Mantras

An example Mantra card

A Mantra is a sequence of thoughts that is embedded in someone’s head, causing them to exhibit strange behaviour or superhuman (but still physically possible) feats.

Instilling a Mantra

To begin instilling a Mantra, you must have the Instill Mantra profession skill. You must also be under an Intuition effect, most commonly from a pharmaceutical tea, though you can also just eat Heartsblood herbs for a Strength 1 Intuition effect. Each such effect will note the strength. Any character who isn't the target can help with this by taking a Heartsblood herb; each character who does this counts as 1 additional Strength of Intuition. After Instilling a Mantra, the effect providing the Strength expires.

Each known Mantra takes the form of a series of answers. The words to each Mantra are different when starting the session; the Intuitionist should ask the Refs for a set of appropriate words.

Successfully having a Mantra instilled in you may have a consequence on your mind, taking the form of a roleplaying effect given to you by the Refs. These tend to get more severe if you have more dormant Mantras that have been instilled in you but the actual consequences are quite unpredictable.

There are four ways to instill a mantra:

• Succeed at guided questioning. This requires some OC skill at wordplay and is the cheapest approach.
• Prime a willing target. This is a slightly more expensive approach but will always work.
• Forcefully instill a Mantra in a subject. This is the most expensive way to do things.
• Reactivate a Mantra they had previously had instilled.

Guided Questioning

The easiest way to instill Mantras is by “guided questioning”. If you ask someone who does not already know the answers a set of questions that do not include any form of those answers, and they truthfully answer you with those answers (in speech or writing; they do not have to be spoken aloud), then that Mantra takes effect. You can ask a number of questions equal to the strength of the Intuition effect you are under. (Synonymous answers - e.g. “fire” and “flame” - are acceptable and work for this purpose.)

If additional characters are contributing strength to the Mantra by taking Heartsblood, the additional characters each ask one of the questions.

Priming

You can instead prime someone by telling them the answers and having them repeat them; this can be effective but they will need something to suppress their conscious mind. You will need to have an Intuition effect on yourself of twice the number of answers, allowing you to overwhelm their defences. Some effects exist that suppress the subconscious will of the target, doubling the effective Intuition of the Intuitionist for this purpose.

Some Intuition-enhancing pharmaceuticals will have other effects, such as allowing you to succeed without getting them to give one of the required answers, or allowing you to give a hint.

Unwilling targets

You can instill a Mantra in an unwilling target, but you will need to meet both of the above conditions; you must suppress their rejection and overwhelm their defences. You must still engage them in conversation and speak the required answers; the target only needs to be able to hear you.

Reactivating a Mantra

Only one Mantra can be active on a target at a time. However, any Mantra they have previously had instilled can be reactivated by an Intuitionist by speaking to them for a few moments in a peaceful fashion (i.e. you can't do this to someone you've drawn a sword on and are about to fight). This requires an Intuition effect of level 1 or higher, so any Intuition-inducing tea will work.

Example

Lord Byron wishes to instill his willing friend Percy Shelley with the Mantra “Self-Preservation Instinct”. This requires he obtain the answers “Life”, “Fire” and “Strength” (these are not the actual answers for this mantra, just examples).

He takes a Mind-Expanding Tisane, a pharmaceutical of strength 4, and asks:

“What is the opposite of death?”

“Life.”

“What burns away wood to ash?”

“Fire.” (If he had answered “Flame” or similar, this would be OK.)

“What do you need to lift a heavy object?”

“Muscles.”

“How would you name the measure of those?”

“Strength.”

Because he had 4 questions, he succeeded at obtaining the 3 answers he needed. Percy is instilled with the power of the Mantra, allowing him to call REPEL once when he reaches one remaining Hit Point.

Known Mantras

Mantras on this list can be applied by any character with the Instil Mantra skill. Other Mantras are likely to become available as the campaign progresses.

Mantra	Number of Answers	Effect
Self-Preservation Instinct	3	When you reach one Hit Point, you can call REPEL with your next weapon attack.
Activated Action (n.b. this Mantra is highly illegal)	4	The person instilling this Mantra names a situation and a simple action. When in that situation, you will take that action; it feels natural to do so in the moment.
Unswerving Dedication	2	The person instilling this Mantra names a goal and an emotion. If a WOULD YOU KINDLY or emotion EFFECT would interfere with that goal, you instead feel the named emotion.
Fires of Emotion	2	The person instilling this Mantra names a word and an emotion. When you hear that word, you feel a surge of that emotion.
Extraordinary Strength	5	If an ally is currently downed by enemy action, you can call BASH on weapon attacks.
Incandescent Fury Inferno	3	The first time each event you lose your temper, you take EFFECT: “Rage”, gain three temporary Hit Points, and can call BASH on your next weapon attack.
Self-Erasing Sequence	2	When this Mantra is instilled, a previously instilled Mantra is erased. This Mantra also erases itself.