Void scholar

“Are you willing to serve the Conclave? Remember… we do not reward failure.”

—Guildmaster Calirin of Earendam, High Priest of the Aklaju

This master of negative energies makes pacts with demons, causing death, disease, poison and plague, even raising the dead. The energies manipulated by this sphere resonate with Lawful and Evil, thus precluding all good aligned characters and those of chaotic ethoi.

Introduction

Born of the shuddeni and their master, Tzet-Askhari, the magics of Void became the binding thread that held their fragile, volatile society together. In the centuries before contact with other races, it was this power which determined who and what directed shuddeni lives. Human scholars, following the lead of such infamous pioneers as the Lilunite Archmage Kaagn, descended into the dark underworld in search of greater power. As the War of Night shrouded the world, the races of the Prime learned to fear the might of the Dragon and its dread minions; in turn, the aelin would take to the study of demonkind, following the direction of their god, Serachel. Even the srryn, by way of Sitheus, found themselves taken by blood pacts and control of the dead. In time, these various threads would be woven together into the modern studies of the Void scholar.

Those who minor in the study of Void typically skirt the primary focus of the sphere, honing instead their simpler maledictions and general magical empowerment. The path of the major sphere squarely focuses on the Void scholar’s primary tools: symbols of power. They are used to empower spells, bind spirits, and most importantly, conjure demons from specific locations beyond the Silver Veil. Greater scholars of Void make use of these symbols in a variety of ways– distinct from one another in how or where they inscribe such diabolic signs.

As a planar sphere, Void magic is not strictly granted by any individual god; yet, it is undeniable that all of its power inevitably derives from the will of Ashur. Other deities that are commonly venerated are Serachel and Lilune, with a less prominent dedication to Sitheus. It is also possible, even likely, that a Void scholar will become enmeshed in the machinations of one of the Thirteen ancient demon lords, and in turn, be called into their service. Regardless, the energies manipulated by this sphere resonate with Lawful and Evil, thus precluding all good aligned characters and those of chaotic ethoi. While shuddeni are the most notorious students of the Void, humans, aelin, nefortu, and even caladaran and ethron, have all found themselves linked to its study.

Minor & Major Void

Skills

• Level 1: dagger | staff | whip | concentration | lore | recover
• Level 3: wands
• Level 4: inscribe
• Level 5: scrolls
• Level 6: meditation
• Level 7: staves
• Level 8: gloomward
• Level 12: warding weapon
• Level 14: script mastery
• Level 16: second attack
• Level 18: trance
• Level 20: haggle
• Level 25: fast healing
• Level 32: witherpox
• Level 36: fell purpose

Spells

• Level 1: enervating ray
• Level 2: armor
• Level 3: unveil
• Level 5: spectre
• Level 6: blacklight
• Level 9: curse
• Level 10: invisibility
• Level 11: scan
• Level 13: shadow barbs
• Level 14: leech rune
• Level 15: protective shield
• Level 16: cloak of the void
• Level 17: blindness | shield
• Level 18: summon
• Level 19: gate
• Level 20: plague
• Level 21: sleep
• Level 22: Yithmakra's chosen
• Level 23: banish | demonic control | lesser demon summon
• Level 24: locate object
• Level 25: word of recall
• Level 26: drain
• Level 27: tentacles
• Level 28: blight of Adduthala
• Level 29: defile defenses
• Level 30: demon summon
• Level 31: abominable rune | agony
• Level 33: scrit of Kaagn
• Level 34: desecration
• Level 36: reach beyond the Veil
• Level 37: weaken
• Level 41: power word fear

Greater Paths

At creation, a scholar may choose to focus on one element, and thereby become a greater scholar of that element. Such magi gain access to the greater paths later in their career.

Riven Veil

The Riven Veil masters the art of creating pacts with demonkind, these summoners are able to conjure the mightiest of dark lords to the Prime Material and ravage any who oppose them.

Skills

• Level 35: empower pact

Spells

• Level 40: greater demon summon
• Level 45: stasis rift
• Level 48: voidwalk
• Level 51: suppress

Necromancer

Instead of summoning demons, necromancers bring forth fiends from corpses, using symbols of power to heighten the strength and attributes of their abominations. By becoming revenants, they gain nigh-everlasting unlife.

Necromancer loses these Major Void spells: Lesser Demon Summon, Demon Summon, Banish, Demonic Control.

Skills

• Level 30: defiant revival
• Level 51: revenant

Spells

• Level 23: fiends of gamaloth | infuse vitality | unmake abomination
• Level 30: raise dead
• Level 35: symbolic reinforcement
• Level 40: bone reaper
• Level 45: wither
• Level 48: direfeast

Nightfall

The malefactor learns to cut symbols of power into themself, and swears their undying soul to demonic patrons who, in turn, grant the scholar vast power to dominate foes.

Only evil characters may chose the Path of Nightfall. Nightfall loses these Major Void spells: Lesser Demon Summon, Demon Summon, Banish, Demonic Control.

Skills

• Level 23: sign of flesh | scion of night

Spells

• Level 30: symbolic empowerment | sever bond
• Level 35: dread wave
• Level 40: vortex

Demonic Patrons

In addition to gaining the power to bind symbols to themselves, malefactors choose three demonic patrons when they choose the Path of Nightfall. The choice of demonic patrons is permanent, as it represents your character’s special relationship to these demons. Each patron grants a specific skill or spell.

• (Agduk) Level 47: nightstalk
• (Anakarta) Level 51: flame of Logor
• (Ashur) Level 51: aura of silence
• (Bahhaoth) Level 49: profane flesh
• (Barkja) Level 50: web of Oame
• (Isetaton) Level 48: labyrinth
• (Khamurn) Level 46: verdict of Khamurn
• (Nyogthua) Level 51: scepter of the arcanum
• (Pricina) Level 45: kiss of the blackened tears
• (Tzekmeqiel) Level 47: touch of the desecrator
• (Vaeshir) Level 50: vizier's will
• (Xthjich) Level 45: armor of the oppressor

Mixed Spheres

All scholars have the option of choosing a minor field of study to complement their major, a choice which grants them access to the lesser spells of that sphere. The increased awareness of both forms of magic sometimes lends greater insight into the Art than either alone, allowing for certain ‘mixed-sphere’ abilities, such as fire and earth combining to form lava.

Void/Fire

Calling upon the servants of Xthjich, these devotees become his soldiers, shrouding themselves in smoke and breathing fire.

Skills

• Level 42: true infravision

Spells

• Level 33: mantle of the Maevis'Hra
• Level 47: ashes of Logor
• Level 50: infernal apotheosis

Void/Water

By adopting the mantle of Bahhaoth of the Dead Sea, these magi leech health from ally and enemy to replenish their own.

Skills

• Level 30: boon of the leech
• Level 35: frigid precision

Spells

• Level 42: crest of Bahhaoth
• Level 51: soulbind