Mahōbori (mah.oː.bo.ɾi)

"The shinrinjū carves a channel between the spirit and the body, allowing the Seiryoku to flow. The Shinmon shapes the flow so that it performs as desired. Your mind will open the channel, releasing the shaped flow of Seiryoku. In time, you will gain skill in this process. - a Mahōbori-shi explaining the process of how Mahōbori tattoos function.

Mahōbori is the metaphysical art of creating magical tattoos which is primarily practiced in the Empire of Wamato. It is a form of True Magic that allows those who carry the tattoos to access the power of their Pneuma, albeit in a more limited fashion than a True Mage would. Those who bear Mahōbori tattoos can perform incredible feats, using their spiritual power to augment their physical abilities.

History

Mahōbori was invented by the monks of the Yuralin Tabadhik, an organization dedicated to the protection of sacred shrines. They eschewed the use of weapons, and developed the art of mystical tattooing to enhance their unarmed combat abilities. They named the art Qorlabaru, which means "Connection" in the Nivkhi language. It became known as Mahōbori after the Empire of Wamato conquered the Watali people of Sazanami and adopted the practice from the monks. You can read more about the original monks who created Mahōbori here.

Creation

Mahōbori tattoos are designed to create a link between a person's Seiryoku and their physical body, allowing limited access to the same energies used by True Mages. Each one must be created by a skilled master of the art, known as a mahōbori-shi. To do so requires the use of shinrinjū, a liquid obtained from the leechleaf bush, a spiritual parasite that can devour the soul of its victims. The same properties that allow the bush to drain away someone's soul allow the shinrinjū act as a conduit for those energies. Harvesting juice from the leechleaf bush is extremely dangerous, and the supply of shinrinjū is limited and expensive to obtain. You can read more about Leechleaf here.

Each mahōbori tattoo grants the bearer a single ability that they can use at will. These powers are limited when compared to the spells used by true mages, but can be quite powerful. They grant the bearer moments of incredible physical power, enabling them to access supernatural levels of strength, speed, or stamina, among other things. The ability cannot directly effect anyone other than the bearer, and last for only a moment - long enough for a great leap or a powerful kick. Some of the monks have learned to extend their effect through intensive meditation, although this is rarely an option in combat. The particular gift a tattoo grants is determined by the placement of the tattoo and the symbols used. Mahōbori tattoos are placed in spiritually significant locations of the body, such as the solar plexus, over the heart, at the base of the spine, or on the palms of the hand. Once the tattoo has been placed, the bearer must practice and gain facility with the tattoo, with the power of the effect increasing with experience.

Dangers of Overuse

Using the mahōbori tattoo is spiritually exhausting, and some powers are more tiring than others. Overuse will leave a person drained and weak, prone to nightmares, insomnia, and depression. These issues will usually resolve themselves with rest, but severe overexertion can inflict long-lasting trauma on the mind and spirit. Wise users of mahōbori tattoos are careful to pace themselves, and to rest and engage in spiritually restorative practices like meditation.

Alternate Name

Qorlabaru

Related Materials

• Leechleaf

Alternate Forms of Mahōbori

The practice of using symbols to access the energies of the pneuma is not exclusively the domain of the mahōbori-shi, and there are a few variants of this art present in the Great Ring. One is practiced by the Drekkamen of Eyju. In their case, the symbols are not tattoos, but brands. The leechleaf juice is replaced by the dragonfire of their god Reginn, which is used to heat the brand and burns it through into the soul.

There is also a version of this art used by the Mu'o'a of the Southern Region. Their scales do not permit the use of tattoos, so they practice scarification instead. The cuts are packed with a paste that contains the leechleaf juice. The resulting scars are bone white, and function in the same manner as Mahōbori tattoos.

Mahōbori as Punishment

An incorrectly formed or placed mahōbori tattoo is dangerous. Instead of granting the bearer access to a supernatural power, it will create an imperfect connection to their soul. This can have a variety of unfortunate consequences, such as attracting malevolent spirits or allowing the victim's soul to slowly leak away and unravel. There are rumors that deliberately malformed mahōbori tattoos have been used as punishments for the worst crimes against the Empire of Wamato. While there is no direct evidence that this has occurred, it is widely believed to be true within the empire.

Cross-species use of Mahōbori

Mahōbori is primarily used by humans, and few members of the other species of the Great Ring have ever received a Mahōbori tattoo. Those who have are mostly either Aethry or Selkies, as there is no modifications needed to the symbols or placement, probably because both of them are derived from humans originally. Selkies who wish to acquired a Mahōbori tattoo have to shave their fur off where the tattoo will be placed. Shinrinjū also inhibits the growth of their fur, rendering the lines visible even after the fur around the ink has grown back.

Kitsunejin who wish to receive a Mahōbori tattoo also must shave their fur, and furthermore must find a specially trained Mahōbori-shi familiar with their physiology; their physical and metaphysical natures require a different set of symbols and placement, and using the incorrect versions can be catastrophic.

The Kikipua and Zmei species are not able to be tattooed, as their scales do not permit it. However, there is a related art based on scarification used by some of the Mu'o'a, as described under Alternate Forms of Mahōbori, above.