The Shōmashi Mages form one of the oldest and most mysterious magical orders in the lands of Myoo. Unlike other types of mages, they do not devote their lives to studying multiple disciplines. Instead, they possess a unique, innate power: nullification magic, a rare form of magic capable of temporarily suppressing the powers of other magic users.
The origins of the Shōmashi Mages date back to the ancient kingdom of Yamikesh, many centuries before the birth of the Empire of Myoo. According to the oldest surviving accounts, their emergence was a response to the growing threat posed by the Kuroshi Mages, powerful magic users capable of stealing power from other mages. To counter such a dangerous enemy, a bloodline emerged whose gift was not to absorb magic, but to prevent its use temporarily, leaving the Kuroshi Mages vulnerable to capture.
Nullification magic possesses characteristics found in no other known discipline. The power is passed down through the family bloodline but manifests exclusively in women. In men, it can remain dormant for many generations without ever emerging, while continuing to be inherited until the birth of a female descendant in whom the gift awakens once more.
The Shōmashi Mages’ ability allows them to temporarily deprive any mage of access to magic. There is, however, one known exception: Senshi Mages are completely immune to nullification magic and cannot be deprived of their powers.
Their exceptional control over nullification magic also enabled the Shōmashi Mages to create one of the most important inventions in Myoo’s history: the Magisilium. This magical collar contains a small amount of nullification magic, which is essential to keeping the device active. Once fitted, the Magisilium prevents the prisoner from using any form of magic until it is removed. Through this invention, the Shōmashi Mages provided the kingdoms of Myoo with an indispensable tool for detaining particularly dangerous mages and criminals.
During the Fourth Era, some Shōmashi Mages left Yamikesh and traveled to the Empire of Myoo. At the end of Myoo’s First Great War in the Sixth Era, the accords signed among the kingdoms led to their relocation to the kingdom of Jin, which has since become the main center of their community.
In addition to their extraordinary powers, Shōmashi Mages are easily recognized by their distinctive uniforms. They wear close-fitting black leather outfits designed to provide maximum freedom of movement in combat. Over the centuries, a curious belief concerning their bloodline has also emerged: every Shōmashi Mage appears to be born with extraordinary beauty and a perfectly proportioned physique. Many consider this nothing more than coincidence, while others claim that magic itself favored this trait, making its bearers even more effective at distracting opponents before stripping them of their powers.
Feared and respected in equal measure, the Shōmashi Mages have profoundly influenced the history of magic throughout the lands of Myoo. The mere presence of one of them on a battlefield is often enough to shift the balance of a confrontation, making them one of the most valuable strategic assets on the entire continent.
This type of female mage from the world of Myoo appears in:
The Senshi Order · The Dark Awakening · The Kurai - Chronicle of Condemnation