Ultima VI by Origin Magic Typed by Golden One and Hill Billy %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 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, amges 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. A list of spells can be found in the file ULT6SPLS.DOC. This list, while not necessarily complete, collects all of our current knowledge of the ways of magic. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X Another file downloaded from: The NIRVANAnet(tm) Seven & the Temple of the Screaming Electron Taipan Enigma 510/935-5845 Burn This Flag Zardoz 408/363-9766 realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 510/527-1662 Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 801/278-2699 The New Dork Sublime Biffnix 415/864-DORK The Shrine Rif Raf 206/794-6674 Planet Mirth Simon Jester 510/786-6560 "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X