HEIMDALL

(Balance, Benign, Ordered, Major God)

Heimdall is the warder of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge which leads to Asgard. He is eternally vigilant, and is destined to blow his great horn Gjallir to signal Ragnarok.

On Ærth, he has become the patron of sentries and warders, and his aspect as the father of civilization is de-emphasized. The blessings of his (few) priests are often sought by bodyguards and soldiers on sentry duty.

Heimdall's priesthood is very small, due in part to the narrowness of his aspect. However, over the centuries, monarchs impressed by his other roles have established places of scholarship in his name. In particular, the Heimdall Institute, in Elsinore, is regarded as the center for Norse religious study, and the TKJ (Thrall, Karl, Jarl) Theatre in Bayreuth has seen some marvelous productions.

Grade I:

Alarum Spell
Time: 1 hour Other Heka Costs:
Area: Circle of radius 1 rod per STEEP R&D: Nil
Distance: 0 Other: 10:1 additional hour
E/F/M: By means of this casting, the priest wards a small area. Any sentient being entering the area will alert the caster the instant the line of warding is passed, although no other persons are alerted. The alert is enough to awaken the priest from natural slumber, but it does not guarantee that the priest is instantly awake (that depends on the natural processes). The casting may be extended in duration at a cost of 10 Heka per additional hour, for a total time not exceeding 1 hour per 10 STEEP possessed. Note that the alarum circle does not travel with the priest.

Standguard Formula
Time: 1 hourOther Heka Costs:
Area: 1 subjectR&D: Nil
Distance: Touch Other: 10:1 additional hour
E/F/M: This formula allows a sentry to resist the effects of fatigue and drowsiness while standing guard. The sentry will make any checks against such effects at 1 DR easier (2 DRs easier if the recipient is a follower of Heimdall). In addition, if the casting is woven as a special success, the recipient will effectively have rested half the duration of the casting (so, if the caster achieves a special success, and Ulf stands guard for 4 hours, it will be as if he had slept for 2 hours in addition to being alert while standing guard).

The duration of this casting may be extended at a cost of 10 Heka per additional hour, to a maximum total duration of 1 hour per 10 STEEP possessed by the caster.

Grade II:

Alertguard Formula
Time: 1 hour Other Heka Costs:
Area: 1 subject R&D: Nil
Distance: Touch Other: 10:1 additional hour
E/F/M: When this formula is lain upon a subject, the recipient receives some enhancements in his duties as a sentry. First, any and all Perception checks while under the influence of this casting are made at one DR easier. Second, any natural effect which would cause the sentry to become derelict in his duty is resisted at one DR easier (for instance, resisting fatigue and drowsiness, or maintaining attention despite distractions such as insects, owls, or whatever). Third, and finally, the recipient becomes immune to natural surprise. This casting imparts no resistance against magickal surprise, magickal distractions, magickal perception inhibitors, etc.

The duration of this casting may be extended at a cost of 10 Heka per additional hour, to a maximum total duration of 1 hour per 10 STEEP possessed by the caster.

Unblinking Sentinel Spell
Time: 3 ATs Other Heka Costs:
Area: 1 yard radius/STEEP R&D: Nil
Distance: 0 Other: 20:1 additional ATs
E/F/M: This casting causes a magickal force to coalesce into a ghostly, slightly glowing, man-shaped form. The form will patrol through the area for the duration of the casting. If a sentient being enters the area, the form will alert the caster (as per Alarum) and move towards the intruder. If there is more than one, it will move towards the first one to enter the area. Note that there is no actual effect from touching the form, but it can be quite a scary sight to the uninitiated.

The casting's duration may be extended by expending 20 Heka per additional hour, to a maximum of 1 hour per 10 STEEP possessed.

Grade III:

Warninghorn Charm
Time: Instant Other Heka Costs:
Area: Circle of radius 1 rod per 10 STEEP R&D: Nil
Distance: 0 Other: Nil
E/F/M: This charm causes the sound of a loud horn to blast through the area, startling any sleeping persons into wakefulness and alerting all and sundry. The typical application would be for the priest to alert a sleeping party of compatriots to danger more quickly and reliably than a mere shout, but it can also be used to startle or frighten less than courageous opponents.

Grade IV:

Unwavering Sentinel Formula
Time: 1 hour Other Heka Costs:
Area: 1 yard radius/STEEP R&D: Nil
Distance: 0 Other: 25:1 per additional hour
E/F/M: This casting is similar to Unblinking Sentinel, save that it can be set to detect any living creature (larger than some caster-determined threshold, e.g. a swallow or owl), and that the force will split on multiple intrusions, being able to approach and stick with up to 1 creature per 10 STEEP possessed by the caster, and the cost for extending the duration is 25 Heka per additional hour.

Grade V:

Bridgegap Ritual
Time: 1 AT Other Heka Costs:
Area: Special R&D: nil
Distance: 0 Other: 5:1 yard
E/F/M: This casting causes a magickal bridge to come into being, potentially spanning a chasm or other gap. It is capable of supporting up to 10 pounds per STEEP possessed by the caster. The bridge extends 10 yards, and the caster may cause it to reach an additional yard for every additional 5 points of Heka spent, to a maximum of the caster's STEEP in Priestcræft plus 10.


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Castings by: Mike Phillips (msphil@widomaker.com)