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Sample Sortiligist:
Thrymri (Spontaneous MP Model)
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VARIANT: Vancian Magic System
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The style of Magic described in this document is not a complete Magic System with
it's own mechanics; instead it is intended to extend, override, and/or change the
look and feel of a more fully described Magic System, which is referred to as a
"base Magic System".
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This document will reference one or more fully described Magic Systems below.
To use this variant with one of those Magic Systems, simply use the reference document
in its entirety with the exception of sections that have been "overridden"
by this document, as indicated in the section headers below.
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EXPOSITION: by Killer Shrike
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Many societies have given rise to the existence of masters of music and lore, entertainment
and edification, poetry and scorn. History and mythology gives us Skalds, Bards,
Ollams, Scops, Rhapsodes, Udgatr, Minstrels, Troubadours & Trobairitz, Trouveur,
Minnesänger, and Griot as examples, which in turn inspired the D&D Bard and
similar riffs in some other fantasy RPG's.
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However, the D&D approach gives us nothing more than a watered down wizard /
rogue hybrid with little in the way of distinctivness, and while I liked the class
for roleplaying reasons when I played D&D (my first AD&D 1e character was
a Bard in fact) I always felt like it could be done better, that the archetype deserved
a truly unique approach to magic that was subtle and very tied into social interaction.
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Back in 2002 I sat down to do just that, in the HERO System. Using the underlying
Vancian Magic System I had already designed to handle D&D style volume and level
/ fire and forget oriented magic as a base framework, I conceptualized a Magic System
that used Interaction skills as a grouping / themeing mechanism instead of the D&D
tropes of "schools" like "Necromancy" and "Abjuration". The Interaction skills are
quite useful in their own regard even without tying "schools" of spells to them,
and it made for some powerful synergies for a practitioner of this sort of magic;
to be good at casting spells based on say Persuasion, a practitioner would also
organically end up with a pretty high Persuasion skill roll for instance.
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After some discovery and thought I settled on a model of 8 Interaction Skills with
15 spells each and a core "Performance" based skill that represented the practitioner's
ability to entertain / perform normally, and settled on 60 spells for this core
skill (it was originally 45, but I bumped it up to thicken up the middle spell levels
with additional options). After settling on the core mechanical design, I imagined
the idea of the Star of Interaction (detailed below) and the pursuit of the 8 Interaction
skill branches as a kind of advanced study and in-play goals / acheivement path.
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A few details here and there, and I had a good end result that I think is very serviceable
as a distinct, competitive alternate style of magic for "bard" type characters to
pursue. Not as overtly damaging, flashy, or flexible as say a Wizard, practitioners
of this style of magic excel in other directions such as subtlety and manipulating
the hearts and minds of people. In terms of social power, they have a far more nuanced
and deep repetoire and are quite frightening in their own understated way. I've
said it a few times but it can't be overstated, this magic system is insidiously
subtle; many of its effects aren't even detectible at all.
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I personally put the Magic System to good use as the system of the Machtig Skalds in my
World of San'Dora setting. The sample character provided is a PC from
that campaign. The Skalds are an important but enigmatic caste of Machtig society,
and their quirky magic heightens their aura of mystery and repute. The concept and
approach proved to be a big success with the players, and enriched the campaign
greatly. Perhaps it can do the same for your campaign...
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Also, note that while the system is primarily intended for "high" fantasy due to
its overall low-key nature it can be adapted for lower fantasy; some of the more
overt Performance based spells can be removed or watered down and the rest of the
spells provided should be sufficiently muted to scale down without alteration. I
also later did another pass on a more purely music oriented magic system in the
form of
Troubadourus, which is more "low" in its normal state and might serve in
this regard as well.
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SORTILEGE
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Sortilege is a subtle Magic System hinged around the performance of music, poetry,
tales, and yarns, satire and praise givings, and the subtle forces of social and
personal interactions. It offers an exciting opportunity to portray a very roleplaying
oriented archetype that is adept at latching on to the details of a setting and
squeezing it for every drop of flavor and versimilitude it is worth.
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SORTILIGISTS
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NOTE: Practitioners of Sortilege (SORE-ta-LIJE) are collectively called
Sortiligists (SORE-ta-LIJE-ists).
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Practitioners of Sortilege, Sortiligists tend to be cozeners, tricksters, entertainers,
and egotists. Their brand of magic lends itself towards arts that manipulate the
mind and senses, or are based on sound.
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The basic concept of Sortilege may be implemented with each of several base Magic
Systems as described below.
