Shadow

 

 Shadow by Wild Nothing

 

 The VaM-style spell today is Shadow- the title coming from this song by Wild Nothing.

This album is one of my favorites - I have walked many nights to it - It breaks my heart how beautiful it is.

One gripe - The official playlist has the HORRIBLE pitchfork version of Paradise with the frigging spoken word for like a minute and I hate it

Here is some definitions of Shadow! I love them all!

 

partial or complete darkness, especially as produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

the shaded part of a picture.

a dark patch or area on a surface.

used in reference to proximity, ominous oppressiveness, or sadness and gloom.

used in reference to something insubstantial or fleeting.

used in reference to a position of relative inferiority or obscurity.

the slightest trace of something.

a weak or inferior remnant or version of something.

an expression of perplexity or sadness.

an inseparable attendant or companion.

a person secretly following and observing another.

envelop in shadow; cast a shadow over.

follow and observe (someone) closely and secretly.

Here are the lyrics!

Oh why is your hate so addicting and I
Well I wonder where you've been
I don't see you often

I try to feel something for you
But that's all that I can do
Give my shadow to you

Do you ever see me at night
And does it please you at all
When you head up the wall

I'd go with you if you asked me to
But we wouldn't get too far
Two strangers in the dark

        These lyrics are PERFECT

My favorite part is that they can be re-contextualized here and actually fit the spell's effects quite well, which was my goal!

 

Ok, here is the spell's effects!

 

Shadow

Duration: Until the shadow is dealt damage

Range: Caster

The caster sinks as their shadow rises, like a see-saw. Thin and dark – the caster’s shadow rises, and is material.

This shadow has their stats and equipment, it can do what they can do, sounds like they do, knows what they know.

It has three differences – 1: It looks like a shadow, including their possesions, 2: The shadow does not roll initiative in combat as normal – instead they may take an action anytime a source of light moves, and 3: If dealt damage the seesaw teeters back immediately, and after the damage is dealt the shadow is cast by the caster, who is back where the shadow was.

The damage of course, is not taken by anything material, so the caster does not take the damage their shadow is dealt.

 

Miscast Table

1 – However the normal form is distorted when flat as the shadow’s “shadow” is maintained after reverting the spell – So overhead light would make the character really short, and light that casts a long shadow would make the character tall – so on and so forth. The worst is multiple distinct sources casting multiple shadows...

2 – The shadow is a kleptomaniac, and must take all available opportunities to steal.

3 – Damage dealt to the shadow does not revert the spell – it must be miscast to be reverted – if the shadow dies, so does it’s “Shadow” – the characters normal form!

4 – The shadow is mute.

5 – The spell goes rogue – and instead of the normal effect – it seeks the light source nearest to the caster. Anybody who has a shadow cast because of that light source has Shadow cast on them.

6 – Instead of see-sawing, the shadow and caster break like taffy snaps – they are separate – and the referee controls the shadow unless it is captured and sewn back onto the caster’s feet with hanged people’s hair – the caster instinctively knows this.

7 – Something goes really awry – instead of the normal effect – the caster’s shadow is converted into fifteen jet-black moths – which they are able to control. The effect reverts when a moth is eaten – and any chaotic creatures will instinctively know this.

8 – The caster and their shadow oscillate, like a back and forth see-saw at the start of each action, if in combat – outside of combat it happens every 1d8 seconds – all other effects as normal.

9 – Treat the caster’s wisdom -6 as morale – and treat the shadow as a retainer, have it test morale at appropriate points as detailed on page 60 of Rules and Magic.

10 – The shadow does not belong here – it feels like a glove on the wrong hand. Any failed roll by the shadow is considered a critical failure.

11 – When the shadow is hit, and the spell reverts – the caster ages 1 year for each damage the shadow took.

12 – From now on, any time the caster is exposed to moonlight – they must recast shadow – even if it would miscast. If this miscast is re-rolled they lose one constitution point instead.