A MUCK's developers are free to +define spells as they see fit, using whatever rationales and play-balance methods that are appropriate for the world. For example, administrators might decide that all spells on their world revolve around the four elements of classical literature — air, fire, water, and earth — and develop spells from each sphere, with lower level spells from a given sphere being defined as prerequiste for higher level spells from the same sphere.

The method, or at least the unifying idea, for spells provided as part of the standard Argo installation, is as follows: in ages past, there have occasionally been gifted mages who advanced knowledge of the arcance arts. Usually each mage had a particular expertise or area of interest, and the nature of spells developed by each mage reflects this. Some spells, no doubt, have been lost over time, but a number have survived, in scrolls and grimoires. Learning spells is a matter of applying one's magical knowledge (measured by the Mage skill) to the lore of individual mages (measured by a `<mage> Lore' skill), acquiring the necessary foundation to then learn specific spells.

The spells provided with a standard installatin of Argo are detailed below.

Pon's Gifts

Almost nothing is known of the historical figure now known as Pon. That he or she lived is certain, though, based on the evidence of two powerful grimoires: Pon's Gifts and Pon's Dark Gifts. Each details the theory behind applying magical forces to living bodies, along with detailed instructions for the practical application of these theories. Pon's Gifts delves into the positve, life-enhancing application of the theory; Pon's Dark Gifts provides a thorough, working knowledge of how to harnesss magical forces to dark or harmful ends.

Strength
This spell causes its target to gain Strength (plus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Strength skill). Strength gained from the spell is lost at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Well Being
This spell causes its target to gain Consitution (plus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Well Being skill). Consitution gained from the spell is lost at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Nimbleness
This spell causes its target to gain Dexterity (plus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Nimbleness skill). Dexterity gained from the spell is lost at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Clearmind
This spell causes its target to gain Intelligence (plus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Clearmind skill). Intelligence gained from the spell is lost at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Resolve
This spell causes its target to gain Presence (plus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Resolve skill). Presence gained from the spell is lost at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Weakness
This spell causes its target to lose Strength (minus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Weakness skill). Strength is recovered at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Ill Being
This spell causes its target to lose Consitution (minus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Ill Being skill). Consitution is recovered at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Clumsiness
This spell causes its target to lose Dexterity (minus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Clumsiness skill). Dexterity is recovered at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Confusion
This spell causes its target to lose Intelligence (minus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Confusion skill). Intelligence is recovered at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Fecklessness
This spell causes its target to lose Presence (minus 1dX, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Fecklessness skill). Presence is recovered at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Lend Strength
Lend Strength causes the caster to lose 1dX Strength and the target to gain 2dX Strength, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Strength skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Strength at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 2; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Dried Beet Root; Fatigue Cost: 12)

Lend Consitution
Lend Consitution causes the caster to lose 1dX Consitution and the target to gain 2dX Consitution, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Consitution skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Consitution at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 2; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Dried Oak Root; Fatigue Cost: 12)

Lend Dexterity
Lend Dexterity causes the caster to lose 1dX Dexterity and the target to gain 2dX Dexterity, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Dexterity skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Dexterity at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 2; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Dried Horseradish Root; Fatigue Cost: 12)

Lend Intelligence
Lend Intelligence causes the caster to lose 1dX Intelligence and the target to gain 2dX Intelligence, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Intelligence skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Intelligence at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 2; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Dried Ginsing Root; Fatigue Cost: 12)

Lend Presence
Lend Presence causes the caster to lose 1dX Presence and the target to gain 2dX Presence, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Presence skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Presence at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Pon's Lore 2; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Dried Yarrow Root; Fatigue Cost: 12)

Steal Strength
Steal Strength causes the caster to gain 1dX Strength and the target to lose 2dX Strength, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Strength skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Strength at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 2, Pon's Lore 4; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Coriander, Cobweb; Fatigue Cost: 16)

