Path of Seven Pages

Shadow Paths

Shadow aspects, shadow aura, shadow madra (see Madra), because the Monarch Akura Malice manifested the Shadow Icon when she advanced to Sage. See Icons

Malice’s Book

The head family is distinguished by their Book of Eternal Night, created by the Monarch herself. This book includes various shadow-based Paths, including Mercy’s own Path of Seven Pages. Branch families follow other shadow Paths.

“The Book of Eternal Night,” Mercy announced, holding her book up proudly. “I'm on the Path of Seven Pages. And the first page, the Lowgold page...” She opened the cover, revealing the first page. It looked more like a thumb-thick tablet than a piece of paper. Yerin wondered if it contained a binding. This page was choked with more incomprehensible script-circles instead of plain writing. Not that Yerin would have been able to get anything from it either way. “It's the central technique from the Path of the Chainkeeper,” Mercy said. “Strings of Shadow. There are seven techniques in this book, one for each page. The Path of Seven Pages unites seven techniques from seven different shadow Paths into one.” (Ghostwater ch 13)

• See also Paths and Akura Paths

The Path of Seven Pages is the path that the Akura head family follow.

Each Akura expert leaves behind a Book, which holds their ideal Path for others to follow. These Divine Treasures take Akura Jades into a dream-world, where they test the disciple. If they succeed, the Divine Treasure bonds to their soul (their soulspace is opened early) and they are on the Path of Seven Pages. If not, they go to branch families.

The Book of Eternal Night was left by Akura Malice herself. It has only been claimed once, by Akura Mercy, heir to the clan. However, it has been offered to every disciple.

Techniques:

Vary, based on practitioner's book.

Cycling Techniques:

• Unknown

Iron Body:

• Akura Mercy - Puppeteer's Iron Body (see Iron bodies)

Weapons/Tools:

• Divine Treasures/Books - These are stored in the soul and have seven pages, each one with a technique, for every advancement level from Lowgold onwards. It has been demonstrated that they can 'borrow' power above their advancement level, but it is not known if this was a side-effect of Akura Mercy's sealed power or a possibility for all practitioners.
• Akura Mercy - Bow named 'Suu' (see also Magical Items weapon section)

Notable Practitioners:

• Akura Malice created the Path as an ideal version of the Shadow Path which she practices herself
• Akura Mercy - Book of Eternal Night
• Akura Charity - Book of the Silver Heart