Spellbreaker

Spellbreaker is a custom specialisation and this article gives extra information and insight into the spec. Please adhere to the restrictions when making your character a Spellbreaker.

Introduction
While the Spirit school offers some extremely potent Anti-Magic and Anti-Mage spells, actual Spellbreakers are very rare. They are mages who nullify most magic by their very nature, and their spirits absorb the essence of the Fade. Spellbreakers struggle with spells that apprentices can cast easily, and powerful ones make mages feel uneasy - a Spellbreaker can hinder another mages spell casting simply by proximity.

The creation of Spellbreakers
Mages are not born as Spellbreakers, they are created through a ritual very similar to the Vigil of the Seekers. In this ritual they are essentially made Tranquil - but not actually made Tranquil, this is an important distinction. They then have to attract a spirit to restore their connection to the Fade. Unlike Seekers however, Spellbreaker initiates are encouraged to focus on their loyalty and devotion to the Chantry, and they typically attract a Spirit of Loyalty, not Faith. Since the mage requires such a strong devotion to successfully attract a spirit, the success rate of this ritual is rather low and it is typically only attempted on mages that are very loyal, but otherwise weak and possibly in danger of falling to a demon. Thus Tranquillity candidates are looked at but only if they are loyal to the Chantry and the Maker.

Spellbreakers and the Fade
While they can enter the Fade awake by the same methods used by normal mages, not all do survive and those who do report feeling intense pain while being there. These effects seem to be much weaker when entering the Fade by dreaming, but it is not uncommon for Spellbreakers to wake up with severe headaches. The reason to this is the absorbing nature of their spirits. As long as they are in the Fade, they absorb its energy, something no mortal can survive for long. If a Spellbreaker spends too much time in the Fade without leaving it, it may be lethal. Less powerful or better trained Spellbreakers can withstand longer, but none of them are immune to this.

Spellbreakers and magic
True Spellbreakers will not be able to learn most spells, even basic ones. The exceptions to this are spells that synergize with a Spellbreakers nature, mainly the Anti-Magic and Mana Alteration trees. This still requires extensive training, however.

Templars and secrecy
Since the knowledge of the Spellbreaker ritual is confined to the Seekers knowledge about Spellbreakers was almost non-existent outside the Circle of Montsimmard prior to the war, where they were trained in utmost secrecy. Even most Templars hadn’t heard of them. Since the few that existed saw heavy use during the conflict, the secret of their existence isn’t quite as well guarded any more, but how they came to be is still a mystery to those who aren’t supposed to know.

Spellbreaker Training
Spellbreaker training focuses mainly on improving their abilities, but is not limited to it. They train to fight alongside Templars and learn the basic usage of *swords and quarterstaffs. In addition, the Templars chosen to watch over, protect and fight with these Spellbreakers learn how to fight side-by-side with a mage, giving him or her brief windows to cast a spell before blocking the enemies casting. Spellbreakers are trained to feel and recognize these windows, allowing them to cast before the other mage even realizes what is going on.

Properly trained Spellbreakers are nearly as effective as Templars at blocking magic and they can utilize additional spells as well. While they lack the Templars training at swordplay, a well trained Spellbreaker is a valuable addition to a group of Templars and excels at fighting other mages as well as demons. In addition they are able to infiltrate groups of mages and report for the Chantry. They are rarely used as such, however. Only the most loyal are assigned to such undercover tasks.


 * training with swords is very limited and any one applying with a Spellbreaker must ask permission from an Admin to have their character be trained with a sword, even in a most basic manner.

Spellbreakers and Demons
Demons are far less attracted to Spellbreakers compared to normal mages. This is be due to the fact that a Spirit has already claimed the Spellbreaker. A demon knows it is not worth the effort to try to possess such a mage and it is very rare for one to try, let alone succeed.

Miscellaneous
Recognized Spellbreakers wear a deep blue variant of the Circle Mage robes, with the Insignia of the Montsimmard Circle on their left shoulder. Those who have completed basic training and are actively working with the Templars are also wearing the Templar Insignia on their right shoulder.

All Spellbreakers are trained in Montsimmard where the specialisation was first developed. Since the war there has been talk of spreading the training to other Orlesian Circles.

Not every Spellbreaker uses a magic staff. While this is not above their capabilities, some of them dislike using one as it ‘feels wrong’.