History of Magic (5)

History of Magic (5) There is some dispute within the community of historical researchers over the first usage of magic within Eä. Some scholars claim that the shaping of the world by the Ainuir involved the use of magic; others define magic as the manipulation of Earthblood and claim that powers innate to beings from outside of Eädon’t count. Regardless of the definition being used, one rule always applies: In every physical act of creation outside the scheme conceived by Eru, a part of the creator is tied to the physical world; this rule holds true for the Children of Ilúvatar and the Ainuir alike. 1 The Origins of Magical Techniques 1.1 Songs of Power – Elven Ritual Magic Not long after they awoke around a mere in darkness, the Firstborn Children of Ilúvatar invented language and song in order to name and describe that which they saw around them. Thanks to the Power inherent within the fathers of the Elves and the world awakening around them, some of the first songs of the Elves became the first Songs of Power. Those elves taken by Morgoth and twisted into the fathers of the orcs must have dimly remembered their earlier lives, as the earliest orcish war chants appear to have been based on the earliest elven songs of power. 1.2 Alchemy Ever since Ilúvatar first created all that is and will be, the creatures born of his thought into his creation have emulated their maker. The mightiest artifacts came from the forges of the Noldor, who were beloved of Aulë, and he and his Maiar often came among them. Great became their knowledge and their skill; yet even greater was their thirst for more knowledge, and in many things they soon surpassed their teachers. Fëanor and The Silmarils During the Noontide of the Blessed Realm of Valinor, the eldest of the sons of Finwë,King of the Noldor, was born in Eldamar. Curufinwëwas his name, but by his mother he was called Fëanor, Spirit of Fire; and thus he is remembered in all of the tales of the Noldor. He became of all the Noldor, then or after, the most subtle in mind and the most skilled in hand. It was he who, first of the Noldor, discovered how gems greater and brighter than those of the Earth might be made with skill. While still in his early youth he wedded Nerdanel, the daughter of a great smith named Mahtan, among those of the Noldor most dear to Aulë; and of Mahtan he learned much of the making of things in metal and stone. His greatest works were the Silmarils, three great jewels in form, like the crystal of diamonds they appeared, yet more strong than adamant, so that no violence could mar it or break it within the Kingdom of Arda. Yet that crystal was to the Silmarils but as is the 1 body to the Children of Ilúvatar: the house of its inner fire, that is within it and yet in all parts of it, and is its life. And the inner fire of the Silmarils Fëanor made of the blended light of the Trees of Valinor, which lives in them yet, thought the Trees have long withered and shine no more. Therefore even in the darkness of the deepest treasury the Silmarils of their own radiance shone like the stars of Varda; and yet, as were they indeed living things, they rejoiced in light and received it and gave it back in hues more marvellous than before. All who dwelt in Aman were filled with wonder and delight at the works of Fëanor. And Varda hallowed the Silmarils, so that therefter no mortal flesh, nor hands unclean, nor anything of evil will might touch them, but it was scorched and withered; and Mandos foretold that the fates of Arda, earth, sea, and air, lay locked within them. In his lust for the Silmarils, Morgoth spread envy, rebellion, and strife among the Noldor, and spoke to them concerning weapons; and in that time the Noldor began the smithing of swords and axes and spears. Shields also they made displaying the tokens of many houses and kindreds that vied one with another; and these only they wore abroad, and of other weapons they did not speak, for each believed that he along had received the warning. And Fëanor made a secret forge, of which not even Morgoth was aware; and there he tempered fell swords for himself and his sons, and made tall helms with plumes of red. Bitterly did Mahtan rue the day when he taught to the husband of Nerdanel all the lore of metalwork that he had learned of Aulë. Morgoth’s theft of the Silmarils led to the Doom of the Noldor, and the return of the Noldor to the lands of Middle-earth. The Khazâd The Seven