An Orb and a Crown

Because the magus may not always be on hand to speak the command word, he may want to instill linked triggers in the devices to activate their powers. Even though a linked trigger is attached to another power instilled in an item, it is still a second effect, requiring the construction of an invested item. An invested item is not limited by the number of powers it has, but by its shape and material. Several of the necessary effects for creating a living corpse can be instilled in the same invested item.

These two sample devices contain all the spell-like effects necessary to create a living corpse, except for the ritual spell that is required to summon the ghost. The gold orb binds the summoned ghost within it. The crown animates the corpse and passes control of the animated corpse to the bound ghost. Both invested devices have a magically linked trigger, so that the primary effect can be activated through conditional factors rather than by a spoken command word. As they are designed to capture and bind a more powerful ghost, the Penetration has been increased accordingly. The two devices detailed here might be enchanted by a magus with an egotistical personality, fashioning the living corpse as the king of the dead.

An Orb for the Spectral Sovereign

ReMe 52

Pen: 30, Constant Effect R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Room

A hand-sized gold globe is instilled with the spell Imprison a Ghost in a Vessel (see earlier), which captures a ghost inside it. The power activates when triggered by the linked spell, Detect the Presence of the Spectral Sovereign.

(Base 5, +1 Touch, +2 Sun, +2 Room; +1 frequency, +3 environmental trigger, +3 linked trigger, +15 penetration)

Required Lab Total: 1 season (104), 2 seasons (78), 3 seasons (70), 4 seasons (65)

This effect costs 6 pawns of vis.

Detect the Presence of the Spectral Sovereign

InVi 49

Pen: 30, 2 uses per day R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Room

This effect detects the presence of a specific ghost, which is determined during the creation of the invested device. Every sunrise and sunset this power activates, constantly scanning the room the invested device is touching for a specific ghost. If the spell-like effect detects the ghost and penetrates its Magic Resistance, this effect activates the device's primary power and binds the ghost within the gold globe.

(Base 5, +1 Touch, +2 Sun, +2 Room; +1 2 uses per day, +3 environmental trigger, +15 penetration)

Required Lab Total: 1 season (98), 2 seasons (74), 3 seasons (66), 4 seasons (62)

This effect costs 5 pawns of vis. Combined with its primary power, these effects costs 11 pawns of vis. A hand-sized gold orb can hold a maximum allotment of 20 pawns of vis (gold material 10 x 2 Size small).

A Crown for the Sovereign's Host

This gold crown rests atop the corpse's head. It has three powers, The Rising of the King, The Anointing of the King, and Perceive the Presence of Magic.

The Rising of the King

ReCo(Me) 37

Pen: 0, Constant effect

R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Ind

When activated, this spell-like effect causes the corpse to stand, using the spell Animate the Slumbering Corpse. The effect's default command is, "Stand up."

(Base 10, +1 Touch, +2 Day, +1 Mentem requisite; +1 frequency, +3 environmental trigger, +3 linking trigger)

Required Lab Total: 1 season (74), 2 seasons (56), 3 seasons (50), 4 seasons (47)

This effect costs 4 pawns of vis.

The Anointing of the King

MuVi 48

Pen: +30, 1/day

R: Touch, D: Mom, T: Ind

This effect casts Passing the Reigns of Corpus, which allows the ghost to control the animated corpse.

(Base effect 25 (to affect a level 30 Corpus effect), +1 Touch; +3 linked trigger, +15 Penetration 30)

Required Lab Total: 1 season (96), 2 seasons (72), 3 seasons (64), 4 seasons (60)

This effect costs 5 pawns of vis.

Perceive the Presence of Magic

InVi 24

Pen: 0, Constant effect

R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Room

This spell detects if magic of the sixth magnitude or higher (level 30) has recently been cast in the targeted room. Its intent is to notice when the spell-like effect, An Orb for the Spectral Sovereign, is activated, at which point it will activate its two linked powers in the crown. There is a chance that it notices other spells. If so, it activates its linked powers and the corpse is again animated. Since the corpse is already animated, there is no visible effect.

(Base 3, +1 Touch, +2 Sun, +2 Room; +1 frequency, +3 environmental trigger)

Required Lab Total: 1 season (48), 2 seasons (36), 3 seasons (32), 4 seasons (30)

This effect costs 3 pawns to instill. Combined with the previous two powers, it costs 12 pawns to animate the corpse. A gold crown has 20 available slots for vis (gold material [10] times small size [2]).

All five spell-like effects could be instilled within a single item, which would need to be able to contain 23 pawns of vis. Remember that the previous examples will work against a ghost whose Magic Might is lower than 30. A more powerful ghost will require a binding spell with higher Penetration, which will increase the number of pawns needed to enchant the device.