Circles of Protection

Requirements, Effects, & Notes Regarding Protection Circles

• Basic Protection: All circles of protection prevent harm from be falling the occupants within the circle by preventing something or some force from entering its protective confines, and by providing bonuses for the characters in the circle to save vs horror factor and magic and psionic attacks directed at them from outside the circle. Beings which the circle protects against are magically held at bay and cannot enter the circle unless they make a successful saving throw (16 or higher). However, they can attack from a distance outside the perimeter of the circle with range weapons: bows and arrows, thrown spears, rocks, etc. Those in the circle must try to parry and dodge such attacks. A foe may also attack from a distance beyond the circle with magic or psionics. Everybody inside the circle gets huge bonuses to save vs such attacks. Note: Each protection circle is usually very specific to the type of races, monster, force or alignment that it protects against. Characters and forces that the circle are not designed to stop can walk into a magic circle without difficulty.
• Further Circle Protection: The beings held outside a magic circle may also try to save vs circle magic (base save is 16, sometimes higher; see saving throws). A successful save to beat the circle's magic temporarily enables the creature to enter its protective confines. However, be cause the circle is designed to protect people from that particular being, it is bombarded by magic forces the moment it steps into the circle. Damage & Penalties suffered are automatic; the intruder does not get another saving throw. Reduce speed, all melee attacks, combat bonuses and skill performance by half! Any magic, psionic and bio-regenerative powers the intruder may have will not work inside the circle! Plus the intruder suffers 4D6 damage (start with S.D.C.) every melee round that he remains inside the circle. This is in addition to any damage the occupant's of the circle may inflict! Leaning into the circle to attack, while actually standing just outside the circle, will have the same effects as above because the attacker is leaning part of his body into the circumference of the magic circle. Poking, jabbing or swiping at people inside a circle with a weapon, while standing just outside the circle, will inflict 2D6 damage to the attacker and he is -2 to strike, parry or dodge. In both cases, the attacker must make a successful save vs circle magic or he cannot penetrate the circle's protective barrier. Note: The magic spells, negate magic and dispel magic barriers do not apply to magic circles of any kind.
• Saving Throws vs Circle Magic: Mystic circles are created via ceremonial magic, thus the base save vs circle magic is 16. A circle maker gets +1 circle strength at levels seven and fourteen, so a circle created by a 7th level circle maker would require a saving throw of 17 and a 14th level circle maker a save of 18 or higher. Characters who successfully save vs circle magic can enter the protection circle (and attack!) for 1D4 melee rounds before they must roll to save again. If the roll to save fails, the creature must leave the confines of the circle immediately and he cannot try to save again and enter the circle for an other 1D4 melee rounds! Most lesser demons, devils and animals won't even try to enter a circle, but most greater beings will — and frequently succeed. The more limited and exclusive, the greater the range of protection and the higher the saving throw necessary for those beings. The wider the range of protection, the lower the saving throw.
• Attacking from within a protective circle: The circle maker and/or other occupants of the circle are free to use long-range weapons, throw things, or cast magic or psionics from inside the circle at those outside it without penalty.
• Time Requirements: It typically takes 15 to 20 minutes to create and activate a protection circle, unless otherwise noted.
• Size: The circle can be made as large or small as desired, provided the circle maker has enough components to create it.
• Range: All protection circles only protect those within its radius. Most lesser beings and animals will not come within 10 feet (3 m) of an activated circle.
• Duration: Permanent until destroyed or deactivated by the circle maker. Once activated, the magic circle remains functioning indefinitely; all components are magically kept fresh. This means anybody who knows how, can enter the circle and use it, unless it's "sealed." To use an active circle of any kind, the user must know the power words and pump in five P.P.E. points. These simple requirements mean even a person without magic knowledge can use an active circle provided he or she has proper instructions and five P.P.E. points available to him/her. The desire to use the circle is enough to focus and allow the release of the P.P.E.
• Components: Each description will indicate what the circle must be drawn with (in many cases, any substance is acceptable) and any other components necessary. Metals needed to draw the circle can be melted and used as a liquid or ground into powder/dust and sprinkled or com bined with a binding agent (same as the circle maker). Gemstones should be of a good quality, but don't have to be the biggest or best; gem chips or stones of terrible quality are not acceptable. See the circle diagrams for exact circle designs, symbols needed and placement of components.
• Deactivation of a Circle: The circle maker can deliberately deactivate a perfectly good, undamaged circle by willingly expending half the P.P.E. it took to make it. Removing one or more key components will effectively shut the circle off, but replacing the component and placing 40 P.P.E. points into it will reactive the circle. Removing the components and washing or scraping away 50% or more of the circle patten will destroy it.
• P.P.E. & Circle Activation: Unless otherwise noted, a protection circle costs 70 P.P.E. to create. Once created, the circle remains activated until it is destroyed. Anybody not restricted by the nature of the circle itself can enter it at any time to enjoy its protection, unless it is "sealed."
• Sealed Circles: A Circle Maker can "seal" his circle by placing a few drops of his own blood in a small circle at the lower right end of the "X" symbol (see diagram). A sealed circle prevents others from entering and using the circle. Only the circle maker and those he specifically allows as having access to his circle can enter it without necessity of a saving throw. An invisible magic barrier prevents all others from entering. Those who successfully save vs circle magic can also enter the sealed circle but suffer the usual damage and penalties whether the circle maker is present or not. The circle maker can list the specific people who can enter and use his circle by inscribing their true name, or by using a drop of their blood. Or the mage can limit the availability of the circle to a broader range of beings by indicating with a magic symbol that it can be used by those of good or evil alignment, demons, witches, etc. In either case, the circle must be sealed with the mage's own blood. Protection circles are seldom sealed (about 20%). Using more than one circle simultaneously is impossible unless they are connected with the power matrix (see circles of power).
• Drawing the Circle: The circle does not have to be drawn perfectly but should be as symmetrical and well constructed as possible — a very sloppy or elliptical shaped circle will not work! Likewise, any symbols, lines and words in the circle should be drawn as straight, legibly and perfectly as possible or the circle won't work. Components must also be placed in the proper positions. This is one reason it takes time to make one.

Protection Circle: Simple

Protection Circle: Superior

Protection from Angels

Protection from Devils

Protection from Demons

Protection from Dragons

Protection from True Elementals

Protection from Elemental Forces

Protection from Evil

Protection from Faerie Folk

Protection from Ghosts, Spirits & Entities

Protection from Good

Protection from the Jinn

Protection from Magic (simple)

Protection from Magic (superior)

Protection from the Old Ones

Protection from the Undead

Protection from Witches

Protection from Were-beasts