these nightmares and it will begin to see signs of it in the waking world. While the spell lasts, any time the creature is in a stressful situation he will hallucinate something related to his Phobia, activating the effects of his Disadvantage for the remainder of the encounter.

MASTERY LEVEL 3
BANISHED FROM YOMI
c Realm/Ring: Yomi/Air
c Range: 100’
c Area of Effect: One target human
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank in days
The Soultwister has learned all he can about the way the spirits of Yomi interact with their descendants, and can now sever that connection for a limited time. The target of this spell loses any connection he has to his ancestors. He loses any abilities granted to him by an Ancestor (as detailed in the Book of Water) and also loses the Haunted Disadvantage and the Touch of the Spirit Realms (Yomi) Advantage for the duration of this spell. Also, a person affected by this spell is so distracted by his loss of connection to his ancestors that he suffers a +5 TN penalty on all Actions.

CONSUMED BY GAKI-DO
c Realm/Ring: Gaki-do/Earth
c Range: 30’
c Area of Effect: One target creature
c Duration: 1 Round
c Raises: Duration (+1 Round per 3 Raises)
Soultwisters who are truly familiar with the spirits in Gaki-do have learned how to force the all-consuming hunger those spirits feel upon others. The target of this spell feels an insatiable and monstrous hunger, and for the duration of the spell suffers a TN penalty to all Actions equal to 5x the Soultwister’s School Rank.

ONE WITH CHIKUSHUDO
c Realm/Ring: Chikushudo/Air
c Range: 20’
c Area of Effect: Self or one target creature
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank in Rounds
c Raises: Duration (+2 Rounds per Raise)
The Soultwister has learned so much from the animal spirits of Chikushudo that he can imbue himself or another with the greatest strengths of the savage animal spirits in Chikushudo. The target sprouts claws, granting a +3k2 bonus to unarmed damage rolls, and thick fur granting +3 Reduction. The target functions as if he had the creature ability of Swift 3 – if he already has Swift, he gains a +1 bonus to it. Finally, the target may make one unarmed attack per Round as a Free Action, but he cannot take any Raises on that attack.These advantages do not come without a cost, however. If the Intelligence Trait of the target is higher than 2, it drops to 2 for the duration of the spell. He also has difficulty differentiating friend from foe, and when encountering someone for the fi rst time must make an Investigation/Intelligence Roll at TN 20 (using his lower Intelligence Trait) or assume they are an enemy regardless of the truth.

QUESTIONED BY MEIDO
c Realm/Ring: Meido/Earth
c Range: 40’
c Area of Effect: One target human
c Duration: 3 Rounds
c Raises: Targets (+1 target per 2 Raises)
A Soultwister who has truly learned the ways of the spirits of Meido is a frightening creature indeed, able to cause even the greatest of samurai to question their own actions and abilities. A person affl icted by this spell begins to suffer from a great sense of self-doubt, as if all the spirits of Meido are questioning his actions and his worth. Before taking any Action during a Round, a person affected by this spell must roll Honor at a TN of 10x the Soultwister’s School Rank. If the roll is failed, he stands dithering, unable to act (although he is still considered to have taken an Action of the appropriate type for the purposes of what he can do in a Round). If the target succeeds in the roll he may take the action normally, but must continue to roll each time he wishes to do something.

SPURNED BY SAKKAKU
c Realm/Ring: Sakkaku/Fire
c Range: 100’
c Area of Effect: One target creature
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank in weeks
c Raises: Special (4 Raises for an additional Rank of Unlucky)
The spirits of Sakkaku delight in mischief, and a Soultwister who has mastered their powers can cause them to plague enemies for extended periods of time. Any creature affected by this spell gains a number of Ranks of the Unlucky Disadvantage equal to the Soultwister’s School Rank. He also loses an equal number of Ranks in the Luck Advantage (if he has any).

TENGOKU’S GRACE
c Realm/Ring: Tengoku/Fire
c Range: Touch
c Area of Effect: Self or one target creature
c Duration: 3 Rounds
A Soultwister who is truly familiar with the power of the spirits of Tengoku can call on the power of the Celestial Heavens for protection. For the duration of this spell the target does not suffer from Wound Penalties, include those from being Down or Out, and gains the effects of the Great Destiny Advantage. The target also feels great confi dence in his own abilities, gaining a bonus of +1k1 to all Skill Rolls. Finally, the target cannot gain the Shadowlands Taint, willingly or otherwise, and cannot cast Maho for the duration of the spell.

TRAPPED IN YUME-DO
c Realm/Ring: Yume-do/Water
c Range: 30’
c Area of Effect: One target creature
c Duration: Caster’s School Rank x 5 in Rounds
The dream realm of Yume-do can exert an insidious hold over dreamers. A Soultwister who masters the power of the spirits of dream can trap people within their own dreams. When a Soultwister casts this spell on a creature, the creature immediately begins to live out a dream within its mind. The target of the spell believes what he is seeing is real, and will interact with it while ignoring the reality around him – even if he suffers Wounds or other unpleasant effects in the real world. During the Reactions Stage of any Round in which he takes damage, however, the target may make an Awareness Roll at TN 30 to realize something is wrong and awaken from the dream. If the target succeeds in awakening from the dream, he is still distracted by the dream’s visions for the duration of the spell, suffering a –3k0 penalty on all actions.