Music-based Magick

There are two universal languages, at least if you believe science; mathematics, and music. Music is something that pretty much everyone can relate to, genres not withstanding. Everyone can think of one moment where music touched them or inspired them in some way. Cantomancers can tap into that energy and use it for their own purposes.
Despite their tendencies to favor one form of music over others, cantomancers tend to be pretty open when it comes to musical preferences. Genres don’t matter, as long as you respect music for what it is: something with the power to move thousands. If you don’t believe me, look at all the charity concerts and how much money they bring in, or the stars themselves for that matter. Also, among the schools of magick, Cantomancy tends to be the most idiosyncratic when it comes to names, as each adept tends to name the formula spells after songs or tricks they like.
There used to be a different version of Cantomancy based around the collection and possession of music and musical pieces, very similar to Bibliomancy. These two different sects of the school existed more or less in peaceful coexistence, only occasionally erupting into a full-blown war over the true power of music. The two sides were at more or less an impasse, neither one powerful enough to do away with the other, until Napster came about. In one fell swoop, the tiny program completely destroyed the meaning and power behind the acquisition of music by making it free and easy to obtain whatever piece of music you wanted, and the other side vanished almost overnight. Some say that Shaun Fanning, the creator of Napster, is a member of the existing sect of Cantomancy, and Napster was his ultimate weapon against the opposing sect.
There is one fundamental difference between the average cantomancer and the average rock god: the cantomancer cares not about wealth and fame, but only for the music. Even the most unselfish performer cares at some level about fame and fortune, but cantomancers will turn down even the sweetest deal simply because they don’t believe in it, that it will somehow cheapen their music and their lives along with it. However, they still believe that music is something to be shared, not hoarded, so they have a tendency to be somewhat well-known in their local area, but not famous. For this reason, cantomancers tend to be inner-city people or out in the middle of nowhere, where they can perform for people without becoming too well-known. They also have to have some talent in performing music, so some musically related skill is required.

Cantomancy blast style: Anyone can make a bad noise, but it takes talent to really make it hurt. The Cantomancy blast is a horrible screeching, feedback-like noise issuing from any nearby sound source. Speakers, car horns, window panes, chalkboards, trash cans, even the caster’s voice are all fair game, as long as it can resonate. It also stuns those it injures, causing a -10% effect on all rolls for 4 turns, similar to the Dazed hand-to-hand cherry, because of the ringing in their ears and head. However, the downside is that the significant blast effects everyone within a certain radius of the source, friend or foe, so be careful if you’ve got partners around.

Stats:

Generate a Minor Charge: Perform for 15 minutes so that at least one other person can hear it. The person in question does not have to hear the whole piece, but someone has to be hearing the music at all times. (Note: Charges are cumulative, but not with people, only time. So if you played for 30 minutes and 1 person, you would get 2 charges, but only 1 if you performed for 15 minutes and 2 people.)
Generate a Significant Charge: Perform for 1 hour for at least 50 people. Once again, the people in the audience can change, but the number cannot dip below 50. The charges are still cumulative with time. Also, turn down a record deal or something else like it.
Generate a Major Charge: Perform for thousands and never be recognized, before or after. Also, have your music become a national or international hit and never be recognized. (Rumor has it that the more countries you’re a hit in, the more charges you get.)
Taboo: Become famous or recognized in any way larger than slight notoriety in your city or local area. Also, accept more than $100 per charge for performing from any one group or person.
Charging Up: The average cantomancer can produce 3-4 minor charges a day if they have a roommate or someone who is willing to listen to you perform for an extended period of time, or 5-7 minor charges a week if they don’t. If they have regular gigs at clubs, they can generate a few significant charges a month, maybe 2-3.
Random Magick Domain: The cantomancer is a master of sound as it is, this just expands on it a bit. Creating phantom sounds or voices, throwing your voice, creating the auditory illusion of a gunfight outside your annoying neighbor’s front door, and other such sound-related tricks come naturally to the cantomancer.

Minor Formula Spells:

Tweak Scratch
1 Minor Charge
This spell temporarily distracts a target with a sudden odd noise, putting them at -10% for their next action.

Equalizer
1 Minor Charge
When you hear someone’s voice on a CD, you’re not hearing how they really sound, but the cleaned-up, edited, and tweaked version. This spell allows the cantomancer to do that on the fly, adjusting volume, pitch, timbre, bass, and enhancing or muting certain frequencies, specifically those available on any standard equalizer, within a +/- 10% range. It does absolutely no good on determining exactly what needs to be changed and how much, but if you do know, here’s your tool.

This Song’s For You
2 Minor Charges
With this spell, you can send a message to someone through music. The next song they hear will be your message, repeated over and over in tune to the song. The length of the message is dependant on the skill of the sender, for every point of skill, the message is extended by one letter. Everyone around the receiver hears the normal song, however.

Feeling The Music
2 Minor Charges
Music is intrinsically related to emotions, and this spell allows you to read one person’s emotions about a single statement or group and why they feel the way they do. The answers won’t be anything specific, like “John Doe hates the local PTA, specifically James Smith because he ritualistically sacrificed his dog so James could score with John’s wife,” but something more along the lines of “John Doe hates the local PTA because of something one of their members did to his dog.”

Feedback
3 Minor Charges
This is the Cantomancy minor blast, creating a loud screeching noise from any nearby object that can resonate, including the human voice. It’s directed at one target, but only on objects and people within a 20 foot radius of the resonating object. Along with the damage, the target is at -10% for all rolls for 4 turns as the resonating and buzzing in their head dies down from the noise.

Significant Formula Spells:

Black Noise
1 Significant Charge
The Cantomancy significant blast, this functions similarly to the minor blast, except that it affects everyone within a 5 foot radius of the resonating object. Be careful of collateral damage.

Emo Transmission
2 Significant Charges
Taking the link between emotions and music up a notch, this spell allows you to influence the emotions of those around you. Note the word “influence” instead of “change”. This spell can only nudge, suggest, and direct someone’s emotions in a certain direction. It won’t make a happy person commit suicide, but if they’re already depressed, this one directs them in that direction, or can improve the general mood in the room.

Sex Type Thing
2 Significant Charges
Music stars tend to have a air of sexual potency about them, and this spell projects that sense onto others. Anyone targeted with this spell instantly feels a deep desire to have sex with the caster, independent of normal sexual inclination, although Self checks may be in order if it contradicts their normal sexual behavior.

I Know The Lyrics
3 Significant Charges
Songs always manage to say the right thing, don’t they? Well, that’s because they’re written in advance, so they have the chance to make it perfect. People usually aren’t that lucky, but with this spell, you know exactly what to say in any given situation. It does not work when performing, however. This effect lasts 2 minutes, so make the most of it while it lasts.

Praise Chorus
5 Significant Charges
This spell enhances, purifies, and perfects any performance the caster is currently giving. The lyrics are perfectly written and delivered, the accompaniment in exactly what is needed, and all effects are the right ones at the right time. The odd part about this is all of this occurs whether or not any of the prerequisite equipment is present. For example, if a song would require a choir backup to sound right, one is heard without one being there, or possibly the audience themselves provide the backup. Also, if a rap set needs a certain sound mix, it is heard out of nowhere. All effects created by this spell are recordable, but the effects only last for 5 minutes.

Major Effects:

Stop (or incite) a battle or riot with only your music. Make someone else an amazing performer permanently. Effect the entire world’s emotions or thoughts temporarily.