[Mage: The Awakening 2nd Edition] Nimbus: Aura of the Magus

 Out of Character (OOC):

Chronicle: Mage 2: The Dethroned Queen
Venue: Mage: The Awakening 2nd Edition
Chronicle Storyteller: Jerad Sayler

Assistant Storytellers: Hannah Nyland & Alex Van Belkum

Nimbus: The Supernal Aura of the Magus

My comments to the MtA 2e are in yellow and provide some guidelines on how we will implement and treat the conversion or re-creation of played Characters in our current Mage chronicle (Mage 2: The Dethroned Queen).  Effective implementation dates to be determined.  The following supersedes all previous rules regarding the Nimbus System.

Additional explanation is in this font, when it helps drive the concepts home.

The Nimbus

Most supernatural beings in the Chronicles of Darkness are possessed of an “aura,” a spiritual presence that tells those who are sensitive that the being is something else. Vampires have a predatory aura; werewolves have a powerful, feral mien about them. Mages’ souls are wrapped in the stuff of the Supernal, marking them as glorious and terrifying. This phenomenon, the Nimbus, is based on numerous factors including a mage’s Path, Legacy, and other pieces of personal symbolism. Her Shadow Name and her magical tools can influence its appearance, for example. It’s wholly invisible except when spellcasting, and even then only to Mage Sight most of the time. A Nimbus takes three forms, a Long-Term Nimbus, an Immediate Nimbus, and a Signature Nimbus. Each comes into play in different circumstances. 

The Long-Term Nimbus (The Subtle Nimbus)

The Long-Term Nimbus is a series of subtle coincidences that surrounds your character. These are purely story-based effects, bits of strangeness that align with your character’s Path.

-      - Around Thyrsus, spirits are more likely to show up, strange pathogens might infect people, and likewise terminal diseases can vanish.

      - Moros bring ghastly hauntings, decay, rust, and mechanical breakdowns.

-      - Obrimos cause religious revelation, extreme weather swings, or blackouts.

-      - Acanthus cause strange luck, lost memories to rise up, or visions of possible fates.

-      - Mastigos cause people’s fears to well up, and sometimes they see their internal devils.

It’s important to note that the Long-Term Nimbus is not a controllable force; it’s just a matter of strange, fractal geometry in the universe. Patterns converge around your character. However, a character’s Gnosis determines its general Potency. While subtle at first, it can become truly obvious at six or more dots of Gnosis. Wisdom determines the range of the Nimbus’ effects, as it spreads along your character’s sympathetic ties (see MtA Sympathy table under Space magic).

-      - High Wisdom - At the Enlightened Wisdom tier, your character’s Nimbus is left on Strong connections.

-      - Medium Wisdom - At Understanding level, Medium connections.

-      - Low Wisdom - At Falling level, on even Weak connections. 

While Gnosis determines how strong the Long-Term nimbus is, Wisdom defines how far along the mage’s sympathies it spreads – the lower the farther. At high Wisdom only a mage’s Sanctum, magical tools, and close associates are touched by her magic, while an unwise mage finds his Nimbus spreading to friends, family, and personal haunts. Since time immemorial, however, organized mages have known that keeping a spiritual separation between one’s magical and mundane lives alleviates the Nimbus’ effect — adopting a Shadow Name causes the Nimbus to “ground” onto the mage’s magical life, so that – for example – his Sanctum and Apprentices are touched rather than his home and children. Especially strong Nimbuses do still leak past a Shadow Name’s protection, but not to their full extent – a Moros Master whose Sanctum is avoided by all living animals and attracts ghosts in great numbers might only create a gloomy atmosphere in her family home.

Shadowname Grounding 

A Mage’s Shadowname greatly isolates and “grounds out” the affects and keeps the nimbus from affecting people, places, and things associated with her True Name or other Names’ lives.  The Shadowname restricts the strongest effects of the long-term Nimbus to the Mage’s Sanctum, tools, and associates.  Some still will bleed through to effect people not associated with the Mage’s secret life but the effects will be suppressed.  See the Shadowname Merit for more details on how this works.

