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                         The Book of Archaic Knowledge
                         ─────────────────────────────
         A historical look at the mechanics and use of the arcane arts
      before the end of the Age of Magic, as writen by Batlin of Britain.

Before anything further is written, it must be noted that the following section
is included only as a matter of historical documentation.  The use of magic has
long been proven to be unreliable and the suspected cause of mental deteriation.
The author takes no responsibility for anyone who may attempt to practice magic
based upon the information contained herein.


i.  The Mage's Spellbook

        The first component necessary for the successful casting of spells by a
mage is his spellbook.  It is his priciple tool and without it the mage cannot
function.  This book contains the formulae and incantations required to cast the
specific spells that a mage knows.  As mages become more experienced they can
acquire new spells.  A wise and long-practicing mage may have a great tome
filled with strange drawings, diagrams and writings.  These writings will be
explained in greater detail in a forthcoming section.  Every mage's spellbook
contains several basic magical spells called linear spells.  These too will be
explained in their own sections.


ii.  The Mage's Reagents

        The second component required for spellcasting is the proper reagent.
These chemical materials serve as a link between the physical world that the
mage wishes to affect and the psychic energies of the ethereal waves that the
mage is drawing upon to effect that change.  Some reagents are relatively common
herbs, others are rare and exotic items.  The following is a list of reagents
used by all mages.

Black Pearl
~~~~~~~~~~~
        Black pearl is an exceedingly rare commodity; fewer than one in ten
thousand pearls is black.  They have been found at the base of tall cliffs on
Buccaneer's Den.  While a less than perfect pearl may be perfecly acceptable for
decorative purposes, the black pearl of a mage must be perfectly formed or it is
virtually worthless.  Black pearl is ground up into a fine powder.

Blood Moss
~~~~~~~~~~
        In recent years the only places where this strange substance can be
located are in the Bloody Marsh across the mountains from Cove (where many years
ago thousands of soldiers lost their lives) or in the enchanted forest of Spir-
itwood, beneath the rotting bark of dead trees.

Garlic
~~~~~~
        Certainly this is the most commonly available of all magical reagents.
There are a few kitches in all of Britannia that are not supplied with at least
a few cloves of this spice.  Garlic cloves are washed and ground into a paste,
providing significant protection from harmful magic.

Ginseng
~~~~~~~
        The healers of our fair land have known of the healthful and restorative
powers of this bitter root for hundereds of years.  But to the mage it requires
a special preparation.  It must be boild and reboild in the freshest water no
less than forty times!  This reduces it to a strong-smelling syrup that makes a
very potent reagent.

Mandrake Root
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        This rare plant extract, found only in the darkest, dankest corners of
the fownlest swamps, is a most sought after magical reagent.  It is also on the
most difficult of all reagents to prepare, for in being dug up the tap root of
the mandrake plant must not be broken.  Also, that root itself myst be properly
prepared, boiled and dried.  Mandrake root can by found on the Bloody Marsh and
in a place known as the Fens of the Dead, south of Paws.

Night Shade
~~~~~~~~~~~
        This plant, found only in swamps, only blooms at night.  The fungal cap
from this rare and unusual mushroom may be either crushed or boiled into a tea.
The mage mush always use great care when handling nightshade, for it is not only
a very potent hallucinogentic, it is also extremely poisonous.

Spider's Silk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        While this is a common reagent, it can be very difficult to gather any
significant quantity of it from any single source.  Mages have been known to
frequent caves and crypts and even run their own personal spider farms in order
to maintain an abundant supply of spider's silk.  It usually takes at least one
ounce of silk to cast a spell.

Sulfurous Ash
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        The great quantities of ash generated by a volcanic erruption makes this
a common commodity as far as magical reagents go, but one does usually have to
travel in order to acquire a large quantity of it.  In recent years the most
common source of sulphorous ash has been the Isle of the Avatar, location of
volcanic activity many years ago.


