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Aura is an Information spell that lets you see a subject's general magical status. It can tell you the subject's magic resistance, spellcasting talent/magery, if they're possessed or controlled, or in the grip of violent emotions (such as guilt or rage).[1] Critical success can detect "secret" traits like lycanthropy and vampirism.[1] All living beings have auras. Most undead have obvious "death-haunted" ones, but vampires have the ones they would have in life.

Inanimate objects and magical constructs have no aura. Neither do illusions, making this spell useful for spotting them![1]

  • Duration: Instantaneous
  • Cost: 3 (for any size subject)
  • Prerequisites:

Uses[]

This spell is particularly useful for scouting and information, although it's a vision-based ability on the user, not an effect that reveals the aura to everyone.

Versions of the Aura Spell[]

It effectively introduces a benefit/drawback to Magery 0: the ability to be detected as a "mage". Initially the description was vague:

shows whether the subject is a mage (and about how powerful)

This was amended to:

shows whether the subject has Magery, Magic Resistance, or Magic Susceptibility (and what level)

"What level" likely is meant to apply to all 3 traits. It would be easier to view the aura of a susceptible and harder to view one of a resistant, as even though Aura is not a resisted spell, those add penalties/bonuses to all spells cast on the target.'

Mentions[]

References[]

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