In the novel I am writing, there is a lot of mention of different forms of Magic. For funsies, I'm going to show you how much work I've put into it!
The Arcana is the most commonly known form of magic, and Magi (Male Magister or Mage, female Magistrix or Mage) , Wizards, Sorcerers, Binders, and other Arcanists are heavily trained in the proper, responsible usage of the Arcane.
Arcane magic draws its power from a specific kind of energy called Ley, that envelops and penetrates all things. When the Ley energy is drawn into the individual and stored there, it is then referred to as "mana". The amount of mana one can store can be increased through rigorous mental training and intense focus.
The Ley is everywhere, but certain areas contain a higher concentration than others. These create"Ley lines" that crawl all over, through, above, and below the terrain, ocean, and air of the world that pulse with intense amounts of energy, quite similar to blood vessels of an animal. Indeed, through the eyes of the Arcanist, the world is a living thing because of the Ley.
The Ley governs many, if not all, of the natural world's laws, including (but not limited to) gravity, time progression, color perception, and heat. For this express reason, because Magic bends (but not breaks) the laws of physics, it is VERY risky to cast arcane magic around a Ley line.
Contrary to popular belief, very few people are completely incapable of learning to perform Arcane magic. Although it is more than uttering a few words and waving your hands around, simple spells can be learned by just about anyone, given enough time (and, of course, access to the information). The average spellwork requires a spoken component, a magic Circle, and in some cases certain hand gestures.
Arcane Magic can be divided into 7 separate Classes of magic.
-Etymology
Etymology is the study of the phenomenon of Language. Equal parts spellwork, linguistics, and philosophy, Etymology examines how bindings can be made between certain words or phrases and energy in order to construct a spell. Etymology is the most convoluted and complex of all the Classes.
-Illusion
The sudden fog rolling in, the black cat that just crossed your path twice, the wall your hand passes through... All are the work of the Illusionist. Illusion seeks to trick the senses in any way possible. This said, it's also the most fragile Class of the arcane because as soon as the subject realizes that a certain item of spellery is Illusion magic, it begins to fall apart quickly. However, the more skilled an Illusionist (and the weaker the mind of his target), the more unlikely it is.
-Biomancy
The most mysterious and, without doubt, most controversial Class of magic, Biomancy is the manipulation of mysterious Life energy, called "Qi" or "Chakra" by some. Skilled Biomancers can pull life from an ancient, thriving tree and transfer all of that life energy into small saplings to ensure healthy growth, into himself to heal wounds and cure disease, or even into dead animals to rewind the mortal coil. Biomancy requires a source AND a destination-- One cannot simply kill (using Biomancy) without giving life to something else. It is a very live question and the subject of many debates whether or not Life energy is completely separate and independent from mana.
-Sealing
Sealing magic involves binding certain aspects of an object or target and making it so that if any of those aspects try to change, it is considerably more difficult. For example, am exceptionally skilled Sealer could bind a lake in winter so that it doesn't thaw and melt come Spring, or even partway into Summer. Because such magic bends the Ley into pretzels, the more complex a Seal is, the more mana must be spent and the less time said Seal will last. In addition, Sealing is also heavily regulated, partially because it's the most familiar Class to non-Arcanists as many Sealers make livings binding Candles that don't melt, axes that don't dull for some time, and in extreme cases, they handle what could be perceived by the common man as "demonic possession".
-Transmutation
Transmutation is the most difficult of all Classes because it seeks to change the base nature of an item into something else. Not just magic, but also a science (and in some hands, an art), Transmuters are able to change pencil graphite into diamond, but also to forge an entire weapon out of a stone floor they sit on. Transmutation is often used as an art form, because the skilled Transmuter can sculpt whatever material they want into whatever shape they want, within reason.
-Warding
Though by definition it means to protect, any spell that enchants, ensnares, or shields is Warding. Certain Warders may learn to fend off Illusions, others may grant a weapon an unnaturally keen edge, and still others may set traps of certain viciousness forseen by few. Warding is the most practical form of manipulation of Mana because it seeks to infuse the mundane with the Arcane.
-Evocation
Some faerie tales speak of Arcanists able to breathe fire, call down Lightning, freeze a lake so cleanly it reflects as a mirror, and even screech like banshees. All of those tales are true-- At least in theory. They refer to Evocation, which is manipulation of raw energy to a form that comes most naturally to Ley energy: Natural disasters, phenomena of weather and elemental forces. Because the Ley pours energy into such things without being manipulated by the hands of arcanists, Evocation is either the cleanest or the messiest spells you can learn to cast. Because this Class has the capacity for the most destruction, Evokers have much lower life expectancies than other Arcanists.
If you like my writing, you can join the site to the right of the page, like Speaking with Storms on Facebook or follow me on Twitter and Google+ . If you have questions or just want to chat, I'm on Formspring too!