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SPONTANEOUS CASTING
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To implement Sortilege with Spontaneous
Casting use the rules set forth in the Sorcery
document, except where overridden below. Thus, the Sortilege School Skills given
below replace the Sorcery School Skills, the guidelines given for creating Magic
Items replace the guidelines for doing so in the Sorcery document, and the Packages
provided replace those provided for Sorcery.
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PREPARED CASTING
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To implement Sortilege with Prepared
Casting simply use the rules set forth in the
Wizardry document, except where overridden below. Thus, the Sortilege
School Skills given below replace the Wizardry School Skills, the guidelines given
for creating Magic Items replace the guidelines for doing so in the Wizardry document,
and the Packages provided replace those provided for Wizardry.
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GESTALT CASTING
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To implement Sortilege with Gestalt
Casting use the rules set forth in the
Arcanis Magnicus document, except where overridden below. Thus, the
Sortilege School Skills given below replace the Arcanis Magnicus School Skills,
the guidelines given for creating Magic Items replace the guidelines for doing so
in the Arcanis Magnicus document, and the Packages provided replace those provided
for Arcanis Magnicus.
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OPTIONS
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Some settings could support Sortiligists built on all three of the base Magic Systems
described above concurrently without any ill effect. This might be used to represent
several rival traditions of Sortiligists magic, or some other similar situation.
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OVERRIDE: Means to Power
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Sortilege effects due not escalate into the massive power levels of some other forms
of Vancian Magic, as indicated below.
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SPELL LEVEL TO ACTIVE POINTS
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Sortilege Spells are ranked by Spell Level; some GMs may prefer to refer
to this concept in variant ways, such as Spell Circles, Spell Houses, or Spell Ranks
to avoid confusion stemming from the overloaded use of the word "Level",
or simply to add more flavor. Each Spell Level starting at Spell Level 0 has 15
Active Points more than the Spell Level before it.
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0
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1-15
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1
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16-30
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2
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31-45
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3
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46-60
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4
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61-75
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5
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76-90
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6
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91-105
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Sortilege Spells only go up to 105 Active Points by default, but individual GM's
might waive this restriction in their own campaign.
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OVERRIDE: Restrictions
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There are a number of restrictions which apply to this type of Magic Use, as follows.
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REQUIRES A SKILL ROLL
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Vancian Systems can not require Skill Rolls to be cast, but they can require Skill
Rolls to take effect. This is a subtle distinction, but essentially it means that
a Spell is always successfully cast, is detectible unless it is otherwise undetectable,
and a Charge is expended by it's casting. However once cast Spells might not be
able to affect their target unless a Skill Roll is made.
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As an additional limitation, all Sortilege Spells require an appropriate Sortilege
Skill Roll to take effect.
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MODIFYING BASE MAGIC SYSTEM
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Make the following modifications to keep the listed costs given in each of the base
Magic Systems consistent.
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WIZARDRY
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Modify the VPP Control cost as follows:
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- Add RSR: Magic Skill Roll to the VPP Control Cost at the -1/4 Level
- Reduce the Variable Limitation to "Must have -1/2 in Limitations from (Extra
Time, Concentration, Incantations, Gestures); -1/4".
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ARCANIS MAGNICUS
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Modify the VPP Control cost as follows:
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- Add RSR: Magic Skill Roll to the VPP Control Cost at the -1/4 Level
- Remove the Variable Limitation
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SORCERY
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Modify each MP Reserve as follows:
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- Add RSR: Magic Skill Roll to each MP Reserve at the -1/4 Level
- Reduce the Variable Limitation to "Must have -1/2 in Limitations from {list};
-1/4".
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GESTURES
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Sortiligists don't go in for mystical passes and obvious arcane motions, but many
Sortilege Spells require subtle body language, dramatic posturing, or dance as part
of their casting.
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COMPLEX
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Sortilege Spells may (but do not have to) use the "Complex" option for
Gestures described in Fantasy HERO on some of their Spells which require complex
dances, playing an instrument, or using subtle body language.
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Complex Gestures: Described on page 254 of Fantasy HERO for Hero System 5th
Edition; Complex Gestures impose an additional -3 penalty to any Required Skill
Roll.
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INCANTATIONS
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The most common trait of Sortilege is subtlety. Most Sortilege Spells are interwoven
with conversation, speaking, singing, humming, or some other form of seemingly innocuous
vocalizing without the need for obvious magical intonations and suchlike.
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Almost all Sortilege involves conversing with a target, telling a rhyme or a riddle,
singing a tune or intoning a flowery verse. Many Spells are hidden or interwoven
into any random tale or song. Further, most Sortilege Spells are unobtrusive and
difficult to detect.
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VOICE RANGE
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Thus, Sortilege Spells use the Voice Range option for Incantations described in
Fantasy HERO.
