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This is the third part in the series of random Generator Tables for Magical Rituals in the Ghastly Affair RPG. See The Ghastly Magical Ritual Generator | Part 1: Rituals of Evocation for more instructions on how to use the tables.
Using the Magic Ritual Generators with Games Other Than Ghastly Affair
Although intended for use with Ghastly Affair, the Generator Tables could certainly be useful for creating Magical Rituals for other rules sets (particularly other OSR games). The key would be classifying the desired Spell or effect using the Ghastly Affair’s Seven Magical Spheres system. If your chosen system doesn’t define the power of Spells or magical effects using a Level system, just decide how powerful you think the Effect is on a scale of 0 to 5, and roll the appropriate die on the Tables (as indicated below).
A Brief Explanation of Ghastly Affair’s Seven Magical Spheres
- An Evocation summons a being (such as a Spirit or Fairy), or else creates Undead servants. “Standard” OSR spells that would fall into this Sphere include Animate Dead, Conjure Elemental, and Insect Plague.
- A Fascination alters feelings, perceptions, or behaviors. “Standard” OSR spells that would fall into this Sphere include Charm Person, Sleep, and Charm Monster.
- A Malediction directly harms Recipients, or causes destructive changes in the environment. “Standard” OSR spells that would fall into this Sphere include Magic Missile, Fireball, and Lightning Bolt.
- A Blessing aids, improves, or protects a Recipient. “Standard” OSR spells that would fall into this Sphere include Cure Light Wounds, Protection From Evil, and Neutralize Poison.
- A Glamor creates illusions, or purely illusory changes. “Standard” OSR spells that would fall into this Sphere include Phantasmal Force, Mirror Image, and Invisibility.
- A Divination increases knowledge or predicts the future. “Standard” OSR spells that would fall into this Sphere include Read Languages, Detect Evil, and Contact Higher Plane.
- A Transmutation transforms the environment or Recipients in non-lethal ways. “Standard” OSR spells that would fall into this Sphere include Light, Water Breathing, and Polymorph Self.
Malediction Ritual Generator
- A Magical Ritual’s Level is is the same as that of the equivalent Pact or Preternatural Power, whichever is higher.
- For a 0 Level Ritual, roll a d4 on each table.
- For a 1st Level Ritual, roll a d6 on each table.
- For a 2nd Level Ritual, roll a d8 on each table.
- For a 3rd Level Ritual, roll a d10 on each table.
- For a 4th Level Ritual, roll a d12 on each table.
- For a 5th Level (or higher) Ritual, roll a d20 on each table.
|
Die Result |
The Ritual lasts,… |
|
1 – 10 |
Just a minute,… |
|
11 – 12 |
10 minutes,… |
|
13– 15 |
20 minutes,… |
|
16 – 17 |
30 minutes,… |
|
18 |
40 minutes,… |
|
19 |
50 minutes,… |
|
20 |
1 hour,… |
|
Die Result |
..and is to be performed… |
|
1 – 4 |
whenever desired… |
|
5 |
any time during the day… |
|
6 |
any time at night… |
|
7 |
between noon and sundown… |
|
8 |
between sundown and midnight… |
|
9 |
between midnight and dawn… |
|
10 |
on an odd-numbered day of the month… |
|
11 – 12 |
during a waning moon… |
|
13 |
on a Tuesday… |
|
14 |
on a Saturday… |
|
15 |
in twilight (either dawn or sundown)… |
|
16 |
when the star Aldebaran is visible in the night sky… |
|
17 |
when the star Arcturus is visible in the night sky… |
|
18 |
when the star Antares is visible in the night sky… |
|
19 – 20 |
when the star Algol is visible in the night sky… |
|
Die Result |
…by [1d3] Ritualist(s)… |
|
1 – 2 |
under the open sky,… |
|
3 – 4 |
standing in front of a mirror,… |
|
5 – 6 |
in a dark chamber,… |
|
7 – 8 |
standing atop a mountain or hill,… |
|
9 – 10 |
within a circle drawn on the ground,… |
|
11 |
in or near a slaughterhouse,… |
|
12 – 13 |
on the site of a battle,… |
|
14 |
on the site of a murder,… |
|
15 – 16 |
next to a blasted tree,… |
|
17 – 18 |
in a graveyard,… |
|
19 – 20 |
in a tomb or catacombs,… |
|
Die Result |
…(each) wearing… |
