[RGG 1666] Colonial Gothic the Grimoire

8/6/2019 [RGG 1666] Colonial Gothic the Grimoire

1/17

Contents

Introduction i

Chapter 1 New Spells & Arts 1

Chapter 2 Books &eir Use 28

Chapter 3 Talismans 42

Chapter 4 Relics 49

Chapter 5 Witchcraft 62

Chapter 6 Occult Materials 85

Chapter 7 Creatures 87

Appendix Rules Summary 96

Bibliography 99

Unified Magic Index 103


2/17

Introduction

i


3/17


4/17

Breath of Life

Range: 30 feetDuration: See below

Performed On: Others and Objects

Sanity: 11

is Kabalistic was first performed by Rabbi ben Abraham of Safed in 1564.rough its use, the castercreates a golem that obeys his

will at all times.e originalgolem was constructed toprotect the JewishCommunity in Safed.

e creation of a golemrequires the sacrifice of ahuman life, and thereforeaffects the sanity of the caster.e components of the spell

are a human-sized figure(made from clay, iron, flesh ora similar material), a stoneslab, and personal objectsbelonging to the sacrifice.e caster must retain the personal objects; withoutthem, controlling the golem is very difficult. Four types of golems are commonlycreated, and each type requires the learning of a different spell.e duration of thegolems existence varies. Refer to Table 1.1 for the type of golem and duration.(Golems can be created from other materials, but their longevity is generally

greatly reduced.)

Clear VisionRange: Touch

Duration: 1d12 minutes

Performed On: Self, Others

Sanity: 6

After performing this spell, a mystic light enters the mages eyes, allowing forclear vision. Clear vision allows a recipient to see in darkness as if it was daylight.

The Grimoire

14

Table 1.1: Go ems

Type Duration

Clay Years equal to Resolution

Wood Permanent

Metal Months equal to Resolution

Flesh Days equal to Resolution


5/17

Kitab al-Kalq(Book of Creation), by Abu Kadar Muhammad as-Sayf (1097).Arabic, TR 22.

is book is a translation of an earlier Hebrew text callede Book of Life,which is said to have been written by Abraham.e book contains instructions forcreating a golem. During the First Crusade, Christian invaders sought to destroythis sacred text, believing it was a work of great evil. Abu Muhammad translatede Book of Lifeinto Arabic, and hid it deep inside the Mosque of Maarat, where itremained hidden until it was discovered by a Muslim Scholar and brought toSafed in 1460. Kitab al-Kalq contains instructions on how to create a golem, inthe form of the spell Breath of Life, which can be learned from this book.

Le Grand Grimoire, by author unknown. 1522. French, TR 12.

is tome of black magic teaches the reader ...the art of controlling celestial,aerial, terrestrial, and infernal spirits, [along]...with the true secret of speaking withthe dead, winning whenever playing the lottery, discovering hidden treasure, etc.is is a vile work, and every time word is learned of its publication, agents of theInquisition and Templars seek out the copies and destroy them.is work is

reputed to be so vile, that even merely possessing the book is enough to attract thenotice of devils and demons. Mages gain +1 to Lore tests when researching in thisbook. In addition, the book contains the spells Draw and Missive.

The Grimoire

38


6/17

alismans are objects used to channel spirits, and this power istransferred through the talisman, allowing a person toperform feats of magic. Similar in many ways to spells (see

Chapter 1), talisman are more akin to the products ofalchemy and witchcraft in that they offer the means foranyone to work magic.

Talismans and their creation have a long tradition, spanningnumerous cultures. Scholars of the occult and supernatural view talismans as thefirst step in any cultures magical development.ey help those who know theprocess contact spiritual aid, and shaping it into the effects they want. As culturesdevelop they learn about Ether, and how to channel it. As cultures learn workmagic without the aid of objects, they also tend to gradually abandon the practiceof contacting spirits, concentrating instead on more advanced forms of magical

workspells.

Even though mages might no longer require talisman to work their powers,they do see a continued need to know how to craft talismans. Talismans allowmages an effective means of working magic without the need to perform spells.Another reason to practice the art of talisman creation is that in can be quiteprofitable. Talismans allow the unskilled to work power often beyond their means,an ability for which there will always be someone will to pay.

While more advanced magical cultures tend move away from talismans, somecultures cling to them.ey cling to them not because they do not know anybetter, but because they allow a more refined control over the spirit world.Shamans of the various native tribes view talismans as another weapon in thearsenal that they use to protect their tribe.

