#mayhem form

The Mayhem Form is an advanced spell used by high-level magic-users, particularly field agents and others whose positions necessitate powerful offensive or defensive capabilities. Originally developed centuries ago by a sect of Other World magic-users, the spell has been overhauled and improved by numerous groups, including the Three Spiders and the splinter groups thereof.

The Mayhem Form is a highly advanced spell that transforms the user into a heavily armored form that massively enhances their strength, speed, agility, reflexes, and defenses.

Each magic-user’s Mayhem Form is unique to them, and they often differ widely in appearance.

A common misconception is that the Mayhem Form simply creates a suit of armor around the caster; it does not. While in the Mayhem Form, a caster is no longer human. Mayhem forms are comprised of a mixture of organic and inorganic materials, with the relative amounts and exact compositions varying widely.

The Mayhem form is one of a magic-user’s most powerful tools in direct combat, essentially turning one into a highly-mobile WMD. However, due to the Three Spiders’ preference for secrecy and evasion over direct conflict, it is rarely used by Three Spiders agents against anyone other than Other Plane threats and hostile human magic-users.

The Mayhem Form is a significant drain on one’s magical reserves, and requires both a large initial charge to begin the transformation and a more gradual but continuous charge to maintain the Form. It is possible to perform other spells while in the Mayhem Form, but this is usually limited to exceptionally talented magic-users due to the aforementioned drain. A caster must remain acutely aware of their magic levels while using this spell, as multiple activations or prolonged use can cause the caster to collapse and in some extreme cases slip into a coma or even die of exhaustion.

Interestingly, Mayhem Forms appear to come in two categories; most appear entirely inorganic, appearing outwardly similar to large armored suits. However, a minority appear, if not organic, more organically-based. Features such as functioning mouths and hair- and feather-like filaments have been observed in the latter category.

Ways of extending the duration of the Mayhem Form do exist, usually taking the form of worn artifacts. For obvious reasons, these artifacts and methods are highly secretive and are only provided in special circumstances.

There are reports of eccentric and exceptionally powerful magic-users who choose to maintain the Mayhem Form permanently. This is heavily discouraged for the average magic-user, due to the side-effects listed above among other reasons.