Shadelore

Shadelore is a school of occult thought that arose among the Aomeni of Gol-Kasha. It is unique among magical disciplanes in that it is, for all intents and purposes, a purely mundane artform which instead manipulates magical forces through a combination of established natural principals pushed beyond their normal limits (similar to alchemy) whilst also heavily reliant on the power of sentient will over the Song of Creation (similar to psionics). Scholars argue whether or not Shadelore is technically magical, given it does not fall into one of the standard categories for manipulation of the Song. Whether it is magical or not, it is certainly supernatural.
Shadelore is principally focused on the understanding and manipulation of a Shadow — the Aomeni manifestation of a Psychopomp — via complex mental ritual and artifice. The practice involves mantric repetition and study of intricate geometric patterns — especially that worked into thin sheets of silver — intended to trick the mind (and thus the Song itself) into certain sequences of belief. By doing so, a practitioner of Shadelore can manipulate their Shadow, creating otherwise unknown supernatural effects, including healing, strengthening, cursing, and even immortality.
Some scholars have noted the similarity between Aomeni Shadelore and Anadi Dreamweaving, though neither have been studied closely enough to confirm any relationship. Indeed, Shadelore remains so misunderstood that few scholars within the Vekhen Empire believe it is an actual effective practice as opposed to regional superstition.

Spirit Boxes

One particular manifestation of Shadelore, and indeed a central component of many of its more powerful rituals, is the "Spirit Box" used to trap and manipulate a Psychopomp within. Though called "boxes," a Spirit Box is much more likely to be an urn, jar, or amphora, and the usage of "box" appears to hail from a mistranslation between Aomenic speakers who described them to Borachi-speaking scholars, who then had their recordings transcribed into Common Vulgar. Whatever the shape, they are always made from the purest silver, and are incredibly difficult to construct.
A Spirit Box works by focusing binding runes and sigils inside its vessel, with the outside being polished to a mirror sheen. Items of worth and sentiment to the creator are interred within the vessel through arcane means, shrinking them down via extraplanar magics — similar to those that allow bags of holding to function — which are used to bind a Psychopomp in place. These grave goods are woven into the fabric of the Psychopomp quite literally via arcane silk (again strengthening connotations of a link with Anadi Dreamweaving). Once in place, the Psychopomp's power is dominated by the Shadelorist, who can command them to do their bidding.
Spirit Boxes are incredibly difficult to destroy, for they gain the indestructible qualities of the Psychopomp they imprison, meaning one must metaphysically enter the vessel to cut those tethers that bind it (but in so doing place themselves at the mercy of the dominated elemental being). This difficulty has in recent years been circumvented cleverly by the Scofflaws' Guild, with the use of teleportation magic breaking the grave goods out of the vessel without physically touching them. Doing so unleashes the Psychopomp within, allowing those who seek to unbind it to fight on their own terms.
Scholars have noted the curious similarities between the creation of Spirit Boxes and the Noraddem act of Jinn-Binding, though the latter is always to imprison and abjure as opposed to enslave. Scholars remain confused how such a link could have occured, as there have never been major migrations of the Noraddem into Gol-Kasha, and little else binds their people together.

Type

Metaphysical, Supernatural