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Elven Soulsingers
A new magical ability for elven characters.
Elven Soulsingers
Throughout the ages, the Elves have been known for the beauty and refinement of their ancient civilization. The Elven arts subtly blend with nature itself, forming a synthesis of creativity and Creation that only the nigh immortal can achieve. Among the Elves this talent is also evident in their music. For thousands of years the Elves have given their emotions a voice through the melodious beauty of their haunting songs. Over time, specially gifted elves have learned that through training and discipline they could use their voices to subtly manipulate the world around them. They are known throughout the lands as Soulsingers. Through a combination of vocal talent and empathic connections with the world, Soulsingers weave vocal and magical threads into soulsongs that can influence Creation in small but useful ways.
Soulsinging utilizes a new Ability called Heart. Heart represents a character’s emotional and mystical connection to the world around them. Characters with a high Heart score are more empathic and in-tune with Creation than other creatures. It is recommended that only Elves have access to the Heart Ability. At the Director’s discretion, a starting Elf character can begin with one (1) point in the Heart Ability in lieu of the Totem Ability. Though it is possible for Elves to have both Heart and Totem abilities, it is very, very rare and subject to the Director’s approval.
Soulsongs are learned and acquired the same way that skills are. All soulsongs use Heart as the governing ability. To use a soulsong, the singer must make a skill test against the difficulty of the song. Success indicates the song’s effects are manifested. A failure on the skill test results in nothing happening. Any soulsong may be used untrained so long as the singer has at least one point in the Heart Ability, but a failure on its skill test is treated as a Calamity.
If a Calamity is rolled on any soulsong skill test, the character must immediately make a Reasoning Composure test with the same difficulty as the spell song that resulted in the Calamity. Failing this Composure test immediately causes one grade of Fatigue and renders the Soulsinger mute for one hour.
A soulsong stays in effect as long as the Soulsinger keeps singing it. However, Soulsinging is physically demanding and can tire the singer. After five minutes of continuous singing, and every five minutes thereafter, the Soulsinger sustains one grade of Fatigue.
Soulsongs affect all creatures who can hear them within a 30’ radius of the Soulsinger. If a Soulsinger sustains physical or mental damage while singing a soulsong, they must immediately make a Fitness or Reasoning Composure skill test at +1 Difficulty per grade of injury sustained. Failure causes the song to be interrupted, canceling its effects. Additional distractions may invoke a Composure test at the Director’s discretion.
Soulsinging is not subject to a multi-action penalty. For example, a Soulsinger may fight and sing at the same time and incur no penalty for the soulsong. It is not possible to sing two or more soulsongs at the same time.
If two or more Soulsingers wish to coordinate their efforts on a soulsong, treat this as a United Task. If the task is successful, increase the radius of the song’s effect by 10’ for each Soulsinger who contributed to the task. This bonus lasts as long as the Soulsingers remain within ten feet of the leader. If a Soulsinger moves away from the leader, the bonus is immediately canceled.
A Soulsinger may attempt to overpower another Soulsinger’s song if their areas of effect overlap. This is treated as a Contested Task, with the winner’s song affecting the overlapping area. A failure on this skill test cancels the song completely. In this case, it is possible for both Soulsingers to have their songs canceled.
Finally, note that soulsinging is magical in nature and soulsongs cannot serve as a substitute for the Performance skill. Many elven Soulsingers do have levels in the Performance skill, however, and this skill is especially important to those who practice the Soulsinger style (see below).
New Style: The Soulsinger
performance, legends, all soulsongs
Among the Elves, the tales and legends of mythic heroes lost to the memories of the younger races live on in the chants and songs of the revered Soulsingers. In times of peace these learned scholars of lore preserve and pass on these stories to new generations through ritual performances and songs. In dark times, the Soulsingers join their brethren in battle, using their gifts to inspire their kin and bring despair to their enemies.
Soulsongs
Belephron’s Union (Difficulty: 4)
Belephron was a great elven architect from the days before Man first appeared. In order to help speed up the construction of his massive fortresses and citadels, he enlisted the aid of Soulsingers whocrafted this song for him. Upon successfully completing a skill task, Belephron’s Union allows a group of three or more to complete a physical labor-based task in three-quarters the time it would normally take. If any overkill is achieved, the time is reduced further to one-half. Example tasks include making camp, building fortifications, digging tunnels, etc.
