Shadow Mages

Mythos
Philosophy
Description
Becoming a Shadowmage
Benefits and Powers
Disadvantages of being a Shadowmage
General Statement

Mythos
In the old days, before Time began, there was Primal Darkness. Many gods walked in the Darkness,
safe from all harm. Three of those gods found something new hidden in the Darkness. For a while
they viewed it from a distance and made up their minds about what they thought it was. These three
gods were Argan Argar, Xiola Umbar and Zorak Zoran. "It is Friendship from afar" said Xiola
Umbar. "it is just another godling" said Argan Argar. "It is an enemy and I shall eat it to hide it
away from us" said Zorak Zoran, and he lifted the bundle and uncovered its veil. Aether, Lord of
Light was meditating on his powers and when he was disturbed, he sent forth the power he was
thinking of. The light and heat burned Zorak Zoran and made him an enemy of light ever since.
Argan Argar, further away, turned his back and ignored the light, taking no permanent damage.
Xiola Umbar, furthest away, blinked rapidly and remembered what she saw.

Later on, the gods went to the surface world and saw the carnage and destruction that had happened.
Zorak Zoran leapt in and caused more damage and pain. Argan Argar took command and led some
of the people to safety. Xiola Umbar felt that she must do something to soothe people's fears. She
remembered the Light Within her and used her powers of midwifery to bring forth the powers into
the world. Thus was born Rashoran, and it is a secret who his mother was. Rashoran went amongst
the people and taught those who would listen not to be afraid. Eventually, like many gods, Rashoran
was slain and some more light left the world.

When Yelm, the Fire God, fell and plunged into Hell, he fought with many deities. One of these
was Styx, goddess of Dark Waters. As they fought, their blood and natures mixed and from this
mixture of Light and Darkness came Anilla, first of the Moons, the Blue Moon, born of Light and
Darkness.

After Time began, Rashoran's corpse was found and many rituals were performed on it. The trolls
were part of this project and firm supporters until the followers of Zorak Zoran saw the corpse and
what it contained. They recognised that this was the god who had burnt their master, so they
withdrew and began summoning a great deity to fight it. Rashoran was brought back and called
Osentalka, The Perfect One. The trolls summoned the Black Eater, a fearsome and terrible god, who
was sent to attack Osentalka. The new god wrestled with the Black Eater and brought forth his
powers of Light to drive it off. From then on, he was called Nysalor, the Bright One. He sent the
Black Eater back to the trolls, where it attacked the womb of Kyger Litor and devoured part of it.

In the struggle between Nysalor and the Black Eater, both were mixed. The Black Eater gained
some light, which it shed when it devoured Kyger Litor's womb. Nysalor gained darkness, which he
shed when he created Gbaji, the Deceiver who was Nysalor's Shadow, his Other.

Nysalor's reign was a good one, bringing plenty and health to many people. However, Nysalor's
Shadow caused trouble and spread bad ideas through the Empire. Many people turned to the
Darkness and took on evil powers. In the backlash that followed, a hero came forth and fought the
evils of Gbaji. His name was Arkat and he was a Knight of the West. Gbaji fought Arkat at Castle
Kartolin and trapped him, binding him in Hell. Thus, the light was bound into Darkness. The
Lightbringers of Harmast brought Arkat back, introducing him to his father's cult of Humakt. Arkat
fought many battles against the armies of Gbaji and received many wounds. One of the wounds
caused him much trouble until it was healed by the trolls of the Shadowlands. Arkat was impressed
by the trolls and became one of them, thus joining light and darkness once more. He became the
terrible Zorak Arkat and met Gbaji in combat, destroying the evil god. However, Arkat lost
something in the battle and retired before he became like the evil Gbaji.

Philosophy
The Shadowmages have an overriding philosophy of Light within Darkness. They recognise many
gods as manifestations of this principle. They especially recognise Rashoran, Nysalor, Arkat and the
Red Goddess as manifestations of this principle and allow worship of all these within their belief
system. Gbaji is seen as Darkness within Light, their principles turned inside out. His worship is not
promoted, nor is it forbidden.

Shadowmages are friendly with the cults of Anilla, who they recognise as a mixture of light and
darkness and Xiola Umbar, who is the holder of the secret of Light Within. They also recognise
deities of Shadow and allow their worship.

When Arkat came to power, some Shadowmages became important in his cult and continued his
worship afterwards. With the destruction of Arkat's Dark Empire, these Shadowmages kept their
version of Arkat's cult, expanding and strengthening them. Whilst much has been lost elsewhere,
these Shadowmages keep the core of Arkat's beliefs intact.

Description
Shadowmages are sorcerers tied to the element of Darkness, or more specifically, to the element of
Shadow. They follow the Stygian Heresy of Malkionism which allows the worship of other deities
than the Invisible God, in particular they can worship any god of Shadow or Darkness. Uniquely,
they can also worship some cults of Light, mainly star cults, whom they recognise as Lights in the
Darkness.