Competing Influences
Mages with an equal or higher Gnosis than the mage are unaffected by the Long-Team Nimbus.  Mages cannot suppress the effects without counterspellwork.  Competing Nimbuses do not clash or are overtaken by each other.  Instead the subtle effects overlap, making a Sanctum a very strange place to hang out even if it doesn't have a Demense.

The Immediate Nimbus (Nimbus Flaring)

The Immediate Nimbus is a powerful aura directly surrounding the mage, wrapping close to her soul and flashing out as the Supernal World ebbs and flows against her. When she casts a spell, her Immediate Nimbus becomes visible to those with any active Mage Sight, regardless of the Arcana she’s using to cast. The Immediate Nimbus appears based mostly on the character’s Path. It’s a force, a halo of raw creation stuff. Sometimes, this is visible — sometimes it’s a sensation, a smell, or a muddy, primal emotion. 
Here are a handful of examples:

• -      For Thyrsus, this might look like a mist of blood, or might cause a deep rutting instinct.
• -      Moros might cause subtle rot around them, or melancholy.
• -      Obrimos bask in holy light, or cause remarkable inspiration.
• -      Acanthus appear as if time bends around them, or cause fatalism.
• -      Mastigos glow with a sickly green fire, or cause temptation to swell in onlookers.

When the Immediate Nimbus flares, it causes a Nimbus Tilt unique to your character, with a strength depending on what caused the flare.  While characters without Mage Sight cannot see the aura, the subtle cues still affect them with the Tilt. This is almost always imperceptible, but some particularly clued-in witnesses may note when something’s awry. 

Spell Flare

If the Nimbus flared because of a spell, use the spell’s Potency as the Nimbus’ strength, and the Tilt lasts for the spell’s Reach in turns or one turn at a minimum.  Compare the Nimbus strength to any witness’s Resolve.  More dramatic flares may occur if a spell risks Paradox or use lots of reach but they still are invisible to Sleepers beyond subtle appearances.

Uncloaking the Nimbus
Once per scene a mage can force her immediate Nimbus to flare for a single turn without casting a spell by spending a Mana. In this case, roll the character’s Gnosis and use successes as the Nimbus’ potency and its resultant strength will be your full Gnosis level . Deliberate flares like this are visible even in the Fallen World and can therefore affect characters not using Mage Sight, although Sleepers will suffer Quiescence after the Tilt ends. Compare the Nimbus strength to any witness’s Resolve. If a character’s Resolve is equal to or lower than the Nimbus strength, the Tilt takes effect.

Submitting to the Nimbus
If for whatever reason a character is aware of the effects, she can willingly submit to the Tilt regardless of her Resolve.

Aura Clashes
Mages can pit their own Nimbus against the aura as per the “Interactions with Other Auras” rules, below. 

Crafting your Nimbus Tilt

As part of character creation you will also need to create your Nimbus. You must come up with a Nimbus Tilt, which comes into play when your character’s Immediate Nimbus flares. The Tilt either penalizes or bolsters specific actions the subject undertakes. You get a number of bonus or penalty dice equal to half your character’s Gnosis (rounded up). These must be applied to a combination of penalized or benefiting Attributes (or both). 

Alternatively, you can apply the effect to Skills. A benefitting Skill also gains the 8-Again quality. A penalized Skill loses the 10-Again quality. So for example, a mage that flares a distracting, wanton, bacchanal Nimbus and Gnosis 7 might give a –1 penalty to both Composure and Wits rolls, but a +2 bonus to Presence rolls until his Nimbus fades. 

As your character’s Gnosis increases, so does the effect of her Immediate Nimbus Tilt. When Gnosis increases, you can completely rework the Tilt, re-designing it from the ground-up if you so desire.  This includes as your character changes and grows into their power.

If overcome by another Nimbus Tilt the first goes away

Interactions with other supernatural auras

Other supernatural creatures tend to have aura effects that force Conditions or Tilts. Sometimes this is a defense mechanism; sometimes this is a way to assert dominance. However, mages are particularly resistant to this effect. When such an effect targets your character, roll a dice pool comprised of a Resistance Attribute + Gnosis. The Resistance Attribute depends on the monster’s dice pool: If it uses Strength, roll Stamina; if Presence, roll Composure; and if Intelligence, roll Resolve. This resistance is automatic, but it does count as flaring your character’s Immediate Nimbus. This comes with all effects, both positive and negative. The roll acts as a contested action against whatever the other character throws at yours. Your successes subtract from his; if you net any successes beyond his, he suffers your Nimbus Tilt instead.