iii.  The Mage's Words of Power

        The final component necessary for the mage to cast a spell is the spoken
mantra that constitutes the words of power.  Far more than simple memorization
of the words and their meanings is required.  The mage must have a consciousness
altering comprehension of each individual syllable of a word of power.  The pro-
nunciation of each syllable resonates through the ethereal waves as the spell is
being cast.  Incorrect pronunciation invariably causes etheral turulens.  Long
periods of meditation upon each syllable and many hours of controlled breathing
exercies are required before the proper use of the mage's words of power can be
learned.  The following is a list of the known syllables that make up the words
of power.

┌─────────────┬──────────────────────┬──────────────┬──────────────────────┐
│  Syllable   │   Meaning            │  Syllable    │   Meaning            │
├─────────────┼──────────────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────────────┤
│  An         │   Negate/Dispel      │  Nox         │   Poison             │
│  Bet        │   Small              │  Ort         │   Magic              │
│  Corp       │   Death              │  Por         │   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              │
└─────────────┴──────────────────────┴──────────────┴──────────────────────┘


iv. Spellcasting

        The mage is able to cast spells when the three elements -- spellbook,
reagents and words of power -- are combined in one unique and fluid action.  The
mind of the mage must be properly focused, as some spells affect just one per-
son, others affect a group and still others affect a specific area.  As a mage's
experience in casting spells increases, so too will the potency of many of his
spells.  Outside distractions and interference, as well as the intended target's
natural resistance, might prevent the successful casting of any spell.

        One factor over which the mage has no control is the state of the ether-
eal waves when a spell is being cast.  While the ethereal waves are often sub-
ject to turbulence, such turbulence is a temporary condition.


v.  Magical Spells

        Once again, the author takes it upon himself to warn his readers that
the following is included as nothing more than a matter of historical record.
It is a statement of absolute fact that most of these spells do not work and
many will turn back upon the user.  The use of magic is strongly suspected to be
the cause of strange mental deterioration that can affect anyone who has prac-
ticed magic.  The reader is strongly discouraged from experimenting with the
spells listed here.

Linear Spells
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        There are certain spells that a mage will immediatley be able to learn
upon completion of his apprenticeship.  They are called Linear spells because
they do not directly correspnd to any of the eight circles of magic that exist
in the etheread waves.  Linear spells are the only types of magical spells that
require no reagents to cast.

An Zu (Awaken)      :   This spell awakens one sleeping or unconcious creature.

An Flam (Douse)     :   This spell extinguishes any small, non-magical fire.

Bet Ort (Fireworks) :   This spell creates an impressive display of multi
                        colored moving lights.  When the mage becomes more exp-
                        erienced, he can use these lights to frighted his
                        enemies, sometimes causing them to flee.

Bet Lor (Glimmer)   :   This spell creates a small light source that lasts for a
                        short period of time.

Kal Lor (Help)      :   This spell resurects the mage and his party and tele-
                        ports them them to Lord British's castle, where they
                        will be fully healed.  Remember that this spell is
                        usable only once by any mage.

In Flam (Ignite)    :   This spell generates a tiny missle of sparks that can
                        ignite flammable material.

Vas Kal (Thunder)   :   This spell causes a single thunderclap to be heard, as
                        if a terrible storm is imminent.

Rel Huy (Weather)   :   This spell can create a storm or cause an existing storm
                        to stop.

The Circles of Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        There are eight circles of magical spells, each successive circle rep-
resenting a more powerful level of magical energy.  The ethereal waves are made
up of eight rings or circles which correspnd to the levels of the spells.  Each
circle is one of eight swirling vortices, all spinning one within another and
expanding out through the universe.  The more powerful the spell a mage casts,
the deeper into the inner cirles of the ether must the concentrated psychic
energy of the mage penetrate.  Required for the mage are many, many hours of
mediation, the strength of concentration, and the will to reach into one of
the higher circles with his psychic world, possible harming the mage and those
around him.


