The Dooms of Light and Shadow

Since Ghost Tiger has already made a study of some of the abilities of various schools of magic I [Marcus] felt it would be helpful to do the same with the spells from my [Marcus] own world. I [Marcus] won’t elaborate upon the philosophy of each of the two aspects of magic as extensively however. The magic is divided into two aspects, light and shadow, six spells of each. There are a like number of rituals for each aspect. However the two aspects are not exclusive in any way. One does not need to learn a light ritual to power a light spell. The charges seems to be aspect neutral and shadow rituals power light spells just as easily as light ones do. The reverse is also true. In an effort to comply with the library’s request not to editorialize I won’t be going into the believed significance of the rituals as some of them are very politically charged.

Light

The Light Remembered (S)

Requirements:
The caster must bear the markings of a stylized sun, in white, on the backs of both their hands before casting. If they lose these markings while the spell is currently active the spell ends

The words spoken to focus the mind are:
I call forth the remembrance of light forgotten; against it, no foe can stand, and even death itself will falter. (after 3 seconds of concentration)

The words used to enact the spell:
This varies depending upon the effect desired. To use the violent option use the phrase:
By the light remembered, I strike you down!

To use the preservation option use the phrase
By the light remembered, I stay the touch of death.

When this is cast, the caster gains a number of uses of the power equal to their mastery of magic. The way each use is spent is determined by the words and the caster’s will. It is not an all or nothing prospect. Both the violent and preservation options may be used in the same casting of the spell. The violent option casts a beam of light that is injurious if it strikes someone. The injury is roughly equivalent to single normal sword hit. The preservation option is cast upon a critically wounded individual. It slows the flow of blood out of wounds and increases the average time it takes for someone to bleed to death to 10 minutes for most people. Extremely hale individuals may be able last 20 minutes under the effects of this spell.

The Light Convergent (S)

The words spoken to focus the mind are:
For the violent option:
By my will the light converges, bringing (mastery)-fold doom upon you.
For the banelight option:
Mine is the hand of light’s convergence; in night’s destruction, purity is born.

In the violent option of this spell the caster gains the ability to channel a single but much more damaging flash of light. The amount of damage is equal to the caster’s mastery of magic and varies as it does. The banelight option creates a persistent shard of white light called a banelight. Aside from providing illumination, anyone holding the light who is trained in the use of a weapon find themselves able to channel the power of the light into their weapon of choice at will. When channeling this power their powerful strikes against the accursed are increased by a degree of potency. Example: against an undead, a rank one swordsman would do damage as though they were a rank five swordsman, but gain no other abilities or prowess. Interestingly, when channeling this power, the weapon does no damage at all against normal living beings, only the accursed. Accursed creatures seem offended by this light and seem to preferentially seek out for attack those who bare one. The banelight channeling option lasts for as long as the light does, which varies but is usually a few hours but it has also been known to last several days. This effect does not appear to be dependent upon mastery.

Day Mirrors Night (S)

The words spoken to focus the mind are:
In darkness, the stars remember light; may I know the day by mirrored night.

When using this spell the caster is protected against hostile magics to a degree. The spell absorbs incoming hostile magic, but at the cost of a charge of the caster’s stored magical energy. The caster may allow the spell to consume itself to power a single instance of this protection, but this ends the spell. However if the caster prefers they may end the spell, taking upon themselves the effects of the magic while simultaneously copying the spell and delivering it unerringly back to the original caster. This reflected spell may not be reflected again though it may be protected against using the normal means of protecting against magics. This spell lasts for several days or until ended by the caster. Those highly trained in the occult to the extent to be able to cast spells with true arcane might can usually bypass this spell’s protection.

Circle of Radiant Morning (S)

The words spoken to focus the mind are:
I scribe before me the circle of radiant morning; may the dawn favor all who stay within its light.

This spell creates a razor thin line of sunlight from the ground. All within it’s effects have nothing to fear from any spells that target them. Those with true arcane might are able to bypass this protection however. Interestingly the Currents of Deepspirit spell “The Sea Forgets” also seems to be able to bypass the protection this spells provides. Also while inside this circle those of magical ability find their mastery increased by 1.

