The Eight Circles of Magic

THE SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF THE MAGE

Powerful as the alien moongates are, they are by no means the only forms of magic you will encounter in Britannia. The mages of this land possess much aracane knowledge and have many abilities beyond those of common fok. Using keen intuition, endless experimentation and the rigorous study of ancient tomes, mages have learned to harness the creative and destructve forces of Nature.

The mage's principle tool is his spellbook, a collection of incantations and alchemical formulae which empower him in marvelous and often unexpected ways. Learn now the inner secrets of spellcasting, information reserved for the elite society of sorcerors.

THE ARCANE ART OF SPELLCASTING

Magical energy is structured as eight concentric spheres, each composed of networks of light connected to he physical plane by unseen bonds. The spellcaster stands within the center sphere, extending his hands to the outer shells of light where he manipulates the energies to suit his pleasure. In one hand, he holds his spellbook, open to the page containing the description of his chosen incantation. In his other hand, he cluthes a vial containing herb and mineral reagents, the mixture serving as the catalyst for his spell. Thus prepared, he utters the incantation, fusing matter and energy into a display of power. The spell has been cast, leaving the caster drained in spirit, but fulfilled in accomplishment.

This simple explanation fails to exphasize botht he risks involved in spellcasting and the skill necessary to harness the forces of magic successfully. Two cautionary notes are in order here:

First, even though a spell may appear to be cast successfully, there is some chance that it will not accomplish its intended purpose, or that it will do so in only a partial manner. In some cases, a spell will fail to hit its target due to forces and ethereal eddies unseen by the human eye. Also, certain creatures are immune to some spells, requiring the spellcaster to find other means to defeat them.

Second, some spells affect only one person or creature while others affect all peole or creatures in the vicinity. Take care when casting a spell which acts on an area rather than an individual target--if you or your friends are in the affected area, you will be touched by the spell's power as surely as your inteded victim!

THE ALCHEMY OF SPELLCASTING

The prepartion of a spell's reagents is performed at the moment of spellcasting, thus allowing the chemical reactions to reach their peak even as the appropriate mantra is uttered. Some reagents are relatively common herbs and minerals, available at any magic shop. Others must be sought after diligently, often requiring the mage to travel to distant and inhospitable places in search of an obscure fungus or root.

These are the reagents necessary to the casting o magic:

Black Pearl
One oyster in ten thousand will yield a black pearl suitable for spellcasting purposes. It is usually crushed to a fine, iridescent powder before being combined with other reagents. The black pearl is used as a kinetic propellent.

Blood Moss
"Moss," is may be called, but blood moss is, in reality, a fungus gathered in the enchanted forest of Spiritwood. There it is found growing under the loose, dead bark of fallen trees. Blood moss is used to enhance mobility and movement.

Garlic
This common household spice is effective in warding off evil spirits and negating black magic. Preparations for use generally involve grinding the washed cloves of garlic between two flatirons until they are reduced to a pungent paste.

Ginseng
The wizened physicians of ancient Sosaria wrote often of the curative powers of this bitter root. Prepare a syrupy, pure extract by reboiling forty times with clear mountain water, letting the mixture develop a strong, acrid odor.

Mandrake Root
The most sought after herb of the spellcaster, mandrake root grows along the loamy banks of stagnant swamps. Once found, mandrake must be dug up carefully so as not to damage the tap root, for it is in the root that the greatest concentration of active ingredients is found. Carefully remove the tough, outer skin, again giving special attention to the sensitive tap root. Using a fine-toothed silver fork, comb out the cottonlike fibers that make up the root's heart. The combed matting is boiled in pure water for no more than one hour, after which is it dried thoroughly and stored in a tightly sealed jar. When used in a spell, mandrake root increases the power of the desired enchantment.

Nightshade
This hallucinogenic mushroom is often the critical ingredient in spells that create illusions or poisonous effects. Sprouting in swamps, and only in the dark of night, this mushroom is easily distinguished from the others by the way its stalk bruises when crushed. Retain only the fungal cap and discard the tough stalk. The spores housed in the underside of the cap provide the active ingredient and can be chopped into a fine mincemeat or boiled into a bitter tea.

Spider's Silk
It takes many spider webs to make a full ounce of spider's silk, but the binding power it adds to spells makes the effort well worthwhile. Though the web of any spider will do, one can reduce collecting time by scraping off the fine silken hairs that cover the webs of giant spiders. Rumors have been heard of a cave where spider silk can be found in abundance.

Sulfurous Ash
This product of violent volcanic eruptions, sulfurous ash adds high levels of energy to the spells which require it. It is recommended that freshly collected ash be sifted through a fine mesh sieve, ensuring consistency and easy mixing.

