When the mage touches another mage while this spell is in effect, the target mage is drained of 1d4 spell points (1d6 at rank 10, 1d8 at rank 15, 1d10 at rank 20 and 1d12 at rank 22). If the mage has no spell points remaining, then the spell has no effect. If the mage gets critical success or better on their save, no points are drained.
The mage can choose to cast this spell on an item, such as a weapon, in which case touching a mage with the item will have the same effect. Thus, the mage can cast this spell on an ally's sword and when the sword hits a mage, the mage is drained. The duration is the same in either case (1 round per rank). Drained spell points return at the normal rate.
Note that the duration of this spell refers to how long the mage can continue to touch spell casters and drain their spell points, not the duration that the points are drained. The drained points must be recovered normally.
At rank 15 and higher, drained points go directly to the mage who may use them normally. His normal spell point total can increase above normal maximum but any points used come first from the excess points. This use of the power only works if used directly (i.e., the mage touches the target or casts the spell on his own weapon). It does not work if the spell is cast on an ally's weapon. Excess spell points (above the mage's normal maximum) fade away after 24 hours.
Note that a target mage can only be affected by this spell a maximum of once per round. Even if the attacker is able to attack and hit multiple times, only the first hit applies for the purpose of this spell. For example, Delana casts this spell on Harlan's spear and Harlan then engages in melee combat with a mage. Harlan gets three attacks per round. He misses the mage with the first hit. He hits the mage with the second hit, does normal damage, and rolls a 3 for the number of spell points drained. The mage makes his save so he only loses 2 spell points. On his third attack, Harlan also hits but the Drain Mage spell has already resolved for this round so no additional points are drained. |