While these Songs were first discovered by Jean, he is
generally not credited with the accomplishment - at
his own emphatic request. Raphael was barely more
tolerant. However, there were enough Orphans of
Wisdom that knew these Songs to prevent them from
being lost. Blandine finds them very useful tools for
the ethereal plane: needless to say, so do Beleth and
Nybbas.
Even they, however, blanch at using them anywhere
else...
Note that the effective CD for all three Songs may
never be higher than the higher of (the performers
Ethereal Forces) or (his or her Knowledge (Literature)
skill).
Corporeal
The performer may knock people unconscious with a
blizzard of words. This isn't metaphorical, by the
way: a large stream of visible words actually comes
out of the performer's mouth and covers the target,
who must make a Strength roll at -3 every turn or be
knocked out for CD hours. Note that this does not
actually do any kind of damage: knocking someone out
this way on the ethereal plane will not result in
Discord.
The performer may also choose to create a sentence and
use it in hand to hand combat: this does do Body Hits
(Power equal to Essence spent, Accuracy equal to the
CD).
Ethereal
The performer creates a ball of text, which is thrown
at the target. Once it 'impacts', it explodes,
causing (CD x Essence) Mind Hits. This, like any form
of ethereal damage, can cause Discord. Alternatively,
the performer may choose to wrap the text around
himself, giving a Protection to ethereal attacks equal
to the CD + Essence spent. Every four points of
damage that are stopped by this textual armor will
reduce the Protection by 1.
Celestial
This is the nasty one: it temporarily makes the target
into an appropriate Word-bound (GM call for the actual
Word). A successful roll will give the target a Word
equal to the CD. However, the target will also have
his or her regular Forces reduced by the same amount,
for the duration of the Song. This will effect
everything, including total hits and all skill or
characteristic rolls. The target may resist this with
a Will Roll at -2: success means that the target is
immune to this Song for the next 5 minutes. Only
celestials may be affected by this Song, and only by
one Celestial Song of Words at a time. If the
celestial does not have sufficient Forces to make the
shift, it will take CD x 3 Soul Hits instead.
Available: Everybody, but don't get caught using them
on the corporeal plane...
Bonus: Destiny, Fate, Wisdom (assuming that you have
any around), Archives, the Media
Range: 10 yards
Duration: one minute per each 2 Essence spent (minimum
2). May be maintained, except for the explosive
Ethereal Song.
Essence Requirement: 2 to 6. Cost to maintain: same.
Maintenance may not be boosted/or reduced from initial
Essence expenditure.
Degree of Disturbance: none extra. However, use of
any of these Songs on the Corporeal plane will cause 8
Disturbance.
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