Shadow-binding is a type of Spell that only Shadowsouls can harness. This magic siphons power and lore from the Umbral Parasite that dwells within a Shadow Mage to create, warp, manipulate and control darkness, shadows and souls to great effect.

Shadowsouls are primarily known for the Word of Veiling, a spell that hides him from view and even renders him practically undetectable during the night hours. Alternatively, a Shadowsoul can use this magic offensively to create dark thorns upon his weaponry, to cause a creature's shadow to rip him into shreds or even to conjure an invisible tentacle that pulls enemies closer even as it strangles them. Defensively, Shadow-binding contains spells that allows the Caster's shadow to shield him from harm, fools enemies into attacking a shadowy illusion and even spirits a Shadow Mage away from unwanted conflict.

 Of course, there are the Umbral Grafts: rare and powerful spells that bind a Shadowy essence to the Shadowsoul or to another character in order to add the monster's power to its Host. A creature that is bound to an Umbral Graft can become poison incarnate, a ghost-like assassin or even despair made flesh. Naturally, the risks involved in such a melding are only ignored by the foolish - but Shadowsouls and indeed, all Sorcerers, have a saying: "There is no such thing as a foolish Sorcerer, only living Sorcerers and failures."

SHADOW-BINDING RITUALS

If a spell in this list requires a ritual, you may use the suggestions listed below. 

Shadow-binding Rituals are as quiet and as shadowy as the Shadowsouls that practice them. These Rituals tend to be quiet affairs; most speech is done quietly and these take place in places with little illumination.

It is common for Shadowsouls to meditate quietly when casting Ritual spells, mentally reliving some horrible event in their mind or even silently conversing with their Umbral Parasite. Some Shadowsouls however, whisper mantras, chants or litanies... occasionally holding court with their own Parasite in soft yet audible conversation. In these Rituals, an Umbral Parasite may even speak, whispering hate, spite or strife to those it can reach.

When performing a ritual upon another person or with other people, Shadow Mages will usually utilize some kind of prop. Some Shadowsouls will ritually draw one of their runes upon the target of a ritual. Others will provide masks to their comrades but only acknowledge them when they wear the runed masks. There are even those Shadowsouls that hold rituals in lit areas, yet only speak to others' shadows and only through their own.

A few Shadowsouls seek to emulate their own binding predicament upon others and, while casting their spell, ritually tie and bind the other participants with a black and/or silver rope or chain; such a ritual requires a great amount of trust in a particular Shadowsoul's abilities - too many stories of Shadowsouls going mad and attacking his or her comrades does little to cultivate that trust, however.

Short Incantation (Most spells use this): "With Darkness, I conjure a..."

Long Incantation (Erudite and Ritual spells use this): "Through the Darkness in all Souls, I conjure a..."

SPELL SUMMARIES

Word of Sharp Shadows: Manipulates the shadows of a distant target so that they slice him into ribbons.

Oath of Sharp Shadows: places a Glyph upon you that empowers you and your weaponry with sharpened shadows.

Word of Twinned Shadows: places illusions and mirages in the minds of a distant target, fooling them into attacking shadowy images of you.

Oath of the Shadow Shroud: places a Glyph upon you that empowers your shadows with resilience. You are granted AP (Armor Points), which are the first to be depleted when you take damage. When you have no more AP, that is when you take HP (Hit Point) damage.

Word of Unbinding: conjures shadowy energy that allows you to slip through bonds.

Word of Shadowy Blood: allows fell energies to course through your bloodstream. This hurts you but can cure lesser diseases and basic poisons. With the right components, more potent ailments can be cured from you.

Inquisition of Shadows: unerringly determines whether a character is a Shadow or possessed by a Shadow.

Oath of Dark Influence: places a Glyph upon you that makes you very good at lying to people and making friends.

Oath of Dark Scrying: places a Glyph upon you that allows you to sense the deceptions of others and when invisible creatures are about; this spell also allows you to pinpoint the location of invisible creatures.

Word of Veiling: hides you from sight as long as you are near some cover and you do nothing while you are invisible. When cast at night, Feats and Spells cannot be used to pinpoint your position.

Word of Exodus: turns you into a swift shadow, allowing you to escape an unwanted fight.

Oath of Deep Shadows: places a Glyph upon you that punishes those who would pick your pockets and those who would loot your body.

Complex Spells: can be learned from Player Characters or Non-player Characters who possess the Teach skill.

Word of Shadow-binding: conjures dark energies to pin a distant to their shadow on the ground, pinning them in place.

Word of Coiling Shadows: conjures an invisible tentacled limb to pull a creature toward you and hold them in place.

Word of Shadow-breaking: conjures energy that is deadly to Shadows and hurls it at a distant target.

Howl of Sharp Shadows: infuses your form and your weaponry with deadly, writhing shadowy energy.

Oath of Dark Mirrors: Places a Glyph upon you that allows you to negate a spell that hits you and reflect it upon the one that cast it on you; doing this costs Spiritual energy and vitality.

Oath of the Shadow Mask: uses the malleability of shadow energy to create a disguise; with the right components, this spell can even disguise your true Race.

Erudite Spells: can be learned from select Non-player Characters only.

Graft of Midnight Shadows: places a Glyph on a target that infuses their soul with the power of a Midnight Shadow; the target can use the Shadow's ethereal elusiveness to their advantage and is possessed by the Shadow when he is dying.

Graft of Poisoned Shadows: places a Glyph on a target that infuses their soul with the power of a Poisoned Shadow; the target can use the Shadow's venomous deadliness to their advantage and is possessed by the Shadow when he is dying.

Graft of Desolate Shadows: places a Glyph on a target that infuses their soul with the power of a Desolate Shadow; the target can use the Shadow's potent magics to their advantage and is possessed by the Shadow when he is dying.