vaelora/Rules/Ability Trees/Profession/Traditions/Spiritbinding.md

Leading Skill: Binding

The Spirit Binding ability tree represents the many ways cultures across Vaelora have refined the art of chaining Spirits. While all Binders share the same foundation of ritual mastery and willpower, each culture has developed its own techniques: Setting/Realms/Mentralin/Annwyn/Annwyn’s ancestral oaths, the Black Citadel’s iron domination, and the Kyourin Shogunate’s void-tainted sigils. Players can follow one tradition, mix and match abilities from several, or focus on generic techniques accessible to any Binder.

By default, a Binder can maintain a number of bound Spirits equal to their Focus attribute. Abilities within the tree can push beyond this limit, grant new methods of control, or deepen the Binder’s relationship—whether respectful or exploitative—with the Spirits they bind.

Tier 1 – Initiate of Chains

(Binding 1+, 3 Marks)

1. Setting/Realms/Mentralin/Annwyn/Annwyn – Ancestral Oathbinding: You can weave ancestral oaths into the ritual. When binding an Ancestral or Conceptual spirit, gain +1 die, and bound Spirits hesitate to harm allies connected by blood or sworn ties.
2. Black Citadel – Iron Chaincraft: Your brutal chains and wards weaken the spirit’s will. When binding, deal 1 automatic Resolve damage to the spirit at the start of the first ritual round.
3. Kyourin – Void Sigils: You may inscribe void-touched sigils into your circle, severing the spirit from external support. Gain +1 die when binding Corrupted or Void-touched Spirits, and their allies cannot intervene during the ritual.
4. Generic – Fetish Crafter: You can craft fetish vessels capable of holding Lesser Spirits (Lesser/Simple tier). These vessels last until destroyed or until the spirit escapes and do not count to your Binding Limit.

Tier 2 – Keeper of the Leash

(Binding 2+, 6 Marks)

1. Setting/Realms/Mentralin/Annwyn/Annwyn – Lineage Ward: You can anchor the binding to your bloodline or sworn kin. While the spirit is bound, it cannot target or curse any member of the protected group unless it breaks free first.
2. Black Citadel – Suppressive Seal: When you successfully bind a spirit, you may suppress one of its dominions by two tiers for as long as it is bound.
3. Kyourin – Void Splicing: You may splice void essence into the bound spirit, permanently twisting one of its dominions into a corrupted variant (GM defines the alteration).
4. Generic – Dual Binding: You may maintain one additional bound spirit beyond your Focus attribute limit, and you can redistribute chosen dominion abilities between your bound Spirits at the start of each day.

Tier 3 – Master of Brands

(Binding 3+, 9 Marks)

1. Setting/Realms/Mentralin/Annwyn/Annwyn – Pactbrand: You can seal an ancestral pact with a bound spirit. Once per session, you may invoke the pact to force the spirit to obey a single command without contest (cannot be directly suicidal).
2. Black Citadel – Soul Brand: You inscribe the spirit’s true name into your aura. Gain +1 die on all rolls involving that spirit’s dominions and Binding, and it can no longer hide from you.
3. Kyourin – Hostbreaker: You may bind a spirit into a living vessel with surgical precision. The vessel’s will is shattered: it cannot resist, and the binding adds no additional Corruption Dice beyond normal accumulation.
4. Generic – Dominion Insight: When you bind a spirit, you may unlock 2 dominion abilities instead of 1.

Tier 4 – Lord of Chains

(Binding 4+, 12 Marks)

1. Setting/Realms/Mentralin/Annwyn/Annwyn – Lineage Bond: You may anchor a spirit permanently to your bloodline. It cannot be stolen, traded, or unbound except through your death or total destruction of the line.
2. Black Citadel – Absolute Enslavement: You can utterly dominate the spirit’s will. Bound Spirits cannot break free on their own, but this leaves a permanent scar in the Veil that other Spirits can sense for miles.
3. Kyourin – Void Conduit: You can channel void energy directly through the bound spirit. Once per scene, you may collapse the vessel to annihilate the spirit instantly—destroying the vessel and causing devastating void-side effects.
4. Generic – Spirit Arsenal: You may maintain two additional bound Spirits beyond your Focus attribute limit, and you may freely swap dominion abilities and vessels between your bound Spirits at any time.