Copyright © 2001 by Robert J. Hall

Introduction

Adepts of this college use their intimate knowledge of primal forces of life to create, mutate, and ultimately enhance living things. They serve as the magical antipode to the practice of Necromancy, whose dark skills they abhor. Despite this conflict, Vivimancers are equally loathed by most good folk because of the abominations they have created and the child monstrosities for which they are often blamed. Hence, Vivimancers are rarely found in civilized places, instead preferring to rule their remote nature enclaves with an iron will.

Because life is inherently chaotic, the practice of Vivimancy has risks for the adept. Whenever a spell from this college is improperly applied, the Vivimancer suffers a primal backlash from the life force. While this backlash may sometimes prove beneficial, more often than not the adept will mutate into a less capable life form. These mutations include bodily growths, new limbs, changes in skin, bone, and organs, enhancements or loss of senses, and even a complete mutation into an entirely new life form. Such mutations have a horrific effect on the appearance of the Vivimancer, so these wizards are rarely seen without heavy green robes.

Due to the inherent conflicts between the two magical forms, Vivimancers are prohibited from employing the powers of Necromancy, and vice versa. Spells cast from the college of Vivimancy are accompanied by a healthy yellow-green glow, a fresh smell of plant growth, and a sound like a thousand tiny life forms crawling through the dirt. However, Vivimancy will never function on barren ground, such as desert sand, a field of snow, or land blighted by evil.

Typical Disadvantages: Gestures (-1/4), Incantations (-1/4), Requires (Magic) Skill Roll (-1/2), Casters must have at least 30 points in spells from Vivimancy College (-3/4), OAF - various life-related objects (-1/4), Limitation: does not work on barren ground (-1/4), Side Effects (2d6 Cumulative Minor Transform: Caster mutates) (-1/2).

Due to the abhorrent nature of these spell, this college is unsuitable for use by heroic characters. Vivimancers are rarely encountered outside their enclaves, and the acknowledgement word of their secret existence will be occasional rumors, most of which are quite implausible.

Com'neal, the Basin of the Vivimancer

Deep within the rugged mountains of this range is a secluded forest basin that is home to the Vivimancer Baroness Yardley. Merely accessing this well hidden valley is a difficult task, as the route has no worn trails and meanders through rugged terrain with many pit-falls and obstacles. The basin is home to a unique spring of life force that gives rise to towering trees and many unique life forms found nowhere else.

This strong life force has allowed Baron Yardley to bend the wildlife in the basin to his will, adding defenses and unique organisms that serve his whims. At the core of this refuge is a huge tree that bears many of the intelligent aspects of an Ent, although it is quite immobile. Baron has shaped the interior of this immense tree to form many chambers in which she can dwell and continue her studies.

The great tree is the center of a village of forest elves who dwell in harmony within the basin, and provide protection to the Baroness. Hanging bridges and tree houses sprout within the heights of this forest, and the elves rarely have need to even travel down to the forest floor in order to fulfill their need.

In addition to the elves, the Baroness has other defenses designed to hinder and drive away invaders. Her sanctuary is ringed by a dense wall of thorn trees that create an all but impermeable barrier to outsiders. Within the ring of trees is an area of swampy woodlands that is patrolled by Ogre-like, half-animal half-plant creations known as the Sentinels. These have been specially bred by the vivimancer for this purpose.

Adventure hooks

• A Vivimancer was hired by the local noble to aid his wife in bearing a child. Unfortunately the Vivimancer discovered that the child was flawed and he used his magic to attempt to heal the crippled infant. When the child was born, it was discovered to be a monster that lived for only a few weeks. When the child was banished, the Vivimancer was banished from the land and was relentlessly pursued by assassins.
• For a lengthy dark fantasy campaign outline involving the vivimancer Krepine Wold, click here.

Basic Spells

Hemorrhage

Upon completing this spell, the Vivimancer can inflict bleeding wounds deep inside the body of the target creature. While not immediately fatal, these hemorrhages can continue to bleed unchecked and may ultimately render the victim unconscious or worse. The blade of a chirurgeon is required to cast this spell.

Living Shield

The outer flesh of the Vivimancer begins to thicken and grow a hard, segmented shell. This chitinous outer mass will protect the Vivimancer from most attacks. A live insect is required to serve as the model for the hard exoskeleton.

College Spells

Abomination

The spell for which the Vivimancers are infamous, Abomination will allow the caster to experiment upon the form of a child within a womb. These mutations are usually simple changes, such as an extra arm, stubby legs, asymmetrical face, and so on. A live animal egg is consumed during the casting of this spell. Note that while this spell can be used to cause birth defects, it can also be used to cure the same - a fact that is rarely brought up by lay persons.

