Ultima IX Magic

The magic system at the time of Ultima IX contains some important differences from the ones of previous ages. Here is a short explanation how the magic of that era works and what has to be considered.

Spell Scrolls
Spell scrolls have returned to mainstream Britannian magical circles and can often be purchased by the various vendors of magical items. The scrolls allow a single casting of the spell in question without any mana cost or experience restrictions; however, the scroll itself vanishes thereafter. Usage of scrolls in this manner can be highly wasteful since certain spell scrolls are very rare and the cost of these scrolls is significant. A caster should, therefore, transcribe it to their spellbook via the binding ritual, which allows for repeated and unlimited use of the spell assuming the caster has sufficient mana.

Binding Spells
For the application of magic in Britannia without having to resort to one-use scrolls, a mage or other spell caster must possess a spellbook. Each spellbook is divided into nine groups of four spells with each group termed a circle. The first of these circles contains the linear spells, which are included in every spellbook and can be cast with no mana cost at all. The other eight circles will require a caster to bind spells into their book with the Ritual of Binding.

For the binding of a spell, a mage or other spell caster must obtain the corresponding scroll and the spell's associated reagents as written in the spellbook. Then they must find a binding pentagram, which is a stone circle with a red circle and pentagram inscribed on its surface and candles embedded at each of the pentagram's outward points. Next, the scroll and corresponding reagents should be laid within the  circle of candles. The caster should then light all of the candles with the linear Ignite spell. Finally, the caster needs to invoke the words of power for the associated spell to bind the spell into the book permanantly.

Now the spell is available at any time costing only mana for repeated usage. Unlike earlier magic, no more reagents are needed from that point onward.

Warning: If the reagents or words of power do not match the spell then the reagents and scroll will be lost.

For locations of all spell scrolls, see this page: Spell Scroll Locations

Reagents
The nightshade mushroom is no longer available or used in Britannian magic during this era and has been replaced a species of the nightshade plant not unlike those found on Earth.

Also, unlike in earlier times when reagents were used up every time the spell was invoked, reagents are now only needed for the initial binding of the spell. Once the spell is bound into the spellbook, it will never again need any reagents, only mana, to unleash its power into the real world.

New Spells
A number of new spells were introduced to mainstream Britannian magic by the time of Ultima IX.

A list of all spells in Ultima IX can be found at this link: Ultima IX Spells.

Note that there are also rituals, which are not spells. These are located separately here: Rituals. Reagent Codes:

Trivia

 * It is possible to re-use reagents by removing them while chanting the words of power.
 * In the game, the number of repaired shrines corresponds with the highest circle in which spells can be bound and used, but does not apply to scrolls.
 * If the Words of Power or reagents are incorrect, the scroll and reagents are not destroyed as indicated in the game and supplemental materials.