It seems I wrote up the beginnings of a system for using sephiroth as techniques of Meditation to give bonuses to ritual magic. I seem to have failed to continue after the first three...
Any ideas for finishing it?
Etz Chaim (Tree of Life)
Before using kabbalah rituals, the kabbalist can attempt to prepare himself by entering a sephirah which has a connection with the magic he wants to work. If he successfully manages that, he enjoys a bonus to certain types of magic. If a ritual falls under more than one category assisted by a sephirah, use only the highest bonus which applies for that sephirah.
Entering the sephiroth uses the Meditation skill and can benefit from Breath Control, Religious Ritual (Judaic) and Theology (Judaic). Add +1/2 of the margin of success or failure for each supporting skill to the Meditation roll. Eath attempt to enter a sephirah takes an hour. The Time Spent rules affect this normally.
It is possible to enter more than one sephiroth in sequence. This can be done consequentially, with each hour representing the entry into one sephirah. In that case, no special modifiers apply and a failure at any stage merely has the consequences given for that sephirah. On the other hand, entering more than one sephiroth can also be done in a much faster sequence, taking no more than the normal hour (this can be reduced further with Time Spent rules). In that case, the success roll is the sum of all the penalties of the sephiroth being attempted, with an additional -1 penalty per sephirah beyond one. If the correct sequence is followed, that -1 penalty is negated by the +1 for maintaining the proper order.
If the kabbalist has entered more than one sephiroth, he uses the sum of all modifiers granted by them when he performs rituals in that state. These bonuses are subject to the maximum of +15 for ritual magic.
No matter how a sephirah or sephiroth are entered, the kabbalist can maintain the effects as long as he maintains concentration. If he takes any action other than Concetrate or if he is wounded or otherwise distracted, he must make a Will-3 to retain the effects of the sephiroth.
Malkuth (Shekhinah)
Average
Default:Meditation.
Prerequisite: Meditation; cannot exceed
prerequisite skill+4.
“The Kingdom” is the root sephirah, tied not only to matter and
to elemental earth, but to the material Earth. Its entrance is a
chamber, deeply hidden somewhere on the material world, but
most travelers enter even Malkuth astrally.
Entering Malkuth gives +1 to rituals which affect the material world,
including rituals that affect the kabbalist‘s own physical body.
Failure to enter Malkuth has no negative effects, beyond wasting the
time spent on Meditation.
Yesod (Iesod)
Hard
Default:Meditation-2.
Prerequisite: Meditation 12+; cannot exceed
prerequisite skill.
“Foundation” – here referring to structures underlying the visible,
not to the physical act of founding – relates to the subconscious.
It’s a realm of hidden passages, hissing pistons, and levers;
the motors of the world. Its ever- turning, unmappable nature
reveals its ties to air; its deep purple light shines down through a
million gratings and kaleidoscopic skylights from the sphere of the
Moon.
Yesod is entered after Malkuth and a kabbalist who is in Malkuth while
he attempts to enter it receives a +1 bonus to his Meditation roll.
Entering Yesod gives a +3 to rituals relating to the kabbalist‘s own
subconscious and dreams. It gives a +2 to rituals involving the dreams
of others. Finally, rituals involving either fertility or understanding of
machinery receive a +1 bonus.
When a kabbalist attempts to enter Yesod, he delves into his subconscious.
This exposes him to true knowledge of himself. As humans live their lives
in a cloud of protective self-delusion, such clear vision can be dangerous.
A failure on the skill check results in a roll on the Awe and Confusion Table
(GURPS Powers, p. 85), using the Confusion entries. If the kabbalist is prey to
dark urges or terrifying repressed memories (determined by the GM with
referenceto mental disadvantages), this roll can instead be a Fright Check,
possibly with negative modifiers.
Hod
Hard
Default:Meditation-4.
Prerequisite: Meditation 12+; cannot exceed
prerequisite skill.
“Splendor” shines from orderly lines and figures drawn within
an infinite latticework of deep orange cloth- of- bronze, shot
through with fractal, threaded patterns. The patterns ultimately
resolve into the gateway to the sphere of Mercury. It holds the nodal
point where the four elemental corners meet, somewhere at its center,
and relates to intellect, logic, and language.
In the normal sequence, Hod is entered after Yesod. A kabbalist who
has entered Yesod therefore receives a +1 to enter Hod.
When working rituals that relate to rationalism or intellectual analysis (History,
Perfection of the Soul, See the True Face, Thicken the Walls of the World),
Hod gives a +3 bonus. For anything relating to knowledge or astral travel,
it gives a +2 bonus. Any ritual that makes use of language receives a +1 bonus.
Netzach (Nizah)
“Victory” hangs in space, a pillar of cloud and storm lashing an
emerald- green sea, powerfully tied to water and related to emotion.
Across its waves lies the sphere of Venus.
Verb: Control.
Tiphareth (Rahamin)
“Beauty” is suffused with a golden lambency, and relates to balance
and moderation. Guarded by lions, it resembles ancient
savannas. Its dry, shimmering heat denotes its fiery nature; its golden
light emanates from the sphere of the Sun.
Verb: Heal.
Other Associations: Balance; Wholeness.
Geburah (Pechad, Din)
“Severity” appears as an arsenal of iron chariots; the weapons,
walls, and armored figures all glow with ruddy fire. It relates to violence
and destruction (which can be used for good, but must be controlled).
Obviously, it’s associated with Mars.
Verb: Weaken.
Other Associations: Strength; Justice.
Chesed (Gedulah)
“Mercy,” the sephirah of generosity and protection, appears as a
brilliant blue temple mirrored in blue airy skies. It abuts the sphere
of Jupiter.
Verbs: Protect/Guard; Warn.
Other Associations: Love.
Binah
“Understanding” is crucially concerned with comprehension. It
can be seen as a black cave full of rich food smells. It touches the
sphere of Saturn. Deep within it are the true spring of elemental
water and the lush cornucopia of elemental earth.
Verb: Communicate.
Other Associations: Femininity.
Chokmah (Cochma)
“Wisdom” – related to the most basic of insights – resembles a
rainbow star field, a mosaic of all colors. It comprises the entire
zodiac, and is the root of elemental fire and air that form the fixed
stars.
Verb: Sense.
Other Associations: Masculinity.
Kether
“The Crown” comes closest to the Godhead, and manifests
as a brilliant white light. Relating to perfection and the
infinite, it’s the “Primum Mobile” above all planetary
spheres, the unification of all the elements.
Verb: Create.
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What do forumites think ought to be the stats and effects of the remaining sephiroth?