World Magic
Magitech
Magitech (commonly referred to as Artifice) is the backbone of society in the Emblem of Ea. The world has been gripped by a second magical-industrial revolution, pushing the standard of living out of the dark ages following the apocalyptic sundering and into an era of airships, living constructs, soaring castle towers and more.
Artifice has its advantages and its disadvantages. It’s clean, fast and almost as potent as pure magic but some degree of dichotomy has appeared between true arcane users and Artificers. The mistakes of the past through the High Artificers of the Empire of Kulthus are not easily forgotten and some also wonder if the use of machines to tap into Mana and not more natural means of spellcasting is truly good for magic in and of itself. This has led to some debates and even outright conflict between magician orders and guilds of craftsmen and invention. As of right now, things remain stable but the populace at large is not sure with whom to side. Technology brings power to the ‘common man’ that magic does not, but at the same time it’s something new and still largely not understood by the masses. It will be many more years before the western society truly embraces these things and there will always be cultures that look upon these areas with distrust.
Prior to the rise of the second generation of Artificers, Dwarves and Gnomes and even some clans of Goblins were experimenting with the use of alchemical products to produce what is now known as Black Powder. In the great underground dwarven cities and mining communities the use of steamcraft to aid in the delving and mining of their great halls was already underway while some gnomish communities embraced the design of Clockwork orientated mechanics, being drawn to their complexity. Such things were long alien to other cultures but the Dwarves were not surprised at all with the slow rise of industry in other lands. The great dwarven engineers introduced Steam-Tech to the world and although less prevalent as Artifice it has its uses. Steam powered pulley guns, propellers and even clockwork chess sets and devices capable of counting money are just some of the toys that emerge from Dwarven, Gnomish and Goblin think tanks.
Artifice Principles
The Mana Crystal (or magicite) is the heart of Artifice. Depending on their make, potency and arrangements, Mana Crystals typically function by emitting large concentrated waves of steady magical energy, sometimes with more powerful bursts. The emitted magical energy is then taken by other sources and used in a variety of ways effectively bypassing the wizards need to use ritual, arcane component and verbiage to achieve spells (although more powerful forms of magics and ritual may require the same of artifice in this day and age but less so in the past. However, they can also be configured and used in augmenting magical energy, storing it, channeling it, cycling it and more. The Mana Crystal is highly prized by arcane and technological societies and also yields smaller benefits to those willing to work with them and include them in the make of their magical items and spell casting attempts and rituals. In the hand of the typical person the Mana Crystal is little more then something of value to be sold to more enlightened ones. In the hands of those with access to arcane talents, the crystal is much more. As of today there has not been a crystal found capable of affecting or augmenting divine energy by natural means. Artificially manufactured Crystals from the age of Artifice were capable of influencing divine energies. Crystals found still functioning in Kulthians ruins are thus highly prized for this reason. It should be noted that larger crystals found in places such as the Eidolon Court were configured to explicitly be able to absorb and store divine energy but the knowledge of how to create such crystals is lost at present. It should b noted that large clusters of particularly powerful mana crystals have proven capable of augmenting magical energy in the immediate area making it possible for more powerful arcane and divine castings but such cases tend to require fully charged and potent crystals.
Generally, when left alone, Artifice is stable and long lasting. Artificers in the field tend to burn devices out quickly because the nature of their work requires constant tinkering and the invention of new things. Artifice used in day to day life can last and last and last if left to its own devices. Incidents do happen as is natural when dealing with complex machinery.
Necromantic Magitech
Older, darker, and more potent forms of artifice were in effect during the days of Kulthus. To the relief of much of the world, Kulthus' prideful downfall at the hands of the gods resulted in the loss of most of this knowledge. However, some enterprising souls have attempted to reverse engineer these loathesome devices, with varying degrees of success.
Some nations, most notably Charn, pursue study of these forms of Artifice, which are declared illegal in other lands. "Black Tech," as it is known, generally involves the merger of Artifice with Necromantic theories, the use of Artifice to drain natural wellsprings of magic and life to a harmful degree or the unsafe merger of Artifice with living beings to produce anathema such as Half-Golems or worse. The Soul-Burner Engines of the War-Golems of Kulthus were also among the most famous versions of this form of Artifice.
Today, the effects of these studies may be seen on Charn's starving landscape. See the Charn entry for details.
The Techno-Arcane Union
Recent years have seen the development of a union of like minded individuals from Rune the Magocracy of Wizards and various members of the artifice and engineering community. Their desire is to see the co-equality of Artificers and Wizards in the known world and to bring down the clandestine curtains that shroud the activities of both groups. By unifying their efforts they believe that they can achieve greater heights then each group will on its own. This group is small at this point but is slowly gaining support.
Common Terms
Below are some terms that will help ease your understanding of artifice and what it brings to the IC world.
Airships: Airships symbolize freedom and are a product of the past seventy five years of research, having come into their own primarily during the era of the Crown Wars. The modern day Airship comes in all manner of shape and size and is used by a number of different individuals from the two to three man gnomish junker-ship to the massive airship galleons of merchant guilds and military exercise. The design of an airship tends to vary from nation to nation. The typical design embodies the combo of magical technology, clockwork technology and steamwork technology utilizing magical energies to help them stay afloat but relying upon appropriate engineering design for maneuverability and propellers for speed. Variations on this theme exist and are often determined from nation to nation and culture to culture. The use of magical technology means that no one single design is prevalent but ensures that all realms have their signature look.
