The mage quells a target creature’s vocalizations, eliminating its ability to make any noise with its voice. At her command, vocal chords seize up, the tongue is paralyzed, the lips fail to shape sounds; as a result, the target is unable to generate any sound louder than breathing. Not even hisses or tongue clicks are possible. The target can cough (and so cannot be made to choke while this spell is active), but his coughs sound like barely audible wheezing. The spell works on any living being that creates noise with its breath.
With one success, a single target’s vocal apparatus is silenced; extra successes allow multiple targets to be affected.
| Extra Successes
| Targets Affected
|
| 2 successes
| Two
|
| 3 successes
| Four
|
| 4 successes
| Eight
|
| 5 successes
| 16
|
Those affected by the spell can still eat, breathe and swallow normally.
Note
Most animals and people will experience some distress upon finding they can’t use their voice. Because the spell draws on the Life Arcana, the spell won’t function on nonliving beings such as spirits, ghosts, vampires or the walking dead.
Optional Arcana
He may prevent the target from speaking about a specific topic or articulating a specific word or phrase. The target can talk normally unless he tries to utter the specified words, or speak about the forbidden topic, even obliquely.
Guardians of the Veil Rote: Hold the Tongue
A guard dog’s bark, a screeching parrot, a mage about to utter a word of power — the wrong noise at the wrong time can make it difficult for a Guardian to perform his duties. With this rote, an agent of the Dragon’s Eye can prevent an enemy from shouting for help or blurting out an important piece of information.
