Spell: Hound of the Rich Earth

[Thor Olavsrud]

Here's one that's inspired by the Finders from Earthsea (particularly Medra from one of the stories in Tales From Earthsea, who uses the spell to find Quicksilver).

Hound of the Rich Earth (Ob 4, Syllables 11)

Effect: Upon casting this spell, the wizard's senses fill with the redolent aroma of minerals and ores. The wizard can use his sense of smell to seek out metals and gems with a Perception test, even if they are underground.

Range: Personal
Area: Caster
Impetus: Enhance
Element: Anima
Duration: Sustained

Element: Anima (Ob 5, Syllables 10)
Impetus: Enhancer (Ob +4, Syllables +24 )
Origin: Personal (Ob +0, Syllables +2)
Duration: Sustained (Ob +2, Syllables +4)
Area of Effect: Caster (Ob +0, Syllables +2)

First Distillation: Anima/Enhance
Anima-Enhancer (Ob 5, Syllables 17)
Personal (Ob +0, Syllables +2)
Sustained (Ob +2, Syllables +4)
Caster (Ob +0, Syllables +2)

Second Distillation: Personal/Sustained
Anima-Enhancer (Ob 5, Syllables 17)
Personal-Sustained (Ob +2, Syllables +3)
Caster (Ob +0, Syllables +2)

Finalization:
Hound of the Rich Earth (Ob 4, Syllables 11)

[Kublai]

Is this a fixed Obstacle spell? Give some examples.

[Thor Olavsrud]

Is this a fixed Obstacle spell? Give some examples.

The idea is that it allows you to roll Perception (or Observation) to find the metal, ore, or gem of your choice. I suppose a Keen Smell trait would come into play as well.

Let's say Nestore has the spell and wants to find a vein of gold. He's out in the mountains and casts the spell. The spell is flat Obstacle. If he succeeds, he is now able to "smell" gold and can roll his Perception to try to find it.

At that point, the GM needs to determine the Obstacle for smelling it. I would suggest that Proximity and Concentration (of the material) should be the major factors. If Nestore happens to be close to a vein of gold, and it happens to be particularly rich, it should be easy for him to smell (let's say Ob 2).

If he's close but the vein is not particularly rich, or the vein is very rich but not very close, it'll be harder (maybe Ob 3-4?)

If it's far away and not very much, it will be much more difficult (Ob 5-6).

[Kublai]

Hmm... so it's a range of Obstacles then? I am just trying to figure out which method to use for purchasing this spell with Resources. In fact, you should include the cost in all your posts.

[Thor Olavsrud]

Hmm... so it's a range of Obstacles then? I am just trying to figure out which method to use for purchasing this spell with Resources. In fact, you should include the cost in all your posts.

I was thinking of it as analagous to spells like Cat's Eye or Dog's Ear. It's a flat Obstacle spell which then lets you use your existing sense of smell in a different way. So this spell would cost 8 rps. If you think it should be a "^" spell, I'm certainly willing to entertain the idea!

[luke]

I think it's a flat ob spell that adds an extra ability to existing Perception (not Observation).

-L