Fathers of the Khazâd, called Naugrim by the Sindar and Dwarves by mortal Men, are believed to have been created by Aulëhimself, who placed his love of crafting into his creations. The Naugrim delved great halls and mansions for themselves at the roots of the great mountains, and the greatest of their mansions was called Khazad- dûm,the Dwarrowdelf, the only known source of Mithril on the continent of Endor. In the tempering of steel, the Dwarves were never outmatched even by the Noldor. Eöl Eöl,known as “the Dark Elf”, was accounted the most skilled of the Sindarin smiths, and one of the greatest Elven smiths of all time. He created the superlative metal Galvorn, as well as a number of infamous Unholy artifacts. It is believed that he learned much of his craft from the Dwarves. Celebrimbor and the Gwaith-i-M´ırdain Early in the Second Age, Celebrimbor founded a society of smiths, the Gwaith-i-M´ırdain,and began attempting to equal the skill and fame of Fëanorhimself. Many legendary artifacts were created by that society before it fell. The Dúnedain Andor, the Land of Gift, was raised by Ossëout of the depths of the Great Water, established by Aulë,and enriched by Yavanna. The Númenóreans became mighty in crafts, taught by Eönwëand the Eldar of Eressëa, and above all arts they nourished ship-building and sea-craft, at least during the gallant days of their youth. They developed 2 bows made of hollowed metal instead of wood, to take best advantage of the mithril found beneath their fair isle. 1.3 Spell Shaping The first recorded use of Low Magic, or Spell Shaping, by one of the Children of Ilúvatar was during the Second Battle of Beleriand, the Dagor-nuin-Giliath, or Battle-under-Stars, before the Moon rose. However, due to the circumstances surrounding the event, this feat remained unknown until after the First Age had passed. Shortly after his arrival upon middle-earth, Fëanorpersonally led a charge against Mor- goth’s fortress, Thangorodrim, but led the charge so far in advance of the rest of his forces that he was surrounded by a squadron of Balrogs, including Gothmog, their chief. Fëanor was mortally wounded, but managed to transport himself instantaneously into a cave several hundred miles away and enter a healing trance. The vast amount of power expended during that feat left a power signature visible across the entire plains of Ard-Galen, but it was believed at the time to have been caused by Fëanor’s spirit consuming his body as it departed for the Halls of Mandos. Therefore, Low Magic was actually introduced to the world by the arrival of Dragons, who used their innate power and fundamental attunement to the Flame Imperishable to mold Arda to their will. It is believed that many of the powers that Dragons wield over the essence flows and the minds of their victims are the result of an innate understanding of Low Magic, and not the castings of formalized spells learned by rote. However, most “modern” dragons are likely to have learned Middle Magic, if for efficiency if no other reason. 1.4 Ritual Magic of the Second-born Scholars among the Númenóreans, lacking the elvish gift for song, found the elven songs of power nearly impossible to imitate or recreate. After a great deal of study and experimenta- tion during the Second Age, aided by visitors from the Eldar, they discovered shapes, signs, and words of power that could be combined and used to perform ritual magic. These rituals were less improvised, more formulaic, and more repeatable than the elvish songs. Although the deeds performed with these rituals may not have been as legendary as Lúthien’ssongs, their effects have altered the course of the world, and led to the spells of Middle Magic. 1.5 Arcane Spell Lists During the realm of Tar-Minastir, the Eleventh King of Numenor, a circle of scholars ded- icated to researching the flows of Power formed under Cal´ımon. Working with ancient Dragons, they refined their knowledge of High Magic, and learned how to manipulate the flows of Power with Low Magic. The Circle devised a ritual to emulate the effect of a Fire Drake’s focused breath, then used Cal´ımon’sdeep understanding of Fire to hone that ritual, making it faster and more 3 efficient. Years of work brought the ritual from sixty minutes to thirty to ten to one, until finally the ritual could be cast without circles or foci or influences, and as quickly as a Drake draws breath.

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