Anyone who passes through a warded doorway is attacked by an astral parasite.

Cost: six minor charges

Begin with a horseshoe thrown by a horse as it trampled a three-legged rabbit to death. Heat the horseshoe in a fire started using dried shamrocks as tinder. Once the horseshoe is hot, bend it at the center, until the two prongs are ninety degrees apart. Let it cool, then carry it through the triangle formed by a ladder, trip, and let it fall into a pail of blue lead-based paint. Fish it out and let the paint dry. This is the anchor, which may be used seventeen times.

To ward a door, nail or otherwise affix the anchor to the top and center of the doorframe, at sundown, while continually swearing under your breath. Seal it in place with hot, pure, undyed beeswax. Get some of the hot wax on your hand and burn yourself.

Effect: Until sunrise, or the anchor is moved, whichever comes first, anyone who passes through the warded door is attacked by an astral parasite. Multiple trips through mean multiple parasites.

Note: Anchors can be reused from night to night, but a given anchor can only trigger seventeen parasite attacks before losing its mojo (an event signaled by the blue paint flaking off the horseshoe). An anchor does not need to be activated by the ritualist who created it. The creation ritual does not require the expenditure of any charges.