CHAPTER 2 | MAGIC IN KHORVAIRE 41MAGIC IN KHORVAIRE ......................................
Your airship soars through the skies,
approaching the mile-high towers of Sharn. You
disembark, walking down a street lit by M^MZJZQOP\
lanterns, and make your way to your favorite
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uses XZM[\QLQOQ\I\QWV\WKPQTTIVLÆI^WZIVIZZIa
of exotic beverages. A Phiarlan bard entertains
the crowd with song and a dazzling display of
illusions. An argument between two veterans
escalates into violence: the Brelish tough
produces a knife, but the Aundairian duelist
already has a wand in her hand.
Magic is a part of life in Khorvaire. Arcane
magic is a form of science, and the Five Nations
are built on this foundation. Magewrights are
professional spellcasters who use rituals and
cantrips to provide a host of services. The
dragonmarked houses provide magical services
that are beyond the powers of a common
magewright. And manifest zones IZM[XMKQÅK
locations where the energies of the planes bleed
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can’t be replicated elsewhere, such as the colossal
towers of Sharn.
WIDE MAGIC, NOT HIGH MAGIC
While magic is widespread, the scope of magic is
limited Low-level spells are a part of everyday
life, but high-level magic remains remarkable.
Common Magic. Cantrips and 1st
level spells are commonplace. Magewrights,
wandslingers, and dragonmarked heirs can all
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the impact of this magic as part of everyday
life. Common magic items can be found in any
community and purchased in any major city,
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enclave that deals in what you’re looking for.
Common magic items generally range in price
from 50–100 gp.
Uncommon Magic. There are magewrights
and dragonmarked heirs who can cast 2nd
and 3rd level spells, and such services can be
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with arcane locks on their doors, but that’s a sign of
a wealthy owner. The same is true of uncommon
magic items. It’s possible to purchase these in
a major city, but selection and quantity will be
limited; in a smaller town, they’ll be more limited
still. Uncommon magic items typically cost
between 100–500 gp, though costs can be higher
based on scarcity.
Rare magic. Spells of 4th through 5th level
are beyond the reach of most people. People are
familiar with the concept of spells like teleportation
or raise dead, but few people have ever seen either
of these things actually performed. Only the
most remarkable magewrights have access to
such magic, so these services usually come from
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with Greater Dragonmarks and dragonshard
focus items.
In theory, rare magic items can be purchased,
with prices ranging anywhere from 2,000 gp–
20,000 gp. In practice, these things are rare. A
rare magic item might be the prize of a collection
in a Sharn emporium, or the showpiece of
a House Cannith forgehold. It’s more likely
that such items will be acquired as rewards for
working with a powerful organization than
simply found for purchase in a store. Of course,
should you have a ridiculous sum of gold burning
a hole in your purse, you might be able to
commission House Cannith to create a rare item
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Very Rare and Legendary Magic. Spells
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legends and folktales. The few people known to
wield this sort of power are themselves legends:
Mordain the Fleshweaver, the Keeper of the
Silver Flame, the Daughters of Sora Kell. If
encountered in the Five Nations, such magic
will likely be tied to an MTLZQ\KPUIKPQVMor a
manifest zone.
Legendary magic items are generally the work
of dragons or demons, or relics found in the ruins
of Xen’drik. Very rare magic items could be tied
to similar sources, or they might be masterworks
of the elves of Aerenal or Valenar heirlooms. It’s
unlikely that such a treasure would ever be sold.