Some Play Testing Notes:  The potency of the spell is compared to everyone's resolve. If their resolve is lower they take the tilt unless they flare their nimbus in response.  If its a deliberate flare the caster rolls Gnosis and then their static score of Gnosis is compared to Resolve. If someone flares in response they roll Gnosis + resolve vs the successes on the Gnosis roll to flare. Static scores are no longer compared for that char. Responding with a flare doesn't afflict the tilt on bystanders.  Flaring in response can only be done to avoid the tilt, it can't get rid of the tilt once it's taken hold...  If a defender succeeds at Flaring in response they become immune to further attempts for that mage to try to inflict their Tilt until the end of the scene.

The Signature Nimbus 
(Resonant Imprints)

The Signature Nimbus is just that, an identifier your character leaves on the things her Awakened will has touched. When she uses a spell, Praxis, Rote, or Attainment, she leaves little wisps of her identity on that magic. 

A mage utilizing Focused Mage Sight can recognize those signatures she’s seen before. If the signature comes from a particularly great Gnosis (6+), it offers a bonus to Revelation rolls regarding that Pattern. For every dot of Gnosis above five, add one die to relevant dice pools. 

By default, this imprint lasts for a week. However, the bonus dice afforded by high Gnosis fade once per week instead. Once the last die is gone, it fades one week later. 

A Signature Nimbus looks the part of a residue from or remainder of the Immediate Nimbus. If your character has a fiery Immediate Nimbus, her Signature Nimbus might be charring and ash, for example. Or if her Immediate Nimbus causes intoxication, her Signature Nimbus might feel like a hangover. 

If a mage wishes, she can imprint her Signature Nimbus on an object, place, or person at the cost of one Mana. In this case, add her Gnosis to any rolls to scrutinize that Nimbus. This fades at one bonus die per week. Spending a Willpower point turns those weeks into months. 

So What does the Immediate Nimbus look like? Hurting for ideas?

Nimbus Appendix! (As seen in: Tome of the Watchtowers sourcebook):

-          Acanthus - The nimbus of an Acanthus mage, like her appearance, is “fey.” Words commonly associated with the world of faerie — gossamer, mist, glowing, luminescent, feathery, timeless, otherworldly — partially describe the physical appearance of these mages’ nimbuses. Particularly when an Acanthus mage uses the Time Arcanum, the time sense of those around the mage seems to alter, and the nimbus itself interacts with time in unexpected and often startling ways. Likewise, the Fate Arcanum injects an element of chance into the nimbus, as if the aura surrounding the mage had suddenly become infused with all the potentially possible variations. While a mage usually has a singular nimbus by which his magic can be recognized by a practiced eye, there are often slight variations within an individual’s nimbus manifestations depending on the type and intensity of the magic being cast.  Concepts for Acanthus character’s nimbuses can come from any object or word associated with the Path’s ruling Arcana, Time and Fate, or related to Arcadia, the world of faerie, the Watchtower of the Lunargent Thorn or anything else called to mind by associations with the Path of Thistle. Within these concepts, the nimbus may vary in accordance with the kinds or intensity of magic used.

o   Fey - Things seem enchanted or pregnant with the possibility of magic. In some cases, a greenish glow might highlight metals or reflective surfaces, and eerie, strange singing can be heard from afar. With powerful magic, fogs and mists might rise to cloak the ground. Time condenses into the present moment; concerns about the past or future seem less pressing, less real. Everyone’s heart seems to beat in synch, although the silence between beats hints of eternity. Things sometimes seem to move in slow motion, with sublime grace and beauty.

o   Time/Fate – The nimbus in general may appear as an aura of soft, glowing blue light with hints of tiny motes of brilliance winking in and out circling around her. When casting spells involving the Fate Arcanum, the bright motes may acquire a random firing or circle wildly around the mage while emitting different colors of light. The Time Arcanum might cause this same nimbus to appear frozen in time for several heartbeats before resuming its circular movement. Greater degrees of magic would accentuate the nimbus’ qualities according to the type of magic used.

