Tap Numina
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(p 289-291 Mage: the Awakening for creative thaumaturgy rules)
Tap Numina
Spirit 3 (p 289-291 Mage: the Awakening for creative thaumaturgy rules)
This versatile Rote allows a mage access to the powers and abilities belonging to a captive spirit. Usually this spell is used on Soul Jars but can also be used on fetishes or by simply making physical contact with a spirit. This rote only works for NUMEN known by SPIRITS. That is, it does not tap a captive ghost's numen alone. Death 3 may grant such access however. This spell does NOT work on werewolf Gifts.
Practice: Weaving (p 131 Mage: the Awakening for a complete list of practices)
Action: Instant (p 126 Mage: the awakening for spell quick referance)
Duration: Transitory
Aspect: Covert (but is subject to the Vulgarity of the Numen)
Cost: Dictated by Essence cost of the Numen. Sub. Mana for Essence.
A mage holds contact with a spirit, fetish, or soul jar and channels the spirit's Numen as if it were his own. Each time the Numen is to be cast, this spell must be recast. This can be cancelled if the caster concentrates on particular spirit. The challenge with this method is that for as long as the mage focuses he abandons his own Rotes (unless he has the proper Mind magics). A free spirit may resist this power reflexively but those in soul jars and fetishes have no such defense. All rules for each numen apply to the mage's usage. including any bans attached to the power. The Numen Tapped must follow the spirit's Influences (and influence rank) as if the spirit itself had cast it.
Example: Kid wanted his halloween candy that his bully of a brother put too high for the young boy to reach. Kid pet his imaginary friend for a moment and put out a tiny, expectant hand. He tapped his friend's telekenesis numen and reach beyond his fingertips. it wasn't long before Kid happily sated his sweet tooth.
Silver Ladder Rote: Gifts from Allies and Captives.
Dice Pool: Wits + Empathy + Spirit (rotes are optional, however a dice pool implies a rote.)
It is a dangerous waste to slay or simply trap a spirit and hold it in a jar. Why not let it be useful while you hold it in your hand? The creator of the rote was actually a Ladder member who saw the effect used as an improvised spell by a noobie Arrow mage. After seeing how the previously assumed stunted magi rapidly increased his arsenal, the ladder went back to his order and promptly set out to make it a rote for himself. To say that the young Arrow was annoyed would be hideous understatement. The young Arrow has since developed his own variation (Wis + Occult + Spirit).
Roll Results Dramatic Failure: Instead of Gaining the spirit's numen, the character is considered possesed, placing the character under ST control. The spirit may use only it's Numen but may concentrate to keep this spell active up to the highest value between its power and finesse in turns. Most captive spirits dislike being tapped and may work to the misfortune of the mage. A truly clever spirit will attempt to hide this condition from the mage's allies and act as normal for a time to repel suspicion. The character suffers every ban of the spirit.
Failure: No numen are tapped. The spirit and mage are uneffected.
Success: The character may weild all numen available to the spirit as described above.
Exceptional success: as above, but the mage may use the numen for the scene without having to concentrate and has full access to his other spells.
Dice modifiers
+1 The spirit has been tapped before
+1 The soul jar was made by the caster
+2 the spirit is bound in caster's fetish tattoo
+2 the spirit is the caster's familiar
+3 The spirit willingly grants it's powers for the casting
-1 the spirit was placed in soul jar in the scene
-2 the spirit is or would be aggressive towards the character
-1 the spirit is not in a soul jar or fetish
-1 for every rank of the spirit above the character's Gnosis
-1 if the specific numen imitates a spell from a minor arcanum
-1 for every rank of the numen's arcana above the mage's own. (Kid suffered a -3 as he has no dots in the Forces arcanum)