Flowing Prism Shield (S)

The words spoken to focus the mind are:
*Let this shield of flowing light protect me from harm; I become a prism to scatter the darkness. * (after 1 minute of concentration)

This spell provides magical protection for the caster that allows them to take two more regular sword hits worth of damage than they otherwise would. When the protection is expended it may be regained by 10 minutes of rest. They may do this any number of times until the spell ends naturally. The protection lasts a number of hours equal to the caster’s mastery.

Hand of the Dawnbringer (S)

The words spoken to focus the mind are:
For the treatment option:
“In time, the morning shall come and smite the darkness; let your (condition) flee from the (mastery)-fold touch of the Dawnbringer’s hand.
For the light generation option:
Just as the dawnbringer’s hand calls forth the rising sun, so mine calls forth a pale reflection of its light.

The treatment option allows the caster to reduce the potency of the named condition by a level equal to their mastery, possibly removing it entirely. This can be used on any known persistent condition. This may be applied to the same person more than once to cure an especially potent condition. If used to generate a light it creates a harmless shard of solid light, usually in the colors of the rising sun of the caster’s choice between blue, green, yellow, orange, or red. The amount of time this light lasts varies but is usually a few hours, though, like the banelight, it has been known to last for several days.

Warrior of the New Sun (R)

Duration
5 minutes

Outside, alone, and during the day, vigorously drill with a melee weapon.

A Puzzle of Facets (R)

Duration
10 minutes

Concentrate on a prism, gem, or crystal, turning it slowly in the hand as you regard it.

Infinite Mirrors (R)

Duration
10 minutes

Set two mirrors opposite each other and meditate upon their multiplied reflections.

The Sunlight that Reveals (R)

Duration
15 minutes

Meditate outside, and during the day. This ritual is unusable if it is raining.

Fragmented Truth (R)

Duration
3 seconds

In clear light (natural or otherwise), destroy a faceted gem with the pommel of a dagger, scattering the dust and shards.

What Stands Against the Night (R)

Duration
1 minute

With 6 magical lights, candles, or lanterns, reverently form a ring of illumination around yourself, speaking the words of the Dawnbringer. If you leave the ring before it is complete, or you stop speaking for more than 3 seconds, the ritual fails.

Shadow

Circle of Peaceful Twilight  (S)

The words spoken to focus the mind are:
I draw this shadow circle, bringing peaceful twilight. None should fear the coming darkness.

This spell creates a ring of darkness tinged with red that is faintly luminous. The power of the circle keeps the souls of any dead bodies withing it from leaving their bodies for a full hour instead of five minutes after the time of death as normal. During this time bodies may be coaxed back to life normally. The circle also protects against the accursed. Accursed may not cross it boundaries and melee physical attacks are rendered impotent having no effect on those within. Ranged attacks such as arrows and magic affect those withing normally however.

The Dark Lords’ Fetters (S)

Requirements:
When cast protectively upon oneself the caster must wear a large chain or shackle around their wrist.

The words spoken to focus the mind are:

For the binding option:
With the strength of night-forged steel, I shackle you in the Dark Lords’ fetters

For the protective option:
May the Fetters of the Dark Lords’ bind me to the shadow; no accursed one shall harm me, for I bear their masters’ chains.

With the binding option of this spell those under it’s effects become magically shackled for five minutes. During this time any items they hold are forced out of their hands and their hands are forced behind their back. Also any spell effects that involve casting magic upon another in any way cannot be used. Those of notable strength may break these magical shackles with a few moments effort. They are not prevented from moving their feet however.

With the protective option a person suffuses the chain or shackle around their wrist with deathly energies. During this time most accursed will ignore them and view them as one of their own, not attacking them. The effect ends if the caster creates or touches a banelight. If the caster attacks an accursed, the accursed may attack in response. If the accursed bares ill will to the caster directly the spell will have no effect against them.

Silver Mask Visage (S)

The words spoken to focus the mind are:

For the accursed attacking option:
Creature of death, the visage of the silver mask demands your (twice mastery)-fold destruction!

