Added level titles, edited racial selection, added exp pen, added Earthquake spell, added mana range to "Discordian Strike".
Further possibilities include: Making the Mage's backlash-causing spells create a Chaos counter (available in prompt). As the Chaos counter increases, the Mage's chance of getting a backlash from his/her spells also increases. A moderately taxing spell called "Drain Chaos" could be added. Chance of success goes up with proficiency. Spell can either lower Chaos counter by varying degrees, remove it entirely, or increase it slightly. This would address the concern of heavy backlash, while making the Chaos Mage a class that, much like Invokers and Battlemages, requires a good amount of awareness to play. If you don't watch your Chaos counter, you could end up killing yourself. Chaos flare, anyone?
Races: Human, Elf, Drow, Avian, Werebeast, Gnome, Illithid, Undead, Demon
Alignment: Any Chaotic
Religion:
EXP Pen: 200
Level Titles
Level 1: the Apprentice of Magic
Level 2: the Student of Magic
Level 3: the Youngling
Level 4: the Wilder
Level 5: the Learner of Discord
Level 6: the Chaos Apprentice
Level 7: the Student of Chaos
Level 8: the Destructive
Level 9: the Initiate of Entropy
Level 10: the Magician
Level 11: the Untamed
Level 12: the Initiate of Chaos
Level 13: the Amateur of Bedlam
Level 14: the Discordian
Level 15: the Force of Energy
Level 16: the Force of Discord
Level 17: the Force of Chaos
Level 18: the Anarchist
Level 19: the Creator of Mayhem
Level 20: the Initiate of Force
Level 21: the Tumultuous
Level 22: the Pandemonist
Level 23: the Lord/Lady of Chaos
Level 24: the Learned of Entropy
Level 25: the Student of Ataxia
Level 26: the Acerbic
Level 27: the Master/Mistress of Energy
Level 28: the Greater Discordian
Level 29: the Begetter of Destruction
Level 30: the Master/Mistress of Disaster
Level 31: the Summoner of Chaos
Level 32: the Lord/Lady of Entropy
Level 33: the Supreme
Level 34: the Caller of Force
Level 35: the Initiate of Catastrophe
Level 36: the Destroyer
Level 37: the Harbinger of Doom
Level 38: the Master of Holocaust
Level 39: the Patron of Discord
Level 40: the Wreaker of Havoc
Level 41: the Grand Demolitionist
Level 42: the Lord/Lady of Disintegration
Level 43: the Greater Disrupter
Level 44: the Summoner of Blight
Level 45: the Bearer of Destruction
Level 46: the Antithesis of Order
Level 47: the Supreme Demolitionist
Level 48: the Master/Mistress of Carnage
Level 49: the Destroyer of Worlds
Level 50: the Overlord of Apocalypse
Skills
Level 1: Dagger, Sword, Staff, Mace
Level 3: Meditation
Level 6: Parry
Level 8: Fast Healing
Level 10: [Minor Ritual]*
Level 14: Trance
Level 15: Shield Block
Level 19: [Minor Ritual]*
Level 25: Dodge
Level 27: [Major Ritual]*
Level 30: Subvocalize*
Level 34: Two Handed
Level 40: [Major Ritual]*
Level 50: [Master Ritual]
Spells
Level 1: Armor, Chilling Touch
Level 2: Detect Invis
Level 4: Invisibility
Level 5: Burning Aura*
Level 6: Faerie Fire
Level 7: Shield
Level 9: Curse
Level 10: Summon Familiar*, Detect Magic
Level 11: Stone Skin
Level 12: Discordian Strike*
Level 14: Freezing Aura*
Level 15: Earthquake
Level 16: Veil of Darkness
Level 18: Protective Shield
Level 19: Lightning Bolt
Level 20: Entropic Shield*
Level 21: Pass Door
Level 22: Poison
Level 25: Subdue*
Level 27: Chaos Blade*
Level 29: Word of Recall
Level 30: Thunderclap, Summon Familiar*
Level 33: Focus Energy*
Level 40: Chaos Aura*
Level 44: Blink*
Level 45: Summon Familiar*
Level 50: Armageddon*
Minor Ritual -> Ritual -> Major Ritual -> Master Ritual
The Chaos Mage, in an attempt to harness the raw energy that lies within, is able to perform rituals in order to gain some small measure of control over their intensely powerful innate magic. These rituals are varied, and the effect of each depends on the training an individual Chaos Mage chooses to undertake.
