Travel Spells
● Travel Into Fantasy:
○ Color: Dark purplish-magenta
○ Glyph: Two stick figures with joined “hands” sharing a large thought bubble
○ Requires: An entrance ticket – anything from a used train ticket to a simple slip of paper stating the companion wishes to go on a trip. The caster’s companion hands it to the caster, who rips it in half as he or she casts the spell. The caster and the companion must also hold hands while on the trip. Very experienced/powerful casters, especially ones who frequently use this spell with a friend, can substitute swapping and holding onto a pair of gloves, though this increases the failure rate.
○ Effect: Allows the caster to enter the mind of another person and visit one of their dreamworlds. Both caster and their travel companion fall unconscious for the duration of the spell as they transverse the mental landscape. The spell ends whenever either decides to leave, if one of them should “die” in the dreamworld, or after eight hours, whichever comes first. While the dreamselves can be hurt, injuries sustained in the dreamworld don’t transfer to the real body, although sometimes people complain of feeling “phantom pain” upon awakening – this usually fades after a minute or two. The pair can be moved or have things done to them in the unconscious state, although separation or major injury done to either body ends the spell and wakes both participants.
○ Visuals: None besides the caster and companion falling unconscious.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None.
● To Go Wither You Will (Transylvanian Transport Spell):
○ Color: Brownish-orange
○ Glyph: Two jagged half-circles facing each other, with three parallel horizontal lines between them
○ Requires: A bird egg (any sort except raven – they’re used exclusively for the Slip Through The Veil. Using a raven’s egg will either cause the spell to fail or – in the case of those particularly gifted or on Halloween – accidentally send the travelers to the Land of the Dead!). The location the caster and any companions wish to travel to is written on the egg, then the egg is cracked as the caster concentrates on the location. The travelers must stand next to each other, and be holding any luggage/personal effects they wish to take with them. (Many casters find it helpful to mark out an area for everyone to stand in.)
○ Effect: Allows the caster to travel, either alone or with one or two companions, from one location to another near-instantly. The caster must know the exact name of the town/city/what-have-you he or she wishes to visit (e.g., “Whitechapel, East End, London, England” will work, “that field I saw once in Oxford” will not). If no specific area in the chosen location is selected (such as a particular street or house), the spell will deposit the caster and any fellow travelers on an empty patch of pavement/grass as close to the center of the area as possible, while simultaneously rendering them invisible for three minutes so they may blend into the crowds. Can only be cast by someone with exceptional magical abilities.
○ Visuals: A brownish-orange fog billows out from the egg and covers the caster and any companions, shrouding them from the world briefly before depositing them where they wish to go.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None.
● Slip Through The Veil (Ukrainian Haunting Spell):
○ Color: Smoky, swirling yellow-grey
○ Glyph: A half-circle with a jagged edge on top and two short straight vertical lines extending from either side of that edge
○ Requires: A raven’s egg, the fresher the better. The egg is cracked by the caster as he or she concentrates on the other land they wish to visit. Experienced casters with sufficient power can combine this with the To Go Wither You Will, writing a specific location on the egg to send travelers to that location. It’s tricky, though, and most people generally elect to wait for Halloween, when most of the restrictions are lifted.
○ Effect: Allows the caster to transverse the veil separating the Land of the Living from the Land of the Dead, or send someone else through it. A Dead traveler will appear above his or her own grave (unless the spell is altered or cast on Halloween); a living traveler will appear in the Downstairs equivalent of wherever he or she cast the spell. The traveler remains on the other side of the veil until a magical codeword is spoken (chosen by caster) or until the next sunrise, whichever comes first. Multiple people (up to four) can be sent by this spell, but they all go back upon someone saying the codeword. Travelers return to the exact spot they left when they first cast the spell. Can only be cast by someone with exceptional magical abilities – except on Halloween night. Years of belief that this time is when the spirits of the dead reenter the world of the living have actually thinned the veil during that period. From sunset on Halloween to sunrise on All Saint’s Day (November 1), anyone can use the spell, and they can travel to wherever they wish without needing the help of To Go Wither You Will (they merely need to concentrate on the desired location). You can still only transport four people maximum, though.
