Wizardry (Magic of the Deep Old Ones) (updated 2003/11/09)

  Glyphs and Sigils of the Deep Old Ones    Order of the Unicorn (Society of White ...    Ruins of the Deep Old Ones    Warlocks of Guldur    Wizard Hunters 

"None can use black magic without straining the soul to the uttermost

and staining it into the bargain. None can inflict suffering without enduring the same. None can send death by spells and sorcery without walking on the brink of death's own abyss, aye, and dripping his own blood into it. The forces black magic evoke are like two-edged poisoned swords with grips studded with scorpion stings. Only a strong man, leather-handed, in whom hate and evil are powerful, can wield them, and he only for a space."

-- Fritz Leiber, "The Unholy Grail"

Wizardry has its origins at the beginning of time, when there were only azure skies and indigo seas, wherein dwelled the races known as the Deep Old Ones or Gobbah. These races were born of old magic and took many forms in the darkness of the oceans' deeps. For centuries, the Kessrith, Fomorians, Illithid, Slaadi and other long-forgotten aquatic beings warred for control of the primordial ocean that covered Ambar. These races warred even after the lands were raised from the sea, and primitive tribes of man worshiped them as gods. While the "Deep Old Ones" are still spoken of in various fables and "creation myths", wizards know for a fact that they did exist and Ambar is steeped in their magic.

Amidst the Baal Dragonstone ruins common on Ambar are older works of eerie crumbling stone seemingly brought up from the floor of the sea and carved with symbols of power. These places are the legacy of the "Deep Old Ones", containing all their vast knowledge and power for those who know how to seek out such things and do not fear the possible consequences. For those for whom magic does not flow in their blood, the magic arts are gleaned from these ancient sea-worn stones. Wizards have been known to jealously war for control over such places, often forming powerful guilds or strongholds to study and protect the sites

Just as each race of man has its own language, the eerie stone runestones have been found scribed in various styles, accredited to several different races of the "Deep Old Ones". The best known are he swirling, erratic glyphs of the Fomorians and the precise geometric patterns of the Kessrith, but many others have been found and most wizards choose to keep their discoveries secret. The symbols and words seem alien to human minds, and while their understanding can bring great power it can be dangerous. The eccentricity of many wizards stems from a deeper understanding of the nature of the universe, or perhaps the madness such knowledge can bring.

Most wizards study the runestones without considering too deeply the origin of the magic they contain, but some wizards are more selective in what magic they choose to assimilate and invoke. Most non-wizards consider magic of the Fomorians to be evil and perilous, for certainly their race has always been a bitter foe to any who dwell upon land. The Dwur and Eldar have warred against the Fomorians since the lands were raised from the seas by the gods long ago. Some say that Fomorian magic is not evil but rather madness, it was their magic that first rent the fabric of space and allowed the Kaeden to enter our world from the "Astral Space". However, the Fomorian glyphs are the most widely known and studied, often discovered along coastlines upon the sites of the oldest cities such as Guldur and the Black Tower of Aquila. At many of the ruins wide stone steps lead deep into the waters, sometimes to watery temples to ancient aquatic gods that predate any worshiped today. Many speculate that the Fomorian glyphs were intentionally left in convenient places where the land-dwelling races would find them. These dark origins, and the questionable nature of the magic itself causes the common folk who hear such things to view Black Wizards with great fear and suspicion. In the Alornean nations "Black Wizards" are hunted with prejudice and slain as servants of dark powers. Since nearly all wizards are "Black Wizards" there are many who make no distinction between them and any other kind of wizard, slaying any who wield the "old magics" without distinction. In other cities, notably Aquila and Guldur, "Black Wizards" can roam the streets with impunity, having long ago culled the populace into submission through overt and terrible displays of power.

Some wizards strictly avoid the Fomorian glyphs and take a longer road to power, stylizing themselves as White Wizards or "Gray Wizards". Most "White Wizards" believe that the Fomorians will one day return to reap their harvest of "Black Wizards" who have foolishly gobbled up the seeds of magic like lotus eaters. No power is worth that risk, and the "White Wizards" consider themselves to be more enlightened and wise than their more common brethren. The Order of the Unicorn is an Alorn organization of "White Wizards" who consider it their duty to keep a watchful eye on the "Black Wizards". "White Wizards" generally prefer to remain hidden to society, for they are a minority compared with the "Black Wizards", and many common folk draw no distinction between them.

Glyphs and Sigils of the Deep Old Ones (updated 2005/04/19)

The languages of wizardry are the languages of the Deep Old Ones such as the Fomorians and Kessrith. The written characters of these languages appear to writhe and on their own and follow a random arching and twisting pattern across the surface where they are writ. In fact these sigils follow a highly organized pattern once you come to understand that what appear to be two dimensional characters are in fact a multi dimensional script that reflects the understanding of the reader. [ more... ]

Order of the Unicorn (Society of White Wizards) (updated 2004/01/29)

The "Order of the Unicorn" is an secret society of "White Wizards" who believe that the magic arts are dangerous and their study and use should be closely monitored. They train wizard slayers to send after "Black Wizards" who seem to have dangerous ideas or unusual power, particularly those who have cast more than a safe number of Kaeden spells and will soon become Akuma. Unfortunately, this makes "White Wizards" a target in general for the hostility of the more numerous and violent "Black Wizards", as well as the Kaeden. Most members are Alorns or Elves who worship Lunara and the Menelion.

The "White Wizards" are highly discreet and reveal themselves only to the most trusted of allies--there are simply far too many "Black Wizards" to fight their war openly. They actively recruit new members from those who have shown themselves worthy--sometimes even "Black Wizards" who are willing to give up their forbidden Kaeden spells.

Ruins of the Deep Old Ones

The ruins of the Deep Old Ones are many thousands of years old, perhaps predating even the first Eldar works. Their architecture is best described as eerie, sculpted from magically-tempered stone in fantastic shapes that defy reason, and decorated with arcane glyphs. The long years having smoothed whatever lines there might have been from tools, if tools were even used, making the ruins seem organic. One might go mad by staring at the ruins, not to mention reading the glyphs inscribed on their walls.

Warlocks of Guldur

Some Alu have forsaken the old ways of the shon'ai and dabble in the dark arts. The oldest ruins in the city of Guldur have glyphs of power carved in strange stone that predate history. The Alu Warlocks use their knowledge to summon forth otherworldly creatures of shadow. Only a very foolish Alu Kel warrior would issue a challenge to a warlock--he would likely face a champion not of this earth.

Wizard Hunters

Most cultures find wizardry repulsive due to its dark origins, particularly the magic of "Black Wizards". Eldar in particular dislike "Black Wizards", for they fought against the Fomorians and their foul magics for thousands of years. Most Alorns do not tolerate "Black Wizards" in their lands, running them out of town or burning them as witches. Some men even hunt down and slay wizards and witches to rid the world of their stained souls. The "Knights of the Eternal Light" are probably the best known and most organized of these witch hunters.