Omen

This spell enables the wu jen to forecast the general fortunes of some major undertaking and determine auspicious and inauspicious events. When the spell is cast, the wu jen calls upon spirits to grant him some sign regarding the proposed action.

The wu jen must burn paper strips written with mystical characters to the four directions as material components for the spell.

This spell is commonly used before starting a journey, engaging in a major battle, or attempting some notable feat. The outcome of the spell is determined by two factors. First, the DM should consider the proposed action against information that only he knows. For example, the characters are about to leave a village to punish a group of bandits. The omen spell is cast to determine if this is an auspicious time to go. The DM knows that the village will be attacked by bandits that night, so the result would be an ill omen (since the characters would not encounter the bandits in the surrounding mountains). In situations where the DM has no information on which to base his judgment, roll 1d10 and consult the Wu Jen Omen Results table.

Omens are infrequent and interpreting them is difficult. The strain this spell places on the caster prevents it from being used more than once per week.

Notes: Common in oriental settings; otherwise very rare. This spell should not be confused with the priest spell of the same name.

Wu Jen Omen Results 1d10 Roll | Result ----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-2 | Omen: The characters should not undertake the task this day. If this advice is ignored, all the characters suffer a -1 penalty to attack and saving throw rolls for the rest of the day. Their chance for encounters is doubled and a -10% reaction modifier is applied to all encounters. 3-4 | Great Danger Exists: The chance for encounters is doubled for the day and a -10% reaction modifier applies to all encounters. Adversaries have a +1 bonus to their attack rolls. 5-7 | Neutral Omen: No special modifiers apply. 8-9 | Favorable Omen: The characters are able to travel half again their normal traveling rate that day. Opponents have a -1 penalty to their attack rolls against the characters that day. 10 | Auspicious Omen: All the effects of a favorable omen apply. In addition, the characters gain a +1 bonus to all saving throws made that day.