Maintain

This spell is used on the Savage Coast in the Red Steel setting. The affected creature is maintained at his or her current stage of Red Curse effect for the duration of the spell. A recipient in the Time of Grace remains there (except for suffering the loss of a single ability point); a recipient in the Time of loss or the Time of Change stays at exactly the same point as when the spell is cast. The use of a Legacy ability by a recipient of maintain immediately dispels the maintain spell.

As mentioned, this spell does not prevent the loss of the initial point from the appropriate ability score, nor does it eliminate or heal any detrimental effects. It does not work on Inheritors. If the recipient affected by a successful deplete spell (for which the caster need make only a normal attack roll, without the -4 penalty), the maintain spell is immediately eliminated, and the full time called for by the deplete spell is instantaneously applied to the Time of loss and Change. Since cinnabryl is difficult to find in some places, priests developed a spell to counteract some of the effects of the Red Curse. After some work, wizards were able to duplicate the spell's effects.

This spell is used throughout the Savage Coast, but most commonly in Robrenn, Eusdria, Renardy, Bellayne, and Herath. In several small towns, the village priest or wizard makes rounds, casting the spell on all who need it. This holds off detrimental effects, and also keeps most of the common folk in those small towns from using Legacies.

The spell requires at least a week's worth of undepleted cinnabryl. This must be touched to the recipient's head at the end of casting, but is not consumed in the casting. The caster touches the target creature while reciting the spell's verbal component to activate the spell.

Notes: Found in the Red Steel setting, common; otherwise virtually unknown.