Cambridge University Treasure Trap

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Black Magic

This is the core teaching syllabus for the Dark College of the Brotherhood of Magic, Grantabrugge.

Further information on Dark magic is available in the Dark College Players' Guide.

  • Level 0: Extinguish
  • Range: Touch
  • Duration: Instant
  • Effect: Creates a small, temporary, patch of magical darkness at the caster's fingertips, sufficient to extinguish a candle or small lantern. If you don't want to be pinching candles out, carry one of those candle-snuffer things to physrep this.

  • Level 1: Blackflash
  • Range: Target
  • Duration: 5 seconds
  • Effect: Call "Target, BLIND 5" as a flash of darkness covers their eyes.

  • Level 1: Soften Blow
  • Range: Touch
  • Duration: 5 minutes or until discharged
  • Effect: The touched weapon does SUBDUE SINGLE on its next blow, provided it is wielded by the caster or someone else touching the weapon during the spell and consenting to the effect, and regardless of the skill of the wielder.

  • Level 2: Blackblade I
  • Range: Touch
  • Duration: 5 minutes
  • Effect: The caster fills a bladed weapon not longer than 18" with Dark magic, causing it to become deathly cold. The weapon does +1 degree of damage, converting all its damage to Black damage, and SINGLE THROUGH once to the relevant arm of anyone who touches it during the spell's duration (as the handle is also deathly cold).

  • Level 2: Darkstrike
  • Range: Target
  • Duration: Instant
  • Effect: Call "Target, SUBDUE DOUBLE!" as the caster pumps Dark magic into the target, causing a severe headache and tiring them.

  • Level 3: Blackblade II
  • Range: Touch
  • Duration: 5 minutes
  • Effect: The caster fills a bladed weapon no longer than 42" with Dark magic, causing it to become so cold it burns. The weapon does +1 degree of damage, converting all its damage to Black damage, and SINGLE THROUGH once to the relevant arm of anyone who touches it during the spell's duration (as their hand begins slowly to freeze)

  • Level 3: Soften Weapon
  • Range: Touch
  • Duration: 5 minutes
  • Effect: The caster holds a weapon; it is infused with dark energy that c ushions the blows it makes, turning all of its damage into Subdual damage.

  • Level 4: Darkness
  • Range: Target
  • Duration: 30 seconds
  • Effect: Call "Target, BLIND 30!" as the caster throws a head-sized lump of darkness at the target - it sticks to their head, blinding them.

  • Level 4: Darkhammer
  • Range: Target
  • Duration: Instant
  • Effect: Call "Target, SUBDUE QUAD" - this spell is aptly named, for those who have had it cast upon them often refer to the experience as like being hit over the head very hard by the bolt of darkness the caster emits.

  • Level 5: Blackblade III
  • Range: Touch
  • Duration: 5 minutes
  • Effect: At this level of mastery, it is possible to channel Dark magic into an even larger vessel. Any bladed weapon, one or two handed, may be empowered with this spell - the empowered weapon does +1 degree of damage (converting all its damage to Black damage) and SINGLE THROUGH once to each hand that touches it for the duration of the spell.

  • Level 5: Freeze
  • Range: Target
  • Duration: 10 seconds
  • Effect: Call "Target, FREEZE 10!" - just as the spirit of a sleeping person leaves the body slightly, so this spell pushes the target's body briefly away from their spirit (in a metaphysical sense). For a painful ten seconds they may not move, as the spirit fights to hold on to the body.

  • Level 6: Collapse
  • Range: Target
  • Duration: Instant
  • Effect: Call "Target, SUBDUE HEX" as ambient darkness collapses in on the head of the target, jolting their consciousness from their body.

  • Level 6: Shield of Negation
  • Range: Self
  • Duration: Until Discharged or until sunset / sunrise
  • Effect: This spell suffuses your body with pure elemental darkness while cushioning its deleterious effects. You are so full of magic that it will act to countermand and repel most spells and miracles - you may call "NEGATE" to any one call you would otherwise take unless it is DROP or SLAY. This spell is almost a religious experience for some drow.

  • Level 7: Utterdark
  • Range: Mass
  • Duration: 5 minutes
  • Effect: The caster may call "WIDE BLIND 10" as they summon a storm of pure elemental darkness (known by some as Utterdark) to envelop all those around them.

  • Level 7: Overthrow
  • Range: Target
  • Duration: 30 seconds
  • Effect: Call "Target, FREEZE 30!" as an overload of dark magic temporarily drives off the target's spirit.

  • Level 8: Infusion
  • Range: Touch
  • Duration: Until Discharged or until sunset / sunrise
  • Effect: This spell suffuses another person's body with pure elemental darkness while cushioning its deleterious effects. This works exactly the same way as Shield of Negation, only it can be used on other people.

  • Level 8: Fainting
  • Range: Target
  • Duration: Instant
  • Effect: Call "Target, SUBDUE OCT!" - it is well known that fainting is caused by all the darkness in a body rushing to the head. This spell causes just that effect - it drives away consciousness with the body's own darkness.