Umbramancy
Umbramancy
Darkness has unsettled mortals since the beginning. An Umbramancer seeks to tame that fear and become its master. While other Casters may think ill of the Umbramancer they tend to receive the same amount of respect and fear as the Pyromancers.
A Caster projects a small portion of their own bonded Rigen into the atmosphere in a way that will attract and harness the ambient unbonded Rigen. The Personal Rigen acts as the catalyst that generates the change to initiate the intended spell. And while experienced practitioners are able to perform spells more often, it does take a toll on the unbonded Rigen that they are harnessing. While the ambient supply is technically limitless the more that is used in a short period of time the more hazardous a spell becomes to everyone, including the Caster.
The amount of time it takes to produce an Umbramancy spell safely will vary. What is the most influential factor is how much darkness is being manipulated or created. When there is more it takes longer for the spell to form. However, that is to produce a spell where the unbonded Rigen remains stable. Large, powerful spells can be made at nearly instantaneous speeds, but even being in their proximity can severely harm the Caster and the environment. Masters are no more exempt from this than an Apprentice. The main difference is that Masters can cast beginner spells very quickly and in a stable fashion, while an Apprentice could require several minutes to generate the same effect with the same level of stability. Regardless of the Caster’s capability, the longer they spend to cast a spell the more stable, controllable, and safer it will be.
At first the Caster learns how to generate darkness before they know enough to manipulate a natural darkness. This Rigen infused darkness can vary between shadowy-gray to a complete void-like black in color, and only the more experienced Casters can intentionally decide what it would be.
Prerequisites
Due to the spell being fueled by Harnessed Rigen more than Personal Rigen, it usually takes someone with a little more understanding of bonded vs. unbonded Rigen. Before a Caster can gain any skill in Umbramancy they must be at least a Journeyman in Rigenology.
Initial Learning
Umbramancy cannot be self-taught, even by someone that has learned Aeromancy, Geomancy, Hydromancy, Pyromancy, and/or Lumenmancy. The conversion process of Rigen is different between each element and requires an instructor that is at least an Expert with the spell.
Skill Levels
Apprentice
With the help of an instructor, the Caster learns the Conversion process for Umbramancy specifically. A Caster has not perfected their technique on converting unbonded Rigen into darkness. They are not able to manipulate natural darkness, and have limited control over the darkness they create. They can generate a small coating up to two feet in diameter. The coating is thin and could only truly block out the light output of a candle, all other light intensities are simply distorted. Their control is limited to about ten feet away.
Journeyman
Now the Caster has a better understanding of the conversion process and can create greater quantities of darkness than before. They also possess better control of their spell and can manipulate the shape of their darkness so long as they’re still concentrating on it. A Journeyman could form a coating to cover up to three hundred square feet of surface. This darkness is capable of blocking all forms of light except for direct sunlight, or a light produced by a Lumenmancer whose skill is higher than the Caster. Their control extends to about twenty-five feet away.
Expert
A Caster now begins to learn how to manipulate natural darkness by infusing it with Rigen. This allows for control over significantly greater quantities of darkness since less Rigen is consumed by the infusion process. An Umbramancer is now able to create darkness that is solid or liquid. The shape of the solid must be determined at the beginning of the spell, whereas the liquid’s shape can be altered at any point during the spell. Also, within their capability is the knowledge to instantly snuff out natural light by collapsing the source with darkness. Even direct daylight is unable to penetrate the darkness, though a Lumanmancer of equal or greater skill could potentially penetrate it. Their control extends to about fifty feet away.
Master
With their exceptional knowledge and experience, a Master becomes capable of controlling terrifying amounts of darkness. Even solid darkness that they have created can be reformed to their desire at any point. At this stage the Umbramancer can begin to discover how to generate darkness in a gaseous state. A Master also learns how to dissolve Rigen infused darkness. With practice, they can unravel another Umbramancer’s spell. Their control extends to a couple hundred feet away.
Cost
The Caster must provide the initial Rigen to form the spell. Each use of Umbramancy requires 10 points of the Caster’s Spellpool. Each use also takes 50 points from the Atmopool. When the Caster is utilizing the spell to a degree lower than what their fully capable (Example: A Journeyman using the spell to the same extent that an Apprentice could perform), the personal cost is halved to 5 points and the Atmopool cost is halved to 25 points. The personal cost is halved only once, but the Atmopool cost continues to be halved each time a new tier of capability is achieved, review the following table for quick reference to Rigen costs.
| Caster Ability | Apprentice | Journeyman | Expert | Master | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spell Level | Personal/Atmo | ||||
| Apprentice | 10/50 | 5/25 | 5/13 | 5/7 | |
| Journeyman | 10/50 | 5/25 | 5/13 | ||
| Expert | 10/50 | 5/25 | |||
| Master | 10/50 |
Risks
Unbonded Rigen is quite hazardous when it is not completely stable. Even when there is a plentiful supply of stable Rigen, a Caster that does not generate the spell properly will suffer first degree burns to any exposed flesh or possibly singe the surface of nearby objects. When the Atmopool gets low the unbonded Rigen from neighboring areas flows in to refresh the supply. However, it requires a few days for that Rigen to stabilize. If it is used before stabilizing it poses great risk to the Caster and the environment. Any exposed flesh in close proximity to the source of the spell fueled with unstable Rigen suffers from second degree burns. The spell itself becomes volatile and unravels in a burst of energy once the source makes physical contact with any surface.
History
Umbramancy is considered to be a difficult spell to master, as at the lower levels its uses are very situational. The spell was invented sometime in the 120s A.C. and experienced slower progress in its advancement compared to other spells. It wasn’t until the year 191 A.C. that Noriek Guvtos became the first expert of Umbramancy. His research into the higher applications were more out of curiosity than passion for the spell. Less than ten years later, he became the first Master.
Known Masters of Umbramancy
- Noriek Guvtos. Declared a Master in 197 A.C., died 213 A.C.
- Makagyu Dada. Declared a Master in 211 A.C., died 240 A.C.
- Qotsax Azum, Declared a Master in 236 A.C., died 259 A.C.
PCs are welcome to develop more in-depth history to this spell, including famous uses of it, or famous people that used it, and submitting their proposals as a new topic in the Lore Proposal Forum.
Article Credit to Abraxas.
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