What Talismans AreTalismans are objects that have been created to allow a person to invoke magicalpower and use it for a desired effect.ese rare objects allow the unskilled to workmagic. All talismans have two pieces that must be used in conjunction with eachother. If either piece is missing, the power contained in the talisman is useless.efirst part is the talisman itself, which takes the form of a patch of cloth,embroidered and embellished.e second part of the talisman is a ring upon

which is engraved a word, or words, which must be spoken in order to invoke themagic.

Chapter 3

43


7/17


8/17

potions necessary for the creation of their objects of power. A Witch without acauldron or the proper ingredients cannot create objects of power, and, for themost part, cannot channel the malicious powers of witchcraft.

e nature of the magic involved makes witchcraft suitable for use only byGM-controlled villains or supporting cast. Why? Because witchcrafts solepurpose is to cause harm.ough the alchemical arts and magic spells can oftencause harm, witchcraft by its very nature can only cause harm.e practice of true

witchcraft requires signing a pact with dark powers of malevolence far beyond thescope of a heros understanding. GMs are recommended to do their level best tokeep witchcraft out of their players hands.

History of Witchcraftere have been many debates dealing not only with magic and alchemy, but alsowith witchcraft.ese debates are centered not just on the existence of spells, art,and rituals, but also on those who are able to work powers beyond the scope ofman.ough most confuse Witches with those skilled in the art of alchemy andthe spells of magic, students of the Occult and Supernatural know that there is a

vast difference between these magical practitioners and Witches. If thosepracticing magic and alchemy are different than those practicing witchcraft, where

does the confusion originate? e answerlies in the writing of one James R, or as heis more commonly known, King James VIof Scotlandlater also King James I ofEngland.

Prior to King James accession to theEnglish throne, acts making the practice acrime in England had already been passed,

during the reign of Elizabeth.

eWitchcraft Actof 1541 was followed in1562 by a second act strengthening theoriginal with the simple statement thatthose who ...use, practice or exercise any

Witchcraft, Enchantment, Charm, orSorcery, whereby any person shall happento be killed or destroyed... would befound guilty and put to death.e acts

were proposed by agents of Sir RichardSouthwell, and were devised to help himremove troublesome enemies.e Parliament of Scotland passed its own act in

The Grimoire

64


9/17

Bibliography

99


10/17

A Debate Proposed in the Temple Patrick Society. W. Young, 1788.

Ancient Mysteries,American Masonic Register and Literary Companion. 1, 31(1840), pp 1-2.

Anderson, Fred. Crucible of War. Vintage Books, 2000.

Antiquity of Masonry.e American Masonic Register and Literary Companion. 2,2 (1840), pp 9-10.

Article XV.e Universalist Quarterly and General Review. 8 ( July 1871), pp.335-359.

Beyer,omas Percival. Old Magic in a New Century.e Dial, 58 (1915), pp

301-302.Budiansky, Stephan. Her Majestys Spymaster. Viking, 2005.

Bullock, Steven C. A Pure and Sublime System:e Appeal of Post-Revolutionary Freemasonry.Journal of the Early Republic. 9 (1989), pp359-373,

. Review EssayInitiating the Enlightment?: Recent Scholarship on EuropeanFreemasonry.Eighteenth Century Life. February 1996, pp 80-92.

. Revolutionary Brotherhood. Chapel Hill, 1996.. e Revolutionary Transformation of American Freemasonry, 1752-1792.

William & Mary Quarterly, 47, 3 (1990), pp 347-369.

Burlington, Oct. 12.e Pennsylvanian Gazette, October 22, 1730.

Coryton, Fra. Gulielmas de. e Scottish Templars.American Masonic Registerand Literary Companion. 6, 7 (1845), pp 110-111.

Demon incubi vampires empus pawwawing, or witchcraft.e

Recreative Magazine, or Eccentricities of Literature and Life. 1, 5 (1822), pp406-426.

Drury, Nevill.e Watkins Dictionary of Magic. Watkins Publishing, 2005.

Edwards, H. Sutherland. e Faust Legend.e Eclectic Magazine of ForeignLiterature. 24, 3 (1876), pp 351-358.

Ferguson, John. Biiotheca Chemics. Kessinger Publishing Company, 2000.

Haynes, Alan.e Elizabethan Secret Services. Sutton Publishing, 2000.

