Sparks

Sparks
Terminology
Term Name:	Spark
Description:	Part of what animates life in the world of Illumina
Rule Type:	Character

Sparks are an important concept, central to the setting of Novitas. They have some mechanics players should be aware of.

Description

In the setting of Novitas the concept of a spark is of pivotal importance. Every even remotely complex lifeform native to Illumina has a spark, including many animals and plants. Even those animals and plants have a lesser version of a spark referred to as a glimmer. The difference between a glimmer and a spark is mostly academic, with the most popular theory being that a full spark is required for sentience.

In many ways a spark is required for life. It isn't a tangible object, though Mediums are capable of sensing the presence or absence of a spark. When sparks get damaged (through mystical means) the life sustained by that spark suffers with it. After death sparks can sometimes remain. Many believe that ghosts are sparks lingering on after it's associated life has ended. Undead are typically sparks clinging to dead bodies (sometimes their own, sometimes not).

There are some examples creatures that live but do not have sparks. Fae and elementals both fit most definitions of life and yet neither type of being possesses a spark.

It is commonly held belief that sparks go to 'The Well' after they depart. This is believed to be the domain of the Stranger where sparks are purified and before ultimately sent back with the Mother to bond with new life. There is some evidence to support this, but it is not something the average person has tangible experience with.

Kingdoms of Novitas was originally hosted at a Christian summer camp. The camp director there was actually a long time player. They requested that the game not ever deal with the concept of 'souls' and so the idea of a spark came about. This was not only an alternative, it eventually grew into some new territory.

Mechanics

All player characters have a spark. As long as a character has a spark healing effects work normally on that character. There are no special rules for having a spark, it's only when something happens to a spark that conditions apply.

Sparks can be damaged by some creatures and they can be stolen by the spell Reap Spirit. When a character takes a spark with the Reap Spirit spell they gain the Stolen Spark condition for the next hour while the character who lost their spark gains the Sparkless condition for that same hour.

All Mediums can detect conditions related to sparks. This is done by asking (OOG) while standing within arms length of the person being checked. That player is obligated to tell the correct answer. If the character has no conditions related to sparks, they should reply that they have a spark (assuming they do) and that it is normal/ healthy.

When an NPC takes the spark of a player character they should always remain in play for the full time period they are holding the spark to allow that player's allies opportunity to regain it. Sitting around for an hour with no chance of being healed is not generally considered a fun experience.

The Final Rest ritual can be used to send a spark to the Well forever, resulting in permanent character death.

The Sparkless Condition

A character without a spark gains the Sparkless condition. This can only be fixed by returning that character's spark to them. A spark naturally returns to its owner after an hour, ending this condition. Some very rare effects can hold a spark longer than an hour. A player using one of these abilities will notify the victim who's spark is being taken at the time it happens if this is the case.

If for some reason they do not already have it, taking someone's spark always gives the Torso Wound condition and the Dead condition. This cannot be prevented if a spark is taken.

For as long as the character has the Sparkless condition: Wound conditions cannot be removed and body points may not be healed.

If a Medium checks, this character's spark they will automatically detect this condition.

The Damaged Spark Condition

When a spark becomes damaged it will remain that way until something that specifically repairs the exact cause of the damaged spark is used. Typically this is a reversal of whatever created the Damaged Spark condition in the first place.

Characters with the Damaged Spark condition are immune to Restoration magic. That generally means they are dependent on alchemical healing effects to fix wounds and body damage.

If a Medium checks, this character's spark they will automatically detect this condition.

The Stolen Spark Condition

A character with the Stolen Spark condition has taken the spark of another individual, typically through the Reap Spirit spell. A character can only have this condition once, unless another ability specifically allows them to carry more sparks. Attempts to take additional sparks fail automatically, but can still might take place to meet kill conditions.

Diagnosis does not reveal the Stolen Spark condition.

If a Medium checks this character's spark they will automatically detect this condition, but they will not know who the stolen spark belongs to.

This condition may not be ended voluntarily. There are only three ways to end the Stolen Spark condition: time (1 hour), if the person with the Stolen Spark condition is killed (gaining the Dead condition, or help from a Medium trained in returning sparks to their owners. When any of these circumstances take place this condition immediately ends and any held sparks are returned. This can sometimes lead to strange situations where a player is physically no where near the player who's spark was taken. Player's should collaborate to relay that information as quickly and efficiently as possible so that the victim becomes aware they no longer have the Sparkless condition.

Spark Destruction

Some creatures, such as Kazvaks, are capable of completely destroying sparks. This works like the Sparkless condition, except the spark cannot ever be returned: it has been destroyed. This almost always means the character is dead forever and must be retired.

As a result, these creatures are taken much more seriously than others. You can identify such creatures because when they use abilities that might destroy a spark they will start counting aloud loudly something like 'Destroying Spark 1, Destroying Spark 2', etc.

Categories: Gameplay Rules | Combat Rules | Conditions