Steal Constitution
Steal Constitution causes the caster to gain 1dX Constitution and the target to lose 2dX Constitution, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Constitution skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Constitution at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 2, Pon's Lore 4; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Dill, Cobweb; Fatigue Cost: 16)

Steal Dexterity
Steal Dexterity causes the caster to gain 1dX Dexterity and the target to lose 2dX Dexterity, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Dexterity skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Dexterity at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 2, Pon's Lore 4; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Mushroom, Cobweb; Fatigue Cost: 16)

Steal Intelligence
Steal Intelligence causes the caster to gain 1dX Intelligence and the target to lose 2dX Intelligence, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Intelligence skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Intelligence at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 2, Pon's Lore 4; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Anise, Cobweb; Fatigue Cost: 16)

Steal Presence
Steal Presence causes the caster to gain 1dX Presence and the target to lose 2dX Presence, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Lend Presence skill. Both affected players lose or regain this Presence at a rate of 1 point per turn. (Prerequisites: Mage 2, Pon's Lore 4; Components: Wizard's Staff; Materials: Sage, Cobweb; Fatigue Cost: 16)

Destroy Strength
This spell permently removes 1 point of Strength from the target. (Prerequisites: Mage 4, Pon's Lore 6; Components: Wizard's Staff, Focus Bracers; Materials: Extract of Newt, Willow Wands (3); Fatigue Cost: 32)

Destroy Constitution
This spell permently removes 1 point of Constitution from the target. (Prerequisites: Mage 4, Pon's Lore 6; Components: Wizard's Staff, Focus Bracers; Materials: Extract of Newt, Oak Wands (3); Fatigue Cost: 32)

Destroy Dexterity
This spell permently removes 1 point of Dexterity from the target. (Prerequisites: Mage 4, Pon's Lore 6; Components: Wizard's Staff, Focus Amulet; Materials: Extract of Newt, Ash Wands (3); Fatigue Cost: 32)

Destroy Intelligence
This spell permently removes 1 point of Intelligence from the target. (Prerequisites: Mage 4, Pon's Lore 6; Components: Wizard's Staff, Focus Amulet; Materials: Extract of Newt, Rowan Wands (3); Fatigue Cost: 32)

Destroy Presence
This spell permently removes 1 point of Presence from the target. (Prerequisites: Mage 4, Pon's Lore 6; Components: Wizard's Staff, Focus Amulet; Materials: Extract of Newt, Yew Wands (3); Fatigue Cost: 32)

Preservation
Preserves a dead body in an arrested state. (The bodies of individuals killed by events in Argo do not stay around indefinitely: they are removed from the database 24-36 hours after death. The Preservation spell negates this.) (Prerequisites: Mage 6, Pon's Lore 6; Components: Wizard's Staff, Focus Bracers, Focus Amulet; Materials: Pon's Extract; Fatigue Cost: 16)

The Little Death
This spell seemingly kills its target. The victim (or, conceivably, beneficiary) of this spell is for all practical purposes dead for a period of time (X days, where X equals the caster's Pon's Lore skill plus Mage skill). (Prerequisites: Mage 6, Pon's Lore 8; Components: Wizard's Staff, Focus Bracers, Focus Amulet, Warding Raiment; Materials: Vial of Darkness; Fatigue Cost: 24)

Death
Pon's darkest gift. The Death spell kills its target. (Prerequisites: Mage 12, Pon's Lore 12; Components: Wizard's Staff, Focus Bracers, Focus Amulet, Warding raiment; Materials: Pon's Powder; Fatigue Cost: 48)

Resurrection
The Resurrection spell returns a dead body to life. The process is traumatic, and the resurrected individual will probably have lowered stats reflecting this (each stat is lowered 0-2 points). (Prerequisites: Mage 12, Pon's Lore 12; Components: Wizard's Staff, Focus Bracers, Focus Amulet, Warding raiment; Materials: Pon's Powder, dead body; Fatigue Cost: 48)

The Lore of Kregor

Again, little is known of the historical figure behind what is now known as The Lore of Kregor, though one could make conjectures based on the nature of the spells: all use magical fire to cause damage.