Thanks for reading. Stay human, my friends.
The Arcana is the most commonly known form of magic, and Magi (Male Magister or Mage, female Magistrix or Mage) , Wizards, Sorcerers, Binders, and other Arcanists are heavily trained in the proper, responsible usage of the Arcane.
Arcane magic draws its power from a specific kind of energy called Ley, that envelops and penetrates all things. When the Ley energy is drawn into the individual and stored there, it is then referred to as "mana". The amount of mana one can store can be increased through rigorous mental training and intense focus.
The Ley is everywhere, but certain areas contain a higher concentration than others. These create"Ley lines" that crawl all over, through, above, and below the terrain, ocean, and air of the world that pulse with intense amounts of energy, quite similar to blood vessels of an animal. Indeed, through the eyes of the Arcanist, the world is a living thing because of the Ley.
The Ley governs many, if not all, of the natural world's laws, including (but not limited to) gravity, time progression, color perception, and heat. For this express reason, because Magic bends (but not breaks) the laws of physics, it is VERY risky to cast arcane magic around a Ley line.
Contrary to popular belief, very few people are completely incapable of learning to perform Arcane magic. Although it is more than uttering a few words and waving your hands around, simple spells can be learned by just about anyone, given enough time (and, of course, access to the information). The average spellwork requires a spoken component, a magic Circle, and in some cases certain hand gestures.
Arcane Magic can be divided into 7 separate Classes of magic.
-Etymology
Etymology is the study of the phenomenon of Language. Equal parts spellwork, linguistics, and philosophy, Etymology examines how bindings can be made between certain words or phrases and energy in order to construct a spell. Etymology is the most convoluted and complex of all the Classes.
-Illusion
The sudden fog rolling in, the black cat that just crossed your path twice, the wall your hand passes through... All are the work of the Illusionist. Illusion seeks to trick the senses in any way possible. This said, it's also the most fragile Class of the arcane because as soon as the subject realizes that a certain item of spellery is Illusion magic, it begins to fall apart quickly. However, the more skilled an Illusionist (and the weaker the mind of his target), the more unlikely it is.
-Biomancy
The most mysterious and, without doubt, most controversial Class of magic, Biomancy is the manipulation of mysterious Life energy, called "Qi" or "Chakra" by some. Skilled Biomancers can pull life from an ancient, thriving tree and transfer all of that life energy into small saplings to ensure healthy growth, into himself to heal wounds and cure disease, or even into dead animals to rewind the mortal coil. Biomancy requires a source AND a destination-- One cannot simply kill (using Biomancy) without giving life to something else. It is a very live question and the subject of many debates whether or not Life energy is completely separate and independent from mana.
-Sealing
Sealing magic involves binding certain aspects of an object or target and making it so that if any of those aspects try to change, it is considerably more difficult. For example, am exceptionally skilled Sealer could bind a lake in winter so that it doesn't thaw and melt come Spring, or even partway into Summer. Because such magic bends the Ley into pretzels, the more complex a Seal is, the more mana must be spent and the less time said Seal will last. In addition, Sealing is also heavily regulated, partially because it's the most familiar Class to non-Arcanists as many Sealers make livings binding Candles that don't melt, axes that don't dull for some time, and in extreme cases, they handle what could be perceived by the common man as "demonic possession".
-Transmutation
Transmutation is the most difficult of all Classes because it seeks to change the base nature of an item into something else. Not just magic, but also a science (and in some hands, an art), Transmuters are able to change pencil graphite into diamond, but also to forge an entire weapon out of a stone floor they sit on. Transmutation is often used as an art form, because the skilled Transmuter can sculpt whatever material they want into whatever shape they want, within reason.
-Warding
Though by definition it means to protect, any spell that enchants, ensnares, or shields is Warding. Certain Warders may learn to fend off Illusions, others may grant a weapon an unnaturally keen edge, and still others may set traps of certain viciousness forseen by few. Warding is the most practical form of manipulation of Mana because it seeks to infuse the mundane with the Arcane.
-Evocation
Some faerie tales speak of Arcanists able to breathe fire, call down Lightning, freeze a lake so cleanly it reflects as a mirror, and even screech like banshees. All of those tales are true-- At least in theory. They refer to Evocation, which is manipulation of raw energy to a form that comes most naturally to Ley energy: Natural disasters, phenomena of weather and elemental forces. Because the Ley pours energy into such things without being manipulated by the hands of arcanists, Evocation is either the cleanest or the messiest spells you can learn to cast. Because this Class has the capacity for the most destruction, Evokers have much lower life expectancies than other Arcanists.
If you like my writing, you can join the site to the right of the page, like Speaking with Storms on Facebook or follow me on Twitter and Google+ . If you have questions or just want to chat, I'm on Formspring too!
Thanks for reading. Stay human, my friends.