LINGUA MAGICA: THE SPELLCASTER'S WORDS OF POWER

The meanings of the syllables that form the incantations uttered by mages durin spellcasting have been passed down from one Britannian generation to the next. The mage's apprenticeship begins when he learns these potent syllables. The next task is to learn the proper way to speak the syllables.

It is important that the mage first prepare himself mentally by meditating on the sound of his breathing, projecting his soul into a sublime state of concentration. To speak an incantation properly, the spellcaster draws a deep breath, followed by a determined, forceful enunciation of each syllable. The entire breath should be fully expelled on the speaking of the final syllable.

The 26 syllables and their general meanings are as follows:

Syllable            Meaning     Syllable            Meaning
An .......... Negate/Dispel     Nox ................ Poison
Bet ................. Small     Ort ................. Magic
Corp ................ Death     Port ........ Move/Movement
Des ............ Lower/Down     Quas ............. Illusion
Ex ................ Freedom     Rel ................ Change
Flam ................ Flame     Sanct .. Protect/Protection
Grav ......... Energy/Field     Tym .................. Time
Hur .................. Wind     Uus .............. Raise/Up
In ...... Make/Create/Cause     Vas ................. Great
Jux ...... Danger/Trap/Harm     Wis ........ Know/Knowledge
Kal ......... Summon/Invoke     Xen .............. Creature
Lor ................. Light     Ylem ............... Matter
Mani ......... Life/Healing     Zu .................. Sleep

These syllables are combined to form the incantations used when casting spells.

Mages with little training and experience are limited in the spells they can cast. As a spellcaster grows in stature, penetrating the mysteries of the higher circles of magic, he gains the ability to cast more powerful spells. Great power is not without cost, however. When he casts a spell, the mage experiences a drain in magical power equal to the level of the circle of that spell. Thus, a simple first level spell drains one point while a fifth level spell, more difficult to cast, drains five. The caster's magical power returns within a few hours.

THE 1ST CIRCLE

Create Food
Incantation : IN MANI YLEM
Reagents : Garlic, Ginseng, Mandrake Root
Effect : A fine bounty of food will be added to your pack

Detect Magic
Incantation : WIS ORT
Reagents : Nightshade, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Discerns the magic nature of special objects and the specific magical charge currently in an item

Detect Trap
Incantation : WIS JUX
Reagents : Nightshade, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Discovers concealed traps in suspicious chests and doors

Dispel Magic
Incantation : AN JUX ORT
Reagents : Garlic, Ginseng
Effect : Removes a sorcerous enchantment or poison which causes illness and bondage. Also awakens a person under the influence of a Sleep spell.

Douse
Incantation : AN FLAM
Reagents : Garlic, Black Pearl
Effect : Extinguishes flames

Harm
Incantation : AN MANI
Reagents : Nightshade, Spider's Silk
Effect : Inflicts moderate damage on your opponent

Heal
Incantation : IN MANI
Reagents : Ginseng, Spider's Silk
Effect : Applies healing energy to one who is injured

Help
Incantation : KAL LOR
Reagents : None are required
Effect : When all is lost and death seems certain, this spell quickens the user's demise and resurrects him and his party before the Throne of Britannia

Ignite
Incantation : IN FLAM
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Black Pearl
Effect : Ignites a lifeless torch, fireplace or brazier

Light
Incantation : IN LOR
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Illuminates a darkened area

THE 2ND CIRCLE

Infravision
Incantation : QUAS LOR
Reagents : Nightshade, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Detects the presence of living, warm-blooded beings in the dark.

Magic Arrow
Incantation : ORT JUX
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Black Pearl
Effect : Fires a moderately damaging missile at your opponent

Poison
Incantation : IN NOX POR
Reagents : Nightshade, Blood Moss, Black Pearl
Effect : Poisons your opponent with toxic venom

Reappear
Incantation : IN YLEM
Reagents : Spider's Silk, Blood Moss, Black Pearl
Effect : Undoes the effect of the Vanish spell, making the vanish object return to this world

Sleep
Incantation : IN ZU
Reagents : Nightshade, Spider's Silk, Black Pearl
Effect : Induces unconsciousness in the chosen victim

Telekinesis
Incantation : ORT POR YLEM
Reagents : Blood Moss, Mandrake Root, Black Pearl
Effect : Moves objects near the user without physical contact

Trap
Incantation : IN JUX
Reagents : Spider's Silk, Nightshade
Effect : Places a concealed trap on a chest or door

Unlock Magic
Incantation : EX POR
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss
Effect : Unlocks magically locked chests and doors

Untrap
Incantation : AN JUX
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss
Effect : Negates magical traps on chests and doors

Vanish
Incantation : AN YLEM
Reagents : Garlic, Blood Moss, Black Pearl
Effect : Makes simple objects disappear from this world

THE 3RD CIRCLE

Curse
Incantation : AN SANCT
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Nightshade, Garlic
Effect : Reduces the effectiveness of a foe's armour

