Ann. Daartlawer Agency of Magi: This text, a recent corpus, is a contiguous and annotated extract from the written confession of Pagmallon Larēda to the murder of the Goentean opera composer Cleiton Analarēda. Despite this context, it provides a remarkably up-to-date explanation of the modern Body Art, which was previously the jealous secret of the Onavaran’s Circle.
I am not writing this for the benefit of any other magus. I am writing this because otherwise, as did not the late Cleiton Analarēda, there shall be none with the requisite understanding of the art which I, Pagmallon Larēda, have come to master to understand precisely how it is I have outclassed the entirety of the backwards Circle of the Onavaran. I am writing this to boast: Anharwa’s Paradox is my truer casualty, the librettist may as well have slain herself years ago. Beyond the Circle, there are few who understand the Body Art (Ann: Ms. Pagmallon refers here to magic which concerns the command of bodily material, and the command of life processes), but all shall benefit from the knowledge that this Paradox is no longer relevant in the wider art of magic.
Ann. The reader may skip or read Ms. Pagmallon’s introduction…
[Allow me to state Anharwa’s Paradox as the putative foe of Mesiantes conceived it. He was undoubtedly an inferior duelist than Mesiantes, and he famously cautioned in his recommendation that the dueling magus learn demonology that using minions is not a sufficient protection against direct attack. His point is, as I’m sure you know, now a ritualized and overblown axiom:
“The demonologist, through his ability to employ a variety of hostile bodies in a confrontation, gains the ability to attack without opening. Yet, as the Law of Mesiantes states, the demonologist’s body remains the combative point of least resistance.”
In other words, “you can throw attack dogs at people, but they won’t take a bullet for you (unless they do).” Of course, he cites the Law of Mesiantes, which states, in so many words, if you find yourself fighting a magus, who is engaged in some exceedingly complicated hokum, just destroy their body. The difference between a dead magus and a dead human is nil. The difference between a magus and a dead magus is a living body. So, Anharwa claims it’s a strange paradox that magi who use demons or other sorts of minions may believe they are creating more targets, but in fact, to the wise magus, they are not. The defining factor of a firebrand magus-cum-philosopher is being a blithering idiot with no taste for nuance.
I also have no taste for nuance. I will say, in no uncertain terms, that the result of my recent advances in the Body Art is that Anharwa’s admonition is in fact a load of tripe. This fact occurs by one particular vector: it is idiotic to present a single point of least resistance to your opponent. Through the use of homunculi and an effective defense, the “demonologist’s body” becomes a point of much resistance indeed. I will explain the Onavaran methodology of the Body Art as follows: the manipulation of the own body, and the separability of the own body. The Body Art cannot be realistically applied to another; this is why we devised Distortions.]
I. The Manipulation of the Own Body
It is well known that a magus is almost powerless to affect by magic the body of another magus. This is because the magus has total dominion over the space one’s own body takes up. I will assume that you, reader, are able to access cadavers, or your apprenticeship included the study of cadavers. It is necessary to understand basal human anatomy to manipulate the own body. Transplantation, particularly with inert matter (my preference is porcelain), can be harmoniously maintained within the body via constant low-grade suppression.
I briefly must condemn the purported Art of ‘healing’. Which is to say, one can accelerate the growth and regrowth of flesh, but a common result is tumors. The best practice is first to avoid needing to reverse large amounts of cell death, and second to kill and separate what you do choose to grow once you’re done with it. Typically, one must prevent bodily processes from circulating between the original and grown flesh to avoid the creation of tumors. A few examples of magical processes follow which, given adequate suspension of vital processes like blood loss in novel areas, are safe: deformation without ripping of flesh, separation and reattachment of connected tissue, and suspension of cell death. If your flesh tears, suspend it long enough to stitch it back together. I can’t teach you how to do it. Cut yourself and keep it from going red. Furthermore, it is relatively safe to amplify physical strength. Mental finesse can similarly be substituted for physical grace. This is perhaps the oldest example of the Body Art.
It is also untrue that it is impossible to possess an inanimate object. It is impossible to stably possess an inanimate object, and that you must remain somewhat in your flesh. I suspect that the […] (Ann. Ms. Pagmallon’s speculation herein is irresponsible and cannot be printed). It is untrue that the body cannot withstand polymorphism. The soul prefers to remain in a compatible human body. Maintaining inanimate transplants, possessing mundane objects, and existing in polymorphic states is possible for long periods of time by damaging the body. I cannot be certain why, but my hypothesis is that as a person fights to maintain its life, it is less picky about its condition. My preference is a nonlethal poison.
Ann. Ms. Pagmallon hereafter details a series of exercises for the Body Art, as she puts it. These are not instructive from a theoretical standpoint.
II. The Separability of the Own Body
I also assume that you understand the anatomy of the ‘virtual system’. There are seven points of coherence between the system and the body: between the eyes, the heart, the small of the back, just below the elbows, just above the knees. If you don’t believe me, magus, sustain a transmutation of sand to glass, draw blood at these spots, find mercury. Consider this a complete list of such coherences in the body. You may, should you choose, replace every inch of flesh except for these points of coherence to little detriment, disregarding the poison. Further, I assume you are competent at creating Homunculi: that is, growing a body from a small piece of your own. Typically blood. They must be incubated in lab setting due to the difficulties outlined above with rapid cell growth. Their flesh must be continuously stitched. Toxins are preferable to keep them a state of mutability for the same reason I describe in the first section.
The drawback with the Homunculus is obvious: given their abject lack of magic, it is trivial for a magus to determine that the Homunculus is not the magus, even if shaped into a facsimile. The presence of a demon is quite obvious. The creation of a Homunculus, then, is the first kind of separability, and indeed the only kind I believe has ever been done by another. As described otherwise in the arts of Manipulation, it is possible to detach parts of the physical form, so long as they are prevented from dying. This is another example of ordinary separation. The loss of a limb which contains a point of coherence will merely cause it to move nearer to the heart, remaining with virtual system, which does not stray from the heart. I have determined this through the obvious course of experimentation: flesh magic in order to detach the article, and measurement of mercury. This was determined by my former order long ago.
I have determined a means by which to extend my soul from my body to a homunculus. I do not need to sublimate minions, or rely upon demonic vessels, though it is possible to make use of them. I will not reveal my methodology, except to my apprentice, should I take one, but each such homunculus is in fact derived from a perfect separation, and each has a point of coherence. Therefore, they are as capable as I am of the Magic. I am not so vain as to devise copies of myself, and my soul remains incontrovertibly housed in my natural body. Its abject annihilation might, perhaps, destroy me. However, there are simply more of me to repair it. Therefore, to you, Anharwa, yes: I have seven points of least resistance.