o   Changeable - A visual light show appears, complete with exploding fireworks, changing colors and kaleidoscopic repetitions of visual elements. Sounds become intensified in their variations — loud sounds become louder and soft noises faded to near inaudibility, only to trade places so that soft becomes loud and loud soft. Strange music sometimes accompanies effect, providing a melody that never resolves but is always turning into some other song. Powerful magic adds even more variations and more intense sensations. Viewers stand in awe of the light and sound spectacle.

o   Ethereal - An otherworldly sensation surrounds the caster. Objects nearby seem either transparent or translucent, and everything has a sheen of unearthly grandeur. Junk cars do not change their appearance, but are nevertheless transformed into iridescent visions. Music reminiscent of an angelic choir — or a faerie chorus — rises and falls in swells of unbearable sweetness and inescapable sadness. Everyone nearby becomes aware of their own fragility, of how their lives hang on each heartbeat and of how delicate the balance of their existence truly is. It is as if a strong breath could blow the world away. Strong magic heightens this sensation, making others feel the aching beauty of something just beyond their grasp.

o   Fated - All seems predetermined. Sights and sounds are perceived with a sense of fatality, as if they had been set into stone long ago. Voices murmur indistinguishably in the background, sounding like a Greek chorus announcing a hero’s unhappy fate or else a judge pronouncing sentence. Colors are somber without being dark; there are no half-tones or graduated hues. Rather, each color is shown in its coldest, most fixed state — slate gray, deep crimson, royal purple, dark green — lacking any true shine or sheen. Strong power reinforces the sense of predetermination, until those nearby feel as if they can do nothing spontaneous, as if every action they take has already been played out on some gigantic stage. A variant nimbus includes shadowy women’s faces that might be interpreted as the Three Fates or the Triune-goddess.

o   Fortune-Telling - Similar to the “Fated” nimbus in theme, but less fixed and incorporating chance and randomness, this nimbus creates an area around its caster in which everything seems possible, but only one outcome is certain. Images of cards, rune-stones, dice, bones and other vehicles for reading fortunes pass in and out of the viewer’s sight. Sometimes, it seems as if a fortune might become clear, but, at the last minute, the final element of the prophecy fades. Carnival music often accompanies this nimbus. Strong magic causes the nimbus to appear solid and transparent around its edges, as if the mage were enclosed within a giant crystal ball. Anyone in proximity to the caster feels as if all the certainties of his life were suddenly stripped away, leaving a sensation of intermingled fright and excitement.

o   Fractals - The patterns of the world present themselves within the nimbus, displaying an ever-shifting, seemingly random sequence of shapes and forms always in motion. After staring at the procession of forms, a sort of pattern emerges, though not one that can be determined by hard-and-fast formulae. The particular Arcanum used at the time controls the visual form of the fractal pattern: the Life Arcanum may produce shifting figures of molecules or recombinant DNA or images of bees swarming in changing formations; Forces may reveal snowflakes, lava flows, patterns of shifting sands or a meteorite display. The stronger the magic, the more intense the shapes and the faster they move. Anyone near the caster senses that the world is truly composed of many parts, and those parts, in turn, are made of smaller parts . . . .

o   Misleading - Nothing is as it seems. This nimbus displays a series of optical illusions, from twisting Möbius strips of light to figure-versus-ground arrays or Escherian landscapes. Just when the brain makes sense of what it perceives, the scene suddenly inverts itself or emphasizes a small detail that shifts the visual focus so that a completely different image forms.  This process continues in a never-ending progression. Stronger magic enhances the contrasts, exerting an almost hypnotic effect on the viewer. Anyone close to the caster experiences a sense that her perceptions are forever changed and is filled with mistrust at first impressions.

o   Nature - The link between Arcadia, the Fae and the natural world reveals itself in this nimbus. A heady incense of blossoms and other natural scents infuses the air around the caster. The nimbus itself appears as a circle of leaves, flowers, twigs, thorns, shells or other nature-related images. Stronger magic brings out the colors of the images and heightens the scents so that they seem to cling to the skin. Anyone standing near the caster feels a dusting of feathers or the spray of salt water or some other physical sensation associated with natural objects.