Airships can reach great heights, the highest being the bottom of ‘low’ cloud cover, which causes the terrain beneath it to seem as if a map makers model. Typically only the largest of Airships with large indoor holds and traveling accoutrements, head to those heights. Ships with large open aired terraces or decks rarely go that high for the reasons of cold and comfort of passengers. The Guild of the Skies controls much of the commerce and traffic of Airships in the west. Charters granted by them and authenticated by the allied governments grant Airship Captains the freedom to fly the skies and to chart their courses. The license to fly an Airship is a precious thing and afforded only to the elite. The Guild of the Skies most notable chapter houses exist in Alexandria, Bryn Myridorn and Gateway. Those three cities form the hub for airship travel in the western kingdoms.
Skyroutes determined by the Guild of the Skies determines the paths most airships fly enabling them to circumvent dangerous storms caused by Mana-Rifts (locations where magical energies becomes to erratic to properly use or disappears all together), powerful and territorial monsters that reign in the skies must also be avoided as airships, though sturdy, are not indestructible and smaller passenger ships often lack the means to defend themselves.
Sky Piracy is another menace that has grown in the years of the aftermath of the Crown Wars. The inability of the great nations to police lands that lay under the shroud of the Mana-Rifts, the lands under the control of brigands and mercenary-kings and the growth of the adventuring community have all contributed to the rise of sky-piracy as well as the need for merchant guilds to hire adventurers out to protect their wares.
Arcane Engines: A term for the machine that makes Artifice ‘work’. Typically the heart component of a form of Artifice known as contraptions. The actual ‘devices’ of Artifice. The heart of this is the Mana Crystal.
Black-Tech: Forbidden forms of Artifice that are harmful to the environment or abhorrent in moral practice. Often deals with the use of Artifice to create necromantic effects, and alter the fundamental nature of living beings. Charn's devastated landscape is the result of the residual effects of Black Tech.
Mana Crystal: The artificer's name for magicite. This is magic crystallized into a tangible visible form. They are often mined and refined from various places in the world. Alexandria is one of several places with a booming mining economy that benefits from nearby mines of Mana Crystals.
Mana Lamps: An example of a simple form of Artifice used to light streets in place of older gas or torch based lanterns and lights.
Magicite: Another name for Mana Crystals.
Nethercite: Nethercite is the polar opposite of magicite. It is a material that is known to absorb and block access to the Sea of Mana in any form (not just limited to artifice). It is, however, far more rare. Extroidinarily so. Only found in tiny quantities on Gaea, it is more commonly (and much more dangerously) found by those seeking it on the elemental plane of earth.
Levitator Stone: An Artificer device that creates a Flight field effect around an Airship. The Runeplates on the Airship sustain and amplify this effect enabling an Airship Captain to control and move his or her ship.
Runeplate: A device that enhances and loops arcane magic produced by the arcane engine. It amplifies it ten to a hundred fold and spreads it across surfaces such as armor or vehicles. Typically they are configured to enhance a particular type of spell. For example Airships are plated with Runeplates designed to enhance flight and levitation based magic.
Soul Burn: Necromantic Process by which Artifice taps into the living essence/life force/soul of a living being and uses it to super charge an Arcane Engine to epic proportions.
Magic
Magic in its purest form is a great and mysterious force. Though Artifice has brought more magic to the common people by way of things they can touch and sometimes manipulate, by and large it remains this mysterious power that is the privilege of the few and the great in whatever form it takes: in the hands of wizards, priests, or in the firebreath of dragons.
The Path of the Arcane
The Sea of Mana
All power flows from the True Source. From the True Source emerges the great Sea of Mana, a vast ocean that permeates the world and saturates it with its raw presence and power. When a wizard, sorcerer, dragon, demon or any other being calls upon arcane energies they reach out and invoke from the Sea of Mana a mere droplet of its power and with this power they can change the world, for magic is change. The energy that binds all life and matter together can be reworked, twisted, reshaped, woven and commanded into different shapes and forms and from this we have arcane magic. Divine magic is from a different source than the Sea.
The Covenant of Mana
The Covenant of Mana is an abstract series of laws that represent the devotion of a wizard to arcane magic. In all things a Wizard must view Magic First. It is First before race, creed, allegiance, nation and even friends. To some it is first even before their religious obligations and devotion to the ones they love. To place the magic first is to embrace it and all it contains and to protect and strengthen it. This is the essence of the Covenant of Mana. It represents how much a wizard is willing to sacrifice for ‘The Magic’.
The History of the Arcane
Ancient Arcane Magic
Magic has always existed in the world. The original users of magic are naturally the gods themselves. After them, the original dragons founded many of the arcane principles that exist today and shared their lore with elven kind as the elves explored the material world from their original fey homes during the first eras of the world.
The Elves are probably the most well known users of arcane magic. It is part of their heritage and very life force. Techniques they learned from dragon kind they used their own natural abilities to refine. In time, the elves stumbled across a form of magic known as Paramount Spells. These spells were of such intoxicating power that they could reshape entire landscapes and weave enchantments great enough to cover kingdoms. The power was so potent however that the elves learned it could actually cause harm to Mana if used to irresponsibly so they attempted to seal such knowledge away. In time, Mulria the Gloomweaver used this knowledge and the schism it caused in the different factions of elves to initiate the elven Blood Wars which sundered the elf clans into the different cultures that exist today. The knowledge of Paramount Spells remains lost.
The Early Beginnings
For many years The Founders and their progeny practiced magic and spread its use throughout the known world, bringing with it organized magic, philosophy, and thought. A few individuals did not ascribe to this belief or the growing power of what became known as The Arcane Circle, but by and large it was viewed as a good way to do things.
When the old kingdoms passed away into the empire of Kulthus, many things changed. Obsessed with the discovery of more powerful forms of magic, The Artificers of Kulthus unlocked the secrets of The Paramount Spells of the old world while also uncovering forbidden uses of divine magic. The magic of the Artificers and their science grew so strong that they were able to even command the dragons and some believed that they rivaled the gods. The use of arcane magic was restricted to an elite few and those who were outside of this elite were hunted down and slain. The Arcane Circle was disbanded and the teachings of the Founders disappeared into the mass of power that were The Artificers of Kulthus. For those who could not use magic at all, they were denied the benefits of both magic and science and the world descended into barbarism while the elite enjoyed the fruit of their power and abused those below them.
