Flare

Sometimes, you have to shed a little light on something in a hurry…
— Stefanos Vel-Barboza, Seskyalii skald alchemist
 
Another common manipulation of magical energies is the ‘flare’ enchantment. This simple burst of magic is found across all spellcasting traditions, including that of the bloodborn. In fact, the bloodborn sorcerers can learn this spell much faster than their non-sorcerer counterparts. Most scholars believe this has to do with the natural reflex of sorcerers to try to bend magic to their will.
 
The art behind this small arcane working is to manipulate magical energy and craft something out of that energy. It may seem they are creating something out of nothing, but they are really forcing magical energy to transform into a different state of being. In this case, a bright burst of light.
 
Principles learned through this spell teach the fundamentals a spellcaster needs to know for casting stronger spells, such as the Torchlight spell among others.
 
However, while this enchantment produces a burst of intense, bright light, that light will not burn a target. It may, though, temporarily dazzle or blind someone if cast in their direction.
 
To note, while exploring the Twistoak forest near the Troll Hills, I found an occasion to test that theory of ‘it will not burn but can temporarily blind someone’.

Once I discovered that the log I sat on was moving, I case a quick Flare for a better look.
Unfortunately, it was a troll.

Fortunately, it was distracted by the bright flash of light! That gave me a lovely head start at running…
— Stefanos Vel-Barboza, Seskyalii skald alchemist
 

Game Mechanics

 
This simple spell creates a burst of light in the direction the caster chooses. This could be down a hallway or at an attacking creature. If at a person or creature, they must roll a Fortitude save vs a DC of the spellcaster’s level + 10.
 
If the target fails their save, they are temporarily dazzled by the burst of bright light.
 
However, if the target is already dazzled, blinded, sightless or has spell resistance, then the magic fails.

Manifestation

A burst of light erupts from the spellcaster’s fingers, shooting off in the direction the caster indicates. The specific appearance of the light and how it manifests depends on the spellcaster.
 
For example, for a stormborn, the burst of light could be a bright blue-white flash of static electricity. However, for a druid, it might be sharp balls of light as from exploding swamp gas. With wizards, it resembles the bright flash of fireworks.
Gestures & Ritual
Since its such a simple enchantment, only a word or two will do. However, the words vary between disciplines.
 
For wizards, incentes is most commonly said.
 
For druids, it's the ancient Kayam word, analeesh.
 
Sorcerers, true to their nature, are often unpredictable. However, lucidum seems fairly common.

Related Discipline
There are varieties of this spell across the professions of Cleric, Wizard, Druid, Paladin, Sorcerer, Skald, Bard, and Ranger.
Related School
Related Element
Light
Effect Duration
Instantaneous
Effect Casting Time
1 standard action
Range
Close (25 ft. + 5 ft. for every 2 levels of the spellcaster)
Level
0th level for Cleric, Wizard, Druid, Paladin, Sorcerer, Skald, Bard, and Ranger.
Applied Restriction
Saving Throw : Fortitude (vs spellcaster level + 10) negates

Spell Resistance : Spell resistance causes the spell to immediately fail, no save needed


Cover image: by CB Ash

Comments

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Mar 18, 2021 23:35

This pleasant little summary gives rise to questions of refinement and source that I had not previously considered: Is this light possessed of other qualities? A candle or lantern illuminates and makes warm -- but as you said, this spell does not give heat. But does it embrittle paper and fabric? Does it cause inks and dyes to fade? Does it encourage growth in plants and fungi, or wither the light-sensitive undead?
And does that answer depend upon the profession of the caster?

Mar 20, 2021 22:08 by C. B. Ash

Oh my, hello, Chaliimriia Goiki. Some of those I’ve not actually tried.
But I do know the profession does matter. Why, there is a druid friend of mine that swears a proper application of the Flare spell with a freshly died fabric does cause the dye to fade. It’s how he produces the most fascinating colors!
Now, I’ve heard… some sorcerers have some drinking game that involves a Flare spell, a dwarven whiskey in one hand, and a mug of dwarven hot sauce in the other… it sounds rather … unsafe if you ask me.
As for plants, well, I can tell you at least with trolls… being the murder moss that they are… don’t seem to grow better from a flare spell… but it certainly makes them rather energetic! But only after a few seconds of the short, dazzling lightshow!
— Stefanos Vel-Barboza, Seskyalii skald alchemist