Advance Rot

This spell will create a yellow-green cone that accelerates the rotting of dead flesh. Tiny scavenger organisms in the target area have their life force greatly sped up. As a result, any dead matter within the cone will rapidly decay into fine dust. This spell will operate on any dead animal or plant matter, but will not further decay already rotted matter such as dirt. The rot has absolutely no effect on living matter, including freshly cut wood and seriously ill but still living creatures. It will also fail to operate in a sterile environment, such as a pure vacuum. Casting this spell requires a handful of mulch.

Ancestral Form

An interesting effect that has been the subject of much experimentation in the living laboratories of the Vivimancer, this spell will cause the ancestral traits of the subject to express themselves. The target will quickly revert to a more primitive life form at some point along the chain of evolution. For example, a human could revert to an ape, a tree shrew, or a simple amphibian. Variations of this spell exist for different species, each spawning separate ancestral forms. A live egg is required to complete this spell. Ancestral Form is also known as the Devolution spell.

Animate Living

The Vivimancer can use his intimate knowledge of living matter to control the actions of a life form. This animation will override the normal bodily control of the target, but it can be resisted. Due to this natural resistance of the life form, the Vivimancer will only have crude control of the subject. A pair of tongs are required to manipulate the target creature.

Bone Snap

When experimenting with life forms, the Vivimancer may need to arrange body parts to create new structures. This spell will snap apart a bone or exoskeleton, allowing the caster to easily separate the surrounding tissues without causing extensive damage. A hammer is needed to complete the spell cast.

Create Homonoculus

The Vivimancer use this lengthy ritual to create these useful creatures for use as servants or spies. The Homonoculi are created with a built in chemical dependency that only the Vivimancer will know how to satisfy, allowing the mage to maintain control over their creation. Constructing such a creature requires a specially prepared vat of organic fluids that must be monitored throughout the spell casting process. This requires the almost constant attention of the Vivimancer, so any major disturbances will almost certainly ruin the ritual. Once the creature has been created, the Vivimancer will still need to train it on the tasks to be performed.

Diagnosis

By carefully laying on hands, the Vivimancer can sense the subtle currents of living energy within an organism. This spell allows the caster to detect any flaws within this energy flow, and use his knowledge of anatomy to diagnose ailments. The effectiveness of this spell is limited by the physical knowledge of the Vivimancer, so an experienced adept will use every opportunity to learn more of the physiological makeup of his subjects. A pair of soft gloves made from natural materials is required for this spell.

Dwarfism

This curious spell will cause the individual cellular components of a life form to shrink in size, causing the creature to become permanently dwarven in stature. The clothing and equipment of the target will remain at their normal size, however, so they will probably need to be abandoned. A piece of flesh from a dwarven member of any animal species is required to complete this spell. This spell can only be applied once to any specific individual, but the effects can be neutralized by means of the Gigantism spell.

Eternal Life Force

By drawing upon his own primal nature, the Vivimancer can enhance his recuperative powers and make himself immune to the effects of normal diseases and aging. This spell is especially difficult to learn, but once mastered it will guarantee the adept an exceedingly long and healthy life. A live chrysalis is consumed in the casting of this spell.

Gigantism

The Vivimancer can use this spell to activate the properties of an organism that cause the growth factors to express themselves. The subject doubles in size and their mass increases to eight times normal. The clothing and equipment of the target will remain at their normal size, however, so they will probably need to be abandoned. A piece of flesh from a giant member of any animal species is required to complete this spell. This spell can only be applied once to any specific individual, but the effects can be neutralized by means of the Dwarfism spell.

Graft Flesh

The Vivimancer can use this spell to extract a strip of flesh from one being and attach it to another. This fleshy patch can be used, for example, to heal a deep gash or a burn. Naturally, the subject providing this patch will also suffer a deep wound when the flesh is removed, so this spell is primarily used for healing an ally at the expense of a foe. A blade of a chirurgeon is required to cast this spell.

Graft Limb

This spell can be used to graft the limb from one creature onto another. This limb can be from any living organism that is on the same scale of the target creature. That is, the limb of a squid could not be grafted onto a squirrel, but it could be attached to a Great White Shark. The recipient of the graft will still require some time to learn how to use the new limb.

Graft Sense Organ

A most useful spell under certain circumstances, this allows the Vivimancer to attach a live visual organ to the target creature. The subject must already possess sight in order to use the new organ, but the additional eye does bestow a wider field of view.

