The Mystery
Known to laymen as "magic", The Mystery is the invisible force that undergirds Creation, an energy produced by Mana that permeates all existence. Those who understand some part of The Mystery may bend the laws of reality to their will. Even so, The Mystery is a strange and fearful phenomenon that, as its name implies, is scarcely understood. Even those who devote their lives to its study know little of its origins or ultimate purpose.
Echo
All who wield The Mystery must do so with caution. There are many among the mortal races who hate and fear that which they do not understand. Mystics are shunned and persecuted by bigots, never fully trusted, even by those who seek their aid and counsel. Beyond this, the casting of spells produces Echo; a reverberation through Mana which those sensitive enough can feel. The more powerful the spell, the greater the Echo and the more likely the unwanted attention of Demons and other foul creatures is to fall on the mystic.
Echo works just like any force; it is the equal and opposite backlash from reality against any expression of magic. The more powerful a spell is, the more the world around it buckles and cracks. The most powerful spells can be felt even by ordinary folk (though such feelings will often be ignored or passed off as a small earthquake or a sudden wave of nausea). Most of the time, Echo can only be felt by those who are sensitive to magic - godlings, demons, and other magic users, for instance. The more powerful a spell, the more perceptible it is and the longer its Echo can be felt. Not only that, but talented individuals can even trace a spell to its source, leading them right to the mage who cast it.
Echo works just like any force; it is the equal and opposite backlash from reality against any expression of magic. The more powerful a spell is, the more the world around it buckles and cracks. The most powerful spells can be felt even by ordinary folk (though such feelings will often be ignored or passed off as a small earthquake or a sudden wave of nausea). Most of the time, Echo can only be felt by those who are sensitive to magic - godlings, demons, and other magic users, for instance. The more powerful a spell, the more perceptible it is and the longer its Echo can be felt. Not only that, but talented individuals can even trace a spell to its source, leading them right to the mage who cast it.
Casting a Spell
A focused application of magic into some tangible effect on the world is called a Spell (with a capital S). Every Spell is associated with one of the ten Mysteries and most magic-users know a handful of Spells they can cast with predictable results. The more energy and focus put into a Spell, the more powerful its effect. Every Spell has a basic, barely perceptible version at which it can be cast called a Cantrip. Above the Cantrip level, there are three degrees (called Levels) at which a Spell can be cast. Higher Level spells can have profoundly powerful effects but are also more costly and produce a great deal of Echo, putting the magic-user and those around them at risk.
- Cantrip: Costs o Mana to cast and produces a faint trace of an Echo akin to a whisper or a smell you can't quite place.
- Level 1: Costs 1 Mana to cast and produces a noticeable amount of Echo akin to a blaring siren.
- Level 2: Costs 2 Mana to cast and produces a great amount of Echo akin to a loud explosion.
- Level 3: Costs 3 Mana to cast and produces an immense amount of Echo akin to a small earthquake.
Unless stated otherwise, casting a Spell is almost always an Action.
The ELEVEN Mysteries
The Mystery is the art of weaving the fabric of reality as the magician desires. Known also as magic, those who understand a portion of The Mystery are often referred to as Mages or Mystics. A predictable means of producing the same result over and over again is known as a Spell and collections of related Spells are called Mysteries. Spells are related by the kinds of effect they produce and the method behind their production. There are eleven Great Mysteries and hundreds of Lesser Mysteries (better known as Rotes).
Magic by Rote
The Mystery can also be used by Rote; methods of manipulating specific domains of reality to achieve something not possible or not specifically covered by the Great Mysteries. Applications of magic caused by Rotes are called spells (with a lower-case s). The use of Rotes allows a magic-user to create their own custom spells, tailor-made for whatever situation they find themselves in. Casting a spell by Rote requires Mana and a Spellcraft roll; the more powerful the spell, the higher the roll's Difficulty and Mana requirements. More information about casting spells in this manner can be found on the Rotes page.
ABJURATIONDefensive magic which consists of wards and counter-spells intended to keep certain creatures at bay or put an end to harmful magic. With Abjuration you can...
|
aNIMANCYAlso known as soul magic, Mysticism gives one a plethora of spells related to interacting with the various spirits of the Unworld. With Mysticism you can...
|
ArtificeThe practice of permanently binding ephemeral magic to an object or a location, creating powerful weapons, armor, trinkets, and scrolls. With Artifice you can...
|
AuguryMagic that gives one insight into the deep and unknowable secrets of the cosmos, allowing for special senses and glimpses of the future. Augury allows you to...
|
ConfluencePower over the forces of time and space. This Mystery is among the most powerful and difficult to master. Confluence spells give a magician the power to...
|
ConjurationSummoning objects, creatures, and energy from other planes of existence and putting them to the purposes of the summoner. Use Conjuration to...
|
EcologismEcologism works within the framework and cycle of nature, not against it, bending natural processes towards mutually beneficial purposes. With Ecologism you can...
|
GlamourMagics which affect the mind and emotions. Glamour is taboo in many circles and feared for its power to ensorcel the powerful. With Glamour you can...
|
ThaumaturgyAmong the most feared Mysteries, Thaumaturgy is the power to summon and control elemental energy in its many forms. Thaumaturgy can be used to...
|
TransmutationSpells that transform the fundamental properties, material, shape, or behavior of organic and inorganic matter. Using Alteration magic you can...
|
VitaeA much feared, much misunderstood branch of magic that exerts control over life and death. It can be used to heal or for darker ends such as...
|
RotesAlso known as "Lesser Mysteries", Rotes are not a set of specific Spells, but various domains of reality a mage can manipulate to create any kind of magical effect imaginable. The more fantastic the effect however, the greater the cost and Echo.
|
