cyclone
驾着AudiA6也超不过拖拉机，还被弄花了引擎盖的废柴
注册日期: Aug 2002
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The Forbidden Arts
hile there are some locations that tolerate the existence of magic, few sane individuals openly use magic in major European cities influenced by the Inquisition. Merely possessing an item of minor enchantment can result in prolonged and painful interrogation at the hands of zealous Inquisitors. Spain, France, Italy, and other continental countries have strict laws prohibiting the usage of magic.
However, the use of magic is allowed and sometimes encouraged throughout the islands of England. For many decades, England has hidden their practice of magic, fearing retribution from the Inquisition. In recent years, the Queen of England has made an abrupt reversal of policy and admitted that her forces use magic for her kingdom's defense. The English claim that sorcery is essential to their survival against the fearsome magical sea creatures infesting the oceans. This admission and the Queen's refusal to denounce magic has caused tremendous friction between Spain and England, leading to the buildup of the Spanish Armada and the possibility of a massive conflict between the two great powers.
Nature of Magic
ecause the Inquisition suppresses all knowledge of the mechanics of magic, there are few people who know even the most basic nature of how it works. Those that understand magic realize that normal humans have no innate ability to cast magic. In order to be able to cast spells, a knowledgeable human must make contact with a spirit and allow it to bind. Since a spirit is non-corporeal, it is similarly powerless while on Earth, and requires a physical host (willing or unwilling) to use its powers. Usually intelligent, spirits seek out particularly bright or influential humans to serve as their host.
Since there are many kinds of spirits, the results of a binding between a human and a spirit are unpredictable at best. A bright human binding with a good-natured spirit might enjoy a symbiosis where the two minds join in harmony and benefit from the ability to wield magic. A strong-willed human binding with an evil spirit will change over time, eventually subverting to a more wicked personality. Weak-willed humans binding with powerful evil spirits are overcome by the magic and are often transformed into what are commonly known as monsters.
When the Inquisition suspects a human of practicing magic, they will begin a complex series of interrogations and rituals to exorcise the spirit from the host. If the spirit refuses to leave, the body is imprisoned by the Inquisition or destroyed.
From this union of spirit and human, three circles of magic have evolved. The Divine practitioner uses magic to heal and protect, tapping a source of magic from good ancestral spirits. The Tribal shaman works his or her art through mother Earth to a variety of ends, while the Thought mage unlocks the vast potential of the mind to bend reality to their will.
the forbidden arts / nature of magic
translated by Cyclone Zhu
被禁用的知识
虽然一些地方还是允许魔法存在的，但是由于宗教裁判所的影响力，在欧洲的主要城市中很少有人敢公开使用魔法。仅仅是拥有很小的魔法物品就可能遭到狂热的审理官们无休无止的严刑拷打。西班牙，法国，意大利和其他一些大陆国家有严格的法律来禁止魔法的使用。
然而魔法的应用在英伦诸岛还是被允许的，有时候甚至是被鼓励的。由于害怕宗教裁判所的报复，数十年来英格兰一直隐瞒他们对魔法的使用。在近几年，英格兰女王才突然改变政策并承认她的军队一直使用魔法来负担国防重任。英国人声称巫术是他们对抗可怕的，从海里大批滋生的水生魔物并生存下来的最基本需要。这些陈述和女王拒绝反对魔法的态度造成了西班牙和英国的巨大摩擦，以致于西班牙无敌舰队开始大量集结，引起了两个强大武装之间的剧烈冲突的可能。
魔法的性质
因为有很多种灵魂，人类和灵魂签订契约后的结果也大不相同。机敏聪慧的人和本性善良的灵魂签订契约后可以和谐共生，共享使用魔法的能力。即使意志坚强的人和邪恶的灵魂签订契约后，也将随时间推移最终形成邪恶的人格。而那些意志薄弱的人如果和邪恶的灵魂签订契约则会被魔力完全占据，成为通常所说的怪物（monsters）。
当宗教裁判所怀疑一个人在用魔法，他们就会开始一系列的审讯和祭典，把灵魂从寄主身上驱逐出去。如果灵魂拒绝离开，那么此人就会被宗教裁判所永远囚禁或者彻底摧毁。
按灵魂和人类的联系，魔法可划分为三个派系。神职人员通过和远古善良的灵魂之间的联系来使用治疗或保护魔法。部落里的萨满巫师通过大地的种种能力来施法，而法师则开发意念的巨大潜力来随意改变事物。
文章里把spirit翻译为灵魂，好像不太好，准备翻译为契约精灵，不知是不是妥当。好像作者就是这个意思。 灵魂太普通，精灵又和种族搞混了。
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战争中根本没有女人和孩子，中越战争中的中国人终于明白了这个事实。
A:“真的可以吗？如果你忽然变成长着羊蹄与牛角的恶魔，我该怎么办？”
B:“少罗嗦，那我不就成了你失散多年的孪生哥哥了吗。”
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11-12-2002 05:50
