Arcane Law ~ Chapter the Second
Scrolls
As has been told to you already in this short treatise, scrolls are a very limited form of magical artefact which may be crafted by those skilled only in Low Magic, the manipulation of simple patterns of the Universal Amalgam, provided they study well and have sufficient resources.
They are also the primary means by which the Guild of Alchemy maintains their otherwise precarious position in the Convocation of Guilds. It is the Alchemists who have held the secret of the ink that holds the spell in suspension until its invocation, that which they call the Blood of Tarl.
Know you that it was Alchemy Master Tarl, in the 119th year from the Founding of the Great Library. That discovered how to make the ink and presented the first demonstration to the Convocation wherein a child, barely able to stand but that had been taught the key, caused half the Convocation to he slept in their chairs. Always the Alchemists have been wont to perform such undignified demonstrations of their power wherein they cause embarrassment to their betters. Be warned.
What Are They
The substance upon which a scroll is written is without importance, it is most improper to call such artefacts scrolls but that is their most common form and so the name persists. But do not forget that a scroll can be upon cloth, upon stone and even upon the water.
When the Princess Melin of Aratia was travelling to the kingdom of Grec to be wed, by way of bride price she also carried with her one thousand scrolls. 'Me ship was struck by a terrible storm and many were drowned (including, unfortunately, the Princess who was most beauteous and kind). Amongst the scrolls was the Great Scroll of Kazmarin that was said to contain such power that it could wipe an army from the battle plain. Of the survivors more than one who clung to a piece of mast reported seeing the words of the Great Scroll glowing deep within the water, but that debris was seen to pass both in front and behind the words. For the parchment upon which they had been enscripted had dissolved into the water.
The Universal Amalgam is woven into a pattern with the ink which is prepared carefully to be as close to perfection as can be created by the Alchemists.
How They Work
The release of the energies of a scroll is as it is with other magical artefacts, once the key has been spoken the Universal Amalgam that is woven into the ink is set free and performs the function it has been prepared for. Due to the nature of the ink, the Key for a scroll except in very special cases will always be through the common skill of invocation. Skilled mages of High magic may be able to alter the key in some fashion making the scroll usable only those who know the new key.
How They Are Made
You must purchase the ink from an alchemist; you do not need to tell them what it is for, and if you prefer you may buy it through an intermediary. If you dwell close to a building of the Mages' Guild you may purchase from there as the storekeeper will deal with the Alchemy Guild.
You will also need parchment that the Alchemists will delight in selling to you although other sources are possible; however, they do have good quality materials. The same passes for your quills that must be of the highest quality - without good instruments the magic will not hold well to the ink.
You must, of course, have learnt the necessary skills of writing, a common failing in mages that should be rectified - I myself am able to converse in three languages, how else can you read the words of the learned in their native tongue?
Following your training in the Third Rank of Low Magic you will learn the skill of Enscription which shows the techniques for binding specific Low Magic spells into the ink, creating the pattern that holds the magic. Once the Third Rank has been mastered it is not difficult to inscribe scrolls but it does require concentration and time - and the resources.
The Key
The standard key of Toolcrafter Joseph is taught and is one with the techniques, with much practise and development you may learn how to alter this but for such as scrolls this is barely important.
How Are They Destroyed
Disruption of the pattern of words in a scroll is sufficient to destroy it. The release of energy in such an act is minimal - such is the power of Low Magic. The Great Scroll of Kazmarin was clearly an exception, the pattern and magic were so intertwined and so powerful that they were able to hold their form without the support of the parchment, and there may he others of this ilk.
Yet to combine such power into such a simple medium seems a waste of skill.
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