@create #1913 named On the Learning and Use of Magick:On the Learning and Use of Magick,Magick,book
;;#1151.("writers") = {#105941, #106487}
;;#1151.("topic_values") = {2, {5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}, {3, 4}, {11, 12, 13, 14}, "magic-scrolls"}
;;#1151.("topic_names") = {"magic-index", "magic-scrolls", "magic-nature", "magic-foci", "magic-spells"}
;;#1151.("text") = {{"       On the Learning and Use of Magic", "", "                 written by", "            Irin, The Black Bard", "", "          with the kind assistance of:", "           THX1138, Gurgle, and anj", "", "  This book is dedicated to Profane, whose hard work has made all this possible."}, {"   Ahh, greetings, adventurer.  I see that you seek to be a student in the art of magic.  Whether you wish to aid the needy or to destroy the beasts that lurk throughout the land, you have come to the right place.  The knowledge contained in this work encompasses a variety information:", "*index*"}, {"   On the Nature of Magic\"", "", "   Not all that long ago, the nature of Magic around LambdaHouse has changed drastically.  Many of the spells once found on staves and olive branches are no longer there.", "", "   To cast a spell, one is required to have two things:  Knowledge of the spell and a proper foci to cast it with.  This is as it was in the old days. However, there are now many more foci. And learning the spells may prove most difficult.", "", "   To learn a spell, you must locate the appropriate scrolls and read them.  Understanding scrolls is not automatic and is based on your observation skill. Thus, you may need to read a scroll several times to comprehend its knowledge.  If you read a scroll 3 or 4 times and are told that 'your eyes are swimming', then give them a rest.  Return later (in perhaps 3 hours) to try again.  You may also need knowledge ofthe areas of magic that the scroll is based upon.  Many scrolls are found in the magic department (#1401). Try them first.  Here's an example:  to learn 'biting_cloud', you should have knowledge of 'magic_theory', 'creo', and 'animalem'."}, {"   Once you've learned a spell, you need to find a focus to cast it with.  Some foci are easy to acquire. Others are  more difficult.  '@Examine <foci>' will give you the list of spells on the foci and the syntax used in casting them.  In most cases, Kristia's friendly spells FO (@addfeature #57580 to get it) will allow you to shorten the syntax.  An example of this shortened syntax can be found with the biting_cloud spell.  Normally, you'd type:  'biting_cloud small bat with staff'.  However, with the FO, you can type 'biting small bat' or even 'bismall' to surround the poor thing with a cloud of nasty stinging insects.  'Help #57580' for more details.\""}, {"   On the Location and Use of Spell Scrolls", "", "   It is recommended that you visit the magic department of the university (#1401) first.  There, you should read all the scrolls, until you are told that you have absorbed the lore within  each one.  Thisspells, and the prerequisites for others, it's off to hunt for other scrolls (and foci--read the foci-location topic).", "", "   Skin of the Oak (barkskin) :  Exploring the academy, you may discover this scroll in the Department of Environmental Quality.  Barkskin is a useful spell to provide inexperienced adventurers with a bit of armour.  However it prevents one from wearing other armour, so it is more useful to the poorly equipped.", "", "   The Magus's Enchanted Staff (enchant) :  Again, found in the Department of Environmental Quality.  This spell boosts the power of your staff.  A strongly enchanted staff could prove quite effective.  (Note:  This one has been upgraded to be more useful, recently.)"}, {"   Staking the Claim (claim) :  Also found in the DEQ.  Allows the packrat to claim more than 21 items. One can also claim items belonging to other people, but this is liable to make them crabby and is not recommended (and will have no effect on the physical location of the item anyway).", "", "   Aegis Certam (forcewall) :  Found in the magic department.  This shimmering haze has saved my life more than once, effectively halving (or even completely absorbing, in some cases) most damage you receive.", "", "   The Leap of Homecoming (recall) :  Found in the magic department.  Used to send yourself home (perhaps avoiding mental disorientation from @go).  Also can send others home, but they have a chance to deflect the spell.", "", "   Pilum of Flame (firebolt) :  Found in the magic department.  Shoots a blast of flame at the foe.  Mmm.  Crispy Critters.", "", "   Invocation of the Invisible Manacles (slow) :  Found in the magic department.  This one has been altered recently.  