Augmentation : Chaos Armor -> Wild Growth -> Empowered Aura -> Enhance Chaos
Chaos Armor
Syntax: automatic
In the beginning stages of an Augmentative Chaos Mage’s training, they are most focused in surrounding themselves with Chaos. This concentration allows the Mage to create an almost tangible force out of chaotic energies, creating a substantial protective armor that increases in durability and offers more protection as the Mage grows in strength and proficiency.
Wild Growth
Syntax: store
The second ability a Chaos Mage of the Augmentation path learns is the ability to focus Chaotic forces in their own body and the bodies of their companions, in order to make them stronger, faster, and healthier. However, such growth is not always reliable, and does not come without a price - but as with most things, the higher order of control the Mage gains over their own energy and their ability to utilize such growth, the more reliable the ability’s use becomes.
Empowered Aura
Syntax: store (requires twice-stored energy)
A Chaos Mage of the third circle of Augmentation is able to focus intently on their Chaotic aura, allowing them to enhance the aura’s power and thereby the damage it does to their opponent. Additionally, with the enhanced outward strength of the aura, the inward backlash is lessened, reducing the amount of damage the Chaos Mage takes from the wild flows of Chaos.
Enhance Chaos
Syntax: store (requires thrice-stored energy)
At the final circle of the path of Augmentation lies the ability to truly augment pure Chaos. By doing so, a mighty Chaos Mage is able to increase the potency of their spells, ranging from added protective powers to increased destructive capability. When the mage reaches the highest mastery of their enhancement, it is not unheard of for spells to achieve instantaneous annihilation of a foe. However, the Mage lacks the same control of their Destructive brethren, and therefore the risk of a significant backlash is somewhat higher.
Destruction: Chaotic Touch -> Atrophy -> Entropic Infection -> Disintegration
Chaotic Touch
Syntax: automatic
At the first circle of their training, a Chaos Mage focused on Destruction can learn to imbue his hands and extensions thereof (namely weapons) with a small force of Chaos. This force, based on the Chaos Mage's own strength, can cause harm to the Mage's opponent in battle. However, the force may also attack its caller, harming the Mage instead.
Atrophy
Syntax: store
A Chaos Mage of the second circle may focus the force of Chaos in their hands, causing it to directly attack the muscles of their foe. This results in the accelerated deterioration of their opponent's musculature, which can greatly weaken and enfeeble the Mage's enemy.
Entropic Infection
Syntax: release (requires stored energy)
In the third circle of their training, a Chaos Mage learns how to focus Chaos within the body of their foe. However, the unitiated of Chaos often find themselves lacking the ability to withstand this force. As a result their body turns on itself, attacking the cells infected with the Chaos in an attempt to get rid of them. It also weakens the foe's ability to fight off other infections, as their immune system is focused on attacking the disease at hand. (causes a temporary plague effect, and a longer lasting -spellsvs effect)
Disintegration
Syntax: release (requires twice-stored energy)
Upon completing the fourth and final circle of their training, a Chaos Mage is able to create a pseudo-sentient entity out of pure Chaos. This entity, unlike the entropic infection, enters the victims body and takes complete control. After several hours of incubation, the monstrosity savagely turns its host upon him or herself, causing massive damage and possibly killing them outright. However, this ability is not without its dangers. When meddling with such powerful forces, a Chaos Mage risks their own safety, for the Chaos may turn on them instead.
Protection: Bind Chaos -> Entropic Ward -> Cognition -> Mark of Discord
Bind Chaos
Syntax: automatic
The first thing a Chaos Mage of the protective path learns is to bind their inner Chaos, making it their servant and not the other way around. Such a binding results in a more significant amount of control over the powers the Mage learns, and reduces the chances that their energy will strike back at them.
Entropic Ward
Syntax: store
A Chaos Mage of the second circle in the hall of protection is taught to ward off assaults of ordered magic, boosting the protective capabilities of the Mage’s own enchantments. The ward of entropy increases the power of the mage’s Entropic Shield, and adds a defensive capability to the chaotic auras the mage is trained in focusing.
Cognition
Syntax: store (requires twice-stored energy)
In the third circle of their protective training, a Chaos Mage gains the ability to concentrate on the powers of their foe, revealing their enemy’s inner Chaos. By sensing the flows of energy surrounding their opponent, the Mage is better able to predict their actions, meaning that they can better prepare for assaults. This means the Mage can effectively predict and therefore dodge attacks that a more vulnerable foe would fall victim to, effectively countering such attempts.
Mark of Discord
Syntax: release (requires twice-stored energy)
At the highest order of the protective sect of the Chaos Mages are those who can call forth a guardian of Discord to protect their body while they are in battle. By marking a foe with the symbol of Discord, the Mage is able to create a being that will attempt to turn their opponent’s blade from its intended course. The recipient of the Mark will also be surrounded by a field of Chaos that will temporarily prevent their body from substantial recovery.
