Wild Magic Storms, Cascades, and Blooms - The World of Valakadyn: The Grand Game

>Wild Magic Surges occur when the Weave is "overloaded" with magical energy. The chances of a Wild Magic Surge occurring are very rare naturally. However, certain people, objects, or actions can weaken the Weave, increasing the chances that a Surge will occur. As Alecto approaches it's full moon, magic steadily grows more powerful. In the six months before and after the full moon, magic users become significantly more powerful. During the month long full moon, the Weave becomes incredibly unstable, enabling feats great and terrible. Surges become almost guaranteed, but unimaginable power can be wielded by those who have the capability. Surges only occur when spells of 6th level or above are cast, or when an Artifact or ability draws on an excess amount of Wild Magic. When this occurs, roll a d100. Calculate your Surge Percentage to see your chances of a Surge, detailed below. #### Terminology - **Wild Magic**: any *unexpected* effects of Aether from the Weave. Wild Magic primarily results from the usage of high level and ***Primordial*** magicks. - ***Wild Magic Cascade* (or simply *Cascade*):** A build-up of *Wild Magic* in an area, leading to increased volatility in the Weave. When a *Cascade* is in progress, a triggering event has a chance to cause a ***Cascade* Bloom.** - ***Cascade* Suppression:** An imminent *Cascade* becomes incapable of a ***Cascade* Bloom** for a period of time. - ***Cascade* Bloom** (or **Surge**): An explosive release of Aether resulting from a triggered *Cascade.* - **Aether**: The fundamental particles that create the greater field of Magicka known as the **Weave.** - **The Weave**: The underlying field of Aether that creates the paracausal effects known as **magic.** - **Paracausal**: Any "effect" that occurs without a physical "cause;" things that violate the standard laws of physics ## Calculating Cascade Percentage - While Rauðmár is waning, the Cascade Percentage is equal to 1 + (5 x # of Immortals present) + (3 x # of Artifacts in use). - Maximum 325% - While Rauðmár is waxing, it is equal to 20 + (10 x # of Immortals present) + (7 x # of Artifacts in use). - Maximum 690% - Use this for Pre-Sundering Calculations - During the New Moon, the Cascade Percentage is equal to 50 + (20 x # of Immortals present) + (15 x # of Artifacts in use). - Maximum 1410% - If Vaka or Vyra are present at any time, add 100 to the final *Cascade* percentage. ## Triggering A Cascade Bloom As a Wild Magic Cascade results from an overload of Aether and the "tearing" of the Weave, extreme feats of magic can push the Weave over the edge and trigger a Cascade **Bloom**. In some areas of Valakadyn, especially sites of previous Cascades, the Weave has been weakened over time, making a **Bloom** more likely. In these locations, however, the Weave is more "pliable;" here, the baseline Cascade percentage may be greater than 100%, but a **Bloom** may only be instigated by higher tier triggering events. ### Additive Effects - Spells - Spells of 7th-level: +1% per spell cast - Spells of 8th-level: +2% per spell cast - Spells of 9th-level: +3% per spell cast - *Wish* (any affect outside the standard array): +5% per casting - Abilities - Elemental or Divine Resonance: +1% per usage - Divine Providence: +3% per usage - Divine Domain: +5% per usage - If multiple Deities, Harbingers, Heralds, or Seraphs activate their Domain simultaneously, each attempted Domain after the first is treated +2%. - Seraphic Transformation - Dragon Form: +5% per usage - Seraphic Transformation - Titan Form: +10% per usage - Death - If an Apostle is killed and a **Bloom** is not triggered: +10% - If a Deity or Harbinger is killed and a **Bloom** is not triggered: +20% - If a Herald or Seraph is killed and a **Bloom** is not triggered: +35% ### Triggering Effects When one of the following effects occurs, roll a d100. If you roll **below** the DC, the Cascade **Blooms.** - Death of an Apostle: DC 30 - Death of a Harbinger or Deity: DC 50 - Death of a Herald or Seraph: DC 70 - Death of Vaka or Vyra: DC 99 - Casting a 9th-level spell: DC 10 ### Suppressing Effects Certain actions and abilities are capable of **Suppressing** a *Cascade*. While a *Cascade* is **suppressed,** triggering effects will not cause the *Cascade* to **Bloom.