In time, a great magical cataclysm known as The Sundering occured. Artificers, at the height of vanity and glory, were struck down amidst a great ritual aimed at elevating themselves to godhood and to open the doorway to an unknown paradise beyond. The Sea of Mana could take no more abuse and the leylines that blanketed the world became awash with spiritual fire. Earthquakes, tidal waves, cataclysms and more spread across the whole of the world and the floating cities of The Artificers came crashing to the ground and then swallowed by the seas.
The Time of the Sword
In the aftermath of The Sundering, magic nearly disappeared from the world because nearly all knowledge of it was lost, and the leylines remained scarred to this day. But a few individuals continued to retain some knowledge of the old world and some elves emerged from the woodlands to bring with them the magic they had been practicing in the interim years. The language of Eldritch became adopted as the new language of magic and in the western heartlands of the world new wizards arose and organized themselves in the city of Genrivia. Here at their wizard's tower they helped protect and heal the land, but one of their number began to grow ambitious and some might say manipulated by more sinister forces.
The War of the Dead
Today the reason why intense study of necromancy and the use of necromantic spells that command and create the undead, draw upon evil energies, is forbidden has to do with The War of the Dead. The intoxicating power presented by True Necromancy reared itself when an evil member of the wizards council took upon the mantle of The Lich King and emerged with magical might not seen since the days of Kulthus.
His war shattered Genrivia and though he was defeated by a group of heroes, the wizards scattered and much progress was lost. Fearing the return of The Lich King, the re-assembled order of wizards laid down strictures on the study of Necromancy and took up a willingness to hunt those who would abuse that power. True Necromancers who emerged became the enemy of the wizard's conclave while they themselves sought more and more power whilst risking becoming part of the undead they sought to command.
Today, the effects of necromancy are still seen in felt--most recently in Charn's scarred landscape.
The Arcane Circle, Rune and Modern Day Wizardry
Until recently, the the nation of Rune existed as the center for arcane study and power on the continent of Aeryth. In its place, 'local' guilds have begun to grow--under the power of city states and local government. Most of them hold to the Conclave's teachings, though areas like Charn or Bludgun will prove the exception.
The Path of the Divine
Faith is the cornerstone of divine magic, and the source of the divine lies within the gods themselves and their divinity. As mentioned before, ‘True’ faith is not simply a notion of believing ‘really hard’. Everyone ‘believes’ after all. The evidence of the gods is quite sincere and true. Most people go their entire lives without ‘seeing’ the gods but they know they exist just as sure as that they know a room exists on the other side of a wall they can’t see through. It’s simply an accepted reality of the world and is not in dispute.
However, the faith and supplication of a cleric and another divine caster is on a level that the common layman does not maintain. It is the mark of a unique covenant and a relationship on a personal level with the divine. It is the source of modern religion and the mark of the truly devout agents and fingers of the divine.
Prayer is not arcane incantation and faith is not simply a spell component. Belief is the focus that installs the connection between divine magic and the wielder. Faith is the sword and shield of the priest. The power he summons is not his own. Prayer is the verbalizing of his belief and reverence for the powers of the cosmos. When a cleric begins to see divine magic as his own to use and wield as he sees fit then he begins to walk the dark road of heresy. Methods of worship may vary from religion to religion from the solemn services of Vardama to the sermons and urging of the moral good of Daeus to the energetic rhythmic dancing and drum playing of Angoron. But the commonality of them all is that to establish a connection with a deity relies on long years of devotion, patience, understanding and prayer. Meditation, prayer and insight are the cornerstones of this and provide the true foundation of divine magic, no matter the individual differences between faiths.
For the ins and outs of divine casting as it relates to a specific religion, please see further on the entries on the Holy Order of Ea and particulars of the various religions of the world.
The Various Practitioners of Divine Magic
The clerics of the world have always drawn upon their faith in the mighty gods. Faith is the defining ability for a cleric to be capable of performing small miracles. It is not simply a matter of believing in something "really hard" as much as it is placing oneself completely into the will and purpose of a higher power. Prayer and supplication are lifetime commitments and the result of these commitments is becoming the hand of the gods and the divine arrow by which they bring their will to the world. The gods, though they may take form and visit the world briefly, lack true hands, eyes and feet by which to touch the world through the consequence of their Oath. The rest of the world does not see the gods; they see the work they produce and they see the gods through their followers and priesthoods. Paladins also fall into this category.
Druids and rangers possess a unique blend of divine worship and spiritualism. Druids and rangers draw their power from a natural connection to the world, tapping into the primal forces of nature itself. However this connection could not exist were it not for the sacrifice and efforts of Dana the Earth Mother. Thus to a degree druids are her agents for they promote the natural balance and forces of the living world. Gilead offers energies through the forces of his role as the Hunter, so many rangers follow him. Though more rare, followers of the goddess Eluna may share a connection with the moons and night sky, while one of Vardama may connect with the grayer forces of the natural world, and seek a balance more attuned towards the balance of death and the hunting of unnatural forces that disturb this balance.
All deities, however may be known by many names. Technically speaking, the deities themselves may be viewed as broad and expansive archetypes of their domains and concepts. That is, while Angoron is a god of strength, he embodies many forms of it. The same is true for other deities. It is therefore very possible, and probable, for deities to be known among a number of names and guises (such as the case of Dana and Gilead and The Green Word).