Celerity of the Stag (Difficulty: 3)
Through rhythmic chanting, the Soulsinger inspires his comrades to move faster than they thought possible. A successful skill test increases the movement speed of the Soulsinger’s allies by one yard (three feet) plus one yard per point of overkill.
Falath’s Cacophony (Difficulty: 5)
This powerful song’s maddening, insane melodies wreak havoc on a Soulsinger’s foes. Upon a successful skill test, any enemy within the song’s area of effect must make a Reasoning Composure test with a difficulty of three (3) plus one (1) per point of overkill. Failing this Composure test causes the affected creatures to attack their nearest ally for as long as the Soulsinger maintains the song. Once the song ends, the affected creatures return to their normal state of mind.
Fury of the Wolfpack (Difficulty: 4)
With an eerie, disquieting song reminiscent of howling wolves in the distance, the Soulsinger brings out the animal nature in his comrades during battle. A successful skill test whips the Soulsinger’s comrades into a furious rage targeted at their enemies. All affected characters receive a +1D to all Fitness-based combat tasks and inflict an additional +1inj while the song is in effect. While in this state of wild rage, affected characters are easier to hit by -1Diff. At the end of combat, affected characters suffer one grade of Fatigue that cannot be removed by any means except resting. i.e. Tranquil Gardens will have no effect.
Geleval’s Aegis (Difficulty: 3)
In his personal crusade against the Gray Witches of Corrland, the Soulsinger Geleval employed a song of his own creation to render their malevolent magics ineffective. Upon a successful skill test and as long as he maintains the song, the Spellslinger may resist or contest any Crafting-based magic being used within the radius of the song. This is similar to the Fabrica Sphaera effect Revocation, but substitute Geleval’s Aegis for the skill.
Hymn of the Damned (Difficulty: 4)
This dolorous lamentation has often proven itself to be a powerful demoralizer of enemy forces. A successful skill test causes affected enemies to make a Reasoning Composure test with a difficulty of two (2) plus one (1) per point of overkill. A failure on the Composure test causes the enemy to immediately flee for one turn plus one turn per point of overkill. Success means the enemy stands their ground and cannot be affected by subsequent uses of this song for twenty-four hours.
Inner Fire (Difficulty: 3)
This soulsong, full of varied melodies and chants, opens the pathways of the mind, allowing it to flex and stretch in new ways when tackling a problem. A successful skill test allows the Soulsinger to assist a comrade in a Reasoning or Creativity skill test. A successful Inner Fire skill check adds 1D to the affected character’s skill test. Each point of overkill adds 1D to the test, to a maximum of 3D. If the Inner Fire skill test fails it may not be used to assist the character in any skill test for at least one day.
Malduin’s Fervor (Difficulty: 3)
Recounting the tale of how the mythical Elven hero Malduin single-handedly held off a thousand orcs at the legendary Silver Citadel, the Soulsinger encourages his allies to fight on despite the odds. A successful skill cancels one grade of Injury penalties plus one extra grade for each level of overkill for the duration of the song. When the song ends, the injury penalties return. Note that this soulsong does not have an affect on the Soulsinger!
Tranquil Gardens (Difficulty: 2)
With soft, calm melodies, the Soulsinger wraps his comrades in a velvet blanket of peace and relaxation. After ten minutes of singing, one grade of Fatigue is immediately removed. The Soulsinger may continue to make a skill test every ten minutes thereafter to remove another grade of Fatigue. Note that this soulsong does not have an affect on the Soulsinger, but it also does not cause the Soulsinger to sustain any Fatigue damage from singing this song.
Whispers on the Wind (Difficulty: 3)
In order to facilitate communication between elven scouts separated from their citadels by the vast expanses of their woodland homes, Soulsingers devised this ingenious song. Singing at no more than a whisper, the Soulsinger weaves a short message of no more than three or four short sentences into a verse of his song. The message may be intended for one person or many at the Soulsinger’s discretion. On a successful skill test, the song and message take to the air and waft their way to the message’s intended recipients. The range of the message is one mile plus one mile per point of overkill and takes one minute per mile to reach its destination. If the intended recipient is out of range of the message or unable to hear it, the song dissipates and the message is lost. Note that this song may not be sustained. Once the skill task is successful, the song ends.
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