Ruh (Magic)

Ruh magic is the art of communing with and manipulating spirits to produce arcane or supernatural effects. Ruh magic is most often used for divination, protective effects, and practical magic.

This Praxis of magic is the most common and can range in effects from a simple blessing for luck to enormous wards that protect an area, such as a city. Given the relationships between the material plane and Aruhlund, or the Spirit Plane, it is understood that spirits are not entirely individual and separate entities, and the more a spirit is built up and reconstructed, the stronger its residual magic becomes. Buildings, especially homes, are often built, deconstructed, and rebuilt a total of three times to strengthen the spirit of the building. Domestic Ruh are the most common, as they serve as a protective force not only for a home, but for members of the family residing within. This practice results in more well-thought-out architectural designs, and protects a home from malevolent forces, such as Dark Ruh, who may seek to sow discord among a family.

This same philosophy is often applied to the defensive structures around major settlements - built a total of three times - to add magical protection to a city's walls and battlements. In some cases, such as in the Embryan capital of Deepwell, the walls are said to have been built three-and-three-and-three times, which has lent incredibly powerful warding to the city's defenses.

Ruh Symbolism
Ruh can be called upon with the use of Sigildry, a practice involving the use of a Ruh's name to produce activatable effects. This can be seen often in signet rings, as sigils are stamped into wax seals, spreading protection both for the sender, recipient, and the information stored within. In same cases, wealthy families will further augment the protection afforded by their Domestic Ruh with sigils that call upon the Domestic Ruh of other homes and bloodlines, usually seen in the joining of houses via marriage.

When treating with Ruh magic, some symbols work as attractors or bolsters for the effects they produce. For example, exceedingly common home alter goods will include a bird's nest, symbolizing the home. What is contained within the nest will alter the connotation of the shrine. For example, adding eggs or hollow eggshells represent children and the future. Strands of wheat promote health, a lodestone promotes fortitude and familial ties, and a knotted twine strengthens the blessings that marriage affords.