[Circle of Hands 1.1] Rules questions about spells

[Joshua Bearden]

This is not advice or a suggestion or criticism or direct feedback:  just me riffing on the black and white magic with the thoughts that come to me.

White magic is death, black is life.

White is the colour of antiseptic and sterility. The clouds cities exist in a pure celestial vacuum.  An Amboriyon zone borders earth by creating a desert of clear crystalline snow-like sand.  Pure Amboriyon energy burns a blinding white hot but leaves the earth ice cold. Passion, hunger, fear, all these impure emotions are purged from the soul that succumbs to Amboriyon leaving only unambiguous, transparent, implacable intent.

Black Rbaja is deadly because under its influence life multiplies uncontrollably.  Rbaja is the magic of fertility and fecundity. The swamp hisses with life.  The darkness contains all colour but releases none, it absorbs all light and all warmth. Of course bodies rise from the grave. Under the influence of Rbaja, a body needs no animating soul, the wriggling flesh dances on its own. What is else is disease but an abundance of life?

White magic is attractive to humans who are horrified by the messiness of life, of sickness and bloody violence.  It offers freedom from all filth, even the dirt in one's own thoughts. A beloved child slain by disease, a husband stabbed in the dark, or a wife who died in childbirth all are victims of the seething griminess of life.  Amboriyon offers a pure unsullied, memory of them. There are, in our world, companies who will for a fee, take the ashes of a deceased pet or loved one and forge them into artificial gems.  Amboriyon can turn any one of us into diamonds if we wish.

Black fills the void brought on by scarcity, loneliness, and loss of another kind. Why preserve the memory of the dead when you could have them back, after a fashion. Why lie cold and alone when demon dolls willingly warm your bed?  Why starve when you can sustain yourself on blood? Why should any forego the blessing of conception? The power of Rbaja, can make any one of us into a garden, (albeit unweeded, and possessed by things rank and vile).

[Ron Edwards]

YES. With the addendum of black magic ultimately leaving a charred, ashy, not even-any-longer decaying pile of flaky powder.

You nailed it.