From: Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 00:50:40 +0000 (+0100)
Subject: ghost horn updats
X-Git-Url: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/ucgi/~ijackson/git?a=commitdiff_plain;h=2cf46d3497c8358098da360ad19469a7e4f51394;p=the-pointy-bits.git

ghost horn updats
---

diff --git a/ghost-horn-draft.md b/ghost-horn-draft.md
index 3ded58b..f394910 100644
--- a/ghost-horn-draft.md
+++ b/ghost-horn-draft.md
@@ -2,8 +2,20 @@
 
 ## Combined effect
 
-When raised, the horn will allow you to hear the voice of ghosts
-that are present, within Voice range.
+When raised (held up), the horn will allow all present to hear the
+voice of any ghosts that are present, within Voice range.
+The horn relays the speech of the ghosts in Hermetic Latin.
+
+The ghosts are not compelled in any way, but most will
+typically choose to reply, especially when questioned about their
+demise and their haunting.  You do not need to Penetrate the target's
+magic resistance.
+
+The effect lasts until the next sunset or sunrise,
+and can be restarted by raising the horn again.
+
+There is no way to mute the horn's magical effect;
+we will achieve that with a muffle.
 
 ## Physical appearance, opening
 
@@ -11,6 +23,8 @@ It's a small horn made of lemonwood.
 
 Requires 4 pawns Vi vis to open.  (Size small, material wood.)
 
+Kennocht will do the opening unless someone else fancies doing it.
+
 ## Primary effect, similar to _Converse with the Haunting Spirit_ 
 
 ### Existing _Converse with the Haunting Spirit_
@@ -31,7 +45,7 @@ InIm 20.  (Base 3, +2 Sun, +3 Hearing)
 
 The Horn's effect is similar but target is
 "all ghosts that are within Voice range"
-which we'll treat as Group/Room.
+which we'll treat as Group/Room for level purposes.
 So we add two magnitudes for that.
 
 (Technically the rules for Group and for Room don't work this way;
@@ -46,10 +60,11 @@ InIm 30.  (Base 3, +2 Sun, +3 Hearing, +2 Group/Room)
 
 Trigger: holding up.  (Not an "environmental" or "linked" trigger, free.)
 
-No penetration - this spell is consensual and doesn't need to
-penetrate.
+No penetration - like _Converse_, this spell is consensual and doesn't
+need to penetrate.
 
 Activation count: twice per day, adds one level.
+
 Total level required 31.
 
 ### Instilling
@@ -85,17 +100,23 @@ Kennocht passes it to Anrhim.
 The effect is to make the voices of the ghosts audible
 (in Hermetic Latin).
 
-CrAu guideline: base 1, create sound.
+CrAu: base 1, create sound (according to my notes;
+guidelines are all about weather?!)
+
 Sun duration: +2.
+
 Linked trigger to link it to the first effect: +3 levels.
+
 Twice per day +1 level.
 
 CrAu 7.
 
 This takes 1 pawn of Cr or Au vis.
 
+(Total 4 pawns, which is what we spent to open.  Jolly good.)
+
 Shape bonus (horn) surely gives us bonus of +3 or +4
 (depending on Arnim's MT).
 
 Plan is for this to take 1 season,
-so we need Arnhim's general CrAu LT to be 10 or 11.
+so we need Arnim's general CrAu LT to be 10 or 11.