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Sorcery
Sorcery is the use of mana to manipulate materials provided by the environment. Though every drow is able to use sorcery if they work hard enough at it, some may find it easier than others. Most drow are born with a an affinity for manipulation of one particular element, making it much easier for them to use that type of sorcery. A drow's affinity can be affected by their genetics and the environment they were concieved in but once they are born they will retain that affinity for life. Some drow are born without any particular affinity at all. One way of testing a crow's affinity is by taking a special test, such as those offered by the masters at the Orthorbbae.[1] It is stated that every child goes through such tests for a drow's affinity.[2]
Sorcery is instinctual use of mana, and without a considerable amount of training it is extremely difficult for a fae to use sorcery outside of their primary affinity. Foci enhanced with an element can make the use of sorcery much easier and can allow a drow to make easy use of sorcery outside of their affinity.
In general, the abilities granted by sorcery are affected by the following:
- Nothing can ever be truly created or destroyed. Sorcery only works when you have a source for the required element nearby.
- Some sorcery types are more complex and harder to master than others. Most drow that can afford it work with teachers and trainers to master sorcery.
- Along with a drow's affinity, their pre-disposed mana capacity may inherently limit their use of sorcery.
- The capacity for creativity greatly increases the range of applications a drow may discover for sorcery.
Below is a log of sorcery applications known to be possible. This list does not represent the limits of sorcery use, but simply the ways in which it has been shown to be used so far.
Air Sorcery
Wind sorcery can be used anywhere that air can be found to move. It is a common type of sorcery with many practical uses.
A very rare and specialized type of wind sorcery allows casters to acutely manipulate the pressure of environmental air. The only known occurrence of this affinity is Shinae Vel'Sharen.
- Notable users: Ariel Val'Sarghress, Shinae Vel'Sharen
Casters can:
- move objects
- levitate or glide
- force air currents to knock enemies off-balance
- use the air in a victim's lungs to throw them
- use downward force to leap high in the air
- increase running speed
- increase swing speed of a weapon
- create powerful pressure waves capable of penetrating most shields Note: Pressure sorcery only
Blood Sorcery
An affinity for blood sorcery is fairly common, but the full effects of a highly trained blood sorceror have yet to be seen. At its most basic, blood sorcery allows the user to move their blood or to change their blood into various different substances. Because blood sorcery requires access to blood, it is not uncommon for users to intentionally open a wound on themselves from which to draw.
- Notable users: Chrys'tel Vel'Sharen
Casters can:
- direct the flow of blood
- purge toxins from the bloodstream
- turn blood into a corrosive substance
- use vials of blood as projectiles
- change the colors of biological material
- force blood out of enemies
Bone Sorcery
Bone sorcery allows users to not only move bone matter, but could allow the user to reshape bones. This allows a user to restore damaged bones, but also shape them into weapons.
- Notable users: Khal'harror Val'Beldrobbaen
- Heal injured bones
- reshape bone into different objects, such as weapons
- create bone golems
Earth Sorcery
Earth sorcery is used to move dirt and rock. Due to Chel's location within the heart of a cave system and the popularity of stone as a building material, there is usually little shortage of earth to pull from.
- Notable users: Sarv'swati Vel'Sharen, Quill'yate Yurun'hiir Sarghress
Casters can:
- crush opponents
- create stone barriers
- encase things in stone
- create mounds to topple golems
- use rocks as projectiles
- shift large quantities of rock
- create rock spikes
Ice Sorcery
Though often thought to be a specialization of water sorcery, the manipulation of ice is actually an entirely unique craft. Users with water affinity will have no added strength with ice sorcery, and the same goes for ice sorcerers using water. It seems that if well practiced enough, ice sorcery can be used anywhere that is cool enough to support the formation of ice and does not require previously existing ice to use as a source.
This affinity is common in Sil'lice's line of the Val'Sharen clan.
- Notable users: Sil'lice Val'Sharen, Sate'ja Vel'Sharen
Casters can:
- freeze water and water-based life-forms
- create ice projectiles
- create ice shields
- slow movement of living things
Fire Sorcery
Fire sorcery, while powerful, requires many factors in order to work effectively. Since fire sorcery does not allow fae to create a fire from scratch, there must be a previously lit flame or spark nearby to draw from and enough oxygen and heat in the environment to sustain the fire. Many drow who use their fire affinity often will include a spark-plate or other firestarter in their equipment so that they are able to cast.
If the environment permits and a sufficient fire source has been created, fire sorcery can be used to create massive amounts of controlled fire. The tiniest ember can be all it takes to burn a city to the ground.
- Notable users: Chirinide Val'Kyorl'solenurn, Koil'dorath Nori'fu Val'Sarghress
Casters can:
- direct flames from a source
- kindle and fuel dying fires
- create walls of flame
- use heat to build up explosive pressure
- heat liquids
Light Sorcery
Light sorcery, as its name implies, is the manipulation of light. Not much is known about light sorcery or its potential uses.
- Notable users: Ron'nae Kyorl'solenurn
Casters can:
Metal Sorcery
Metal sorcery is commonly used in modern construction for quick welding of metallic parts. It can also be used in combat to change the shape and texture of metal armor, weapons and tools. Metal that has been "melted" with metal sorcery does not show signs of being hot like molten metal typically is. Rather, it is simply liquefied and malleable.
- Notable users: Shan'naal Kyorl'solenurn, Quar'imar Vel'Sharen
Casters can:
- melt armor and weapons
- change the texture of metal, making it brittle
- seal doors
- trap golem pilots
- crush people with their own armor
- change the shape of their weapons
Shadow Sorcery
The inner workings of shadow sorcery are somewhat of a mystery. It is common among those of the Val'Beldrobbaen clan, and is helpful for stealthy and disorienting combat maneuvers. It is unknown what elements of the environment must be present in order for this ability to work.
- Notable users: Naal'suul Val'Beldrobbaen
Casters can:
- enter a shadow form Note: User is still vulnerable to physical attacks in this state
- create dark fields of shadow
- create illusions or hallucinations
- encase people in tangible darkness
- disappear
Water Sorcery
There are not many recorded uses of water sorcery, though the ability to move water is likely helpful in many practical situations, notably in agriculture.
Casters can:
Wood Sorcery
Wood sorcery is only commonly seen among clans who have a strong presence on the surface, like the Val'Nal'sarkoth. Due to the scarcity of plantlife in the underworld creating a lack of source material and the rarity of the affinity itself, not much is known about the applications of wood sorcery.
- Notable users: Gailen Val'Nal'sarkoth
Casters can:
This article reflects events up to Chapter 40.