Dark Sword - The Nine Mysteries

The Nine Mysteries

Fire
After the testing, a magus who is powerful in the mystery of fire is taken to a place known only as the Mountain to begin training as one of the Duuk-tsarith (warlocks and witches). Those who show greater potential are kept for three additional years of training to become a 'DKarn-duuk (warmaster).

Water
Those born to the mystery of water are called druids. There are three types of druid:

• Field druids, Fihanish, who help the field magi clear the land for farming.
• Druids of minor healing, Mannanish, who deal with cuts and scrapes.
• Druids of major healing, Theldara, who deal with broken bones.

Earth
Those born to the mystery of earth are born either:

• Mon-alban, the alchemists, who change metals into more useful metals.
• Quin-alban, the conjurers, who use Life as the only material in their work.
• Pron-alban, the shapers, who can alter materials and produce chairs from a single piece of wood or a fort from a mountain.
• Albanara, the noble magi born to rule, who possess skills in all parts of the earth mystery.

Air
Any magus born to this mystery is either a Kan-hanar, a gate keeper, or a Sif-hanar, a weather changer. It is the Sif-hanar that keep the city of Merilon in perpetual spring; when most of the Sif-hanar were killed in the battle on the Field of Glory, Merilon passed from spring to winter, much to the horror of the city's inhabitants.

Shadow
This mystery's practitioners are called illusionists. Illusionists are the artists of Thimhallan. They use Life to create plays, music, and images of dragons and other creatures.

Life
The rare magi born to this mystery are known as catalysts or thaumaturgists. A catalyst does not possess magic in great measure himself; however, he possesses the unique ability to channel Life. As the name implies, a catalyst takes magical energy from his surroundings and, by assimilating it within his own body, is able to enhance it and transfer it to magi who can wield it. Catalysts are recruited into the clergy of Thimhallan.

Spirit
This mystery allows magi to communicate with the dead, but its practitioners were allegedly wiped out during the Iron Wars, and have been suppressed by the Church ever since. Devotees of this mystery are called necromancers. Also born to this mystery are enchanters, who change the desires of people, and theurgists, who can communicate directly with the Almin (God).

Time
This mystery deals with the future and the past. The magi of Time, known as Diviners, also created the Corridors, holes in time and space that take a person from one place to another. The Corridors became the main form of transportation for all magi. When the Diviners were wiped out during the Iron Wars, the Corridors were maintained by the Kan-hanar 's Life while the church took control of the use of the Corridors. It is stated in Darksword Adventures that for a person to be a Diviner, one parent must also be a Diviner.

Death (Technology)
This mystery is believed to have been banished from the world. This mystery gives Life to that which is Dead, an unforgivable sin. The magi of Death are known as Sorcerers, and they make and use magical devices (wands, scrolls, potions, and similar items).