A long,long time ago, when magic was the only science known to man, there dwelt in the land of Llewdor a wizard named Manannan. He was very learnded in all matters of the heavens and earth. Of great age, Manannan presented a frail appearance, as though his skin were made of bleached and the weathered parchment. Manannan's impression of fragility lasted only until one looked into his coal-black eyes, which burned with a strange fire. This was, indeed, a powerful wizard. Although he was powerful, and capable of conjuring up vast armies of spirit servants to sweep his hearth, prepare his meals,and other menial tasks with which he would not soil his hands, this solution to his everyday needs was not satisfactory to him. For he liked his solitude, and didn't want a lot of spirits (who besides all else, are quite inquisitive and mischievous)cluttering up his house. Istead, he impressed a very young boy to do his bidding, taking the lad when he was only a year old,so he would have no memories to tug at him in the years to come. Unfortunately for Manannan, boys grow up and become adventure some young men. As his slave grew in stature and in strengh,Manannan was irritated to find him poking around in areas of the house where he didn't belong. Or he would climb down the narrow path leading to Manannan's mountain top retreat to explore the surrounding countryside. Even punishment did not stop him for long. One day, when his slave was 18 years of age, the wizard found him practicing magic spells. This was the last straw!!! "YOU!" Manannan screamed. "You read my books of spells and plundered my supplies of powders and potions. You have even ventured into Llewdor again, against my expressed command, for nowhere else could you have gathered some of these ingredients! "You think you will win your freedom with these tricks?" the wizard sneered. "You shall see your mistake! You have earned only your own demise!" And with that, Manannan raised his hands menacingly. Suddenly the earth began to shake. And his slave was no more. Only a smal pile of ashes remained where he had stood. "Next time, I won't make the same mistake,"Manannan snarled. "I'll never let any of my slaves reach manhood. I'll have no more accidents." And so the years passed. Manannan went out and found another small boy to be his slave. He stole him from a country some distance from Llewdor, to direct suspicion away from himself. Manannan was more careful with this child, and watched him closely. The wizard punished the boy severely when he caught him away from the house. And he made sure the boy didn't get his hands on even any ordinary items that might be transformed into magic charms or potions. On the whole, Manannan didn't have much trouble with him, but still on the lad's 18th birthday, the wizard zapped him out of existence. "It's a nuisance, having to train a slave all over again," He mumbled complainingly. "But it's better than having trouble like the last time." And so he went on, every 17 years kidnapping a small boy from his loving parents, then slaying him on the 18th anniversary of his birth. (Occasionally the cycle was shortened slightly, when he unfortunately chose a precocious child that learned too much before his 18th year.) And time went on... To perform any of the following spells, OPEN "the sorcery of Old" to the appropriate page and follow the directions. PRECISELY !! ANY deviation from the correct procedure, including the EXACT recitation of the empowering verse, can cause fatal (if sometimes humorous) results. NOTE: parentheses indicate descriptive text, not instructions you need to type into the computer. UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE OF CREATURES INGREDIENTS: one small feather from a bird one tuft of fur from any animal one dried reptile skin one rounded spoonful of powdered fish bone one thimbleful of dew one magic wand DIRECTIONS: I Put the small feather in a bowl II Put the fur in the bowl III Put the reptile skin in the bowl IV Add a spoonful of powdered fish bone V Put a thimbleful of dew in the bowl VI Mix with hands (mixture will now be doughy) VII Separate mixture into two pieces VIII Put dough pieces into your ears IX (Recite this verse) Feather of fowl and bone of fish, Molded together in this dish Give me wisdom to understand Creatures of air,sea and land X Wave the magic wand You will now be able to understand the speech of animals,birds and fish. You will not,however,be able to speak to them. The spell will last as long as the dough is in your ears. II FLYING LIKE AN EAGLE OR A FLY INGREDIENTS: one tail feather from any eagle (to become an eagle) one pair of fly wings (to become a fly) one pinch of saffron rose petal essence one magic wand DIRECTIONS: I Put a pinch of saffron in essence II (recite this verse) Oh winged spirits,set me free Of earthly bindings,just like thee In this essence,behold the might