Copyright © 2001 by Robert J. Hall

The following new spells are recent additions to the knowledge of the Sonimasters. Some of these spells are novel or known only by a few masters. Spells that do not require END to maintain have their endurance cost in parentheses.

Alter Voice

This spell allows the Sonimaster to change his own voice so that he sounds like a completely different person. The voice change is very difficult to detect, even when impersonating somebody known to observers. The Sonimaster must have previously heard a voice in order to mimic the sound. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is muted for a period of an hour.

Barrier of Silence

This spell creates a wavering membrane of perfect vacuum that blocks sound transmission of any type. Sound effects are completely blocked by this thin barrier, unless they can be created indirectly on the opposite side. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Deafening Shout

The caster speaks at an ear-splitting level, stunning anybody caught in the effected area and inflicting temporary deafness. The shout is emitted in a cone-shaped area out to a maximum range of 10". If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Disarming Vibrations

By causing an object to vibrate rapidly using a tightly focused beam of ultrasonic sound waves, the Sonimaster can make it very difficult to hold on to a weapon or other object. Stronger creatures will have a tighter grip, however, so they will be harder to disarm. Due to dispersal of the sound beam, this spell will be reduced in effectiveness by 5 STR for each doubling of range beyond 4". If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Echoes

Upon casting this spell upon a target, the Sonimaster can cause all nearby sounds to be echoed back to an observer. The strength and interval of the echo is determined when the spell is first cast. This spell could be cast with a low strength and brief interval, for example, to delude somebody into believing they are being followed. If the spell casting roll is failed, the caster is momentarily deafened by loud echoes in his head.

Echoes from the Past

This spell allows the caster to hear the faint echo of sounds made in the near or distant past. The further back in time the Sonimaster attempts to listen, the more difficult it is to discern the fading sounds. All modifiers for Hearing Perception are applied, including distracting noises from the past. This spell is most effective when used to listen to recent conversations, or sounds in an otherwise silent location such as a tomb. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Hrag's Grand Announcement

When a Sonimaster needs to make a grand announcement to everybody within a day's ride of his current location, he can call upon this spell. Naturally, local residents usually disapprove of the frequent or inappropriate use of this spell. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, however, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Scholar Hrag the Pompous created this spell when his discovered his long- winded pontifications were being rudely ignored by fellow academics. He was soon removed from his comfortable post and sent to teach foreign literature in a remote whaling village along the north coast.

Hush

Upon casting the Hush spell, any abnormally loud sounds heard by the caster are damped to a comfortable level. Normal sounds can still be heard clearly, and this spell has no effect on the casters ability to hear faint sounds. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, all sounds are masked from the hearing of the caster.

Improved Ventriloquism

With this spell, the Sonimaster can overcome the limitations of the Ventriloquism skill, and broadcast his voice a greater distance without loss of effectiveness. The caster need merely mouth the words he is projecting, and they will be spoken at the target location. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Jhanna's Rumble

The Rumble spell creates a deep, reverberating noise throughout a cone- shaped area, creating a powerful effect much like an earthquake. This is most useful when the Sonimaster is trying to create an impressive disturbance. Much like the Earthquake spell in the Earth College, objects will be knocked over and people will need to hold on to something in order to remain standing. Any actions performed while this spell is in effect require a target to resist the vibration with their casual STR, or they have a -3 penalty to any roll they make requiring coordination or concentration. Since the caster is emitting the cone of sound, he remains immune to its effects. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster develops a nervous shake that lasts for several minutes.

Mimic

The Sonimaster can mimic almost perfectly the voice of any person he has listened to during some length of time. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the Sonimaster loses his voice for an hour.

Private Conversation

This spell allows the caster to converse privately with several other people inside a small radius without being overhead by prying ears. The sonimaster can adapt the spell to only include those individuals he wants to include in the conversation. If the magic skill roll is failed, the caster develops an annoying ringing sound in his ears and is unable to listen very clearly.

Sphere of Total Silence

The sonimaster can use this spell to create a 3" radius sphere of complete silence. Conversation is impossible within the sphere; powers requiring an incantation can not be used; and no sounds of any form can enter or leave the area. The sphere can be cast on a stationary location, or it can move with the spell caster. In the later case, this could place the Sonimaster at a significant disadvantage. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened by ringing in his ears.

Squeaky Shoes

The bane of burglars, this spell creates an area of floor that emits annoying squeaking noises whenever a creature heavier than a mouse attempts to cross. The spell remains in effect for a period of one full day. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Tintinnabulation

This subtle spell will create an annoying ringing sound that only the target can perceive. The noise will make it very difficult to focus on a task, and listening to a low sound will be all but impossible. Any action that requires concentration will require a successful EGO roll to maintain proper focus. Likewise, any hearing attempts by the victim will be at -3 to PER. If the caster should fail his magic skill roll, he will temporarily lose his hearing due to a loud ringing sound inside his head.

Trigger Message

When this spell is triggered, a disembodied voice repeats a sound made earlier by the caster. The trigger can be any event that can be observed by the normal senses. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

True Silence

This enhanced version of the Silence spell will also render the Wizard completely invisible to Sonar and other forms of sound detection. If the magic skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Ultrasound

This spell allows the Sonimaster to broadcast a tightly focused beam of ultrasonic sound that penetrates deep into any material. The reflected sound gives the caster a reasonably accurate picture of the interior of the material being observed. He can peer within mechanisms to see how they function, or look for injuries and malignant growths inside a being. The sound beam is extremely short ranged, however, losing most of its effectiveness after a few meters. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened by ringing in his ears.

Ultratalk

This little used spell allows the Sonimaster to hear and converse in the ultrasonic range. This can be useful when listening for sonar use, or when several Sonimasters need to converse in privacy. Normal humans will hear nothing beyond a slight high-pitched whining sound when the Sonimaster speaks. While this spell is in effect, however, the caster will be unable to hold a conversation in the normal hearing range. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Whispering Wind

The caster calls upon the spirits of the winds to carry a sound or message to a distant location. The message travels through the air at the rate of 30km per hour before being delivered at the destination. The sound can be up to five hours in length, but only the portion delivered before the charge runs out can be heard at the receiving end. If the Magic Skill roll is failed, the caster is temporarily deafened.

Spell Determination

To randomly determine the spells known to an experienced Sonimaster, use the tables of scholarly disciplines below. A master Sonimaster will commonly have several spells from a single primary school, plus a spell each from the other disciplines.