SPIRIT BINDING
Spirit binding is a version of pact magic practiced on Chroma which may bind a living creature, either temporarily or permanently, with an Incarnum Spirit, to grant the living creature use of Incarnum power. Spirits have a variety of reasons to accept spirit binding pacts on their own, but mostly (especially spirits of a lesser nature) to directly feed off the emotions generated by their binder. Skilled spirit binders may learn to gain synergistic benefits from binding spirits, such as using the spirit's abilities to draw incarnum power from both souls of the pact.
To forge a spirit bind, a creature must first contact an Incarnum Spirit, whom must be within one alignment step, and then improve their attitude to friendly or better, although more powerful spirits will require an attitude of at least helpful. Forging a spirit bind requires a ritual requiring one minute, and unless one party agrees beforehand to allow the other control, an opposed Charisma check must be made to ascertain who retains control of the unified entity. Spirit bindings usually cannot be formed without willingful consent between both the binder and the spirit, although certain spellcasters and powerful spirits have learnt of spells to force another into a pact.
Upon a successful spirit bind, the creature (and whomever in control) gains the essentia pool and other Incarnum powers of the contracted spirit. Furthermore the creature may use its Charisma score or that of the bound spirit, whichever is higher, for all purposes except to maintain the bind. However, the limits of all Incarnum powers (e.g. maximum essentia investment, HD-based damage) is based on the HD of the bound spirit rather than the HD of the binder. Furthermore, the creature will also show certain changes in appearance which also reveal not only the existence but the nature of the spirit bind. These changes often involve a change in hair color and glowing eyes based on the color of the spirit bound, although more powerful spirits may involve more and/or unique alterations to appearance.
A spirit bind may be broken at will by the controller of the unified entity, or with a successful opposed Charisma check by the other soul, which may be attempted once per round if they so desire.Statistics: Posted by Zanaikin — Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:09 am
]]>