The First Circle of Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vas An Zu (Awaken All)      :   This spell awakens all unconcious members of the
Reagents: Ginseng, Garlic       mage's party.

In Mani Yelm (Create Food)  :   This spell creates enough good for the mage and
Reagents: Garlic, Ginseng,      each member in his party to have one meal.
          Mandrake Root

An Nox (Cure)               :   This spell cures poison and restores a person
Reagents: Ginseng, Garlic       afflicted with paralysis.  It has also been
                                known to work against an assortment of other
                                malicious maladies.

Wis Jux (Detect Trap)       :   This spell reveals the location of all traps
Reagents: Spider's Silk,        within sight of the mage and his party.
          Nightshade

Vas An Flam (Great Douse)   :   This spell is a more potent version of the Lin-
Reagents: Garlic, Spider's      ear spell Douse.  It extinguishes all dousable
          Silk                  items within a certain area.

Vas In Flam (Great Ignite)  :   This spell is a more potent verson of the Lin-
Reagents: Sulfurous Ash         ear spell Ignite.  It will cause all flammable
          Spider's Silk         items withing a certain area to burst into
                                flame.

In Lor (Light)              :   This spell is a more potent version of the Lin-
Reagents: Sulphourous Ash       ear spell Glimmer.  It creates a source of light
                                that will illuminate a darkend area.  This light
                                source can travel with the party and lasts for a
                                significant amount of time.

In Wis (Locate)             :   This spell reveals the sextant position of the
Reagents: Nightshade            mage, even when under ground.


The Second Circle of Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An Jux (Destroy Trap)       :   This spell destroys any one specific trap upon
Reagents: Sulfurous Ash,        which it is cast.
          Blood Moss

Ort Ylem (Enchant)          :   This spell causes up to an entire bundle of
Reagents: Black Pearl,          arrows or bolts to become enchanged and glow
          Mandrake Root         blue.  Enchanted missles will always his their
                                targe and do significantly more damage than
                                normal.

Vas Flam (Fire Blast)       :   This spell causes great jets of flame to burst
Reagents: Sulfurous Ash,        forth from the mage and strike his target.
          Black Pearl

Vas Lor (Great Light)       :   This spell is a more potent version of the First
Reagents: Sulphorour Ash,       Circle spell Light, and has a substantially
          Mandrake Root         longer duration.

Vas An Nox (Mass Cure)      :   This spell cures the mage and all members of his
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        party at once.
          Garlic, Ginseng

Uus Sanct (Protection)      :   This spell temporarily makes its subject more
Reagents: Sulfurous Ash,        difficult to strike in combat, as well as
          Ginseng, Garlic       rendering him invulnerable to traps and other
                                hazards.

Ort Por Ylem (Telekinisis)  :   This spell allows the mage to manipulate objects
Reagents: Blood Moss, Mandrake  without touching them.
          Root, Black Pearl

Por Ort Wis (Wizard Eye)    :   This spell enables the mage to extend his sight
Reagents: Blood Moss, Night     out over great distances, passing through any
          Shade, Mandrake       barriers that exist between himself and anything
          Root, Sulfuous Ash,   he wishes to look at.
          Black Pearl,
          Spider's Silk


The Third Circle of Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Des Sanct (Curse)           :   This spell is a minor curse that temporarily
Reagents: Sulforous Ash,        makes an enemy easier to hit in combat, while
          Nightshade,           making it harder for him to strike the mage or
          Garlic                any member of his party.

Mani (Heal)                 :   This spell heals half the injuries that the
Reagents: Ginseng, Garlic,      subject has sustained.
          Spider's Silk

An Por (Paralyze)           :   This spell paralyzes an enemy in his tracks for
Reagents: Spider's Silk,        a short period of time.
          Nightshade

Vas Wis (Peer)              :   This spell gives the make a look at the entire
Reagents: Nightshade,           world as well as showing his location on it.
