Here There Be Monsters

Invokers

Piper Smith is an example Invoker.

Tudor Brezak is an example Invoker (and other things).

Invokers are practitioners of an ancient and dangerous form of magic refered to hereout as Invocation, though various cultures have different terms and conceptualizations of it. Invokers call upon mystical power from extradimensional entities inscribed in ancient tomes, recalled in ancestral memories, bound to esoteric contracts by their true names, entreated via pacts sworn in antiquity and maintained by tenuous lineages of secretive practictioners, inveigled via claims upon promises sealed in blood or sacrifice or services once rendered, and similar murky meanderings.

Invokers have a relatively simple but potentially very powerful tradition of magic. The main focus of Invokers is the custom Invocation Power, which allows for a VPP-like flexibility but with built-in unreliability and risk. Additionally Invokers can become altered and more capable over time due to their exposure to supernatural forces, develop internalized minor magic, or benefit from capricious favors from one or more of their extradimensional patrons.

In the modern era of the Here There Be Monsters setting Invokers are generally classified as Sorcerers due to its unreliability and the unfortunate tendency for failed Invocations to go horribly wrong. However, that being said, Invokers are not (necessarily) dealing with infernal or daemonic forces, or necromantic magics, and are generally considered to be less bad than those who do. If an Invoker is careful and maybe a little lucky, or avoids first world nations that enforce the Accords strongly, they can avoid Sanctioning.

RESTRICTIONS

In a Here There Be Monsters campaign, Invocation can only be purchased in a Mystic Pool, and characters that use Invocation are considered to be Sorcerers. Invokers must also comply with the following restrictions:

An Invoker must have the KS: Nomen Lore skill (described below).
An Invoker cannot have more dice of Invocation than their (KS: Nomen Lore - 10); thus an Invoker with KS: Nomen Lore 13- can have up to Invocation 3d6.
The total Real Cost of Innate abilities cannot exceed the Invoker's ((Base Points + Max Complications + Experience Points) / 3).

KS: Nomen Lore

In the Here There Be Monsters setting, a fundamental consideration of Invocation is the notion of "True Names"; to invoke an entity may require further bartering, a pact, or a deal, but it starts with knowing the True Name of the entity being invoked. Therefore, Invokers in the setting must have a Knowledge Skill called Nomen Lore. In addition to providing information regarding the theory of True Names, recognizing True Names, and the traditions, capabilities, and notable history related to Invocation (which even non-Invokers can take the skill for), it also limits the number of dice of the Invocation Power they can have. This is a Knowledge Skill, thus standard pricing options apply, the Scholar enhancer reduces it's cost, and so forth.

3/1
2/1

KS: Nomen Lore: This skill provides information regarding the theory of true names, recognizing true names, as well as the traditions, capabilities, and notable history related to Invocation.

Invocation

The primary means to power of Invokers is the Invocation Power.

Invokers by definition must have at least 1d6 of Invocation.

Innate Abilities

Invokers sometimes have or develop subtle abilities stemming from their intimate contact with magical forces, or favor granted them by one or more of the powerful entities they call upon. Such abilities are purchased in the Invoker's Mystic Pool. A couple of very common Innate abilities are provided below.

Innate Ability: Supernatural Awareness

Many Invokers take the Supernatural Awareness Talent or an equivalent ability built up directly using the Detect Power with different modifiers and adders.

Innate Ability: Longevity

Some Invokers take the Life Support (Longevity) ability to represent extended life spans. GM permission is required.

Innate Ability: Unreliable Favor

Some Invokers attract the continued favor of one or more entities they regularly call upon; though such support is unreliable.

+1 Overall; Requires A Roll (11- roll; Must be made each Phase/use; -1); Real Cost: 6 points / +1

Invocation Endurance Reserve

Invokers may have an Invocation Endurance Reserve in their Mystic Pool to pay the Endurance costs of any abilities they Invoke if they wish. However, a limitation is imposed upon the total number of Character Points an Invoker can spend on their Invocation Endurance Pool as given below. Character Points within the limit can be spent on either Recovery or Endurance.

Endurance Reserve 5e

5e Scaling Capacity Point Cap = (Total Character Points / 25) {round in the character's favor}

EXAMPLE: Piper Smith has 125 total Character Points; thus she could spend (125/25) = 5 Character Points on a Mystic Endurance Reserve. This could be allocated as 40 END / 1 REC or 10 END / 4 REC or any combination in between with a total Real Cost of 5 or less points.

Endurance Reserve 6e

Check out the House Rule on 6e Endurance Reserves.

6e Scaling Capacity Point Cap = (Total Character Points / 10) {round in the character's favor}

EXAMPLE: Piper Smith has 125 total Character Points; thus she could spend (125/10) = 13 Character Points on a Mystic Endurance Reserve. This could be allocated as any combination of Recovery and Reserve with a total Real Cost of 13 or less points.

Distinctive Features: Magi

An Invoker should take the following Distinctive Feature Complication. Other Supernaturals can detect the Invoker from a fair distance, regardless of intervening mundane structures whenever they are using any of their non-Invisible abilities.

Distinctive Features: Magi (Concealable; Extreme Reaction; Detectable Only By Special Abilities; Not Distinctive In Some Cultures); - 5 points

An Invoker is considered a Sorcerer and are automatically suspect to the authorities; they have to be very careful to avoid being Sanctioned. To represent this, an Invoker should take the following Complication.

Social Complication: Sorcerer Infrequently, Major; -10 points