Ritual Groups
A ritualist must have at least fifteen points of ritual power available before he can perform a successful ritual.
This power can come from the ritualist's own skill, from contributors or from items as discussed below.
There is no theoretical limit to the number of points of contribution a ritualist may benefit from, however the inherent risks of focusing ritual power increase as the amount of power in the circle increases/
The physical size of the available ritual circle can also limit the number of contributors that can be used.
A ritualist may also benefit from up to half his personal ritual points (rounded down) in items that add to a ritual group's strength.
Occupation skill that increase the number of points of ritual skill held by a ritualist will not increase the amount of ritual power additions he can use; this figure is based entirely on the ritualist's innate ritual skill.
Ritual Circle
Rituals are carried out within a ritual circle.
This is a place of power where the barrier between the world and the void is greatly weakened or broken.
The flow of raw and uncontrolled magic that comes through these areas is blocked by shielding effect of the ritual circle.
This shielding normally fills the gap or weak area in the barrier and prevents the void from flowing through, which would have terrible consequences for anything or anyone in the area.
When a ritualist begins a ritual, he seals the circle.
This creates a magical ward from the circle up to the shield high overhead and the opens the circle and prevents those outside of the sealed area from coming to any harm.
Ritualists must then focus this power as they and their contributors draw it into themselves.
Unsealing the circle restores the overhead barrier and then opens the sides of the circle.
The order, in which a circle seals or unseals, cannot be changed.
A ritual circle will always seal its sides before opening the shield that protects it from the void and will always replace the protecting shield before it unseals its sides.
There are ritual circles all over Erdreja; many are active but many more are inactive or have been lost over the centuries and these can sometimes be rediscovered and reactivated.
Transport circles
Transport circles are very much like ritual circles, however they are less powerful.
By opening the barrier on a transport circle a ritualist may transport himself and any followers within the circle to any other ritual circle or transport circle in the world.
A transport circle cannot be sealed shut like a ritual circle therefore transport circles cannot be used to perform rituals.
Anybody with the skill ritual magic can activate a transport circle, or transport from a ritual circle and no contributors are required to do this.
If a ritualist attempts to transport to a sealed ritual circle he will be bounced to the nearest transport circle or unsealed ritual circle.
A maximum of sixteen people (fifteen and the transporting ritualist) may use a transport circle at any one time.
Ritual circles can be used to transport larger groups. A ritualist can only transport to a location he already knows of and he must state the intended destination before transporting. When using a transport circle, or transporting from a ritual circle, the ritualist should speak an appropriate vocal (for example 'by my power I transport all within this circle to [named location]') before transporting. All characters to be transported must be within the ritual or transport circle before the ritualist finishes his vocal or risk being left behind. If a ritualist attempts to transport more people than a circle can accept, the circle will reject the excess numbers, leaving people behind at random.
Ritual Marking
Rituals are marked on two main categories.
Firstly, the nature and intent of the ritual (including the way the performance and vocals fit with what is wanted) and secondly, the overall performance of the ritual group.
The marks achieved in these categories and the total strength of a ritual group are both used to determine the overall effectiveness of a ritual.
Exceptionally low scores can lead to the ritualist losing control and causing damage to himself or his ritual group.
Ritualists wishing to enquire about the procedure for booking rituals, or obtain more information on ritual marking, should ask at the Mages guild for more information.
Without a booked ritual slot you will not be able to perform a ritual.
A fixed number of ritual slots are available at the Faction Moots and the Gathering. Having the ritual magic skill does not ensure that you will be able to perform a ritual at an event.