Ultima VI by Origin 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, 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 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 FLAM 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