(While this document
contains no historical data, its reference to "Tarlov of the Ghost Hand"
as a near-legendary figure indicates that the name was not unknown to the
inhabitants of eastern Avalon in the early days of the Kingdom of
Evendarr. It is to be noted that the effects described were those which
could be obtained during the previous Cycle of Ages.)
Only Persons of
Significance shall have High Horoscopes cast for their Children, & only
the Most Rigorously Qualified Astrologer may cast them. Since the
Approximate Date, Time & Place of the Noble Birth is usually known, there
is sufficient Time to assemble the necessary Materials & to procure the
Services of One who has the required Skill.
A Sheet of the Finest
Vellum, pronounced to be free of Impurities & Magical Effects by the Court
Mage & a Representative of the Healers' Guild, shall be Prepared & Made
Ready. The Inks to be Used must be made of or contain the Blood of the
Creature Who Rules the Sign of the Child's Birth. If the Household Rank
is that of a Duke or Equal, especially if the Child is to be Named Heir,
Ink of the Blood of the Creature Ruling the Great or Golden Cycle may also
be included. For the Royal Heir, or in the Rare Instance of the Birth of
a Child for Whom the Omens have been Greatly Portentous, the Ink may also
include the Blood of the Creature Who Rules the Cycle of Ages. Thus, the
Heir to His Royal Majesty, Born in the Sign of the Raven, in the Year of
the Air Salamander, in the 41st Year of the Great Phoenix Cycle, shall
have Her Chart Inscribed with the Blood of These Creatures.
As soon as the Child is
Determined to have been born Alive & in good Health (in most cases), a
Drop of the Infant's Own Blood is drawn from the Ring Finger of the Left
Hand & added to the Mixture, & the High Horoscope is then Recorded. This
must be done within Three Days after Birth, for by then the Infant is
Fully Acclimated to an Independent Life & the Spirit is no longer
Malleable.
It then becomes a Most
Valuable Object, for it is Imbued with the Essence of the Native for Whom
it was Cast, & Whoever Possesses It may Exercise a certain Measure of
Influence over the Native. Keeping the High Horoscope Safe from Unwonted
Meddling, by Magical or Mechanical Means, is a Matter of the Highest
Responsibility, usually given unto the Most Able & Trusted Advisor of the
Child's Family, for by the Magical Laws of Sympathy, any Action which
Affects the High Horoscope can also Affect the Native to a Great or Lesser
Degree.
Only the First Chart so
Cast will Function Sympathetically, even though Counterfeits have been
known to be Attempted. If the Chart is known to be Genuine, it can then
be used to identify Imposters & Pretenders. Even Spirit Possession may be
Detected, unless the Child is not of This Plane, or became Possessed
Before or During Birth.
In the Event of Multiple
Births, the Firstborn shall have its Blood drawn from the Left Ring
Finger, the Second - born from the Left Middle Finger & the Third -born
from the Left Index Finger. In the Rare Instance of an Unfortunate Fourth
- born, its Blood shall be drawn from the Left Thumb. (This has occurred
but Once in Known History, in the Case of the hapless Dyffed the Clumsy of
Wyr, thus giving rise to the Aphorism, "He's all Thumbs.")
The Granting of Permission
to Cast a High Horoscope is Recognized in the Law of the Realm as De Facto
Acknowledgement that the Child is Legitimate, Entitling Him or Her to all
of the Customary Titles, Honors & Privileges entailed by Rank, Family &
Class. Conversely, the Refusal of such a Casting Denies those Rights.
This Practice has oftentimes been the Cause of Much Dissension in
Households, especially when a High Horoscope was Permitted for a Child
Known to have been Born or Sired out of Wedlock, or when the Casting was
Denied to an Otherwise Legitimate Child because of Omens, Health, Passions
or Politics. Occasionally, High Horoscopes Denied by Permission have been
Cast Secretly, for the Same Reasons. Rarely also, have High Horoscopes
been Cast in Secret for Children of Humble Birth, for Whom the Omens have
shown Great Portent.
By the Law of Sympathy, in
addition to Being a Source of Influence & Control over the Native, the
High Horoscope, if it is Properly Cast & Ensorcelled at Birth, can Confer
Certain Powers & Protections. The Forms & Puissance of These will depend
on the Omens of Good or Evil Shown in the Chart, & the Skill of the
Sorcerer. Among them are Immunities to Poisons, Diseases & Spirit
Possession, Protection from Certain Weapons, Magical Spells or the Attacks
of Certain Creatures & Monsters, Shapechanging, & Regeneration. Even
Greater Magical Effects have been Rumored, but except for Fragments of
Legends & Bard's Tales, no Proof of their Existence can be Obtained.
It is also Possible, if a
High Horoscope shows Sufficient Omens of Power & the Necessary Spells are
Properly Cast by a Healer of the Highest Rank, that It may Become a
Repository of the Native's Spirit in a Time of Great Peril, even unto
Death Itself. With the Chart & the Necessary Rituals, Spells may be Cast
to Communicate with the Spirit, or even to Infuse it into Another Body or
Simulacrum, so long as no Other Spirit is Present. This May Only be Done
with the Consent of the Disembodied Spirit. However, there Exist in
Certain Ancient Scrolls now Resting in the Archivum, Mysterious References
to the Re-embodiment of an Unwilling Spirit by the Legendary Necromancer
Tarlov of the Ghost Hand, using the Vilest & Most Despicable of Rites.
In a Few Rare Instances,
the High Horoscopes of Some of the Greatest Figures of History have been
Reputed to have become Artifacts of Power & Protection, which have been
Called Upon in Times of Direst Need, even after the Passage of Centuries.
One Legend tells of the Warrior King El Thydd of the Lost Realm of
Andalusia who, upon being Summoned by His People in Their Most Desperate
Hour, appeared in Full Armor on His Great War Chariot. He then led His
Kingdom's remaining Forces against His Sworn Enemies, the Thralle,
Confounding his Foes & Routing an Invasion Force Ten Times Greater than
His Own.
Other High Horoscopes of
Power are said to be Those of the Elven Sorcerer Umbriel Ardril, the
Necromancer Tarlov of the Ghost Hand, the Knight Jarlana Silverhair, Baron
Lord Geoffrey of the Northern Reaches, & the Healer -Princess Bythina, Who
saved Her People from the Spotted Plague. The Dark Elves do not Speak of
Their Heroes. Despite the Efforts of the Guild to retrieve these Relics
for the Crown, they have been Lost to Theft, Invasion or Catastrophe,
although it is said that the Elves of Misty Wood know where lies the Chart
of Their Mage, & Rumors surface from Time to Time of a Hidden Cave in the
Arawyn Mountains where the High Horoscope of Lord Geoffrey lies Guarded &
Concealed.