Maho

From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings

Maho is blood magic. It is fueled by the power of fresh blood and sacrifice, and draws from the sixth element: corruption. The use of maho Taints the users, forever linking them to Fu Leng and Jigoku. It calls upon kansen, evil spirits of corruption.^[1]

Contents 1 History and Use 2 Iuchiban 3 Maho Spells 3.1 Mastery Level 1 3.2 Mastery Level 2 3.3 Mastery Level 3 3.4 Mastery Level 4 3.5 Mastery Level 5 3.6 Mastery Level 6 3.7 Mastery Level 7 3.8 Other Maho Spells 4 References

[edit] History and Use

Maho was not originally a creation of Fu Leng, but of the Tribe of Isawa. When Isawa's followers realized maho would no longer be free of Jigoku's influence once they allied with the Kami Shiba, they foreswore its use.^[2]

It was centuries more before the research of Kuni Nakanu elevated maho from a primitive arcane art to an evil, destructive force.^[3]

Maho-tsukai generally believe that they bend the forces of the Shadowlands to their will, but they are mistaken. The use of maho serves Fu Leng, and there can be no other way. Tsukai are generally greedy and impatient shugenja, hoping to find a quick, easy way to immense power. Many believe that they can use maho only when necessary, completely unaware of its addictive nature. ^[4]

[edit] Iuchiban

Centuries more passed after Nakanu, and the sorcerer that would come to be known as Iuchiban found the dark Kuni's notes. Iuchiban founded the Bloodspeakers, an organization of maho-tsukai, and began making plans to raise an army of the undead to help him conquer Rokugan. ^{[citation needed]}

His plans were foiled, but Iuchiban had learned the secrets of immortality from the heartless Khadi. He was imprisoned because he could not be killed, but he escaped centuries later and tried again. Once again, his plans were foiled and once again he was imprisoned, presumably for all time. Recently, he managed to escape once more, and now the Bloodspeakers are marching to battle throughout Rokugan and the Shadowlands, fighting for control of both. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Maho Spells

[edit] Mastery Level 1

• Bleeding^[5]
• Blood and Darkness^[6]
• Blood Rite^[7]
• Curse of Weakness^[7][8]

• Drain Soul^[7]
• Heart of the Damned^[6]
• Legacy of the Dark One^[6]
• Rise Again ^{[citation needed]}
• Reduce^[5]
• Summon Undead Champion^[7]

[edit] Mastery Level 2

• Caress of Fu Leng^[7]
• Choking Death^[7]
• Control Undead^[7]
• Darkness Rising^[9][8]
• Dark Wings^[9]
• Fear^[9]
• Hate's Heart^[10]
• Mists of Fear^[10]
• Unblinking Eye^[9]

[edit] Mastery Level 3

• Corruption of the Elements^[9]
• Dancing with Demons^[11]
• Essence of Undeath^[9]
• Fire and Blood ^[12]
• Flock of Blood^[13]
• Obsidian Armor^[9]
• Pekkle's Visage^[10]
• Stealing Breath^[9]
• Taint Strike^[12]

[edit] Mastery Level 4

• Blood of the Ages^[12]
• Curse^{[14] [15]}
• Dark Favors^[12]
• Gift of the Maker^[14]
• Possession^[16]
• Summon Greater Kansen^[14]
• Summon Oni^{[14] [17][18]}
• Touch of Jigoku^[14]

[edit] Mastery Level 5

• Create Elemental Vortex^[19]
• Fierce Blood of the Earth^[20]
• Harvest of Death^[14][8]

[edit] Mastery Level 6

• Rise, Taint^[16]

[edit] Mastery Level 7

• The Grip of Iuchiban^[21]

[edit] Other Maho Spells

• 1000 Years of Terrible Slumber^[22]
• Animate the Dead^[15]
• Banish Oni^[23]
• Blood of Midnight^[15]
• Corruption of Earth^[15]
• Dancing with Demons^[24]
• Dark Charisma^[24]
• Dark Divination^[17]
• Gift of a Kansen^[25]
• Heaven Has No Justice^[26]
• No Pure Breaths^[24]
• Sinful Dreams^[24]
• Summon Garegosu no Bakemono^[17]
• Summon Swamp Spirits^[27]
• Summon Revenant^[27]
• Stealing the Soul^[27]
• Tomb of Earth^[28]
• Touch of Death^[27]
• Truth is a Scourge^[24]
• Ward of Divine Peace^[29]
• Ward of the Eight Kami^[25]

[edit] References