Ritual: Shaman Focus

Requirements

• Shamanism Source
• Rank 1-5, 1 CC point per Rank or 3 GXP x Rank

Effects

A shamanic focus may be any item of spiritual significance - whether this is specific to the caster, or her spirits, or neither does not matter. A shamanic focus could be anything from a runic amulet to a walking stick carved from an ancient tree, the tooth of some fell beast, or an ornately carved bone dagger passed down from parent to child over generations.

The focus assists the shaman in directing her energy efficiently, providing bonuses to spellcasting and spirit manifestation when wielded depending on the choices the shaman makes. Wielding a focus requires that at least one hand must be exclusively engaged with it to gain its bonuses. For example, this may involve holding the focus in one hand or using the fingers of the hand to touch it and activate it. A focus may even be used to bind one of the shaman's spirits, and can benefit from applicable imbuement bonuses dependent on the type of item or equipment that it is. Generally, a focus that doubles as a weapon or shield may be utilized with the proper Fighting Styles.

If the focus is ever lost, either due to separation by planar magic or by its destruction (voluntarily or otherwise), the character may reconstruct the focus. Reconstruction takes 1 day for each rank of the benefit previously purchased. During reconstruction, all mana is consumed each day and will not be available for any other purpose. No break in creation is permitted. If the shaman desires, she can reconstruct the focus at a lower rank than previously obtained, however future rank increases must be paid at full cost. During this process, the shaman may change any previous choices made for the prior focus, if applicable.

Only one focus may exist at a time for any one character, who is attuned to that focus, and the abilities of that focus are dependent on the Benefit rank obtained. Only the shaman who is attuned to the focus gains benefits from wielding it, i.e. no one may gain bonuses from wielding another person’s focus.

Rank	Name	Description
1	Spirit Guard	The shaman gains +1 Physical Defense against attacks by Spirits. Additionally, the shaman's manifested spirits gain a +1 Focus bonus to their Physical Defense.
2	Basic Focus	Choose one of the following: Spells: The focus now provides a +1 Focus bonus to the Casting Roll of all Shamanism spells when wielded. This increases to +2 at Rank 3, and then to +3 at Rank 5 Manifestation: Gain a +1 Focus bonus on all Attack Rolls and Casting Rolls by the shaman's manifested spirits if the Focus is wielded when the spirit is first manifested. This increases to +2 at Rank 3, and +3 at Rank 5.
3	Spirit Healing	Choose one of the following: With a five-minute ritual completed in an environment suited to her spirit's nature, the caster may regain Mana equal to the Rank of that spirit. As a Standard Action, the caster may spend 1 Mana to heal a manifested spirit with a Casting Roll of Intelligence (if Path of Knowledge) or Willpower (if Path of Nature) + Shamanism + the Spirit's Rank when wielding the Focus. This may be done once per spirit, up to 2 times per day. This limit increases to 3 times per day at Rank 5.
4	Pact Shift	Once per day as a Standard Action, the shaman may select a bound spirit and temporarily switch its Pact type (i.e. switch from Pact of Imbuement to Pact of Manifestation) for up to 1 hour. While the Pact is shifted, the shaman loses the effects of the original pact type, but keeps the same spells.
5	Nature's Echo	Choose one of the following: Once per day after casting a Rank 3 (or lower spell) while wielding the Focus, the shaman may activate Nature's Echo as a Reactive Action. This allows the same spell to be cast again as a Fast Action by the Shaman on the her next turn, unless incapacitated. Once per day when a manifested spirit's HP is reduced to 0, the shaman may activate Nature's Echo as a Reactive Action. On the shaman's next turn, the spirit automatically re-manifests within Reach of the caster at half HP.