Druids and rangers typically employ a sort of divine spiritualism. Followers of Dana for instance, often refer to her simply as the Earth Mother, though they do not deny the existence of other gods. For them, Dana may simply represent the entire earth and natural world. Gilead may be thought of as the all-embodying Hunter, and visualized as a great and mighty stag. There are many interpretations of these divine beings, and many visions among the natural world. Many druids serve as shamans of the world and act as agents and leaders of their culture. Oruch, sylvanori, and sith'makar druids are among the most notable druids who are like this.
Druids and rangers are often more aware of the dual-nature of some beings as "spirits" as well. This tends to be more true among more primitive cultures, though many rangers and druids may be sensitive to this side of the world.
Bards are something of an enigma as well. In part, their ability is said to be innate much like that of sorcery and this separates them from the regular musical performs that travel from inn to inn. However they have also demonstrated the capacity for healing which has always been seen as the purview of the divine. There are some who believe Bardic magic is hereditary much like true sorcery but in truth the source of Bardic magic, like druidic magic, is somewhat innate but tied into the celestial song known as the Eidolon Hymn. The Hymn, itself, is the product of the creative force of the universe said to contain parts both arcane and divine which perhaps accounts for the unique properties of bardic magic. Some spend their entire lives in pursuit of the secrets of this celestial music while most Bards are only aware of it on a cursory level, understanding that their magic is rooted from something unique and outside the normal realms of arcane and divine magic.
Ley Lines
Magic enters the world from the Sea of Mana by ‘rivers’ of magic known as Ley Lines. There are literally countless Ley Lines that criss cross the world like an invisible spider web. Networking magic and enveloping the entire planet with it. Arcane Casters who understand the properties and principles of leylines can tap into them and temporarily boost their magical power when casting on or near a Leyline.
However they first must be capable of sensing the Leyline. To sense a leyline a Wizard needs to make a DC 20 spellcraft check. Upon success he boosts the power of his spell by +1 caster level.
The Dark Arts
Necromancy is a Dark Art and is often referred to as ‘The’ Dark Art on the world of Gaea. While the Players Handbook certainly presents non evil and benevolent uses of the school of Necromancy, on Gaea it is a reviled art and the mere suspicion of its practice has launched witch hunts and burned wizard schools in the ancient past. Great and might wizards have dabbled in the upper levels of this school and nearly always turned to corruption and only a few have mastered it without succumbing to the lure of diabolical power. The undead plague the world, restless spirits roam the lands and vengeful forces of the unliving are an all to often recurring reality for many denizens of the known world.
True Necromancy has been forbidden since the fall of Genrivia at the hands of The Lich King (liches being a form of potent, necromatic evil). Necromancy and Soul Magic in general, has its roots within the dark god Thul and a twisting of arcane principles. The Convocation of Rune is responsible for much of the initial banning of this dark art and the teaching of principles against it but even before they stepped in many nations had a hand in dealing with those who dabble in it. The principle practitioners of Necromancy hail from the Shadow Council in Charn which itself supports a number of splinter groups and covens scattered about the western kingdoms. Charn’s Shadow Council and affiliated Artificers use such magic daily and want for nothing in Charn. Slaves, sacrifices, terrible tomes and ichor are all easily provided for them so they can further these dark arts.
Independent Necromancers in the west, operating illegally and outside of the restraints laid upon the school by The Convocation of Rune, are the cause for the bulk of trouble. Many of them follow Thul but some follow Taara herself. They make mistakes, fall prey to common errors and their failed experiments are often what plague unsuspecting inhabitants in their given communities. Such rebellious necromancers find it useful to maintain contact with one another and to operate carefully beneath the roving eye of the Convocation of Rune and its agents.
True Necromancy is, of course, different then dabblers and while Rune frowns upon dabblers it is careful to distinguish between the two. Sometimes they quietly enable and allow weaker versions of magic from the forbidden arts if they prove useful and though they are sourced in necromantic energies they still turn the other cheek. Spells such as Death Ward, Disrupt Undead, Gentle Repose, Halt Undead, Mark of Justice, Speak With Dead and Undeath to Death are put to good use by the Convocation and affiliates.
Also the following ‘evil’ spells are still not considered indicative of ‘True Necromancy’ which has been forbidden since the fall of Genrivia. Bestow Curse, Blindness-Deafness, Cause Fear, Curse Water, Fear, Harm, Inflict Wounds Spells, Poison, Scare and Symbol of Fear.
All other spells are considered sure signs that a caster is Necromancer and is in violation of the Convocation of Rune and also many local laws. In addition to this, other spells have been labeled as part of the ‘dark arts’ even if they are not necessarily necromantic in nature. Their intent, requirements, purpose and more will certainly earn a caster the public title of ‘Dark Wizard’ or ‘Priest’. Blatant public casting of spells such as Blasphemy or Desecrate and similar, and especially the creation of undead quite literally brands one as a True Necromancer and is bound to bring the wrath of the Convocation or local mages' guild down upon you.
The Convocation of Rune considered itself the global force where arcane spell casting is concerned and even those who would like to not be considered under their jurisdiction, having perhaps learned magic from a third party source, would do well to keep them in mind when in the western kingdoms.
Update: Though the Convocation has fallen (and Rune is in the process of re-forming), necromancy remains a persecuted practice. Charn's destroyed farms, cities, landscape and its Thulite practices are testimony to its devastating effects and its tie-in to the likes of Thul and Taara. What this means is that "witch hunts" may be more common now that Rune's order has been dispersed and nations and the common folk are allowed to take things into their own hands. Where Rune once might have promised a trial, today this is not so.
The Soul Trade
The fall of Maugrim and other gods into corruption saw also the rise of the soul trade. The soul trade, long practiced only in places such as Hell and the Abyss, was reportedly brought to the Material Plane by the Kulthians and it is said, hopefully died with them, although this is not the case. The soul trade is much older; the Kulthians only mechanized it, using it to power powerful works of artifice.
