For our runic arrays segment this week we give you a way to make wizards even more overpowered.
This week we show you the Wizard’s Envy incantation.
Notation: Heat Iron at a rate of 64 degrees Celsius per second within an area in the shape of an Inverted Dome 100 times as wide across as the array and 10,000 times as deep as the array’s diameter. Cast from the mouth.
Incantation: Begh Yst Dün Ob Watze Ant Schniv Sepa Cob Dün Ob Hohd Ant Mürgrot Non Küp Ant Omkirdi Non Rônde Ant Grot Ant Mürgrot Tüwe Cob Ent Fin Bek.
Class: Incantation
Description: It is a staple trope (and perhaps even a cliche) in high fantasy stories that wizards are clad in loose cloth robes while the warriors encase themselves in as much steel as they can find. The warriors are the knights in shining armour while the wizards are the mysterious mages. It is a way to easily distinguish two very different types of characters and in games (whether videogames or tabletop) it is also a way to balance the two classes. After all, if a wizard could wear armour, wield a sword and then cast magic as well then what use is there for a warrior?
But you surely must feel for these wizards, watching these mighty warriors with their brightly shining (and often gilded) suits of armour crafted by the finest artisans, bedecked in fancy tabards and robes, their coat of arms proudly worn on their shields while a colourful and symbolic crest sits atop their helms. That is the sort of thing legends and songs are written about. And all the while, all the wizards have is a faded old robe, a tattered pointy hat and a long walking stick.
So why wouldn’t a wizard start to get envious after all the attention these pretty boys in their armour seem to get? Why wouldn’t a wizard start making plans, devious plans, to even out the playing field. After all, if a wizard can’t wear armour, no one should! It’s only fair.
And that’s where this incantation comes into play. Dreamed up by a very bitter and spiteful wizard, the Wizard’s Envy incantation creates an inverted and stretched dome (otherwise known as a rounded cone) that heats up all iron (and thus steel) within it by 64 degrees Celsius a second. The intent here isn’t to melt the iron and steel, since that would require holding this spell on target for more than 23 seconds. Rather it is just to make the cost of wearing armour greater than the reward.
After less than two seconds, the weapons and armour wielded by the warriors caught up in the cone would already be over 100 degrees Celsius and far too hot to touch with bare hands. Less than four seconds into the spell and they would be over 200 degrees Celsius and would start to burn and overheat the warriors no matter what are wearing underneath. The only thing the warriors will be able to do is to throw down their weapons and try and get out of their armour as quickly as possible.
And now the warrior and the wizard are on equal footing, no weapons and no armour. Well, the wizard still has magic, but why fight a fair fight?
Even if wizards could wear armor and wield a shield, the warrior is the consummate “violence professional.” They are trained beyond the mere “the pointed end goes into the other guy,” and recognize that once steel is drawn death (for someone) is the best-case scenario.
You are entirely correct. This array is more just a tongue-in-cheek spell based on the stereotypes of wizards and warriors. In the Sigil System, there’s no reason a wizard can’t wear armour or a warrior can’t learn magic. In fact, the best warrior would be one that’s a “violence professional” and that knows a few quick incantations that can help him take down opponents as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Once I get some time, I’m thinking of building a rune-gun, that utilizes a runic array to Push lead bullets down-range at high velocities (likely confined to a column, to improve aim).
Once you do, send it to me. I’d love to see what you come up with.