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.

E¨ol E¨ol,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 F¨eanorhimself. 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 dedicated 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. The first spell had been devised, drawing upon the Arcane Flows of Power. Over time, a set of related “micro-rituals” were devised, assembled, and labled “Mana Fires”. The next set of spells devised were intended to simplify the manipulation of raw Earth- blood itself. Earthblood Ways proved to be far more hazardous than Mana Fires, both in development and in use – few have survived the failure of their spells to manipulate the flows of Arcane Power.

2 The Quest for Power

During the Second Age, the Edain gained greatly in power on the Isle of Númenórëin,and as their power waxed, so did their pride and arrogance. By the time of Tar-Minastir, the yearning for the Undying Lands in the West had grown strong, and though the Númenórians loved the Eldar, they also envied their immortality.

2.1 Immortality and the Unlife During the time of their fourteenth king, the Númenórians began to build great houses for their dead, and many started labouring unceasingly to discover the secrets of recalling life, or at least the prolonging of Men’s days. During this time, some of these researchers succeeded in delaying death indefinitely by imprisoning their souls into physical vessels, becoming the first Mummies and Liches. Some even sought out the embrace of the blood-drinking demons of Morgoth, and became Greater Vampires under the thrall of the Blood Lords who survived their master’s fall.

2.2 Demons and The Gods of Man Still other Númenórians summoned and made dark bargains with Demons and fallen Maiar in their attempts to gain power. It was some of these who accidentally achieved contact with the primitive pseudo-gods that were worshipped in a disorganized fashion by by their lesser kin. Realizing the potential power of these deities, some of these Dark Númenórians con- quered nearby tribes of wild men and forced them to worship certain spheres of power, while attributing certain properties and personalities unto them. Thus were the first true gods formed – dark gods. These dark gods were self-aware and intelligent, and used their power with cunning and guile, including granting power back to the individuals that were key to their ascension, who became the first priests. In reaction to the rise of dark gods, priests, and the Realm of Channeling, some of the Faithful – Númenórians who remained true to Ilúvatar, the Ainuir and the Eldar – created gods to stand in opposition to the dark gods. Even today, many still strive to ascend and gain Divine Power. Very few succeed.

4 2.3 The Ritual of Ascension During the middle of the Second Age1, while the fleets of Númenor were landing up and down the coasts of the land in the center of the world, Cal´ımon, a Númenórian scholar researching the flows of Power, intrigued and befriended Luas, an ancient Fire Drake of scholarly bent. A circle of apprentices assisted in their research, contacting other Dragons, and learning from the Elves and the Dwarves. Many died, killed by hostile Dragons, superstitious Avari, or jealous Dwarves, but many secrets of lore and power were collected and studied by the survivors. After centuries of joint research into the nature of Magic, Dragons, Men, and the Flame Imperishable, the two began designing a ritual so powerful that it could only be performed by Men, as Ilúvatar had given to that race the Gift of Freedom from the confines of the Song of the Ainuir along with the Gift of Death. Assisted by a circle of his most talented apprentices and a circle of Dragons, Cal´ımon successfully performed the Ritual of Ascension and became the first Mage Drake, able to change at will between Man and Fire Drake. The connection he forged with the Flame Imperishable during the ritual also granted him a lifespan measured in millennia. The change was absolute — he did not change his shape to mimic the form and powers of a Dragon; he became a Dragon. Over the following centuries2, many of his apprentices also attempted the ascension cer- emony. Although the guidance of Cal´ımonmade the ritual much simpler, a number of them lost control of the ritual at key moments and were destroyed by the flood of power surging through their bodies. Those who succeeded discovered that with the additional assistance of, for example, a Light Drake, they could modify the ritual such that they would transform into a Light Drake instead of a Fire Drake. One of the longest standing rivalries developed in that time, between two of Cal´ımon’s Circle, Almatur and Fuinur, cousins from the house of Andúnië.

3 Specialization and Simpliﬁcation

The Arcane magics have always been fraught with peril. Few had the ability to mold the Flows of Power by force of will, and mastering rituals could take a lifetime of study. So many tried to learn the Arcane spells of Middle magic, and many of them failed, explosively. But after the Downfall of N´umenor, Cal´ımon’sCircle could ﬁnd even fewer worthy apprentices. The Circle scattered, taking to wing in search of a better way to share their knowledge and power.

1During the realm of Tar-Minastir, the Eleventh King of Numenor 2The N´umen´orians being long-lived during the noon-time of their power.

5 3.1 The Realms of Magic Many members of the Circle attempted to find safer souces of power than the raw Arcane Earthblood. Most of them began developing safer lists of spells that drew upon the ambient energy surrounding and maintaining all living things. This energy is analogous to Earthblood that has been highly filtered, refined, and stabilized by living beings. What later came to be known as the Realm of Essence is most commonly used today for battle magics, permanent enchantments, and other gross-level effects. Some members of the Circle turned to higher powers for energy, either divine or demonic in nature. The realm of Channeling became the most proficient at healing, especially in matters of the spirit or soul. Finally, a few members of the Circle learned to draw upon their own life force and strength of will in order to create very subtle effects.

3.2 The Mages Guild Each of the Mage Drakes gathered apprentices to learn these new magics, many founding schools or entire Guilds of magic, but a few preferred to never take more than an apprentice or two at a time. Eventually, however, the Drakes went to sleep or turned their minds to other affairs, and human nature re-asserted itself. Magical techniques invented out of convenience and handed down through generations of mortal men evolved from convenience through rote into doctrine, and the Guilds went to war over irreconcilable differences in doctrine while their founders slept. The damage had become great before any of the Drakes realized what had happened. It is believed that one Drake awoke or contacted several others, and those Dragons ordered their schools to surrender unconditionally to the just-formed Draconic Council, and then overwhelmed the other schools, forcing them to submit. One of the Arcane Drakes volun- teered his “lair” – a small island kingdom – to serve as a central Guild hall, where all future disputes between the Guilds of Magic would be resolved. Over time, the differences between the Essence-based Guilds became a mere formality, as the awakened Arcane Drakes combined the studies, research, and experience of their scattered Guilds and codified the old collections of related spells into formalized lists, which ranked by difficulty and power and taught in all of the Guild halls. Over time, most of the Guilds dedicated to the Realm of Channeling fell apart, generally either joining with or founding churches. Those who remained tended to blur the line between the realms, and so the first true hybrid spellcasters developed.

3.3 Simpler and Safer However, as time passed and the world continued to wane, even the spells of Essence, Men- talism, and Channeling became considered too diﬃcult and dangerous to teach to students. The failures were less explosive now, but brain-frying was just as lethal to the student in question. And so many of the standard classes have been repeatedly revised to emphasize safety and reliability over power.

6 The elderly bitterly complain that if this trend continues, in the next Age the Guild will be reduced to teaching Prosaic spells and sleight of hand. . . but few are willing to challenge the rule of the Council of Dragons.