** - Vaka and Vyra are capable of **suppressing** a *Cascade*, until the percentage exceeds 1500%. - When the wielder of a ***Primordial Artifact*** casts a spell *Beyond 9th-level,* an imminent *Cascade* is temporarily **suppressed** as the excess Aether is channeled by the Artifact and used to fuel the spell. - In theory, any ***Primordial Artifact*** is capable of actively manipulating a *Cascade*, but several Artifacts have abilities that allow them to explicitly control *Cascades* of low Severity, such as **Abolition, Gravitas, Dissolution, the Amulet, the Key, and the Staff.** - The *Cascade* used to power the equivalent Beyond spell is **suppressed** for 1 minute. # Cascade Percentage and Bloom Severity If the Surge Percentage is greater than 100%, magic itself becomes unstable. Spells become more powerful, and magic users' ability to manipulate the aether grows stronger as the Weave weakens around them. During these moments, magic wielders have described the Weave as "soupy" and "thick." When the Weave has been sufficiently worn down, a Wild Magic Cascade may occur. Additionally, Artifacts of Vaka are capable of instantly initiating and controlling the energy of a Wild Magic Event in order to cast spells beyond normal capability. For each Surge interval greater than 200%, increasingly destructive Wild Magic Events may occur. There are five levels of Wild Magic Events that descend in severity: #### Severity 5: Inconsequential (100% to 200%) A Severity 5 Cascade consists of anything that could be considered largely non-destructive, or is limited to an extremely small radius. These are local, limited effects, and the only level of Cascade capable of being created by Mortals. Most Severity 5 Cascades occur when multiple high-level spells are cast in rapid succession, or during conflicts between *Immortals.* 9th-level spells are considered to be the embodiment of a Severity 5 Cascade. ##### Examples - The Team of Many Things being sent to the Dark Future - The successful creation of the Hierophants of Blood, Metal, Twilight, and Undeath - Furud and Wezen Shoco being granted immunity to any worsening effects from the Sunscourge by Gil #### Severity 4: Minor (200% to 300%) A Severity 4 Cascade is the result of the Weave being significantly weakened in a singular burst of Aether, rather than over time. These events are powerful, but relatively non-destructive. The only casualties typically resulting from this level of Cascade are Mortals that are sick, young, or elderly. Severity 4 Cascades most commonly occur when an Apostle or Deity is killed, when an Apostle’s successor comes into power, or when a Hierophant is created. Spells beyond 9th-level created through a ***Primordial Artifact*** are considered at least Severity 4 Cascades. ##### Examples - Elsie’s succession as the *Apostle of Shadows* - Stevanas being evaporated while creating the *Hierophant of Metal* - The cursing of the Broken Quarter of Newbiggin #### Severity 3: Problematic (300% to 500%) A Severity 3 Cascade is a large scale burst of the Weave that is destructive to the immediate surroundings, limited to a single city or biome. These events can create wildly varied effects on the environment, and typically result in the creation of a large scale structure or landmark. Severity 3 Cascades most commonly occur at the conclusion of a small-scale conflict between multiple *Immortals* or Artifact wielders. ##### Examples - The destruction of Mavella triggered by [[King Kallus Aulani, Seventh Apostle of Shadows†|King Kallus Aulani]]’s sacrifice to save [[King Djin Aster, Second Apostle of Storms and Monarch of New Apollyon|Djin Aster]] and [[The Stand-Ins]] - The creation of the Eye of Divellia by Grisha Bloodflayer #### Severity 2: Significant (500% to 700%) A Severity 2 Cascade is a regionally affective tear in the Weave. ##### Examples - The creation of [[2. Eldhress, The Second Sister|Eldhress]] with the death of Lilith Eriad, The First Apostle of Flame - The birth of [[Nimloth, The Tree of Life]] - The death of [[Thrivas Foxgard, The Unbreakable and Unrelenting Second Apostle of War, Valakadyn’s Mortal Paramour, Founder of Kaz’ad’an, Inheritor of the Belt of Vaka and Original Wielder of Subjugation|Thrivas Foxgard]], [[Mara Magnolia, The Soulsplitting Apostle of Death and Original Wielder of the Bracers of Vaka†|Mara