|
1 – 3 |
nothing in particular,… |
|
4 |
wolf or dog fur,… |
|
5 |
a necklace of bones,… |
|
6 |
a medal of Saint Michael the Archangel,… |
|
7 – 8 |
any article of red clothing,… |
|
9 |
a specially inscribed parchment around their neck(s),… |
|
10 |
a prayer to God inscribed on a parchment scroll,… |
|
11 |
a hair shirt,… |
|
12 |
an iron crown,… |
|
13 – 14 |
a red chasuble or robe,… |
|
15 – 16 |
no clothing,… |
|
17 |
no clothes, but smeared with ashes,… |
|
18 |
no clothes, but smeared with blood,… |
|
19 |
a ruby,… |
|
20 |
the face of an executed man,… |
|
Die Result |
…while they (each)… |
|
1 |
burn an inscribed candle… |
|
2 |
make strange signs with their hands… |
|
3 |
tie knots in a cord… |
|
4 |
trace signs in the air with a forked branch of hazel wood… |
|
5 |
write their desire on virgin parchment… |
|
6 |
manipulate a small doll… |
|
7 – 8 |
wrap a cord around their arm… |
|
9 |
rub themselves with dirt from a grave… |
|
10 |
beat a drum… |
|
11 – 12 |
hold a human skull… |
|
13 – 14 |
cut themselves… |
|
15 |
tattoo themselves with a small sigil… |
|
16 |
drink grave dust dissolved in water… |
|
17 |
draw a design on parchment in blood… |
|
18 |
shave their head… |
|
19 – 20 |
sacrifice a dog… |
|
d20 |
…and… |
|
1 – 3 |
spit on the ground,… |
|
4 – 5 |
scream,… |
|
7 – 8 |
stamp on the ground,… |
|
9 |
whistle,… |
|
10 |
spin around until they fall down from dizziness,… |
|
11 |
burn a piece of virgin parchment inscribed with a symbol,… |
|
12 |
bury or hide a small scroll inscribed with odd symbols,… |
|
13 – 14 |
hold a human femur bone,… |
|
15 |
burn a consecrated Communion wafer,… |
|
16 – 17 |
take holy water in their mouth and spit it on the ground,… |
|
18 – 19 |
flog themselves,… |
|
20 |
anoint themselves (or the Recipient) with the fat of a hanged man,… |
|
Die Result |
…as they say… |
|
1 |
their desire five times. |
|
2 |
apparent nonsense. |
|
3 |
a prayer to a Planetary Angel of Mars. |
|
4 |
a prayer to God in corrupted medieval Latin. |
|
5 |
a prayer to God in corrupted Hebrew. |
|
6 |
a prayer to God in corrupted Arabic. |
|
7 – 8 |
absolutely nothing (and must remain absolutely silent). |
|
9 |
one of the “Imprecatory Psalms”. |
|
10 |
a strange poem. |
|
11 |
a strange poem in old Norse. |
|
12 |
a prayer to god Nodens. |
|
13 |
a prayer to the god Mars. |
|
14 |
a prayer to the god Tyr. |
|
15 |
a prayer to Pan. |
|
16 |
a prayer to the Fairy Queen Mab (also known as “The Queen of Air and Darkness”). |
|
17 |
a prayer to the Arch-devil Abbadon. |
|
18 |
a prayer to the Arch-devil Abbadon. |
|
19 |
a prayer to Satan. |
|
20 |
a prayer to Death. |
|
Die Result |
As a Drawback, the Ritual causes… |
|
1 |
a Ritualist to suffer 1 point of temporary Strength damage. |
|
2 |
a Ritualist to suffer 1 point of temporary Constitution damage. |
|
3 |
a Ritualist to suffer 1 point of temporary Dexterity damage. |
|
4 |
a Ritualist’s Perversity to increase by 1 point. |
|
5 |
1d3 points of Lethal Damage to a Ritualist. |
|
6 |
1d3 points of Lethal Damage to a Ritualist. |
|
7 |
1d6 points of Lethal Damage to a Ritualist. |
|
8 |
a Ritualist’s Perversity to increase by 2 points. |
|
9 |
a Ritualist to suffer 2 point of temporary Strength damage. |
|
10 |
a Ritualist to suffer 2 points of temporary Constitution damage. |
|
11 |
a Ritualist to suffer 2 points of temporary Dexterity damage. |
|
12 |
a Ritualist to make all Saving Throws with a 1 Point Penalty for a month. |
|
13 |
a Ritualist’s nearest relative to suffer an unexpected calamity. |
|
14 |
the death of the favorite (or most valuable) animal a Ritualist owns. |
|
15 |
the death of a Ritualist’s next child. |
|
16 |
horses to bolt from a Ritualist for one month. |
|
17 |
dogs to hate and become aggressive to a Ritualist for one month. |
|
18 |
one of a Ritualist’s Social Contacts (or friends) to turn against them. |
|
19 |
a Ritualist to attract the attention of a zealous Demon Hunter or Inquisitor. |
|
20 |
a Ritualist to suffer a randomly determined Affliction for a week. |
The Engine of Oracles 