Historical Notice of the Religious and Military Order of the Temple asEstablished in Scotland.American Masonic Register and Literary Companion.7, 2 (1845), pp 24-27.

The Grimoire

100


11/17


12/17

Rise and Progress of Masonry.American Masonic Register and LiteraryCompanion. 1, 2 (1839), pp 9-10.

Robbins, Rossell Hope.e Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology

. BonanzaBooks, 1981.

Seymour, Ian. e Political Magic of John Dee. History Today. 39, 1 (1989), pp29-35.

Showerman, Grant. e Ancient Religions in Universal History.e AmericanJournal of Philology. 29, 2 (1908), pp 156-170.

Stavish, Mark. e History of Alchemy in America.Alchemy Journal. 3, 3 (2002),pp 1-5.

Suster, Gerald. Western Esoteric Masters Series: John Dee. North Atlantic Books,2003.

Sznyi, Gyrgy E. John Dee and Early Modern Occult Philosophy.Aries. 2, 1(2002), pp 76-87.

Volo, Dorothy Denneen and James M. Volo. Daily Life During the AmericanRevolution, Greenwood Press, 2003.

Tabbert, Mark A.American Freemasons. University Press, 2005.

Witchcraft of New England.e Huntington Literary Museum and MonthlyMiscellany. 1, 6 (1810), pp 263-267.

Wood, W. J. Battles of the Revolutionary War 1775-1781. Cambridge, 2003.

York, Neil L. Freemasons and the American Revolution. Historian. 93, 55(1993), pp 315-331.

The Grimoire

102


13/17

Unified

Magic Index

103


14/17

Alchemy

Acid and Alkalis Creation, 138 CGR1

Alchemical Poisons, 141 CGR

Alchemical Vitriol, 142 CGR

Distillation, 26 G2

Elixirs, 138 CGR

Ability Elixir, 139 CGR

Boost Elixir, 139 CGR

Elixir of Health, 140 CGRMetallurgy, 144 CGR

Pesticides and Purifiers, 142 CGR

Pigments and Dyes, 141 CGR

Soap and Perfumes, 140 CGR

Transmutation, 144 CGR

Spells, ArcaneAlign, 131 CGR

Animate Dead, 13 G

Babble, 132 CGR

Bone Dance, 13 G

Breath of Life, 14 G

Clear Vision, 14 GCloak, 133 CGR

Contact Elder God, 15 G

Control, 17 G

Covering Cloud, 17 G

Curse, 133 CGR

The Grimoire

104

1Colonial Gothic: Rulebook

2e Grimoire


15/17

Discerning of Spirits, 18 G

Distant Eye, 18 G

Excise, 135 CGR

Gift of Tongues & Interpretation of Tongues, 19 G

Grace of Healing, 20 G

Inspiration, 20 G

Plague, 21 G

Prayer to e Twelve, 22 G

Quake, 23 G

Rainmaking, 135 CGR

Raising of the Dead, 23 G

Spirit Walk, 136 CGR

Summon, 137 CGR

under, 24 G

Transport, 25 G

Spells, Common

Awake, 122 CGR

Beautys Face, 2 G

Bless, 3 G

Burn, 122 CGR

Celestial Music, 4 G

Circle, 123 CGR

Conceal, 123 CGR

Dispel, 4 G

Divine Breath, 124 CGR

Draw, 124 CGR

Eagle Eyes, 125 CGR

Evergreen, 125 CGR

Unified Magic Index

105


16/17

Fishs Breath, 5 G

Form the Cloud, 5 G

Guardian, 126 CGR

Guidance, 126 CGR

Healing Wind, 6 G

Insight, 7 G

Invocation of the Stone, 7 G

Liquid Courage, 127 CGR

Luck, 127 CGR

Mark, 8 G

Missive, 128 CGR

Preserve, 128 CGR

Quicken, 129 CGR

Reveal, 129 CGR

Reveal, 9 G

Shadow of the Moon, 9 G

Shield, 10 G

Spirit of the Fire, 10 G

Spirit of the Wood, 11 G

Strength of the Earth, 11 G

Strike True, 130 CGR

Warmth, 130 CGR

Warn, 131 CGR

Talismans

Talisman of Anguish, 45 G

Talisman of the Animal, 45 G

Talisman of Love, 45 G

Talisman of Opening, 45 G

The Grimoire

106


17/17

Documents

[RGG 1666] Colonial Gothic the Grimoire