Arcane Background (Way of the Magi)

Arcane Background (Way of the Magi)

Arcane Skill: Spellcasting (Smarts)
Starting Power Points: 10
Starting Powers: 3

Note: The Way of the Magi Arcane Background replaces the SWADE core Magic Arcane Background for the Lankhmar setting.

Practitioners of the Way of the Magi follow one of three paths; White, Black, or Grey. Casters with this background use Spellcasting (Smarts) for their Arcane Skill.

White Magi: White Magi, come in many varieties. Some work as herbalists and soothsayers while others serve as diviners and forest guardians. Regardless of their path, they draw their power from the life forces of the world around them. Much of the processes and incantations for white magic are similar to those of the black arts, but white magi take great care to maintain balance and harmony in the world and try not to harm others with their spells. They are often sought out for their ability to heal, cure, and restore others.

White Magus Available Powers

A White Magus may choose from the following powers (Rank allowing):


Accelerate Healing, Astral Walk, Banish, Barrier, Beast Friend, Boost/Lower trait (Boost only), Burrow, Confusion, Darksight, Deflection, Detect/Conceal Arcana, Dispel, Divination, Elemental Manipulation, Entangle, Environmental Protection, False Health, Farsight, Growth/Shrink, Intangibility, Light/Darknes, Protection, Quickness, Relief, Sloth/Speed, Slumber, Speak Language, Stun, Summon Ally, Telekinesis, Tempest, Wall Walker, Ward.


* bold indicates a new power descibed in the Mistas Arcana section.

White magi experience backlash differently than other magi; they will recover from fatigue in half the normal time and do not suffer additional backlash effects due to the softer nature of their magic.

Black Magi: Black Magi, like their white brethren, come in many varieties from hedge wizards and conjurer beggars to great sorcerers and sinister necromancers. They all draw their power from the mysterious forces of magic that suffuse the world around them. They have the ability to reshape the universe, bending the very laws of physics to their wills, commanding the inanimate to move, divining the secrets of forbidden knowledge, and delving into the hearts and minds of men and women. They are powerful, terrible, deadly, and feared.

Black Magus Available Powers

A Black Magus may choose from the following powers (Rank allowing):


Astral Walk, Banish, Barrier, Beast Friend, Blind, Bolt, Boost/Lower trait (Lower only), Burrow, Confusion, Damage Field, Darksight, Deflection, Detect/Conceal Arcana, Dispel, Divination, Drain Life, Elemental Manipulation, Entangle, Environmental Protection, Farsight, Fear, Grave Speak, Growth/Shrink, Havoc, Intangibility, Invisibility, Light/Darknes, Mind Reading, Protection, Puppet, Quickness, Sloth/Speed, Slumber, Smite, Speak Language, Stun, Summon Ally, Telekinesis, Tempest, Wall Walker, Withering Curse, Ward, Zombie.


* bold indicates a new power descibed in the Mistas Arcana section.

Black magic is easier and faster to cast than other forms of magic (-1 difficulty for all Spellcasting trait rolls). On failed Spellcasting rolls, the Black Magus suffers a level of fatigue and if they roll a 1 on the Spellcasting die, they gain a point of corruption. If the attempt is a critical failure, they gain two points of corruption. See the Physical Corruption table below:

Physical Corruption (Black Magus)

When a Black Magus is physically corrupted, roll 2d6 on the table below for each −1 to Charisma. Either ignore duplicate results or increase the listed effect. For example, a Black Magus who rolls 8 twice may not only have bristly hair but also have it growing in odd places. Regardless of the specific description, physical corruption changes have no impact on the character’s abilities other than Charisma.

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2d6	Physical Corruption
2	Inhuman eyes (catlike, snakelike, square irises, etc.)
3	Fingers webbed to first knuckle
4	Bandy-legged
5	Oddly colored eyes
6	Warts or pockmarks
7	Mottled, gray, or sallow complexion
8	Bristly unkempt hair
9	Thick and stubby fingers
10	Waxen-looking skin
11	One arm longer than other
12	Inhuman skin (thin scales, leathery, rubbery, etc.)

Grey Magi: Grey Magi follow the standard rules for Arcane Caster [Magic] per the SWADE core and can choose spells from both the White and Black Available Powers lists. Backlash for Grey Magi occurs only on a Critical Failure and it results in a level of Fatigue and all currently active powers instantly terminating.

Grey Magus Available Powers

A Grey Magus may choose from the following powers (Rank allowing):


Accelerate Healing, Astral Walk, Banish, Barrier, Beast Friend, Blind, Bolt, Boost/Lower Trait, Burrow, Confusion, Damage Field, Darksight, Deflection, Detect/Conceal Arcana, Dispel, Divination, Drain Life, Elemental Manipulation, Entangle, Environmental Protection, False Health, Farsight, Fear, Grave Speak, Growth/Shrink, Havoc, Intangibility, Invisibility, Light/Darknes, Mind Reading, Protection, Puppet, Quickness, Sloth/Speed, Slumber, Smite, Speak Language, Stun, Summon Ally, Telekinesis, Tempest, Wall Walker, Withering Curse, Ward, Zombie.


* bold indicates a new power descibed in the Mistas Arcana section.