"Mana From Heaven" is from Manna From Heaven, a 2003 collection of Roger Zelazny's short stories The difference in spelling between the short story's title and the name of the collection (i.e., 'mana' versus 'manna') was intentional. Manna From Heaven (the collection) is perhaps best known to fans of the 'Amber' series as the place where all of Zelazny's 'Amber' short stories were finally collected together under one cover.
"Mana From Heaven" (the short story) tells the story of a group of modern-day sorcerers on planet earth (or "shadow earth," from the perspective of my campaign). During the course of the story, it is revealed that these sorcerers are the descendants of priests and magicians from ancient Atlantis.
Spells can be cast much more quickly using Atlantean sorcery than they can be using the 'normal' sorcery described on pages 60-65 of the Amber Diceless roleplaying game; Atlantean spells cast on shadow earth don't require the use of lynchpins, and even when cast elsewhere they only require the "Name of Current Shadow" lynchpin, allowing Atlantean sorcerers to unleash magic in a blistering rapid-fire attack. At the same time, though, Atlantean sorcery also consumes a rare form of magical energy called mana, severely limiting the amount of magic that an Atlantean sorcerer can fire off before replenishing their mana supply. This makes Atlantean sorcery simultaneously more powerful and less powerful than the type of sorcery that Amber characters typically dabble in. Compared to a typical sorcerer from Amber or the Courts, Atlantean sorcerers pack a wicked first punch, but against characters from Amber or the Courts they won't generally have much to back that first punch up with after it's been thrown.
There are only three sources of mana that an Atlantean sorcerer can utilize in their magic. First, they can absorb the ambient energy of places or situations which they have a personal thematic affinity with; for example, the Atlantean known as "Priest" can absorb ambient mana from large Gothic cathedrals, while "Werewolf" absorbs ambient mana whenever he is exposed to moonlight from a full moon. Second, Atlantean sorcerers can store energy in mana receptacles, items which are also thematic to their personal style of magic; "Priest" has a crucifix and rosary which are mana receptacles, while "Werewolf" uses a silver bullet pendant worn around his neck. Finally, all Atlantean sorcerers can absorb ambient mana from the annual Perseid meteor shower in August.
In addition, each Atlantean sorcerer also has a limited form of shape shifting which allows them to adopt one alternate form which is also appropriate for their style of magic. "Priest" can tranform himself into a golden winged archangel, while "Werewolf" can adopt the form of a fearsome half-man, half-wolf beast. When in their preferred magical forms, Atlantean sorcerers absorb mana energy more quickly, and their magic consumes mana energy more slowly, but their avatar forms cannot be maintained for very long.
Don't read any further if you haven't read the short story and don't want to know any spoilers!
In addition to the Atlantean sorcerers listed below, "Mana From Heaven" also mentions Atlanteans named Gnome, Lady, Lamia, Siren, and Sprite (Zelazny makes it clear that there are many others). The evil Gnome is killed over the course of the story, shortly after revealing that he had transformed Lamia into a block of charcoal-- leaving the protagonists to speculate about whether she could be restored to life.
Corwynn Llewellyn ("Druid") [25 Points]
PSYCHE [Chaos Rank]
STRENGTH [10 Points]
ENDURANCE [Chaos Rank]
WARFARE [Chaos Rank]
Atlantean Limited Shape Shift [20 Points] - White Stag
Mana Sorcery [10 Points] - Mistletoe Grove Affinity
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Silver Sickle
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Wooden Bowl
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Stone Pendant
Druid mostly keeps to himself, but is generally on good terms with other Atlanteans.
Dave Mason ("Phoenix") [25 Points]
PSYCHE [15 Points]
STRENGTH [Chaos Rank]
ENDURANCE [Human Rank]
WARFARE [Amber Rank]
Atlantean Limited Shape Shift [20 Points] - Phoenix
Mana Sorcery [10 Points] - Volcano Affinity
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Belt Buckle with Basalt Glass
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Lava Stone Pendant
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Watch Band with Volcanic Rock Inlay
Phoenix lives in a human city and is more integrated in human society than many Atlanteans, which is why Gnome schemed to create a conflict between him and Werewolf. He is generally well-liked by other Atlanteans.
