Fellowship of the Secret Word/Rites

Necromancy

Given the importance of the soul in Egyptian legend the study of magic devoted to the soul is a natural outgrowth of that culture. While other magic affects the material world, Necromancy reshapes the spirit world, gifting the wielder with command of the dead and mastery of her own soul. To recognize the importance of Necromancy, one need only look to the tremendous tombs and monuments of Egypt, where the Pharaohs expended the efforts -- and lives -- of thousands of slaves to ensure their own sanctity in the afterlife.

Neophyte necromancers first learn the divisions of the soul and the importance of metaphysical relics ion the underworld. With practice, the necromancer gains authority over the dead through special rites of purification and the practice of ascetic disciplines. In effect, the mage becomes a lord among the dead, capable of commanding with a word and transfixing with a gaze.

While many Western traditions and religions regard Necromancy as an unwholesome practice, Necromancy is the fundamental art and a purifying discipline to House Shaea. The necromancer's very soul refines itself to become a being of puissant light in Duat. Through this authority, the necromancer can defend or manipulate the soul's many parts, command the dead, and channel the blackened entropy that flows through the underworld while remaining untainted herself.

Among House Shaea, Necromancy is the specialty of the khaibit. The mage channels the powers of Duat through the shadow soul, which touches most closely on the Lands of the Dead. To master Necromancy, the mage must exert authority through purification but also strengthen its ties to the khaibit. A truly puissant necromancer becomes as a noble monster. She leashes the khaibit to her will, combining the terrible monster and the purified master in order to transform herself into a lord of the dead. The priestess walks a thin line as she balances Ma'at with the strength of the khabit, eventually learning to harness the khaibit for conviction and dedication as molded through the authority of Ma'at. The khaibit's strength becomes the mage's strength, with its lusts moderated through the mage's adherence to the universal balance

Alchemy

Named for Al Khem, or the Black Land, the art of Alchemy was one of the greatest gifts from Egypt to the mysticism of the West. The search for the elixir of life, the panacea of universal medicine, and the transmutation of base substances into gold led to the creation of an encyclopedia of potions, poisons, and cures for nearly every occasion. The Egyptian priesthood naturally expanded the care for the spiritual well-being of their charges to cover their charges' physical welfare, and they commanded the greatest libraries of mystical formulas. House Shaea have preserved and adapted this great art allowing it to continue to this day.

Alchemical Preparations

An alchemist creates a product that embodies the effect he seeks or one that induces the desired result. Alchemical spells and rituals are generally called formulas, and one usually achieves their effects with a particular preparation. Except for some of the simplest preparations, Alchemy usually requires long hours of work in a suitably equipped laboratory. Assume that an alchemist must work for an average of one hour per highest sphere rating. Alchemical preparations using Ars Vis have a long shelf life and may reatin its potency for a greater length of time. To ensure that she has a steady supply of her creation on hand when the need arises, an alchemist usually creates a batch of the formula rather than just one dose.

Alchemy aims to perfect the tangible, and it can affect the spiritual only through the rarified nature of a soul's physical form. Therefore, Alchemy may affect only the body (khat) or a physical substance. A non-corporeal entity or spirit may not partake of an alchemical preparation. Furthermore, Egyptian alchemical formulas are based on the human pattern, so they'll not benefit supernatural creatures other than mummies. Poisons are the exception to the rule, and they'll generally have some effect -- although preternatural beings may have some native resistance.

Goals Of Alchemy

An alchemical preparation's purpose usually relates directly to its physical form. As part of this mystical science, Alchemy allows the apparent violation of natural chemical properties. In game terms, all Alchemy is concerned with at least one of three results:

Identification: Knowledge is power. Understanding specifically what composes any object, creature, or substance gives the alchemist potential power over it. Alchemists become aware of substances' inherent properties that mere chemists never uncover.

Transmutation: Many alchemical processes seek simply to change one substance into another, such as the well-known quest to create gold from lesser materials. The result may be a purified form of the original substance, a new substance altogether, or a strange blend of the mixture's components.

Catalyst: Many alchemical preparations have as their primary goal the ability to cause change in other substances or forms. At the heights of mastery, the alchemist may even transform her own body into a catalyst that's capable of causing changes in the world around her.

Forms Of The Art

Before an alchemist creates a preparation, she must determine what form she'll give it. The form depends upon the alchemist's method of processing the particular formula involved.

Essence: A volatile substance that's either kept in gaseous form or kept standing as a liquid that evaporates quickly upon exposure to the air. The desired subject must inhale the essence or be caught in its caustic cloud for the spell to take effect. Essence preparations are often used as perfumes, although smoke or incense may also be considered a form of essence.

Potion: A specially formulated liquid that its beneficiary (or victim) must drink. If the alchemist mixes the potion with another substance -- such as wine, water, or coffee -- to mask it, the target may make a suitable Perception roll to notice that something is amiss. To be successful, the attempt requires a number of successes greater than the alchemist's Alchemy rating.

Powder: A mixture dehydrated for ease of transport. Such a preparation is usually mixed with a liquid for consumption or burned to create an essence. Rarely, the formula calls for the conglomeration of the powder into a solid piece, such as the legendary philosopher's stone.

Salve: Any soft paste or lotion that may be applied to skin or the surface of an object. A poisonous salve may be applied to a sharp blade, while a healing salve is typically applied to the wound. The individual applying the salve must be careful not to touch the salve directly in order to avoid experiencing the effect herself.