Dispel Field
Incantation : AN GRAV
Reagents : Black Pearl, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Neutralizes magic fields generated by field spells

Fireball
Incantation : POR FLA
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Black Pearl
Effect : Hurls a mighty flaming missile at your opponent

Great Light
Incantation : VAS LOR
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Mandrake Root
Effect : Provides long lasting illumination

Magic Lock
Incantation : AN POR
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss, Garlic
Effect : Applies a magical lock to a chest or door

Mass Awaken
Incantation : AN VAS ZU
Reagents : Ginseng, Garlic
Effect : Awakens all nearby sleepers with an explosion

Mass Sleep
Incantation : VAS ZU
Reagents : Ginseng, Nightshade, Spider's Silk
Effect : Induces sleep in all beings in the area targeted by the caster

Peer
Incantation : VAS WIS YLEM
Reagents : Nightshade, Mandrake Root
Effect : Reveals the world and the caster's place in it as though peering through an eagle's eye

Protection
Incantation : IN SANCT
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Ginseng, Garlic
Effect : Increases the effectiveness of armour as well as the target's prowess and intelligence

Repel Undead
Incantation : AN XEN CORP
Reagents : Garlic, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Causes all undead in the caster's field of vision to flee

THE 4TH CIRCLE

Animate
Incantation : ORT YLEM
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Mandrake Root, Blood Moss
Effect : Causes inanimate objects to come to life and wander about, though not under caster's control

Conjure
Incantation : KAI XEN
Reagents : Spider's Silk, Mandrake Root
Effect : Summons a wild beast to your side to aid in combat

Disable
Incantation : AN VAN MANI
Reagents : Nightshade, Spider's Silk, Mandrake Root
Effect : Inflicts a grievous wound, nearly killing the target

Fire Field
Incantation : IN FLAM GRAV
Reagents : Black Pearl, Sulfurous Ash, Spider's Silk
Effect : Creates a searing wall of fire

Great Heal
Incantation : VAS MANI
Reagents : Ginseng, Spider's Silk, Mandrake Root
Effect : Restores one's health fully

Locate
Incantation : IN WIS
Reagents : Nightshade
Effect : Reveals the caster's location like a magical sextant

Mass Dispel
Incantation : VAS AN JUX ORT
Reagents : Garlic, Ginseng
Effect : Dispels all magic in the area targeted by the caster

Poison Field
Incantation : IN NOX GRAV
Reagents : Nightshade, Spider's Silk, Black Pearl
Effect : Creates a wall of noxious gases

Sleep Field
Incantation : IN ZU GRAV
Reagents : Ginseng, Spider's Silk, Black Pearl
Effect : Creates a wall of sleep-inducing energy

Wild Change
Incantation : REL HUR
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss
Effect : Allows the caster to alter the prevailing direction of the wind

THE 5TH CIRCLE

Energy Field
Incantation : IN SANCT GRAV
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Spider's Silk, Black Pearl
Effect : Creates an impassable wall of energy

Explosion
Incantation : VAS POL FLAM
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Sulfurous Ash, Black Pearl
Effect : Creates a powerful explosion, injuring those caught in its blast

Insect Swarm
Incantation : KAL BET XEN
Reagents : Blood Moss, Spider's Silk, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Conjures up a swarm of insects to aid you in combat

Invisibility
Incantation : SANCT LOR
Reagents : Nightshade, Blood Moss
Effect : Causes beings to become unseen

Lightning
Incantation : ORT GRAV
Reagents : Black Pearl, Mandrake Root, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Hulrs a powerful bolt of lightning at your opponent

Paralyze
Incantation : AN XEN POR
Reagents : Spider's Silk, Sulfurous Ash, Nightshade, Black Pearl
Effect : Momentarily paralyzes your opponent, thus disabling him

Pickpocket
Incantation : POR YLEM
Reagents : Blood Moss, Spider's Silk, Nightshade
Effect : Lets the caster take one of the target's belongings

Reveal
Incantation : AN SANCT LOR
Reagents : Spider's Silk, Nightshade, Mandrake Root
Effect : Makes invisible beings in the area become visible again

Seance
Incantation : KAL MANI CORP
Reagents : Blood Moss, Mandrake Root, Nightshade, Spider's Silk, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Lets the caster speak with the dead as though they still lived

X-ray
Incantation : WIS YLEM
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Sufurous Ash
Effect : Allows the caster to see places otherwise obscurred by walls and obstacles

THE 6TH CIRCLE

Charm
Incantation : AN XEN EX
Reagents : Black Pearl, Nightshade, Spider's Silk
Effect : Changes the alignment of the target to match that of the caster

Clone
Incantation : IN QUAS XEN
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Spider's Silk, Blood Moss, Ginseng, Nightshade, Mandrake Root
Effect : Creates an identical, though not directly controllable, replica of any being