For the magical enhancement option:
Take solace in the silver mask, and know its visage as reflected glory.

In the accursed attacking option the spell releases a bolt of darkness that damages an accursed in an amount equal to twice the caster’s mastery. So a caster with the second rank of mastery will damage an accursed being as though they has taken four regular sword hits in a single blow.

The magical enhancement option creates a vision of a silver mask in the recipient’s mind and increases the caster’s mastery by one level for two hours.

The Blackened Scourge (S)

The words spoken to focus the mind are: (touch)
Mediate for 1 minute, than speak thus: With this blackened scourge of (mastery)-fold lashes, I flay your body and blind your eyes.

This spell deals an amount of damage equal to the caster’s mastery. The creature hit by this is also blinded at a potency equal to the caster’s mastery. This blindness by be resisted by someone willful, but this does not prevent the damage itself. The blindness may be treated by all the normal methods and lasts one hour if untreated.

Steps Between the Shadows (S)

Requirements: The caster may not hold anything in the palms of their hands while this spell is active.

The words spoken to focus the mind are:
*I am naught but steps between the shadows, a whisper only night can hear; let no one heed my passage.

The caster steps into a shadow at which point they turn totally invisible. They may stay in this state for a number of hours equal to their mastery. During this time they may move a total number of steps equal to ten times their mastery. Moving more than this ends the spell. Attacking, casting a spell, running, speaking, or holding something in the palms of your hands also ends the spell. Those who are perceptive will not be able to pierce the invisibility but will sense something wrong about the area. Those who are extremely perceptive will be able to notice the differences enough to pierce the illusion and end the spell regardless of the caster’s desires. This does not prevent them from casting it again of course.

Oblivion’s Touch (S)

Requirements:
The caster must bear the markings of a stylized crescent moon, in black, on the backs of both their hands, or the spell ends

The words spoken to focus the mind are:
The living fear what the dead do not, for there is only peace in oblivion’s touch.

The words used to enact the spell:

This varies depending upon the effect desired. To use the fear option use the phrase:
Know fear in the touch of oblivion

To use the boon option:
In oblivion’s touch, may this soul find peace.

When this is cast, the caster gains a number of uses of the power equal to their mastery of magic. The way each use is spent is determined by the words and the caster’s will. It is not an all or nothing prospect. Both the fear and boon options may be used in the same casting of the spell. The fear effect inflicts the victim with a supernatural fear. During this time the victim may make no attacks against the caster unless the caster prevents them from fleeing. If not prevented from fleeing the victim must stay about 15 paces from the caster for the next five minutes. The boon version of this spells grants the soul of a dead body a boon. This greatly reduces the amount of death taint a soul receives when they visit the gate keeper. If used on the inert corpse of a corporeal accursed it prevents them from returning to an animated state if they should normally be able to do so.

Four Aspects of the Hidden (R)

Duration
1 minute

Deliberately wrap a small, valued object or gem in layers of cloth, place it in a box, bind the box with cord or rope, and conceal it among your belongings, all while murmuring repetitive homages to the shadows. Said murmurings need not be entirely understandable or coherent, though they shouldn’t be absolute nonsense.

Seeing Without Sight (R)

Duration
5 minutes

While blindfolded or otherwise blinded, sketch a figure from memory, sculpt an abstract shape in clay, or work a three-dimensional puzzle. If the blindfold falls off or the condition is treated during this ritual’s duration, it fails.

Honor the Endless Night (R)

Duration
1 minute

Sonorously recite the titles and aspects of each of the six Dark Lords, from memory.

Scribe of Shadow Dreams (R)

Duration
5 minutes

In a private journal, write a page long description of a recent dream, without pausing for more than 3 seconds.

Bringer of Doom (R)

Duration
1 minute

During the night, walk alone into an empty field and shout out a brazen challenge to all who would wish you harm, making sure to give your name and relevant titles, as well as the means by which you will defeat said challengers. This ritual is successful even if there is no response. This ritual may not be used in response to an impending attack.

The Darkness that Enfolds (R)

Duration
15 minutes

Meditate in thick shadow or absolute darkness


Penned by my own hand,

Marcus