o   Surreal - This nimbus presents images similar to those that might be found by stepping “through the looking glass,” walking into a painting by Hieronymus Bosch or experiencing the effect of certain mind-altering chemicals. The outer edges of the nimbus are ill-defined, so that the “real” world blends almost seamlessly into the nimbus, extending the sense of un or ultra-reality beyond the immediate vicinity of the caster. The more powerful the magic, the sharper the images become. Those near the caster feel as if they have lost control of their visual processing centers and that they are unable to make sense of what they are seeing. (Those who regularly experience acid flashes may not feel quite as disoriented as others.)

o   Time Effects - Though some nimbuses may include sensations of extended time or other temporal effects, this nimbus uses time as its primary symbology. Some of these nimbuses appear as giant clock faces, with the caster in the center, or as numerous tiny clocks circling the caster. Other visual effects may include the images of infants aging to adults, growing old and dying only to transform into a fetus in utero and begin the process all over or the procession of the seasons. Strong magic may speed up or slow down the process. Anyone in proximity feels time distort around them, either moving in slow motion, fast forward or stop action. Often, the sound of clocks ticking or hearts beating accompanies the visual effects.

o   Whimsical - This nimbus may develop a cartoonish feel, becoming two-dimensional and incorporating animated creatures within its confines. It may also portray images from circuses, carnivals or other symbols of entertainment and imagination. Though the initial images may appear “sweet” or “cute,” a feeling of manic madness prevents them from becoming cloying. Strong magic increases the madness quotient. Eerie carnival music or mad music-box tunes fill the ears of anyone standing near the caster.

-          Mastigos - Thought is made real in Pandemonium, and thus anything that the Warlock can think of might accompany his magic. Below are some alternate possibilities for Mastigos nimbuses. More than with other Paths, Mastigos nimbuses tend to have a pronounced effect on onlookers.

o   Nightmarish - Depth perception takes on new clarity, and it might seem that objects are seen from all sides in a single glance, or that things seem impossibly far away, beyond reach. Objects seem limned by an unseen flame, and exotic fragrances hover at the edge of awareness. With powerful magic, distant screams or howls of rage might sometimes be heard. 

o   Cacophony - It begins with a ringing in the ears, and grows to an indistinct roar. Any nearby creature with normal hearing experiences fi rst discomfort, then pain as the din increases. Powerful magic might even cause nosebleeds and headaches in listeners, but, interestingly, the noise created by such a nimbus cannot be recorded and does not appear on sound recording equipment — the sound exists only in the minds of the listeners. This nimbus is appropriate for any Mastigos specializing in the Mind Arcanum or who learns the Forces Arcanum.

o   Claustrophobic - Hallways tighten, vehicles appear to collapse in on their passengers and elevators become mobile coffins. Even people who don’t suffer from claustrophobia feel smothered, and actual claustrophobics often hyperventilate in panic. Powerful magic makes the Mastigos herself seem larger than life, standing tall in front of the witnesses no matter how far away she is. Obviously, a Warlock specializing in Space magic might exhibit a claustrophobic nimbus.

o   Demonic - The mage’s eyes glow with unholy light, and his shadow might grow horns, a tail, wings, extra limbs or other inhuman features. His voice gains a booming bass resonance or a hideous screech, and, with powerful magic, his skin might become a jaundiced yellow or fiery red. Mastigos who study the Arcanum of Spirit or Life might display this nimbus.

o   Destructive - The demons of the Kingdom of Nightmares seem to reach into the Fallen World via this nimbus, clawing and biting at anything they can reach. Their influence manifests in various ways. Brittle materials might crumble, flammable items might begin to smoke and glass might crack. These effects vanish when the magic ends, of course (the nimbus doesn’t actually cause change in the Durability of items), but powerful magic might leave behind scoring apparently from long claws. Mastigos studying the Arcanum of Death might show this nimbus.

