ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

The Sons of Ether operate on the principle that science (i.e. magic) must not only be correct, but also elegant and aesthetically pleasing. Science must be fun and exciting, and their rotes often appeal to the inner child. Many of their rotes involve creating new and unheard of forces and substances with exciting and unusual properties (thus most Sons have at least a 2 in Prime). This is not to say that their effects are harmless. While most Sons conduct their science along socially responsible lines (at least, as they understand the concept), an enraged Son is capable of dispatching the object of her wrath in any number of unpleasant and peculiar ways.

The Sons of Ether take their rotes very seriously and the majority of them are published, along with copious notes and test results, in Paradigma. Thus most Sons have at least an awareness of the rotes invented by other members of the Tradition. Failing to publish one's rotes is generally seen as a sign of a poor scientist. Despite this, most Sons hold one or two of their favorite rotes back from publication, in order to be able to surprise others. Thus, many Sons have developed the same rote, and they often accuse each other of stealing their ideas.

Another problem they frequently encounter is inter-Tradition paradigm clashes. While all Sons follow the basic principles of their Tradition, there is a wider latitude of belief within this Tradition than within any other. Occasionally two Sons will discover that their approach to science is so different that they cannot bridge the gap to understand each other's work. Fortunately, this is a comparatively rare phenomenon.

Chemical Shortcut (Matter 1)

The Sons of Ether employ a different version of the periodic table than do conventional scientists, which can only be expressed with a three dimensional model. This allows them to pay attention to properties that most scientists overlook, thus enabling them to produce surprising results in laboratories.

Each success reduces the difficulty on Science, Medicine, Pharmacology, Chemistry and similar rolls by 1, to a minimum difficulty of 3.

The Revised Periodic Table (Matter 2)

By following the Revised Periodic Table, a Son can subject any chemical to various processes and produce any other chemical he chooses, so long as he carefully monitors the reaction with his scientific meter. Students learn this as the first step in producing new elements and substances.

This transmutes simple substances into other simple substances. It also allows desperate Sons to make do without the proper chemicals in a pinch.

Crystallize Ether (Matter 2, Prime 2)

This is one of the most basic tricks in the corpus of Etheric science, but it has many uses. By generating an electric current on the proper wave band, the ether in an area can be crystallized into a hard substance which can be used as a barrier, bridge, or even a prison (crystallized ether is normally gas permeable, but if the bandwidth is correct, the prisoner may have trouble getting oxygen).

Each success gives the crystallized ether 2 'Health' levels and 1 soak die.

Dr Goldburg's Fabulous Aerating Pill (Matter 3, Prime 2)

This tiny white pill, usually sold alongside the Survival Pill in the Galactic Explorer's Survival Kit, provides oxygen in hostile atmospheres.

The pill provides a 24 hour supply of oxygen to the user, time-released inside the lungs, while simultaneously transforming toxic gases into harmless compounds released through exhalation.

Gratzium (Matter 5, Prime 2)

Doctor Wilhelm Gratz became tired of creating a different new substance every time he needed a different property, thus he invented Gratzium, a substance capable of demonstrating multiple properties simultaneously as need arises. Thus when his lab was raided by a group of Akashic monks who disliked his research methods, they first had to break down a Gratzium door with the tensile strength of diamond, and then had to contend with the soporific effects of gaseous Gratzium. He was able to escape by distracting them with an explosion caused when he irradiated a small lump of powdered Gratzium.

Each success on the initial role to create the Gratzium allows it to take on a single property specified by the Son at a later moment. Since these properties are revealed with statements like "Did I mention that liquid Gratzium is highly corrosive?", the effect is normally coincidental.

Controlled Reaction (Forces 3, sometimes Prime 2)

By limiting, canceling or directing the release of energy during chemical reactions, the Son can effectively negate or expand any reaction he chooses. The practical applications of this rote are endless, as the Sons are fond of demonstrating.

Forces 3 is necessary to limit or negate a reaction, while Prime 2 can be added to increase a reaction. Each success halves or doubles the energy in the reaction. 3 successes will prevent a reaction entirely. The exact effects are up to the Storyteller, but greatly increasing the energy in a reaction will of course produce an explosion.

Darklight Projection (Forces 3, Prime 2)

Professor Prion discovered that by mixing different frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum in the proper ratio, she was able to generate fields of darkness that propagate the way light does. Sadly, the rote is not attributed to her, because her rival Professor Klaxon saw her notes and published the effect before she did, but Prion had the last laugh when she realized that he had failed to read her note about the necessity of using Spectrumnal Imaging Goggles within the projection field.

The darkness produced by the rote is complete if more than 1 success is scored. Since the effect cancels out all other light waves, it cannot be penetrated by viewing on infrared or ultraviolet. But if the scientist thinks to view along the wavelength of darkness, he will be able to see normally.

The Silence Cannon (Forces 3, Prime 2)

Another discovery of Professor Prion, who has a fascination with negative forces, the Silence Cannon emits devastating blasts of counter-sound, which not only cause damage but also temporarily render a region free of all sound.

The Silence Cannon does normal Forces damage and renders an area silent for one round.

The Inertia Bomb (Forces 3)

Yet another creation of Professor Prion, this device converts motive energy into inertia, thus making movement impossible within the bomb's area for the duration of the effect. Among the bomb's various peculiar effects, falling objects are frozen in place.

Each success gives the region 2 dice of Strength for the purpose of immobilizing those within it. Anything attempting to move must overcome the effect's Strength with its own. This is generally vulgar.

