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Lore:Spellmaking

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Altar of Spellmaking
Ulfsild the Evergreen

Spellmaking,[1] also known as spell making,[2] spell-crafting,[3] or spellcrafting,[nb 1] is the magical craft of creating new spells.[2] Spells taught at institutions of learning, known as circinate spells are standardized and more readily available. However, while it is possible to simply buy a standardized and premade spell from institutions such as the Mages Guild even without understanding of the underlying magical theory, which is said to be how spells are usually acquired, such spells are generally not as powerful as those crafted and cast by a mage with real knowledge.[4] Thus, for more advanced practitioners of magic seeking more unique effects, spellmaking is an option.[5][6]:64

Archmage Ulfsild the Evergreen collaborated with the Luminaries of Magic to create Scribing, the "metamagical theoryset"[7] which was the precursor to the modern spellcrafting system, in the First Era.[8][UOL 1] With the strength of the Luminaries fueling it, the Scribing Altar could achieve incredible feats of magic, allowing it to "shape the very heart of magic itself" and translate its very essence into mortal hands with the Luminary as the intermediary, thereby changing, or rewriting, both the magic and the mortal, as the practicioner scrawls their soul upon the page.[8][9]

The power of the Indrik infused every drop of ink, every sheet of parchment, every whorl and dot upon the pages of the texts used for the Scribing process.[9] The Gryphon, sure in himself and direct in his actions, was associated with the development of Focus Scripts, arcane scripts which defined what effect the Scribed magic would have. The Netch worked with Ulfsild to create the Luminous Ink, the substrate of power into which the magic of the Scribing altar was vested, and served as the binding agent that drew magicka and intent together upon the page. The Dragon, keen of mind and eager to listen, was associated with the development of Signature elements, Scripts that could adapt to the magical and fighting styles of the person holding the parchment, named for all the ways in which Scribing could interact with the goals and magics of other disciplines that Ulfsild had discovered.[10]

When Scribing was rediscovered, the great power of the Luminaries caused new Ley Line activity across Tamriel, thus making Affix Scripts, Signature Scripts and Luminous Ink appear across the land.[9][11][12][13][14] The rediscovery caught the attention of Vanus Galerion, who envisioned altars in every Mages Guild hall, and saw that Scribing would influence even roving mages out in the wilds.[15] Indeed, some sources claim the first nine Scribing Scripts disseminated among the Mages Guild were hand copied and examined by Galerion himself, thus providing reference materials deemed, in some cases, even better than the original texts, though this was disputed by a guild Chronicler who claimed the Scripts were his own work instead.[7] Some sources claim that the praxes and rituals used by all modern potionmakers, itemmakers, and spellmakers were originally codified by Vanus Galerion.[16] Spellcrafters have existed outside Ulfsild's Scribing and Vanus Galerion's modernization, however, and have created spells outside their contributions.[17]

Those who practice spellmaking are referred to as spellmakers,[1] spellcrafters,[18] and spellsmiths.[nb 2] They are known as the Isolationists within the Mages Guild of the Iliac Bay.[19]

Spellmaking Altars,[20] and Spell Makers, serve as the supplementary tools for mages to craft spells.[5] Magetallow candles are utilized to power some of those tools.[20][21] However, some mages are capable of inventing spells without utilizing these altars, opting instead to cast them directly to assess their effects, sometimes on willing subjects.[22]

Spells were sometimes named after their creators, such as Merien's White Mask devised by Merien Sellan of Eagle's Brook,[23] or Shalidor's Mirror created by the legendary Arch-Mage Shalidor.[24][25] Master Neloth of House Telvanni also lent his name to his experimental spells.[22][26] Sometimes spells and magically enchanted scrolls are named after other individuals. Tarhiel's spell and scrolls of Icarian Flight bore Icarian's name.[nb 3]

While usually associated with magical institutions like the Mages Guild and similar organizations,[19] as well as temples such as the Temple of Kynareth,[27] spell invention is a practice observed among mages throughout Tamriel,[1] and beyond,[28] spanning from elite practitioners like Master Neloth, or Archmagister Mavon of House Telvanni,[22][17] to more commonplace spellcasters, whether from urban, rural, or tribal backgrounds.[1][23]

Imperial law mandates the Mages Guild to instruct any eager learner in the commonly practiced spells of magic, yet it does not extend the same obligation to the crafting of magical items or the acquisition of components essential for creating new spells, and Advanced Spellcrafting was considered potentially dangerous to the public at large. Accessing the guild's spellmaking and enchanting services necessitates higher-ranked membership in good standing by the Council of Mages, and entry to the Arcane University.[29][30]:64

Frostcrag Spire and the Praxographical Center of the Arcane University are known for their spellmaking equipment.[20][31] Master Spellmakers are the mages who resided in the Arcane University and offered their services to other members of the guild. In the late Third Era, in 3E 433, Borissean and Gaspar Stegine were considered the premier spellmakers of the university.[32]

