Magic is split into four categories. These categories make the different types of magic in Ilisara seem very distinct, but it is important to remember this simple rule: magic is magic. No matter where it comes from or what it does, all magic is closely related. An uneducated person would not be able to tell the difference between magics, except for Divine.
The science behind Ilisara's magic is deep and complex. The general concept is that ambient arcana exists all over the world. Spellcasters harness that arcana using an anchor (gesture, word, behavior, or other mechanism) and an essential force (mind, body, or soul). The result is a spell.
Although any anchor and any force can result in any outcome, using the essential force that complements a spell type is much easier and more efficient. The denizens of Ilisara split their magic types into categories based on essential forces. Arcane magic requires use of the mind. Physical magic requires use of the body. Spiritual magic requires use of the soul. As a special kind of magic, healing falls into all of these categories.
Arcane
Anything that manipulates forces of reality or perceptions of it.
Arcane magic encompasses almost every type of "classical fantasy" magic imaginable. Wizards, mages, priests, and others who use their intellect to shape magic into something effective use the essential force of mind to cast spells cast in this category.
All of these types of magic are arcane-based in origin, and function better with stronger mental acuity from the wielder:
Elemental (earth, wind, fire, water, and their subsets including radiant, void, shadow, etc.)
Nature (life magic, druidism, resurrection, controlling the weather, plants, or animals)
Aether (teleportation, psychic magic, astral projection, illusion, conjuration)
Temporal (accelerating and decelerating time, divination, portents, prophecies, farsight)
Arithmancy (gravity, mass, particles, electromagnetism, matter and force, black holes)
Arcane magic is incredibly common everywhere in the world. Almost anyone can learn it, given the proper training. Creatures with inherently high dispositions for magic learn faster.
Physical
Anything that utilizes or affects the lifeforce of living things.
Physical magic manipulates blood, bodies, bones, or vitality, and typically costs those same elements to wield properly. Physical magic is an academic term. This kind of magic is most commonly called "blood magic" by denizens of Ilisara. It utilizes the essential force of body.
Examples of physical magic include:
Sanguimancy (blood bonds, simulacrum, blood shields, leeching life from others)
Genomancy (prolonging life, undoing aging process, fertility, genealogy)
Transmutation (shapeshifting, fleshshaping, polymorph, cosmetic body augmentation)
Necromancy (resurrection, animating corpses, death magic)
Blood magic is extremely rare in the world. It is illegal in the Crescents and mostly unknown in the Isles. Orcs who worshipped Arth, the god of vitality, were blood magic experts. Note that physical magic skirts the boundaries of what should be possible, and so it can backfire... sometimes horrifically.
System shock is a real danger to those who practice blood magic or enjoy its effects.
Spiritual
Anything that transcends reality.
Spiritual magic is harnessed by an intense force of willpower. Even a young child with no knowledge of magic might be capable of wielding spiritual magic. Spirit, soul, and innate magical ability are all intertwined. One must be in tune with their soul and introspective about themself to be a successful master of spiritual magic. It utilizes the essential force of soul.
Soul Magic (soulbonds, phylacteries, trapping souls, augmenting souls)
Spectral Magic (talking to dead ancestors, ghostwalking, reincarnation, dreamself shifting, resurrection), also known as Grey Magic
Use of Chi (elemental magic, body augmentation, clearing pathogens, spiritual alignment, opening chakras)
While spiritual magic can mimic physical or arcane magic, it does so by allowing the wielder to exert their will onto their surroundings - not by knowledge or blood. This makes it a distinct category of magic. Followers of Paolu have a high propensity for spiritual magic due to their religion's teachings. It is quite rare to find elsewhere.
Most magical creatures like dragons and Spectres also derive their magic from the spiritual kind, which is unlocked within their soul. Mastery over one's soul and willpower is what spiritual magic requires to wield.
Divine (All)
All of the other magics, combined. Capable of anything imaginable.
Divine magic is the pure type that the gods can wield. It is superior to all other magics because it combines the effects of all three, while requiring nothing. Anything can be achieved with divine magic by any means. To own divine magic is to be able to wield it.
Divine magic is unique among the other kinds because it exists as a tangible substance. It can be ripped from souls with soul magic, or upon death, hovers around the corpse as a free-to-absorb liquid-like magic. It settles into the soul who devours it and draws out their innermost identity, magnifying it.
Comments