Caelene/InnerMaliceTurnedOutward

Inner Malice Turned Outward
Desire Circle Spell (Level 3)

The Good Master Malkin created this spell when he first ventured into Creation on his grand wandering as protection to all that would travel with him. The spell is centered on an immaculately carved statue (Assumption of Elemental Shape (Earth), Mad God Mien) of a male figure that is halfway through transforming into a horrid-looking beast; Malkin keeps this object on his person at all times. If someone outside of the caravan’s protections intentionally causes harm (i.e. attacks and deals damage) to a member of the caravan within a mile of the statue (Assumption of the City’s Heart), his virtues are drained and the Essence held within the statue (Heart-Stealing Kiss) and, unless protected from Shaping effects, his form warps and shifts into something of the master crafter’s own design (Behemoth-Forging Method). These mutations are permanent unless removed by magic; the mortal is also considered to be a fey beast and can be attuned to as such if their will is sufficiently broken. Depending on Malkin’s mood, the resulting mutations either make the foolish mortal useful to the caravan in some manner or warp them physically to the point of uselessness. The latter is normally reserved for those that have caused grievous harm to the caravan and its people, and these poor souls are left where they fall to eke out what life they can.

Sample mutation packages include:

• Beast of Burden – If a man is such a poor example of his species as to wantonly attack one under the care of the Fair Folk, then perhaps time as a member of another species will do him some good. As this package takes effect, the target loses his human form entirely, rearranging rather messily into a horse, yeddim, or other beast of burden; the only sign of their former state can be found in their all-too-human eyes. His human tongue is stilled but the mind remains to witness the horror of his current state; those men whose minds break under the strain become fine fey steeds indeed, relishing their untiring pace and extended lives as yet another hallmark of fae ingenuity. Malkin often uses these beasts to pull the wagons that make up the caravan, treating them kindly so they do not stray.
  • Mutations: Beast Form (4), Hooves (1), Longevity (1), Inexhaustible (2), Beast Speech (Debility – Reversal of Beast Speech Affliction; target can only speak in the ‘tongue’ of the form he now finds himself in. Retains understanding of whatever human languages he possessed beforehand, however) (2)
• Fragile Form – One of Malkin’s more common ‘corporal punishment’ methods, the target finds his body turning against itself, burning up more and more of its internal resources until he is little but skin and brittle bones. He must eat copious amounts of food to maintain what little strength he has left, and the looming threat of death by slowly shriveling into dust is foremost in his mind.
  • Mutations: Paucity (Deficiency – Reverse of Rotundity, lose 50% of mass through desiccation of muscle and fat; effects and penalties the same) (1), Fragile (2), Frail (1), Deterioration (Strength) (2), Slow Healing (2), Hungry (Debility version – requires 50% more food than normal) (2)
• Overabundance – In a rather dramatic reversal of the Fragile Form, the target’s body balloons out of control within moments, becoming more of a mound of flesh than a human being. Few are able to even stand once this curse takes its course, let alone move under their own power. There is one small blessing, though; the sheer thickness of the target’s mass offers significant protection to the more vital parts hidden within.
  • Mutations: Rotundity (Deformity - target gains 200% of mass without increase in height or strength; Dexterity is reduced by 4 (minimum of 1), Dash distance reduced to (Dexterity); -4 to Strength rolls where bulk becomes a hindrance) (4), Tremendous Bulk (Abomination – As Stone Body; Dexterity minimum is 1) (6)
• Ride the Rest Home – Although the bulk of the caravan’s numbers are fae, there are mortals among those who have come under Malkin’s care, and both fae and mortal have to eat in this shaped world. The target is reworked into an animal commonly raised for its meat; cows, pigs, or very large chickens are the most common. Thanks to the dramatic healing rate of beasts made by this spell, they can be harvested for meat, sinew, fat and other things on a regular basis. However, Malkin makes sure that any damage done to these beasts is not ultimately fatal so they can regenerate the removed parts and continue to serve.
  • Mutations: Beast Form (4), Perfect Healing Factor (6)