Track Xenofauna (Spirit 1, Life 1)

The renowned xenobiologist Ferris Shu was dedicated to the discovery of previously undocumented life forms, and she employed this rote to help her find such creatures.

This allows the scientist to look through the Gauntlet into the Middle Umbra, thus spotting any Umbral creatures in the vicinity.

Etheric Probe (Corr. 2, Spirit 1 or 5)

By launching a remote probe into the Near or Deep Umbra, a scientist is able to explore the Umbra without leaving the safety of her laboratory.

This rote combines Correspondence Sensing with Umbral Sight.

Ectoplasmic Depolarization (Prime 2, Spirit 4)

The psychic researcher Prof. Ephemeris encountered many strange spiritual entities during his years of active research, and he eventually perfected this procedure to force disembodied consciousnesses to vacate the hosts they possess. This process depolarizes the ectoplasm which makes up a spiritual entity, thus reducing the entity's ability to influence human minds.

Each success grants the equivalent of 3 Willpower successes on an exorcism roll.

Phosphorescent Marker (Life 2, Spirit 1)

To aid her search for a mysterious creature living in the sewers of San Francisco, Ferris Shu released a large quantity of specially treated spores into the sewer system. These spores quickly matured into a fungus that produced an ultraviolet phosphorescence if they came into contact with any lifeform that was not native to the Tellurian, and thus she was able to locate the kappa that had gotten trapped on this side of the Gauntlet. Ferris employed a wide variety of effects based around simple lifeforms.

This is one example of the sort of effect that biologist Sons produce on a regular basis. They are generally tailored to one specific circumstance, but the basic principle is enormously flexible.

Dr. Goldburg's Wonderful Pan-Sufficient Survival Pill (Life 3, Prime 2)

Dr. Goldburg specialized in Umbral exploration and discovered many fascinating phenomena and strange lifeforms, until his ill-fated journey to Rigel 3, when a particularly strange lifeform discovered him. But his legacy lives on in the form of his many inventions to make planetary exploration easier. This tiny blue pill provides its user with complete nourishment for 1 day.

Reduction to Base Components (Life 5, Matter 3)

Doctor Amino developed a process which would enable him to reduce organic tissue down to its base elements, each separated out into a neat mass. He had intended to use it to smuggle endangered species into the country so he could examine them in a controlled setting, but the process saved his life when he was forced to use it on a New World Order agent who tried to apprehend him. To this day, the agent sits in a neat row of jars on Amino's shelf.

The rote is an all-or-nothing effect. It requires 5 successes, and if successful, the person is separated out into a variety of chemicals, and will remain so until the spell is reapplied. If the effect is unwoven by someone who doesn't possess the appropriately ranked spheres, the target will die.

Orgonne Dilation (Mind 3)

By Tristan Brandhorst. The pulp hero Professor Etheric spent much of his scientific energy in the study of the human body's vitalizing Orgonne energy. He discovered that by dilating the metacerebelic valves through which it flowed he could siphon the energy out of a person, thus sapping them of the will to resist.

This effect acts as a mental command to surrender by devitalizing the target and making them feel that resistance is pointless.

Temporary Inducement of Detangible State (Prime 2, sometimes Mind 1)

Another basic effect, this involves running an electric current of the proper frequency through any solid object, thus temporarily disrupting the object's tangible matrix, which in laymen's terms means making it desolidified briefly. The most common use of this effect is to allow a Son to escape imprisonment (a distressingly common situation). Thus Doctor Pangaea recommends to all the students in his Practical Science 101 course that they carry a hidden battery on their persons at all times for just such emergencies.

This rote is basically the same effect as Rubbing the Bones, except that it takes advantage of the target's momentary lack of existence. Thus restraints can be slipped out of. Mind 1 is sometimes added to enable the Son to calculate the moment of maximum detangibility, thus allowing him to run through a fluxing door before it reforms. Without Mind, there is a chance that the door would reform as the Son was passing through it — a highly unpleasant experience for all involved.

Disintegration Ray (Prime 4)

A favorite of the Sons of Ether during the 1950s, this device annihilates an object by draining it of all Quintessence.

This is identical to the Flames of Purification rote used by the Celestial Chorus. When it is complete, all that is left is a fine layer of granular matter.

Etheric Flux Jamming (Corr. 3)

This rote is widely employed by Sons to prevent rivals from spying on their research. It creates a zone of fluxed ether which causes interference on remote viewing and teleportation attempts.

This is a standard Warding rote.

Force Field (Corr. 3, Forces 3, Life 3, Matter 3)

This is the realization of the classic science fiction idea. This creates a barrier through which Force, Life and Matter patterns cannot pass. Since it is resistant to Forces, it manifests as a pale gray region that feels solid to the touch. Sound, vibrations and wave phenomena cannot pass it either.

Each success in creating the field offers 1 die of countermagic against attempts to breach the field magically. This effect is vulgar.

Chronal Energy Generator (Time 4)

Professor Reflux is justly pleased with this invention, which has enabled him to finish his experiments when his wife was demanding that he sit down to dinner immediately, as well as saving his life a few times. The Chronal Energy Generator literally creates time. He has also perfected a small, hand-held version that provides a similar, but less powerful effect.

The Chronal Energy Generator generates extra time within the field of its effect. Each success creates 1 hour of time for the scientist to use as he pleases. It is possible to cross into or out of the field, but doing so will cause damage equal to the number of successes. The Portable Chronal Energy Generator acts as the Time 3 effect "Time Dilation".