○ Visuals: A billowing yellowish fog emerges from the egg and covers the travelers for a moment, transporting them instantly to the other side of the veil before dissipating.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None, but one special incident of the spell being altered outside of “no restrictions Halloween” deserves mention:
- Emily Cartwell, after being murdered by her fiancee, vowed so strongly that she would wait for a husband to come set her free that she activated a form of spontaneous magic that ended up having some similar elements to Slip Through The Veil. Upon being proposed to, she would rise from her grave long enough to claim her husband, and then both would be transported to the Land of the Dead. The new husband would not be subject to the usual time limit because of his new “marriage” – the magic would trick the Land into thinking he belongs there by altering his aura to contain the “dead” coloration.
- After Emily was set free by Victor Van Dort, the magic contained in her vow continued to be active on him. Victor’s aura now contains both living and dead base colors, meaning both realms accept him as a resident. As a result, while Victor doesn’t have the magical capability to cast the spell himself, he is no longer subject to any of the time limits associated with it. This has both a positive side – he can visit Downstairs for as long as he wants with no ill effects – and a negative one – he also can’t leave unless someone takes him back by casting the spell on both of them. (Saying the codeword only works if the person saying it is physically holding onto him.)
● Tearing The Veil Asunder:
○ Color: Smoky swirling flame-yellow
○ Glyph: Two sideways jagged half-circles facing each other with a stick figure and two wavy horizontal lines between
○ Requires: A raven’s egg (fresher the better) and a phoenix feather. The egg is cooked in the flame of the feather for five minutes before being cracked. Participants are advised to stand in as close a group as possible, holding on to any luggage/personal effects they’re planning to bring. Everyone must concentrate intently on the place they wish to end up to avoid being dumped in a random spot/left behind.
○ Effect: Allows the caster to transport large groups of Dead (five and up) to the Living World, and vice-versa. A sort of combination of Slip Through The Veil and To Go Wither You Will, the group appears wherever they wish to go, regardless of their location Downstairs or Upstairs. Individual members of the group may choose to appear in different places if they so wish, though everyone must appear in the same general area (e.g., the same town or city). They remain on the other side of the veil until they choose to return via wishing themselves back while opening any door, or until the next sunrise, whichever comes first. Individual people can leave before the time limit without affecting the rest of the group. People leaving via doorway can return to their home realm wherever they wish to be. People leaving via the sunrise time limit return to the exact spot where the spell was cast. Can only be cast by someone with exceptional magical abilities (and the ability to get their hands on phoenix feathers).
○ Visuals: A bright yellow fog covers the caster and all fellow travelers, then transforms briefly into harmless flames before depositing them on the other side of the veil.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None.
● Observe What Once Was:
○ Color: Glowing yellow-blue
○ Glyph: A Y-shape in a box
○ Requires: A true dragon scale, a quarter of a cup of hourglass sand, and a piece of bread or bread dough. The scale is ground up into the sand, then both are either sprinkled onto or baked into the bread. This is then eaten by the caster while he or she concentrates on the time period they wish to see.
○ Effect: Allows the caster to observe up to a hour’s worth of events in the past, up to a limit of 100 years before their birth. The caster witnesses the events as if he or she were a ghost in the area – able to pass through walls and other solid objects, but unable to interact with anyone or change anything that happens. The caster can travel any place he or she wishes during the hour (limited only by his or her natural running speed), but can only visit one time period per casting. While in the past, the caster’s body falls comatose and cannot be awoken by any means except by causing severe trauma, which will call the caster back early to defend himself or herself. The spell only works twice per day, and is only available to the most powerful of casters.
○ Visuals: The caster is surrounded by a glowing yellow-blue aura before falling unconscious. While in the past, the caster is a transparent version of themselves with a faint yellow-blue glow.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None.
