ShardsOfPower/BookOfFaces.tex

\documentclass[a4paper]{book}

%% Language and font encodings
\usepackage[english]{babel}
\usepackage[utf8x]{inputenc}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{fontspec}
\usepackage{anyfontsize}
\usepackage{bookmark}
\usepackage[dvipsnames]{xcolor}

\newfontfamily{\abess}{abess}[Extension=.ttf]
\newfontfamily{\goudy}{goudy}[Extension=.ttf,BoldFont=goudy-bold]
\newfontfamily{\lilith}{lilith}[Extension=.ttf]

\definecolor{spell}{HTML}{004E6D}

\usepackage[a4paper,top=3cm,bottom=2cm,left=3cm,right=3cm,marginparwidth=1.75cm]{geometry}

% \reach
% 	generates a reach mechanic for a Rote
% params
% 	#1 Reach quantity
% 	#2 Reach rules description

\newcommand{\reach}[2]{
	\textbf{+#1 Reach:} #2
}

% \arcanum
% 	generates a name for an Arcanum and a dot rating from a numerical value
% params
% 	#1 Arcanum name
% 	#2 dot rating

\newcommand{\arcanum}[2]{#1
	\newcount\dots
	\dots=#2
	$\loop
	  \bullet
	  \advance \dots -1
	\ifnum \dots>0
	\repeat$}

% \rote 
% 	generates a Mage: the Awakening rote
% params
%	#1 title
%	#2 arcana
%	#3 practice
%	#4 primary_factor
%	#5 withstand
%	#6 rote_skills
%	#7 rules text (include reach options)
\newcommand{\rote}[7]{
\subsection*{\textcolor{spell}{\huge{\lilith{#1 (#2)}}}}

\hspace{\parindent}\textbf{Practice:} #3

\textbf{Primary Factor:} #4

\def\temp{#5}\ifx\temp\empty
\else
	\textbf{Withstand:} #5
\fi

\textbf{Suggested Rote Skills:} #6

#7
}

\begin{document}
	\noindent
	\newgeometry{top=0cm, bottom=0cm, left=-0.5625cm, right=0cm}
	\parbox{\paperwidth}{\includegraphics[width=\paperwidth,height=\paperheight]{cover.png}}
	\restoregeometry

	\begin{center}
		\center\fontsize{72}{86.4}\abess The Book Of Faces
		\hfill\break\hfill\break
		\center\par\fontsize{30}{36}\goudy A grimoire of spells, Gifts, Disciplines, Contracts, and other anomalies, with anecdotes and exposition from their in-game authors
		\hfill\break\hfill\break
		\center\par\fontsize{24}{28.8}\goudy Written by members of the /cofd/ Discord, edited by NEETzsche
	\end{center}

	\chapter{\abess Introduction}

	\section{\abess Judging It By Its Cover}

	\goudy This tome is an Artifact-grimoire with certain special properties. It easily weighs about thirty or so pounds from all of the paper within it. It is leather bound with a very visible face on its cover and no title listed; each time people look away and take another look at it, the face on it changes. Upon opening it, it appears anachronistic and mixed. Most of the pages are merely old paper, but some of them are papyrus scrolls that have been glued into it, while others are cuneiform tablets, and some are even touch screens. Upon inspection of this tome, it's clear it should be much bigger, and much heavier, than it actually is. A quill pen is attached to it by a string. Even though a quill pen normally would only be used with ink-on-paper, it appears to also work as a tool to etch into the cuneiform tablets, as a stylus for the touch screens, and whatever else someone manages to find in this tome. Its contents change upon future viewings, making it feel like an endless sea.

	\section{\abess Exploring Its Contents}

	\goudy If one were to open it up and start reading, the content would make no sense. It simply cannot be understood. No amount of knowledge on High Speech, First Tongue, or whatever other language of supernatural origin seems to decipher it. However, he who possesses this book may inscribe their meaningful experiences into it. Mages can Scribe Grimoire (Mage: the Awakening, p. 166) into it, except not only is it Lasting, but they may also place their improvised spells in it as though they were Rotes. They may also write their anecdotes, philosophy and experiences within this book, as long as they are sufficiently meaningful. Other supernatural entities like vampires or werewolves may list in explicit detail their Gifts, Disciplines, Contracts or other traits.

	\goudy This action requires an hour of soul-searching, a successful roll on their equivalent Integrity rating, and a Beat. This Beat is consumed by the book; that Beat is gone forever.

	\textbf{Roll Results}
	
	\textbf{Dramatic Failure:} \goudy Same as failure, but in addition to this, the Book of Faces is offended at the player's arrogance. It emits a piercing roar that deals one point of Resistant aggravated damage to everyone in the room.
	
