Void Magic

Void Magic is a rare corrupting type of magic. It reacts violently and often unpredictably when it is exposed to traditional forms of magic. In an analogy, if magic were “matter”, void magic would be “antimatter.” The source of void magic is the being named Atropus, an entity of terrifying power who wishes to destroy the world back into nothingness. The Cloppenburg Post-Truth Patrol is currently investigating the cult and their usage of void magic.

## History

Little is known about the origins and history of void magic. Several cultists have been studying the magic across the centuries. An astrologist was researching void magic near Zingherra around 0AP, but there are little indication of other void magic events until the 8th Century AP. In 744 AP, Jhere’s father reactivated an abandoned cultist base near Ashford. Using the power of a void magic artefact, he desecrated the Pantry Plains and released large amounts of corruptive power across the kingdom.

## Locations

   Traces of void magic have been found at several sites across Awbor. All of the areas discovered so far are sites occupied by cultists. No natural source of void magic has been found.

Orby, the void magic artefact, was confiscated by the Cloppenburg Post-Truth Patrol. This artefact is currently being guarded by Seriden Hida.

## Properties

### Overview

Void magic reacts
differently depending on the source of the magic present. Divine magic provokes
the most powerful reactions, while arcane magic provokes random magical
effects. The party does not know the specific effects that are created by each
magical source.

Void magic
can be contained or focused by a rare, extraplanar, material called *Arcanite*, which has fey-like properties.
Furthermore, several of the rituals involving void magic also includes half of
a teddy bear. The use and significance of the teddy bear are unknown.

### Effects on Nature and natural magic

Void magic
corrupts magic from natural sources. Primal spirits such as Heskath the snake spirit show great fear of void magic. Animals infected with void magic mutate and become deranged, creating lycanthropomorphic aberrations. Plants wither and die in proximity with void magic.

### Effects on Undead

Void magic
has a great affinity with the undead. An arcanite altar infused with void magic
creates and controls undead within its vicinity, creating undead plagues hidden
within a magical mist. Since undead are usually classified as unnatural, this
seems to tie in with the effects void magic has on Nature itself.

One
researcher combined void magic with alchemy and created a non-divine resurrection
spell, making it unique of its kind. The Party currently have a copy of this
spell within their possession.

### Effects on People

The
insanity void magic induces in animals also effects those who have manipulated
the magic. Out of the three void magic researchers discovered, all of them had
eventually succumbed to insanity. Master Thomas, a child, resurrected with the
alchemical void ritual, became delusional and mutated into a huge undead
aberration.

The extent
of this insanity, however, is not consistent. Sif, a puppy, brought back with
the same ritual as Master Thomas, had not succumbed to insanity. Several
present-day members of the cult, such as Jhere’s father and the new necromancer
of Hillsgreen, did not show significant traces of insanity (note that the Party
did not have time to interact with the cultists in depth). These examples
suggest that void-induced insanity might be related to the intensity and the
duration of the contact with void magic, as well as the level of intelligence
and willpower of the individual.