<strong>Counterspell</strong><br/>Counterspell is a Brotherhood member’s primary and most<br/>effective means of countering the magical threats of others.<br/>This spell is not actually a spell at all but rather a type of<br/>antithetical magic in the form of a difficult set of powerwords.<br/>Unlike other Brotherhood spells, this defensive art<br/>does not have different Tiers of effect. Instead, those capable<br/>of casting Counterspells gain the singular ability to deny the<br/>magic of others as it is cast.<br/><br/>Psychic powers like a Darklord’s vile arts or a Kai Lord’s<br/>Disciplines cannot be affected by Counterspell. Only<br/>Brotherhood magic, Dessi magic, or the effects of enchanted<br/>items like a Helghast’s bluefire spear can be negated.<br/>Normally only spells being cast can be countered but it is<br/>also possible to counter magical effects that are placed on a<br/>creature or object. For instance, it is possible to remove a<br/>Mind Charm effect from a person using Counterspell. This<br/>is carried out in the fashion described below in all ways, save<br/>that it takes a standard action for the Brotherhood wizard to<br/>cast the Counterspell. Permanently enchanted items (such as<br/>a Jewelled Weapon) may not be disenchanted through the use<br/>of Counterspell.<br/><br/>In order to cast Counterspell, the Brotherhood wizard must<br/>meet two requirements:<br/><br/>The Brotherhood member casting the Counterspell must<br/>succeed at an Occult check, with a DC equal to the DC<br/>normally necessary to resist the spell. This Occult check<br/>replaces the check normally needed to cast a Brotherhood<br/>spell. If the Brother has previously successfully countered<br/>an identical spell or effect, he gains a +2 bonus to this<br/>Occult check. If this is his second Counterspell this round,<br/>then he suffers a cumulative –2 penalty to the check (so a<br/>third Counterspell would be at a –4 modifier).<br/><br/>Secondly, the Brotherhood wizard must expend Endurance<br/>proportionate to the power of the spell countered. One<br/>Endurance point is expended for every five points (or<br/>portion thereof) of the countered spell’s DC. The wizard<br/>has no choice in the matter of how much Endurance is lost<br/>– the amount is automatically deducted from his Endurance<br/>total even if it would take him to –9 Endurance. If the<br/>Endurance cost would slay the wizard by taking him to<br/>–10 or lower the Counterspell fails and the wizard drops to<br/>0 Endurance from the massive effort involved in avoiding<br/>death.<br/><br/>If the Brother of the Crystal Star cannot afford the Endurance<br/>cost or fails the Occult check, then the target spell is not<br/>countered.<br/><br/>Counterspells are also unique in that they are cast as reactions<br/>and may take place if it is not the Brotherhood wizard’s<br/>turn. Only one Counterspell can be cast each round by a Brotherhood<br/>wizard per point of Dexterity bonus (minimum one Counterspell per round).<br/>