Sympathy for the Enemy

Sympathy for the Enemy Mystic Proficiency [Stamina] 600 hours Double learning difficulty

This curse is the height of sympathetic magic, as well as the Golden Rule in action (do not do unto others…). After an initial three-minute ritual, this spell will inflict damage dealt by the target against a particular foe back upon themselves—the victim receives a saving throw against physical curse-magic at a 15 to avoid this effect. The sorcerer must continue speaking this spell (skill check every round) while focusing on the target (who receives the saving throw each round. All this is quite distracting—all other actions are at a -6 for the mage. The maximum damage that may be re-dealt is equal to the caster's skill level. While the spell can re-inflict damage upon only a single chosen target, that target—or the protected beneficiary—may be changed at the end of a round with only a two-round preparation provided the total casting is continuous. No redirection of damage occurs during this transition period. In an example of this spell in action, Demetrius the Uncensored wishes to aid his companion, Galena, against the bandit-lord Lee Te. His Killian opponent fails the saving throw (15) so all damage that he inflicts against the Formourian warrioress is felt by the bandit-lord. Thus if he strikes with his naginata against Galena for 6 points of damage, he will feel the pain of his own flesh ripping as he also receives 6 points of damage; that is, he will if Demetrius the Uncensored knows this spell to at least level VI, otherwise the damage will be less. Note that this is a skin-to-skin effect, and damage is returned as an equal vector—only damage that penetrates the protected individual's armour is returned, and the cursed one's armour does not protect at all. Distance is not a factor, but damage type is: smashing, hacking, stabbing, falling, or burninating attacks are returned in kind, but damage that is not kinetic or thermal is not redirected.