On Magical Tomes
Many books, treatises, indexes, poems, and tomes have been compiled concerning magic in its various forms. Those common and uncommon impart knowledge with the aim of increasing the understanding of the reader, but they have no power of their own.
The tomes of the ancients, however, by a method long lost, imparted their will into the written word in addition to their knowledge. If the written words are recited aloud while the tome is open, the spell recorded comes alive and executes the will of the writer. In this way even those inexperienced in magic can summon a whirlwind or a torrent.
There are some drawbacks to tome-magic. Some practice is required, though not nearly the amount needed when relying on one’s own effort. The writer included such things as control and accuracy into their written spell, so the reciter need only point to their target and hope he can mouth the words quickly enough. The reciter does need to supply the energy needed for the spell; this is where the practice comes in.
It can happen, that if a reciter attempts a spell but is unable to supply the energy necessary, the spell exacts the energy lacking from the reciter’s life. This most often results in death. At best, the reciter is unable to ever again use magic and is bound for an early grave.
The spell was written according to the writer’s ability, and the body knows what it can handle. When recited by another, the body’s natural defenses cannot go into effect, so the reciter must judge his own ability. So yes, practice is vital even though tome-magic is easy to master.
Many see tome-magic as a quick route to power, and so it is, but so often the easy path is the destruction of those who choose it. So it is with tome-magic. In small amounts, mixed with spells of one’s own, it does no harm, but those who rely exclusively on the writings of others for their power die young.
The constant summoning of energy that is devoted solely to the will of another withers the soul through the lack of use of one’s own will. When the soul withers, the body eventually follows. It is not uncommon for users of tome-magic to die before age fifty.
Though the knowledge of how to make magic tomes is long forgotten, men do preserve spells in other ways. Namely by spell crystals and enchanted items. Because the nature of these items differs from the tomes, the possibility of a deadly effect on the user is greatly lessened. However, they can still distract new mages.