Sorcery

"No question! Just think, no more tricks with feathers! No more hiding pigs inside your coat! You'll learn real magic, Willow! Real sorcery!"

—Meegosh to Willow Ufgood, in Willow: A Novel

Sorcery was the power of influencing events by channeling the energy of the Great Mystery.

History

Sorcery and Magic

Sorcery was commonly referred to as magic, although some, like the High Aldwyn, insisted that magic and sorcery were different things.

Some beings participated in the Great Mystery from the very moment they were born, which rendered them able to learn sorcery. Affinity for magic, however, was a rare gift, and not always inherited. Every sorcerer or sorceress was encouraged to pursue his or her own Way; while both Fin Raziel and Bavmorda drew heavily on the powers of the Mystery, the latter was driven by selfishness, and her Way was corrupted. The term "magic" was also applied to the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand. The Nelwyn farmer Willow Ufgood was initially one such stage magician, although he ended up becoming a real sorcerer.

In an attempt to protect the future empress Elora Danan and ward evil off once and for all, a magical Barrier was lifted around the Daikini realm, and Queen Sorsha of Tir Asleen proclaimed a ban on sorcery. Willow Ufgood disagreed, believing that the day would come where magic would be the only thing capable of saving the world.

Magical Pedagogy

There's a strict system of magical pedagogy involving the mastery of the four pillars of sorcery: charms, potions, concentration, and divination.

Charms

At its most basic, a spell required a verbal formula, known as an incantation.

Potions

Sorcery provides a means to create potions — liquids that contain medicine, poison, or have magic powers.

Divination

Divination involves interpreting the vibrations of the universe, and seeing the future, nearly impossible for even the most accomplished sorcerer. Along with seeing visions, it may also be accomplished through scrying.

Concentration

Through concentration and with proper focus, a sorceror can move objects with their mind, manipulate elemental forces, even transform people.

Spell-casting

Even though sorcery is an internal art, requiring a belief in oneself, imagination, and willpower, it is often accompanied by a variety of external components.

When Willow first begins to harness the power of sorcery, Fin Raziel instructed him in the creation of a potion which would link Willow's life spark to the bloodstream of the universe. As Willow first started to use sorcery, he experienced pain while attempting to cast a spell. Only by ignoring the pain would the spells he cast work properly. If a spell isn't cast properly, then the magic will go awry, causing random side effects to occur.

The wands of wizard and fairies and socerers, such as Cherlindrea, could also be used to enhance and focus spells. In fact, even though spells usually required an incantation, Fin Raziel was able to use the wand to cast Force Screen to protect Sorsha from a wall of spikes, as well as summon freezing winds to counter Bavmorda’s fire spell. Also, when Bavmorda and Fin Raziel wrestled over the wand, random bolts of energy erupted from it.

List of Spells

• Animate
• Bolt of Flame
• Canyon Maze
• ChangeSpell
• Chant of Inviolation
• Flowing Fire
• Fly
• Screen
• Ghost
• Freeze
• Freeze in Quartz
• Knight Processional
• Levitate
• Lightning
• Ritual of obedience
• Ritual of Obliteration
• Shelter chant
• Specter
• Spell of Assumption
• Spell of Dissolution
• Teleportation Spell
• The Purgation of Namshub
• Transformation
• Wind Spell

List of Incantations

• Tuatha, Lokathrok, Tuatha — Used by the High Aldwin to transform a rock into a bird.
• Locktwarr — The word that pleads for change.
• Hither Greenan Bairn Kleideb Lunanockt — The first chant Willow used to transform Fin Raziel.
• Abalorian Greenan Luatha Tai Danu — The second chant Willow used to transform Fin Raziel.
• Bellanockt — Used by Willow to attack a Troll, causing it to mutate into the Eborsisk.
• Avaggdu, Luatha, Bairn off Haivemore — The Shelter Chant, used to protect Willow and Fin Raziel from Bavmorda's sorcery.
• Elements of Eternity, Above and Below, Balance of Essence, Fire beget Snow. Locktwarr danelora, Luatha danu, tuatha tuatha, chnox danu — The third and final chant Willow used to transform Fin Raziel.
• Tuatha Grin Chnox, Liomfo Danu — Used by Fin Raziel to undo Bavmorda's pig spell.
• Och Vath Bordak Stira — One of the chants used in the ritual Bavmorda was performing to destroy Elora Danan's soul.
• Avaggdu Strokt — Used by Bavmorda to send Sorsha toward a wall of spikes.
• Fyurock Flarem — Used by Bavmorda to summon a fireball.
• Kleideb, Claimain, Lunanockt, Wanu — Used by Fin Raziel to summon Cherlindrea's wand, levitate Bavmorda high into the air, and then throw her across the room.
• Beah — Used by Bavmorda to slam the doors shut to prevent Willow from escaping.
• Bohibakstiy — Used by Bavmorda to summon Cherlindria's wand into her hand.

Appearances

• Willow (First appearance)
• Willow: A Novel
• Willow NES video game
• The Willow Game
• Willow – "The Gales"
• Willow – "The High Aldwin"
• Willow – "Wildwood"