The Forbidden spell Spell in Issielori | The Last Barrier | World Anvil
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The Forbidden spell

Dear reader, the following does NOT contain the instructions how to cast this spell. If your mind seeks such knowledge, take it as a WARNING to turn back now - not all thirst for knowledge is commendable and pure-intentioned. This spell is Forbidden for a reason. Anyone who uses it has turned their back to all morals and chosen to break all the laws and the founding principles of Our World.   Instead, the following is the collected knowledge of the Forbidden spell - what we know of it, what it causes, known users of it. I urge you to read it with care, and memorize the abhorrent results the depraved use of magic can cause.
— Vainel Aivadanei, senior researcher mage of the -- Mages' Guild
  Let's begin with the fact that we don't know much of the Forbidden spell at all. Even the initial effects of the use of this spell are so devastatingly destructive that no one in a near vicinity of the user of the spell has survived to tell the tale. The caster of the spell themselves of course survives it - in a manner of speaking - but even if they were willing to tell what happened... Well. Not counting the few exceptions who have managed to kill one of these Monsters, none of those who have approached them have returned.   These brave (read: successful) Monsterslayers, as well as personal accounts from people from outside the initial radius of the spell, are the only first-hand knowledge we have of the spell and its effects. Everything else is theory based on historical knowledge, the observed effects, and our current understanding of the inner workings of magic and souls.  

The effects of the Forbidden spell

It seems that this spell works on multiple levels, though this might be just an illusion of the outside view and limited knowledge. These scope of these effects range from ones that affect the caster of the spell only, to their immediate surroundings, and even to long-range. Here first the observeable effects are described, and afterwards the related knowledge and theory crafted based on it and the observeable effects are discussed.  

Initial effects

It is impossible to know what the spell entails. How long it takes to cast it, how noticeable the spellcasting is to others, or how quickly afterwards the spell's effects begin to show. All we know that from (what we assume is) the completion of the spell the effects to the surroundings seem to be almost immediate and devastating in both speed and power. No one has ever been able to escape from the initial area of effect of the spell.

On the spellcaster

On the surroundings (both immediate and long-range) of the spellcaster

 

Long-term effects

The type of elemental effect stays the same, but the effect keeps spreading to surrounding areas (ice sheet, desert, earthquakes, sinkholes, floods...). In the center/initial blast radius the effect keeps getting worse.   The only known way to stop the spread of the catastrophe (and make it go away) is to destroy the Monster; even slowing it down has been proven impossible.   Spirits (and dragons/legendary beasts) steer clear of the affected areas and their vicinity. Allegedly, one scholar was able to ask a spirit why; the answer they were given was that the spirit didn't want to get absorbed by/into the Monster?

The Monster

The...  

Theory

Based on the short list of known instances of use of the Forbidden spell (even with the knowledge that it quite likely isn't a complete list), it seems likely that the knowledge of how to cast it is not something one can just stumble on one's own or come up with in a heat of the moment, even with extensive magic studies. It seems likely that this knowledge is passed on, in some form, from person to person.  

Known users and affected areas

  • Suspected Case 1, Lake Rrallanes
  • Ewithen, Kylmet Desert
  • Unconfirmed 1
  • Suspected Case 2
  • Auterhen Talvaimi, northern The Last Barrier. Caused: the Auterhenatirini ice sheet

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