Map Scry

Light flickered deep within the gem then grew into a soft glow that filled the amethyst.  He let go of the wand.  It hovered above the map while the amethyst kept on swinging in circles over the map, seeking.
Fawkes sat back and waited. And waited.
The amethyst clacked firmly against the table.  Fawkes flinched at the sudden noise, almost falling off the stool as the gem stood with its narrowed tip marking a place on the map.

What is a Map Scry Spell?

A Map Scry is a spell to find the place on a map where something with a name is at. The spell will do its best to find the location of the named item or creature, but is restricted by the scope and accuracy of the map used. If they are not within the area displayed on the map, the spell will search the map until its time runs out.

A Ritual Spell

Map Scry is a spell that cannot be cast with a simple flick of a hand or muttering of words. It does not require magic from the caster. What it does require from a caster is precision and time. Such spells are called ritual spells. They reflect the depth of studious learning in the caster rather than their power in wielding magics.

How To Cast Map Scry

The first thing to do is to acquire a map of the region the named item or creature is suspected to be in and spread it out flat.
Next, take a pendulum of amethyst strung to an elmwood wand. Set it swinging in a widdershins manner over the map. (Widdershins is leftward.)
As the amethyst circles round and round the map, stare at the gem. Think of the name of the item or creature sought until it is all that remains in the mind. (This can take several minutes.)
Once this is happens, light will glow within the amethyst and will be a sign to let go of the wand. The wand will float in place over the center of the map. It will keep the now glowing amethyst swinging about and seeking its target.
This can take up to an hour. The duration depends on the quality of the map and the size of the region.
Once the search is complete the amethyst will stop and set itself to the map, marking the location of its target.

A Quality Map is Vital

by dmsqlsu123

A crude map will work as long as it adequately portrays the region.

The more errors or deliberate falsehoods marking the map, the less chance there is for the spell to work.

Casters of this spell will pay good money to build up a collection of well-made maps.

History

The Map Scry spell was first created during the fall of the Hrokentorm Empire. Human wizards, desperate to avoid the terrible giants and their savage armies, created more spells during this time than at any other time in history. No one knows who was the first. It was a dire time where every new spell created had to be shared with every other wizard for humanity to survive.
A century or two after the fall of the Hrokentorm, the High Guild of Magic came to be. As the guild grew in power and influence over the world, they began to impress their style of spellcasting on others.

by barabasi_istvan

by Dazzlinkat

Old and slow magics eventually fell by the wayside; lost in favor of the stronger, faster, and newer spells.

But the old magics, like Map Scry, did not stay forgotten.

The Acolytes of Boki , an order of arcane monks who use their ki to cast magic, have taken up these old magics and Map Scry is one of their most used spells.

Amongst The Brethren, a secretive group within the Acolytes, every master or mistress acolyte has an extensive collection of maps and charts for this spell.

Items of the Ritual

Amethyst Pendulum

by ColiN00B

This must be an amethyst that has been cut in such a way as to hold a prominant point.
Also, the fewer flaws within the gem the faster it will work.

Twine

by byrev

This must be made of hemp hand twisted in the widdershins manner, which is a leftward twist.
This twine not only physically connects the amethyst to the wand, but serves as a conduit between the target of the spell and the area the map represents.

Elmwood Wand

by OpenClipart-Vectors

A wand of elmwood that has been cut straight and sanded smooth before being coated with a long oil varnish.


This wand is an anchor for the amethyst. It is also a tangential attunement to the map.

The map

by dmsqlsu123

It cannot be stated enough.
A reliable map determines the reliability of the spell!