          Mandrake Root

In Nox (Poison)             :   This spell enables the mage to poison one enemy.
Reagents: Nightshade, Blood
          Moss, Black Pearl

Vas Uus Sanct (Protect All) :   This spell is the equivalent of casting the
Reagents: Sulforous Ash,        Second Circle spell Protection on everyone in
          Ginseng, Garlic,      the mage's party simultaneously.
          Mandrake Root

In Zu (Sleep)               :   This spell causes the enchanted person to fall
Reagents: Nightshade,           asleep.
          Spider's Silk,
          Black Pearl

Kal Bet Xen (Swarm)         :   This spell summons swarms of insects to attack
Reagents: Nighshade, Mandrake   the enemies of the mage from all directions.
          Root, Blood Moss


The Fourth Circle of Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kal Xen (Conjure)           :   This spell summons a wild beast that will fight
Reagents: Spider's Silk,        for the mage against any enemy.
          Mandrake Root

Ort Grav (Lightning)        :   This spell enables the mage to cast a bolt of
Reagents: Black Pearl,          lightning that will strike his target.  This
          Sulforous Ash,        lightning is so destructive that no armor can
          Mandrake Root         protect its wearer from it.

Kal Por Ylem (Mark)         :   This spell creates a magical (but invisible)
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        "mark" on any of the eight specified colored
          Black Pearl,          stones.  The Fourth Circle spell Recall can then
          Blood Moss            be cast on that stone.

Vas Des Sanct (Mass Curse)  :   This spell is similar to the Third Circle spell
Reagents: Sulforous Ash,        Curse, but it affects an entire group of the
          Nightshade, Garlic,   mage's enemies.
          Mandrake Root

Kal Ort Por (Recall)        :   This spell is a minor spell of teleportation.
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        Casting it on a Marked stone takes the mage and
          Black Pearl,          his party back to where the Mark spell was cast
          Blood Moss            on that stone.

Wis Quas (Reveal)           :   This spell makes visible all things that were
Reagents: Sulforous Ash,        invisible within a specific area.
          Blood Moss

Kal Wis Corp (Seance)       :   This spell allows the mage to speak to all
Reagents: Blood Moss,           recently dead ghosts, until sunrise.  If one
          Mandrake Root,        were travelling to Skara Brae, the wise mage
          Nightshade,           would have a healthy supply of appropriate
          Spider's Silk,        reagents to cast this spell many times.
          Sulforous Ash

Ex Por (Unlock Magic)       :   This spell unlocks magically locked items,
Reagents: Sulforous Ash,        including doors and chests.
          Blood Moss


The Fifth Circle of Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An Xen Ex (Charm)           :   This spell can be used either to ensorcell an
Reagents: Black Pearl,          enemy or creature into doing the mage's bidding,
          Nightshade,           or to free one who is under the effects of a
          Spider's Silk         charm.

Por Xen (Dance)             :   This spell makes everyone in sight (except the
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        mage and his party) start to dance.
          Garlic, Blood Moss

An Grav (Dispel Field)      :   This spell can dispel any type of magical field,
Reagents: Garlic, Black Pearl,  such as a fire field.
          Sulforous Ash,
          Spider's Silk

Vas Flam Hur (Explosion)    :   This spell creates a ball of flame that rushes
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        toward the mage's intended target and explodes.
          Sulforous Ash,
          Black Pearl,
          Blood Moss

In Flam Hur (Fire Field)    :   This spell creates a wall of fire between the
Reagents: Black Pearl,          mage and his enemies.
          Sulforous Ash,
          Spider's Silk

Vas Mani (Great Heal)       :   This spell completely heals an injured person.
Reagents: Ginseng, Spider's
          Silk, Mandrake Root,
          Garlic

Sanct Lor (Invisibility)    :   This spell renders the mage undetectable, not
Reagents: Nightshade, Blood     only from sight but to all means of normal det-
          Moss                  ection.  There are certain creatures that, for
                                various reasons, are capable of seeing invisible
                                objects or people.

