The Everlasting: The Magician’s Companion
From: Visionary Entertainment Studio
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
The Everlasting: The Magician’s Companion is a new RPG Supplement from Visionary Entertainment Studio.
The Magician’s Companion is a sourcebook that covers the magic of the Secret World, including an open-ended system that allows magicians to do whatever “they possess the will, energy, and desire to achieve.” Several traditional magical paths are featured, including Druidism, Voodoo, Witchcraft, Shamanism, Chaos magic, Enochian magic, and Hermetica. Also included, finally, is a complete chapter that details the Osirians, the thirteenth race of immortals that has been mentioned throughout the books but never described in-depth. Complete spells and rituals are included, along with numerous magical places and items. Secret Societies and an earth-like world openly ruled by mages and the organizations that exist there are also featured.
From the back cover:
“Unseal the paths of Magick”
There are three distinct sections of this book: Bound to the Cycle of Death and Rebirth (the section on Osirians), Magicians and Magick, and Paths of Magick. Each is reviewed below.
Bound to the Cycle of Death and Rebirth – Throughout the Foundation books, the Osirians are mentioned but never fully fleshed out. In the same tradition of good detail and story telling they used in the Foundations books, the authors finally bring the Osirians to Everlasting-life. They are described as the eldritch premier sorcerers who reincarnate over and over again. In life, they are immortal like anyone else in the normal world, but through cult rituals and magick, Osirians are reborn into a new life. At puberty, their true nature is revealed and the knowledge of their previous lives returns to them.
Osirians are heavily connected to the nature of the Secret World and magick. There are many Earthly mystical connections to the Osirians as well, including the Druids and some Hindu traditions. Their culture is inspired by Ancient Egypt and instills on each member the sense of the world’s Caretakers. The Osirian society is divided into castes or function groups called ‘djed’. The torment of the Osirians is Ennui – the boredom born of despair. Their preternaturae, benefits and drawbacks are all magick based. Their magick path is Ureret, which is a more flexible and much more powerful magick path.
From page # 22:
“Magic is the first and last religion of manakind – Clive Barker”
Magicians and Magick – This chapter is primarily a basic essay on the general nature, history and lore of Magick. It also covers several game mechanics related to Magick, including difficulties and spell creation and its relation to spontaneous magick. It also discusses the three major organizations or factions among magicians – the Magistocracy, the Custodians and the Consortium.
Paths of Magick – As stated previously, several paths of magic are described in this book, and they are found in this section, as one would guess. As explained in the core rulebooks, a character can take any number of paths based on their Art and Lore skill on that path. There are 10 paths described here. A lot of research into mythology and magical history was put into this. An impressive amount of information is contained within these pages. It also lists several magick paths that the reader can investigate and work on his own. Following the paths, the book provides a little over a dozen sample spells and encourages the reader to make their own based on the paths provided.
In conclusion, although it is not a bad book, I was left with a feeling that there should have been more. It is a small book, and it still leaves a lot up to the GM and Player. This leaves a big opportunity for abuse and power gaming, even though The Everlasting is not meant for those type of role players. There is a lot of good and well-researched information, as well as creative bridges between mythology and fantasy, much like the core rulebooks. In its essence, it follows through with the feel and the heart of the game, but fell short in feeling like a complete sourcebook.
For more details on Visionary Entertainment Studio and their new RPG Supplement “The Everlasting: The Magician’s Companion” check them out at their website http://www.visionaryentertainment.com and at all of your local game stores.
The Everlasting: The Magician’s Companion
From: Visionary Entertainment Studio
Type of Game: RPG Supplement
Written by: Steven Brown
Contributing Authors: Lindsay Woodcock, Gypsy Editing House
Game Design by: Steven Brown
Developed by: Steven Brown
Cover Art by: Chris Dien
Additional Art by: Meredith Dillman, Chris Keefe, Kyle Puttkammer, Jeff Ward.
Number of Pages: 100
Game Components Included: 1 6″x9″ book
Game Components Not Included: The Everlasting Core Rulebooks
Retail Price: $ 17.95 (US)
Item Number: EV502
ISBN: 1 887358 05 6
Email: chip_dobbs@visionaryentertainment.com
Website: www.visionaryentertainment.com
Reviewed by: Ron McClung