	\textbf{Failure:} \goudy The person attempting it gave the Book Of Faces dross. It gave it crap, nonsense. Emo scribblings and cockamamie shitposts. They do not get their Beat back; turns out, their life experience wasn't that useful after all. They may try again without penalty, but must sacrifice another Beat.
	
	\textbf{Success:} \goudy The content the character submitted is of actual value, and it is accepted, incorporated into its pages.

	\goudy If the roll succeeds, for the remainder of the scene, the character may at his discretion learn any of the Rotes (as long as they have the Arcanum prerequisites, and even if they were Improvised spells when they were put into the Book of Faces) and Disciplines, may have Gifts conferred upon them, and may enter into Contracts found therein. In mechanics terms, the character reads the Book of Faces extensively for a number of hours and spends their Experiences however they desire, focusing on the things they find most interesting. If they want to use the Book of Faces again in the future, they must make a second roll.

	\textbf{Exceptional Success:} \goudy The willworker not only gives it valuable information, but demonstrates they are particularly capable of learning. They gain a full Experience point, but it can only be spent learning things from the Book of Faces

	\chapter{\abess{Spells}}
	\section{\abess{\textcolor{spell}{Life Spells}}}

	\rote{Marionette}{\arcanum{Life}{2}}{Ruling}{Potency}{Stamina}{Medicine, Athletics, Expression}{Anything that lives, or successfully makes itself appear as though it lives, does so by calling upon the Supernal truth of the Primal Wild. The Shaman can control this life force as easily as a puppeteer controls a marionette on a stage. At the base level for the Duration of the spell the shaman can only command base life processes such as sleep, hunger, sweat, lacrimation, etc. Doing so may be obvious magic or an Act of Hubris depending upon the situation.

	\reach{1}{The shaman takes over direct control over the muscles and nerves of a life form, forcing it to perform any physical task the Shaman defines for the Duration. (e.g. dig a ditch through a minefield) If conscious, the subject is fully aware of the fact that their body is acting outside of their control. This may cause Dissonance by if the subject is a Sleeper. Their ability to voice their displeasure however may be limited.}

	\reach{2}{Threads can be plucked or they can be cut. At this level of control the Shaman can directly manipulate a life forms ability to survive. The shaman can stop hearts, cause organs to hemorrhage, nerves to misfire causing seizures, and so on. The only limit is the Shaman's wisdom. On this level, Marionette inflicts a single physical Condition determined by Storyteller. Such Condition may not be Persistent; after the spell expires, the Condition is lifted and subject returns to a normal physical state. Marionette does not inflict direct damage or instantly slay the target.}}

	\section{\abess{\textcolor{spell}{Mind Spells}}}

	\rote{Supernal Will}{\arcanum{Mind}{3}}{Perfecting}{Duration}{}{Empathy, Expression, Survival}{The mage taps into the deepest reserves of personal resolve and unleashes a tidal wave of conviction toward a single minded goal. When the target spends Willpower to go above and beyond what should be possible to achieve her goals, substitute her Resolve rating for the usual Willpower bonus. The spell cannot increase the subject’s Willpower bonus above her resolve.

	\reach{1}{If the roll gaining this benefit is contested, roll with 8-again}

	\reach{2}{For a point of Mana, the benefit of the spell may affect spellcasting.}}

	\section{\abess{\textcolor{spell}{Prime Spells}}}

	\rote{Read Obsession}{\arcanum{Prime}{1}}{Knowing}{Potency}{Composure}{Occult, Empathy, Politics}{All Willworkers work to achieve a higher calling. By means of this spell the Mage can learn what Truths the subject is trying to uncover. This spell reveals a number of Obsessions equal to Potency, starting with oldest.}

	\section{\abess{\textcolor{spell}{Spirit Spells}}}

	\rote{Dog Whistle}{\arcanum{Spirit}{2}}{Veiling}{Potency}{Subterfuge, Streetwise, Politics}{}{The mage says something with a double meaning in the First Tongue. To her intended audience, it means one thing, and to every other entity, it means something entirely different. The audience needs to be a specific entity. Attempts by spirits and other entities to pierce the deception is Withstood by the spell's Potency.

	\reach{1}{the caster can specify an entire category of entities as his target audience, like a spirit choir or werewolf Auspice.}}

	\section{\abess{\textcolor{spell}{Time Spells}}}

	\rote{Lying Clocks}{\arcanum{Time}{2}}{Veiling}{Duration}{Composure}{Subterfuge, Larceny, Science}{This spell twists the subject's sense of time. For the duration, the subject is unable to notice the passage of time except as intended by the Mage. Looking at clocks or other mundane methods to know the time is ineffective. Supernatural methods to know what time it is or to understand the passage of time provoke a Clash of Wills.

	When casting this spell, the Mage can decide if the subject thinks they have "a lot of free time", "really late" or "just in time" for an event or just as a general feeling.}

\end{document}