Fiction:Antroth Empire/Antroth Mystic Arts

The Antroth Mystic Arts are a series of techniques and teachings that delve into the battle oriented uses of Antroth Magic. Practitioners of the arts are commonly known as either Mystics or Battle Mages.

History
"In the face of the many lies, she was almost undone. But with her will and strength, she took hold of her own being, and then saw the truth. She did not cry for help nor for mercy. For she understood. Through her understanding we have magic. And through magic, we decide what is possible."

- Ank'xthoth-Kuda, Chapter 2

The history of the Antroth Mystic Arts is heavily intertwined with the history of Antroth Magic, and thus shares a history with it. According to an ancient Antroth text known as Ank'xthoth-Kuda, the discovery of Antroth Magic is quite cryptic. It is believed that the current understanding of magic was handed down by an "original mage" who either discovered magic or was granted it through mysterious means. Some Antroths believe that the first practitioner of what can be considered a form of "proto-magic" was a named Sil'Cana. Though most scholars refute that claim, and assert that what she was doing was just an advanced form of ancient alchemy. However her daughter and successor, Vi'Serra learned how to harness what she called "kuda" or "magic".

This magic gave rise to the species, and through this an aspect of this magic they called called "battle magic" allowed them to dominate their homeworld. This "battle magic" eventually became so ingrained in Antroth culture and warfare, that methods of teaching it through formal education became commonplace. These "schools" of battle magic eventually collaborated and founded the modern practice of the Antroth Mystic Arts.

Uses
The Antroth Mystic Arts are primarily a battle oriented aspect of Antroth Magic. This includes the development and use of offensive and defensive based techniques or "spells". These spells range from firing powerful projectiles to hardening one's defenses, though the possibilities are near endless to a well practiced Mystic.

Learning the Mystic Arts
Typically, the honor of learning the Antroth Mystic Arts is reserved for Antroth females who have the aptitude. However, in rare cases Antroth males and members of other species have been allowed to practice the Mystic Arts under certain circumstances.

A basic understanding of Antroth Magic is required to get started, however in order to receive formal training from the Mystics, one must learn all of the entry level spells of the Mystic Arts. This is a demanding task, however those who can complete it are inducted as a Novice. The Novice will then be able to rise through the ranks, gaining more skill and power as they learn to master the Mystic Arts. Finally, after years of training, that Novice will have become a full fledged Adept Mystic. However, one can go even further by devoting their life to the Mystic Arts, which results in them becoming a Master Mystic.

Some Adept Mystics take a different route and join the military, which grants them the title of Battle Mage. These Battle Mages have been known to join the Grand Legion of Tyris Major, providing an astonishing edge over their enemies.

Spells and Abilities
These spells and abilities are listed based on their difficulty and strength. The stronger the spell, the harder it is for a Mystic to learn.