Subject: A Melnibonean Grimoire

From: Shannon Appel appel@chaosium.com

System: Elric!

"This is a fresh age...in more than one way.  The time of subtle
 sorcery is on the wane.  Men are finding new means of harnessing
 natural power."
	-Stormbringer I,2

In the Young Kingdoms, Chaos is willing to pass the gift of magic on
to any who ask.  It is a corrupting influence, the tool of Chaos, but
still, mortals of the Young Kingdoms are willing to accept it, for it
makes them strong.  However, even Chaos is somewhat discerning.  The
greatest spells are saved for the beloved of Chaos.  What follows are
some of the known spells of the Melniboneans.  These are not spells
that should be easily available to adventures.  Rather, they are
magics which might be known by foes or patrons.  Alternatively, they
could be discovered in an ancient grimoire, the goal of a long quest.

[All of these spells are drawn directly from the Elric books where
they were used by Elric or another Melnibonean.  I've done my best to
make the spells fit the Elric! system while maintaining their original
affects.]

SPELLS:

Demon's Awakening (4)	     [Spells of Being]

"His head still bent, he stretched out his right hand and touched the
pulsating stone, stretched out his left hand and rested it upon
Myshella's navel, and he began a chant in an ancient tongue that had
been spoken before true men had ever walked the Earth."
	-The Vanishing Tower I, 7	

Range is touch.  Chaotic.  Awakens a person from any type of magical
sleep (see The Runesleep below).  However, in order for this spell to
have its affect, a rare Nanorian is needed.  These magical gems form
the hearts of some of the greater demons of Chaos (see the rumors on
page 102 of ELRIC!).  After the spell is completed, the sleeper will
awaken in 1d8 hours.

Grome's Call to the Dead (5)  [Spells of the Elements]

"A low moan was coming from the lips of the living dead.  Suddenly, a
whole area of the surrounding hillside split into cracks, and yawning
crannies appeared in the surface...  With a frightful, multi-voiced
scream, the dead Lords were swallowed by the earth."
	-The Weird of the White Wolf II, 3

Range is sight.  Chaotic.  Causes the Earth to open up and swallow the
dead which are walking the Earth.  Bound up with ancient agreements
with Grome, this spell is one of the less reliable of the Melnibone
spells.  A LUCK roll is required for it to work at all.  Even if the
roll is successful, 1d8 combat rounds will pass before the earth
responds.  When the earth does finally open up to swallow the dead,
the results can be quite cataclysmic.  Nearby dwellings may be
destroyed, and unfortunates who stand too close to the dead might be
dragged to their doom.  Dead beings of great power may be able to
resist the effects of this spell, for Grome is both wary and indolent.

Hell's Fortress (1-4)		[Spells of War]

"But the door resisted as it should not have resisted.  `Sealed by
sorcery and I've no means of unsealing it,' said the albino."
	-The Sailor on the Seas of Fate II, 6

Range is touch.  Chaotic.  Adds ten times that many hit points of
protection to walls, doors and other similar structure.  Each cast of
the spell affects an area no larger than ten feet by ten feet.

Lassa's Zephyr (1)	       [Spells of the Elements]

"Gradually, from the grains of the dunes, a spiral of sand began to
move upwards, whistling as it spun faster and faster."
	-The Fortress of the Pearl I, 3

Range is touch.  Chaotic.  A very minor variant of Wings of Lassa
(Elric, pg. 83).  Similar minor spells are taught to the sorcerers of
Melnibone from the youngest age.  Creates a small whirlwind of air,
just a few feet tall, that may meander about a small area.  Usually
harmless, although in sand, snow or loose soil, it can be blinding.

The Runesleep (4)		      [Spells of Being]

"She was lying upon a couch and she was naked.  There were runes
painted on her flesh and the runes were, in themselves, obscene.  Her
eyelids were heavy and she did not at first recognise them...  The
body was oddly cold."
	-Elric of Melnibone II, 8

Range is touch.  Chaotic.  Before the spell may be incanted, certain
runes must be drawn upon the flesh of the victim.  If these runes are
not drawn perfectly, the spell will utterly faily.  When the spell is
complete, the sorcerer expends 4 magic points.  If a POW:POW then
succeeds, the victim falls into an eternal sleep.  The caster must
expend one point of POW at this time.  Only the caster himself, or
certain spells may break this sleep.  The most powerful of people
(those with POWs beyond the range of humans) may escape the runesleep
for a short time, but even they will eventually succumb.

The Pan Tangians too know of this spell (TVT I, 5).  As the
Melniboneans slowly descend into obscurity, it is the Pan Tangians who
are becoming the new race of Chaos.

Spark of Life (4)	   [Spells of the Unseen World]

"Slowly, with jerky movements, the creature raised itself stiffly
upright and pointed a clawed finger... its glazed eyes staring as if
beyond."
	-Stormbringer I,1

Range is touch.  Chaotic.  Spark of Life is a summoning.  It causes
the spirit of a dead creature to reanimate its corpse.  A number of
magic points equal to the magic points of the spirit being summoned
must be expended (in addition to the original four).  The spirit of
the dead could be bound, just as a demon or elemental, although doing
such would be very dangerous.

When the summoning is complete, the resulting revenant is slow and
clumsy, but it does remember its past life.  It may answer questions,
but these answers are never direct.  They are often riddles,
prophecies or even new questions.  Practitioners of the dark arts who
use this spell should be warned, for the lords of the nether realms
are usually not pleased with having the souls of their subjects
disturbed.

See also Stefan Aust's set of new spells for Elric!
Also Poizat's Spells
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