Low Magic

Low Magic concerns the invisible realm of spirits. It draws on the most ancient and primitive kinds of spirit and sympathetic magic, and it is practiced by shamans, wizard-priests who are both feared and respected by their own people. A shaman can look into the spirit realm, bind spirits inside his or her own body as helpers, and acquire a power animal, a guardian spirit that rises in level along with its shaman. Witchdoctors combine it with Black Magic, but they can cast only its restricted image magic spells and, having no power animal, are unable to bind spirits to themselves. Mystic savants can take two of its spells instead of skills, and charlatans can dabble in it at first level.

Its spells map a route into the world of spirits: communion with nature spirits, spirit empathy, tracking and contacting spirits, trances, visions and dreams, and finally journeying into the spirit realm itself. Image Magic comes in four grades and operates through a little doll made of straw, grass or wood. For conflict there are songs of fear and courage, magic arrows and darts, and transformations into animal shapes and were-forms, while restricted spells like Power, Spirit Force and Warrior's Spirit tap the spirits a shaman has bound. Highest of all are Pointing, able to kill with a mere gesture, Recall Spirit and Soul Transference.