○ Color: Dark purplish-magenta
○ Glyph: Two stick figures with joined “hands” sharing a large thought bubble
○ Requires: An entrance ticket – anything from a used train ticket to a simple slip of paper stating the companion wishes to go on a trip. The caster’s companion hands it to the caster, who rips it in half as he or she casts the spell. The caster and the companion must also hold hands while on the trip. Very experienced/powerful casters, especially ones who frequently use this spell with a friend, can substitute swapping and holding onto a pair of gloves, though this increases the failure rate.
○ Effect: Allows the caster to enter the mind of another person and visit one of their dreamworlds. Both caster and their travel companion fall unconscious for the duration of the spell as they transverse the mental landscape. The spell ends whenever either decides to leave, if one of them should “die” in the dreamworld, or after eight hours, whichever comes first. While the dreamselves can be hurt, injuries sustained in the dreamworld don’t transfer to the real body, although sometimes people complain of feeling “phantom pain” upon awakening – this usually fades after a minute or two. The pair can be moved or have things done to them in the unconscious state, although separation or major injury done to either body ends the spell and wakes both participants.
○ Visuals: None besides the caster and companion falling unconscious.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None.
● To Go Wither You Will (Transylvanian Transport Spell):
○ Color: Brownish-orange
○ Glyph: Two jagged half-circles facing each other, with three parallel horizontal lines between them
○ Requires: A bird egg (any sort except raven – they’re used exclusively for the Slip Through The Veil. Using a raven’s egg will either cause the spell to fail or – in the case of those particularly gifted or on Halloween – accidentally send the travelers to the Land of the Dead!). The location the caster and any companions wish to travel to is written on the egg, then the egg is cracked as the caster concentrates on the location. The travelers must stand next to each other, and be holding any luggage/personal effects they wish to take with them. (Many casters find it helpful to mark out an area for everyone to stand in.)
○ Effect: Allows the caster to travel, either alone or with one or two companions, from one location to another near-instantly. The caster must know the exact name of the town/city/what-have-you he or she wishes to visit (e.g., “Whitechapel, East End, London, England” will work, “that field I saw once in Oxford” will not). If no specific area in the chosen location is selected (such as a particular street or house), the spell will deposit the caster and any fellow travelers on an empty patch of pavement/grass as close to the center of the area as possible, while simultaneously rendering them invisible for three minutes so they may blend into the crowds. Can only be cast by someone with exceptional magical abilities.
○ Visuals: A brownish-orange fog billows out from the egg and covers the caster and any companions, shrouding them from the world briefly before depositing them where they wish to go.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None.
● Slip Through The Veil (Ukrainian Haunting Spell):
○ Color: Smoky, swirling yellow-grey
○ Glyph: A half-circle with a jagged edge on top and two short straight vertical lines extending from either side of that edge
○ Requires: A raven’s egg, the fresher the better. The egg is cracked by the caster as he or she concentrates on the other land they wish to visit. Experienced casters with sufficient power can combine this with the To Go Wither You Will, writing a specific location on the egg to send travelers to that location. It’s tricky, though, and most people generally elect to wait for Halloween, when most of the restrictions are lifted.
○ Effect: Allows the caster to transverse the veil separating the Land of the Living from the Land of the Dead, or send someone else through it. A Dead traveler will appear above his or her own grave (unless the spell is altered or cast on Halloween); a living traveler will appear in the Downstairs equivalent of wherever he or she cast the spell. The traveler remains on the other side of the veil until a magical codeword is spoken (chosen by caster) or until the next sunrise, whichever comes first. Multiple people (up to four) can be sent by this spell, but they all go back upon someone saying the codeword. Travelers return to the exact spot they left when they first cast the spell. Can only be cast by someone with exceptional magical abilities – except on Halloween night. Years of belief that this time is when the spirits of the dead reenter the world of the living have actually thinned the veil during that period. From sunset on Halloween to sunrise on All Saint’s Day (November 1), anyone can use the spell, and they can travel to wherever they wish without needing the help of To Go Wither You Will (they merely need to concentrate on the desired location). You can still only transport four people maximum, though.
