Quendalon/DragonsPearl
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Rite of the Dragon's Pearl
With this legendary technique, an occultist channels the energies of an untamed Demesne through her own body, causing a jewel akin to a Hearthstone to grow upon her forehead. This jewel, known as a dragon’s pearl or soul stone, has all of the magical properties of a Hearthstone, though it draws solely on the ambient Essence and is in no way dependent upon the state of the original Demesne.
The rite itself requires access to an untamed Demesne of at least level 3, and yields a dragon’s pearl whose Hearthstone level must be at least two below that of the Demesne. The magician spends a number of weeks equal to the stone’s level constructing an elaborate geomantic pattern of stones, water, flames, plants and mirrors to channel the Demesne’s Essence, and then meditates in the center of the pattern for another full week per level of the stone while the Essence does its work. Building the pattern requires an Intelligence + Lore roll with a difficulty of the desired Hearthstone power's level, while the meditation requires a Stamina + Lore roll with a difficulty equal to the level of the Demesne.
The dragon’s pearl appears as a gleaming jewel protruding from the character’s forehead, embedded in the skull so that it cannot be removed without cutting it from the bone. Additional uses of the ritual may be used to add additional powers to the stone, which grows in size with each ability gained until it becomes an orb of shining, opalescent crystal as large as a man's palm.
The ritual is fraught with danger; it involves channeling raw elemental Essence through one’s body and mind, and mistakes can be fatal. Botching the drawing of the pattern inflicts one or more Wyld defects, debilities or deformities upon the occultist, while botching the rite itself inflicts a number of unsoakable aggravated health levels equal to the total levels of Hearthstone powers invested in the stone, which shatters irretrievably. But even success brings its share of troubles, as the dragon’s pearl is as obvious as an active Solar caste mark and draws the same sorts of unpleasant attention. Few mortals will know the difference between a dragon’s pearl and an Anathema's caste mark.
Comments
With the advent of the Player's Guide, this becomes a thaumaturgic ritual, possibly rooted in the Science of Geomancy. I'll give it a once-over at some point to see if it could do with a rewrite. - Quendalon
What are the effects re: caste mark if a Solar performs this ritual, or if someone who has a dragon's pearl in their noggin Exalts? -Okensha
