Soul's Death

This spell is a part of the Incite spell chain and can be found in the Incite rune stone.

Whether the ancient power behind A Wish's Gambit has already had its dark amusement or the caster simply reaches for the most terrible form of spirit magic on their own, Soul's Death represents the beginning of the end for the target's very soul. The Soul, that splintered and ancient power, turns its full attention upon the target and begins to devour what remains of their Runic Soul from within dealing the caster's Arcana + Runic Power as Vitality damage that can't be blocked, ignored, or defended against each round. The target cannot feel it at first, but they soon will.

Each round the target's soul fractures further, manifesting in escalating deterioration that no medicine or simple magic can cure. The progression is as follows:

• Round 1: The target is overtaken by Berserk, their fracturing soul lashing out violently and uncontrollably.
• Round 2: Berserk gives way to Loss of Self as the target begins to lose their sense of identity, unable to distinguish their own will from the void consuming them.
• Round 3: Loss of Self is replaced by Anxiety as the target feels the edges of their soul pulling apart, desperate and erratic in all actions. This is when the target really begins to feel their oncoming doom and may attempt a Hard Spiritual Balance check to attempt to break free of the spell.
• Round 4: Anxiety collapses into Confusion as the fractures deepen, the target's connection to reality and to their own runic element becoming tenuous. The target, completely confused, must first make a Normal -2 Insight Check (penalty increased by 2 if Grim Cage is active) before attempting a Hard -1 Spiritual Balance check to free their soul from the spell.
• Round 5 onward: Confusion gives way to Depression which lasts until the target's soul is completely consumed and the target dies. The target gets one chance per round as long as the target is alive to make a Hard -2 Spiritual Balance check to escape the spell. 

If the target was already under the effects of Grim Cage or A Wish's Gambit when this spell is cast, the deterioration begins at Round 2 rather than Round 1, as the soul is already fractured and weakened. When the target finally dies under this spell only Miracle Summoning can bring them back. This spell can only be stopped by dispelling it with a Hard Arcana check from a mystic of equal or greater level, or by the caster willingly releasing it. Should the target survive to see Splintered Self cast upon them while under the effects of Soul's Death, the Impossible Arcana cast roll for Splintered Self becomes a Hard Arcana cast roll instead.