Scrying is one of the more subtle and disparate arts of magic. It contains mainly spells which deal with gathering information in some manner or another. It can cover anything from detecting energies that are not usually seen, to astral projection, to finding someone, to gaining glimpses of the future or far away places.

Location in Scrying

Location can be a tricky thing in scrying. As Prime Words are the main interface in many spells, it requires knowing distances and height from the central area from which the spells are cast. As such, mages often set aside Scrying rooms where they have extensive records of such things.

This can be got around by the use of True Names or items which have Resonance with a specific person or area. Of course, since areas rarely have True Names it is hard to focus on them, making spells which focus on people, rather than specific places somewhat easier to cast.

More advanced scrying spells may use Numen rather than Prime Words and True Names to choose a target, and may therefore forego this problem.

Spells

The Dark Mirror

The Dark Mirror is perhaps the most basic spell of Scrying and one of the most common spells available. It involves the use of a bowl filled with black ink, with Prime Words written inside a circle around the bowl, preferably in blood. Using a silver bowl is recommended for the best effects, and iron shavings in the ink or having an iron bowl will ruin the spell. Varying the words or adding extra spell ingredients to the ink will cause the spell to alter focus.

The Dark Mirror can be used to glimpse distant places, with the view depending on the words used in the spell. As the spell takes effect, the image will appear in the ink. The spell is usually dependant on where the Dark Mirror is set up, with the spell usually requiring one to set distances from the mirror which are to be viewed, for instance, 200 metres north of the location of the mirror. This can be varied through the use of True Names to the Prime Words or something which shares Resonance with the target for the spell being added to the ink.

Astral Projection

Astral Projection is one of the more advanced spells available to those practicing Scrying Magic. It requires both a solid grasp of the Numen, Sigils and Prime Words. Usually the ritual will involve creating a circle or pentagram, within which the mage will use Prime Words suitable to the location within which the mage will sit and meditate.

The circle will allow the mages image to be seen in another location, the mage’s Numen allowing him to control the image and the sounds it makes.