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Mthu Rygas is a rare form of spirit sorcery, seldom seen in Ambar except in the deep southern reaches near the Vokrazum Jungles. While Mthu is thought to have originated with the Oni, it is more widely practiced by Vozen in the city of Goza. A sorcerer (mthu bo) is a wise man who uses his magic for good, able to bestow blessings, detect lies or view auras, induce peaceful thoughts and emotions, view spirits and omens, and exorcise unclean spirits and thoughts. He can also also cause his spirit to manifest in physical shape, lifting objects, levitating, creating barriers, and even harming foes.
Mthu Rygas involves looking into the unseen spirit world, which reveals much to an observant mthu bo and is essential for this subtle type of magic, which unlike most other magic arts involves no glyphs, words, or songs of power. However, this requires visual contact with the subject, so a deeply cowled cloak or full suit of armor will foil the magic. This may explain some of the Alu customs of dress given their history of warfare with the "evil eye" of the Oni. Also, knowledgeable magi such as Black Wizards may be aware of this strength and weakness.
This form of magic involves channeling spiritual energy (mthu) through a focusing crystal (rygas.) The spiritual energy comes from the practitioner (mthu bo), and the rygas determine the type of effect or spell. Casting a spell without a Rygas is difficult, and so the more powerful and rare Rygas can be dangerous to possess except in secret...which can be difficult since one must look through the crystal with the nus gthu spirit gaze in order to use it. Some ancient monasteries in Goza are thought to possess Rygas of unimaginable power, locked away to prevent their use until the appointed time.
In the most teachings (mthu chos) of Mthu the spirit of the practitioner (mthu bo) is used, but in evil (black) forms known as mthu rygas byed the souls of unfortunates are consumed to power the magic. Soul crystals (rygas byed) are a commodity for Oni traders and evil sorcerers (mthu bo byed), who use them to trap the souls of others, later drawing out and consuming their energy when casting spells. The evil spells of a mthu bo byed are fearful, able to manifest, enslave, or even destroy the immortal soul of a foe. Some soul crystals also function as spell crystals, shaping the energy into a spell as soon as the soul is imprisoned. This is similar to how some of the dread Lanthorns of the Avathar necromancers function, using the souls within as fuel for magic.
- mthu rygas / mthu
- spirit sorcery
- rygas
- spell focusing crystal, typically a crystal or lens
- mthu bo
- sorcerer
- mthu chen
- great sorcerer or teacher
- mthu chos
- teachings
- mthu gtad
- spellcasting
- nus mthu
- spirit gaze
- mthu rygas byed
- evil (black) sorcery. (Also append byed to other words, such as mthu bo byed.)
- rygas byed
- soul imprisoning crystal
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