o   Disorienting - The landscape around the mage seems to spin, causing vertigo and nausea in onlookers. Even on steady ground, witnesses can’t seem to find their footing and might stumble or reach out for handholds. Depth perception and spatial relations suffer, and, with powerful magic, witnesses might lose their senses of direction for the rest of the day. Warlocks specializing in either of the ruling Arcana of Pandemonium might exhibit this nimbus.

o   Infectious - The mage’s nimbus induces some spreading trait. This might be a cough, a laugh or even a phrase in an unknown language that all who hear are bound to repeat at least once. Powerful magic can even cause a visible pox on the flesh of witnesses. This “disease” fades as the magic does, but can leave witnesses feeling unclean and “marked” for days. Warlocks who study the Life or Fate Arcanum might display this nimbus.

o   Sensual - Onlookers experience all sensory input keenly, from the scent of nearby perfumes to the sound of the mage’s voice to the feel of their own clothing. This experience isn’t necessarily unpleasant; depending on what stimuli the person is receiving it can be enjoyable or even erotic. As the power of the magic increases, though, even a silk shirt can start to feel like sandpaper and the gentlest whisper can feel deafening. A Warlock studying Matter as well as Mind might display this nimbus.

o   Sexual - No matter how he actually appears, the Mastigos exudes sex appeal. Onlookers cannot help but become aroused, although the focus of the arousal isn’t necessarily the mage (for instance, a truly heterosexual man won’t feel desirous of a male Mastigos, but any woman in the immediate vicinity probably starts to look extremely tempting). Extremely powerful magic might even cause spontaneous orgasm in onlookers. Such a nimbus is appropriate for Mastigos who study Mind or Life.

o   Subjugating - Onlookers, animal and human both, abase themselves before the mage. His will is law, his words infallible. Nothing seems to escape his notice, and his gaze might seem benevolent or terrible depending on the nature of the magic. Powerful spells might cause inanimate objects to bend, as though bowing before him. Mastigos specializing in the Mind or Fate Arcanum might show this nimbus.

o   Symphonic - Everything moves in concert. Ambient sounds harmonize together, and voices take on a lyrical quality. The movement of feet against the ground results in a cello-like note, while an inhaled breath produces a woodwind sound. The mage is the conductor of the symphony of the world, if only for a few moments. Powerful magic can cause listeners to weep at the beauty of this music. This nimbus is appropriate for Mastigos who study the Arcanum of Forces, Fate or Prime.

-          Moros  - Yep, pretty much what you would expect...

o   Haunting - Onlookers think they see vague and blurry figures. Shadows grow deeper or seem to reach out to an onlooker, and objects look decayed or rotted. With powerful magic, they might even hear whispers. Corpses might twitch or seem to moan.

o   Bleak - Sounds become dampened and colors muted. Depth perception becomes difficult as edges of objects blur together and points of reference are hard to resolve. Horizons seem distant, and words seem to echo. A pervasive feeling of hopelessness arises, as though whatever might be accomplished at present ultimately won’t matter. With powerful magic, onlookers might start to cry or a cold rain might start falling. Any Moros who specializes in the Death Arcanum might exhibit this nimbus.

o   Brittle - Everything becomes delicate. Clothes seem to tear easily, objects crack or shift with the slightest touch and taking a step seems to strain the floor or leave dents in the ground. With powerful magic, a thin layer of powder might appear on stone as though it is disintegrating. Moros who commonly use Death or Matter to disable or destroy objects might exhibit this nimbus. Note: Nimbuses do not actually damage objects or lower Durability, so even if a material frays a bit, it still works perfectly normally.

o   Eerie - Sounds take on a slightly higher pitch and a faint echo, and colors shift toward the blue end of the spectrum. Onlookers see movement from the corners of their eyes, but this ceases if they try to focus on it. Nothing moves quickly when directly watched. Movements seem slow and dreamlike, and a disturbing calm surrounds everything. With powerful magic, the mage’s words seem to ring in listener’s ears before she speaks, creating the perception that she is out of synch with her own body. This nimbus is common for Moros who study Mind as well as Death.