GalleryEdit

  • Spellmaking Altar (Oblivion)

  • A Mage offering spellmaking services (Arena)

  • An Isolationist mage of the Sentinel Mages Guild (Daggerfall)

  • A Spellsmith of Kynareth (Daggerfall)

  • An Ashlander Spellmaker (Morrowind)

  • Borissean, a Master Spellmaker of the Mages Guild (Oblivion)

  • Master Neloth, known for inventing new spells (Skyrim)

  • A Breton spellmaker (ESO)

  • A Scribing Altar (ESO)

NotesEdit

  • 1. Term spellcrafting is also occasionally used to describe spellcasting in general,[33] though it also was used to specifically refer to process of creating spells.[17][UOL 2][UOL 1]
  • 2. Spellsmiths of Kynareth are a known practitioners of spellmaking.[27] However, the term spellsmith is also sometimes also used to descibe arcane smiths using magic during their metalworking,[34] or armamancers.[35]
  • 3. Icarian, a Bosmeri mage of the Second Era, crafted a device enabling long-distance jumping, meeting his demise in 2E 582 while using it. He claimed that his name would be remembered in the scrolls of history.[36] In that same year, Tarhiel Farano was developing a spell aimed at achieving similar effects, also meeting his demise after using it. He claimed that his descendants would perfect his spell.[37] Centuries later, in 3E 427, another mage named Tarhiel sought to perfect his spell,[38] utilizing scrolls of Icarian Flight for his long-distance leap and meeting a fate akin to his predecessors.[39][40]

See AlsoEdit

  • For game-specific information, see the Arena, Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, and Legends  articles.
  • Spellcrafting was originally intended to be a mechanic in ESO; however, it was ultimately scrapped and later repurposed for Scribing. More information about this mechanic can be found here.

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ a b c d Spellmakers in Vvardenfell and Mournhold in Morrowind and Morrowind: Tribunal
  2. ^ a b Spell Making in Oblivion
  3. ^ Felen Relas' dialogue in Oblivion
  4. ^ Breathing Water — Haliel Myrm
  5. ^ a b Dialogue during Banish Daedra in Daggerfall
  6. ^ Daggerfall User's Guide
  7. ^ a b The Largesse of the Archmagister in ESO
  8. ^ a b The Crow's dialogue in ESO
  9. ^ a b c The Indrik's dialogue in ESO
  10. ^ How to Scribe in ESO
  11. ^ Sigil of the Dragon Analysis in ESO
  12. ^ Sigil of the Indrik Analysis in ESO
  13. ^ Sigil of the Gryphon Analysis in ESO
  14. ^ Sigil of the Netch Analysis in ESO
  15. ^ Loremaster's Archive - Scribing — Votary Nahila
  16. ^ Feyfolken — Waughin Jarth
  17. ^ a b c Archmagister Mavon's Ascension — Nardhil Arethan
  18. ^ Prior Maborel's dialogue in Oblivion
  19. ^ a b Isolationists in Daggerfall
  20. ^ a b c Frostcrag Spire Memoirs — Taris Rendil, Arch-Mage
  21. ^ Magetallow Candles Box in Oblivion
  22. ^ a b c Neloth's dialogue during Experimental Subject (A) and Experimental Subject (B) in Skyrim: Dragonborn
  23. ^ a b Tamien Sellan, and Merien Sellan's dialogue in ESO
  24. ^ Shalidor's Mirror effect in Morrowind
  25. ^ Arch-Mage Shalidor's dialogue in ESO
  26. ^ Neloth's Health Boost, and Neloth's Memory Spell Powers in Skyrim: Dragonborn
  27. ^ a b Spellsmiths of Kynareth in Daggerfall
  28. ^ Guide to New Sheoth — Brenith Aralyn
  29. ^ Manual of Spellcraft
  30. ^ The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Official Game Guide — Peter Olafson
  31. ^ Praxographical Center in Oblivion
  32. ^ Gaspar Stegine, and Borissean's dialogue in Oblivion
  33. ^ Shatasha, and Valdam Andoren's dialogue in ESO
  34. ^ Spaulder of Ruin's antiquity codex entries in ESO: The Deadlands
  35. ^ Dremora Spellsmiths in ESO: The Deadlands
  36. ^ Icarian in ESO and From Nirn to the Aether — Icarian
  37. ^ Tarhiel Farano's dialogue in ESO: Necrom
  38. ^ Journal of Tarhiel — Tarhiel
  39. ^ Scroll of Icarian Flight and Icarian Flight spell in Morrowind
  40. ^ Events of A Falling Wizard in Morrowind

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

  1. ^ a b ESO 2024 Global Reveal
  2. ^ Future of The Elder Scrolls Online Panel from QuakeCon 2014,
    Tamriel Unlimited AUA
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