Skill Check

The Dark Arts

concept art for a dark magic tomb
Skill Master: Dorian Lucine
Rank Range: Rank 7 - 8
Topics: Dark Magic, Bad Omens, Curses, Shadows, Necromancy, Blood Magic, Deadly Markings, Dark Tongue, Possession, Alkyrs
Books: The Book of Darkness
Where to Go: Course Link

About The Dark Arts

Stepping into the darkness is ill advised and often forbidden by many magical communities. However, there are those that master the Dark Arts and some are even happy to teach it. You must be a high ranking mage to consider pursuing the Dark Arts. Master Dorian Lucine only accepts Heroes and Legends as apprentices of the Dark Arts.

Approach with caution. The darkness can become all consuming...

At the end of the course you will be able to acquire The Dark Arts Mastery Certificate.
This certificate will provide a bonus to the Dark Arts during duels. Mechanics are still to be confirmed.

Task: Roll for The Dark Arts

Complete ONE The Dark Arts assignment using ONE of the below prompts.
However, you cannot choose the prompt.
Below Rank: If you are below the rank for The Dark Arts, there is a bonus task below.
Message Victariah Rauxilfen who will roll a 20-sided dice (d20). The result will determine your prompt.

  1. Your spell backfires, accidentally cursing yourself or someone else
  2. You open the wrong tome and have unleashed a malevolent spirit
  3. You are caught redhanded practicing forbidden magic by local guards. You're now in jail
  4. A classmate tampers with your spell
  5. Your truth spell backfires and now you are cursed to speak the truth until the spell wears off
  6. You are inflicted with a very embarrassing curse
  7. Somehow, you are now a toad
  8. You've infused your sword with dark magic and it's gained a sentience of it's own
  9. You understand the theory, but for some reason you struggle to put it to practice
  10. You and your classmates conduct a group ritual
  11. You accidentally portal yourself to a different location than intended
  12. You and a classmate accidentally bind your souls together... hopefully they don't get hurt, else you will too
  13. When trying to learn 'Decay' you end up decaying your textbook
  14. There's some small strange circle of eyeballs... miraculously, your spells are performing better. Who could be watching?
  15. You find some wacky things at the Black Market
  16. When running an important (and illegal) errand for the Skill Master, you are rewarded with some very helpful notes on a spell you've been struggling on
  17. The Skill Master is impressed by your knowledge
  18. You have a sudden burst of power and cast a higher level spell you have not learnt yet
  19. You come across a Cat Sith, it is quite fond of you, and grants you extra luck in your dark studies
  20. In the midst of a strange, dark vision, you see a shadowy figure and when you awaken, you have unlocked a forbidden spell thought impossible.


Below Rank Task

Jutting out the side of a tall, reclusive mountain peak, deep in the mountains, rises a dark stoned tower. It is not often young mages of your level are given an invitation, but something within you has earned you a special privilege to learn of the Dark Arts. Dorian guides you up the stairs into a warmly lit study at the top of the tower, an open arched window billowing a cool breeze of the night air. "I have warned you in my letter that there is very little I can teach you preemptively, not without surety of your capabilities, but for your curiosity I will trust in your discrepancy to keep this session secret, for your own sake." Dorian warns with a small smile. He turns to the desk neatly organised with piles of tomes, scrolls and an odd assortment of macabre decor. When he returns, he places in your hands a sheet of parchment and quill, and one of the weathered scrolls from the pile. When unravelled, there are various circles with different patterns, runes and configurations. "Most basic and recent dark magic has the foundation of what is called an 'Alkyr'. It is the root of the spell. These runes, and these configurations, determine the spell and its incantation. Before you can cast any spell, you must first understand how it is constructed. I'd like for you to analyse these three Alkyrs, note the similarities and the differences and what spell you think this makes."
  • Write an RPG text where you analyse 3 Alkyrs used for dark magic. You are free to be creative with the dark arts spells you choose.
  • What do the runes determine: the incantation or the spell's effect?.
  • What do the lines direct: the movement or the path your mana follows?
  • You can reach out to Dorian for extra advice.
  • Send the completed entry to Victariah Rauxilfen and Dorian Lucine

The Rules

  • After you have completed the assignment, message Victariah Rauxilfen.
  • The assignment does not need to be graded beforehand.
  • The assignment must meet lesson requirements (eg. format, questions answered).
  • If you choose a prompt without rolling the dice, it will not be counted for the reward.
  • Entry must be submitted by Monday 15th June at midnight.

The Prize


Witchblade
A blade like no other. Imbued with Arcane power it can cause most physical and magical wounds when wielded by those with the strength and knowledge to control it.

For more detailed sources of information, see the following links:
Hall of Attainment
Guild Registry
The Dark Arts
Plot Information - Damage Calculator