Of Magick and Faith

in Players Guide to Adventures in Valerick

In the lands of Valerick, unlike other realms you may be familiar with, magick both divine and arcane operate exceedingly different from each other, to the point where they cannot even sense each other. But besides this, those whom worship the gods or practice the arcane share far less of their spells with each other than in other settings you may find familiar. Every god has their unique abilities they bestow upon their chosen recipients and this includes the blessings and divine miracles they may offer. As to the arcane arts, there are many types, many spells, but only a few are legal or should be considered safe to practice. All arcane casters share a universal list, but that is merely a tip of the iceberg of their capabilities. For the eight currents of Manna are where true power lies, and those whom practice magick legally are always of one school of the Magisterium, a master of one flow of manna. These orders are the most common and primary face of the Arcane. Those whom practice magick illegally of course, can wield these spells as well, but do so with far less control and far more....madness. It is something that can be seen, felt and heard.

By its nature magick is obvious, it stands out. You cannot hide what you are, you cannot hide when you are casting spells. Magisters on Valerick are not the dusty folk whom merely read tomes and are physically lacking in ability or martial skill. They often wear armor, all have at least a modicum of martial prowess, and they are fit of mind and of body. They have to be. For the currents of Manna are unforgiving indeed.

This can be seen in those whom wield the forbidden arts of the arcana. Warlocks, witches, and those whom practice the vile crafts of sorcery or druidry wield devastating power, but at great risk, for they treat with many currents at once, wielding the various flows in combination without thinking or training or discipline, but on instinct. Most eventually become consumed by this, the madness of it all chipping away at them, twisting body and mind until they fall to true darkness, wielding the Magicks of Insanity, wielding raw energies from the Void for power. Hence the persecution they suffer. Witches and Warlocks are seen as the worst, for they have already sold their soul to some dark being, some long forgotten abomination or Void God in exchange for power. Druids and Sorcerers however, those of the Witch-Hunter orders will put in some level of effort to take them alive, and bring them in for 're-education' by the Magisterium. How much effort? well let us just say they do not go out of their way to be generous with second chances to surrender.

Of course then there are the powers of the true faithful. Bards stand alone in their unique way, as the voice of the Ascended, they are not beholden to any one diety among them, but worship the Ascended as a whole. So their list of powers and spells is rather unique, and a thing all its own, though it counts as Divine Power, it is unique and seperate from the others whom call upon Divine Powers in their own right.

As to the rest whom can call upon divine power, they all are tied to the diety they so worship and as such, their abilities are set within the strict bounds of that faith. Like the arcane arts, there are some universal gifts any of the Ascended can bestow to their faithful, but these are only the tip of the iceberg, and not near enough to fill the capabilities of a proper priest. No, their power lies in their faith and the unique gifts they can call upon. Such gifts are not free however, and one should always be careful to honor their diety, follow the divine codes, and stay in good standing. For a fall from grace can have a lot harsher consqeuences than just losing access to such power.

Within this chapter you will find the magicks of Valerick. It will be divided up by class, each class a chapter. This is primary classes only. Those whom can get access will be noted in their appropriate section, so you know where to find their options for spells.