○ Visuals: A billowing yellowish fog emerges from the egg and covers the travelers for a moment, transporting them instantly to the other side of the veil before dissipating.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None, but one special incident of the spell being altered outside of “no restrictions Halloween” deserves mention:
- Emily Cartwell, after being murdered by her fiancee, vowed so strongly that she would wait for a husband to come set her free that she activated a form of spontaneous magic that ended up having some similar elements to Slip Through The Veil. Upon being proposed to, she would rise from her grave long enough to claim her husband, and then both would be transported to the Land of the Dead. The new husband would not be subject to the usual time limit because of his new “marriage” – the magic would trick the Land into thinking he belongs there by altering his aura to contain the “dead” coloration.
- After Emily was set free by Victor Van Dort, the magic contained in her vow continued to be active on him. Victor’s aura now contains both living and dead base colors, meaning both realms accept him as a resident. As a result, while Victor doesn’t have the magical capability to cast the spell himself, he is no longer subject to any of the time limits associated with it. This has both a positive side – he can visit Downstairs for as long as he wants with no ill effects – and a negative one – he also can’t leave unless someone takes him back by casting the spell on both of them. (Saying the codeword only works if the person saying it is physically holding onto him.)
● Tearing The Veil Asunder:
○ Color: Smoky swirling flame-yellow
○ Glyph: Two sideways jagged half-circles facing each other with a stick figure and two wavy horizontal lines between
○ Requires: A raven’s egg (fresher the better) and a phoenix feather. The egg is cooked in the flame of the feather for five minutes before being cracked. Participants are advised to stand in as close a group as possible, holding on to any luggage/personal effects they’re planning to bring. Everyone must concentrate intently on the place they wish to end up to avoid being dumped in a random spot/left behind.
○ Effect: Allows the caster to transport large groups of Dead (five and up) to the Living World, and vice-versa. A sort of combination of Slip Through The Veil and To Go Wither You Will, the group appears wherever they wish to go, regardless of their location Downstairs or Upstairs. Individual members of the group may choose to appear in different places if they so wish, though everyone must appear in the same general area (e.g., the same town or city). They remain on the other side of the veil until they choose to return via wishing themselves back while opening any door, or until the next sunrise, whichever comes first. Individual people can leave before the time limit without affecting the rest of the group. People leaving via doorway can return to their home realm wherever they wish to be. People leaving via the sunrise time limit return to the exact spot where the spell was cast. Can only be cast by someone with exceptional magical abilities (and the ability to get their hands on phoenix feathers).
○ Visuals: A bright yellow fog covers the caster and all fellow travelers, then transforms briefly into harmless flames before depositing them on the other side of the veil.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None.
● Observe What Once Was:
○ Color: Glowing yellow-blue
○ Glyph: A Y-shape in a box
○ Requires: A true dragon scale, a quarter of a cup of hourglass sand, and a piece of bread or bread dough. The scale is ground up into the sand, then both are either sprinkled onto or baked into the bread. This is then eaten by the caster while he or she concentrates on the time period they wish to see.
○ Effect: Allows the caster to observe up to a hour’s worth of events in the past, up to a limit of 100 years before their birth. The caster witnesses the events as if he or she were a ghost in the area – able to pass through walls and other solid objects, but unable to interact with anyone or change anything that happens. The caster can travel any place he or she wishes during the hour (limited only by his or her natural running speed), but can only visit one time period per casting. While in the past, the caster’s body falls comatose and cannot be awoken by any means except by causing severe trauma, which will call the caster back early to defend himself or herself. The spell only works twice per day, and is only available to the most powerful of casters.
○ Visuals: The caster is surrounded by a glowing yellow-blue aura before falling unconscious. While in the past, the caster is a transparent version of themselves with a faint yellow-blue glow.
○ Enchantments Or Potions: None.