Verb:SACRIFICE

A sorcerer can sacrifice weakened creatures, converting their animus into usable mana. The animus is the energy linking the ethereal spirit to physical body. Creatures near death are more susceptible to the disruption of their animus, which will ultimately end their lives anyways. Only living creatures can be sacrificed (undead cannot), and only sorcerers can learn to sacrifice.

Obtaining the Ability

Sorcerers who have acquired the Mind Jolt spell can be taught this skill. They need not be able to cast it, but they must have learned it, and knowing this spell is the only requirement. Once taught, knowledge of sacrifice is retained permanently. The action of teaching sacrifice will incur 15 sec of RT for both teacher and student, and requires that the teacher know the sacrifice ability and be at least level 20. This instruction will also grant the teacher a small amount of experience and take 1 spirit point from them.

• SACRIFICE TEACH {character} : teaches the sacrifice ability to another sorcerer

You take Sorcerer to the side and begin to instruct him in the necromantic method that was once taught to you. You explain the secrets of focusing one's will on the victim's animus, and how the student may supply a small amount of his own spirit to initiate a link with the victim.

You go on to teach Sorcerer how to control the spiritual link once it is created, and the secrets of overcoming and dominating the victim, including using physical and mental pain to cause a victim's will to weaken. You complete the lesson with instructions on drawing the dominated victim's animus from its body in the form of mystical energy. You feel drained!

Attempting to teach a non-sorcerer to sacrifice gives the following messaging:

Sorcerer looks like he was about to say something to you, but he hesitates, obviously having changed his mind.

Executing a Sacrifice

For targets whose level is similar to that of the sacrificer, their health must first be reduced to 1/3 its total (33%) or less (be aware some creatures can heal or regenerate). Targets well below one's own level may be sacrificed without this requirement. Likewise, targets above one's level are more difficult to sacrifice, sometimes above one's skill entirely. Regardless of relative level, the lower the target's health, the easier it will be to sacrifice them. Next, the target must be incapacitated. This is usually done via Mind Jolt's stun effect, though other spells such as Web and Bind can also be used. The sacrificer need not deal damage or in incapacitation themselves in order to succeed. Once a successful sacrifice is made, attempts cannot be made for twenty (20) minutes.

• SACRIFICE {creature} : makes an attempt at sacrificing the target

Effects of Sacrifice

Attempts cause the expenditure of spirit points and 10 sec of RT, regardless of outcome (failures due to the 20 min timer not included). Failed attempts can drain 1-2 spirit on minor failures and up to 5 on major ones. A successful attempt will cost 2 spirit, kill the target, and return mana to the sacrificer. Corpses can be looted normally after death. A combined Elemental Mana Control and Spiritual Mana Control skill bonus of 102 (24 ranks total) is required to obtain the full amount of mana from a sacrifice.

• The maximum amount of mana transferred is [20 + (level of target)]. For instance, the successful sacrifice of a level 50 creature will return (20+50=70) 70 mana.

First person
Success	You focus your inner thoughts, channeling a part of your spirit as you initiate a link with the forest bendith. You feel drained! Steeling your thoughts, you begin to draw energy from your victim. The bendith contorts in agony, her mouth open in a silent scream! Your senses tingle, then become awash in a flood of power as the life leaves your hapless foe! The forest bendith drops lifelessly to the ground. You feel 62 mana surge into you! Roundtime: 10 sec.
Failure	You focus your inner thoughts, channeling a part of your spirit as you initiate a link with the forest bendith. You struggle to control the link, but it dissipates with no effect. You feel drained! Roundtime: 10 sec.
Failure due to last sacrifice being too recent	You steel your thoughts and focus on the sprite, but you are unable to draw enough of your energy to drain such a powerful foe. Perhaps you should wait a while longer.
Third person
Success	Ulthripe appears to be in deep concentration as he stares at a forest bendith. Ulthripe looks drained! The bendith contorts in agony, her mouth open in a silent scream! The forest bendith drops lifelessly to the ground.
Failure	Ulthripe appears to be in deep concentration as he stares at a forest bendith. A moment later he blinks quickly and breaks his gaze away from the bendith, hissing. Ulthripe looks drained!

Cooldown

Sacrifice has been updated to display messaging when the cooldown has expired. Additionally, while the cooldown is active, SPELL ACTIVE, as well as the StormFront Active Spells window, will display its presence. (11/29/2007 Update)