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Voice Range: Described on page 133 of Fantasy HERO for Hero System 5th Edition;
unlike normal Incantations which must be obvious "words of power", this
form of Incantations can be disguised as normal conversation, singing, or other
vocalizing but the targets of the Spell must be able to hear the Incantations clearly.
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COMPLEX
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Sortilege Spells may (but do not have to) use the "Complex" option for
Incantations.
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Complex Incantations: Described on page 255 of Fantasy HERO for Hero System
5th Edition; a Complex Incantation imposes an additional -3 penalty to any Required
Skill Roll.
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OVERRIDE: Magic School Skills
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Sortilege is conceptually arranged around an idea Sortiligists call the Star
of Interaction. At the center is the Nexus, and Eight Pinnacles
radiate outward from it like rays from a star, never touching but sharing a common
source.
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The center of Sortilege is the Nexus of the Pinnacles and its heart is called Ylo
(EE-low). Ylo is the source of Sortilege's power, and it's pulse ripples outwards
into the Pinnacles. Ylo is represented by a Power Skill called Performance; this
is the foundation of the Magic System and is always the first Sortilege School Skill
learned by a practitioner.
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Radiating outward from Ylo are the Eight Pinnacles, which are advanced, specialized
knowledge in specific uses of Sortilege. A student must often perform some service
to be inaugurated into knowledge of a particular Pinnacle by other Sortiligists.
Very few Sortiligists know Spells of all Eight Pinnacles; those who can claim such
a distinction are known as Sortispexus and are often sought after as instructors
by less learned Sortiligists.
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The Eight Pinnacles are Alo (A-low), Dib (DEEB), Fas (FAHS), Ulb (OOLB), Nar (NAHR),
Wos (WOSE), Vex (VEX), and Ina (EE-nah). Their use is described in the Spell School
Skills section below.
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The Nexus
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Ylo
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Performance
(Power Skill; PRE)
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General purpose Sortilege Spells. Can also be used as a proxy for playing Musical
Instruments, Singing, Acting, PS: Musician, and PS: Dancing by a Sortiligist.
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A utilitarian collection of Spells allowing a Sortiligist a broad range of capabilities.
The primary Skill in Sortilege
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The Eight Pinnacles
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Ina
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Animal Handling
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Spells that deal with affecting Animals.
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A specialist subset of Spells which primarily influence and/or compel loyalty from
Animals.
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Vex
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Conversation
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Spells which subtly manipulate others via engaging them in seemingly innocuous conversation.
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Subtle specialty spells that can have powerful effects on the minds of others.
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Wos
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High Society
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Spells which deal with blending in and dealing with personalities.
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This branch of Sortilege deals with mingling, mixing it up in social situations,
and looking good for the masses.
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Dib
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Interrogation
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Spells which compel and extract information.
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This branch of Sortilege is the "hardest" subset of the generally subtle
art. Little can stand between a Sortiligist that has mastered Dib and information
they wish to gain
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Alo
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Oratory
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Spells which inspire, educate, effect, and entertain the masses.
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One of the more generally benign outlets of Sortilege, these Spells involve sharing
knowledge, entertaining, and rallying people around the Sortiligist, though it does
have some aggressive Spells as well.
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Fas
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Persuasion
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Spells which sway and finagle, convince and confuse other people.
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One of the more useful specialties of Sortilege, these Spells are all about bluffing,
fooling, and convincing others to see things the Sortiligists's way.
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Nar
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Seduction
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Spells which revolve around manipulating people via their libido.
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One of the more obscure branches of Sortilege, and also the one which is most reviled
by those who are not fond of the art; these Spells focus on sexuality, appearances,
and clouding minds.
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Ulb
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Trading
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Spells which deal with mercantilism and bargaining.
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This functional specialty of Sortilege enables a Sortiligist to dominate any trade
negotiation or bartering session, get the best possible deal at all times, and seal
deals with a magical geas.
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SPELLCRAFT
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Sortilege does not interact with
Spellcraft; Sortiligists may not use Spellcraft, and other Magic Users may
not use Spellcraft to learn Sortilege Spells.
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Spell List
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A complete Spell List is provided for Sortilege, as are prefab (hdp) files for HERO Designer.
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Creating New Spells
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Sortilege is intended to be a "closed" Magic System; the 180 Spells provided are
the sum total of the Spells available. However, individual GM's are free to allow
new Spells to be added if they see fit.
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Creating New Magic Items
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Sortilege is primarily an oral form of Magic and not easily encapsulated into an
inanimate object. Thus Sortiligists do not create Magic Items by default, though
a GM could override this if they wished.
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OVERRIDE: Package Deals
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A number of Package Deals for Sortiligists are provided
here.
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