Magic
Sprites
Sprites are a rare form of harvest magic that allows a mage to create a living companion from nature itself. It’s a skill known to only a handful of Harvest Mages and requires great talent to successfully perform.
Creating a Sprite
Any harvest mage with enough skill and experience can create a sprite. The ritual requires two things; a suitable sacrifice and a very old tree. After making the required sacrifice, a mage may target the tree and “pull forth” the sprite; it will twist outward and take form, tangled branches and bark shifting to roughly match the animal that was sacrificed.
A harvest mage may only have one sprite at a time; should they ever wish to make a new one, or put their old one to rest, they may terminate the bond and let the creature go. The abandoned sprite will wander to the nearest suitable bit of soil and take root there, eventually growing into a tree.
A harvest mage may only have one sprite at a time; should they ever wish to make a new one, or put their old one to rest, they may terminate the bond and let the creature go. The abandoned sprite will wander to the nearest suitable bit of soil and take root there, eventually growing into a tree.
Biology of a Sprite
Sprites take after the appearance and personality of the creature used to give them life - but made of woven branches and bark - and glow from within in a colour that matches their harvest mage’s eyes. They can follow simple orders and react to their creator’s emotions, though their intelligence varies depending on the sacrifice used to animate them.
They do not age, though are vulnerable to weapons, fire, and rot; if well-cared for, a sprite can potentially last as long as their human companion does. The amount of water and sun they require varies depending on the tree they were sourced from. Once their harvest mage dies, a sprite will sit down and take root, eventually sprouting into an ordinary tree if the conditions are right.
It is most common for sprites to be made using livestock, though other kinds are not entirely unheard of.
They do not age, though are vulnerable to weapons, fire, and rot; if well-cared for, a sprite can potentially last as long as their human companion does. The amount of water and sun they require varies depending on the tree they were sourced from. Once their harvest mage dies, a sprite will sit down and take root, eventually sprouting into an ordinary tree if the conditions are right.
It is most common for sprites to be made using livestock, though other kinds are not entirely unheard of.
Sprite Abilities
A sprite does not have much in the manner of unique “powers”, and their physical strength depends entirely on the kind of wood they were formed from and the animal used to create them. A sprite formed with a bear might be capable of delivering powerful blows to protect their harvest mage, but one made with a mouse may only be useful for companionship. They would not retain any abilities like venom or certain lesser wyvern’s breath weapons.
They can take orders, though retain something of a mind and personality all their own, which separates them quite firmly from the minions of necromancers.
They can take orders, though retain something of a mind and personality all their own, which separates them quite firmly from the minions of necromancers.
Can my Character Have a Sprite?
If you have a harvest mage character that could reasonably make one, you are more than welcome to! It would require an animal friend slot from the Bits Store to create one. Note that a harvest mage can only have one sprite at a time, and cannot make them for other people.
As for necromancers - they are technically also capable of making sprites if they were trained as harvest mages, however, if your necromancer character has minions we ask that you refrain from giving them a sprite, in interests of character balance.
As for necromancers - they are technically also capable of making sprites if they were trained as harvest mages, however, if your necromancer character has minions we ask that you refrain from giving them a sprite, in interests of character balance.