| The Lorethew
Mentor Society Empath Guild Guide |
| IV. AS YOU
GROW There are many skills in addition to the basic ones required by the Empath Guild Leaders that will prove beneficial should you choose to learn them. Magical Devices knowledge is one of these hidden secrets to effective healing and general Empath skill. Using magical devices as a skill is not usually considered until you are relatively established in the guild; however, we encourage you to take advantage of this helpful tool. When first learning how to use magical devices, it is probably best to start by getting a runestone. They are commonly dropped by some creatures, and are sometimes carried in surplus by adventurers. Asking around your guild for an extra runestone is a good idea. There are several different kinds of magical devices in the lands that function similarly to a runestone, so we'll keep the explanation general here. Each type of runestone contains a different spell. Focusing on the runestone can help determine what spell is encased in the runestone, and the magnitude of its power. Some runestones are easier to focus on than others are. Check your concentration (found under Information) because focusing on runestones can be draining; to get the most information from your focus, it is best to be at full concentration. The spells vary, from harmless spells to offensive combat spells. Because of this, it is a good idea to ask what spell is in the runestone, or what it does, if you wish to use the spell. As your skill grows, you'll be able to decipher more information from the runestone. You will begin to notice some lines of varying brightness. These determine how strong the spell is. You can try to change the brightness of these lines by FOCUSING on the runestone to some percentage of power (for example, focus runestone 100, for maximum strength). The more experience you have, the better you'll be able to control the strength of the lines. The strength of the lines may seem trivial, but to release the spell in the runestone, the information regarding the lines will come in handy. The brighter the lines are, the stronger the spell will be. To release the spell, rub the runestone, then cast when the spell is fully prepared. Again, be aware that some spells are considered offensive, and will give empathic shock if cast. Each runestone contains about five charges of the spell. Once the charges are used up, the runestone will crumble to dust, and no longer be of use. All of this focusing leads to utilizing one of the best tools for an Empath: cambrinth. Cambrinth items function a little differently than runestones, and come in many forms: from rings to earrings, animal figurines to hair nets. Cambrinth items are capable of storing small amounts of harness, and then releasing it when you cast a spell. This comes in handy when in low-mana rooms, or when casting a high-powered spell. When you first purchase a cambrinth item, it will be neutral to any kind of magic (life, elemental, moon, or holy). After you first use it, however, it will attune to Life mana, as this is the source of the Empath's magic. After the attunement, the item can not be charged by another magic type, or the item will explode. To check if a formerly owned item has magical properties, and to see which mana it uses, just focus on it. The first step in using a cambrinth item effectively is charging it with an amount of mana (for example, charge item 3). Your skill with magical devices will help determine how much of the mana actually goes into the item. Smaller amounts are more likely to be absorbed completely, and will conserve your remaining harness. Sometimes half the mana will be absorbed, other times, all of it will. How much mana you wish to put into the item is your decision, but you may wish to consider what you'll use the mana for later and gauge an appropriate amount. If you wanted to cast a high-powered internal wound-healing spell, for example, you might try to put 5 or 10 harness into the item to help cast the spell. Be aware, however, that items can only hold a specific amount of mana, so if you have an item (like a ring) that only holds a small amount, you might want to invest in more than one, or a larger item. Once you've charged up the item, you need to focus on it to link yourself to the item. Keep focusing until you forge a link with the mana in the item. Then, prepare your spell as usual; when you cast, if you're properly tuned to your item, it will emit a loud *snap* as the mana in the item adds to the mana you prepared in your spell. This enables you to prepare your spell at a lower mana and still produce the desired healing effect. You can also charge items, focus on them, and then put them away for later use. The mana in the items will slowly drain away, so you'll need to focus on them again to reform the link, but this practice will allow time for your natural harness to regenerate, and enable you to be more effective when casting your spells. We recommend experimenting with your cambrinth items to determine the rate at which each drains. |