Vas Zu (Mass Sleep)         :   This spell is a more potent version of the
Reagents: Ginseng,              Second Circle spell Sleep.  It puts to sleep a
          Nightshade,           group of targets that are not in the mage's
          Spider's Silk         party.



The Sixth Circle of Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quas Wis (Cause Fear)          :This spell causes such a wave or fear that each
Reagents: Nightshade,           man and creature who is not in the mage's party
          Mandrake Root,        might flee as if in danger of death.
          Garlic

In Quas Xen (Clone)            :This spell creates an exact duplicate of any
Reagents: Sulforous Ash,        mortal creature, who will then fight on the same
          Spider's Silk,        side as the original.
          Blood Moss, Ginseng,
          Nightshade, Mandrake
          Root

Kal Flam Grav (Fire Ring)      :This spell creates a ring of fire that will
Reagents: Sulforous Ash, Black  encircle the mage's target.
          Pearl, Mandrake Root,
          Spider's Silk

Vas In Flam Grav (Flame Strike):This spell creates a field of fire at the feet
Reagents: Sulforous Ash, Black  of all the mag'e enemies that are within sight.
          Pearl, Blood Moss

Vas Ort Hur (Magic Storm)      :This spell summons a swirling storm that will
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        randomly attack the enemies of the mage with
          Nightshade,           powerful bolts of lightning.
          Sulforous Ash,
          Blood Moss

In Nox Grav (Poison Field)     :This spell creates a field of energy that will
Reagents: Nightshade, Spider's  poison all who come into contact with it.
          Silk, Black Pearl

In Zu Grav (Sleep Field)       :This spell creates a thick wall of energy field
Reagents: Ginseng, Spider's     where the mage desires.  All who enter this
          Silk, Black Pearl     energy field will fall asleep.

Vas Por Ylem (Termor)          :This spell creates violent tremors in the earth
Reagents: Blood Moss,           that will cause the mage's enemies to tremble
          Sulforous Ash,        fanatically.  The effects of this spell will
          Mandrake Root         not inhibit the mage or his party.


The Seventh Circle of Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rel Ylem (Create Gold)        : This spell changes a chunk of lead into ten gold
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        nuggets.
          Spider's Silk

Corp Por (Death Bolt)         : This spell enables the mage to project a bolt of
Reagents: Black Pearl,          lethal energy at a specified target.
          Nightshade,
          Sulforous Ash

Tym Vas Flam (Delayed Blast)  : This spell causes whatever it is cast upon to
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        violently explode, destroying much of the
          Sulforous Ash, Black  surrounding area.  The explosion is delayed long
          Pearl, Blood Moss,    enought to give the mage and his party time to
          Spider's Silk         get out of range of the blast.

In Sanct Grav (Energy Field)  : This spell creates an electrical field that
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        protects the mage by harming all who attempt
          Spider's Silk,        to pass through it.
          Black Pearl,
          Sulforous Ash

In Hur Grav Ylem (Energy Mist): This spell causes an electrified mist that flows
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        from the caster, enveloping his enemies and
          Nightshade, Sulforous harming them as long as they remain within it.
          Ash, Blood Moss

Vas An Xen Ex (Mass Charm)    : This spell is similar to the Fifth Circle spell
Reagents: Black Pearl,          Charm, but it affects an entire group of the
          Nightshade, Spider's  mage's enemies.
          Silk, Mandrake Root

In Vas Por (Mass Might)       : This spell doubles the strength and combat abil-
Reagents: Black Pearl,          ties of everyone in the mages party.
          Mandrake Root, Ginseng

Vas Mani (Restoration)        : This spell instantly heals all injury, dispels
Reagents: Ginseng, Garlic,      all harmful magic and cures all poison or para-
          Sulforous Ash,        lysis inflicing the mage and his party.
