Alter Aeon The Great Library

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Note - as with any topic, researchers should question the reliability
and veracity of these texts.  The library's aim is to preserve
documents, not verify accuracy.

AABN:  16028
Title: a book entitled, 'Coldfire'

Coldfire, by Count Tarrant of Merentha

Coldfire is a substance unlike any other in the multiverse.  It is neither
light nor shadow, and it is neither fire nor ice.  It is everywhere yet
nowhere.  This unfire exists between the cracks of reality: the purest base
form of etherealness that can be perceived and manipulated by mortals. 
Coldfire is very dangerous, and its nature so mysterious that Dentin
himself has forbidden demonkind from bequeathing its secrets to mortal
necromancers.  Thusly, we must make do with original research such as this 
paper.

Harnessing coldfire can be likened to the weakest versions of spiritualism
spells, except instead of making contact with other spirits, the target is
an energy with the absence of any element.  Coldfire appears like a
bluish-white flame that flickers but does not consume or die.  It does not
emit heat or cold, but it is freezing to the touch, and one should be
careful handling it.

To collect coldfire, a necromancer must learn to muster his own animating
spirit and transmit it into his surroundings.  This is done by tying a tiny
portion of his soul and projecting his mana away from his body in all
directions.  Once this is done, the caster recognizes coldfire by making
contact with his mana.

For most, it is perceived as coldness, although, as with most matters of
the soul, its exact feeling varies from person to person, and some trial
and error is necessary to get it right.  The necromancer then wraps his
projected spiritual energy around the detected deposits of coldfire and
draws them back to himself.  He then concentrates it into a single mass,
usually in his hand.

The spirit is then retracted into the body.  The mana expended in the
effort is lost, as would be expected, however, as necromancer gains more
experience with the process, he learns to harvest and concentrate coldfire
more efficiently at the same cost of mana.

Once a necromancer has a suitable amount of coldfire available, the are two
common options for using it.  First, the ball of unfire can be utilized a
spell component for enhancing the frigidity of magic brews.  Secondly,
coldfire can be fired at a target, inflicting chilling damage to the
victim's very soul.  More powerful inflictions can be derived from
concentrated coldfire by expending additional mana to mold it before
unleashing it on a victim.

Coldfire is the gateway for more advanced spectral spells.  Using unfire, a
skilled necromancer can poison and inflict lingering pain that rots away
both the flesh and souls of their enemies.