Immunize

By magically accelerating the immune system, the Vivimancer can greatly aid the subject in fighting a disease. While this spell can eliminate symptoms of an ailment, it does nothing to heal the damage that has already been inflicted. This spell is particularly exhausting to cast, and requires the full attention of the Vivimancer. A bone or ivory needle is required for this spell.

Jaws and Claws

The subject of this bizarre spell will grow an extended jaw that is lined with fangs. The nails will also lengthen and sharpen into iron- hard claws. As a result, the subject is able to attack much like a beast by biting and clawing his targets. While the Vivimancer is paying the full energy cost needed to maintain the spell, the target will still have to expend additional effort to use his newfound arsenal. A vial of fresh blood is required for this spell.

Living Wall

Tiny spores of plant matter in the target area are mutated by this spell, forming a solid wall of tough living matter. This fibrous barrier can be maintained almost indefinitely, as long as proper care is taken. The wall usually requires natural daylight for at least four hours per day, and watering once per week. If the wall is attacked steadily, it can be beaten down by a determined foe. Creating this wall requires a handful of dirt.

Mutate Self

This spell can be used to temporarily mutate the Vivimancer's own body into an entirely new life form. This form will not be fertile, however, and he will revert back to normal once the energy cost is no longer being maintained. Nevertheless, the Mutate spell is a core component of the Vivimancer's repertoire, and he will often use this ritual to try out new life forms. A live animal egg is consumed during the casting of this spell.

Numb

Despite their reputation, few Vivimancers are actually cruel and they prefer to perform their experiments without adversely affecting their patients. This spell will allow the caster to numb the flesh in the area where the Vivimancy will be performed, allowing the operation to take place without causing undue pain and distress. A vial of rubbing alcohol is required to cast this spell.

Ooze

Microscopic organisms in the target area expand to many times their normal size, and become a pile of semi-transparent ooze that will seize any victims within its grasp and begin digestion by means of a powerful acid. The ooze is incapable of movement, however, so any creatures who escape the grasp of the organism are safe from attack.

Raging Emotions

This spell will allow the Vivimancer to adjust the chemical balance within the mind of the subject, inducing a powerful emotional state that will often induce extreme behavior. While the victim is within this emotional flux, his reactions are governed by primal forces that are difficult for a rational mind to control. However, the raging emotions may have unintended consequences, so the caster will need to take care that he is protected during the outburst. In addition, the victim is incapable of experiencing an emotional state that his mind is normally unable to create. A vial of tears is required to cast this spell.

Sense Life Force

With this spell, the Vivimancer has the ability to sense even minute quantities of life force under less than ideal conditions. Life will appear with an eerie green aura that assumes a form which can give a knowledgeable caster certain knowledge about the entity. However, his spell will not function for spirits, undead, automata, or corpses.

Small Vision

This spell will focus and narrow the vision of the Vivimancer to such an extent that he can readily view organisms that are much too small to see with normal sight. Once so focused, the caster can use his magical abilities to modify the form of any microbes he can view. While useful for experimenting on benign organisms, however, the Vivimancy will need to take care that he does not produce a toxic life form. A clear, symmetrical crystal is required for this spell, which is used to focus the vision of the caster.

Transplant Organ

When the internal organs of a Vivimancer eventually begin to fail due to age, he can use the following spell to transfer a fresh new organ from a donor to his own body. Of course, this transplant will most likely prove fatal to the donor, so a suitable sacrifice must be obtained prior to casting this spell. The blade of a chirurgeon is required to cast this spell.

Unique Spells

Spawn Life

The ultimate spell of a master Vivimancer, this ritual can be used to create an entirely new life form out of simple clay. In many cases, however, this life will not prove to be viable, and several attempts will be required before success is achieved. Even if a successful form is created, it it is not likely to prove capable of self-perpetuation or even survival. However, such is the toil of the Vivimancer, and he must persevere in order to produce a successful lineage.

Unclean One

The Vivimancer can use an animated framework, such as a skeleton or golem, and graft on a living sheath that will give the being the appearance of a true life form. This covering must be provided with nutrients and water, however, or it will wither and drop from the body. A large pot or tank full of primordial life forms is required for this spell, such as pond scum, mold, or fungi. This living soup must then be gradually heated until the material is separated into its basic components.

Spell Determination

To randomly determine the spells known to an adept of the College of Vivimancy, use the tables of scholarly disciplines below. An experienced Vivimancer will have a broad repertoire of spells from the many schools, with a particular emphasis on a primary discipline.