          Mandrake Root


The Eigth Circle of Magic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vas Kal Mani In Corp Hur Tym  : This spell is believed to be so powerful that it
(Armageddon)                    may be capable of destroying all known living
Reagents: Black Pearl, Blood    things in the entire world.  Fortunately, this
          Moss, Garlic,         spell has never been cast!
          Ginseng, Mandrake
          Root, Nightshade,
          Spider's Silk,
          Sulforous Ash

Vas Corp Hur (Death Vortex)   : This spell creates a swirling black vortex at
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        the point the mage designates, which will there-
          Nightshade,           after move at random.  Everyone within this
          Sulforous Ash,        vortex will be continually struck by lightning.
          Blood Moss

Vas Sanct Lor (Invisible All) : This spell is the equivalent of casting the
Reagents: Mangrake Root,        Fifth Circle spell Invisiblity upon the mage and
          Nightshade, Blood     everyone in his party.
          Moss, Black Pearl

Vas Corp (Mass Death)         : This spell causes everyone in sight (except the
Reagents: Garlic, Ginseng,      mage and his party) to instantly drop dead.
          Mandrake Root,
          Nightshade,
          Blood Moss

In Mani Corp (Ressurrect)     : This spell, when successful, empowers the mage
Reagents: Garlic, Ginseng,      to restore life in one who has died.
          Spider's Silk,
          Sulforous Ash

Kal Vas Xen (Summon)          : This spell summons a powerful creature that will
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        fight for the mage and his party.
          Garlic, Blood Moss

In Jux Por Ylem (Swordstrike) : This spell creates a deadly pinwheel of eight
Reagents: Black Pearl,          spinning swords that sails toward the designated
          Nightshade,           target.
          Mandrake Root

An Tym (Time Stop)            : This spell stops the passage of time for the
Reagents: Mandrake Root,        entire world, with the exception of the mage and
          Garlic, Blood Moss    his party.


vi.  Cosmology

        There was once a time when much consideration was given to the phases
of the moon and the movements of the heavens.  There was much concern over an
event, the reoccurrence of which is eminent, called the "astronomical
alighment".  It was said that the astonomical alighnment would create a gateway
between this world and another.  In recent times the astronomical alignment has
been all but forgotten.  With the end of the time of magic, it is doublful that
such an event will have any significance to anyone but astonomers.

        During this time of magic, a strange form of travel existed, through
doorways of light that were often called "Moongates".  There were at least two
types of Moongates -- blue and red.  Blue Moongates sprang up wherever fragments
of extraterrestrial rocks called 'moonstones' were burried.  These gates allowed
magical travel from one gate to another.

        Red Moongates are generated by the powerful artifact known as the Orb of
the Moons.  A red Moongate can take the traveller anywhere in Britannia.  It has
even been said that it can also be used to travel to other worlds.  There have
only been two red Moongates in all of known existence -- one used by Lord
British, and the other by the Avatar.

        Little is known about these gates, but like magic spells, Moongates no
longer function as they once did.  Use of the Moongates today cannot be discour-
aged strongly enough.  They are dangerous and their use in this less than rel-
iable state has resulted in numerous fatalities.

 (Under the above paragraph are pictures of 8 moons in different phases with
  the name of that phase next to it.  I have described them as best I could)

   ┌──────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
   │ Moon Phase Name  │ Description of picture shown in the manual         │
   ├──────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
   │ New Moon         │ Fully black moon                                   │
   │ Crescent Waxing  │ Moon 1/4 full, white crescent rising from the left │
   │ First Quarter    │ Moon 1/2 full, white rising from the left          │
   │ Gibbous Waxing   │ Moon 3/4 full, white rising from the left          │
   │ Full Moon        │ Fully white moon                                   │
   │ Gibbous Waning   │ Moon 3/4 full, black crescent rising from the left │
   │ Last Quarter     │ Moon 1/2 full, black rising from the left          │
   │ Crescen Waning   │ Moon 1/4 full, black rising from the left          │
   └──────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