The Empty Way

Some see the secrets of the ancients as a path to power and control. They wield magic as a tool, using the ancient invocations and occult prayers to compel the tattered remnants of divinity to obey their purposes. The adepts of the Empty Way turned their back on such profane behavior long centuries ago. Since then they have kept to themselves in isolated monasteries and remote hermitages, taking as disciples those souls who sought refuge from the world and a path toward perfection of the soul. Adepts of the Empty Way are found throughout Arcem, though most often as Raktian hermits or monastics who follow a Uniter version of the doctrine, or Toban lamas and their disciples who use their arts to defend and advance the interests of their monastery. Individual mystical practitioners are also found in Dulimbai, along with a scattering of Lomite atheist-monks in the far north. The magic of the Empty Way is quick to employ, and may be cast spontaneously. It requires no material instruments whatsoever, not even when it is cast as a ritual. The sages of this path obstinately re- nounce the use of magic as a tool to affect the outside world, however, and so spells of the Empty Way only ever affect the caster. They may then choose to use their newfound strength to act in the world, but their philosophers consider that a very different prospect than that of the direct employ of sorcery. Initiates of the Empty Way symbolize their renunciation of direct influence on the world by their adoption of a particular taboo, whether celibacy, poverty, rigid dietary bans, strict obedience to a superior, lengthy periods of prayer each day, or some other stricture. Breaking this taboo or neglecting this duty costs them all use of their powers until they can spend a full day in meditation and purification. Those of the Empty Way who learn another tradition’s magic may use that magic normally, though other adepts of the path are apt to view them as very bad believers for meddling with magic that way