Spark
The Spark spell causes 1d3 damage to its target. Conventional armor and shields protect against this damage. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Lore of Kregor 1; Components: Flint Shard; Materials: Hardened Coal; Fatigue Cost: 4).

Flame Storm
This spell causes a rapid, expanding billow of flame that does 1d3 plus 1dX to everyone present except the caster, where X is equal to the caster's Lore of Kregor skill. (Prerequisites: Mage 2, Lore of Kregor 3; Components: Flint Shard, Firey Garnet; Materials: Hardened Coal (3); Fatigue Cost: 8)

Fire Strike
The Fire Strike spell does 2 times 1dX to its target, where X is equal to the caster's Mage skill plus Lore of Kregor skill. (Prerequisites: Mage 3, Lore of Kregor 4; Components: Flint Shard, Firey Garnet, Firey Ruby; Materials: Hardened Coal (6), Phosphor; Fatigue Cost: 16)

Olan's Lore

Obscure
The Obscure spell causes something or someone to be hidden. It is not invisible; it is simply difficult to notice. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Olan's Lore 1; Components: Rowan Wand; Fatigue Cost: 4)

Invisibility
This spell, as one might guess, makes its target invisible for a time (two times X turns, where X equals the caster's Mage skill plus Olan's Lore skill). (Prerequisites: Mage 4, Olan's Lore 4; Components: Rowan Wand; Materials: Enchanted Holly; Fatigue Cost: 16)

MageSight
The MageSight spell allows the caster to sense hidden or invisible objects in his presence (successfully detects when the roll is made by an amount greater than or equal to the amount the roll was made by when the object became hidden or invisible). (Prerequisites: Mage 3, Olan's Lore 3; Components: Rowan Wand; Materials: Holly Berries (6); Fatigue Cost: 6)

The Lore of Maggi

Tales of Maggi, the fetching, resourceful girl thief, have entertained generations. In this case, there is at least some truth behind the fiction (if fiction it be), for a mage named Maggi did indeed live. We know this from the tomes she left behind: detailed, fanciful drawings interlaced with instructions for casting spells. Almost all the spells, as it happens, would be useful to a mage thief: spells for unlocking doors and slipping through cracks, spells for moving objects, spells for sneaking away unseen. Most currently available copies of the tomes lack the enchanting drawings, but are accurate transcripts of the actual spells.

Deft Knock
The Deft Knock spell temporarily unlocks a door. The technological sophistication of the lock is irrelevent; unless is is somehow hardened against magic, the chance of success remains the same (the caster's Craft skill plus Deft Knock skill). (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Lore of Maggi 1; Components: Enchanted Silver Charm; Fatigue Cost: 4)

Doorjam
This spell causes a door to become well and truly stuck for a brief time (two times 1dX turns, where X is the caster's Mage skill plus Doorjam skill). (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Lore of Maggi 1; Components: Enchanted Silver Charm; Fatigue Cost: 4)

Gone Today
This spell will forever be associated with Maggi's famous parting-shot expression, `Here tomorrow, gone today!'. The caster's form briefly wavers, and then is gone (caster moves to a nearby room). (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Lore of Maggi 2; Components: Enchanted Silver Charm; Materials: Tea Leaves; Fatigue Cost: 4)

Oops
The Oops spell causes its target to drop a carried object, such as a weapon or shield. He or she may or may not also say `Oops!'. (Prerequisites: Mage 2, Lore of Maggi 2; Components: Enchanted Silver Charm; Materials: Oil of Eel; Fatigue Cost: 6)

