Symbiotic Stasis

Posted by Querthose, April 10, 2004
(Put here to preserve the idea)

Type: Special
Spell Sphere: Necromancy
Duration: Special

This spell creates a physical, mental, and spiritual link between the caster and the target. A successful initial cast will put the target into a state of stasis, making it effectively inactive (unable to carry out any sort of functions for the duration of the spell). While in this state of stasis, the target of the spell is immune to any form of attack, damage, or death unassociated with Symbiotic Stasis.

After the initial cast (subject to a normal warding roll), the caster and the target become linked. As a side effect to the spell, the caster will no longer regenerate mana or health at each pulse for the duration of the spell. The caster will, however, begin to siphon off health and mana from the target. A base of 10% of the target's health and mana (modified up to 15% based on necromancy lore) will be transferred to the caster every 30 seconds. This spell will not give returns beyond the caster's maximum, and it will not drain the target beyond the caster's needs (i.e. If the caster is missing no blood, the target will receive no blood loss at the 30 second pulse). Once the link is established, the target of the spell will have an opportunity to resist the siphon or even break the link as determined by an additional warding roll every 30 second pulse. However, the strength of the spell gives a -25 penalty to the target's total magical defense once the link has been established. If at any time the caster leaves the immediate area (i.e. the particular hunting ground the target is located in), the link will be broken and the stasis ended. The link will otherwise remain intact until the caster or the target have died, or it has been dismissed by the caster.

As a side-effect to this spell, the caster will also be able to automatically redirect a percentage of damage taken to the stasis target. A base of 25% of all physical damage the caster received while maintaining an active link to a target in stasis (modified up to 35% based on necromancy lore) will be redirected to the target of this spell instead of the caster. The spell also has a 20% (modified up to 30% based on necromancy lore) chance of redirecting all or part of the physical wound associated with the any redirected attack to the target.

Because of the concentration required to maintain the link, if the caster is stunned for longer than 2 rounds, the link will be broken. Also, if the caster chooses to cast Torment while maintaining a link, any targets will receive a +30 TD bonus. Finally, at any point if the link is broken involuntarily or the target succeeds in a warding roll at a 30 second pulse, there is a chance of catastrophic failure. (Represented by the target succeeding in the warding roll by an end roll of 150+, modified for necromancy lore. Likewise, there is a base chance for catastrophic failure of 20%, modified by necromancy lore to go as low as 10% if the link is severed any other way) If catastrophic failure occurs, all of the lost blood and mana as well as any wounds associated with the spell will be redirected to the caster, as the target of the stasis uses the connection in its final moments to heal itself.

Note: catastrophic damage will not result if the caster voluntarily dismisses the connection.