General Abilities (all paths)
Subvocalize
Syntax: subvocalize
Due to the innate nature of their magic, a Chaos Mage is able to withstand the effects of utter silence. A number of their spells are able to be brought forth with mere gestures, or even a glance if the Mage is powerful enough. However, no matter the strength of the mage, a spell unaccompanied by an incantation causes more strain on the Mage’s mind than a normal usage.
Burning Aura, Freezing Aura, Chaos Aura
Syntax: cast ‘burning aura’, cast ‘freezing aura’, cast ‘chaos aura’
At varying stages in their training, a Chaos Mage learns how to focus the Chaos flowing through them into a powerful aura. This shield of energy, while granting rather insignificant mundane protection, is capable of causing a considerable amount of harm to any foe unlucky enough to attempt trespassing into a close proximity of the mage.
Summon Familiar
Syntax: cast ‘summon familiar’
Chaos Mages, or at least those with the potential to become them, are often left in the wild, untrained by those who have forged their own path. These unitiated are often looked down upon by the members of the guild, and seldom live to see a mastery of their unique abilities. To stop this from occurring, the head Mages found a way to send creatures imbued with magic to the struggling mages, in order to guide them in their time of need. The familiar a Mage calls is dependant on their chosen path, and will serve the mage faithfully for the rest of their life.
All mages initially summon the same familiar. Then a lesser familiar and greater familiar will be summoned as the mage gains strength, based on the mage’s chosen path.
Discordian Strike
Syntax: cast ‘discordian strike’
The primary offensive spell learned by all Chaos Mages, the Discordian Strike is a beam of pure chaotic energy. The potency of the strike is based on how much Chaos energy the Mage is willing to expend - and how much they can afford to. The level of the mage’s training, in addition to proficiency in the spell and the mage’s general condition at the time of casting all have an effect on the degree of their energy usable, and on the subsequent effect of the spell. A mage attempting to use too much energy with too little training may find themselves being hit with a backlash of energy.
Entropic Shield
Syntax: cast ‘entropic shield’
Much like the sanctuary granted by the ordered magic of the arcanists, and the prayers of the divine, the Entropic Shield is a protective ability with a basis in Chaos. The shield grants the mage the ability to withstand great attacks that would cripple normal men, by diverting some of the harmful strikes into small bursts of Chaos.
Subdue
Syntax: cast ‘subdue’
Utilizing their own powerful innate energy, a well trained Chaos Mage is able to turn an opponent’s own energy against them. By doing so, their foe’s body begins to slowly shut itself down, energy being systematically withdrawn from their system. With each successful attempt to subdue their enemy, the Mage siphons out a small amount of energy, and in turn can cause render their foe weakened, and possibly even unconscious.
Chaos Blade
Syntax: cast ‘chaos blade’
After much training, a Chaos Mage is not only able to concentrate their chaotic energies into a protective aura, but can also focus the energy into a single central point. Through deep concentration, the Mage can temporarily imbue their weaponry with a potent field of Chaos, causing additional harm to any opponents unlucky enough to be fighting them.
Focus Energy
Syntax: cast ‘focus energy’
Chaos Mages, much like other wielders of great power, rely on the source of their strength for their livelihood. This is especially true in the Mage’s case, as the Chaos they call upon is their only defense against their enemies. As such, Chaos Mages have worked diligently to discover a way to preserve their energy to truly save their own life - and in doing so have learned how to focus their energy. By focusing in such a manner, the Mage strips their body of a small amount of pure chaos, in order to restore a small bit of order, healing minor wounds.
Blink
Syntax: cast ‘blink’
cast ‘blink’
By momentarily focusing a burst of energy, a Chaos Mage can dematerialize their own body, sending it to a nearby location. Utilized primarily as a means of escaping to safety, with great proficiency the mage can actually use it as a means of travel. A truly powerful mage can concentrate on a particular target, and attempt to rematerialize near that being. However, much like the mysterious art of teleportation, blinking without proper training can result in appearing in a more dangerous place than the mage left.
Armageddon
Syntax: cast ‘Armageddon’
Few who witness a Chaos Mage calling upon the pure destructive powers of the Armageddon have lived to tell the tale. However, there are stories of an ability so intensely powerful that none can stand against it. The only beings that know the truth of the matter are the Mages that call upon it - and even then they try to forget. The only certainty is that an sane individual does not want to be on the receiving end of this apocalyptic force.
