Manifestations of a Vigorous Design

From The Whereabouts

MANIFESTATIONS OF VIGOROUS DESIGN
COST: 5+ motes (committed)
TARGET: One inanimate object
This spell allows a sorcerer to invest Essence into small, inanimate objects and give them the semblance of life. Objects animated by this spell can receive simple commands and will fulfill those commands to the best of their ability. The nature of an object defines its abilities and dictates what it might be commanded to do. A broom can be commanded to sweep, a table to walk behind its owner, a toy soldier to march, or a ball to bounce. The sorcerer may animate any object she touches simply by invoking this spell and committing 5 motes of Essence. She can animate any simple, non-mechanical object weighing no more than 10 pounds per point of permanent Essence she possesses. The object glows with a bright yellow light for a moment, and then, it begins to move about. The animated object has Physical Attributes equa to one dot per every five pouinds it weighs, rounding up. An animated object has other Attributes at one dot each. It will also have one Ability of the caster's choosing at a ratign equal to the caster's permanent Essence, but it cannot be higher than the caster's rating in the Ability. The caster may choose at the time of caster to spend an additional 5 motes of Essence and give the object an additional Ability at the same rating as her permanent Essence. Alternately, the sorcerer can spend additional Essence to give that object a specialty of +1 in its Ability or to increase an Attribute by one dot. No more than 20 motes of Essence can be spent in this manner. All Abilities granted to an animated object must have something in common with the object's design and intent. Shovels can dig, brushes can paint or write, and boxes can open or close. An object with legs can walk or run, follow and even be ridden. Weapons most often are grated the Melee Ability. Pens or chalk can be granted the Linguistics Ability. Characters should work out with their Storyteller exactly what Abilities can be granted to an object. Unless otherwise interrupted, an object animated by Manifestations of Vigorous Design will continue with its last command until the sorcerer removes her committed Essence or the object is completely destroyed.