Confuse
Incantation : VAS QUAS
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Nightshade
Effect : Sends opposing foes into disarray

Flame Wind
Incantation : FLAM HUR
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss, Mandrake Root
Effect : Sends a gale of flaming wind in the direction of your foes

Hail Storm
Incantation : KAL DES YLEM
Reagents : Blood Moss, Black Pearl, Mandrake Root
Effect : Brings down a storm of hailstones upon the caster's enemy and the surrounding area

Mass Protect
Incantation : VAS IN SANCT
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Ginseng, Garlic, Mandrake Root
Effect : Increases the effectiveness of armour, as well as the prowess and intelligence of nearby beings

Negate Magic
Incantation : AN ORT
Reagents : Garlic, Mandrake Root, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Temporarily prevents the casting of spells and magic

Poison Wind
Incantation : NOX HUR
Reagents : Nightshade, Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss
Effect : Sends a gale of noxious wind in the direction of your foes

Replicate
Incantation : IN QUAS YLEM
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Spider's Silk, Blood Moss, Ginseng, Nightshade
Effect : Produces a duplicate version of simple objects

Web
Incantation : IN DES POR
Reagents : Spider's Silk
Effect : Lay's a fine, sticky web upon the ground to hinder a foe's progress

THE 7TH CIRCLE

Chain Bolt
Incantation : VAS ORT GRAV
Reagents : Black Pearl, Mandrake Root, Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss
Effect : Causes a lively bolt of damaging energy to leap from one living being to another

Enchant
Incantation : IN ORT YLEM
Reagents : Spider's Silk, Mandrake Root, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Empowers special items with magical energy

Energy Wind
Incantation : GRAV HUR
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Nightsahde, Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss
Effect : Sends a gale of wind in the direction of foes

Fear
Incantation : QUAS CORP
Reagents : Nightshade, Mandrake Root, Garlic
Effect : Causes all evil foes in the area to flee in terror

Gate Travel
Incantation : VAS REL POR
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Black Pearl, Mandrake Root
Effect : Teleports the caster's party to a moonstone location determined by the moonphase

Kill
Incantation : IN CORP
Reagents : Black Pearl, Nightshade, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Sends a lethal bolt of energy towards an opponent

Mass Curse
Incantation : VAS AN SANCT
Reagents : Sulfurous Ash, Nightshade, Garlic, Mandrake Root
Effect : Reduces the effectiveness of armour, as well as the prowess and intelligence of all nearby beings, friend and foe alike

Mass Invisibility
Incantation : VAS SANCT LOR
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Nightshade, Blood Moss, Black Pearl
Effect : Causes all nearby beings to become unseen, though still present

Wing Strike
Incantation : KAL ORT XEN
Reagents : Blood Moss, Spider's Silk, Mandrake Root, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Sends a powerful dragon's wing against your opponents

Wizard Eye
Incantation : POR ORT WIS
Reagents : Blood Moss, Nightshade, Mandrake Root, Sulfurous Ash, Black Pearl, Spider's Silk
Effect : Allows the caster to see otherwise obscured places up to 20 paces away

THE 8TH CIRCLE

Death Wind
Incantation : CORP HUR
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Nightshade, Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss
Effect : Sends a gale of lethal wind in the direction of foes

Eclipse
Incantation : VAS AN LOR
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Sulfurous Ash, Nightshade, Garlic, Blood Moss
Effect : Causes the moons to block the sun's rays for a brief time

Mass Charm
Incantation : VAS AN XEN EX
Reagents : Black Pearl, Nightshade, Spider's Silk, Mandrake Root
Effect : Changes the alignment of nearby foes to match that of the caster

Mass Kill
Incantation : VAS CORP
Reagents : Black Pearl, Nightshade, Mandrake Root, Sulfurous Ash
Effect : Sends lethal bolts of energy toward all nearby beings

Resurrect
Incantation : IN MANI CORP
Reagents : Garlic, Ginseng, Spider's Silk, Sulfurous Ash, Blood Moss, Mandrake Root
Effect : Restores life to a being who was dead

Slime
Incantation : VAS REL XEN
Reagents : Blood Moss, Nightshade, Mandrake Root
Effect : All evil creatures are changed to slime

Summon
Incantation : KAL XEN CORP
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Garlic, Blood Moss, Spider's Silk
Effect : Calls forth a daemon from the underworld who may assist you in combat

Time Stop
Incantation : AN TYM
Reagents : Mandrake Root, Garlic, Blood Moss
Effect : Temporarily suspends the flow of time while the caster continues his journey

Tremor
Incantation : VAS POR YLEM
Reagents : Blood Moss, Sulfurous Ash, Mandrake Root
Effect : Causes the ground to shake, injuring all beings in the affected area

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