There are many different ways to capture souls. The most commonly used methods are spells like soul bind and trap the soul, with the former imprisoning the soul of a newly dead creature and the latter trapping the soul of someone still alive. Other creatures, such as the undead called devourers, have their own innate methods of trapping souls, and likewise night hags are capable of using a version of soul bind through their heartstones to capture the souls of those they torment, binding them in dark gems and selling them in planar markets. Still other creatures create magic items called soul jars, which mimic the effects of these spells.
All of these methods, however, pale in the face of Thul and Maugrim's industrialized harvesting of souls. Maugrim and His armies use virtually all known methods of collecting and storing souls, many of which are unique to themselves. His soldiers (and the soldiers of some other of the Fallen Gods) use tools to turn souls into jewel-like objects, which maintain a soul's basic essence. These then are used in various means and as a method of trade. Thul has His servants resort to unwinnable contracts, and to prey on greed and desperation...rendering them into a form of living-death. Others of the twisted gods have their means. Taara is known to lure mortals in through their wont for power. Her alliance with Thul and that god's skill in binding has made for truly horrific tales.
The quality and power of the soul influence such a gem's value, as does the servant's knowledge of soul-warping magic. Some of them prefer to consume the souls entirely, rather than transforming them...and some keep them chained in eternal agony as pets and servants.
Most methods of using souls extinguish them completely, consigning them to oblivion or eternal pain and torture, given how and where, and the method of extinguishment. In these cases, it is said that only the direct intervention of a deity can return them to life. Other methods bleed a fraction of a soul's energies away, and while this method is far less powerful, some devils and similar ilk capture other creatures for the sole purpose of entrapping them and milking their souls over a prolonged period of time, causing horrific agony for spans of months, years, or centuries before finally giving in to their own hunger and consuming what tattered fragments of soul remain.
Unconscionable as most of the universe considers these practices, trapped souls exist as a commodity replete with their own rampant underground economy, both within the evil-aligned planes and elsewhere. Most of these souls ultimately end up in the Iron Hells, though buyers and markets can also be found in the Abyss, other evil planes, and even the worlds of the Material Plane, as evil spellcasters and item crafters (particularly the Kulthian) have tried to make use of souls in their dark rites.
While the value of souls is as relative as any other commodity, and pricing can fluctuate wildly based on an endless parade of factors and prediction is difficult for even those most intimately involved in its nuance. It’s also worth noting that, while trading spirits may prove lucrative, the practice is undeniably evil and an affront to the natural order, and thus carries great consequences.
The Soul Trade is partaken of by most any evil deity and their servants, including demons, devils, and daemons. Neutral and higher deities will have no part of it. Truly evil magic it is said, also taps into these trades...the use of it brings the individual to notice of such beings. It does not mean such magic is forbidden. It only means that over time, such bargains as these may be collected upon.
Spellblights
Spellblights are rare and unusual magical conditions that uniquely affect spellcasters, including creatures that use spell-like abilities. Spellblights are curses, some functioning continuously and others manifesting only when the afflicted creature attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability. A creature that lacks the ability to cast spells or use spell-like abilities cannot usually be afflicted by a spellblight.
Unlike many magical effects, a spellblight usually persists in an antimagic field, though because they often affect spellcasting, their effect is typically lessened in such a field.
Gaining Spellblights
There are many ways a spellcaster can become afflicted with a spellblight. These conditions can be gained by way of a bestow curse or major curse spell, as well as spontaneously with a number of unusual circumstances, many of which are detailed below.
Areas of Spellblight: Typically, the act of casting a spell has little chance of inflicting a spellblight, but there are some areas of magical instability where the mere act of casting a spell within the area can endanger a spellcaster. There are two main types of spellblight areas. In areas of minor spellblight, each time a spellcaster casts a spell, she must succeed at a DC 14 Will saving throw or be affected by a random minor spellblight. In areas of major spellblight, the caster must succeed at a DC 22 saving throw or contract a major spellblight. Due to the strange and random nature of such areas, their effects are not always consistent. There are areas that inflict a single type of spellblight, and areas that are easier or harder to resist with each spell cast.
Curses and Other Spells: All spellblights can be inflicted upon spellcasters with a bestow curse or major curse spell. Bestow curse can bestow any minor spellblight, while a major curse is required to afflict a spellcaster with a major spellblight. Other spells may inflict a specific spellblight or may allow the caster to select any spellblight as part of the spell. A successful saving throw against the spell prevents the spellblight from taking hold.
Optional Ways to Acquire Spellblights
GMs may choose to include the following methods of acquiring spellblights.
Antimagic Field: The first time a spellcaster attempts to cast a spell within an antimagic field, there is a chance she will spontaneously gain a major spellblight. The caster must succeed at a Will saving throw (DC 15 + the caster level of the antimagic field or DC 23 if there is no caster level for the effect).
Arcane Spell Failure: When a spellcaster fails an arcane failure check by rolling a 5% (a roll of 01–05 on the spell failure roll) or lower, she has a chance of becoming afflicted with a spellblight. The failed spellcaster must succeed on a Will saving throw (DC 15 + the spell's level) or gain a spellblight. A failed spell of 4th level or lower results in a minor spellblight, while a failed spell of 5th level or higher results in a major spellblight.
Crafting Magic Items: When a spellcaster is crafting a magic item, and fails the skill check to create the item, the GM can choose to give the caster a spellblight instead of having that check result in a cursed item. Determine the spellblight randomly based on the caster level of the item she was attempting to create. Creating an item with a caster level of 10 or lower gives a random minor spellblight, while creating an item of caster level 11 or higher gives a random major spellblight.
Spell Turning: When a spellcaster is warded with a spell turning, and so is the creature he or she attacks, such occurrences usually create a resonance field as described in the spell's description. Instead, the spellcaster who cast the original effect can choose not to create the resonance field and both spellcasters are affected by a major spellblight. The spell that triggered the resonance field drains away without effect.
