Shyish

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Icon of Shyish and the Amethyst Order of wizards who wield it.

Each of the eight winds of magic (Aqshy, Azyr, Chamon, Ghyran, Ghur, Hysh, Shyish, and Ulgu) have their own dedicated college of magic. As each college is focused on only one of the winds, spell choice is limited.

The Lore of Death (Amethyst Wizards)

Shyish, also called the Lore of Death, Spirit Lore and the Sixth Lore and known in Grand Cathay as the Spirit Winds or the Elemental Wind of Spirit, is the Purple Wind of Magic and the embodiment within the Aethyr of mortals' certainty of the passage of time and conception of the inevitability of death for all living things. It is the most mysterious and terrible of all the wholesome forms of magic practiced by Men.

Shyish is said to be formed within the dimension of the Aethyr by the mortal realisation of the transience of life, by the bittersweet emotions produced by the reminiscences of days gone by and friends and relatives no longer living, and by mortal acceptance of living in the moment, for life is short and can be cut short at any time. It blows from the past and into the future.

The Purple Wind blows most strongly when death must be faced or endings must inevitably take place. It is therefore drawn to and collects on battlefields, sites of executions, and graveyards. The Wind of Shyish is manipulated by the Human wizards of the Imperial Amethyst Order, whose adherents are called Amethyst Wizards or "spiriters", though they prefer to call themselves the "Brethren."

Shyish is most often described as a puppet to the passage of time. It blows from the past, because the past has ended and is gone, through the present, because endings and the expectation of death are intrinsic parts of the living of life, and into the future, for the future leads inevitably towards endings and death. Some have equated Shyish with destiny, for it does not control what was, is, or shall be, but instead permeates and reflects these things with absolute intimacy.

While often conflated with Necromancers, Amethyst Wizards are quite distinct. They embrace the natural ending of all things, whereas Necromancers seek to conquer death with the darkest of magics; Indeed, the Amethyst Order, much like the Cult of Morr, works tirelessly to combat the threat of Necromancy.

Recommended Advantages: Languages, Patron (Amethyst Order), Rank (Amethyst Order), Spirit Empathy.

Recommended Disadvantages: Bad Reputation, Disturbing Voice, Duty (Amethyst Order), Supernatural Features (Stench of Death; -2 reaction).

Recommended Skills: Exorcism, Intimidation, Professional (Embalming), Thaumatology.

Allowed GURPS Colleges: Body Control, Making and Breaking, Mind Control, Movement, Necromancy (though raising the dead will result in immediate expulsion from the Order and being turned over to the Cult of Morr, Protection & Warning, Sound.

Back to The Aethyr