Magnolia]], and Aera Windfeather that led to the creation of [[4. Kaz'ad, The Fourth Sister|Kaz’ad, The Fourth Sister]] #### Severity 1: Disastrous (700% to 1500%) A Severity 1 Cascade is a continent-level burst of the Weave. These events are storied, world changing occurrences that have only occurred a handful of times, and result in nearly incalculable amounts of Aether being released upon Valakadyn. In the wake of a Severity 1 Cascade, the Weave becomes unstable and all magic greater than 5th-level created by Mortals fails for the next several years. Even *Immortals* are affected by the consequences of these Cascades, as they become unable to access the highest level of their abilities without the assistance of a ***Primordial Artifact.*** ##### Examples - The creation of [[5. Græna, The Fifth Sister|Græna, The Fifth Sister]] at the conclusion of the Battle of Sunfall (970%) - [[1. Norður, The First Sister|Norður]]’s creation at the beginning of time ##### Examples (Alternate Timelines) - The Aetherscourge and the creation of Ðauðagaldur resulting from the Team of Many Things’ battle against the Betrayers and their patron in Newbiggin #### Severity 0: Cataclysmic (1500+%) A Severity Zero Cascade, in laymen's terms, is an end of the world scenario. The ablation of the Weave at this level has occurred only once, with the death of Vaka during the Sundering. Despite this, the world was not destroyed thanks to Vaka and Vyra's total control over Aether and the Weave. As she died, Vaka used her last breath to contain the blast, and Vyra used every bit of her strength to constrain it's effects to Adar. Their efforts led to the creation of both [[3. Borðafórn, The Third Sister|Borðafórn]] (aka Redgarden) and the red moon, [[Rauðmár - The Red Moon|Rauðmár]]. ##### Example - Vaka's death, also known as The Sundering (1,878%) - Created [[3. Borðafórn, The Third Sister|Borðafórn]] (aka Redgarden) and the red moon, [[Rauðmár - The Red Moon|Rauðmár]] ##### Examples (Alternate Timelines) - Karnatis' desecration of the Weave in the Dark Future - Ergeaux claiming all ***Primordial Artifacts*** and failing to revive Vaka due to the actions of the *Order of Absence*, resulting in the Weave being destroyed. # Previous Cascades ## The Birth of Eldhress, The Second Sister; 497 IE - Severity 2 ## Biggin Is Destroyed; 478 IE - Severity 3 ## Sandalphor Desecrated; 181 IE - Severity 2 ## The Sundering, The Death of Vaka; 0 IE - Severity 0 ### Calculation - 1,878 Baseline: 20 + (10 x 44) + (7 x 12) + 200 = 744 Bloom Triggered: 744 + ((20 x 8) + (40 x 3)) + ((26 x 3) + (7 x 23) + (10 x 11) + (5 x 11) + (19 x 10) + (20 x 3)) + 200 = 1,878 #### Immortals Present (44 +200) 1. Ignara/Albariya/Vaka† 2. Structa/Nizam/Vyra ##### Deities and Harbingers (23) 1. Luxaris† 1. Ignea 2. Solaris 3. Astorion 4. Selunea 5. Tenebris 6. Bestara 7. Bellator 8. Equitas 9. Logion 10. Nixea 11. Terraneon 12. Pyraeon† 1. Naran 13. Nerion 14. Aeralis 15. Chronaris 1. Karnatis fusion 16. Sonaris 17. Graviris 18. Vitala† 1. Threaven 19. Josephine (Nature) ##### Apostles (21) 1. Serryn† (Shadows) 2. Ross† (Sun) 3. Sheena† (Moons) 4. Polaris (Stars) 5. Ergeaux (Illusion) 6. Erina† (Justice) 7. Molina† (Control) 8. Clad† (War) 9. Dorian† (Beasts) 10. Stevanas (Knowledge) 11. Orazio† (Storms) 12. Anemos†(Air) 13. Yori† (Frost) 14. Petra† (Earth) 15. Kyma† (Water) 16. Valerya† (Gravity) 17. Mara† (Death) 18. Allegra† (Song) 19. Ulesis (Order) 20. Tycho† (Void) 21. Valanaris† (Chaos) #### Artifacts In Use (12) 1. Amulet (Stevanas) 2. Belt (Clad, Thrivas) 3. Blade (Ergeaux) 4. Bracers (Mara) 5. Crown (Orazio) 6. Greaves (Naran) 7. Key (Karnatis) 8. Shroud (Threaven) 9. Spear (Vaka) 10. Staff (Josephine) 11. Abolition (Tycho) 12. Scythe (Vyra) ## Khelijwe Created, Polaris Sealed; 1 SE - Severity 3 ## Aetheria's Ascent, Kaz'ad's Creation; 424 CE - Severity 2 ## Hierophant of Metal Created, Newbiggin Cursed; 500 CE - Severity 4 ## Graena Created, The Battle of Sunfall; 740 CE - Severity 1 ##### Deities and Harbingers - Solaris* - Astorion - Selunea - Tenebris - Bestara* - Velumea† - Bellator - Equitas - Logion - Nixea - Terraneon† - Nerion - Aeralis - Sonaris* - Graviris† ## Njord Sealed Within The Eye of Divellia; 900 RE - Severity 3 ## Destruction of Mavella; 11 Bloodfall 990 RE - Severity 3 ## Eruption of Khelijwe; 24 Bloodfall 990 RE - Severity 3