Shadowmages encourage the practice of Illumination, but discourage the abuse of these abilities.
They are largely self-regulating, being able to monitor those followers who tread dangerous paths
and trying to persuade them to act differently. If, however, some choose to follow Gbaji's path, the
Shadowmages merely let them go their own way, but deny them any further assistance. Where
Arkat is strong, Shadowmages may then hunt down these outcasts.

There is no place of power for Shadowmages, they are not politically important in any region of
Glorantha. Where they form into schools, these are small and generally closed. In the lands of
Ralios, Dagori Inkarth and the Holy Country, there are minor schools comprising a few
Shadowmages and their apprentices. Where they can be found, they are often priests of other cults
and are known as great scholars and Wizards. Recently, they have tried to move into the Lunar
Empire, especially near troll strongholds of Yolp and the Blue Moon Plateau.

The first Shadowmage was a follower of Malkion who found a way to bind a piece of Darkness to
his soul. From then on, all Shadowmages have also bound darkness to their souls.
Becoming a Shadowmage
The first stage in becoming a Shadowmage is to find a current Shadowmage and persuade him to
accept the character as an apprentice.

The apprentice Shadowmage gains experience as a normal apprentice sorcerer. The spells he
receives are mostly darkness oriented spells such as Dominate (Darkness Creature), Summon
(Darkness Creature), Create (Basilisk, Vampire, Mummy, Zombie), Venom, Palsy, Stupefaction,
Tap (Characteristic).

When the apprentice has progressed enough to become an adept, he must take as a familiar some
creature associated with darkness, such as a bat, mummy, hag, shade or vampire. Only then can he
go on to become a full Shadowmage.

At any time after he becomes an adept, the apprentice Shadowmage may try to awaken his own
Shadow, the final stage. This procedure is similar to that of summoning a Shaman's fetch.

The prospective Shadowmage must go on a Quest to a recognised darkness holy place. There he
must defeat a foe of light and a foe of darkness, befriending them both. He must eat of magical
darkness plants and magical fungi. He makes a summoning roll to summon a piece of darkness to
inhabit his shadow, sacrificing POW in the process. If the roll succeeds, he awakens his shadow,
giving it 3D6 INT and a POW equal to that used in the ritual. If the roll fails, he does not awaken
his shadow.

The prospective Shadowmage is now attacked by a spirit from Yelm's Court (POW 2D6 + 12) who
will engage the Shadowmage in spirit combat for 1D10 rounds or until one side has been defeated.
If the Questor is defeated, the spirit burns away his shadow, leaving him permanently without a
shadow and unable to become a Shadowmage in future.

If the Questor is not defeated, he emerges as a full Shadowmage with new powers and
vulnerabilities.

Benefits and Powers

A Shadowmage has no fear of darkness, so Shade Fearshock, Zorak Zoran/Subere Fear/Demoralize

A Shadowmage adds his Shadow's POWx5% to his hide in shadows skill, this is automatic whether
or not he attempts to hide - whenever he is in shadows, he has a Shadow's POWX5% chance of
hiding, even when moving.

A Shadowmage can use his Shadow's INT to store spells, and its MPs to fuel spells. He can give
extra POW to his shadow at any time.

A Shadowmage can contact and worship darkness deities in the same way that Shamans can. All he
needs is the Contact (deity) spell and a number of worshippers. The form of the cult is a little
different from normal spirit cults, but for all practical purposes is the same. This can form a major
part of the Shadowmage's power and prestige.
A Shadowmage can send his shadow out in the world. He must succeed in a ceremony roll and
expend 1D6 magic points for every hour the shadow is to be activated. The shadow then goes forth
as a Spirit Warrior with perception skills equal to its POWx5% or the Shadowmage's skill,
whichever is lower. Its Hide in Shadows skill is POWx5%. If its physical form is destroyed it
returns to the Shadowmage. If its POW is reduced to 0, it is permanently destroyed and the
Shadowmage loses his shadow and special powers permanently.

The Shadow, when activated, can cast any spells in its own or its master's mind as a fetch can. It has
its own magic skills, starting at 1D6% + its magic bonus.

Disadvantages of being a Shadowmage

A Shadowmage can venture into daylight, but at a cost. He must roll percentile dice - if he rolls
beneath the current cloud cover he is unaffected. If he fails the roll then he is demoralised whenever
he is in daylight that day. If he fumbles, then he is affected by a Fearshock which lasts whenever he
is in daylight that day.

General Statement
Shadowmages are very rare. When they are found, they will be in isolated areas, near darkness holy
spots or near darkness creatures. They are usually surrounded by darkness guardians and spirits, so
often have undead guards of mummies and zombies. Many Shadowmages have befriended troll
clans and count them amongst their guardians.

Shadowmages are always shrouded in mystery and fear and will be the source of many rumours and
legends for the local folk.

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