While once pretty useless, it now causes your opponents to take many fewer actions.   Could be quite an asset."}, {"   The Chirurgeon's Healing Touch (heal) :  Found in the magic department.  A must have.  Heal yourself of all those nasty scrapes and bruises the inhabitants of the realm give you.", "", "   Stinking Cloud (stinkcloud) : Said to be in the vicinity of a daemonic altar in the vicinity of ShadowKeep.  It is uncertain if it can be found at this point due to renovations of the area.  This spell can cause your foe or foes to cough and choke, making eir life much more unpleasant.", "", "   Imagonem :  Not a spell, but one of the base areas of knowledge.  Found in the corridors under the academy.  What?  The little black robed men won't let you in?  Hmm.  Maybe if they thought you were one of them. . .", "", "   Sailors Forecast of the Morrow (predict) : I don't have the faintest idea where this one is, but I think I read a book on it once.  You might want to look around.  Helps you to determine how strong various air spells are."}, {"   Peering into The Soul (mindprobe) : Another spell found under the academy.  Helps you to discover the strengths and weaknesses of your foe.  (Programmer's note: If you have one, the :receive_mindprobe verb on your character.  This would allow Role-players to write a verb that that would reveal eir thoughts in a successful mindprobe.)", "", "   Perfection of the Metallic Form (harden) : Also found beneath the academy.  Allows you to harden weapons/armor, making them more resistant to shattering, as well as being sharper, and thus much more damaging.", "", "   Destruction of the Metallic Form (shatter) : There's this fellow named Bob.  Repairs weapons and armour.  Might know something about trashing them too.  This spell can destroy your foe's metallic weapons and armour.  Unless your foe has spares, this could put them in some difficulty.", "", "   Heat of Hell's Impending Doom (heat) : Seek the Arcanum Magis.  Tis said that they possess the scroll that gives knoweldge of this spell.  This spell inflicts damage on the foe, based on the amount of metal armour they are wearing.  Make those knights in shining armour wish they weren't dressed quite so heavily."}, {"   The Whip of Water (waterwhip) : There is a pool north of the secluded grove.  I have heard that the scroll for the waterwhip spell is to be found in it's vicinity.", "", "   Summoning the Cloud of Insects (biting_cloud) : It is said a druid who knew this spell was buried in the Graveyard to the west of Lambdahouse.  This spell surrounds the target with a cloud of nasty insects, who can crawl through cracks in armour, and whose bites are both painful and damaging.", "", "   Weight of a Thousand Hells (depress) : Where else would you find this spell, but in one of the hells?  Well, there's only one Hell actually.  It can be reached by taking the centrally located Lambdahouse elevator.  You could take the stairs too, but under this lag, 66666 flights of stairs could take a while.  Anyway, this spell causes your opponent to go insane, significantly impairing eir abilities.  Especially effective against those who have no magical abilities or resistance."}, {"   Hail of Stone (hail) : This one's found in a bar.  A bar deep beneath the earth.  Try wandering the deeper caverns.  Quite an effective spell against multiple opponents.  Against a single foe, it's little more effective than a firebolt, albeit more difficult to dodge.", "", "   Circling Winds of Protections (windwall) : Don't have any better idea about this one than I do about predict.  Maybe some other author has a better idea.  This spell is quite effective at repelling physical attack.", "", "   Knowledge of the Master (stealskill) : You must cross the infinite bridge in the Castle of the Rose to reach the scroll for stealskill.  This allows you to gain the abilities of others and use them.", "", "   Conjuring the Beasts of Field and Forest (conjure) : This spell is found in a _very_ remote forested area.  Conjure an animal of some sort, which will fight for you and obey limited spoken commands such as 'attack <who>', or 'follow me'.", "", "   Dark Words of Summoning (summon) : Said to be carried by a djinn.  Maybe you should look for a lamp.  This one will allow one to summon certain powerful creatures, if one knows eir truename."}, {"   Gathering of the Stormy Might (storm) : See 'predict' and 'windwall'.  A devastatingly powerful spell.  Unfortunatly it only works outdoors.", "   ", "   Quiet the Raging Winds (calm_winds) : See 'predict' and 'windwall'.  Useful for removing inconvenient windwalls and storms spells.", "", "   Encasing in Ice (iceshell) : Said to be found in lava caves beneath a volcanic jungle-covered island.  