Sometimes the stakes climb higher than the caster’s remaining magical strength. When the village wall buckles under assault, a friend’s heart stutters, or a ritual must be completed at any cost, a spell‑worker may choose to fuel their magic by bleeding life force straight into the weave. This is Heroic Casting – a desperate gamble with significant consequences.
The Mechanics of Heroic Casting
- Life for Power: You may choose to pay any part—or all—of an Effect’s Mana Point (MP) cost using your Hit Points (HP) instead, on a one‑for‑one basis (1 HP pays for 1 MP). You must declare this exchange before you make your Magic skill roll for the Effect.
- Scars That Linger: This is not a sustainable source of power. Hit Points lost through Heroic Casting represent a true drain on your life force and cannot be restored by any magical Effect, potion, or relic. They return only through natural healing over time (bed rest, etc.) and potentially the assistance of the non-magical Medicine skill.
- The Price of Negative Mana: If you are already at 0 MP and choose to use Heroic Casting (spending HP instead of MP), you begin to operate on raw life force. For each HP spent that takes your effective mana total further below zero (down to a maximum negative equal to your Mind score), you suffer a cumulative -10% penalty on all rolls (skill checks, attacks, etc.) until you have fully rested (6+ hours) and recovered your MP pool. This represents the severe strain of pushing magic beyond your limits.
- Walking the Edge: If the Hit Point cost of Heroic Casting drops you to or below your incapacitation threshold (typically 10% of maximum HP), the Effect still manifests first. Only after the magic takes effect do you suffer the normal consequences of your condition (falling unconscious, potentially dying). Push too far, and the spell may well outlive its caster.
The Narrative Cost
Heroic Casting is more than just a mechanic; it’s a vow written in blood – a final, desperate gamble when duty, loyalty, or necessity outweighs survival. Use it sparingly, remember the permanent nature of the scars it leaves, and let the story honour the profound price paid for such power.
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File Created: 05/07/2025 Last Modified: 05/07/2025