o   Endless - Things taken on a timeless quality. Words echo, but the echoes don’t fade entirely, instead remaining as a soft undertone. The mage appears unassailable, as if he cannot be attacked or affected by others. Powerful magic might distort onlookers’ sense of time to the point that the second in which the spell is cast seems minutes or even hours long. Any Moros might develop this nimbus, but it is especially appropriate for those who learn the Time Arcanum as well as Death.

o   Kingly - The mage appears regal and powerful (though not necessarily noble — the feeling is intimidating, not inspiring). Anything he is holding or wearing seems like a treasure, and anyone who meets his gaze feels compelled to look away. Animals, even inanimate objects, seem to defer to him, and, with powerful magic, even shadows stay below his gaze. This nimbus is appropriate for Moros who make a habit of raising zombies or commanding ghosts.

o   Mutable - Things seem in flux. Objects might undergo subtle shifts in color, white light and shadow in intensify and dampen seemingly at random. Water flows in whirlpools or waves, even if it’s currently in a drinking glass. Fabrics stiffen momentarily, while metal or glass seems to warp when touched. Powerful magic might cause iron to change to copper or lead to gold for a few seconds. Mages who use Matter to transmute or transmogrify might exhibit this nimbus.

o   Paranoid - Shadows turn to face the mage or the target of the spell. Onlookers feel breath on their necks and hear whispers from darkened corners. Footsteps might sound from above or below the mage’s current position, even if he is outdoors. Someone picking up an object might develop a distinct sense of guilt, as though he were stealing it. Powerful magic might result in ghostly faces appearing in reflective surfaces, watching those around the mage with stern or angry expressions. This nimbus is appropriate for mages who commonly use ghosts or spirits as spies or contacts, or who study the Spirit Arcanum.

o   Respectful - Light and sound seem to defer to the mage; shadows darken as he approaches and when he speaks, other sounds dampen. People have trouble meeting the mage’s eyes, and their gazes are naturally drawn to whatever he points to. The respectful air doesn’t just apply to the mage, though. People aren’t inclined to become angry or violent — it just seems inappropriate, especially when powerful magic is involved. Necromancers who use magic to contact or heal ghosts or to enter Twilight might exhibit this nimbus.

o   Rotting - Foul smells of decay emanate from the mage or from her target. Fabric, food and other soft materials sag and seem befouled, while harder organic matter (such as wood) feels soft and porous to the touch. Onlookers feel unclean and might have trouble drawing breath, as though the air tastes foul. Powerful magic might result in fungus or mold growing in corners or on foodstuffs. This nimbus is appropriate for Moros who study Life as well as Death.

o   Solid - Sounds do not echo, but seem pregnant with meaning. Footsteps are loud as though the person’s weight had increased. Doors and windows are harder to move and substances that should tear easily, such as paper, require effort to destroy (although again, no actual change in Durability takes place; the effect is subtle and has no effect on game mechanics). Liquid seems to become slightly more viscous, and with powerful magic might even congeal for a second. Necromancers who make common use of the Matter Arcanum to strengthen material might exhibit this nimbus.

-          Obrimos - The nimbus of the Obrimos is truly worthy of the name, since it most often manifests as the light, sound and sheer power wielded by the chosen.

o   The Obrimos are the most given to classical auras or haloes of celestial light, sometimes accompanied by the sound of distant thunder or ethereal music. Their light is often golden or pure white, but appears in all the colors of the rainbow, sometimes as pure light, others as “cold fi re” that flickers but does not burn.

o   Some Theurgists have a particular color (or range of colors) associated with their nimbus, as individual as a fingerprint, and associated with the mage’s personality and Awakening. So a warrior of the Adamantine Arrow might have a nimbus of fiery red or burning gold, while a Mysterium scholar has an aura of cool blue and a théarch of the Silver Ladder has a silvery-white nimbus, reflecting purity and nobility. While a number of different cabals and traditions associated certain color with particular meanings, evidence shows it is largely a reflection of the individual personality rather than some objective measurement. Still, Theurgists with a tendency toward a particular nimbus color or colors usually manifest it in all aspects of their magic.

o   Similarly, some of the Mighty have a particular sound or sounds associated with their nimbus, audible only to those with Mage Sight. It may be the distant (or not so distant) sound of rolling thunder; for others it is celestial music, choirs of sweet voices, the sound of a crackling fire or a deep hum like an electric motor. The sound often varies according to the mage’s mood and magic.