Encasing your foe in a shell of ice rather incapacitates them.  Lets you have a breather while they freeze.", "", "   Aspect of Mercury (haste) : Also hidden somewhere on a jungle island.", "This concludes the list of spells, however it is to be noted that new spells involving things such as acid rain, magic flower petals, and whatnot are in the works.  Keep your eyes peeled.", "**NEW PAGE ", "On the Location and Uses of Spell Foci:", "", "   Staff:  This foci can be cut from the wood of a sapient pearwood tree.  Alas, such trees are rare.  The only one I know of is said to lie somewhere to the east of the secluded grove.  Your basic staff can cast 'forcewall', 'enchant', 'barkskin', 'biting cloud', 'dispel', 'claim' and 'conjure'.  However, it is possible to mount gemstones and pearls upon the staff and cast additional spells with it.  A staff with a mounted gem will cast 'harden', 'shatter', and 'hail'.  On the other hand, if one chooses to mount a pearl, the staff will be able to cast 'iceshell' and 'waterwhip'.  This casting drains the gem or pearl and they will eventually shatter.", "   Gems may be purchased from a jewelry store, deep beneath the earth, or acquired from one of the scorpions which dwell in the tunnels the alchemy lab (an entrance to this area is also rumored to be found in the maintainance tunnels reachable through the swimming pool control area.", "   Pearls are, of course, the product of giant oysters.  However, getting the the oyster to produce a pearl, and getting the pearl out of the oyster is said to be a problem.  Pearl divers are rumored to have some secret concotion that allows them to achieve this end.  The only fellow I know with knowledge of the formula is a fellow named Malthuseus.  Last I heard, he was living near the Celestial Spring, but I haven't heard from him for a while.  Good luck finding him."}, {"   Olive Branch:  Seek to overcome the evil in darkrime to gain this one.  It is similar to a staff, but can also cast 'pacify'.", "", "   Lighning Rod:  Tis said that a powerful windweaver left a demonstration for his students, somewhere in the western portions of lambdaHouse.  Seek ye the fireplace that lies within the smoking room.  Don't forget to look both on and in it.  Those who prove their knowledge of the forces of the air may gain one of these useful foci, which can cast 'storm', 'calm_winds', 'windwall', 'stinkcloud', and 'predict'.", "", "   Torch:  Available from several shops.  Also said to be found in an alchemy lab near the academy.  Search diligently.  As this foci wears out rather fast, you may want to carry several, if you like the 'firebolt' and 'heat' spells that it casts.", "", "   Ankh pendant:  Be wary of this item, for those who have not been sanctified may find their ankhs erupting with holy fury, burning them severly.  Those desiring to unburden themselves of their sins might wish to seek the spiritual advisor of the Knights of the Rose and ask him to provide them with an ankh.  He'll provide guidance on how to purify oneself.  The ankh can cast 'heal', 'slow', 'recall', and 'lifelink'."}, {"   Scarab pendant:  For those with an evil turn to their nature.  Said to be created through the violent destruction of an ankh.  Similar to an ankh, but with a darker twist to some of the spells.", "", "   Pendant of knighthood:  Used by the Knights of the Rose, the Paladins and similar Ilk.  Essentially an ankh with nifty description, casting messages, and a recall to eir order's home.", "", "   Skullcap:  Is purchasable Sruli's tinkerer shop.  As Sruli is somewhat reclusive, his shop may be hard to find.  Said to be quite expensive.  Casts 'mindprobe', 'depress', and 'stealskill'.", "", "   Silver Bracers:  The foci of the Mages of the Arcanum Magi.  They guard their secrets well, so if you desire to know more, ask a mage.", "", "   Athame:  Purchase this one from certain players who are serving as shopkeepers.  Casts 'firebolt', 'heat', 'windwall', and 'stinkcloud'.  This foci wears out after a while."}, {"  There are various other more special foci which cast one or more of the spells listed above.  You'll have to find these for yourself.  Take note that you'll often be allowed to keep them only for a limited time.  Rumors of a soon to appear Hourglass pendant, which is especially strong in the powers of time exist.  But I have been so far unable to locate such an item."}}
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;;#1151.("aliases") = {"On the Learning and Use of Magick", "Magick", "book"}
;;#1151.("description") = "A blue book with flickering mystic runes along the spine."
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"***finished***