Way of Destruction
The most feared element of the Dekàli dragàlim is Skarádra, the Way of destruction. Although the concept of Skarádra is fairly simple, understanding its place in nature is not. Skarádra is an entropic force which not only disassembles matter, but eliminates its essence. Unlike Mūátra whose effects are mostly temporary, the results of Skarádra are permanent unless acted upon by an opposing external force.
When discussing Skarádra, there is a tendency to compare its effects to Mūátra magics. While this is helpful to illustrate the differences between change and unmaking, Skarádra has much more in common, albeit inversely, with Halra, the Way of healing and mending.
Not all uses of Skarádra are ominous. A spell defined as skarádra Pyrádrū for instance, may be employed to cancel a magical effect. A spell defined as skarádra Soróltrū may block a particular sound. Each of these examples involve a Form which is being canceled. This is a hallmark of all Skarádra Weavings.
There are many vulgar examples of Skarádra magics as well. A spell defined as skarádra Ilûmtrū could cancel all light in an area. A spell defined as skarádra Kadàktrū could be used to erase one or more memories. A spell defined as skarádra Vorádtrū could beset an unlucky target with disease and weakness. Perhaps the most villainous use of the Skarádra magics is skarárda Vīsìktrū which could be used to destroy parts of a living body. With access to greater levels of magic, the possibilities of Skarádra become even more frightening.
Spells
Dragàmyr
- Daszar’s Missing Word (skarádra Soróltrū)
- Disruption of Jor (skarádra Pyrádrū)
- Eldran Eldritch Erasure (skarádra Pyrádrū) q.v. Eldra
- Kezzul’s Idiocy (skarádra Kadàktrū)
- Ligrel’s Salámadra (skarádra Phlōgòstrū)
- Lothaland’s Thoughtsnatch (skarádra Kadàktrū)
- Melisim’s Chirurgery (skarádra Kadàktrū)
- Obybolum’s Burning Mind (skarádra Kadàktrū)
- Salydeun’s Dehydration (skarádra Mærū)
- Sceres’s Flame (skarádra Phlōgòstrū)
- Skyas’s Omus Nol (skarádra Noltrū)
- Szylbra’s Shattering Touch (skarádra Teréðrū)
- Vyn Tanâd’s Withering (skarádra Or Kàntrū)
Vornàmyr
- Black and Withered Vine (skarádra Vīsìktrū) q.v. Amra
Foci
- Nephōlom. Blackflame is usually a small lick of ebony flame burning fitfully within a crystal bead. When the bead is broken and its contents exposed to air, the flame explodes into a ball of cold fire, consuming all within its reach. As soon as the strange flame has grown it is gone, leaving behind the smell of burnt hair and the faint sound of distant screaming. This is nephōlom, one of the rarest components of the Arcanists’ arsenal. If Phlōgòstrū is a reaction between the Waking and the Nether, nephōlom is a reaction between the Nether and Ether. Harvesting nephōlom is exceedingly difficult as the element must be contained in a neutral vessel that cannot be permeated by the three Nols. Nephōlom is sometimes used to increase the potency and amount of energy available for Skarádra magics.