To grant the precious gift of flight III Wave the magic wand You now have a potion which will allow you to cast the transformation spell. To cast the spell any time later: Dip the eagle feather in the essence (if you want to become an eagle). Dip the fly wings in the essence(if you want to become a fly). You will turn into an eagle or a fly. If you do not transform back into yourself, the spell will wear off after some time has passed. You can use this spell until your rose petal/saffron is gone. To return to your own form before the spell wears off, recite this verse: eagle begone myself,return! or fly,begone myself,return! IV TELEPORTATION AT RANDOM INGREDIENTS: one spoonful of salt grains one sprig of dried mistletoe one smooth rounded stone of unusual color one magic wand DIRECTIONS: I Grind a spoon of salt in a mortar (with a pestle) II Grind the mistletoe in the mortar III Rub the stone in the mixture IV Kiss the stone V (recite this verse) With this kiss,I thee impart, Power most dear to my heart Take me now from this place hither, To another place far thither VI Wave the magic wand You now own a charm which will allow you to cast the random teleportation spell. To cast the spell, rub the stone. It will instantly wisk you away from where you are. Remain alert,however--even though you can use the spell to run away from danger, nothing guarantees that you will not arrive in a more precarious situation than the one you left. The power of the charm remains for as long as you retain the stone. VII CAUSING A DEEP SLEEP INGREDIENTS: three dried acorns one cup nightshade juice one magic wand one empty pouch DIRECTIONS: I Grind the acorns in a mortar(with a pestle) II Put the acorn powder in a bowl III Put the nightshade juice in the bowl IV Stir the mixture with a spoon V light a charcoal brazier VI Heat the mixture on the brazier (boil the mixture until the nightshade juice is almost gone, then remove from heat) VII Spread the mixture on a table (wait until dry) VIII (recite this vese) Acorn powder ground so fine Nightshade juice,like bitter wine Silently in darkness you creep To bring a soporific sleep IX Wave the magic wand X Put the sleep powder in the pouch (for safekeeping) You have now mixed a powder for casting a sleep spell over whoever is nearby. To cast the spell,pour the sleep powder on the ground (or floor) in a dank,dark place. Then recite: Slumber,henceforth! XIV TRANSFORMING ANOTHER INTO A CAT INGREDIENTS: one-half cup mandrake root powder one small ball of cat hair two spoonfuls of fish oil one magic wand DIRECTIONS: I Put mandrake root powder in a bowl II Put the cat hair in the bowl III Put two spoons of fish oil in bowl IV Stir the mixture with a spoon (dough will be oily) V Put the dough on the table VI Pat the dough into a cookie (let harden on table) VII (recite this verse) Mandrake root and hair of cat Mix oil of fish and give a pat A feline from the one who eats This appetizing magic treat VIII Wave magic wand You have just created a cookie that, when eaten,will turn the victim into a cat. Forever! XXV BREWING A STORM INGREDIENTS: one cup of ocean water one spoonful of mud one pinch of toadstool powder one magic wand one empty jar DIRECTIONS: I Put a cup of ocean water in bowl II light a charcoal brazier III Heat the bowl on the brazier(heat slowly,but not to boiling,then remove from heat) IV Put a spoon of mud in the bowl V Add a pinch of toadstool powder VI Blow into the hot brew VII (recite this verse) Elements from the earth and sea, Combine to set the heavens free When I stir this magic brew, Great god Thor, I call on you VIII Wave the magic wand IX Pour the storm brew into the jar (to store) You have mixed a potion that you can use to brew a storm. To activate the spell, stir the storm brew with your finger and recite: Brew of storms,Churn it up! Outdoors, a rainstorm complete with thunder and lighting will occur. It will last for some time, but will eventually rain itself out. If you wish it to subside earlier, recite: Brew of storms, clear it up! LXXXIV BECOMEING INVISIBLE INGREDIENTS: one jar of lard one cactus one spoonful of cactus juice two drops of toad spittle one magic wand DIRECTIONS: I Cut the cactus with a knife II Squeeze the cactus juice on spoon III Put the cactus juice in a bowl IV Put the lard in the bowl V Add two drops of toad spittle VI Stir the mixture with a spoon VII (recite this verse) Cactus plant and horny toad I now start down a dangerous road Combine with fire and mist to make Me disappear without a trace VIII Wave magic wand IX Put ointment in the empty lard jar You now have a magic ointment that will allow you to turn invisible(but beware, the ointment only works in a place where there is both fire and mist). To cast the invisiblility spell, rub the ointment on your body. You will be invisible for a short while. You have enough for one application. CLXIX