Shadow Magic

**Shadow** (or **void**) **magic** is a manifestation of the cosmic force Void. Enderians are the only known entities made entirely of shadow energy.

Shadow spells have the ability to instill feelings such as despair, doubt, and fear. To increase the potency of shadow magic, one's own sanity can be sacrificed.

Scholars refer to practitioners of this dark form of magic as Shadow Acolytes.

## **History**

### **Background**

Light and shadow are the two most fundamental forces in the universe. Despite their inherent contradictions, they are inextricably linked on a cosmic scale. One cannot exist in the absence of the other. Pure Light and Shadow exist outside of reality, but shades of their presence can be found in the material plane. Light manifests itself as holy magic, whereas Shadow (also known as the Void) manifests itself as shadow magic.

## **Characteristics**

Shadow (or void) magic is a manifestation of Shadow, which is also known as Void. The Void, like the Light, is one of the most fundamental forces in the universe. Despite their inherent contradictions, they are inextricably linked on a cosmic scale. One cannot exist in the absence of the other. Pure Light and Shadow exist in realms beyond the confines of reality.

Holy energy can be used to counteract shadow energy, effectively cleansing it. However, shadow can corrupt and eventually consume light. They are diametrically opposed, but one cannot exist without the other, and there must be a balance between them.

The Void can be a source of terrible power, but it comes with a cost. While the Light is often said to elicit positive emotions such as hope, courage, and comfort, Shadow abilities are the polar opposite, capable of eliciting feelings of despair, doubt, and panic. In a poetic sense, the emotions induced by the Light come from the "heart," whereas the emotions induced by the Shadow are frequently based on survival logic and thus affect the "mind". Shadow wielders will still use Mana as a resource, but they will have to sacrifice a piece of their sanity to tap deep into the cold Void, borrowing knowledge from the Old Ones and empowering their magic. The Void only shows half-truths. It, like the Light, cannot fully see destiny because neither is solely responsible for creation. The Void seeks out all possible paths and considers them all to be true.

## **Effects and applications**

There are numerous paths to mastering the art of the Void. The Light power is derived from the "heart," whereas the Void power is derived from the "mind." One must enter the Void and uncover the horror hidden within its depths. You must give up your mind in order to gain power. The Void does not freely give its gifts. You must deal with the constant whispers from the Void, which deter your mind day by day and haunt you. If used carelessly, the Void will devour your mind, turning you into a slave and connecting your soul and body to the Darkness. That is why mastering Shadow magic requires great willpower, and even then, you risk losing your mind. Mastering the Void, in turn, grants the user the ability to dominate someone solely through willpower, rather than through the use of arcane or other powerful magical energies. In contrast to the Light, practitioners of Shadow magic attempt to study and comprehend the Void by exposing themselves to its insatiable hunger. They are now one step closer to comprehending and manipulating the Void.

Rumor has it that some beasts who have been touched by the Void exist in a space between this world and the next. The void can either consume or meld with life, but the latter often has unintended consequences. Those who can successfully defy the Void's whispers and truly resist its corruption while wielding its powers can achieve great things. Practitioners gain the ability to use the power of the Void to enhance their original racial traits while retaining most of their previous abilities. They can also create rifts, allowing them to instantly teleport through space and distance, a trait shared by the Enderians. Furthermore, Shadow wielders have developed an affinity for the Void, allowing them to resist Shadow magic. They have mastered willpower, which allows them to cast spells with unwavering focus even when in pain. Although having the power of the Void at their disposal has advantages, it also has disadvantages. Practitioners of the Void must constantly resist the Void's whispers, which try to entice them into madness. The Void seeks to deprive its users of their flesh and mortality in order for them to become slaves to the shadow's all-consuming hunger. Furthermore, as long as they are pulsing with void energy, they serve as a beacon for other void creatures. If they can't corrupt the Shadow users, they'll use them to corrupt other powerful Light magic sources.

Because of the nature of the Void, shadow magic practitioners have devised new ways to use it in combat. Draw inspiration from the Enderians. Shadow users who have mastered the art of subtlety have learned to manipulate and blend into the darkness. They have the ability to shroud themselves in shadows, effectively becoming invisible, as well as walk through the void itself and teleport a short distance. Skilled assassins can use this ability to effectively eviscerate their target by blinking behind them. No one knows where these forms of art came from or who created them, but one often wonders how much these incredible powers cost.

The undead are beings who have died and are stuck between life and death. One of the consequences of the undead's involvement with Void in their metaphysics is that they only feel mild pain or discomfort from most physical stimuli. This is also why the Light is so painful for them. The dark energy acts as a barrier, preventing the undead souls from properly joining their bodies. As a result, their souls are only loosely connected to them. When a spirit is consumed by the Void, all that remains is an echo of the soul. These echoes are not truly "alive" in the physical or spiritual sense, but rather twisted reverberations of the soul's anguish left behind when it was consumed.

## **Practitioners**

### **Shadow Acolytes**

The Light in which many priests bathe is brilliant and effervescent, bestowing enormous holy power upon them. However, the brightest light casts the darkest shadow, and a rival power dwells within this darkness. Shadow Acolytes fully embrace this diametrically opposed polarity, their faith as steadfast as that of their holy counterparts—but more focused on shadowy magic and mental manipulation. However, unlike priests, they devote much of their lives to learning and understanding the Void—they derive their power from the Void, straying dangerously close to the realm of Darkness in order to satisfy their curiosity. To truly comprehend such an ancient, corrupting influence, however, is to be driven insane. This is the state in which these dark acolytes thrive, embracing insanity and feeding off their opponents' minds to reach terrifying new heights. It is unknown why these acolytes are so obsessed with insanity, but research has revealed that it has something to do with the dark beings of the Void. The more they look into the Void, the more knowledge and power they can gain, but it also makes them vulnerable to the Void's corruption and the horrors it contains. After all, knowledge is power. Any price is worthwhile.

## **Drawbacks**

Practitioners of this dark art must keep in mind that shadow magic is extremely corruptive and will degrade the wielders' minds over the course of their lifetime. If someone is using shadow magic for survival, the mental toll on the person will be enormous.

For example, being in a life-or-death situation with little hope of escaping alive causes a great deal of stress. If they use shadow magic on top of it, they will start to hear faint whispers from all around them, whispering words of madness, betrayal, and hatred. The content of the whispers varies from person to person, but in general, if left unattended, they will consume your mind and drive you insane. "Your friends will turn on you." "You will suffer and die." "You are weak." "Your friends will desert you."

As a result, shadow magic is regarded as the most dangerous but also the most rewarding type of magic.