o   Lastly, the Obrimos nimbus seems to carry a measure of the Path’s faith and confidence. When the chosen work their magic, things tend to seem preordained, as if part of some greater, divine plan or whole. There is a certain soothing rightness to their actions, counterbalancing the glory and majesty of it all, and recalling humanity’s ancient guides and guardians. The Mighty wear the noble mantle of divine right that was the birthright of sovereigns throughout history.

o   Enlightening - Things become self-luminous, seeming to glow from within, and the air becomes charged with energy, accompanied by the smell of burning ozone or unseen smoke. Everything seems to be preordained, divinely chosen. With powerful magic, a distant choir might be heard

-          Thyrsus - get in touch with the wild side...

o   Vibrant - Adjacent onlookers feel a “runner’s high” as their blood beats faster, their hearts feeling strong. The hairs on the napes of their necks rise, sending a thrill down the spine. Onlookers see movement out of the corner of their eyes, or think they see shapes in random patterns, such as faces peering at them from the abstract patterns on wallpaper. With powerful magic, they might even hear growls, whines or insect buzzing coming from inanimate objects such as lamps, staplers or cars.

o   Hungry Like the Wolf - Onlookers suddenly find themselves ravenous, overcome by powerful cravings for very, very rare steak, or possibly sushi. This craving will last until the person eats or goes to sleep.

o   Arousal - Those watching the mage cast his magic find themselves exceptionally, inexplicably sexually aroused. For the duration of the casting, the onlooker experiences all the symptoms of powerful sexual arousal, possibly to the point of spontaneous orgasm. This is a relatively common nimbus for those near a mage using shapeshifting magic.

o   Bestial Witness - Animals may converge on the place of the casting. Dozens or even hundreds of birds might land on every available perch, rats might pour up from the sewers, their beady black eyes intent on the mage, or pets might break loose from their owners to come be in the presence of the Shaman’s magic. Harmful magic might elicit more disturbing animals: a cloud of locusts or flies might enshroud the caster, or a knot of serpents might entwine her feet and legs.

o   Strange Scents - Strange scents waft from the mage or her target. These fragrances might be musky (such as a wet animal), spicy (such as ginger or nutmeg) or florally sweet (such as lavender, roses or gardenia). Healing magic often triggers this nimbus. Using Life magic to harm a target typically results in foul odors instead: rotting milk, decaying flesh or asafetida.

o   Predator’s Song - Those near the mage might hear (or imagine that they hear) the sound of some triumphant beast after a hunt: the roar of a lion, the mad shrieking of a chimpanzee, a howling wolf or some similar noise.

o   Unveiling - For a brief moment in the presence of powerful magic, the mage’s nimbus might momentarily allow onlookers to see a flicker of the same animalist world the Shaman sees. Sleepers might sense waves of emotion coming from objects or natural phenomena — eagerness from a sports car, stability from a chair, anger from a fire and so on.

o   Hair Growth - Not only does the mage’s nimbus cause viewers’ hair to stand on end, the nimbus causes the hair to grow. A clean-shaven man might suddenly have three days of stubble on his face, while a bald individual might find himself growing hair again.

o   Human Claws - Those affected by the mage’s nimbus might find their fingernails and toenails growing by as much as a half inch in the case of powerful magic. The nails are thicker and courser than usual and seem sharper. The nails can be clipped (with difficulty), but the thickened portion will stay thick until the affected portion grows out.

o   Muscle Tremors - An onlooker might develop a pronounced facial tic or experience a surge of involuntary muscle tremors rippling through her body. This won’t cause the person to fall down, but might cause her to stagger or drop something held in her hands.

o   Bestial Impulsivity - Sleepers near the mage might experience an overwhelming instinctual impulse, a purely random amplification of some normally innocuous urge: a momentary irritation drives the person to punch the object of his irritation or a mild attraction causes the Sleeper to sexually grope the person he’s attracted to. A vague sense of nervousness or disease, on the other hand, might trigger a full blown panic attack and cause a person to bolt like a rabbit fleeing a pack of hounds.