Teleportation Mishap: A spellcaster who casts a teleportation spell that results in a teleportation mishap has a chance of gaining a spellblight. The spellcaster who cast the teleportation spell must succeed at a Will saving throw (DC 15 + the spell level of the teleport) or gain a major spellblight.
Use Magic Device: When a spellcaster rolls a natural 1 while attempting to use a magic device with the Use Magic Device skill, she can choose to risk gaining a minor spellblight instead of not being able to activate the item for 24 hours (Will negates DC 10 + item's caster level). (The character must be able to receive a spellblight in order to make this choice.)
Removing Spellblights
While the most severe symptoms of a spellblight may manifest only episodically, the condition is often tenacious and difficult to remove. Each spellblight lists conditions for its removal, and can also be removed as if it were a curse (with remove curse, break enchantment, and so on). The caster level check DC to remove a minor spellblights is 20; the DC to remove a major spellblight is 30. The DC to remove the spellblight is reduced by 1 with each day that passes (minimum DC 10). Using anything other than a curse-removing spell to remove a spellblight imposes a –5 penalty on the caster level check. Any spellblight can be removed automatically, without a caster level check, with mage's disjunction, miracle, or wish.
The following tables list minor and major spellblights. When called to randomly determine a spellblight, roll on the appropriate table.
| Table: Random Minor Spellblights | |
| d10 | Result |
| 1 | Caster Blank |
| 2 | Caster Croak |
| 3 | Confounded Casting |
| 4 | Disassociation |
| 5 | Ebon Eyes |
| 6 | Eldritch Ague |
| 7 | Hemoculysis |
| 8 | Lassitude |
| 9 | Ritualistic Obsession |
| 10 | Spell Addiction |
| Table: Random Major Spellblights | |
| d10 | Result |
| 1 | Eldritch Cataracts |
| 2 | Nameless Dread |
| 3 | Negated |
| 4 | Obsessive Fixation |
| 5 | Phase Blight |
| 6 | Spell Burn |
| 7 | Spell Sap |
| 8 | Transference Block |
| 9 | Vertigo |
| 10 | Roll twice on the minor spellblight chart. The spellcaster is afflicted with both spellblights. |
Description of Spellblights
The following section details spellblights, split up based on their severity and featuring descriptions of effects and special methods to end those effects. Note that some of the effects of spellblights can be somewhat beneficial. Crafty spellcasters can make the best of even the worst situations, and the beneficial effects of any spellblights represent this. If a spellblight calls for a concentration check based on the level of the effect, and the caster is using a spell-like ability that doesn't have an effective level, use half the caster level of the spell-like ability instead.
Minor Spellblights
The following is a list and descriptions of many of the most common minor spellblights.
Caster Blank: A spellcaster with caster blank has a hard time focusing her spells or spell-like abilities on the same creature more than once. After targeting a creature with a spell, the caster cannot target that creature again with a spell until caster blank is removed or suppressed. To suppress caster blank, the afflicted spell caster must spend a standard action concentrating, which shakes off all effects of the caster blank until she casts a targeted spell again. Caster blank only affects spells that target creatures, and a spellcaster can still affect the creature with area spells.
Caster blank can be cured by any effect that removes confusion or insanity. Creatures that are immune to mind-affecting effects are immune to this spellblight.
Caster Croak: The afflicted spellcaster's throat or mouth is magically constricted. The spellcaster can barely make her words heard, and then only with great effort. A creature under this affect can only make itself heard by others by spending a swift action to focus its will on speech. Casting spells with a verbal component has a 20% chance of spell failure, and the save DCs of any spells she casts with the language-dependent descriptor are reduced by 4. Spell-like abilities are not affected by this spellblight because they lack verbal components. Shouting and screaming is impossible while the creature is affected by this spellblight.
A heal spell or similar effect cures this spellblight, as does casting the shout spell, though doing so is still affected by the spellblight's effects.
Confounded Casting: A spellcaster with confounded casting has a mental disconnect between the spells she intends to cast and the spells she actually casts. The first time on her turn that she casts a spell or uses a spell-like ability, she makes a concentration check with a DC of 15 + twice the level of the spell being cast. If the concentration check fails, the caster must pick another spell or spell-like ability of the same level or lower to cast with the same casting time. If the spellcaster has no other spell or spell-like ability, the action is lost. The spell or spell-like ability she originally picked is not spent and she can attempt to cast that spell again later.
Confounded casting is cured by any effect that removes confusion or insanity. Creatures that are immune to mind-affecting effects are immune to this spellblight.
Disassociation: A spellcaster with disassociation lapses into a mild insanity in which she dissociates her identity and starts to perceive herself as someone else. While subject to disassociation, a spellcaster is incapable of using spells or effects with a range of personal or of targeting herself with a spell effect. A spell with an area that includes her but does not need targeted individual creatures functions normally.
Disassociation can by cured by any effect that removes confusion or insanity.
Ebon Eyes: A spellcaster with ebon eyes develops a jet-black film over her eyes, which inverts her capacity to perceive light and darkness. The creature treats darkness as bright light, dim light as normal light, normal light as dim light, and bright light as darkness. The ebon eyes protect against blinding, dazzling, patterns, or other visual effects, granting a +2 bonus on all saving throws against those effects.
Ebon eyes can be removed with an effect that removes blindness.
Eldritch Ague: Eldritch ague manifests itself as a sickness that is debilitating to spellcasters. A spellcaster with this spellblight is sickened until the curse is removed. When the subject of the curse casts a spell, she is overcome with shaking for 1 round, requiring any spellcasting or the use of a spell-like ability during that time to succeed at a concentration check (DC 15 + twice the spell level of the spell being cast). If she fails the save, the spell and the action to cast it is lost.