Elaine Davis ("Dancer") [0 Points]
PSYCHE [Chaos Rank]
STRENGTH [Chaos Rank]
ENDURANCE [Human Rank]
WARFARE [Human Rank]
Mana Sorcery [10 Points] - Performing Arts Affinity
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Bone Flute
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - String of Pearls
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Silver Bracelet
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Key Ring
Djinn in empty bottle of Cutty Sark [37 Points]
* "Exalted" Vitality [16 Points]
* Engine Speed [4 Points]
* Tireless, Supernatural Stamina [4 Points]
* Invulnerable to all Conventional Weapons [4 Points]
* Psychic Resistance [1 Point]
* Regeneration [4 Points]
* Limited Shape Shift [4 Points]
GOOD STUFF [3 Points]
Dancer is a normal human who had been dating Phoenix for a while when Gnome attacked him and took her hostage. After spending time in Atlantean society, she quickly gained the knack of Atlantean sorcery, leading Phoenix to speculate that she herself had some Atlantean blood in her ancestry. At this time she has not developed the Atlantean shape shifting ability. She has earned her second kyu in the human martial art of Kyokushinkai.
Her attack Djinn in an empty scotch bottle is something of a magical hand grenade, because its destructive magical energies will be released if the glass is ever broken. It originally belonged to Dervish.
Father McManis ("Priest") [25 Points]
PSYCHE [Chaos Rank]
STRENGTH [Chaos Rank]
ENDURANCE [Chaos Rank]
WARFARE [Amber Rank]
Atlantean Limited Shape Shift [20 Points] - Archangel
Mana Sorcery [10 Points] - Cathedral Affinity
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Crucifix
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Rosary
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Silver Chalice
Like Phoenix, Priest lives in human society and is opposed to the idea of an Atlantean uprising.
Sam Lidell ("Cowboy") [25 Points]
PSYCHE [Chaos Rank]
STRENGTH [Chaos Rank]
ENDURANCE [5 Points]
WARFARE [Amber Rank]
Atlantean Limited Shape Shift [20 Points] - Pecos Stallion
Mana Sorcery [10 Points] - Herd Animal Affinity
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Bolo Tie
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Turquoise Ring
Cowboy and Werewolf are the most outspoken opponents of those who believe that the Atlanteans should seize power and enslave normal humans.
Ines Delgado ("Amazon") [25 Points]
PSYCHE [Chaos Rank]
STRENGTH [Amber Rank]
ENDURANCE [Chaos Rank]
WARFARE [15 Points]
Atlantean Limited Shape Shift [20 Points] - Feathered Serpent
Mana Sorcery [10 Points] - Spilled Blood Affinity
Amazon is known primarily for her martial prowess. Her views on matters of Atlantean superiority aren't known, but she isn't overly fond of humans or modern human civilization.
Sayed Fasil ("Dervish") [50 Points]
PSYCHE [50 Points]
STRENGTH [Human Rank]
ENDURANCE [Human Rank]
WARFARE [Human Rank]
Atlantean Limited Shape Shift [20 Points] - Whirlwind
Mana Sorcery [10 Points] - Oil Field Affinity
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Ceremonial Dagger
Invisible Assassin [41 Points]
* "Exalted" Vitality [16 Points]
* Rocket Velocity [16 Points]
* Tireless, Supernatural Stamina [4 Points]
* Invulnerable to all Conventional Weapons [4 Points]
* Shadow Trail [1 Point]
BAD STUFF [-1 Point]
Dervish is a schemer and master manipulator, and an undeclared enemy of the pro-human faction. Many suspect him of working with Gnome to pit Phoenix against Werewolf as part of Gnome's plot to keep everyone distracted while Gnome seized control of shadow earth. At this time nobody knows whether Dervish is content with things as they are now, or whether he has already manipulated other allies into attempting their own power grab.
Wolfgang Walford ("Werewolf") [25 Points]
PSYCHE [Chaos Rank]
STRENGTH [20 Points]
ENDURANCE [15 Points]
WARFARE [Chaos Rank]
Atlantean Limited Shape Shift [20 Points] - Werewolf
Mana Sorcery [10 Points] - Full Moon Affinity
Mana Receptacle [5 Points] - Silver Bullet Pendant
Werewolf was in love with Lamia and was deceived by Gnome to believe that Phoenix had killed her. Because Werewolf and Cowboy were opposed to the idea of Atlantean supremacy over humans, Gnome wanted them both to be embroiled in conflict with other Atlanteans while he grabbed power himself. Werewolf is on good terms with Phoenix and Dancer now, and has preoccupied himself with restoring Lamia to life.
No comments:
Post a Comment