Grounding

Power 6

Originally called the "Rite of Divine Channeling," this ritual was discovered by an Italian alchemist in the tenth century A.D. He was studying the ancient roads of the Roman Empire in an attempt to chart the "ley lines" of magical power he believed cross-crossed the Earth. However, he was unable to make the ritual work because the Roman highways had long since disintegrated.

In the last fifty years, this state of affairs has reversed itself dramatically. The Ritual of Conductance allows a spellbinder to tap into man-made networks. Its original purpose was probably magical transportation, but even the mighty Roman highways paled in comparison to a modern freeway system. There are now networks for transmitting water, power, information, and more.

A spellbinders needs to perform the ritual only once each day. It involves making and drinking a complex solution of various "pure" metals and "harmonizing" yourself with the corresponding heavenly bodies. It's a whole "As Above, So Below" thing.

Thus enchanted, the spellbinder can "ground" themselves to any man-made network simply by touching it and concentrating. As long as they remain in contact, they can use the network for its intended purpose, at will, and without regard for the laws of physics. For example...

• Highways, Subways, Railroad Tracks - Travel instantly to any other point on the network, or move objects on the network by force of will.
• Phone Lines - Hack into any online computer network, listen in on any phone call, or change the images on someone's cable TV.
• Electric Power Lines - Cut off the power to a block or building, instantly recharge your cell phone, or fry your enemies' insides with sizzling bolts of lightning!
• Water or Sewer Systems - Conjure commonly discarded items, purify food and drink, heal illness, cut off someone's water, send hordes of rate up through their toilets, or turn their tap water into blood.

Overpower Effects

• The spellbinder becomes so immersed in the network that they lose contact with their physical senses. It's like an out-of-body experience.
• The network surges, overpowering the magus and teleporting them to a random location, electrocuting them, scrambling their brain, etc.
• When the spellbinder tries to step off the network, they find themselves temporarily "stuck" to it.

Underpower Effects

• Something is obstructing the network between the spellbinder and their target (road construction, a bad router, etc.), stopping the effect short.
• The spellbinder becomes ungrounded prematurely. This ends any ongoing effects and the magus must spend another round getting grounded.