While a curse, eldritch ague acts much like a disease, and creatures with immunity to disease are also immune to eldritch ague. Remove disease cures eldritch ague; unlike with most spellblights, using this spell to remove the spellblight does not impose a –5 caster level check penalty.
Hemoculysis: A spellcaster with hemoculysis bleeds from her eyes whenever she casts a spell. The volume and duration of this flow depends on the level of the spell, lasting 1 round per level of the spell. While bleeding from the eyes, the spellcaster is considered dazzled and takes 1 point of bleed damage. Casting additional spells while the eyes are already bleeding resets the duration of existing hemoculysis by the spell level, provided it's greater than the current duration. The sight of the spellcaster's eyes bleeding is horrifying, and she gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Intimidate checks and a –4 penalty on Bluff andDiplomacy checks for the duration of the bleeding.
Hemoculysis can be cured by heal or regenerate.
Lassitude: Whenever a spellcaster with this spellblight casts a spell, she must make a concentration check (DC 15 + twice the spell level of the spell being cast). If she fails the check, the spellcaster takes 1 point of nonlethal damage per spell level (or 1 point of nonlethal damage when casting a 0-level spell or 1 point per 2 caster levels if using a spell-like ability). This nonlethal damage cannot be reduced in any way so long as the spellcaster suffers from lassitude.
Lassitude can be cured by lesser restoration, restoration, or any effect that completely removes exhaustion. Simply resting has no effect. Creatures immune to nonlethal damage are immune to this spellblight.
Ritualistic Obsession: A spellcaster afflicted with ritualistic obsession adds unnecessary gestures to her spellcasting activities. Any spell without a somatic component (even a spell cast with the Still Spell feat) now requires one, and any spell that already has a somatic component requires two free hands rather than one. Spell-like abilities now require a somatic component. The extra complexity increases swift action casting times to a standard action, standard action casting times to 1 round, and 1 round casting times to 2 rounds. Other casting times are not increased. The extra focus does serve to increase the efficacy of the caster's spells. All save DCs for spells and spell-like abilities that have their casting time increased with ritualistic obsession are increased by 1.
Ritualistic obsession is cured by any effect that removes insanity. Creatures that are immune to mind-affecting effects are immune to ritualistic obsession.
Spell Addiction: A spell addict feeds off the elation of wielding magic, but suffers rapid withdrawal once spellcasting ends. After successfully casting a spell, the addict gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, skill checks, and saving throws until her next turn. On any round the spell addict does not cast a spell on her turn, however, she goes into withdrawal, and is sickened until her next turn.
Spell addiction is cured by any effect that removes confusion, insanity, or disease. Creatures that are immune to mind-affecting effects are immune to spell addiction.
Major Spellblights
The following list details some of the most common major spellblights.
Eldritch Cataracts: Each time a spellcaster with this spellblight casts a spell, her vision becomes fuzzier and fuzzier until eventually she is blinded. Each time the spellcaster casts a spell, she must succeed at a Fortitude save with a DC equal to 15 + the spell's level. If she fails, she takes a –1 penalty on vision-basedPerception checks until the spellblight is removed. Further failed saving throws increase the penalty by 1 until the character reaches a –4 penalty, at which point she becomes blinded instead.
Eldritch cataracts is a difficult spellblight to cure. Any effect that cures blindness reduces the penalty by 1. If the penalty is reduced to –3 or lower, any blindness is relieved until the caster fails the Fortitude saving throw enough times to bring the penalty back to –4. Reducing the penalty to 0 cures the spellblight.
Blind creatures and creatures that don't use sight are immune to eldritch cataracts.
Nameless Dread: A caster with nameless dread believes strange beings from far dimensions or the blackness between the stars are hounding her and sapping her sanity. Every time the caster uses a spell or a spell-like ability, she sees a glimpse of her nameless pursuers. She must succeed at a concentration check (DC 15 + twice the spell's level), or become shaken for 1 round per level of the spell. If already shaken, the spellcaster becomes frightened for the duration of the original effect or the duration of the new effect, whichever is greater. If she is already frightened, she becomes panicked (and cannot cast) for the duration of the current effect or the duration of the new effect, whichever is greater. Each time a spellcaster becomes panicked, there is a 5% chance she will become permanently insane (as the insanity spell, or the GM may choose a form of insanity listed on pages 250–251 of the GameMastery Guide).
A spellcaster suffering from nameless dread is particularly adept at wielding spells with the fear or chaos descriptor. When she casts a spell with that descriptor, the save DC for that spell is increased by 1, and she gains a +1 competence bonus on all caster level checks made to bypass spell resistance.
Spells that suppress fear work on nameless dread. Those that remove fear effects suppress the effects of nameless dread (and its benefits to spellcasting) for 1 hour.
Negated: A negated spellcaster has his ability to manipulate magical energies disrupted. He gains spell resistance equal to 10 plus twice the highest spell level he can cast. This spell resistance cannot be voluntarily lowered. In addition, anytime he casts a spell, he must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) against this spell resistance. On a successful check, the spell is completed and the spellcaster's spell resistance is removed until the start of his next turn. Failure indicates he failed to muster up enough magical energy to cast the spell, but the spell is not lost and may be attempted again. Any feats or abilities that aid in bypassing spell resistance help with this check.
Restoration suppresses the negated spellblight for one day.
Obsessive Fixation: A spellcaster with an obsessive fixation develops a tendency toward repetition. This manifests itself differently depending on whether the spellcaster prepares spells, is a spontaneous caster, or uses spell-like abilities. When preparing spells, an afflicted spellcaster must attempt to prepare as many duplicate spells as she can, meaning she prepares two copies of each spell she picks, but cannot exceed her normal number of spell slots to do so. This need to prepare multiples (thus limiting her versatility) is the only effect. If the spellcaster is a spontaneous caster or uses spell-like abilities, when that spellcaster casts a spell or uses a spell-like ability, she must cast that spell again on her next turn, or becomes dazed for 1 round at the end of her turn. Once she casts two copies of the same spell in a row or becomes dazed, the obsessive fixation resets, and she can cast any spell she knows, starting the cycle again.