Mine Now
The Mine Now spell transports an object from someone else's possession to the caster's. It will go back where it was after a time (1dX turns, where X equals the caster's Mage skill plus Lore of Maggi skill), unless the Stay There spell is successfully cast upon it. (Prerequisites: Mage 4, Lore of Maggi 4; Components: Enchanted Silver Charm, Fairie Bells; Materials: Oil of Carp; Fatigue Cost: 8)

Stay There
This spell cancels the pesky urge that magically fetched objects have to return to their previous location. (Prerequisites: Mage 4, Lore of Maggi 4; Components: Enchanted Silver Charm, Fairie Bells; Materials: Oil of Eel; Fatigue Cost: 8)

Over There
A classic spell of misdirection, the Over There spell causes its target to direct his or her attentions (and actions) at some random person (not the spell caster). (Prerequisites: Mage 5, Lore of Maggi 5; Components: Enchanted Silver Charm, Silver Mirror; Materials: Lemming Fur; Fatigue Cost: 8)

Falon's Lore

Falon, also known as The Beastmaster, had a deep affinity for animals of all sort, and was able not only to communicate with them but also compell them to do his bidding. Although tales survive of his summoning and controlling all manner of beasts (including the last hippogriff and The Leviathon), only four of his spells remain.

BeastSpeech
BeastSpeech allows the user to communicated directly with animals of all sorts. Each party will understand the communication of the other perfectly, but either may well use concepts the other cannot grasp. (No coded effects.) (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Falon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 2)

BeastFriend
BeastFriend predisposes an animal to feel friendly and helpful toward the caster. (No coded effects.) (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Falon's Lore 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 2)

Summon Falcon
This spell summons a falcon from some distant point to the caster's presence. If the caster is able to successfully cast BeastFriend on it (rolled automatically), it will remain for a time (2 times 1dX, where X is equal to the caster's Mage skill plus Summon Falcon skill plus BeastFriendskill). If the caster is also able to successfully cast BeastSpeech (rolled automatically), he will be able to control the falcon (use the +summoned;+sum command, syntax +sum :<action falcon is to perform>. Another mage can gain control of the falcon if he makes a more successful BeastFriend roll. (Prerequisites: Mage 1, Falon's Lore 2, BeastSpeach 1, BeastFriend 1; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 4)

Summon Wolf
This spell summons a wolf from some distant point to the caster's presence. If the caster is able to successfully cast BeastFriend on it (rolled automatically), it will remain for a time (2 times 1dX, where X is equal to the caster's Mage skill plus Summon Wolf skill plus BeastFriendskill). If the caster is also able to successfully cast BeastSpeech (rolled automatically), he will be able to control the wolf (use the +summoned;+sum command, syntax +sum :<action wolf is to perform>. Another mage can gain control of the wolf if he makes a more successful BeastFriend roll. (Prerequisites: Mage 2, Falon's Lore 4, BeastSpeach 2, BeastFriend 2; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 8)

Summon Bear
This spell summons a bear from some distant point to the caster's presence. If the caster is able to successfully cast BeastFriend on it (rolled automatically), it will remain for a time (2 times 1dX, where X is equal to the caster's Mage skill plus Summon Bear skill plus BeastFriendskill). If the caster is also able to successfully cast BeastSpeech (rolled automatically), he will be able to control the bear (use the +summoned;+sum command, syntax +sum :<action bear is to perform>. Another mage can gain control of the bear if he makes a more successful BeastFriend roll. (Prerequisites: Mage 4, Falon's Lore 6, BeastSpeach 2, BeastFriend 3; Components: Wizard's Staff; Fatigue Cost: 16)

Anjin's Lore

Only one spell created by Anjin still exists, but many souls have been thankful that he lived. His one spell is a very useful healing cantrip.

Anjin's Cantrip
Causes 1d4 of physical damage to be healed from its target. (Prerequisites: Mage 2, Anjin's Lore 2; Components: Shaped Glass; Materials: Blessed Blood; Fatigue Cost: 4)