Obsessive fixation can be suppressed for 1 day with an effect that removes confusion or insanity.
Phase Blight: A spellcaster afflicted with spellblight fades in and out of existence. Each time she casts a spell, she phases in and out of reality for 1 round per level of the spell cast. While phasing, any physical attacks made against the spellcaster have a 50% miss chance, any individually targeted spell has a 50% chance to fail to affect the caster, and the spellcaster takes only half damage from area attacks. In addition, while actively phasing, all of a spellcaster's physical attacks have a 50% miss chance, all of the caster's spells that target creatures have a 50% chance of affecting the target, and all of the caster's area attacks do 50% of their normal damage. Unlike when casting the blink spell, the spellcaster does not become ethereal; she blinks in and out of reality altogether.
Effects that block planar travel, like dimensional anchor, stabilize a phasing creature for the duration of the effect.
Spell Burn: Each time a spellcaster afflicted with this spellblight casts a spell or uses a spell-like ability, her skin feels like it burns, as if she were on fire. With a successful concentration check (DC 15 + twice the spell level cast), the spellcaster can ignore the pain of the effect, but if she fails, she is staggered for a round. While the caster is staggered by this spellblight, any spell with the fire descriptor that she casts has its saving throw DC increased by 1.
The burning sensation is a figment of the caster's imagination. Spellcasters that are immune to mind-affecting effects are immune to this spellblight, and don't gain the beneficial effect when casting spells with the fire descriptor.
Spell Sap: A spellcaster with spell sap is subject to blackouts when casting spells. She may become mentally locked, distant, or catatonic, or may even slip into unconsciousness. Each time the afflicted spellcaster casts a spell or uses a spell-like ability, she must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 14 + caster level) or become dazed until the end of her next turn. If she fails the save by 10 or more, she instead falls prone and lapses into unconsciousness for 1d4 rounds.
Spell sap can be suppressed for 1 day with an effect that removes confusion or insanity.
Transference Block: A spellcaster with transference block has difficulty targeting allies with spell effects. Anytime she casts a spell on an ally, she must make a concentration check (DC 15 + twice the spell's level) or the spell is lost.
Transference block can be cured by spending 1 hour in an antimagic field.
Vertigo: A spellcaster with vertigo becomes dizzy and lightheaded when she casts a spell. Each time she casts a spell or uses a spell-like ability, the world spins and shifts around her. She must succeed at a concentration check (with a DC equal to the 15 + twice the level of the spell being cast). If the spellcaster fails the check, she falls prone, and for 1d4 rounds takes a penalty on Acrobatics, Climb, Ride, Stealth, and Swim checks equal to 1 + the level of the spell. While the afflicted spellcaster takes those penalties, she must also succeed at a DC 10 Acrobatics check in order to stand up from prone.
A restoration cast on the afflicted spellcaster suppresses this spellblight for 1 day.
Magus Points
Magus Points are areas that are powerful nodes of arcane magic created by the intersection of two or more leylines. The more the leylines the stronger the node. Extremely powerful nodes are used for powerful versions of ritual magic, the creation of artifacts or the sites of especially powerful strongholds of magical power. There are many Magus Points in the world but only a few are potent enough for the above. Magus Points are ranked on a scale of one through ten. It is known that the Magus Point beneath Alexandria is rank 10 while the one beneath the Academy of Sages is only a rank 4, but access to it is sealed and controlled by the upper echelons of the Academy staff.
All arcane casters benefit, immediately, from being on a Magus Point. Wizards on a Magus Point receive the benefit of Cooperative Spellcasting, even if they did not have the feat prior to entering the Magus Point. Wizards can attempt to access a Magus Point to boost their caster levels for the duration of their time there. In order to do so they must make a caster level check with a DC of 15 + level of the Magus Point x 2. If successful their caster level is boosted by 1 per 2 ranks of the Magus Point. If they fail the check then there is a percentage chance of a Backlash. The base chance of a Backlash is 5% per every level of a Magus Point.
When a backlash occurs, all participants take 1d6 arcane damage per rating level of the Point. The spell fails and depending on what was being attempted, and the history of the site, other dangerous effects may occur based on DM discretion.
Backlash Modifiers (minimum 0%):
- For every spellcaster less than the rating of the point, +5%
- Mixing arcane and divine casters, +10%
- Some participants cannot cast spell/create item (must still be spellcasters), +10%
- Ritual Materials Used (rating squared x 100gp worth), -10%
- Double casting time/item creation time (minimum one full round), -5%
- DM Discretion (local mystical disturbances, astronomical conjunctions, etc), +/- 10%
DM Rules for Racial Magic
Ea's magic responds to its people. Wizards, sorcerers, the uncovering of Aspects are not the only ways in which magic manifests.
The following are options for any storyteller, for use in PrPs, scenes, backgrounds, and small stories. If some of these rituals come across as "didn't we always have--!??" that is part of why these are being offered: to illustrate just how active magic is in Ea. Also, just because there are no given mechanics for them does not mean they shouldn't exist.
These rituals and options are beyond the scope of any one PC working on their own.
They are meant to be used as story devices, and tend to require a story element, such as a visit to the sylvanori elders. In addition, they require the presence of more than one person from that community--they are NOT means to add to individual PCs' power levels. Finally, all rituals work according to story. Sometimes rituals sometimes work perfectly, and other times do so to varying degrees (that's just saying they are story-dependent, and not a means of power).
You are welcome to build on these ideas, or expand on them.